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Click below to read Harlan and Gert, a flash fiction published in New Southern Fugitives Issue 12 from Southern Fried Karma Press. Harlan and Gert are aging, but they aren't ready for a home, no matter what their kids say! http://www.newsouthernfugitives.com/issues/issue-12/harlan-and-gert/
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Duke the Dachshund is back with his Christmas tale for Susanna Hill's Annual Holiday Contest. Read Duke's story below and here is the link to the contest so you can read the other wonderful stories. https://susannahill.com/blog/ A Hot Dog’s Christmas (194 words) “Here Duke,” my humans call. “We have a surprise!” I jump and waggle. I can’t believe my eyes. There is a present Under the tree. A present they say Is just for me! “Hurry Duke!” they call. “Hurry! Run!” “You’ll like this, Duke!” “This is fun!” Suddenly, I am cautious. I stop dead on my feet. I’ve heard this before When it was Trick or Treat. I remember that night. Now I want to run. I remember they dressed me As a hot dog — in a bun! But, it’s almost Christmas So I go to the tree. I slink over To get the gift they have for me. After all, it’s a surprise. But it isn’t any better. This present? It’s a sweater! This is not right! This is wild. I’m a dachshund, Not a child! I am so insulted, This isn’t fair. I don’t need a sweater! I’m covered with hair! I want a toy, a leash, or a bone. But on it goes, over my head. I look ridiculous, Like Great Uncle Ned. I want to bite an ankle, Maybe a knee. But I don’t dare Because Santa is watching me!  Recently, I had the pleasure of taking a master writing class taught by Rick Bragg. I learned so much and afterwards, I asked the Pulitzer Prize winning author to sign my copy of one of his many books. He winked at me and asked where I am from. I said, “I’m from right here.” He signed my book, “Tonya, from right here.” Mr. Bragg has a wonderful sense of humor, but those words got me thinking about where “right here” really is…
“Right here” is so much more than a hometown. It’s a corner of time and space that belongs to a person. Today my “right here” is a very old house filled with dirty dishes and piles of laundry. It is a life full of unfinished projects, aging parents, and growing kids. It is a kitchen table full of bills to be paid and lists to be shopped. I am learning to embrace the mess, even the laundry that seems to self regenerate minus a few socks every week, because it’s my mess. It’s my circus and my monkeys and my bills — everything in my “right here” is about someone I love. Most importantly, my “right here” is a life full of the love and laughter of my high school sweetheart and our three boys. It is a life unfinished with so much fun, so much promise and I thank the Lord for all of it, every day. So, the next time I wish I was somewhere else; I am going to remind myself to be thankful for my “right here” because “right here” is where I belong.  Happy Halloween! Here is my entry to the Halloweensie writing contest- 100 word story for kids and here is the link to the contest: https://susannahill.com/2017/10/27/the-7th-annual-halloweensie-contest-aahhhrrrooooooooo/ Hot Dog! It’s Halloween
By Tonya Calvert 93 Words It’s dark under here Hot too The family dressed me What could I do? I tried to run They said, “Come Duke, it’s fun!” So now I'm out here Trick or treat? All I see is feet! This is wild I’m a dachshund! Not a child! So here I am Parading at night Shadows and monsters What a fright! This is no fun! They dressed me As a hot dog ... In a bun! I want to bite an ankle Maybe a knee But candy corn just fell And no one saw But me!  Some days, I just need a little reminder that life is about the here and now. Some days, it’s ok to just be. Remember what matters. Be simple. Be honest. Be kind. Be present in your life.
