“What’s the point of storytelling magic if it isn’t shared?”
Foreshadow is comprised of 13 short stories, edited and compiled by NYT best-selling authors Emily X. R. Pan (The Astonishing Color of After) and Nova Ren Suma (The Walls Around Us), but it is also so much more. The stories, which differ in genre (from contemporary romance to fantasy and even horror) are written by up and coming YA voices and introduced by a powerhouse YA writer. Not only that, but each story is accompanied by a short essay by either Emily or Nova about the writing craft: character connection, creepy atmosphere, emotional resonance, imagery, mood, voice, worldbuilding, and more. There are even story prompts to challenge aspiring writers to dig a little deeper on their own ideas, practise what they learnt from these authors, and ultimately grow their own story into something real. It’s essential for those who love the genre and those who are aspiring writers!
When Emily and Nova decided to create this project, they were sure that they wanted to bring out new voices, especially marginalised ones. They wanted to discover new and unknown authors and give them the proper space and medium to be heard. The project started as an online platform where thirty-nine authors had the chance to see their stories published. So, the website, besides the stories found on the physical collection, also features some YA authors that you may already know.
The short stories have the perfect length and are very diverse in terms of genre and character backgrounds. Even if each story has something unique and magical, they all flow together so beautifully that there isn’t a story that I wouldn’t have included; it really is a very cohesive collection. All these stories have something that’s worth reading, even the ones that take a bit of a weird turn (things do get weird sometimes!). However, giving a review of each short story would give away too much, and on this occasion, it’s best to go into it blindly. You must know though, that each new voice is powerful and the storytelling is so wonderful. You will definitely want to read more from these 13 authors: Adriana Marachlian, Desiree S. Evans, Flor Salcedo, Gina Chen, Joanna Truman, Linda Cheng, Maya Prasad, Mayra Cuevas, Nora Elghazzawi, Rachel Hylton, Sophie Meridien, Tanvi Berwah, and Tanya S. Aydelott.
However, what really makes the book are the clear and concise essays written by either Emily or Nova. Through their eyes, the reader gets to see what made each story poignant, as well as why they chose each story for the collection and the reason why we feel certain things whilst reading these stories, feelings that maybe we hadn’t even acknowledged! You get to see the little details, the ins and outs of the writing craft.
What’s also interesting about this collection is that it even offers an extensive Q&A about the editing process as well as a section at the end which introduces the editors and the authors of the short stories. Thus giving us more background about who they are, how each of them approached the writing of their story, and how they came to each of these stories, i.e. the “original seed” of their ideas.
Foreshadow is an ode to YA and the magical art that is storytelling. This short story collection will be a valuable read not only for aspiring writers, but for other readers (YA lovers or not) who want to dig a little deeper into the craft or some stories to connect with. Ultimately, in the words of its creators, Foreshadow “is a testament to all the diverse, inclusive stories that young adult fiction has to offer.”
FORESHADOW: Stories to Celebrate The Magic of Reading & Writing YA is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of October 20th 2020.
Will you be picking up Foreshadow? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Thirteen Short Stories from Bold New YA Voices & Writing Advice from YA Icons
Created by New York Times bestselling authors Emily X. R. Pan and Nova Ren Suma, Foreshadow is so much more than a short story collection. A trove of unforgettable fiction makes up the beating heart of this book, and the accompanying essays offer an ode to young adult literature, as well as practical advice to writers.
Featured in print for the first time, the thirteen stories anthologized here were originally released via the buzzed-about online platform Foreshadow. Ranging from contemporary romance to mind-bending fantasy, the Foreshadow stories showcase underrepresented voices and highlight the beauty and power of YA fiction. Each piece is selected and introduced by a YA luminary, among them Gayle Forman, Laurie Halse Anderson, Jason Reynolds, and Sabaa Tahir.
What makes these memorable stories tick? What sparked them? How do authors build a world or refine a voice or weave in that deliciously creepy atmosphere to bring their writing to the next level? Addressing these questions and many more are essays and discussions on craft and process by Nova Ren Suma and Emily X. R. Pan.
This unique compilation reveals and celebrates the magic of reading and writing for young adults.
