I have been going back and forth on how I want to lay this out, I want to talk about T.V. Shows and Films, ones that I watch repeatedly and others that I wish I had never watched. My only sticking point on this is how many should I bring into this particular post. I don’t know, I think we’re in for a random rambling train of thought.
Let’s begin with T.V. Shows and Limited Series that I have watched multiple times:
A Touch of Frost (1992)
DI Jack Frost is an unconventional policeman with sympathy for the underdog and an instinct for moral justice. Sloppy, disorganized, and disrespectful, he attracts trouble like a magnet.
Inspector Morse (1987)
Chief Inspector Morse has an ear for Western classical music, a taste for beer, and a nose for crime. He and Detective Sergeant Robert Lewis solve intriguing cases in and around the Oxford area.
Inspector Lewis (2006)
DI Robert Lewis and DS James Hathaway solve the tough cases that the learned inhabitants of Oxford throw at them.
Endeavour (2012)
Before Inspector Morse, there was the rookie Constable Morse, fed up with police work and ready to nip his career in the bud by handing in his resignation.
Midsomer Murders (1997)
A veteran Detective Chief Inspector and his young Sergeant investigate murders around the regional community of Midsomer County.
A Fine Romance (1981)
British sitcom about the simple relationship between Mike (Michael Williams) and Laura (Dame Judi Dench), two fairly unlikely individuals who come together and form an unmarried union. Nearing forty, Laura appears perplexed most of the time. Mike sports a perpetual grin. They first meet during a party at the insistence of Laura’s younger sister, Helen (Susan Penhaligon), and Mike’s sweet, inept, and endearing character sparks something in the bossy, stubborn, big-softy Laura. They never quite hit it off, but there’s something there that keeps them together.
Fawlty Towers (1975)
Hotel owner Basil Fawlty’s incompetence, short fuse, and arrogance form a combination that ensures accidents and trouble are never far away.
Grantchester (2014)
A Cambridgeshire clergyman finds himself investigating a series of mysterious wrongdoings in his small village of Grantchester.
Vera (2011)
With her caustic wit and singular charm, DCI Vera Stanhope leads her team as they face a series of captivating murder mysteries set against the breathtaking Northumberland landscape.
Shetland (2013)
A local police team investigates crimes within the close knit island community of Shetland.
Poirot (1989)
Hercule Poirot, a famous Belgian detective, who has an impeccable knack for getting embroiled in a mystery, solves crimes along with Captain Hastings and Scotland Yard Chief Inspector James Japp.
Marple (2004)
An elderly spinster living in the village of St. Mary Mead helps her friends and relatives solve mysterious murders.
All of these series are bizarrely comfortable watches, not sure if it’s the overall tone being ‘cozy mysteries’ the the fact that the majority of them are not American shows. I have nothing against American produced shows, just not my cup of tea. I did recently watch the first seven seasons of Murder, She Wrote (1984) Professional writer and amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher uses her intellect, charm, and persistence to get to the bottom of every crime she encounters. -Now while nostalgic sorta it’s thin on having an overarching plot or charter growth and quickly becomes a platform for washed up soap operas starts to be weekly guest stars.
A couple honorable mentions:
Unforgotten (2015)
London detectives investigate crimes from the past, unraveling secrets left buried for years.
River (2015)
John River is a brilliant police inspector whose genius lies side-by-side with the fragility of his mind. He is a man haunted by the murder victims whose cases he must lay to rest.
Whitechapel (2009)
The streets of Whitechapel are awash with blood. A murderer stalks the night, picking off vulnerable women and leaving them brutally butchered. The locals live in fear and the police remain clueless, with no motive, no evidence and no hope of catching this barbaric killer. But this is not the 19th Century and the time of Jack the Ripper. This is now.
Now for some films:
CBGB (2013)
A look at the New York City punk-rock scene and the venerable nightclub, CBGB.
Love (2015)
Murphy is an American living in Paris who enters a highly sexually and emotionally charged relationship with Electra. Unaware of the effect it will have on their relationship, they invite their pretty neighbor into their bed.
The Other Side of the Wind (2018)
At a media-swamped party to celebrate his 70th birthday and screen his avant-garde film-in-progress, a legendary but jaded Hollywood director is faced both with voracious fans and unsettling questions about what became of his lead actor.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
An oddball journalist and his psychopathic lawyer travel to Las Vegas for a series of psychedelic escapades.
The Raven (2012)
When a madman begins committing horrific murders inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s works, a young Baltimore detective joins forces with Poe to stop him from making his stories a reality.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
A young F.B.I. cadet must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims.
Zodiac (2007)
Between 1968 and 1983, a San Francisco cartoonist becomes an amateur detective obsessed with tracking down the Zodiac Killer, an unidentified individual who terrorizes Northern California with a killing spree.
Brothers (2009)
While on tour in Afghanistan, Sam’s helicopter is shot down and he is presumed dead. Back home, it is his screw-up brother who looks after the family. Sam does return, but with a lot of excess baggage.
For a few that are good films but hit too hard or a particular scene has stuck with me, not in a good way. I’m the type of person that remembers most of what I read, hear and watch so many horror and thriller movies just aren’t easily forgotten. Can’t unsee or unread things.
In the Cut (2003)
New York City writing professor, Frannie Avery, has an affair with a police detective who is investigating the murder of a beautiful young woman in her neighborhood.
Event Horizon (1997)
A rescue crew is tasked with investigating the mysterious reappearance of a spaceship that had been lost for seven years.
