Flash Your Fiction!

Opportunities to participate in various writing competitions or flash fiction challenges pop up frequently throughout the year, giving everyone an opportunity to flex their grey matter, whether a literary genius or novice writer. Yup, I’m looking at you!

Colleen Chesebro, the Faery Whisperer, has kindly shared an active flash fiction challenge from Charli Mills at Carrotranch.com, which I’ve posted below.

Why not take up the challenge and see what you can free from the depths of your imagination?

Here is the prompt:

January 3, 2019, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about a character who looks back. It can be a metaphorical reflection or a glance in the rear-view mirror. Who is looking back, and why? Go where the prompt leads.

Send a link back to myself in the comments or to Charli at carrotranch.com and share the love of writing with everyone you know.

Here’s my attempt at the flash fiction challenge…

Shadows grew as the winter sun faded behind the neatly packed houses. Children scampered in for tea and street lights twinkled to life. She sighed, unclenching her fingers and loosening her jaw. Another day – gone. Still no sirens, no-one searching for her. She was one of those shadows, forgotten from the light footsteps skipping home for tea. Her skeletal fingers traced the remnants of light filtering through her cramped prison. Sun-kissed skin, now wrinkled, stretched and cracked at the effort. Yes, she was now just a memory of the little girl who once lived at No. 15.

Now it’s your turn! Share your thoughts – its always great hearing from you.

Book Tuesday – Inspiration from Whitney

Hello and welcome back. Whilst taking a break from studying Shostakovitch, I thought I’d write a little story for you. It was inspired by Whitney Houston’s, I Wanna Dance with Somebody. Okay, here goes:

Kennings At Monday Coffee

Have you ever heard of a Kennings poem?

Wine o’ clock

I love long lines of traffic, moody children complaining in the back and the scowling sky threatening to cry out to the world below. Love the stress of trying to balance a workday with after school clubs and meetings for four different children preparing for their new year in a new class (two at new schools!). Love the plucky looks of parents eyeing out my dog hanging out the back window as I park because he’s decided to make himself sick and nearly die, and me spending sleepless nights watching over him then going to work.

Yup. It has been fun. 

Suffice it to say, I am declaring it wine o’ clock and all my worries be damned! As I pour my glass of Shiraz and slip into my oversized pjs that don’t match but are the most comfortable clothes I possess, I feel bubbles of excitement fill my body. The thought of a night of relaxation with XXX on Sky (yes, of course I love Vin Diesel but not in the way you would think – I want to be him, not be with him!!) and my secret stash of Turkish Delights just waiting for me, I plan on forgetting the pending appointments for the week ahead, the deadlines on books I still haven’t finished writing and my start with the Open University where I will be studying a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing. 

Yes folks, the future may be bright and filled with opportunities, but just for tonight, I’m taking a break. 

Please, be kind and leave reviews for my books. I will try to keep posts flowing on my blog but they will be intermittent (as they have been for the past few weeks). Apologies if I miss your posts. I will try to keep up but a few will fall through the cracks. 

If you need me, send me an email or contact me through my social media sites. I’m still around, just focusing on not drowning under children, work, studies and pets! 

Hugs to you all. 

Monday Coffee: Home

I have reached home.
Today I took the steps leading me to the future, the place I want to be. I sit here revelling in the feeling of achievement I so rarely get to enjoy and…I am in awe.

Sometimes wishing is not enough. Sometimes, settling only gets you so far. But I have to ask myself why, on this journey here, did I question the fundamental right of anyone to pursue more than what their goal is? I ridiculed the idea that pushing further would reap rewards of happiness and success equally. I postured the idealism that greed is the main source of pursuit, leading down a slippery slope to materialism and superficial lifestyles. I know it is. 

But here I sit. The hunger is dated. I have reached the point where I want to be and that gurgling murmur of delight escaping my lips is not one of greed or want; it’s the sound of knowing that taking the risk to reach my happiness was not complete madness.

My happy place: a wet log covered by a doggy sack to keep my posterior dry whilst I type this drivel. 

My view – exquisite! A soft clearing half way up a hill overlooking the valley of wild grass and heather below. The sound of crunching leaves behind me as Henry pursues the heady scents of foxes and birds in his happy state. I can’t say everything here is perfect. As I crossed the gulley surrounded by gorse bushes, I honestly thought I wouldn’t make it. But I did. And once in the clearing under the tall redwoods, my celebrations were greeted by a dead bird lying on the damp grass. Not to be dissuaded, I moved further away after praying for its little soul. Yes, if we have souls, so do the beasts that co-habit this earth. There, I found my log, riddled with woodworm and all things unpleasant. This is where I sit, content. 

Sometimes, pushing for those dreams is definitely worth it.

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Buster & Moo

Buster & Moo is available for pre-order from Amazon. This intriguing book by Geoff Leopard takes relationships to the limit and shows how the love of a dog can keep friendships together beyond their expiry date!
Read more from the author himself and don’t forget to order your copy today.

Spoilt Miranda is listed!

Imagine my excitement when I discovered that Waterstones booksellers are listing my book on their website under the teenage/children’s section.  Now, for those authors who have found their perfect market niche, this might seem as interesting as finding moss on a rock; for me, it’s huge! Here is why…

I have been writing books for quite a few years now and the struggle to become a recognised independent author is an endless one. There are many helpful sites out there giving their winning solutions on how to become a success and, after following a few, I decided to walk my own mixed and matched path.

Working alongside my fellow author friends, I have tried to get my books listed on as many recognised bookseller sites for ease of purchase for readers and to have a stronger following of core readers.  The wait for a response can be very lengthy and there are no guarantees booksellers will keep you listed.  All you can hope for is that your book will turn up in their search results, which Spoilt Miranda did to my utter delight!

I am now going on the hunt to see if other sellers have taken up the title and I hope Cecil The Bully will follow suit.

Due to my own incompetence, I have missed the opportunity to market the hell out of my new crime thriller, The Iron Pendulum, and even though my subscription numbers have increased, no-one has posted a review for the book.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed this hint will encourage you all to leave a review as this will help boost the book up the listings.  I’ll even throw in a pretty please with sugar on top!

Apart from that, things have slowed down a little on the writing front.  I have a little story that I’m playing around with at the moment, for the early years readers.  If the illustrations survive the cut, I shall post a little sample for you to see in the next few weeks.  Let me know what you think when you see them.

Right, I’m off to scan the book sites for my books.  If you find a random place where you buy books and my name happens to pop up in your search, I would love to hear from you.  Thanks in advance.

By the way, in case you didn’t know it, I missed you all and hope to be back to my regular blogs in the near future.

Speak to you soon!

Doggy Bells

Every picture tells a story. So there we were, myself and a great black hellhound and a compact black-and-tan opinionated terrier-type, minding our own business in the middle of the forest. The rain had rained, and puddles were abundant, mirroring the sky and affording paddling opportunities beyond any dog’s wildest dreams. While I will confess […]

http://kateshrewsday.com/2015/09/23/doggy-bells/

Attending the Un-Birthday Party

Grace wandered through the ballroom, entranced by the falling snow that never quite reached the guests and the frosted glasses serving colourful drinks. She eased her way past the dance floor filled with creatures from different realms happily colluding and gyrating to the eclectic music accompanying the laughter and chatter. At last she found the door she was looking for; a well varnished green oak with gnarled markings forming methodical patterns on its face. She glanced behind her before reaching for the brass handle and turning it, giving the heavy old oak a push.

THE IRON PENDULUM continued…

WARNING!  This is a crime/thriller and has some graphic descriptions.