Showing posts with label Glitz and Glamour. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Glitz and Glamour. Show all posts

Friday, 27 May 2011

#Romantic Friday Writers - Third Challenge - Glitz and Glamour theme - my story, Satin Sheets.


Well blogger is playing up again so I know even if you are reading this you may not be able to comment. Let's hope blogger gets its act together soon! I've been reading your posts but only manage to get a couple of comments in a day before it crashes on me...I am posting my story while I can...

 Here is my third story for the Romantic Friday Writers challenge. Thank you to all the participants and all the readers. The standard has been high and we are really letting our imaginations run riot with the themes. So far we've had many 'Dire Moments', many sad stories for 'Lost', and this week, maybe there'll be some over-the-top glitz and glamour, or will these flash fiction writers tease us? I hope you will read and critique my story then read many others. Find them @ #RomanticFridayWriters on twitter, in your blogger roll or by clicking on the badge in my sidebare for the linky of participants...


SATIN SHEETS

Satin sheets to lie on


Satin pillows to cry on

Still I’m not happy can’t you see?


‘Turn that maudlin rubbish off!’

‘What’s wrong with country music?’

‘It shows too much about you, where you come from.’

‘That’s the meanest thing you’ve said to me for, like, ten whole minutes.’

‘Only ten? Well get over it. Enough of your teary eyes and dreamy looks. We’ve got a party to get to.’

‘I’m not going!’

‘You are. I brought you something to wear.’

‘Again?’

‘Well we can’t have anyone outshining you my dear. Lady Peekles will be there.’

‘And I care?’

‘Well, time you started to care about what I do. What keeps you in satin and diamonds.’

‘I don’t care about those things.’

‘Oh but you do. They suit you. You’re the perfect model for the fine things of life, little Glamourpuss.’

‘Is that the only reason you married me Antoine?’

‘And to save you from that long-haired, guitar-strumming cowboy.’

‘Randolph?’

‘You’re still pining for him. Ha! As if he could ever afford to deck you out in the best. You’d still be wearing your torn jeans and scuffed boots.’

‘What was wrong with them? I can remember you walking into the bar and heading straight for me, torn jeans and all. You couldn’t keep your hands off my torn jeans.’

‘And Rudolph didn’t like it, did he? Not one bit. But what could he do? He was too busy strutting his stuff. All that wailing country music. All those women falling at his feet. You stood out from the crowd.’

‘So did you with your business suit and polished shoes.’

‘You forgot the bow tie.’

Antoine reached into the pocket of his tux and drew out an exquisite red satin box tied with a white ribbon scrolled in gold with the Cartier logo.

‘Open it.’

Angelique reached for the box. It sprung open to reveal a gorgeous necklace of sparkling diamonds. The whole room took on a fairytale cast. She looked at Antoine and was stunned to see the adoration in his eyes. Did he really love her then? Was all his bluster just because he couldn’t convey his love except by offering her glitz and glamour?

A tear rolled down her cheek.

‘Don’t cry darling,’ he said tenderly.

‘Why? Or I’ll spoil my perfect make up? Offend Lady Peekles?’

He stepped close, lifted her blonde curls and gently hung the diamonds around her neck.

‘No, my love, you’ll terrify me that you’re really going to leave me, go back to that guitar-strumming poseur.’

‘Lead me to your Cadillac, Antoine. I’m not going anywhere but to this party.’
‘But I know how that song ends. You play it often enough.’

‘How’s it end?’

‘You want me to set you free.’

‘And walk away from all this?’ She swished her red satin skirt, reached for her white fake-fur stole and clattered across the room in her black satin party shoes. ‘Why would I want to be set free? To go and starve with Randolph?’

But Antoine had heard the catch in her voice.

She was leaving him…though he’d given her everything that money could buy.


I hope you liked my story. When I thought of the theme, 'Satin Sheets' by Dolly Parton got into my brain and wouldn't leave until I'd written a story. Those of you who know the song will get a few more of the innuendoes. I appreciate you reading and commenting.

And congratulations to J.L. Campbell who was honoured as our first Featured Writer for her 'Dire Moment' entry, and to Roland D Yeomans, who is the Featured Writer for the second theme, 'Lost.' You will see this badge on their blogs:

Wednesday, 25 May 2011

Missouri Misery. Second prize in the Lost on the Rock Short Story Competition. New competitions - prose and poetry...and more...

I offer my heartfelt sympathy to the people of Joplin, Missouri, who have lost loved ones, their homes and much of their town with that twister/tornado yesterday. What a shocker. We have watched amazed at the images over here in Oz. As a country well used to natural disasters, we feel your pain. Breaking news: now we see Oaklahoma and Kansas are threatened...

Thank you Alan Davidson from Conversations from Lands Edge and Laurita Miller from Calling Shotgun for hosting the Lost on the Rock short story competition. The winners were announced on Sunday on both Al's and Laurita's blogs and I was placed second. Today, if you want to see my interview, go to Laurita's blog, and to read my story go to Al's blog. I hope you will drop by when you have a moment. Starting yesterday, all four winners will have their stories/interviews posted daily. I've read the first-place winner here. You won't want to miss Angel Zapata's story. Flash fiction at its best!

I'd really love feedback on my story. This is the direct link. It is set in Paris and Baghdad and focuses on two women with very different, yet disturbingly similar stories.

Sylvia Ney from Writing in Wonderland has a 1,000 word short story competition just announced. You have until May 29 to come up with a story based on this photo:

Go to Sylvia's for more information.

Another contest, this time for poets. Narrative magazine is running a competition. If you haven't heard of Narrative, it's a very high-quality online writing mag, with published and previously unpublished writers submitting. There is a short story competition currently running, along with other challenges. You have to pay a small fee to enter, but for the Poetry Contest there is a $1,500 first prize. with a total of $3,300 in prizes. I don't write poetry, but if you do or know someone who does, go here for the guidelines.

The Romantic Friday Writers are growing steadily with a band of dedicated members and followers. As of Thursday this week, a linky will be available on the Romantic Friday Writers site to link directly to your story. So, member or no, you are invited to write 400 words or less on the current theme, Glitz and Glamour, and post your direct url on the linky here. You will find all the information you need re submitting, joining etc.

I need your help.There have been several blog posts recently about making your blog easier to load. I know I've been a bit top heavy with photos, links, gadgets etc. If you have any hints for myself or others to streamline their blogs, please leave a comment. Do you have any trouble loading/leaving comments on this blog? Apparently some do. Please tell me...