Introduction Concepts:
The Smithereens is a series of Short Story compilations and collections reflecting themed Anthologies; special collections, journal Essays, Creative non-fiction and any variety of all-sorts that an author can generate in their career. There are two specific streams in this series, the set-piece format of [four x shorts] plus [1 x novella] that define a Smithereens Volume; and other less formulaic collections or inclusions of something other than pure fiction.
Note: It must be noted that Collections and Anthologies of this nature are extremely difficult to keep in circulation as they are a niche product compared to other types of titles.
Series Blurb:
The core of the ‘Smithereens’ Volumes is a series or works with four short stories – each from a different decade; and a novella from any of these four decades. While implicit in design but perhaps not as obvious; ‘Smithereens’ serve as much to track the progress of the author by placing earlier work alongside more mature pieces: tracking theme obsessions, development of dialogue over time and changing character depth and internity.
The First tranche of the ‘Smithereens’ comprising the Volumes of ‘Shards’, ‘Fragments’ and ‘Talus’ contains works from the 1980’s, 1990’s, 2000’s and 2010’s are represent many, many rejected submissions to International Publishers in order to interest them in my particular, South-African voice. [spoilers: just… auto-nope!]
A Second tranche has formed currently in new decades, and shall contain works from the 1990’s, 2000’s, 2010’s and 2020’s, and so this oeuvre of work is constantly expanding. Other collections and commissions appear here, but without the ‘Smithereens’-specific branding and not incrementally numbered.
Follow the links below to discover more about the Books in the Volume:
Book 1 – Shards – Includes the stories: The tale of ARC1 and Core3, All the Bright Children, Shards, Garden Sea; and the novella: Swan and Song.
Book 2 – Fragments- Includes the stories: Inferno, Fragments of Morning, Lawman, No heart for the Matter; and the novella: The Folk and the Shellmen.
Book 3 – Talus – Includes the stories: Portmanteau, Jamais Vu, Dancers, Ifrit; and the novella: Neid-fire.
Book – Sandglass: The Collection – Includes the stories: Refugia, Ifrit, Garden Sea, Dancers, Shards, Portmanteau, Lawman, Jamais Vu, Songbird; and the Essays [Afterwards on…] and [About the Author 2025; Looking backwards].