Month: January 2020

#ThursThreads – Week 398 – Winners

Posted on by Siobhan Muir

Week 398 of #ThursThreads had many fantastic tales. I’m honored to see all the writers come to tie a tale as we start our eighth year. If you’ve been doing it a while, thank you. If you’ve just found us, welcome! May you come back again and write more great flash. Thousand thanks to Silver James for judging this week. Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc. Entries: Claire Davon | @ClaireDavon Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea Joe Hesch | @JAHesch Mark A. Morris David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil Cara Michaels | @caramichaels Katheryn J. Avila | @katheryn_avila Kel J. Heinen | @Aightball M.T. Decker | @mishmhem Silver says: First, a thanks to Siobhan for asking me to judge. It’s always a privilege and the writing is always amazing. Honorable Mentions Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea Silver says: Bill Engleson’s sense of film noir gives this story a “Pulp Fiction” feel. Well written, complete story but hey, is there a sequel? Well done, Bill! Joe Hesch | @JAHesch Silver says: Memorable phrase: “…the spatter of Ed’s memories on his face…” Powerful imagery in this piece and the sense of desperation is palbable. Very well done, Joe! Special Recognition Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir Silver says: Her pieces are always ineligible to win but she’s a talented writer and I want to give her SPECIAL RECOGNITION. I’m reading her entry and my brain is playing “dun-dun-DUN” music. Suspense. Trust issues. Geeky hero, kick-ass heroine. What’s not to love? winner announcement Week 398 Winner M.T. Decker | @mishmhem Silver says: The world-building is succinct but places the reader “right there.” The characters are also succinct and fully formed giving the reader most of what they need to know in very few words. And finally, a sentient planet FTW! Destination Unknown. Mac spat on the ground as he swore. Looking at the wreckage I could see why— the ship had been scythed in half. Acid had eaten through the cowling and at least half the electronics. “What the hell did Dancer do to this thing?” “She landed on 0213-78,” I answered as I pulled out the bucket and mopped up after Mac. I’d learned a long time ago that his spit tended to leave stains on the deck plating, and it was easier to clean up before it had a chance to set. “What was it?” “Class 2 planet, low atmo – possibly good for raw materials. He didn’t want to be used.” “It didn’t want?” “Yeah, sentient planet – said it didn’t want to be cut up for parts then did a number on the ship. Kept Dancer safe, out of respect and because he didn’t want to start a war.” “He? Goddamned planet ‘an y’re calling it ‘He’” “That was what the planet said,” I pointed out. I tend not to argue with large inanimate objects— Call it superstition – don’t provoke the place where you’re landing, especially when they can split a fuselage in half without blinking. “Shit,” he growled spitting on the floor again, his smile daring me to say anything. “I didn’t sign up for this.” I didn’t have the heart to tell him he had— or maybe it was just common sense finally kicking in. I mopped up and made myself scarce. It was safer that way. ~~~~~~~ Congratulations Eight Time Winner Mary, and Honorable Mentions Bill and Joe! Don’t forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it! Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, MeWe, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 🙂

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#ThursThreads – Tying Tales Together – Week 398

Posted on by Siobhan Muir

Welcome back to the home of Weird, Wild, & Wicked Tales. Today is Thursday and that means it’s time to start flashing. We’re half way through our eighth year of weekly prompts! This is Week 398 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Want to keep up each week? Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook and the Group on MeWe. Need the rules? Read on. Here’s how it works: The prompt is a line from the previous week’s winning tale. The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count. The prompt must be used as is. It can be split, but no intervening words can be inserted or tenses changed. Rules to the Game: This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250. The story must be new writing, not a snippet from something published elsewhere with the prompt added. Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count). Post your story in the comments section of this post Include your word count in the post (or be excluded from judging) Include your Twitter handle or email in the post (so we don’t have to look for you) The challenge is open 7 AM to 8 PM Mountain Time The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up. How it benefits you: You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we’re all about promotion – you know you are!) You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog! Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Twitter, MeWe, and Google Plus, etc. Our Judge for Week 398: Renaissance Woman, Newfie mom, and Romance Author, Silver James. Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together. The Prompt: “I didn’t sign up for this.” All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

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#ThursThreads – Week 397 – Winners

