Friday 27 April 2012

#RomanticFridayWriters - #AtoZChallenge - Flash Fiction - X Marks the spot where love began



Welcome to RomanticFridayWriters!

RFW is about short short writing or flash fiction (usually 400 words), less for poems, with some romantic element. It's not Romance of the happily ever after variety, but Romantic, where it's about the story, the issue, with some romantic relationship involved. Our stories are edgy, sometimes dark, and often don't have the HEA ending! 

It's widely agreed that most fiction (unless it's solely about animals) begins and ends with human characters: their frailties, virtues, conflicts and expectations. In our stories for the A - Z Challenge the writers attempt to more closely observe the people around us...


X Marks the spot where love began



The verandah of Grandma’s small cottage was a shady retreat from the sweltering day.  She looked out over her colourful garden and into the distance, looking further away through time and into a memory.   

“I met your Grandfather on a day like this,” she began.   She paused to mop her brow.   I passed her a long tumbler of freshly made lemon iced tea and she smiled thankfully.

Her memories came tumbling quickly, tripping over each other and not in any order.  I felt like I was viewing an impressionist painting in which the images were not clear but lively nevertheless.   

“It was a summer holiday in Egypt in the 1920’s,” she continued, refreshed, “where flushed tourists thronged in the dusty ruins of a foreign past, flashes of bright parching heat threatened to liquefy everything in their glaring path.” She sighed and her voice dropped to a whisper. I leaned close to listen.

“There was an azure sea, granting some relief with its slight breeze and…then there was…him.  He was standing casually in his flannel trousers, fanning himself with his panama hat.”  Grandma smiled at that and twisted the rings on her aging hand.   To me, her age spots disappeared and her hand was youthful and unmarked.

She raised the hand to her forehead and touched her hair.   “He had such beautiful hair, but in the heat this day his hair was sticking to his head.”    

She was quiet for some time. I knew she was in that foreign land, reliving her first meeting with Grandad. Eventually she continued her recollections:  a flashing smile which caused confusion about where the heat was coming from as the colour rose in her neck, the moistureless afternoon as she dutifully followed her parents’ archeology study group when she wanted to follow the man she’d just met.  

After the brief glimpse of a possible future, the towering structures of the past that she studied with her parents became oppressive in the intensifying heat of the day.  But evening follows day.

It was the evening that finally brought a balmy solace and an introduction to liberation when her father invited the young naval officer to their dinner table.

The sound of distant thunder brought Grandma from her remembrances.   The rain began to fall in large drops that released the smell of the lawn.  As it continued to fall in increasing sheets it drowned the sound of our voices and washed away the impressionist masterpiece taking the blistering heat, and replacing it with a refreshing, cool breeze.

©RaelenePurtill2012

Raelene Purtill is a new follower of RFW, a keen writer I met through a Creative Writing Course at the Queensland Writers Centre. Now we are in a newly-formed Vannguard Writers Group. Raelene has just begun a blog, a Little Light Reading, so visit her @ raelenep.blogspot.com. She also writes play scripts which have been used around the world.

Thursday 26 April 2012

#RomanticFridayWriters - #AtoZChallenge - Dribbles, Drabbles, Droubbles - Flash Fiction - W is for 'Was his search over?'


Welcome to RomanticFridayWriters!

RFW is about short short writing or flash fiction (usually 400 words), less for poems, with some romantic element. It's not Romance of the happily ever after variety, but Romantic, where it's about the story, the issue, with some romantic relationship involved. Our stories are edgy, sometimes dark, and often don't have the HEA ending! 

It's widely agreed that most fiction (unless it's solely about animals) begins and ends with human characters: their frailties, virtues, conflicts and expectations. In our stories for the A - Z Challenge the writers attempt to more closely observe the people around us...


A Drabble



W is for...


Was his search over...Magnolia virginiana? Hmm.' 

He twirled the dried flower in his hand, its whiteness showing signs of fading. The collection was strikingly similar to Rachel’s arrangement.

His childhood memories were hazy at best, but some retained their clarity. The vanilla scent had soothed him through those difficult years and now seemed to waft around.

Three years of devoted research had brought him to their doorstep. Their initial reluctance had faded under his passionate plea; he wasn’t one to give up easily.

The foster parents had been kind enough to leave him alone in, what, might be his playmate’s room.