Southpaw (2015)
After a fatal incident sends him on a rampant path of destruction, a champion boxer fights to get custody of his daughter and revive his professional career.
The Little Things (2021)
Kern County Deputy Sheriff Joe Deacon is sent to Los Angeles for what should have been a quick evidence-gathering assignment. Instead, he becomes embroiled in the search for a serial killer who is terrorizing the city.
I have so many more I could add to this entire post but trying to keep it somewhat simplified. Bonus points to anyone that can explain The Little Things film to me. There are many shows and films that are entertaining but very forgettable overall.
What I watch for entertainment is kinda all over the place as far as genre, tone and theme. I watch a lot of movies and t.v. series so let’s do a top five and an honorable mention for each so twelve total recommendations of what to watch. *Also all of these should be available on Amazon Prime Video.
In no particular order let’s start with t.v. shows or limited series:
The Devil’s Hour (2022)
A gripping six-part psychological thriller. Lucy wakes every night at exactly 3:33am. Nothing in her life has made sense for a long time. But the answers are out there, somewhere, at the end of a trail of brutal murders.
Reacher (2022)
When retired Military Police Officer Jack Reacher is arrested for a murder he did not commit, he finds himself in the middle of a deadly conspiracy full of dirty cops, shady businessmen and scheming politicians. With nothing but his wits, he must figure out what is happening in Margrave, Georgia. The first season of Reacher is based on the international bestseller, The Killing Floor by Lee Child.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017)
In 1958 New York, Midge Maisel’s life is on track– husband, kids, and elegant Yom Kippur dinners in their Upper West Side apartment. But when her life takes a surprise turn, she has to quickly decide what else she’s good at – and going from housewife to stand-up comic is a wild choice to everyone but her. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is written and directed by Amy Sherman-Palladino (Gilmore Girls).
Fleabag (2016)
Fleabag is a hilarious and poignant window into the mind of a dry-witted, sexual, angry, grief-riddled woman, as she hurls herself at modern living in London. Award-winning playwright Phoebe Waller-Bridge writes and stars as Fleabag, an unfiltered woman trying to heal, while rejecting anyone who tries to help her and keeping up her bravado all along.
Endeavour (2012)
Before Inspector Morse, there was the rookie Constable Morse, fed up with police work and ready to nip his career in the bud by handing in his resignation.
Honorable Mention:
Whitechapel (2009)
The streets of Whitechapel are awash with blood. A murderer stalks the night, picking off vulnerable women and leaving them brutally butchered. The locals live in fear and the police remain clueless, with no motive, no evidence and no hope of catching this barbaric killer. But this is not the 19th Century and the time of Jack the Ripper. This is now.
Films:
Used People (1993)
At her husband’s funeral, Pearl (Shirley MacLaine), Jewish mother of two divorced and antagonistic daughters, meets an old Italian friend (Marcello Mastroianni) of her husband, whose advice years previously had stopped the husband leaving home.
The Portable Door (2023)
Interns Paul and Sophie discover that their employers at a mysterious London firm are attempting to disrupt the world of magic with their unconventional business practices.
The Vast of Night (2020)
In the twilight of the 1950s, on one fateful night in New Mexico, a young switchboard operator Fay (Sierra McCormick) and charismatic radio DJ Everett (Jake Horowitz) discover a strange audio frequency that could change their small town and the future forever.
Wrath of Man (2021)
A mysterious new cash truck security guard surprises his coworkers during a heist in which he unexpectedly unleashes precision skills. The crew is left wondering who he is and where he came from. Soon, the marksman’s ultimate motive becomes clear.
Felony (2014)
Three detectives become embroiled in a tense struggle after a tragic accident leaves a child in critical condition.
Honorable Mention:
All of the Jesse Stone Movies (in order)
Jesse Stone: Stone Cold (2005)
Jesse Stone (Selleck) is a New England police chief investigating a series of murders, in an adaptation of Robert B. Parker’s novel.
Jesse Stone: Night Passage (2006)
Jesse Stone: Death In Paradise (2006)
Jesse Stone: Sea Change (2007)
Jesse Stone: Thin Ice (2009)
Jesse Stone: No Remorse (2010)
Jesse Stone: Innocence Lost (2011)
Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt (2012)
Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise (2015)
There we go I feel that this recommendation list hits a few comic, horror, sci-fi and crime feels.
Bonus Round Unhinged (in my opinion) Things I have watched lately:
21 Jump Street (1987)
Fresh-faced undercover cops head back to high school on the hunt for criminals in this riveting crime drama starring screen icon Johnny Depp.
Good Omens (2019)
The End of the World is coming, which means a fussy Angel and a loose-living Demon who’ve become overly fond of life on Earth are forced to form an unlikely alliance to stop Armageddon. But they have lost the Antichrist, an 11-year-old boy unaware he’s meant to bring upon the end of days, forcing them to embark on an adventure to find him and save the world before it’s too late.
Imperium (2016)
An FBI agent goes undercover to infiltrate a white supremacist group plotting to build a dirty bomb in this tense thriller.
Wind River (2017)
A chilling murder mystery set in the icy backwoods of a Native American Reservation, starring Elizabeth Olsen and Jeremy Renner.
Thanks for joining me on this trip down, ‘I watch way too much T.V.’ maybe you can find something new to you to watch.
“Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most INTENSE OBSESSIONS mercilessly.” – Franz Kafka
In publication date from the beginning, stats and my favorite scenes/pieces from my fiction, short story collections and flash fiction collections: ebooks/paperbacks. Grab a drink, make it a strong one, we’ll be here for a while.
