Oprah's Book Club (Official) discussion

Is there reader interest in short story anthologies?
Is there reader interest in multi-author anthologies?
Is broad diversity of genres in a single anthology of interest to readers?
Is a single themed or single genre short story anthology of interest to readers?
Considering publication of another anthology and would like to get reader feedback.
Thank you!

No short stories for me. I feel that just as I am really liking a story it is over!

Marti, a good short story should quickly draw you in, enthrall, and have a resolution, be that resolution warm and gentle or abrupt, shocking. I have written some SS with the intent to leave the reader wondering about the grander scale of things beyond the story’s plot. However, the entire premise of SS is to create an entire story condensed... the initial hook, character development, setting, plot, arc of conflicts, resolutions, and come to a conclusion. Now there have been many SS reading instances where I have fallen in love with a SS character and wish there were more stories about or a novel involving that character... which I'm assuming may be what you're feeling. Although, as an author, I’m personally struggling with not killing off my main character(s) and striving for more happily ever afters, so I can “reuse” those characters in other stories or possibly a novel.

I'm drawn to short stories because of how quickly they can capture your attention. As a writer, I love creating short stories because it challenges me create captivating plots and characters in a short amount of time.

My debut novel, Greater Than the Still, is actually based on short stories. In my novel, Juliette Laredo never meant to make an impression on anyone, but her impression is greater than she knows. Over a dozen different New Yorkers narrate their own perceptions of Juliette, as her story is told through their eyes.

Greater Than the Still portrays the love, fears, and heartbreaks of New Yorkers as strangers and familiar faces peel back layers of Juliette’s life. It is through their crossed paths that change the course of Juliette’s future.

Sarah... in my experience short stories take a considerable amount of time. I shocked a class of high school students in an open round table conversation, when they asked how long it took to write a short story they had read for class. Told them the facts... it took a couple hours to write, but 30 hours to edit, excluding the weeks needed for 5 beta-reader responses and the two weeks of manuscript hibernation. A short story is condensed, to the point, maintains precise action throughout, yet magically entices and carries the reader through from the first sentence to a satisfying, questioning or shocking last sentence conclusion... a memorable rollercoaster ride.