Flash Fiction Fridays: Nancy Stohlman's "After the Rapture" Flash Novel ...

Friday the 24th at 3 PM Pacific Time my interview with Nancy Stohlman, author, performer, and professor premieres on Youtube. I will also publish to my podcast host service to push out to Spotify, iTunes, Google Podcasts, and more. The audio is already posted to my Patreon in a patron-only level to allow my Patreon Patrons a chance to hear it first.

In this interview, I chat with Nancy about her latest flash novel, "After the Rapture," writing, life, routines, and about being a professor, and the importance of college.

Nancy Stohlman is the author of six books including Going Short: An Invitation to Flash Fiction (2020), winner of the 2021 Reader Views Gold Award and re-released in 2022 as an audiobook. Her fiction includes After the Rapture (March 7, 2023), Madam Velvet’s Cabaret of Oddities (2018), The Vixen Scream and Other Bible Stories (2014), The Monster Opera (2013), and Searching for Suzi: a flash novel (2009). Nancy’s work has been anthologized widely, appeared in the Norton anthology New Micro: Exceptionally Short Fiction and The Best Small Fictions 2019, as well as adapted for stage and screen. She teaches at the University of Colorado Boulder, as well as around the world through online instruction and destination retreats. 

CONNECT WITH NANCY ONLINE 

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: NancyStohlman.com

FACEBOOK: /nancy.stohlman

YOUTUBE: /nancystohlman

TWITTER: @nancystohlman

FLASH FICTION RETREATS: flashfictionretreats.com

Double Play Flash Fiction Fridays Podcast Catch Up Day

Last Friday's Flash Fiction Fridays episode was a little slow in actually managing to get recorded and ready.

Flash Fiction Fridays #20: "I Hate Updates" and "Delusion"

The first is every college or university student's worst nightmare. The second was written for a Flash Fiction Month prompt that required an unfair rebirth or fate, and explores karma.

Audio Only Podcast: https://www.podcasts.com/mythical-minstrelsy-flash-fiction-fridays-and-ames-bookshelf-1a06920c4/episode/Flash-Fiction-Fridays-20-I-Hate-Updates-and-Delusion-62bf 

This Friday's episode has "Just a Little Something" and "Turnabout" as more comedic offerings. The first gives us a glimpse into the personal lives of Chinese deities and immortals, and what chaos/order they get up to, and was written for one of the Flash Fiction Month challenges. The second is a Coyote/Kokopelli tale Teresa Garcia wrote to fill her daily requirement and in honor of those two tricksters.

Flash Fiction Fridays #21: "Just a Little Something" and "Turnabout"

Audio Only Podcast: https://www.podcasts.com/mythical-minstrelsy-flash-fiction-fridays-and-ames-bookshelf-1a06920c4/episode/Flash-Fiction-Fridays-21-Just-a-Little-Something-and-Turnabout-b367

Remember, if you'd like your flash and short fictions, or poetry featured on the podcast I am paying $3US per piece used. Highly favored are pieces with fantasy, mythology, folklore, or legend aspects. Author retains copyright. Submissions to the podcast can be made to ladyrainstardragon@hotmail.com or thgstardragonpublishing@gmail.com. Please include in the subject line it's a podcast submission.

Please consider subscribing to the podcast at:

iTunes

Google Play


Spotify

Podcasts.com (full content)

SoundCloud (flash fictions only) currently is full and will not be updated until those episodes are moved to storage.

Flash Fiction Fridays #19: The Nest, Blind, and The Storage Unit Community

Audio podcast: http://www.podcasts.com/mythical-minstrelsy-flash-fiction-fridays-and-ames-bookshelf-1a06920c4/episode/Flash-Fiction-Fridays-19-The-Nest-Blind-and-The-Storage-Unit-Community-9a4f

This Friday's flash fictions are "The Nest," "Blind," and "The Storage Unit Community." These were all generated during July for Flash Fiction Month 2019 on Deviant art. You can read them in the links below or on my Patreon. Read here are the stories from the prompts meant for the first, second, and fourth days.

