Writing Prompt, Flash Fiction, and BOOKS

Hello, friend. Are you a writer, or ever considered becoming one? If you’re like me, you have tons of shiny new story ideas you’d love to write about, but then struggle to complete a project before another idea distracts you. Or perhaps you have the opposite problem and getting started is the trouble. When this happens, you may be in need of a writing prompt to prime your creative pump.

Writing prompts can be an image, a phrase, a question, or even a piece of music. Not everyone is musically inclined, so here is a picture and a series of questions.

Here’s your writing prompt image!

Imagine yourself in possession of your very own steerable, floating island. Where would you go? What sort of essentials and supplies would you pack for the journey? Who would you take with you, if you decide to take anyone at all? How is your floating island powered? Is the fuel difficult to come by?

Have fun writing! And please let me know how this exercise works for you. I’m also curious to see what you came up with, if you’re willing to share. Leave a comment or use the “contact” page to send me a message.

Flash Fiction

Speaking of writing prompts, I’ve decided to do a ‘thing’ to keep me in the habit of writing while challenging my creativity. For the last newsletter of the month, I will share a flash fiction piece.

I even made up rules.

The limit is 500 words, give or take 10.

It can’t be directly related to my WIPs.

Write as fast as I can, before the internal editor pokes her nose in too far.

So, next week, expect to see my first flash fiction piece. It’ll probably be quite silly.

Wyldling Dream Series

The passion project continues. Book one, Wyldling Snare, is published and available on Amazon or at your local bookseller. Book two, Wyldling Trials, is under revision. It’s over 133,000 words right now and requires serious trimming of the fat and unnecessary scenes. My goal is to have a 90,000ish-words draft ready for critique and beta reading by the end of February. And then it will go to a professional editor… as soon as I can find one. I’m shooting for late summer or early autumn to publish. Meanwhile, I’ve begun writing book three, tentatively entitled Wyldling Armor. I hope to have the first draft completed before the end of this year. So much to do!

Recommended Reading

While you’re waiting for Wyldling Trials, here are some books I’ve enjoyed reading and recommend for both young adult and adult readers. All three are series-starters and clean reads where the focus is on friendship and familial bonds rather than romance.

Journey to Aviad by Allison D. Reid

Threatening clouds and fierce storms besiege the city of Tyroc. More frequent and powerful than ordinary storms, young Elowyn, a weaver’s daughter living in the outskirts of the city, senses something disturbing and unnatural about them. She soon realizes that the storms are but a warning sign of much more frightening things yet to come.

Terrifying wolf-like creatures emerge from the depths of the wilderness at the bidding of a dark master. His name found only among the crumbling pages of ancient texts, the re-appearance of Alazoth and his Hounds is a dark omen for the people of Tyroc and beyond. Only legends remain of the heroes and prophets whose blood was shed ages ago to banish him into the abyss, which should have remained his prison for all time. How he has been released is a mystery, but all the old stories agree that death and destruction are sure to follow.

With the Hounds inching closer each day, the city of Tyroc caught up in religious and political turmoil, and her home life no less turbulent, Elowyn has nothing left to rely on but her meager courage and a budding faith in Aviad, the Creator. She and her sister, Morganne, set out on a remarkable journey that challenges everything they have ever known about themselves, the world, and the path that Aviad has laid out for them.

Resistance by Jay L. Knight

“Don’t you know? Animals like you have no soul.” Could God ever love a half-blood all of society looks upon with such fear and disdain? Jace once believed so, but when a tragic loss shatters the only peace he’s ever known, his faith crumbles as the nagging doubts he’s tried to put behind him descend on his grieving heart. With them come the haunting memories of the bloodstained past he longs to forget, but can never escape.

Taken from home at a young age and raised to serve the emperor, Kyrin Altair lives every day under a dangerous pretense of loyalty. After her unique observation skills and perfect memory place her into direct service to the emperor, Kyrin finds herself in further jeopardy as it becomes increasingly difficult to hide her belief in Elôm, the one true God.

Following the emperor’s declaration to enforce the worship of false gods under the penalty of death, many lives are endangered. But there are those willing to risk everything to take a stand and offer aid to the persecuted. With their lives traveling paths they never could have imagined, Jace and Kyrin must fight to overcome their own fears and conflicts with society as they become part of the resistance. (Christian Fantasy/Clean New Adult/No Magic)

Wolf Healer by Huckleberry Rahr (It’s her birthday this week!)

A young shifter excited to take her place in the pack. A savage attack that could destroy her future.

Jade Stone cherishes her family. With loving parents and a supportive community, the fifteen-year-old queer soon-to-be-werewolf can’t wait to take her place in the pack as a healer. But when she’s invited to vacation in Florida, she discovers the shocking existence of werepanthers… after one bites her.

Returning to her native Wisconsin with feline blood coursing through her, Jade is confused and disappointed when former packmates shun her. As she navigates a brand of bigotry she never knew existed, Jade fears she may be exiled from the home and family she loves.

Ostracized and alone, will Jade find a place she belongs?

Wolf Healer is a book for anyone who enjoys urban fantasy books with werewolves, strong female leads, and unexpected twists and turns. It’s a book anyone and everyone can enjoy.

Kindle Unlimited Promotion ENDING SOON

If you haven’t snagged one of these books, then you’d better hurry because the promotion ends soon. I’ve read a couple, and I can attest there are some jewels here in this treasure hoard.