My Creative Writing Submissions

My Creative Writing Submissions http://sefccw.posterous.com This is a place to post my creative writing submissions. Some are from writing prompt or exercises, and some directly from my mind. I hope you enjoy them. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. posterous.com http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.gifSome Rights Reserved Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:12:00 -0800 Book Review: 65 Proof - Jack Daniels and Other Thriller Stories by J.A. Konrath http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~3/37pgyiZ--ag/book-review-65-proof-jack-daniels-and-other-t http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-65-proof-jack-daniels-and-other-t <p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10598983-65-proof-jack-daniels-and-other-thriller-stories" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1326879475m/10598983.jpg" border="0" alt="65 Proof - Jack Daniels and Other Thriller Stories" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10598983-65-proof-jack-daniels-and-other-thriller-stories">65 Proof - Jack Daniels and Other Thriller Stories</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/137270.J_A_Konrath">J.A. Konrath</a><br /> My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/269880615">5 of 5 stars</a><p /> I downloaded this for reading during the 2012 FACUG Technology Conference Bahamas Cruise, so I wouldn't get so engrossed that I missed sessions.<p />These stories certainly did the trick, and prompted me to get "Whiskey Sour" (the 1st of his Jack Daniels series) through my local library. A review of Whiskey Sour will be coming later.<p />I particularly like that the author prefaced most of them with where and how the stories originated, as well as the thriller, horror, serial killer, etc. authors that have influenced his writings.<p />If you like horror, thrillers, serial killer, etc. type books these stories are sure to become some of your favorites. <p /> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7320487-steve">View all my reviews</a></p> </p> <p><a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-65-proof-jack-daniels-and-other-t">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-65-proof-jack-daniels-and-other-t#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=37pgyiZ--ag:930Cvu06XvY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=37pgyiZ--ag:930Cvu06XvY:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?i=37pgyiZ--ag:930Cvu06XvY:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~4/37pgyiZ--ag" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/361360/scostello-square-smile-31dec09.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15WZVlxitah Steve Costello sefcug Steve Costello http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-65-proof-jack-daniels-and-other-t Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:44:00 -0800 Book Review: Dreams Both Real and Strange by K.W. McCabe http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~3/i_EriaCe7R8/book-review-dreams-both-real-and-strange-by-k http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-dreams-both-real-and-strange-by-k <p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13079933-dreams-both-real-and-strange" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327913602m/13079933.jpg" border="0" alt="Dreams Both Real and Strange (Anthologies)" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13079933-dreams-both-real-and-strange">Dreams Both Real and Strange</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5269189.K_W_McCabe">K.W. McCabe</a><br /> My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/263903314">3 of 5 stars</a><p /> I don't normally read anthologies, but this struck my fancy. Also, I had a few appointments, so shorts were a good thing.<p />Most were very short, and I was disappointed that they were not a little longer. But, I felt they were very well written. The last, and longest, left me wanting more. Hopefully, it will be concluded in "Dreams Both Real and Strange II", which I have also downloaded.<p />All in all, these were good short reads. <p /> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7320487-steve">View all my reviews</a></p> </p> <p><a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-dreams-both-real-and-strange-by-k">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-dreams-both-real-and-strange-by-k#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=i_EriaCe7R8:Pm4uqWjZW-0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=i_EriaCe7R8:Pm4uqWjZW-0:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?i=i_EriaCe7R8:Pm4uqWjZW-0:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~4/i_EriaCe7R8" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/361360/scostello-square-smile-31dec09.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15WZVlxitah Steve Costello sefcug Steve Costello http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-dreams-both-real-and-strange-by-k Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:33:00 -0800 Book Review: The Ninth Orphan by James Morcan http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~3/6rYgSYsZ8ts/book-review-the-ninth-orphan-by-james-morcan http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-the-ninth-orphan-by-james-morcan <p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12257650-the-ninth-orphan" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51qgLyXTr%2BL._SX106_.jpg" border="0" alt="The Ninth Orphan" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12257650-the-ninth-orphan">The Ninth Orphan</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5099266.James_Morcan">James Morcan</a><br /> My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/260742613">2 of 5 stars</a><p /> A free download from Amazon December 2011, because it looked interesting.<p />I found this readable, but there was a lot of, what seemed to me, filler; like maybe the authors were not communicating during the writing.<p />That said, I felt compelled to read through to the end.<p />The book has a lot of conspiracy theory, though plausible, hard to wrap my mind about.