I had the distinct honor of being one of the editors of Emerging Voices: Poetry and Prose, Volume 9. This is a collection of short stories, novel excerpts, and poems by members of teen writers’ clubs sponsored by the Maryland Writer’s Association, with every author being between twelve and eighteen years old.

First of all, this was a really cool experience. I got an advance peek at cool short stories from kids across Maryland. And lemme tell you — these kids are talented. I was blown away at the creativity in these stories, as well as the emotional punch thrown by some of these young authors.

All the pieces are wonderful, and reading them will uplift your soul and remind you of the beauty and goodness in the world around us. Obviously, I can’t pick any favorites… but there are a couple stories that stuck with me.

The first is Daisy Loves Me, a touching short story about a three-year-old and her dog, Daisy. I was awestruck at the big emotions that came through in so few words. We writers know how hard it is to make every word count, and this short story can teach all of us how its done.

The second is The Window, a flash fiction-length vignette told from the perspective of a window watching a family. First off, what a cool perspective! And the author pulled it off flawlessly. Absolutely loved it.

If you have $5.50 to spare, give it a whirl. As with any collection of writing, I’m pretty sure you will find something that speaks to you.

These kids will be tomorrow’s bestsellers, and you have the chance to read their works now, for the cost of a couple cups of coffee.