I reach my mitten to clear the dusting of snow off her gravestone, but pull it back. The flakes form a white filigree that sparkles in the last strands of sunlight.
I nestle a candy cane in the powdery doily. She is, at last, allowed to have this. I take a photo with my mind because actually taking a picture would lead to a decision about whether or not to delete it. Now, I cannot. Not ever. I sigh a cloud into the frigid twilight, stare at the numbers etched in granite. Only one year hides between the dash.
December 19, prompt: Beauty beyond the grave – In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about beauty beyond the grave. Do you dare write of beauty graveside? *Bonus points for a candy cane (that’s my own challenge). 🎄❄️
The Shadows We Breathe series has received some love and I wanted to share the wonderful bloggers who have posted about it. I am thrilled readers have enjoyed these anthologies and am excited to share some reviews with you. 📚🎉
The entire series is available in both eBook and print. You can grab a copy (or three) here:
The wonderfully prolific author, Harmony Kent, posted a glowing review:
Every single piece is powerful and moving and merits more than one read through.
The Shadows we Breathe gets a resounding 5 stars from me.
I’d give this book 10 stars if I could.
Thanks, Harmony! * (A note from Harmony: “Picky about which books I give 5 stars to. I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning…” So her 10-stars-if-I-could rating makes me smile.) 😁
Harmony’s writing ranges from non-fiction to romance, poetry to post-apocalyptic. There’s something for everyone so do check out her books.
Talented author, D. Wallace Peach, shared her thoughts on The Shadows We Breathe (Vol. 1) as part of her October Book Reviews as well as a recent review of the newest release, The Shadows We Breathe (Vol. 3):
[the] darkness is deeply human, often hidden, and in this book, thoroughly compelling.
Highly recommended to readers of flash fiction who want to feel stories in their hearts and bones. (Vol.1)
awestruck by the writers’ deep exploration of the myriad ways power impacts human lives.
Many of the stories are dark; all are beautifully told. (Vol. 3)
Thanks, Diana! Check out the full review for Vol. 3 here. And Vol. 1 here (which includes many other wonderful books well worth reading). And don’t forget to look through Diana’s vast collection of published books. She is an author with a gift for world-building combined with beautiful writing. (And I was lucky enough to have her contribute some of that beautiful writing to this anthology!) 😊💙
The always-generous Sally Cronin shared a fab review at her popular blog, Smorgasboard:
I found myself turning the pages eager to read the next gem.
This will be much enjoyed by those who love short stories in all their forms and appreciate the skill it takes to create them in only a few words.
Thanks, Sally! Check out the full review here. While there, explore the numerous posts on every topic from relationships and food, to travel and health. Also, take a peek at her extensive collection of books. 😎
Poet, novelist, and word witch, Colleen Chesebro included a review on her blog:
I was struck by the sincerity of each story.
This book was a deeply emotional read…
Flash fiction deals in the brevity of words, but don’t think the messages these stories impart won’t blow you away.
I reread it a second time.
Thanks, Colleen! * You can visit Colleen here. She’s passionate about syllabic poetry and has books of her own poetry, a how-to book for those wanting to learn the craft, and a wonderful weekly writing prompt, Tanka Tuesday. 🤩
Writer, baker, and fondant-maker, Robbie Cheadle posted a review at her blog, Robbie’s Inspiration:
The writing is beautiful and compelling throughout the book…
All of the stories, longer and shorter, in this collection are powerful and well written.
Thanks, Robbie! Check out the full review here. You can also check out her books, which have an expansive range of genre and topic. Though, I think she’s best known for her Sir Chocolate children’s books (which include stories and delicious recipes). 😉
If you want romance, Jacquie’s your gal. 💝 She has suspenseful, sweet, thrilling, and heartwarming romances so you’re sure to find something you love when you check out her books.
The lovely Georgia Rose reviewed Volume 2 for her #TuesdayBookBlog this week.
filled with delights.
every word has to work for its place
I thoroughly enjoyed the tight writing and solid storytelling. Highly recommended.
Check out her books, blending romance, mystery, and adventure. Thanks, Georgia! 🌹
The talented and prolific Terry Tyler reviewed Volume 2 and it is an absolutely lovely review!
emotive and beautifully written
to be able to tell a story in such a controlled fashion is quite a feat, and so strongly illustrates the power of words.
