April 2024 – Siobhan Muir

#ThursThreads – Week 607 – Winners

Posted on April 26, 2024April 26, 2024 by Siobhan Muir

Tying Tales Together, #ThursThreads Year 11 Got a tale to tie on?

Week 607 of #ThursThreads was a success, and y’all never disappoint. Thank you to everyone who writes each week. You are why we’re still doing this. If you’ve just found us, welcome to the crew! If you’ve just found us, welcome to the crew! May you come back again and write more great flash. A thousand thanks to Eric Martell for judging this week. Follow Siobhan Muir on Bluesky or check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc. Entries: Bill Engleson Siobhan Muir Teresa Eccles Mark Ethridge Mark A. Morris Miranda Gammella David A. Ludwig Daelyn Morgana Honorable Mentions Miranda Gammella | Website Eric says: We might wish that one loss didn’t precipitate another, but grief can do that all too often. A nice exploration of just that in a way that felt real. winner announcement Week 607 Winner Daelyn Morgana Eric says: I really liked the way you wove the prompt into this one, twisting it just slightly. And while excerpts from WIP sometimes feel lacking to me in a flash context, relying too much on worldbuilding not seen within the piece, this balanced it nicely. “Kailyn, stop!” The younger witch yanked her wrist out of Matt’s grip with a look that could have killed, literally. “Don’t tell me to stop and breathe!” He sobered. “I didn’t ask you to breathe.” Somehow that gentle, caring tone only made her blood boil more, causing dark magick to crackle around her frame. How can he be so damn calm?! It’s infuriating! He should be just as pissed as me. “You were about to say it,” Kailyn growled. “Perhaps… But we both know going in there with demands and weapons drawn will not solve anything.” An abrupt laugh spilled from her lips. “So what do you suggest? Play nice? Like that has ever worked for me. I don’t need answers or explanations. What I need is my Coven member released. The Council wants to mess with me then they will mess with me, not them.” A dangerous edge slipped into her tone, and she saw right away how Matt stiffened his shoulders. He may never admit it and hardly show it, but sometimes, she knew her power and penchant for crossing lines scared the hell out of him. Good, it should. Matt swallowed hard. “It will only make matters worse. You know that. The Head Councilor will look for any way to back you in a corner. That’s exactly what this is. What we need to do is see Eammon first.” “Eammon can’t help anymore, and I am tired of playing games with people who hide behind laws.”~~~~~~~ Congratulations Thirteen Time Winner Daelyn, and Honorable Mention Miranda! Don’t forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it! Pass on the great news on Facebook, MeWe, Bluesky, Mastodon, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 🙂

#ThursThreads – Tying Tales Together – Week 607

Posted on April 25, 2024April 24, 2024 by Siobhan Muir

Welcome back to the home of #ThursThreads for Week 607. Today is Thursday and that means it’s time to start flashing on #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 social media handle or email in the post (so we easily notify 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, Bluesky, MeWe, and Mastodon, etc. Our Judge for Week 607: Scientist, Dad, and flash fiction author, Eric Martell. Facebook | Bluesky | And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together. The Prompt: “I don’t need answers.” All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Comments do not represent the views of the host and the host reserves the right to remove any content. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

