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WonHundred Word Wednesday (And a new project)

AlisonLeave a comment

Today I am late with the 100 word story. In fact, I have two weeks worth here since I missed last week. 

So it is like a two-for-one deal today! Which is great. Unless you count your cost as the time it takes to read the stories and then this will take twice as long. So. . . 

Anyway. My friends and I are doing a fun little project. As part of it, I am going to take one of the 100 word stories from our prompts and expand it into a short story. Now the hard part is choosing which one I want to delve into. Decisions. 

Last week’s prompt was: “She went to the toilet and on her way back, opened the wrong door.” While this week’s prompt was: “Spider threads caught at her face, a sign that no-one had been there yet.”

January 14

This morning, Nadine came out of her class at the community college to find her moped with two slashed tires. Who slashes the tires on a Vespa?

She caught the bus; however, with the detour due to road construction, she was late for work.

And showing up short of breath and sweaty to work at the perfume counter? Not cool.

Her date with Kern should have been perfect. But, she went to the toilet and on her way back, opened the wrong door.  The jewel thieves in the kitchen, stuffing the fish with diamonds, were not happy.

“Worst. Day. Ever.”

 

January 21

 

          Marsha stepped into the cave opening. Her flashlight cast a feeble light as she crept. Spider threads caught at her face, a sign that no one had been there yet.

          Except. There is something odd about this web.

          She found a strand of the web and rubbed it slowly. The wrong kind of sticky. Scrunching up her face, she brought the web up to her mouth. She cautiously licked the strand.

          “Cotton Candy?” Marsha glared into the darkness. “Peaches, you dastardly clown, you are here. Somewhere.”

          She strode into the dark, determined to end the jester’s reign of circus terror.

 

 

Now you can check out what my writing friends have done with their 100 word story based on this same prompt. Enjoy 😀

Wendy Knight, Author: www.wendyknightauthor.blogspot.com

Jessica Winn, The Distracted Writer:http://thedistractedwriter.com/

R.K. Grow: http://www.rkgtheauthor.com/

Laura D. Bastian http://www.lauradbastian.com/

Jaclyn Weist  http://jaclynweist.blogspot.com

Amryn Scott http://wildscottkids.wordpress.com/

Lindzee Armstrong/Lydia Winters http://www.lindzeearmstrong.com/blog-2/

Miranda D. Nelson http://www.mirandadnelson.blogspot.com/

Jenna Eatough http://mistglenmoon.net/blog/

Kaye P. Clark: http://kayepclarkwriter.blogspot.com/

 

Book Feature: WISHING ON BABY DUST by Lydia Winters

Alison2 Comments

Today I am featuring an LDS women’s fiction that tackles the subject of infertility and the lives of several different women and their experience.  I am looking forward to reading this (but I need to set aside a time that I can just read it all. And cry. I’ll probably cry). Check it out! 

There is also a give-away with a 15$ Amazon gift certificate. The rafflecopter link is at the bottom of the post (It is hard to see, don’t miss it!)

blog tour banner 2

Wishing on Baby Dust back cover blurb

genre: LDS Women’s Fiction

Infertility stinks. No one knows that better than Megan. After six years of insanity-inducing hormone drugs and WoBD_cover_finaldesperate prayers, all she has to show for her efforts are enough negative pregnancy tests to fill a bassinet. All around her women are accidentally getting pregnant—like her star piano student—while Megan remains hopelessly barren. Megan’s never felt so alone. But she’s not the only one struggling.

Christina has just entered the world of infertility, made worse by the fact her husband isn’t ready to be a father. Their marriage, already hanging in the balance, is being torn apart.

Then there’s Kyra, the mother of a precocious three-year-old. She’s shocked to be struggling with secondary infertility. A baby is priceless, but sometimes Kyra feels like she’s being forced to choose which commandment to keep: stay out of debt, or multiply and replenish the earth.

When Megan and Christina are assigned as Kyra’s visiting teachers, they all realize that what you see isn’t necessarily what’s beneath the surface. Some secrets aren’t worth the cost of keeping them.

buy4._V192207739_

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Author Bio

Lydia Winters decided in first grade that she’d grow up to be three things—a mom, a teacher, and a writer. She’s lindzeee & Neil's wedding 294 (2)lucky enough to have accomplished all three tasks. Lydia received her bachelor’s in history education from Utah Valley University. Soon after leaving her teaching career behind, she became a mother to adorable twin boys, who guarantee her life is never dull.

