In line with yesterday’s post, The Art of the Short Story, I’m sure this 40 second video would be considered #FlashFiction. And no, I did not do a word count. This is just a little ridiculousness. 😉
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Writing
Childish Thoughts (Friday’s free for All)
I sometimes imagine Jimmy as a child …
or Leia transforming and taking fight … 
what’s more, I wish it were all possible.
AND
I hope I never get too old for such childish thoughts. They are, after all, what dreams and stories are made of.
Cloud Wrangler was born of such childishness. 😉 
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Pondering and Painting
Painting is a lot like story telling. Some would say it is the same. I, personally see a few differences- but only a few. What I have learned is that with both you start out with an idea and an outline and then the darn thing takes on a life of it’s own.
And this too is true for both, some blossom and go forth to see the world while others (despite your vision) fail to bloom – these gather forgotten dust or must [sometimes begrudgingly] be destroyed.
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The New Editor
Sleep late on Sunday morning?
Ain’t gonna happen with mystical magical Merlin Samuel Salem Saberhagen in the house.
Get a little outlining done since you’re up?
Not with the new editor.
Look at this cat. Would ya look at him?! 😆
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Tuesdays Tell-All (Behind the Scenes)
It was a cat very similar in appearance to pretty Kitty Puddin’ Jam [aka Jammin’ Jim, One-Eyed Jimmy Jones, Jimmy Jam and plain Jimmy] who played the character Strudel in the short A Hard Candy Christmas. The story is beautifully narrated by Julia Gayden Nelson.
Dolly Pardon’s song Hard Candy Christmas played in the background, fueling my imagination as I pecked out the words to the story.
Strudel was actually a stray feral cat who sought refuge with me through one rare snowy winter. Jimmy insists he could play the part and probably win a prestigious theater award. He would also totally love to hang out with Dolly.
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Friday’s Free-for-All (A Quick Snippet)
Click the cover and get a copy.
From his seat in the rear he could see the entire café and a portion of the adjoining store, the same store he was determined to visit and purchase a decent bill of groceries before the day was up.
** Liam studied the room; watched as men felt blindly for cups and sopped dry biscuits in air while soaking up the news of investors going broke. All eyes were on Wall Street but truth be told, the market crash paled in comparison to the Navarro county drought.
**He watched as a billion dust particles danced overhead, swaying recklessly in rays of smoke stained sunshine until the weight of grease and nicotine and worry forced them to settle. The grimy mist settled on everything – on everyone. It covered every field cap and fedora. Without prejudice it landed on burnt necks and white collars alike and no one, other than Liam appeared to notice. He listened to the moans and grunts that followed each turning page. Some lingered on the specifics, others on the gruesome photographs but at the end of breakfast they all shrugged their shoulders and went back to waiting.
Excerpt provided byBooks2Read & Janna Hill
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The Long, long Night
The Winter solstice and the longest night has now past. The occasion brings to mind one of my favorite poems:
The Long, long Night
He would sculpt and I would write
to get us through this thing called life and
what seemed to be an aimless plight
The long, long night
I used pen and he used clay
to cope with all the pain filled days
which lived within our slow decay of
The long, long night
But in between the words and mud
we found the art of making love
and pacified the angst and blood of
The long, long night
Forsaken pages ripped and torn,
spattered earth across the floor,
graphite tales of love and war and
The long, long night
Come into my bed sweet angry lover,
your tender calloused hands beneath the cover.
Find the place where none has been,
beneath the ink and turning pin,
get us through yet once again
The long, long night
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Alzheimer’s is a Cruel Stealthy Cat
November is (among many other things) National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month.
Go Purple with a Purpose
Alzheimer’s is a cruel stealthy cat that lurks in the shadows. It leisurely pulls its prey into the darkness, steals their reasoning, their memories and eventually their life. The only kindness this disease provides is a cocoon that leaves the victim in a state of oblivion. However it shows no compassion to loved ones and caregivers left to witness the slow death and decay.
Let’s not give up on finding a cure.
If you know someone touched by Alzheimer’s take a moment to make a difference no matter how small. A hug, a helping hand or just acknowledging a caregiver’s struggle can mean so much.
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Hello November
Welcome to the first day November.
Let the hair growing and writing begin.
Oh, and all the other awareness’s that live in November.
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Once Upon a Dead Gull (TBT)
Throw back Thursday.
Rated G for gross
The gruesome photograph that inspired the title [and the book cover] for Once Upon a Dead Gull.  That was 3 1/2 years ago and [amazingly] this cover hasn’t changed.
A peculiar short story anthology, I admit, but it was written for the horror genre.
Even more peculiar is that none of these stories are about a dead gull.
The poor seagull’s parting gift to mankind…Â to me, was simply to inspire a title I had been struggling with.
The Real Janna Hill in 