Author John B. Wren At Viva Vienna

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    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! 

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

Fringeworks / Grimm And Grimmer Update

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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!

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

FSF Challenge - Marriage

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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.

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Short, but not so sweet!

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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."

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

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

HB Challenge #5 - The Wings Of Death

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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."

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

FSF Challenge - Anchor

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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.

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

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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."

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

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

Blogger Stats Blowup

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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...

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

FSF Challenge - Innocence

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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.

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

Same lyric as last time, but a different story.

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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.

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

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

This Week's Free Photo - Azaleas

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Yes, I know it's been a while since I've posted a free photo. To make it up to you, I'm posting a bunch of 'em.

Just a few miles north of Washington, DC is the Brighton Dam Azalea Garden. Each spring, they open the garden to the public when the azaleas bloom. The garden is about five acres in size, and there is additional open space in a park on the other side of the road. Here's a sample of what you'll see!

Azaleas bloom at the Brighton Dam Azalea Garden - image AZ-5995.jpg

Azaleas bloom at the Brighton Dam Azalea Garden - image AZ-5966.jpg

Azaleas bloom along a path at the Brighton Dam Azalea Garden - image AZ-9573.jpg

Jack-in-the-pulpits (Arisaema triphyllum) are also common
in the garden - image AZ_9575.JPG.

Azaleas bloom at the Brighton Dam Azalea Garden - image AZ-9618.jpg

Azaleas bloom at the Brighton Dam Azalea Garden - image AZ-9636.jpg

The park on the other side of the road - image AZ-9647.jpg

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

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Images AZ_9559.JPG, AZ_9566.JPG,AZ_9573.JPG, AZ_9575.JPG, AZ_9618.JPG, AZ_9636.JPG, and AZ_9647.JPG ©2014 K. R. Smith - www.theworldofkrsmith.com - may be used, in whole or in part, with attribution.

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

FSF Challenge - Doors

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

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.

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

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Oblivious To Oblivion

     As the students and teachers made their way out of the designated shelter rooms in the center of the school, the principal remarked how they had all survived the tornado with just a few minor injuries even though the storm had blown out most of the doors and windows, and water and mud were everywhere.
    "All except for Kyle," a girl replied, nearly in tears.
    "He was outside during the storm?"
    "He was going to sneak into one of the dugouts at the ball field for a, uh, a smoke," one of the boys offered with trepidation.
    As they marched toward the exit to begin a search, Kyle strutted in where the doors had been, and upon seeing the others staring, pulled out his earbuds to say, "What?" as the voice of Jim Morrison poured from the tiny speakers.

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Image source: http://lilliemcferrin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/dark_doors_by_traffic_sky-d6q0zx0-682x1024.jpg

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

HB Challenge #4 - The Visitor

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Here's another post in reply to the writing challenge on the Office Mango website.

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This writing challenge from Horror Bites Challenge #4 based upon the picture provided.

From the Office Mango website: 

So, what you waiting for - creep me out again

Guidelines : 

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 200 to 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.

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The Visitor

    I know the people in this house. I used to talk to them a lot, but they seldom come out any more. We used to play and sing, and sometimes have games on the lawn. It was so much fun.
    That was all before the accident, of course. When that happened, there were people walking all around the yard, into the house and the woods, asking everyone questions. I thought it was really exciting. Since then, the lady and her daughter don't want to play anymore. When I come by, they go back into the house and shut the door. They pull back the curtain just enough to peek out. I know they see me, but they won't come outside.
    Sometimes I call out to lady, asking if her daughter can play with me. That's when I hear the lady crying. I think they would be a lot happier if they just came out and played for a while. The weather is really nice this time of year.
    So each day I stand here and wait for them wearing my yellow dress. I remember once how the lady said my dress was pretty. It has a few spots on it now, but it's still nice. The spots are red. I don't know why they won't come out. If they didn't want me around, they should have buried me farther away.

