Why Did We Have To?

I spent most of September on a road trip to visit old friends in my home state and came home through a storm of golden light and falling leaves. A glorious melancholy end to a nostalgic trip. So when I saw this week's photo prompt on Friday Fictioneers, this is the 100 word story I…Read more Why Did We Have To?

Such a beautiful busy summer

Yes, I know this summer's been far too hot everywhere. In fact, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, June was Earth's hottest month ever recorded. But I've enjoyed this summer anyway. Funny how events just refuse to portion themselves out nice and even. You get a long period when you think your life is…Read more Such a beautiful busy summer

It’s a Grand Hopeful Flag

Another "exactly one hundred words"! Thanks to Roschelle Wisoff-Fields for her "Friday Fictioneers" prompt and to PHOTO PROMPT © J Hardy Carroll for the picture: It was a humid Fourth of July. Brogash’s sweaty hand stuck to the useless employment application. Land of the free, right. They’ll take one look at my name and that’s…Read more It’s a Grand Hopeful Flag

Cold City Streets

Okay, I'm having fun with another prompt from Friday Fictioneers. Thanks to Rochelle Wisoff https://rochellewisoff.com/, and to ©Ted Strutz for the photo. I've also uploaded the story to InLinks. If you want to give it a try, write your own 100-word story and click on the frog on Rochelle's blog! COLD CITY STREETS The city…Read more Cold City Streets

A warm old kettle

Here's another 100-word story from a picture prompt: “Where’s the Nescafe, Pop?” “Cabinet over the stove. Told her it would dry out up there, but she never listened.” “Well, it’s dried coffee anyway—” “It changed the taste!” I spooned Nescafe and poured hot water from the kettle. “Where’d you get these mugs, Pop? She never…Read more A warm old kettle

So I’m a Peeping Tom

I’ve always loved being a peeping tom, and it's even better in a small town. Don’t misunderstand, I’m not some kind of sleaze. I just mean, if I’m not the one doing the driving on the way home, I will gaze out at the night-lit windows as we pass and make note of what I…Read more So I’m a Peeping Tom

Visiting the Generation Gap from the Other end

When we get older we sometimes participate in a kind of disconnect without realizing it. I don’t mean things like politics or music; with a little effort or enthusiasm I can keep up my end enough to carry on a conversation about most things with my grown grandchildren. But sometimes I have to remind myself…Read more Visiting the Generation Gap from the Other end

The Thornbush

A 100-word story for Friday Fictioneers @ https://rochellewisoff.com/ PHOTO PROMPT © Ronda Del Boccio She crouched behind the thornbush and heard him croon her name in the night. His silhouette crossed in front of the backyard security lamp, and she clenched her eyes tight so he wouldn’t see her tears reflecting the light. At first…Read more The Thornbush

Silence

This weekend’s word prompt from https://rochellewisoff.com/:  “Silence” “Write a poem or a piece of prose in exactly fifteen words.”This shows how the mind of a crime novel writer works! Evening light Bird song A shot fired Silence A heartbeat I breathe again Bird song

How do I handle haters? With pity.

Yesterday I read a great newsletter/blog post by Marcy McKay, author of "Pennies from Burger Heaven", and it started me thinking about the haters out there, especially the ones trolling posts by authors, be they famous or wannabes. And that started me remembering many things. In his later years, my father became critical of everyone…Read more How do I handle haters? With pity.