Reigniting that Creative Spark

Recently, our neighborhood held an “art walk” where local artists and crafters could open up their homes, let people see their studios and maybe sell their work. It didn’t matter if the studio was an extra bedroom or a den, a converted garage or a tiny laundry room, wonderful work came out of them - jewelry, sea glass crafts, mosaics and art quilts, to name a few. But my favorite part of the experience was getting to chat with some of the artists and crafters.  

From the person who created fun and funky mosaic tables and tiles to the person who incorporated found objects, like ripped screen from a hurricane, into her work, the excitement and passion held by everyone was inspiring. Being around people like that never fails to reignite that spark in me. 

 

WRITING

A pretty decent draft of a longer short story is done and resting quietly. A couple of ideas are in the starting stages, which means lots of scribbled scraps of paper all over the house and messy thoughts typed up in a way that only makes sense to me.

 

Last month, I mentioned that my short story, Bad Candy, will be out in Inanimate Things Volume 2 on April 18th. The anthology is getting positive reviews over on Goodreads. 

READING

Lisa Genova’s More or Less Maddy is definitely one of my favorite books of 2025. The blurb says - “A breathless, riveting novel about a young woman diagnosed with bipolar disorder who rejects the stability and approval found in a traditionally “normal” life for a career in stand-up comedy.” I will absolutely attest to the breathless and riveting part of that statement! 

 

WATCHING

TV - We finished our re-watch of The West Wing. Once again, another show with some clunky seasons in the middle, but it finished pretty strong and we enjoyed it overall. We also re-watched the first season of The Night Agent, and it was just as good as we remembered. The second season? Not so much. I’m not sure what happened there.  

 

*****

What reignites that creative spark for you? Are there people in your life who are excited and passionate about something? Are YOU that person for others? What are you reading or watching lately? 

Bad Candy - Inanimate Things: Volume 2

Louise knew candy was bad for her. 

She just didn’t know how bad.

 

My short story, “Bad Candy” is included in the anthology, Inanimate Things: Volume 2 (Burial Books, April 2025.) This story is a bit of a departure for me in that it’s not flash or micro fiction but a full-blown short story at about 1,900 words. 

 

From the blurb – 

“Living Puppets, Animated Houses, Creepy Cars, Hard Candy, Stoned Scarecrows, Exterior Illumination, Cardboard Maniacs, and More Mannequins. These are a few of the things that will devour your soul and invade your dreams. Digest these tales and try to be kind to the things you see. Just because you don’t think they’re conscious, doesn’t mean they aren’t.

 

Stories by acclaimed horror authors Jason Fischer, John Gosham, Sandra Henriques, Patrick Herald, Michael Lawrence, Colin Adams-Toomey, Cory Brock, Madeline Mora-Summonte, Truman Ramsey, Mark Peters, Anne Wilkins, Carter Aldridge, Jimmy Pudge, Paul Lonardo, Ira Thackston II, Stuart Conover, Damon Nomad, Kay Hanifen, and Stephen Rhoades."

PRE-ORDER NOW ON AMAZON

Scheduled for release on April 18, 2025

What Worked, What Didn't, and Going Forward

Here we go again! Another year full of opportunities to grow, improve and learn, to be grateful, breathe, and laugh long and loud and often. 

 

WRITING

 

How do you know when that small thing will become the last thing, sending a person right over the edge . . . and taking you down with them?

 

Not Very Neighbourly, a drabble, is available to read in Dark Moments, the online publication of Black Hare Press. It’s also included in their anthology, Year Six, which includes all their online nano tales published in 2024.  

 

Another pleasant surprise at the end of 2024 was the acceptance of a short story to be published in an anthology in spring 2025. 

 

READING

 

I slightly exceeded my 2024 Goodreads goal = reading 54/52 books.  I’m keeping the same goal – 52 books - for 2025. It gives me both direction and wiggle room. 

 

*****

 

“One Word” - I always want this concept to work better for me than it does. I don’t know if I’m choosing the wrong word or if it’s the wrong time for that word or if I’m not keeping it in mind enough. But I don’t see the harm in trying again! 

