Darlene Foster's Blog

I am excited to introduce the international literary anthology Story Chat Digest: Where Stories Meet, edited and compiled by Marsha Ingrao. 

Now in its third volume, Story Chat Digest continues its tradition of bringing together international voices in short fiction and poetry. What began as an interactive online literary challenge has grown into an established anthology series and ongoing writing-and-reading community built around thoughtful conversation, continuing a tradition of collaborative storytelling.

In this volume, writers from around the world contributed short fiction and contemporary poetry inspired by the Story Chat community at AlwaysWrite.blog. I am delighted to have two stories included in this volume.

Each piece stands alone, yet together they form a tapestry of voices exploring memories, mysteries, resilience, humour, faith, family, and the quiet complexities of ordinary life — with a few science fiction pieces woven in for imaginative contrast. This anthology captures not just the stories themselves, but a sampling of connections that inspired them. 

This is what differentiates the Story Chat anthology from a typical collection. Story Chat began as a blog-based literary program in which writers submitted original fiction and poetry, and readers responded thoughtfully in the comments. Those conversations became part of the creative process. Readers engaged like live beta readers. Writers refined their work. Sometimes a reader’s insight sparked a second or even third story. The anthology grew organically from that global interaction — preserving both the writing and the spirit of conversation that shaped it.

You can find out more about Story Chat Digest as well as how to submit your stories and/or poems here: https://alwayswrite.blog/join-story-chat-digest-2026-an-online-writing-community-for-all-authors/.

Reader Testimonials 

• “This is what I like about Story Chat, Marsha — the perspective of different people. It would be very dull if we all thought the same thing.”
• “You have given me an idea on how to make my character more three-dimensional… It is amazing how little additions like that might enhance the experience for readers.”
• “I enjoyed being here. Thank you so much, Marsha. It was a memorable experience — a great confidence booster.”

I enjoyed being part of this project. It was fun to write a couple of short stories for the collection, but even more fun to read the comments from fellow writers and readers. The experience motivated me to write in genres new to me. Thank you, Marsha Ingrao, for creating this fabulous opportunity to showcase our work and obtain valuable feedback.

My 5-star review for Story Chat Volume II

Many brilliant writers in this volume provide great examples of various writing skills and styles. This is the second volume of Story Chat, and I love this idea. Not only does the reader get introduced to several authors, but following most of the short stories are critique notes that make you think about the story more. For example, the brilliant author, Diana Peach, writes The Grand Adventure, an engaging tale about best friends with a fabulous twist at the end. This is what critiquer Balroop says: “Diana is a master crafter; whatever she writes, she never disappoints. I love her style of saying a lot, without going into any unnecessary details, and that shows how much she respects the intellect of her readers.”

The stories include humour, juvenile, coming-of-age, family drama and sci-fi. The book is bookended with writing tips on How to Write Fantastic Stories that Will Impact Readers by Hugh Roberts, and comprehensive Tips on Point of View by Diana Peach. Not only is this an entertaining read, it’s a writer’s manual as well. Well done, Marsha, for putting this informative and entertaining volume together.

Story Chat Digest: Where Stories Meet, Volume III

Purchase Links:

Amazon Paperback 

Kindle eBook

Draft2Digital

Goodreads

About the Editor 

Marsha Ingrao is the founder and online host of the Story Chat community and the compilation editor of the Story Chat series. A lifelong educator, she continues to foster global literary conversation through blogging, collaborative anthologies, and virtual gatherings.

After retiring from public education, she expanded her work into writing, photography, and publishing. She believes strongly in lifelong learning and the power of shared storytelling to build connections across cultures.

Blog:www.alwayswrite.blog