[2015 Update: For a while Amazon was charging 99 cents for this free ebook, but the situation has been resolved and you can now buy it for free. Check the bottom of this page for other places where you can download it for free. ] One of America’s foremost short story writers has made available 3 of his most intriguing stories for a new promotional ebook. These 3 stories (first published in the 1980s) were chosen because they are accessible, intricately written and provocative on many levels. Also included is a long interview with the author about the craft of storytelling. Total: 23,000 words.
87 year old Jack Matthews has published hundreds of short stories, 7 novels and 8 volumes of literary essays. This ebook republishes three of Jack Matthews’ best stories. “Amos Smith, the Gunsmith” reaches into the folk tale tradition to produce a nice allegory about human labor. “A Woman of Properties” is a satirical suburban tale (reminiscent of Flannery O’Connor or Cheever) about a real estate agent with a grudge. “The Girl at the Window” is an unsettling and mysterious tale about our relationship to the past.
Right now, you can download the ebook in any format from Smashwords. In about a week or two, you should also be able to download this free ebook directly from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple, Sony and Kobo.
- Smashwords – download all formats here.
- Amazon — free download .
- Barnes and Noble — free download
- Kobo – free download
- Apple – free download. (It’s there, but I can’t find the URL from outside itunes)
- Sony — free download
Here is a list of other titles by Jack Matthews you can purchase as ebooks — either from the major ebook distributors or directly through this site. Note: Several new titles will be coming out in the next few months, so sign up for the mailing list if you wish to be notified.