Siobhan Muir – Page 16

#ThursThreads – Week 602 – Winners

Posted on March 22, 2024 by Siobhan Muir

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

Week 602 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. Follow Siobhan Muir on Bluesky or check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc. Entries: Bill Engleson Sheilagh Lee Siobhan Muir David A. Ludwig Mark A. Morris Louisa Bacio Kelly Heinen Joel Sandersen Honorable Mentions Joel Sandersen | Website Siobhan says: Joel’s tale both made me laugh and made me sad. Money talks in all situations – whether regular human business or that of the Fae and gnomes. Fun tale. Mark A. Morris | Website Siobhan says: I find it amusing that a vampire actually has allergies of a sort. Vegans just don’t provide enough protein, I guess. Made me chuckle. winner announcement Week 602 Winner David A. Ludwig Siobhan says: The last line! Oh my glory, I laughed so hard I had to make sure I wasn’t over my keyboard. I loved it. I also loved the rather guilty chagrin of her father admitting that. Great tale. “You knew this whole time and never told me?” Helen Harper wasn’t letting this one go. Even if it meant following her father into his gun safe. She didn’t mind him having guns. She just wasn’t excited by the craftsmanship and couldn’t stand the noise or recoil. “You told me not to! The other you. Was she wrong?” How was Helen supposed to answer that? She was still trying to wrap her head around the fact that she was the multiplying superhero, Gemini. Probably not even the original. “Wait. Are you still in touch with her?” “I was nine days ago. She said she’d be incommunicado for a while.” Colonel Harper reached around the edge of his rifle display case. He pressed a hidden latch and the front of the case swung out, revealing a compact closet with several of Gemini’s super suits inside. “Now that you have her Power, you probably want one of these.” Helen ran a hand dumbly over the front leotard. Her father placed his hand firmly on her shoulder. “She thought you’d be happier not knowing. How are you holding up?” Helen slowly shook her head. “It’s been an eye-opener. Just how many of me are you in touch with?” “Only the three,” Colonel Harper coughed rather than continue. Helen searched her father’s face. “Me, the superhero, and…” She gasped. “The supervillain? She really is a distinct person?” Colonel Harper nodded while studying his shoes. “She calls on Mondays.”~~~~~~~ Congratulations TWENTY-ONE TIME WINNER David, and Honorable Mentions Joel and Mark! 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 602

Posted on March 21, 2024March 20, 2024 by Siobhan Muir

Welcome back to the home of #ThursThreads for Week 602. 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 602: Scottish Word Slinger, Dauntless romance author, and #ThursThreads host, Siobhan Muir. Facebook | Bluesky | Patreon | Eden Books | And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together. The Prompt: “It’s been an eye-opener.” 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!

Monday Motivation: Start Small

Posted on March 18, 2024March 16, 2024 by Siobhan Muir

Great Horned Owl taking flight from Prickly Pear cactus pads. Text: Monday Motivation: Jumpstart your week! https://siobhanmuir.com

Good morning and Happy Monday! Boy, things are pretty crazy these days, aren’t they? The US government thinks it’s a good idea to force China to give up TikTok just so the wealthy can own your data. Several states (including my own) are doubling down on taking away women’s rights to bodily autonomy. And there’s an election coming while genAI deep fakes are already taking off. Whew! Let me out. I wanna get off the ride. Okay. Take a deep breath. There is plenty out there to be worried about, but rarely is running away either possible or going to help. So, if moving into a hidden cabin the woods won’t work for your budget or your schedule, let’s start small. Here’s your Motivation for this Monday: Start noticing the small things in your life that you LOVE. I’m talking books in the bath, sunsets in the west, stars in the sky, a random fox in the field below the school (saw that last week), the laugh of your bestie, a birthday card in the mail, a darn good cup of tea. Focus on the good things and the crazy will settle until you can fight for what needs a champion, and let the rest go. You got this. Happy Monday!

