#ThursThreads - The Challenge That Ties Tale Together - Week 130

Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. It's Thursday today, so get your flash ready. Writing a #flashfiction thread! Welcome to Week 130 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Want to keep up each week? You're welcome to join the FB #ThursThreads group where we'll do events and make announcements. And NO #THURSTREADS NEXT WEEK. I'll be out of town for a conference. So, need the rules? Read on.

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 8 PM Mountain 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 Plus

Our Judge for Week 130:

Car-pool Queen, knitter extraordinaire, and paranormal romance author, Bronwyn Green.

Bronwyn on Facebook

Bronwyn on Twitter

Bronwyn on Goodreads

And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck! Remember No #ThursThreads next week.

Mid Week Tease - The Bone Flute - Love is Love

Welcome to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked for a new year of Mid Week Tease hosted by Sandra Bunino.

Authors: this is a great opportunity to spotlight a few lines or even a paragraph or two from a new release or backlisted title. Readers: you get to sample some delicious snippets! We’ll do our best to tease, titillate and tantalize you into the weekend.

I suddenly realized I hadn't read my own post. LOL So this will be the last snippet from my new paranormal romantic suspense set in Las Vegas, entitled The Bone Flute. Next week I'll have something from Queen Bitch of the Callowwood Pack. But I can't just cut you off cold turkey, so in this unedited snippet, Rain is trying to figure out the nature of Jozsef's curse so they can figure out how to dismantle it.

She let that one go for a moment. “Okay, so you met up with a ‘magic user’ each time. Always in the same place?”

He shook his head slowly. “I don’t believe so. The first man appeared to be wealthy and lived in an ornate house on the water. He had a wife and children, but he also saw another woman most intimately. His mistress, I think. She was unhappy with his refusal to buy her better dresses than his wife and poisoned him for it.”

“Damn. You watched him die? Why didn’t you warn him?”

Jozsef shrugged. “What could I do? I was a ghost with no ability to communicate. Besides, he was a pig like Horváth. I had little interest in helping him.”

Rain sighed. “Who did you meet next?”

“A gypsy woman who told fortunes at all the villages along their route.”

“A fortune teller?” Rain snorted with derision. “Was she accurate?”

“Most of the time. Unfortunately, she told a ruling prince something he didn’t want to hear, no matter how true it might have been, and they stoned her for her ‘lies.’”

Rain gaped at his cavalier response. “Where were you then?”

He frowned in concentration and ran a fingernail over the edge of her table. “Rus, I think.”

“And you didn’t help her, either?”

“Rain, I was a ghost. How was I to help her?”

“You could’ve warned her or even distracted those who captured her. I assume you just watched her die, too.”

Jozsef opened his mouth to say something, but just gestured helplessly.

“Sheesh. Who’s next in the execution lineup?”

He told her about a rich Norwegian Prince whose half-brother wanted the crown on his head and took it, with the head still attached. Jozsef had learned how to make coherent sounds at by then, but hadn’t used them to help the Prince. The next time he awoke, he’d found himself in the hands of a handsome, young English painter. The young man had been lucky to find a wealthy patron, who had also been his lover. Unfortunately, the wealthy lover was jealous of the painter’s talent and attentions. He killed him one night when he thought the painter had accepted a tryst with another man.

Rain scowled. “Why did you let the painter die?”

“He was unnatural.” Jozsef shifted uneasily in his seat.

“He was not unnatural.” She slapped her hand on the table, frustration rising. “Homosexuality is as natural as heterosexuality. Love is love.”

Thanks for stopping by and happy reading. If you want to read more from other authors, click the link and enjoy...
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Snippet Sunday - Christmas ICE Magic - Get Busy Livin'

Welcome to the Snippet Sunday on the Weird, the Wild, and the Wicked. Thank you so much for visiting. If you choose to comment today, I really appreciate it. The snippets are from my Christmas novella, Christmas I.C.E. Magic, a paranormal romance set in the mountains northeast of Las Vegas. It's one of four stories in the Happy Holidays from the Crescent Moon Lodge Anthology, and it's only sale for only $0.99. And in a few weeks, the sequel to Christmas ICE Magic is coming out. If you missed last week's snippet, you can read it HERE.

In this snippet, Lily Sinclair is visiting with her dead twin brother Linus and is finding it hard to return to her life. She just told him her heart and her life are emptier now that he's gone. He tells her she has to fill them with something better. We're in Lily's POV but Linus is the first to speak.

