Short Story: Fly on a Web

I attended a writing workshop last fall in which Vic DiGenti suggested several methods for developing an outline for works of fiction.  The following is a short story I wrote using his ‘Fairy Tale System’.  The first sentence is a writing prompt from that workshop.

Trouble was lurking in the shadows of O’Malley’s bar, waiting for me to enter.  I knew he would be waiting in that same spot, at that same table, a silent reminder of an inescapable future.  Whilst in his favor, the rewards were plentiful, but only the dense or desperate failed to see that his wrath was inevitable.  Trapped in this town full of his worshipers, I had dutifully played along, pretending not to care about those who had fallen from his esteem.  But the last of my binds had painfully burst earlier that morning.  My poor father finally succumbed to the illness that had first put us into the monster’s debt.  As I laid him to rest, I knew I had nothing left to lose.

I took one last glance at the bar where the band’s music thumped a lively beat.  As I had expected, the entire town was already inside.  Readjusting my pack on my shoulders, I followed the silent road out of town.  The old forest quickly surrounded me in its own shadows.  I shuffled along the edge of the road, hardly daring to breath in the strange silence.

“Do you even know where you’re headed?”

I stumbled over a rock and landed hard in the brush at the side of the road.  A light pierced the darkness, revealing Jones’s imposing figure as he glared at me from a few yards up the road.

“I…”

He chuckled.  “Of course you don’t.  You’re stupid and poor and incapable of thinking any farther ahead than where your next meal’s coming from.”

I dragged myself off the ground and matched his gaze.  “I won’t listen to any more of your lies! Everything you say—”

“Is utter truth.  You’re just the daughter of some incompetent farmer from an inconsequential nowhere town.  No one out there,” he gestures vaguely in the direction of the nearest city, “cares about any of you.”

“That’s as may be, but you’re just a thug in that same nowhere town.  Your cronies don’t hold any power out there either.”

I had so much more I wanted to say, but he quickly closed the gap between us.  His hands shot out and wrapped around my throat before I finished drawing the breath to continue my rant.

“You have no idea who you’re dealing with.  I’m no thug…not even a man,” he said in my ear, his voice frighteningly low.  “I am immortal.  I have been worshipped by thousands and will continue to be long after you and your nowhere town have turned to dust.  Those who are loyal servants reap the rewards; those who are not become my sustenance…Any ideas which category you fall into?”

My head swam.  I flailed, pounding my fists into any part of him I could reach.  One of my blows caught his stomach, and his fingers released my throat.  I shoved him as hard as I could and ran in the opposite direction, leaving my pack where it lay.  I stole through the woods, no longer worrying about staying on course.  My feet slipped in mud and brambles tore at my clothes and flesh, but I barely noticed.  I could no longer hear him behind me, but I dared not look back.  I rushed over a rise, scuttling over loose rocks like the world’s clumsiest mountain goat.

He was waiting for me on the other side.

“How…”

He only laughed and reached out to me with one hand.  Dumbstruck, I stared as he flipped his wrist and clenched the outstretched fist.  Something within me snapped, and pain shot through my chest.  As my world grew dark, I watched the monster consume the last of its light.

Vic DiGenti is the author of the award winning Windrusher series and, under the name Parker Francis, the Quint Mitchell Mystery series.  He is also regional director of the Florida Writer’s Association and travels the state giving talks to help aspiring and growing writers.  To learn more about Vic DiGenti’s writing approaches and his works, please visit his website.

Book Review: Fade to Black (Awake in the Dark Volume 1) by Tim Mcbain and LT Vargus

Jeff Grobnagger suffers from a mysterious and sudden onset of seizures.  Every time, he blacks out and dreams the same thing:  an unknown figure in a dark robe murders him in an abandoned alley.  No matter what Jeff tries, his plans always backfire, and he is overpowered by the strange figure.  The blackness consumes him, until he finally wakes from his seizure.  Then, members of a strange cult barge into his life, seemingly knowing way more about Jeff than they should.  A brutal attack in his home makes it clear someone in the real world wants Jeff dead as well.  Somehow, he knows the only answer lies in surviving his twisted, seizure-induced dream.

