My ebook, Flash of Fantasy, is FREE today!

I almost forgot to post this...sorry! Please share as you can. FREE today on Amazon

A Flash of Fantasy is a compilation of flash fiction stories I have written during the first six months of 2012. Some were written with a word count limit, some on starter prompts, some on photographs and some on a phrase. Not all stories will incorporate the chosen word(s) and not all use the photograph(s) directly. These were used to inspire, not dictate.

One story won second place in a competition, another was chosen to be displayed worldwide on The Flash Flood blog during National Flash Fiction Day.

I hope you enjoy reading these as much as I enjoyed writing them.

Flash fiction is a style of fictional literature or fiction of extreme brevity. There is no widely accepted definition of the length of the category. Some self-described markets for flash fiction impose caps as low as three hundred words, while others consider stories as long as a thousand words to be flash fiction. [source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_fiction]

Remember, you do NOT need a Kindle to read this. You can download free readers for your PC, Mac, tablet or smartphones HERE.

Cold but safe....

I tried to send a quick email update to let everyone know we arrived safe yesterday but guess it never made it. We did two hard days of driving (for us), little wind, fair amount of rain yesterday, some dreaded night driving Saturday (which started out gorgeous and degraded as we headed south) and arrived to 43 degrees and drizzly at around 4pm yesterday.

Bike are unloaded and in the shed, supposed to get back up to 60 on Fri/Sat and we might get in a nice ride. Plus Stu has a service appointment he needs to get done, hopefully Friday.

While driving down we passed literally HUNDREDS of trucks from utility companies and tree companies headed north. We've never seen this level of advance preparation and hope it helps the recovery effort. It really looks to be an ugly, ugly, dangerous storm. Hoping all our family and friends stay safe!

I know many of you are geocachers and I wanted to pass along this book from a writing friend that I thought might interest you. Be sure to share the link with your fellow cachers.

Available for purchase in ebook and print from all major online retailers. If you or someone you know enjoys cozy mysteries or geocaching, or lives in the Willamette Valley where this series is set, nab a copy. The ebook is $4.99, and the print copy is being sold at a discount by Amazon. What a deal!

First to Find (Caching Out Series #1)

www.amazon.com

Death is the hardest puzzle to solve. Margarita Williams escaped death at a young age, but its shadow has followed her all her life. Now, amidst the chaos of a new Australian roommate and mysterious, menacing 

Moving on down the road...early!

We had planned to stay in Maryland until around November 10th but Hurricane Sandy has changed our mind for us. We are currently parked on Kent Island on the eastern shore - not a good spot to be based upon the current projections.

So we made the decision to hit the road tomorrow before the heavy rain starts on Sunday. We should be snug on our property before the storm hits here. This means cancelling a couple of doctor appointments and my last two PT sessions, but that's a small price to pay for staying safe. They have doctors in Tennessee, too! We had also hoped to see family another time or two...sigh.

The colors are breathtaking right now, the storm will trash the remaining leaves. Here's a shot I took through the windshield yesterday.

For those we are leaving behind in the Mid-Atlantic up through New England area, please do all you can to stay safe. This storm looks ugly. We will be back online by next Tues-Wed. (have to get our phone service turned back on).

Tim Burton, The Adams Family, Star Wars and more!

What an amazing wedding it was....Stu's youngest daughter married on Saturday in a Halloween themed wedding. We were amazed at some of the innovative costumes. From Day of the Dead to Zombies to Alice in Wonderland to witches and more.... It was a day none of us will soon forget!

Here are a few fun photos - first I promised pics of us:




Here are some others:

 

You can see all our pictures at SmugMug (the lighting was tough and I was using a point 'n click camera, so there is some graininess.) Lots of dancing, floated the keg and had fun with the ice luge. Then the kids got to try to go home in their shrink-wrapped vehicles.

Title-less, round two!

Busy week, getting close to the end of our doctor appointments, moved from one daughter's yard in Delaware to another in Maryland, and getting ready for today's big wedding. Sunday was the bridal shower - Stu was off on his guy's ride but I sure enjoyed it.