1: The Nest https://www.deviantart.com/amehanarainstardrago/art/FFM-July-1-2019-The-Nest-805486060
2 (3): Blind or Blindness https://www.deviantart.com/amehanarainstardrago/art/FFM-July-3-2019-Blindness-805550025
3 (4): The Storage Unit Community https://www.deviantart.com/amehanarainstardrago/art/FFM-July-4-2019-The-Storage-Unit-Community-805555439

Flash Fiction Fridays episodes 17 and 18

Much has happened that delayed the usual releases. After mama Cat's death I then experienced the death of a spirit/soul sister AND THEN the death of a beloved aunt. I intend to get one of the interviews recorded sometime tonight or tomorrow in preparation for Sunday.

Flash Fiction Fridays episode #17: Connection

Audio Only Podcast: http://www.podcasts.com/mythical-minstrelsy-flash-fiction-fridays-and-ames-bookshelf-1a06920c4/episode/Flash-Fiction-Fridays-17-Connection-by-Teresa-Garcia-18c2

Flash Fiction Fridays episode #18: Loyalty

Audio Only Podcast: http://www.podcasts.com/mythical-minstrelsy-flash-fiction-fridays-and-ames-bookshelf-1a06920c4/episode/Flash-Fiction-Fridays-18-Loyalty-and-poems-473c

If you'd like your short fiction featured, especially if it is myth or folklore related, please email me at ladyrainstardragon@hotmail.com or thgstardragonpublishing@gmail.com. I am also open to working your own recordings of your readings into the podcast should you choose.

FFF # 16: Devotion (and poetry)

Audio Podcast

Story Text

Flash Fiction Fridays #15: Awake (and poetry)

I recorded this before my voice went out. Hopefully I will have the text story for Flash Fiction Fridays ready by the end of the day. I've been sick the past few days. I thought it was allergies... It was not allergies...



There's an interview still for me to record, and I need to send out some more questionairres for others on my list. I'm attempting to get back into the swing of things after we had to put Mama Cat down.

Flash Fiction #14: Kagayaku's Decision (sword spirit fiction)

Podcast Audio: http://www.podcasts.com/mythical-minstrelsy-flash-fiction-fridays-and-ames-bookshelf-1a06920c4/episode/Flash-Fiction-Fridays-14-Kagayakus-Decision-sword-spirit-story-8781


Kagayaku’s Decision

The fire guard kept watch, but mortal eyes saw none of the minor kami gathered in the room with their soldiers, nor the influence of the major kami, butsu, and bosatsu the forces regularly prayed to. The incense kept time with a steady creep and rising wisp.

She watched him sleep, just as every other sword in the room watched his or her own master sleep. The males as usual outnumbered the women. It did not matter though. Swords were not normally capable of reproducing on their own, nor at all. The humans truly did not reproduce on their own either, just as they did help was required although of a different type.

He was childless and wifeless, unlike most of those sleeping men sprawled orderly around them. Breaths and heartbeats were for the lord of the clan and for their families. His beat only for his master, half hollow instead of the full ones of the others. The murmurs had already started several years ago, after she had been awarded him, as to if there would be anyone to inherit her. More bothersome though was how colder and more distant he became with each passing year. Soon he would not be the young man she had known with such promise.

She sat straighter where she knelt in seiza beside the head of her warrior and her physical body. Her job was to protect him. Thinking of what he could become made her heart hurt. They had faced too many of those together. He could not become one of the hollow ones who only fought for rice and who tasted so bitter on her sharp tongue. Kagayaku steeled herself, her lips pressing together. The other sword spirits of the room turned their eyes to her, sensing the change in the flow of ki.

“After this coming battle I have work that must be done. Who may I ask to instruct me in what men seek of their women?” Her own eyes turned determinedly toward several belonging to those most known to visit the geisha of the floating world, locking with them. Among there kind none bowed to the others, save to he that dwelled in the shrine of the Sun’s Child and still sang of the taste of Orochi’s blood and the vanquishing thereof.

Each reddened, their lips played several emotions.

“Why, Kagayaku? Do you intend to bear him a son to in turn carry you for our lord yourself? That may be easier than hunting him a wife. Do you not know the sort that he himself looks toward?” Jari, sword of the youngest out of the targeted quintet chuckled.

“He looks to none so, I have indeed watched. He does not even look to other men so. If I can find him one, so be it. If I must show myself to him, so be it.” Kagayaku smoothed imaginary wrinkles in her lap, her displeasure giving a cold ring to her song.