#ThursThreads – Week 606 – Winners

Posted on April 20, 2024 by Siobhan Muir

Week 606 of #ThursThreads was a success, and y’all never disappoint. Thank you to everyone who writes each week. You are why we’re still doing this. If you’ve just found us, welcome to the crew! May you come back again and write more great flash. A thousand thanks to Mirra Alure for judging this week. Follow Siobhan Muir on Bluesky or check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc. Entries: Bill Engleson Siobhan Muir Andy Walker Joe Hesch Sheilagh Lee Katheryn J. Avila Kelly Heinen Eric Martell Mark Ethridge Louisa Bacio Miranda Gammella David A. Ludwig Daelyn Morgana Mirra says: The winners used “it’s quiet” as a part of setting the scene and that’s important to me in any story and the honorable mentions usage of it in conversation kept me on my toes to see where they’ll insert it. Honorable Mentions Miranda Gammella | Website Mirra says: Miranda’s story reminds me of how grief will have you question everything. Remind you of memories you thought lost to you. The company of a ghost lingering around providing the only comfort when a lost one transitions. I like that this reminds me that though all different we experience loss sometimes so similarly. Daelyn Morgana | Website Mirra says: Daelyn’s story seemed like a smash up of realities. Unless there is another mortician I know I immediately began thinking of the Addams family’s. And this perceptive is new and something I would’ve never thought to do. I also enjoy hearing stories about Greek gods and to see fan fiction surrounding the gods. That drew me in and then the ending gave me a small feeling of foreshadowing. Joe Hesch | Website Mirra says: Joe’s story reminds me of home. A snowy day through after fresh snows fallen and everything is crisp and white and still. Right before the morning beat continues like everyday and feet ruin the picturesque scene. His tale painted that scene of a winter romance. Something I think everyone should experience even through reading. winner announcement Week 606 Winner Eric Martell Mirra says: Eric Martell, set a scene. He put me there next to him. Something about the way he wrote this descriptive short tale gave me a sense of melancholy. Makes me want for enjoy the stillness of this scene with him to give focus to my hands and see if I notice something brand new. Well done. It’s quiet here, this place I come to. It’s not silent. Silence is scary. My mind fills silence with thoughts and thoughts lead to questions and questions lead to other questions that don’t have answers. I don’t need answers. I don’t want answers to all the questions. My gods, the responsibilities that would come with that. But the questions without answers – that demand answers – those questions. Those turn into monsters. There are no monsters here. It’s quiet here. I choose a flat, smooth rock to sit on. Not perfectly smooth; nature doesn’t do perfect. There are cracks and chips and fissures for my fingers to play with as I watch the wind play with the water. No storms are blowing in today. Maybe tonight, the radio says, but for now, it’s just a steady breeze. The water pushes forward and pulls back, leaving itinerant pools and eddies that will vanish with the next inflow. The air does the same thing, all unseen. I feel it around me, in the space between a susurration and a murmur. It’s not that irritating sibilance of a too-distant whisper that draws your attention but provides no resolution, but the comforting quiet of white noise. I’m by myself on the beach, but I’m not alone. Being alone tends to make me sad. My family is back in our room at the hotel giving me space to be by myself. To be with myself, as long as I need. I breathe. I exist. It’s quiet here.~~~~~~~ Congratulations TWENTY-NINE TIME WINNER Eric, and Honorable Mentions Miranda, Daelyn, and Joe! Don’t forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it! Pass on the great news on Facebook, MeWe, Bluesky, Mastodon, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 🙂

#ThursThreads – Tying Tales Together – Week 606

Posted on April 18, 2024April 17, 2024 by Siobhan Muir

Welcome back to the home of #ThursThreads for Week 606. Today is Thursday and that means it’s time to start flashing on #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 social media handle or email in the post (so we easily notify 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, Bluesky, MeWe, and Mastodon, etc. Our Judge for Week 606: When her eyes get tired from reading, she switches to audiobook, her ears don’t close, Mirra Allure. Facebook | And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together. The Prompt: “It’s quiet here.” All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Comments do not represent the views of the host and the host reserves the right to remove any content. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

