Monday, June 30, 2014

HB Challenge #7


This writing challenge from

From the Office Mango website:
Ever wonder what goes on in an office, maybe this prompt will give you a clue ;)

1:  Tales can be posted on your blogs & then just add to the wee linky tool, or add as a comment if you don’t have a blog.
2:  A word count of 250-300.
3:  Try to scare me, or at the very least create a little bit of darkness.
4:  This will be a fortnightly (two weeks) challenge from when the post goes live, so you’ve got plenty thinking time.

So come on what are you waiting for, go find your inner demons and get your scare on!


Kristina is at it again! Maybe she doesn't work in an office in the tradition sense, but it's still a business...




If The Shoe Fits





    "I need to drop by my house during lunch," Kristina said to Burt. "I might be a little late returning."
    He wasn't surprised, though he was irritated. She often took liberties with the mid-day break. Running a funeral home meant keeping to a schedule, and it was Kristina's job to make certain the deceased looked as life-like as possible for the viewings.
    "Before you go, could you check Mrs. Humphrey? She's on the cart and they're getting ready to load her into the hearse to transport her for the church services. I think her make-up was smeared when we rearranged the lining in her casket."
    "Oh, all right. But I'll only be back that much later!"
    Kristina had one of the workers open the lid.
    "That's not too bad," she said while pulling a rag out of a toolbox in the hearse to touch up the woman's face. After a few dabs, she said, "That will have to do."
    She had them shut the lid, roll Mrs. Humphrey into the hearse, and then close the doors.
    There was a slight incline to the driveway where the hearse pulled away, and the vehicle lurched as it rode over a small bump. The rear doors popped opened, and Mrs. Humphrey, along with the casket, flowers, and a large wreath slid out the rear. Kristina tried to dodge the errant effluent of eternity, but her reflexes weren't quite good enough. As the heavy metal casket crushed her toes, she screamed and dropped the bag she was carrying, spilling its contents including a pair of shiny, new shoes. They were Mrs. Humphrey's shoes, the ones her husband had brought in for his dear wife. Kristina, trapped by the weight of the coffin, was helpless as the coffin's lid slowly swung open, and she came face to face with her accuser, whose expression, curiously enough, bore just the hint of a smile.




Probably just a coincidence...

(317 words)



Previous Horror Bites challenges: 
You Won't Feel A Thing (#6)
The Wings of Death (#5)


© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Thursday, June 26, 2014

FSF Challenge - Dazzles



Lillie McFerrin Writes
This week's writing challenge from
Five Sentence Fiction
Lillie McFerrin Writes ) is based upon the prompt:

Dazzles

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week Lillie posts one word for inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word.



Another poem. Free-form.




Dancing Visions


Image source http://lilliemcferrin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/danece-dance-the-spotlight-51376.jpg via Lillie McFerrin's FSF



It is her dream: to dance.

Illuminated by the glow of a single spotlight,
She begins.

Her body sways,
Outstretched arms undulate
Emulating flowing waters.

Then hands,
Rising into the air like lifting fog,
Fall like rain

Onto the black rubber rims.

The wheelchair twirls,
Sparkling in the sunlight from between tattered curtains
As the audience within her reverie,
Dazzled by beauty,
Applauds.

                         K. R. Smith




Image source http://lilliemcferrin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/danece-dance-the-spotlight-51376.jpg 


© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Thursday, June 19, 2014

FSF Challenege - Fenced



Lillie McFerrin Writes
This week's writing challenge from
Five Sentence Fiction
Lillie McFerrin Writes ) is based upon the prompt:

Fenced

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week Lillie posts one word for inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word.



A poem, for a change...




A Link To The Outside


Image source http://lilliemcferrin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/hole-in-fence.jpg via Lillie McFerrin's FSF



The fog drifts in from the water and crawls along the shore,
Passing through the fence unhindered,
A wispy spirit whose chill presence
Makes my tired body shiver.


But I shouldn't complain;
It gives cover from spying eyes,
The eyes of those who would deny my needs,
From those who would punish me.


A seagull taunts from the ashen sky,
Laughing,
Mockingly demonstrating how easily he soars
Between my world and his.


But I ignore the supercilious bird
For time is short and there is work to do,

Work that must be done today,
Now, quietly.


Only a few more links,
Just a few more snips,
And, if the guard should look away,
I will be free.


                         K. R. Smith



Image source Image source http://lilliemcferrin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/hole-in-fence.jpg via Lillie McFerrin's FSF, originally posted at http://www.soulseeds.com/fb-inspiration/2013/03/seed-of-free-mind/


© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Friday, June 13, 2014

FSF Challenge - Wishes



Just a note for all you horror followers: The next full moon in the Washington, DC area will be on Friday, June 13, 2014 at 12:13 AM according to the Farmer's Almanac. Should be an interesting night!



