Land of the Story Tellers
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Published by: Story Teller Press
Release Date: July 25th, 2024
Pages: 532
ISBN13: 979-8-9892258-0-4 ( paperback), 979-8-9892258-1-1 (hardcover), 979-8-9892258-2-8 (ebook)
ABOUT THE BOOK
This book has been traveling 25 years to get here ... and now it’s here. And you have to say call it — is this the book that will win your heart?
There are many stories in Land of The Story Tellers. It’s vivid anthology of American fiction. These stories were gathered from a sharp eye, and ears cupped into the conversations of strangers. The things they said which stuck inside, only writing what really mattered in good storytelling.
The Old Lady bestows the virtues of volunteerism on the readership, where the lead character devotes thirty-eight years into caring for war veterans at the Soldiers Home.The perpetual love between father and daughter, is told on the blue bed of the lake in the fishing story of May Rain. The crowning jewels of thematic patterning overshadowed the need for dialogue in Texas Hardpan, and the supernatural gift of Sanctifying Grace is bestowed on those crying hard on the sun cracked soil of Hillcrest Cemetery.
Nick slashes up the lake ice with his much loved CCM hockey skates in Old Man Winter, and the desolation of wilderness heals the young man from the death of his girlfriend. Practicing Law is a parable told in Ireland, where a RUC constable by the name of Molly McGrath gets killed on the Foyle Bridge crossing by an IRA ambush, and some blood ends up across the ocean on the Queen’s hands.
Inside the smoke filled train station of When the Subject Matter Caught Up With Everything, and band of English majors from Princeton and Columbia recite the evolution of language when focus became fixed on the root syllables of Teutonic — syllables deprived of accents were weakened in pronunciation over time by slurring of sound together, and eventually the vowels and constant sounds became erased from frequency response; these inflected forms of words were allowed to flourish with new pronunciation, from the victories of marauding wars. Three oil men from Texas in the smoke filed train station, are virtually stunned at the brilliance of the college students.
First Steps is a child’s story, with the plot submerged towards mercy for the weak and defenseless. Pencil Box is spun in the heart of Central Park, where the readers can sit on the iconic green park bench inscribed — For All The Dreamers.
Perhaps the most rousing tale in this book is Dolly Dagger, the suffering of Vietnam veteran Merle Long both from the fateful morning his Marine company got overrun by the 324th NVA Regiment, and the jeering Merle endured from our country on his crestfallen home coming ... missing parts of his body. This story is hailed for its authenticity from those who fought in the jungles of Vietnam, and will endure a staple of short war stories.
These stories span our world. I hope you like some. The signature of storytelling is breathing characterization with unusual subject matter, and protagonists who bear very deep scars, both seen and unseen from the whipping posts of life.
— author Stephen Deck
PRAISE
“Deck can write. In the Land of The Story Tellers he writes up a storm...and war, and festa, and...He writes with a seemingly infinite range of styles from sparse Hemingway to rococo—Faulkner and beyond. Amazingly, at least to me, he’s mastered them all. From this exceptional observation of details comes vivid and luminous images, and from the juxtaposition of these images he builds his stories.”
—John M. Del Vecchio, The 13th Valley, For The Sake of All Living Things, Carry Me Home, The Bremer Detail, Demise: A Novel of Race, Culture Wars, and Falling Darkness
“Simply stated, Stephen Deck is a natural born storyteller who is able to tell his stories (and his poems) on paper with the same eloquence and spelling binding as if he were sitting across the room and regaling the reader in person. Land of the Story Tellers: 24 Stories and 7 Poems is a compendium of short stories whose deftly crafted prose raises them to an impressive level of literary eloquence.
The signature of his storytelling is breathing characterization with unusual subject matter, and protagonists who bear very deep scars, both seen and unseen from the whipping posts of life.”
—Midwest Book Review
“Stephen Deck’s Land of the Story Tellers: 24 Stories and 7 Poems is a diverse and captivating anthology that pulls the reader through various experiences, periods, and emotions. The book’s long journey to publication feels like the culmination of an author’s dedication to observing life and carefully crafting what matters most in storytelling. The anthology is a rich tapestry of variety in subject matter and tone. These stories excel in exploring the rawness of human emotions and relationships.
