A Handful of Pearls & Other Stories showcases author Beth Bernobich's versatile talent. Quoted as offering the following advice to writers- Mix characters and plot. Blend well and set aside to rise. Stir together equal helpings of confl ict and tension. Remember that the pacing used to stir will affect the story's consistency and flavor. When characters and plot are ready, layer these with backstory, setting, and description. For a fuller heavier story, fortify with theme, subtext, and allusion. Add whimsy and logic to taste. Top with a climax and resolution. Sprinkle with surprises. (Do not overdo.) Beat prose until smooth. -Bernobich follows that perfect recipe to the letter and offers stories that will linger in the imagination of readers. Inside these pages are tales of talented painters, tween arthropod aliens, bitter explorers, and a wistful Medusa.