KoMF

It's time for the Knights of MicroFiction!  To join in, just post your entry by 11:59 EST on the 15th and leave a comment here with your post link.  Then go check out as many entries as you can.  By the 17th Jess and I will choose two winners to be featured on our blogs.

Here's the prompt:
Write a 200 word or less, flash fiction beginning with this phrase:  Her eyes shot open....
You are free to change the gender and the POV if you want to. 



Here's mine.  


Her eyes shot open as consciousness flooded her mind.  She remembered where she was.  The sounds of battle raged on around her.  But she was alive and aside from a nasty bump on her head, still in one piece.  Springing to her feet she grabbed her sword and scanned the battlefield.

There, not 100 yards away, was Jedrik.  Rage burned inside her as she watched him bark orders from safety while men were slaughtered in every direction.  The field between them was strewn with the bodies of her people.  She would avenge them.   She no longer feared him. 

Dodging arrows and flailing swords she sprinted across the ground slippery with the blood of her countrymen.  She was almost there.  The tip of her sword raised, she lunged at him.  But he had seen the movement and spun around to face her.

"There is nothing you can do, I have already won," he said waving his hand as if dismissing her, "this battle is simply a formality."    

 "You will not take another breath," she hissed.

A twisted smile crossed his face.  Had he manipulated her again?  Could he win even in death? 

She had no other choice.  She swung her sword.    

*****

I hope you enjoyed it.  Make sure to check out all the other great entries.
These awesome people have already entered:

Aldrea Alien
Fair Betty
Nick Wilford
Ashna Banga
 Jess

If you're joining in today, just leave your link in the comments of this post.  

Do you have any fun plans for the weekend?

Kathy :)

KOMF Prompt and Construct a Couple Launch Day!

Today is the 13th of the month which means, Jess and I reveal the prompt for the Knights of MicroFiction!  To join in, just post your entry before the end of the 15th and leave a comment with your post link.  Then go check out as many entries as you can.  By the 17th we will choose two winners to be featured on our blogs.

Ok here it is:

Write a 200 word or less, flash fiction beginning with this phrase:  Her eyes shot open....
You are free to change the gender and the POV if you want to.


Have fun!  I can't wait to read what you come up with. :)  


****



In other news, today is launch day for the lovely Talli Roland's new book Construct a Couple.  It's only .99c on Amazon.com or.99p on Amazon.co.uk, or you can enter to win an e-book copy at Trashionista.




And check out my new page titled Author Buddies.  I wanted to create a place to showcase all of your talent (I got this idea from the Ninja Captain Alex Cavanaugh).  SO if you have a book you would like me to add please let me know.


Are you joining us for the KOMF?  Have you read any of Talli's books yet? Do you have other news you'd like to share?

Kathy :)

Further Behind

I love going to the library. Being surrounded by adventures real and imaginary. I feel like a hungry mouse in a cheese shop staring up at all the different flavors.  There are so many to choose from.  All those stories waiting to be read.  I grab all sorts of books until my arms are bursting.  A little history, a dash of science, a pinch of fiction.  

But every time I leave I feel further behind.  Further behind because while searching the shelves I've discovered new areas of interest or deeper analysis of current pursuits.  Now, not only do I have a huge stack of books waiting for me on the nightstand, but I also am aware of what I have left behind.   Adventures that will have to wait.


Kathy :)


Oh don't forget to stop back for The Knights of MicroFiction this week!  Jess and I will be posting the details on June 13th.

I did finish Alex Cavanaugh's book CassaStar, this weekend.  I loved it!  If you haven't read it yet make sure to get a copy.

Phone Messages

Ok I realized what I'm really insecure about yesterday...leaving phone messages.

I had to call an acquaintance whom I hadn't talked to since we'd moved out to Seattle and back in October.  I'd been meaning to call her for quite awhile, but hadn't gotten around to it.  Now it seemed awkward to tell her "Hi we've been back for 7 months, but this is the first time I'm calling you."  I don't know why I procrastinate, it only makes things more difficult.