The variety of stories and the calming layout piqued my interest, and I knew this was a book I had to read. I wasn’t disappointed. In Texas Hardpan told in Hillcrest Cemetery, Deck seamlessly moves between thematic introspection and the supernatural, offering compelling and thought-provoking stories. Practicing Law ventures across the Atlantic to Ireland, combining history, tragedy, and political tension, while Dolly Dagger is a poignant Vietnam War tale. Deck’s portrayal of a wounded veteran grappling with physical and emotional scars is authentic and honors those who served. Deck’s ability to create engaging settings and solid, well-fleshed characters makes this a thought-provoking read that will appeal to readers of all ages and genres. The poems are as good as the stories. My favorite is Schools Out because it’s so nostalgic, and Swamp Serenade is a close second with its portrayal of Poe’s The Lake. Land of the Story Tellers is an unforgettable anthology that sticks with you for its diverse storytelling and the masterful way it’s written.”
—Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite
“Thank you for your copy of the short story, The Mexicans, kindly inscribed. You know how I love to read! And thanks too for the engaging photo. President Bush joins me in sending our best wishes.”
—Laura Bush
Note: The Mexicans is a story in Land of The Story Tellers.
“Dolly Dagger is a story in Land of The Story Tellers. This is a tale of accuracy and truth. We endured the threat of injury and death every day. To survive and come home to a largely hostile population bred among us anger and a sense of revenge. The climate today is a 100% reversal of goodwill for veterans and support long overdue.”
—Cpl. Aldo Martinelli United States Marine Corps, Tour of Vietnam 1967-1968
Note: Aldo was shot through the chest by an NVA sniper on April 19th of 1968, far north in Quang Tri Province. He survived from the love of his fellow Marines, the doctors and nurses at Chelsea Naval Hospital, and now lives in Florida with his wife Shelia and daughter Julie.
“Land of the Story Tellers: 24 Stories and 7 Poems by Stephen Deck is an anthology of American fiction, featuring a collection of stories and poems that span 25 years. The tales range from war veterans in The Old Lady to familial love in May Rain, from sanctifying grace in Texas Hardpan to the scars of war in Dolly Dagger. Each story delves into the human experience, exploring themes of love, loss, redemption, and resilience, with vivid characters facing life's challenges in raw and moving ways. This is a brilliant collection of classic American tales that showcase a variety of attitudes and ideals across the diverse landscape of recent American history. There’s both a disparate and unifying feel to the work, with dialogue and descriptions that bring American politics, humor, satire, and deep personal drama to life, but also subvert stereotypes for surprises and realism in each plot.
Stephen Deck’s keen observation of people and conversations infuses the stories with authenticity, making each character and setting feel remarkably real as the dynamic and often very witty dialogue leaps from the pages to make you chuckle or gasp out loud. His versatility as a storyteller lets readers experience different emotional landscapes as well as physical ones, taking them in one moment through the horrendous pangs of loss and grieving, and in the next, the giddy highs of love, nostalgia, and hope. His ability to explore deep scars of memory and experience through his protagonists adds vulnerability and truth to every tale to make the characters feel all the more real. The anthology truly captures the age-old humanism of storytelling and the culture of stories themselves. Overall, Land of the Story Tellers is a poignant, thoughtprovoking, and memorable read that fans of accomplished shortform fiction everywhere are sure to adore.”
—Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
“Stephen King once revealed along the lines that a writer must be willing to roll in the words. Read all the classics of literature—for here is buried the magic key that can move mountains in storytelling. I have fond memories of curling up at my dad’s feet on a Saturday night when the family gathered by the fireside for a night of storytelling. Dad had a great voice for telling stories and a great number of books full of stories. Stephen Deck’s Land of the Story Tellers reminds me of those cherished childhood moments. His collection of short stories and poems reflects the profound and sometimes very simple nature of life. The Old Lady is a story about volunteers who devote their lives to caring for others while Pencil Box is a tale from the heart of Central Park in New York, where an iconic green park bench is inscribed with the words: For All the Dreamers.
