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Zuzanne Belec
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Layers: A Collection of Short Stories Kindle Edition

by Zuzanne Belec (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 40 ratings
Eight short stories on the power of the human spirit. Layers is a debut collection of imaginative short stories celebrating life and the human spirit despite the ever-present spectre of melancholy in our lives today. With their distinctive blend of wit and humour, they light up any underlying darkness. From the Americas to India, from Africa to Europe, and through a range of genres, voices and styles, layers are unraveled, revealing the textures and contrasts of old and new in the environments and cultures of today's fast-paced world. With vivid descriptions, we are drawn into enchanting worlds with characters that leap off the page, leaving the reader lingering long after the pages have been read.
  • In The Christmas Charge: Instead of enjoying their Christmas preparing eggnog cream pie and sipping sherry by the fireside, three batty grannies go on an African safari. At this stage of wisdom in their lives, nothing can go wrong. Right?
  • In Paths Taken: When her grandmother ‘kills’ a man on a busy town square, Hecate is forced to face her worst fears and use her own unsettling powers to help her. But where will these new paths take her?
  • In White Noise: All Earl needs to do is hand his work over to his successor. But is it that easy to let go? And where does one hide from one’s inner noise when things go wrong?
  • In The Old Man and the Donkey: Deep in northern Portugal, an old man and his donkey go about their lonely routine. When an unexpected visitor shows up, everyone is given a new chance of happiness. But have they all been stubbornly avoiding it for too long?
  • In The Arctic Haze: Since he was little, bad luck has stuck to George’s soles like clingy dog mess. Some of us are luckier. Or are we really?
  • In Penny’s Purple Robot: A loving father exceeds himself to make his daughter happy after her mother passes away. But can he force himself to face a brutal truth?
  • In Mothers: Deep in Africa, a desperate mother accepts her own fate, but refuses to face an even harsher reality. Mothers will do anything for their young. And things may not be as they seem.
  • In Yeehaw: Running from their regular lives, Sam and Patsy end up in an artificial town – Yeehaw Theme Park. Will they find their true selves in this synthetic world?
  • If you like a minimalist and dark, yet humorous look at the contrasts we face in the world today, you will enjoy this collection of mixed-genre stories. Buy now to enter into these worlds!
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  1. Print length
    118 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    November 12, 2020
  5. File size
    2.5 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Zuzanne Belec paints a colorful portrait of life in all its myriad forms through this captivating collection... Belec crafts a narrative that is rich in emotion, filled with humor, and drenched in intrigue... Belec's humor brings levity to tales that do not shy away from exploring the darker aspects of life. Layers is a riveting collection that I highly recommend." ~ 5-star review by Reader' Favorite Book Reviews

"An absolutely beautiful tale of motherly love." ~ Louise Beech, author of This is How We Are Human (on 'Mothers,' a story from Layers- the story is a runner-up in her '50 Because I'm 50 Competition.')

"Each story is very original and will take the reader to another place with an intensity that is not always found in writing." ~ Reader Views review

"Layers is a collection of short stories full of flavour and culture with a deep sentimental and nostalgic undertone." ~ Al Stone, CBY Book Club

"I found these eight stories to be cleverly thought out, witty and very entertaining. Full of interesting characters and snippets of unexpected descriptive detail. They will be enjoyed by people who have travelled and experienced other cultures and countries as well as those who enjoy experiencing travel from the comfort of their armchair." ~ Sue's Musings - Book Reviews

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08NFC5RZ8
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Zuzanne Belec
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 12, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.5 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 118 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 40 ratings

About the author

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Zuzanne Belec

Zuzanne Belec

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Zuzanne is a writer, poet and translator who now lives in the heart of Europe, after being lucky enough to spend her first thirty years absorbing the contrasting textures of Africa.

After she quit the rat race, she spent fifteen years as a translator before discovering the world of writing. This discovery, and the encouragement from her daughters, husband and friends, led to her decision to delve even deeper into writing. She then grew a long grey beard and became a hermit, studying the craft and immersing herself into this world that is magic.

About the time when her beard reached ankle-length, she knew she was on the right path when three of her stories were published in Canadian literary magazines.

