Val Muller

The Electronic Wordsmith

Spot Writers Chapter 23

November 22, 2012 No comments

Happy Thanksgiving!

Chapter 23 of Remy’s tale comes to us today from RC Bonitz, author of A LITTLE BIT OF BLACKMAIL, A BLANKET FOR HER HEART, and his latest release, A LITTLE BIT OF BABY

Next week’s piece comes from Cathy MacKenzie. Check out her three books of short stories available on Smashwords for only $1.99 and $0.99. There you can read the first story in each book for free. However, the stories are all different, so the sample stories aren’t a true representation of the other stories.

The Spot Writers’ blogs appear at the end of this story. Don’t forget to check them out.

 

 Chapter 23

 Remy hated going to work in the morning. She’d been up half the night, thinking, worrying. Her mysterious caller hadn’t bothered her again, but that didn’t stop her waiting for the phone to ring any minute. And there was Jeremy, and Sam, and their love interest. If either of them really knew what love was. She wasn’t sure she did either, and she sure didn’t know what she felt about the two of them.

She could ignore Jeremy for a while this morning, letting his texts go unanswered until she wanted to reply. But Sam? He’d be there in the office, in front of her all day, or nearby at least. He’d been very professional in the office so far, but somehow she wondered if he’d keep that up.

She chuckled as she left her car and entered the office. Here she was, with two men making passes at her and she was fussing about that? A surfeit of riches and all she did was worry? Most likely nothing would come of any of it. Jeremy had his Barbara to complicate things. And Dr. Sam? That could be tricky with her job on the line and all. He seemed very serious last night. Oh my, she had to lighten up. She could find another job if she had to. She grinned. Then she could hook up with Dr. Kendrick if she wanted to. A tingle of anticipation started at her toes and warmed her body at that idea.

Remy plastered a smile on her face as she entered the office. Whatever happened, she wouldn’t beat herself up about it anymore.

“You look awful happy this morning,” Irene said. “Did something special happen last night?”

“No, I just feel good this morning,” Remy murmured.

“That’s good. I’m glad somebody does.”

“What does that mean? What’s wrong?”

Irene frowned. “Dr. Kendrick’s in a mood, all grumpy.”

Remy shivered. Sam was in a bad mood, okay, so what. He could be a grouch because he got a flat tire on the way to work. Or his coffee maker broke and he didn’t get his java this morning. So why did she suspect she had anything to do with his problems? She took a deep breath. Sam’s feelings were not her concern. “Oh? That’s too bad. I guess we should stay away until he calms down, huh?”

Irene shook her head. “You are so slow. You don’t get it do you?”

Startled, Remy stared at her. “Don’t get what?”

“You saw him last night, right?”

“What? Oh yes, for a few minutes. Why?”

“What did you say to him? Did you tell him off?” Irene demanded.

“No, don’t be silly,” Remy muttered. This was not going well. Irene sounded mad. Or something. Was she the one making those strange phone calls?

Irene broke into a sly grin. “You are oblivious. What did you tell him? Come on, spill.”

“What do you mean, I’m oblivious?” Remy whispered, her heartbeat picking up a bit.

“The man adores you, Remy. Haven’t you seen the way he looks at you? How he drops things and forgets what he’s talking about?”

“So, he’s a little clumsy and forgetful. That doesn’t mean anything.” She couldn’t get involved with her boss. That would be unprofessional. Her pulse was pounding now though, all the way from her toes to the top of her head.

Irene laughed. “So, he’s clumsy is he? News flash! That’s only been since you came to work here. And only when you’re around. Dr. Sam is in love, my friend. With you!”

 ***

 The Spot Writers- our members:

Catherine A. MacKenzie

http://writingwicket.wordpress.com/wicker-chitter/

Jessica Degarmo

http://www.jessicadegarmo.com/

RC Bonitz

http://www.rcbonitz.com

Val Muller

https://valmuller.com/blog

flash fiction, romance none

Book Review: Gamers by Thomas K. Carpenter

November 19, 2012 No comments

In a nutshell, Gamers is a cross between Tron and The Matrix with a little bit of The Hunger Games (or other YA dystopian novels) thrown in. In the story, setmin the future, students earn points (in video game fashion) for everything from playing games on the way to school, to brushing their teeth at night—a development resulting from students always needing incentives to achieve, and society always needing to be in competition. It’s a great read for video game fans, as there are many references they will enjoy. For non-video game fans (I play video games occasionally but am not a huge fan), it is a scary reminder of one possible direction technology may take us as a society. Almost to the extent of The Matrix, everything in this society is digitally manipulated, from the appearance of a room to the appearance of a person.

Protagonist Gabby has been earning points steadily throughout her career as a student. Her “high score” leads her (and her parents) to believe she’ll be accepted into the university. Gabby has also been hacking—it’s against the rules, but it shows us how smart and able she is. One day, she meets an attractive young man who eventually brings her to a remote location to reveal that things are not as they seem—that there is a world beyond the curtain of this one, and it is controlled by people whose intentions may be sinister. It turns out that students who don’t score highly enough in the game—disappear. Not only that, but the people in charge want to audit all of Gabby’s files, which she cannot allow for many different reasons.

I won’t give away the ending, but I’ll say that this is the first book in a trilogy. It was a fast read and an interesting concept. My one wish is that there was more imagery, or possibly explanation of slang—the world Carpenter creates is so different from our own (in most ways) that I wanted to see even more imagery to establish it. Some of the scenes rely on video game stereotypes, but for a non-gamers, a bit more imagery would be nice. (Still, I loved some of the stereotypes: “Oh Mario!” is used as a mild oath!). Still, before long I was entranced in the story and wanted to learn the secrets of the world. It’s a book that young adult gamers would enjoy, and I plan to bring the book to my high school classroom for students to read—I think they’ll enjoy it!

I received a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion. The opinion expressed is entirely my own.

book reviews none

Helping Corgis in Need & Black Friday Book Deals

November 18, 2012 No comments

Helping Corgis in Need
I’m partnering with Corgi Pals this season to help corgis in need. Corgi Pals is a nonprofit organization that seeks to help corgis and corgi-mixes in need when their owners can’t afford vet bills. When you make a regularly-priced purchase through my store, use the code “corgipals” at checkout, and $1 from every item purchased will go to help a corgi in need.

Black Friday Book Bundles!
Make Black Friday virtual this year. You can save money when you shop at valm16.sg-host.com/store this week. There are lots of specially-priced book bundles to choose from, and they include free shipping (to the United States) as well as a free copy of one of many Chicken Soup for the Soul books (they make great gifts!). The sale is only going on for the next week, so stop by while supplies last.

corgis, dog, event, holiday none

Spot Writers: Chapter 22

November 15, 2012 No comments

Chapter 22 of the continuing saga of Remy comes to us from Deborah Dera. Deborah traditionally ghostwrites articles and stories but is in the process of finishing up her first eBook to be released on the Kindle platform later this year. Keep your eyes peeled!

Next week’s chapter will come from RC Bonitz, author of A LITTLE BIT OF BLACKMAIL and A BLANKET FOR HER HEART, both available from Amazon or B&N. He’s looking forward to the release of A LITTLE BIT OF BABY, due in November.

The Spot Writers’ blogs appear at the end of this story. Don’t forget to check them out.

 

CHAPTER 22

 

Remy backed herself against the wall in the hallway, out of sight of the living room doors and windows, cringing with every ring of the phone and wondering if Sam Kendrick could hear the phone ringing from outside. Maybe if he heard it ringing he’d realize she wasn’t there to pick it up.

 

Her thoughts were again interrupted when he stopped ringing the doorbell. Instead, he switched to a thunderous, booming knock.

 

Boom. Boom. Boom.

 

Remy wondered how it was she’d managed to end up with two incredibly persistent men in her life.

 

Boom. Boom. Boom.

 

And then she heard him. “Come on, Remy. I know you’re in there. I saw you pull in. I tried to catch you in the parking lot at the office. Your wallet was on the floor under the desk.”

 

Remy sighed. Of all the stupid things she could have done, she dropped her wallet on her way out the office. Fantastic. She thought quickly about how she’d explain her delay in answering the door. She padded quietly to the front door. “Hold on.”

 

She carefully slid the deadbolt back and unlocked the door, pulling it open only half way. “Can’t a girl come home and run into the bathroom without being interrupted?” She was going for the shock factor. It worked. She watched Sam Kendrick blush but his embarrassment didn’t stop him from pushing his way in the door.

 

“Can I come in?”

 

“You just did,” Remy responded dryly. “My wallet?” She held out her hand.

 

Sam stared at her blankly, then snapped out of his daze. “Yea! Right. Your wallet.” He fumbled for something in the inside pocket of his jacket, pulling out her wallet and extending it towards her.

 

Remy reached out for the wallet and her fingers brushed lightly against his as she took it from him. A light, buzzing sensation crept up her arm and she suddenly had butterflies in her stomach. She followed his glance towards the couch and back to her, remembering the last time he was in her apartment, suddenly realizing she wouldn’t necessarily mind a repeat.

 

The good girl part of her conscious squashed her lust back into place. Sam Kendrick is my boss. This can’t happen.

 

“Remy,” Dr. Kendrick interrupted her thoughts. “I want to ask you a question.”

 

Remy simply looked at him, waiting.

 

“The other night, you didn’t exactly look happy to see that guy Jeremy. And, I, uh – well – I thought we had some chemistry. How serious is it with that guy?” He took a step closer to her and she suddenly felt nervous. He reached out and gently brushed his fingers against her jaw line, stopping at her chin and lifting her face gently up, forcing her to look at him. He studied her face carefully. “I’m not sure I believe you’re in a relationship with him,” he muttered as he brought his face closer to hers.

 

Remy twisted her face away and took a step back, surprised at the regret she felt in doing so. “You’re my boss, Sam. I’m sorry if I led you on before. I just don’t think this is a good idea.”

 

A look of confusion masked his face. He recognized her answer as vague but decided not to press the issue any further. His gut told him something was wrong. He just couldn’t put his finger on what.

 

He watched as Remy moved back to the door, opening it. “Thank you for bringing my wallet. I appreciate it.” She smiled shyly and he could sense she was apprehensive.

 

“Sure, sure. Anytime. I’m sorry I…” He shook his head and walked to the door. “Well, I’m sorry. I’ll see you at work tomorrow, yes?”

 

Remy nodded and shut the door behind him.

 

***

 

Sam Kendrick is my boss. I can’t have feelings for my boss. Remy repeated this mantra in her mind over and over again as she searched the room for her cell phone. Picking it up, she saw three missed text messages. They were all from Jeremy.

 

J: Tried to call you at home. Didn’t want to bother you.

 

J: You’re not answering anywhere. Are you ok?

 

J: I miss you.

 

He misses me? He doesn’t know me well enough to miss me. Remy slowly reached for the phone and typed a response:

 

R: Just got home. How is your mom?

 

J:  Do you miss me?

 

Remy realized she hadn’t really thought about missing Jeremy, either way. She had empathy for him and worried about him a bit. Any good friend would, considering his situation.

 

R: Sure. How are things going with your mom?

 

J:  I’ve been thinking about you.

 

Why won’t he answer me?

 

R: I’ve been thinking about you, too. Was worried about you. Must be rough.

 

J: Thinking about you makes me feel better.

 

R:  =) I’m glad…

 

Remy let some of her anxiety from earlier slip away, wondering if she might really be helping Jeremy, even from a distance. She thought about their awkward introduction as neighbors and realized he might be growing on her, despite his problems with his ex. Everyone has baggage, though, right? Maybe she could learn to work around Barbara – if he would learn to stop putting her in the middle of their situations.

 

J: Mom’s calling. Have to run. xoxo

 

Remy smiled, but her thoughts suddenly went dark when her cell phone rang again and the familiar unknown caller showed on the display. She suddenly felt chilled and was acutely aware of the pouring rain storm that had finally started outside. Leaving the phone on the end table, she started her way around the condo to make sure her windows were closed.

 

***

 

The Spot Writers- our members:

Catherine A. MacKenzie

http://writingwicket.wordpress.com/wicker-chitter/

Jessica Degarmo

http://www.jessicadegarmo.com/

RC Bonitz

http://www.rcbonitz.com

Val Muller

https://valmuller.com/blog

Deborah Dera

http://www.deborahdera.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

flash fiction, romance none

Writer Wednesdays: Wastes of Space + Giveaway

November 14, 2012 No comments

This week’s Writer Wednesday features Darcy Town, author of Wastes of Space, a science fiction novel (please note that this book is for adult readers, as it contains mature content). Scroll down to see the giveaway entry form!

Synopsis:

In the early 21st century, the Cold War between the American and Chinese Empires slogs on in a stalemate. There’s a ceasefire in effect, but the peace is artificial—secretly enforced by an alien blockade that surrounds the planet. Earth is caught in a territory struggle between two warring factions: the Empire and the Resistance. Lacking harvestable talents, both groups classify Earthlings as Wasters.

Hidden among the Wasters is an alien girl with the power of moving spaceships. She teams up with Rake, a drug-addicted ex-Astronaut, to join an intergalactic war that Earth did not know existed…but first Rake has to realize he’s travelling with an alien to begin with.

 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | GoodReads

About the Author:

I earned a degree in Comparative Religion, so themes-wise that certainly pops up here and there in my writing (okay, more than a little here and there in some books).

I write what I enjoy reading/watching – which is fantasy/sci-fi with dark humor and a bit of romance. What I consider romance however is to some…a bit off (and kinked out). And when I say dark humor I mean black. But I always have lighthearted moments (I do not believe a story should be all one way or another). Gotta spice things up!

Speaking of…I like to write stories that cater to all sexual preferences in one story. I have your typical male-female romances. I have male-male, female-female, transgender, bi-sexual, etc. This is mostly due to the fact that well…1. I like writing about it. 2. I see it in my everyday life. 3. I like having a well-rounded cast of characters from all walks of life.

I am the author of the Morningstar Trilogy and the Wastes Series.

Guest Post: Who was your biggest supporter while writing your book? Please tell us why.

My biggest supporter?  That would probably be my mother.  She has always encouraged me to go after the things that make me happy and give me a sense of purpose.  She’s always been there to reinforce that truth, especially when things could seem a bit bleak.  She reinforced the belief that the only person’s opinion on the story you’re writing that should truly matter is your own.  A writer should tell their story, the story that they wish to create.  They shouldn’t bend to what is trending, and they shouldn’t be afraid to create new rules or use characters that are not the norm.  I took all that advice and ran with it, and I think a lot of that can be seen in Wastes of Space and Morningstar.

My mother is the first to defend my stories and characters to others (especially the more conservative parts of the family), and she has a remarkably open mind about things.  I use her to bounce ideas off of, which is great if I’m having a bit of writer’s block.

Besides being an emotional supporter, she’s also been invaluable when it comes to the writing portion as well.  She is a lover of sci-fi and has plenty of opinions there, but she also received a Masters degree in English Literature.  Anytime I needed a second opinion on a grammar rule, I’d go to her to discuss it.  We’d both whip out our rulebooks and discuss what the rules really mean.  She made what would normally be boring or troublesome turn in to a fair amount of fun.

All in all she’s helped me through some tough times writing-wise.

Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Blog

 

Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Synopsis for Wastes Away – Book Two:

…A split second later in the same galaxy as before, but pretty far away…

Rake and Ravil have escaped Earth and the Empire, towing the rest of their friends and new allies with them. They flee to an abandoned Empire colony known only as Seed Planet 15.

Out of fuel and common sense, they crash and nearly wreck their ship, stranding them in the middle of a seemingly endless swamp. On first glance the place looks mostly harmless, but what they’ve landed on is anything but. Seed Planet 15 has a nasty history.

The planet has more hidden in the mist than just ghosts and rumors. And if the crew doesn’t get off the planet soon, there will be nothing left of them but spare parts and a rusted ship.

 

Synopsis for Waste Not, Want Not – Book Three:

Barely making it off Seed Planet Fifteen with their lives, Rake and the crew are content to hang out and lick their wounds for a while, if it weren’t for the fried wiring and Stalker damage that have left the ship prone to reoccurring blackouts.

Needing supplies for repairs, the crew decides the best course of action is to raid abandoned Ampyr outposts for gear. Smart, no foreseeable problems there.  Except one of the outposts they hit isn’t empty, Lincoln’s personality issues are getting worse, food is going missing, and their Rexos is about to hit puberty and apparently that’s accompanied by uncontrollable rages. As if that wasn’t enough bad news, there seems to be a sentient black hole chasing down Ravil and attempting to eat her.

But not to worry, Danny’s reforming their squad and apparently ranking still flies out in space. No more messing around, things are getting serious. At least seriously screwed up.


Excerpt:

A howl from outside the building woke Ravil up.  Her eyes shot open as goose bumps raced across her skin.  She reached for Rake, but her hands slipped through air.  Another howl came louder than the last, followed by a faint scream.  She stared at her empty outstretched hand as the realization set in—he’d abandoned her.

Ravil slipped out of the tub, kept low to the floor, and held her knife out in front of her.  She reached the hall and crawled towards the windows.  Weak sunlight filtered into the apartment through the grimy glass.  Every fiber of her being told her to go back and hide in the darkness of the bathroom, but she would not wait for death to come to her.  Rake had left her; he’d lied last night.  She held back tears and moved another few inches.  She was on her own now and she would handle it.

The hall creaked.  Ravil froze.

Rake kneeled by her side and whispered into her ear, “Not a sound now, Bebette.”  He held one of her Bowie knives and crawled past her, keeping his head below the level of the windows.  He crept towards the closest and used a piece of mirror to look outside.  His shift in expression made Ravil scoot back into the bathroom.  She climbed into the tub and covered her ears.

The howls and screams continued until they cut off in a definitive silence.  Rake came in some minutes later, his face ashen.  He sat down and looked over at her.  “We cannot walk out on the streets.”

“Wh…why?”

“We just can’t.”  Rake’s hands shook.  He grabbed his left hand with his right and pressed it into the floor; he broke into a sweat.  He took a deep breath.  “It’s not safe.”

“Can’t we run?”

He shook his head.  “Do you want to end up a screamer?”

Ravil sank down below the level of the porcelain.  “What is out there?”

 

Writer Wednesdays none

Book Review: Through the Mirror and Into Snow by Ann T. Bugg

November 12, 2012 No comments

This is the first in a series of middle-grade books following two girls, Valerie and Samantha. The girls are best friends, but they are total opposites. Sam is fashion-conscious while Val is not, for example. But their opposites make them good friends, and even Val’s mother shakes her head at the creative games they come up with. In this book, the two girls sneak out to the barn in search of a mysterious possum Val’s mother has been talking about. They follow the possum through a mirror that had been covered in a tarp and find themselves in a mysterious world—the world of Grimm’s Fairy Tales. (I won’t explain the possum; you’ll find out at the end.)

The girls recognize some of the things they encounter, such as a girl named Snow (as in Snow White) and other familiar elements from fairy tales with which Val is familiar. Befriending Snow and some other helpful characters, the girls must navigate the world (and the villains) of fairy tales. It’s definitely a book primarily for girls, as both protagonists are female, and the story focuses on the fairy tales having to do with evil stepmothers and marriages. It’s a clever mix of modern storyline and classic fairy tale, and the author mixes it up enough that it never feels stale. The reader is also kept in suspense during the times when Val and Sam cannot remember certain elements of the tales—remembering them would have helped them solve the problems they encounter much more quickly. This suspense will keep the reader turning the pages. I could see myself having enjoyed these books when I was a girl Val and Sam’s age.  

The narrator is kept a mystery for the first chapter or so, until we learn the narrator is actually the garden gnome that stands watch in Val’s parents’ garden. At times, the narrator’s personality came through, which I found enjoyable. At other times, the narrator’s personality faded into the tale, which disappointed me because I found the gnome’s voice and tone humorous, adding to the story.

Val’s mother also plays an important role in the story. She’s the one who points out the possum in the barn, and she’s been writing a story (that she knows Val and Sam are reading) about Valerie and Samantha going on adventures. It’s even hinted at that the whole tale might be the result of reading Val’s mother’s manuscript and letting their imaginations go wild—though the girls agree that it was all too real to have been simply imagiation.

I received a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. I’m reviewing the other two books as part of a blog tour, so stay tuned for more!

book reviews none

Spot Writers: Chapter 21

November 8, 2012 No comments

This week’s chapter comes from Cathy MacKenzie. Check out her books of short stories available on Smashwords for only $1.99 and $0.99. https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/camack. Her books of poetry are available there, as well.

 

Next week’s chapter will be written by Deborah Dera. Deborah traditionally ghostwrites articles and stories but is in the process of finishing up her first eBook to be released on the Kindle platform later this year. Keep your eyes peeled!

