Review: Kindling Volume II

The team at Writer’s Edit has done a fantastic job of creating an anthology of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, including both helpful tips for writers and memoirs.

Kindling Volume II has a mostly regular rotation between first a piece of fiction, then poetry, and then nonfiction.

This anthology is compelling because it brings together many unique voices covering a wide span of topics. Founding editor Helen Scheuerer, along with her editorial team, have done a remarkable job of curating the young anthology to ensure that only high-quality writing of engaging, excellent stories are published.

Based in Australia, Kindling Volume II features mostly Australian authors; however, some of their authors also hale from Canada, the U.S., and elsewhere.

Overall, Kindling Volume II is especially interesting and useful for writers. Many of the nonfiction pieces are resources for writers, discussing topics such as query letters, writing contests, and patience in the submission process. Whether writers primarily want the tips or they want the examples of great writing, Kindling Volume II is a wonderful resource.

I would like to showcase two stories that I found particularly interesting and noteworthy.

First, “Dear Perfect Stranger” by Karen Morrow was my favorite fiction in the anthology. Its format is particularly unique in that the entire story is contained within a letter. Because of this, first person and second person are utilized over and over again in the story, resulting in a closeness between the character and the readers of the story. I won’t spoil the story by saying more, but know that it’s a beautiful masterpiece and well-worth it’s places in Kindling Volume II.

The second piece that I especially enjoyed was a nonfiction work entitled, “The Quest for the Magic Book.” In this piece, Kristin Prescott explains the magic book, which she defines as a book that turns children into readers. In her essay, Kristin Prescott explains how her magic book, Peter Pan, affected her attitude toward books and literacy. It’s a wonderful piece that long-time lovers of books will relate to, while with educators, librarians, and parents will find especially useful as these guide children in quests for magic books.

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FTC Disclaimer: I received a free copy of Kindling Volume II in exchange for an unbiased review.