Posted on by Siobhan Muir

Week 397 of #ThursThreads had many fantastic tales. I’m honored to see all the writers come to tie a tale as we start our eighth year. If you’ve been doing it a while, thank you. If you’ve just found us, welcome! May you come back again and write more great flash. Thousand thanks to Miranda Gammella for judging this week. Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc. Entries: Cara Michaels | @caramichaels Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea Tina Glasneck | @TinaGlasneck David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Silver James | @SilverJames_ Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir Mark A. Morris M.T. Decker | @mishmhem Miranda says: I enjoyed reading all of the stories. You guys made it tough to decide! Honorable Mentions Tina Glasneck | @TinaGlasneck Miranda says: I think just about any person can relate to being hit on by someone who just couldn’t catch a clue or came on too hard or just flat out gave you the heebeejeebees. Loved the story and cringed several times as the narrator went on. winner announcement Week 397 Winner Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea Miranda says: As someone who enjoys the great outdoors and the occasional hike, the fear of getting lost or disoriented is quite real (for me anyway). The ending was delightfully ambiguous. Were the human voices friendly or would they hurt our hero and his date? Great story. I really want to I what happens next!! Soliloquy at Dusk We have been walking since dawn. Through the dense wood, a tangle of skinny pine, twisty arbutus, and ever-reliable fir. “Never been this lost before,” she says, just as a scrub branch gets away from me and smacks her in the kisser. I stop, turn, and touch her cheek. “Sorry. I’m not much for leading the way. You okay?” “That hurt, Sammy,” touching my hand and smiling. “Yeah, just cold hungry and…” “Lost,” I toss in. “I know. We should rest. I feel like we’re not getting anywhere.” “Really. And I thought you were a real Hawkeye.” “More a Natty Bumbler, I’m afraid.” It’d been my idea for a pleasant day hike. The first part had gone well. Breakfast at a truck stop, then a leisurely drive up to the State Park, talking, getting to know each other better. “Two maybe three hours…there and back,” I had said, but though the hike had started out warm and promising, we’d lost track of time. And our direction. As the warm sun had disappeared last night, I stated the obvious. “We’re in trouble.” “I didn’t sign up for this,” she’d cried. “This isn’t me.” “Pull yourself together,” I said. “Getting all panicky won’t help.” “No, I get it. Sorry. I’m scared, though.” “Me to. The smart thing’s to find a safe place for the night.” Which we did. Huddling warm. Body heat. Now we were buried in a jungle. “Listen,” she said. “You hear that?” “Human voices?” “Yeah! Voices.”~~~~~~~ Congratulations TWENTY-SIX TIME WINNER Bill, and Honorable Mention Tina! Don’t forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it! Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, MeWe, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 🙂

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#ThursThreads – Tying Tales Together – Week 397

Posted on by Siobhan Muir

Welcome back to the home of Weird, Wild, & Wicked Tales. Today is Thursday and that means it’s time to start flashing. We’re half way through our eighth year of weekly prompts! This is Week 397 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Want to keep up each week? Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook and the Group on MeWe. Need the rules? Read on. Here’s how it works: The prompt is a line from the previous week’s winning tale. The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count. The prompt must be used as is. It can be split, but no intervening words can be inserted or tenses changed. Rules to the Game: This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250. The story must be new writing, not a snippet from something published elsewhere with the prompt added. Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count). Post your story in the comments section of this post Include your word count in the post (or be excluded from judging) Include your Twitter handle or email in the post (so we don’t have to look for you) The challenge is open 7 AM to 8 PM Mountain Time The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up. How it benefits you: You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we’re all about promotion – you know you are!) You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog! Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Twitter, MeWe, and Google Plus, etc. Our Judge for Week 397: Desk Jockey by Day, Writer by Night, Pecking her way through life, Miranda Gammella. Facebook | Twitter |  And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together. The Prompt: “No, I get it.” All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

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Snippet Sunday – Bullfighter

