Writing Wednesday ~ Walk The Night...

Hey all, here is a short for this wonderful 13th day of October. Enjoy!

All stories posted on this blog are ©Mel Chesley, 2021 and may not be copied elsewhere unless express written permission is given by Mel Chesley. Thank you. 

Times had been pretty rough, lately, even more so for people like Brielle. She stomped on another cockroach before heading out the door to meet with a few of her friends. She pulled the creaking door shut behind her and used several keys to lock it, then added her security for an added precaution.

"Sigiliu," she whispered towards the door, twisting her index and forefinger as if turning a lock. There was a soft click, and she looked over her shoulder to make sure no one else was around. She grabbed onto the thick straps of her shoulder bag and, head down, walked down the long hallway with flickering lights. At the end of the hall, she pushed open the door to the staircase and quickly went down.

Out on the street, she breathed a sigh of relief, having skipped by the manager of the motel again. Hopefully tonight, she could make some money and get her late rent paid. Very few people were out in the late hour, which is exactly how she liked it; no one to bother her. However, that also meant other types of people were out, ones who didn't want to deal with crowds of people, either.

She walked past several adult book stores and shops, a few boarded-up buildings, and came up to the bodega. She popped inside and grabbed a package of Twinkies and Monster. For the briefest of moments, she smirked at the irony of her drink choice. She put her items up on the counter and pulled out a few wadded-up bills. She tried her best to straighten them out before handing them over to Ramone, her favorite cashier.

"Hey, did you get a chance to, you know, get me that thing I asked for last week?" Ramone asked behind the bullet-proof glass cage. His voice was slightly distorted from the microphone.

"Oh, yeah, I got it right here. You have the cash?" she asked, glancing around.

Ramone put a small wad of bills down in the tray used to transfer money. He held onto the lever until she finished rummaging around in her bag. She pulled out two vials containing different colored liquids.

"What about that other thing?" he asked, frowning.

"Right, sorry," Brielle apologized. She unwrapped a small bundle showing a small square of silver with a perfectly etched rune in the center. "Make sure you wear this against your skin. It won't work if it isn't making contact with you. Got it?"

"Got it," Ramone said, pushing the cash to her. She dropped in his items and grabbed the money. "Thanks, chica!"

"You got it. I hope that helps Sylvia with her morning sickness." Brielle gave a quick wave, cracked open the Monster, and took a drink. With her other hand, she stuffed the money and Twinkies into her bag.

Back out on the street, Brielle glanced up and down, noticing a few of the girls were out at their usual places. She walked over to one of them with a quick wave.

"Hey, girl," the woman said. "Don't you be hanging out here too long, I got bills to pay."

"Don't worry, Kara, I won't be too long. Are you good with what I gave you?" Brielle kept her distance, trying not to look like she was hanging around.

"I'm good, but I will need more. I have a regular in a couple of nights, and that last hex you gave me was perfect. I'll get you some cash. Can I get two this time?"

"I'll see what I can do, I gotta go shopping for some ingredients and they're not cheap."

"I hear ya, girl. By the way, Tiffany could use one as well. I also told Beverly what you do. She'll hit you up in the next day or two."

"Thanks," Brielle said, finishing her drink. "I appreciate you helping me out."

"We have to stick together around here," Kara said. She gave Brielle a quick hug and shooed her on her way. "And stop drinking those things! They're bad for you."

Brielle chuckled as she made her way down the sidewalk. Might be a good night after all.

Upcoming: Ladies and Gentlemen of Horror 2017

Hey everyone!

So, this year, like every other year, will see a new Ladies and Gentlemen of Horror anthology. It will be available, as usual, on October 31, 2017. There is an absolutely great line-up of authors this year! And the cover? It is stunning!

All proceeds from purchases of this anthology will go to the American Cancer Society like it does every year. In past years, on average, the anthology has raised around $100. However, they're hoping that as the years go on, that number will continue to grow.

I have here, in my hot little hands, the covers for the Ladies, the Gentlemen, and of course, the Ladies and Gentlemen combined. So you get to choose which anthology you prefer.

I also have the line-up of authors! Ready? Here we go:

There we have it! So look for it Halloween 2017, you won't be sorry! Have a great rest of your week!

My Awesome, Talented Sister-In-Law...

Most of you know my sister-in-law, Cheri Chesley, is a writer as well. I love having a sounding board for stuff and she loves to bounce ideas off of me.

And, not that it's a competition or anything, but she does have a lot more out there than I do.

Darn it.

I'm kidding, I love that she has so much out there. I thought I would help her with a little promotional stuff and do a cover reveal for her Christmas short story that will be available on Friday. I'll reveal THAT cover at the end of this post. You'll have to get through some other links, first.

