R. I. P. XVII Readers Imbibing Peril
Peril of the listen! This morning I finished listening to Dante’s Inferno. I think Clive Barker was heavily influenced by this work while making Hellraiser.
Tourmaline .’s Halloween Challenge
Today’s prompt is “Bats.” I used the same fabric as I did last year, but I turned it into filters to vespertilian effect.
Writober Flash Fiction
Today’s visual prompt is a picture of “Duchesse,” a soft sculpture by Amanda Louise Spayd. I’m going to stick with my theme of happiness in grief and grief in happiness. I feel like it guided yesterday’s story well.
Here’s an excerpt from today’s story, The Strange and the Familiar
Her mother pushed the doll toward her, twisting it to make the bunny ears and arms move, but it stayed completely stiff, staring into Vespasiana.
Maria L. Berg #Writober7 Day 2
“Go on, honey. Take it. I know you’re missing Grandma. I bet that’s why she gave you this special friend. So you can talk to her about it,” Mom said.
“Grandma didn’t like dolls, or lacy things.”
“Sure she did. You just didn’t see them because she kept them packed away to keep them safe.”
“Mom, I don’t want it. It’s creepy. It stole Grandma’s teeth.”
Vespasiana’s mother turned the doll and her eyes grew wide as if looking at it for the first time. She shook her head and bit her lip. “Well, take it to your room. Your Grandma specifically said she wanted you to have it. It was in her will, so it must be worth something. Take good care of it.”
She shoved the bunny-eared thing into Vespasiana’s chest, so she instinctively hugged it, then went back to making dinner. When Vespasiana stood frozen, staring at her with a helpless look, she said, “Go on. Put it in your room, then hurry back for food. I’m making spaghetti just how you like it.”
Experience Writing 