The Beckoning Pages is a collection of short stories and poetry written throughout my life. One of my intentions with this collection was to give the reader the opportunity to find a story within these pages to match the reader's available time. Whether five minutes or an hour or two, my hope is to provide a brief departure from the present difficulties of this world, and an enjoyable respite in another; though, I must admit, some of the worlds within these pages have their own difficulties. - C. F. Jacobson