 

The Spot Writers’ blogs appear at the end of this story. Don’t forget to check them out.

***

CHAPTER 21

“Dr. Kendrick – Sam…” Remy averted her head just in time to avoid his leering lips. If she hadn’t had the desk behind her to grab hold of, she was sure she would have landed flat on her back.

“What’s up with you? I’ve been waiting all week for this. You’ve been avoiding me.”

“No, I haven’t. I’m here to work. That’s what I’ve been doing.” Remy, although proud for standing up for herself, wondered if she spoke a bit too gruffly.

“You’re not busy now. I give you permission to stop whatever you’re doing,” Dr. Kendrick said.

“Sam – Dr. Kendrick – we have to talk.” Remy hesitated. Did she dare go further? Did she dare tell a lie? “I’m in a relationship. Besides, you’re my boss. I don’t want to mix pleasure and business. I should have told you that earlier. I’m sorry.”

“You’re in a relationship? Not with that drunken slob from the other day, I hope.”

“He’s not a drunken slob. He’s just been going through a rough patch. And, yes, that’s him. Jeremy is his name.”

“I don’t believe it,” Dr. Kendrick said. “I just don’t believe it. I thought you and I had something special.”

“Sam.” Remy shook her head. “I’m sorry. I want to keep my job. I need to keep my job, but if this keeps up, I’ll have to quit.” She felt braver with each word she spoke.

Dr. Kendrick backed up a foot. His hand waved in the air, like he was shooing away flies, except there were none around. “Okay, okay,” he said, before muttering words Remy couldn’t catch. He stared at her for a moment before turning back toward his office.

Remy slumped to the chair and let her face fall to her hands.

***

Remy barely had her condo door shut behind her, when her cell phone rang. She grabbed the phone from her coat pocket to see “caller unknown.”

“Damn.” She had almost forgotten that depraved unknown caller or callers and the text messages. Was he –or she – back at work? Or could it be Jeremy calling? But, no, Jeremy wouldn’t show up as unknown caller.

She hesitated, her finger ready to hit the green button, and then thought better of it. She watched the flashing light until it stopped and waited to see if the caller left a message. Nothing.

“Fine, be that way,” she said, before tossing her purse and phone to the hall chair. Tears formed in her eyes when she thought of Jeremy and his poor mother. She desperately wanted to talk to him, but knew she shouldn’t bother him, not when he was visiting his mother. She was also afraid to talk to him, not knowing what she’d say if his mother’s condition had become worse.

The ringing of the doorbell interrupted her thoughts. She peered through the peephole, shocked to see Dr. Kendrick standing there.

What? All sorts of thoughts invaded her head. She backed away from the door, her hand across her mouth to stop herself from screeching. What the heck? What was he doing there? Her stocking feet were soundless on the floor, as she escaped into the bedroom. She hoped he hadn’t heard her earlier when she threw the phone down. Who knew how long he stood there, listening through the door. Did he follow her home?

Remy thought of several possibilities of where she could later say she was. She could be at a neighbor’s. She could be out for a walk. Yes, he’d never know she had been home.

The doorbell rang again, insistent, intruding into her private domain. Then the phone rang.

Remy crept back into the living room to check the call display. Jeremy. Darn, she thought. I can’t pick it up. I can’t answer. Dr. Kendrick will hear and know I’m home. I have to let it ring.

***

The Spot Writers- our members:

 

Catherine A. MacKenzie

http://writingwicket.wordpress.com/wicker-chitter/

 

Jessica Degarmo

http://www.jessicadegarmo.com/

 

RC Bonitz

http://www.rcbonitz.com

 

Val Muller

https://valmuller.com/blog

 

Deborah Dera

http://www.deborahdera.com

 

 

Uncategorized none

Book Review: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

November 5, 2012 2 comments

It’s always refreshing to read a classic. While I appreciate plot-driven works, there’s just something about a book like Hurston’s, one full of figurative language and imagery, that quenches my intellectual thirst as a reader.

Hurston’s novel follows the life of Janie, a woman on a quest to find herself, love, and meaning in life. As a young child, Janie was raised by her grandmother, a woman who knew slavery. Nanny uses her own life experiences to shape her goals for Janie: Nanny was raped by her master and almost killed by the master’s jealous wife after the birth of her daughter. Janie’s mother was raped by a white schoolteacher and then ran off from responsibility. Nanny did not want to see the same thing happen to Janie.

