Stolen Postcards - by Jan Ackerson (Paperback)

About the Book

A bundle of lives, captured in one hundred words-one story for every day of the year. One hundred words have never said so much.

Book Synopsis

Stolen Postcards has a cast of three hundred and sixty-six characters (maybe a few more)--a new one for each day of the year. But unlike a sprawling epic that covers years or decades in the lives of its characters, in this book you'll read only a pivotal moment for each person. And what a fascinating mix of people--here you'll find a novice nun who spends her nights in an unexpected pastime and a fashion model who makes a surprising choice. You'll meet a hoarder, a kleptomaniac, the mother of a long-missing child. Each tiny story is a glance at a snapshot of the characters' existence--like postcards from their lives.

Each story has been written in exactly one hundred words. They're depictions of that moment in time when a life teeters, and then either wobbles off in a new direction or settles more firmly into the old one. Stripped of exposition and lengthy description, these stories invite you to look quickly but carefully--and sometimes even to finish the story yourself. Whether you start on January 1^st and enjoy one tidbit each day or you open the book and read at random, you're sure to find someone who will speak to your heart.

Review Quotes

"If you thrill at tiny wildflowers, single snowflakes, and that fleeting moment when the light is perfect-if you're likely to be at least as captivated by the little kid staring at the famous painting as you are the painting itself-then congratulations, for in Jan Ackerson's Stolen Postcards you have found a book you are sure to love." - N. John Shore, Jr., author, Ashes to Asheville "How Jan Ackerson can elicit genuine emotion from a reader in one hundred words is a gift of detail, language, and insight." - Lisa Mikitarian, author and screenwriter/director, SPENT "Warning: These 100-word stories are as addicting as Candy Crush. Jan is a master wordsmith, creating mini-stories so emotive and vivid, you can't read just one." - Theresa Santy, author, On the Edge "Jan Ackerson's gentle, lyrical voice gives us stories of everyday life that you will carry in your heart for weeks to come." - Mimi Johnson, author, Gathering String "Someday I will master brevity as artfully as Jan Ackerson." - Steve Buttry, veteran journalist and journalism professor "An extraordinary collection of powerful vignettes to make you laugh, cry, sympathize, and dream." - Betty Castleberry, author, Faylene in High Plains series "In Stolen Postcards, Jan Ackerson, gifted author, presents humor, pathos, and memorable characters in short slices of real-life prose." - Verna Mitchell, author, Don't Frighten the Pansies "To grace brevity with beauty requires an exacting mind, elegance in language, and depth of soul. The author of this book possesses these in abundance. Especially depth of soul." - Doug Worgul, author, Thin Blue Smoke and The Grand Barbecue