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

Liebster Award Part I

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I have had the honor of the Liebster Award bestowed upon me by Tess of The Lighthouse! Thank you, Tess, for nominating me for this award! I had never heard of it before, but nevertheless I will proudly display the badge of the Liebster. It is awarded to those who other bloggers feel have added something of value to the blogosphere. There are (who knew?) official rules for the Liebster award (see bottom of page) and I will attempt to fulfill the requirements. This is Part I of that journey.

One of the things you have to do to accept this award is to answer eleven questions about yourself that have been created by the person who has nominated you. These are the eleven Tess came up with for me:

Here are my questions for them (and you, if you like) to answer:

1. What is the clearest memory of your childhood?

All the time I spent exploring the woodlands, streams, and shores. There are so many mysteries in the natural world. What a dull life it would be if I understood them all.

2. If you could be teleported anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Paris. I've always wanted to travel to the City of Lights, but I'm not entirely sure why other than the delayed effect of the Madeline books I read as a child. I'd also like to be teleported back home at some point; otherwise, it might be difficult to explain my presence there.

3. What is your favourite Christmas tradition?

(Warning: If you do not wish to hear a rant, please skip to the next question.) It's not so much of a tradition in the usual sense, but how I experienced the holiday period in the past. The last month of the year had a different feeling for me than it does today. It was a peaceful, magical time, full of colors, the scent of spice and pine, Christmas gardens, and reflective walks in the snow. That seems to have disappeared, replaced by a frantic, over-crowded, traffic-filled quest for the latest fad or gadget by a population that mostly consists of whiny, self-absorbed, spoiled brats of all ages. I'm certain that's overstated, but it's often difficult for me to feel otherwise. I hope to find what it used to be again someday.

4. At the end of a long day, what is your go-to meal for supper? (Share the recipe!)

This is the hardest question of all. I can't just say:

Cereal

Cereal, 1 bowl full
Milk, as required

Mix and eat with spoon

No matter how truthful that is, I feel I owe you more. So here's another dish I do quite often:

Penne Pasta with Sausage and Vegetables

1 lb. Italian sausage (or sausage of your choice)
1 bell pepper (green or red), chopped
1 medium onion, chopped in about 8 pieces
1 medium (no big, hard seeds inside) zucchini or yellow squash, sliced
1/2 lb. penne pasta (about half of a box)
tomato paste
olive oil
grated cheese (optional)
garlic
salt
basil, parsley, oregano

Oddly enough, I usually have most of these on hand...

Note: if you use pre-cooked sausage, the amount of time you spend cooking will be greatly reduced. You can use Italian sausage, turkey sausage, probably even a soy-based sausage if you really have to—it will all work fine.

If you don't have pre-cooked sausage (it will say 'fully cooked' on the label), cook that in a frying pan with a drizzle of oil then set it aside. Once it's cool enough to touch (or it's pre-cooked), slice it on a diagonal and set it aside again.

Get your pasta boiling and cook it per the instructions on the box.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet or wok, put in a little oil, and when it gets fairly hot toss in the bell pepper and onion. Stir them around a little while. Once they've started to soften, add the zucchini and garlic (clove or dried to your taste).

Mix a little (a few teaspoons?) tomato paste with water and add it to the vegetables in the pan and keep it cooking. If you don't have paste, tomato sauce (or even a touch of ketchup if you're desperate) will work. I like the color the paste gives. Add a bit of water or water/paste mixture if it gets too dry.

The pasta should be about done now. Drain and set it aside.

Dump the sausage back in and let it simmer just a bit. Salt to taste—this will depend on the paste and the sausage. Add any of the Italian-type spices (basil, parsley, oregano) to your own taste. I tend to over-do them all...

When everything looks good, you now have two choices:

1. put the pasta on a plate and top it with the sausage/vegetable mix, or
2. dump the pasta in the sausage/vegetable mix and stir it all around, then put it on a plate

Either way works for me.

Sprinkle with grated cheese, if desired. If nobody desires you, you can still have some cheese. (Wow, that was cheesy...)

With pre-cooked sausage, it only takes about thirty minutes.

