#ThursThreads - THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY - Winners

Week 156 of #ThursThreads #Year3 Anniversary had so many fantastic tales. I'm honored to see all of the returning writers come to tie a tale. And welcome all the new folks! Thank you for coming to tie your tales and for helping me celebrate these three years of flash. Here's to several more years. Great thanks to Cara Michaels for judging this week and for starting us off all those years ago. Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on FB to keep up with news, etc.

After the winners are notified and they have chosen their prizes, the folks who tweeted the hashtag #ThursThreads will be thrown into a drawing for the remaining prizes. I'll announce the winners here on the blog and on twitter. Thank you all for participating and coming back to write!

Entries:

• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Anne Chowdhury | @TwiAddictAnne
• Rafe Brox | @etcet
• Greg Nance | @acenance
• Anna Lund | @AnnaLund2011
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil 
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea
• Josh Peters | @joshbgosh
• Daniel Swensen | @surlymuse
• Olivia Starke | @OliviaStarke
• David Shakes | @theshakes72
• Charley Emma | @lindorfan 
• Mary Decker | @mishmhem
• Cate Derham | @Cate_Derham
• Sandi Layne | @sandyquill
• Decadent Kane | @Decadent Kane
• Charles W. Jones | @ChuckWesJ
• Jason Lefthand | @jasonlefthand
• Lizzie Koch | @Lizzie_Koch
• Miranda Kate | @PurpleQueenNL
• Chris Cantley
• Silver James | @SilverJames_
• Louisa Bacio | @Louisabacio
• David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
• Eric Martell | @drmagoo
• Lynn Peters | @RoryBrazen
• Nellie Batz | @solimond
• Ruth Long | @Bullishink

Cara says: Dang, you folks gave me some great reading (and tough decision making) this week. Thank you all for writing! After reading through a couple times, deliberating, then revisiting the dozen or so stories vying for honors, here are my choices:

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Nellie Batz | @solimond

Cara says: This story is a heartbreaker. As though her sense of losing her friends wasn’t hard enough, the transition to clarity regarding Violet’s true circumstances hit me right in the feels..

Ruth Long | @Bullishink

Cara says: The bones of this story idea intrigue me. Is the MC some sort of cyborg or mechanical man? The action is concise and doesn’t bog down the snippet. The final ‘framework’ exchange gave me a good laugh.

Josh Peters | @joshbgosh

Cara says: The whimsical nature of the story caught my attention, and this tale struck me as a poem or painting captured within a narrative. Lovely work.

Week 156 #Year3 Winner

Daniel Swensen | @surlymuse

Cara says: In 250 words, this story delivers a full-fledged world concept begging to be explored. If this was the excerpt behind the cover, this is a book I would take home. I would even take it to bed (because I want to keep reading, ya pervs). And damn, but I loved Ora’s, “Tell them I died here” line. She’s a hero after my own heart.

The cavern crawled with blue lightning. Pillars of stone shrugged dust into the dwindling air.

The company was closing the hyperspace shunt. Its pale oval flickered, a hundred meters high. The financial rulers of a planet light-years away had heard the cries of a thousand colonists and turned its face away in shame.

“Ora, we’re leaving.” Thain slung his rifle, glaring at the milling crowd on the wrong side of the portal. The marines had formed a perimeter to keep them in. No need; they huddled, terrified, wailing for all that was about to be lost.

Ora looked at her hands. Red with dirt. Dirty with blood. She knew too much of these people.

“If they stay, I stay.”

“To what end? You can’t help them.”

She tapped the glossy curve of the learning chip behind her ear. Worth more than this colony and everyone in it. The company would be furious -- and very far away. “With what I know? Yes, I can.”

He gripped her arm. “Ora, they’ll kill you. They’ll come to resent you and they’ll kill you for being one of us.”

“I want them to know we haven’t abandoned them to die here.”

“That’s exactly what we’re doing,” Thain whispered. “You can’t just give up--”

“Giving up is exactly what I’m not doing.” Ora unclipped her company badge and pressed it into his grubby palm. “Tell them I died here.”