She has her Peasant Queen series going, which include:

The Peasant Queen:

"After running away from home, Krystal is transported to a faraway kingdom where an evil tyrant is bent on taking the crown - and Krystal's hand in marriage. But when she falls in love with the rightful heir to the throne, she must make an impossible choice: sacrifice her one chance at happiness or face the destruction of an entire kingdom."






The Wild Queen:

"In the exciting prequel to The Peasant Queen, Roweena is the crown princess of Norvallen, a tiny kingdom with only one thing of value—the Healer’s Grove. The trees in this small section of forest are enchanted, giving a sap that can be mixed into potions or salves to heal almost any wound.

And it’s in high demand.

Lucien, the young king of neighboring Demarde, comes to Roweena’s father seeking an alliance, but comes away with a marriage contract for young Roweena’s hand. Furious and stubborn, this untamed beauty vows he will never conquer her. But the contract purposely gives her time to come to terms with her fate.

Before Lucien can return, Roweena’s home is attacked and her parents are murdered. The Healer’s Grove is also attacked—burned to the ground. With nothing more than her horse and the clothes on her back, Roweena goes to the only person she knows can help her. Lucien."


The Tyrant King:

 "Krystal’s peaceful life as queen of Fayterra is shattered when a stranger arrives with a connection to Jareth that threatens to change everything. Soon her loved ones are threatened, her people are under attack, and Krystal must face a devastating loss.

As the future becomes bleaker and the mystery continues to unravel, Krystal’s enemies will learn just how far she will go to defend the people she loves."



She also has a short story called Ghost Bride:

 "Arianne died on her wedding night, but her ghost can't rest in peace."






 And now she has a new short story out called A Haunting Love:

 "When her fiancé, Drew, suggests having their wedding at his family home in the Highlands of Scotland, Alita only thinks about the beauty and romance awaiting her. She’s unprepared for the frosty greeting she and her sister receive from each member of his family, particularly his domineering mother.

But nothing shocks Alita more than the odd, menacing dreams she begins to have her first night at MacColum House. Over and over again she dreams of a grisly murder—with herself as the victim"

She has a children's book out as well, called Lizzie Lilac and the Left Socks, which the proceeds go to the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Utah:

"Little Lizzie treasures her socks, especially the ones her mommy made. When some of her socks start to go missing, Lizzie is determined to find the culprit and get her treasures back. Author’s note: A few years ago, K.C. Rose and I got some devastating news: a sweet friend and mother had an extremely aggressive form of breast cancer. Since I had just launched my first novel into the world, I decided to donate all my royalties for a period of months to the family to help them fight this horrible invader. But it wasn’t enough—we knew we could do more. That’s where the concept of the Lizzie Lilac book was born. This book is not only dedicated to our friend (who is now cancer free!!) and her family, but also to all the families who struggle with this disease. K.C. and I make no profit from sharing this story—everything we raise will go to the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Utah to help them help others. Thank you for being part of our fight. ~Cheri Chesley"

Okay, finally, the one you have been waiting for! This is the cover reveal for her latest short story, which will be available on Friday!

So, see? She's pretty awesome and talented, that sister-in-law of mine. Hmm... now I just need to catch up!

Hope you are all having a good week. What new books do you have out? Please drop a link in the comments!

Guest Post: Savannah Rayne ~ How Do You Measure Sucess?...

Hey everyone, I'd like you to give a big welcome to Savannah Rayne, author of 'Oh, Deer' and 'When It Leaves'.

Savannah Rayne:

I was once asked how I measured my successes. I guess I’ve never thought of things in that way. I mean, me successful…really? Then I gave it some thought…

So here it is, my story :)

In late 2010, I was offered the chance to work for Hellfire Publishing and in accepting that wonderful offer, I have come to wear quite a few hats. I am the Right Hand Demon (I love the sound of that so much better than being a plain old assistant, lol) to the Executive Editor and owner of HP. I also do some editing, but I am primarily the Senior Copy Editor. All of this keeps me busy and out of trouble!

Unlike most writers, I had never even thought about being a writer. Heck, it wasn’t even on my bucket list! But in January of 2011, an idea came to mind while talking with a friend, and we decided to see if we could turn those thoughts into a story. I co-authored a book and we submitted it for consideration to HP. I knew in my heart it was a really good story. I had never in all of my reading years, read anything like it. Hellfire Publishing agreed and we were offered a contract! I was super excited, and wanted to shout it from the roof tops, only to have that excitement end as quickly as it arrived. There was a conflict with the co-author and to make a devastating story short, the book was scrapped and never published. It also resulted in ending the friendship.

