55 Word Challenge: Week Forty-Eight

55 Word Challenge

Week Forty-Eight

Welcome back to #55WordChallenge!

For those that are uninitiated, the 55 Word Challenge is a contest to write a story in 55 words or less. Not an easy task, but fun and I have been blown away by some of the entries. See for yourself, all the past contests can be found here. The challenge begins at noon Eastern time every Wednesday and ends at noon Thursday. The story is based on one of three photo prompts and can be written in any genre you choose. My only request is no porn. I don't want to hear graphic details. If it is erotic, make it titillating, not obscene. I know that can be done and done well.

The story is to be posted in the comment section below, along with your twitter handle or email address, so I can contact you if you are the winner. If you don't want to list your email address, send it to me at jezri@writing.com. I promise I won't distribute it, but if you are the winner I need a way to notify you and to send you your prize.

And what does the winner get? This purty badge for one. For two, a $5.00 Amazon Gift Card.

If anyone is interested in contributing a prize, a book, cover art, whatever you want, let me know and we will work something out. If you are an artist that would like to have your work featured, let me know!

Photo Prompt:

 

Shameless Plug:

 

An excerpt from Reverie:

 

April 5th, 1862

 

The wagon carrying the shot and powder broke a rear axle, delaying us for the better part of a day. The men are becoming irritable from the heat, something for which I cannot fault them. If it weren’t for the unmitigated gall of the heathens that live here to secede from the Union, I would leave them this godforsaken land and say good riddance. The affront to our President though cannot go unchecked, not to mention the disregard for human life.

One of the enlisted men, Corporal Stanton, claims he saw a pale woman watching us from the forest last night. He has been regaling the men about how she came and visited him in his tent during the night. He showed them two puncture wounds on his neck as poof.

I swear these damn mosquitoes…I have asked Lt. Scott, as he is in charge of the medics, to keep an eye on the soldier in case the buggers are carrying a disease that causes delirium.

April 6th, 1862

We are lost. An in-bred, ragtag group of soldiers attacked our company as we were passing through a densely wooded area. They surprised us, coming from behind the trees and attacking with knives before we had a chance to respond. They were no better than savages. Corporal Green was killed. He showed promise, not to mention he had a stash of liquor he was disposed to share with me most evenings. It was against regulations, but I saw no need to make an issue so long as common sense was used. He will be missed.

Several more men have claimed to have night time visitors. Each of them have similar ‘bite’ marks on their neck to Corporal Stanton’s. The mosquito netting doesn’t seem to be helping keep these buggers away from us!

April 7th, 1862

We are still lost. The maps we were issued are filled with flaws and nonexistent landmarks. I fear we may not arrive outside Savannah before Pulaski falls.

We have met with some strange happenings as well. Corporal Stanton was found dead this morning, fresh puncture wounds on his neck. Lt. Scott says he has never seen anything like it. All of his blood had been ‘drained’ from his body. What kind of animal can do something like this? I am now concerned about my men and their health. Ironic that the damn bugs appear to be more of a threat to the Union than the Confederate; perhaps we should enlist them to our side.

April 8th, 1862

7 a.m.

Two more dead this morning! Sentries saw nothing unusual. Corporal Lansing’s throat had been ripped out. We proceed with caution. Is this some form of animal that infiltrated our camp or something more sinister? It certainly wasn’t the mosquitos. The superstitious among the men have tucked small crucifixes beneath their uniforms.

6 p.m.

There is a sense of foreboding in the air. We encountered the remains of a confederate bivouac. What was left of the troop was nearly unrecognizable as human. Limbs were torn from bodies, heads ripped off and stuck atop stakes and nary any blood left in a body. Some of the bodies appeared to have been eaten from, flesh ripped off with jagged wounds that resembled bite marks. Some of the meat had been completely shredded from the bone.

We have bedded down for the night. We are all on alert. Whatever…whoever attacked the confederate army will not catch us unawares. I no longer believe it can be an animal attack. An animal would not put heads upon a stake!