Recipe for Romance: Mug Cakes

Posted on March 16, 2024March 16, 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! Let’s get started. I’m sharing a snippet of CRETACEOUS CRUSHES, a LGBTQIA gatecrashing Charity Anthology, coming on March 19 2024. My story is FOSSIL BEDS BED & BREAKFAST and it’s a sapphic, dinoshifter romance. Persia Walker is reading about an impending meeting where some fossil sites will be destroyed for development and she could certainly use a little cake to make things better. Coming March 19 2024: Cretaceous Crushes Persia Walker stared at the online announcement of the public planning commission meeting. It wouldn’t be bad if it was in somewhere like wine country in California or near Aspen, Colorado. But no, the uber wealthy newspaper tycoon wanted to build it in Wyoming, at the foot of Deadman Mountain in Sublette County. The town had a population of five thousand, making it one of the larger settlements in the state, but still not populous enough to support the staff needs of a snooty rich people’s resort. It would drive up the property taxes and push out the locals, making it impossible for ordinary people to live there. As if they haven’t already done that to Jackson Hole. Persia scowled at the announcement, which included a map of the proposed location of the expansion. She traced the West Washakie River until she reached Little Blind Bear Creek and froze. The proposed site would cover not only both sides of the river, but it would encompass all of Blind Bear and Little Blind Bear creeks, decimating the fossil site she’d been guarding for millennia. “No. No fucking way.” She brought out her phone and took a photo, then headed down the sidewalk toward the little café that had the best peppermint tea this side of the Cretaceous. Once she had her tea, she headed out to the little sitting area in the front and claimed a bench that could take her full, but muted weight. She set her tea down beside her and pulled out her phone. She hadn’t spoken to Professor Nozomi Shimizu in a couple of months since the end of last year’s field season, but she’d kept the professor appraised of anything going on near the site. She dialed the university and waited to be connected. Gluten-Free Mug Cakes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDXo2HEKnsQ Do you ever feel like having cake but don’t have time to run to the store? Or you don’t have the time or ingredients to make a whole cake? This is a great quick and easy recipe to give you the cake you’re craving without all the time or effort. INGREDIENTSBaseMicrowavable mug1/4 cup flour (we use Bob’s Red Mill GF 1:1 baking flour)1/2 tsp baking powder1/8 tsp salt2 Tbsp sugar1 Tbsp oil3 Tbsp milk Lemon Poppyseed CakeBase plus…1/2 Tbsp poppyseeds2 tsp lemon juice1/2 Tbsp extra sugar1/2 tsp vanillaStir until completely combined.Microwave for 25 seconds, let deflate. Repeat twice more. Serve. Chocolate CakeBase plus…2 Tbsp mini chocolate chips2 Tbsp coco powderStir until completely combined.Microwave for 1 min, let rest, then again for 25 seconds. Serve. Cinnamon Spice CakeBase plus…1/2 tsp vanilla1/2 tsp cinnamonStir until completely combined.Microwave for 1 min 15 secs. Serve. Almond Poppyseed CakeBase plus…1/2 Tbsp poppyseeds1/2 tsp vanilla1/2 tsp almond extractStir until completely combined.Microwave for 25 secs, let rest. Repeat twice more. Serve. Image from cookinclassy.com

#ThursThreads – Week 601 – Winners

Posted on March 15, 2024March 15, 2024 by Siobhan Muir

Week 601 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’ve made it 11 years! Well done and thank you to everyone who writes each week. You made this happen. If you’ve just found us, welcome to the crew! You’re in good company. May you come back again and write more great flash. A thousand thanks to Louisa Bacio 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: Bill Engleson Siobhan Muir Eric Martell Mark A. Morris David A. Ludwig Patty Dump M.T. Decker Louisa says: First, the humor this week was on point! I absolutely giggled through some of the pieces. Amazing how the everyday prompt inspired such different tales. Honorable Mentions Eric Martell | Website Louisa says: The scenario and interactivity between the couple in Martell’s flash stood out. He captured the mundane of a relationship past due and layered intrigue for conflict. There’s a direct contrast of the old and the sharp novelty of the new job and adventures. Side note: I had to Google Andy Sipowicz. Special Mention Patty Dump Louisa says: I very much enjoyed the format of Patty Dump’s story with the bulleted points and then unraveling of the storyline. winner announcement Week 601 Winner Mark A. Morris Louisa says: Can I be completely turned off and intrigued at the same time? Obviously. Morris brought a new level to descriptions with: “The wart on her chin wobbled, the nubbin twitching in a widdershins direction as she whirled the tea around.” I appreciated the explanation of the new fortune teller’s job – as if it’s everyday work! Madame Zelda swirled her tea. The contents of her cup were a murky beige spotted with islands of cream, the clots stubbornly refusing to break up. There was thunder in the air, and her additional senses were tingling. “How was your first week on the job?” Madelaine pursed her lips and rocked her head, considering the experiences she’d amassed. She’d already learned nothing was what it seemed. And that Madame’s respect had to be earned. And you volunteered nothing until you had the clients’ cash tribute tucked away in your hand. Finesse was for amateurs. Professionals did nothing for free. “It’s been an eye-opener,” she said. “An education.” Madame Zelda took a drink. The wart on her chin wobbled, the nubbin twitching in a widdershins direction as she whirled the tea around. “Hmmph,” she said, remaining tight-lipped. “Your mouth’s moving, but you’re saying nothing.” She spat her drink into the cup, not caring if it sprayed her apprentice. She was here to clean, prepare the tent and engage the marks in polite conversation. She’d be her eyes and her ears on the outside, eliciting information, guiding their clients into divulging the information they’d come here to hear. “Well,” Madelaine continued, feeling uncertain. “Everybody knows this is all a sham, but they still want to believe. The crystal ball and the velvet drapes – they’re window dressing. A feng shui for the unimaginative.” Madame Zelda shook her head. There was still a lily pad outside on the pond needing a sitter.~~~~~~~ Congratulations THIRTY-EIGHT TIME WINNER Mark, and Honorable Mention Eric! 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 601

