Child Abuse

This is a brilliant collection of short stories Nikki. Short, sharp and concise but with a world of meaning behind each word. You have a great talent. I have backed the book with stars and it's in my w/l. Great stuff!

Kate Grimes -LIZZIE -CUPPA TALES -TALES OF WILLOW GREEN - ANNIE.

At first the character in the sting sounds like he is an adult and he is doing a charity. Then the ending is just so cute. I love the way your mind works. This is so cute. I love it! So creative!

I never realized before that you could just leave your stories short and not finish them off. I thank you for writing these. I love the way you write. I wish to read more of your style. I think I write somewhat like you but not really. Keep up the great work.

Although I would have chosen a different story to title this collection, Child Abuse is a wonderful set of short fiction. In a lot of ways, writing short stories is harder than writing full-length novels, but author Nikki Woo seems to have it down. She proves masterful at quick characterization, giving us a lot about the main people in a story in a very short space.

I think the biggest problem that people have when writing a short story is the ending. I used to subscribe to a magazine that was full of short stories every month, and while most of them started out really good, very few of them had satisfying endings on almost any level. That is not the case here. Every one of these, even the flash fiction, had a really nice end. Like the curly cue at the end of a pig’s tale, it completed the work with aplomb.

The one thing I would suggest is that the author find a theme and pen a bunch of stories around it, so as to make it more marketable. For example, Steady Hands is a great piece of Lovecraft-like fiction set in the gaslight era, but someone who loves that type of setting probably won’t want to read Child Abuse or Finger for that matter. Given that the author has the skill in a lot of different genres, she could probably pick her favorite one, be it children’s fiction, or dark fantasy horror or quirky modern tales. But it really needs a theme to be marketed. Find that, and a collection of short stories like this could be golden.

John Breeden II
Old Number Seven

Dear Nikki,
Amazing how one short story differs from the next. As a mother I could completely relate to your first short story, but then after reading the second one, "Steady Hands", I was completely taken aback! You tell it as if you have lived through it yourself. Very descriptive and you suck the reader in from the very beginning. Congratulations! Will you be uploading more short stories? I am definitely shelving this.
If you could take a look at my children's novel THE WARRIOR TWINS, I would appreciate any feedback you can give me.
Best of luck!
Maria

Loved the Sting, it took me by surprise. Not what I expected at all. I guess that's why I enjoyed it. Quick, simple and unexpected. Well done

Loved the Sting, it took me by surprise. Not what I expected at all. I guess that's why I enjoyed it. Quick, simple and unexpected. Well done

Hey I was glad to find another collection of short stories on here. Can't believe I didn't see the ending to the sting coming, I guess I should have paid more attention to the title.

Scratch
Depends On WHat You Mean By Inappropriate

Hi Nikki, I've taken a look at your short stories and enjoyed them.
I was most impressed by the first one, 'Child Abuse'.
A young mother... by herself... trying to cope with a sick baby.
Your description of events are very vivid, and the whole episode is traumatic for the reader as well.
Such a very good story which many mothers will relate to.
A complete change of tempo with 'Steady Hands' a little bit of the macabre here.
Once again some excellent description and a compelling read, albeit a rather short one...but great stuff!
I would like to read more, should you continue to upload further stories.
Pleased to star-rate your book high on what I've seen of your writing so far.

Kind regards,

Neville. THE SECRETS OF THE FOREST - THE TIME ZONE.

HI Nikki,

I have just read your short story, Child Abuse. It is a dark and edgy piece portraying the near madness of the mother as she skates right on up to the edge of harming her child. Loved the ending, the squalor and the guilt was far more powerful than any act of actual violence could have been. A really well written and strong piece.I will be back to read the others soon.

Well done

Rob

Steady Hands. Have you been reading Edgar Allan Poe? Just kidding. I gasped aloud at least twice during this story. Perhaps more, but I was quite riveted to the goings on. Allow me to back up and say how much I loved the line: . . . the better part of a decade to reach that rarest of moments in the academic world, the point of action. The tone and voice here are also great. I look forward to reading more of your stories.
Best,
John B Campbell

Hi Nikki,

I just noticed your short story collection, so I popped over to have a read and leave a comment. I’ve been reading lots of lengthy pieces lately, so I’m looking forwards to a change of pace. :)

Child Abuse:

Traumatic title and story. I never knew colic was so serious. Such a condition must be terrible for the child and exhausting for the parent. :(

This is a v sad story. I soon get the impression this woman’s on the verge of a nervous breakdown. She’s been abandoned by her partner, left with a sick baby. No wonder she’s struggling to cope.

