#ThursThreads - Week 36 - Winners

Week 36 of #ThursThreads had some great 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 our returning regulars. Great thanks also goes to judge Alex Bowman for reading all the tales.

Entries:

• Ryan Strohman | @rastrohman
• Wakefield Mahon | @WakefieldMahon
• Robin Abess | @Angelique_Rider
• Kimberly Gould | @Kimmydonn
• Toni Wyatt | @Toni1777
• Olivia Grambo | @KelseyPotter13
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
• Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
• Kel Heinen | @Aightball
• Cameron Lawton | @CameronLawton
• Susan Hayes | @capricia13
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Daniel Swensen | @surlymuse
• Elaine Hillson | @tollykit
• Rebecca Grace Allen | @RGraceAllen
• Mark Ethridge | @LurchMunster
• Clare Stubbs | @ClareStubbs2
• Crystal | @NightOwlWrites
• Chessny Silth | @ChessnySilth
• Jeffrey Hollar | @Klingorengi
• Mike E Miller | @MikeEMillerBook
• Nellie Batz | @solimond
• Rebekah Postupack | @postupak

 

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Robin Abess | @Angelique_Rider

Alex says: Another great use of imagery. Loved that it was a bit darker, adding another element to the narrative.
 

Olivia Grambo | @KelseyPotter13

Alex says: Evocative, it made me feel the awkwardness of the narrator. Nice use of emotion.

 

Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir

Alex says: Strong technically. Tight writing made it flow easily. It made me want to know more. (I'm ineligible as host, but I wanted to include Alex's comments)
 

Week 36 Winner

Ryan Strohman | @rastrohman

Alex says: The imagery was great -- I felt like I was sitting on the bus as I read it. Also, it's so divergent from the expected use of the prompt, so I liked that surprise as well as the little mini-twist at the end which changed my opinion of the narrator.

 

I never stood up for her, that pregnant woman on the bus. I didn’t even think of it at the time. I was too engrossed in reading over the headlines on my iPad. I didn’t even really look up. Or at least I can keep telling myself that.

Neither did a lot of people, I guess. The guy in the suit didn’t, but that was no surprise. He was on his cell phone, talking at a volume unfit for public transportation. Unfit for public, really. The college kid with the glasses and headphones didn’t stand up either. He just stared out the window.

The mother with her two young children looked like she would have if she’d been alone. She gave a sympathetic smile. And the elderly couple did the same, although I did see the old man rise a little before his wife pulled at his arm to stay. He wouldn’t have been able to manage standing with his oxygen tank.

I should have stood up for her. I know it. Why didn’t the others? A pregnant woman, appearing at least eight months along, forced to stand the entire trip from 5th to 42nd. As I checked the straps on my prosthetics, still adjusting to using them like this, the bus rolled to a stop. The pregnant woman passed me, and I ungainly rose and followed. Only then did I see my folly.

I didn’t have legs, but I did have manners. I should have stood up for her.

Congratulations Ryan, Robin, and Olivia! 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. Next week I'll be out of town at Authors After Dark in New Orleans so #ThursThreads will be postponed until August 16th 2012 and I hope to see you all back then. :)

#ThursThreads - The Challenge That Ties Tales Together - Week 36

Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. It's Thursday again, so what should you be doing? Writing #FlashFiction, that's what! Welcome to Week 36 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 36:

The erotic romance author with the great taste in men, Alex Bowman.

 

 
Alex on Facebook

Alex on Goodreads

And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

 

The Prompt:

“I never stood up for her.”

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! :)

Winners of the Book Giveaways

This week I had two authors stop by on my blog with giveaways. Alex Bowman offered a copy of his new release Losing His Religion to a lucky commentor, and Nara Malone stopped by with a copy of her first Pantherian adventure, The Tiger's Tale, to a lucky commentor.

The winner of a digital copy of Losing His Religion by Alex Bowman is:

Dee

The winner of a PDF copy of The Tiger's Tale by Nara Malone is:

Yadkny

Thank you to everyone who stopped by and took a look at these wonderful authors. Congratulations, Dee and Yadkny! Happy reading! :)

Author Spolight: Alex Bowman, Erotic Romance Author

Good morning, dear readers. I have the great pleasure to introduce Alex Bowman, M/M erotic romance author. His debut release, Losing His Religion, is from Evernight Publishing, and he's generously offered a excerpt and a giveaway. This is M/M erotic romance, so if that's not your cup of tea, please skip to the bottom of this post and leave a comment for Alex.