She turned and walked away, listening for the final crack of the closing portal.

Congratulations Three Time Winner Daniel, Nellie, Ruth, and Josh! 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, Tsu.co, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the stories here. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! :)

#ThursThreads - Tying Tales Together - THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. Today is a very special Thursday so get your flash ready to celebrate THREE YEARS flashing! Can you believe it's been going strong for three whole years? This is Week 156 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together.

This week we have a very special event. There are prizes to be won for both the participants and the readers. After the winner and the honorable mentions choose their prizes, the remainder of the goodies will be given to randomly selected folks who Tweet the hashtag #ThursThreads during our event today. Want to keep up each week? Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook.

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

Prize List for #ThursThreads #Year3

• eARC of The Ivory Road: A Walk in the Sand by Siobhan Muir.
• Digital or paper copy of one of Silver James' backlist.
• Digital copy of one of Cara Michaels' backlist.
• Tree of Life made from wrapped wires and minerals from George Varhalmi.
• Free beta read or 15K content edit from First Page Last Page.
• The Dark Bokor and Philip's Watcher by Dianne Hartsock.
• "Words Lost in Time 4" image printed on 11x14 metallic paper by Clary Carey.
• Custom written story of 1000 words or less on any theme by Eric Martell.

Our Judge for Week 156:

  The woman who started it all, Typo Sniper, cover designer, and science fiction author, Cara Michaels.

Cara on Facebook

Cara on Twitter

Cara on Goodreads

Cara on Google Plus 

And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

"If they stay, I stay.”

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!

#ThursThreads - Week 139 - Winners

Week 139 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 Cara Michaels for judging this week. Be sure to check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on FB to keep up with news, etc.

Entries:

• Mark Ethridge | @LurchMunster
• Silver James | @SilverJames_
• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Eden Connor | @EdenConnor
• Charlee | @lindorfan
• Cate Derham | @Cate_Derham

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Silver James | @SilverJames_

Cara says: For your characters. Lt. Carter’s foul-mouthed antagonism, Dalton’s defensive anger… the interplay between these two seems destined for a bigger confrontation.

Week 139 Winner

Mark Ethridge | @LurchMunster

Cara says: At first, I was ready to pass this story by… but then the reason for Jessica’s excitement emerged. Wrath standing in the shadows, egging on Jessica’s rage made for a super, creepy fun twist. Nicely done!

Jessica loved rodeos. The horses. The bulls. The contests. As she walked through the gate, with her ticket, the man collecting them looked her over good, “This isn’t your first rodeo…”

“No, it’s not,” she gave him a smile.

She sat in the stands, and watched, and waited, hoping for something special to happen.

On that day, she was not disappointed. It happened during the bull rides. A rider, thrown from the bull. The bull got him good. A big hoof planted on his right knee. “Yes!” Jessica leaped to her feet, her video recorder in hand, and zoomed in on the fallen rider. She recorded his fall from grace. The look of agony and fear on his face. The impossible angle at his knee, his lower leg jutting sideways, sticking out.

She had another scene to add to her collection.

“For you, Sis. For you.”

Wrath stood in the shadow of the bull, “It was a cowboy who killed your sister.” He pushed the bull, “Go stomp him more!” He laughed as the bull went wild, and Jessica recorded it all. “If enough of them get torn up, your sister will finally rest in peace.”

Jessica smiled. “For you, Sis. For you.” She hoped he’d never walk without a cane. “Cowboys will pay for what they did.” She hoped there’d be more to record as the day went on. “Let them all bleed, God. All of them. It’s what they deserve.”

Wrath laughed, and laughed.

Congratulations FIVE TIME WINNER Mark, and Silver! 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 139

Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. It's Thursday today so get your flash ready to celebrate and write a #flashfiction thread! Welcome to Week 139 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 139:

Sci-fi adventurist, Typo Sniper, and #flashfiction Master, Cara Michaels.

And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

“This isn’t your first rodeo.”

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!