“All joking aside, it’s not time for you to give up. You have so much more you need to do and so many others who need your adventurous spirit, got me? So, instead of getting busy dying, you need to get busy living.” Linus glanced past her shoulder, a cheeky grin quirked his lips. “There’s more magic in the world than you know and you have to take a chance. You have to hang in there long enough to discover it.” He met her gaze again. “Promise me you’ll take the chance, Lil.”

She shook her head. “I can’t do it alone.”

“Yes, you can.” He glanced past her again and nodded as if in greeting. “But it looks like you won’t have to. Now promise me.”

Seems the dead guy does know about life. ;) There are several great authors on the Weekend Writing Warrior list and in the Snippet Sunday Facebook group. A few of my favorites are Charley Descoteaux, SJ Maylee, Gem Sivad, Goran Zidar, Veronica Scott, and Karla Doyle.

If you're interested in more from Christmas ICE Magic, here's the blurb for the Anthology:

At the Crescent Moon Lodge, anything is possible and Christmas wishes come in the most unusual packages.

Christmas I.C.E. Magic – By Siobhan Muir
For Lily Sinclair, Christmas means sorrow and loss since the death of her twin brother. The magic is gone and she only wants to see her brother one more time. As an Ice Demon Zachary Snow is used to rescuing people in winter, but he’d never rescued anyone like Lily. Now he must convince her the magic she wants is in life itself.

A Howling Yuletide –By Shannan Albright

Fleur Delecourt knew her Christmas holiday was doomed from the start. Not only did she hate the cold and snow, but also she found herself saddled with a ski instructor, courtesy of a friend’s twisted sense of humor. Werewolf Rory Furr left Scotland to find a life and pack of his own. What he was not prepared for was finding his mate in the form of a petite redhead who tests both his self-control and patience.

Bon Appetite from the Lunar Eclipse Restaurant-By R.M. Sotera
Executive chef vampire Michael Stake loves his job at the Lunar Eclipse Restaurant. Although food critics do not visit often, he welcomes world-renown critic Penelope Rothchild to his establishment. That’s when all hell breaks loose. World-renown food critic Penelope Rothchild looks forward to her new assignment in Las Vegas. Christmas in the West, what could possibly go wrong? Everything. But it’s all in the name of the perfect meal.

Boo Christmas – By Johanna Riley
All Elvira "Elle" Grant wanted for Christmas was to get out from under her famous paranormal investigator parents' shadow. But being a medium she's always haunted by their profession. Thanks to a contest win, she gets the chance to do her own paranormal investigating during Christmas at the beautiful Crescent Moon Lodge near Las Vegas, Nevada. With hunky (albeit dead!) Casper Van Beau’s help. Can Elle get over her own insecurities long enough to open up to the possibilities of eternal love?

Happy Holidays from the Crescent Moon Lodge is only $0.99 at Amazon, All Romance, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. Pick up your copy and get swept away for Christmas. And keep an eye out for Cloudburst Ice Magic coming early August 2014!

#ThursThreads - Week 129 - Winners

Week 129 of #ThursThreads had some terrific tales. I'm honored to see all of the returning writers and read your stories. Thank you for coming back again and again to write and for helping me celebrate these years of flash. Great thanks to Anastasia Vitsky for judging this week. Be sure to check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on FB to keep up with news, etc.

Entries:

• Yusuf Toropov | @LiteraryJihadi
• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
• Toni Morrow Wyatt | @Toni1777
• Anna Lund | @AnnaLund2011
• Louisa Bacio | @LouisaBacio
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Hunter Frost | @HunterFrostMM

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

 

Hunter Frost | @HunterFrostMM

Anastasia says: Nice energy that culminates in a chuckle of satisfaction.

Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir

Anastasia says: Siobhan creates a wonderfully sensual longing.

Week 129 Winner

Louisa Bacio | @LouisaBacio

Anastasia says: Lyrical pacing, stunning details, seamless incorporation of this week's prompt make her entry stand out. I would love to see this as part of a longer work.

Dry leaves crunched beneath Shawna’s feet. She stooped, gathering twigs and pinecones, kindling for the fire. The wind kicked up, swirling with a whistle around her ankles, lifting her black skirt. With her free hand, she held onto her hat before it adventured off.

