Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy New Year!

 Happy New Year's Eve, dear readers!

I hope 2011 has been a great year for you. It certainly has for me. I started this blog in January and it has expanded into a place where authors come to talk, writers write in the #ThursThreads flash fiction challenge, and snippets are posted for Six Sentence Sunday. I've learned so much from my dear friends Cara Michaels, Tom Keller, Shannan Albright, Morgan Kearns, Nichole Severn, and Nara Malone, and have met new friends Wakefield Mahon, Shoshanna Evers, JoAnn Ross, Robby Hilliard, @LupusAnthropos, and Madison Woods.

The greatest thing that happened to me just yesterday was...I submitted my vampire tale to Evernight Publishing and they accepted it for publication. It has a tentative release date of March 2012 and you shall see Siobhan Muir in digital splendor! Well, my story, at least. ;)

It has been a remarkable year for me and this is a dream come true. This is only the first of many stories coming from me and you will see vampires, werewolves, dragons, goblins, ghosts, and SEALs from me next year.

So here's to you, dear readers and writers, and remember: Never give up. Never surrender! Happy reading and Happy New Year. :)

Friday, December 30, 2011

#ThursThreads - Week Three - Winners

 
Week Three of #ThursThreads brought some awesome stories! Huge thank you to all who entered in the last week of the year. It was great to see all of you and read your tales. And another huge thank you to judge Rafe B. for reading through all the stories.

Entries:
  • Nicole Wolverton | @nicolewolverton
  • Gordon Bonnet | @TalesofWhoa
  • Rafe B | @etcet
  • Charles W Jones | @ChuckWesJ
  • Ryan Strohman | @rastrohman
  • Robert Mahone | @Computilizer
  • Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
  • Wendy Russo | @wendysrusso
  • Wakefield Mahon | @WakefieldMahon
  • AJ Aalto | @AJAalto
  • Robby Hilliard | @redshirt6
  • David A Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
  • Nellie Batz | @solimond
  • Michael Kozlowski | @MAKozlowski
  • Clare Stubbs | @ClareStubbs2
  • Jeffrey Hollar | @Klingorengi
  • Tom Keller | @dryadsgarden
  • @LupusAnthropos
 
Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions
Michael Kozlowski | @MAKozlowski
Rafe says: I am a sucker for a good Devil's Contract riff, and the fact that Satan's profanity-spewing in his irritation charmed me. It's how I'd play the role, after all...

Nellie Batz | @solimond
Rafe says: With so many stories about ritual sacrifice, this was my favorite twist on the theme.

AJ Aalto | @AJAalto
Rafe says: I'd simply link Prodigy's "Firestarter" as a soundtrack, but this scene felt like it carried more substance and heft than its length would suggest.

Week Three Winner
 

Rafe says: I can't offer any praise higher than, "I want to see what else Gramps would mash up into what he's going to tell those kids."
 
 “It had been so for centuries, but it had not always been so,” he said, as the four children sat listening. “Long ago, in galaxy far, far away, there was a—“

“Hey,” the oldest boy said, “that’s ‘Star Wars’, Grandpa.”

The two girls, one the same age as the older boy and the other a few years younger, remained silent. The youngest boy sat absently tugging on the footies of his pajamas.

“What? No,” the old man said. “It may sounds like it, but it isn’t.”

The oldest boy looked doubtful, his mouth twisting to one side as he shrugged his shoulders in reply.

“Okay then,” the old man continued. “Long ago in a galaxy far, far, far away,” he emphasized the final ‘far’, “there was a quaint little place filled with peaceful, rolling farm lands and little people and one of the little people was having a birthday party! His name was Milo Scaggins.”

“Grandpa,” said the oldest girl.

“Huh? What?”

“That’s ‘The Hobbit’, Grandpa.”

“Can we go watch T.V., Grandpa?” the oldest boy asked.

“Fine,” the old man said. “Go watch T.V.” The two oldest children were gone in a flash.

The old man looked, crestfallen, at the two remaining.

“Stowy, Gwampa. Stowy,” the little boy said. The little girl smiled and nodded her head.

The old man smiled. “Alright then. Well, it just so happens that Milo Scaggins was turning, oh I don’t know, eleventy-three, when suddenly a house fell on the wicked witch of the…”
 
Congratulations Robby, Michael, Nellie, and AJ! Claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it! :) 

Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the stories here and I hope to see you all back next week for #ThursThreads in the New Year 2012! Happy Holidays. :)
 

Gardening #100Words for the #FridayFictioneers

On this last Friday of 2011 I'm offering #100words for the #FridayFictioneers. Just a little story to send us careening into 2012. We had the following photo as a prompt and my little story is entitled, "Gardening".