Always Jane
Published February 2017
Copies 266
Jane got up in front of the funeral attendees and said her peace.
“I loved my mother. I sincerely hope that she is now at peace. Although, I did not like the kind of person she was. She lost out on knowing me as an adult, because she couldn’t let go of the past and move on to a better future. We need to cherish those we have lost in life, not get lost within our own lives without them. And to LeAnn, you win; you’re the daughter she deserved, obedient to the end,” Jane held up her drink, toasted and downed it.
After the Glory
Published April 2017
Copies 51
Buck
It was a slow Tuesday evening at Charlie’s when Buck struck up a conversation with Thomas and Sarah.
“You see that?” he pointed to a picture hanging behind the bar.
“Yep, who is it?” Thomas asked.
“That is Charlie, I bought the bar from him when he retired,”
Thomas looked at the black and white photo of a man, in his early 30’s, wearing a tee-shirt and jeans, standing in front of the bar.
“When Charlie was almost done with school, he met a dame, named Georgiana, everyone just called her George. She was tall, slender and liked to party. Charlie lost his mind over her, to the point that he even proposed, had a ring and everything,” Buck handed Thomas another beer.
“But, right before Charlie was going to graduate from college, his momma died. She had been sick for a while but didn’t tell anyone. So poor Charlie was devastated, his momma was the world to him. His pappa had passed away when he was just a boy, it had been just him and momma,” Buck took a long drink of his beer.
“That poor man,” Sarah said.
“It gets better, during the funeral, while they were lowering his dear momma into the ground, George decided that it was a good time to pick a fight with Charlie. I don’t know what she was all worked up over, but she made quite the scene. Topped off with taking off the engagement ring and throwing it into the hole with the coffin. Charlie was beside himself,”
“Well that’s quite the story,” Thomas said finishing off his beer.
“Charlie finished up school, took the little his momma had left and bought this place,” Buck said.
Grace’s Journey
Published April 2017
Copies 141
The bar was warm, crowded and loud. Grace made her way to the bar and ordered a beer, she figured she should start slow it would be a long night. She surveyed the crowd of cowboys, bikers, workers and couples all drinking, talking and getting along with each other. She ordered a barbecue bacon burger and fries, the smell from the kitchen was enough to make you drool.
She ate her meal and watched the guy playing pool. He was good, not as good as her but good. She finished off her second beer and ordered a shot of Jack. She downed it and headed over to the pool table.
Pieces Fall Together
Published November 2017
Copies 133
Sarah stepped out of the shower, dried off, and slipped on her robe. She stood in the doorway of her bedroom and took in the set up.
The tripod and camera were set up to the side of the bed. The white corded rope was tied around the footboard posts, and the silk scarf was tied to the headboard. The candles were lit, scattered around the room, the sheets were hung over the windows and along one wall. There was a silver tray with the strawberries, chocolate syrup, and whipped cream on the dresser.
“Ready,”
The Complete Collection
Published March 2018
Copies 267
“Can I get you a drink?”
Kent turned to see a friendly smile, she was cute, with short dark hair, deep green eyes, a toned petite body and nice perky breasts.
“Sure, I’ll have a shot of Jack,” Kent answered.
She returned with his shot and said.
“I am Jade, let me know if you need anything else,”
Kent smiled at her and watched her walk away, he took note of the tattoo showing on her lower back, just above her low cut jeans and below her midriff tee-shirt. Two roses with intertwining stems, highlighted with just a touch of red and green.
“Nice,” he thought to himself.
On her way back around the club Kent decided to strike up a conversation with her. He motioned to her.
“Need anything else?” Jade asked.
“What time do you get off?” Kent asked.
“I get off whenever I want, I clock out at 2 am,” she answered and gave him a devilish smile.
A Second Helping
Published May 2018
Copies 134
From the first time I saw her I knew I had to taste those soft, cherry lips. I watched as she slid the lip gloss wand over her lower lip, how it glistened in the summer sun. She rubbed her lips together, giving a kiss to the air. We were attending a summer session at the University. It was a hot, dry summer, and Debbie was fond of wearing white denim shorts with purple flowers printed on them. She wore them rolled up exposing her slender upper thigh, how I longed to touch her smooth, tanned skin. To run my fingers through her long wavy dirty blonde hair, that she kept pulled back in a loose braid. She gathered her things and headed towards class. I followed her, mesmerized by her swaying hips and the click clack of her sandals against the pavement. My obsession now had a purpose, to kiss Debbie Stevens before summer’s end.
No Rest For The Wicked
Published July 2018
Copies 170
Laura sat alone at a booth in Mac’s 24hr Diner nursing her ice tea and picking at her half eaten BLT. Distracted by what she was watching. Jim and his girlfriend Kate were finishing their meal a few tables down.
She watched as Jim helped Kate with her coat, how he smiled at her, how he touched the small of her back as they walked out.
Laura fought back tears, as she finished off her ice tea, threw a twenty on the table and followed them out into the night. She took a second to light a cigarette before walking behind them.
She stayed far enough back as to not be heard, but close enough to watch their interactions. They slowed up in front of an apartment building, Jim pulled Kate to him and kissed her. She gave him a hug, a peck on the cheek and headed up the stairs. Laura’s tears turned to rage, and jealousy.
Descending The Spiral Staircase
Published May 2019
Copies 64
James let himself into Stella’s, taking his jacket off and joining Stella and Holly in the kitchen.
“How are we all doing?” he asked, grabbing a cup of coffee.
“About as good as can be expected,” Stella answered.