Posted on March 14, 2024March 12, 2024 by Siobhan Muir

Welcome back to the home of #ThursThreads for Week 601. 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 601: College professor, equality enthusiast, and romance author, Louisa Bacio. Facebook | Bluesky | Instagram | And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together. The Prompt: “How was your first week on the job?” 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!

Monday Motivation: Be Beautiful & Strange

Posted on March 11, 2024March 9, 2024 by Siobhan Muir

Good morning and Happy Monday! You are here. You are amazing. You are beautiful and strange in all that you are. Feels good to be acknowledged for just being, yeah? One of the things that bothers me most about living in a Capitalist society is this idea of being a ‘productive’ member. ‘Productive’ means literally producing something with the intention of it being useful. But we’re human beings, not human doings and being productive isn’t really the goal of our lives. We want to work and be helpful, but that isn’t really the only reason we’re here. Let’s take a step back from the old programming we’ve endured for decades that tells us we’re only valid or worthy if we’re ‘producing’ things. Here’s your Motivation for this Monday: Your validity and worthiness have nothing to do with what you’ve gotten done each day. You’re not a human doing, you’re a human being. Your existence as you are is what makes you valuable. I’m glad you’re here. I’m glad you’re beautiful and strange. Keep being you as you, and you’ve already proved your value. Happy Monday!

Recipe for Romance: Nutmeg Carrots

Posted on March 9, 2024 by Siobhan Muir

Welcome to Recipe for Romance! Today, I’m sharing a snippet from FOSSIL BEDS BED & BREAKFAST, a sapphic romance in CRETACEOUS CRUSHES, a dino-shifter LGBTQIA charity anthology, coming on March 19 2024. Maya is the owner of the Fossil Beds B&B, and she’s relaxing with a cup of tea as she considers her current world. She’s also an herbivore Maiasaur shifter so I’m sharing Nutmeg Carrots, a delicious side. Coming March 19 2024: Cretaceous Crushes Maya kicked her feet up on the railing and listened to the birds chirping with their territorial songs. She still spoke their languages, a modified version of the same sounds she remembered from her teenage years when she’d migrated with her family across much of what was now northern Montana. Of course, back then, the language had been spoken by what humans named velociraptors, Compsognathus, and other small predators. Sue the Tyrannosaur had used that language, too, but she’d been a mean, crotchety old bitch, and Maya hadn’t been sad to hear of her passing. Over the millennia, the evolutionary tract the birds had taken kept some of the language alive and Maya enjoyed listening to them gossip and squabble in the mornings with her tea. When she was in her true dinosaur form, she sometimes answered them, or scared them witless and quiet. More often the latter than the former. Maya had evolved, too. It had been strange to wake up in a smaller body, one with delicate skin that burned in the sun. She’d panicked at first, desperate to find her original form. It had taken her days to calm down enough to access the part of herself that would always be a large and in charge Maiasaur with olive green, leathery skin striped in cream. Thank the ManyGods for that. She’d been in her human guise for roughly five hundred years and she’d seen a lot of shit come her way. Which was why she’d settled in Deadman when she’d had the chance and staked her claim on her land. And the town came by its name honestly. The first white man who’d shown up on her land had tried to use her for his sexual needs without her consent ended up crushed, broken in more places than he had bones, and draped over a boulder as a warning to others. Nutmeg Carrots https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XY6obtJaOQo&list=PLhvg_dczWqvucxJ-KFsl3cxJRrBckCsIh This is a great side dish that goes with a lot of things, and while it looks gourmet, it’s actually really simple. INGREDIENTS 5-7 Medium Carrots4 Tbsp butter1/2 tsp ground Nutmeg1/4 tsp Salt1/4 Black pepperWater DIRECTIONS 1. Cap the carrots and cut them into discs, about 1/4 inch thick. Set aside 2. Put the spices into a small bowl and mix. Set aside. 3. Heat a 10 inch skillet on medium and melt the butter. 4. When the butter is mostly melted, add the carrots and mix. 5. Add water ~ 1/4 cup to start – and cover with a lid. Steam the carrots for about 15 minutes to start. Test your carrots to check crunchiness. You want the carrots to be close to done before you add the spices. — If you’re cooking a lot of carrots, be sure to check on it and turn or fold over the carrots so they’re fully cooked — 6. Once the carrots are softened, take the lid off and stir. Add the seasoning and stir again until all the carrots are coated. 7. Let the water cook off and the carrots to brown, stirring occasionally, for about 3-4 minutes. 8. Transfer to a bowl and serve.