“I do not think you can be demure enough, younger sister.” At length Mashite, he that was quickest to smooth words sighed. “The women my master sees all act subservient and haughty at once. And far more flirtatious. It would be a shame to model yourself after such peacock, or to find him such. No, he needs someone that will tend him as loyally as you do, that will not flinch to treat him should his armor fail.”

His armor’s spirit scowled and made a rude gesture beneath where crossed arms hid his fingers. “I only move as swift as he, no swifter.” His eyes slid over Kagayaku and he scowled more.

“She must be willing to put up with long nights of loneliness, and drunkenness.” Other swords began voicing their opinions and advice, not all of it delicate and often far coarser.

A few hours before dawn all had decided to try to find someone and to let the others know, then to somehow arrange introductions. They quieted as the ningen began to stir and go about their preparations. Today there would be either death, or life, for each of them. Perhaps some of their own also would be sent to the shadow lands to walk the wind scoured and mist shrouded beaches, or to the lands over which Lady Izanami now ruled, unable to send the dead back home since her once-husband’s betrayal of her modesty and mysteries.

Her ningen’s fingers caressed her hilt, and she drew a deep breath. Kagayaku’s bearer would not be one of the fallen, if she had her way. Beneath his touch she sang.


Bosatsu = Bodhisattva, a buddha who waits for all to Awaken before leaving The Wheel

Butsu = A buddha that has gone on but turns to give deliverance and guidance to show the Way.

Jari = grit

Kagayaku = luminous

Ki = energy. Known as chi in China

Kami = spirit, deity, god/dess

Mashite = not to mention, let alone

Ningen = human

This was intended to be a short story, but may unfurl into a novella through later flashes to the characters. It is born out of a long ago talk that planted the seed for a samurai that unknowing and reluctantly falls in love with his sword. It also somewhat draws on the reluctant king story seed although the ningen will never rise to king nor emperor.


Full Podcast content
www.FlashFictionFridays.com

Podcasts.com: http://www.podcasts.com/mythical-minstrelsy-flash-fiction-fridays-and-ames-bookshelf-1a06920c4

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mythical-minstrelsy-and-flash-fiction-fridays/id1461538463

Google Play: https://playmusic.app.goo.gl/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https://play.google.com/music/m/Iregmi7sag7o3fg6p3e32k5ghwq?t%3DMythical_Minstrelsy_and_Flash_Fiction_Fridays%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1vLsYYcHOkDdasTFvqe9Ph


Flash Fiction Only Pods

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/teresa-garcia-34

Financial assistance

Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/Amehana

Ko-fi: http://www.ko-fi.com/amehana

Paypal: http://paypal.me/thgstardragon


Other places and ways to support

Want to visit me, see some of my other works, or support me? Find me at:

THG StarDragon Publishing, Mythical Minstrelsy & Arashiryuu Productions Discord: https://discord.gg/hvswe2A

DeviantArt: http://amehanarainstardrago.deviantart.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Teresa-Garcia/e/B009Q938VE

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/TeresaGarcia

Storenvy: http://thgstardragon.storenvy.com/ Check now and then for new things, some I can't list just yet.

Publishing Website: http://www.thgstardragon.com

Publishing Blog: http://www.thgstardragonpublishingblog.com

Commissions Info: https://www.deviantart.com/amehanarainstardrago/journal/Commissioning-Information-566657935

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/Amehana

Livejournal: http://rainstardragon.livejournal.com

Dreamwidth: http://rainstardragon.dreamwidth.org

Flash Fiction Fridays #13: The Story of Flame and The Shrine of the Gatekeeper

This Friday the flash fictions presented are once again set within what is now the Dreaming Twilight universe.

"The Story of Flame" is an older flash fiction that Lacy/Aria wrote before I discovered and became involved in Nisa. Here we learn about the moment Flame passed from a Nisean Guardian and Ascended to one of the Spirits of the Land.

"The Shrine of the Gatekeeper" by Teresa Garcia (myself) tells of the moment that Raikou first entered into Nisa after making the long passage through the mists and moutains (the Dreaming Twilight) that sealed the version of her land the known Raikou hails from.

You can help support the parcels of the lands including the current iteration of Nisa maintained by Dreaming Twilight in Ontario (as we slowly purchase the sim in bits and spurts) by visiting our locations inworld. If you open up about land and see it is a parcel owned by Dreaming Twilight than that is part of our collective. If you visit inworld you can send Linden dollars to Java Charisma which will go toward paying tier. Or, you can donate toward the tier so we can continue unfolding the varous lands and storylines by sending tips over Paypal to java.charisma@gmail.com.

