Josh Bertetta's Blog, page 4

Sixty Seconds VI with: Karl A. Russell

Originally posted on Flash! Friday:
Karl A. Russell No, you aren’t imagining things: Karl A. Russell has won TWO WEEKS IN A ROW, this latest one making his sixth win (which is a record both for him and for the FF community). Read his bio and stories, and find links to his previous interviews at his winner’s page here.…

Text I’ll

Here’s my latest from Flash!Friday 3-36, for which I won Special Mention, specifically a “Scream Award for Horrifying Phone Communication Award”. This week’s stories had to include two story elements from The Great Gatsby. I chose the elements of character–jealous husband (I did boyfriend) and theme–obsession. Going out 2nite? –Babysitting remember? Jonny coming over 4 a […]

A Sticky Situation (First Place Winner)

So here’s my latest from Cracked Flash Fiction. A hearty thanks to the judges for choosing my story and their warm comments. The story had to begin with the line: “Why do you have a pound of superglue—you know what? Never mind. I don’t want to know.” “Why do you have a pound of superglue—you know […]

The House in the Woods (First Runner Up)

So here’s my latest from the Cracked Flash Fiction Competition, for which I won first runner up. The prompt was the following dialogue: “Well, this just got awkward.” “There’s a corpse on the floor. Of course it got awkward.” “Well, this just got awkward.” “There’s a corpse on the floor—Princess! Come next to mommy. Of […]

Felineage (First Place Winner)

So I recently began participating in a new flash fiction contest over at Cracked Flash Fiction. My most recent story required the use of the opening line “The cat stared at him” and could or could not use the photo prompt below. This story placed first! The cat stared at him. The only way he knew […]

7R4N5P051710N (Special Mention Winner)

Here’s my latest from Flash!Friday 3-32, inspired by, as the directions stated, Orwell’s 1984. Having to incorporate 2 of the stories elements, I chose the theme of totalitarianism/censorship and a dystopian future. 7H3 L457 M4N W45 B0RN WH3N H1570RY D13D. UP0N H15 D347H 7H3Y 534L3D W17H1N H15 C0FF1N 7H3 DR34M 0F 1D345. H3 WH0 PU7 7H3 […]

The Old Man and the Island

My latest from The Angry Hourglass Volume 68 based on the prompt below. Click here to read Catherine Connolly’s winning story. He sat there, debating whether or not to go out to sea. The weather was fair enough, but he could not decide, as he sat there, debating, whether or not the effort it would take […]

Resolution (Honorable Mention Winner)

Here’s my latest from Flash!Friday Vol. 3-30 based on the photo prompt below, for which I won Honorable Mention. This week’s contest started a whole new format which includes rooting the story in a novel in addition using two elements from said novel. This week’s novel was The Count of Monte Cristo.  A homeless man, a butterfly, […]

Independence Day Mythology: Our Goddess Liberty

Originally posted on Mythology Matters:
Not many of us know that a goddess stood behind our founding fathers in America’s struggle for independence. And she has served as a national symbol ever since then, which continues to irritate some religious conservatives. These days when questions about the role of religion in our society have become…

Daily Kitchen Meditation: Choices

Here’s today’s meditation from Donald Altman’s Meal by Meal: “If you think about it, eating is a process of possession…of taking that which is not you and receiving it within your boundaries”–Don Gerrard, On Bowl How mindful are you about the food you receive “within your boundaries?” Do you eat what is put in front of you, […]