 

So, for 2025, I’m going with the word QUIET. I chose it for a number of reasons, but the biggest one is because I have a lot of “noise” inside of me – anxieties, fears, scattered thoughts, the list goes on and on. I hope to use the word as a sort of mantra. 

 

“The 24 in 24 List” – I basically scrapped this a few months into last year. Another concept I like, but I don’t think it works for me at this point in my life. 

“The Write 24 in 24 Challenge” – This worked so well for me that I’m continuing it for myself! So, hello, Write 25 in 25! 

 

“Habit Tracking/Don’t Break the Chain” – This also worked really well for me, for both the writing challenge and for a handful of healthy habits I set for myself. I’m definitely going to keep this up!

 

*****

 

Do you have any goals or plans for 2025? Any advice, lessons, systems for achieving them?

Shallow Waters - Special Paperback Edition

I'm fortunate to have three stories published in several of Crystal Lake's Shallow Waters flash fiction anthologies. In honor of the Shallow Waters series coming to an end, Crystal Lake put together a special paperback edition containing about 100 stories from across the various volumes.

 

Two of my stories – Rattled (from Vol. 6) and The Perfect Match (from Vol. 7) – are included. 

 

An anthology like this, one you can thumb through, fold down corners, mark up, is an excellent way to find new-to-you authors, ones who will hopefully become favorites. It's also great if you prefer your creepy-crawly chills in small doses. When you've had your fill for that moment, just put the book back on the shelf, where it will sit . . . and wait . . . and watch . . .  

 

BUY ON AMAZON

From the back cover – 

"What you hold in your hands are not just stories. They are the nightmarish visions and eerie dreams of the most talented finalists in Crystal Lake’s Shallow Waters writing contest, hosted on their Patreon page.

Brace yourself to be unsettled, unnerved, and unequivocally captivated. Shallow Waters is not a book—it’s a portal to the twisted, terrifying, and tantalizing world of flash fiction horror."

Is That Progress I See?

Lately, progress is like some elusive legendary creature slinking around beneath the sea. I catch glimpses of it, only for it to then flick its tail at me before disappearing back into the deep. 

*****

WRITING

Published - My 400 word story, DEAD LINE, up at Dread Stone Press.

 

Novel/Novella - I had to rethink and redo so much of it these past couple of months. I really hope it will be worth it and a better story will result.

 

Two fun and inspirational posts for you:

"10 Things Lego Has Taught Me About Story-Building" by P.A. Cornell, over on the Writers Helping Writers blog 

 

"Are You Giving Yourself Writing Credit?" by Jessica Conoley, over at Jane Friedman's blog. 

*****

 

WATCHING

Movies - We really liked "Jerry and Marge Go Large" (Bryan Cranston, Annette Bening, and Rainn Wilson.) Sometimes, the dark corners of my mind need some light shone into them. 

 

TV – "The Night Agent" on Netflix was great! My husband said it reminded him of "24" (the original series), which is one of his all-time favorite shows. So enjoying "Not Dead Yet" with Gina Rodriguez – funny, quirky, heartwarming and heartbreaking, all in 30 minutes! 

 

*****

 

Have you seen progress – on anything! - lately? What keeps you going when the glimpses of it are few and far between? Have you watched anything you'd recommend?

Hello, July!

Whooosh! That's the sound of summer flying by. (And believe me, that's the fastest moving thing around here. If the tortoises and I had a race, I would not put money on me to win.) Still feeling behind and overwhelmed, but I'm working on having a more positive and grateful mindset overall and that's definitely helping. 

 

WRITING

My story, "Twisted," is out now in INFECTION: DRABBLES 1 (LEGENDS OF THE NIGHT). If you like your apocalyptic zombie fiction bite-sized (ha! get it?!), give it a try! 

 

** AVAILABLE ON AMAZON **

*****

 

READING

The First Day of Spring by Nancy Tucker is chilling, compelling and heartbreaking. The author does an amazing job of humanizing a horrifying character. With a few simple lines, she makes you re-examine everything you thought you knew, making you not necessarily forgive the character but feel for them. 

