Fringeworks / Dead Men's Tales Update

---

Update: Just to let everyone know, Dead Men's Tales, with my story Skarett's Treasure, was published in February 2017. You can find it HERE.

I received an e-mail yesterday from Melissa Black, the editor of Fringeworks' Dead Men's Tales anthology. If you've read my other posts on this, you know my story, Skarett's Treasure, was to be included, but it seemed as if the project had stalled and was in danger of disappearing altogether. It's been a long time coming, but she confirmed it is to come out during the third quarter of this year (around September?). The cover art is almost complete and the project is moving forward!

That's all for now, but I hope to have more on this soon!

---

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

Shore Leave 2014

---

This is the first of several posts covering events at Shore Leave 2014, a convention of artists, performers, writers, scientists, and fans of science fiction and fantasy in general that takes place from August 1 through August 3, 2014 in Hunt Valley, Maryland. If all goes as planned, I will be in attendance!

Here is a list of the "media guests," actors that have played parts in science fiction TV shows, Star Trek in particular.

Richard Dean Anderson http://twitter.com/andersonrdean/

Eve Myles http://evemyles.net/
http://twitter.com/TeamEveMyles/

Leonard Nimoy* http://www.leonardnimoyphotography.com/
http://twitter.com/TheRealNimoy/

Beaming into Shore Leave con Sunday August. 3 at 9AM Pacific time. Hope to SEE you there. LLAP
— Leonard Nimoy (@TheRealNimoy) July 26, 2014

Silas Weir Mitchell http://www.silasweirmitchell.com/

Robert Picardo http://www.robertpicardo.com/
http://twitter.com/RobertPicardo/

Teryl Rothery http://terylrothery.com/
http://twitter.com/terylrothery/

Michael Welch http://www.michaelwelchact.com/
http://twitter.com/michaelwelchact/

Join me this weekend for Shore Leave in Maryland! http://t.co/YyBEOfV4CZ
— Michael Welch (@MichaelWelchAct) July 29, 2014

* Mr. Nimoy will appear via Skype

I hope to meet a few of these folks, attend a writing workshop (and meet a lot of writers), check out some artwork, and do a bit of reporting via twitter - or maybe even a post here!

---

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

HB Challenge #8 - Wrapped In A Mystery

---

Horror Bites Challenge #8

From the Office Mango website:

Anyway went a bit mad on holiday and got some random pictures that I hope over the new few months will inspire some horrific tales.

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!

---

They say you should keep a little mystery in your relationship...

---

Wrapped in a Mystery

    "There's not a single person in the pool, Bob, or even next to it. Not that anyone would blame them. A third disappearance from this very hotel in as many weeks is a bit much. 
    "That's true, though I guess it's good for us, Debbie. We have the place all to ourselves and we can pick any spot we want."
    "You know there are all kinds of terrible stories about what might have happened. When I went out to get a bottle of wine last night, I heard some of the hotel staff talking about it."
    "Like what?"
    "Kidnappings, murders, even abductions by little green men from outer space. The police are baffled, they said. It's a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. No evidence, no witnesses, and no clue of any kind."
    Debbie stretched out on a lounge chair, pulled her floppy hat over her eyes, and wrapped a beach towel around her legs to protect them from the sun.
    "Well, I'm sure they'll figure it out eventually," Bob said. "We're on a tiny little island, after all. Nobody can get away without someone noticing. Everyone's seen the pictures of the missing people. If they're alive, they can't sneak off, and if they're dead, there's no place to easily hide the bodies." 
    "I don't know, Bob. We are in the Bermuda Triangle."
    "Now don't be silly, Debbie. Nobody believes that stuff," Bob replied as they both laughed.
    "Still, it does make one wonder, doesn't it?"
    There was no reply, so she continued with the conversation.
    "Do you know what time it is? I don't want to be late for dinner." 
    Answered only by silence, Debbie lifted the brim of her hat to see an empty chair next to hers.
    "Bob?"

---

Perhaps he just had to use the restroom. Or not...