Things I Did Not Do Today Things were quiet today, I don’t have a lot to say I didn’t get married, Thankfully, I didn’t get buried I didn’t go far away in a plane, Or across the country on a train I didn’t even go across town in the car -- Sometimes, you just stay where you are I didn’t see wondrous sights unseen, I didn’t have tea with the queen I didn’t appear on TV, That really would not be me But a little boy thinks I am the bomb, Sometimes it’s enough just to be Mom Welcome, Victoria Simcox. I have been very inspired by how this author relies on her faith in her writing. Check out her series here: ~The Warble~The Bernovem Chronicles~ Book 1~   Find throughout these pages a message of friendship, hope, perseverance and faith. ∞ A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Proverbs 17:17 Twelve-year-old Kristina Kingsly feels unpopular in school. The other kids taunt and tease her. When she receives an unusual Christmas gift, she suddenly finds herself transported to the land of Bernovem, home of dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, talking animals, and the evil Queen Sentiz. In Bernovem, Kristina not only fits in, she’s honored as “the chosen one” the only one who can release the land from Queen Sentiz’s control. But it’s not as simple as it seems. To save Bernovem, she must place the gift she was given, the famous “Warble” in its resting place. And she must travel through the deep forest, climb a treacherous mountain, and risk capture by the queen’s “zelbocks” before she reaches her destination. Guided by her new fairy friends, Clover and Looper and by Prince Werrien, a teenage boy, as well as an assortment of other characters, Kristina sets off on a perilous journey that not only tests her strength but her heart. Victoria's inspiration to write this story is her daughter, Kristina. ~Over 160 Reviews~ **on Amazon** **** Amazon review Although this is not typically my kind of genre, I stepped outside my box to experience something new. And, am I glad I did. The Warble is a pleasant surprise in that it's not just a tale of fantasy. It holds truth and real life principles that are steadfast in our real lives. The main character, Kristina, holds the pain of rejection from society or her peers. Through her suffering, one person sees her potential and offers her a gift in the Warble - an unsuspecting metal ball that is the key to her destiny through another world - one where Kristina is labeled 'The Chosen One'. There are threads that point to God and his everlasting love in this book. The story parallels Jesus' return and his victory over a fallen world. Those that have the faith - will see it. Those that don't want religion thrown in their face don't have to worry because it's so slight all you'll uncover is a really good book that offers a story of good triumphing over evil. Great job Ms. Simcox! I enjoyed this book and how it spoke to me on many different levels.  Bio
Victoria was born in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, to an Austrian immigrant mother and a Dutch immigrant father. She now resides in Western Washington with her husband and 3 children. Her other family members are, 2 Chihuahuas, named Pip and Win and 2 cats named Fritz and Hans. For 12 years, she home-schooled her children. Besides being an author, she is an elementary school art teacher. Victoria enjoys writing, reading and painting watercolors. Two of her favorite authors are C.S. Lewis and R.C. Sproul. Links Amazon:http://tinyurl.com/oclob9n Face Book: http://tinyurl.com/h2qbsbc Twitter:Twitter. It's what's happening.  Meet the real characters from Saylor on the Seashore. https://www.clearforkpublishing.com/store/p15/SaylorontheSeashore Saylor the Seagull The idea for Saylor came from a scene I watched unfold at Carillon Beach. As I was walking with my family, we saw a small seagull get caught by a fisherman's line. The line was tangled around his foot. A crowd of beachgoers gathered to watch on the shore and a crowd of seagulls gathered in the sky above us. As the drama unfolded before my eyes, the story unfolded in my mind. Thankfully, the fisherman was able to free the little bird and both stories have a happy ending. Piper the Sandpiper The character Piper came from my many years of watching sandpipers on the beach. They're my favorite! Big Blue Heron In the story, Big Blue wears a fishing hook in his beak. The real Blue Heron that inspired the character was quite a "character" himself. He was stealing bait right out of the fishermen's buckets on the beach. All the while, the wildlife workers were trailing him, hoping to remove the hook from his beak. Old Gray Pelican There always seems to be a Pelican sitting on the post by the pier. I always imagine the Pelican is there to give advice to the other birds because he looks so old and wise.  [Based on a story told to my children by their Mee Maw. She insists that she was once frightened by a runaway lobster on the checkout counter at Publix. I always shake my head at her story because it just cannot possibly be true, can it...?] At the grocery store, I sood in line. I watched the lady in front of me, from behind. She had a lobster in a sack. I thought, eeeww...put him back! She stood there tall and thin, And smiled and said, “got a big pot to put ‘em in." Oh! How his eyes opened wide! He jumped and hopped all over the place. The check out lady? You should have seen her face! Me? I jumped back. He was wild! He might attack! He climbed and ran and scurried. Oh my! How he hurried! He hopped onto the floor. And scurried right out the door. He ran and ran with all his might. I watched him till he was outta site. That lady in front of me; she was sad. But me? Boy was I glad! |
Winks of inspiration surround us– “Firefly Days”
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