I can feel the tension going up moment by moment, with her headache, and the screaming baby, and the trying to cope with feeding him when he won’t/can’t feed. I dread to think what she’ll do if/when she snaps. :)

Everything seems to calm down when she manages to get him to start feeding , though. Phew. Maybe things will be ok after all.

Ah the ending was unexpected. I thought she was going to snap and harm the baby. But it appears that the “child abuse” in the title is just her frazzled perception and guilt. Sad ending for her, but I’m relieved for the baby. It could have been so much worse for him!

Steady Hands:

You do a great job of conveying a feel of time and place here, I think, immediately thrusting us into the Victorian era. What are all these gentlemen about, I wonder? Ah it seems they’re networking and brown-nosing. Ah and Alexander’s hoping to be the new Dean. ;)

Great descriptions, especially with “His head is nodding like a woodpecker’s” and the mouth that’s like “looking into a small and fetid piano.”

Uh oh why has he received no letter? I think I can guess :(. Ah the excuse is they wanted a younger man. Hardwick. No wonder Alex is furious. He’s obviously the expert. I can feel the awkwardness when Alex corners Hardwick. I almost laughed aloud when he so smoothly slips in mention of Hardwick’s “silver tongue.” This old man is malicious when he’s pissed off, isn’t he? ;)

I get v suspicious when Alex leads Hardwick off. What’s he going to do to the younger man? Uh oh … looks like he drugs him.

Oh my God, I can’t believe what he did to the man’s eyes! This story is getting far darker than I expected. I half expected Alex to murder the younger man, yet this mutilation feels so much more cold-blooded and cruel. Then he takes the hands too, in the same emotionless manner. I think it’s the matter of fact way he does all this that makes it so chilling. Brrrr.

Hmmm what’s he doing with the ancient Egyptian stuff? It looks like his taking of the eyes and the hands was more than mere vengeance. He brings them back to life, and seems to hope to use them as replacements for his own. Suddenly, though, he fears what he’s created, and tries to get rid of them. But such creations aren’t so easily dealt with.

He eventually traps the unholy creations in a box and suitcase, and , irony of ironies, gets the case laid in the foundations for the new building. Seemingly, all ends well for Alex. And yet, he’ll have to live the rest of his days knowing those hands and eyes are there, gradually working their way free, coming from him. Scary.

(Running out of time, sadly, so I’ll skip to the last chapter now)

The Sting:

Hmm what’s wrong with her? Who is she, I wonder? Helpless movement, crawling, head nodding. Is she drunk or injured?

And why does Mum say she doesn’t want a ride when he’s trying to be so helpful? The mysteries are coming thick and fast now. Surely the mother should appreciate his concern.

Wow I didn’t expect her to bite him, or him to hit her. I’m shocked. Ah… “she” is a wasp. All is now explained. ;)

OK I think I’ll have to stop commenting now as I’m out of time. :(

Well, I think it’s safe to say I’m impressed. I’ve rarely stumbled across a writer so adept at different forms. All 3 of the stories I read were fascinating and v well told, despite being hugely different from each other. Child Abuse was a great portrayal of a woman on the edge. Steady Hands (the best piece in my opinion) was a v chilling and dark story of vengeance driven by obsession, ending badly for all concerned. And The Sting was a lovely little story with a fun twist, a sting in the tail as it were. ;)

I’m happily rating this with 6 stars, and really hope you manage to sell your stories. I think you have real talent. :)

God luck,

Pete x

Wow-- what a nice collection of stories. I've yet to encounter anything like it, but I enjoyed it. I'm a fan of short story collections. If you aren't going to publish these in a book in the near future, you might want to consider trying to sub them out to different literary magazines.
Best of luck to you!

Hi Nikki, Read the rest of your stories last night and found every one of them a great example of its type. You can certainly crank up the tension - but, you know what? I reckon they are all the first chapter of a very good book rather than a short story, except the titular one perhaps, which stands more comfortably alone, although even that has potential for something long and complex.