She reclined in a garden of glittering light, warm scents of hibiscus and gardenia perfuming the air. Each leaf and petal seemed to sparkle as the breeze shifted them, drawing a soft fluttering sound. Theresa shook her head. The petals weren’t fluttering, something else made the sound.

“Faeries!”

Tiny flickers of light burst into the garden like stars, darting through the foliage. The garden magically transformed from shaggy wilderness to cultivated beauty. Theresa delighted in their antics until one of them crashed into her drink and sparked with a soft pop!

“Darnit, Ray! Stop using the nanos for your chores.”

That's the way of the world. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a delightful New Year! Happy reading. :)

Thursday, December 29, 2011

#ThursThreads - The Challenge that Ties Tales Together - Week Three

 
Welcome to Week Three of #ThursThreads!

It's Thursday, so what should you be doing? Writing #FlashFiction, that's what! And I've got the challenge for you. This is the last Thursday of 2011 and the new year looms brightly on the horizon. Take the challenge and run with it!

Here's how it works:
  • The prompt is a line from the previous week's winning tale.
  • The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count.
Rules to the Game:
  • This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250.
  • Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count).
  • Post your story in the comments section of this post
  • Include your word count (or be excluded from judging)
  • Include your Twitter handle or email (so we know how to find you)
  • The challenge is open 7 AM to 7 PM Pacific Time
  • The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up. ;)
How it benefits you:
  • You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we're all about promotion - you know you are!)
  • You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog!
  • Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Twitter, and Google + 

Our Judge for Week Three:

The thing that goes clank in the night, and cheesey, possibly sexy, word and weight wrangler, Rafe B.



And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

"It had been so for centuries, but it had not always been so."

Away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThread. Good luck! :)

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Happy Holidays for your Six Sentence Sunday!

As promised, I have six sentences for you to enjoy on this very Merry Christmas day. Six Sentence Sunday is officially closed today in observance of the holiday, but I thought I'd offer you these holiday six for your enjoyment (in case you need some time away from family) ;)


These six are from my WIP The Bone Flute and came from a short snippet I wrote for #MenageMonday and for which I won Most Romantic Story. Jozsef, a cursed ghost, is admiring the Christmas decorations with Rain Szep, a scientist he's certain will break the curse.

“Jozsef, would you, um…” Rain trailed off, her expression uncertain. “Would you hold my hand while we walk?” 
“I’d be honored, my lady.” 
She held out her hand, but he took her arm and tucked it against his side, her presence making him solid once more. Pleasure filled him and he smiled. She wanted to hold his hand, but he wanted to hold her heart, forever.

I hope your holidays are wonderful and if you celebrate Christmas, have a very merry one this year. I'll leave you with a few photos that might make you blush, but certainly make me smile each time I see them. Happy holidays and happy reading! :)

Siobhan












Friday, December 23, 2011

#ThursThreads - Week Two - Winners

 
Week Two of #ThursThreads was full of great stories! Huge thank you to all who entered during such a busy time of year. It was great to see all of you. And another huge thank you to judge Wakefield Mahon for reading through all the stories.

Entries:
  • Wakefield Mahon | @WakefieldMahon
  • Ryan Strohman | @rastrohman
  • Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
  • Nicole Wolverton | @nicolewolverton
  • Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
  • Michael Kozlowski | @MAKozlowski
  • David A Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
  • Jen DeSantis | @JenD_Author
  • Rafe B | @etcet
  • Nellie Batz | @solimond
  • Maureen Hovermale | @zencherry
  • Jeffrey Hollar | @Klingorengi
  • Greg Nance | @acenance
  • Charles W Jones | @ChuckWesJ
  • @LupusAnthropos
 
Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions
Michael Kozlowski | @MAKozlowski
Wakefield says: "Letting the Converted envy my damnation." This story made excellent use of the prompt. The emotions of the narrator are palpable if disturbing. A very well written story.

Jeffrey Hollar | @Klingorengi
Title: Hunting For The Holiday Spirit
Wakefield says: Here is a wonderfully wicked story richly told blending the prompt naturally without affectation, again the arrogance of the main character and the darkness of his worldview is clearly and beautifully expressed.

Maureen Hovermale | @zencherry
Wakefield says: "Angel of Death" I loved the courtroom scene and the integration of the sci-fi and supernatural elements.