Posted on by Siobhan Muir

Today’s a big day for the Muir household. We’re moving the horse! Keep an eye on my social media to find out what that means. The Triple Star Ranch series now has three book, ROPE A FALLING STAR, STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT, and STAR SPANGLED BANNER. You not only see the old favorite characters but meet some new ones. In this snippet, Tom Colton is trying to reassure Petty Officer Sanchez that he won’t lose all his endurance and strength while healing. ~~~~~~ “Hey, don’t worry about it, Sanchez.” Tom gave him an easy smile. “I’ll work you hard enough without pushing your injuries, and you’ll be fit as a fiddle soon enough.” He grinned and it coaxed a smile out of Enrique. “You ever had a punctured lung and a broken arm at the same time?” Tom snorted. “Hell yeah. Well, not the lung, but I did have broken ribs, collarbone and arm at the same time. Made breathing a bitch, and ridin’ even worse.” “Riding?” Enrique raised his eyebrows. “Bronc ridin’, yeah.” “Shhhhhiiitt. You rode broncos?” “Hell yeah. Won the championship three times before quittin’.” Tom chuckled at Enrique’s impressed look as he led him out the back door to the yard behind the lodge. “Ah hell, it ain’t nearly as tough as what y’all have to do as a SEAL, and no one was givin’ me hazard pay. Let’s get you settled in your place before I show you what all you’ll be doin’.” Enrique followed Tom outside where a paved path led around a large duck pond edged with cattail reeds. The barn and covered arena sat off to the left and another building stood ahead of them. It resembled a two story western motel sporting covered balconies with wrought iron railings. A few people sat on benches around the pond, relaxing, while others followed an instructor in a yoga class. “Wow, this place is nice.” “Thanks.” Tom beamed. “We’ve worked pretty hard to make this one of the best places to come for therapy in Wyoming. My dad recognized the need for it after his time in the Army and as a bull fighter.” “Bull fighter?” Enrique raised his eyebrows. “He challenged bulls?” “Oh, no, not the way you’re thinkin’. Folks used to call them ‘rodeo clowns.’” ~~~~~~~ The hardest jobs aren’t always jumping out of airplanes. 😉 There are several great authors on the Weekend Writer Warriors list, the Snippet Sunday Facebook group, and the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. A few of my favorites are, P.T. Wyant, Karen Michelle Nutt, Veronica Scott, Jessica Subject, Kathy Griffith Karysa Faire, and Iris Blobel. Here’s the blurb for STAR SPANGLED BANNER: Now available! Sometimes a falling star wears a flag… Dr. Suzie Appleton expected a helluva ride in the barrel-racing championships at Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo, but she had no idea she’d have to save a man falling from the sky. When he calls her for a date, she’s hesitant, but there’s something sexy and seductive about the Leap Frog, and she takes a chance. She suggests he come to the Triple Star Ranch for his therapy to have more time with him before he returns to jumping out of airplanes. Petty Officer Enrique Sanchez signed up to serve his country and expected to get shot at, just not during an exhibition jump at a rodeo. But the sexy doctor who saved his life in the arena is willing to sign off on his transfer on one condition: that he’s not her patient. Works for Enrique. He’d much rather play doctor with her than have her white coat get in the way of their personal relationship. While the attraction between them isn’t one-sided, neither are the threats. Someone is trying to complete their attempt on Enrique’s life, and someone else has their sights set on Suzie. Rumors and lies threaten to destroy their relationship. But all’s fair in love and war, and both of them could lose big.

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#ThursThreads – Week 396 – Winners

