#ThursThreads - Week 125 - Winners

Week 125 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 Joe Burke 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
• Silver James | @SilverJames_
• L. T. Dalin | @ChessnySilth
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Anna Lund | @AnnaLund2011
• Josh Peters | @joshbgosh
• Louisa Bacio | @LouisaBacio
• Mark Ethridge | @LurchMunster
• Theresa Breaux | @theresabreaux
• Nellie Batz | @solimond
• Hunter Frost | @HunterFrostMM

Joe says: I have to applaud everyone that took the time to post. They were so much fun to read.

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

 

Kelly Heinen | @Aightball

Joe says: I enjoyed how life-like their story was. It was almost a tie with Kel and Hunter.

Anna Lund | @AnnaLund2011

Joe says: I loved how there was so much said in so little.

Week 125 Winner

Hunter Frost | @HunterFrostMM

Camera shy: Hunter Frost

Joe says: The story something that kept the reader involved. It made the reader feel apart of it. Meaning that the reader to apply this to any walk of life. Being man on man, female on female, or man on women. One could relate to this story.

“If we’re going to work together you can’t keep looking at me like that.” Jax wiped his brow, his tanned chest glistening in the sun as he stopped shoveling.

“What—“ Mike’s voice cracked. Smooth, Mike. Real smooth. He cleared his throat. “Um…what do you mean?” He didn’t think Jax would notice.

Jax smiled and leaned toward him. He smelled like earth and sweat and…

“Your eyes say you want to bend me over that tree trunk over there and have your way with me.”

God! How the heck did he--? “Don’t be ridiculous. My eyes aren’t saying anything,“ Mike replied, but the tremble in his voice dashed any semblance of conviction he might have had.

“No?” Jax tossed the shovel aside and came at him, making Mike backpedal until he hit the solid barrier of the retaining wall. Jax flattened his palms on either side of Mike’s head and pressed in close. So close Mike could feel Jax’s sweat through his clothes. Shit, that’s nice.

“I’m sorry! I’ll try to keep my eyes from saying such vulgar things.” Mike squeezed his eyes shut.

Small puffs of hot air caressed Mike’s cheek as Jax chuckled. “I should have said, if we’re going to work together you can’t keep looking at me like that and not DO anything about it.”

Mike’s eyes flew open to see Jax’s eyes crinkle at the corners. “Fuck…” Mike whispered before covering Jax’s mouth with his.

Congratulations Three Time Winner Hunter, Kelly, and Anna! 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 115 - Winners

Week 115 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 these years of flash. It was also wonderful to have some new folks stop by. Welcome! Great thanks to Cat Johnson for judging this week. Be sure to check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on FB to keep up with news, etc.

Entries:

• Fran Vallone | @francinevallone
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
• Sandy Lane | @@sandyquill
• Silver James | @SilverJames_
• Richard Gibney | @ragtaggiggagon 
• Warren C. Bennett | @warrencbennett
• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Louisa Bacio | @LouisaBacio
• Anna Lund | @AnnaLund2011
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
• David A Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
• Hunter Frost | @HunterFrostMM

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Anna Lund | @AnnaLund2011

Cat says: Sets the tone and the scene nicely. It leaves the reader wanting to know why he’s on the planet alone.

Louisa Bacio | @LouisaBacio

Cat says: The high level of action was good. The reader figures out very fast what these characters are and that their joining is significant.

Fran Vallone | @francinevallone

Cat says: Paints a vivid and heart wrenching picture.

Sandy Lane | @sandyquill

Cat says: This story elicits emotion. It left me wondering why they kill him, does he know he will be killed, and is this protocol in his world?

Week 115 Winner

Hunter Frost | @HunterFrostMM

Camera shy: Hunter Frost

Cat says: I loved how the author set the scene and engaged all the reader’s senses. We saw, smelled and felt the old saloon as the Point-of-View character. All the information was fed to us as he experienced it, rather than in an info dump via a long description-only narrative. We also know immediately who is doing the thinking, what he’s feeling, and it leaves us wanting more. We want to know what will happen next with the mysterious stranger?