Hellfire Publishing told me that if I ever decided to write on my own, they would gladly give my work consideration. Again, my first thought was really? Not wanting to give up and to show that I did have the talent to be an author in my own right, I wrote my first story Oh, Deer. It was accepted and released in June, 2011. In November of 2011, my second eBook was published with Hellfire and is titled, When It Leaves. I guess some would say, I am now a success! I have several manuscripts in the works and all of these will be submitted to the place I will call home for all my writing—Hellfire Publishing.

I’m grateful that Hellfire Publishing encouraged me to write something on my own. I think the fact that they saw something in my writing skills and left the door open for me to walk through again if I so chose to, gave me the confidence, drive and desire to take the steps needed to reach the new personal goal I had set out to achieve. I was given a very, unexpected gift in finding out just how much I love and enjoy writing! I have always been an avid reader, but never did I think I could be a writer and tell stories that other people would enjoy reading. It goes to show life is full of surprises.

Had someone told me a few years ago that I would be a published author, I would have laughed. But having someone tell you that you’re good at something and sincerely mean it, followed with encouragement, can make all the difference in what you choose to do next. Try to remember that when you’re talking with people, friends or family. What you say and how you say it, may make a huge difference in the path of someone’s life.

I guess how one measures themselves as successful depends on the person. Up until now, I had thought I was successful at being a great Mom, raising two children that have grown up to be amazing, responsible adults. I’m also a great day care provider, as well as running a smooth, clean household. Now I’ve been blessed enough to add to that list, editor, copy editor, personal assistant and published author. I assume the list will keep growing…isn’t life wonderful?

Now, if I could only get over my fear of the dark and flying :)

Mel:

Thanks, Savannah! Now before you go, everyone, check the link below.

'When It Leaves' is currently free on Amazon.com for a limited time! You've seen my review. Don't just take my word for it, this is a must read! Go here to get your free copy! Who doesn't love free?

Book Review: When It Leaves by Savannah Rayne...

Title: When It Leaves

Author: Savannah Rayne

Publisher: Hellfire Publishing, Inc.

Pages: 32 (Print), File size: 60 kb

ASIN: B006CXG8ZU

Purchase: Amazon

Summary from Amazon:

Playing in the leaves is something all children do; twins Steven and K.C. are no different. One autumn evening, the five year olds ask to go out to play until dinner is ready. What happens that night will haunt Steven for the next twenty years
.
Now with a daughter of his own, Steven is left to struggle with the painful, guilt ridden choice of keeping his daughter safe or help the brother he lost, long ago, the one person Steven always thought he would do anything to have back.

This tale solidifies the old adage, “be careful what you wish for…”

My Thoughts:

Just a note, this is obviously a short story. Now that's out of the way, this was a good story! I'm a sucker for a good scare, and this was the perfect short story with the change in the air and knowing Halloween isn't far off.

The twin boys are typical. One is more dominant than the other and the taunting reminds me of my kids when they were that little. While not giving too much away, this story centers on something that takes one of the twins when they're five years old. Fast forward to twenty years later and you've got the remaining twin married, living in the same house and having nightmares every time the leaves begin to turn colors. He has a three year old daughter and when the anniversary of his twins' disappearance comes around, the dreams get worse. The elemental being (that's the only way I can describe what took the one twin) has become the twin and in order to free him, he demands that his brother sacrifice his own daughter.

On the creepy scale, this didn't give me nightmares or make me skirt blowing leaves, but in all fairness, it did creep me out. Like I said, it's an awesome story and one I would highly recommend now that Halloween is on the horizon. Strong writing, good flow, good characters developed quickly but not lingered on for a short story... I give it:

5 skull and crossbones.

Yay! I'm so happy to find good, well written books deserving of such reviews! Well done!

Guest Post: Kiera Kroft...

Thank you so much Mel for letting me talk about the most exciting thing in my life...my books.

A quick little bio about me :)

Keira Kroft carries a vet assistance degree. Her love for animals is as great as her love of people. She gives a percentage of her personal book sale profits to the animal welfare league. Residing in a quiet suburb in the outskirts Chicago with her husband and daughter she spends any spare time she has working with her cats Scamper and Sawyer, to achieve total world domination, one shared Twinkie at a time. Her passions include Reading, Writing, Football, Comic Books and nature.

Keira’s Books  

Coming Very, Very Soon.

Have it all, do it all, and be it all! Do it now. Pick up this book and change your life forever. From someone who has been from one end of the spectrum to the other.

Coming Soon

Synopsis for Death’s Reject.

Driven with fear for her husband’s life, Constance seeks the aid of federal protection for Mafia Don, Carlo Conti. When she realizes that the FBI has used her, setting a trap to turn her against her husband, it’s already too late.

