Hell City
A young woman awakens in an eternally burning city where she must fight monsters.
Semi-Finalist Coverfly Short Story Competition 2019
Semi-Finalist Coverfly Short Story Competition 2019

Sixteen-year-old Sam knows life will never be easy for her. Socially awkward and armed only with a brilliant mind and feisty character, she struggles with things that other teenagers find normal. Only her best friend Jasper really gets her.
Eighteen-year-old college student Jasper strives to be the perfect son to his successful parents, working himself to the ground to fulfill their wishes. Up until the point that he crashes when his heart fails. The best friends learn the devastating news that Jasper has a tumor embedded deeply into his heart and hasn't got much time left.
Devastated, Sam convinces him to pursue his ultimate dream: To sing in front of a live audience once before he dies. The friends head to London, where Jasper signs up for the ultimate singing competition. Knowing he has nothing left to lose, Jasper gives it all.
As the competition progresses, his health deteriorates rapidly. Jasper is torn between leaving his family behind and following his heart. Sam struggles with the knowledge that they will have to say goodbye soon. In the end, both can't help but wonder if pursuing the ultimate goal was worth the heartache after all.
Heart-Beat is a heartfelt story about the ultimate friendship and making choices. If these were the last days of your life, what would you do?
ISBN:9789082893908 – NURÂ 285
Number of pages:Â 380
Publication date: September 2017
Wonderful in both languages
I find it punishing how 1 author manages to write her book in two languages so emotionally. Research tells me that Heart-Beat is the original and then was itself translated into Heart-Beat. I have read them in reverse. The story is obviously the same, but the words are incredibly gripping and grabbed me by the throat from the first moment. At times it felt like I was reading a new book, even though I knew what was going to happen and how it would end.
Remarkable and clever. I therefore enjoyed Heart-Beat (again) immensely.
intense
Fantastic heartbreaking story about two friends who are forced to say goodbye.
No romantic sessions or anything that would make the story become corny.
The story focuses on the two main characters who are each written to perfection.
I've rarely felt such sympathy for two young people before. Stunning.
This book made me laugh, cry and then cry some more. I loved it, cannot put it any other way than that. It was so good. Without spoiling too much, I was surprised where I didn't expect it and the ending was just so honest and heartfelt it made me want to grab the book for a second time to read it again. A compelling, warm and beautiful story. So glad I found it.
Joanne Carlton has been writing in a variety of genres for as long as she can remember. She initially penned in Dutch under the author name Sandra J. Paul, until she decided to pursue her longstanding dream of publishing English-language books and short stories.Â
Update 16/11: Stock of slightly damaged books REPLACED HIGHLY. Dismiss