I'm pleased as punch to have had another mention over at top American site, the Rap Sheet. You have to scroll down a bit as I'm not a headline act...yet! Editor, Jeff Kingston Pierce has done yet another quality post, this time on happenings around the blogosphere, and my recent online flash fiction win with FRANTIC is included.
Also there's an award for the best ezine, webzine, fiction zine, call it what you will, over at Critters Writers Workshop called the Predators & Editors Readers Poll. Personally I voted for my favourite ezine A Twist Of Noir, but our very own Thrillers, Killers 'n' Chillers is also on the list so feel free to offer your support.
Voting is easy, but please do so before January 14th at...
http://www.critters.org/predpoll/fictionzine.shtml
COL BURY'S NEW CRIME FICTION
Showing posts with label frantic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label frantic. Show all posts
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Sunday, 3 January 2010
My flash fiction - FRANTIC - wins Writers News Talkback online comp!
Like any writer giving it a go, I'm really pleased to announce another first place for my flash fiction over at Writers News Talkback Forum for December's One Word Challenge. It's particularly pleasing as the competition was fierce (in a nice way). The idea is to write up to 200 words on a word chosen by the preceding month's winner - who then becomes the judge for the following month, if you get me drift.
Well, anyway, the word was 'Frantic' and the winning story is below...
FRANTIC
The superstore was abuzz with shoppers. Clocking the newspaper headlines, “Local Paedophile Escapes,” Ged whisked Beth and Josh to the next aisle.
‘Right, stay close. No wandering.’
Ged became engrossed in reading the back of the supermarket’s own brand of Choco-pops. Instinctively looking down, his heart flickered.
‘Where’s Beth?’
Blasé, Josh clutched a box of Shreddies. ‘Daddy, can I…?’
‘Where’s your sister?’
‘Dunno.’
Ged scanned left and right. He sprinted, stopped at each aisle.
Nothing.
Glancing behind, Josh wasn’t there. Panic swamped him. Torn, he back-tracked. His head pivoted back and forth like an owl on speed.
That headline! Shit. Make a decision.
Frenetic now, he ran for the exit, dodging shoppers. He bumped into a shelf-stacker. ‘Pleeease...lost my kids...Beth n Josh!’
He patrolled the exit foyer, head spinning, eyes manic. Children’s voices amplified, teasing him. Every man was a paedo’, every woman an accomplice. Lips pinched, fists clenched, teeth gritted.
The Tannoy boomed their names. Tears welled, palpitations intensified.
A security guard emerged from the crowd, Beth in one hand, Josh in the other.
‘Dadddeeeee!’
Sobbing, Ged hugged his kids like never before.
A wide-eyed man in a trench-coat strolled past them, sighed then exited the store.
© Col Bury December 2009
Well, anyway, the word was 'Frantic' and the winning story is below...
FRANTICThe superstore was abuzz with shoppers. Clocking the newspaper headlines, “Local Paedophile Escapes,” Ged whisked Beth and Josh to the next aisle.
‘Right, stay close. No wandering.’
Ged became engrossed in reading the back of the supermarket’s own brand of Choco-pops. Instinctively looking down, his heart flickered.
‘Where’s Beth?’
Blasé, Josh clutched a box of Shreddies. ‘Daddy, can I…?’
‘Where’s your sister?’
‘Dunno.’
Ged scanned left and right. He sprinted, stopped at each aisle.
Nothing.
Glancing behind, Josh wasn’t there. Panic swamped him. Torn, he back-tracked. His head pivoted back and forth like an owl on speed.
That headline! Shit. Make a decision.
Frenetic now, he ran for the exit, dodging shoppers. He bumped into a shelf-stacker. ‘Pleeease...lost my kids...Beth n Josh!’
He patrolled the exit foyer, head spinning, eyes manic. Children’s voices amplified, teasing him. Every man was a paedo’, every woman an accomplice. Lips pinched, fists clenched, teeth gritted.
The Tannoy boomed their names. Tears welled, palpitations intensified.
A security guard emerged from the crowd, Beth in one hand, Josh in the other.
‘Dadddeeeee!’
Sobbing, Ged hugged his kids like never before.
A wide-eyed man in a trench-coat strolled past them, sighed then exited the store.
© Col Bury December 2009
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