Collection of Auguries

“The darkness belongs to no one between the hours of three and four. It is a suspension of theories, feelings, and conclusions that adhere neither to the night nor to the day. It is a podium wreathed with dreams, memories, and thoughts that are not quite yours to claim. What can’t be deciphered in those hours is invented for coherence. Winds carry stories in them.” – from “Engram” in Collection of Auguries

The stories in Collection of Auguries “[…] are short, energetic frissons to shake the mind, emotions, and senses out of their usual ruts; they prove both disquieting and thrilling. Others are longer explorations of territory ranging from modern neuropsychology to Egyptian mythology, beautifully interconnected by themes of memory, identity, and the phantom bits of consciousness that reappear in our dreams.” – Lucy Pollard-Gott, from the Foreword

Author Biography

“Syed presents a rich and engaging collection of short shorts that reveals hidden truths about the human condition and encourages readers to search for fuller understanding of themselves and their place in the universe. In some entries, the author uses dialogue between two characters to drive the narrative. Other stories are more traditional in their form, and address love, dreams, and memories. All are well crafted and rich in their sense of place; they use philosophic inquiry, scientific explanation, and ancient myth to examine the human experience. And while most of the stories run less than five pages, readers will find themselves pondering them long after finishing the collection. As the narrator of “Love Is Not a True Word” explains, “Some stories we understand better the more often we hear or read them. Other stories we can only understand the first time and thereafter we can never reach the same understanding.” The meaning of Syed’s stories will stick with readers like dreams throughout the day.” – Publisher’s Weekly

Annie Q. Syed has been telling stories since she was eight years old. She attained her B.A. from the University of Kansas in English Literature and International Studies and her Master’s in Secondary English Education from City College in New York where she was a NYC Department of Education teacher. She went on to receive her J.D. from CUNY School of Law in New York and then completed a clerk-ship for a judge. She remains an activist in projects involving human rights in the United States, Africa and Asia. She is working on finishing a novel and other short stories. She calls New York City home although she lives a bicoastal, transcontinental life. You can learn more about her and read some of her other works at www.anniesyed.com.