Jeff’s journey to understand his dreams and the strange cult that has taken deep interest in him is intriguing.  The strange fights between him and the cloaked figure are exciting as the various twists and turns keep blowing up in Jeff’s face no matter how complex (or simple) his plans.  The cult members range from funny to extremely sinister, and serve to muddy the story enough to keep the reader guessing as to exactly is happening to Jeff.  Jeff, himself, is a complex character, a loner to the extreme with a nasty case of pessimism.  Most of the time, this takes the form of amusing sarcasm or curious social bumbles that up the conflict with the cult members and his few remaining friends.  Occasionally, however, it detracts from the story, slowing the plot as Jeff rehashes his depressing life philosophies.  Despite this, Fade to Black is an amusing and unique urban fantasy for those who also like mysteries and quirky characters.

Fade to Black is now free on Kindle

Book Review: The Only City Left by Andy Goldman

When Allin’s parents died, he made a promise to them to stay alive, but in a city like his, that is far easier said than done.  The enormous city is dying, suffering rolling blackouts as it succumbs to the countless ages it has served as the sole refuge for its inhabitants.  Flesh eating robots, angry ghosts, werewolves, and other strange monsters regularly roam the halls and have long since beaten the human population into triviality.  The only hope Allin has left to cling to is his goal to the reach the roof of the city and see the sun for the first time.  The city seems to have other plans, ever leading him in circles, and always downward.  Before long, he finds himself caught up in a longstanding war between the werewolves and a race of humanoid cats.  On one side, the ghostly leader of the werewolves wants Allin for some secret, horrible scheme, while the cats want him as bait to put an end to the werewolves reign of terror.  Allin must decide whether to continue his life of solitude, or to confront his past and join with the cats to save what’s left of humanity.

The Only City Left is a unique dystopian tale with a rich setting and interesting characters.  The action at times is so frenetic that it left me breathless.  I loved following along with Allin as he explored the city and couldn’t wait to find out what horror awaited him around the next corner.  The city’s desolation serves as a brilliant contrast against the one ray of hope, the tiny sliver of civilization represented by the cats, that begins to change Allin’s point of view.  Thus, even though the subject matter is quite dark, the story doesn’t feel overly heavy or depressing.  Overall, the book is a great combination of adventure, science fiction, and fantasy.

Get it from Amazon

Book Review: The Altar Girl by Orest Stelmach

When Nadia’s godfather dies, she is convinced the police have got it all wrong.  There is no way the old man could have accidentally fallen down those stairs.  Unlike the police, Nadia knows her godfather was terrified of those stairs.  So much so that he would often wait until his next visitor arrived to send them down to the cellar in his stead.  Never one to shy away from confrontation, Nadia says as much to anyone who will listen.  Her questions attract the attention of the decidedly wrong sort of people, and she is soon caught up in a race to solve the mystery surrounding his death or risk becoming a victim herself.  Her investigations take her deep into her beloved godfather’s not so innocent past, and up against her own brother and mother.  Before long, Nadia doesn’t know if she really wants to understand what happened to her godfather, but she fears what will happen to her if she fails.

The Altar Girl is a fast paced mystery/thriller that kept me reading well past bedtime.  Nadia’s upbringing and her godfather’s past are heartbreaking and yet somehow also triumphant.  Nadia’s pursuers are ever at her heels, creating an urgency to the story that makes it almost impossible to put down.  The mystery of the godfather’s death has enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing almost right up to the end of the book.  Are the criminals chasing her responsible for the ‘accident’? Could Nadia’s brother really have been the culprit? Is Nadia only creating a fantasy to protect the image she has of a saintly godfather? And yet, at the end, it is apparent the answers were there all along, hidden amongst the complicated layers that made up her godfather’s complicated life.

Get The Altar Girl from Amazon

Vacations Family Style

As summer vacation draws closer, I’ve been thinking a lot about how different my vacation mentality has become since having a child.  I used to pride myself on traveling light and not over scheduling so that there would be plenty of room for spontaneity.  Trying new activities and foods always topped my list.  Unfortunately, this level of uncertainty does NOT agree with small children.  In this case familiar sights and foods may be the only thing between you and a hunger and fear fueled meltdown.  (I feel extremely annoyed that none of those parenting books warned me that about 75% of my happiness would forever be tied to my child’s) And no matter how great your packing skills, somehow this small person will double your previous luggage needs.

So, is it possible to find common ground? A way for the adults to visit new places and try new things without overwhelming the kids? A place for the kids to have that all important free play time without leaving the adults with nothing to do but sit on the sidelines? A place for all their stuff?

