Calling The Shots

by Karen Dionne

Jason just broke up with his pregnant girlfriend. Now he’s in the forest, cutting firewood alone, which he knows is a foolish and dangerous thing to do… A short story of 1,500 words. First appeared in the anthology FIRST THRILL: High-Octane Stories from the Hottest Thriller Authors edited by Lee Child.

Genres: Short Stories

5 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 7, 2012

About the author

Karen Dionne is the USA Today and #1 internationally bestselling author of The Marsh King’s Daughter and The Wicked Sister, both published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons in the US and in dozens of other languages. Praised by The New York Times Book Review as “subtle, brilliant, and mature,” The Marsh King’s Daughter is soon to be a major motion picture starring Ben Mendelsohn and Daisy Ridley.

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very short book; there is a danger that your review is longer than the story itself.
Lumberjacks without Michael Palin; hatred between Swedes and Finns relocated in the USA "Without a song or a dance" and a mother-in-law to cap any of Les Dawson's jokes.
Jason knows trees but he doesn't understand - one could be the death of him when he gets his girlfriend pregnant. But he wants to be a good Father and demonstrate his worth. Too short but quite chilling; enough words to leave you cold.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calling The Shots is a (very) short story by award-winning American author, blogger and reviewer, Karen Dionne, available free online at https://gallery.mailchimp.com/06c9c7e.... Jason has just walked out on his pregnant girlfriend, envisioning a future where she turns into her domineering mother. He’s out in the woods, alone, cutting trees. It could be dangerous, he knows. In fact, it turns out to be exactly that. A great little taste of Dionne’s writing talent with a perfect last line.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing short stories should be easier - they're so much shorter than a novel. But, in my opinion, they must be so much more difficult. How do you capture a reader, tell a story, in just a few pages!

Great one Karen Dionne!