Thursday Thanks - 2012

Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked! Today we usually do #ThursThreads, but since I'm official visiting family this week, I didn't want to let you all down by not being present for my own challenge. So instead of the usual post where you write as story for a judge, I thought I'd give my thanks for the many writers who have touched my world this year, and especially those who come back week after week to tie on a tale.

I've listed them below (and while I can't mention all of you, know you're in my heart), and if you don't know them, check them out by clicking on the links on their names. These people have encouraged me, befriended me when I was just another name on Facebook, and promoted me for no other reason than their generosity. Some have been participants of #ThursThreads, others only judges, but all of them have made my year in one way or another.

Cara Michaels has seen it all, blogging, editing, writing, rewriting, de-wasifying ;) and even website reconfiguration. But most of all, she has helped me when I asked for it, edited me without pity :D, and helped me write better stories. She has also judged #ThursThreads and won a few (six) times. :D Thanks, Cara, for everything.

Three gentlemen who have made my #flashfiction career so fun and rewarding are Jeffrey Hollar, J. Whitworth Hazzard, and Wakefield Mahon. Not only have they routinely come to #ThursThreads to write some #flashfiction, but they also have shouted my name into the Twitterverse and made me laugh, but they've also cheered me on when things looked bleak from this end. I suspect they have no idea when they've done so, but just know I'm grateful, gentlemen. Thanks so much! :)

To my long lost Canadian cousin Kris Norris, honey, without you, AADNOLA would have been downright staid and proper. You lit up my trip and made me laugh so hard I could barely take a breath. May your holidays be warm, your company warmer ;) and remember, you can't outrun a bear in snowshoes, but you can outfly them in a helicopter. I'll go with you! :D

There are three ladies who have enticed me with their stories, encouraged me when I swore I'd throw in the towel, and chatted with me online a few times. Two have joined me on Six Sentence Sunday (which is where I found their books and had to go read them!) and the third shared time on Second Life with me. Gem Sivad, I'm still waiting for River's Edge! :D Karla Doyle, how about a game of Scrabble? I'm sure you'd kick my butt at it. ;) And Nara Malone, thank you so much for all your help with negotiating an avatar in a mall. Who knew it could be so difficult to get dressed? :D

One last author I want to thank is Goran Zidar. He has judged #ThursThreads and participated in Six Sentence Sunday by writing a serial story six sentences at a time. If you get a chance to see his tale stop by his blog on Sunday and catch up on the story. But most of all, he has been so encouraging and fun to talk to (even if he's halfway across the world in Australia.

I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season and may your New Year be filled with joy, good friends, and great adventures. Happy New Year and happy reading! :)

#ThursThreads - Week 29 - Winners

Week 29 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 some new "faces" join us along with our returning regulars. Great thanks also goes to judge Gem Sivad for reading all the tales.

Entries:

• Robin Abess | @Angelique_Rider
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Jeffrey Hollar | @Klingorengi
• Charles Jones | @ChuckWesJ
• Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
• Mark Ethridge | @LurchMunster
• David Ludwig | @DavidALudwig 
• Lisa McCourt Hollar | @jezri1
• Kay Phoenix | @KayPhoenix_
• Jeff Tsuruoka | @JTsuruoka
• Sarah Aisling | @SarahAisling

Gem says: Okay, I'm totally impressed with all of the entries. I read each several times.I'd like to offer the winner and honorable mention authors a chance to showcase their work in my newsletter. They would retain the copyright of course and it would be a chance for them to promote their work.

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Jeffrey Hollar | @Klingorengi

  Gem says: I was particularly pulled into this piece by the first lines, "Jeremiah’s mount crested the hill and he pulled up short... “They’re down there somewhere close..." This opener set the mood and established the paranormal  parameters as references were made to signing a treaty so that the travelers could establish contact with the other "humans". Through dialog the author does some very nice world building. I wanted to read more about the seven foot rabbit wearing armor.
  

Jeff Tsuruoka | @JTsuruoka

Gem says: This author handled the first person POV well, pulling me into the story  with writing that is fast paced and focused. The story begins with a vivid passage leading to a very brutal execution of a "childhood friend" and the action of the scene very clearly illustrates the clinical emotionless approach of the assassin. I would continue reading this piece.

