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Steve Carr
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SAND: A Collection of Short Stories by Steve Carr Paperback – February 28, 2018

by Steve Carr (Author), Grant P. Hudson (Editor)
4.9 out of 5 stars 25 ratings
From eerie horror to human tragedy, from biting science fiction to unearthly fantasy, from realistic human drama to quirky surrealism, there seems to be no short story to which Steve Carr cannot turn his hand - gripping his readers all the way. Soldier, sailor, journalist, student, counselor, actor, playwright, director, theatrical producer, traveler, photographer, animal lover, writer of short stories - these are just a few of the titles Steve Carr has had attached to him over the years. The last title, writer of short stories, is his newest, and began in June of 2016 when he submitted his first short story - after years of writing nothing at all - to a publication where it was immediately accepted. Less than two years later he has had over 130 short stories in a half dozen different genres published in print magazines, e-zines, anthologies and literary journals. He has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and won several short story competitions. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, he now lives in Richmond, Virginia where he writes full time. SAND is his first collection of short stories.
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  1. Print length
    233 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    February 28, 2018
  4. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.53 x 8.5 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    0244668663
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0244668662
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lulu
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 28, 2018
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ null
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 233 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0244668663
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0244668662
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.53 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.9 out of 5 stars 25 ratings

About the author

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Steve Carr

Steve Carr

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Told by a high school teacher that he had writing talent, Steve Carr’s career as a writer began right after graduation. He spent three years in the Army as a military journalist, writing articles for newspapers all over Florida, and followed that up with four years in the Navy where he taught in the Psychiatric Technician Program at Portsmouth Naval Hospital, training Hospital Corpsmen how to provide care and support in an inpatient setting for young men with psychiatric disorders. He then finished college, majoring in English/Theater and then spent the next 13 years working in non-profit health care development and management, mostly in rural communities, during which time several of his plays that he wrote in his spare time were produced in several states. He gave up the steady income to pursue his dream of writing/producing/directing his own plays and began a theatrical production company in Arizona. He retired early and in June 2016 began writing short stories. Since then he has had over 550 short stories published internationally in over 280 different print and online magazines, literary journals and anthologies. Collections of his short stories, Sand, Rain, The Tales of Talker Knocks, and the hardback edition The Very Best of Steve Carr: 52 stories, was published by Clarendon House Publications. His collection of short stories, Heat, was published by Czykmate Productions. His self-published debut novel, Redbird, was released in November, 2019. He independently published LGBTQ: 33 Stories, which was released in January, 2020. In May of 2020 his short story collection The Theory of Existence: 50 short stories, was released. His guidebook Getting Your Short Stories Published was also published by Clarendon House. He has over 130 publications and books that contain his short stories listed on his Amazon bibliography. He has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize twice. In 2019, he was on the cover of the Inner Circle Writers’ Magazine inaugural issue and dubbed “The King of Short Stories.” He’s a native of Cincinnati but has traveled extensively in the United States and abroad. He currently lives in Richmond, Virginia where when he’s not writing he frets about his writing peers not getting the attention they deserve. He is the founder of Sweetycat Press, a Facebook Group, that produces publications as promotion tools for emerging writers

Customer reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
25 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise the collection's unique storytelling style, with one noting how the descriptions paint vivid scenes for the senses. The book is thought-provoking, with one customer mentioning it makes readers question reality.

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5 customers mention "Story quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers praise the collection's unique storytelling style and beauty, with one customer noting how the descriptions paint vivid scenes for the senses.

"...His writing is sometimes dark and frequently very beautiful, which I feel is always a great combination (when executed well, which Mr. Carr's does)...." Read more

"...There is so much truth and beauty in these stories. The settings are simple and visceral and beautifully described...." Read more

"This is a remarkable set of stories from a remarkable story-teller. The stories are themselves quite varied, showing genuine breadth of imagination...." Read more

"...His stories are not only entertaining, but thought provoking and emotionally impacting. I hope to see more and more of his stories." Read more

3 customers mention "Thought provoking"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking, with one mentioning it makes readers question reality.

"...This book will have you questioning reality, itching to turn the page, and wishing there were more when you reach the back cover...." Read more

"...story-telling style that is somehow both simple and complex, and always engaging." Read more