Her debut collection, LAYERS, is the result of this passion. And it has now won a Book Excellence Finalist Award (Short Stories category).

Claim your free story and join Zuu's Zone on: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/o5o4a1

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
40 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers love the variety of stories in this collection, with one noting how each story's last paragraph serves as a kicker. The book receives positive feedback for its pacing, with one customer highlighting its unique world-building elements. Customers find it a delightful read with lively writing.

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Story varietyPacingReading quality
9 customers mention "Story variety"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the variety of stories in this collection, with one customer noting that each piece ends with a surprising twist.

"Each story will draw you in from beginning to end. The plots are strong - they stand on their own - all intrinsically unique!" Read more

"...Author Zuzanne Belec has crafted stories filled with originality, intrigue, suspense, and life...." Read more

"I loved all the stories in this collection, especially the first one where three grannies go on a safari for Christmas...." Read more

"...Some are sad, but not all. Reading the Africa story was interesting, as as the story based in the Artic with polar bears, and I'll never forget the..." Read more

6 customers mention "Pacing"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, with individual reviews highlighting its unique world-building, interesting mix of elements, and originality.

"...The plots are strong - they stand on their own - all intrinsically unique!" Read more

"Layers is an intriguing collection of short stories by a new to author. I really enjoyed this set of stories...." Read more

"...and the investigative tool itself presented an extremely interesting idea...." Read more

"...Author Zuzanne Belec has crafted stories filled with originality, intrigue, suspense, and life...." Read more

6 customers mention "Reading quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a delightful read with lively writing, and one customer mentions it provides a fun glimpse into the author's mind.

"...This was a fun glimpse into the author’s mind and I would definitely pick up a full length book by them." Read more

"...not a lot I can say about this, other than the fact that it was a delightful read!..." Read more

"...Though some stories may read slower than others, they are each worthy of a reading...." Read more

"...The last paragraph in each story is a kicker. Diverse reading for all." Read more

Touching, heartwarming and enjoyable short shories!
5 out of 5 stars
Touching, heartwarming and enjoyable short shories!
“Layers” by Zuzanne Belec /BOOK REVIEW ___ If you like reading collections of thrilling and touching short stories, you’ll like this book. ___ Genre: A collection of short stories Pages: 108 Language: English Release date: 2020 The Plot: We follow eight short stories that tell about different people and events they face. Each story is well-thought-out and easy to read. The stories differ much from each other: some are full of mystic, some have plenty of twists, and others have plenty of severe life challenges. The book is also a sort of traveling guide worldwide, and I enjoyed reading interesting facts about this or that country, its customs, beliefs, and traditions. This book made me sob over some pages and made my heart gallop in some episodes. The writing style is light and enjoyable; well-composed dialogues masterfully flow into background depictions or contemplations of the main characters. This book can be definitely read in one sitting but will leave a deep trace of thoughts and juicy aftertaste in the end. The Characters: The number of characters isn’t numerous. All of them are perfectly portraited in all the aspects, but I liked that the author emphasized their characters’ inner world and musings. Fave quote: “We all have our paths to choose…And sometimes it’s our biggest fears that force us onto the paths we’d never take.” Warnings: Death, grief, cancer, anxiety Would I read other books by this author: Yeap! My humble rating is: 5/5
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly enjoyed!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Each story will draw you in from beginning to end. The plots are strong - they stand on their own - all intrinsically unique!
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  • M. E. A.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing collection!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Layers is an intriguing collection of short stories by a new to author.

    I really enjoyed this set of stories. The plots were all different, but they worked together well. Some of the ideas and world building were also very unique which can be hard to do with a shorter piece of writing.

    This was a fun glimpse into the author’s mind and I would definitely pick up a full length book by them.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Robert Lauer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Short Stories with a Twist or Shock
    Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    ‘Layers: A Collection of Short Stories’ is just that; a collection of short stories, by Zuzanne Belec. There’s not a lot I can say about this, other than the fact that it was a delightful read! These are all stories that have some sort of twist or ‘got ya’ moment at the end, where most of the fun is not knowing what is going on, or where the story is heading, and then trying to guess with each new detail. Even a brief plot blurb would potentially ruin the journey in my opinion.

