Woohoo! It’s First Friday again—three little stories by three markedly different authors, all based on one photo. Take a look. You may find another author to love.
Photo by Edward Howell on Unsplash
WEST
Jogging through the park on her morning run, the young officer swiped at a trickle of sweat threatening her eye. The temperatures soared even as the big clock on the corner struck eight a.m. Splashing and giggles caught her attention, as she drew near a small pond, usually inhabited only by ducks. The sight slowed her steps and brought her to a complete stop. A smile teased up the corners of her mouth. An entire family danced in the water. They were fully clothed, but for their shoes which they’d left lining the edge of the pond. They must’ve been picking flowers, which was against the rules, because one of the shoes held gorgeous orange blossoms. Of course, playing in the pond was also against the rules. The family was having such fun, and it was so hot, she couldn’t blame them. She envied them their joy. Joy she had little of since the death of her partner.
WHITAKER
No one knew where the shoes came from, but they showed up
every year on the same day.
Everyone knew why, of course. The shoes belonged to the
victims.
Children filled the shoes with flowers, pennies, and pieces
of candy meant to calm the spirits for another year. And some years, it
worked.
But more often than not, on the fall harvest moon, the black
water and the demon within demanded more. Another soul to take down to
the shadowy depths. Always the shoes left as the reminder of the power
that lay beneath.
This year, the newly-elected modern council had a novel
plan. Everyone would walk the seawall. If they were all present,
they reasoned, the demon could not take them. They would be saved.
Mothers and babies, elders and youth, fathers and sons. All came. They walked in silence, holding hands, from dusk until morning light revealed the new day. And a seawall lined with shoes.
VIDLER
Colonel Greely arrived near dawn at the battery beside the
fast-flowing river. Jumpers always left their shoes for those in need. Five
pairs lined the wall—Ari’s entire family. Greely checked his watch; he’d
learned of their disappearance twelve hours too late. The ocean, only meters
away, devoured those who departed with the tide, their bodies never found.
He’d planned to arrest Ari and eliminate the man’s family
today. Flushed with anger, Greely cursed. Someone had warned them, allowing the
dissident to escape a slow, unpleasant end.
The flowers puzzled Greely. Who was left to mourn the man?
He dismissed the only one in sight, an old beggar rummaging through a trashcan.
As Greely bent to retrieve the delicate blossoms, he felt a rush of air.
Strong hands slammed into his back. Helpless, he tumbled
into icy water racing out to sea.
Ari signaled his family to retrieve their shoes.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Marsha Riegert West
At Amazon
The theme of Marsha’s seven books is always second chances.
She even has a four-part series titled The Second Chances Series, because she
believes in Happily Ever Afters. Her husband picked up a plaque for her on one
of their several trips to Maine that states her philosophy exactly. Everything
will be all right in the end. If it’s not all right, it’s not the end. The
Heroines and Heroes in her books are in their 40s and 50s with their parents
and children often playing supporting roles. Finding a new life while danger
threatens is challenging but makes the win all the more worthwhile.
You can find out more about her and her books, her blog and
her newsletter on her website https://authormarsharwest.wordpress.com
SECOND ACT, Book 1 The Second Chances Series. When a member of the board of a non-profit arts agency in Fort Worth turns up dead, the homicide detective Mike Riley assigned to the case looks at everyone involved in the organization, including Addison Greer the Executive Director. http://amzn.to/19TAB4B
LM Whitaker
 |
| At Amazon |
Linda M Whitaker is a retail data scientist, and a writer of science and technology thrillers. By day she plays with numbers, by night, with words.
Linda started writing around 2011 when she took her first mystery class with Ellen Hart, a prolific Minneapolis mystery author. Though Linda lived in Minnesota only a few years, she quickly learned the benefits of writing fiction as a means to hide from the long, dark, cold winters.
Fast forward a
decade, and the
many years of learning and perseverance have finally led to her
debut novel. The
Crucible of Steele is a fast-paced techno-thriller filled with unexpected
twists, ethical entanglements and provocative science. Buy here, or visit her website,
lmwhitaker.com, for more
details.
Today Linda
resides with her husband in the mountains of Western North Carolina. She loves running in the forest, gardening,
cooking, and playing with her dog and cat.
Ellis Vidler
 |
| At Amazon |
Ellis is filling in for the third author, who was unable to
participate due to illness. Ellis writes the stories she likes to read—action,
adventure, and heart. She falls in love with the characters, flawed but
striving to do the right thing, and hates leaving them when the book is
finished.
Her most recent novel is Prime Target: After witnessing her
husband’s murder, Madeleine Schier flees, relying on her wits to survive in world where death waits at every turn. “Heartwarming and yet suspenseful. Lots
of twists and turns. Couldn't put it down!”
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Please join us! Write your own take in 150 words and post it in a comment. We'd love to see it.