Just .99Cents on Amazon, BN, Kobo and Smashwords.

 

Winner 55 Word Challenge: Week Forty-Seven

Winner 55 Word Challenge:

Week Forty-Seven

 

 

HA! I’m on top of things this week and will not be making you wait to find out who won. Admittedly this wasn’t an easy decision, there were so many good stories. The ultra sound, by the way, is my son, Caleb. I found it humorous when Jeff says to me, “Does Kayla mind you using her picture for the contest?” I had to think for a minute, as my daughter’s friend just had a baby girl, (I am calling myself Grandma because this girl is like a daughter to me,) and then I’m like, “You don’t recognize your own son’s big head?” Funny stuff, lol.

Ok, on with the results…

Honorable Mentions:

@j_m_blackman: I really liked the set-up and the way you worked in all 3 prompts.

@LurchMunster: I look forward to seeing what you are going to do next in this continuing story. Loved it this week. J

@klingorengi: Jeff knows me all too well. He wove a story that is close to my heart.

Winner:

@bookwormattack: This story had a desperate feel to it. I was pulled into the anguish, the instinct for survival, followed by the despair at having left loved ones behind. Survival, but at what cost.

I watched my family die.
Watched them fall at the hands of the metal beasts ravaging their precious land.
I heard them cry out in terror and pain, saw them reaching for me in anguish. Calling for me. Pleading for help.
But I did not save them.
No.
I ran.
Like a coward.....I ran.

55 Words @bookwormattack

Ok, I would really love to have a guest judge next week and maybe some artwork contributed. If you are interested, please send me a DM, Inbox me or email me, jezri@writing.com. If all else fails, throw a brick. That usually gets my attention.

See you all next week and if you live anywhere that got a lot of snow or ice, stay safe and warm.

Check out this fun contest for kids. If you know a young writer, tell them about Kids Write, a new, weekly contest for the next generation.

55 Word Challenge: Week Forty-Seven

55 Word Challenge

Week Forty-Seven

Welcome back to #55WordChallenge!

For those that are uninitiated, the 55 Word Challenge is a contest to write a story in 55 words or less. Not an easy task, but fun and I have been blown away by some of the entries. See for yourself, all the past contests can be found here. The challenge begins at noon Eastern time every Wednesday and ends at noon Thursday. The story is based on one of three photo prompts and can be written in any genre you choose. My only request is no porn. I don't want to hear graphic details. If it is erotic, make it titillating, not obscene. I know that can be done and done well.

The story is to be posted in the comment section below, along with your twitter handle or email address, so I can contact you if you are the winner. If you don't want to list your email address, send it to me at jezri@writing.com. I promise I won't distribute it, but if you are the winner I need a way to notify you and to send you your prize.

And what does the winner get? This purty badge for one. For two, a $5.00 Amazon Gift Card.

If anyone is interested in contributing a prize, a book, cover art, whatever you want, let me know and we will work something out. If you are an artist that would like to have your work featured, let me know!

Photo Prompt:

The photos being used today are mine.

 

 

 

Shameless Promo: 

Jezri’s Nightmares: A Year of Horror is a collection of 5 books, containing a total of 70 short stories. Included are all four volumes of Jezri's Nightmares: Flashes From the Grave, Tales of Terror, Psychotic Mumblings and Night Terrors, as well as MONSTERS!

A Year of Horror Now available for Amazon Prime Members.

 

Winner 55 Word Challenge: Week Forty-Six

Winner 55 Word Challenge

Week Forty-Six

Sorry to be so late yet again. I will try to have my head screwed on better next week.

Honorable Mentions:

@awrenwriting This story had a great mythological feel to it. I would like to know a bit more.

@bookwormattack Loved the theme of non conformity and being in charge of your own destiny.