Week 29 Winner

Cara Michaels | @caramichaels

  Gem says: This author used precision writing, paring away every spare word to create an unforgettable scene. The dialogue very adeptly showed her heroine's emotions, revealing the circumstances of her anguish one sentence at a time. "A weaker woman might have softened, might have leaned..." “Tell me I’m not giving my life away for nothing...”  I honestly felt as though I'd read a much longer piece when I finished.  

A voice reached through the darkness and I closed my eyes at the sound of my name.

“I’m not in the mood for company right now,” I said.

From this vantage, I could just watch. I didn’t have to participate, didn’t have to smile when every laugh and cheer ripped away something vital. Their joy would never be mine and I hated them for it.

“I know I should leave,” he said.

I didn’t want to be drawn in, especially by him.

Firm hands settled on my shoulders and drew me back against an equally firm chest. A weaker woman might have softened, might have leaned.

I wanted to lean.

Instead, I blessed my stringent military life and stubborn pride for keeping my back straight and tall.

“Tell me they take this seriously.”

Below us, people partied with conviction. I needed to know my path mattered to them. To someone. Acid burned in my gut.

“Of course they—”

I cut him off. “Tell me I’m not giving my life away for nothing.”

The hands on my shoulders clenched, hard enough to bruise. I welcomed the ache, letting it chase away friendlier sensations. Like the warmth of his touch, the scent of his skin, the tease of his breath at my temple.

“He will love you.”

“For all the good it will do,” I said.

“You will love him, too.”

I turned and faced eyes burning with jealousy.

“No.” I pulled away, making the necessary break between us. “I won’t.”

Congratulations FOUR TIME WINNER Cara, Jeff, and Jeff! Claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it! :) Please contact Gem Sivad through her website on how you can showcase your winning tales. Woot!

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. :)

#ThursThreads - The Challenge That Ties Tales Together - Week 29

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 29 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 29:

The multi-published, paranormal and western erotic romance author, Gem Sivad.

 

 

  Gem on Twitter

Gem on Facebook

CR on Goodreads

And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

"They take this seriously."

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! :)

Lucky Seven and the MNBH Winner!

Good morning, readers! I want to announce the winner of the Midsummer Night's Blog Hop giveaway.

Rebecca Hamilton

Congratulations, Rebecca! Thanks for coming by and commenting. And thanks to everyone else who commented, too. :)

I also wanted to share that I've been nominated for the Lucky Seven, the meme going around where authors showcase their WIPs. Eep. I've been tagged before, but this time Goran Zidar tapped me on the shoulder and told me to get to it. So here I am.

I'm supposed to post seven lines from an unpublished work of fiction by following these rules:

• Go to page 7 or 77 in your current manuscript (fiction or non-fiction)
• Go to line 7
• Post the next 7 lines or sentences on your blog as they are (no cheating, please!)
• Tag 7 other authors to do the same

I found 7 lines from line 7 on page 77 (because it was more fun than page 7) of my current WIP tentatively entitled The Navy's Ghost, a Navy SEAL M/F/M romance. This scene is of Lt. Christiana Brickman's Teammates on their way to rescue her after she and some of the other SEALs' wives were kidnapped. Lt. "Magic" Hunter and Lt. "Retro" Waters are her lovers, though Retro is resisting the sharing. They haven't heard from her in days and they've just caught a lucky break. :)

“God damn, Ghost. I love you!”

“What?” Retro looked like he was ready to go ten rounds.

“That woman is nothing short of amazing.” Magic punched Retro in the arm with excitement. “She sent us a message. I know where we’re going.” He began to unbuckle his harness. “I gotta go brief the Captain.”

“Where are we going, Hunter?”

“Lilliwaup Dam.”

So, who are the Lucky Seven I'm spotlighting? Bwahahaha! Ahem. :D

1. Emerald
2. Katie Salidas
3. CR Moss
4. Tom Keller
5. Gem Sivad
6. Cara Bristol
7. Cara Michaels

Thanks, Goran for the nomination, and thanks so much for stopping by to read my Lucky Seven. Happy reading! :)