Yesterday, well last night, we had the dress rehearsal and helped decorate the hall (okay, my helping was taking a lot of informal photos).

Today at 4pm is the wedding...Halloween themed and yes, Stu and I are going in costume. I promise photos later....

For now HERE are the shower photos and HERE are the ones from last night.

Later!

Looking for a title....

I don't have a title for this post, I don't have much to say in this post. LOL! We spent the week getting more doctor appointments out of the way. I had my Physical Therapy (PT) evaluation for my shoulder and brought home some exercises to do every day.

Thursday was our normal primary care physician visits along with the bloodwork. This year, thanks to the CDC announcement for baby boomers, we added in Hep C screening. Then because our property is in the woods and there are a LOT of ticks, we both got Lyme screening, too. We got our results yesterday...all tests were good! Well, my cholesterol is up but not hugely high. We're giving it a year to see if I can get it down with exercise (already done the diet part). We both got flu shots and because I turned 65, I got my first pneumonia vaccine.

Stu then saw his surgeon's office for his knees. Other than needing to get back to doing daily PT for thigh strengthening, his checkup was good, too. He has to go back in six months so looks like we'll be in Maryland next April-May timeframe, at least for a few weeks.

We have a reprieve next week - just our dental appointments. Phew!

I ended up feeling really back the 24-48 hours after the shots. The one shot in my bad shoulder was really painful, then toss in a low grade fever and aching all over. UGH! Doing better today but had to cancel my PT appointment on Friday - I could barely move my arm. Moved it to Tuesday. Hoping I can do the home exercises tomorrow.

In between appointments we ran a few errands. I noticed a Staples store and ran in to see if I could find a comfortable but inexpensive office chair. I rarely use my desk area because the dining room chair is too uncomfortable for anything but short periods. I really lucked out. All the chairs were on sale and I got a VERY comfortable one for $49. Happy camper!!

Then I ordered a wireless keyboard so I can use the keyboard tray for better height adjustment. I loved finding one in white so I can see when in the evenings. Now the only thing missing is a monitor but I'll wait on that one. LOL!

Stu had hoped to do a benefit motorcycle ride for a fellow firefighter today but we woke to 26 degrees. It was all the way up to 30 at 8am and after that it was too late to go (he had a several hour ride to the starting site). So he and Sadie took advantage of the snuggle weather....then Sadie baked in the sun for a while.

He's headed out on his annual guy ride now and I hope to get in two days worth of writing and MAYBE finally finish my mystery novel. Then it's edit time...got any volunteers to help? [giggle]

Be sure to read all about my coincidences on my next novel after this one on my writing page.

I've been SO busy....

Really, I have...



Honest....



You do believe me, don't you?

---

Sniffing and lickingly yours,

Sadie

And so it begins....

The cold weather has moved in with a low of 37 Sunday night and daytime highs in the 50's-60's. Brrrr.....  Tomorrow warms a little more, maybe 69-70. Hoping the weekend warms a little. On Saturday Stu is going on a benefit ride for a fellow firefighter and on Sunday he leaves on his annual guy's ride (they always have a blast).

Last Saturday we went on our annual Red Helmet ride along with Stu's youngest daughter and her fiance. We missed any rain, thank goodness, and the temperatures were reasonable...till the ride home. We bundled up and made good time.

You can see all the photos and a couple of short videos HERE.

This was the first year since 2008 that I didn't ride my own (I didn't own my own in 2008). I had three doctor visits last week and ended up with back to back cortisone shots. One in my left forearm for tendon impingement and the other in my right shoulder for rotator cuff impingement. I ended up with insomnia for three nights, getting only three hours sleep each night. A few other side effects and the decision was easy, ride on the back and enjoy it.

Today I had my PT evaluation and got my exercises to do daily. We're hoping this will strengthen the arm and that will be all I need. Keeping fingers crossed.

Tomorrow Stu gets a hearing retest and his hearing aids adjusted and I see an ENT for several on-going issues, nothing serious. Thursday morning is our primary care check-up for both of us and Thursday afternoon is Stu's knee check-up with his orthopedic surgeon.