Lillie McFerrin Writes
This week's writing challenge from
Five Sentence Fiction
Lillie McFerrin Writes ) is based upon the prompt:

Wishes

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week Lillie posts one word for inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word.



Still short, but sweet this time!




Wishes On The Wind


Image source http://versioned.nameberry.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/wishes-618x412.jpg via Lillie McFerrin's FSF


    Sarah rested next to Jason beneath an oak overlooking the lake as a soft breeze guided cotton-ball clouds through an azure sky and watched as their daughter sat in the cool grass making dandelion wishes.
    "I wonder what she's wishing for."
    "Probably an ice cream cone for lunch," Jason replied as he plucked one of the little weeds. "And what do you wish for—riches, fame, world peace?" he asked holding the fuzzy seed head in front of her lips.
    Sarah smiled, blew away the tiny white parachutes, and said, "Another day just like this."




Image source Image source http://versioned.nameberry.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/wishes-618x412.jpg via Lillie McFerrin's FSF


© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Camp NaNoWriMo



Just a reminder... It's almost time for Camp NaNoWriMo again!



I won't be there, but several folks I keep in contact with are usually out there. It starts again in July, so there's still time to sign up!


© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Author John B. Wren At Viva Vienna



    A couple of weekends ago, I dropped by Viva Vienna, a local fair, to see what was going on and discovered another budding writer with a booth set up to display his work. His name is John B. Wren. He has three books out and a couple of more in the works.

    We talked briefly about the trials and tribulations of getting published, the editing process, and he told me about The Northern Virginia Writer's Club. I may join up! It's always interesting when you run into somebody with experience in writing and publishing who can give you a few pointers.



Image of John B. Wren from his Amazon author page
John B. Wren - from his Amazon author page


John B. Wren's books (all cover pictures below are from Amazon.com):

Darryl's Reunion    

        

Killing His Fear

        

To Probe A Beating Heart

        

Links

Amazon author page

Goodread's author page

Twitter

If any of these books interest you, pick one (or two) up and let John know where you found out about them! 


© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Fringeworks / Grimm And Grimmer Update



Buried in other pages on this site is a list of stories I've submitted. One of those was The Fisherman and His Wife, a remake of the Grimm's fairy tale by the same name. It is to be published in Fringework's Grimm & Grimmer Volume IV. I hadn't heard anything from them in a while, so I was pleased when an e-mail appeared in my mailbox with an update.

To make a long story short (no pun intended), Theresa Derwin, the original editor, has had health problems and a large work load, so another editor, Colin Fisher, has been brought in to help.


From Colin Fisher on June 3, 2014

Dear All,

I just wanted to update you on the current status of Grimm and Grimmer, and the stories that you have all contributed to the series.

As some of you may be aware, Theresa has been suffering from serious ongoing health problems which have had an adverse effect on her ability to undertake her substantial workload. This, coupled with reviewing, blogging, managing her own site AND the necessity for her to take KnightWatch Press in a new direction, has forced her (with great reluctance) to relinquish the editing of the remaining volumes.

Therefore, in order to avoid further delays to the project, Theresa has kindly asked me to step in and complete the editing process, and I have been delighted to accept. To this end I will make an immediate start on reading through your stories, a task which I anticipate will be both fun and exciting!

As Theresa has already allocated the story split between Vols 3, 4, and 5, I'll be taking these in order and beginning work with those that need to see the light of day first. Over the next few weeks I'll be contacting the relevant authors directly. However, should anyone have any comments / questions or just generally want to find out what's going on, please don't hesitate to get in touch and I shall do my best to help.

Cheers

At least I know they haven't forgotten me and some progress is being made!


© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

FSF Challenge - Marriage



Lillie McFerrin Writes
This week's writing challenge from
Five Sentence Fiction
Lillie McFerrin Writes ) is based upon the prompt:

Marriage

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week Lillie posts one word for inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word.



Short, but not so sweet!




A Marriage of Convenience


Image "This Is My New Credit Card!" courtesy of stockimages / FreeDigitalPhotos.net



    "I'm so terribly sorry about your husband, Portia."
    "Really, Margery, there's no need. It was a marriage of convenience. I had no idea how convenient until I threatened to leave him. The poor dear dropped dead on the spot from a heart attack leaving me with more millions than I've had time to count."



Image "This Is My New Credit Card!" courtesy of stockimages / FreeDigitalPhotos.net


© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved