October 17, 2022, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story that references “I see the light in you.” You can use the phrase or demonstrate it in a story. Who is shining and why? Who is observing or reacting? What is the setting? Go where the prompt leads! https://carrotranch.com/2022/10/17/october-17-story-challenge-in-99-words/
Billy walked sullenly, head hung low.
He hadn’t meant to look so stupid in front of his friends.
How could a book report turn into a horror show within minutes?
Dennis was how!
Billy didn’t know they were reading the same book and he certainly didn’t know that his abridged version was not only the easier version but it kept some of the best details out!Sharon ran up to Billy as he walked along. “I thought your report was better! You enjoyed reading and it showed! I see the light in you when you talk, more than Dennis!”
This week we are dipping our toes into the pool of OPPOSITES. Our challenge is all about “opposing forces” and the use of antithesis in our writing. You will need to use the two opposing words in your response – which can be poetry or prose.
Our words this week are:
– hard and soft
– lend and borrow
Borrowing the Positive
If I had one good thing to lend it’d be a colored flower blend With softish petals and hardish stems Returning them would be condemned
If you had one good thing to borrow it’d never be your angst or sorrow I’ll gladly take those flowers now For happiness they will endow.
Welcome to the book trailer reveal for Murder on Oak Street by I.M. Foster. Read on for more!
Murder on Oak Street ( A South Shore Mystery #1)
Expected Publication Date: November 4th, 2022
Genre: Mystery/ Historical Mystery
New York, 1904. After two years as a coroner’s physician for the city of New York, Daniel O’Halleran is more frustrated than ever. What’s the point when the authorities consistently brush aside his findings for the sake of expediency? So when his fiancée leaves him standing at the altar on their wedding day, he takes it as a sign that it’s time to move on and eagerly accepts an offer to assist the local coroner in the small Long Island village of Patchogue.
Though the coroner advises him life on Long Island is far more subdued than that of the city, Daniel hasn’t been there a month when the pretty librarian, Kathleen Brissedon, asks him to look into a two-year-old murder case that took place in the city. Oddly enough, the case she’s referring to was the first one he ever worked on, and the verdict never sat right with him.
Eager for the chance to investigate it anew, Daniel agrees to look into it in his spare time, but when a fresh murder occurs in his own backyard, he can’t shake his gut feeling that the two cases are somehow connected. Can he discover the link before another life is taken, or will murder shake the peaceful South Shore village once again?
I.M. Foster is the pen name Inez Foster uses to write her South Shore Mystery series, set on Edwardian Long Island. Inez also writes historical romances under the pseudonym Andrea Matthews, and has so far published two series in that genre: the Thunder on the Moor series, a time-travel romance set on the 16th century Anglo-Scottish Borders, and the Cross of Ciaran series, which follows the adventures of a fifth century Celt who finds himself in love with a twentieth century archaeologist.
Inez is a historian and librarian, who love to read and write and search around for her roots, genealogically speaking. She has a BA in History and an MLS in Library Science and enjoys the research almost as much as she does writing the story. In fact, many of her ideas come to her while doing casual research or digging into her family history. Inez is a member of the Long Island Romance Writers, and the Historical Novel Society.
You can keep track of her upcoming releases and tidbits about her books on the following sites:
He’s heir to a dark throne. She’s a gentle healer. Will their forbidden attraction be the key to mending his broken soul?
Prince Lorn just wants to be left alone. Drinking heavily to numb the despair of failing to prevent his evil father’s horrific defeat and his own inability to conquer the humans, the devastated half-demon has spent the last five years exiled in a drunken stupor. But when he’s falsely accused of kidnapping a beautiful noble, he emerges vowing to fight to clear his name…by becoming her white knight.
Princess Lililaira longs to be free. Imprisoned in a sorcerer’s tower, the courageous woman is startled when a gorgeous winged man flies in through the window and offers rescue. Seizing the opportunity to escape, she places her trust in the fierce warrior’s arms in a daring flight to freedom.
Desperate to avert another brutal war, Lorn draws nearer to his lovely companion while wrestling with the sins of his past. And though Lililaira is happy to help her intriguing savior prove his innocence in return for his aid in evading her cruel father’s rule, her growing love demands she stand beside him as they set into an unknown future.
Can they break away from eternal torment and claim their destiny together?
Of Demon Kind is the thrilling first book in the Kingdom of Jior romantic fantasy series. If you like brooding anti-heroes, chivalrous passions, and epic medieval battles, then you’ll adore Wendy L. Anderson’s magical tale.
About the Author
Wendy L. Anderson is a Colorado native and mother of two boys. She has an English Degree from Regis University and writes books, short stories and poetry. Wendy is a devout reader of the classics, fantasy, sci-fi and historical fiction. She has decided it is time to write down the fantasies from her own mind. Writing about everything from fantastical worlds to the stuff of her dreams she takes her stories along interesting paths while portraying characters and worlds she sees in her mind’s eye. Her goal is to deviate from common themes, write in original directions and transport her reader to the worlds of her creation.
When she has to convince the Alpha of Warden to pick her as his mate, she finds herself frustratingly captivated by the domineering male…whose language she doesn’t even speak.
Women are unexpectedly waking up with silver hair and blue eyes—humans who harbor innate magic in their veins. It’s a power that shifter wolves are hungry to utilize… to the point of abducting Rem Walker right from her home on her family farm.
Her life no longer matters when an Elder Witch ensnares Rem in a binding death curse, threatening the life of Rem’s younger brother as leverage. The only way to break the curse is to meet its demands: convince the Alpha of Warden to choose her as his mate before he chooses another Silver.
The Alpha is shrewd, however, and he suspects things are not as they seem. When a romance buds that’s as steamy as the hot springs she visits, Rem is torn between loyalties, making life-threatening decisions with the hopes to somehow untangle herself from a web of pack betrayals.
In the midst of all this chaos… Rem can’t stop asking: Why her? Why must she be chosen one to bear this curse?
Why does the Elder Witch demand that she mate Alpha Ronan? And why does Rem enjoy the touch of the Alpha so much, when she has to betray him?
This is a slowburn fantasy romance story, so not for those seeking an instalove connection… although the romance is still just as satisfying! Content Warning: Rated 18+ for violence and steamy scenes.
Charlotte Mallory is eager to share her love for Dark Fantasy Romance stories, and dabbling in a few Contemporary Romances. What she enjoys most is taking well loved tropes and adding her own take on them. Right now, she greatly enjoys anything with Fantasy or Contemporary with an Alpha male lead, paired with a female lead that can absolutely handle her own! In her spare time, she enjoys nature, bonsai trees, coffee, and taking random art classes.
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “bowl.” Use it as a noun or a verb—use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!
There are so many different kinds of bowls in the world that thinking of that word brings in this flood of visions. Like soup bowls, the pasta bowl my dad always liked to have his pasta in on Sunday nights, the popcorn bowl (that I still have but don’t really use for popcorn). Then my mind goes to Cannabis and how so many people make bowls at the pottery studio. Funny thing is, I was reading other posts and “bowling” was a topic. The word bowl and bowling in my head are so extremely different. Maybe it is because of the noun/verb thing. Anyhow, I have made many bowls in the pottery studio and I will probably be putting them on my Etsy store for the upcoming holidays. https://www.etsy.com/shop/StineMiniatures
Inspired by and written for Simply 6 Minutes – thank you, Christine
Tricks of light, of the eye, or just plain illusion. Whatever it is leave them wondering
The Trick Form: Bowlesian Sonnet
All the kids come out calling Trick or Treat Their plastic buckets are overflowing With sweet treats, but there are no tricks showing So this year my trick must have them all beat
Abracadabra raising up the game I doubt they will even find my front door Let alone knock it to say they want more Izzy wizzy and a magical name
‘Mum how do we get up there’ I heard shout The door raised so high up above the ground Where are the stairs winding around and round Then, “Oh, well they are probably all out”
And as night descends into the dark thread Let magic bring home the souls of the dead
I have wanted to write to you every day but the sadness and tears have kept me away I think of it often and say that I’ll try But each day goes on, each day goes by
I think of the words I’d write in my note about all of the things said and things that you wrote I’d write about things that we did in the past But my sadness and sorrow swallow it up really fast
I hear of the people who lost their loved one and it seems like these practices all have been done Things meant to keep all the memories near and alive Things meant to be said if only you had survived
And so I sit here in tears with my pen and my pad Thinking of all the good times that we already had Trying to know that what’s happened is done Trying to keep going even now that you’re gone.
Stine Writing 
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