The Fringe of Kindness

‘The Fringe of Kindness‘ is a collection of the best short stories by Wolfie Brandt.

“A great collection of thoughtfully considered short stories that will have you rolling with laughter to contemplating the meaning of life.” (DF Review)

“A wonderfully entertaining collection of short stories; each one conveys your emotions down a new path.” (Peter Fletcher – Goodreads)

” . . . some funny, some sad, some obscure, yet all deeply personal and memorable. The stories will make you think, and tickle your emotions from all sides.” (P. Lotter)

“Wolfie displays a wonderful spirit of adventure in these pages, bristling with humour, and sprinkled with suspense.” (John L. Stevens)

” . . . at the end of each one I was eager to read the next. Each one has a little touch of magic . . . One of those books where you don’t want to reach the end!” (Ms H)

“A talented author who draws you in to each story with his characters and vivid storytelling.” (Wendy Dias)

At the ‘fringe of kindness‘, one may find: humour, sorrow, love, hope, conflict, and the bizarre and surreal. It’s a place where good intentions are often disrupted by fate or the unpredictability of human nature. These eclectic stories will tease your emotions and keep you thinking. They will confront, test compassion, make you laugh and make you cry. They are all individual, stand-alone stories, however the author suggests that the first three (A Bag of Oranges, The Hand of God, Peter Schilling) are best read in that order. The collection concludes with a novella, ‘The Castle at Nightfall’, a Gothic love story with a contemporary twist, inspired by strange events in a Bavarian castle many years ago.

Prior to concentrating on writing, Wolfie worked in film production, advertising, policing, and as a paramedic. He has travelled widely, spending much time in Europe and the South Pacific, and in recent years has taken on the mysterious art of parenthood. His greatly varied story ideas often reflect the diversity of experience within these fields. He lives in Sydney with his wife and children.

The Fringe of Kindness – Short Stories by Wolfie Brandt, is available through your Amazon website in either e-book or paperback form. The e-book can be sent immediately to any electronic device.

For customers in the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Japan, Canada and Australia; the paperback version is available for postage from within your regional Amazon marketplace. Australian customers should purchase the paperback from the Australian site, amazon.com.au, since as of June 2021, Amazon is printing in Australia. Any customers from Sydney may also purchase the paperback directly from Berkelouw Books.

Contact Wolfie at: wolfiebrandt61@gmail.com

THE STORIES – WOLFIE’S COMMENTS:

A Bag of Oranges – Many years ago, a colleague told me an hilarious story of an ambulance crew that had been offered a large quantity of fruit by a local farmer. The story inspired this piece of comic fiction. As well as highlighting the humorous side of ambulance life, this is also a satire on those who meddle in others’ affairs, and those who have a tendency to exaggerate crime.

The Hand of God – As time passes, paramedics discover that every now and then, fate delivers something truly extraordinary. This dramatic story of a woman’s suicide was inspired by my own experiences over many years. What is it that allows one person to survive, when ten thousand others would have died?

. . . . Peter Schilling – This was something that popped into my mind while writing The Hand of God. During these unpredictable times, we all live in hope, don’t we?

The Girl – I had an hour or so to wait for a show to begin in the city. While I sat outside with a coffee, a young and ragged homeless girl approached me and asked for money. I gave her some change and she wandered off into the night. I’ve often thought of her and hoped she survived her time on the streets. This darker side of inner-city life is the background to this story.

The Storyteller – My wife and I were on a tour of the Fox Glacier in New Zealand, and our guide told us the true and remarkable story of two brothers who were local adventurers and mountaineers back in the early 1900s. It inspired this romantic story of love and adventure, which also pays respect to the elderly folk who tell tales of olden times.

A Mouse Named Cloud – When a peculiar but talented mouse is expelled from its group, it forms a close friendship with a lonely farmer. Their bond takes them on an adventure that will change their lives forever. This little story is for adults too.

The Playground in the Park – Some years ago, we took our kids to Sydney’s iconic Luna Park for the first time. In Coney Island, they fell in love with the Mirror Maze, and after a while we let them go in alone. At one point, my youngest son came out and told me that he’d found a ‘new way’ we hadn’t seen before. There was something special in that moment, and it started me thinking. This is a story of a family who experience one of the most frightening and challenging events that could confront any parent, and their personal story is entwined by a deeper mystery within the Park itself.

The Cup – I’ve always been fascinated by any shows that explore the wonderful world of antiques. There is intrigue and delight in learning the history and value of such items. This story plays with the hazy line between religious history and fantasy. In the realm of antiques, there may be great surprises when unexpected treasures are found.

The Castle at Nightfall – Many years ago, I travelled with a friend to Bavaria as part of a larger tour in western Europe. We had the good fortune to spend a few nights in a small castle in the countryside, well off the normal tourist trails. Our time in the castle was both frightening and remarkable, and the events that took place there are still remembered by the local community today. These events became the inspiration for this broader fictional tale. It is part ghost story, part medieval romantic fantasy, and part travel story. The photograph of the church at the top of this page was taken during my travels, and now depicts a scene from the story.

BEST WISHES AND HAPPY READING