As a result, Janie is married off at age 17 to a much older man simply because he can provide for her. The problem is, Janie has never been satisfied with simply filling her basic human needs. She experiences an epiphany under a pear tree. The “blossoming pear tree in the back-yard….called her to come and gaze on a mystery.” The tree is described in a beautiful and suggestive passage comparing the tree to “a flute song long forgotten in another existence and remembered again,” a song “that had nothing to do with her ears.” She watches the bees among the blossoms and experiences a vision of perfection in marriage, “the thousand sister-calyxes arch[ing] to meet the love embrace and the ecstatic shiver of the tree from root to tiniest branch creaming n every blossom and frothing with delight.” It was a revelation that “left her limp and languid.” This epiphany is what Janie uses to compare all future relationships.

Needless to say, Logan, her first husband, cannot compare. He is older, he’s focused on working his farm, he doesn’t wash his feet before bed, and she hates “de way his head is so long one way and so flat on de sides and dat pone uh fat back uh his neck.” In short, “the vision of Logan Killicks was desecrating the pear tree.”

Janie runs away with a man younger than Logan (but at least ten years older than her). Jody starts the town of Eatonville in Flordia, an all-black incorporated town. At first Janie is flattered to be the mayor’s wife, but as time goes on, she realizes that Jody has stifled her freedom. The men in the town are infatuated by Janie’s beauty, specifically her hair. Being three-quarters Caucasian (from her family’s history of rape), her hair is much softer than the other women’s, and it makes her stand out. Jody catches someone stroking Janie’s long braid (without Janie’s knowledge) and forces her to keep her hair tied up for the next twenty-odd years.

At nearly age 40, Janie becomes free of her marriage to Jody, and she meets a younger man named Tea Cake. At age 25, he can’t ignore his love for her despite the age difference. I won’t spoil the ending, but Tea Cake definitely fits Janie’s pear tree vision.  Through the story, Janie does find what she was looking for. The horizon is used as a symbol throughout, and at the story’s end, despite its bittersweet qualities, Janie “pulled in her horizon like a great fish-net,” with “so much of life in its meshes!” She learns what life and love truly is through the novel, and it’s an experience you’ll enjoy discovering along with her.

The challenge of this book is its use of dialect. Hurston has become famous for her anthropological use of diction. Words are spelled the way they were spoken among southern towns in the 1920s and ‘30s. “Ah” is used instead of the pronoun “I,” for example. While it presents an initial slowing of reading, it adds lots of flavor, and by the third chapter, you’ll barely notice it. The rich use of figurative language and interwoven symbols makes this a rewarding reading experience.

book reviews none

Spot Writers: Chapter 20

November 1, 2012 No comments

Chapter 20 of Remy’s story is by Val Muller, author of the Corgi Capers, Deceit on Dorset Drive and newly-released, Halloween-themed Corgi Capers: The Sorceress of Stoney Brook, a mystery series for young detectives, as well as the sci-fi-time-travel-romance For Whom My Heart Beats Eternal.
Next week’s episode comes from Cathy MacKenzie. Check out her books of short stories available on Smashwords for only $1.99 and $0.99. https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/camack. There you can read the first story in each book for free. However, the stories are all different, so the sample stories aren’t a true representation of the other stories. Her books of poetry are available there, as well.

 

The Spot Writers’ blogs appear at the end of this story. Don’t forget to check them out.

***

Chapter 20

Remy couldn’t help but smile. For the first time, she seemed to be forming a bond, an actual bond, with Jeremy. So his ex-girlfriend was a psycho—he wanted no part of it. So he freaked out—his mother was sick and he was going through a rough patch.

He couldn’t stop thinking about her. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. Remy looked at her and smiled, leaning in for more.

“As flattered as I am,” Remy said, pulling away, “you’ve got to visit your mother. It sounds pretty bad, and you can’t ignore your family. Sticking your head in the sand doesn’t make bad things go away. You need to visit your mom. Take your time. Do what needs to be done and say what needs to be said. I’ll be here when you get back. At this point we both need time.”

Jeremy nodded, tears in his eyes.

