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Author Wanda Morrow Clevenger has an impressive writing history. As an extremely versatile writer capable of anything, she writes with a keen observation, propensity and perception.
Reflective and full spectrum Wanda holds it all together, always putting emotion into perspective; she is the Wonder Woman of the written word and a master of disguise, looking nothing like her photos. A long, absurd history of unfortunate pet deaths haunts her.
Recently unearthed poetry, written at age nineteen, is an angst filled embarrassment, yet she holds onto the verse, a reminder of how far she has come.
Essays and creative nonfiction are her first love, but she dabbles in flash, micro and poetry as well. Over sixty pieces of her work embracing the human condition appear or are forthcoming in numerous publications, including, but not limited to: the Storyteller; Nuthouse; The Nocturnal Lyric; Up The Staircase; Flash Fiction Offensive; Leaf Garden; TheRightEyedDeer, Issues 4, 5 and 6; Every Day Fiction; Matter Daily; Short Story Library; Clockwise Cat; the Short Humour Site; Long Story Short; the Ultimate Writer; Conceit Magazine; Staccato; Golden Apple; Daily Flash 2011 and 2012; The Scrambler; Falling Star Magazine; Boston Literary Magazine; Ink-Filled Page; Thumbnail Magazine; Gay Flash Fiction; People of Few Words; Daily Flashes of Erotica Quarterly, Issues 2 and 3; The Literary Burlesque; The Bicycle Review; Nostalgia Magazine and In The Company of Women Poetry Anthology.
Reviewed by Lori M for Readers' Favorite
I would hate to get into a verbal altercation with Wanda Morrow Clevenger because I think that her knife-sharp wit would kill me. Her last name amuses me because she is indeed a clever Clevenger. Sure, you can start reading this book the old fashioned way, from the beginning, but why not start at page 69 with “Mr. Mack Gets His Bead On” in order to get a true sense of the author’s sarcasm and humor. You won’t be disappointed. I laughed out loud when I read that Mr. Mack’s latest greatest get-rich-quick-scheme was to market recyclable condoms. That’s right, I said recyclable condoms. Now you see why Clevenger is so clever? In this story and others like “Deacon Bridge,” Clevenger shines as a writer.
What I like about a collection of short stories is that now that I’m older and my attention span is shorter, it is an easier read and I receive instant gratification from a short story. The problem with a collections of stories, though, is that not every one of them can be pure gold. Take “Peanuts and the Promised Land,” for example. Maybe I didn’t get it because I’m not a city girl stuck in a small town.
Overall, though, this book provides an insightful, humorous, witty look at small town life and human behavior, odd as it is. As the author said in her inscription on the book cover, “It’s all just telling tales out of school.” Judging by her writing, I’m surprised she wasn’t in reform school. Just kidding, Wanda, I love it.
