It has been (as of this writing in September 2011) over two years since its release, but I remain very proud of what I have accomplished. Pre- and post release reviews have surpassed what I ever imagined or wished for. I’ve provided a few below — if you would like to see more you can find them at my site.
I make absolutely no pretense nor stake any claim to being a modern day Hemingway or Steinbeck—not even close by the most distant of measures. My simple goal is to live up to my end of the authorship bargain with the reader: An equal exchange of time and value. Time is a precious thing, so I hope to bring some quality to the time you may spend reading my stories.
It’s a collection of short stories, each a splinter’s reflection of the human condition, firmly centered upon our oft tenuous, sometimes tensile bond with Hope, and careening flirtation with Love.
Any short story should, at its core, be a conveyor of all things human; it should make you smile, furrow your brow, raise your pulse, or perhaps even make you laugh, if only to yourself. In short, it should make you feel. A story, in and of itself, doesn’t evoke feeling—not as much as the characters which breathe life into it do. Short stories are a wonderful vehicle for momentary escapism.
Within the pages lay fifteen such stories, from the wispy fog of a love lost at sea, to an orphaned child who delivers a present of her own during a war-torn Christmas. Much as an orchestral score sweeps, climbs, and undulates when the arrangement declares, so too does an entertaining story, deriving its power not from staid settings, but flowing from the heart of the characters.
If I’ve done my job properly, the stories may just remind each of us of what it is to be human, and certainly of our affinity for the slightest glint of Hope.
• If you would like to purchase a copy from Amazon, click on the cover image above
• If you would like a signed copy from yours truly, visit my site and click on the PayPal link on the right hand side :^)
Now Available Digitally!
Are e-books more your thing? Then you can get TLTDAEB for your Kindle, Nook, Kobo, iPad — just about any reading device! Only $2.99 at Smashwords (where you can download it for all reader formats), or Amazon.
In Their Own Words
J.W. Nicklaus is a masterful storyteller, one whose work shows a depth seldom found among writers today. These stories are masterfully imbued with poignant insight, and a smooth, silky narration that permeates like incense. The struggles and triumphs of rich-in-dimension characters reflect the common thread of the human condition – one that J.W. weaves throughout these stories like an artisan weaves a gilded strand throughout a tapestry.
Mary Hay Davis ~ San Diego Family Magazine
I confess: I generally prefer the depth of a novel to the quicker pace of short stories. [This] collection, The Light, the Dark, and Ember Between, proves a delightful read, however, and may make me more likely to opt for short story compilations in the future. The stories all have intriguing plots, believable dialogue, and beautifully descriptive prose.
Leslie Raith ~ Curled Up With A Good Book/www.curledup.com
Nicklaus is a craftsman and artist when it comes to the use of language. Powerful, terse, and beautiful language resulting in images that are simply beautiful and strong.
Themes of certain stories may be slightly similar to Nicholas Sparks, as commented by other readers, because they hit the heart; any comparison stops right there. There is no comparison when it comes to [Nicklaus’s] artistic use of language — precise, strong and poetic.
Frances Kakugawa ~ Author – Mosaic Moon, Wordsworth the Poet, Wordsworth Does the Waltz, Teacher You Look Like a Horse
There are authors who are well-known for their short stories – Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, O. Henry, even John Steinbeck – and all are admired for their mastery of spinning a tale of brilliantly strung-together words. This acclaimed group can now count another author among their ranks – J.W. Nicklaus.
Sharon Chance Galighar ~ Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews
J.W. Nicklaus is a word artist. He paints mental pictures with lyrical prose. The Light, The Dark & Ember Between is a collection of 15 short stories whose concurrent theme centers on finding hope in death. Nicklaus’ writing is dense with meaning. It is not trivial, light reading. His sentences are filled with complexity in a style that encourages the reader to slow down and savor each word.
Nicole Langan ~Scranton Book | Examiner.com
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