    There is one in particular that I do wish had been more than just a short story. It involves a death investigation (no, that does not reveal anything), and the investigative tool itself presented an extremely interesting idea. I’d absolutely love to see this method explored more in its own full-lengthed story.

    Just as in shows like The Twilight Zone, the majority of these stories do end in a bit of tragedy, though one specifically was maybe a little too heartbreaking for my soul. But, I won’t hold that against the author; some realities of life are too powerful (even if in a sad way) to be ignored in fiction.

    Overall, if you are a fan of these types of tales - again, smaller stories that end in twist or shock - then I highly recommend picking this up! I look forward to seeing Belec does in the future, should she write full-lengthed novels.
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  • Beem Weeks
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Collection
    Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Layers: A Collection of Short Stories offers readers a buffet of tales from which to choose. Author Zuzanne Belec has crafted stories filled with originality, intrigue, suspense, and life. Her characters arrive fully formed and breathing, alive with personality that radiates throughout these pages.

    Each story is a look inside lives that are both unlike our own and yet very much alike. Though some stories may read slower than others, they are each worthy of a reading.

    From the opening story to the final one, it becomes clear that Belec writes from the heart. She has the talent to weave emotion into her work, allowing readers to become invested in the characters and the plot. Among my favorites are The Christmas Charge, and the inventive Paths Taken.

    If you enjoy short fiction, there is something here for every taste. This is a fine collection.
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  • Maryann Miller
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great Stories
    Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I loved all the stories in this collection, especially the first one where three grannies go on a safari for Christmas. They are such delightful ladies and I laughed at their antics, but also celebrated their tenacity. All of the stories look at life and life experiences in unique ways.
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  • Mary Schmidt
    5.0 out of 5 stars A mix of stories
    Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This book has a mix of stories. Some are sad, but not all. Reading the Africa story was interesting, as as the story based in the Artic with polar bears, and I'll never forget the one with a robot. The last paragraph in each story is a kicker. Diverse reading for all.
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  • Nannette Kreitzman
    4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting mix!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Layers is a potpourri of stories in varying lengths, ranging from quirky to tragic. The stand out for me was “White Noise” for its “didn’t see that coming” moment, which I promptly read again to better appreciate Belec’s twisty conclusion.
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  • Tiffany
    5.0 out of 5 stars Paths Taken was my favorite
    Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I had different emotions for each story. Paths Taken was my favorite, and I’d actually love to read an entire novel picking up from where it left off. White Noise was intense, and left me with questions. Each story was unique and different, and most could keep going. If short stories are you go to reads than definitely check these out.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Allan Hudson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Works great
    Reviewed in Canada on August 2, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I really liked the stories. Different themes and easy reading. Well done.
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  • Lee Morton
    4.0 out of 5 stars a selection of interesting short stories
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 31, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    A mix of stories well written across various themes.

    You can tell the author has spent time in different places around the globe, experiencing different cultures.

    An easy read with great topics to make you think
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  • Nicola
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 14, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This gem of a book contains eight querky yet true to life short stories from around the world, looking at the human spirit in various scenarios. Each character springs to life & the settings are vivid which, combined, gives the reader a real feel & taste of each unique story. My personal favourite is The Arctic Haze, his funny yet typical true-to-life example of an encounter with a bear so close-up, I chuckle at the irony now just on reflection :) it would certainly be my kind of luck. Each story is truly unique & refreshing to say not one of them contains anything nasty to be aware of. I appreciate that as it is so hard to come by these days. A reflection, I think, on the author who is clearly well travelled, has natural talent, & is a pleasure to interact with.
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  • H
    5.0 out of 5 stars An eclectic journey encapsulating the human spirit
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 21, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This diverse collection of short stories takes readers across the world, meeting a range of characters and scenarios. Written with a unique slant on life, appreciation and the human spirit, this collection of stories had me amused, entertained, and left me deep in thought. A wonderful, imaginative collection with some real provocation of thinking for the reader. Highly recommended.
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  • Anonnymouse
    4.0 out of 5 stars Nice collection of short stories.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 28, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    A nice collection of short stories.
    They kept me interested on my bus rides.
    The only reason I marked it 4*, is because I reserve my 5s for epic, LOTR type books/series.
    I did enjoy the stories, some more than others.
    Report

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