Thursday’s child

Double-checking that the child born on a Thursday did have far to go a reference to Eartha Kitt came up and I was taken back several decades to a memory of being mesmerised by the quality of her voice, and thinking her perfectly named.

This week’s entries were pretty mesmerising too: week after week I am in awe of the talent in this group. I am also aware I don’t often acknowledge the comments made on my posts, but hope you know that is not lack of pleasure. This week’s winner, I’m delighted to say, is Zaiure for ‘Boda’.  Several of you were neck and neck but it was ‘rummages in the stolen tithe bag’ which tipped the balance when the time came to make my mind up.

Words for next week: fuse migrate song

Entries by midnight Thursday 1st March winners and words posted Friday 2nd

Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all of the three words above in the genres of horror, fantasy, science fiction or noir. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and use of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

A lack of satin hearts

Another week of top quality writing, with nary a red rose in sight. for which much thanks, despite the fact that it makes the task of choosing one piece above the others difficult in the extreme. Eventually, the choice came down to fake news or fancy tattoos, and I was unable to split them, so Patricia, for her ‘Modus operandi’ and David, for ‘Job description’ will have to teeter together on the topmost podium.

My thanks to all of you for posting and for the vital comments.

Words for next week: brazen relish tithe

Entries by midnight Thursday  22nd February winners and words posted Friday 23rd

Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all of the three words above in the genres of horror, fantasy, science fiction or noir. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and use of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

Overtures and arias

(I'm in Cardiff  to see a couple of operas this weekend, so apologies for brevity)

As I said last week, sometimes it’s just a choice of words, and I’m sure it will come as no surprise that John’s ‘Proxy doxy’ in his ‘The Dalliance’ propelled him into first place.

Thank you one and all for a feast of richness this week.

Words for next week: caustic erase scroll

Entries by midnight Thursday  15th February winners and words posted Friday 16th

Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all of the three words above in the genres of horror, fantasy, science fiction or noir. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and use of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

Blood sugar and jelly babies

The weekly choosing of a ‘winner’ – one story ‘better’ than the rest – is becoming near impossible. Not that I’m complaining, but you should all know that so often it is little more than a particularly appealing phrase, a choice of words or, even, a title that swings the balance after I’ve spent more time than I can afford trying to choose.

This week was especially hard. Eventually, on the strength of “weighing the ripened silence” I picked Jerry’s ‘Someday’; having also found the whole of the tale lingered in my mind. Huge thanks to the rest of you.

Words for next week:  bedlam proxy taunt

Entries by midnight Thursday  8th February winners and words posted Friday 9th

Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all of the three words above in the genres of horror, fantasy, science fiction or noir. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and use of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.