Break time

Hey everyone, Just short and sweet I need to take some time away from blogging, probably just this week hopefully to get caught up with homework and kid stuff. When I come back there will be awards.
There will be a story to share.
Of course a riddle hopefully in there somewhere and...
I went to a writers workshop over this last weekend and have an amazing writing thing to share with you. 

See you soon!

Summer Vacation Blogfest

On my summer vacation…
Wait! What vacation? I was a busy little fairy all summer. But I signed up for Michael @ In Time's Summer Vacation blogfest. I have a writers conference today and a doctors appointment, so I wont be around much. However I promise to get to you as soon as I can. On with the blogfest (He said pictures are a must)

I scrambled through laborious papers and old literature.

In the midst of the sketchy writing, I did manage to help my manly man with a yard sale,

Then at one point we packed a cooler, grabbed some chairs and headed for the man made lake here in Casper called Edness Kimble Wilkins, which also doubles as a bird park and walking area.

I spent hours and hours nonstop of reading and writing to have an entire weekend free to take my family up to Denver.

Where we went to water world

Found the Aquarium with all sorts of neat fish,

and managed to get lost on our way to the Zoo

Then after we came home I had my daughter's tenth birthday to plan for!

Finally, right before school started back up again. My manly man and I were at his trailer. We walked outside about ten that evening and started stepping all over Salamanders in the yard- migrating. Manly man was so excited he got a big clear bucket and we caught about 30 of them in ten minutes.(sorry the picture is blurry because I took it on my phone.)

What did you do this summer?

A Flash Story

The Change 

by Summer Ross

     The soft melody of the song drifted up through the window. The gentle notes floated on the same breeze that stirred the curtains as Lacy swayed to the music. Her thoughts drifted in and out with the tune. 

Today was the day! Her excitement bubbled over with the realization that in less than an hour her life would change forever. The small white flower dress lay on the bed. He would come for her like the breeze floating from the window. 

Lacy picked up a small green vial and drank it. Butterflies played tag in her stomach as she waited. Seconds ticked on lethargically until finally her entire body tingled. Lacy closed her eyes and relished the thought that the dress would fit in moments. The skin on her back tightened, her muscles tore causing her to cry out, and then nothing. Lacy opened her eyes. 

The bed looked like Mount Everest and she knew she had to find a way to the top. She glanced over her shoulder and saw a huge wing similar to a butterflies moving back and forth behind her. She had wings! Lacy thought about fluttering to the bed and in moments, her small form lifted from the ground. She wobbled through the air and finally made it to the bed. The white dress sparkled with fairy flowers. She picked it up and inched her way into it just as the Fairy King flew through her opened window.

Say What?

I don't have much time today, so I will leave you with a thought: 
-Meaning makes existence, existence doesn't have meaning-

My thoughts on the above- Make the most out of you life instead of trying to figure out its meaning. what do you think?

Friday Riddle

 Every Friday I give you a riddle. Guess the answer in the comment section then, come back and highlight next to 'ANSWER' to find out if you were right. Please note if you see this in google reader it will reveal the answer to you.




I am the beginning of the end, and the end of time and space. I am essential to creation, and I surround every place. What am I? 

ANSWER: The letter 'E'

Watching Willow Blogfest- If I could be anyone...

Talli Roland is hosting the 'If I could be anyone Blogfest' for her debut novel Watching Willow.

The rules:
"Well, on September 14th, I'm organizing an online 'If I Could Be Anyone, I'd Be...' party! Come dressed as that one person you've always admired, longed to impersonate, or just plain envied. Now is your chance to make your superhero, film-star, or Rock God fantasies come true (okay, maybe not all your fantasies...).

If you have a blog and you'd like to take part, all you need to do is post a photo of your chosen one (dead or alive) along with an explanation why you've picked that person. If you're on Twitter or Facebook, just post 'If I could be anyone, I'd be X' as your status, along with the hast-tag #watchingwillow on Twitter (or tag me on FB so I know you've taken part)."

Ok- Now for the person I wish I could have been-

Jane Austen

 Why? Because I adore what she represents in fiction.

Best of luck miss Talli with your novel!

Review- Wyoming Writer Alyson Hagy plus links

Buy Here

First a short review of Ghosts of Wyoming by Alyson Hagy (Wyoming Writer).

Hagy did a terrific job dragging the reader into stories they had to think about. Throughout most of the book, she switches from serious to comedy short pieces. The cover gives an idea of actual ghost stories of Wyoming- but this is not the case. Ghosts are both a metaphoric and real part of her short stories, but this is not a book of haunted houses.

My favorites in her collection are "Superstitions of the Indians" and "Lost Boys." The first is a comical short piece about an Indian woman and a book with a mind of its own. The main character, a grad student, is a bit dense to start, but eventually comes around to help the Book and Indian woman. The second piece haunts me with the "lost." I had to sit and really think about the ending of this short story and the events that lead up to it.