Full Podcast content
www.FlashFictionFridays.com
Podcasts.com: http://www.podcasts.com/mythical-minstrelsy-flash-fiction-fridays-and-ames-bookshelf-1a06920c4
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mythical-minstrelsy-and-flash-fiction-fridays/id1461538463
Google Play: https://playmusic.app.goo.gl/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https://play.google.com/music/m/Iregmi7sag7o3fg6p3e32k5ghwq?t%3DMythical_Minstrelsy_and_Flash_Fiction_Fridays%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1vLsYYcHOkDdasTFvqe9Ph

Flash Fiction Only Pods
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/teresa-garcia-34


Financial assistance
Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/Amehana
Ko-fi: http://www.ko-fi.com/amehana
Paypal: http://paypal.me/thgstardragon

Other places and ways to support
Want to visit me, see some of my other works, or support me? Find me at:
THG StarDragon Publishing, Mythical Minstrelsy & Arashiryuu Productions Discord: https://discord.gg/hvswe2A 
DeviantArt: http://amehanarainstardrago.deviantart.com 
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Teresa-Garcia/e/B009Q938VE 
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/TeresaGarcia 
Storenvy: http://thgstardragon.storenvy.com/   Check now and then for new things, some I can't list just yet.
Publishing Website: http://www.thgstardragon.com
Publishing Blog: http://www.thgstardragonpublishingblog.com 
Commissions Info: https://www.deviantart.com/amehanarainstardrago/journal/Commissioning-Information-566657935
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/Amehana
Livejournal: http://rainstardragon.livejournal.com 
Dreamwidth: http://rainstardragon.dreamwidth.org

Flash Fiction Fridays #12: Parting, This is Nisa (Latest Revision), and The Seer

Video link: https://youtu.be/i5nrAlS3zZU


Audio podcast: http://www.podcasts.com/mythical-minstrelsy-flash-fiction-fridays-and-ames-bookshelf-1a06920c4/episode/Flash-Fiction-Fridays-12-Parting-This-is-Nisa-latest-revision-and-The-Seer-89d9


Thanks go to Oscelot Haalan for getting the audio podcast to behave and upload.


#Singularity #AlternateWorlds #Dimensionality

This Friday I present three flash fictions. Two of them are by a guest, one Aria Wolfram or Lacy Musketeer. The third is my own.

Parting by Aria Wolfram: Nisean lore has always hinged around what disaster befell the original inhabitants of the country in the universe I first entered Nisa from, and long been tied into alternate realities and timelines. In this tale we learn one version of how Ar'ia first enters one of several concurrent versions of Nisa wherein anthro versions of Raikou and Horin rule Ibexia (and adopt her in adulthood) and what that entry looked like from the point of view of her father when she enters the singularity. Or perhaps it could be said the spirits of those who would take physical incarnation to later be the duo. There are alternate theories one could spin from this as well.

This is Nisa by Aria Wolfram: I also recommend listening to the original version of the tale as recorded for the MLP world version that she wrote, as recorded by Illya Leonov. She agreed to let me record and share her tale providing that I utilize the version for the currently enacted timeline wherein the denizens tend toward anthro and less toward the MLP based version Nisa was originally held to based on the universe rp was at the time done within (back when it interacted with Roanoak before the Changeling massacre and later the Canterlot bombing when that timeline was communally abandoned and "stored").

For posterity, Illya Leonov's recording of the first version: http://www.soundcloud.com/illya-leonov

You can visit Nisa and Ibexia as well as several other parcels owned and maintained by the Dreaming Twilight in the Second Life sim of Ontario.

The Seer by Teresa Garcia: A Seer of indeterminate age attempts to share what is most dear and wondrous with you. But what is your reaction to her world?

Financial assistance

Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/Amehana

Ko-fi: http://www.ko-fi.com/amehana

Paypal: http://paypal.me/thgstardragon

Other places and ways to support

Want to visit me, see some of my other works, or support me? Find me at:

THG StarDragon Publishing, Mythical Minstrelsy & Arashiryuu Productions Discord: https://discord.gg/hvswe2A

DeviantArt: http://amehanarainstardrago.deviantart.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Teresa-Garcia/e/B009Q938VE

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/TeresaGarcia

Storenvy: http://thgstardragon.storenvy.com Check now and then for new things, some I can't list just yet.

