Kalerion - A collection of short stories, flash fiction and poetry by Tim Yao
Back in 2014, I decided to gather all of my short stories and poems into an annual collection. I called it *Kalerion* after a poem I had written back in the late 80's. *Kalerion* speaks about adventuring into untamed wilderness, meeting challenges and generally rising to live life fully.Most of the stories in *Kalerion* are those I wrote for anthologies of the Writing Journey. The Writing Journey (*writingjourney.org*) is a writing community that I helped to found and that I lead. Unlike many writing groups that focus on just one or two activities, the Writing Journey encourages its members to begin or follow Paths. Paths can be as simple as a one-time activity, such as a lunch out, or as complex as an in-person critique group or a short story anthology. I've enjoyed participating in and helping to lead the short story anthologies because they allow one to, in the company of fellow authors,develop and write stories and poems and then take them through a critiquing/editing process.This is the 2022 version of Kalerion.
Kalerion - the poem
Though I might will
To walk alone
Whilst shadows the cold stone
Caress'd dare o`erspill
The bounds of light
Trespass and fain to keep
Their dark domain of ever-sleep
Yet ever-bright remains my sight
Within these misty paths
Which wend their ways through turns
And hollows, veils that burn
In wraths unslaked; and twisting lathes
Make muffled screams of darkened tales
But ever fails to damp the writ
Which guards the weary spirit--lit
Torches guide through stormy gales
And, unchanged, I persevere
Through nameless grief
To gladness and the true relief
Awaiting the one who veers
Not from the road of Dawn
Of pain, of sorrow spent
For these proclaim the fire sent
And renew the flame burning ever on
About me
I am a writer of fantasy and science fiction stories and co-Municipal Liaison for the Illinois::Naperville region of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). You can see my NaNoWriMo-related page. I am a co-founder and leader of the Writing Journey, the year-round writing group associated with our NaNoWriMo region. I write my stories using vim and markdown.
In real life, I am a Portfolio Manager for DevOps and a Distinguished Member of Technical Staff at a major telecommunications manufacturing company.
What's in this book anyway?
Here's the list of sections and titles:
Dramatic Fantasy
- About the dramatic fantasy stories
- A Dance Before Twilight
- Neverland
- She's Just Sleeping
- Fade to Black
- The Wind Through The Narrow Door
- The Other Side of the Cardboard Box
- Be Careful What You Wish For
- Twinkle, Twinkle
- I still believe
- The Quest of the Youngest Son of Anthyppines
Science Fiction
- About the science fiction stories
- Then but for you go I
- The World Next Door
- Free
- Folded
Flash fiction and odds and ends
- About flash fiction stories
- They Called Me Chicken
- The Bridge
- Kidnapped
- Mess
Poetry
- About my poetry
- Rostam and Sohrab
- Cassandra
- The Island
- Otherness
- Miss Lonely Hearts
- Awkward Silence
- In a shallow space beneath the grass
- Seven Years Ago
- The Great Divide
- Puddle Jumper
- What Swims Beneath
Romance
Dark Fantasy
- About Dark Fantasy
- The Choice
- Death on the Trail
- The Sign of the Crow
- The Gunslinger of Nacogdoches
- The Strike of the Knife
- Ready or Not
Humorous Fantasy
- About Humorous Fantasy
- The Taste
- Third Time's the Charm
- It's A Small World
- The Playground
- The Consequences of Wishing
- Foodie
- The Seven Wells
Coda
- About the Writing Journey
Anthologies from the Writing Journey
Read about the books--their publications stretch from 2009 through 2021. We developed a process requiring three rounds of inter-author critiques to help the authors edit and polish their stories prior to publication. There have been some truly strong authors participating in these anthologies.
