Séduire (Just One More Month!)

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The publishing date is October 30, 2024.

Séduire: Serial Tales & Flash Action

Séduire is a collection of serial fiction tales
and flash fiction standalone stories written over a period
of three years. I want you to feel something,
and with these stories, you will.

As we near the publishing date for Séduire, what I will tell you about this book is that my heart, soul, and dreams are in it. Characters have been speaking to me since I was nine years old. I have always found it best to heed their conversations and share their stories. I haven’t stopped yet. And as long as there is breath in me, I will continue to weave the words I hear from every character into the stories they want me to share. I am certain they will never stop talking.

Here is one last blurb from a friend of mine and a fellow writer and author about Séduire:

Thank you to those of you who have always supported me. I hope you will do so again when Séduire: Serial Tales & Flash Fiction is published on October 30, 2024.

Are you interested in reading my previously published books? You can do so here.

Stay Tuned.

“Do Gerbils Love?”

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Flash Fiction

AI-generated image created with WordPress images.

“Do gerbils love?” Paul pondered as he spent what could be his last moments breathing next to the love of his life, Sophie. The two were a pair of hopeless half-wizards and even though their hearts were recently connected, it felt like they had been in love for centuries.

Maybe in a past life?
Maybe in a past spell?

Whatever it was, Paul stood there with an invisible rope binding him in place–the slightest movement was an act of severe futility. Would Humphrey turn him into a gerbil, an elephant, a gecko, or the latest edition of Better Homes & Gardens magazine?

Whatever he was going to be, he wished for the ability to love. And to continue to love Sophie, too. But what would she be? If Humphrey could turn them into anything under the natural sun, what spell would he conjure up for his beloved Sophie?

The dank air of the firm’s office swirled around the hostages as Humphrey laughed maniacally from his throne. A snap of his finger . . . a flush of his lips . . . a slap of his left hand to his right ear and then . . .

*POOF*

They would all waddle like ducks waffling around for a place to find comfort.

As he snapped back to life from his daydream, the bulky image of Humphrey approaching him increased in size. His jowls hung viciously on his face, and his razor-sharp teeth barked out of his mouth.

He gawked at Paul with the intent to do bodily harm and whispered, “Now, where were we, you insolent fool?”

“Gerbils,” said Paul. “Gerbils . . . do they love?”

I am currently reading, The Portable Door by Tom Holt, and a particular phrase in this book (the title of this story) shook something alive in my brain. What you have just read is the product. I am nearly done with the book, and I cannot wait to write the review for it, too!

bedbound

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an unscheduled day off
enfolds my screaming body.
the mind stays strapped to
the foam of an
inviting mattress.

the soul cannot move.

I know these days . . .
mentally, I’m challenged,
and freeing myself from
the depths of this dark
space is often harder
than I’d like.

bedbound for the morning,
I watch news of Western NC
as cities lay underwater,
roads are washed away, my
friend’s brand new home
drowns before her eyes.
food and supplies have to be
air-dropped to designated
places.

“these are the last days.”

I turn over to reach
for someone to hold
and forget, momentarily,
that I live alone.

Autumn relaxation and football Sunday

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humidity sits on the
sidelines, jealous of the
calming sun.

the dog and I walk to
loosen up my shady knee.
her little hips wobble and
creak, but she presses on.

we’re both breaking down
in different places, but Autumn
lets us relax in ways we
never dreamed we would.

I, eyes glued to the TV,
watching men violently crash
into one another for the grip
of tightened leather.
she, asleep for most of
the day, no worries on the
horizon.

we found ourselves comforted
by Sunday’s kiss and Autumn’s
embrace–we sunk into an
ocean of quietude, blended with
satisfaction, and stayed there
until evening made its
appearance.

neither one of us is
ready for Monday.
but it’s coming anyway.

hurricane Helene

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a lune, 3 parts

hurricane Helene
pummeled us
with her windy waves

power outages
reported
all throughout the state

advised to be safe
we found peace
safely in our homes

To those of you who rode out the harshest storm in years, it is my prayer that you are safe and sound of mind as well. Peace and blessings.