#ThursThreads - Week 136 - Winners

Week 136 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. And so great to have some new faces in the crowd this week. Welcome! Great thanks to Cindy Stark for judging this week. Be sure to check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on FB to keep up with news, etc.

Entries:

• Alice Raine | @AliceRaine1
• Silver James | @SilverJames_
• Eden Connor | @EdenConnor
• Wendy Strain | @WendyStrain
• Susanne Matthews | @jandsmatt
• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
• Sandi Layne | @sandyquill
• KB Gardener | @KBGardener
• Charley Emma | @Charley_001
• Anna Lund | @AnnaLund2011
• Josh Peters | @Joshbgosh
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
• Even Sultry | @EvenSultry

Cindy says: So many great entries. It really was hard to choose.

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Josh Peters | @josbgosh

Cindy says: I was immediately drawn into the story and wondered why Gana seemed so afraid. Having rich clothing, joyous family members and being chosen seemed like good things until I read the surprising last line.

Sandy Layne | @sandyquill

Cindy says: I found Stephan's attitude endearing and loved seeing Mikki through his eyes. Loved the beginning of their romance and his thoughts when he kisses her. Dying to know what happens next.

Silver James | @SilverJames_

Cindy says: This story has great characterization and a sexy, sizzling level of heat. Love that he's so strong and yet she has a hold over him.

Week 136 Winner

Cara MIchaels | @caramichaels

Cindy says: The first paragraph was pure poetry. The heroines internal dialogue gave me great insight into her character, and I fell in love with both characters immediately.

“How does she end up among the stars? The woman who wants the earth and grass between her toes, who studies and tends the life the soil offers up?”

His words carried a romance that turned my cheeks red. He offered me the distance of third person to tell my tales. Silly that it should work. He had a surprising knack with people, my space pirate. A half-smile curved my lips. And when had I started thinking of him as mine?

“It cannot have been easy to trade the endless cycles of growth for the dead of space.”

“No.” Maybe I—she—even changed her mind once or twice. “But then she gets a letter. You know what I mean?” Had he ever seen paper?

“I’m familiar with the concept.” He grinned. “I made a fortune on parchment and stationery once on the third moon of—” He cut himself short. “So. She receives a letter…”

“Understand, out of tens of thousands of candidates, twenty get this particular letter.” The claustrophobia of those insane early months closed in on me— “The press is hounding our every move, family and friends are angry and hurt, those who didn’t make the cut hate us. And there’s EASA, just feeding the frenzy. Go here. Smile there. Wave. Yep, here we are—the chosen ones. Gaea’s Chosen.”

“Do not ask me to pity you, love.” His smile invited a response. “For the journey brought you to me, a turn of events I cannot regret.”

Congratulations THIRTEEN TIME Winner Cara, Josh, Sandi, and Silver! 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 - Week 121 - Winners

Week 121 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. It was also wonderful to have some new folks stop by. Welcome! Great thanks to Cara Michaels 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
• Charles W Jones | @ChuckWesJ
• Alice Wilson | @Ali_OMalley
• M.T. Decker | @mishmhem
• Olivia Starke | @OliviaStarke
• Silver James | @SilverJames_
• L.T. Dalin | @ChessnySilth
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Josh Peters | @joshbgosh
• Charley Emma | @Charley_001
• Lizzie Koch | @Lizzie_Koch
• Hunter Frost | @HunterFrostMM

Cara says: Let me start by saying… y'all have some relationship issues and I'm scared. Explosive arguments and accidental (or premeditated) murderous tendencies aside, you gave me an interesting selection of tales ranging from relationship drama to action-adventure to mystery to sci-fi and fantasy. Thank you for writing, and I look forward to seeing works in progress further developed.

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Alice Wilson | @Ali_OMalley

Cara says: I'll be honest and say this story concept is not my favorite. However, there is no denying that your writing is crisp and solid.

L.T. Dalin | @ChessnySilth

Cara says: This is a rocking action sequence. The end is a little ambiguous (is the voice reminding the driver of the deal about the dune buggy or is something more menacing about to go down?) but I enjoyed the overall feel of the piece.