@PurpleQueenNL Loved the humor of this story. The ending made me think that this happens quite often... and is an annoyance to Dorian.

Winner:

@JessicaMaybury

This story was just creepy. It put me in mind of the sy fy show, Wizard of Oz... or maybe I'm thinking of another movie. The scene with all the heads?

The thing about having many heads is that you have to be many people at once.

Jules envied all those people who could segue from one aspect of themselves to another as the situation demanded it.

Jules fluttered in the badly-lit bathroom, fitting three heads on, alternating, in the end unable to tell them apart.

Jessica, I tried to link to your twitter account, but kept getting internal error. Please take the badge at the top of the page as your very own. Also, send me your email address so I can gift your prizes. I know I said Kindle book for Reverie, but it is also now available on Kobo, Nook and Smashwords if you need another version. Let me know!

See you all for the next #55WordChallenge.  J

55 Word Challenge: Week Forty-Six

55 Word Challenge

Week Forty-Six

Welcome back to #55WordChallenge!

For those that are uninitiated, the 55 Word Challenge is a contest to write a story in 55 words or less. Not an easy task, but fun and I have been blown away by some of the entries. See for yourself, all the past contests can be found here. The challenge begins at noon Eastern time every Wednesday and ends at noon Thursday. The story is based on one of three photo prompts and can be written in any genre you choose. My only request is no porn. I don't want to hear graphic details. If it is erotic, make it titillating, not obscene. I know that can be done and done well.

The story is to be posted in the comment section below, along with your twitter handle or email address, so I can contact you if you are the winner. If you don't want to list your email address, send it to me at jezri@writing.com. I promise I won't distribute it, but if you are the winner I need a way to notify you and to send you your prize.

And what does the winner get? This purty badge for one. For two, a $5.00 Amazon Gift Card. And for three, a Kindle copy of Reverie, my latest single release.  

If anyone is interested in contributing a prize, a book, cover art, whatever you want, let me know and we will work something out. If you are an artist that would like to have your work featured, let me know!

Photo Prompt:

 

Pictures are courtesy of George Hodan, Public Domain Pictures. Net

 

 

SHAMELESS PROMO:

 

Reverie

 

This is the Journal Entry of Captain Benjamin Franklin Moore II. It was found in Fairview Ga. during renovations of Graystone Manor, which once had been a sanitarium. Captain Moore and his company had been traveling through Georgia, under orders to join troops outside Fort Pulaski. They never made it. How they ended up in Fairview is a mystery. The diary is a tale of confusion and bizarre happenstance. It is believed that they may have succumbed to an illness that caused delusions. There are no records from Graystone Manor to indicate that they had been there. If Captain Moore’s account is to be believed, his entire company perished within days of each other. As to the believability of his account, we will leave that to you, the reader.

 

Available on Kindle

 

Winner 55 Word Challenge: Week Forty-Five

Winner 55 Word Challenge

Week Forty-Five

I’m sorry I am so late announcing the winner and HM’s. It’s been a hectic week, but putting things in place so that hopefully I have more time to write. I can hope anyway.

Honorable Mentions:

 @Angelique_Rider

@LurchMunster

@ClareStubbs2

 Winner:

@bookwormattack

The killer watches as his victim struggles against the constriction of the clothesline about her throat. The garments that had been drying on it mere moments before are strewn about the ground, dust beginning to settle on their once clean folds. He hears the woman's sweet-smelling breath leave her ruby lips...and she goes still.

Kayla, please DM your email address so that I can send you your gift card!

Lisa

55 Word Challenge: Week Forty-Five

55 Word Challenge

Week Forty-Five

Welcome back to #55WordChallenge!

For those that are uninitiated, the 55 Word Challenge is a contest to write a story in 55 words or less. Not an easy task, but fun and I have been blown away by some of the entries. See for yourself, all the past contests can be found here. (List has been updated)The challenge begins at noon Eastern time every Wednesday and ends at noon Thursday. The story is based on one of three photo prompts and can be written in any genre you choose. My only request is no porn. I don't want to hear graphic details. If it is erotic, make it titillating, not obscene. I know that can be done and done well.