(293 words without the title)

---

Previous Horror Bites challenges: 

If The Shoe Fits (#7)
You Won't Feel A Thing (#6)
The Wings of Death (#5)

---

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

FSF Challenge - Fearless

---

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

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.

---

This may be he shortest FSF Challenge post I've ever done - and perhaps one of the scariest.

---

Lines

Source: http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/WV1.jpg 
via http://lilliemcferrin.com/five-sentence-fiction-fearless/

    "What happened, Colonel? They're unarmed nurses, not infantry. They were supposed to move close to the enemy lines—not over."
    "They didn't, sir. While tending to the wounded, the lines moved behind them."

---

Image source: http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/WV1.jpg
Description: Female nurses in 1944.

---

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

FSF Challenge - Rain

---

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

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 short one this week...

---

Tears Among the Raindrops
 

 

Falling_rain_in_Mexico.jpg
© Tomas Castelazo, www.tomascastelazo.com /
 Wikimedia Commons /
CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
 

    He found her standing outside a café as the rain began to fall, broken-hearted and sobbing. He had always loved her, and hoped someday she would notice, but as he walked her home through the downpour, she vowed never to let herself fall for another man. 
    "I like the rain," she said, tilting her face up toward the sky. "It hides my tears."
    "Mine, too," he replied.

---

Image source:  http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AFalling_rain_in_mexico.jpg  
Description: Falling rain in downtown Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico.

---

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

FSF Challenge - Pages

---

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

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.

---

This prompt really set me off... in a good way, of course. So we're having a 3-for-1 sale! The first is a poem inspired by another FSF entry.

---

Love and a Good Book

Note: I wrote this after reading Madeline's entry for this week's FSF challenge. The poem is about reading a book. Honest. Well, anyway, that's the story I'm sticking to...  Read Madeline's first to understand where I came up with this.


I inhale the bouquet, a perfume like no other.

My fingers touch lightly,
Caressing in anticipation.

Opening before me for the first time,
All is offered to my eyes.

My imagination runs wild
With the promise of the next moment,
The next hour,
Until it is finally over.

Yet even when our story is done,
And there are no more pages to turn,
You will be mine forever.


                                         K. R. Smith

---

Homework

This is for all the computer geeks. I had a crash at work and, wouldn't you know, the words "page fault" flashed up on the screen. Then I saw this prompt. Put the two together and this is what you get.

   "Mom? I need help with my book report."
    "What's the matter, honey?"
    "I was printing it out from the computer and I got this message saying there was a page fault. I've read my report over maybe a hundred times and I still can't find it."

---

The Missing Words

    She thumbed through a diary, one written long ago, and the memories surged from inside her heart. It told of her first love, her true love, a man she knew while growing from a girl into a woman. It told of the places they went, the times they shared, and she could feel those same emotions again from the faded words. Then she came to the page that was missing, a page torn out in anger and burned. The words that had tortured her had long been destroyed, yet the pain was as fresh as the wind that swirled around the bridge on which she stood.  

---

Image source http://lilliemcferrin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/book-pages-med11-1024x768.jpg via Lillie McFerrin's FSF 

---

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

This Week's Free Photo - Astilbe

---

Once again I am behind in posting my free photos. Instead "This Week's Free Photo," perhaps I should call it "This Year's Free Photo."

Anyway, it's more flowers again, this time astilbe. They had just bloomed and were covered in little water droplets from the rain. These images are quite large, and are best seen at full size. They might take a while to load, however.

Astilbe - Image Astilbe_bunch_2.jpg

Astilbe - Image Astilbe_with_dew_2.jpg

Astilbe - Image Astilbe_with_dew.jpg

Astilbe leaves - Image Astilbe_leaves.jpg

Astilbe leaf - Image Astilbe_leaf_with_dew.jpg

Astilbe - Image Astilbe_bunch.jpg

Astilbe - Image Astilbe.jpg

Stop back again! I'll have more photos for you next week (or fairly soon thereafter)!

---

Images Astilbe_bunch_2.jpg, Astilbe_with_dew_2.jpg, Astilbe_with_dew.jpg, Astilbe_leaves.jpg, Astilbe_leaf_with_dew.jpg, Astilbe_bunch.jpg, and Astilbe.jpg ©2014 K. R. Smith - www.theworldofkrsmith.com - may be used, in whole or in part, with attribution.