Hunter Frost | @HunterFrostMM

Cara says: And the relationship drama gives way to refreshing and amusing honesty. Good character interactions and clean writing.

Week 121 Winner

Josh Peters | @joshbgosh

Cara says: This tiny sci-fi tale is at once terrifying and sad. Alma's AI/computer logic adds to the sadness with a touch of childlike confusion as Jed's final request counters any chance of survival. The building sense of inevitable tragedy is maintained throughout with solid writing and a clear concept.

Jed opened his eyes and saw only darkness. The air in his space suit tasted stale.

“Alma, open visor,” Jed said.

A moment later the computer replied, her voice smooth and calm.

“Rebooting.”

Jed remembered the repair had gone well but on his return to the airlock he saw a flash then nothing.

“Warning,” Alma said. “Low Power.”

“Alma, open my visor,” said Jed.

The dark visor cleared, giving him a view of Nexus 3 hanging below, his body floating in a cloud of debris.

He drifted in space, floating toward the planet.

Jed checked his power and air supply, confirming both at minimal levels, 30 minutes at best. He went over his options, ran possibilities through Alma, and came to terms with the situation.

“Alma, send message to Evie.”

“Warning. Power required to send message will deplete available supply.”

“Understood. Let’s do this.”

“Do this?” questioned Alma.

Jed felt strained and light headed. He sighed.

“You know what I mean. Compose message.”

“Every day without you feels like a year and now it will become forever. Make sure Terra knows how much her father loves her and misses her every day. I love you always.”

Jed felt a tear slide down his cheek.

“Send message.”

“Message sent. Shut down immanent.”

Jed watched the planet below as the cold of space crept into his suit.

The sun began to rise at the edge of the planet and Jed smiled. His smile lasted an eternity.

Congratulations Winner Josh, Alice, L.T., 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 121

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 121 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. One new thing: We now start at 7 am MOUNTAIN TIME. 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 121:

Sci-fi adventurist, Typo Sniper, and #flashfiction Master, Cara Michaels.

Cara on Facebook

Cara on Twitter

Cara on Goodreads

Cara Google Plus

And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

“Know what I mean?”

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!

#ThursThreads - Week 120 - Winners

Week 120 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. It was also wonderful to have some new folks stop by. Welcome! Great thanks to Silver James for judging this week. Be sure to check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on FB to keep up with news, etc.

Entries:

• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
• Jessica West | @West1Jess
• L.T. Dalin | @ChessnySilth
• Anna Lund | @AnnaLund2011
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Cate Derham | @Cate_Derham
• Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
• M.T. Decker | @mishmhem
• Anastasia Vitsky | @AnastasiaVitsky
• Louisa Bacio | @LouisaBacio
• Josh Peters | @joshbgosh
• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Hunter Frost | @HunterFrostMM

Silver says: Everyone who submitted this week should be very proud of your work. It was my honor to be your judge. Well done to all you!

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Anna Lund | @AnnaLund2011

Silver says: Story through prose with a very "Gravity" feel to it. Lovely stuff. I reread it several times just to enjoy it again.

Cate Derham | @Cate_Derham

Silver says: Wonderfully written scene that captured the characters' personality and relationship in so few words. You've got me all curious about them now.

L.T. Dalin | @ChessnySilth

Silvers says: I do love an alpha male with 'tude and a girl who takes no guff from him. Well written, fun, and I like to know the back story and what happens to them.

Louisa Bacio | @LouisaBacio

Silver says: Whoa! Hot stuff here but the writing beautifully illustrated the scene through sound cues, texture, and the tension in the POV character.

Week 120 Winner

Cara Michaels | @caramichaels

Silver says: Cara's entry was well-written, flawless, and even as I was going "awwwww", I was laughing. There's nothing better than being entertained on multiple levels. Plus, I admit to a certain fondness for "smartaft" AI. I definitely want to read this one because I have the feeling Captain Sinjun Levy might be a new book boyfriend.

