Thank you to Phil Clinker for responding to the challenge to write a story in LESS than 100 words. His response comes in the form of A Game of Cluedo which you can read below.

Gerald is Colonel Mustard. Abigail is Miss Scarlett. Uncle Barry is the Reverend Green. Auntie Jenny is Mrs White. Grandad is Professor Plum. I am Mrs Peacock. And my cheating husband is Doctor Black, and he’s lying in the Hall with the Rope round his neck.
Game over.

48 words

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Oh dear, Mrs Peacock!

What a great story from Phil Clinker. Do you reckon you could write a story in LESS than one hundred words? See full guidelines and online submission form HERE.

My Tuesday guest today is the very lovely crime mystery author, Sally Spedding. Sally has come along today to share an experience so without further ado let’s go over to Sally.

FEAR IS THE KEY

by

Sally Spedding 

Four years ago in November, while driving down to our bolt hole in the Pyrenees, Jeffrey, my late artist husband, decided that the eerily flat landscape around Beaumont-sur-Sarthe in the Pays de la Loire would be ideal for sketches and photographs to help with new work on his current theme ‘Deserted Fields.’

Fine, except that the lane he chose to take off the D338 was barely wide enough for our normal-sized car and seemed to become yet more narrow with each tight bend. Yes, I sometimes suffer from claustrophobia – don’t ask – but this wasn’t a good situation should anything be coming in the opposite direction.

I became a tad agitated, especially when he found an even meaner turning off and parked in its overgrown hedge. Having clambered over the gear stick and my temporarily empty seat, he was off, bobbing away into the distance, car keys in his pocket.

Grounds for divorce, I thought, feeling trapped and terrified by the thick silence of a dead, wintry afternoon. Yes, I could have gone with him, but my computer, several hefty writing pads and research files were in the boot. A no-brainer.

I often say to aspiring crime writers that ‘nothing is wasted,’ so, as the doleful minutes passed, I took a closer look at my surroundings and suddenly spotted a strange looking, tilting shrine in another section of recently trimmed hedge. With no visible commemoration, I wondered about its significance, also about the seemingly deserted farmhouse behind it, whose yard was filled with huge tractors in varying stages of decay.
‘Was anyone living there?’ I asked myself, feeling increasingly vulnerable. If not, who had lived there? And then, by the time I saw my flush-faced husband bobbing back up the lane, I knew.

Three years later, in 2019, Downfall, the first in a series featuring 20-year-old Delphine Rougier was published by Sharpe Books. While dreaming of one day becoming a gendarme, she has to work as a hotel chambermaid to support her parents, each crippled by a shocking secret. Delphine’s grim discovery in one of the bathrooms she has to clean, leads her into a world of danger and betrayal in which the past must at costs, stay hidden.

In The Devil’s Garden out just now, Delphine is training to be a gendarme in the Corrèze department, when she stumbles upon re-wilding fanaticism and treachery in high places, putting her life and those of others in the gravest danger.

So, thank you, Jeffrey. And by the way, we still stayed together!

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Wow, great blog, Sally. Thank you so much for sharing that with us all. It just goes to show how as writers we can make every experience count.

Now it’s time to find out a little more about Sally.

 

Author Bio – Sally Spedding 

Born in Porthcawl, Sally studied sculpture before words took over. Her poetry and short stories continue to be widely published – most recently in two CWA anthologies – exploring themes of betrayal by both people and places. Seeds for her fifteen crime thrillers beginning with Wringland set in the haunted fens, and most recently, The Devil’s Garden, set in France. Fourth in a seven-book deal with Sharpe Books. She has twice won and adjudicated the International Welsh Poetry Competition, is a CWA, Crime Cymru and Mystery People member, and was married to the late artist, Jeffrey Spedding. She still divides her time between Wales and the equally inspiring Eastern Pyrenees.

Find out more about Sally’s writing by clicking here.  

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If you’d like to purchase any of Sally’s books then click on the following links.

The Devil’s Garden 

The Nighthawk

Downfall

Bloodlines

Death Knell

Ghosts From The Past

Poet, Eileen Carney Hulme, is my first challenger of 2020 to take up the challenge to write a Haiku on ‘Patricia’s Pen’ and what a beautiful haiku it is too.

Keep sending in those Haiku and stories in less than 100 words. Submit online here.

I’m pleased to welcome Mark Anthony Smith as my Tuesday guest. Mark is becoming a regular visitor on ‘Patricia’s Pen’ as he’s been featured with his story ‘Stick’ and his Haiku when responding to my writing challenges. He’s here now to talk about his writing, and in particular, inspiration. So without further ado, it’s over to Mark.

Writing and Inspiration

Mark Anthony Smith 

I’ve just finished my Novella but I can’t talk too much about at the moment. However, there was something on the nature of love that kept me thinking. It took me three or four false starts to achieve the story because the narrative voice wasn’t quite right. I’d been agonising over it since February or March of 2019 but it’s finished now and left me quite bereft of ideas.

