PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson
After the raid the dance studio was closed off. They hadn’t found who they were looking for.
She watched them troop out to their black SUVs and peel away. Slipping into the shadows she took her plan M path back to the hideout. Stomping down the steps she took in her crew lounging on the sofa, eating out of large bowls of popcorn. The display screen above their heads replayed the raid on the news.
“Boss.”
“We lay low,” she ordered. “Two weeks. Then we’re back on.” They’d steal the portal gun back and return to their time-hopping crime spree.
This is a Friday Fictioneers prompt
You can read more FF prompt responses here
Word count: 100
© Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. All Rights to the works and publications on this blog are owned and copyrighted by Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. The Owner of this site reserves all permissions for access and use of all documents on this site. NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s [and publisher’s] exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot
My commute takes me past it. A chill travels down my spine as I glance fearfully to my left. I imagine I see shadows in the windows. Screaming faces, begging to be released. I worked the front desk once. Before. Before it became what it is now. After the spaceship crashed, the sole pilot was brought in. It was a spectacle, a show. Everyone wanted to see it. Then they got sick. The doctors, the army officers. A blood test and they made us leave. Locked it up.
I still hear screams.
I duck my head and quicken my steps.
This is a Friday Fictioneers prompt
You can read more FF prompt responses here
Word Count: 100
© Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. All Rights to the works and publications on this blog are owned and copyrighted by Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. The Owner of this site reserves all permissions for access and use of all documents on this site. NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s [and publisher’s] exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
The marvellous Pauline Yates has done a fabulous Author Spotlight with me on her blog.
Check it out here: https://paulineyates.com/2024/03/21/author-spotlight-laurie-bell/
A bit about me and my writing style, and perhaps a hint or two about what’s coming up for me next!
Read it now.
So this was a lot of fun – I have a page on Shepherd which is a reviewing and recommendations website. Author friends, you should jump onboard too. Check my top three reads of 2023 below.
My Three Favourite Reads for 2023
(Though, if you read my reviews… I have a LOT of favourite reads haha and it was so unbelievably hard limiting it to only three. They calculate the year a bit funny for the list so a few more of my top 2023 reads might appear in 2024).
https://shepherd.com/bboy/2023
About the Book:
High fantasy, low stakes – with a double-shot of coffee.
After decades of adventuring, Viv the orc barbarian is finally hanging up her sword for good. Now she sets her sights on a new dream – for she plans to open the first coffee shop in the city of Thune. Even though no one there knows what coffee actually is.
If Viv wants to put the past behind her, she can’t go it alone. And help might arrive from unexpected quarters. Yet old rivals and new stand in the way of success. And Thune’s shady underbelly could make it all too easy for Viv to take up the blade once more.
But the true reward of the uncharted path is the travellers you meet along the way. Whether bound by ancient magic, delicious pastries or a freshly brewed cup, they may become something deeper than Viv ever could have imagined.
My Thoughts:
Okay, I must preface this review with the fact that I love coffee and I love high fantasy with Lord of the Rings/D&D style characters such as orcs, hobs, giant cats, succubus, gnomes, talking mouse-like critters and more… So, naturally, the idea of a cozy fantasy involving a coffee shop, snacks and fantasy style characters? Well, I jumped at this book and it did not let me down in the slightest.
It’s pitched as a cozy fantasy with low stakes. And that is exactly what it serves up. My stomach rumbled through every description of luxurious scents, brewing coffee and sweet fresh baked pastries and oh wow, I’m getting hungry again!
Viv is a barbarian orc looking for the quiet life after a long life of battle with a crew who got up to perhaps not the most reputable work. She has a magic stone and a desire to create a shop serving a beverage once served to her by some gnomes. It sounds mad. Her plan is mad. But she makes it work. It is also a book full of wonderful side characters who are all looking for a life beyond that which is expected of them.
This book is a joy to read. The characters simply leap off the page. But honestly, Author Travis Baldree had me at the detailed descriptions of brewing coffee and the scents of cooking pastries. I think I would have been like one of the patrons drawn to Legends and Lattes from the smell alone. This is not an action packed story (and yes I usually love magic filled action sequences, mad battles and wild high stakes adventure.) But for those who often wonder at the side characters in a fantasy movie bar/pub scene and wonder what their day to day lives are like… then this book is for you. This is a genre I had no idea I wanted more of… And wow, I want more of the side quests, the life after you put away the sword, the life where a family might be made or friendships are the focus. A life where all the drama is getting a business set up and dealing with harassing customers and bureaucracy, but in a fantasy setting. I really enjoyed it. This book was an easy read, and one I could enjoy over a coffee of my own, sitting in the sun at a cafe at lunchtime.
PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Hunger rose from its stomach, filling its gaze as it chose a target. Small, noisy, full of rapid movement and lots of pink skin. Tentacles crept over warm grains of sand. So far, its prey had not turned in its direction. More tentacles joined. With them all reaching forward it pulled its full body weight into a sprint to attack. The hunting tentacle with its clawed tip sprang forward.
A scream.
Too late.
It raced for the water, its prey held in its unyielding grip.
The warmth of the sea spread over it form as it dove. Dinner was served.
This is a Friday Fictioneers Prompt
You can read more FF prompt responses here
Word Count: 100
© Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. All Rights to the works and publications on this blog are owned and copyrighted by Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. The Owner of this site reserves all permissions for access and use of all documents on this site. NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s [and publisher’s] exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
PHOTO PROMPT © Rowena Curtin
The flowers appeared by the water tap as if by magic. Has she been seen? It wasn’t possible. She’d been so careful. Letting her wings flutter she inched closer. They smelled so tasty. Glancing around again she peered up at the house, then along the garden path. A look behind confirmed there was no one in sight. She touched down gently on the purple petals inhaling deeply.
The net fell over her, pinning her wings. She looked up, horrified by the large, red-faced grin and crooked teeth. “Aha! I knew fairies were real. I’ll show them all, I’m not mad.”
This is a Friday Fictioneers Prompt
You can read more FF prompt responses here
Word count: 100
© Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. All Rights to the works and publications on this blog are owned and copyrighted by Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. The Owner of this site reserves all permissions for access and use of all documents on this site. NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s [and publisher’s] exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
PHOTO PROMPT © Fleur Lind
They played it all over the news. Car wreck appeared in the middle of the street in broad daylight. No one knew how it got there, where it came from or who put it there.
I was stuck on the why.
As a time slip cop it fell to me to investigate. My jurisdiction they claimed. Please. This had none of the hallmarks of a time slip case. Probably some high school prank or one of them magicians promoting their latest show.
Until half a house disappeared. Time Vortex seen. Shit. I grabbed my scanner. It’ll be a late night.
This is a Friday Fictioneers Prompt
You can read more FF prompt responses here
Word count: 100
I kinda want to expand on this one. I’ve hooked myself. Haha.
© Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. All Rights to the works and publications on this blog are owned and copyrighted by Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. The Owner of this site reserves all permissions for access and use of all documents on this site. NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s [and publisher’s] exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
PHOTO PROMPT © Alicia Jamtaas
The oppressive heat stifled even breathing. The lack of cloud cover, or nearby tree canopies to shade beneath made it worse. Everything was stripped off the wagons and piled into the arms of anyone who could carry. Including the injured and the children.
The trail was rough. Many stumbled. Dry mouths filled with dust. We had to find water soon. The distant – far distant – tree-lined mountain peaks drew us forever forward.
Screeching out of the sky was the only warning. Great metal beasts. Ships of a sort with no sails or wings opened fire. All we could do was run.
This is a Friday Fictioneers Prompt
You can read more FF prompt responses here
Word count: 100
© Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. All Rights to the works and publications on this blog are owned and copyrighted by Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. The Owner of this site reserves all permissions for access and use of all documents on this site. NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s [and publisher’s] exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson
I’ve seen the roads and paths like this before. All iced over and impossible to walk on. I hobbled along with that awkward wide arm balanced, each step placed with care gait. So far so good. The streets were empty of shoppers or cars.
An odd feeling crept over me. The air was still. No sound reached my ears – like the world had been muffled somehow. Beneath my feet a shadow swept past.
I stumbled back. “Whoa!”
It should have been concrete layered with ice. “What the…?”
Cracking ice and pavement shattered the silence. I saw sharp teeth and screamed.
This is a Friday Fictioneers Prompt
You can read more FF prompt responses here
Word count: 100
© Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. All Rights to the works and publications on this blog are owned and copyrighted by Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. The Owner of this site reserves all permissions for access and use of all documents on this site. NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s [and publisher’s] exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
Rambles, writing and amusing musings 