There is not one weak contribution and it is beautifully presented…
* Harmony’s review was a casualty of her blog’s misbehaving/reinstallation situation and Colleen’s was lost to her WordPress woes, but I appreciate their reviews and am waving hello to those reviews as they float by in the ethernet.
Phew! I think that’s it! 🥰💖 Thank you all, so much!
“Six in Six” (6 books in 6 categories) is a fantastic meme dreamed up by Jo at The Book Jotter.
I chose to do the shortened version because it’s to be posted in July and, well, July is somehow almost over so I’m whipping up a quick post (with some “SharkBite-Size Book Reviews”). 📚🦈
1 – A book about librarians or libraries: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig 🦈🦈🦈🦈.5
A delightful book, even if the ending is a tad predictable. An afterlife library with each book offering a different version of the main character’s life had she made different choices. Great read, charming characters, and intriguing premise. Liked this a lot.
2 – A book from an author I know will never let me down: Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater 🦈🦈🦈🦈🦈
A fun take on Disney’s DunBrochs. Not a retelling but, rather, a what-happened-after-the-movie-ended. That said, for a tale about a Disney film’s family, this story is rich. It’s creative, full of magic, and steeped in Scottish lore with well-developed characters and settings. Loved this book.
3 – A book from an author new to me/an author I am looking forward to reading more of: Legend by Marie Lu 🦈🦈🦈🦈.5
Yup. It’s a good one. Yup. It’s yet another YA dystopian. But, man, it was an enjoyable read and is a bit more substantial than other YA dystopian books I’ve read. And incredibly well-written. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.
4 – A book I was disappointed with/that didn’t live up to the hype: Caraval by Stephanie Garber 🦈🦈🦈
I’d heard so much about this book and wanted to love it. It has such a cool premise. But the characters (all of them–how?!) are flat (and kind of annoying) so I didn’t really care what happened to them. Also, the all-consuming, swooning, what-are-you-thinking?! “romance” that saturates this book is too much for me. The story is tainted by it. Again, the premise is cool and creative so it’s worth a read if you’re wanting to explore something different (and see what the hype is about).
5 – A pretty book cover: What We Harvest by Ann Fraistat 🦈🦈🦈.5
This cover is so pretty in person and it’s a big reason why I bought it. But don’t judge a book by its cover, right? The characters are dreadfully dull, and the big reveal isn’t as shocking/world-shattering as the author maybe meant it to be. And the ending is… I’m trying to find the word… “Silly” might fit. Still, I did read it all the way through because it was entertaining. On the whole, an interesting idea with some fun zombie-like action. Bonus…pretty cover!
6 – A book I read on kindle and then went and bought an actual copy: Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck by Sarah Knight 🦈🦈🦈🦈🦈
Yes, I got an eBook then bought a hardcover. Yes, I love this. And, yes, I know not everyone is a fan of this. Not giving a f*ck about that. Cheers!
This was such a fun blog hop/meme. I saw it on Terry Tyler’s blog (thanks, Terry!) and I figured I’d give it a go. It originated on Jo’s blog, The Book Jotter, and it looks as if she’s been doing this for about ten years. Bit late to the party but glad I found it. Thanks, Jo, for creating this!
Have time to jot down a “Six in Six”? Jo has quite a few categories to choose from. Post your 6 and link to Jo’s blog!
Most of us have an unmanageable TBR pile. Some of us aren’t reading quickly enough to put a dent in it. A lot of us are adding to it. It’s pretty simple mathematics or statistics or physics (I don’t know how those work). And the truth is…it’s going to eventually kill you.
Logic:
If you have a pile of unread books and you’re not reading them, they will sit on your shelf. If you’re buying more books, those will squish in alongside the books you already have on the shelf. If you continue to get new books, they will sit on top of the books you have, then in front of the books you have, possibly spilling over onto a nearby table (or four) and onto the floor. When you are hopping over hardcovers and ducking under paperbacks, you know you’ve lost control. Your love of books has blinded you and now it is too late. (You have literary Gremlins.) These books simply cannot stay perched atop the precarious pile any longer. Whether they trap you in a corner, suffocate you, or come crashing down on your head…they will eventually kill you.
