Winners and words. March 22, 2015

So again, I was sure my closing post had gone through when I posted it. Evidently not.  So I wrote this,using last week's prompts, just now, because it seemed like the thing to do!

“Oh bloody hell.”  Lolly muttered.

She stared at the bottom of the blog page, noticing that yet again her “The Gates are Closed” post hadn’t gone through. She’d about reached the limit of her patience with her rattletrap old computer.

“I’m going to wind up in an asylum if this keeps happening.”

“Now , now…”  the demon whispered in her ear.  “There’s no pride in suicide.  Let me offer you a deal.”

“I just want this fucking post to go through!”

The demon smiled as the entry finally posted and Lolly fell dead.

“The Gates are Closed”

__________________________________________________________

OK!  Random inspiration borne of abject frustration aside, let's get on with it.

Our winner is Noah Heinrich with The Great Game:  I loved the dialogue in this.  Very clever use of the prompts as well.  This was great fun to read!  Thank you.

Also in the winner's circle this week is Patricia Purvis with Cripplegate Junction/Part 5-Cakes And Cautions: On the surface it's a simple little slice of life.  A canteen, some free pastries, and a cute little girl.  But I love ominous you've made it all.  As always, lovely use of the prompts.  Thank you.

And now, the Tome has offered up new words.

Antagonize
Iridesce
Organic

The usual rules apply: 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. Serialized 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 best pleases you and, if you like, remind your friends that we are open to new and returning writers.

You have until Friday, March 27th.  Winners and words on Saturday, March 28th.

Glimmers of Green

Greetings all,

There are, as I type this, utility trucks and heavy equipment outside of the house next door.  They are digging for and readying to repair a gas leak.  They've been there for some hours now.  It's just 10:00 PM here.  Something tells me I won't be getting much sleep tonight.  It's all right.  I tend to be a bit of night owl these days.  Besides, the windows are open and there's the tiniest breath of Spring in the breeze.

The Tome is perched on my bed near the open window, waiting to bring forth new words. Let us not make it wait much longer, eh?

Our winner this week is Rob Evangelista with part 3 of his as yet unnamed story.  The prompts are gorgeously woven into this.  I had to read it three times just to find them!  Thank you!

In second place is Sandra Davies with A Change of Focus (120):  First of all, I can't believe it's been 120 chapters.  You have kept this story fascinating and going strong.  This chapter is lushly written and honestly made me shiver in sympathetic pain.  Thank you!

And now for new words.

Asylum
Limit
Pride

The usual rules apply: 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. Serialized 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 best pleases you and, if you like, remind your friends that we are open to new and returning writers.

You have until Friday, March 20th.  Winners and words on Saturday, March 21st.

A break in the white

Good evening,

It looks as if we're going to have a bit of slightly warmer weather, and no snow for a few days.  I was out taking pictures today and I saw snow falling from the trees as it melted.  It was lovely.  One hopes the even temporary easing of winter will bring  a bit of hopeful activity to mind and heart.  One wants to believe the long cold will end and Spring will herald a new lightness of Spirit.  There's Always Hope.

Now that I'm finished with the philosophizing, let's get on, shall we?

Our winner this week is Patricia Purvis with The Fifth Victim:  The Ripper murders have long been a subject of interest for me.  There's a feeling in this that's both clinical and sad.  Thank you.

Also winning this week is Antonia Woodville with Infinity 89:  Lovely use of the prompts.  I'm always amused by the Captain's musings on food.  I'm becoming more and more curious about the beast.  Can't wait to read more!  Thank you.

And now the Tome has granted new words:

Creation
Dice
Lunatic

The usual rules apply: 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. Serialized 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 best pleases you and, if you like, remind your friends that we are open to new and returning writers.

You have until Friday, March 13th.  Winners and words on Saturday, March 14th.

The Gates are Open!

And here we are.

Good afternoon,

Life seems to have taken both RR and I hostage this last week.  We both apologize for the delay!

Right to it, then!

Our winner this week is Sandra Davies with Problems with mother-in-law:  Smooth use of the prompts, but truthfully, it was the last line that clinched it for me!  Very clever and just really funny.  Thank you.

Also in the winner's circle this week is Michael B. Fletcher with Guardian:  I just like the flow of this, and a ginger werewolf?  A rare thing indeed, in my experience.

The Tome has been growling at me and chewing at my boot.  As my foot happens to be still in it, I'll go ahead and give the little darling leave to give us this week’s words.

Key
Fur
Damnation

The usual rules apply: 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. Serialized 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 best pleases you and, if you like, remind your friends that we are open to new and returning writers.

You have until Friday, March 6th.  Winners and words on Saturday, March 7th.

Snow Blind.

Good afternoon.