I have no idea if this is in any way authentic or healthy, but it's pretty good and it doesn't take too long to do.

5. You’ve won the lottery! After gifts to family, friends, and charities, what would you do for yourself?

Have my friends and family change their wills so I'm the beneficiary. I probably shouldn't say more than that...

Well, perhaps have a house built somewhere nice. Not a fancy house, but a functional one, preferably with at least some view of the water.

6. Why do you write? And, if you care to share (and have the time) why do you blog?

There are a number of reason why I write. It's mainly for fun at the moment. I have lots of stories inside my brain, and I want to get them down where others can experience them to see their reaction. From that, I can tell if they understand the world them same way as I do or if I really am crazy. I can even accept being crazy as long as the stories are entertaining. To me, writing is like a jigsaw puzzle with a few blank pieces. For the most part, I know what the final product should look like as soon as the idea comes into my head, but getting all the pieces to fit is a challenge. I like that challenge. And those blank pieces? I get to make up what goes there, and that's where the little twists and turns come in.

Why do I blog? I'm beginning to second-guess that one...

7. Do you have a favourite word? Is there a word you overuse?

My favourite word would have to be petrichor. I don't know what it means, and I don't have time to look it up right now—it's starting to rain and I have to close the windows to keep that weird smell out of the house. As a plus, the Blogger spell checker doesn't seem to have any idea that the word exists. I like the word because many people know what petrichor is, but few know the word for it. Someday I hope to use it to great advantage in a story.

The runner-up in this category would be eldritch. Yes, I read a lot of Lovecraft.

I overuse many words, but the one that actually annoys me is actually. I actually use it far more often than I actually need to.

8. Whose writing do you most admire?

Almost everyone is better than me, so there are too many to pick just one.

Charlotte Bronte - She wrote stories about situations I wouldn't think I'd have the slightest interest in, and yet I do.

Charles Dickens - To teach me how to create colorful characters.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson - For poetry. By poetry, I mean real poetry, not some of the stuff folks pass off these days as poetry. Yes, I am biased...

Edgar Allen Poe - He's a local boy, so I had to give him a mention.

9. What skill or superpower would you most like to have - that you do not already possess.

The ability to heal people—you know, cancer, ghastly wounds, hemorrhoids, what have you.

10. Someone else is doing the cooking and cleanup. Invite one living and one dead (This is imaginary, so both will accept, and neither will be dead when they arrive at your door) person to dinner.

You say one living and one dead? Not that I'm particularly religious in the traditional sense, but I was going to invite Jesus. I'm not certain, however, concerning the point about living and dead as to whether he qualifies as neither or both. I suppose I could let him decide. I anyone knows, he should. Why Jesus? Let's just say I have questions.  
If Jesus is alive, then I'll invite my father. I miss him.
If not, I'll invite my mother. She'll get mad if I don't.

11. Is there a book you reread over and over again and it's always as good as the first time?

The dictionary. Yes, the plot's a little thin and the characters are poorly developed, but every time I read it I learn something new.

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Here are eleven random facts about myself:

1. I was once shot between the eyes with an arrow. Fortunately, it d-d-d-did no p-permanent d-d-d-d-damage. (Ah, the benefits of being hard-headed!)

2. I spent time in several "mental health" facilities. This is in no way related to "random fact #1." I worked there. Honest!

3. I once ran over a friend with a motorcycle. It was an accident and that's the story I'm sticking to. He lived and now owns that motorcycle.

4. I am a Libra. This may be the most normal "random fact" on this list.

5. I have been to Attapulgus, Georgia (USA) which is famous for attapulgite, a clay often used in cat litter.

6. I have a cat. Just a coincidence...

7. I have single-handedly caused a quarter mile backup (each direction) in Wolfville, Nova Scotia by simply trying to cross the street. I'd rather not go into detail, but I am forever grateful that the people of that fine city are both polite and peaceful.