I lifted my eyes to the sky where the first stars twinkled in the deepening indigo. I missed the black, something I’d never thought possible. I curled my toes into the tilled dirt beneath me even as my soul reached.

“I need some space.” Wide open possibilities. Weightless. Limitless. “Know what I mean?”

I turned to Levy, who gave me his back as he walked away, his carriage stiff.

“Sinjun, where are you going?”

The pirate half turned, enough for me to make out a bitter smile.

“To give you space, love.”

“I meant—” The door banged shut behind him. “Outer space.” I kicked the ground. “You know. Stars, travel, flying.” Explaining myself to myself lacked a certain satisfaction. “Idiot.”

I was pretty sure I meant him.

|He could have given you a chance to finish.| Ursula tutted in my shiplink. |Men are so melodramatic.|

“And ships are nosy.”

The AI trilled in response.

|How else am I to learn about my new crew?|

“I don’t know, Ursula.” Hell, I couldn’t manage to learn about one person in the galaxy. And he liked me well enough to kiss me. “Conversation is usually a good place to start.”

She made a rumbling, snorting sound.

|Yes, of course. Because that tactic is working so well for you and Captain Levy, yes?|

“Great. My ship is a smart ass.”

|Technically, I have no ass. I suppose my stern—oh—aft!| Ursula’s vocals distorted. |I am a smart aft.|

“Laugh it up, rustbucket.”

Congratulations TWELVE TIME WINNER Cara, Anna, Cate, L.T., and Louisa! 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 - Week 110 Sci-Fi Day - Winners

Week 110 of #ThursThreads had some terrific tales. I'm honored to see all of the new (to me) writers and read your stories. Thank you for coming. It was also wonderful to have some of my regulars come for the event. Thanks so much! Great thanks to Cathy Pegau for judging this week. Thank you all for participating in our Month of Love Event. Next week will be the usual #ThursThreads.

Entries:

• Rafe Brox | @etcet
• Sandy Layne | @sandyquill
• Charles W Jones | @ChuckWesJ
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
• Mark Ethridge | @LurchMunster
• Louisa Bacio | @LouisaBacio
• Anna Lund | @AnnaLund2011
• Kate Richards | @katerichards09
• The Imaginator | @theimaginator20
• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Rebecca Brennan | @bexbrennan
• Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
• PT Wyant
• Anasasia Vitsky | @AnastasiaVitsky 
• Hunter Frost | @HunterFrostMM

Cathy says: It was SO hard to pick! All of the entries were creative and interesting. I laughed at a few and felt myself tense up with others. Thanks so much, everyone! So much talent in small bites. Well done! I had a blast.

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
Cathy says: Gotta love a good space opera where potential death, if not war, is averted. The acting captain has their hands full!

Kate Richards | @katerichards09

Cathy says: While Angela's reaction to her spouse being attacked is a bit cold, she did warn him. I laughed at this one (hope that was the right reaction, Kate!).

Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir

Cathy says: Another one where I wanted MORE. Who is this guy? How did he get to be this way? And why is he some sort of vigilante? Great atmosphere!

Sandy Layne | @sandyquill
Cathy says: The "test ride" thing had me from the get-go, and the final line is classic. Fun piece.

Week 110 Winner

Cara Michaels | @caramichaels

Cathy says: Great sci fi atmosphere and tension. I wanted to know what had happened to the MC's ship and what would happen next. I would have kept reading if it was a longer piece.

My parents had loved me.

Once upon a time, wish upon a star, and all that Old Earth fairy tale nonsense. I didn’t remember much—no names or faces—but I’d known love.

I’d crossed a galaxy to find its mark.

They’d left me. Why should I care so much why?

The logic of the heart sucked.

I found the ship in a salvage yard a parsec wide. The field of space litter stretched for light years across a pocket of starless space no one wanted. A shuttle fitted with an Alcubierre warp drive transported me to my destination in time to pound one Messier martini.

Spacer’s courage.