©Rekha2012


Image:  www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/m/magvir/magvir1.html

My Photo
A late 30's time travelling to 25 ever so often...aspiring to write better short stories, novellas and poetry. A paradox of thoughts, moods, desires, named Rekha Seshadri. A crybaby, hyper sensitive, shy soul who has been shaped by life to become resilient and thicker skinned. My brain is like a tiny collider; rational and irrational thoughts hit, miss and leave a messy trail behind that's narcissistically called words & verse. A Chronicle Of Dreams is my writing pad,exercise tool for mind and heart...and Unframed Imprints, a dumping ground for my not so great clicks...Do potter around but at your risk.

Tuesday 24 April 2012

#RomanticFridayWriters - #AtoZChallenge - Flash Fiction - U is for Ursula


Welcome to RomanticFridayWriters!

RFW is about short short writing or flash fiction (usually 400 words), less for poems, with some romantic element. It's not Romance of the happily ever after variety, but Romantic, where it's about the story, the issue, with some romantic relationship involved. Our stories are edgy, sometimes dark, and often don't have the HEA ending!

This story is dark, written using the first line as a prompt at a creative writing class I recently attended...

It's widely agreed that most fiction (unless it's solely about animals) begins and ends with human characters: their frailties, virtues, conflicts and expectations. In our stories for the A - Z Challenge the writers attempt to more closely observe the people around us...

U is for Ursula sat at the television...


Ursula sat at the television, weeping, for no reason.

At least she was told there shouldn't be a reason. But looking back over the past year she knew she'd been a fool of the worst kind. Why hadn't she seen it coming?

She'd had life handed to her on a platter. Some said she had it all - the husband, the kids, the home. Her job wasn't half bad either, even though it took up too much of her time, time she should have spent with her family.  

She dabbed her eyes with a ragged, soppy tissue, then reached for her water glass and sipped. The television droned on. Who cared about what was happening in Afghanistan? Who cared that half the world seemed to wallow in never-ending turmoil? What about her? What about her world? No, no one gave a damn about her. She'd been deserted by her family, her so-called friends, her work colleagues...sympathy was short-lived.

How much air time was given to the father who'd drowned his kids - in the car, in the creek just down the road from her? He'd been thoughtful enough to shoot himself afterwards, so pfft! no trial to report, no weeping mother to pity, no how-could-he?

Screw it!

I'm not doing this any more!

Ursula picked up her water glass, then her plateful of pills.

Now death would be handed to her on a platter.


©DeniseCovey2012
Words 230



Denise, (L'Aussie) writes short stories, flash fiction, travel articles and newspaper profiles while working on her Great Australian Novels, one of which is set in Afghanistan. She's the founder of RomanticFridayWriters. Her writing blog is L'Aussie Writing. She'd love you to visit her there for her A - Z Challenge on the theme, BLOGGERS WERE CHILDREN TOO!

Saturday 21 April 2012




Welcome to RomanticFridayWriters!

RFW is about short short writing or flash fiction (usually 400 words), less for poems, with some romantic element. It's not Romance of the happily ever after variety, but Romantic, where it's about the story, the issue, with some romantic relationship involved. Our stories are edgy, sometimes dark, and often don't have the HEA ending!

So here we go! RFW Dribbles (50 words), Drabbles (100 words) and Droubbles (200 words) and more (400 ish)...for your enjoyment - a laugh, a cry...

It's widely agreed that most fiction (unless it's solely about animals) begins and ends with human characters: their frailties, virtues, conflicts and expectations. In our stories for the A - Z Challenge the writers attempt to more closely observe the people around us...

Today just for a change I give you poetry, obviously influenced by Edgar Allan Poe's Annabelle Lee.

S is for By the Sea



By the Sea 

Annabel!
The waves smash against the rocks
The seagulls call your name
The moon beams and is bringing me dreams
Of you
and me
by the sea.

By the sea
we laughed, we played, we loved
Until they came
and took you away -
away from me.

Annabel!
 Your beauty was such that the angels in heaven were jealous -
Jealous of our love
As I held you tight on the grassy banks at night
I could hear their voices on the wind -

‘You will not keep her! You will not have her!’
The voices mingled with the crash of the waves
I held you tight, tighter
I crushed you close to me.
They can never dissever our love.
‘Don't leave me, Annabel!’

My voice ripped away by the wind.