Week Two Winner


Wakefield says: This story told from the demon’s point of view took an unexpected turn.  In this anti-redemption story, the MC starts out good and becomes evil and somehow we are still cheering for them because we can understand their motivation. All of the stories this week were great but this one stood out.

In the hierarchy of the undead, I ranked below them all. I fed from the bottom rung of humanity, existing only by the grace and good humor of my more powerful brethren. It had been so for centuries, but it had not always been so.

My sin was pity. My brothers had set before us a feast of souls, all delectably rich and succulent. When my turn came and before me stood an innocent – a child – I could not. I would not. And so, cast down from my seat on high, I walked among the bedraggled masses. I was made to blend in, to pretend to be less than what I was. Meals were thrown to me from scraps left over from my stronger brothers, and only then when they remembered I existed. And I wasted away waiting for my redemption.

My sin—my weakness—haunted me, as did the child’s eyes as they took her away. I began conserving my energy, gathering strength so that I might one day be worthy to challenge the brothers who cast me out.

Then the damned would envy my conversion. Bottom-feeder no more, I would rule them all with inequity. They would feel the centuries of betrayal they had heaped upon me when I took my rightful place. Vengeance would be mine finally.

I would beat down the sin of pity within me. And her eyes would haunt me no more.

Congratulations Jen, Michael, Jeffrey, and Maureen! Claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it! :) 

Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the stories here and I hope to see you all back next week for #ThursThreads! Happy Holidays. :)
 

Thursday, December 22, 2011

#ThursThreads - The Challenge that Ties Tales Together - Week Two

Welcome to Week Two of #ThursThreads!

It's Thursday, so what should you be doing? Writing #FlashFiction, that's what! And I've got the challenge for you.

Here's how it works:
  • The prompt is a line from the previous week's winning tale.
  • The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count.
Rules to the Game:
  • This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250.
  • Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count).
  • Post your story in the comments section of this post
  • Include your word count (or be excluded from judging)
  • Include your Twitter handle or email (so we know how to find you)
  • The challenge is open 7 AM to 7 PM Pacific Time
  • The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up. ;)
How it benefits you:
  • You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we're all about promotion - you know you are!)
  • You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog!
  • Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Twitter, and Google + 

Our Judge for Week Two:

The musically inclined, Texas expatriate Wakefield Mahon.



And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

"Then the damned will envy my conversion."

Away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThread. Good luck! :)

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

#FlashFiction Summary for the Third Week of December

My dear friend Cara Michaels participated in NaNoWriMo this year and she managed to write an entire novel in the month of November. It helped her so much, she decided to put together a new challenge for the whole year. It's called #WIP500 and it's meant for the writer to write 500 words a day for the whole year on any or all writing projects. #Flashfiction counts, especially when written from the stories in progress.

With that in mind, all the #flashfiction I wrote this week was for my WIP The Bone Flute. The first challenge I entered was the Undead Christmas Spectacular for #MenageMonday. We had the following photo, the phrase "the more the merrier", and the themes of Christmas and Undead to construct a story of up to 500 words.


“Did you celebrate Christmas in Hungary when you –” Rain gestured at his body braced in the passenger seat of her car. “You know, when you weren’t like this.”
Jozsef slanted her a dry look. “Of course.” Then chagrin killed his sarcasm. “Marika celebrated the Goddess’ Solstice, but the celebrations were the same. Giving thanks, offering gifts, and goodwill to our neighbors. All the things Christmas is about.”
Sunlight blinded him as Rain steered the car into the setting sun. The road appeared to run straight to the mountains, capped in white and blue shadows. Odd branchless trees with broad fronds sprouting from their tops lined the roadway, some draped with lines of colorful baubles. They reminded him of the strings of lanterns his family would hang from the eaves of their home.
“Where are we going?”
“I thought we’d take a walk in zip code 89129. The people over there always have the best Christmas decorations.”
Most of the houses had something in their yards and strung along their rooflines. One little blue house had odd white structures vaguely resembling some four-legged animal as well as a strange covered wagon. Lumpy red and white cloth bunched on the ground, looking for all the world like Christmas casualties on a field of green. Was the white one supposed to be a snowman?
“Something’s wrong with their decorations,” he remarked.
Rain looked to where he pointed and laughed. “No, just wait until it gets dark. Those are balloons. They rise up like the undead to stand after sunset. And the reindeer and horse-and-cart light up, too. You’ll see when it gets dark.”
“The undead? You mean like me?”
“You’re a ghost, not a vampire.”
“Would you think of me as alive?” He fervently hoped it was so.
Rain watched the road for a few moments, her thoughts scrolling across her face too quickly for him to read.
“No, not precisely alive, but certainly not completely dead. I mean, when you’re dead, the soul leaves. But your soul is still here, with me. That makes me all the more the merrier.” Her smile warmed his insubstantial heart.
The sun dipped behind the jagged mountains as Rain parked the car in a faintly glowing neighborhood. Bright lights sparkled as the breeze shook the fronded trees lining the street. Jozsef sifted himself onto the sidewalk as she got out.
“Jozsef, would you, um…” Rain trailed off, her expression uncertain. She took a deep breath. “Would you hold my hand while we walk?”
Delight bloomed in his chest even while his mind told him not to get too attached. He just needed her to end his curse and he’d be free of this unlife. “I’d be honored, my lady.”
           She held out her hand, but he took her arm and tucked it against his side, her presence making him solid once more. Pleasure filled him and he smiled. She wanted to hold his hand, but he wanted to hold her heart. Tonight, he’d win it.