Publishing Website: http://www.thgstardragon.com

Publishing Blog: http://www.thgstardragonpublishingblog.com

Commissions Info: https://www.deviantart.com/amehanarainstardrago/journal/Commissioning-Information-566657935

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/Amehana

Livejournal: http://rainstardragon.livejournal.com

Dreamwidth: http://rainstardragon.dreamwidth.org

Flash Fiction Fridays #11: The Sock Drawer

You can also listen for when it uploads to the Podcast at www.flashfictionfridays.com. Sadly, that I cannot automate because of the host.

The Sock Drawer

By Teresa Garcia

Source: Patreon

The warm night always came to an end. Day by day the drawer would be pulled out with a deafening rumble. Every day they would loose at least one pair and sometimes more to the giant. Sometimes a fresh pack would be nestled in among them, the babies too young to be released into their cottony swarm. When and if the giant returned any of those it took they always returned worn and battle scarred, smelling of bleach with tales of horror. Not every pair returned whole.

Marriage, though the usual social arrangement in their colony, was not permanent. Nor was it forever. Mates wore out, gaining gaping holes from too tight shoes, unshorn nails, and the teeth of dogs and cats. This did not even scratch the surface of the threat of drowning and dashing to pieces in the washer. Dissolving happened all to often to those they knew, as did washing over the side of the tub into the unknown depths below where the screams of the damned still sounded.

Collectively each pair and single shook themselves as the drawer once more slid out. Who would it be today to suffer abuse and possibly die? Everyone prepared to cling to everyone else, never giving up the hope of peace. An especially venerable pair was ripped from the mass to the pained gasps of the horde. Weakly they flopped goodbyes. The new patriarchs, a mated pair of threadbare right socks saluted their predecessors. No one hoped for their return. It would be a final walk somewhere, and either dissolving in the wash or a languishing fate in the Bin.

Stifled wails choked in flattened and rolled throats. Rustling came from the half open bag on the left hand side where the thicker ones tried to ask the elders for an explanation.

No one dared answer them. The drawer was still open and they must never let the giant hear them. Only bad things could happen, like the day it overheard the underwear jeering about getting fat. An entire drawer, wiped out in a matter of minutes!

Why was the drawer open so long?

A thin, sad plastic bag nestled down on top of the pile, full of new denizens of this layer of hades. The door finally slid shut and the socks all looked at each other in horror. Surely these new inmates, so thin and delicate, would only see a matter of days when it came to their use. But was that a blessing or a curse?

Full Podcast content Podcasts.com: http://www.podcasts.com/mythical-minstrelsy-flash-fiction-fridays-and-ames-bookshelf-1a06920c4 iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mythical-minstrelsy-and-flash-fiction-fridays/id1461538463 Google Play: https://playmusic.app.goo.gl/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https://play.google.com/music/m/Iregmi7sag7o3fg6p3e32k5ghwq?t%3DMythical_Minstrelsy_and_Flash_Fiction_Fridays%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16 Flash Fiction Only Pods Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/teresa-garcia-34 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1vLsYYcHOkDdasTFvqe9Ph Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/Amehana THG StarDragon Publishing, Mythical Minstrelsy & Arashiryuu Productions Discord: https://www.deviantart.com/users/outgoing?https://discord.gg/hvswe2A Ko-fi: http://www.ko-fi.com/amehana DeviantArt: http://amehanarainstardrago.deviantart.com Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Teresa-Garcia/e/B009Q938VE Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/TeresaGarcia Storenvy: http://thgstardragon.storenvy.com/ Check now and then for new things, some I can't list just yet. Paypal: http://paypal.me/thgstardragon Publishing Website: http://www.thgstardragon.com Publishing Blog: http://www.thgstardragonpublishingblog.com Commissions Info: https://www.deviantart.com/amehanarainstardrago/journal/Commissioning-Information-566657935 Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/Amehana Livejournal: http://rainstardragon.livejournal.com Dreamwidth: http://rainstardragon.dreamwidth.org

Flash Fiction Fridays #9: Playfulness (A Selkies' Skins short story reading)

What if a man that courts and marries a selkie never takes her skin away but instead lets her wear or leave it as she pleases? What happens if he decides the skin needs company as much as he does? What could go wrong... or right?



