Extract from an exclusive interview with Genghis Khan (re-visited)

This piece was submitted to the D'Verse Prosery Possibilities page, with the condition that the following quote in full had to be included in a 144 word story. “I prefer keeping in mind even the possibility that existence has its own reason for being.” Wisława Szymborska, “Possibilities” “Just one last question, Mr. Khan. We’ve covered …

Spring sprung

This piece was written for the Carrot Ranch's double ennead challenge. Obviously this relates to winter in the northen parts of the northern hemisphere. Sol sat solo, silent, in his melting cell, hatching his plan to flee his hibernation, bring Winter’s reign down and turn freeze into free. Summer would soon follow, (he would scorch …

‘Currying Disflavour’ is a winner

I crave your indulgence in a little immodesty. I am delighted to report that I have just been advised that this story has won the Longer Flash Fiction section (up to 500 words) of the The Andrew Siderius Memorial Writing Contest, run by Friday Flash Fiction in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Judges' comments included: 'We especially …

Bach to the future

The boy stayed in the shadows as he peered into the window, noting the half-empty whisky bottle and the last century headphones and the old man’s arms waving, and the wooden spoon in hand and the closed eyes and the knitted brow. On the side table sat an ashtray full of forbidden butts, an empty …

Know thy SELF

This piece was written for the March 2021 Blog Battle prompt of 'remnant'. From the depths of despair following his umpteenth electronic rejection slip for his thirteenth novel plumbing the depths of universal wisdom, Fraser began to map out his plan to make J. K. Rowling, Agatha Christie and Harold Robins and the like look …

The Theory of Irrelativity

This piece is a response to the Six Sentence challenge for this week, with the prompt of 'theory'. Einstein may well have cracked the code for the way that physical phenomena interact in both special and general ways and led to a new understanding of gravity, despite doubters who discounted his theories on the basis …

Blood lines

This piece was written for D'Verse's challenge this week to demonstrate turns in poetry – where a poem shifts gear or opens a window. At her birth she staggered on unfamiliar legs while her mother licked her clean and tried not to stand on her in forgetfulness or fatigue. Soon she stood alone, with a coat that …

The mother of deserved sorrows

This is my response to the D'Verse poetry challenge around paradox. I am the mother of deserved sorrows I am the ender of the grief. I am violator of the rapists I am the robber of the thief. I am killer of the killers, I am the harbinger of fate. I am the slayer of …

Thou Shalt Not

1700 words It was a fact that Phil had organised for Matthew to die. Phil took full responsibility but there would be no trial. He could have confessed but he chose not to. On principle. When the Reverend Matthew Patterson and his wife, Penny, moved in next door they seemed a pleasant enough couple to …

Finn McCool, the first Gaelic vegan

This piece was written for the D'Verse Prosery Challenge, with the prompt to write a story that includes: ‘I went out to the hazel wood, Because a fire was in my head’. I went out to the hazel wood because a fire was in my head. I sat at the feet of Finneces, who awaited …