Cia

I just really couldn't say good-bye to them after the winter anthology. Trios are hard to write; getting the body parts right, making sure they're distinct, keeping the conflict from being all about miscommunication... but these guys make it easier than I expected. Miah's parents are Interlanders through and through. Untrusting of anything--or anyone--new, but they're also about being there for each other. Moshe and Lisco's bonding with Miah is all about that, so I knew it would work out even if they started on uncertain footing. Thank you so much for the reviews on each chapter, Wayne! I'm so glad you enjoyed these guys!!

He was an ass in the first story, and an ass in this last one. Moshe certainly picked up on the traitor, but just because he thinks slow, doesn't mean he doesn't think deep.

Dun duh dun! They are! Miah is becoming his own man. He's not a son, or a student--he's a stakeholder and a man.

They are! The original plan was one year, but that really didn't work. I wanted to show how they'd come from being alone to being together, and share each of their moments of fear and happiness with this.

Thanks to everyone for taking part! It looks like there are some great short stories on offer!

It's hard. On average, going through a publisher on a story I've already edited prior to submission, I'll have gone over it more than 12 times. Remember to read aloud when checking for flow, and when doing a line edit, it helps to start at the end of the story and read backward one paragraph at a time to focus on the words more than the story.

Miah was the only one of us actually clean; I didn’t know if that would help or hurt us in their opinions. His mom looked very prim in a brown dress, loose and blousy, with a skirt that went down to her calves, and his father was dressed much like Miah did, in a pair of loose pants and a flannel over a t-shirt. It was a far cry from my skinny jeans and tight t-shirt that showed a strip of my belly, and Moshe’s dirty shorts—and nothing else. Though at least if I was trying to avoid their gaze,

I pushed the cubes around that Miah wanted to set up his lab. A few others stayed in place in empty tack stalls. I’d asked Miah where the tacks were, but that made him laugh and explain that gear for animals was called tack. No one had kept horses for a long time, though. They didn’t stand up to the ravages of the land that happened during the war, and the few left were kept in zoos. A long counter ran the length of the front half of the barn. We’d cleaned every speck of dust off it and then Mi

My leg still ached, but I was able to push up on my hands without pain making me feel like the muscles, tendons, and ligaments were trying to detach from the bones. Moshe and Lisco were curled up together on the other side of the bed. Lisco’s hair was still damp from our late-night shower. He’d insisted on cleaning up after we finished fixing the fences and getting the cattle back where they belonged. Then he’d showered again after I made the whole mess of yesterday up to him. To be fair, betwe

“Wrong?” I stared at him. What the hell did he mean by wrong? “He’s the only one who makes sense.” “I agree that Gorseman is probably behind this. Somehow he learned about your new hybridization techniques, and he’s threatened. You said he’s the only big seller of the main breed of female cows you need, right? And another guy has the type of bulls you’re looking for. The only one who stands to gain from you losing the cows now is Gorseman. If you succeed, he loses business. Probably a lot of it

Miah's stake has to be a success; he has something to prove--to himself, to his family, and to all the people who thought he'd fail. But can he find the will to keep going when everything sees to be going wrong around him?

It took 3rd place in the Queer Sci-fi group's flash fiction contest on FB/their blog. I won a whole $5 which I told them to lump in with the other winners who also donated theirs $10/$15 winnings to the Trevor Project. I also posted it on my personal off-GA blog, and it went into my flash collection here, Dribbles.

LMAO!!!!

You have NO idea how 1975. Now, the hubby picked it, so he's to blame. Our bed has a cushioned headboard, like a couch with a drop center cup holder/jewelry box area, with matching nightstands and dresser with mirrored tops. The material, you ask? A nice wood? No... burgundy leather. Yep, I kid you not! My entire bedroom set is made out of burgundy leather. *shakes head*

What can I say? I can turn a phrase!

Almond milk sounds all mysterious, but really? It's almonds that have been soaked in water and then are pressed to get out all the 'milk'.

Exactly! Gammas are more than they appear... or what everyone has been made to think they are. As for the theater and the phrase, I can't share yet. No spoilers. LOL

“Do you think the well-intentioned folly was Schvesla’s invention?” Teddy asked out of the blue. He straightened up and took a deep breath. “After all, he intended for it to help the city survive into the future, but it didn’t even work for his entire lifetime.” Teddy had moved out of my arms when he came out of his fugue, and I missed his damp heat and the weight of his body against my chest. He began to pace a few steps back and forth in the alley. “It makes sense. But what’s the hubris of ma

I like to share tips, and free tip books, whenever possible. Not everything might apply to you, but even if you don't publish, knowing how to brand yourself as an author and use social media can be helpful! Bookbaby is offering another free eBook, Self-Publishing Book Camp by Carla King, as a download now. Get your copy!! Bookbaby Download Page

Thank you very much, Renee, for the feature. And a big thank you to Cannd, for her always insightful reviews on my stories!

Surprise! It's me again. Renee took over my Signature Background this month, so I'm giving her a bit of a weekend break. This has been a busy week!! Monday was the announcement of the CSR featured story, Roommates by Krista. Don't miss out on the discussion day on Monday, March 30th. On Wednesday, Dark graced us with another of his Ask an Author... #25!! He shared questions answered by Nephylim, Stephanie L. Danielson, and Aditus. Want to know what they were? Check it out! I brought you the Weekly Prompts on Friday's blog, #400 and 401!! I also featured the first line from all the prompts posted in the previous seven days. Anthology Announcements: ***NOTE: All Deadlines (except Poetry) are for submission to the Anthology Proof Team*** 2015 Spring Anthology: Full Circle - Deadline Passed! Look for the stories to be released soon!! 2015 Poetry Anthology: Remember - Due April 15th (Poetry Anthology is exempt from the Anthology Proof Team) 2015 Summer Anthology: Road Trip - Due June 3rd In Premium: The Harvest: Taken Now Complete!! Look for a new story coming next week! By our Classic Authors: Long Day by Dabeagle By our Signature Authors: Prompt Ramblings by Mann Ramblings Cosmic Inception by Cia Fortitude by Cia Veil of Shadow by Stellar Leopard Spots by Graeme Global Explorer II by David McLeod A Prompt a Week by Comicfan By our Promising Authors: 2015 Prompt Responses by Valkyrie Sanctuary by Sasha Distan London and Love by CarringtonRJ The English Year by JWolf Barbed Wire Heart by Cole Matthews The Hollow Hills by Valkyrie Runner Up by French Canadian Don't forget.... Read, Write, and REVIEW!!!

Sorry about that Valkyrie, I fixed it! I plead child interference--my two nearly didn't make it on the bus without being stripped of every fun privilege they have this morning. Some days!! LOL

Happy Friday, everyone! Unless Friday isn't the end of your work week, or your weekend work-at-home is just beginning... or any other non-fun Friday vibes are hitting. Either way, celebrate or distract yourself with some fun writing prompts from the flash fiction guru--Comicfan. Prompt 400 – Creative Tag – First Line “But I heard you were dead!” Prompt 401 – Creative Tag – Infection It started at a lab in Washington, DC. It seems people began to morph and become a human animal hybrid. At first it was just a few but it slowly seemed to spread across the country, infecting one out of every four people. Was this a lab experiment gone wrong or something new in the evolution of mankind? To be fun, I'm going to post the first line of every prompt response promoted by the author in the Prompt forum over the last week! Check out these prompts and more in the Writing Prompts Forum.

*roars laughing* That's priceless.

Impunity, you're quick the thinker yourself. Thank you so much! Will is right; they don't need to get caught with anything anyway, but if he fails....