Math:
Word problems are fun. (See what I did there? You know, because a toppling TBR pile is a problem. With words. Get it? Okay, let’s go.) There are 1000 books on your shelf. 1 book is taken off the shelf and read. 20 more books are purchased and added to the shelf. 5 books are taken off the shelf and read. 10 are received as gifts (lucky you) then 25 more books are purchased and 5 read. (If you subtract 1 from 1000 then add 20 then subtract 5 then add 10 and add another 25, then subtract 5 they actually defy the laws of math and multiply…and eventually kill you.)
Story:
Once upon a time, people and books lived together in harmony. They got along swimmingly. They were similar in a lot of ways and respected each other. After some indeterminate amount of time had passed (because this is too short to get into the history of it all), people forgot that books had feelings. People treated books poorly, bending their pages, breaking their spines, piling them in stacks on the floor, and, worst of all, leaving them to gather dust. The books felt unloved, neglected, and angry. Those tricky YA trilogies, dastardly detective novels, and sneaky mysteries gathered fellow books for a revolt. People began to get that uneasy sensation of being watched. Began to imagine books were glaring at them from shelves, tables, and floors. Under the careful watch of sweet romances (they’re the ringleaders), deadly plots were hatched (pun completely intended), and plans were carried out. Moral: TBR piles will eventually kill you.
Story in Emojis:
📚 😊
📚📚 😍
📚📚📚 😟
📚📚📚📚 😳
📚📚📚📚📚 🔪 😱
📚📚📚📚📚 🔪 💀
This silliness is in response to Diana’s awesome writing prompt about TBR piles. Check out her post here:
On the Reef is a series featuring fabulous indie authors from around the blogosphere and beyond. Titles, covers, and blurbs that catch my eye, new releases, great reads… Basically, authors I’d like to highlight and works I’d like to share with my fellow book-loving word nerds. Happy Reading!
Featured
The Roses Mini Sagas Anthology Edited by Georgia Rose & Sally-Rose Runham
Could you write a story in fifty words? This is the challenge set by the Roses Mini Saga Competition. Fifty words, no more, no less. Included in this book are the winners, and all other entries from the 2020 competition…
We dare you to challenge yourself and look forward to receiving your entry.
Anthology of mini saga stories of exactly fifty words, with a beginning, middle and end, telling a story in a few succinct words. Stories have an element of time passing, and show a message or things happening. Stories arranged in themes including nature, life cycles, timeless love, relationships, courage and resilience and treating people with respect, taking care not to make a wrong first impression. Themes of all mini sagas include Nature, Life Cycles, Philosophy, Trauma and Long-lasting love. Easy to read stories for those who find long books too tough. Not particularly easy to write short stories, but provide a real challenge helping us to develop our capability at creative writing. Themes cover dementia, loss of memory, the pandemic, lockdown, a changed word after the pandemic, pubs opening, beautiful descriptions of nature and wildlife, angst at cyclists travelling on pavements, joys of crafts and baking, raising difficult teenagers, love that lasts throughout life, unusual relationships, tragic events.
A mini saga is a fun way to tell a story in 50 words exactly, with a title of no more than 16 words.
It should have a beginning, a middle and an end, and some period of time should pass through the story.
It should have gravity. That’s to say, it should make a point which has some drama or psychological truth. It must aim, in fact, to be a saga in miniature.
The 2022 round of entries opens the 10th December 2021.
On the Reef is a series featuring fabulous indie authors from around the blogosphere and beyond. Titles, covers, and blurbs that catch my eye, new releases, great reads… Basically, authors I’d like to highlight and works I’d like to share with my fellow book-loving word nerds. Happy Reading!
New Release
Rhymes from the Wicked Nursery by J.D.Estrada
Rhymes from the Wicked Nursery is a poetry collection full of verses that will definitely not go gently into the night. So tuck in, keep a night light handy, and read at your own risk.
This is JD Estrada’s 18th release. He really hopes it keeps you up at night while feeling bad at the things that make you giggle.