Raw Talent: a #ThursThreads Tribute to Mary Decker

Posted on April 16, 2024April 16, 2024 by Siobhan Muir

For those of us who’ve been writing flash fiction for a while, there are quite a few people we’ve known for a long time. I’ve been posting every Thursday since December 15th 2011, and we’re closing in on our twelfth year writing quick 250-word tales each week. I’d already been posting for 3 solid years when Mary Decker appeared on the blog. She had her first win within 18 weeks, on July 2 2015, and her quirky, smart voice captured many a judge from then on. Unfortunately, I lost years 4-7 to a change in website host so I don’t have the first five winning tales she gave us, but I’ve gathered the rest below. For the record, she won my challenge a whopping THIRTY-TWO TIMES, and deservedly so. This is a very long post, so feel free to take your time. They are arranged by year, and the dates and prompts are ahead of each tale. I hope you enjoy her writing as much as we did. Date: January 2, 2020Prompt: “Do I look like I’m twelve?” Mistaken Identity I did my best to keep to the shadows. Being seen these days was rarely a good thing. People were roving in gangs if they were roving at all. More and more people were being divided into the shamblers and those who would be shambling soon enough. I opened my senses as I tried to get a feel for the over sized mall. Even before the dead stopped dying, this place had been abandoned. It was built in the ‘70s to serve the shopping needs of folks on the west side of town. Time, competition and a series of murders kind of took the charm out of the place. That made it the perfect place to set up camp, mainly because there was nothing left to scavenge here. I staked my claim to one of the storerooms on the second floor.and was on my way out when I met Oscar, or more the point, I met his Louisville Slugger. The introduction ended in a lot of sparks and pain, and then blackness. When I came to, I was sprawled out on the floor, with Oscar standing watch. I guess he realized things weren’t quite what they seemed. “Hello?” I asked experimentally. “Hey, sorry— thought you were a shambler.” I blinked. “Do I look like…” “I’m twelve?” he half asked, half stated. “Everyone looks like they’re big, shambling and dangerous.” He had a point. 243 words (not including title) ~~~~~~~~~~~~Date: January 9, 2020Prompt: “He had a point.” 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. 228 words, not including title ~~~~~~~~~~~~Date: January 30, 2020Prompt: “I didn’t sign up for this.” 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. 250 words (not including title) ~~~~~~~~~~~~Date: April 2, 2020Prompt: “Things are going south.” Before Its Prime “South-paw, this is Papa Three, do you copy?” There was a long pause, and I was about to repeat when South-paw answered in his slow drawl. “Hey Papa Three, how are things?” Several answers came to mind, ‘Hell in a handbasket’ would have been my first choice if they’d been getting better. As it was, hell was a…

Recipe for Romance: San Juan Scones

Posted on April 13, 2024April 13, 2024 by Siobhan Muir

Recipe for Romance Two champagne glasses against a purple sparkly background with bells and ribbons at their base

Welcome to Recipe for Romance! I’m sharing a snippet of IN PLAIN SIGHT, a sapphic small town romantic suspense that came out in February 2024. Triss Singleton has made it to Summit Springs, Colorado despite the storm threatening, and the owner of Caffeine Ivy’s Coffee & Tea has given her both a place to live and job. Available Now: In Plain Sight Today is the first day of your new life. It didn’t feel real. No more real than it had when she was shackled to a man who turned out to be a monster. A monster with friends in places of authority. Her family hadn’t believed her or cared. All they cared about was the fetus growing in her belly and their relief that she was in a relationship with man so they didn’t have to acknowledge her bisexuality. She took a deep breath and let all the anger and resentment go. It wouldn’t help her, and they’d never change. That was why she’d cut them out of her life when she fled California. It’s a new start, and I’m gonna be fine. Emily returned a few moments later with her hands full of full-sized shampoo, conditioner, and bodywash, a puff, toothpaste, toothbrush, and body cream. She set them all on the counter of the kitchenette and shot Triss a smile. “I hope these will be okay. They should get you through the storm and the downtime between what you have now and your first paycheck. Payroll goes through to your account on Tuesdays.” Emily tilted her head. “Can you start tomorrow morning? I know it’s soon, but I’d like to get you up to speed pretty quickly so you can start filling your bank account for anything you need.” Triss raised her eyebrows. “Are you sure? I mean, I can do it, but it seems sudden.” Emily nodded. “One thing I’ve learned about these sorts of situations. You probably want something to distract you from the fear hounding you, and you’ll have less fear if you feel financially secure on your own. It’s my goal to support both independence and peace of mind. Been there, done that myself.” Gluten-Free San Juan Scones https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_laTbNb_Yrs This recipe is found in the Sharing Our Best: Celebrating 25 Years Growing in Christ cookbook put together by my grandmother’s church and she made sure all her grandchildren (particularly the one granddaughter – me) got a copy. Good thing, because the recipes are pretty good. INGREDIENTS 3 cups gluten free 1:1 baking flour3 Tbsp sugar1 tsp salt1 Tbsp baking powder1/2 cup cold butter, cubed1/2 cup dried currants or 1 Tbsp lemon zest2 eggs (one saved for the egg wash)1/2 tsp vanilla1 1/4 cup milkColored sugar and sprinkles DIRECTIONS Preheat your oven to 400 F (204 C). In a bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Cut in butter with knife or pastry cutter until the mixture is crumbly. In another bowl, beat 1 egg, milk, vanilla and lemon zest together, then add all at once to the dry ingredients. Stir together until just combined (no powder left) in a sticky mass. Transfer to a floured surface and cut the dough in half. Knead each piece briefly and pat into a 5-inch (12.5 cm) rounds. Cut each round in to six wedges and arrange wedges on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. In a small bowl, beat the second egg and brush over each wedge. Sprinkle colored sugar and sprinkles on each wedge for a festive look. Bake for 13-15 minutes until golden brown. Let cool for five minutes and serve. Makes 12 scones.

