100 words isn’t much for a flash fiction story. I’ve tried it a few times, and as you know, I attempt Fiction in 50 each month. Today I’m doing #Flashback Friday with a very short story I did a long time ago, but really it’s just a taster for the main event. Read on for a great new book by Patricia Josephine, full of stories in 100 words from A to Z!
First, my Flashback Friday story. This was a Chuck Wendig prompt from 2014!
Timing
She was slumped on her bedroom floor, pillowed by the billowing white taffeta. Calmer now, she grabbed the box of tissues, and wiped her mascara-stained cheeks clean. She straightened out the crumpled note and reread it.
“I’m sorry. I can’t go through with this. Find strength from your faith. Bryan”
She reached for her prayer book, removed the marker from the Wedding Service and flicked it open at random.
“Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord” stared out at her.
Maybe I could just help Him out a little, she thought as she reached into the drawer for her gun.
© J M Pett 2014
Learn a Word in 100 Words by Patricia Josephine
It was an idea that came together when a bunch of us were chatting on Story Dam. Making an anthology out of our shorter work. I gathered all my stories from my A to Z Challenge where I picked a word for the day’s letter, and wrote a 100-word story to explain it. Then I put them into a Word file. I had over 12K worth of words! It took me a few hours to organize them into categories, and I added more stories to bring the word count up to 15K. I made a cover with Canva, redid it, realized I still needed to do the hardest part and write a blurb. Swore. Then figured something out.
The official release day is April 1st, to coincide with the A to Z Challenge; the challenge started me off writing flash fiction. It’s available now as an ebook at these and other online retailers (but not Amazon, for their own reasons).
Learn A Word in 100 Words
A collection of flash fiction inspired by unusual words. Each tiny tale is crafted around a word that is unique or no longer in use. Read them while waiting in line or before bed. They range from sweet and lighthearted to dark and disturbing. Look out for the supernatural, but don’t turn your back on the average human. A killer might be lurking underneath. Expand your vocabulary, and get some inspiration of your own.
It will be available on Smashwords to start. Then eventually other retailers as it’s accepted. You can add it to your GoodReads TBR.
Good luck with the book, Patricia!
Hi Jemima – loved your story line … help him out – oh yay ….? Patricia’s book sounds a great idea … clever too – so good luck to her … and you – cheers Hilary
Thanks, Hilary!
That was a great flash. I love when they have dark endings like that.
Thanks for hosting my book today.
You’re welcome.