Returning to the campsite, she placed the wood in the middle of the ring, under her cauldron. With her fingers, she rubbed the curved lip, infusing her aura into the cast iron. The vessel had been handed down via the women in her family, from mother to daughter, until it landed in Shawna’s hands.

With a strike of the match, the pine needles sparked with a blue-orange flame.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Dru, her best friend since childhood, settled her scavengings in the pile and took the seat next to her. Long dark hair draped over her shoulders and ran in streams around the swells of her breasts.

Shawna averted her eyes, and tended to the recipe. “I’m tired of being alone. This spell shows my one true love.”

One by one, the ingredients went in, and Shawna chanted. Dru’s leg pressed against hers, causing a physical heat. She concentrated, her voice growing louder.

She opened her eyes, and saw Dru. “No, that didn’t work.”

“Maybe it did.” Dru slipped her hand through Shawna’s hair, knocking off her hat and brushed her lips against the other woman’s.

Warmth infused Shawna’s body. The fire crackled, shooting up a flurry of sparkling embers. Magic.

Congratulations Two Time Winner Louisa, and Hunter! Don't forget to 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. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! :)

#ThursThreads - The Challenge That Ties Tales Together - Week 129

Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. It's Thursday today, so get your flash ready. Writing a #flashfiction thread! Welcome to Week 129 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Want to keep up each week? You're welcome to join the FB #ThursThreads group where we'll do events and make announcements. Need the rules? Read on.

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 8 PM Mountain 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 Plus

Our Judge for Week 129:

Spanking queen, wooden spoon collector, and F/F sweet romance author, Anastasia Vitsky.

Anastasia on Facebook

Anastasia on Google Plus

Anastasia on Twitter

Anastasia on Goodreads

And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

“No, that didn’t work.”

All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

Mid Week Tease - The Bone Flute - Experimentation

Welcome to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked for a new year of Mid Week Tease hosted by Sandra Bunino.

Authors: this is a great opportunity to spotlight a few lines or even a paragraph or two from a new release or backlisted title. Readers: you get to sample some delicious snippets! We’ll do our best to tease, titillate and tantalize you into the weekend.

I'm working on a new paranormal romantic suspense set in Las Vegas, entitled The Bone Flute. In this unedited snippet, Rain just swiped her hand through Jozsef while he sat talking to her and they both felt something extraordinary. He'd jumped up and sifted straight through her, then demanded what she was doing. We're in Rain's POV.

Rain shook her head to Jozsef’s question. What could she tell him? That she doubted his ghostliness and had to test it? Hell, she was a scientist. She had to experiment. She hadn’t expected to feel wetness between her legs or the hard points of her nipples pressing against her shirt as her hand sank into him. She certainly hadn’t expected the arousal or the desire to wrap herself around his handsome body. Again.

And how the hell are you going to do that now that you’ve proved he’s a ghost?

Something was seriously wrong with her.

“I’m sorry.” She gripped her coffee cup tightly with both hands to keep them from shaking. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I just wanted to be sure.”

“Sure of what?”

“Sure you were telling me the truth.”

His brows lowered. “That I’m a ghost?”

“Yes.”

“Are you satisfied now?”

Not hardly. “Yes.”

Jozsef didn’t move from his post and she didn’t blame him. If he’d felt half as much as she did, she wouldn’t want to come closer either. Rain shoved off the wall and returned to her chair. She didn’t look at him, but turned her attention to the wooden box on the table. So innocuous, and yet it held a magical artifact. From a human body.

She shivered and dragged the box closer, lifting the lid. The bone flute lay where she’d left it and remained unchanged. Except there’s a ghost in my house. Jozsef said he was attached to it somehow and…

“Did you say you woke up being molested?”

“I did.”

“How could you be molested when you’re a ghost?” Please let me be wrong.

He didn’t say anything for a short time. He leaned backward with his hands braced on the counter, pushing his chest out and widening his shoulders. His lips tightened as he stared at the tips of his boots.

“The bone flute is part of me.”

“Dear God, is this your femur?”

Thanks for stopping by and happy reading. If you want to read more from other authors, click the link and enjoy...

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Snippet Sunday - Christmas ICE Magic - Not Quite Living

Welcome to the Snippet Sunday on the Weird, the Wild, and the Wicked. Thank you so much for visiting. If you choose to comment today, I really appreciate it. The snippets are from my Christmas novella, Christmas I.C.E. Magic, a paranormal romance set in the mountains northeast of Las Vegas. It's one of four stories in the Happy Holidays from the Crescent Moon Lodge Anthology, and it's only sale for only $0.99. And in a few weeks, the sequel to Christmas ICE Magic is coming out. If you missed last week's snippet, you can read it HERE.

