Publication Date: June 4, 2024
Feisty women spanning six centuries …
The twenty-three stories in this collection depict ordinary women—from the 1470s to the 1970s—who meet life’s challenges with fierce determination.
An unhappy housewife in 1950s California gathers the courage to escape an abusive marriage. When local men are shipped off to WWI, a young Yorkshire woman joins others to keep a munitions factory at peak operation. As her land and way of life are threatened, a nineteenth century Chickasaw wife and mother rekindles the strength of her ancestors. A midwife strives to protect mothers from accusations of witchcraft. A Victorian portrait artist possesses a rare, sought-after talent that dispatches unwanted relatives.
Foreign invaders, rigid domestic authorities, strictures of society and religion, the supernatural, and love and family bonds all serve as catalysts for the feisty women in these tales.
Contributors: Debra Borchert, Teri M. Brown, Julie Mayerson Brown, Elisabeth Carson-Williams, Valerie Chalker, Joan Fernandez, Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Beth Anne Hill, Dawn W. Hogan, Carolyn Korsmeyer (Editor), Della Leavitt, Raquel Y. Levitt, Christy Matheson (Editor), Barbara Buckley Ristine, Suzanne Samuels, Julia María Schiavone Camacho, Elaine Aucoin Schroller (Editor), Kay Smith-Blum (Editor), Kimberly Sullivan (Editor), Ashley E. Sweeney, Nina Wachsman, Patty W. Warren, Marie W. Watts
“Extraordinarily impressive… Twenty-three authors unite to take readers on a captivating journey filled with unexpected twists and turns in this collection of short stories. … Through personal journeys of self-discovery, unexpected challenges, and tests of character, the protagonists in these pages grapple with their own inner demons while navigating a world full of uncertainty and possibility. An outstanding collection that showcases ordinary women’s extraordinary experiences, struggles, and victories.”—The Prairies Book Review
“… a perfectly curated collection of fearless women making their mark on the world. From charming murderesses and devoted patriots to battlefield heroines and rebellious homemakers, these tales of extraordinary women and their dangerous deeds span centuries and nations, for a well-rounded and insightful compendium of unheard voices. The distinct and polished prose of the contributing writers brings their imagined achievements to life, resulting in a captivating, thought-provoking, and undeniably inspiring collection. … these wickedly crafted stories are potent with both modern and historical wisdom.”—Self-Publishing Review
Twenty-three short stories grouped in four intriguing sections were compiled to create Feisty Deeds: Historical Fictions of Daring Women. This project was partly put together to use profits to support authors with financial constraints. Multiple authors contributed to this project, spearheaded by the Historical Fiction affinity group of the larger Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA).
Being a modern woman or man sometimes brings one to a movie on a streaming service to flesh out the life of someone who has changed the trajectory of a woman’s experience. These films always add a name to my memory and an event on which to reflect how different life is for me now. Many times, I can’t help but feel anger at the injustice and a little fear at how precarious the safety of women has been and continues to be.
Feisty Deeds grabbed my senses. The stories reflected practices from the 1400s through the 1970s. In a few pages of text for each telling, the characters jumped off the pages, events turned my stomach or had me gripping my e-reader. But at the conclusion of each, I recognized the bravery of women who threw their own safety and comfort aside, seeing the immediate need and the consequential changes that were needed for the most basic human experience.
I dare you to put away the TV remote and instead binge Feisty Deeds: Historical Fictions of Daring Women. This collection of twenty-three period-piece short stories has intrigue, horror, heroism, and gutsy women. One sitting may be all that is needed to devour these stories.