8. I once caught a foul ball at a baseball game.

9. After vacationing in Canada, I was nearly denied entry back into my own country (USA) because I was in the possession of a certain prohibited organic material. It was a potato. Don't laugh. The customs guy had his hand on his gun the whole time. He really had no sense of humor. The potato in question was confiscated and, I presume, eaten by someone other than myself—perhaps by a US Customs employee later that day.

10. The home my mother grew up in is so remote it is now part of a nature preserve.

11. I received my physical education credits in college by going on a week-long bicycling/camping trip, essentially a vacation. I have used that as a model for the rest of my life.

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Rules:

If you have been nominated for The Liebster Award AND YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT, write a blog post about the Liebster award in which you:

1. thank the person who nominated you, and post a link to their blog on your blog. (Done)

2. display the award on your blog — by including it in your post and/or displaying it using a “widget” or a “gadget”. (Note that the best way to do this is to save the image to your own computer and then upload it to your blog post.) (Done)

3. answer 11 questions about yourself, which will be provided to you by the person who nominated you. (Done)

4. provide 11 random facts about yourself. (Done)

5. nominate 5 – 11 blogs that you feel deserve the award, who have a less than 1000 followers. (Note that you can always ask the blog owner this since not all blogs display a widget that lets the readers know this information!) (To do)

6. create a new list of questions for the blogger to answer. (To do)

7. list these rules in your post (You can copy and paste from here.) (Done) Once you have written and published it, you then have to:

8. Inform the people/blogs that you nominated that they have been nominated for the Liebster award and provide a link for them to your post so that they can learn about it (they might not have ever heard of it!) (To do)

I still have a few things to do to complete the acceptance, and I will finish these tasks as time allows! Look for Part II!

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

FSF Challenge - Freedom

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

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.

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Great Escape

     "He's gotten out again, hasn't he, Rosella?"
     "Yes, Lavinia, he has, and you can tell he loves to run and play on these nice days. And I enjoy watching him."
     "Why don't you put up a fence to keep him in your yard?"
     The old woman replied in a thick accent as she rubbed the tattoo on her arm, "I'm not really fond of fences."

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Image source: http://lilliemcferrin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/343969-bigthumbnail.jpg

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

A New Writing Challenge

Here's a link to a new writing challenge called the Light and Shade Challenge! Please check them out! I'll put a link on my Writing Resources page when I get a chance.

Light and Shade Challenge: About The Challenges: Every Monday a picture and a quote will be posted. These are the prompts, an invitation for you to take any spark they give you and write a... (go to the site to see more)

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

FSF Challenge - Vacation

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

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.

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Private Retreat

     There weren't many places to escape the heat and danger of the inner city streets during the summer, but Ty and his dog found a little piece of paradise when they slid down into a storm culvert to hide from a gang. There wasn't much of a beach, just some sand that had piled up against the drainpipe strewn with bottle caps that glistened like multi-colored seashells in the soapy water flowing through from someone washing a car. The sumac fronds overhead hide the sun as well as any palm tree, and the cool air flowing from the concrete storm drain was as close to an ocean breeze as he was ever likely to experience. He sat quietly in the shade waiting for the disturbing noises above to dissipate, relaxing in the refreshing serenity of his tiny oasis. When Ty's dog jumped at the sound of gunfire nearby, he reassured his friend with, "Don't worry about that today—we're on vacation."

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Image source: http://lilliemcferrin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/original-summer-vacation-book-glasses-bookmark-sand-1024x576.jpg

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

HB Challenge #3 - The Commuter

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This is a new writing challenge posted on the Office Mango website that Lizzie Koch pointed out to me. I thought I'd give it a try! I don't know how particular they are about word limits, but I used all 300 getting this down.

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This writing challenge from Horror Bites Challenge #3 based upon the picture provided.

From the Office Mango website: 

Come on guys I know you can come up with something dark & delicious :)

Guidelines :
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 200 to 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.

