A version of this story first appeared in Hometown St. Thomas and is reprinted with permission.
This autumn, Elgin Writers Guild marked a significant milestone with the release of Railway City
Writes – Stories and Poems from the Elgin Writers Guild, a 150-page anthology featuring short
stories and poems from its talented members.
The Fiction Critique Group (FCG) within the EWG, which meets twice a month at the St. Thomas
Public Library, has been a driving force behind this publication. These writers have been honing
their craft for years, working in genres such as literary fiction, science fiction, fantasy, and crime
fiction.
As anthology’s editor Tara Walker pointed out, this collection is a “watershed moment” for
many of the members. “I’m most excited that those of us who have never before been
published will at last have the thrill of opening a book and seeing our names and words on its
pages.” Tara, who has been a part of the guild since its inception, and now serves as the Fiction
Critique Group moderator, played a crucial role in guiding these stories to their final form
through meticulous developmental and line editing.
“We’ve selected,” Tara said, “ten short stories inspired by the loose motif of small towns, about
half sitting firmly in the contemporary genre while the other half have speculative twists.”
While some stories offer light-hearted moments, many delve into heavier themes designed to
provoke thought and emotion.
In addition, Railway City Writes also features poetry and songs. The inclusion of poetry reflects
the guild’s commitment to being as inclusive as possible. Tara noted that not all members write
fiction, and it was important for the guild to showcase the talents of its poets as well. “Those
included in the anthology are short and sweet and were not constrained by the theme of small
towns.”
The Aylmer Express printed the anthology, now on sale at Lockwood Books in St. Thomas, at
Port Stanley Foodland, or through Amazon, with a cover price of $25.
The release of Railway City Writes – Stories and Poems from the Elgin Writers Guild represents
the culmination of years of dedication for the writers. Tara said, “I’ve had the privilege of
watching each of these stories grow and evolve into the wonderful pieces we’re presenting to
you, and I’m deeply proud of all of our authors for their hard work and perseverance.”
