Broken Dreams

Today is the day for this month's Knights of MicroFiction hosted by Jess and me.  In case you missed it here is the prompt:  

In 400 words or less, your character(could also be more than one), has a chance meeting with someone who will change their life.

And if you'd like to join us, we'd love to have you.  You still have time just post by 11:59 pm Jan 16th and add your link to the linky list below.

Ok here is my entry.  It ended up being 394 words.  Hope you enjoy it.  

BROKEN DREAMS

Sam rolled off the couch and slowly stood.  He wasn’t hungry but when had he eaten last?  He stumbled past piles of dirty laundry and headed for the kitchen.  His reflection in the hall mirror startled him.  He looked more like a Neanderthal than a man.  His shoulders were hunched and he hadn’t shaved for a month.

Would he ever wake from this nightmare?

 

He opened the fridge.  Not a single thing. He stared at the bright white shelves.  Why the hell would someone make them so bright?  Or maybe it was his eyes, he hadn’t turned the lights on for a week.  

He preferred the dark now, it was soothing; it helped him forget...

No not forget, nothing could do that.

 

His stomach now reproached him with a loud rumble.

 

It was too soon.  But the fog in his brain cleared enough to understand the need for survival was greater than his need for seclusion.  He had to find food.

 

He stuffed his bare feet into his Timberland hiking boots and without tying them staggered out the door and down Walnut street. He almost passed the grocery store.

  

Inside, he  grabbed a cart and wandered down the aisles.  After a few minutes, he realized, he had gone through almost the whole store, yet his cart was still empty.

 

Tuna fish cans were stacked on the shelf in front of him.  Simple enough.  He grabbed five.

In an odd moment of clarity, he thought of bread.  For a sandwich.  He retraced his steps to the bread aisle and gazed at the different plastic wrapped loaves, as if confused by the choices.  He bent down to look at one marked “Heart Healthy”.

Out of nowhere, a cart slammed into him and knocked him over.  

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” a woman’s voice said.  She reached out to help him up.  He pushed her hand away and grumbled.  

Then he looked up and saw her face.  Her bright smile sparked a feeling in his heart.  She was the map for his lost soul.    

“Are you all right?” she asked.

“I’m fine.”  The fog in his head slowly dissipated.

She held out her hand and this time he took it.

“Can I make it up to you? Let me buy you a coffee next door.”

He heard himself say, “Ok.”

     

Maybe his nightmare was finally over.   

****

Well that's what I came up with. What do you think? Do you have any news you want to share? What's going on in your world today?

Kathy :)

KoMF Prompt

Hope you all had a great weekend!  The weather sure was nice here in Ohio.  All our snow is gone and we even got to see some blue sky.

It's already the middle of the month so that means it's time for the Knights of MicroFiction, hosted by me and Jess.  Anyone can join.  The more the merrier!  Just sign up on the linky list below.  The purpose is simply to have fun writing flash fictions and get to know more about our fellow bloggers.  As always, two participants will be chosen to be guests on Jess's or my blog.

Here's all the details for this month.

Prompt:  In 400 words or less your character(could also be more than one) has a chance meeting with someone who will change their life.


Post your entry before 11:59pm on Wednesday Jan, 16th and then have fun going around to read as many other entries as you can.






Kathy :)

Interview with Patrick Stahl

Today I'm happy to introduce you to Patrick Stahl, November's Knight's of MicroFiction winner.
He's a relatively new blogger so it'd be great if you'd head on over to his blog and support him (after reading the interview of course :)).


Hi Patrick It's great to have you here.  Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I am an aspiring writer and editor with a dream of working as one of Tor's Senior Editors.  Most of my current work is flash fiction.  I've dabbled in many genres, but fantasy is my usual.

Wow, that would be an awesome gig.  

When did you know you wanted to be a writer and what inspires you?
Somewhere between sixth and seventh grade after my sixth grade English teacher complimented me on some adventure stories I'd written for class and I began an epic fantasy novel during summer vacation.

 A lot of my inspirations come from the creative works of others, such as Hayao Miyazaki's films and Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series, just to name a couple.