I won for the Most Romantic Story and I wrote 500 words for my WIP! :)

I also entered #MotivationMonday and we had to write a story up to 500 words from the following first line "That's just great. Now my flashlight doesn't work!"

“That's just great. Now my flashlight doesn't work!” Rain looked up from her bills as Heath strode into the room with a scowl across his face. “And I don’t have any extra batteries. Do you have a flashlight I can borrow?”
“Why do you need a flashlight? Doesn’t the light in the garage work?”
Heath gave her a conciliatory shrug. “It’s still too dark to see what needs to be done to fix the water heater.”
Unease slithered up Rain’s spine. Why was so much going wrong in her house? It had been fine until a few months ago. Was Jozsef right and Heath was actually sabotaging it? She stuffed her worries down and gave Heath a grimace.
“I think I have one you can use.”
She rose and strode to her hutch, scrounging through a drawer to find a purple mini Mag-Lite. She rotated the head and nearly blinded herself. “This one works.”
“Could you come into the garage and hold it for me? I really need both my hands.”
She scanned his face, looking for the source of her disquiet, but his expression showed only hopeful patience.
“Okay, I guess I could.”
“Great. Thanks.”
He preceded her through the fire door, holding it open as she stepped through. It slammed shut behind her, making her jump, but Heath had already moved into the corner where the water heater stood.
“Here, can you shine it right here?” He pointed toward the back of the alcove. “I need to get to the pipes back there.”
“Where?”
“Right there. Here, stand here and shine it into the corner, there.” He positioned her to one side and pointed.
She frowned at the mass of pipes, bending down to look closer. It almost looked like they’d been cut…
“Do you see the problem, Rain?” Heath asked in a chilling voice.
“I think so.”
“It should be obvious. It’s right there in front of you.”
She turned to look back at him just as something struck the back of her head, shooting stars through her vision. A scream of protest and pain echoed in the empty garage as she fell against the totes stacked behind her.
“It was always right in front of you, Rain.” Heath’s face suffused with rage swam in her wavering vision.
“What are you doing –”
“You’re mine and always will be. He’ll never have you!”
Her head roiled in agony as he opened the garage door and retreated to his truck parked out front. She had to get to the phone, dial 911. Rain tried to roll her body onto all-fours, but dizziness hit her so hard, nausea swelled up her throat.
“Don’t worry, Rain,” Heath soothed as he wrapped a thick, muffling blanket around her body, covering her head. “I’ll take care of you and make it all better. I’ve always taken care of you, haven’t I?”
            Her blood ran cold when she understood Jozsef had been right about Heath and she’d never be able to tell him as the darkness sucked her under. 

I won Honorable Mention and creeped out the judge. This is also from my WIP The Bone Flute.

On Tuesday, I continued with The Bone Flute for #TuesdayTales and we had the word Snickerdoodle and the following photo to make a story with only 100 words.

Rain snuggled closer to Jozsef’s side, amazed at how solid and warm he felt as they walked through the glittering neighborhood. Who knew a ghost could feel so real?
The scent of snickerdoodles floated in the cold evening air as they passed a house with inflatable decorations and fogged windows.
Rain laughed. “What do you think they’re doing in there?”
Jozsef tipped his head and smirked. “Judging by the heart on the glass, I think I can guess.” Then he kissed her forehead. “Shall I take you home and make my own attempt?”
Excitement zinged through her. “Oh, yes, please.”

So that's the #flashfiction for the week. I hope you've enjoyed the little parts of this story slowly emerging. 1100 words written on my WIP and I even won for the bits. :) Happy reading!