“You sure this is the one?” The shuttle captain gave me a cockeyed look. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, this here model is a classic. But she’s seen the final abyss.”

“The Shadow, right?”

“Ah—” He flicked through screens of ship registries. “Instated as Gaea’s Ark, Echo-Alpha-Five-Five-Victor in the Dark Speed Ages.” Translation: before wormhole travel became the norm. “AI transferred to the Shadow in—”

“That’s my ship.”

He flipped through data. “Registry says she got decommed twenty-two Galactic Standard years ago. You’ll be lucky if you can get the lights on.”

“I’ll call if I need you.”

Ten minutes later, I stepped onto the bridge of the Shadow, my rebreather the only sound.

|Voice print identification.|

A robotic female voice scared me damn near out of my suit.

|Voice print identification.|

“Uh—Bryant.” Please know me. “Raeythe Bryant.”

Congratulations ELEVEN TIME WINNER Cara, Kelly, Kate, and Sandy! 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 - 2nd Anniversary Week 104 - Winners

Week 104 TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY of #ThursThreads had some terrific tales and a great turnout. 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 to great years of flash. It was also wonderful to have some new folks stop by. Welcome! Great thanks to Cara Michaels for judging this week. :)

Entries:

• Eric Martell | @drmagoo
• Rafe Brox | @etcet
• Mark Ethridge | @LurchMunster
• Rebecca Brennan | @bexbrennan
• Jeff Hollar | @Klingorengi
• Anna Lund | @AnnaLund2011
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir 
• Wendy Strain | @WendyStrain
• Silver James | @SilverJames_
• Lizzie Koch | @Lizzie_Koch
• Ruth Long | @Bullishink
• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Nara Malone | @nara_malone
• SJ Maylee | @SJMaylee
• Nellie Batz | @solimond
• Jessica P West | @West1Jess
• Cate Derham | @Cate_Derham

Cara says: Great batch of stories this week, ranging from historical intrigue to loads of magic to a futuristic robots and space flight. Thank you all for writing!

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Mark Ethridge | @LurchMunster

Cara says: Poor Beamer and those pesky calculations. I love the concept of this story and the interactions between Beamer and Bobby.

Silver James | @SilverJames_

Cara says: Crisp and well written as always. You establish emotional depth very quickly and those final sentences are heartbreaking.

Ruth Long | @Bullishink

Cara says: LOL! Tender bits, jiggly bits, this conversation cracked me up. Weasel is a great character and this moment really zings.

Week 104 Winner

Jeff Hollar | @Klingorengi

Cara says: When the shit hits the fan, lol. What an opener. Your integration of the prompt into the story is my favorite. It’s smooth and fits perfectly in the moment. Love the snarky tone to this entire piece. Is it an inner monologue? Some sergeant’s idea of a pep talk? I could see it go either way in a bigger story, and it’s great.

Apocalypse Options

When the feces make contact with the rotating oscillator and you’re up to your armpits in undead annoyances, your options are somewhat…limited. You can’t run away screaming like a little girl. Well, okay, you can but that’s not gonna work. Sure, the bastards are pretty damned slow; that’s not the issue. The problem comes in where do you run to and what do you do when you get there? If you head back to the base camp and the best story you got is everybody got killed and you didn’t have any choice…that may just work.

More likely than not, though, just about the time you get a cold shower and some colder food inside you, things will get real interesting. One of the guys you threw to the metaphorical wolves will come stumbling back in, covered in gore and screaming out what a punk you were to abandon them. If that’s how things go down, trust me, you’d have been better off to have just stayed out there, plopped down with an apple in your mouth, and let the walkers serve you up as a tasty entrée. That’s not a real appealing option either, by the way.

No, what happens is you knuckle down and fight like a sumbitch. You need to focus on making every shot count and making sure you always keep one in reserve in case…aww, let’s face it, for when things get terminal. Life…it’s a game nobody wins anyway, so good luck with that, eh?

Congratulations Three Time Winner Jeff, Mark, Silver, and Ruth! Don't forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it! Jeff, PM me your email address for your gift card. 