<p />If you need something to read, that you can pick up and put down when needed, this is adequate. <p /> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7320487-steve">View all my reviews</a></p> </p> <p><a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-the-ninth-orphan-by-james-morcan">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-the-ninth-orphan-by-james-morcan#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=6rYgSYsZ8ts:nzc_DN7wK6E:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=6rYgSYsZ8ts:nzc_DN7wK6E:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?i=6rYgSYsZ8ts:nzc_DN7wK6E:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~4/6rYgSYsZ8ts" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/361360/scostello-square-smile-31dec09.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15WZVlxitah Steve Costello sefcug Steve Costello http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-the-ninth-orphan-by-james-morcan Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:04:00 -0800 Book Review: The Affair by Lee Child http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~3/_hnlnZ4Zwzs/book-review-the-affair-by-lee-child http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-the-affair-by-lee-child <p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10627168-the-affair" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320488512m/10627168.jpg" border="0" alt="The Affair: A Reacher Novel" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10627168-the-affair">The Affair: A Reacher Novel</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5091.Lee_Child">Lee Child</a><br /> My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/262826851">4 of 5 stars</a><p /> I have read all the earlier "Reacher" novels, so when I spotted this on the shelf I just had to read it.</p> <p><br />This explains when and why Reacher left the army, something that I wondered about when reading the others.</p> <p><br />This is a typical "Reacher" novel, though set back in 1997. Jack interacts with other military personnel, as well as involved civilians. He has his own sense of what is right or wrong, and acts accordingly.</p> <p><br />Lots of action, with twists and turns along the way. <p /> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7320487-steve">View all my reviews</a></p> </p> <p><a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-the-affair-by-lee-child">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-the-affair-by-lee-child#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=_hnlnZ4Zwzs:uEuQwvN6t3Y:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=_hnlnZ4Zwzs:uEuQwvN6t3Y:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?i=_hnlnZ4Zwzs:uEuQwvN6t3Y:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~4/_hnlnZ4Zwzs" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/361360/scostello-square-smile-31dec09.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15WZVlxitah Steve Costello sefcug Steve Costello http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-the-affair-by-lee-child Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:25:00 -0800 Booking Through Thursday - Interview, Part 2 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~3/JiFk58DVcps/booking-through-thursday-interview-part-2 http://sefccw.posterous.com/booking-through-thursday-interview-part-2 <p> <div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 8px;"> <p><span><br />I have been unable to participate for quite a while, but now that special projects are done I am getting back to it again.</span></p> <p><a href="http://btt2.wordpress.com/2012/01/12/interview-part-2/" title="Booking Through Thursday">Booking Through Thursday</a> this week:</p> <p>But enough about interviewing other people. It’s time I interviewed YOU.</p> <blockquote class="posterous_short_quote"> <p>1. What’s your favorite time of day to read?</p> </blockquote> <p>Anytime I have a few minutes, mostly during lunch breaks at work, or out on the patio with a good cigar and a glass of scotch in the evening.</p> <blockquote class="posterous_short_quote"> <p>2. Do you read during breakfast? (Assuming you eat breakfast.)</p> </blockquote> <p>Yes. The local newspaper if it is there before I leave, something on my Kindle Touch otherwise.</p> <blockquote class="posterous_short_quote"> <p>3. What’s your favorite breakfast food? (Noting that breakfast foods can be eaten any time of day.)</p> </blockquote> <p><span>Eggs, homefries, buttered rye toast with any jelly except grape. Just ask the waitresses at the local bagel joint.</span></p> <blockquote class="posterous_short_quote"> <p>4. How many hours a day would you say you read?</p> </blockquote> <p>Two or three most days.</p> <blockquote class="posterous_short_quote"> <p>5. Do you read more or less now than you did, say, 10 years ago?</p> </blockquote> <p>Somewhat less, now that I work. I also am president of a computer user group, their monthly newsletter, and moderate a special interest group.</p> <blockquote class="posterous_short_quote"> <p>6. Do you consider yourself a speed reader?</p> </blockquote> <p>I don't know about being a speed reader, but the more involved I get with what I am reading the faster it goes.</p> <blockquote class="posterous_short_quote"> <p>7. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?</p> </blockquote> <p>Slowing time down, while I still function quickly, so I can get everything I want done.</p> <blockquote class="posterous_short_quote"> <p>8. Do you carry a book with you everywhere you go?</p> </blockquote> <p><span>Now that I have my Kindle Touch, I carry many books all the time. I usually have a library book, or a paperback picked up at a yard sale in reserve, because you never know.</span></p> <blockquote class="posterous_short_quote"> <p>9. What KIND of book?</p> </blockquote> <p>Just about anything except for Romance.</p> <blockquote class="posterous_short_quote"> <p>10. How old were you when you got your first library card?</p> </blockquote> <p>That is a long time ago, but I would say when I started second or third grade.</p> <blockquote class="posterous_short_quote"> <p>11. What’s the oldest book you have in your collection? (Oldest physical copy? Longest in the collection? Oldest copyright?)</p> </blockquote> <p>I do not keep books in a collection, as I only read them once and move on to something else.</p> <blockquote class="posterous_short_quote"> <p>12. Do you read in bed?</p> </blockquote> <p>No. I can never get comfortable without falling asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. In fact, my granddaughter says: Poppy! You can sleep anywhere, anytime.</p> <blockquote class="posterous_short_quote"> <p>13. Do you write in your books?