For us, part of the answer has been cruising.  Yes, I know, but please hear me out before rolling your eyes and hitting the back button.  Cruising today is not what it was back in the day.  Many cruise lines have realized how easy it would be to adjust their business to accommodate families and have done so with gusto.  The sports decks now include activities other than shuffle board: basketball, rock climbing, golf simulators, surf simulators, and splash pads.  There are age specific kids’ clubs where kids can play with other kids, do science experiments, make crafts, and attend special themed parties.  These clubs are kept separate from the rest of the ship for the kids’ safety, but parents are, of course, welcome to stop by to check on their children.  With the exception of the nursery (the age of what is considered kids club vs nursery varies by cruise line), these activities, like most cruise activities, are included in the price of your cruise.  Some of the lines that have their own private island also provide activities in a special area designed just for kids while the ship is in port.  While the kids are playing, there are plenty of things for the adults to try: the spa, the gym, shows, parties, and most lines have adult only sections, which, unlike what you may be imagining, are basically where they keep the nice furniture and the fancy pool and bar.  As I’m a nerd, I love these spots because I can catch up on my reading while sipping a fancy cocktail in the sun.

There are also many family activities, including games, arcades, crafts, family shows, and even movies under the stars.  Our last cruise took place during Halloween, and, in addition to a costume party, the crew threw a special candy scavenger hunt for the children.  Meal times are stress free as many cruises now include buffets, allowing children to pick and choose for themselves (the chicken nuggets) while the adults can sample cuisines from around the world.

Cruising also lets you visit several different places without having to schlep all your stuff from plane to hotel to hotel and back again.  You can leave your luggage at the drop off in port, and someone brings it aboard for you where you can unpack until the cruise is over (when someone will transport it off the ship for you as well).  If you don’t know anything about the ports of call, you can choose from the cruise line’s recommended excursions and know that, at the very least, any necessary equipment will be in good working order, and they’ll get you back to your ship in time for departure.

Perhaps best of all, you’re never too far from your room.  So, when the inevitable tantrum happens, you can ever so gracefully carry your anima…ahem…precious gumdrop down the stairs for some quiet time in your cabin.  At this point, I’ll point out that, if you can, the upgrade to an ocean view or even balcony cabin is worth it when traveling with younger children since you’ll definitely be spending more time there.

It takes a little bit of research to find the lines catering to families, but the results are totally worth the effort.  A good general rule is to book a cruise on the line’s newer ships as these were designed for the family demographic from the very beginning.  So far, our favorite line has been Royal Caribbean.  Our son loved the kid’s program, the ship was lively without feeling overcrowded, the food was great, and the price was extremely reasonable.  If you’re willing and able to splurge, however—and the sight of a certain mouse doesn’t send you into a seizure—Disney Cruise Line matches the parks’ reputation for high quality service and nonstop entertainment.

The Food 4 Kids Backpack Program

A few of you may have noticed my blog inactivity these past months.  I have, in fact, become immersed in a local project that has taken a little piece of my heart, and which I would like to share with you in this post.  It is a local, but not so little charity called the Food 4 Kids Backpack Program of North Florida, which, as you may have guessed by the name, is all about getting food directly to needy school children in our area.

The Food 4 Kids Backpack Program of North Florida started several years ago with, of all things,  a school pizza party.  An industrious woman named Jennifer Moore decided, with the school’s permission, to give her child a birthday treat by bringing pizza for the whole class.  As the pizza slices were handed out, she noticed a few children that seemed a little too excited about the process.  As she watched, they devoured the first pieces.  And their second.  And then the teacher quickly and quietly supplied them with another.  And another.

Something was obviously off.

During the cleanup, Jennifer discreetly remarked, “Gee, they sure are hungry today.”

“It’s Monday,” the teacher said by way of explanation.

Jennifer was horrified by the rest of the teacher’s news.  These children were completely dependent upon the school breakfast and lunch program for food.  Thus, on weekends, when there was no school, they had very little or, in some cases, nothing to eat.  By the time they returned to school on Monday they were, quite literally, starving.  They would spend that entire day obsessed with eating or saving food for either for themselves or their siblings.  The situation was so extreme that a few teachers kept emergency snacks to sneak to the children to help with concentration during class work.