In this snippet, Lily Sinclair is dreaming in her tent out in the snow. She gets her wish to see her brother one last time, but the conversation isn't quite going the way she'd expected.

“Bullshit.” Linus pushed her down on a nearby crystal. “You’d wanted to see what Christmas was like in the tropics and you got the opportunity.” He dropped beside her. “No one could’ve known what would happen. You can’t live your life defensively. That’s not living.”

Lily huffed a laugh, swiping at her tears. “Says the dead guy.”

He grinned. “I should know, shouldn’t I?”

“Heh. Yeah.” She rubbed her nose on her sleeve.

“Here’s the thing. I’ve been with you every step of the way, keeping an eye on you, and you’re starting to freak me out a little, Lil.” He took her hand and met her gaze, his usually dancing eyes serious. “You’re pushing too hard and it’s going to end up killing you.”

Lily pursed her lips and looked away. How could she tell her dead brother she didn’t want to live anymore? “There’s nothing really left for me…here.”

I think her brother needs to teach her about life. There are several great authors on the Weekend Writing Warrior list and in the Snippet Sunday Facebook group. A few of my favorites are Charley Descoteaux, SJ Maylee, Gem Sivad, Goran Zidar, Veronica Scott, and Karla Doyle.

If you're interested in more from Christmas ICE Magic, here's the blurb for the Anthology:

At the Crescent Moon Lodge, anything is possible and Christmas wishes come in the most unusual packages.

Christmas I.C.E. Magic – By Siobhan Muir
For Lily Sinclair, Christmas means sorrow and loss since the death of her twin brother. The magic is gone and she only wants to see her brother one more time. As an Ice Demon Zachary Snow is used to rescuing people in winter, but he’d never rescued anyone like Lily. Now he must convince her the magic she wants is in life itself.

A Howling Yuletide –By Shannan Albright

Fleur Delecourt knew her Christmas holiday was doomed from the start. Not only did she hate the cold and snow, but also she found herself saddled with a ski instructor, courtesy of a friend’s twisted sense of humor. Werewolf Rory Furr left Scotland to find a life and pack of his own. What he was not prepared for was finding his mate in the form of a petite redhead who tests both his self-control and patience.

Bon Appetite from the Lunar Eclipse Restaurant-By R.M. Sotera
Executive chef vampire Michael Stake loves his job at the Lunar Eclipse Restaurant. Although food critics do not visit often, he welcomes world-renown critic Penelope Rothchild to his establishment. That’s when all hell breaks loose. World-renown food critic Penelope Rothchild looks forward to her new assignment in Las Vegas. Christmas in the West, what could possibly go wrong? Everything. But it’s all in the name of the perfect meal.

Boo Christmas – By Johanna Riley
All Elvira "Elle" Grant wanted for Christmas was to get out from under her famous paranormal investigator parents' shadow. But being a medium she's always haunted by their profession. Thanks to a contest win, she gets the chance to do her own paranormal investigating during Christmas at the beautiful Crescent Moon Lodge near Las Vegas, Nevada. With hunky (albeit dead!) Casper Van Beau’s help. Can Elle get over her own insecurities long enough to open up to the possibilities of eternal love?

Happy Holidays from the Crescent Moon Lodge is only $0.99 at Amazon, All Romance, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. Pick up your copy and get swept away for Christmas. And keep an eye out for Cloudburst Ice Magic coming early August 2014!

#ThursThreads - Week 128 - Winners

Week 128 of #ThursThreads had some terrific tales. Happy Independence Day to all my American writers! I'm honored to see all of the returning writers and read your stories. Thank you for coming back again and again to write and for helping me celebrate these years of flash. Great thanks to Olivia Starke for judging this week. Be sure to check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on FB to keep up with news, etc.

Entries:

• Sandi Layne | @sandyquill
• Veronica Jorden | @RevolutionaryVJ
• Anna Lund | @AnnaLund2011
• Silver James | @SilverJames_
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Cate Derham | @Cate_Derham
• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
• Hunter Frost | @HunterFrostMM
• Josh Peters | @joshbgosh
• Warren C Bennett | @warrencbennett

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

 

Cate Derham | @Cate_Derham

Olivia says: Cate for her great world building in 245 words.