But the week isn't all medical stuff. Tonight we had a great dinner with Stu's oldest stepdaughter and her family and Thursday we have our dinner with our Thursday night friends. Always a good time.

Now I've gone and done it....

Yup, it's official. I signed up for NaNoWriMo. Am I insane? I haven't even finished my Camp NaNoWriMo novel first draft. EEEK!

My initial plan had been to finish "Not a Whisper", my camp novel, by the end of Sept, edit it in Oct/Nov and publish in early December. Well, writing slowed down a LOT in September and October isn't doing much better. Too much life sticking its nose into my life.

So, rather than rebel and do an EditNaNo, which I considered doing, I'm going to take my short story, Lost and Found  and try a contemporary romance using that as the prequel. I have had quite a few folks asking me to do that so I figured NaNoWriMo is the time to tackle it. I may not win, I may end up with a novella instead of a novel but it's the journey that's important. Right?

For those that are interested, here is an excerpt from my short story Lost and Found [only .99 at Amazon]:

The tears increased and Nancy “What’s wrong, Sarah?” Nancy grabbed Sarah’s arms, “What is it?” 

“It’s Brian. He went to help Mr. Jacobs at the church and he should have been home over two hours ago. I tried calling 911 but there isn’t one.” She slumped down into the rocker. “I should never have moved back here.” The tears increased and Nancy grabbed a dish towel from the kitchen counter.

“Don’t say that. We’re all glad to have you back home.” 

“I thought we’d be safe here and I wouldn’t have to worry. Brian doesn’t know anything about the country. He doesn’t know how to protect himself out here. He could have been attacked by a grizzly. Or fallen into the pond and drowned.”

Putting her hands on her hips, Nancy tried to look angry. “Sarah, you’re overreacting. We don’t have grizzlies out here and that pond is only two feet deep. Calm down. We’ll find him.” 

“But he doesn’t know anyone here. He hasn’t made any friends yet. He says all the kids make fun of him because he’d rather sit at the computer than play sports." She absentmindedly wiped her nose with the towel. “Something bad has happened to him and it’s all my fault!” 

A deep voice cut through her sniffling. “Excuse me ma’am. I have to agree with Nancy. You are overreacting but that just shows you’re a good mother.” Sarah looked up slowly – up and up and up. The man standing beside Nancy was at least 6’ 6’’. When she reached the top she noticed he was wearing a hat, one like state policemen wear.

“I’m sorry, Sarah. I forgot to introduce you,” Nancy apologized. “Sarah, this is Carl Pierce our new sheriff. He’s only been in town for two months so I thought you two would have something in common.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth she knew it was the wrong thing to say. Sarah burst into tears again, accompanied by heaving sobs. 

Nancy reached over and hugged her. “Sarah, calm down. Let’s look at this objectively. There’s got to be an explanation. Tell us again what Brian said.”

Sniffling and snuffling, Sarah tried to remember. “He said he was going to help Mr. Jacobs at the church. He was so excited and I was busy so I really didn’t get any details. I just remember telling him to be careful crossing the highway and to be home by five for dinner.” She looked at the clock – seven-thirty.

When Carl put his hand on her shoulder, she looked up into the most beautiful green eyes, more striking than any she had ever seen on anyone – man or woman. They went perfectly with his sandy colored hair and deep tan. She scolded herself. Stop it, your son is missing and you’re thinking about how good looking Carl is? You’re acting like a city hussy. You left that life behind, remember? She squirmed in her chair and sat up a little straighter.

“We’ll find him, ma’am. Boys will be boys.”

“Not my Brian! You don’t understand-” 

Carl interrupted. “What I understand is your son is late coming home and we’re going to find him.” He turned and headed out the kitchen door leaving them both startled.

“Isn’t he the greatest?” whispered Nancy. “He’s not only gorgeous, he’s nice to everyone AND he’s single.” 

“Nancy!” Sarah blushed. “All I can think about is Brian. If something has happened to him, it’s my fault. He didn’t want to move here. He loved the city, riding the buses, visiting the museums and the library. Out here there aren't any buses. We don’t even have cable.”

The title for the new book is currently "Home Again" but if anyone comes up with a better suggestion, I'm wide open to ideas.