"Playfulness" by Teresa Garcia (myself) centers around what life at Seal Point is like for David Valnarius after he and Kirsty Makay graduate from school and begin their lives together. The story of how Kirsty gains her skin is being told by the "Selkies' Skins" series of books. Book two is currently an ongoing project.



A fan sent me a copy of a Ballad about the Mari Lwyd to read. I have not had the chance to sit down with it, but it is in my two read and to record list. As it is not my own writing I'll need time to write up at least some discussion points for it.



---



Want to visit me, see some of my other works, or support me? Find me at:

Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/Amehana

Ko-fi: http://www.ko-fi.com/amehana

DeviantArt: http://amehanarainstardrago.deviantart.com

Dreamwidth: http://rainstardragon.dreamwidth.org

Livejournal: http://rainstardragon.livejournal.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Teresa-Garcia/e/B009Q938VE

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/TeresaGarcia

Storenvy: http://thgstardragon.storenvy.com/ Check now and then for new things, some I can't list just yet.

Paypal: http://paypal.me/thgstardragon

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/TeresaGarcia

Publishing Website: http://www.thgstardragon.com

Commissions Info: https://www.deviantart.com/amehanarainstardrago/journal/Commissioning-Information-566657935

https://www.instagram.com/amehanaarashi/



Podcast

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mythical-minstrelsy-and-flash-fiction-fridays/id1461538463

Google Play: https://play.google.com/music/m/Iregmi7sag7o3fg6p3e32k5ghwq?t%3DMythical_Minstrelsy_and_Flash_Fiction_Fridays%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1vLsYYcHOkDdasTFvqe9Ph

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/teresa-garcia-34



Want to send me something to read on here or to review? Have a particular request?



Need to send something the old-fashioned way? Maybe you've got a hard copy of a book you want reviewed, or a copy of some of your own work for me to look over? Perhaps you have some of your work you'd like me to record?



THG StarDragon Publishing

Attn: Teresa Garcia

PO Box 249

McCloud, CA 96057

USA



Email necessary?  Send me a note at ladyrainstardragon@hotmail.com but bear in mind that I have been having problems with it eating things sometimes from even verified senders.

Flash Fiction Fridays #8: Playfulness (written) and Wikatcha (reading)

The below flash fiction is set in the Selkies’ Skins universe sometime after Kirsty and David have graduated, married, and started their life together. I have left it intentionally unclear as to exactly how long after graduation. It is long enough for a house in the once again village of Seal Point to be finished near the home Kirsty grew up in.

Playfulness

David rummaged in the impeccably clean pantry looking for his tinned fish. Kirsty was at the office doing whatever her father had called her in for. Her skin was another matter. She had left it to keep him company since she expected a boring day of paperwork and meetings. Said skin was very enthusiastic about staying home, causing mischief, and preventing him from being too sucked into his own pursuits.

Kirstyskin never liked hanging on a peg pretending to be a cloak, at least not since she’d gained enough strength to move around on her own. He may, or may not, have contributed to this. It was so hard not to spoil such a cute skin, especially when it so exuberantly communicated things Kirsty herself tried to be more adult and circumspect about. He still couldn’t understand why anyone in their right mind would hide a skin from the corresponding selkie, wife or not. Marsali’s husband had deprived himself and her of a great deal, in his opinion.

“Ork! Ork!” The skin attempted to whisper. The barking did not translate well into a whisper at all. She hauled up on her tail and clapped her flippers at him excitedly. Her front gaped open to reveal her smooth suede inside. Sparkling blue eyes glinted at him.

“I’m looking dear, I’m looking.” He sighed to himself. “I knew I shouldn’t have said the magic word…”

“Feesh! Feeeesh! Feeeeeeeesh?” The skin flopped down and rolled over and over around the kitchen behind him. How and what she filled herself with whenever she’d do this he had no clue. Kirstyskin did not exactly hold still long enough for him to ever satisfy his curiosity about that.

“Yes dear. I’m looking for our feesh.” David’s lips lifted in a smile that released his chuckle. “I will make sure you are fat and shiny when the rest of you comes home.”

“Feeeeeesh…” The rambunctious skin calmed herself and plopped a head on his foot, nibbling at his ankle through his socks.

