Friday Fictioneers is hosted by the wonderful Rochelle, the undisputed master of what I call Sound Bite Fiction.
She sets the weekly challenge, and the standard.
Today’s photo by Jan Marler Morrill is another in the summer rerun series, from long before my time here.
So I am taking this opportuny for a rerun of my own by using a story from Medville Matters, my enthralling and recently published book of Sound Bite Fiction, available on this blog, just over there>>>>>>
For those of you not plugging books, the idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on the picture, below.
© Jan Marler Morrill
Click on this to hear C.E. Ayr read from his first book of Sound Bite Fiction entitled Medville Matters.
Back Streets
These back streets are dangerous places for the unwary.
Her heels click rhythmically as she hurries through the seedier side of her city.
She is suddenly aware that she is being followed.
Her pursuer is closing rapidly.
She knows there have been a series of vicious attacks on women in the area.
She cannot run in this tight skirt.
She stops, backs against a wall.
He leers knowingly, reaches for her blouse.
He doesn’t even see her NAA Guardian pistol before the bullet passes through his left eye into his brain.
These back streets are dangerous places for the unwary.
Great blog you hhave
Good thriller scene with a description that draws the reader in, C.E. That’s the end of that. Brutes beware. I wish you success with your book. 🙂 — Suzanne
Another good one. Great tension and a most satisfying turnaround at the end.
Thanks, Margaret, like the end of a Western, it is great when the baddie gets shot!
Great voice; literally.
Thank you, Dawn, that is very kind of you.
I always knew that deep down you really are a sweetheart!
Tense scene, neat twist, and great use of repetition. Good work CE
Thank you, sir, glad you enjoyed.
I love it when the woman gives it to her assailant! I think my mom would tell her, “Good job”. One of my novel ideas includes a scene in which a would-be honor killing victim fights off her assailant.
I wish you luck with your novel.
Thank you!
The turnaround at the end is quite unexpected, and incredibly well played. Seriously! This is an excellent piece of work, C.E. Keep it up. ^_^
Thank you, Miles, I am very happy that you liked it so much.
And grateful that you took the time to tell me so.
I love the rhythm, the tension, and the closing in ironic harmony with the first line. Well done!
Thank you, Jan, I admit I like this story myself.
I agree that it says a lot in 100 words.
I guess sometimes it just works!
Such a brilliant misdirection. Didn’t see it coming. And I loved to hear you read.
Thank you, how very very kind of you.
I am glad you liked the story, but that is almost incidental!
You can hear another reading if you click on Current Story, above.
Wonderful CE and I loved hearing you read this piece. Turnabout as they say is fair play.
Thank you for your fulsome praise, Joseph, it was fun to bring to life a story from my recently published book (did I mention that already?)
Punishment to fit the crime, indeed.
🙂
Looks like a good read.
It is a great read, just ask Rochelle or Dale or even me!
And I provide signed copies at very reasonable rates.
🙂
I enjoyed this CE. I like how the woman, the NAA officer was the dangerous one in the alley, more dangerous than the guy stalking her. A flip of your stories which often are from the criminals point of view. Well written. 🎈
Thank you, Amanda, you always find something to enjoy.
Interesting that you say my stories are often from the criminal’s point of view.
Is this a case of writing from experience, do you think?
Haha. I hope not CE. What I mean is it’s often from the POV of a murderer or a guy getting rid of a body he killed, not always but often. So, I hope very much this isn’t the truth. But maybe perhaps, you had a job before dealing with murders like a policeman or detective? I don’t know. Have a great day CE.
Amanda, you are just too sweet.
In my next life I plan to be about 87 years younger so I can marry you and live happily ever after.
Aw, a very sweet compliment yourself 🙂
Thank you CE. Have a wonderful weekend my friend 🙂
I loved hearing this – a whole new perspective to Friday Fiction!
The repetition works particularly well when listening.
My library has a monthly spoken word slot and I dared myself to read three of my Friday Fiction pieces recently – it was actually great fun and started me thinking about what works orally and what doesn’t.
Thank you, Miranda, I am happy that this worked for you.
I confess that I find reading my stories very challenging, although a recent public reading in two languages (English and French) with my friend and agent Emmy L Gant was pretty successful.
And as I say elsewhere below, my alter ego reads one of his poems every Saturday:
https://anelephantcant.me/2016/06/11/she-is-2/
I think that poetry works better orally, but what do I know?
He didn’t see that coming! Actually, nor did I. Nice one.
My hair-raising tale
Hook, line and sinker!
Attaboy, C.E.! She scragged him GOOD. Those streets are rough. Oh, and a swell recording of your voice. Always fun to hear an author read his own work. I’m hoping a lot of us can do that for FF. It’s worth a try.
Great story, stay well!
Yee hah (or whatever is the correct response to ‘Attaboy’) WMQ.
The reading accessed via a QR code was an idea I came up with to promote the book (available here, if you haven’t yet noticed!)
There is another under Current Story up top there, and my alter ego reads a poem every week on his Saturday Sob spot.
Glad it worked for you, regardless.
It worked great!
That was wild little ride.
Tracey
Thank you for your wild little comment, Tracey!
I like your voice, and I like the calmness of it while the violent narrative unfolds.
Great twist at the end!
What a lovely thing to say, thank you.
And I am glad you liked the story too.
You’re welcome!
Nice to hear you! To hear you, nice! This is sooo you! And I loved the repetition. Well done with the book.
Laughing, thank you.
Not entirely sure what is ‘sooo’ me, but it seems like a good thing today!
So I am happy.
In the end, he is the one who is surprised!
Indeed, rough justice at its roughest.
Delightful twist.
Delightful comment.
Thank you.
I echo the comment about the first line repeating at the end. So effective! This was a great story.
Thank you, Thom.
As I say elsewhere, repetition is uniquely effective sometimes.
Brilliant story.
Brilliant comment.
Thank you.
I love repeating lines. it works wonderfully, adding such a strong feeling.
Me too!
Sometimes it makes a point like no other way can.
Ha.. I guess that in the end you don’t really know who is the victim or if the the prey will turn a carnivore… Great to hear you read.
Thank you for all of that, Bjorn, there is another reading from the book under Current Story above.
Such a great surprise at the end. And I love the idea of hearing you read it – it added a whole different experience (a good one) to the reading. Would you mind if I pinched the idea for my next Friday Fictioneers?
I would be honoured and delighted if you use the idea, Claire.
I have a QR code on my book (available on this site!) which takes you directly to Current Story above, where I read another short tale.
Glad you enjoyed the story too.
Dear CE,
I love this one. And I love to hear you read it. One of your best so I’m glad the punishment fit the crime. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you and thank you.
You are very kind, so I am glad you are glad!
You are a master of surprises indeed! I enjoyed this one.
Thank you for kind words, and glad you did, sir.
What about him?
He refuses to talk to me today
Have you considered giving him a skelp in the belly with a wet fish?
Chuckles
A nice switchabout at the end
Thanks Neil, that is my strapline: where nothing is quite what it seems