 

*****

 

WATCHING

Movies – We really liked "Awake" on Netflix. 

 

*****

 

WALKING

We participated in a virtual 5K that raised money for sea turtle conservation and research. During this sweat-soaked stroll, we saw so many turtles - crossing roads, sunning on banks, sticking their little heads out of lakes. They were totally cheering us on! 

 

Miles walked as of 6/30/2021 = 166.5/500 (Click here for what this craziness is all about.) 

 

*****

How's your summer going so far? Made progress on any projects? Have you read or watched anything you'd recommend?  

Rattled - Shallow Waters Vol. 6: A Flash Fiction Anthology

What happens when Rosemary finds an old abandoned car seat that might have more life in it yet? 

Find out . . . in my story "Rattled."

*** AVAILABLE ON AMAZON ***

From the publisher - 

Take a Deep Breath and Dive Beneath the Surface of Shallow Waters—Where Nothing Stays Buried.

With 20 Dark Fiction & Horror tales diving beneath the surface of life, death, and the mystery that lies beneath.

Piece Meal - Shallow Waters Vol. 3: A Flash Fiction Anthology

What happens when a gumball machine dispenses something far more sinister - and sweeter - than candy?

Find out . . . in my story "Piece Meal."

*** AVAILABLE ON AMAZON ***

From the Publisher - 

Shallow Waters—where nothing stays buried!

With twenty-one dark tales diving beneath the surface of life, death, and the pain between them.

Volume three includes horror, thrillers, suspense, and stories of hauntings, monsters, clowns, twisted love, and the beauty beneath it all.

Sight - 101 Fiction

Kooky Clara draws a map, even though she can't read it. 

Jenny can, even though she's about to wish she hadn't. 

** Check out Clara's map in my story, SIGHT, over in the March issue of 101 Fiction. **

From the Ground Up - The Sirens Call

I am thrilled to once again be included in the Women in Horror Month issue of The Sirens Call eZine.

"From the Ground Up" (p. 177) is short on words but long in the tooth.

In more ways than one.

READ THE ISSUE HERE!

Road Kill - HelloHorror

A son's rage.

A grandmother's love.

A monster.

A monstrous choice.

Road Kill, now in Issue 25 of HelloHorror.

Relentless Ruby, Find Me An Oasis - Nailpolish Stories

One haunted past

* plus *

One barren future 

* equals *

Two mini stories - Relentless Ruby and Find Me An Oasis, each exactly 25 words - published in the October 2018 issue of Nailpolish Stories.

Now that's my kind of math.

Bound - 101 Fiction

How do you tell a Werewolf (or other Were-Creature) story in exactly 100 words with a one word title?

Here's my way: Bound.

And if you're looking for other ways, check out 101 Fiction's September 2018 issue (Issue 20).

*****

Time for a blogging break! I'll still be around though, just popping in and out. A new post will be up on Monday, September 17th! 

Bite-Size Fiction for Your . . . um, Sweet Tooth

Halloween has come and gone, but it's never too late for a little creepy, a little crawly. Treat yourself to a couple of fun-size candy bars - don't pretend they're all gone! - and snack on these two new 100-word stories. You know, like before it gets really dark . . . .

*****

Hide-n-seek takes a turn for the worse in "Game" (101 Fiction, Issue 13) 

*****

In "Concealed," (p. 125, The Sirens Call, Issue 29) helping the neighbors has serious consequences. Download the entire issue FREE.

Undertow - 101 Fiction

For all those suffering winter woes and dreaming of warm, sandy shores - "Undertow" (101 Fiction, March 2015 Issue 7) will make you reconsider your next vacation destination. Remember, a beach can have a lot more than treasure buried beneath it . . . .

The Stakeout - Every Day Fiction

What do Valentine's Day, a "stalker" who leaves candy, and two older women with walkie-talkies have in common?

They all appear in my story, "The Stakeout," over at Every Day Fiction.

I really hope you enjoy it, and I wish you all a Valentine's Day full of love, laughs and friendship.

'Tis More Blessed Giveaway: WINNERS!

Last week, I participated in Milo James Fowler's 'Tis More Blessed Giveaway, where I raffled off two copies of my flash fiction collection, The People We Used to Be.

The tortoises were in charge of picking the winners. Here's what happened….

As you can see, Larry went at this with the same gusto he has when attacking a basil plant. Mrs. Larry? Not so much.

Once Larry picked a name, we moved him away so Mrs. L could pick a winner. But apparently, she had no desire to be involved in something as pedestrian as a raffle and thus, she turned her nose up at the whole affair.

So, we let Larry pick the second winner, since he obviously has no qualms about participating in games of chance.

And the winners are - 

JULIE

and

MICHELLE

If you send your email addresses to Madeline Mora-Summonte (at) hotmail (dot) com, I'll get The People We Used to Be out to you ASAP. I hope you enjoy reading it!

'Tis More Blessed - GIVEAWAY!

It's time again for Milo James Fowler's 'Tis More Blessed Giveaway, where every Friday in December literary giveaways abound! 

Click here for the list and links of all the authors
participating TODAY = DECEMBER 20, 2013

I'm really excited to offer up two Kindle copies of my flash fiction collection, The People We Used to Be. 

How to Enter: Leave a comment. (That's it. We've all got enough to do, especially around the holidays. At least one thing should be simple, right?)

All the names will go into the tortoises' food dish and they'll each choose a winner. They've been training hard for this moment - chomping on their greens to keep their strength up, napping to conserve energy, and soaking in the "spa," also known as the water dish, to keep their muscles loose. And they insist there will be no shenanigans, like rubbing basil on any of the paper slips to influence their choices. They run a tight terrarium. 

Deadline: Saturday, December 21st at 5 pm EST. I'll announce the winner here on the blog some time next week. 

Good luck!

Maybe Someday - Every Day Fiction

Halloween brings out the monsters and zombies and creepy crawlies, and yes, I'm scared of all of them. (My Halloween costume should be a chicken suit.)

But one non-Halloween related thing that frightens me is the thought of making the wrong decision. I have to remind myself that I do not make my decisions lightly, that I take many things into consideration, that I am doing the best I can at the time and that's all I can do. Still, it's scary.  

So, on this day before Halloween, I give you a horror story of a different kind - Maybe Someday at Every Day Fiction. I hope you enjoy it.

Motivational Monday: An Ebook Release!

We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming - Motivational Mondays - for...well, for me actually practicing what I preach....

Here it is: the release of my first ever ebook. This collection has been a long time coming, mostly because I've been too anxious to take the plunge. But I did it. Finally. So please, use me and my ebook as an example, a motivator, to go ahead and take that chance, that next step, that plunge. Take something you're passionate about and do something creative and wonderful and fulfilling with it.

I just want to say thank you to my wonderful, supportive husband who is truly my best friend, and to all of you who read my stories and are moved by them - whether to tears or to terror. Thank you!

*****

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The stories in this flash fiction collection are like day trips - brief, illuminating journeys - across the landscape of the human condition. 

An old woman, with the help of a neighbor and a terrified dog, challenges a young punk disturbing the peace. 

A middle-aged woman confronts a former lover as he holds her at gunpoint. 

A boy learns the meaning of true friendship as a baseball game takes a terrifying turn. 

A runaway searches for her own face among a wall of Missing posters. 

Some of the characters find the strength to move forward while others struggle to just move on. Old. Young. Grieving. Lost. Alone. Smart. Funny. Tough. They are us. 

This collection of 17 stories contains both new and previously published work. It includes "Hungry," winner of the Writer Advice 6th Flash Prose Contest and "A Quarter for Your Thoughts," winner in the Published Flash Fiction category of the Florida Writers Association's Royal Palm Literary Awards, 2008.

HOW TO BUY:

Available exclusively through Amazon

[If you don't have a Kindle or a Kindle App, click here for PC, here for Mac.]