Once Upon a Grindstone and Other Stories

Once Upon a Grindstone and Other Stories is a delightful anthology that illuminates the quiet drama of everyday existence. With sharp observation and tender wit, K.C. Verma captures human quirks and foibles through diverse styles—by turns lyrical, spare, and playful. Earthy humour and understated grace make this collection a celebration of ordinary lives seen with extraordinary insight, with the occasional twist in the tail as befits a master storyteller.

A compelling short story collection exploring the beauty of the ordinary

• Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Insight
The stories shine a light on everyday existence, revealing quiet drama and deeper meaning in familiar human experiences.
• Wit, Humour, and Humanity
A gentle, earthy humour runs through the collection, capturing human quirks and foibles with warmth and affection.
• Diverse Narrative Styles
From lyrical and expressive to spare and understated, each story experiments with form while staying rooted in emotional truth.
• Relatable Yet Memorable Characters
The collection brings together a range of everyday individuals, each drawn with sharp observation and subtle emotional depth.
• Twist-in-the-Tale Storytelling
Several stories carry unexpected turns that add intrigue and leave a lasting impression on the reader.
• A Celebration of the Mundane
At its heart, the book transforms ordinary moments into meaningful reflections on life, crafted with grace and insight.

K.C. Verma retired as chief of Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) after working for about 40 years in the fields of intelligence, drug law enforcement, and grassroots-level policing. He now lives in Delhi and writes fiction. He is the author of Stories I Wouldn't Tell My Mother, Stories in Khaki & Other Colours, In Lockdown and Other Times and A Whiff of Whimsy.