This is where my ‘binge reading’ comes into play. I will read anything and everything to store up and fire that internal rhythm again. The hum might come from ‘word play’, ideas, or observations. Sometimes, it’s the poetry in song lyrics. I like putting two words together with the aim of creating a dissonance or harmony. A piece of my writing often arises from working this way.

When writing Haiku, this come from observation. It sometimes starts with a thought or feeling. Memories are always a good catalyst. These reminisces are then jolted by reading or listening to music.

My flash fiction pieces, ‘She Opens Doors’, published with Nymphs, was observation triggered, while ‘Chitter Chatter’, published by Spelk, arose from working in The NHS and reading H P Lovecraft.

I like not being able to immediately understand a piece of writing. Sometimes, I use it to fire my own rhythmic patterns of thought. Studying Social Sciences at Degree level really paid off for me too as I feel better able to formulate questions and make connections between two or more ideas.

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Thank you for sharing how you gain your inspiration, Mark. I’m sure that many of my readers will relate to a lot of those ways. For me, my biggest inspiration comes from walking around my local park and lake, visiting National Trust properties, and I need to have classical music on in the background when I’m writing.

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And now to find out a little more about Mark Anthony Smith.

Mark Anthony Smith was born in Hull. He’s been an avid reader from an early age. After leaving the army he studied English to AS Level at Suffolk College and later started an English Degree at Hull University. His writing career began after winning ‘Star Letter’ with Writing Magazine. Later that same year he was commended by Writers’ Forum magazine for his Haiku, ‘Hearts of the matter.’ This encouraged Mark to publish a book of the same name.

Further successes followed with an Anthology and CD for Homelessness. But things spiralled once he took to Twitter. Since joining Twitter, he’s been published in Spelk and Truly U and has poems or short stories appearing in The Cabinet of Heed, Detritus, Nymphs and Pink Plastic House. If he gets stuck for ideas, he binge reads to start an internal hum of creativity.

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You can purchase Mark’s ‘Hearts of the Matter’ on Kindle and paperback from Amazon

You can find Mark on social media by clicking on the following links.

Facebook

Twitter

STORY AND HAIKU CHALLENGE

Time to get those pens and pencils moving and fingers clicking on the keyboard…

‘Patricia’s Pen’ is open for submissions to ‘Write a Story in LESS than 100 words’  along with the Haiku challenge. Previously published work welcome. 

See HERE for full guidelines and to submit online.

 

POSSIBILITY OF AN ANTHOLOGY IN PAPERBACK

 

Just a thought to those of you that are hoping to be published on ‘Patricia’s Pen and to those PREVIOUSLY published on here – how do you feel about the possibility of an anthology in paperback format containing your stories and poems on Amazon?

It would be published under my imprint White Wings Books with an ISBN number. This means it could then be added to your ALCS claims. What do you think? I’m not sure I can do it yet but if enough writers are interested then I’ll do some research later on in the year. Let me know your thoughts – HERE

 

 

I hadn’t intended publishing any more Story or Haiku challenges until 2020 but this beautiful haiku popped into my Inbox on the 30th December 2019 from poet, Liz Byfield, and well, it just couldn’t wait. It had to be published today.  You’ll see why…

So here we are, almost at the end of 2019. I thought I’d share a few of my highs for the year.

In February 2019 I graduated as a Master in Creative Writing (Merit) with the University of Brighton. This was a dream come true as I left school at fifteen to help support my family. After gaining my Bachelors in 2014, to become a Master was icing on the cake.

Later in July, my youngest son graduated at Warwick University with MMaths (Distinction) making me a very proud mummy.

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Now for some publication highs.

Poetry 

Five poems were published in Reach Magazine (Indigo Dreams Publishing)

Soulmates
Lady of the Woods
Castles in the Sand
Leda’s Recompense
Mother’s Love

‘Witches’ Exhibition’ was chosen to be included in Gloucester Poetry Society’s anthology – Magic theme.

Poems selected to be included in collections with Hedgehog Poetry next year are:

Heavenly Heather
Mother’s Love
Beanz Meanz Heinz

Short listed

White Hunter – Poetry (Swanwick Writers’ Summer School 2019)

Sherry and Sparkly (Conversational Poetry with Maureen Cullen) highly commended with Hedgehog Poetry Press

Short Stories published in anthologies

Asylum – The Leicester Writes Short Story Prize 2019

 

Winter Solstice – A Feast of Christmas Stories (Unwrap A Sussex Tale)  (Chindi Authors)

 

The biggest high has to go to Hedgehog Poetry Press – I was one of the winners in Nicely Folded Paper – Deux Competition.  The prize – my poetry pamphlet ‘Taxus Baccata’ is to be published in 2020, hopefully March.

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In 2019 I also featured on various blogs with articles and interviews. These may be read on the links below.

Interview May 2019 – Papers Pens Poets 

Article – House of Grace – A Period Drama – July 2019 – SchoolsHistory.Org.Uk

Interview – Meet the Author – August 2019 – Curled up with a good book 

Interview – Interviewing Patricia M Osborne – August 2019 – Isabella Muir.com

Saga Saturday – House of Grace was Born – August 2019 – Rachel Brimble Book Blog & Updates

What Books Mean to Me – October 2019 – Chandler’s Ford Today 

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2019 also brought two new additions to ‘Patricia’s Pen’

Tuesday Guest Feature  and The story and haiku challenges.

