Magical Realism Short Stories

In 1820s Venice, world-renowned magician Oscar Van Hoff confounds sold-out crowds with his astounding manifestations. Even his beautiful wife and assistant, Olivia, is mystified. Her job is to smile and recite her lines—onstage and in society. But the thankless routine is bringing out her rebellious side. Then, on the eve of what promises to be Oscar’s greatest performance yet, Olivia uncovers a secret with the power to shatter all her husband’s illusions. Now the finale belongs to her.

Maya has always gotten wet in the rain. Her father never did. As a child, she watched him step out into storms and come back completely dry, urging her to “walk between the raindrops” and promising that, when she could, she’d finally know who she was and why she was here.

Six ordinary lives unravel when the mundane world collides with the magical. From a girl investigating her mysterious new neighbor to a boy's peculiar disappearance in his own back yard, the creatures they encounter are not interested in making friends. These fairy tales aren't about pixies that fly in and leave you little gifts, but about the folk that hide in the shadows to play tricks on you for their amusement. In this world, beautiful, charming mermaids don't exist but there is certainly something lurking below the waves.