“Holly, do you feel up to telling me what happened?” James asked, taking a seat across from them.
“Yeah, are you going to take notes?”
“Sure, just a sec,”
James went back into the sitting room, grabbing his notepad and ballpoint pen out of his jacket pocket.
“Ok, go ahead,” he said, sitting back down.
“I went to grab some food from Dentz’s Deli on 5th, I was gone for maybe twenty minutes,” Holly cleared her throat and took a sip of her coffee.
“What did you order?” James asked.
“Is that really important?”
“Not really, just curious,” James smiled at her.
“Pastrami on rye, with extra mustard, garlic dill pickle, with a bag of chips on the side and a tall iced tea with a wedge of lemon, satisfied,”
“Yeah, go on, please,”
Haunted Hydrangeas: An Experiment in Flash Fiction
Published October 2019
Copies 59
Larry fumbled the keys, dropping them to the floor.
“Why do we have to do this here?” Dave asked, shifting the two bags of take out in his arms.
“Because no one understands,” Larry answered as he bent down to pick up the keys. He slid the key into the lock.
‘Click’ he opened the door. The two men entered the small rundown apartment. Dave set the two bags of take out down on a small kitchen table that was just to the right of the door. Larry found the switch and flipped the light on. Something scurred across the floor and down the hall.
“Well that’s disturbing,” Dave said, taking a seat at the table.
“He doesn’t eat much,” Larry said, heading into the kitchen and opening the fridge. He pulled out two bottles of beer, grabbed a roll of paper towels off the counter and took a seat across from Dave.
“Ready?” Larry asked, handing Dave a beer.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Dave answered using the bottle opener on his keychain to pop the top off of his beer. Larry handed him his bottle and Dave popped the cap off and handed it back.
“Cheers,” Larry said, holding up his beer.
“Cheers,” Dave said, knocking his beer against Larry’s.
Larry started laying out containers of food, baby back ribs, Texas beef brisket, Georgia pork, baked beans and coleslaw. The last container was tall and round, it contained the sweetest, richest barbecue sauce this side of the Mississippi. Larry carefully removed the plastic lid from the styrofoam container and inhaled deeply.
“Mmmm…take a whiff,”
Dave leaned over the table and smelled the warm sweet sauce.
“Smells like my Aunt Dee’s kitchen back in Tulsa,”
Larry picked it up and poured it slowly over the baby back ribs, the Texas beef brisket and the Georgia pork.
“Plates?”
“We don’t need plates, just dig in,” Larry said, handing Dave a fork and a paper towel.
Dave stabbed his fork into the container of Texas beef brisket, and slid the dripping piece of meat into his mouth. It was tender, juicy and sweet.
Detective Stories
Published February 2020
Copies 98
Paperbacks 4
Detective James Andrews looked down at the slip of paper that he held in his hand. He took a drag of his cigarette and mumbled to himself.
Why am I out here
The wind screamed through the surrounding trees, causing a cascade of yellow and orange leaves. James glanced at the clock on the dash, 8:05 PM, he turned the key back and stepped out into the chilly air.
It had better not snow
He thought as he pulled his coat tight and flipped up his collar. He made his way to the tall rod iron gate and found that it was slightly ajar. Pushing the gate open just enough for him to enter the Stony Hill Cemetery, one of the oldest cemeteries in the area, the last of its residents were buried in the late seventies.
“Detective,” a male voice said from behind James.
James turned around and faced the stranger’s voice.
Down the Rabbit Hole: Another Experiment in Flash Fiction
Published October 2020
Copies 28
Martha stood at the arrival gate in the Kansas City International Airport, clutching John’s dark blue winter jacket to her chest. John had been deployed overseas, it had been the longest six months of Martha’s life. She watched, shivering in anticipation as the crowd of people exited the jetway, waiting to see his familiar face among the crowd. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw him, he immediately pulled her into his arms, the winter jacket being crushed between them. She never felt safer or more at peace.
Hat Trick: A Finale of Flash Fiction
Published June 2021
Copies 16
The wispy clouds danced in the bright blue sky as I strolled down the lane. I was lost in a daydream as I passed a peculiar sight. Now the lane splits and I take the footpath that follows along the river. Thinking to myself, I’ve seen many things in my day. There was a very confused man staring at a pineapple in the waiting room of Dr. Jane Kisers office. But this may take the cake. As I approach to pass the strangeness, I wonder how and why? We pass each other, I stare in disbelief at what my eyes are showing me. It looks at me, I look at it as our paths cross. It seems to nod in agreement. As I laid in bed staring at the popcorn ceiling, and smelling the lingering scent of pastrami from the deli restaurant downstairs. I wondered why, why was it blue? As I pour myself a cup of dark rich hot coffee, the next morning I am still wondering why. I drop two scoops of sugar and a splash of creamer into my ‘I hate mornings’ Garfield mug that Liz gave me for xmas a few years back. I sip my coffee and wonder… Why were the ducks feathers a dark shade of navy blue? And why was a banana being drug behind on a string? I take another sip of my seaming hot coffee, glance out the window and let out a quiet chortle. “How else is a blue duck supposed to take a banana for a walk?”
Random Words: A Collection of Flash Fiction
Published November 2021
Copies 16
Mr. Davis sat in the center of the downtown mall, playing Billy Joel’s Piano Man. Watching the people go about their day. As he played he took note of the pretty, cute redhead that works at the coffee shop. She would linger by the door watching him play. He caught her eye and motioned a come here finger towards her. She smiled, looked to see that no one was waiting for service, and hurried over. “Yes,” she said. Mr. Davis smiled at her. “Can you bring me a regular cup of coffee?”