I am beginning to firmly believe that whatever creatures might have come out into the snows of New England to stalk and haunt the darkest recesses of  the mind, have given up the whole notion.  I've lost count of how many inches of snow we now have, though I have just shoveled the walk, and I can tell you that the snow was just about up to my hips. I'm thinking about 3 feet and we're NOT talking drifts here.  

Mind, body and soul feel bone white, ice cold, and dryly brittle, these days.  

However, there are have been stories to read, and an internet connection to argue with, so I've been kept busy!

Our winner this week is  Patricia Purvis with Le Rue Le Veut:  A truly touching little tale of horror.  More so, because of the truth of it.  Thank you!

And now the Tome, which is as fed up with snow as I, has given us some new words.

Ginger

Measure

Sentry

The usual rules apply: 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. Serialized 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 best pleases you and, if you like, remind your friends that we are open to new and returning writers.

You have until Friday, February 20th.  Winners and words on Saturday, February 21st.

Stir Crazy

This is the part of winter I find the hardest. Snow is no longer a pretty surprise (if it ever really was), but instead a regular inconvenience. While my house is nicely insulated and comfortable, I grow weary of having to spend so much time indoors. Alas, I don't have the tolerance for cold that Colleen enjoys, so the result is that I get a bad case of cabin fever starting about mid-February and lasting until the earth wakes up with that particular warming dirt smell it has here in the Midwest. A couple of months off, that is, so instead, I shall keep myself amused by writing and reading dark tales here.

The winner this week is Foxxglove with her tale of bloodthirsty ambition, Fiddle-Dee-Dee. Thank for your sharing that delightfully dark story!

Honorable mention goes to David Barber, whose Untitled tale of an unknown assailant was chilling indeed. Welcome back, David!

And now for the words I hope will spark more great stories from you all:

Comparison
Express
Responsible

The usual rules apply: 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. Serialized 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 best pleases you and, if you like, remind your friends that we are open to new and returning writers.

You have until Friday, February 13th (oooh, spooky!).  Winners and words on Saturday, February 14th (also spooky, in a different way!).

The Gates are Open!

Flash Fool Contest

Evening all,
Not sure how many of you enter writing contests, but I came across this one and I thought I'd post it up here in case anyone's interesed.

Flash Fool Contest



Here's the blurb on the splash page.  From there you can get links to submit.  They are charging $6.00 as an entry fee.

"Flash Future is now in the past, and we’re moving on to our next quarterly contest. This go-round we’re cooking up a contest with the theme of#FlashFool that will appear in a mega-issue on (you guessed it) April Fool’s Day. That also just so happens to be The Molotov Cocktail‘s 5-year anniversary, so, yeah, it’s kind of a big deal.

The key to this contest will be a twist ending. Genre is wide open. Scare us, make us laugh, blow our minds, makes us feel all ushy-gushy… whatever. We simply require some kind of unexpected ending.

What’s in it for all you little M. Night Shyamalans out there? The following, as long as you can pull off a far less-contrived twist than that hack M. Night Shyamalan:"

$200 for Flash Fool winner

$75 for runner-up

$50 for second runner-up

(We also give mad props to 4th-10th place, publishing them as
Honorable Mentions in our April Fool’s Day mega-issue!)

Winners and Words ! Week ending Friday, January 30, 2015

Good afternoon!
I'm going to get right to it, as my connection is still a bit wonky and has made me late.

Our winner this week is Antonia Woodville with Infinity 85: This installment is smooth as silk and delicious as the finest chocolate!  Brilliant use of the prompts.  A sheer joy to read.  Thank you!

Also winning this week is Sandra Davies with Rallying [Threshold 52]:  Sandra, I honestly had a difficult time deciding which of your installments this week to choose.  Both were grand, but I just loved how you used the prompts in this.  I'm dying to find out what happens next.  Thank you!

And now on to the "other" good part!  The Tome has provided new words!

Baton
Cry
Frost

The usual rules apply: 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. Serialized 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 best pleases you and, if you like, remind your friends that we are open to new and returning writers.

You have until Friday, February 6th.  Winners and words on Saturday, February 7th.

The Gates are Open!

Snowbound

Good morning!  My apologies for being a bit late.  I had connection issues and could not get hold of Miss Rebecca.  Things seem to have righted themselves for the time being.

So, the rumor is that here in New England we are expecting about 23 inches of snow in the next two days or so.  Mind you, it likely won't be that much, but there's a part of me that hopes it will be.  There is something wonderfully relaxing about that much snow.  You simply cannot go out, and no one is going to argue with you about that.  It's an opportunity to let one's mind be enveloped by the deep, thick, silence that comes with that much snow, and to make a little magic in the kitchen with a huge pot of soup or some baked goods.

I find myself already thinking about what dark things might come out in such weather, and what sort of horrors they would bring with them.

