Friday Fictioneers

Each Friday, author Madison Woods provides a photo prompt encouraging writers to submit a 100-word flash fiction piece. Add the photo to your own blog and try it. Please comment on my story below first, though! Then, add your own link to Madison's blog (and mine) so we can all enjoy it. http://madisonwoods.wordpress.com/flash-fiction/lorelei-100-words-audio/

TOMMY’S FATHER
By Beth Carter

Twigs snapped beneath Mia’s feet. Every weekend she and Tommy hiked in the woods. Suddenly, Mia’s young son stopped and pointed.

“Look, Mommy. There's Fred Flintstone's couch!”

Mia followed Tommy’s gaze and her eyes filled with tears. She had avoided this area for five years and had mistakenly taken the all-too-familiar path.

“Yes, honey. That does look like Fred Flintstone’s couch.”

Cold air combined with heavy memories caused Mia’s nose to run. She sniffled and rubbed Tommy’s head. He had never known his father; he had never known the man who had proposed to Mia on that very slab.

A day before their wedding, then-pregnant Mia had discovered a cryptic note from John: I’m sorry.

And The Winner Is...

Thanks to everyone who participated in my Valentine's Day six-word memoir contest. Fantastic job, everyone. There were 14 participants who submitted 53 entries. Let me tell you this was a difficult decision, so I've chosen three winners as follows:

First place: "Opening my heart opened my life" by Karen McConnaughey

Second place (tie): "I said no to your ring" by Quill Shiv
"It's been a century since you" by Caroline Gerardo

They're all very different, yet powerful and poignant. And don't you want to know the backstory for each one? I do!

I was only going to choose one winner but that was impossible. As promised, Karen will receive a copy of IT ALL CHANGED IN AN INSTANT, More Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure.

Quill Shiv and Caroline will each receive an IT ALL CHANGED IN AN INSTANT magnetic bookmark and my new picture book bookmark. Please send your address to me at bethcarter@hughes.net or message me on Facebook.

Congrats to everyone! Well done. I'll have another contest in a month or so. Thanks for participating.

Love Is In The Air

In honor of Valentine's Day, let's combine romance with my other favorite thing--writing. And how about throwing in a contest, too!

You know my passion for six-word memoirs. Here are six six-word memoirs I wrote for Valentine's Day:

Chocolates. Roses. Champagne. Hugs still best.
What I love about you? Everything.
Mature love's better than puppy love.
Loves me, loves me not. Does!
Etched our initials on the mountaintop.
He thinks I'm the one. Ditto.

There. See, it's not hard. Please enter your own six-word memoir about Valentine's Day in the comment section, and you'll be eligible to win IT ALL CHANGED IN AN INSTANT a collection of 1,000 six-word memoirs by famous writers, celebrities and not-so-famous authors like me!

Deadline to enter: February 14 at midnight. (You may enter up to six six-word memoirs.) Drawing will be held February 15. Good luck.

Friday Fictioneers

It's Friday Fictioneer time. Every Friday Madison Woods at www.madisonwoods.wordpress.com provides a photo prompt. Writers are encouraged to write a very short story (100 words). Here's mine. Give it a try. It's fun.

MEMORIES
By Beth Carter

Brad stared horrified at their home ablaze. Meanwhile, Erica honked the horn.

“Come on. Hurry!”

Brad noticed Erica’s set jaw and steely eyes. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.” Erica soon passed every car on the only clear road out of the inferno.

When she reached the canyon, Erica popped the trunk, pulling out hiking boots and an ax.

“What the hell are you going to do with that?”

Erika positioned a bandana over her mouth and motioned for Brad to follow her.
“We’re going to cut that tree down. When we started dating, you etched our initials in it, remember? That fire isn’t going to get everything.”

Tell Me A Story

My writer friend, Jan Marler Morrill, has her own version of show and tell every Tuesday. She provides an intriguing photo and written prompt. Writers are encouraged to submit a story based on these prompts. The link is http://jansthoughtsovercoffee.blogspot.com/2012/01/telling-tuesdays-13112-she-felt-sick.html?showComment=1328042935718#c833707139701219071

Check out her blog to see this week's prompt based on the restless sea which, by several accounts, is causing seasickness, morning sickness and wrecking havoc in general. Here's my story:

Sylvia grabbed the slippery gold railing in an attempt to steady herself. The boat bobbed like a cork in the ocean. She lost her footing on the wet planks and hot coffee sloshed through her white crocheted cover-up and onto her new peach bikini. Damn! That’s hot. She jumped back, steadied her cup and attempted to wipe her cover-up with her hand.

The creaking cabinet doors in the galley alerted her that someone was up. The big-bellied captain groused through the cupboard and sang an Irish jig, seemingly unconcerned about the weather. Tina, the toned, young first mate bent over (yet again) except not in front of Peter’s face this time. Tina grabbed the railing with one hand while the wind caught a basket of croissants. They skittered across the deck and over the side—now fish food.      

Seriously? We’re going to eat at a time like this? The salt water stung Sylvia’s eyes and her now-wet bangs stuck to her forehead. Why Peter thought it was a good idea to charter a small boat during hurricane season was beyond her. She had done the prerequisite spray tanning and had gotten a mani and pedi. But his sudden interest in chartering a boat came out of Neverland.

The restless, dark swells grew taller and angry white caps lapped the boat in every direction. Sylvia’s stomach did back flips. How could Peter sleep through this roller coaster? She decided to awaken him and took one last sip of the now-cold coffee. She covered her eyes with her hand and looked in every direction. The restless sea was far and wide. Before Sylvia turned to go downstairs, strong fingers grabbed her upper arms and shoved her overboard.
 
That's it. A huge thanks to Jan who has provided at least three prompts this month that I plan to use for my JANO novel. Now, it's your turn. Tell me a story and please copy it and add it to Jan's blog as well. Happy sailing!

Friday Fictioneer Time

Here is today's photo prompt for the Friday Fictioneers. This was a tough one. Here's my 100-word entry. Please try it and see the other entries at http://susielindau.com. Susie is guest hosting today for Friday Fictioneer founder Madison Woods.

TALL COTTON
By Beth Carter

Oscar’s neck ached from staring up at the fortieth floor windows. He scratched his head. “Ted, why do you s’pose Trump has to buy such tall buildings?”

Ted switched his mop and bucket to his left hand. “’Cause he can, I guess. What now, boss?

Oscar reached into his pocket, pulled out a blue kerchief and wiped his forehead. “Give me the bucket and go get a ladder. A tall one.”

Ted set the bucket at his boss’s feet. Sudsy water sloshed onto the shiny, tile floor. “I guess it could be worse. One of us could be Donald Trump’s barber.”

My First Online Interview

Okay, I'm excited. Award-winning author Jan Marler Morrill interviewed little old me. You can read the post on her blog today at http://jansthoughtsovercoffee.blogspot.com/2012/01/interview-with-author-beth-carter.html

Please join us for a virtual latte and learn about my writing and marketing background, my new picture book, the illustrations, my routine, my published work, and more.

One thing I learned--okay two things--Jan is a sweetheart to promote my new picture book, and I blather on too much. My answers were too long. But I hope I can hold your attention long enough for you to comment because if you do, you just might win a free, autographed copy of WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE?! Be sure and comment by February 1 to be eligible.

Thanks, Jan, for interviewing me and thanks to everyone for your ongoing support.