Kelly Heinen | @Aightball

Olivia says: Kelly for the emotion in the story.

Silver James | @SilverJames_

Olivia says: Silver for her intriguing hook.

Sandi Layne | @sandyquill

Olivia says: Sandi left me holding my breath.

Week 128 Winner

Anna Lund | @AnnaLund2011

Olivia says: Anna's story had this Douglas Adams humor I loved.

“Well, that wasn’t well thought-through at all. So much for intelligent design, it seems like somebody wasn’t paying attention at all when creating that experiment there.”

”Perhaps we should start again.”

“Right. Back to the drawing board everyone.”

They all started for the door, except the tall one, who remained in the lab, cleaning up the mess.

“All right, I’ll just blast this Petri dish clean, and we can have another go. At least, we didn’t waste too much time and effort this time. What did we call this one, again? Ah, Earth. Yeah, no, that didn’t work. At all.”

Congratulations Three Time Winner Anna, Cate, Kelly, Silver, and Sandi! Don't forget to 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. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! :)

#ThursThreads - The Challenge That Ties Tales Together - Week 128

 

Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. It's Thursday today, so get your flash ready. Writing a #flashfiction thread! Welcome to Week 128 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Want to keep up each week? You're welcome to join the FB #ThursThreads group where we'll do events and make announcements. Need the rules? Read on.

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 8 PM Mountain 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 Plus

Our Judge for Week 128:

Dr. Who fan, Mammal-mama, and paranormal romance author, Olivia Starke.

Olivia on Facebook

Olivia on Pinterest

Olivia on Twitter

Olivia on Goodreads

And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

“Perhaps we should start again.”

All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

Mid Week Tease - The Bone Flute - Wake Up Call

Welcome to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked for a new year of Mid Week Tease hosted by Sandra Bunino.

Authors: this is a great opportunity to spotlight a few lines or even a paragraph or two from a new release or backlisted title. Readers: you get to sample some delicious snippets! We’ll do our best to tease, titillate and tantalize you into the weekend.

I'm working on a new paranormal romantic suspense set in Las Vegas, entitled The Bone Flute. In this unedited snippet, Rain is trying to understand why Jozsef (pronounced Yo-zheff) is really in her home and swears magic (and ghosts) aren't real. Rain asked for the story behind his alleged curse of being a ghost tied to the bone flute.

“Do you think her last action is why you become a ghost?”

He shrugged and nodded. “I can only surmise. When I woke again, I found myself being molested by a fat man.”

“Oh, dear. That’s probably not a nice thing to wake up to.”

“No.” Jozsef grimaced. “I had no ability to speak to him or anyone else around me. He touched me in an intimate way, but he seemed completely unaware of my existence. He died soon after and I fell back into oblivion.”

“Was that the only time you’ve woken up?”

“No.” He couldn’t stop the smirk from returning to his lips. “But waking up to you made all the other unpleasant awakenings seem trivial.”

Rain shot him a dry look. “Cute.” She frowned. “You’re sure it’s a curse to keep coming back to this world again and again?”

He gave her his own flat look. “What would you call it?”

“No, you’re right, that kind of existence would suck, especially if you couldn’t communicate or stay long.” She pondered for a few moments, tapping a nail against her mug. “Do you know what the curse is about?”

“About?” Jozsef frowned. “What do you mean?”

Rain spread her hands. “In all the old fairytales, curses were used for a purpose, you know? Like to teach some sort of lesson or change bad behaviors. What do you think you’re supposed to learn or change here?”

Jozsef blinked. “I don’t know.” Rain sighed and he added, “When the bone flute is given to a magic user, the magic sparks me back into awareness and your world. I rarely know when or where I am, or who I’m with.”

“How very Quantum Leap.”

Jozsef shot her a blank look. “Sorry?”

Rain shook her head. “Never mind. I know you’re convinced I’m some sort of witch, but I don’t have any magical abilities. All I got is logic and observation.”

Dread clenched his gut and he reached for one of her hands before he could think. “Please, Lady Rain, the bone flute has been given to you. Help me find the way to end this and I shall leave you alone.”