Lydia is married to the most supportive man in the world. He regularly takes care of the twins and cooks dinner so she can escape with her laptop to chase her dream of being a writer. When she has time for hobbies, Lydia is a reality TV junkie, loves to cross-stitch, and sometimes even finds time to play the piano. She eats way too much chocolate and wishes she liked things like running or yoga.

website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads Author Page | Amazon Author Page

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Feature: HAVEN WAITING by Tifani Clark

Alison2 Comments

Haven Waiting Cover (1)

 

Last August, I had the chance to interview Tifani Clark about her book, Shadow of a Life (interview here and you can find the book here).  It was the first book in her Soul Savers series.  Well, today I am featuring the second in the series, Haven Waiting! (You can find it HERE.)  

The book:

Fifteen-year-old Jamie Peters is a Soul Saver. She helps ghosts finish their business and move on. When a mysterious map comes into her possession, she knows a new adventure is waiting. With the help of her friends, Peter and Camille, she follows the map. Her friends hope to find treasure, but Jamie suspects there is more to the map than riches. She never imagined the map would lead her to Haven—and a book of spells.

Haven Mills was accused of practicing witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. Unlike the other women hung during the trials, Haven wasn’t as innocent as she claimed to be. In one moment of weakness and desperation, she did something sinister—something that has been bringing evil to the world for centuries.

Jamie promises to help Haven, but the reality of what that promise entails comes back to haunt her as she fights not only for Haven’s soul, but for her own as well.

 

That sounds awesome! It is definitely going in my ‘to read’ pile. 🙂

A little about Tifani:

Tifani - Author Photo

Tifani Clark grew up on a farm in southeastern Idaho (yes, that’s where they grow all the potatoes) as the middle of five children. She had a lot of space to imagine and daydream and often pictured herself as a character in one of the many books she read. She was habitually found pretending to be Scarlet O’Hara. Tifani loves mysteries and hates it when one goes unsolved. She is married to the love of her life and is the mother to four fabulous children. When not writing, she enjoys playing the violin and piano and traveling to new places. She especially enjoys visits to national parks and places of historical significance.

Where to find her: 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tifaniclark

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TifaniClark

Haven Waiting Blog Tour (and Tifani’s blog): http://tifaniclark.blogspot.com/2015/01/haven-waiting-blog-tour.html

 

 

 

 

WonHundred Word Wednesday: “She was carried along by the crowd.”

AlisonLeave a comment

January 7 2015

When I first saw this week’s prompt (She was carried along by the crowd) I thought about crowd surfing at a rock concert. And then this little image popped in my head. So, here is my 100 word story based on that prompt: 

            It was essential that Eliza remain motionless. The funeral bier was ornately carved and covered in flowers. She lay under the thin burial material and tried not to flinch as she was carried along by the crowd.

            The rescue wouldn’t work unless she was able to pull this part off. Her stomach knotted with each lurch of the unstable platform.

            I wonder how many actually dead people they have dumped in the street? Not encouraging.

            She kept mentally running through the plan to keep from screaming. She would save Mason. But she would have to go through worse than this.

Now you can check out what my writing friends have done with their 100 word story based on this same prompt. Enjoy 😀

Wendy Knight, Author: www.wendyknightauthor.blogspot.com

Jessica Winn, The Distracted Writer:http://thedistractedwriter.com/

R.K. Grow: http://www.rkgtheauthor.com/

Laura D. Bastian http://www.lauradbastian.com/

Jaclyn Weist  http://jaclynweist.blogspot.com

Amryn Scott http://wildscottkids.wordpress.com/

Lindzee Armstrong/Lydia Winters http://www.lindzeearmstrong.com/blog-2/

Miranda D. Nelson http://www.mirandadnelson.blogspot.com/

Jenna Eatough http://mistglenmoon.net/blog/

Kaye P. Clark: http://kayepclarkwriter.blogspot.com/

 

Wonhundred Word Wednesday: The old house, with its wildly overgrown garden, was silent, secretive,

AlisonLeave a comment

December 31

Look! It is the final flash fiction of the whole year! 😉 The prompt this time is “The old house, with its wildly overgrown garden, was silent, secretive. . .”

