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Theodore Jerome (Ted) Cohen is an award-winning author who has published more than ten novels--all but one of them mystery/thrillers--two books of short stories, and eight flash-fiction anthologies. He also writes illustrated storybooks for children (K-3) in the series Stories for the Early Years as well as Young Adult (YA) novels under the pen name "Alyssa Devine." During the course of his 45-year career he worked as an engineer, scientist, CBS Radio Station News Service (RSNS) commentator, private investigator, and Antarctic explorer. What he's been able to do with his background is mix fiction with reality in ways that even his family and friends have been unable to unravel!
Dr. Cohen's writings (he holds three degrees in the physical sciences) have received the highest reviews from Feathered Quill, Hollywood Book Reviews, Kirkus Discoveries, Pacific Book Review, Reader Views, and Readers' Favorite, among others, with many of his books recognized for their excellence through medals awarded by several of these same organizations following their annual book competitions. In 2017, for example, Readers' Favorite awarded Dr. Cohen's first short story anthology, The Road Less Taken: A Collection of Unusual Short Stories - Book 1, a Silver Medal while the National Association of Book Entrepreneurs (NABE) awarded the same book its Pinnacle Book Achievement Award for Best in Category: Short Stories. The NABE also awarded Dr. Cohen's collection, Creative Ink, Flashy Fiction: Flash Fiction Anthology - Book 3, its Pinnacle Book Achievement Award for Best in Category: Anthology - Winter, 2018.
Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Readers' Favorite
Flash Fiction Stories On Love and Devotion by award-winning author Theodore Jerome Cohen (also published as Alyssa Devine) is an intriguing anthology of short fiction stories, though some are based on real events. Cohen is prolific and imaginative, as his collection of 45 stories demonstrates, and if you like stories of love and devotion, you will fall in love with these. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but in this case, it's about 250 each, as the author's stories are derived from images found on the internet, though he has graciously included two longer ones for readers who like to spend a little more time with his stories. Cohen incorporates his experiences as a scientist, engineer, radio commentator, private investigator, and explorer into his stories, which give them a unique flavor of authenticity and flair. These snapshot stories are amazing.
Dr. Cohen writes with so much rich detail and color in such a short space--clearly a craftsman when it comes to flash fiction. His descriptions and easily identifiable pop references add energy and life into what could easily fade into tell-don't-show narratives. Besides style, you get good stories with plots and realistic dialogue, all having something to say about romance, love, and being devoted. Some have more drama and violence than others, like "Encounter on All Hallows' Eve"--others you will wish the author had expanded on, like "The Luthier of Ozone Park", and leave you wanting more. But this is a compliment. And then you're on to the next story, and the next, greeted by culture, history, and relationships, from characters like Molly, Abigail, Gabe, just to name a few. Each story in Flash Fiction Stories On Love and Devotion by Theodore Jerome Cohen is its own compact world that says something about the wider universe, and you will easily get hooked on these little gems.