I think Hagy did a terrific job of creating ghost stories out of old Wyoming stories and part of me believes that she intended for the reader to wonder and think about each story as an individual yet as a whole in the end of the book. Her description of Wyoming weather and land is spot on. This book would be great for a sampling of what this author is capable of and the stories are short enough to read one each night before bed.


And now for links:

 I have been toying with a new site called Scribophile. I have to admit I'm really impressed with the community. The site is basically a critique and review group with very talented writers and critiquers. If you get the option go check it out. I tend to get lost in the forums (stay away from the Scrib koolaid and brownies!)


Narrative Magazine is accepting fiction and none fiction submissions to their story of the week category (pays $150 for accepted work).

 I found a new site for creating blog banners called BannerFans. I used it to create my current blog banner at the top of the page and I must say- I love the different fonts they have- plus its free.


Happy writing!

Friday Riddle

Every Friday I'll post a riddle. First try to guess the answer in the comments, then come back and highlight NEXT to "answer" to see if you were right. (Google reader will give you the answer before you have the option to guess FYI)
 


What wears a jacket, but no pants?


Answer: A Book

Insecure Writers Post

Rejection: This makes #  18 in total. Two more to go before I have all 20 for my end of 2011 collage.

Word of encouragement to others: 
"Sometimes it's helpful to remember that every writer sits down to a blank page and struggles with their writing. And even the best writers have suffered their share of rejection." ~ Jade Tyler

From the Narrative magazine (nonfiction submission)


Dear Summer Ross,

Thank you for entering “Rooms” in the Spring Contest. We were grateful for the opportunity to read and consider your work, and we regret that your entry was not one of our winners or finalists this time.

An announcement of the winning stories will soon go out to the magazine’s readership, and in early November, we will publish the winning stories, which include the works of notable new and emerging writers.

We continue to look for engaging new works to publish, and we hope you will keep Narrative in mind for your work in the future.

Again, thank you for your entry, and please accept our kind wishes.

Sincerely,

The Editors

Review of Wyoming Writer Robert Roripaugh

Buy Here

I have lived my entire life in Wyoming. I found Robert Roripaugh's description well lined with wonderful imagery and characters I could connect with on a personal level.

I have chosen three short stories to review from this book. The first one is "The legend of Billy Jenks."
This short story is chalked full of historical reference. the author both romanticizes a small country town in Wyoming and made realistic observations of the past, memory, and how people choose to see life during hard times.

The story itself follows an outside "town" point of view of Billy Jenks. Billy was a young man born and raised in poverty with a father who tried to kill a rich man who slept with Billy's mother. Billy's mother took off when he was young and as far as the entire town new, never saw Billy again.

Billy holds a grudge against the town who made excuses for him and Pink, the rich man his father tried to kill.

This short story is about stories, the west as a culture, and how small town people embellish reality. Yet it holds the idea of truth always questioning why something is made into myth and set up for the reader to decide for themselves.

The second short story is "Winter Days Are Long." This short story touched me as a reader on an emotional level I wont soon forget. The piece is about an Indian girl, Virginia Sheild, who goes to college. Her professor asks her to write about specific things in her life like her best friend and her home. As she writes, the reader discovers Virginia as a person. She has lived through poverty, death, and truly wants her family to be proud of her as she goes through college to become a teacher.

Virginia's best friend, Michelle, is portrayed as a teen who is very pretty. Through out the story, Virginia writes of her more like a sister and blames herself for Michelle's disasters. Its a touching element for the reader which helps them discover more about Virginia as if she were a real person and not a character in a book.

The author did a wonderful job describing the places the narrator wrote about for class. The idea of a writer writing about a narrator who is writing for college about her life is powerful in imagery.

The third story, "Leave's End" had a tear jerking impact by the end. This piece is about a half Indian, John Runner, who serves his country in Vietnam. While on leave, John has to face himself and the place he grew up and make some difficult decisions about how his own life will go and how he feels about it.

The author did an amazing job at helping the reader connect to the main character. By the end of the story hope had peeked its head into the story. The piece struggles with Runners past, a brother who killed two people while drinking and driving. It focuses on Runner's present life before going to Nam by allowing Runner to face the life he might live. Then it focuses on the ideas people face about themselves and feelings of being trapped.

The story starts out slow then a darker tone takes over towards the end only to find hope rearing in the background and the story ending with a bang the reader wasn't expecting.

To sum it up, this collection of short stories would make a terrific addition to anyone seeking more than land in Wyoming.

Fridy Riddle

Every Friday I'll post a riddle. First try to guess the answer in the comments, then come back and highlight NEXT to "answer" to see if you were right. (Google reader will give you the answer before you have the option to guess FYI)

Today's Riddle:


"It cannot be seen,cannot be felt
cannot be heard, cannot be smelt
it lies behind stars and under hills
and empty holes it fills"

Answer: Darkness