What does that prompt make you think of? Here is my take:

                The old house, with its wildly overgrown garden, was silent, secretive, and perfect for its purpose. People avoided it, either for fear of getting snagged in the brambles, or for other fears. Ones they couldn’t really put their finger on.

            The gate was hidden in the center of the house, right on the magical ley line, where it would have the most power. Visitors from the other side could come in and out of our world without notice. Only the gatekeeper tracked their progress and their purpose.

            It was also her job to keep out those who would do harm.

Now you can see what my friends did with that prompt :).

Wendy Knight, Author: www.wendyknightauthor.blogspot.com

Jessica Winn, The Distracted Writer:http://thedistractedwriter.com/

R.K. Grow: http://www.rkgtheauthor.com/

Laura D. Bastian http://www.lauradbastian.com/

Jaclyn Weist  http://jaclynweist.blogspot.com

Amryn Scott http://wildscottkids.wordpress.com/

Lindzee Armstrong/Lydia Winters http://www.lindzeearmstrong.com/blog-2/

Miranda D. Nelson http://www.mirandadnelson.blogspot.com/

Jenna Eatough http://mistglenmoon.net/blog/

Kaye P. Clark: http://kayepclarkwriter.blogspot.com/

 

 

WonHundred Word Wednesday: “He Didn’t Want To Go Out On Such a Night, But…”

Alison1 Comment

December 24

This week’s prompt is: “He didn’t want to go out on such a night, but…”  Here is my take on the prompt! 🙂

                He moved piles of paperwork around on his desk and then shifted with a groan. So much for the newest—and most expensive—ergonomic  office chair. It just didn’t seem to do the job.

                The wind howled outside, battering the shutters. Snow whipped into blinding flurries. The scent of hot cocoa filled the air. He didn’t want to go out on such a night. But if he didn’t, who would? The elves?

                He threw on his big, red coat with a smile. The magic of Christmas filled him. Love, joy, and—most of all—hope, filled him.

                “Ho, Ho, Ho!”

Merry Christmas from me and have a Happy Whatever YOU like to celebrate! Peace and love to all. 

The other authors’ take on the prompt:

Wendy Knight, Author: www.wendyknightauthor.blogspot.com

Jessica Winn, The Distracted Writer:http://thedistractedwriter.com/

R.K. Grow: http://www.rkgtheauthor.com/

Laura D. Bastian http://www.lauradbastian.com/

Jaclyn Weist  http://jaclynweist.blogspot.com

Amryn Scott http://wildscottkids.wordpress.com/

Lindzee Armstrong/Lydia Winters http://lindzeearmstrong.blogspot.com

Miranda D. Nelson http://www.mirandadnelson.blogspot.com/

Jenna Eatough http://mistglenmoon.net/blog/

Kaye P. Clark: http://kayepclarkwriter.blogspot.com/

Jenifer Lee: www.myfam-i-lee.blogspot.com/

WonHundred Word Wednesday: “She Kept Checking Her Phone and Email, Wishing Someone Would Make Contact.”

Alison1 Comment

December 17

 

I’m a little slow today, technical difficulties (the technical difficulties would be my brain). But, it IS still Wednesday! And, our prompt for the 100 word flash fiction this week is: “She kept checking her phone, wishing someone would make contact.” Here is my take-

 

            The city stood silent, empty. Cars left here and there, seemingly abandoned. Laura peered into the fading twilight. She kept checking her phone and email, wishing someone would make contact.

            Anyone.

            There was a slow, steady beeping sound coming from somewhere. And, oddly enough, it felt like her family was close. She could almost hear her mother singing. Laura had to find a way back to them. She forged forward, determined.

            In the hospital, the family gathered around the bed: tubes, beeping machines, and their little girl. The mother sang softly.

            “Come back to us, Laura. Find your way home.”