Thanks for stopping by and happy reading. If you want to read more from other authors, click the link and enjoy...
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Snippet Sunday - Christmas ICE Magic - Rich, Wild, Hot, and Colorful

Welcome to the Snippet Sunday on the Weird, the Wild, and the Wicked. Thank you so much for visiting. If you choose to comment today, I really appreciate it. The snippets are from my Christmas novella, Christmas I.C.E. Magic, a paranormal romance set in the mountains northeast of Las Vegas. It's one of four stories in the Happy Holidays from the Crescent Moon Lodge Anthology, and it's only sale for only $0.99. And in a few weeks, the sequel to Christmas ICE Magic is coming out. If you missed last week's snippet, you can read it HERE.

In this snippet, while Lily Sinclair is struggling to find a place to sleep on the slopes, Zachary Snow, Ice Demon Search and Rescue professional, is on call down at the resort. His family and friends don't understand why Zach hangs out with humans.

Zach turned his attention back to the repairs of the snowmobile’s engine. He loved his friends and family in the Ice Demon realm, but they’d never understand his need of color, flavor, scent, and richness found only among the humans. Ice Demons followed winter, migratory like birds or gypsies. They brought all the winter weather to the world, whether fierce blizzards, like the one they planned tonight, or sweet, silent snowstorms, laying a blanket of calm over everything.

But their world held colors of blue, green, gray, white, and black. Cold and damp, the scents surrounding his people consisted of water in various states of freezing, and flavors just as subtle. Zach yearned for something more, something rich and wild and hot and colorful. The first time he’d had a cup of hot chocolate, he’d held it until it cooled, sipping and sniffing the exotic flavors.

He’d taken the job as an SAR officer for the Crescent Moon Lodge and his nomadic family questioned him every winter they returned. He shook his head as he reached for the snowmobile’s dipstick. Even the oil smelled of life, old life passed, but still life.

Sounds like Zach is looking to expand his horizons. There are several great authors on the Weekend Writing Warrior list and in the Snippet Sunday Facebook group. A few of my favorites are Charley Descoteaux, SJ Maylee, Gem Sivad, Goran Zidar, Veronica Scott, and Karla Doyle.

If you're interested in more from Christmas ICE Magic, here's the blurb for the Anthology:

At the Crescent Moon Lodge, anything is possible and Christmas wishes come in the most unusual packages.

Christmas I.C.E. Magic – By Siobhan Muir
For Lily Sinclair, Christmas means sorrow and loss since the death of her twin brother. The magic is gone and she only wants to see her brother one more time. As an Ice Demon Zachary Snow is used to rescuing people in winter, but he’d never rescued anyone like Lily. Now he must convince her the magic she wants is in life itself.

A Howling Yuletide –By Shannan Albright

Fleur Delecourt knew her Christmas holiday was doomed from the start. Not only did she hate the cold and snow, but also she found herself saddled with a ski instructor, courtesy of a friend’s twisted sense of humor. Werewolf Rory Furr left Scotland to find a life and pack of his own. What he was not prepared for was finding his mate in the form of a petite redhead who tests both his self-control and patience.

Bon Appetite from the Lunar Eclipse Restaurant-By R.M. Sotera
Executive chef vampire Michael Stake loves his job at the Lunar Eclipse Restaurant. Although food critics do not visit often, he welcomes world-renown critic Penelope Rothchild to his establishment. That’s when all hell breaks loose. World-renown food critic Penelope Rothchild looks forward to her new assignment in Las Vegas. Christmas in the West, what could possibly go wrong? Everything. But it’s all in the name of the perfect meal.

Boo Christmas – By Johanna Riley
All Elvira "Elle" Grant wanted for Christmas was to get out from under her famous paranormal investigator parents' shadow. But being a medium she's always haunted by their profession. Thanks to a contest win, she gets the chance to do her own paranormal investigating during Christmas at the beautiful Crescent Moon Lodge near Las Vegas, Nevada. With hunky (albeit dead!) Casper Van Beau’s help. Can Elle get over her own insecurities long enough to open up to the possibilities of eternal love?

Happy Holidays from the Crescent Moon Lodge is only $0.99 at Amazon, All Romance, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. Pick up your copy and get swept away for Christmas. And keep an eye out for Cloudburst Ice Magic coming early August 2014!

Recipe for Romance - Breakfast in Bed

Good morning! Welcome to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. I write a bi-monthly spot (first and third Saturdays of the month) called Recipe for Romance to give you ideas of how to make your own love life a little more romantic. Just in time for Saturday night, yes?