Embracing the Chaos of Flash Fiction
Published July 2022
Copies 25
The moonlight dripped through the forest’s canopy illuminating the small clearing. Tall ancient oaks surrounded by lush green moss.
Muirne entered the clearing, the moonlight shimmering off her tall, slender frame. Highlighting her toned calves, abs, and shoulders. The moon elf druid being pulled to the clearing by a haunting voice.
Holding her oak staff and raising her hand towards the dark sky, the staff began to glow a rich dark green. The winds picked up creating a cyclone around Muirne. The vines crawled up her legs, slithering around her waist as she chanted.
“Teacht chugam Teacht chugam. Ciallmhar!”
All of a sudden the winds became still. A loud crack of thunder rang out in the clearing. A tall broad shouldered figure dressed in gold robes appeared next to her. A deep voice said. ” Why have you awoken me?”
“Wait a minute, Rob, can she do that? Doesn’t she need to roll first?” Chad asked. “Umm, I think it’s OK. Go on Carol, what happens next?” Rob said leaning in over the table. Carol grinned and cleared her throat. “I’ve woken you, because our world is in chaos. The dark one has set upon us.” Carol continued.
“See I told you she would make things more interesting.” Rob whispered to Chad as they listened to Carol. Chad nodded in agreement.
*Teacht chugam, Ciallmhar (Gaelic for Come to me, Wise one)*
An Experiment in Flash Fiction
Published July 2022
Copies 23
Paperbacks 3
Lottie pulled her rose colored coat snug, she slipped on her boots and ventured out into the weather. The gray sky hinted of oncoming snow, Lottie folded her arms around herself as the wind began to bellow around her. She made her way down to Main Street and entered a small grocery store. She made her selection and stood at the counter to make her purchase. Mrs. Williams looked at Lottie and then down at the item, then back at Lottie. “Yes, I know.” Lottie said, fishing out some coins from the pocket of her coat. Mrs. Williams let out a sigh and collected the coins in payment, and placed the item in a small bag. Lottie smiled, took the small bag and headed home. After slipping off her boots and hanging up her coat, Lottie made her way to the kitchen, got herself a spoon and continued into the living room. She made herself comfy on the couch and opened the small bag, taking out the pint of cherry cordial ice cream.
Lost Among the Hydrangeas
Published November 2022
Free Copies 13
The walking stick was Grandfathers. Standing four and a half feet tall, made of white beech, it leaned against the wall next to the door. Lined with ornate carvings, the walking stick was an extension of Grandfather’s personality.
Everyday he would lace up his boots, toss on his navy blue cloak, securing it at his neck with a wooden toggle button and taking his walking stick headed out to herd the goats. Nestled in the Swiss Alps, Grandfather would walk the fields of wildflowers surrounded by the crisp snow covered peaks.
Moving the goats from the lower fields to the upper fields and then back home. His daily trek started at sunrise and ended at sunset, every day up the hill around the lake and back down. Heidi stood next to the walking stick, she ran her fingertips gently along its smooth curves.
Grandfather had passed and now it was Heidi’s responsibility to lead the goats on their daily journey. Growing up with Grandfather she had accompanied him many times on his trek. She knew the route, how to call the goats that wandered away from the pack, how to keep them moving.
Her heart felt heavy, as she laced up her boots and tossed on her dark red cloak. She gripped the walking stick, taking a deep breath and letting out a sigh. Heidi opened the door and headed out into the crisp cool Autumn air. She made her way over to the goats pen and opened the gate, the goats took off running towards the open field.
She began her trek using the walking stick to help keep the goats in line and for balance as she reached the steep ridge of the hill. Heidi stood at the top of the hill looking out at the vast fields of wildflowers, a cold stiff breeze blew. Sending a cold sensation through her bones. It was at that point that she noticed that a stray goat had wandered into an adjoining field. As she headed down to gather up the goat she tripped over a jagged rock.
She tumbled down the hill landing on her back. Heidi laid among the soggy grass, gazing up at the sky that had begun its descent into twilight. This is the moment that Heidi made a decision that she had been putting off for some weeks now.
The neighboring farm that housed goats and other livestock had made her an offer for her herd. She now knew that this life of herding goats was not for her. Getting up to her feet and collecting the wandering goat she got the herd back to the house.
Now Grandfather’s walking stick lives in Heidi’s house placed against the wall next to the fireplace, where Heidi can admire it and remember her Grandfather.
Detective Stories -Scarlet
Published January 2023
Copies 24
Paperbacks 1
Knock, Knock. Knock, Knock, Knock.
“Sherry open the fuck’n door.” Brad shouted as he pounded on the door to apartment 4. The door flung open.
“You’ve got a lot of nerve coming back.” Sherry said standing in the doorway. Brad grunted and pushed his way past her into the apartment.
“What are you on about?” He asked as he opened the fridge, pulling out a soda popping the tab and downing it.
“Dude, you broke Tim’s nose.” Brad gave her a sideways glance.
“What?”
“What do you mean, ’what.’ You broke his fuck’n nose Brad.” Brad finished off the soda, tossed the can into the trash and made his way to the bedroom. He grabbed his duffle bag from the closet and started putting clothes in it.
“What are you doing?” Sherry asked as she watched him.
“Leaving. Tell your brother I’m sorry.”
Grace’s Story
Published April 2023
Copies 46
In a farmhouse surrounded by acres of sweet corn on a warm summer’s day in late June, Grace Ann Chapman came into this world screaming.