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 - 2nd Anniversary Week 104

Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. Holy cow, this challenge has been going on for TWO WHOLE YEARS this week! Whoa.

Let's just take a moment to comprehend that... Okay, that's good. :D It's Thursday today, so what should you be doing? Writing #FlashFiction, that's what! Welcome to Week 104 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 104:

Sci-fi adventurist, Typo Sniper, and the woman who started it all, Cara Michaels.

Cara on Facebook

Cara on Twitter

Cara on Goodreads

Cara Google Plus

In celebration of our 2nd Anniversary of this challenge, I'm giving away a $5.00 gift card to the winner. And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

“You need to focus.”

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!

Saturday Souvenirs - NaNoWriMo Motivation - How to Keep the Flame Alive

We're a week into National Novel Writing Month. Can you hear the nails being bitten and the coffee being drunk? And then the scream of frustration as you just can't get the muse to tell you more right when you need it.

With NaNoWriMo upon us, and everyone feverishly trying to write/finish a novel in 30 days, there’s hardly time to think about anything else. But sometimes even feverish efforts hit burnout and it’s hard to keep up the pace to finish 50K words in thirty days. How do you keep going when you hit a wall?

One of the best things to remember is you’re not alone. There are a lot of people in the writing world who participate in NaNoWriMo and they are all in the same boat. I have several friends who compete each year in NaNo. What they’ve told me works best is having NaNo-buddies, friends who can alternately cajole and whip you into writing when you just want to quit. Having someone like this is one of the essential tools to getting NaNo done. I make an excellent cheerleader and encourager. Just sayin’.

So when you hit that wall where you hate what you’re writing and you’re pretty sure it equals pond scum, just remember you can fix it later. Get the rough story down and don’t worry about its “goodness”. Good writing is rewriting anyway. It doesn’t have to be awesome, it just has to be done. You’ll be amazed how much you’ll get done.

Another thing that helps with inspiration is #flashfiction writing. There are several challenges during the week set aside specifically to encourage motivation and inspiration. #FlashFridayFic, #55WordChallenge, #ThursThreads, and the new one #RacetheDate, are all challenges meant to motivate you into writing and help spark your muse. Each of these challenges occur weekly and can help with your word count for the day.

This is a huge task you’re undertaking, but you can do it. One hour, two tops, and you can get that word count in. I’ll cheer you on.

If you've done NaNoWriMo before, what tricks do you use to keep yourself going?

Good luck and happy NaNoWriMo!

#ThursThreads - Week 94 Halloween Spooktacular - Winners

Week 94 Halloween Spooktacular 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 it was wonderful to have some new faces. Welcome! Great thanks to Cara Michaels for judging this week. :)

Entries:

• Greg Nance | @acenance
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
• Laurel Cremant | @LaurelCremant
• Eric Martell | @drmagoo
• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Silver James | @SilverJames_
• Stacey Greene | @RoryBrazen
• David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
• Charley S. | @Charley_001
• Ruth Long | @bullishink

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Eric Martell | @drmagoo

Cara says: The world implied in this story is epic. I would love to see this developed and learn more about this resurrection exam.

Silver James | @SilverJames_
Cara says: Sigh. Sinjun… Sorry, what was I saying? Sade’s anxious presence plays well against Sinjun’s soothing one. And then there’s the ending… Sigh.

Week 94 Winner

Greg Nance | @acenance

Cara says: Creepy tale with a consistent pace and voice; well done. You gave just enough clarity to the bits of action and conversation to have me wondering if the narrator was just crazy or if something more was going on.

into the dark

i sit here in the quiet of my room, but the voices in my head give me no rest. memories. sweet memories. they feel like velvet, or silk, as if I could drink them with milk.

sweat pours from my brow as i fight against the buckles that bind my wrists and ankles, as well as the shackles that struggle to keep my sanity in its place. my friends gather ‘round. and over there my sweet dog. “hello, puppy.” i smile.

shadows creep across the floor, claiming my space. “get away, demon! this place is mine.” but it continues to inch forward, a bit closer with every red hand’s tick. my friends seem more sinister in the dark. i can only hear their voices now. laughing. mocking. plotting.

my dog starts to growl. “are you hungry, boy?” i ask with a quiver in my voice, as i hear him pawing closer to my bound legs. claws clicking against the floor in an unnatural cadence until his hot breath rolls across my face like a tropical storm off the ocean.

