Description:
Thirteen tales where ordinary lives meet extraordinary moments. Imaginative, vivid, and varied, these stories immerse readers in diverse characters and themes-a rich collection for anyone who loves the art of the short story.
Brief description: Since he was a child, Christopher Amato dreamed of working in law enforcement. After earning a degree with honors in criminology from Florida State University, he began working as a federal agent. Upon retirement, he pursued another longstanding dream, turning his attention to writing. His first two books are crime thrillers, followed by his collection of short stories. Christopher is married, a proud father of three sons, and a grandfather to two teenage boys. He and his wife currently reside in North Carolina, but they lived in Italy for almost a decade, traveling around Europe house and pet sitting, having a blast and learning how people in the world live. He makes a to-die-for vegetarian chili from his own recipe and is known for his quiches.
Review Quotes:
"The various narrators throughout the collection personalize each story with varieties of dry wittiness: 'She reasoned her version of the truth was like taffy-it could be stretched and pulled in either direction, but it was still taffy in the end.' That logic characterizes the collection as a whole; it's elastic, engaging, and honestly reckons with humanity's flaws, distortions, and charm. A pleasurable collection of short stories that will leave readers wanting 13 more." -Kirkus Reviews, Indie Editor's Feature Selection
"Amato (author of Peace River Village) sculpts a short story collection culled from speculative fiction, drama, and history, delivering poignant portrayals of what it means to be human." -BookLife
"Wry, wise, and full of heart. Amato's collection is a master class in short story fiction." -Niamh McAnally, author of Following Sunshine
"Fans of Christopher Amato's novels are in for a treat with his newest work, An Author's Dozen. Ranging from the thought-provoking to the moving to the spine-tingling, the stories are tight, quick-moving, neatly wrapped up, and oh, so satisfying. Five stars!" -Patti Liszkay, author of Tropical Depression
"Christopher Amato has cooked up a series of short tales thick with plot, smooth with prose, and reduced just enough that it is packed with flavor." -Paul Jantzen, author of Sour Apples: A Novel For Those Who Hate to Read
"Reading Christopher Amato's collection of short stories is like sampling a bit of everything at your favorite buffet; each story is a unique blend of plot, timeline, and a group of characters that will leave the reader wishing for more." -LeeAnne James, award-winning author of The Thin Blue Line Series
"This baker's dozen of mini novels is well-written and incredibly entertaining. Author Christopher Amato left me craving more. Five stars for thirteen stories!" -Sherry Hobbs, author of Mac -The Wind Beneath My Wings
"Christopher Amato shows his range in An Author's Dozen. Thirteen captivating tales span multiple genres, each providing a satisfying and unexpected twist!" -Sarah Nakawatase, author of Southern Souls
"An Author's Dozen is a tour de force in love, spiritual, science fiction, and human interest that will captivate its readers from the opening paragraphs." -Ernie Dorling, author of The Truth is Always Negotiable