Chelsea was lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of the houseboat when she heard her brother whisper. “Can you get the lights for me? I forgot to change them like mom asked.” Chelsea sighed. Her brother was afraid of the dark and out in the middle of the Caspian Sea this late at night, … Continue reading Light on the Water →

“C’mon. You know you want to.” Eric grinned at his older sister with a hint of sibling malice. Heather sat at her desk and struggled to finish her math homework. A tendril of electricity extended from Eric’s forefinger, knocking the pen out of her fingers. He’d been teasing her all night. Heather tried to ignore … Continue reading The Spirit Candle →

  The parts for the windmill had been scavenged from cities that had been abandoned after the first nuclear attack. A few of us were lucky to survive. We were on subways, protected in shelters or the basements of our homes. The blast wiped out millions leaving the rest of us wondering who had it … Continue reading Building a Windmill →

You would think that two weeks would not be enough time to plan and hold a wedding, but with a little ingenuity and a lot of cooperation, it can happen. My daughter started dating Alex about six months ago. From the very beginning, I was impressed by his manners, his kindness and the way he … Continue reading How to Orchestrate a Wedding (In Two Weeks or Less) →

I opened the car door and he climbed in. “Where are you going?” I asked. “Santa Fe.” “You from there?” He looked over at me, his face morphed into red flesh crossed by black tire treads. He smiled a toothless grin, eyes bulbous and staring. “When I was alive.” The story was written for the … Continue reading The Hitchhiker →

Wind swirled around the lake and snaked a cool finger inside the collar of Amy’s jacket. She shivered. Each year, it was harder to say goodbye to her summer home and face the long school year. She knew that school wasn’t bad, but she dreaded the press of other kids with their strange smells and … Continue reading On the Dock →

Writer's Workout is one of my favorite groups on the internet because they work hard to help advance a writer's growth. Within their Facebook group, they offer Motivational Monday, Tuesday Tips and Writing Prompt Wednesday. Overall, it is an upbeat, friendly place to share your thoughts and questions as a writer. Each year, Writer's Workout … Continue reading Writer’s Workout – The 500 →