Randee Dawn

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Title: New York: Give Me Your Best or Your Worst
Series: Short Stories
Published by: BookBaby
Release Date: November 22, 2021
Contributors: Elizabeth Crowens, Charles Salzberg, Tom Straw, Randee Dawn Barbara Krasnoff, Steven Van Patten, Triss STein, Marco Conelli, RJ Koreto, Richie Narvaez, Reed Farrel Coleman
Pages: 168
ISBN13: 978-1950384136

 Multi-genre author and former professional photographer, Elizabeth Crowens, pitched the idea of this book to the City Artist Corps grant committee as a New York-themed photo-illustrated anthology using her own photography, inspired by her popular posts on Facebook, Caption Contest: Give Me Your Best or Your Worst. Every day, she'd nd a humorous or provocative vintage photo, and authors, readers, librarians, and publishing professionals worldwide would react by posting their witty commentaries which were often hilarious. This came as a welcome reprieve throughout the pandemic when all of us needed to have a good dose of laughter on a daily basis.

When she unexpectedly received this grant, she reached out to ten other authors in the Greater New York City area from diverse backgrounds, who all contributed to the literary legacy of New York. In a race against time with a stiff deadline, she wore many hats from editorial to book design to produce this anthology.

New York, NY – Writer and photographer, Elizabeth Crowens is one of 500 New York City-based artists to receive funding through the City Artist Corps Grants program, presented by The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA), with support from the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) as well as Queens Theatre.

City Artist Corps Grants was launched in June 2021 by NYFA and DCLA with support from the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) as well as Queens Theatre. The program is funded by the $25 million New York City Artist Corps recovery initiative announced by Mayor de Blasio and DCLA earlier this year. The grants are intended to support NYC-based working artists who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

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From "Polhemus and Fiske and Maude (and the Mayor)":

Maude Allocard had been the Mayor of New York City for nearly three minutes, and no one had noticed.

No one–except Polhemus and Fiske.

But Polhemus and Fiske–who'd named themselves after Brooklyn streets Maude had bicycled them through daily–were cognizant of her ascendancy to the top of the political heap in the World's Greatest City because, well…they were the ones who'd elected her.

Well executed. Fiske nodded at his companion, who he could only perceive in a soft outline, as they were trapped in a darkened closet. He licked his chops, retrieving a whisper of tonight's dinner from a fine white curl above his muzzle. And 'twas the right decision.

Somethin' hadda be done. Polly twitched her forelegs, approximating a shrug. When d'you suppose they'll figure it out?

Any moment, my dear.

Only, Fiske wasn't entirely certain about this.