</p> </blockquote> <p>No. Let the next person form their own opinion.</p> <blockquote class="posterous_short_quote"> <p>14. If you had one piece of advice to a new reader, what would it be?</p> </blockquote> <p>Get involved with what you are reading, so that nothing going on around you will distract you from a good read.</p> </div> <p> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/booking-through-thursday-interview-part-2">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/booking-through-thursday-interview-part-2#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=JiFk58DVcps:6VEa4tJ-vkI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=JiFk58DVcps:6VEa4tJ-vkI:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?i=JiFk58DVcps:6VEa4tJ-vkI:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~4/JiFk58DVcps" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/361360/scostello-square-smile-31dec09.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15WZVlxitah Steve Costello sefcug Steve Costello http://sefccw.posterous.com/booking-through-thursday-interview-part-2 Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:42:00 -0800 Book Review: Dark Visions by Jonas Saul http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~3/X0kk3vesZTo/book-review-dark-visions-by-jonas-saul http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-dark-visions-by-jonas-saul <p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10682271-dark-visions" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JtyLGkLgL._SX106_.jpg" border="0" alt="Dark Visions" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10682271-dark-visions">Dark Visions</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4334604.Jonas_Saul">Jonas Saul</a><br /> My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/258971217">4 of 5 stars</a><p /> Picked this up as a free Kindle eBook back in November 2011, but don't remember if it a recommendation, or if it just looked interesting when I was searching for free books to read on my new Kindle Touch. The summary looked interesting and it was free, so I ordered it. <p /> When I started reading the book, I felt drawn into it immediately from the first sentence: <p /> "Life and death was the difference of a choice, a moment of indecision, an expensive thought that cast a silky web around her. The snare was always set, gripping and pulling, but would she be strong enough when the time came? Would she be able to save whomever it is she was supposed to save?". <p /> <strong>Pros:</strong> Captivating, intriguing, exploration of psychic ability, kidnapping. <p /> <strong>Cons:</strong> A little choppy in sections. A lot of unnecessary, in my opinion, characters. <p /> I liked Sarah's flaws, rather than her being a well-adjusted teen. Her character was a quick thinker, but inexperienced with her abilities, and sometimes confused. All this makes her all the better. <p /> This was my first Jonas Saul book, but definitely not my last. <p /> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7320487-steve">View all my reviews</a></p> </p> <p><a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-dark-visions-by-jonas-saul">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-dark-visions-by-jonas-saul#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=X0kk3vesZTo:_R8weqxiPzA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=X0kk3vesZTo:_R8weqxiPzA:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?i=X0kk3vesZTo:_R8weqxiPzA:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~4/X0kk3vesZTo" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/361360/scostello-square-smile-31dec09.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15WZVlxitah Steve Costello sefcug Steve Costello http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-dark-visions-by-jonas-saul Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:22:00 -0800 Book Review: Hotwire by Alex Kava http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~3/pVzahiNYkFI/book-review-hotwire-by-alex-kava http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-hotwire-by-alex-kava <p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9729595-hotwire" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320561505m/9729595.jpg" border="0" alt="Hotwire (Maggie O'Dell, #9)" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9729595-hotwire">Hotwire</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/167395.Alex_Kava">Alex Kava</a><br /> My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/259174758">4 of 5 stars</a><p /> Another Maggie O'Dell novel. <p /> On her way to a conference in Denver, Maggie takes a detour to western Nebraska, to investigate the death of two teenagers. <p /> Colonel Benjamin Platt, who she interacted with in "Damaged" during a hurricane in Florida, reappears dealing with some food poisoning with the USDA and CDC. <p /> I won't detail too much more and spoil it. <p /> I read this in one sitting, as I had to be available for about four hours the day I read it. <p /> It starts off a little slow, and jumps around some, but is still a good read. <p /> I obtained this from my public library. <p /> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7320487-steve">View all my reviews</a></p> </p> <p><a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-hotwire-by-alex-kava">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-hotwire-by-alex-kava#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=pVzahiNYkFI:xy_s6KO8qDI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=pVzahiNYkFI:xy_s6KO8qDI:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?i=pVzahiNYkFI:xy_s6KO8qDI:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~4/pVzahiNYkFI" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/361360/scostello-square-smile-31dec09.