Elements of Life — John Morrison

Every rhythm is defined by beats and pauses. If life is a cyclic rhythm, the beats that define it are the basic elements: Birth, Life, Death and all the stages in between. Winners of the Accentuate Writers Short-Story Contest present his or her own interpretation of the refrains heard played by the Elements of Life. From Katherine Shaye's story of a young woman fighting the ravages of Alzheimer s disease to Robert Arend's tale of a woman trying desperately to make a deeper impression on life to Jo Brielyn's heart-wrenching rendition of survival, love, and loyalty, there are codas, arias, and lilts to appeal to all tastes. Exceptional poetry lyrically garnishes the pages as the perfect palate cleanser between the main courses, lending to the literary value of this volume. With a foreword from Rissa Watkins, who recently battled against cancer for her life, we kick off the anthology on a high note that keeps us flipping pages until the last tone fades with the last word on the last page of the Elements of Life.