Posted on by Siobhan Muir

Week 396 of #ThursThreads had many fantastic tales. I’m honored to see all the writers come to tie a tale as we start our eighth year. If you’ve been doing it a while, thank you. If you’ve just found us, welcome! May you come back again and write more great flash. Thousand thanks to David Ludwig for judging this week. Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc. Entries: Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir Charlene Mertz | @rrats1231 Mark A. Morris Silver James | @SilverJames_ Teresa Eccles | @TeresaMEccles Louisa Bacio | @Louisabacio David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears Daelyn Morgana | @DaelynMorgana Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil M.T. Decker | @mishmhem Ashlie Harris | @EmpathUtopiast David says: I’m always honored to see what a strong writing community I’m a part of, and really had to consider the use of the prompt to break some ties this week. Honorable Mentions Louisa Bacio | @Louisabacio David says: This is a hot fun bit of morning after–both a romp between the sheets and a night of crime fighting. My favorite line was “How was that fair, when I looked like a raccoon in the morning?” Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears David says: This one got an edge from the way the phrase prompt really felt integral to the heart of the story and the question of “what do people want us to say?” I also tend to enjoy writing about writers. winner announcement Week 396 Winner Silver James | @SilverJames_ David says: The phrase prompt opened the scene and really drove it for me. The frustration of both Wizard and Jen searching for what else to say hit me viscerally. I found the missed communications elegantly handled and very relatable. This one won, because it was the train wreck I absolutely couldn’t look away from. Wiz paced the length of the room, muscles rippling beneath his T-shirt as he flung out his arms. “What else do you want me to say?” He sounded so angry and there was no warmth in his eyes as he glared at me. What did I want him to say? That he loved me? That I was his…mate? Wasn’t that what the other old ladies called themselves? “I don’t have time for this, babe.” He turned his back on me and stomped to the door. Evidently, I wasn’t worth more than a few moments of his time. I’d waited too long to respond, hadn’t thought fast enough on my feet. He’d surprised me earlier and I’d just blurted out the words that brought us to this impasse. “Did you ever care?” The words came from the very darkest bottom of my soul. “Or was I just a pity fuck?” His lips pressed so tightly together a white line appeared around them. I caught that red glint in his eyes. My time was up. I sank my teeth into my bottom lip, hoping the physical pain would keep my face from giving me away. Wizard’s chest rose and fell, his nostrils flaring as he breathed deeply. And there it was. The same look of disgust on his face that I’d seen on my brother’s. “Jen.” “No.” I backed away. “I get it. Totally. Sorry to have bothered you. I won’t again.”I whirled and ran, ignoring his voice. “Jen!”~~~~~~~ Congratulations FORTY TIME WINNER Silver, and Honorable Mentions Louisa and Mark! Don’t forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it! Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, MeWe, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 🙂

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#ThursThreads – Tying Tales Together – Week 396

Posted on by Siobhan Muir

Welcome back to the home of Weird, Wild, & Wicked Tales. Today is Thursday and that means it’s time to start flashing. We’re half way through our eighth year of weekly prompts! This is Week 396 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Want to keep up each week? Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook and the Group on MeWe. Need the rules? Read on. Here’s how it works: The prompt is a line from the previous week’s winning tale. The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count. The prompt must be used as is. It can be split, but no intervening words can be inserted or tenses changed. Rules to the Game: This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250. The story must be new writing, not a snippet from something published elsewhere with the prompt added. Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count). Post your story in the comments section of this post Include your word count in the post (or be excluded from judging) Include your Twitter handle or email in the post (so we don’t have to look for you) The challenge is open 7 AM to 8 PM Mountain Time The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up. How it benefits you: You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we’re all about promotion – you know you are!) You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog! Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Twitter, MeWe, and Google Plus, etc. Our Judge for Week 396: Fantasy Author, and Holder of Several Stories, David Ludwig. Facebook | Twitter And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together. The Prompt: “What else do you want me to say?” All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

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New Year’s Evolution #NYR2020