Now, the BLURB for Losing His Religion:

Discarded most of his life, Jamie had learned as a teen that he was a Soul Collector, one of a mysterious group who fought the demons that attacked fellow humans. Cast out into the world, alone, the orphan fought hard to find his way, ending up in a seminary of all places. But chastity wasn’t a problem. He had no time or trust for relationships, let alone love.

Ios felt protective of the Soul Collector, the one the prophecy claimed would one day be his mate. Following the human for years, Ios had done everything he could to ensure his safety without stepping out of the shadows. He also held his lust in check, knowing Jamie would never accept him.

The time was upon them to join forces. Could Jamie handle who and what Ios was, and trust the growing feelings between them before it was too late?

ADULT EXCERPT

“So did you?”

“Did I?”

“Know I was yours the moment you saw me?” Jamie pinned him with a look of lust he’d never quite seen flash on the man’s face before.

Mine. Ios’s felt the rush of need spiral through him with such force that it nearly took him to his knees. His cock thickened and he felt his balls tighten. His whispered “Yes…” floated on the air, his body trembling with the hard-won control to stand in place and not cross the room and force the human to the floor under him.

“I don’t know that I believe in fated lovers, predetermined to find one another.”

“I’m not asking you to believe in anything.” Ios believed enough for the both of them.

“I will admit, there is something…” 

Something?  “What?” He needed Jamie to say it, that he wanted Ios. Needed Ios.

Jamie’s face flamed and he glanced down, apparently unable to put the emotions he felt into words.

Fuck it. Control is overrated.

Ios stomped across the small space, grasped Jamie’s head in his hands and pressed his lips against the smoldering heat of the human’s mouth. Swallowing the gasp of pleasure, he thrust his tongue into Jamie’s mouth and tasted the ale left lingering there, as well as the heat and taste of his male.

When he felt Jamie’s hands spreading across his chest and moving down his stomach, he tightened his whole body, needing for the hands to venture further south, needing the male to show him that he wanted more through his exploration. As warm hands rubbed against his hardened cock through his jeans he could have shouted in joy. He deepened the kiss, pressing his hips forward, languishing in the caress from his male.

Ripping the shirt open, baring Jamie’s chest, the tinkering of buttons hitting the stone floor echoed around him. Ios spread his fingers along the hard muscles before him. Jamie removed the shirt, dropping it to the floor. The material puddled around his feet and Ios wanted more to follow. His shaking fingers pulled at the belt buckle Jamie wore, and he tugged at the leather, not wanting to remove his lips from the human’s.

Pulling back, he was afraid the moment would be lost if he could not keep Jamie in a frenzy. His need was too great. He could not be denied this time. Ios would have the male now, or he would explode.

Warm hands steadied his. “Let me.”

Jamie gazed into his eyes, slowly removing the belt and dropping it to the floor. His hands then went to the top of his pants and he unbuttoned them. The slow pull of the zipper reminded him that he was overclothed as well. Ios removed his t-shirt in a flash and kicked off his shoes. By the time his pants were gone, Jamie also stood naked.

His hands ached to touch the male, to explore every single inch of flesh he had to offer up for his inspection. Jamie was beautiful. Small, firm muscles curved over his slim build, his skin nearly unmarred. The wound in his chest was no longer visible.

A small smattering of blond hair started below his belly button and thickened as it surrounded his jutting cock. Fully erect, it stood proud against his stomach, a pearl of fluid shining at the tip of the purple head. Thick veins spread along the shaft and Ios’s mouth watered to taste the flesh. Dropping to his knees before his human, he got a closer look at what the male had to offer.

Alex is offering one lucky commenter a copy of Losing His Religion. Just leave a valid email address or Twitter handle for us to contact you should you win. Contest ends Thursday, May 31st at 8:00pm PDT.

If you can't wait until then, Losing His Religion is available now from:
Amazon
All Romance Ebooks
Bookstrand
Evernight Publishing
Smashwords 

If you'd like to connect with Alex, you can find him:
Facebook
Goodreads
Blog

Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! :)