Immortalized in Ink is Now Available!

I'm so excited to share that my flash fiction collection, Immortalized in Ink, is officially available!

As you guys know, many of these stories started out as entries for the (former) weekly Flash! Friday contest, and therefore they adhered to the photo prompts, word count limits, and sporadic whims of the contest's creator. Revisiting these stories led to lots of cringing and some pleasant surprises. It also allowed me to revise pieces without the strict limitations provided by the contest.

Still, those stories reflect their roots, varying in genre, style, and tone, and they are complemented by other flash pieces written at different times. Some are heartwarming (I'm still me 😉), some fantastical, and some quite dark. I can't wait to hear what you think of them all!

Grab Your Copy:

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | B&N | Google Play | Smashwords

Flash! Friday: The Final Flashversary

Well, it's here. The three-year anniversary of Flash! Friday and also its final hurrah—a last goodbye. Prizes galore await entrants, from books to commemorative posters and more. And there's still time to enter!

Rebekah challenged us today with a prompt unlike any for which I've written, myself: 

100 word-story (exactly), starting with the sentence: "On Friday, everything changed."

She also offered this photo, for inspiration:

And since we're allowed two entries, I decided to take advantage and for the first time, write two stories. As always, I'm looking forward to your thoughts!

Flash! Friday: Prompt #3-52

Here we are at the final regular Flash! Friday prompt. Ever.

The time passing, this coming to end, brings to mind that image of sand slipping through our fingers, flitting by into the part of the hourglass we cannot reach. Though the three-year anniversary celebration is yet to come, I cannot believe this weekly contest is at an end. Somehow, when it started, and when I served as a judge, and when the business side of writing and the realities of life kept me away, I still expected it to remain, always, in wait—a stalwart weekly prompt and reminder to return to my writing.

The one thing I'm grateful for is that I discovered the contest fairly early on, giving me over two and a half years with it in my life. Check out my first ever Flash! Friday story here.

This week, Rebekah brought back the dragon's bidding, requiring this element:

in a 150-word (+/- 10) story based on this photo:

Flash! Friday: Prompt #3-51

As some of you may have seen, Rebekah announced last week that this year marks the end of Flash! Friday. This weekly flash contest was one of the very first things I did when I decided to refocus on my writing and join the rich virtual literary community. A little while later, I even became a judge! I've missed it every Friday when I didn't have the opportunity to write, and I'll miss it in the Fridays going forward, but I'm so grateful to Rebekah for cultivating the community she did, and for welcoming all of us to be a part of it.

Nothing could replace it, and I'm not sure what if anything will fill the flash void in terms of my own writing, though thanks to people like Rebekah, there are many flash contests happening throughout the week.

Of course, it's November, so I really should be working on my NaNo novel. But instead, here's a 150-word (+/-10) flash attempt based on this character: 

and this photo:

Stockholm cityscape. CC2.0 photo by Miguel Virkkunen Carvalho

And it's not too late for your story! Enter the contest here.

Flash! Friday: Prompt #3-47

It's Friday! This week's Flash! Friday prompt was, appropriately, based on the book Frankenstein. Requirements were a 175-word story (+/- 10) with two of the following:

• Conflict: man v self, man v society
• Character (choose at least one): a cowardly scientist; a man-made, sentient creature; a hapless fiancee, an oblivious optimist.
• Theme (choose one): forbidden science, danger of the pursuit of knowledge, fate v free will, secrecy
• Setting (choose one): Romantic-era Europe, a laboratory, a ship voyaging in the Arctic, ANYWHERE STEAMPUNK!

Thanks as always for your thoughts!

One of a Kind

Neeasha stopped before the mirror in the entryway, settling a purple-and-gold felt hat carefully on her hairdo. She tilted her head this way and that, ensuring today’s choice adequately hid her horns.

Her tail slithered up her back, twining around the spikes between her shoulders. A heavy jacket covered the resulting bulges—and the blinking cuff on her forearm. After a last glance at her reflection, she picked up her bag, stuffed her scaled hands in her pockets, and headed out the door.

“You are not alone!” a flier advertising counseling screamed at her as she walked past chatting groups and entwined couples. She paused at the entrance to Stein’s Science Center, staring for a second at their smiles.

Three stories below, behind seven different locks, the cuff clicked open. She stripped to her underwear, letting her tail unfurl and stretching, maroon claws scratching the ceiling.