Annabel!
Where are you?
Where have they taken you?
I hear the waves
I hear the gulls
I hear you!
My name is a whisper on the wind.

The sea is cold, so cold
My legs tremble with the chill
The moon threads the waves with its silvery fingers
Enticing
Drawing
me to you.

I am so cold Annabel
as the night tide carries me
to you.
Yes, my darling!
I hear you
Your voice is an angel’s call.

The ocean is chilling yet
my heart is thrilling
at the sound of my name on your lips.
Soon we’ll be together
for eternity
The angels will smile at our love -
a love that was more than love
In our Kingdom by the sea.
The beautiful, wild sea.


©DeniseCovey2012



Denise, (L'Aussie) writes short stories, flash fiction, travel articles and newspaper profiles while working on her Great Australian Novels, one of which is set in Afghanistan. She's the founder of RomanticFridayWriters. Her writing blog is L'Aussie Writing. She'd love you to visit her there for her A - Z Challenge on the theme, BLOGGERS WERE CHILDREN TOO!

Thursday 19 April 2012

#RomanticFridayWriters - #AtoZChallenge - Flash Fiction - Q is for Qui'an



Welcome to RomanticFridayWriters!

RFW is about short short writing or flash fiction (usually 400 words), less for poems, with some romantic element. It's not Romance of the happily ever after variety, but Romantic, where it's about the story, the issue, with some romantic relationship involved. Our stories are edgy, sometimes dark, and often don't have the HEA ending!

So here we go! RFW Dribbles (50 words), Drabbles (100 words) and Droubbles (200 words) and more (400 ish)...for your enjoyment - a laugh, a cry...

It's widely agreed that most fiction (unless it's solely about animals) begins and ends with human characters: their frailties, virtues, conflicts and expectations. In our stories for the A - Z Challenge the writers attempt to more closely observe the people around us...






Today, Q is for Qui'an

Qui'an skittered through the sky, a misty figure cloaked in cloud. She knew with a terrible knowing that she was in ghostly form, in between worlds. She also knew that until her ancestor tablet was dotted, she was relegated the lowly position of 'hungry ghost'. But she'd hovered above her death form long enough to see her ancestor tablet hidden at the top shelf of her mother's library, covered by a soft blanket. Now as she sped through the sky she could only hope that her family would remember her, a worthless girl, and offer up food at festival time, or she'd always go hungry in the afterworld. If her dear mother failed to burn fresh bindings for her feet, once her pride and joy, they would become ragged sores.

But why would her family remember to make offerings for her? She'd taken her life, refused food, all in the name of love. She chose death over arranged marriage. 

She knew she'd wander the afterworld for all time as a 'hungry ghost', but at least she could find her home in the rafters of her beloved's bedroom and watch his dear face, day after day, night after night. Perhaps he would feel her presence and invite her into his soft bed. 

They would be united at last.

©DeniseCovey2012
Words 200 - a droubble
My story inspired by Lisa See's Peony in Love


Denise, (L'Aussie) writes short stories, flash fiction, travel articles and newspaper profiles while working on her Great Australian Novels, one of which is set in Afghanistan. She's the founder of RomanticFridayWriters. Her writing blog is L'Aussie Writing. She'd love you to visit her there for her A - Z Challenge on the theme, BLOGGERS WERE CHILDREN TOO!

Wednesday 18 April 2012

#RomanticFridayWriters - #AtoZChallenge - Flash Fiction - P is for 'Paris.'



Welcome to RomanticFridayWriters!

RFW is about short short writing or flash fiction (usually 400 words), less for poems, with some romantic element. It's not Romance of the happily ever after variety, but Romantic, where it's about the story, the issue, with some romantic relationship involved. Our stories are edgy, sometimes dark, and often don't have the HEA ending!

So here we go! RFW Dribbles (50 words), Drabbles (100 words) and Droubbles (200 words) and more (400 ish)...for your enjoyment - a laugh, a cry...

It's widely agreed that most fiction (unless it's solely about animals) begins and ends with human characters: their frailties, virtues, conflicts and expectations. In our stories for the A - Z Challenge the writers attempt to more closely observe the people around us...


P is for Paris




Paris. City of Dreams. City of Light. I am always up when she awakens. I love the early-morning darkness. I love brewing my coffee in the tiny kitchen then moving onto the wrought-iron balcony. There I sit mesmerised as first light creeps over the top of the beautiful old sandstone buildings, the zinc rooftops becoming burnished fire. The wonder of the moment always enthralls me.

