Friday, March 2, 2012

#ThursThreads - Week 12 - Winners


Week Twelve of #ThursThreads had some amazing tales! Thanks to all who entered this week. I'm honored to see all of you and read your stories. And it was great to have some new "faces" join us. Huge thank you to judge Cara Michaels for reading through all of them.

Entries:
  • Kimberly Gould | @Kimmydonn
  • Wakefield Mahon | @WakefieldMahon
  • Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
  • @LupusAnthropos
  • Nancy Porter | @ModernBard1024
  • Stacy Bennett-Hoyt | @Rowanwolf66
  • Jeffrey Hollar | @Klingorengi
  • Stevie McCoy | @theglitterlady
  • Jen DeSantis | @JenD_Author
  • Donna B McNicol | @DonnaBMcNicol
  • Maureen | @Emyrldlady
  • David A Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
  • Charles W Jones | @ChuckWesJ
  • Nellie Batz | @solimond
  • Jalisa Blackman | @J_M_Blackman
  • Wendy Russo | @wendysrusso
  • Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
  • @Phoenixlavan
  • Lisa McCourt Hollar | @jezri1
  • Anna Meade | @ruanna3
  • Kelly L Seguin | @kellylseguin
  • Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
  • Aurora Lee | @AuroraLee

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
Cara says: Best ‘Never Screw With a Goodfella’ story: I’m bucking tradition and giving a nod to our hostess-with-the-mostest here, but I couldn’t resist this wiseguy divorce-from-hell tale. Oh, the ex-wife is in for a rude awakening. Love it!

Lisa McCourt Hollar | @jezri1
Cara says: Best ‘Hide the Family Jewels, and I Don’t Mean the Diamonds’ tale: I winced and crossed my legs… and I don’t even have the threatened equipment. Great story, Lisa.

Anna Meade | @ruanna3
Cara says: Best ‘Story I Want Moar Of. Now, Plz. K, Thx.’ I loved the concept, the setting, the MC that just knows something is wrong… and then these mystery figures watching over him. Great stuff. Deliver the whole story to my inbox ASAP.
 
@LupusAnthropos
Cara says: Best ‘Unexpected POV’ story. Just because we all know you kick ass in anthropomorphic madness, doesn’t mean it isn’t fun every time. Another great story!

Week Twelve Winner


Cara says: I’m still curious to know if this is a jointly written tale or someone with two Twitter handles… either way, this story grabbed me. Sometimes sensing what’s coming makes for almost unbearable tension for the reader. Especially when the MC has a decidedly limited understanding of a situation. I had a feeling I knew what little Joseph would see, and I kept hoping he’d turn back or somehow miss this blow to his innocence. Fantastic story!

There were times, his father had told him, that he was not allowed in the basement at all, and never ever in his father's private room. This of course instilled a great desire in Joseph who was all of five years old.

He could hear sounds floating up from behind the closed door as he silently padded down the steps. A clink of metal on metal, the sound of something loud, it sounded like his mother's vacuum. Was she cleaning in the forbidden room? Were they preparing a surprise for him? His birthday was soon and maybe there were presents behind the door, a party?

Joseph reached slowly for the doorknob, he'd become an expert at this maneuver while practicing to sneak up on Santa last Christmas. Holding his breath he turned the knob thankful that it didn't make noise like the door to the den where his father met with all the crying people.

The vacuum noise was louder now and he could hear his father humming with the radio. Sticking his head through the opening Joseph looked around. There was a big metal table and his father, his back to the door. There was a machine making the loud sucking noise and there were tubes attached to something on the table. Joseph stretched up on tip toes to see better.

He stared in horror at the body, just as his mother snatched the door shut from behind. Joseph looked up at the door blankly.

Joseph Carnes Sr. Mortician.

Congratulations Maureen, Lisa, Anna, and Lupus! Claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it! :) And thanks, Cara, for the HM! ;)

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. :)
 

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Five Sentence Fiction - Enchanted

I've joined a group of fiction writers hosted by Lillie McFerrin called Five Sentence Fiction. The word this week is "enchanted". Here's my little bit of work.

“I order you to marry me and be my Queen!”

The moment the words thundered into the room, Jakran looked like he wanted to swallow them back in, but he raised his horned head and glared at her. Tricia's enchantment gave way to anger and she lifted her chin and faced him down. Who the hell did he think he was? The title of “King of the goblins” didn’t mean much more than "jailer" and she refused to be coerced into anything.

So there you have my attempt at #FiveSentenceFiction. I used the prompt in my WIP The Goblin King. Comments are much appreciated and stop by Lillie's Blog for more FSF offerings. :)

#ThursThreads - The Challenge That Ties Tales Together - Week 12


Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. I'm still reveling in the release of Her Devoted Vampire and you can always click on the cover to get your own copy! ;) But now it's Thursday, so what should you be doing? Writing #FlashFiction, that's what! Welcome to Week Twelve of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. 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 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 Plus

Our Judge for Week Twelve:


The ever gorgeous, color coordinated, Sci-Fi Sensualist, Cara Michaels.

 
And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.


The Prompt:

"He stared in horror at the body."

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