The story is to be posted in the comment section below, along with your twitter handle or email address, so I can contact you if you are the winner. If you don't want to list your email address, send it to me at jezri@writing.com. I promise I won't distribute it, but if you are the winner I need a way to notify you and to send you your prize.

And what does the winner get? This purty badge for one. For two, a $5.00 Amazon Gift Card.  

If anyone is interested in contributing a prize, a book, cover art, whatever you want, let me know and we will work something out. If you are an artist that would like to have your work featured, let me know!

 

Photo Prompt:

 

 

A Few Things:

 

You may not know, I am the Youth Publication Director at Visionary Press Cooperative. We have a blog, SitNRead, which is directed towards children. I am going to begin hosting a weekly flash contest called Kids Write. It will be open to anyone under 18. If you know of any young authors, please pass the word. There will be 3 catagories: Ages 8 and under, Ages 9 to 13 and Ages 14 to 17. Details will be posted tomorrow on the blog.

 

We also accept story submissions and artwork for the blog from both adults and children. Details are posted in the left column. There will be some exciting changes coming as well, so keep an eye open for that in the next week or so.

 

Free copies of The Pumpkin Seed are available for anyone wanting to take part in a contest we are running to promote Timothy Hobbs book. There is also a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card. Details are here. 

And finally, I wanted to share the book cover of my children's book that will be released shortly! Sue Midlock designed the cover and I am super thrilled about it. 

 

Winner 55 Word Challenge: Week Forty-Four

Winner 55 Word Challenge

Week Forty-Four

 

 

Great entries this week and we saw some new faces! Thank you everyone. As usual I wish I could have chosen everyone. Unfortunately I can't. So without any further ado...

 

Honorable Mentions:

@postupak I love this! The feeling of being safe, locked away where no one can hurt you… except you locked yourself in with the thing you are trying to hide from. Classic!

@Janeen_FluffyJ Great entry! You did a wonderful job of giving the reader hope and then the realization that  even though the chain was gone, her tormentor would always be with her.

@PurpleQueenNL This story had a great feel to it. I really want to read more!

Winner:

@bullishink: Wow! I’m a Planet of the Apes geek so of course this story put me in mind of the whoe franchise. Great job, Ruth!

Garza stopped short of the perimeter. The padlock swung free. He had an hour to find her before involving outside agencies. Shackling that wild brilliant mind was criminal but the primate was too valuable to Global and too dangerous to the public to roam free.

I think I have your email address, so I will send you the books shortly! Do you need Kindle or Nook?

Again, thank you to everyone that entered! See you all next week.

 

“I am a drinker of human blood and an eater of human flesh, a monster dressed in the skin of a man.” So states Charles, the main character of the novel, after being infected with a virus transmitted by an insect vector.

The Pumpkin Seed opens in India near the Nepal border in the late 17th century. A commissioned officer of the East India Company is seeking a profitable new trade route into China. Indian bandits of the Thuggie clan attempt to stop this further invasion by the British and release a plague of insects, which carry a unique virus. This organism not only infects humans, it transforms the chemical and physical nature of the host’s body. Longevity, resilience and the need to feed on human blood and flesh make the host an efficient killing machine, especially in regard to the human race.

The novel follows the characters through 17th and 18th century England and India, culminating in present day Austin, Texas. Set in the orphanages of London and in the vile body snatching trade, a host of characters, who are as despicable as their deeds, search for the truth and a cure for their malady.

The Pumpkin Seed takes us through the vices of greed, hate, love and despair and creates a modern novel that puts colonialism in the spotlight and asks difficult questions about this generation’s guilt for the crimes of its ancestors. This novel is a classic vampire tale with a twist, told beautifully from the point of view of the vampire.

Available on Amazon and BN