Local paper birth announcements:
The community of Ridgeville Nebraska would like to welcome Grace Ann born June 22nd, 1974 to William and Martha Chapman. Congratulations on your healthy baby girl.
Martha clipped out the announcement from the Daily Sun Newspaper and taped it into Grace’s baby book.
William Chapman worked the land that had been handed down to him from his father. It was hard daily grueling work to keep the corn crops healthy and on schedule for harvest. He took pride in what his family had established over the past three generations of Chapman’s and did his best to keep it going. With the birth of his first child, Grace Ann he knew that there would need to be more children, he loved and adored his daughter but knew that a son would be needed to keep the farm in the Chapman name.
Grace Ann was a sweet helpful child that was always full of questions. Always asking why this or why that. When her brother William Joseph was born five years later, Grace became a little quieter, but still helped Martha clean and cook, just not asking as many questions. Two years later Grace’s youngest brother was born, Jonathan Michael was a loud baby he cried and screamed about everything. Grace tried to be helpful, but Jonathan’s constant crying wore on her, she stopped asking questions all together.
“Hello?” Sarah answered the phone in that not quite awake voice.
“I know,” a woman’s voice states on the other end.
“You know what?” she croaked out while trying to sit up in bed.
“That you and David have been together, you homewrecking bitch,” the voice blurts out.
“Vanessa? Is that you, what are you talking about?”
Click, the line went dead.
“Fuck, that’s not good,” Sarah announced to the empty room. “I don’t know why he married her, she’s psycho,” she mumbled to herself.
She glanced at the illuminated clock radio, 3:56am.
She texted David:
So Vanessa just called me. WTF is going on.
Sarah laid back down, put her phone on silent and drifted off.
At 6am the alarm went off, playing some oldie but goodie song on KREX home of the golden oldies.
She smacked the snooze button, turned over and reached for her phone.
Two new texts: from David
Fuck, I came home from the opening I was covering for the paper, there was an empty bottle of wine along with the photo albums scattered on the table. Vanessa and I went round and round, apparently she hired a private investigator.
Second text: from David
Sorry, she threw me out, I am on your couch. Didn’t want to wake you.
“Ugh…” Sarah put the phone down, stretched, got up and went into the living room.
There on the couch was David fast asleep, she covered him with a blanket and went to take a shower.
She started the coffee, made scrambled eggs with cheese and toast.
“Morning,” a tired voice said from across the room.
She turned and smiled at him.
“Morning, there’s food,”
“You’re going to need your strength to explain to me what is going on,”
David put his arms around her, kissed her on the forehead and went into the bathroom.
They sat in silence eating their breakfast.
“So, care to fill me in?” she asked while clearing the table.
He took a very deep breath. She sat down across from him and took his hands in hers.
“Ok, about two months ago Vanessa caught me in a lie that I couldn’t talk my way out of. Shortly after that she hired a private investigator to follow me around. I guess she received his report yesterday,”
“Wait two months ago, that was the mayor’s dinner event we covered for the paper, what did she catch you on,”
“She had gotten sick and wanted me to come home, but I had turned off my phone, so she had to call her sister,”
“Why did you have your phone…oh yeah, nevermind,” She smiled at David.
“Well, fuck, now what?” she asked. David shrugged his shoulders.
“I don’t know, wasn’t expecting this,”
“Go home and talk to Vanessa, I want to know what that PI told her, maybe we can explain a misunderstanding to her,”
“Or I can just move in with you,” David said.
“Go find out what she knows first,”
He kissed her goodbye, “I’ll call you later,”
Sarah got dressed and went to work.
David and Sarah both work for the local newspaper, The Daily Star, your source for local news and events.
Sarah sat at her desk, thinking over what David had said. She pulled out ‘my daily planner’, pretty much her diary of who, when and where, and flipped back to two months ago.
Being a little OCD when it comes to tracking things and keeping records. Two months ago on a Saturday the mayor’s dinner in the hotel ballroom. Notes on good food, who was there, what the mayor covered in his speech.
“Fuck,” she mumbled under her breath, a little blue heart in the lower right corner.
A notation to herself. She thumbed through a few more weeks, three more little blue hearts.
Continued on in Pieces Fall Together -my attempt at a domestic suspense thriller.
Free Ebook through April 22nd also available on Kindle Unlimited:
“Welcome viewers, we will return you to your regular schedule programing shortly. But first do we have an offer for you.” Announcer Bob
“We do?” Askes Announcer Carl
“Why yes we do Carl. Carl do you enjoy reading, that new fashion fad the kids are calling ‘flash fiction’?
“Flash Fiction you say Bob, why yes I do.”
“Well then you’re in luck because we haveAn Experiment in Flash Fiction available as an ebook or in paperback.”
“Tell me more Bob.”
“Well OK Carl. Featuring 130 unique, original pieces of flash fiction, and over 28,000 words. With such titles as: Customer Service, Austin Nights and Treehouse, Crack-Pipe, David Bowie.”
“Bob how much for such a gem?”
“Well for our select audience this evening the ebook of An Experiment in Flash Fictionis free April 18th-22nd.”
“FREE you say.”
“Yes Carl the ebook is FREE for three days. So I’d advise you to grab it quickly. If you are someone that enjoys the feel of a physical book in your hands I highly recommend picking up the paperback version.”
“Because you too, (Carl points to camera and audience) can help keep an author fed.”
“Yes Carl, you can. And remember to rate, and leave a review when possible. Thank You, and we now send you back to your regularly scheduled programing.”