“You’re right. You’re right.” He stood. “You have my cell number. If Barbara does anything to you—if she comes near you or calls you or anything, you call me right away.”

Remy nodded, and Jeremy helped her to her feet. “Thanks,” she said. “I’ll see you in a few.”

He squeezed her hands once before turning away. Remy watched him leave, feeling a whole mix of emotions. She was glad for the time to sort them out.

* * *

At work, Irene took full advantage of Remy’s offer. In fact, she didn’t wait until five o’clock to leave. She snuck out a 4:50 with a curt, “You’re closing up tonight, right?” The door slammed shut before Remy even had a chance to answer.

The last patients were gone for the day, and Remy started straightening up the front desk. Maybe she could sneak out right at five, too.

“Is she gone?” a voice asked behind her.

Remy turned around to see Dr. Kendrick standing behind her. Very close.

“All last week I was hoping she’d leave a few minutes early.”

“Dr. Kendrick,” Remy said.

“It’s Sam,” he answered as he leaned in for a kiss.

* * *

The Spot Writers- our members:
Catherine A. MacKenzie
http://writingwicket.wordpress.com/wicker-chitter/
Jessica Degarmo
http://www.jessicadegarmo.com/

RC Bonitz
http://www.rcbonitz.com

Val Muller
https://valmuller.com/blog

 

flash fiction, romance none

Halloween Blogflash: The Stairs

October 31, 2012 22 comments

This post is part of the BlogFlash Halloween event. You can read all the participating stories and vote for your favorite. The list of all participating stories can be found below.

The Stairs

by Val Muller

Lisa hated doing laundry. She’d rather scrub the house with a toothbrush. Why did the washer have to be in the basement? It was the stairs–wooden stairs open in back, revealing the shadows underneath. Ever since childhood, she feared a monster lurking there. She pictured it reaching from under the steps, its humongous, clawed hands wrapping around her ankles. Pulling her into its abyss. The coal furnace ignited on the other side of the basement, whispering to life. It sounded like mother. The shadows under the stairs illuminated and danced with the sinister red light of coals. Lisa shuddered.

“It’s your imagination,” Mother always said with no sympathy for Lisa’s fears. In fact, ever since Lisa confessed her terror of the basement, Mother made laundry Lisa’ permanent chore. “You must overcome your fears,” she said. “If you don’t own your fears, you’ll be their prisoner.” If Lisa didn’t know better, she’d say Mother enjoyed watching her daughter cower every laundry day.

“She’s gone now,” Lisa reminded herself. “Just get the house cleaned and sold–you’ll never have to do laundry here again.”

To punctuate the point, she kicked over the ironing board. No sense ironing anymore. It was all going to Good Will. The ironing board clanked against the concrete floor. A clanking echoed near the furnace.

“H-hello?”

A thud answered.

Lisa’s eyes widened, and she picked up the ironing board. “S-sorry,” she whispered to the darkness.

Silence.

The adrenaline of her fear hardened to anger, and Lisa turned back to the laundry. “Why am I still doing this? Mother’s gone. I don’t have to do her wash anymore. I’ll donate it as is. So what if it smells like mothballs?” She turned to the stairs. “Hear that?” she asked the shadows. She took the box of laundry detergent and tossed it at the stairs. It exploded in a powdery mess. Lisa’s eyes narrowed. She was the bullied finding the flame of revenge.

“Like that, do you?” she shouted. She picked up the fabric softener. “Conquer this fear, Mother!” She tossed it at the wooden step. As it spilled, the lightbulb above popped into darkness.

“You’ll be their prisoner,” the furnace whispered as it, too, extinguished.

“Hello?” Lisa gulped. Her eyes could not adjust to the darkness, and she shuffled to the stairs. She took it one step at a time, the wood slick with laundry powder and fabric softener. “You’ll be their prisoner,” the furnace hissed again, coming to life with a clunk. The red light illuminated the area under the stairs, revealing a lurking shadow with eyes glowing red. The shadow reached out, two clawed hands reaching for her ankles. She lurched backwards, her feet losing purchase just as she felt the tight, sharp grasp at her feet.

“Mother?” she gulped.

“Their prisoner,” the furnace whispered as her head hit the concrete and her world went black.

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flash fiction, Halloween, holiday, writing none
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