 

Now you can check out the other authors and see what they did with the prompt:

Wendy Knight, Author: www.wendyknightauthor.blogspot.com

Kelly Martin, Author: www.kellymartinbooks.blogspot.com

Jessica Winn, The Distracted Writer:http://thedistractedwriter.com/

R.K. Grow: http://www.rkgtheauthor.com/

Stephanie Worlton’s Kreating Krazy blog: http://stephanieworlton.blogspot.com/

Leah Sanders, inklings: http://inklings-leahsanders.blogspot.com/

Laura D. Bastian http://www.lauradbastian.com/

Jaclyn Weist  http://jaclynweist.blogspot.com

Amryn Scott http://wildscottkids.wordpress.com/

K.R. Wilburn  http://krwilburnbooks.com/blog/

Lindzee Armstrong/Lydia Winters http://lindzeearmstrong.blogspot.com

Miranda D. Nelson http://www.mirandadnelson.blogspot.com/

Angela Schroeder http://angelaschroederauthor.blogspot.com/

Ginny Romney http://romneyrants.blogspot.com/

Canda Mortensen http://candamortensen.blogspot.com

Jenna Eatough http://mistglenmoon.net/blog/

Starimprint: http://starimprint.blogspot.com/

Kaye P. Clark: http://kayepclarkwriter.blogspot.com/

Jenifer Lee: www.myfam-i-lee.blogspot.com/

Caleb Warnock: calebwarnock.blogspot.com/

Book Feature: OBSIDIAN THREADS by Charlie Pulsipher

AlisonLeave a comment

Front

Today I am featuring the second book in The Lost Shards series (Young Adult, Sci Fi/Fantasy) by Charlie Pulsipher entitled Obsidian Threads. I am actually reading the first book in the series, The Crystal Bridge (On sale for $.99 right now) and I am fascinated by it. I am loving the characters, the story line, and world building. So I am really looking forward to getting this book too! Here is the synopsis:

Rho has awakened. Its acolytes will tear worlds apart to release their deity from its prison. Any hope of Rho’s defeat lies with two people lost in a strange universe. Kaden and Aren must learn to harness all their unique gifts if they are to rival the god of darkness reborn.

They will not fight alone. A brilliant geneticist, a furry dwaro, two less than friendly elves, dragons, and a spunky red-haired computer stand with them. But if Kaden and Aren fail to reach their full potential, all of reality will be devoured until nothing remains but Rho.

 

(Yay!) You can find this awesomness HERE. 

Charlie Pulsipher

 

Author Bio: Charlie Pulsipher is a were-hamster and lemur enthusiast living in Southern Utah with his lovely wife and neurotic dog. He writes sci-fi and fantasy, and sometimes both at the same time. He’s obsessed with surviving the inevitable zombie-pocalypse. It’s coming. Tell your friends.

 He spends his time away from the keyboard hiking and camping in stunning Southern Utah. He also enjoys woodworking, painting, drawing, and pretending to have super powers.

He neglects his twitter account.

 His velociraptor impression is worth seeing. Ask him to show you. It just may be the coolest thing about him.

(I have actually seen the velociraptor impression and it is full of awesome!)

You can find him at these places: 

www.charliepulsipher.com

https://www.facebook.com/charlie.pulsipher

https://twitter.com/charliepulse

WonHundred Word Wednesday: “As He Fell, He Waited For. . .”

AlisonLeave a comment

On time this week with the Wednesday flash fiction! One prompt, multiple authors, 100 word story. It has been fun to see the variety that comes from everyone starting at the same jumping point. This week’s prompt is: As he fell, he waited for . . . .

December 10

            As he fell, he waited for the white rabbit to appear. It had to be a dream, right?

            Some strange dream with talking animals and glow in the dark words floating about.  They would all appear soon and then he would know he was actually fast asleep in his bed. Or slumped over at his desk, face smashed into whichever textbook he had been studying.

            No. Wait.

            It hadn’t been a textbook. It had been that strange tome from the library. The leather-bound, padlocked book with the warning he had laughed off.

            Was he actually falling down the rabbit hole?

