In this short story, a woman looks forward to the rest of her life. I awakened very slowly that spring morning, aware of a strange feeling of disorientation. Had my alarm clock malfunctioned? As I glanced at its face, registering the time at seven o’clock, I momentarily panicked. Normally, I would have been up an hour-and-a-half before, halfway to work by this time, refreshed by my shower and fortified by my two cups of coffee. I would have quickly perused the headlines in the morning paper... Read Full Story
FOR READERS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR A FREEBIE...HERE'S A CONTEST FOR ONE AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY NOVEL "AN ACCIDENTAL LIFE," OVER ON MY "NING" SITE. CHECK HERE FOR THE RULES FOR THIS CONTEST ENDING SEPTEMBER 10: A RAINY, SNOWY DAY I ALSO HAVE ANOTHER CONTEST GOING AT ONE OF MY BLOGS, ALSO ENDING SEPTEMBER 10. THAT ONE'S FOR A COPY OF "EMBRACE THE WHIRLWIND." EMBRACE THE WHIRLWIND WITH LAUREL-RAIN SNOW FOR MORE ABOUT MY CREATIONS: LAUREL-RAIN SNOW'S CREATIONS Top Stories Read Full Story
By the time they began reviewing their book choice, thoroughly ensconced in the family room, Carly was feeling no pain. In fact, she was wondering why she hadn't noticed before how wonderfully calming lots of drinks could be in social situations. At one point, though, as if from outside her body, she heard her laughter sounding a bit too jovial, maybe even raucous. Or perhaps it was David's glance in her direction one time too often that tipped her off. She set down the wine glass abruptly... Read Full Story
On a beautiful warm spring day in the Central Valley of California (April 19, 2009), authors converged on the small town of Hanford to celebrate their love of books and writing. Authors spoke briefly, spotlighting their own creations, including how and why they wrote their books. I was one of those authors and especially enjoyed the opportunity to commiserate with other writers – in person, for a change! – and to gather resources, while enjoying the whole networking experience. Of course... Read Full Story
As the holidays approach, we tend to hustle and bustle, hurrying about as if we're in some kind of time crunch -- which we often are. Deadlines, lists, budgetary woes...All hover over us, obliterating the true blessings and spirit of the holiday season. Walking through a mall on Saturday, after a special Post-Thanksgiving feast with family -- some of whom I see less often than I would like -- I was reminded to enjoy the little pleasurable moments when I came upon this charming sleigh. The... Read Full Story
In an excerpt from the short story "Family Values," a download that you can purchase for .49, we view a family gathered for a traditional holiday dinner...but this family is not an ordinary family. They huddle around the table like so many crows perched on a fence, all in their own little worlds. At the head of the table and assuming his rightful role as patriarch, Father dictates the flow of the platters, gesticulating and grunting, but otherwise ignoring the assembled family members. To... Read Full Story
In this excerpt, we get a peek inside the lives of social workers, stressed out and longing for respite. Hours later she had finally reached her little bungalow near the north end of town, just blocks west of the central mall, and gratefully unlocked her front door. Inside, she had sunk down onto the sofa, where she still reclined. Sliding now into a semi-sitting position, Joyce moved very slowly into the kitchen, feeling every imaginable ache in every muscle in her body; she desultorily... Read Full Story
In this excerpt from "An Accidental Life," the character Melody's deepest secret has come to light. And now she must tell her lover all about it. As the shadows lengthened, hinting of twilight, Melody still sat in the chair by the window, the half-empty cup of tea before her. It had long ago gone cold. Her heart had turned into a stone, weighing heavily in her chest. Next door, Hugh had noticed when the social workers left and waited for Melody to appear. Hours later, he had neither seen nor... Read Full Story
When I sit in my home office, pounding away at my computer and hopefully bringing new creations to life, I often glance up and to my right...There I see this bulletin board, which is not the usual kind. This collage of memories is representative of many stages in my life. Near the top, you'll catch a glimpse of various business cards—one for each of my books. Photos of my kids and grandkids liberally dot the landscape of this collage, while postcards evoke moments when I traveled...there's... Read Full Story
Overhead, the blue sky hung, thick as a quilt; like tufts of cotton, the puffy white clouds dotted the sky on that hot summer day. In the air around me, the scent of fruit rotting in the nearby orchards assaulted my nostrils. I scrunched my nose up as a swarming fly zoomed in for a landing and I pushed down harder on the pedals of my bicycle, eager to reach my destination. It wasn’t every day that I got such an unexpected reprieve—an afternoon to hang out with my friend Casey Ayers—and I... Read Full Story