One of the things that happens a lot in my house is I'm usually the first one up. Sleeping in and relaxing isn't something I get to do very often because I have little people who think they have to eat as soon as the sun crests the horizon. There are some mornings I'd like someone else to get up and feed the cat, the kids, and whoever else is hanging around. Better yet, it would be wonderful to have someone deliver breakfast in bed with all the trimmings, including a rose or tulip to brighten the meal. Think of just hanging out in bed with a hot cup of coffee, a good meal, and a comfy back support. Only thing needed is your lover. ;)

Source: VPFunworld.com

 
RECIPE FOR ROMANCE
Comfortable bed
One (or more) loved-one
Morning (your own definition applies)
Tray
Beverages (coffee, tea, juice)
Favorite flower variety
Delicious meal (variations may apply)
Clothing (optional)

Assemble the ingredients and bring to your lover (or convince them to bring it to you). If you're serving, make a meal you know your loved one(s) will enjoy and provides relaxation. Find your lover's favorite treats and assemble them on a tray to deliver to them as they wake up. And if you're adventurous, offer to feed them with your own hands. It's reminiscent of being cared for in ways not the usual. Love and connection works in subtle as well as obvious ways and making someone a meal is an easy way to show it. As always, clothing is optional.

Alterations to Recipe:
For those who have small people who often demand food first, ask them to help you to prepare the tray and goodies for your lover(s). Little people love to do fun surprises for their parents (usually) and giving them a goal helps with the enjoyment. This not only strengthens your relationship with your lover(s), but also the connection you have with the little people in your family. Connection is important for every relationship and engenders more love.

Mix and serve immediately. Feeds the souls of two or more. :)

What are your favorite breakfast recipes for your lover? Aspiring cooks want to know! :)

**What's a Recipe for Romance? I've heard a lot of women (in particular) read romance to find a little excitement and romance in their lives when maybe their current relationships aren't nearly as romantic. Wouldn't you love to have someone set out some romantic moments for you to celebrate your love? Don't wait for someone else to do it. You can try it yourself, for yourself, or for your loved one, and you can use things you have around the house or are easy to get at the local stores. Remember, it doesn't have to be expensive or extravagant to be romantic.

#ThursThreads - Week 127 - Winners

Week 127 of #ThursThreads had some terrific tales. Happy Independence Day to all my American writers! I'm honored to see all of the returning writers and read your stories. Thank you for coming back again and again to write and for helping me celebrate these years of flash. Great thanks to AJ Nuest for judging this week. Be sure to check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on FB to keep up with news, etc.

Entries:

• Doris O'Connor | @mamaD8
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil 
• Cate Derham | @Cate_Derham
• Teresa Cypher | @Teresa_Cypher
• Veronica Jorden | @RevolutionaryVJ
• Anna Lund | @AnnaLund2011
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Kaylee Hamelink
• Sandi Layne | @sandyquill
• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Louisa Bacio | @LouisaBacio

AJ says: I want to say that I had a REALLY hard time deciding, especially for the overall winner. There were some really great entries here and one of the honorable mentions was tied for first until I walked around a thought about it for a long time.

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

 

Doris O'Connor | @mamaD8

AJ says: Doris O'Connor did a great job with scene setting and showing the young man sitting at the table. I also really liked the internal dialogue from the POV character. We got to watch the scene unfold from her POV and it was done very well. I felt like I was watching the guy right along with her.

Sandi Layne | @sandyquill

AJ says: Sandi Layne did a fantastic job with putting me inside her character. I was riding that bike right along with him. I could feel the wind and speed. Awesome. Also, I loved, loved, loved the way she changed the prompt to mean something different, using it as code for "license and registration" was a stroke of brilliance. Great job.

Kelly Heinen | @Aightball

AJ says: Kel Heinan got a mention for that fantastic twist at the end. I was totally going in one direction when the brakes on slammed on and I was tossed into another reality. That takes major talent and was done really well because the first part of the story was set up so well. Nicely done!

Week 127 Winner

Veronica Jorden | @RevolutionaryVJ

AJ says: Veronica won for two reasons. Her powerful first sentence immediately put me IN the story. I could smell the cigarette smoke and was wearing the bomber jacket, could see the milling crowd, right along with her POV character. Excellent writing with no filters. Perfect. Second reason is because the ending was hilarious. Here we have this tense situation, dire circumstances, and I just had to laugh at the soldier's erroneous assumption. Great job with that.