After years working in advertising, J.D. Estrada decided there were better ways to write fiction. Born on August 13th, he shares birthdays with Alfred Hitchcock and Fidel Castro… an interesting coincidence since his mom is Cuban and he loves a good story.
Truth be told, he always dreamt about being an inventor, he just didn’t know he’d end up doing it using words. Where some people choose to invent new products, he has chosen to invent worlds through words.
An avid reader of Science Fiction and Fantasy, throughout his life, he’s always loved writing and connecting with people. Mind you, although he loves those genres, his reading tastes are as eclectic as his musical passions. So from rock to salsa to classical music, he also reads and writes in a variety of genres and is just as satisfied writing a review or a poem as he is in writing his next novel.
His favorite band is Pearl Jam, he was born in Puerto Rico, he bodyboards and to him, playing a guitar is as therapeutic as a notebook.
He hopes you are doing well and that you enjoy your visit to any of the literary planets he has lovingly crafted.
On the Reef is a series featuring fabulous indie authors from around the blogosphere and beyond. Titles, covers, and blurbs that catch my eye, new releases, great reads… Basically, authors I’d like to highlight and works I’d like to share with my fellow book-loving word nerds. Happy Reading!
New Release
Project Gene Assist: The Complete Series by Allie Potts
Project Gene Assist: The Complete Series combines all three books in the Project Gene Assist series into a single, omnibus volume that will leave you thinking about the next era of human evolution.
Book one: The Fair & Foul details how the road to the end of the world is paved with good intentions. A source of unlimited clean water, the cure for cancer; these are just some problems researcher and programmer, Juliane Faris, knows humanity could solve if only they just had access to the right information, and processing information is what Juliane does best. Given the opportunity to unlock superhuman abilities of the human brain, Juliane jumps at the chance to merge her mind with technology, even if it means trusting the egocentric Alan Dronigh with more than her life.
Book two: The Watch & Wand takes place fifteen years later. Civilization has broken down leaving law and order to be defined by those left behind. Stephen knows he should be grateful to have lived through society’s fall, but can’t help wishing his life was more than survival until he meets a girl on the run from a group known as the Watch. Now, caught between rival factions with their own hidden agendas, Stephen has no choice but to go on a mission to reclaim a piece of missing technology.
Book three: Lies & Legacy brings Juliane and Stephen’s stories together. Juliane’s woken to a post-apocalyptic world with large gaps in her memory. Plagued by guilt, Stephen longs to sleep without being haunted by the faces of those he’s lost. Both are seeking more than answers. Meanwhile, the new world has created an opportunity for those seeking power to step in and take control. On one side, are the Sorcerers, a group of super-humans whose telepathic-like abilities come at a terrible price. On the other–an elite squad of genetically modified individuals who are now more beast than man. Juliane is on a mission to reclaim her legacy. Stephen is out to save his soul. Can either stop the upcoming war before it destroys what’s left of humankind? In this struggle for survival of the fittest, they may have to find a way to save themselves first.
Available for preorder. Delivered to your kindle November 16th!
Allie Potts, born in Rochester Minnesota was moved to North Carolina at a very early age by parents eager to escape to a more forgiving climate. She has since continued to call North Carolina home, settling in 1998 in Raleigh, halfway between the mountains and the sea.
When not finding ways to squeeze in 72 hours into a 24-hour day or chasing after children determined to turn her hair gray before its time, Allie enjoys stories of all kinds. Her favorites, whether they are novels, film, or simply shared aloud with friends, are usually accompanied by a glass of wine or cup of coffee in hand.
I haven’t written one of these in a long time. But, this week, Colleen’s #TankaTuesday is turning 5 years old. Happy Birthday, Tanka Tuesday! 🥳 I wanted to celebrate by participating. (Sorry, Colleen. I’m a bit rusty.)
Thetheme is autumn’s ‘harvest moon’.
A haiku-ish contribution to Colleen’s Weekly Poetry Challenge. You can write any of the following: Haiku / Tanka / Haibun / Cinquain / Senryu. Check it out and challenge yourself to some poetry.
Sally put together a beautiful post to highlight The Shadows We Breathe and help share its release! 🎉 Please check out the post and, while you’re there, be sure to see what’s new at Sally’s place.
About Roses Mini Sagas:
About JD:
Lemon Shark Reef 