Double-length flash tale - "Late"
Blowing Rock, North Carolina
Christine runs. The childish footwear, pink flowered sandals, slow her down, and so she kicks them off. And then she is running away from...
2021-11-04 12:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
sebtomato posts
New Commission - "The Reason" - out today!
I'm delighted to publish "The Reason", commissioned and imagined by Fossil, in full today. ๐ฐ๐ฆ๐ธ I hope you all enjoy this Parkdale tale - something special for those who have ever lost in lo...
2021-11-03 13:55:04 +0000 UTC View PostNovember flash tale #1 - coming Thursday! ๐ผ๐ง
with a double-length tale inspired by special helper Byron...
2021-11-02 20:10:14 +0000 UTC View Post
October Exclusive - "Bobbing" - Part 4
FOUR
They fall asleep in each otherโs arms. No bedtime story, no lonely snowman or Snow White. Itโs already so late, such a special night, but they must get their sleep, they donโt want to be grouchy at nursery tomorrow, do they?
Robin looks at his sister in the illumination a...
2021-10-31 17:31:00 +0000 UTC View PostOctober Exclusive - "Bobbing" - Part 3
THREE
It doesnโt take long.
The night lasts forever.
Trick-or-treating is over in half an hour.
Because Robin and Lucy are so young, and just the length of the street, two handfuls of homes, is more than enough. All the doorbells are answered (they take turns to press ...
2021-10-31 16:55:12 +0000 UTC View PostOctober Exclusive - "Bobbing" - Part 2
Robin has skived a lot of school since his dad walked out. So perhaps he missed the lesson when kids are taught what to do when they get younger. When thereโs magic. When theyโre left the same size (maybe a little smaller) than their baby sister. And when their mother acts none the wiser.
... 2021-10-30 17:18:54 +0000 UTC View PostHalloween Blast from the Past
I'm not able to post the rest of this month's exclusive until the weekend, so in the meantime, here's a favorite Halloween tale from before to tide us over, "Ditzy Dinah". (The rest of "Bobbing" is coming Saturday and Sunday)
2021-10-28 17:25:14 +0000 UTC
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October Exclusive - "Bobbing" - Part 1
ONE
Bobbing for apples is for babies, like Lucy, already in her Halloween costume (a pink, polyester monstrosity inspired by Paw Patrol). She got to try b...
2021-10-25 19:01:56 +0000 UTC View Post
October Flash #1 - "Charming" ๐ธ๐๐คด๐ฅ
We can't celebrate Halloween without a Berry Swirl tale...๐งน
Halloween
Maynard, Kentucky
Kay ends up in the kitchen. She looks harried, she l...
2021-10-20 12:23:27 +0000 UTC View Post
November story ideas - time to vote! โ๐
I asked my special helpers for "7 Deadly Sins" ideas, and you responded. Thank you! โญTime now to vote on the idea(s) that you like the most. This vote is open to all patrons, and you can vote for as ma...
2021-10-16 21:33:36 +0000 UTC View PostOctober Flash #1 - "Croc" ๐๐๐ง
A bonus-length flash tale to kick off one of AR's favorite holidays. Let me know if you like it!
Halloween
The first thing Paul does whe...
2021-10-14 12:18:06 +0000 UTC View PostReminder - November story ideas needed!
A reminder, patrons, that we're looking for November story ideas, this time based on any of the 7 Deadly Sins (Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, Pride).
Please share you ideas here 2021-10-13 15:12:36 +0000 UTC View Post
November story ideas needed - "seven deadly sins" ๐
Hello, special helpers! With October's Halloween tales in the works, I would love to see your AR ideas around the theme of:
the 7 deadly sins - Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, Pride
So I guess we're up for anything... 2021-10-07 12:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post
September Exclusive - "Drop-Off" - Epilogue
When Toby gets home from work, he finds two girls waiting for him on the porch. Both wearing pajamas designed for the under-fives. Both wanting to show off their daycare masterpieces they painted. Both wanting hugs from Daddy.
He picks up Debbie, swings her around, as he always does. He m...
2021-09-26 13:00:00 +0000 UTC View PostSeptember Exclusive - "Drop-Off" - Part 3
The wheels on the bus are no long going round. No more music, just the sound of voices, footsteps, and Graceโs own heartbeat before she opens her eyes.
Grace wakes up to find herself in an ordinary daycare room. Except for the children.
The children are much too old, arenโt they...
2021-09-26 12:00:01 +0000 UTC View PostSeptember Exclusive - "Drop-off" - Part 2
The wheels on the bus continue to go round, all through the town.
โIโmโฆoh, Iโm so sorry.โ
She has wet herself. She has created a puddle on the floor. Her face burns with humiliation. A fainting spell, a heart attack, anything would be less soul-destroying than wetting hersel...
2021-09-25 12:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostSeptember Exclusive - "Drop-Off" - Part 1
The drive to the new daycare has already taken forty-five minutes. Over an hour, if you count the journey from Graceโs apartment to pick up her niece. This isnโt the โquick drop-offโ that Graceโ...
2021-09-23 20:00:09 +0000 UTC View Post
October "Halloween" ideas๐ป๐๐ฆ - time to vote! โ
Thank you special helpers for submitting such spookily creative ideas! โญ Now everyone, it's time to vote for your favorite Halloween ideas, and help inspire our flash ...
2021-09-18 12:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostFlash tale - "Secure"
Ah, let's just read it now ๐
There were ten sessions. After each one, Dan returned home, and his wife asked, โHowโd it go?โ
Each time, Dan replied, โFine.โ He didnโt...
2021-09-13 13:47:31 +0000 UTC View Post
Flash tale - "Premiรจre"
A little pretentious, attending a movie premiere.
Okay, more than a little.
John and Cindy won the tickets when they donated to their local public radio, succumbing after a week of...
2021-09-11 14:59:52 +0000 UTC View Post
October story ideas needed - "Halloween" ๐ป๐๐ฆ
Hello, special helpers! With September's tales already in the works, I would love to see your AR ideas around the classic AR theme of:
halloween
Please comment here with your one-line story ideas (as many as you like...
2021-09-09 16:32:56 +0000 UTC View PostAugust Exclusive - "Sparkly Objects " - Part 3
Youโre too stressed. You need to take a break. Youโre going to burn out.
This is not what Nathan hears from Julia.
โWhat a wide-awake boy! Look at those bright eyes!โ
Itโs nothing but positive feedback from Julia this morning. Nathan feels the dopamine hit as ...
2021-08-30 23:24:27 +0000 UTC View PostAugust Exclusive - "Sparkly Objects " - Part 2
They get back home late afternoon. After sweating in the heat to clear up the things not sold in the yard sale and bagging them up for Goodwill, Nathan has a shower and Julia calls out for Mexican food.
Once Nathan is full of California burrito, Julia starts asking her questions. She always...
2021-08-29 16:59:03 +0000 UTC View Post