Cheryl Burman's Blog: Blog posts for readers and writers, page 25

Origins: The Legend of Ava Ivy Logan

The prequel to The Breach Chronicles

Origins: The Legend of Ava by Ivy Logan, is a fast-paced read to create the setting for the series.

The author swiftly builds a highly visual world in this short story. Fascinating characters, complex motivations and a strong foreshadowing of conflict are heightened by misunderstandings.

What could go wrong? A great way to pique interest, and I look forward to reading Broken, Book One, to see just how wrong it went.

Find Origins: The Legen...

Living statue in newspaper: picture prompt

He didn’t know why he bothered. The time and patience it took to get dressed each morning, being careful not to split his trousers or poke a toe through the shoes. Having to choosse which page of today’s newspaper he would read – over and over and over …

And then there was the care with which he had to carry his seat and its backing screen. The commuters on the Tube glared a lot, or else they sniggered.

The dog too was always an issue, getting the head at just the right tilt to cause pas...

The ripped open envelope lay on the kitchen table

It was still there when Laura came down for breakfast, wrapped in her winter dressing gown, sheepskin slippers warming her feet on the cold tiles. The optimist in her had expected it to disappear overnight, taking away its hastily ripped edges and its problems. The realist part of her sighed. She would have to deal with it. She cast an aggrieved look back the way she had come. Frankly, it was his issue to worry over and manage, but he could never see it the way she could.

Laura simply had to...

Woman reading on beach: picture prompt

The house is crowded with mourners. The world and his oyster knew and loved her grandmother, and the funeral in the seaside village’s ancient church was packed. A celebration of a life, the vicar intoned.

Jean agrees, but all through the service, and afterwards as she helps her mother pass around sandwiches in the front room, her mind returns again to again to Granny’s bequest.

‘There’s something I want you to have,’ she told Jean in the last days before she slipped into the sleep before deat...

The storm was fast approaching …

Elle hunkered down into the sofa, shoulders hunched and arms crossed. The voice – his voice – carried on its hectoring. What had Elle thought she was doing? Why had she taken up with those difficult women? What did she, a comfortably off middle class mother and wife, have to do with that rag tag lot?

He had driven to the Common to fetch her, ignoring her note saying she was away for three days, would return on Monday evening. There was food in the fridge.

How were the children meant to c...

Fantastic Pink Hiding: use these three words

‘What’s that old joke?’ Mary asked. ‘You know, one of those elephant jokes from aeons ago.’

Sally raised her head from painting her toenails bright pink ahead of the hotel’s pool party.

‘Give us a clue.’ She grinned. ‘There were a thousand elephant jokes.’

Mary turned from the mirror and pointed at Sally’s self ministrations. ‘It’s relevant, something to do with–’

‘Oh yes!’ Sally’s grin widened. ‘How does an elephant hide in a strawberry patch?’

‘He paints his toenails red!’ they squealed t...

The rabbit twitched its nose

Quiet hung over the forest. The rabbit twitched its nose at the wrongness of it. Where were the bird calls, the scrabbling claws of voles and mice in the long grass? Where was the downward draught of an eagle’s wing echoing in the air, or the squelch of pigs in their wallow?

The rabbit peered into the midday shadows beneath the trees. A scent carried on the limpid breeze, one he didn’t know. The rabbit twitched its nose. Unpleasant like the rotting carcass of a deer. And accompanied by another sm...

Serenade Adventure Meadow: use these three words

I fell across this glorious image on Pixabay (where I get all my images from) and had to use it. It has such atmosphere.

Tansy hadn’t expected to be allowed along. It was her father’s night, with his two brothers. A tradition that started in the mists of time – that ill-defined period before Tansy came into the world – these evenings were held dear by the musicians of the family.

According to her father, he had first been invited to attend with his father and grandfather when he was considere...

I’ve never met Lauren but I already know I don’t like her

With thanks to Dean Writers member Carol Sheppard for the prompt.

He’s full of her, his new work colleague. Lauren this, Lauren that. So clever, sees right through management’s stupid demands, does a mean impression of the boss, gets to the core of clients’ issues. Articulate, funny. The team haven’t laughed so much since Lauren arrived.

In answer to my snappish question, he guesses, thinking about it, not that he’s really noticed, yes she’s attractive.

I’ve never met Lauren, but I already...

‘See you soon,’ she said hopefully

Marie lifted her gaze to meet the man’s eye squarely, no hesitation.

‘Thank you for your time. See you soon,’ she said hopefully.

He raised his eyebrows at the heavy hint of optimism. Or perhaps it was the confident gaze.

‘Thank you for coming,’ he said. That was all. His eyes were on the list on the table before Marie turned to walk out the door.

She fretted all the way home on the bus, folding and refolding the sheet of typed paper in her hand. Had she overdone it? Were the raised eyebrows an...