Beeping monitors surrounded her, waiting. At least he let her sleep elsewhere now.

“Why can’t I take one of the classes?” she asked the man behind the glass.

“Maybe in the winter,” came the daily reply.


(182 words, using a man-made sentient creature, and secrecy)

Flash! Friday: Prompt #3-45

Rare but not impossible to spot: a Flash! Friday story by your truly!

This week's inspirational novel was Moby Dick, in a 100-word story (+/- 25) with two required story elements from among:

• Conflict: man v self, man v nature (not gender specific)
• Character (choose at least one): a wooden-legged sea captain, a pacifist forced to help with someone else’s revenge, an easygoing storyteller oblivious to danger, a chief’s son/prince working on a ship, a mighty whale.
• Theme (choose one): revenge, fate v free will, the power of Nature, friendship, the cost of obsession
• Setting (choose one): a whaling ship, a sea port, an island, the middle of the ocean

Added inspiration is offered in the form of this photo (though its use is not required):

Naufragos/Shipwrecked. CC2.0 photo by Luis Marina.

My story is below, but you also have time to write your own! Check out all the guidelines here, and let me know what you think!

---

At Any Cost

They left me.

Dozens of years of research brought my team here. The sound of the ocean, the sandy beaches and devastating cliff faces, the squawks of local avifauna… None of that matters.

They followed me, yes, but they couldn’t see that.

The Fibonacci sequence, Occam’s razor, Knot theory—it’s all about the numbers. They did it for credit, for research…for resumes, or a trip to the island.

Blind, oh so blind.

Vines bend to my fingers’ will, and I etch my numbers into the sand, surrounded by the stench of flesh.

I’m always there—almost there. I’ll find it.

They didn’t believe.


(103 words)

Flash! Friday: Prompt #3-41

So it's been a while since I participated in Flash! Friday, and it's my first time trying this new format. Rather than a photo prompt, the contest has switched over to using elements pulled from a book. Today's was Cry, the Beloved Country, requiring two of the following elements in a 150–200-word story.

• Conflict: man v man (not gender specific)
• Character (choose at least one): old priest fighting to hold on to tradition, father searching for his son, young man accused of murder, a civil rights activist, a pregnant girl
• Theme (choose one): reconciliation, racism, injustice, repentance
• Setting (choose one): a decaying village, a wealthy city in moral decline

I included a few different ones, as you'll hopefully see in the story below. As always, I'm interested in hearing your thoughts!

Flash! Friday: Prompt #3-26

It's another month and another Friday. May didn't go so well for me, when it comes to regularly contributing to Flash! Friday, but one of the nice things about their new "ring of fire" badges is that each month feels like a clean slate. 

This week's challenge requires incorporating this character:

in a 200-word story (+/-10) based on this photo: 

Ready? Submit your own contest entry on the Flash! Friday site!

Flash! Friday: Prompt #3-23

This week's Flash! Friday prompt encouraged us to meld two very different aspects, the setting of "downtown" with the photo below — all in a 200-word (+/-10) story of course. As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Flash! Friday: Prompt #3-12

And once again it's Friday, not to mention the end of February. An interesting prompt today from Rebekah, with this conflict:

incorporated into a 200-word (+/- 10) story on this photo:

Flash! Friday: Prompt #3-11

Technically, my entry to this week's Flash! Friday Fiction contest was a bit late, and therefore doesn't qualify, but since I wrote it (rather hastily), I thought I'd share.

This week's prompt required a 200-word story (+/- 10) incorporating this setting:

and inspired by this photo:

Flash! Friday: Prompt #3-9

As I mentioned last week, I am determined to get back into the swing of things with my Flash! Friday entries. For the first time in longer that I want to count, I've actually managed to write for this contest! Check out my attempt below, and don't forget to share your #FutureFriday post!

Flash! Friday has switched over to a new format, with 200-word stories (+/- 10) incorporating both a story element and a photo prompt. This week's element is the theme "a fleeting moment," in a story based on this photo: 

Flash! Friday: Prompt #3-6

Flash! Friday has changed up the rules for the weekly contest! Now, stories will be based on both a photo prompt and an additional prompt, which will fall in one of four categories of storytelling — character, setting, plot, and theme — which will rotate each week. Word count will now be 200 words! +/- 10, still, which is nice.  

