Flash Fiction – M J Mallon YA/Paranormal Author

Coronavirus #flash #fiction #food #shopping

For Charli Mills Flash Fiction Challenge: https://carrotranch.com/2020/03/27/march-26-flash-fiction-challenge-2/

This flash fiction piece below is part of an idea for a larger piece of flash that I’m writing along with a YA romance short story. My very first romance!

This pandemic has taught me to focus on the simple pleasures in life and positives like a cheery overhead conversation heard at the till. And to remind myself that if I see someone I know, (even if that person is someone I don’t know well,) to wave, or shout hello.

Social Distancing doesn’t mean we should be unfriendly. Stay close but stay safe.

Fear makes Us Strangers

It’s a Friday night, the weekends coming! Yeah.

I dread what the queue might be like.

Each time I shop, I become more afraid. I pray I don’t see someone I know. Social distancing has become social avoidance.

I’m done quick, rush to the nearest till and am amused to see the vicar talking to the check out assistant. I’m still thinking of their cheerful conversation and the smiling vicar. The lady at the till demands that I step back further. I do, but I can never get used to this.

Stay safe everyone.

Much love,

My published books are available via my Amazon author page:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/M-J-Mallon/e/B074CGNK4L/

Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge

Charli’s flash fiction challenge this week:

February 13, 2020, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story that includes a sugar report. Use its original meaning of a letter from a sweetheart to a soldier, or invent a new use for it. Go where the prompt leads!

Respond by February 18, 2020. Use the comment section below to share, read, and be social. You may leave a link, pingback, or story in the comments. If you want to be published in the weekly collection, please use the form. Rules & Guidelines.

So I decided to invent a sugar letter for a prisoner who had taken the rap for his lover…

I’m missing you so much; the days are endless without you. Yesterday, I placed some flowers on Richard’s grave. The cold and I stood shivering by his gravestone. No one was around so I confessed everything. By the time I’d finished, it was getting dark and the tombstones were getting darker.

I feel so guilty with you in prison. Passion drove us to his mess. I wish I’d stuck with Richard’s humdrum, instead of going for your sugar kisses. But, I’d murder again for one sweet kiss.

February 13: Flash Fiction Challenge

Hope you enjoyed… I seem to be drawn to murder at the moment. Lol.

By the way Charli did an awesome job of featuring me on my blog tour over at Carrot Ranch here’s the link to the post:

Mr. Sagittarius Blog Tour

February 6: Flash Fiction Challenge Carrot Ranch

In response to Charli Mill’s challenge this is my entry.

I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of Charli’s dear dog Bobo, pets are family and to lose a dear family member is so hard.

My piece of dog flash, dedicated to Bobo.

‘What’s the point of these daisies?’ Bandit asked.
‘I’ve no idea, you can’t eat them, their flowers smell’s rank, but our human pets like them,’ replied Duchess.
Bandit poked his nose towards human pet Annie, who was sitting on the grass making a daisy chain.
‘Stop nosing about Bandit! Hey, girl.’ Annie stroked Bandit’s imaginary friend’s coat and popped a daisy chain over her head.
Bandit barked.
‘Okay Bandit, I have one for you too. Look how it contrasts with your black coat, boy.’

‘Woof!’

The two Labradors ran away, one black, another camouflaged by the field of daisies.

February 6: Flash Fiction Challenge

My YA fantasy:

Buy Book: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

My poetry, prose and photography collection releases on February 17th.
Amazon UK Kindle Pre-order links:

Amazon USA kindle pre-order link:

https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Sagittarius-Poetry-Prose-Mallon-ebook/dp/B084DQV3HW/

Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction

It’s raining again and I think of you. The park bench with your name rests, waiting for another raindrop to thirst quench my sorrow.

By 11.30am it’s raining hard. I capture a single drop of heaven’s rain on my tongue. I taste it. It’s lonely, like this new day without you.

You loved the rain;your days were full of joy. I have an umbrella in my bag but no need for it. And neither do you.