Paris offers such promise. Her beauty is laid out at my feet. Why then cannot I enjoy it? Greedily take such offerings to myself?  

As I sip my café au lait I listen to the sounds of the city coming to life–there is the first hum of traffic as the delivery trucks burrow into loading zones askew with crooked cars, the deleterious of drunkards. I watch the huddled shapes of shiftworkers hurrying home, I watch slowly-moving hulks heading to the job, I watch the great unwashed staggering from doorways with theatrical stretches and yawns. I’d like to take a nightstick to their lazy rumps. No doubt they’ll head off to Café Homeless for a free breakfast. They don’t have to work like the rest of us.

After the motley crew have slunk off in search of sustenance, delicious smells begin to waft my way. Ah! Divine! I inhale the delicate scent. The bakery underneath my building has just cranked out its first batch of bread and pastries. Oh, that Marcus! I sigh. The best pastry chef in the city. I feel honoured to choose from his selection each day. My taste buds tingle in anticipation of the flaky, creamy éclair I will have with my second cup of coffee. The mille feuille I had yesterday was to die for. Perhaps Marielle feels up to a little luxurious bite?

I go to the bedroom. Unlike the kitchen it is massive. Decorated in baroque splendour, a fitting setting for my Marielle. Unlike me, she likes to sleep the morning away. Her still form unnerves me.

‘Ma Cherie?’ I take her in my arms, try to tempt her with my coffee breath. But my Marielle has moved beyond temptation.

Her soul has taken flight into the grey-blue Parisian sky which she loved so well.

Au reviour, ma Cherie. 




©DeniseCovey2012
Words 370



Denise, (L'Aussie) writes short stories, flash fiction, travel articles and newspaper profiles while working on her Great Australian Novels, one of which is set in Afghanistan. She's the founder of RomanticFridayWriters. Her writing blog is L'Aussie Writing. She'd love you to visit her there for her A - Z Challenge on the theme, BLOGGERS WERE CHILDREN TOO!

Monday 16 April 2012

#RomanticFridayWriters - #AtoZChallenge - Flash Fiction - 'N is for Nelly, just when...'


Welcome to RomanticFridayWriters!

RFW is about short short writing or flash fiction (usually 400 words), less for poems, with some romantic element. It's not Romance of the happily ever after variety, but Romantic, where it's about the story, the issue, with some romantic relationship involved. Our stories are edgy, sometimes dark, and often don't have the HEA ending!

So here we go! RFW Dribbles (50 words), Drabbles (100 words) and Droubbles (200 words) and more (400 ish)...for your enjoyment - a laugh, a cry...

It's widely agreed that most fiction (unless it's solely about animals) begins and ends with human characters: their frailties, virtues, conflicts and expectations. In our stories for the A - Z Challenge the writers attempt to more closely observe the people around us...


A Droubble


N is for 'Nelly...'

'Nelly, just when you need them most they go and die on you,' Elspeth sobbed into her hand-embroidered handkerchief. 'How am I ever going to cope on my own?'

'You're lucky to have all this,' Nelly thought to herself, but wasn't game to say it to her long-time friend.

'Look Nelly, it's been me that's been feeling poorly these past years, but now Harry just ups and leaves me. No warning, no nothing,' she sniffed, dabbing her eyes daintily.

'Well, a heart attack is very sudden Elspeth. Harry could hardly warn you. He had no warning himself, poor fellow.' Poor fellow indeed, Nelly thought, he could have told me. After all, it happened just after we...

'Poor fellow, yes,' Nelly said, patting Elspeth's hand. 'Harry was unlucky. I'm sure he'd rather be with you...' or me, she thought.

'Unlucky? I'm the unlucky one! Who's going to fix that fence? Who's going to mow all these acres? Who's going to take the cattle to market?'

Maybe Harry's the lucky one after all, Nelly thought. He was too kind to leave you Elspeth, when he and I could have had such a happy life together, you cow. RIP, Harry, you were one of the good ones.
'

©DeniseCovey2012
Words 200
Image: http://www.maremmaguide.com/art-in-the-middle-ages.html



Denise, (L'Aussie) writes short stories, flash fiction, travel articles and newspaper profiles while working on her Great Australian Novels, one of which is set in Afghanistan. She's the founder of RomanticFridayWriters. Her writing blog is L'Aussie Writing. She'd love you to visit her there for her A - Z Challenge on the theme, BLOGGERS WERE CHILDREN TOO!