As always I thank you all for joining my on this writing journey and I appreciate the support given over the last five years of this crazy chaotic choice to be a writer. – Megan
Photography is Life, Photography is Art, Nature Photography.
While going through my collection of photos on Google Photo I discovered that I have a repeating view, so here are twelve photos of one view over the last ten months. Enjoy -Megan
Her bare feet glided along the smooth cobblestone, the baby blue cotton nightgown flowing around her as she made her way down the quiet streets.
Church bells in the distance rangout the midnight hour. Moonlight fell upon her as the clouds blew past, opening and closing the night sky like drapes.
Callia began humming as she strolled along the cobblestones, her voice becoming ever so slightly louder as she approached her destination. The light breeze blowing her long wavy dark locks behind her.
Reaching her destination she stepped gently on to the cool green grass that surrounded the statue of Athena, the Greek goddess of Wisdom. Callia’s voice rose as she sang.
Upon waking in her dormitory the next morning Callia was met with a slew of messages on her phone. All asking ‘Is this you?’ followed by a poorly lit shaky video of a woman in a nightgown singing in front of the statue of Athena, in the open moonlight amphitheater.
Callia put her phone down, pulled up her nightgown a bit and looked at the bottom of her dirt streaked feet.
“Not again.” she sighed.
Tea?
The sun sank into the horizon as the twilight hour began, Alice stood full of apprehension staring up at the century old Victorian home. With its large windows reflecting the last bit of the setting sun.
How grand and tall the house felt as she approached the wrapped porch enclosed with white pillars, her outstretched finger pushing the cold, smooth cream colored doorbell. Alice straightened her clothes while the distant chimes could be heard past the large ornate oak door that stood before her.
She had promised her mother that she would write and ask her great aunt Wilma, if she could join her one evening for tea, while she was scouting for schools around the New Orleans area.
The door opened to reveal an older lady dressed in a maids uniform. ”Yes?” she asked.
Alice cleared her throat, “I’m Alice, Wilma’s great niece. She’s expecting me for tea.”
The maid nodded and escorted her into the lavish home. Being led into the parlor she was directed to take a seat next to a small round table. Alice sat and took in the room with its tall windows, array of potted plants, paintings and area rugs.
The colors in the room bleed into each other as the room was lit by various glass lamps that were scattered throughout. An elderly lady dressed in a light flowing dress of peach, topped off with a black knitted shawl and using a cane to assist her, glided into the parlor taking the seat opposite Alice.
“Hello my dear.” she said in a soft voice. The maid then entered carrying a tray with a silver teapot, and matching cups and saucers.
She set it down on the small round table and poured each of them a cup. Alice took a sip from the silver tea cup and felt herself slip away into an unknown void.
The lights in the room dimmed, she struggled to keep her eyes open and focused on her great aunt Wilma who had changed somehow now looking younger.
Alice faded into her mind trying to remember what Wilma had looked like only a few moments ago. As Alice’s eyes shut the face of a much younger woman approached her saying.
“Fuck,” Katelin gasped trying to catch her breath.
Surrounded by thick tall trees, the moonlight streaked through the branches.
Crack!
She turned towards the sound, took a deep breath and ran. Zig zagging through the trees and stumbling over the underbrush.
Thud!
She hit the wet mossy ground, turning her head towards the approaching sound.
It was him, he had tried to warn her, when she knocked on his door after he didn’t answer her calls. The muffled voice from behind the door telling her to go away.
She kept knocking wanting to see him. Then that sound from behind the door of grunting and gurgling. Then the howl that cut through the night.
The door flung open; he was a shadow of a man more of a beast, seething.
“RUN!”
She took off running straight through the woods.
Now on her back, the moon illuminating the beast covered in fur, with those piercing yellow eyes standing over her.
“Brian,” she whispered as he plunged his fangs into her neck.
~~~~
Knock, knock
“Fuck, I told her to go away,”
Brian’s naked body doubled over as the transformation took over.
“Go away,” he yelled towards the door.
Bang, bang.
“Brian, are you ok?” Katelin asked through the door.
Brian watched as the claws pushed from his fingernails, fur covered his body and fangs erupted in his mouth.
He stumbled towards the door, flinging it open.
“RUN!”
He watched her turn and run, before the beast took over and he ran after her.
Hellhounds
“RUN Scott, RUN!” Christine screamed from the steps of the manor house. Scott ran full out through the drive and into the dark forest. He could hear the growls of the hellhounds getting closer. His heart pounding along with his feet hitting the wet mossy ground.
“Fuck,” he said coming to a stop, putting is hands on his thighs and leaning forward, waiting to see if his dinner was going to reemerge.
He glanced to his left, peering at him with raging red eyes, and dripping fangs were two hellhounds. A deep growl emerged from their throats, as they lunged.
A screaming echo was heard back on the steps of the manor house.
“That’s disappointing,” Christine said.
“What is ma’am?”
“Pour Scott, I told him not to go into the basement.”
October
I was walking through the woods on a dark and windy night.
There was no moon in sight.
The cracking branches and crinkling leaves beneath my feet, something rushes past.
“What was that,” A shiver ran through my body.
Fingers fall upon my shoulder, cold and bony.
I try to run, I trip and stumble. I hit the ground. My mouth, full of dead, wet leaves.
It grabs me by the ankles. I am being drug along the forest floor.
“No,” I scream, but no sound emerges from my mouth.
I opened my eyes, it’s dark, and cold. I can’t focus on anything.
A shadowy figure moves across from me.
I try to move, I am restrained.
It strikes a match to light a lantern.