---

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

Grimm & Grimmer / Fringeworks Update / The Saga Continues

---

UPDATE 7/9/2014

I have received an e-mail from Adrian Middleton stating they do intend to publish Dead Men's Tales before the end of the year as a Fringeworks project. He is waiting for a final list of the stories to be published.

---

Sorry for the long title, but at this point I'm not sure what else to call it.

Many months ago, I had two stories accepted for publication by Fringeworks. I had expected them to have been published almost a year ago. I have written several blog posts about them. There have been a number of delays, and I'm not sure if they will ever be published...  One was supposed to go to the imprint they picked up (Knightwatch Press), but it's been months since I've heard from the editor.

I had wondered if Fringeworks had taken on more than they could handle, and it appears this is the case based on what they've put up on their blog.

Posted on the Fringeworks website (under the "blog" heading as of 06/30/2014):

Fringeworks is a small-press publisher by day and consultancy by night.

Sort of.

We are based in Mid-Wales and Birmingham, and are focused on doing things differently to everybody else. We like to experiment, and we like to export the things that work (And own up to the things that don’t). This is where you’ll find all the latest news on what the Fringeworks crew are up to. Stay tuned! Lots of exciting developments to come!

Note: The site is currently undergoing maintenance and some of the following links are currently unavailable and will go live from July 1st 2014.

OUR AUTHORS : OUR ARTISTS : OUR BOOKS : OUR EVENTS : OUR IMPRINTS : OUR NEWSLETTERS : OUR PROMOTIONS : OUR SCHEDULE : PROJECTS ON HOLD : WORKING WITH US  (Note: a lot of these still aren't working - KRS)

Our founder, Adrian Middleton, has this to say:

“When we started in 2011 the plan was to have a small in-house press that could my dream of running a bookshop/pub-cum-events venue. Sadly that never quite happened, so in 2013 we changed gear. Instead of publishing just four or five books per year we took over a horror imprint, Knightwatch Press. That decision stretched us to the limit and led to more than 20 titles being available by the end of the year. We learned a lot – good and bad – and now it’s time for us to step back and look at things afresh.”

Fringeworks is going back to its original mission – to produce quality genre and other books that stand out from the crowd. To make this work we need to be transparent – both with our authors, our artists, our writers and our customers.

Page modified by Admin on June 21, 2014

---

They have always tried to keep me informed even when things were not going well, and they've had to deal with a few issues beyond their control. I still think they are honest and are doing what they can, but this is taking a long time. So, what does this mean for me? I'm not sure. But I still have hopes of having the stories they've accepted published (The Fisherman and His Wife for Grimm & Grimmer IV, and Skarrett's Treasure in Dead Men's Tales). I will keep you posted!

---

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

HB Challenge #7

---

This writing challenge from Horror Bites Challenge #7

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

FSF Challenge - Dazzles

---

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

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

FSF Challenege - Fenced

---

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

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

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!

---

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

    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

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.




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

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

FSF Challenge - Marriage

---

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

    "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

HB Challenge #5 - The Wings Of Death

---

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!

---

This writing challenge from Horror Bites Challenge #5

From the Office Mango website:

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 300 to 500.

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!

---

I've never used so many exclamation marks in my life! And I took all 500 words to do it. I could add another hundred or so to smooth out the rough edges, but then it wouldn't fit the challenge!