Stephen Deck’s book, Land of the Story Tellers: 24 Stories and 7 Poems, is an anthology of words of wisdom and reflections on life. The author/poet’s ability to control the power of the English language to tell a simple, yet compelling story, time and again, is paramount in this collection. He is well-read in the classics as he writes in a wide range of styles, a master of the artistic ability to spin a great tale. He writes about real-life events, as well as fictional themes that reflect life. This is a fascinating collection of stories and poems to be savored and enjoyed each day, one entry at a time. Profoundly artistic, thrilling, adventurous and captivating.”
—Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite
“Land of the Story Tellers by Stephen Deck is a collection of original short stories and poetry, each one reading independently. They all range in length, tone, and tenor with most leaning into themes of conflict and consequence. The Long Wait follows Nick, a devoted deer hunter who remains in his tree stand, waiting for the mystical buck to appear, with a twist ending. Watering Cans describes the experiences of an American stationed in Cessole, Italy during WWII, who engages in vineyard work and witnesses the local impact of Benito Mussolini's downfall in the broader wartime context. The Jackass in the Road tells of a paralyzed jackass during the devastation of war, shifting to a vengeful Russian assault on Germans driven by a history of suffering, and a death march to Siberia.
Stephen Deck’s Land of the Story Tellers: 24 Stories and 7 Poems demonstrates Deck's command of storytelling, showing us his keen eye for detail and a unique understanding of human profiles. I found the writing to be authentic, and the author captures the essence of his characters with striking clarity, whether depicting personal loss, historical events, or true-to-life relationships. I loved the incorporation of poetry and, my very favorite aspect, the inclusion of pop culture pieces with a special shout-out to Led Zeppelin. While all of these might seem like a mixed bag, the amalgamation absolutely works on account of Deck's skilled handling. Overall, this collection stands out as a singular anthology in its exploration of universal themes through engrossing and persuasive storytelling.”
—Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
“Land of the Story Tellers is a collection of 24 short stories and 7 poems by Stephen Deck. The Old Lady follows a woman who, after spending over three decades volunteering at a soldiers' home, is plagued by pangs of loneliness in her elder years. Two men with checkered pasts try to make amends for their former misdeeds on Easter Eve in The Mexicans. Land of the Story Tellers follows the adventures of a Croatian fan in an Irish pub on the matchday of the 2018 World Cup Final. In Field of Dreams, a man stops by a farm road to pick some berries and develops a deeper appreciation for the amiable farmers on a hot summer's day. A young boy helps a batch of baby turtles experience water for the first time in First Steps.
Land of the Story Tellers is an enthralling anthology that will delight short story lovers and poetry readers alike. Stephen Deck’s tales explore many different facets of the human experience, narrated through the POV of protagonists who face their own unique challenges and situations in life. These stories feature some vividly drawn and grounded characters, who come from diverse backgrounds and are at different stages of their lives. Each tale has its own set of surprises in store for the reader, adding rich and distinct flavors of life to the narrative. The book also contains seven captivating poems that are bound to bring joy to any poetry enthusiast. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this anthology. If you’re looking for a quiet evening read and love short stories, this is the perfect book for you.”
—Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorites
“The choice of words in Land of The Story Tellers are like brush strokes of an artist...they capture and engulf the reader into the expressions of great storytelling.
The author’s abilities to capture the essence of the environment and conduct the readership through the windows of time, sparks the imagination.
The story of May Rain in penned through a true event, the author fishing on Ashfield Lake. The tale ends— “Sometimes in fishing, the lessons go beyond deep waters and the catching of fish.” This story allowed me to reflect on many of my life lessons learned while fishing along my grandfather and memories made. Some books find us at just the right time.”
—Donald Wilda, wildlife artist
SAMPLE OF LAND OF THE STORY TELLERS
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