I get a glimpse of its grayish, pasty skin and those long bony fingers.
It looks at me, with large, round, yellow eyes.
Its lips part in a grin, the flickering flame from the lantern illuminates its razor sharp teeth.
More Flash Fiction: ebook or paperback available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited
“You see it don’t you?” Cthulme asked his companion. His companion being his old, dusty, stuffed jackalope named Harvey didn’t offer an answer.
Cthulme had been doing his job, minding his business cleaning the Great Hall of the Old Ones. Where his cousin Cthulhu was the reigning One of the Sea.
Now Cthulme was younger and smaller than Cthulhu, he was also lacking in common sense. So when he found himself standing in the middle of a forest surrounded by hundred foot redwoods holding his companion Harvey, he was understandably confused.
He started wandering around the dense, dim forest when all of a sudden a door appeared out of nowhere. The door in question was a plain Jane white wooden door with a brass knob. Cthulme approached the door, now standing in front of the door he wondered if he should knock? Since there was no bell to ring.
He looked down at his companion Harvey, who gave him no help in making a decision, and then knocked on the door. Striking it three times.
‘Knock’
‘Knock’
‘Knock’
The door opened, and Cthulme entered through the plain Jane white door. He found himself standing on a mossy green carpet of sorts, an overly bright white light illuminated the area. The door closed behind him. And then there was a voice.
“Well since we’re here, we had better get started.” It said, as Cthulme’s companion Harvey pulled away and stood before him.
“You can talk? And move?” Cthulme asked in confusion.
“I can in here apparently.” Harvey said, moving around freely seeing how he had never been able to move independently before.
Now being that Harvey was a stuffed jackalope he tried hopping around, but the fact that he also had a set of surprisingly heavy antlers upon his head threw off his balance. So he opted to stand straight up and walk.
“I think we’re supposed to go this way.” Harvey said, walking down a hallway that had also appeared out of nowhere. Cthulem nodded in agreement as they made their way down the strange brightly lit hallway with mossy green carpeting.
*Author’s Note: why do you make me write such things.
Daisy sat huddled to one side of the booth farthest from the door in Mac’s Diner, the rising morning sun streaking through slightly open venetian blinds. She held her worn brown leather satchel tightly in her lap.
“What can I get you?” the tall slender redhead asked as she turned the diner coffee cup over and began filling it with steaming hot coffee.
Daisy cleared her throat, “Can you shut that blind? Please.” The waitress reached over and twisted the blind shut. “Thanks, I’ll have the pancakes.”
“Anything else?” “Nope, just the pancakes.” As Daisy waited for her pancakes she took out a coin from her satchel, it was slightly larger than a silver dollar, she ran her fingers over the greenish blue patina that had formed on the surface of the copper coin. There was a faint imprint of a coiled snake on one side and a symbol that resembled a S on the other.
Daisy had found the coin during her last expedition in Egypt. While brushing off a piece of pottery at the dig site the edge of the coin appeared buried in the dirt. She used her fingertips to clear around it and then gently picked it up. A strange feeling washed over Daisy when she held the coin in the palm of her hand. A sense of peace and a feeling of calm. Something that Daisy rarely felt in her daily life. Always feeling overwhelmed and under extreme pressure.
She closed her hand around the coin enjoying the feeling it evoked. “Here you go.” the waitress said as she set down the stack of three buttermilk pancakes with a pat of butter and a small cup of syrup on the side.
Daisy smiled and nodded, “Thanks.” She slipped the coin back into her satchel and began preparing her pancakes. She spread the butter between the pancakes and then drizzled the syrup over the stack. Using her fork and knife she cut up the pancakes into bite size pieces and enjoyed.
Study Time
Marigold entered the downtown branch of her local library on a rainy June afternoon. She made her way over to the information desk and asked the attendant for access to the library’s basement stacks. Where she would find reference material for her paper on the history of anatomy and science of embalming. Marigold was in her third year of studying to become a licensed undertaker.
The attendant led her over to the elevator, they entered and she placed her pass key into the slot and turned it to the right, then the elevator began its descent into the basement of the building. When they came to a stop the attendant showed her to the stacks and told her to just use the phone on the wall next to the elevator when she was finished and the elevator would return for her.
Marigold nodded and took out her yellow legal pad and black ballpoint pen to get started. An hour and a half in Marigold’s legal pad was half filled with notes and references. She glanced at her watch, 2:10pm, she noted the time to herself and continued her notetaking.
The overhead fluorescent lights dimmed slightly, she took no notice. Then the lights flickered and went out. Marigold let out a sigh, the emergency lights located on the far side of the room were quite dim, she gathered her things into her bag and carefully stood up.
All of a sudden there was a loud crash and what sounded like a faint scream. Marigold made her way over to the elevator, stubbing her toe on one of the table legs along the way.
She found the phone on the wall and picked up the receiver, held it to her ear. A loud screech came thundering through the ear piece. Marigold dropped the phone, her head now buzzing from the sound. She stumbled backwards and fell, finding herself laying on the floor staring up at the dark ceiling.
The buzz still in her ear she attempted to sit up when a strange force held her down on the floor. Marigold closed her eyes and tried to hear anything. There was nothing.
She opened her eyes, her gaze meeting two red eyes staring straight into her soul. She tried to scream, but there was nothing.
The lights flickered back on and the elevator opened to the attendant coming back to escort Marigold back upstairs. The attendant made her way over to the stacks to find a vase of fresh daffodils sitting on the table. She shrugged to herself, glanced around and took the vase of daffodils back upstairs.
cch217 