Saturday 14 April 2012

#RomanticFridayWriters - #AtoZChallenge - Dribbles, Drabbles, Droubbles - Flash Fiction - M is for Matches under the stars...



Welcome to RomanticFridayWriters!

RFW is about short short writing or flash fiction (usually 400 words), less for poems, with some romantic element. It's not Romance of the happily ever after variety, but Romantic, where it's about the story, the issue, with some romantic relationship involved. Our stories are edgy, sometimes dark, and often don't have the HEA ending! 

So here we go! RFW Dribbles (50 words), Drabbles (100 words) and Droubbles (200 words) and more (400 ish)...for your enjoyment - a laugh, a cry...

It's widely agreed that most fiction (unless it's solely about animals) begins and ends with human characters: their frailties, virtues, conflicts and expectations. In our stories for the A - Z Challenge the writers attempt to more closely observe the people around us...


A Droubble


M is for ...'Matches Under the Stars'





Matches under the stars’ the message had coded a dozen times.

Zooawoong debated the futility of it, desire overriding her fears, slithered her awkward way to the booth.

The bored looking assistant looked her once over, before leading her in.

Strapped to the ‘Biosync’, Zooawoong made her specific request.

Outcome not possible,” the machine replied.

Her eyes would have watered, but for the lack of tear ducts. As the assistant waited, she sought ‘His’ help.

His rolling gait meant a reprimand was to be expected. His thoughts filtered through. “The Boh-ring are better suited, child.”

She remained unmoved, looking in disgust at the appendages that served for limbs. Two legged was so graceful!

He glanced at his lovelorn spawn. Being the Emperor of ‘Piles Star Systems’ wasn’t easy.

The Solians were shrewd, driving a hard bargain. The young male she fancied was no match, lacking the tentacles - their power source.

“Appearances don’t matter to him. I hear him say, all the time.”

Surely nothe wasn’t the one losing precious assets. An icy moon and a moon base hadn’t been enough.

Maybe, the smallest of the ‘Diamond’ planets their captain fancied would clinch the deal, get her the mate she craved.

©Reksha2012

 



My PhotoA late 30's time travelling to 25 ever so often...aspiring to write better short stories, novellas and poetry. A paradox of thoughts, moods, desires, named Rekha Seshadri. A crybaby, hyper sensitive, shy soul who has been shaped by life to become resilient and thicker skinned. My brain is like a tiny collider; rational and irrational thoughts hit, miss and leave a messy trail behind that's narcissistically called words & verse. A Chronicle Of Dreams is my writing pad,exercise tool for mind and heart...and Unframed Imprints, a dumping ground for my not so great clicks...Do potter around but at your risk.

Friday 13 April 2012

#RomanticFridayWriters - #AtoZChallenge - Flash Fiction - L is for 'Lisa, you'll never make it...'

Welcome to RomanticFridayWriters!

RFW is about short short writing or flash fiction (usually 400 words), less for poems, with some romantic element. It's not Romance of the happily ever after variety, but Romantic, where it's about the story, the issue, with some romantic relationship involved. Our stories are edgy, sometimes dark, and often don't have the HEA ending!

So here we go! RFW Dribbles (50 words), Drabbles (100 words) and Droubbles (200 words) and more (400 ish)...for your enjoyment - a laugh, a cry...

It's widely agreed that most fiction (unless it's solely about animals) begins and ends with human characters: their frailties, virtues, conflicts and expectations. In our stories for the A - Z Challenge the writers attempt to more closely observe the people around us...

L is for 'Lisa, you'll never make it...'


'Lisa, you're dreaming,' Kelvin said. 'You'll never make it.'

Lisa sniggered, dropped her suitcase at the door and kicked it open with her cowgirl boots.

'I don't care what you think, you loser. I'm going to give this my best shot. It's my ticket out of this dump.'

She walked out the door.

She felt hot breath on the nape of her neck. Kelvin had followed her outside. 'Here's your coffee,' he said, handing her the takeaway cup she'd left on the kitchen bench. For a minute she thought he was going to throw it over her new 'do.