Oh I loved Spirited Away.
What project are you working on right now?

I have quite a few projects running right now: an adult epic fantasy novel starring a band of knights fighting the embodiment of evil, a young adult fantasy novel, a few short stories, and a novelette with a magic system that I created involving herbs and jerum (a creature in the story) blood.

Sounds like you're keeping busy creating all sorts of new worlds.  That's what I love about fantasy.  But it does seem to take more time and planning.
What is the most challenging aspect of writing for you?

Getting myself to actually sit down and write something longer than flash fiction.

Hmm, that is difficult. I started out mostly writing short picture books, but I've learned to use a detailed outline to help me reach novel length.

What made you decide to start blogging?

I was watching the videos of Brandon Sanderson's creative writing class at BYU when Peggy Eddleman came as a guest speaker to his class and talked about the benefits of blogging.  I decided then to start a blog.

Well we certainly are glad you're here.  I hope you get a lot of it.  I know I do.  There are so many wonderful people in this community to meet.

2012 is almost over, what are your writing goals for 2013?

I would like to finish all of my current projects that are under novel-length.

That's a great goal, good luck with it.  

What books have influenced you the most?

The Abhorsen Chronicles, The Hobbit, the Harry Potter series, most of Rick Riordan's books, the first two Wheel of Time novels, and the books by Emily Rodda set in Deltora.

There's a couple in there I haven't heard of, I'll have to check them out. I haven't read Harry Potter myself but my son gobbled up the whole series this summer. I know I'll have to read them some time.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I like to play strategy games, read, and play soccer.  

Patrick, it was great to get to know you a little better.  

Now head on over and check out Patrick's blog, Into the Ravenous Maw.

****

I also want to thank all of you who sent prayers and positive thoughts to Jess's friend Kate.  She's recovering well after a successful surgery.  

And Jess has something special for Monday so don't forget to stop by and see her big surprise. 

Oh and I almost forgot my Healthy Writer's Club Update.  The girls and I have started doing some plyometric exercises, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to build up our speed and explosive power on the ice.  And oh my gosh are we sore!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Kathy :) 

Best Friends- KoMF #9

This months prompt was:  In 300 words or less write a scene where the main character realizes he/she is thankful for something.  Include the words "turkey" and "Mayflower" (this could be May flowers too or other creative variations).

Here's my entry.

Best Friends

I could hear Susan shuffling papers around on the counter, muttering to herself.  She must have lost her keys again.  

I struggled to lift my head from the pillow and glared at the clock.  Uggh, it was already 5:00, we were supposed to be at the party soon.  I forced myself to sit up.  How could I go to a dinner party?  I was a mess.  My hair stuck out in all directions and my face still burned from the endless tears.

“Come on Jen, are you ready?”  she called poking her head into my room.

“I...I can’t go Susan.”  I shrugged.  I felt as pathetic as I looked.  “Go without me.”

“Oh hon,” she sat down on my bed and hugged me.  “I’m sorry about Charles.  He’s a jerk.”  She sucked in a deep breath.

I knew she was right but I didn’t want to hear it.  I wanted to be alone,  I wanted to let all the misery seep into my soul and carry me to oblivion.

“Come on, I’m not leaving this apartment without you.”  She grabbed my hand and led me to the bathroom.  “Clean up, I’ll wait for you.”  

My empty shell of a body didn’t have the strength to protest.  

Thirty minutes later we pulled up at her sister’s huge country estate.  Guests milled about in fancy dresses.  I felt like a turkey in my jeans and sweater.  At least Susan was wearing jeans too.         

I went off to hide in the library and found myself staring at a replica of the Mayflower.  

“Jen?” a deep silky voice asked.  I turned and my breath caught. Stunning green eyes gazed into mine.

“Susan said I’d find you in here.”  He offered me his muscled arm.   I smiled.  

Susan was my best friend ever.  

****

Hope you enjoyed it! Remember you still have until 11:59 pm on the 15th to post your entry if you want to join us. The more the merrier! Just add your link to the linky list.

Kathy :)