Flash Fiction for the Fourth
Today’s newsletter is packed with free flash fiction - plus one 99-cent collection publishing in four days and an invitation to join me for weekly writing prompts. Enjoy!
New Micromance Story
I’m at Micromance today with a new fourth of July romance! When the golf cart she and her nephew decorated stalls just before the start of the parade, Mandy worries her holiday is ruined until Lee, a handsome neighbor, steps in to save the day.
Read “Parade Route to Romance.”
Havok Flash Peek
Havok is also celebrating the Fourth with its semiannual weekend of free stories! I have had four stories published with Havok:
Summer Reading Sabotage is a mystery with a bit of romance, The Betrayal and The Dogwood are mysteries, and Mount Rushmore Mania explores what happens when the guys on Mount Rushmore decide to form a boy band.
#FlashFictionFriends
Every week on Instagram, I host #FlashFictionFriends, where I provide a prompt for the week and writers are free to respond in 1000 words or less in whichever genre they prefer. Participation has been low on Instagram, so I’ve decided to expand to Substack as well starting with next week’s prompt. Here are the prompts for the weeks of July. Prompts are open Monday to Sunday. If you tag me or send your story to me, I will share it!
The Truth About Forever
This is the story I wrote in response to the #FlashFictionFriends prompt for the week of June 30th, which was “The Truth About Forever” (inspired by the Sarah Dessen novel of the same name.)
At the end of her grand-gesture piano performance, Sarah grinned at Logan, who pulled her in for a hug. He held her close, and she was relieved that singing to him alone in the auditorium when they should have been in the band room practicing had been the right call. She hoped it meant they’d stay together.
"Did you write that?" he asked after a moment. Sarah couldn't hold back her surprised laughter.
"Did I write Forever?" She scoffed. "I wish."
Logan blinked, evidently nonplussed. "So you didn't write it?"
"I thought your family watched old TV. Haven't you seen Full House? Please tell me you know who Uncle Jesse is."
"Uncle Jesse wrote this song?" Logan seemed even more bewildered, and Sarah wondered if he had understood the significance of her grand gesture at all.
"Are you serious? It's a Beach Boys song. But Uncle Jesse plays it on the piano and sings to Aunt Becky at their wedding. It's an iconic early 90s moment!"
“Okay,” Logan said, grinning that adorable grin. “Well, we’ll have to watch that this summer then.”
“Yes we will!” Sarah said indignantly. Then she realized what he’d said. “Wait…”
Logan shrugged. “I never actually thought we should break up this summer. I just got scared about college and freaked out.”
Sarah rubbed a hand up and down his back. “I’m scared, too. But it’s better to be scared together, don’t you think?”
“Yeah,” Logan agreed, nodding. “I get that now.” He nodded toward the piano. “What was that line?”
“Which one?” Sarah asked.
He attempted to sing: “I've been so happy loving you.”
He turned sheepish, looking at the floor, but Sarah reached out and lifted his chin so she could make eye contact. “That’s how I feel too,” she said, holding his gaze. Then, rising slightly on tiptoe, she pressed a warm kiss to her boyfriend’s lips, wanting the moment to last forever.
Literary Lovebirds releases Tuesday!
My mini-collection of flash romances relating to language and the written word comes out Tuesday. Pre-order here!
Happy Fourth of July!