“insanity is inexpensive and has an inexhaustible supply. it keeps coming, no matter which corner you hide.” at least, that’s what bill said from across the room, as he lit another cigarette.

the lights burn my eyes as the door swings open into my room with an occupancy of one. “dinner time,” the man chuckles as he brings me tidings of red, blue and white joy.

i guess i could sleep.

Congratulations Two Time Winner Greg, Eric, and Silver! 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 94 Halloween Spooktacular

Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. Bwahahaha! It's Halloween. Are you read for the #ThursThreads Spooktacular? No? Well, it's Thursday today, so what should you be doing? Writing #FlashFiction, that's what! Welcome to Week 94 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 94:

The erotic romance author, Sci-fi adventurist, and Typo Sniper, Cara Michaels.

Cara on Facebook
Cara on Google Plus

Cara on Twitter
Cara on Goodreads

Plus today, Cara has a new release out: Gaea's Chosen: Heavenly Bodies. Pick up your copy today. :)

And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

“They feel like velvet, or silk.”

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!

#ThursThreads - Week 88 - Winners

Week 88 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 welcome to the new folks who stopped by. Great thanks to Lexi Post for judging this week. :)

Entries:

• Sophie Weeks | @torncashmere
• Jeff Hollar | @klingorengi
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
• Terry Crouse | @ducknado
• Silver James | @SilverJames_
• Cynthia Hudson Keane | @AuthorCAKeane
• David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
• Mark Ethridge | @LurchMunster

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Silver James | @SilverJames_

Lexi says: Great voice in this one that invites a reader to be part of the fun. Good tension and diffusion with sexual implications..

Cynthia Hudson | @AuthorCAKeane
Lexi says: This one satisfied on so many levels. Builds emotion in the reader and satisfies it.

Jeff Hollar | @klingorengi

Lexi says: Good mix of description, action, and historical flavor with both characters appearing strong (not easy to do).

Week 88 Winner

Cara Michaels | @caramichaels

Lexi says: This piece was beautifully written with well placed wording and dialogue. Excellent depth to the main character and his inner turmoil with a clear idea as to the conflict that provides a strong hook. Makes me want to read the rest right now.

“Nemesis.” Her name left my mouth as the barest murmur, but Nemesis heard all; from the greatest roars to thoughts held in the darkest corners of souls.

She rose and faced me, a faint smile turning her mouth. The gentle curve reached along her cheeks, touching the corners of her eyes.

“It’s been too long, Eros. Centuries, if I’m not mistaken.” Arms outstretched, she took my hands, leaning in to kiss me lightly. “But I know why you’ve come at last.”

“Do you?” I exhaled a slow breath. “Then you are a step ahead of me. I am not sure what I expect from you.”

Justice. Revenge. Righting a wrong buried so deep within me I couldn’t be sure it was real.

“I expected you to seek retribution. Long ago. I expected you to fight.” Her cool gray eyes assessed me, her head canting from left to right.

“I don’t remember.” I freed my hands, drove them through my hair. “I don’t remember a damned thing. Or maybe I do. But it’s twisted up and I can’t make sense of her.”

“Her?”

Her? No. There was no her. “It. I can’t make sense of it. Hades take them all who broke my mind. My memories.” My heart.

She heard my every thought. “There’s no revenge sweet enough to ease your bitter heart.”

“I don’t need revenge.”

“What, then?”

“I need to right what’s gone wrong.” I tapped my head, then my chest. “Inside of me.”

“Then I can help you.”

Congratulations TEN TIME WINNER Cara, Silver, Cynthia, and Jeff! 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! :)