Author Archives: Val

Flash Fiction: With Friends Like These by Val Muller

Posted on September 24, 2020 by Val

Welcome to the Spot Writers. This month’s prompt is to write something with these words: emotion, thumb, copyright, chapter, misery. This week’s tale comes to us from Val Muller, who attributes the tale to imagined pandemic insanity (she is currently … Continue reading →

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Fantastic Friday: I *get* to

Posted on September 4, 2020 by Val

One of my favorite novels is Ray Bradybury’s Dandelion Wine. In the novel, the main character has an epiphany that he is alive. I have written about this in my blog several times over the years. I know it sounds … Continue reading →

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Flash Fiction: “It’s in the Eyes” by Cathy MacKenzie

Posted on September 3, 2020 by Val

Welcome to The Spot Writers. This month’s prompt is to write a story where water plays a role. It can be a lake, a river, the sea; rain or just some water to drink. This week’s contribution comes from Cathy … Continue reading →

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Flash Fiction (poetry): Metamorphosis by Val Muller

Posted on August 27, 2020 by Val

Welcome to the Spot Writers. This month’s prompt is to write a story where water plays a role. It can be a lake, a river, the sea, rain, or just some water to drink. It comes to us from Val … Continue reading →

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Book Review:  Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

Posted on August 17, 2020 by Val

This is not my first review of an Anderson book—I am obviously a fan. I’d say this is a good early YA/advanced middle grade reader. I had purchased it back when I read Chains, also about the early American time … Continue reading →

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Fantastic Friday: Neowise

Posted on August 7, 2020 by Val

At the beginning of July, when I heard that conditions would be ideal to view the recently-discovered Neowise comet, I smiled inside. I have a bad track record of viewing cosmic events, and this sounded like my chance. When I … Continue reading →

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Writer Wednesdays: “Angel in the Pod”

Posted on August 5, 2020 by Val

I received my print copy of the Elizabeth River Press annual anthology last week (link here). I’m pleased that my story, “Angel in the Pod,” was included. I like to think of it as a kickoff of my writing comeback. … Continue reading →

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Flash fiction: The Fairy Lady by Val Muller

Posted on July 30, 2020 by Val

Welcome to the Spot Writers. This month’s prompt is to write a story inspired by the phrase “back to normal.” It could be a pandemic-related story about getting back to normal, or one about not getting back to normal, or … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Max and the Cats by Moacyr Scliar

Posted on July 20, 2020 by Val

I heard about this short novel as it was mentioned briefly in something I was reading about Yann Martel’s Life of Pi, a novel I greatly adore and teach almost every year. When I read the synopsis—a young man who … Continue reading →

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Flash Fiction: Warm Summer Evenings by Phil Yeats

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Val

Welcome to The Spot Writers. This month’s prompt is to write about something “summery.” Today’s post is written by Phil Yeats. In December, 2019, Phil (using his Alan Kemister pen name) published his most recent novel. Tilting at Windmills, the … Continue reading →

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