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The Commuter

    I'm a terrible creature of habit. Every day for years, I took the same train, sat in the same seat, read my paper, and got off at the station near my office within a few minutes of seven o'clock. Co-workers often suggested I add a bit of variety to my life.
    One morning, distracted by some movement, I looked up to see the reflection of a child gazing out the window in front of me, her small frame apparently obscured by the seat back. I was surprised as there are so few riders that early in the morning, especially children. She never talked, and I never heard her arrive or depart. As time passed, however, her reoccurring presence along that leg of my commute became a part of my daily routine. It's the same section that passes where someone had placed a cross and small stuffed animal by the tracks—the thing people put up as a memorial. I can't really say why I took notice of it.
    It all meant little until that drizzly day last week when I saw two people standing by the cross as the train approached. Getting nearer, I merely watched—but the young girl waved vigorously. As we passed, I saw the woman look up, a hand over her mouth, eyes wide open, flowers dropping from her hand as she fell to her knees, the man struggling to support her. I wanted to ask the child if she knew them, but when I leaned over to speak, the seat was empty. I felt the cushion, but there was no residual warmth as one might expect; indeed, it was quite cold.
    I haven't seen the child since that morning. But change is good, so I'm told, and the drive into work really isn't so bad.

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

FSF Challenge - Lucky

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

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.

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Lillie hasn't posted a challenge this week, possibly because of the holiday, so I've added a poem for the season based on an earlier challenge I hadn't entered.

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Perspective

One man gazed across his vast, landscaped property,
    admired his large, stately home,
    and watching the chrome gleam on his new car
    said,
    "I'm a very lucky man."     

One man walked behind the lawnmower in the yard of his townhouse
    the perfume of freshly cut grass filling the air,
    and rejoicing in the beauty of tiny, manicured patch of greenery
    said,
    "I'm a very lucky man."  

One man sat on a blue lawn chair outside of his mobile home
    with a glass of iced tea and a bag of chips,
    and as he watched his grandchild play happily in the dirt
    said,
    "I'm a very lucky man."  

One man returned to his small apartment
    only to find thieves had knocked the door in while he was away,
    but seeing the picture of his late wife untouched upon the table
    said,
    "I'm a very lucky man."  

One man limped across the littered street
    with an eye out for those who might be watching,
    and spotting a half-eaten sandwich in a trashcan
    said,
    "I'm a very lucky man."   

                                                 K. R. Smith

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Image "Dustbins" courtesy of Matt Banks / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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

FSF Challenge - Feathers

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

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.

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Brazen Display

     The first thing Wanda noticed was how much time the males spent preening themselves, then strutting around in front of the females. They also made a lot of noise, but she wasn't sure if it was to communicate with a potential mate or as a threat to other males. The only thing that seemed to interrupt the non-stop courtship ritual was when the males needed to get a drink.
    Her cohort, Janice, sat down beside her and asked, "So, what do you make of all this?"
    Wanda just shook her head and replied, "I don't think the nightclub scene is for me."

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Image source: http://lilliemcferrin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/peacock_by_bleeding__roses-d4w4x28-1024x682.jpg

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

Job Listings

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Here are a couple of places looking for stories and poems. They even pay a little bit...

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Burial Day Books / Gothic Blue Book 4

From their website:

Burial Day Books Call for Submission: Gothic Blue Book VOL 4

Gothic Blue Books were short fictions popular in the 18th and 19th century. They were descendants of the chap book trade and are now a thing of the past. Burial Day Books will resurrect this art form with its own Gothic Blue Book Vol. 4 to be available this October 31st 2014.

What was a Gothic Blue Book?

Gothic Blue Books were abridgements of full-length Gothic novels. The subjects of these books fell into one of two categories; the first being set in a monastery or convent and the second being set in a castle.
In terms of the physicality of the book, they were three and a half to four inches in width and six to seven inches in height, with a page count of thirty-six to seventy-two pages.
These little pieces of terror were popular at the time because they were affordable, a sixpence or a shilling each. Their cost affordability led them to be nicknamed Shilling Shockers or Sixpenny Shockers.

What are we looking for?

Original Gothic Blue Books typically took place in either a monastery, convent or castle. In years past we have asked for short stories that take place in one of these locations, or a modern day location such as a morgue, haunted house or cemetery. This year, we have added a new entry – legend, folklore or myth of the Americas.