---

The Wings of Death

    "Where's Billy?"
    "Not sure, Jacob. Said he was going outside to catch butterflies, of all things."
    "In October? It's nearly dark. You know, Rachael, that boy ain't got a lick of sense."
    Rachael pulled back the curtain, but little was visible past the glow of the lantern on the porch. She wasn't worried; it was nearly time for supper and she was sure he would return soon.
     As expected, only a few minutes passed before Billy marched in and sat near the fireplace. He held a small bag, which seemed to be the focus of his attention. His father sat reading on the opposite side of the room.
    "Jacob?" Rachael called from the kitchen. "Can you get that boy to help out a little here?"
    "Billy! Get in there and help your mother."
    "Can't. I'm busy."
    "Busy? Don't sass me or I'll make your backside busy!"
    "I'm playing with my butterflies right now."
    "Butterflies?"
    "Yeah. See?"
    Billy opened the pouch and pulled out a handful of the winged creatures.
    "Damn boy! Get those things away from me! Those ain't butterflies! They're Death's Head moths! What's wrong with you, bringing those things in here? If they land on someone, they're marked—marked to die!"
    "I don't care!"
    "You'll care when I take my belt to you."
    "Oh, yeah? Well, here!" Billy said while tossing the insects at his father. "Now you're marked!"
    The tiny creatures swirled around his head; a few entangled themselves in his long beard. Jacob swung wildly, batting at the insects, and trying to brush them from his clothes as he yelled, "Get 'em off me!" Desperate, he stumbled backward, his foot catching the leg of a chair, and he fell, striking his head on the stone base of the fireplace. There was a soft moan, then blood flowed from his temple.
    "Jacob!"
    Rachael ran to her husband and lifted his head, her hands quickly coated in crimson and dead moths. "Hateful child! You've killed your own father!
    "I don't care! He was always looking for a reason to whip me. I'm glad he's dead!"
    "But he's your father, for God's sake!"
    "He never did nothin' for me. There wasn't a day in my life he didn't make harder than it needed to be."
    "Maybe so, but he kept a roof over our heads and food on the table. And it won't be any easier when the sheriff finds out. He'll lock you up for sure. Better get out of this house while you can. Won't be able to keep the farm anyway with Jacob gone, so get out!"
    "I ain't going nowhere," Billy said. He sat down in a chair at the kitchen table and played with the drawstring on the bag. "I'm hungry."
    "Hungry? You can think about food when your father lies dead not ten feet away?"
    "Can't help it. I'm hungry."
    "And what makes you think I'm gonna give you any supper?"
    Billy held up the bag.
    "Because I still have one more left."

---

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

FSF Challenge - Anchor

---

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

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.

---

Getting all "romantical" as Popeye would say... and demonstrating the timeless conflict between fantasy and reality. 

---

Sea Dreams and Sensibilities

    "I love being by the sea—the salt air, the sun, the old stone buildings. Couldn't we just stay here and live like the rest of the world didn't exist?"
    "I suppose so, but we'd have to forgo our salaries, the convenience of the shops near our home, all of the luxuries we've grown accustomed to."
    "It's silly, I know, but wouldn't it be wonderful to wake up each day and watch the sun rise over the ocean—together?"
    "I'll cast my anchor anywhere you wish, Jenny—well, as long as it's not a big as the one in the corner over there."

---

Image source: http://lilliemcferrin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/old-50feaba42fa98_hires-1024x894.jpg

---

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

Blogger Stats Blowup

---

I noticed my readership was increasing this month with a chance to go over 3,000 hits per month for the very fist time. So I checked again today and saw that my blog had over 1,600 hits for a single day. I'm not sure why, but I'm way over 3,000 for this month now. I don't know if anyone is reading, but it's most likely a fluke. Or a hacker. Or Blogger went crazy somehow. Or the folks in Israel really like my stuff. 

 

Now if only they were all readers...

---

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

FSF Challenge - Innocence

---

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

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.

---

Into this house we're born, into this world we're thrown... 

Same lyric as last time, but a different story.

---

Journey

    Before sixteen years had passed on this Earth, Kara found herself deserted, surrounded by strangers, and afraid. So much in love, or so she thought, she was willing to give him whatever he wanted, but she never thought he would want someone else. When he left, her pride, her dignity, her innocence—all vanished before the tears had time to dry. As they wheeled the gurney into a room to take care of the only thing he had left behind, there were no emotions on her face, only a blank stare at the ceiling. When it was over, however, and Kara held the squirming little bundle in her arms, she somehow found all that had been lost within the glow of her daughter's tiny face.

---

Image "Cesarean Section" courtesy of arztsamui / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

---

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