 

Now we can check out what the other authors did with the same prompt 🙂 

Wendy Knight, Author: www.wendyknightauthor.blogspot.com

Kelly Martin, Author: www.kellymartinbooks.blogspot.com

Jessica Winn, The Distracted Writer:http://thedistractedwriter.com/

R.K. Grow: http://www.rkgtheauthor.com/

Stephanie Worlton’s Kreating Krazy blog: http://stephanieworlton.blogspot.com/

Leah Sanders, inklings: http://inklings-leahsanders.blogspot.com/

Laura D. Bastian http://www.lauradbastian.com/

Jaclyn Weist  http://jaclynweist.blogspot.com

Amryn Scott http://wildscottkids.wordpress.com/

K.R. Wilburn  http://krwilburnbooks.com/blog/

Lindzee Armstrong/Lydia Winters http://lindzeearmstrong.blogspot.com

Miranda D. Nelson http://www.mirandadnelson.blogspot.com/

Angela Schroeder http://angelaschroederauthor.blogspot.com/

Ginny Romney http://romneyrants.blogspot.com/

Canda Mortensen http://candamortensen.blogspot.com

Jenna Eatough http://mistglenmoon.net/blog/

Starimprint: http://starimprint.blogspot.com/

Kaye P. Clark: http://kayepclarkwriter.blogspot.com/

Jenifer Lee: www.myfam-i-lee.blogspot.com/

Caleb Warnock: calebwarnock.blogspot.com/

WonHundred Word Wednesday Catch Up!

AlisonLeave a comment

I fell terribly behind. Ugh. So, I have three weeks of 100 word stories for you right here in this post. That’s right, folks, 300 free words of story for your perusing pleasure. 😀 

My three prompts are: “He wanted her job, and it would be easy enough to discredit her”, “As he took in the view from the twentieth floor, the lights went out all over the city”, and “His voice had never sounded so cold.”

December 8

Here we go!

            Tanner adjusted his tie while he glared at Jackie. He wanted her job, and it would be easy enough to discredit her. She moved confidently around the raucous group, always being where she was needed.

            Always ‘so much fun.’

            Well, a few well-placed phone calls as a ‘concerned observer’ would seal her fate. Parents wouldn’t want to send kids to the camp if a suspected rock-and-roll singer was in charge. Sure, she was actually a gospel-choir singer, but Tanner was sure he could make up some kind of rumor.

            He would be King of Kiddie day camp before summer’s end.

* * *

            As he took in the view from the twentieth floor, the lights went out all over the city. Something churned in his center.  Something unfamiliar.

            Is this emotion? Is it fear?

            He looked at the street below and imagined the confusion and worry caused by his perfect plan.

            No. Not fear. Excitement. This is satisfaction.

            The world would crumble when the emotion-driven sheep panicked. And he would be there with the answers. The perfect, orderly, logical answers. He would rebuild the world to his specifications.

            Then perhaps he would experience that elusive sensation of triumph.

* * *

                Her head spun when the realization of what he said pierced through her panic. His voice had never sounded so cold. “Wait.” She stopped pacing and whirled on him. “You think I did this?”  She looked around the trashed apartment and tried to see what would prompt the idea.

                His face emotionless, he shrugged. “Why not?”

                Fury bubbled up, but she reined in the scream that wanted to force its way out. “You think I would destroy my home and endanger my children? For what?”  She narrowed her eyes at him. “To get back at you? I’m not like you.”

Other authors participating with the prompts:

Wendy Knight, Author: www.wendyknightauthor.blogspot.com

Kelly Martin, Author: www.kellymartinbooks.blogspot.com

Jessica Winn, The Distracted Writer:http://thedistractedwriter.com/

R.K. Grow: http://www.rkgtheauthor.com/

Stephanie Worlton’s Kreating Krazy blog: http://stephanieworlton.blogspot.com/

Leah Sanders, inklings: http://inklings-leahsanders.blogspot.com/

Laura D. Bastian http://www.lauradbastian.com/

Jaclyn Weist  http://jaclynweist.blogspot.com

Amryn Scott http://wildscottkids.wordpress.com/

K.R. Wilburn  http://krwilburnbooks.com/blog/

Lindzee Armstrong/Lydia Winters http://lindzeearmstrong.blogspot.com

Miranda D. Nelson http://www.mirandadnelson.blogspot.com/

Angela Schroeder http://angelaschroederauthor.blogspot.com/

Ginny Romney http://romneyrants.blogspot.com/

Canda Mortensen http://candamortensen.blogspot.com

Jenna Eatough http://mistglenmoon.net/blog/

Starimprint: http://starimprint.blogspot.com/

Kaye P. Clark: http://kayepclarkwriter.blogspot.com/

Jenifer Lee: www.myfam-i-lee.blogspot.com/

Caleb Warnock: calebwarnock.blogspot.com/