He received the invite. Nashville's Grand Ole' Opry. Now, it was real. Satisfaction cut through the engraved stress marks on his face that belied his young years. He had earned it. Rough schedules, racking up miles across the country, opening shows with a mixture of envy and admiration for those who had paid their … Continue reading Making It
contemporary fiction
Stale donuts from the bakery
She loaded the children into the shiny Lincoln and drove down the tree studded drive to the highway. Every Saturday, the mother watched from the window as her aunt took brother and sister to the bakery. The donut run, as the mother called it, never failed to bring joy to her children. When they returned, … Continue reading Stale donuts from the bakery
Cowboy
Some said he was born on a saddle. Others said he was one hell of a man. Didn't matter what you believed, he was an authentic cowboy and wore the title well. One night he cleaned off the dust, slipped into his best shirt, new Levis, and drove to a dance in the valley. A fiery redhead caught … Continue reading Cowboy
The Cross-over Man
He hated doing it, but the nursing home smelled clean, and the noises in the background spoke of friendliness and care. Blind except for shadows and a sense of dark and light, he relied on hearing and intuition. She asked him to stay, and he did. From 8:00 in the morning the two shared memories, … Continue reading The Cross-over Man
Angel in the Basement
On his way to teach mixed choir, the college professor turned the corner and observed a spellbound man blocking the stairway. "What's that sound?" The man asked. The professor cocked his ear. "Oh yes, that's the new student warming up." "I would have sworn it was an angel." The man waited until the sound ceased … Continue reading Angel in the Basement
Last Stand
Satisfaction cut through the engraved stress marks on his face that belied his young years when he received the invite to Nashville. He had earned it. Rough schedules, racking up miles across the country, opening shows with a mixture of envy and admiration for those who had paid their dues. Billed as the new Hank … Continue reading Last Stand
The old woman next door
Three summers now, rude words cut through the cool morning air followed by a window shut with force that rattled the glass. The old woman next door started that damn lawn mower every Saturday morning at 6:45 am sharp. You could set your watch by it. A chain link fence, four feet from his bedroom window … Continue reading The old woman next door
Keep them strong
It's the fight. It's not winning the game. Protagonists of contemporary fiction might not win or come out on top, but they remain strong throughout the conflict. If they lose, they go down fighting. Additional strong characters support and help the protagonist achieve victory. If not joining the fight itself, they offer compassion and empathy. Life struggles … Continue reading Keep them strong
Believable characters: Dime a dozen
Get out of the office. Stand on street corners, visit coffee shops, go to a bar. The world is full of characters. Believable? Hey, I believe anything. Doesn't the juiciest gossip begin with You won't believe this, but . . . ? Weird-ass quirky character material is as close as my family tree. I don't … Continue reading Believable characters: Dime a dozen
Contemporary fiction addict
I love books with screwed up characters. Characters that take the wrong road at every intersection. Down and out. Messed up people living horrible lives. Characters that fight to get out of bed, then struggle to get into their trousers.Why?They make me feel normal.They fall, come close to giving up. Life slaps them in the face. … Continue reading Contemporary fiction addict