Excerpt: "Despite the promise of its title, just three of the 13 short stories in this collection by Vermont author Tim Weed relate to fly-fishing, so I must keep this brief. If like me, however, you rarely have time to devote to a novel, so find the short story format an appealing alternative, this assortment of tales in different scenarios, will not disappoint. Like other talented writers in this genre, Weed is not hampered by the brevity of the medium; forced to set up punchlines so swiftly that they become apparent long before the closing paragraph. 

Excerpt: ". . . In Aesop Lake, Vermont based writer Sarah Ward looks at bullying, sexual assault, and gay rights through Aesop's Fables. Taking care to avoid preaching, Ward makes morality something to be talked about. . . . the story of Leda Keogh, who witnesses a violent hate crime against two of her classmates, a gay couple. Alternating between Leda's perspective and Jonathan's, one of the victims of the hate crime, Ward's story explores what it takes to find courage and speak the truth. . . . Using fables that don't preach ensures that Ward doesn't alienate her readers, but rather invites them in. . .  while we expect Leda to change from the opening of her novel, Ward still manages to keep us turning the pages, eager to see how Leda's story will end. This is a testimony to Ward's superb pacing and ability to sustain the tension for the 204 pages of her book."