Anyway, I picked up the phone and called her.  I listened anxiously to the ringing.  Before I could prepare a message in my head, her answering machine beeped.  It was waiting for a reply.  I awkwardly stumbled through my words.

"Uh, hi, just wanted to let you know we're back, give us a call and uh we can have a chat."

I glanced up at my daughters and they were rolling with laughter.  With all my strength, I suppressed my own laugh.

"Our number is still....." I had to stop, take a deep breath, and focus "...uh ###-####".  Finally I finished the message and hung up.  I must have sounded like a moron.  We laughed until we cried....and I cursed the answering machine.  

Have a great weekend!

Kathy :)

Insecure Writers Support Group

It's the first Wednesday of the month so that means it's time for the Insecure Writers Support Group, started by Alex J. Cavanaugh.  It's a place where we can share our fears and successes and help encourage one another on this wonderful journey of writing.  Click here to join or read all the other great posts.

Today I have a success!

This morning I hit the magical number of 50,000 words written in my YA fantasy (50081 to be exact)!  I'm over half done!  I can't believe it.

When Jess encouraged me to start this project, I wasn't sure I would make it this far.  I don't get a lot of uninterrupted writing time, but somehow I managed to carve out a little bit each day.  Some days the words poured out of me, other days they had to be extracted from me like pulling wisdom teeth.

Those difficult days made me wonder whether or not to keep going.  But I did and now I'm determined to finish.  I just hope I don't have 50,000 words of garbage! (ok that's my insecurity coming in!)

What recent successes have you had? How do you manage your time to get your writing in? Do you ever fear you have a lot of words, but not much substance?

Kathy :)  

Birthday Boy

My son turned 8 yesterday.

He's a little man now, with his own interests and ideas. I don't know how it happened.  Only yesterday he was a tiny wrinkly bundle swaddled tightly in a blanket.

Now he teaches me computer keyboard shortcuts and builds Lego ships in ten minutes that would take me hours.

I don't want to wish the years away, they already pass too quickly, but I can't wait to see what kind of man he becomes.

Happy Birthday Ryan!  Hope all your wishes come true! :)


Hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  Did you do anything special?

Kathy :)

Pushing the Boundaries

I'm not what you would call a daring person. Sure I push the boundaries every once in a while like when I went white water rafting down the Ganges River, but for the most part I choose the safe bet.

Take yesterday for example.  I was driving Jess and me home from her violin lesson, a 45 minute drive.  The little gas light had bleeped orange on our way to the lesson.  But I knew we had enough to get us back home, so I wasn't too worried.  Until we got stuck in rush hour traffic. We sat on the road inching along and I watched the orange needle continue to sink past the red line.  I thought, we have enough to get us home, I'll just get gas there. I was in an adventurous mood. What's the worst thing that could happen?  We would run out of gas...and that would make for an interesting blog post.

But was it worth the risk? Did I really want to make a life decision so I could write about it?  I let fate decide.  There was only one gas station left.  The next one was 30 minutes away.  If I could work my way to the right lane and turn into the gas station I would, if I couldn't get over,  I would trust that my tank was big enough.  Just as I needed to pull over, the big truck beside me turned off and left a large gap for me to get in.  I pulled into the gas station.

I examined my decision.  If life is about experience, had I made mine less full by being cautious? or was it simply the smart choice? Did I avert disaster by playing it safe?  Maybe I "experienced" it in my mind anyway by visualizing the scenario of being stuck on the side of the road.

I'll never know the answers to these questions but the rest of the drive home was much more relaxing.  Jess and I talked and I didn't have to even glance at the gas gauge again.  I'll have to push the boundaries another time.

Do you play it safe? or are you the big risky type? Have you taken a risk you wish you hadn't, or vice versa?

Have an awesome weekend!  And Happy June 1st! :)

Kathy :)