#ThursThreads – Week 605 – Winners

Posted on April 12, 2024April 12, 2024 by Siobhan Muir

Week 605 of #ThursThreads was an outpouring of love for a lost colleague, and y’all didn’t disappoint. Thank you to everyone who stopped by and wrote – for your love, for your stories, for your understanding. You make this a special place to be each Thursday, especially this Thursday. If you’ve just found us, welcome to the crew! May you come back again and write more great flash. A thousand thanks to Patricia Oak for judging this week. Follow Siobhan Muir on Bluesky or check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc. Entries: Bill Engleson Mark A. Morris Eric Martell Nellie Batz Louisa Bacio Siobhan Muir Daelyn Morgana Miranda Gammella Mark Ethridge David A. Ludwig Teresa M. Eccles Richard Eccles Kelly Heinen Patty Dump Patricia says: I love judging this contest as much as I dread it. There is always so many great writers that enter I wish I could just pick all as winners. So many told stories that touched the heart and the soul and that is what makes great stories. Honorable Mentions Louisa Bacio | Website Patricia says: This story is the very reason that Ms. Muir does this thread weekly. It has brought a group of people together who probably never would have met and make us a family. Daelyn Morgana | Website Patricia says: Another story that spoke to me. I have never been good at saying goodbye to anyone. Even if I prepared to do so. Especially that final goodbye. But reading this story made me realize I just do it my way. Richard Eccles | Website Patricia says: I loved dance between Death and the writer. You were just waiting for death to swoop down and take the dancer. Then …..the doctor chases Death away. I love endings like that. winner announcement Week 605 Winner Eric Martell Patricia says: This story is the one that touched every part of me. Just the fact of not walking on graves and the respect that the writer showed to the people who are buried there. But what really did it for me was the line “I hadn’t bothered to “say goodbye or do whatever other people do when people die” describes me perfectly. For Mary I walked past the gravestones, trying, as I was taught, not to step on the earth that covered the bodies. I wasn’t sure why it mattered, not really. Those people were dead, some for a few months, some for a century or more, and who knew if there was any of their…soul, for lack of a better word, around to care what happened to their rotting meat sack. It just seemed respectful, is all. I probably worried too much about that, but all it meant here was watching where I put my feet. Like trying to avoid stepping on the cracks (or you’ll break your mother’s back) on the sidewalk, only with corpses. Regardless of how one felt about walking through a cemetery, I wasn’t going to step on your body. You’d been cremated and scattered years ago. I hadn’t bothered to “say goodbye” or do whatever other people do when people die. The rest of my family didn’t like that, to put it mildly. I didn’t like them, so I guess that was a tie. I don’t really know how to say goodbye, when it comes down to it, or even why. Would saying goodbye get rid of the memories? Whether I want to say goodbye or not, you’re gone, and I’m still here. I sat down on a tree stump – a grave marker of its own kind – and took out my lunch. It’s quiet here. If I listen closely, maybe you’ll say hello instead of goodbye.~~~~~~~ Congratulations TWENTY-EIGHT TIME WINNER Eric, and Honorable Mentions Louisa, Daelyn, and Richard! Don’t forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it! Pass on the great news on Facebook, MeWe, Bluesky, Mastodon, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 🙂