"...His stories are not only entertaining, but thought provoking and emotionally impacting. I hope to see more and more of his stories." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Dark and beautiful
    Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Steve Carr is one of those rare writers who has a very specific feel to his writing. His writing is sometimes dark and frequently very beautiful, which I feel is always a great combination (when executed well, which Mr. Carr's does). His descriptions are paintings for the senses and he has an uncanny ability to find that just perfect word to color his stories in just the right light.
    As I'm writing this, I can't flip back and verify the titles, but I'll reference a few of my favorites and hope I remember the titles correctly (apologies if I botch them). "The Tale of the Costume Maker," was my favorite story in this. I think mostly it was the creativity and imagination that went into it that really resonated with me. It's the type of story that people read and ask, "My god man, how do you think of this stuff?" Which the author just shrugs and says, "I have no idea." Wherever this gem came from, it is truly one of my favorite short stories I've ever read. I could equally talk about "The Snow Mother," and how it tells a story that is completely unique to any other I've ever read, and yet will resonate with so many readers who know what longing feels like.
    And then there are stories like "The Missouri River Story," where I'm not sure if the author was trying to garner an emotional response from me, but he definitely managed to do so. (I'd say more, but spoilers).
    And there are so many more wonderfully dark and beautiful tales in this collection. I heard one reader describe it like watching a season of Dark Mirror, and I believe that's a fitting description. This book will have you questioning reality, itching to turn the page, and wishing there were more when you reach the back cover. Highly highly highly recommend. Thank you for a wonderful read, Mr. Carr.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • S. L.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Truth and beauty
    Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    The characters that populate the stories in SAND have stayed with me in the few days that have passed since I finished reading. People have secrets, in these stories--the man who wakes up bloodied and bruised with money in his pocket but no memory of how or why, the married man who's charmed by a handsome young man sharing his bench. Characters have fathomless wells of loneliness. A restless and lonely veteran watching his fellow humans in his ugly and dangerous neighborhood, a boy who lives along the river ignored by his family and the world, a woman who lost a baby seeing animals form in the swirling snow, a man sharing memories with a corpse. There is so much truth and beauty in these stories. The settings are simple and visceral and beautifully described. Steve Carr has a unique story-telling style that is somehow both simple and complex, and always engaging.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Richard G. Calo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable Story-Telling
    Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This is a remarkable set of stories from a remarkable story-teller. The stories are themselves quite varied, showing genuine breadth of imagination. They transcend genre, and some transcend classification, like all real art. But what stands out for me is the author's sensitivity to the feelings of others, especially their pain, which he captures so beautifully and so precisely in each narrative. His love for the written word goes without saying. His handling of the short story form - impeccable. I've been carrying some of these around in my head for days now, just revisiting them, enjoying them long after the moment's read. I really can't recommend Sand enough.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Joan Herr
    5.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking
    Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    After reading Steve Carr's books 'Heat' and 'Sand', I am now a follower. While reading his stories I could escape the realities of life's difficult days. His stories are not only entertaining, but thought provoking and emotionally impacting.
    I hope to see more and more of his stories.
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  • Bookie Nerdie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This was a great collection of short stories. Steve is a very talented short story author.
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  • Jill M Kiesow
    5.0 out of 5 stars Swept Away
    Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2018
    There is something for everyone in “Sand,” as far as genre, subject matter, and characters. The author spins simple tales that draw the reader right into the pages. But don’t be fooled by the apparent simplicity of straight-forward plots and writing that is honest, heartfelt, and lacking pretention. The stories and players have depth below the surface of beautiful words. You will move and feel along with the characters, and you best be prepared to be visited again in the future, when something triggers a memory of one of these fine stories and there you are, back on the beach or in the wide-open prairie, on the train or alongside its tracks.

    Speaking of landscapes, many of these stories are set at sea or in the open prairie, perhaps two opposing venues, but the author has obvious experience with both and every place in between, and sets you down authentically in his worlds. The same can be said for Carr’s point of view. He looks equally confidently through the eyes of young men, old men, women, dogs, and creatures previously unknown. I loved Carr’s nod to the Pine Ridge Reservation, as the dog rescue I volunteer with takes dogs from there, and I’ve fostered several little furry pups from Pine Ridge.

    My absolute favorite is “The Snow Mother,” a lonely and beautiful literary tale.

    I highly recommend this Clarendon House anthology. Be prepared to shed tears, to laugh, to employ all your emotions, thoughts, and feelings. Enter the world of Steve Carr’s “Sand.” Explore the landscape, meet some new folks. I suspect you, too, will be swept away.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Sue L - Yorkshire
    5.0 out of 5 stars Genius! Imaginative feast of story telling!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 13, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Wow! This book is a total feast of thought provoking, witty, dark, observational tales. Mostly they conjure up a vision of a quirky mid US world, occupied by fascinating imaginative characters. This is short story writing at its best. Highly recommended!
    If you want to dip in, read the lot in one go, maybe r learn how the master does it, this way s for you! Buy it for anyone who wants to write. They’ll see a style I consider very Hemingway, every word means something.
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  • A.DELF
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully strong
    Reviewed in France on March 18, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Sand is one of the most impressive collections of short stories I 've ever read. And knowing that all the stories were created by one single person makes it outstanding. The world of Steve Carr is beautifully strong, shockingly real, appallingly lonely but at the same time, authentically touching, genuinely teasing and unquestionably free.
    A Must Read
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  • David Spillane
    5.0 out of 5 stars Once you’ve read Steve Carr’s words – you’ll never forget them.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 10, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Steve Carr has had more than 250 short stories published in the last couple of years. One would assume this sort of prolificacy would mean his writing is shoddy and without craft – far from it.
    He displays a range of emotion and writing skill that should make many better-known authors envious.
    His short story collection, Sand, is well worth the few pounds (or dollars) it will cost to have some of this great writer’s work in your hands.
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  • Hobnails
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Fresh Look at the World.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 12, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    A provocative collection of short stories by an author who writes well, conveying his deep concerns and emotions through his writing of what he experiences and sees around him in today’s world. A book to carry with you for reading in those moments when captured in waiting rooms, departure lounges or aircraft seats. Recommended
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  • CustomerDen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful collection
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 12, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    A wonderful collection of short stories. Fantasy, gritty realism, horror, mystery, epic journeys and more. It’s a collection to dip in and out of and savour. I look forward to more opportunities to enter into the world according to Steve Carr.
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