'You're really going then?' he asked, looking up the street.

'The sooner the better. Living with a no-account guy in a no-account tumbledown shack isn't going to help my career.'

'So where will you live?' Kelvin asked, trying to act cool. 'Uh, just askin'. Curiosity.'

'Nick said I could stay with him till the work starts coming in regular,' she said.

'That no-account agent of yours? Well, that figures. Know what that sleazebag's after. You'd be better off with me, no hoper that I am an' all. Better the devil you know an' all  that.'

Nick's hot red car cruised down the street, stopping at the broken-down gate. Lisa stepped over the wiggly fence and handed her case to Nick. Ah, to step into this bright and shiny chrome job...

'Stay, Lisa. I'll -' Kelvin's voice was getting up a whine, louder than the purr of the engine.

'In your dreams buster. Let's go Nick. Let's get outta this dump.'

Nick ran his hand up her leg and squeezed her soft inner thigh. 'Yeah, let's hurry!'


©DeniseCovey2012
Words 275



Denise, (L'Aussie) writes short stories, flash fiction, travel articles and newspaper profiles while working on her Great Australian Novels, one of which is set in Afghanistan. She's the founder of RomanticFridayWriters. Her writing blog is L'Aussie Writing. She'd love you to visit her there for her A - Z Challenge on the theme, BLOGGERS WERE CHILDREN TOO!

Wednesday 11 April 2012

#RomanticFridayWriters - #AtoZChallenge - Flash Fiction - 'J is for...'


Welcome to RomanticFridayWriters!

RFW is about short short writing or flash fiction (usually 400 words), less for poems, with some romantic element. It's not Romance of the happily ever after variety, but Romantic, where it's about the story, the issue, with some romantic relationship involved. Our stories are edgy, sometimes dark, and often don't have the HEA ending! 

So here we go! RFW Dribbles (50 words), Drabbles (100 words) and Droubbles (200 words) and more (400 ish)...for your enjoyment - a laugh, a cry...

It's widely agreed that most fiction (unless it's solely about animals) begins and ends with human characters: their frailties, virtues, conflicts and expectations. In our stories for the A - Z Challenge the writers attempt to more closely observe the people around us...


Today I have another vignette in the life of Bosco and Geni in Afghanistan...


J is for 'Just the thought...'

Just the thought of seeing her for maybe the last time broke him up inside. Was this the last time he'd see her face? He had to savour each moment.

'Geni,' he began, 'we've started something here. I know a war zone isn't the ideal place for love to grow, but I need to tell you before you go - I love you.'

Geni looked up from cutting her steak. 

'Bosco? What did you say?' Her ears must be losing it from too much artillery fire. Big tough guy Bosco? She put down her knife and fork and considered him.

Funny she'd not noticed the new lines around his eyes, the way his face was cut into sharp angles, the distracted way he ran his hands through his hair.

'Bosco?' she asked in wonder. 'Perhaps you do love me.'

'I love you Geni. Here in Afghanistan we lose people every day. I don't want to ever lose you.'

He reached across the mess table and took her hands. He brought her greasy fingers to his lips and kissed them, one by one, ignoring the sniggers from his mates. He rather enjoyed the way they bashed their knives and forks on the table, braying for more. It gave him courage.

'I want to spend the rest of my life with you.'

She leaned her elbows on the table and reached across to kiss him. The clatter all around got louder and louder. 'More! More! More! More! The soldiers were enjoying the show.

Then the sirens began...


©DeniseCovey2012
Words 247 
Image
                                                                          

Denise, (L'Aussie) writes short stories, flash fiction, travel articles and newspaper profiles while working on her Great Australian Novels, one of which is set in Afghanistan. She's the founder of RomanticFridayWriters. Her writing blog is L'Aussie Writing. She'd love you to visit her there for her A - Z Challenge on the theme, BLOGGERS WERE CHILDREN TOO! 

Tuesday 10 April 2012

#RomanticFridayWriters - #AtoZChallenge - Dribbles and Drabbles - Flash Fiction - I is for 'Isodora settled onto the hotel bar stool...'


Welcome to RomanticFridayWriters!

RFW is about short short writing or flash fiction (usually 400 words), less for poems, with some romantic element. It's not Romance of the happily ever after variety, but Romantic, where it's about the story, the issue, with some romantic relationship involved. Our stories are edgy, sometimes dark, and often don't have the HEA ending! 