The problem, however, is far more wide spread than just a few children in one classroom, or even that one school.  In 2013, the US census bureau estimated that 20 percent of US children live at or below the poverty line.  That’s about one in five children whose families struggle to keep food on the table.  In Alachua and Levy county, the area now served by the Food 4 Kids Backpack Program of North Florida, about 52 percent (more than half) of families with school age children qualify for the school assisted meal program.  In fact, the situation is so dire in 19 of  Alachua county’s schools that officials were swamped with incoming applications for the program.  The US Department of Agriculture subsequently awarded a grant that pays for all breakfasts and lunches at these schools to alleviate the problem.

Even with this assistance, some families still struggle to feed their children on weekends and during school holidays.  Thus, Jennifer decided to start up her own independent branch of a relatively new, nationally expanding program called the Food 4 Kids Backpack Program.  At first, she ran the program out of her house and hand delivered the children’s food to their houses so they had something to eat when not at school.  As more people became aware of the problem, the program quickly grew.  It now serves 22 schools and the incoming donations are sorted and distributed to school pantries from a Gainesville warehouse.  The number of students fluctuates, but, at the time I am writing this article, that amounts to around 450 meals provided every week.  On Fridays, the children pick up their food filled backpacks before they leave school and return them the following Monday.  Volunteers then restock the backpacks from the school pantry and have them ready to go for the next Friday.

Rather than requiring families to research the program and apply, school staff have been provided with a list of behaviors associated with extreme hunger.  When they see these behaviors, they refer the family to the program.  As the backpacks are kept within the school, the children can retrieve the food themselves, rather than relying on someone to take them to a pantry or store.  Though this does restrict the supply to nonperishable foods, it also ensures that the children receive items from all the major food groups (the volunteers fill the backpacks from a specific list that was developed with the assistance of a nutritional consultant).

Though most of the volunteers never have contact with the children, the program’s impact is apparent.  At the end of the school year, as volunteers clean out the backpacks for reuse, several hand drawn thank you notes and cards are found within the recesses.  Some are the creations of children so young they can barely scribble out the words (in crayon).

Proper nutrition is especially important for children’s growing bodies, and chronic hunger at these stages has been associated with lifelong health issues and increased hospitalization rates.  Therefore, intervention at this stage can have a huge impact for the duration of the children’s lives.  The hope, also, is to end the cycle of poverty by giving these children the ability to focus on their school work instead of where their next meals might come from.  If they can place more effort on their educations, they will be more likely to find better jobs as adults. 

If you would like to learn more about the program and how you can help, please check out the website or the Facebook page.

For more information on childhood hunger in the US, visit feedingamerica.org or nokidhungry.org. 

Book Review: Miramont’s Ghost by Elizabeth Hall

Miramont’s Ghost is loosely based upon the true events surrounding Miramont Castle, a palatial estate built in the late 1800’s by a french priest in Manitou Springs, Colorado.  The story begins several years earlier in France as young Adrienne begins having visions of the townsfolk’s secret lives.  The narrative follows Adrienne as she ages and her ability matures. The villagers begin to fear her knowledge and her witch-like power, causing a scandal for her well to do family.  Adrienne’s Aunt Marie insists time away is the necessary cure and whisks Adrienne off to America to Miramont Castle, Marie’s son’s new home.  Unbeknownst to Adrienne, Marie has more reason to fear her visions than anyone else and uses the trip to fake Adrienne’s death.  Kidnapped and forced into servitude, Adrienne’s only hope of survival is to find a way out before her shrewd aunt catches on to her plans.

 I adored the opening chapters of Miramont’s Ghost.  The language immediately pulled me into the story, and Adrienne’s visions were expertly told.  I felt that the novel dragged a bit toward the middle, however, as too much time was devoted to visions that were relevant to the psyche of the supporting characters but did not seem to move the plot forward.  The plot picks up again as Adrienne travels west with her aunt, but this is also where the novel gets dark. And then darker…and darker (I don’t want to reveal too much, but I’ll warn you there are a few detailed accounts of pedophilia and rape.)  In the end, I felt conflicted about this book.  It was beautifully crafted, and most of the time I found I couldn’t put it down.  It is a ghost story, and, therefore, one would not expect it to be cheerful, but I found the downward spiral of the end chapters to be a bit too dark for my taste.  So, whether I would recommend this book or not would be dependent upon your feelings toward extremely dark tales.