My fourth short story
My summertime project of short story writing is coming along fine and I’m really enjoying it.
Today I published my fourth story entitled “The Hostage”.
Please let me know what you think.
My summertime project of short story writing is coming along fine and I’m really enjoying it.
Today I published my fourth story entitled “The Hostage”.
Please let me know what you think.
August 16th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
What a great story and what a good circular twist to it. It was very dramatic and convincing.
Brilliant.
Had recently watched a bit of a film “Proof Of Live” which had brought home to me just how terrifying being kidnapped is and your passage on the panic attacks really captures that terror – the abyss.
Also the wake up call from the life of the corporate executive who forgets what matters.
Thanks Roger.
August 17th, 2009 at 8:15 am
Roger, I thoroughly enjoyed your short story, “The Hostage,” and it reminded me of a short story contest just announced by National Public Radio (NPR). You’re so good, why not give it a try?
Babs
August 17th, 2009 at 8:20 am
Many thanks for the encouragement, Babs, but I can’t enter this competition because it is only open to citizens of the USA.
August 18th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Another good story.
August 19th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
‘The Hostage’ was, I thought, your best short story yet: a believable (and not likable) individual who, like the characters in your first novella, have experienced a life-changing event (a good set of stories needs to establish such links).
That Stewart should stand by that commitment was not perhaps apparent from the pages and my first thought was of doubt that he would (after his regrets to his wife, he then reverts to type for much of the rest of the piece) – but then, the circumstances of his liberation were not (for evident reasons) explored in the story and it is perfectly possible that these, or the shock of being reunited with friends and family, would have meant that his capture – and/or freedom – (as contrasted with his time in capture) had indeed been life-changing.
I liked the way you told it. Unlikeable characters are hard to capture in the format, and the denouement was both soundly expressed and encouraged empathy.
September 11th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
“The Hostage” was my favourite, I think it’s definitely your best.