It’s tranquil today,

November Rain, June Sunshine,

Seasons talk of Love,

Strolling side by side – Mists, gusts,

Welly boots squelching the earth.

***

The second half of this flash was a poem I wrote for Colleen’s Poetry Challenge.

Flash Fiction: Carrot Ranch – Protest

Confusion’s Blunt Knife

‘I didn’t do it,’ he howled.

‘Stop your protesting, we saw you!’

‘It wasn’t me, it was them.’

‘Excuses, excuses. Them don’t do that, only this does.’

Confusion handed the boy the knife. It was blunt.

‘Why you always blunt?’ he asked.

‘To see if you will sharpen your mind, you idiot!’

The boy looked lost. He pulled his jacket tight around him searching for the right words.

‘My mind is tired, too wired to remember this: who, did what to whom.’

‘Who, or what are you, boy?’

‘I’m tight wound like this jacket.’

‘Strait, that’s what you are.’

January 16: Flash Fiction Challenge

Buy Book: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

Unique Selling Point: Unique, Imaginative, ‘Charming, enchanting and richly layered this is purely delightful.’

“This delightful book will appeal to teens and young adults who love stories filled with magical crystals, dark family curses, and mysteries waiting to be solved around every corner. Each chapter leads you on a journey of discovery where Amelina earns the right to use three wizard stones to reset the balance of time and finally break the curse that holds her family hostage. A captivating tale!” – Colleen M. Chesebro (Editor)

Social Media Links

Authors Website: https://mjmallon.com
Collaborative Blog: https://sistersofthefey.wordpress.com
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time
#ABRSC: Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/

Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge: January 9th #flashfiction

Here’s my piece of flash in response to Charli Mill’s flash fiction challenge:

A Carried Jezebel

Annie glanced at her scrawny husband. A glance was all it took. He couldn’t lift her, no carried wife could she ever be. No threshold over which she could be taken. Adam was different. His different scared her. She couldn’t help but imagine Adam lifting her onto his shoulders and running to the ocean, his bare skin wet with the salty water, his hard, taut muscles flexing. What would happen thereafter? Would he leave her to the fishes, or scoop her up with dreamy kisses? She knew what she would become: a carried Jezebel; perhaps she’d like that more.

Charli Mills Carrot Ranch:

January 9: Flash Fiction Challenge

Buy Book: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

Unique Selling Point: Unique, Imaginative, ‘Charming, enchanting and richly layered this is purely delightful.’

“This delightful book will appeal to teens and young adults who love stories filled with magical crystals, dark family curses, and mysteries waiting to be solved around every corner. Each chapter leads you on a journey of discovery where Amelina earns the right to use three wizard stones to reset the balance of time and finally break the curse that holds her family hostage. A captivating tale!” – Colleen M. Chesebro (Editor)

July 25: Flash Fiction Challenge

My submission for Charlie Mill’s flash fiction challenge:

The Crumb’s Obituary

For one day I crave silence.
Your words crush my soul making me weep. Your tongue is bitter, cruel and relentless, it pokes fun at my crawling. I must do as you please, surrendering to your every whim.
‘Look at this,’ you say, scowling.
I move towards it, this lonely crumb which sits on the kitchen surface begging for forgiveness.
‘Oops,’ I respond, trembling.
‘Dear God. You’re multiplying ant – look at the state of this place.’
I step back waiting for him to strike.
Instead, his thumb bears down on the tiny crumb and crushes it to death.

To enter or find out more about the challenges follow the link:

https://carrotranch.com/2019/07/25/july-25-flash-fiction-challenge/

Buy Book: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

Social Media Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/

Carrot Ranch June 20 Flash Fiction Challenge #FlashFiction

June 20, 2019, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about having to wait. Who is waiting and what for? Think about how the wait impacts the character or the story. Go where the prompt leads!

Respond by June 25, 2019. Use the comment section below to share, read, and be social. You may leave a link, pingback, or story in the comments. If you want to be published in the weekly collection, please use the form. Rules & Guidelines.

The idea for this piece of flash came about from job shares. Imagine if the person who you were job sharing with was a murderer… What a thought!

