Spark: A Creative Anthology, Volume IV

Prefer to buy on Amazon? This book qualifies for free two-day shipping with Amazon Prime. Did you know? You can preview the Kindle version before buying! The Amazon preview includes the full table of contents and the first three stories in the collection. Note: When you order the eBook, a download link will arrive by email within two to five minutes of your completed purchase. This is our heftiest collection so far, both in caliber of content and in physical size: at 472 pages and nearly an inch thick, your craving for speculative fiction is guaranteed to be satisfied. If you stick with the eBook version, you'll avoid the well-defined biceps that come from carrying this book around, but still feast well on 134,000 words. From the foreword by Kevin J. Anderson: Words. Yes. No. I want. How much? Do this. Please. Thank you. Words are the gears that make civilization function, the tools that move almost every action in our daily lives. Through words we create instructions, blueprints, cooperation, organization. But some people use words as more than just gears and tools. They elevate language to an art, an evocative level beyond mere instructions. They use words as a brush to create and paint sweeping imaginary landscapes that they can make other people see in their own minds. They use words to sculpt characters with history, personalities, scars of tragedy or a sense of humor. Writers see words as wondrous things, ordinary beans that can spawn a magical beanstalk, simple keys that can unlock Pandora’s Box. Readers feast on the fantastic concoctions that wordsmiths create from these sophisticated, sorcerous tools. Any bookstore offers shelves of published novels from well-known and well-loved masters of the craft, storytellers who have entertained us for years, thereby creating a special place in our hearts and our imaginations. But how many other word wizards live among us, secretly practicing their magic, developing their skills, hoping to one day become masters themselves? Many try to take up the special mantle, hoping that their magic is good enough to be noticed. Spark: A Creative Anthology is one way for those emerging apprentice storytellers to take one step closer to becoming a master. Spark is a quarterly anthology and accompanying writing contest dedicated to fostering emerging talent with participation from industry professionals. Established writers and editors serve as guest judges for each contest, and the new stars who shine the brightest are featured here. In all likelihood, you don’t recognize many of the names featured in the table of contents—at least not yet. But judging by the quality of what I’ve read, you will know them. You will. — Kevin J. Anderson Here's just a sampling of the great content you can expect: Cover art and illustrations by Paul Pederson Amazing new stories from: Brad R. Torgersen Alex Kane Annie Bellet Su J. Sokol Erica L. Satifka George Wells Alexis A. Hunter Natalia Theodoridou Hannah Lackoff Florence Major Anna Yeatts Mary Hedengren JC Hemphill Kaitlyn M. M. Caul Terri Wallace Chip Houser Samantha Kymmell-Harvey Brianne Kohl Will Mayer Alex Shvartsman Stewart C Baker Michael Hodges Melinda Brasher Julia Patt Tom Howard Sadie Bruce Hannah Streett Joe Baumann Peter Medeiros Laura Redden Erturk Marisa Crane