Posted on by Siobhan Muir

The Year has started anew and there are more choices to face when the flash fiction challenge of New Year’s Revolution arrived. This year, Cara Michaels is hosting the New Year’s Revolution flash fiction challenge, but you get to pick the word for your tale. #NYR2020. WRITERS: Be sure to check out the challenge and add your story for a chance to win ($10 Amazon card for 1st place, $5 for 2nd). This year, we offered five word prompts that rhyme with “revolution” to choose from to set your muse on fire. I chose the word “Evolution.” And the story that jumped out for me was my upcoming #ConcreteAngelsMC tale, Angel Ink. Haley “Hey, Jeff. Thanks for coming.” He wrapped me in a hug and I closed my eyes, taking what comfort I could. “Not a problem. What was so urgent that we had to meet at a random rest stop?” He pushed me back and scanned my face. I was struck at how beautiful he was with clear light-brown eyes, golden brown skin, dark hair and full lips thanks to his mixed race heritage. He stood a good six inches taller than me with a sleek, athletic frame and shoulders slightly broader than mine. We could’ve been siblings as we shared the same eye shape and wide mouth, and as far as I was concerned, we were. “I gotta tell you something and you have to hear me out before you label me as crazy or insane or off my rocker, okay?” I led him over to one of the picnic tables they’d installed inside to allow travelers shelter from the wind. I sat down facing the door to keep an eye on people coming into the rest stop and waited for him to join me. Jeff raised an eyebrow but settled at the table across from me. “What’s going on, Haley? First you want to drive out here to this random rest stop. Does this have to do with the Concrete Angels? You already know I thought you were crazy for spending time with them.” “Yeah, you did until you met Sam and Talon, and now you love them.” Jeff blushed and glanced out the windows at the parking lot. “Love is a strong word.” I opened my mouth to ask more about that, but I was only stalling and pulled my curiosity back under control. “Okay, this is something so big and so out there that I need you to promise me you’ll tell no one. Not even family or lovers.”  He snorted. “I don’t talk to family since they disowned me and I don’t have a lover.” But his voice suggested there was a ‘yet’ at the end of his sentence. Focus. “Jeff, I need you to promise you’ll tell no one.” He tilted his head and the humor left his face. “Okay, okay. I promise. What is it?” I gathered my courage with a sigh. How did I present the news that people around us weren’t human? Even thinking it made me question my own sanity and I’d seen Torch shift into a real, fire-breathing, winged dragon. And Karma turned into a red, glowing Death Angel. “Just spit it out, Haley.” “The bikers of the Concrete Angels MC aren’t human.” I bit my lip after the words came out in a rush. “What?” Oh, glory, he’s gonna make me say it again. “They aren’t human.” He snorted. “What, are you saying they’re aliens?” He smirked, but I shook my head as my heart sank. He wouldn’t believe me. “No, not aliens. Not like from outer space. They’re inhuman, “other,” mythical even.” He looked at me like he was waiting for the other shoe to drop. When I didn’t grin or laugh, he frowned. “You’re being serious.” “Yes. Very serious. Why do you think I had you meet me way the hell out here to talk about this?” I threw my hands out. “They’re not all human.” “How do you know they’re ‘not all human’? They told you?” I shook my head. “They didn’t have to. I saw them when they threw off their human disguises.” “Oh, come on, Haley.” Jeff rose to his feet and paced to the window. “Human disguises? We aren’t in some sci-fi flick or a fantasy story. This is real life. Mythical creatures don’t exist.” Little did he know. I didn’t say anything. What if I’d made a mistake telling him? I had my reasons for doing so, but if he wouldn’t believe me, I’d wasted the effort to bring him into the new world I’d discovered. I rubbed my chin and studied the little flecks in the plastic table. “Think of it as New Year’s Evolution.” “What?” He turned to stare at me. “New Year’s Evolution – a shift in the year matching a growth in understanding.” That sounded wise and pithy, right? “But it’s March, not even close to New Year’s.” I shrugged. “I don’t think the time frame is important. This is a new year, a new beginning and a whole new understanding for us. It’s evolution of perspective and like it or not, we can’t go back to not understanding.” 749 ineligible #ConcreteAngelsMC words / © 2020 Siobhan Muir

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Snippet Sunday – Guess Lyttle Was Right

