If You Go Into The Woods [Kindle Edition]

David Gaughran (Author)

Book Description

If You Go Into The Woods is a collection of two unsettling short stories. The title story is set in Caslav, a small town 60 miles east of Prague, Czech Republic. Jiri Beranek is drawn to a nearby forest, captivated by birds hidden high in the trees. Each time he enters, his desire to see the mysterious creatures is checked by his fear of the dark. When he finally forces himself to go farther, he finds a new reason to be afraid. This story was first published by The Delinquent (UK) then selected by Short Story America for inclusion in their anthology of their best stories of 2010.

The bonus story - The Reset Button - is set in Stockholm, Sweden in the depths of winter. Linus Eriksson, a divorced bachelor living alone in his small one-bedroom apartment, is a man with a memory problem: instead of not being able to remember anyone, nobody can remember him. This story is brand new, exclusively available in this e-book. These two creepy tales have a combined length of 4,000 words, or around 16 book pages.

Praise for If You Go Into The Woods:

"There are definite shades of HP Lovecraft in both stories... punchy, entertaining reads with a bit of mental gymnastics thrown in, you can't go wrong with this one." -- Jenny Mounfield, author of The Ice-cream Man

"Two very well-constructed and thought-provoking tales from an author I know I will be keeping my eyes on. 4.5 stars." -- Heather L. Faville, Doubleshot Reviews

"This is the most professional design - both inside and out - that I have seen since I started reviewing at Sift. The writing in this story is top-notch. The writer has a strong, clean voice. He's able to sustain an air of mystery and suspense without it feeling cheap." -- Sarah Nicolas, SIFT Book Reviews

"I heartily recommend this masterful piece of work to any and all that thoroughly enjoy the art of the word, and especially to those that have a special place in their hearts for short stories, as I believe this to be a fabulous exponent of the genre." -- LE Olteano, Butterfly Books

"A fine story that looms in the mind of the reader long after the last page ... aspirational fiction, the kind of magic realism that reads deliciously, but like a delicate soufflé, is a difficult feat to pull off." --Matt Ellis, author of Strange As Angels and Lumpen.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A fine story that looms in the mind of the reader long after the last page ... aspirational fiction, the kind of magic realism that reads deliciously, but like a delicate soufflé, is a difficult feat to pull off." -- Matt Ellis, author of Strange As Angels and Lumpen.

About the Author

David Gaughran is a 34-year old Irish writer, living in Sweden, who spends most of his time travelling the world, collecting stories. He is the author of the South American historical adventure A Storm Hits Valparaiso and the short stories If You Go Into The Woods and Transfection as well as the popular self-publishing guide Let's Get Digital. His work has been featured in the Huffington Post, the Sunday Times, and the Irish Times.

Product Details

• File Size: 113 KB
• Print Length: 23 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Arriba Arriba Books (April 30, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004YTI01Y
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #291,150 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #13 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > Eastern European

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing and intriguing May 5, 2011

By Lindsay Edmunds

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I downloaded "If You Go Into the Woods" with the bonus story "The Reset Button" in the middle of a Thursday afternoon when I needed a work break. Using Kindle for the Mac, I read them on the screen in a few minutes.

"If You Go Into the Woods" has the flavor of a folk-tale, the kind that pulls to a stop just when you are craving more. Its mystery lingers in the mind. "The Reset Button" takes a look at a divorced man who is vanishing bit by bit from his own life.

These stories were just what I was looking for: well written, original, and nicely focused. A very pleasant find, and a good break in the middle of the day. I look forward to reading more by David Gaughran.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great fast reads! May 10, 2011

By J. Miller

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I really liked both of these stories. If You Go into the Woods and the bonus story, The Reset Button were immediately engaging. Into the Woods had me in rapt attention wondering what would be found. It was so well crafted. At the end, I was hoping, and still hope, that it will become a full length book as I want to know more about this boy...and the woods.

The Reset Button was also a fascinating read. It was a reminder for all of us, how easy it would be to become "invisible" even to ourselves. I resonated with this character. And again, the author put together a very well crafted tale. He has a unique voice, and I would like to hear more of it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Short & sweet... I'd love to read nore May 2, 2011

By bookclubdub

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Two pacey stories that carry you from start to finish with ease and imagination. An author for the future? I've certainly been left with a hunger for more of his work. The cover really grabbed my attention, and I wasn't disappointed. There's a definite quirky style to both stories, unique and likeable yet the two very different characters in each story show a nice range of development and view point by the author. My only gripe is there wasn't more stories, I'll certainly keep my eye out for more of his work. Is there any more in the pipeline David?

More About the Author

Sign up to Dave's New Release Mailing List here: bit.ly/dgmlist (Simply cut-and-paste that address into your browser. Your email will never be shared and you will only be contacted when a new book is out.)

David Gaughran is an Irish writer, living in London, who spends most of his time travelling the world, collecting stories.

He runs the publishing blog Let's Get Digital and the South American history site South Americana, has a regular column at Indie Reader, and his work has been featured in the Huffington Post, The Sunday Times, and the Irish Times.