My father’s old bomber jacket reeked of stale cigarette smoke. But with uniforms in short supply, I was thankful for the warmth the soft leather provided against the late autumn chill and zipped it up to my neck as I made my way to the end of the flight line.

As I wove through the crowd, I didn’t recognize a single face. Some were decked out in full combat uniforms; others looked like me, just regular folks in jeans and jackets like we were out for a morning stroll. The invasion had driven hundreds, if not thousands of refugees into Jessup County. Most were God-loving, law-abiding citizens, but experience had taught me that even good men will buck the law when supplies run short.

A young lieutenant stood behind a shabby desk inside an old service shed that served as the militia reporting station. His name tape read ‘Stevens.' He looked the part of a seasoned soldier, from his buzz cut down to his polished boots.

“I heard you were looking for pilots.” I said, pointing to the flyer pinned to the wall.

He smirked and gave me the once over. “And just what do you fly, darling? There aren’t any pretty, pink Barbie planes in those hangars.”

The soldier to his left looked up and I watched the recognition wash over his face. He jumped to his feet and called the small room to attention.

“Perhaps we should start again, soldier.” I said. “Colonel Elizabeth Flaherty reporting for duty.”

Congratulations Three Time Winner Veronica, Doris, Sandi, and Kelly! Don't forget to 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. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! :)

#ThursThreads - The Challenge That Ties Tales Together - Week 127

Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. It's Thursday today, so get your flash ready. Writing a #flashfiction thread! Welcome to Week 127 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Want to keep up each week? You're welcome to join the FB #ThursThreads group where we'll do events and make announcements. Need the rules? Read on.

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 8 PM Mountain 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 Plus

Our Judge for Week 127:

Gardener, Chauffeur, and romance author, AJ Nuest.

AJ on Facebook

AJ on Google Plus

AJ on Twitter

AJ on Goodreads

And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

“What do you fly, darling?”

All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

Mid Week Tease - The Bone Flute - Origins of the Curse

Welcome to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked for a new year of Mid Week Tease hosted by Sandra Bunino.

Authors: this is a great opportunity to spotlight a few lines or even a paragraph or two from a new release or backlisted title. Readers: you get to sample some delicious snippets! We’ll do our best to tease, titillate and tantalize you into the weekend.

I'm working on a new paranormal romantic suspense set in Las Vegas, entitled The Bone Flute. In this unedited snippet, Rain is trying to understand why Jozsef (pronounced Yo-zheff) is really in her home and swears magic (and ghosts) aren't real. Rain asked for the story behind his alleged curse of being a ghost tied to the bone flute.

“What proof?” Rain couldn’t hide her skepticism.

Jozsef’s face creased with mortification. “He said he could no longer get a, uh, well…” He trailed off with a vague gesture toward his groin.

Rain stared at him while his face went redder and redder. Then she laughed.

“He couldn’t get a hard-on and he blamed Marika for that?” She snorted and rolled her eyes. “Man, the shit men come up with to blame women for their impotence.”

Jozsef cleared his throat and rubbed her table with his fingers. “Yes, well, he claimed she’d cursed him when he refused her offer to share his bed.”

“And you believed him?”

He shrugged, his shoulders tight. “I was young and hot headed. And jealous of her beauty. She could’ve had anyone in the village and I was too blinded by my need for an heir and my interest in her as a beautiful woman to see reason.”

“So you were young, dumb and full of cum, is that it?”

Jozsef grit his teeth and nodded once. “Yes.”

Rain sighed. “So then what happened?”

“Laszlo took advantage of my anger and said he had a plan to make the witch pay for both our pain. He said she would confess her sins and then we’d be rid of her influence in the village.”

A cold feeling built in the pit of Rain’s stomach. “What did you do?”

Jozsef looked away toward her backyard where the sun was heating the gravel paths through her desert garden. A few vegetable plants growing in the shade of the ash and fig trees she’d planted, but succulents and gravel took up most of the space. It was beautiful and serene, but she didn’t think he saw any of it.

“Nothing. Laszlo trapped her in her cottage and hurled his accusations of her to the crowd. She refused to come out and he set fire to the house. She never got out.”

“Are you saying he burned her alive inside her house? And you let him?” Her hands tightened on her mug.

“Yes.” Jozsef’s jaw was set and anger slid through his expression.

Thanks for stopping by and happy reading. If you want to read more from other authors, click the link and enjoy...
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