More News Coming…Stay in touch

The editorial committee is building on the success of our first edition! Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to hear about:

  • interviews, podcasts & live events featuring Feisty Deeds
  • new releases, freebies, recipe, and more from Feisty Deeds authors
  • the title and theme for Feisty Deeds II
  • Call for Submissions, release date, special offers, and more!

The twenty-three stories in this collection depict ordinary women—from the 1470s to the 1970s—who meet life’s challenges with fierce determination.

An unhappy housewife in 1950s California gathers the courage to escape an abusive marriage. When local men are shipped off to WWI, a young Yorkshire woman joins others to keep a munitions factory at peak operation. As her land and way of life are threatened, a nineteenth century Chickasaw wife and mother rekindles the strength of her ancestors. A midwife strives to protect mothers from accusations of witchcraft. A Victorian portrait artist possesses a rare, sought-after talent that dispatches unwanted relatives.

Foreign invaders, rigid domestic authorities, strictures of society and religion, the supernatural, and love and family bonds all serve as catalysts for the feisty women in these tales.

Contributors: Debra Borchert, Julie Mayerson Brown, Teri M. Brown, Julia Maria Schiavone Camacho, Elisabeth Carson-Williams, Valerie Chalker, Joan Fernandez, Beth Anne Hill, Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Dawn W. Hogan, Carolyn Korsmeyer, Della Leavitt, Raquel Y. Levitt, Christy Matheson, Barbara Buckley Ristine, Suzanne Samuels, Elaine Aucoin Schroller, Kay Smith-Blum, Kimberly Sullivan, Ashley E. Sweeney, Nina Wachsman, Patty W. Warren, Marie W. Watts
Pages: 254
ISBN13: 979-8-9868844-4-8

All profits donated to the WFWA Scholarship fund!

Christy Matheson manages this balance. In “The Inner Good” we first meet Felicity “trying to float…or perhaps glide. Whatever it was that ladies did so their petticoats rustled appealingly, instead of striding or even galumphing.” She loves and wants to marry a man her family disapproves of: a former slave who has achieved financial success and is kind. Told with humor and an eye to detail, Felicity’s struggles delight.

Advanced reader review

Advanced Praise & Editorial Reviews for FEISTY DEEDS Anthology

You can see our advanced reviews on NetGalley or see what readers think on GoodReads. Some themes are that many readers are enjoying these even though they don’t ordinarily read short stories, or find the length perfect “for people who are continually interrupted by calls for food and popsicles.”

We would love it if you add Feisty Deeds to your “want to read” shelf, and leave a review when you’re finished!

“Extraordinarily impressive… Twenty-three authors unite to take readers on a captivating journey filled with unexpected twists and turns in this collection of short stories. … Through personal journeys of self-discovery, unexpected challenges, and tests of character, the protagonists in these pages grapple with their own inner demons while navigating a world full of uncertainty and possibility. An outstanding collection that showcases ordinary women’s extraordinary experiences, struggles, and victories. 

The prairie’s book review

Listen to Online for Authors (on Apple Podcasts) or watch
Listen to Hear Us Roar (then you can select our episode in your preferred format)
Read the interview in Patty’s Pages

“A necessary fictional plunge into the annals of history’s unsung heroes, Feisty Deeds: Historical Fictions of Daring Women is a perfectly curated collection of fearless women making their mark on the world. From charming murderesses and devoted patriots to battlefield heroines and rebellious homemakers, these tales of extraordinary women and their dangerous deeds span centuries and nations, for a well-rounded and insightful compendium of unheard voices. The distinct and polished prose of the contributing writers brings their imagined achievements to life, resulting in a captivating, thought-provoking, and undeniably inspiring collection. Transcending the tired themes of compulsory courtship and domesticity, these wickedly crafted stories are potent with both modern and historical wisdom.”

Self-publishing review

The editorial committee is: Kimberly Sullivan; Carolyn Korsmeyer; Elaine Schroller; Kay Smith-Blum; and myself. You can reach us directly at: histficanthology@gmail.com