My flash:

Only two more hours, she joked as she left. I smiled. I knew I would say the same to her after two days’ time. The weekend is teasing me, waiting with a glass of wine. At two minutes past five I open her drawer to eat the snack she left me. It kills me to admit it but it tastes good. She’d said it was foul but lied. One more bite.

Shame that death arrived before the weekend. She didn’t need to poison me—we were both on the same prolonged career path.

https://carrotranch.com/2019/06/21/june-20-flash-fiction-challenge/

Cheerio for now!

Buy Book: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

Social Media Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/

Carrot Flash Flash Fiction Challenge

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Here’s my piece of flash:

Imaginary Characters

Brick fitted in the space well. It was narrow, like a cupboard to slot in, a place to be noticed. Brooke Trout sauntered past him. When she saw Brick her eyes opened wide. He smirked at her bemused expression. She didn’t notice but he followed her up the escalator. When she exited out of the toilet he was there angling for her.

‘Beggars can’t be choosers,’ she wasn’t much of a catch but she had a sense of humour. He valued that.

Brick smiled, ‘Babe join me? We can disappear together…

This flash is based on a true life experience. I was walking to work yesterday morning thinking about creating more diverse characters in my books and I spotted this intriguing young man of colour to my left standing rigid in a narrow gap in the wall of the shopping centre (see that gap, its tiny!) His eyes twinkled with mirth at my wide-eyed reaction.. I went up to the toilet and when I came out he was seated as if waiting for me. He grinned. It was a bit startling! It was like seeing a character I’d been thinking about come to life! I walked out of the shopping centre and turned round. But he was nowhere to be seen. Brick had disappeared!

And yes there is a male name Brick!

I’m not sure what I will do with Brick but it has made me think more about creating #diversecharacters which can only be a good thing. One of my characters in my WIP – the second book in my YA Fantasy series The Curse of Time Book 2 Golden Healer is a Rastafarian. I shall be doing some research…

To join in with Charli Mill’s flash fiction challenge follow the link:

https://carrotranch.com/2019/04/11/april-11-flash-fiction-challenge/

Isn’t that the most uncanny thing? Maybe I have magic powers to conjure up characters…

Bye for now,

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Buy Book: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

Unique Selling Point: Unique, Imaginative, ‘Charming, enchanting and richly layered this is purely delightful.’

Social Media Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/

April 4: Flash Fiction Challenge

This is my entry for Charli Mill’s Flash Fiction Challenge.

It’s a short paragraph from my YA/paranormal book The Curse of Time Book 1 Bloodstone.

When I saw that the nature of the prompt was about fire – I thought why not… I hope Charli doesn’t mind… it just seemed to fit so well.

The fire raged, and a ring of flames circled the card, avoiding it as if it contained the deadly plague. The sand timer ran out. The fire burnt down leaving its mark on the card with black singed edges.

I felt a chill creep up my spine. When I searched Dad’s face for some clue to his strange behaviour, I reeled back, struck by the sight of a dull emptiness in his eyes. I couldn’t tear my gaze away from his face. I thought I spotted a weird reflection in his eyes, maybe a bug…

It’s funny how cutting this paragraph down to 99 words gives the story a totally different edge to it. It ends on quite a funny note with the ‘maybe a bug,’ ending but in reality, it is far from funny.

Just in case this little piece of writing intrigues you… and you want to find out more about the bug…

Buy Book: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

Unique Selling Point: Unique, Imaginative, ‘Charming, enchanting and richly layered this is purely delightful.’

“This delightful book will appeal to teens and young adults who love stories filled with magical crystals, dark family curses, and mysteries waiting to be solved around every corner. Each chapter leads you on a journey of discovery where Amelina earns the right to use three wizard stones to reset the balance of time and finally break the curse that holds her family hostage. A captivating tale!” – Colleen M. Chesebro (Editor)

Social Media Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/

To enter Charli Mill’s flash fiction challenge please follow the link: https://carrotranch.com/2019/04/04/april-4-flash-fiction-challenge/

Bye for now, happy writing!