The Word for Freedom - from Retreat West Books - Blog Tour and Review

Blog Tour The Word For Freedom

I'm thrilled to be helping round up the blog tour for the brand new collection of 24 fabulous short stories celebrating 100 years of women's suffrage; The Word for Freedom.

Compiled for Retreat West Books which is an independent press publishing paperback books and ebooks, by the founder, Amanda Saint, who is a novelist and short story writer, novelist Angela Clarke and a foreword by Rose McGinty this is a work of collaboration and team work from all the authors who have contributed. 

The book contains short stories contributed by a diverse collection of established and emerging authors, all of whom have been inspired by the suffragettes and whose stories focus on the same freedoms that those women fought for so courageously.

My Thoughts

Although I don't often read short stories, this compilation compelled me to read it, with its subject matter linked so closely to the strength of women in differing situations.

With stories set in the past and modern day, each features women in relatable situations from the everyday to the awesome, dealing with life with their own unique fortitude and tenacity.

Each tale is a quick but satisfying complete bite of the cake which embraces women standing up for themselves.

Don't be misled into thinking that every story is about suffragettes chaining themselves to railings and going on hunger strike, although these original suffragettes do feature in this compilation, the fight against injustices against women continue to the present day and even flow into folklore and myth.

The stories within the pages are so concise and complete I think it would be wrong of me to single any out individually. Each one is a quick sharp jolt, which may make you smile or gasp or cheer and every single one provides food for thought, there will be at least one which will relate to any readers own experiences.

The line up of contributors is top rate, featuring some of my favourite authors including: Anna Mazzola, Angela Clarke, Sophie Duffy and introduces some talented new names.

Overall it is a wonderful collection of stories by women for women and there are some wonderfully quirky tales. For quick reads to keep your brain ticking over this is a must read for all  women, of every age and I can't recommend it highly enough.

The book supports Hestia and the UK Says No More campaign against domestic abuse and sexual violence.

Order your own copy now

My thanks go to Random Things Tours for my copy and for organizing such great blog tours which I am proud to take part in.

The Blurb

A collection of 24 short stories celebrating a hundred years of women’ suffrage, from both established and emerging authors, all of whom have been inspired by the suffragettes and whose stories, whether set in 1918, the current day or the future, focus on the same freedoms that those women fought for so courageously.

A clerk of works at the Palace of Westminster encounters Emily Davison in a broom cupboard; a mermaid dares to tread on land to please the man she loves; a school girl friendship makes the suffragette protests relevant to the modern day; a mother leaves her child for a tree; an online troll has to face his target; and a woman caught in modern day slavery discovers a chance for freedom in a newspaper cutting.

These stories and many more come together in a collection that doesn’t shy away from the reality of a woman’s world, which has injustices and inequalities alongside opportunities and hard-won freedoms, but always finds strength, bravery and hope.