So here we go! RFW Dribbles (50 words), Drabbles (100 words) and Droubbles (200 words) and more (400 ish)...for your enjoyment - a laugh, a cry...

It's widely agreed that most fiction (unless it's solely about animals) begins and ends with human characters: their frailties, virtues, conflicts and expectations. In our stories for the A - Z Challenge the writers attempt to more closely observe the people around us...

I is for Isodora



Isodora settled onto the hotel bar stool fingering the photo of her sisters, Holly, Hailey and Helen, all decked out in their cowgirl outfits. 

"Margarita," she mumbled to the bartender.

A man sat on her right. "Hey Babe."

She turned her head away.

Two large hands settled on her shoulders. Isodora felt the tension seep from her tired muscles as the stranger's fingers began their slow massage. She moaned in pleasure. 

"Isodora," he said, giving her shoulders a final squeeze. The stranger took the seat on her left. He dropped his black Stetson onto the bar and regarded her with his soulful brown eyes. 

"Detective?" She drained the margarita, ordered another.

"We've determined it was an accident."

"Accident." If her boss hadn't been an asshole, she'd have been in the rental too, driving from Colorado to Houston.

The second margarita came and she treated it like the first. 

"Woah filly," Detective Stetson said. 

She turned toward him. Her soul slipped into his kind chocolate eyes. Gravity shifted. Her body eased his way. His mouth met hers with tender pressure. 

"You'll need help to your room." His arms supported her and her heart would never be the same.

Word Count 200 - a Drabble

Image - Scooter Nation

©NRWilliams2012




                                                                          


Nancy Williams has been inventing fantastical stories since she started talking eons ago. She finds it fun to create new creatures and new worlds or to elaborate on this world. Nancy has published two books and is working on her third.Visit her @ http://nrwilliams.blogspot.com.au/.

Monday 9 April 2012

#RomanticFridayWriters - #AtoZChallenge - Dribbles, Drabbles, Droubbles - Flash Fiction - H is for His Ring.


Welcome to RomanticFridayWriters!

RFW is about short short writing or flash fiction (usually 400 words), less for poems, with some romantic element. It's not Romance of the happily ever after variety, but Romantic, where it's about the story, the issue, with some romantic relationship involved. Our stories are edgy, sometimes dark, and often don't have the HEA ending! 

So here we go! RFW Dribbles (50 words), Drabbles (100 words) and Droubbles (200 words) and more (400 ish)...for your enjoyment - a laugh, a cry...

It's widely agreed that most fiction (unless it's solely about animals) begins and ends with human characters: their frailties, virtues, conflicts and expectations. In our stories for the A - Z Challenge the writers attempt to more closely observe the people around us...

Today is super romance... 


H is for:




After the dinner party two nights ago, Robert had checked for the ring under his blue sweater in the drawer. It was there then, but not now.



A chef by profession, he enjoyed enticing his Darlene with lobster, savory salad, brie cheese, crackers and chocolate dipped strawberries for dessert. On this particular occasion magnolias floated in a low vase, their strong scent somewhat over powered by the flavors emanating from the kitchen. 


Darlene showered in the bathroom. Disappointed that his plan was ruined, he slammed his sweater drawer shut and returned to the kitchen. Satisfied with his menu, he set the scene in the cozy lounge with tapered candles set in crystal candelabras. He brought out the delectable dishes, leaving the lobsters till last, then turned to watch Darlene make her usual grand entrance, this time in her black slinky cocktail dress, his favorite.


They'd met when Darlene entered his restaurant, enjoyed his cooking and asked to meet him. Love captured him instantly. Now, his proposal was ruined and the ring, one of a kind, could not be replicated. Disappointment tasted bitter on his lips and gnawed at his stomach. 



Music swelled from the Bose. Darlene stepped around the ottoman, her walk sultry, her body moving to the music. As she came closer, a flash drew his eyes to her finger. There, enticing and sweet, she wore his ring.



Word Count: 220 - a little over Drabble length


©NRWilliams2012


                                                                          


Nancy Williams has been inventing fantastical stories since she started talking eons ago. She finds it fun to create new creatures and new worlds or to elaborate on this world. Nancy has published two books and is working on her third. Visit her @ http://nrwilliams.blogspot.com.au/.