Carlo Conti is faced with no other choices than to murder the love of his life or disappear. He packs up his family and flees to the beautiful country of New Zealand. After realizing that the “family” that he left behind in Chicago is being wiped out in brutal mob war, he has another tough choice to make…

If he stays, he may lose it all. But if he goes back, he will lose the only love he has ever known…his wife.

Coming ~ Late summer

Inamorata is the first Novel in the “One Bloody Night Series”.

They are supposed to be low key and get their nightly fix from a bag. But what if they could spend a cozy evening eating an old fashioned meal and then when they were done they would simply set the place on fire and walk away—no one would be the wiser?

That’s the plan when a group of rogue Vampires has poisoned the entire security staff at a Christmas Eve party at a mall in Chicago and proceed to take over for the evening and feast upon their own kind of tradition, four house keepers, a maintenance man, a girl who lives in the mall, a lonely late night worker and a couple who have escaped to the department store where she works so their spouses wouldn’t be privy to their affair and some other delightfully unexpected guests.

Everything goes exactly as they expected until the group leader Lucius Sturdevant, and second oldest Vampire to date, realizes that the woman that lives in the Comic book store that is trying to figure out how to kill him is the reincarnation of Laura, the love of his life, that died in his arms of old age, because he didn’t have the heart to turn her.

On Sale Now

Did somebody call a fireman? What about a rugged, yet gentle and very good looking fireman…anybody call one of those? His name is Jake Gilroy and he is about to change Corey Nolan’s life.

Synopsis

Determined to be out from under her mother’s ruling and away from a no-good soon-to-be ex-boyfriend, Corey Nolan exercises her independence. With a place to call her own and a job that doesn’t pay well but makes her happy, her life is full and her young daughter is content. There is no room for distractions, until she meets a local firefighter—who stirs an immediate forbidden attraction. In need of control, she tries to ignore Jake Gilroy, but circumstances bring her closer to him when someone is hell-bent on destroying her.

Dutiful playboy Jake is known as the smoking hot fireman. The first time he sets eyes on Corey, he knows he wants her. But when threats and strange occurrences start to happen, he finds the need to protect her and give more than he’s ever given any other woman.

Being together becomes more than they bargained for when their desire for each other becomes a matter of life and death….

Excerpt

She is a toddler, right? Like four or five years old? Her jaw dropped. A chill overwhelmed Corey, and she knew it didn’t have to do with the night air from the open bar door. “How do you know that? Have you been watching me?”

On Sale Now http://www.amazon.com/Glow-in-the-Dark-ebook/

Synopsis

Auntie Em has made a deal with the devil. She gave up her niece, Dorothy’s soul in exchange for a plentiful harvest. Em was smart and worked a clause into the contract. Satan could only have Dorothy’s soul in death, but she must also agree to meet the dark lord himself and shake his hand. Everything is going splendid until…

Dorothy unaware of her untimely demise or any satanic contract embarks on a journey through the Land of Oz, seeking the great Wizard in hopes that he will return her safely home. As she unwittingly marches through hell, she begins to notice that nothing and no one is what it seems and there is no turning back…

There is indeed a bad moon rising over Oz.

Excerpt

As Dorothy walked away, unbeknownst to her, the flowers turned to ash, and the munchkins had turned into little demons with ugly, red faces. The road behind her was now paved with broken bones and crushed human skulls. The sun had turned to black.

Buy it Now! http://www.amazon.com/Bad-Moon-Rising-Over-ebook/

Also Available

This thrilling assortment of carefully hand selected horror can only found together in this fine collection. Each story can be purchased separately at other outlets. This features Bad Moon Rising Over Oz and three other spine tingling stories.

On sale now http://www.amazon.com/Hot-Reads-Collection-Volume-ebook

Hugs,

Keira Kroft

www.keirakroft.blogspot.com

Revealed: What Am I...

Alright! You've had a day to post your comments to my little writing prompt from yesterday. If you didn't get a chance to read it, go ahead and do so now.

If you did read it and left a comment, I'm going to reveal to you what point of view I was writing from.

Ready?

Are you sure?

Okay, okay, I'll stop.

I was writing from the point of view of a glass sitting too close to the edge of a table. How's that for a writing prompt, eh? You guys were awesome with your guesses and practically spot on! Way to go!

Prompts are usually a good way for me to break out of a writing funk. I have a couple of short stories I wrote for the Writing Dot Com "Writer's Cramp" contest. You have to write 1,000 words in a day with the prompt they give you. I had one win and another got awesome reviews. They were so close in proximity of posting, I couldn't be greedy and win both, could I?

Would have been nice, but no. So I took the comments to heart. Lots of people wanted me to expand both stories. So I am working on that and perhaps I can place them all up for you to see. I've hit the 3,000 word mark out of 10,000 on my short, "The Wicked One" and will hopefully have that up soon as well.

Have a great day and see you all tomorrow!