This weeks stories were as always, amazing. I must say again how thrilled I am to have new writers among us.  And with that, let me get on with it.

Our winner is is Kerry Liz with Ivory Silence:  I don't think there's anyone who doesn't know the feeling of wanting screaming children to be quiet.  Vanessa's resentment at her situation only heightens that feeling for her, and her solution is terrible and desperate.  Thank you!

In second place this week is Patricia Purvis with THE THROWBACK:  Lovely use of the prompts and great dialogue here.  The last line made me chuckle.  Thank you!

And so, the Tome has brought forth new words.

Blister
Harp
Parent

The usual rules apply: 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. Serialized 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 best pleases you and, if you like, remind your friends that we are open to new and returning writers.

You have until Friday, January 30.  Winners and words on Saturday January 31st.  As the 31st is New Years Eve and some folks may have celebrations to plan, or attend, if anyone would like me to extend the deadline by a day or two, let me know in comments and we can do that.

All right, m'dears.  The Gates are Open!

Exploring the Darkness

Good morning, all!  My apologies for being a few hours late.  However, I'm quite grateful that my connection issue only lasted a short while.  I think it's getting better!

The long dark of winter has begun in earnest here in New England. Most days are overcast and dull, and a bitter cold has settled in.  Trees creak in the evening wind, as do my bones upon rising each morning.  It's the time of year when my thoughts always turn to my own mortality.  I don't fear these images, slithering and scratching quietly through my mind.  I embrace and explore them.  Time passes for all things and the cycles of life continue, after all.

My writing often takes a much darker turn during this time, as well.. So dark, that in the past, there have been stories I have been hesitant to commit to paper, as it were, fearing them perhaps too frightening to be read.

That being said, before I get to winners and words.  I have a question for all of you.  Have you ever written something you thought too "dark" to publish or show to anyone?  Answering, obviously, is voluntary, but I'd be interested to know.

And now on to the reason we call come here each week:

Our winner this week is Michael B. Fletcher with The Trap:  Michael, the sheer scope of this, conveyed in so few words, amazed me.  Thank you!

Also in the winner's circles is Sandra Davies with A Change of Focus (113):  Sandra, this has to be my favorite installment so far!  I have always loved the relationship between Vanessa and Pettinger, and to me this piece expresses it beautifully.  You have a wonderful talent for both dialogue and action!  Thank you!

The Tome has obligingly brought forth new words for us to play with.

Result
Ivory
Silence

The usual rules apply: 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. Serialized 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 best pleases you and, if you like, remind your friends that we are open to new and returning writers.

You have until Friday, January 23d.  Winners and words on Saturday January 24th.

The Gates are Open!

The Early Bird Gets The....never mind.

Good morning, m'dears!

The sun may be shining here in New England, but my mind is overflowing with the dark and lovely images you all created last week!  I'm thrilled to see new writers joining us.  Everyone who writes here has such a distinctive style and each new author adds something new and different to an already wonderful and supportive group!

The Tome and I have considered long and long, and we have finally come to agreement.

Our winner this week is Chris Allinotte with Birth:  I love the slow yet horrifying build here.  It inspires a sense of quiet terror as it moves along.  And that last line?  Perfect...visceral...horrible!  Thank you!

A second winner this week is Patricia Purvis with Worth Its Weight:  One of the hallmarks of a really good read, for me, is the writer's ability to pull the reader in completely.  I love the visuals your words created for me!  I truly cannot stop reading this piece.  I fervently hope that you'll continue to gift us with your stories! Thank you!

And now, I have given the Tome its favorite treat of a bit of bacon, and it has reciprocated with new words for us to play with!

Torrent
Ashes
Whistle

The usual rules apply: 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. Serialized 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 best pleases you and, if you like, remind your friends that we are open to new and returning writers.

You have until Friday, January 16th.  Winners and words on Saturday January 17th.

The Gates are Open!

2015!

Please forgive the title.  I couldn't think of anything really creative and since this is my first post since the New Year, I went for the obvious.  ;)

Understandably, the holidays left us with few submissions besides my own.  Even so, as always I had a very difficult time choosing. However, choose I did.

My choice this week is Antonia Woodville with Infinity 81:  One thing I'm always impressed with, when the Captain speaks, is the ease with which you convey his mood with so few words.  Each  new submission is a frightening delight.  Thank you.

The tome has enjoyed its little break and is ready with new words to get us started for a new year of Prediction.  Let's see what it has for us.

Rank
Spark
Legend

The usual rules apply: 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. Serialized 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 best pleases you and, if you like, remind your friends that we are open to new and returning writers.

You have until Friday, January 9th.  Winners and words on Saturday January 10th.

Happy New Year!  The Gates are Open!