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description: Death motherhoodthe nature of reality and the gender expectations of cultural conditioning are woven through these biting little stories in Sandra Arnold's debut flash fiction collection. Sometimes sad surreal and sinister they're also shot through with love and a deep understanding of humanity. In gorgeous spare prose that paints a very vivid picture Sandra Arnold gives voice to characters that are often unheard. From Daisy in Fireworks Night willing to do whatever it takes to protect her little sister; to Hathor in The Girl With Green Hair who has her body in the world we live in and her mind in the one that not many people see; and Ruby in Don't Mess With Vikings who finds strength in a diagnosis of illness to stand up to bullies. With the stories in this collection Sandra Arnold etches marks on your soul that will last. Sandra Arnold's stories are small windows into another world a world which is almost this world. She brings the readers in page by page enticing with dream-like language and insightful observation. Beguiling strange tender and chilling these potent gems continue percolating in your mind long after the reading is done. -Meg Pokrass author of Alligators At Night Mastery of the short form is a delicate nerve-wracking balancing act. Tilt one way and you fall into bathos tilt the other and you plunge into artifice and contrivance. There is very little room to manoeuvre. Sandra Arnold in this rich collection demonstrates just how it should be done. In story after brilliant story she negotiates the tightrope surely often with bravura and all without the aid of a safety net. -James Norcliffe author of Dark Days at the Oxygen Cafe Sandra Arnolds debut flash collection is simply beautiful. Theres an element of the mystery of humanity and the world that will fill readers with wonder. Each detail is unique and woven together in a universal tapestry and Soul Etchings will leave readers craving more from Sandra Arnold. -Niles Reddick author of Reading the Coffee Grounds and Other Stories A wise and poetic sensibility currents through these stories in Soul Etchings. They are short yet substantial  intimate and keen. Here are stories of place and of the heart. -Robert Scotellaro author of What We Know So Far
language: None
title: Soul Etchings: A flash fiction collection
publisher: Retreat West Books