The Plot Bunny Farm

Bodyguard of Lies is a serialized science-fiction novel updating once a week on Tuesdays. If you missed last week’s episode, Shakedown, it can be found here. You can catch up on the entire serial on this page with a description of the story and links to all published episodes.

( Read the rest of this entry » )

Originally published at Erin M. Hartshorn. You can comment here or there.

Bodyguard of Lies is a serialized science-fiction novel updating once a week on Tuesdays. If you missed last week’s episode, Divided Family, it can be found here. You can catch up on the entire serial on this page with a description of the story and links to all published episodes.

( Read the rest of this entry » )

Originally published at Erin M. Hartshorn. You can comment here or there.

The Sundark Festival was in full swing, with smoky scents, voices raised in laughter, and music from different instruments clashing in the streets. Irena paused and stepped, weaving her way through the crowd in the not-dance that everyone employed. A cluster of children surrounded a nut vendor, blocking her progress. Her stomach rumbled at the thought of the fresh roasted treats, and she joined the ragged line.

The vendor was quick, and she soon had a leaf-cup of nuts in her hand. As Irena turned away, someone jostled her elbow, spilling the nuts. Nettled, she spun to face the oaf. “Ay–!”

She stared into the blank face of one of the Masks, those who told of the winters to come, a single word of foretelling. Bad luck to yell at one. Swallowing her annoyance at losing her snack, she bobbed her head. “Have you a word for me?”

Silently, confusingly, it extended a hand.

Irena wasn’t sure what to do; she’d never encountered a Mask personally before. When the Mask gestured again with its hand, she took it and found something pressed into her hand. Opening her hand, she found a white disk, round and white, lacquered like the Mask’s face. She looked back up, but the Mask had gone.

She slipped the disk into her bag. She’d think about it later; now she had a festival to enjoy.

The disk slipped her mind until she turned toward home and saw a pair of Masks standing, heads leaning toward each other as if they conferred in whispers. They could talk? But of course they could; they shared words with people each festival. But no one ever heard more than a single word from a Mask in a lifetime. She itched to step closer, to hear what they said to each other.

Her hand crept inside her bag and grasped the disk there. What did it mean? It was like — and she knew the word she had been given. She crossed to join the other Masks, glad that she had had one last Festival before she hid herself behind a blank and lacquered face.

355 words

My blog is participating in the Forward Motion Flash Friday Blog Group, a weekly flash fiction exercise (not that I’m managing weekly!). Check out the other participating blogs for more flash.

Originally published at Erin M. Hartshorn. You can comment here or there.

Bodyguard of Lies is a serialized science-fiction novel updating once a week on Tuesdays. If you missed last week’s episode, Questions, it can be found here. You can catch up on the entire serial on this page with a description of the story and links to all published episodes.

( Read the rest of this entry » )

Originally published at Erin M. Hartshorn. You can comment here or there.

In a world . . .

Well, it’s not really a world, is it?

In the space between worlds . . .

That’s redundant, not very descriptive, and probably not related to what you want to say.

*sigh* On a ship traveling from its homeworld . . .

Hmm. Not enough detail, I think. Could you maybe add some specifics?

The spaceship Thetis leads an escadrille out of New Alexandria on spring maneuvers–

Maybe not that specific.

In an electronic communication medium, a disembodied voice gives up and heads out for an early weekend.

Oh, sure, give up. Come on, you were almost there. One more try. . . pretty please?

100 words

My blog is participating in the Forward Motion Flash Friday Blog Group, a weekly flash fiction exercise (not that I’m managing weekly!). Check out the other participating blogs for more flash.

Originally published at Erin M. Hartshorn. You can comment here or there.

Bodyguard of Lies is a serialized science-fiction novel updating once a week on Tuesdays. If you missed last week’s episode, Calm Before the Storm, it can be found here. You can catch up on the entire serial on this page with a description of the story and links to all published episodes.

( Read the rest of this entry » )

Originally published at Erin M. Hartshorn. You can comment here or there.

Of Bugs and Family

“Hey, toss me my phone, would you?” Danny caught it in one hand without looking up from his work on the table. Sherry needed to know what he’d found — before he made his report to his boss.

“You going to tell me what’s so special about this bug compared to all the others we’ve found?” his partner Jen asked. “Or do I have to read your report, as usual?”

The manikin splayed on the table didn’t move. Bands clamped its arms and legs in place, and steel pins held its vestigial wings still. “Bugs” was the term the Department used for them — highly inaccurate, but better than the tabloid presses with their “Fairies are real!” and “Whatever you do, don’t clap your hands” headlines. The bugs had been showing up in increasing numbers around the globe for the past half dozen years, and the growing unrest of the public had forced the Department to step in.

Danny didn’t answer Jen. Instead, he spoke into his phone. “Sherry? I’ll be home late — Yes, I know it’s hard on you being all alone — Yes, I miss Troy, too — No, I’m not burying myself in my work. No. No. No — Look, we’ll talk about it when I get home.”

He ended the call and dropped the phone on the table. She hadn’t let him even try to explain. That was okay. He had enough information now for his boss to agree to Danny’s plan, and this bug would lead them to the nest. The nest — a place so far existing only in theory, where the bugs bred, and where they took humans to learn their shapes.

Danny glared down at the miniature version of his missing son’s face. With luck, when he found the nest, his son Troy would still be there.

Then Sherry would forgive Danny for working these long hours. She would see he’d done it for them, for family.

Today, his family would be healed.

319 words

My blog is participating in the Forward Motion Flash Friday Blog Group, a weekly flash fiction exercise (not that I’m managing weekly!). Check out the other participating blogs for more flash.

Originally published at Erin M. Hartshorn. You can comment here or there.

Bodyguard of Lies is a serialized science-fiction novel updating once a week on Tuesdays. If you missed last week’s episode, Bad Seed, it can be found here. You can catch up on the entire serial on this page with a description of the story and links to all published episodes.

( Read the rest of this entry » )

Originally published at Erin M. Hartshorn. You can comment here or there.

FHIS Urchins

Welcome to the FHIS Orphanage. You are here because some householder — possibly your own parent — has traded you to us in exchange for someone to do the housework. A good deal for them, not so good for you.

While you are here, you will be taught to cook and clean, as well as care for animals. When you are properly trained and ready, you, too, will be traded to a householder. With luck, you might even be rescued as a true cinder wench or goose girl — or better yet, rescue yourself.

Think of it as your fairy tale come true.

100 words

Because so many people wanted to know what happened to the urchins last week.

My blog is participating in the Forward Motion Flash Friday Blog Group, a weekly flash fiction exercise (not that I’m managing weekly!). Check out the other participating blogs for more flash.

Also, I have another drabble up at SpeckLit; it went up yesterday. Ghostwriter

Originally published at Erin M. Hartshorn. You can comment here or there.

Bodyguard of Lies is a serialized science-fiction novel updating once a week on Tuesdays. If you missed last week’s episode, Meeting the Mercs, it can be found here. You can catch up on the entire serial on this page with a description of the story and links to all published episodes. ( Read the rest of this entry » )

Originally published at Erin M. Hartshorn. You can comment here or there.