When we think of legend, folklore or myth of the Americas the range is staggering, from the Jersey Devil in the East Coast, to the Wendigo, American werewolf, La Llorona, vanishing hitchhiker, the woman in white, abandoned mining towns and so much more.

Please submit a short story or poem no longer than 3,500 words that follows one of the following:
A single mention or setting in one of the original Gothic Blue Book settings:
 a) Monastery
 b) Convent
 c) Castle
A single mention or setting in one of the modern Gothic Blue Book settings:
 a) Cemetery
 b) Funeral home or morgue
 c) Haunted house
2014 Addition:
a) A story or poem dealing with a legend, folklore or myth of the Americas.

In addition to the above, the story or poem must instill fear using a supernatural element – ghosts, ghouls, monsters, myth, folklore or legend. Extreme violence, sexuality, gore, and profanity will not be considered. For inspiration look to Edgar Allan Poe, H. P. Lovecraft, Jorge Luis Borges, Shirley Jackson, Emily Brontë, or Neil Gaiman.

The collection will be published October 31st 2014 in eBook and traditional book format.
DEADLINE: AUGUST 31st 2014

LEGAL DETAILS
If accepted you are giving Burial Day Books:
A. The exclusive first right to publish your story.
B. The right to republish the story in or in connection with Burial Day, including electronic or hard copy form, including in promotional material or compilations – provided that authorial credit is given in every instance of reproduction.
After your story appears on Burial Day and in the Gothic Blue Book you are free to republish your piece elsewhere as long as you communicate to potential buyers that they are buying your story as a non-exclusive piece

Payment details:
 $25.00 (USD)
 Two (2) Contributor copies of the anthology

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Solar Wyrm  / Latchkey Tales

From their website:

June 2014: “Fire and Ice” – Submissions close April 30
August 2014: “Children of Water” – Submissions close May 31

If you have a story or poem that fits the theme, or you’d like to write one, please go ahead! You can email them to me at solarwyrm@gmail.com, with the subject heading “Latchkey Tales submission – [your name]“. Please submit as doc or docx files, 12 point font, a clean font like Times, Arial, Calibri. I’ll accept stories between 1000 and 6000 words. At the moment I am not sure how much I’ll be paying, but my working amounts are roughly $10 per story and $5 per poem. That will vary depending on how many subscriptions we get.

If you’re an artist and you’re interested in working on our cover, please get in touch with me at solarwyrm@gmail. Working amount for payment for cover images is currently $50, but that is also variable depending on subscription.

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If you have something they might find interesting, drop them a line. Or maybe a thousand...

Disclaimer: I was published in Gothic Blue Book III, so I've dealt with Burial Day Books, and the seem to be good folks to deal with. I'll probably submit a story to them again this year. I haven't done business with Solar Wyrm, so I can provide no information on them. In both cases, please visit their websites for complete information!

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

Pantsing vs. Plotting

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One of the Google+ folks I check in on from time to time, AmyBeth Inverness, has posted a question:

 

       Do we all hybridize pantsing and plotting, or are there some purists out there?

I'm almost always a pantser, but I do a little outlining for longer stories. I don't think I've ever done it for a poem.

If you have an opinion, let me (or AmyBeth) know!

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

FSF Challenge - Whimsical

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

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.

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Viewpoint

     This was Sarah's first time home since moving away for college and that junior position at a law firm, and a walk around the old property flooded her mind with pleasant, though long-forgotten, memories. Most of all, she was surprised to see the playhouse her father had built years ago still there, maintained in perfect condition. The playhouse was complete, even down to the tiny table inside where she'd held so many make-believe tea parties, and yet it wasn't quite right somehow. Sarah didn't recall the playhouse being so amusingly proportioned; it had seemed perfectly normal to her child's eye. The smile disappeared from her face as she wondered if her view of the past was distorted—or her view of the present.

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Image source: http://lilliemcferrin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/wimsical-playhouse.jpg

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