O, Cult Reading time: 2 minutes My knees ached from squatting behind the Monkey’s Tail. Stakeouts made me sleepy, and there’s no Starbucks in the jungle. The laughter of a faraway hyena and the stuttering of a nearby macaw stole my attention. “Can I help you?” Startled me. I fell. “You’re a dopey one,” the […]
FREEFALL Took me a year of blogging, but I finally figured out something fun we’d both enjoy. I’m calling it the Flash Friday Mystery. Here’s how it works. Every other Friday, I write a piece in about 100 words. The story will be based on the number for that particular date on the calendar. So, […]
Reading time: 1 minute Elmore Leonard fans who miss his work might be happy to turn the pages of Lou Berney’s debut crime caper, Gutshot Straight. I write from experience, of course. I’d enjoy a seven-course meal of Elmore Leonard novels with a short story (3:10 to Yuma anyone?) for dessert. Berney took advantage of the […]
For You: A Ground Floor Opportunity! — Reading time: 1 minute Who’s your favorite author? Grisham or Grafton? Lehane, Le Carre, Lansdale or Leonard? Even if your favorite author isn’t a “G” or an “L”, I have the same question for you: Did you read the very first piece of fiction they were paid to write? […]
Reading time: 1 ½ minutes – Get ready to fall in love with Dixie Dupree. It won’t be love at first sight. She’s turning over her diary as key evidence against her uncle when we first meet her in chapter one. But along the way toward the story’s conclusion, as you discover why she releases her […]
Elves are just funny, by nature. So, naturally, some screw it up. Reading time: 1 minute — Marcus from Bad Santa – Yes, the feel-good family flick for the youngest kids in the family features a sullen, drunk and disorderly Billie Bob Thornton as Santa along with his sidekick Marcus (Tony Cox) who […]
Success for National Novel Writing Month (NANO) November hurled plenty my way to try and stop me from hitting the goal of writing 50,000 words during the month. From the bad – my daughter spending four days in the hospital, to the good – thirty-two people showing up for Thanksgiving at our house. My daughter […]
Looking for something? Here’s help! Since it’s November, I am… A. Checking out like a library book. B. Going dark like a shuttered theater C. Lost somewhere like my protagonist in Act II D. Searching for a new metaphor None of the above! Trick question. November is National Novel Writing Month, and I’m playing. The goal […]
Final tale for Halloween. Reading time: 1 minute. Hope you enjoyed the series. THE HUNT 5 days till Halloween: Carving out my spot behind the hedge. Ready for ambush if I spot him. 4 days till: Cloud cover darkens the night. My eyes adjust. Scores of nighttime visitors –toads, rodents, a coyote. No sign of […]
Today’s entry is a special inside joke to my mom. Anyone is welcome to read, but only Mom will truly understand. Also, please note that my mother is neither a witch nor named Melinda Widebottom – those were only story elements. Final spooktacular flash fiction will appear here on Halloween morning. See you then… WITCH […]
JD Frain 