Guests featured in 2019

Willow Woods – Elizabeth M Hurst – Stephen Cope -Rosemary J Kind – Meryl Lawrence  Val Penny – Lynette Creswell – Sue Wickstead – Geoff Parkes – Michelle Dunbar – Anita Hunt MA

Other guests featured in 2019 

Lexi Rees – Colin Ward – Rosemary Noble – Angela Petch – Carol Thomas – Roland Chesters – Claire Baldry – Isabella Muir – Hugh Carey with Rich – Allison Symes

Watch out for more guests in 2020 including:

Madalyn Morgan – Sally Spedding – Mark Anthony Smith – Michael Sanchez

Fin Gray – Elizabeth Gates – Deborah Edgeley – Raine Geoghegan – Kellie Butler

And that’s just for the first quarter of the year.

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Keep those stories and haiku coming in as they’re ideal for coffee break reads

Check the online guidelines and submit online 

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And I’m saving the best for last – watch out for UPDATES on ‘The Coal Miner’s Son’

Also to come later in the year is a newsletter so you can subscribe to keep up-to-date. It will also offer rewards for your loyalty.

That’s all for now except to say Thank you for being loyal followers and …

 

 

 

 

Following this morning’s story from Phil Clinker, ‘Patricia’s Pen’ will take a break from the Story and Haiku Challenges and Tuesday Guest Feature until the new year.

Before the new year I intend to do a round-up of 2019 and what’s to come in 2020.

If you get a chance over the holidays then why not have a go at one of the challenges and send it in for consideration on the link below.

Submit 

And if you get a new Kindle tomorrow and looking for a great read over the holidays – don’t forget House of Grace. The Coal Miner’s Son is coming in 2020.

And don’t forget to read today’s story from Phil Clinker with The Old Man.

Our final story challenger for 2019 comes from Phil Clinker. Phil’s response to the challenge comes in the form of ‘The Old Man’ which you can read below.

Christmas Day. Late morning. The old man pulled the blanket up to his chin to keep the cold at bay. He was freezing, his bones ached and teeth chattered. He’d endured a rough, sleepless night, and needed to make up for it. If only he didn’t feel so desperately cold …

and lonely. He sighed. Old people should never be alone at this time of the year, he thought, wiping a tear from his eye as he snuggled further into his bed.

Outside, Prancer and the others chewed on carrots, unaware of their master’s depression.

95 words

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Thank you for that, Phil. I love how you’ve used Santa as a metaphor for all those poor old people out there suffering alone.

No one should be alone at Christmas, unless they want to be. We need to take care of our old folk. And of course at this time of the year it is also worth thinking about those poor homeless people, cold and lonely on the street.

Click on the link below to see how you can help a homeless person this Christmas. What better gift?

Let’s end homelessness together. 

 

 

The Oak and The Mistletoe

To the ancient druids the oak tree was sacred. An English oak was more sacred, and if it was an English Oak that had accepted mistletoe, that was the most sacred of oaks.

Ancient druids gathered in the grove of oaks on Winter Solstice when a special ritual was performed. The chief druid climbed the oak and lopped the mistletoe which was caught in a white cloak by the other druids. During the ceremony two white bulls were sacrificed and mistletoe was later presented at the altar to the earth goddess to bring ‘fertility to the spirit of the earth’(Paterson, 1996). The white berries signified the sun god’s semen.

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On this Winter Solstice it seems like the perfect time to share my poem ‘The Sacred Tree’. ‘The Sacred Tree’ forms part of my collection about myth, folklore and legend around trees which I plan to publish in 2020.

The Sacred Tree

In a subtle seduction,
Oak welcomes
Mistletoe’s seed.

Evening reddens
the sky as drums beat
to a crescendo.

Entering the grove of oaks,
wreath-crowned druids process
in gold, white, red,
clutching staffs.

One trails, bent,
a stringy silver beard falls
to his knees. He rings a bell.

Seers surround
the sun-god tree,
ivory candles ignite
one by one,
flames flit
in the breeze,
shadows flutter.

Drums mute.
Crickets chirp.
A snowy owl screeches
from a distant trunk.
Heads rise.
Deep breaths echo.

Priest, in white, ascends
the oak, unsheathes
the golden sickle strapped
to his back,
lops the stem
bearing milk berries.

Brothers clothed in gold catch
the twig in a cloak.

Drums pulsate,
beasts bellow,
eyes focus
on two white bulls
led by the horns.

A red-robed butcher
grips his blade, slits
one bull’s throat
and then the other.
Crimson gore spurts
into the vessels,
metallic stench rises.

Drums cease.

Mistletoe glazed
with bulls’ blood
is blessed, offered
before the altar.

Sun-god’s gift of semen
is embraced
by the earth goddess.

Patricia M Osborne © 2018

Published with Ink Drinkers Poetry, Issue 4 (2021)