#ThursThreads – Week 600 – Winners

Posted on March 8, 2024March 9, 2024 by Siobhan Muir

Wow. Six Hundred Weeks of writing flash fiction. I’m blown away! Well done and thank you to everyone who wrote this week and writes each week. You made this happen. May you come back again and write more great flash. A thousand thanks to George Varhalmi 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: Bill Engleson Melissa Bennett Sheilagh Lee Nellie Batz Alex Minns Siobhan Muir David A. Ludwig Eric Martell Kelly Heinen Katheryn J. Avila M.T. Decker Louisa Bacio George says: First off, this was a really hard challenge to meet there, Siobhan, but truly worthy of a week 600 challenge. Having to pick five winners for specific categories was difficult but a lot of fun in the end. Thank you for letting me have the honor of the challenge. In short there were a lot of great stories and many categories came down to a toss-up. Honorable Mention Katheryn J. Avila | Website George says: It was a sad but sweet tale of a love lost. Filled with strong emotion it was poignant of how their relationship drifted apart. A lost romance that it feels like neither individual really knew how to salvage. Very good story. Best Suspense Tale Bill Engleson | Website George says: This was a great suspense tale ending with urgency. It started off slow that escalated quickly making it a thrilling piece of suspense. Nicely done. Now the rush is on if Danny can get to June in time. Best LGBTQ+ Tale Siobhan Muir | Website George says: While technically ineligible as the host of the blog. As the sole LGBTQIA+ tale, I felt it still needed to be called out and acknowledged. It was an excellent piece with added suspense. Well written and what a great ending. Most Romantic Tale M.T. Decker | Website George says: While it is a great piece of science fiction I found it to be more on the romantic side. Great setup. Even in an alien society, the world may not be ready for the love they share. It was poignant and heartfelt. Best Sci-Fi Tale David A. Ludwig | Website George says: While the focus may have been on Gemini through the eyes of Helen, she let her skills or multiples step in during a time of urgency, maybe breaking out her secret unintentionally. What a great ending and tale. Curious to see where it goes. winner announcement Week 600 Winner Kelly Heinen George says: This was an awesome tale and the overall winner this week. Dad’s having a little difficulty with retirement and passing the reins to the next version of Death. His office, that is so funny, is not what it used to be so how to up the ante, focus on a non-existent heir and create doubt. That was insidious. Framed photos of my family line the stone walls of my office. It is worth noting that photography will not be invented for another twenty years. My family have always been ahead of the times. “You’ve moved all my stuff.” My father settles into the wooden chair that sits in front of my desk. The red cushion disappears under his black robes, as he crosses one leg over the other, steepling his fingers. Realizing that I am sitting the same way, I adjust my position. “You did ordain me as The One True Death and move into your retirement. Thus, it was natural for me to rearrange the office to my liking.” “How was your first week on the job?” “Challenging, as expected. It is not easy approving people to die. However, my Time Keepers and Deathers have done a great job selecting the hour glasses and crossing people over.” Father glances around the cavern-like room, my framed photos insufficient to mask the thrummingsilence. Father and I have always been close, but suddenly, we feel distant. “How do you plan to proceed over the next two hundred years?” I had not given it much thought and say as much. Father stands, his chair grating on the stones, and I flinch. “Thus far, you lack an heir, and in two hundred years, that will be a problem.” The door slams behind him, making me think two hundred years will go by quicker than I would prefer.~~~~~~~ Congratulations TWENTY TIME WINNER Kelly, Honorable Mention Katheryn, and Genre Winners Bill, Mary, and David! 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 600

Posted on March 7, 2024March 6, 2024 by Siobhan Muir

Welcome back to the home of #ThursThreads. Wow, y’all. We made it to WEEK 600. SIX HUNDRED. My glory, that’s amazing! Today is Thursday and that means it’s time to start flashing, like we have for the past 11 years. I had no idea when I started it would keep going! This is Week 600 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 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 600: Dead Thing Specialist, Mining Geologist, and Original Book Boyfriend, George Varhalmi. Facebook | And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together. The Prompt: “You’ve moved all my stuff.” Okay, since this is the 600th week, I thought we’d offer extra badges. So do your best, write your heart out, and know there will be prizes for the different subgenres. 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!