Saturday 21 May 2011

Children - Maggie Clark

Children
Maggie Clark
Vagabondage Press
ISBN 9781452407845


This novella was dark, twisted and compelling. I have known the author for a few years but as a reporter and editor. I had no idea the depth of creativity and the overwhelming power in her words, once she turned to fiction. In part, the story was like driving by an accident - you cannot help but look. Once you start reading, you know something bad is coming and you might even figure it out, but the suspense you go through reading, and waiting and discovering the details as Clark reveals them to us, in little snippets as the story progresses, is intense.

The characters are amazing. I only hope we will see either more stories or a novel focused around the reporter and news woman, Chrissy. She has insight, determination and an unwillingness to play politics at the office. There is a lot to admire in this character even as she is piecing together the terrible truth.

The story will grab at the heart and gut of any parent, or really anyone who is close to young children, either in their family or friends. As you're reading, you cannot help but wonder about missing children, abduction and worse, and what if? The 'What Ifs' in this story are what get you. In 49 pages of text in the PDF version of the book, you are taken on a roller coaster ride of emotions.

Clark has written an amazing novella, or short story, that shows incredible skill and talent as a writer. I can only hope we get a lot more fiction to read from this budding Canadian author.

The book can be purchased in electron format either from Amazon or directly from Vagabond Press, and to be honest, for $1.99 you cannot go wrong.

Books by M.L. Clark:
Children
The Bitter Sweet Here and After - Short Story
Uncle Remy's Whizz-Bang Circus
Game of Primes
Fat of the Land
The Shape of Things to Come
The Stars, Their Faces Uplifted in Song

Then Raise the Dead Man High
The Shadow & The Shadow

The Menagerie Mysteries:
The Stars, At Last Count
Wildly Runs The Dying Sun

K-City Kink Sisters:
Lacing Up To Reality - Short Story
One For The Team - Short Story

Contributed to:
Bastion Issue #6 September 2014
Lightspeed: Year One
Lightspeed Magazine, March 2011
The Year’s Best Science Fiction & Fantasy, 2017


Analog:
Analog Science Fiction and Fact, June 2013
Analog Science Fiction and Fact, March 2014
Analog Science Fiction and Fact, September 2015


Clarksworld:
Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 199
Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 193
Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 181
Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 173
Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 165
Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 162
Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 156
Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 123
Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 92
Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 86
Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 80
Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 74

Works translated by M.L. Clark:
The Marquise of Yolombo - Tomás Carrasquilla
...

Author Profile Interview with M.L. Clark



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