Indies Rock Review: Touch of Beyond, Twist’s Tales Vol. 3, by Michael Twist

Today I am pleased to present a short story collection, Touch of Beyond (Twist’s Tales) by Michael Twist.

Touch of Beyond
Twist’s Tales, Volume 3
Michael Twist
Self-Published
139 Pages

About the Book:   Thirteen stories, many ending with a twist; endowed with a tiny splash of paranormal that pushes them just beyond the realm of normal everyday life. These stories will leave you thinking for days.

My Review:   

A collection of thirteen short stories, each uniquely crafted with a viewpoint that often is left until the closing sentence, this is a delightful read.  While I freely admit to being a short story devotee, creating a good short complete and full in imagery, information with a beginning, middle and end is not an easy task.  Each one of these stories contained in this book has a distinct flavor, with a voice that best suits the narrative character, and often provides an interesting twist in a very unexpected and clever ending.

I can’t say that there is one that was my favorite: the integration of unique viewpoints and the distinct patois developed in each character’s voice as the story unfolds both fits and highlights the story as it progresses, leaving the reader with the satisfaction of a story well told.  There is humor and pathos, some great thoughts and some rather shallow ones contained within, and all create a great short read all at once, or to spread out and sample a story a day for nearly two weeks.

With a style that beautifully lends itself to the short story, and a facility with characterization that is clearly rendered in each short with a distinction and subtlety that is enviable, this is storytelling at the higher levels of the form.  Michael Twist has a unique voice and talent for the short story is well represented in this collection, one that I highly recommend.

I received an eBook copy from the author for purpose of honest review for I am, Indeed.  I was not compensated for this review, and all conclusions are my own responsibility.

I give Touch of Beyond 5 out of 5 stars 

Purchase Touch of Beyond at Amazon

About the Author:   After eighteen years of teaching literature Michael Twist decided to try his hand at writing some of his own. Always fascinated by human nature, Michael’s stories often focus on the decisions people make and the internal conflicts they experience in doing so.

Michael’s short story Ties That Bind won the 2011 William Faulkner Riverfest Literary Competition. His short story Americans Do Love Their Cars won the 2011 Quid Novi Festival Writing Contest. Also in 2011, Michael placed second in the Writers’ Journal, Write to Win Contest with his short story Nearly Perfect. In 2012 Michael placed two stories (Tea in Chesapeake and Dear John) in the finals of the Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize sponsored by the North Carolina Writers’ Network as well as making the finals in the Press 53 Open Awards Competition with his short story Out on a Limb. His micro-fiction has been short-listed numerous times in the Flash 500 competitions.

Find Michael at  Website § Facebook §  Amazon Author Page