“I’m not a fish, silly selkie skin.” His rummaging finally yielded fruit.

“Are. Wolffish.” She rumbled at him.

“Bad pun.” He grinned as he looked down at the very self satisfied smirk on the skin’s face. Kirstyskin blew an impish raspberry at him.

One can of little anchovies was still hidden. Unfortunately now she knew the hiding spot. It was just a matter of time before she’d sneak up there in the middle of the night with a chair. He’d have to consult Imp later for ideas on where he could hide Emergency Fish so he’d be more likely to have spares. David’s musing as he made his way to the corner he preferred to flop with her in was interrupted by a flying streak of white.

Said streak humped along the floor at top speed from the kitchen to the living room barking gleefully around her mouthful.

“I thought we were sharing!”

Laughter floated back to him and thumping started up the steps. His own laughter joined hers as he started running after her.




This story will be available to listen to next week on my Patreon, Youtube, and Soundcloud.
It was originally posted on my Patreon where it can be read for free there as well. https://www.patreon.com/posts/flash-fiction-26345888

Today's recorded flash fiction is the one posted last week. I read for you my retelling of the tale of Wikatcha.

Are you interested in having your work featured? Thinking about having your story read in the Youtube programs? Send a note. Guests are welcome.

Flash Friday, the tales of Kolowisi and Wakitcha

It is Flash Fiction Friday! Today's flash fiction more closely fits as a typical short story.

Today's flash fiction reading "Water Bride, or How Kolowisi gained his bride"

This was originally posted in writing on Teresa Garcia's Patreon and can also be found in her DeviantArt gallery. This and other tales and poems like it will be gathered into the fourth volume of the Mythical Minstrelsy anthology series. The end of volume four and beginning of volume five is in August.
You can read it free here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/longer-flash-25944807

This week's written flash fiction

For this Friday's written piece I have "Wikatcha," a fanciful retelling of legend surrounded a water dwelling cat from Creek mythology. It is told rather much differently than how they tell the legend as it is my own version.
You can read it free here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/flash-flood-of-26160423

Flash Fiction Friday: Boosting Oscelot's Flash Fiction

Oscelot Haalan is also still doing her own Flash Fiction Fridays push. The below is her posting.

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I thought today I would play with using an enby main character. I'm not sure if it worked considering I didn't give them a name at the beginning, so it sounds like a strange plurality, but it stands at least as an interesting experiment.-------
The world wheeled around them. Their hair blowing every way as the sidhe danced around them. The reel sped onward faster and faster, as they played furiously. Ephemeral bodies, keening their exhaustion, dropped one by one around them, then finally vanished, until there was only one left. As dawn threatened, the violinist and their violin persisted, playing steadily onward through the remaining night.
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Pronunciation note: sidhe is pronounced shthee, all one syllable.

You can find the original posting here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/25579193
Please consider following her on her Patreon at http://www.patreon.com/Oscelot 

Flash Fiction Fridays: "Trade" and "Fish Army"

Fish Army was last week's written flash fiction posted to my Patreon. You can listen to it being read here in this video.

This week's written flash fiction is "Trade" from within the world of Selkies' Skins in a different time and location. This flash fiction touches on the seal folk. Long ago a Patron and friend asked for a tale of selkies in a Native American milieu. This is a long awaited glimpse into the life of one of the seal folk somewhere on the Eastern coast of America.


Flash Fiction: Trade

Waves crashed against her rock, froth spraying up to dampen her. The sun was warm here, though the ever present sea breeze did what it could to take the warmth away. Beside her spread out her skin to bake to let the oils seep in to fur and flesh. Her dreams whispered. Eyes watched her from the shore before slipping tentatively into canoes. She smiled as she watched them and sang sweetly. So long as they minded themselves she did not mind calling forth the fish. She liked to watch them toss their nets and spears. Safety traded for food.

Flash Fiction Fridays! "Death of Pride"

Here is the reading of my first Flash Fiction Fridays installment. This is a challenge that I recommend for those that don't have much writing time or are dealing with writer's block.

You can listen to these on the Youtube channel. Or you can follow Teresa's Patreon to read them the week before.

Teresa's Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/Amehana

You can also read some other worthy flashfictions at Oscelot Haalan's Patreon.
Oscy's Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/Oscelot