#ThursThreads – Tying Tales Together – Week 605

Posted on April 11, 2024April 10, 2024 by Siobhan Muir

Welcome back to the home of #ThursThreads for Week 605. Today is Thursday and that means it’s time to start flashing on #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 social media handle or email in the post (so we easily notify 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, Bluesky, MeWe, and Mastodon, etc. Our Judge for Week 605: Florida girl and reader, Patricia Oak. And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together. The Prompt: “I don’t really know how.” All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Comments do not represent the views of the host and the host reserves the right to remove any content. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

#ThursThreads – Week 604 – Winners

Posted on April 5, 2024April 5, 2024 by Siobhan Muir

Week 604 of #ThursThreads was a success, and y’all never disappoint. Thank you to everyone who writes each week. You made this happen. If you’ve just found us, welcome to the crew! May you come back again and write more great flash. A thousand thanks to Katheryn J. Avila for judging this week. Follow Siobhan Muir on Bluesky or check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc. Entries: Bill Engleson Siobhan Muir David A. Ludwig Honorable Mention Bill Engleson | Website Katheryn says: There’s so much history and world building in such a short conversation. Really well-written! winner announcement Week 604 Winner David A. Ludwig Katheryn says: I don’t think I’ve ever seen a story from the POV of someone with this power. It left me with a lot of questions – would the POV hop into the different duplicates? Can each duplicate see what the others see? Really left me wanting more! “I can’t believe she managed to hide one of her duplicates from me!” Toni Tyler stopped pacing to shake her head at the seated Helen Harper. Miss Tyler, better known as the Tinkerer, was the only person to ever make the Powered Response Unit with no Power of her own. Unless you counted her wealth or technology as Powers. “So, this is you?” Miss Tyler continued, activating a holographic screen in the center of the room. Helen frowned at the footage of three of her saving a client from a falling barbell. That angle had to be the security footage from Dan’s Gym. “How did you get—” “But you didn’t know you could duplicate before that?” Helen shook her head. Miss Tyler folded her hands thoughtfully behind her back. Silence. “What does that mean?” “I’m not certain. Can you duplicate now?” Helen wasn’t sure she wanted to. It felt weird before. Also, superhero her thought she’d be happier without her Power. “I, don’t really know how.” “How did you do it at Dan’s Gym?” Helen winced at the confirmation that the Tinkerer knew where she worked. “I just had to.” “Find a way to tap back into what you were feeling then.” That wasn’t hard. Helen had been trying not to do it all evening. She returned to the urgency and adrenaline then felt something lift out of her chest. A brief lightness was followed by a hand on Helen’s shoulder. She looked up and met her own gaze.~~~~~~~ Congratulations TWENTY-TWO TIME WINNER David, and Honorable Mentions Mark, Mary, and Bill! Don’t forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it! Pass on the great news on Facebook, MeWe, Bluesky, Mastodon, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 🙂

#ThursThreads – Tying Tales Together – Week 604

Posted on April 4, 2024April 1, 2024 by Siobhan Muir

Welcome back to the home of #ThursThreads for Week 604. Today is Thursday and that means it’s time to start flashing on #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 social media handle or email in the post (so we easily notify 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, Bluesky, MeWe, and Mastodon, etc. Our Judge for Week 604: Programmer by day, writer by night, Katheryn J. Avila. Facebook | Bluesky | Goodreads | And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together. The Prompt: “I just had to find a way.” All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Comments do not represent the views of the host and the host reserves the right to remove any content. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!