Years of tobacco smoke and stale liquor assaulted my senses as I heaved open the wooden door of the old saloon and entered. Modern times did away with the batwing doors from the Westerns I’d watch as a kid. A shame, really. It was much harder to imagine a crook in his ten gallon hat, jangling spurs, and twin pistols pulling open a cumbersome door like this before escaping on his horse. The lawmen would’ve always won the day. And where would be the fun in that?

As a “law man” myself, I’d rather have a challenge. But that’s me. And those were the movies. This saloon was real – real enough to be a historical landmark in the small town of Branch where I worked.

Complete with honest-to-goodness cowboys, too.

At the end of the brass-edged bar stood one I’d never seen before - with a mop of disheveled, midnight black hair, trim hips, and an ass that filled out his faded Levi’s enough to make my heart pound.

“Who’s the new guy?” I asked Paul, who played bouncer on nights like these.

Paul’s eyes followed my gaze to the sculpted back of said man, who chose that moment to turn and catch me mid-stare. I smiled at his chiseled features and he slowly turned back, seemingly unimpressed.

Interesting.

“Name’s Russ from what I hear,” Paul said. “And he runs alone.”

“We’ll see about that.” I removed my hat, polished my badge, and made my way over with a grin.

Congratulations Two Time Winner Hunter, Anna, Louisa, Fran, 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 - Week 111 - Winners

Week 111 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 these years of flash. It was also wonderful to have some new folks stop by. Welcome! Great thanks to Katalina Leon for judging this week. Be sure to check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on FB to keep up with news, etc.

Entries:

• Olivia Starke | @OliviaStarke
• Mark Ethridge | @LurchMunster
• Anastasia Vitsky | @AnastasiaVitsky
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil (prose)
• Anna Lund | @AnnaLund2011
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil (poem)
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Sandy Layne | @sandyquill
• Hunter Frost | @HunterFrostMM
• Louisa Bacio | @LousiaBacio
• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Charles W. Jones | @ChuckWesJ
• SJ Maylee | @SJMaylee
• Robin Abess | @Angelique_Rider
• Nellie Batz | @solimond

Katalina says: Oh boy I had no idea how difficult it would be to choose a winner. There were so many great entries. Thank you so much for offering me an opportunity to judge. As I said the quality here was high and there are a couple more goodies that I didn't even mention.

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil

Katalina says: The poem, Haiku-like, a concise bit of emotional dynamite.

Anna Lund | @AnnaLund2011

Katalina says: Clear, vivid images, less was definitely more in this case.

Louisa Bacio | @LouisaBacio

Katalina says: I was instantly hooked and drawn down the rabbit hole. I wanted to keep reading.

SJ Maylee | @SJMaylee

Katalina says: Strong use of prompt, great story. I was instantly hooked.

Week 111 Winner

Hunter Frost | @HunterFrostMM

Camera Shy: Hunter Frost

Katalina says: The fiction felt effortless, sensuous and sweet. Most of all it felt complete. At only 250 words I got a strong sense of the situation and the two personalities involved in the scene.

“Your lips are incredible,” I murmured, Mick’s mouth traveling down my chest and over my stomach, his kisses searing my skin.

My breath hitched as he brushed his rough cheek against my hip bone. He slid a finger slowly down the crease of my groin and my cock pulsed, waiting anxiously for his touch.

“You sure this is the one?” He asked, tracing lazy circles on the inside of my thigh with his callused thumb, making it difficult to think. I raised my head to find him staring at my hip.

I should have known he would see it, even in the dim light of the bedroom.

When we had met, Mick had told me he didn't like tattoos. And though all of mine are hidden from public view (and he was so hot), I hadn't lied. Apparently, he'd found that refreshing and asked me out anyway. We've been on nearly five dates now and I’m falling for him.

He didn't seem to mind the other tattoos, but I worried about the design on my hip. It’s a pink lotus flower and I got it to represent the joy of expressing myself as a gay man. I told Mick as much, but he’s so big and burly and hard that I figured he’d hate it.

I finally nodded, resigning myself to his forth-coming disapproval.

“You made it sound like I would burst into pink flames if I saw it.” He snorted. “This is…sweet, sexy, and beautiful. Just like you.”

Congratulations Winner Hunter, Sheilagh, Anna, Louisa, and SJ! 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! :)