So for instance, this week's prompt is 200 words (+/- 10) on this photo:

with this additional element, falling into the character category:

It's been far too long since I was able to write for Flash! Friday, and I hope to be able to write a story for today's prompt, which I'll add here if that happens. Meanwhile, go write your own! Deadline is midnight EST tonight.

Flash! Friday: Year Three

So, there is a chance my entry officially posted too late for this week's Flash! Friday contest, and I'll easily admit it was written very last-minute, but I figured there's no harm in sharing here.

This week's prompt returned to its roots with no dragon bidding, just 150-word stories (+/- 10) on this photo: 

2nd Flash! Friday Fiction Anniversary!

Rebekah has pulled out all the stops for the second anniversary of Flash! Friday Fiction (aka Flashversary).  The festivities will consist of multiple rounds of competition, starting this weekend, with a winner crowned December 16th. 

Round one is open to all, with a 150-word (exactly!) story on the photo below. Round 2 will be open to 25 semifinalists; with 10 finalists moving on to the final judging.  All of the stories will be judged blind (stripped of the identities of the authors).

Flash! Friday: Prompt #2-51

Well I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving! 

It's the final week of year two for the weekly Flash! Friday Fiction contest, but only my second week back writing, so please be kind! Nevertheless, here's my entry, with the required element of "coming of age," 150 words (+/- 10) on this photo:

Flash! Friday: Prompt #2-50

Difficult to believe, but after months of ineligibility allowing me to excuse not writing, I'm once again eligible for the Flash! Friday contest. So I've tried to shake off the dust and actually write something — please don't judge it too harshly!

As a reminder, this year's Flash! Friday provides a photo prompt as well as a required element, all to be encapsulated in a 150-word story (+/- 10 words). This week's required element was to include a puppy, in a story based on this photo:

Ready? Here goes:

The Final Friday

In the spirit of Halloween…

The Treat: Signups are available for the Mending Heartstrings blog tour! Available posts include review spots, guest posts, interviews, and basic book promo posts. Sign up here, and thanks for helping me spread the word!

The Trick: In addition to being the final Friday in October, today is my last turn judging over at the Flash! Friday Fiction contest. I'm personally thrilled that Rebekah chose not to have today's prompt be about Halloween, as I am easily creeped out by horror, but I'm sure that won't stop many of the writers — nor should it stop you! (Submit your entry here.)

For me, today's contest is both scary and a relief. Judging these contests is extremely difficult, partially because entries have doubled this judging quarter, and partially because of the quality of submissions. It's nice to know the burden of choosing the "best" story is falling on my shoulders for the last time. On the other hand, as my last time judging, I feel even more pressure to make the "correct" choices when it comes to selecting the podium.

That being said, the most terrifying part is that all too soon (in about 3 weeks), I will be eligible to return to the trenches, submitting my own Flash! Friday pieces. Not only have I lost the habit of writing a flash piece every Friday, but I am also quite intimidated by the competition. The Flash! Friday community is strong, in their individual talent, but also in their willingness and ability to learn from each other's skills and grow as writers. The idea of jumping back in feels as though I've missed many laps of this race and will now be scrambling to catch up. Plus, as a former judge, it seems in my mind that there is more pressure to produce outstanding stories, to back up my time of relative "power."

Still, if I don't chicken out, I will try to resume posting flash pieces every Friday, starting November 21st. (Is that a trick or a treat?)

And finally...

Happy Halloween!

Flash! Friday: Prompt #2-29

This Friday marks the last week of Flash! Friday's second quarter, which makes it the last week for several months that my entry would be considered eligible in this contest.  On the plus side, though, Rebekah just announced a mysterious "Dog Day" contest that will take place in July, with more details coming next week.

Meanwhile, here's this week's prompt, with the required element of patience:

Flash! Friday: Prompt #2-28

In addition to this week's Flash! Friday story, I have some exciting news: I will be one of the judges for this year's 3rd quarter of Flash! Friday contests (starting July 4th)! Of course, this means my own stories for that quarter won't be eligible, so I may take a break from posting on a weekly basis, unless a specific prompt truly speaks to me.  I'm looking forward to seeing the contest from the other side, and I hope each of you will consider joining the weekly fun!

But, there are a couple more weeks left in the second quarter of the Flash! Friday year (yes, it goes on its own calendar), so here's this week's entry! 150 words (+/- 10) on the picture below, including the element of arrogance. 

"New crowns for old ones!" - Benjamin Disraeli presents Queen Victoria
the crown of India. Punch, 1876, by cartoonist John Tenniel.