A collection of short stories and essays, this book presents a fascinating grab-bag of material by John Howard Reid, currently Chief Judge of the prestigious and super-popular (and no wonder, with an annual First Prize of $3,000!) Tom Howard Short Story, Essay and Prose Contest. Reid's literary tastes range from Ancient Egypt ("Scent of Lotus on a Windy Day" -- a mystery story with strong horror overtones) to modern Egypt ("Dead Man Walking" -- an involving thriller), from the humorous ("Beachcombing: Your Questions Answered") to the romantically dramatic ("Bethany"), from the pastiche ("The Reclamation of Edwin Drood") to the way-out ("Step-Ladder Nine"), from the sarcastic ("A Jewel of an Idea") to the pertinent ("Contest Blues"). Fifteen stories in all.

everyone who enjoys a good story, be it dramatic, humorous, thrilling or just engagingly true-to-life,

"Step-Ladder Nine" about a group of would-be college students who aspire to winning the annual poetry prize.

"Anyone for Play Ball?" but then I'm not a baseball fan. Anyway it's only five pages.

buy some of the author's other collections including "Mexican Autumn", "A Mountain of Many Treasures" and "Micaela Morris in Jo's Heaven".

glad to be alive!

is a witty, generous, heart-stopping, amusingly romantic storyteller!

it is so enthusiastically entertaining.