Posted on by Siobhan Muir

It’s time for Snippet Sunday and it’s the New Year! Woohoo! Okay, I’m also in a new house and I’m ready for a new writing year, so bring on the new. The Triple Star Ranch series now has three books, ROPE A FALLING STAR, STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT , and STAR SPANGLED BANNER now out! Yay! You not only see the old favorite characters but meet some new ones. In this snippet, Enrique is seeing Suzie for the first time in her work environment and it doesn’t go quite the way he thought it would. ~~~~~~ Suzie frowned as she scanned the orders from Dr. Lyttle. “Shoveling, tossing hay, and lunging horses are out. Those jobs will pull too much on his arms and torso.” She shot Enrique an apologetic smile. “But grooming, with the exception of using a hoof pick, grain distribution, and helping Doc Bright hold the animals would be fine.” “Damn, Doc, that’s a lot of standing around. Can I at least go running?” She shook her head. “Not for another week or so. I know you Navy SpecOps types. You don’t just jog, you push your bodies until they break, which isn’t conducive to healing a punctured lung. Given how healthy you were before the fall, I suspect your body will heal faster than most ordinary folks, but you have to give it a chance.” Enrique couldn’t help the scowl pulling at his lips. “I know it’s not what you wanted to hear, but I won’t undo all the healing your body has already done. You didn’t think I’d just let you run around here, did you?” “Leave anything for me to do that’s real heavy.” Tom clapped a hand on Enrique’s shoulder. “Trust me, draggin’ around a grain wagon one-handed will get you winded, especially after restin’ for a few weeks. I won’t let you get soft, Sanchez.” Enrique tightened his jaw and nodded sharply, hating his injured status all over again. Guess Lyttle was right and Suzie’s a hardass at work. He didn’t like being proved wrong but there wasn’t much he could do about it. ~~~~~~~ Suzie doesn’t fool around when it comes to her job. 😉 There are several great authors on the Weekend Writer Warriors list, the Snippet Sunday Facebook group, and the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. A few of my favorites are, P.T. Wyant, Karen Michelle Nutt, Veronica Scott, Jessica Subject, Kathy Griffith Karysa Faire, and Iris Blobel. Here’s the blurb for STAR SPANGLED BANNER: Now available! Sometimes a falling star wears a flag… Dr. Suzie Appleton expected a helluva ride in the barrel-racing championships at Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo, but she had no idea she’d have to save a man falling from the sky. When he calls her for a date, she’s hesitant, but there’s something sexy and seductive about the Leap Frog, and she takes a chance. She suggests he come to the Triple Star Ranch for his therapy to have more time with him before he returns to jumping out of airplanes. Petty Officer Enrique Sanchez signed up to serve his country and expected to get shot at, just not during an exhibition jump at a rodeo. But the sexy doctor who saved his life in the arena is willing to sign off on his transfer on one condition: that he’s not her patient. Works for Enrique. He’d much rather play doctor with her than have her white coat get in the way of their personal relationship. While the attraction between them isn’t one-sided, neither are the threats. Someone is trying to complete their attempt on Enrique’s life, and someone else has their sights set on Suzie. Rumors and lies threaten to destroy their relationship. But all’s fair in love and war, and both of them could lose big.

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#ThursThreads – Week 395 – Winners

Posted on by Siobhan Muir

Week 395 of #ThursThreads had many fantastic tales. I’m honored to see all the writers come to tie a tale as we start our eighth year. If you’ve been doing it a while, thank you. If you’ve just found us, welcome! May you come back again and write more great flash. Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc. Entries: Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea Katheryn J. Avila | @katheryn_avila Cara Michaels | @caramichaels Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir Mark A. Morris Catherine Derham | @catederham_ Silver James | @SilverJames_ Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Kel J. Heinen | @Aightball M.T. Decker | @mishmhem Honorable Mentions David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Siobhan says: A great story with a twist at the end. Surprise and innocence seemed to be the theme until the very last line. This was a game to her and the Sheriff wasn’t nearly as amused. Loved it. Mark A. Morris Siobhan says: What I liked about this tale was the ease of the narrator’s energy. He was good to go to cheer on his friend or walk away. He was happy being support staff nor nothing at all. In this world of competition, it was a refreshing breath of gentleness. Wonderful. Cara Michaels | @caramichaels Siobhan says: What I loved most about this tale was the encouragement and love at the very end. There is nothing cooler than a dragon man, but the way the older character delivered it showed a loving connection that is one of the reasons I love fantasy quest type stories. Great tale. winner announcement Week 395 Winner Mary Decker | @mishmhem Siobhan says: This tale seemed like the usual not-quite trusting conversation between uneasy partners – until the end. That one line about the Sig Sauer put it into perspective real quick. Great tale. Nice doggy “Is that all you’re going to say?” The man’s tone was sharp, nasal and almost as annoying as he was. “What else do you want me to say?” “I want to know you’re going to stand up for me: Most of the time I would, but since I didn’t know which way he was going to jump these days, I couldn’t guarantee how I’d react. “If you say something I could get behind, I’m there— but I’m not going to follow you blind. You know where I stand and you know which side of my bread is buttered, the rest is up to you.” “So, you’re going to dictate the terms of our friendship?” I rolled my eyes. “The terms of our friendship are the same as they always been – be honest, be true, don’t take BS.” “I’m not asking you to violate that.” “Yeah, but you aren’t telling me which part is going to apply.” “Be honest, be true…” “No B.S.?” He smiled, taking a sword from its wall hanging. He inspected it for a moment and then lunged at me, backing me up to the wall, the tip of his blade against my breast bone. I smiled. He had a point, and as long as it was one thrust away from my heart, he had my support… at least until I could draw my Sig-Sauer.~~~~~~~ Congratulations Seven Time Winner Mary, and Honorable Mentions David, Mark, and Cara! Don’t forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it! Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, MeWe, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 🙂

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