The Amazon Shorts program only lasted a couple of years, but in that short time it breathed new life back into the realm of short stories, and provided a platform for legendary authors as well as some of the most talented new voices in the country to showcase their very best short literature. This anthology of short stories written by a group of those Amazon Shorts authors was the brainchild of Lana M. Ho-Shing, who first expressed the idea on an Amazon Shorts discussion board. E. Don Harpe then suggested writing stories using the courtyard view of THE WORLD OUTSIDE THE WINDOW as the theme, they asked for submissions, some very talented authors replied, and the rest, as they say, is history.

THE PREMISE

Imagine, if you will, a building of unknown origin, a building in which there are many rooms, each with a window that looks out upon a courtyard in which can be seen a very ordinary scene. In each room a person sits, staring out the window at the same people and objects that everyone else sees, and yet as we tell our stories we learn a basic truth of the universe. We learn that even though our eyes survey identical courtyards, our minds take us to places that only we know about, remind us of stories that only we can tell.

Outside the window there is a winding country lane leading into the distance. There are two boys, perhaps 10 or 12 years old, tossing a baseball about. A girl of maybe 7 or 8 swings on a schoolyard swing set, while two lovers walk hand in hand along the side of the road. A ramshackle old mailbox sits on a slanted post, and nearby there is an old car, possibly from the ‘50s, in what appears to be running condition. Down the lane we see a church steeple, and an older lady walks along the side of the road, seemingly headed for the church. A young soldier stands behind her, his face is pensive and it is plain he has much on his mind. Two men are in a heated discussion about something, but from inside the window we can only guess at what, and nearby a beautiful girl sits on a park bench and weeps. An old dog lies on the grass, peaceful and serene, as a puppy frolics nearby. As day changes to evening and then to night, we see a twinkle in the sky. A falling star, or perh aps a starship?

Day or night, the same people are always there, waiting, making no comments that will give us any clue about who they are or what they may be doing. They are actors, we think, waiting for us to give them their roles, show them some direction. Each of us can choose one character or all of them. We can walk down the country lane, drive the car, or follow along behind the woman as she heads for in the direction of the church. It is our world, and we have total control of everything in it. What happens, we make happen. Loves, lies, war or peace, death or life, shackled to earth or bound for the stars, it is all ours to decide.

We sit at the window, taking in the complexity of the courtyard, and after a few hours of pondering, we sit back, relax as much as we can under the circumstances, and use our minds eye to peer into a world that we can shape into anything we wish it to be. We think for a few moments, seeking inspiration and clarity, and slowly we make our decisions. Only then do we pick up our pens, only then do we begin to write our journals of the World Outside The Window.

Many very talented Amazon Shorts authors saw the promise in this world and we are proud that they came aboard to offer their view of what goes on there, in the courtyard, in the World Outside The Window.

Coming soon to your local bookstores!