Adan Ramie's Blog, page 48
January 10, 2015
Hollow Girl | Flash Fiction Inspired by The Write Practice
A post over on The Write Practice yesterday inspired me to write this piece of flash fiction. The prompt: failure.
Hollow Girl
If hindsight is 20/20, then I need to get my eyes checked. I’m here again, in this bed with this woman, with my chest caving in and my head feeling like a beehive. The silence buzzes against the inside of my skull, driving me closer to the edge of the bed. She pulls me closer, nuzzling her face into my naked back, and I sigh. It’s not like she loves me, and I know that...
2015 TBR Pile Challenge | A Book Nerd’s Dream Contest
Today I read a post by Sara over at Novel Noviceon the topic of the Roof Beam Reader 2015 TBR Pile Challenge. The idea for the challenge intrigued me, so I decided to check it out.
The premise is simple: We all have those stacks of books we bought with the intention to read, but never got around to actually opening. The challenge is to read them — 12 of them — which were published before 1/1/2014. You post your list, link it to the official announcement post, and review the books as you read t...
January 7, 2015
Champion Standing by Mark Gardner | A Book Review
On January 2nd, I posted an interview with fiction author and my friend, Mark Gardner, in which I talked at length with him about his latest book, Champion Standing. At that time, I had been holding on to my ARC of the book until I finished a few prior obligations and could really sink my teeth into what I knew would be a great story. I finally got my chance a few days ago to start reading it, and I was blown away.
Champion Standing is the story of disgraced warrior, Liao, who is given the opp...
January 6, 2015
Quest for the Beta Reader | MALADAPTATION Needs Some Fresh Blood
On December 30th, I mentioned the big project I had planned for publication inthe first half of 2015, Maladaptation. I finished another round of edits, and found that new, trustworthybeta readers are hard to find.
I’ve already let my tiny circle read the manuscript, but I would like to find a few others that would be willing to read it with an eye for flow, plot holes, and comprehension. I need to know what isn’t working, what brings the reader out of the story, so I can fix it before I begin...
January 3, 2015
From Humble Beginnings, The Artist
My 8-year-oldfancies herself an author/illustrator. She’s always been creative, but lately she’s started to take it to the next level by really putting in some effort into writing and illustrating fully formed stories. I couldn’t be more proud.
The Quickity Quick Chick, 2014 First Edition
January 2, 2015
You Can’t Go Wrong with a Trebuchet | Interview with Mark Gardner, Author of Champion Standing
Late last year, I received something very special in the mail. It was the ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of Mark Gardner’s Champion Standing, complete with his autograph and a kind note from one writer to another.
For those of you who follow my blog regularly, Mark shouldn’t be a stranger. He’s a prolific author, a supportive friend, and an all-around great guy to know. When he mentioned that his novel Champion Standing was due to be released at the beginning of this month, I jumped on the opportu...
January 1, 2015
Slam | Flash Fiction Challenges | For Once, It Isn’t Horror
This story is in response to several prompts for this week.
Wendy suggested we use “resolution” and a balloon;
Sunday Photo Fiction gave us a picture of fireworks; and
For Be Kind Rewrite, I chose “It’ll grow on you.”
Between the three challenges, I had 200-500 words to work with, and this piece hit right around 500. It’s called “Slam,” and it’s not much like what I normally write.
Slam by Adan Ramie
“Guilt lining my soul / Another love crime scene / My M.O. splattered on our walls / Forked tongue,...
December 30, 2014
Time is Justice: A 2014 Wrap-Up | On Writing and Life
“Time is the justice that examines all offenders.” – Shakespeare
In the past few days, my e-mail has brought me several notifications of posts by bloggers I follow and respect. Many of them are posting the same thing: The 2014 Wrap-Up Blog Post. (Some notable ones are Chuck Wendig and Sara Gundell.) Like a lemming running over the proverbial cliff, I’m here with my own summation from the past twelve months.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE
In my personal life, 2014 has been a lot of barely managed chaos. My l...
December 29, 2014
Burnt Sienna | TiV Flash Fiction Challenge Week 52
Based on Thain in Vain’s last prompt for the year. I started the challenge late this year, but I’ve really enjoyed participating.
Burnt Sienna by Adan Ramie
“I’m telling you this story because you are the only person I can trust not to judge me.”
She slumped down in front of me in a steel chair with a fur-lined seat and dropped her head into her hands. I held my breath as she looked up at me through her blonde bangs.
“We used to be friends.”
“Best friends,” I whispered.
A conflict arose in my head....
December 27, 2014
The Underground Girls of Kabul by Jenny Nordberg | A Book Review
THE UNDERGROUND GIRLS OF KABUL by Jenny Nordberg
This powerful, eye-opening glimpse into the lives of women in Afghanistan starts with a poem. “But Not An Afghan Woman” tells everything one might need to know about the struggle ofliving life as a woman in the world, butparticularlyin Afghanistan. We all know that equality is a struggle that is still in its infancy; people are oppressed for many reasons, from the color of their skin to who they love, and gender disparity is practiced worldwide....