I have shelved them for the sheer quality of the writing, but look again at your stories. They each have a central plot but with several sub-plots burbling nicely beneath the surface and each has tension, well built characters and finish on what is really a hook well and truly stuck into the reader who is left waiting for the next development. Do consider trying somethng longer, if you have not yet done so. And every best wish to you. Margaret

Dear Nikki, What a beautifully written opening story! I have put your book on my watch list in order to read the rest.

For some reason short stories still have trouble in the market-place in spite of the successful bbc short story competition. People seem better at writing them than reading them! Maybe you should consider something longer, although the disciplines are not the same. But with the skills you have already mastered the writing of a novel should be easy, once you find the plot and theme which enthuses you.

Good luck, Margaret Woodward : The Devil's Bairn

CHILD ABUSE
Nikki, there are a lot of short story compilations on here and I have to say - honestly - yours is one of the best I have read. Your imagination is immense and you can switch from one subject to another with seemingly apparent ease. I don't know how long a period you wrote these over but one or two are stunning. A brilliant collection, please write a full novel - what subject will you begin with?
Executed with ease. Believable and written from the heart. Well done. I have given this high stars.
Faith
THE ASSASSINS VILLAGE

Nikki, I've read all 6 stories over the last few weeks & have to say, wow, what a fertile imagination you have.
Your writing is so eclectic & diverse, & you seem to slip into any genre with ease. From quirky irreverance to downright scary; that's quite a skill.
I have to say Steady Hands was my favourite. I just wish it was longer. Have you ever written a full novel? If not I strongly reccomend you should.
Very enjoyable reading.

Derryl Flynn (Scrapyard Blues)

Beautifully written with a whole cross section of human themes, nicely structured, poignant, exciting and heartfelt

These are some of the finest examples of short story writing that I've encountered on Authonomy, not only for subtlety and craft but also for the ease with which the task is so roundly completed....excellent work that fully deserves to be backed.
Cheers
Stewart

Dear Nikki
you have written quite the read here...I have not read it all but will carry on. your ability to create dpictures with words is quite amazing
backed
I hope you take the time to comment and back my book
Denise
The Letter

You have written a very interesting and unique short stories, which I do like, and created some memorable main characters. I also like your use of the first person narrative voice. The dialogue is realistic and well written and the pace of your stories flow well. All of this along with your descriptive writing makes your work a pleasure to read. Backed.

Andrew Burans
The Reluctant Warrior: The Beginning

Dear Nikki, I guess I liked the blueberry pie story best. :) I do love short stories, but I like happy endings, too. :) Your pitch prepared me for your short stories & your tight dialogue & pargraphs made for a smooth read. :) I've backed your book :) - could you please take a moment to back my memoir book? :) Thanks so very much. :) Love, Susie :)

The first story is genius, and had me wanting desperately to help the poor mother. She should not have to struggle alone. First person, present tense, and I mostly loathe present tense, - yet I didn't notice you were using it until story 2. It works well, though I don't think it ever works well for the distance of a full length novel. 2nd story, Sometimes I wish I didn't get so involved. I could have done without that image. I also read story 4. You write with a great deal of feeling, and with a real understanding of people, though I really didn't like the ending. You have the talent to write what you want to write. As a personal preference, I hope you don't go for Horror. Backed for sheer brilliance, Very well done. Marj.

Nikki,
Read the first story. Realistic and written from the heart. It isn't easy to capture little things so well - the smell of the baby's wind, etc.
The story was compelling and held my interest to the end. Not sure why you named it Child Abuse though.... or was it the dream? I will read some more later.

Would you look at God of the Cocoa and let me know what you think please? If you think it is deserving, I would be very grateful if you back it.Thanks.

Backed.

Best Wishes
Marilyn

Nikki,
Read the first story. Realistic and written from the heart. It isn't easy to capture little things so well - the smell of the baby's wind, etc.
The story was compelling and held my interest to the end. Not sure why you named it Child Abuse though.... or was it the dream? I will read some more later.

Would you look at God of the Cocoa and let me know what you think please? If you think it is deserving, I would be very grateful if you back it.Thanks.

Best Wishes
Marilyn

You are a great writer.

backed

:) comment to follow - read & commented on 9 hours later :)