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15WZVlxitah Steve Costello sefcug Steve Costello http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-hotwire-by-alex-kava Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:01:00 -0800 Book Review: Robert B. Parker's Killing the Blues by Michael Brandman http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~3/1yoS80h6LPg/book-review-robert-b-parkers-killing-the-blue http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-robert-b-parkers-killing-the-blue <p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8438022-robert-b-parker-s-killing-the-blues" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51qoJR0khoL._SX106_.jpg" border="0" alt="Robert B. Parker's Killing the Blues (Jesse Stone, #10)" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8438022-robert-b-parker-s-killing-the-blues">Robert B. Parker's Killing the Blues</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4678962.Michael_Brandman">Michael Brandman</a><br /> My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/255400126">4 of 5 stars</a><p /> I was skeptical when I first started to read this book, as I really enjoyed reading Robert B. Parker's Jesse Stone, Sunny Randall, and Spencer books, and did not know if Michael Brandman could pull it off. I was presently surprised to find that he had.<p />This read much like Parker's Jesse Stone, with the short, to the point, and somewhat wise-guy dialog. He digs into Jesse's character flaws in the same manner as Parker, and works in the recurring characters like Lt. Healy, and the Boston Mass. area's environs, and criminals.<p />This was basically a two sitting read, and kept me captivated the whole read.<p />I guess Brandman's experience with the made for TV Jesse Stone movies, is what makes him know the characters and Parker's writing so well.<p />I can't wait to see if he puts out more books with Parker's characters.</p> <p>I obtained this from my local library.<p /> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7320487-steve">View all my reviews</a></p> </p> <p><a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-robert-b-parkers-killing-the-blue">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-robert-b-parkers-killing-the-blue#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=1yoS80h6LPg:IXyAuJZ4Gg8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=1yoS80h6LPg:IXyAuJZ4Gg8:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?i=1yoS80h6LPg:IXyAuJZ4Gg8:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~4/1yoS80h6LPg" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/361360/scostello-square-smile-31dec09.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15WZVlxitah Steve Costello sefcug Steve Costello http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-robert-b-parkers-killing-the-blue Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:39:00 -0800 Book Review: Shock Wave, by John Sandford http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~3/9GeCyUWtKIM/book-review-shock-wave-by-john-sandford http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-shock-wave-by-john-sandford <p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9925913-shock-wave" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1292472145m/9925913.jpg" border="0" alt="Shock Wave (Virgil Flowers, #5)" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9925913-shock-wave">Shock Wave</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4610.John_Sandford">John Sandford</a><br /> My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/255411093">4 of 5 stars</a><p /> This 5th Virgil Flowers novel follows along with all of John Sandford's previous works. <p />Addresses policing, community, and criminals, in a way that just makes everything flow. The author takes us into the workings of the minds of all concerned, and keeps everything moving at a good pace.<p />I obtained this from my local library. <p /> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7320487-steve">View all my reviews</a></p> </p> <p><a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-shock-wave-by-john-sandford">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-shock-wave-by-john-sandford#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=9GeCyUWtKIM:m_YevyG_-IU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=9GeCyUWtKIM:m_YevyG_-IU:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?i=9GeCyUWtKIM:m_YevyG_-IU:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~4/9GeCyUWtKIM" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/361360/scostello-square-smile-31dec09.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15WZVlxitah Steve Costello sefcug Steve Costello http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-shock-wave-by-john-sandford Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:27:00 -0800 Book Review: The Rangeland Avenger, by Max Brand http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~3/fYGNFDu-0kQ/book-review-the-rangeland-avenger-by-max-bran http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-the-rangeland-avenger-by-max-bran <p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5300924-the-rangeland-avenger" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img src="http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-111x148.jpg" border="0" alt="The Rangeland Avenger" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5300924-the-rangeland-avenger">The Rangeland Avenger</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21609.Max_Brand">Max Brand</a><br /> My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/256131037">5 of 5 stars</a><p /> Classic old time western. Revenge, treatise on what a friend is, gun-play, loyalty, what makes a man a man, twists and turns.<p />Lots of action.<p />If you are a reader of westerns, and have not read this yet, I highly recommend it.<p />*****<br />This is in the public domain, and I obtained through Project Gutenberg: <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10601" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10601</a> <p /> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7320487-steve">View all my reviews</a></p> </p> <p><a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-the-rangeland-avenger-by-max-bran">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-the-rangeland-avenger-by-max-bran#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=fYGNFDu-0kQ:d8yaiBJUFwE:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=fYGNFDu-0kQ:d8yaiBJUFwE:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?i=fYGNFDu-0kQ:d8yaiBJUFwE:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~4/fYGNFDu-0kQ" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/361360/scostello-square-smile-31dec09.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15WZVlxitah Steve Costello sefcug Steve Costello http://sefccw.posterous.com/book-review-the-rangeland-avenger-by-max-bran Thu, 05 Jan 2012 08:15:00 -0800 Review - Diabetes Lifestyle Book: Facing Your Fears and Making Changes for a Long and Healthy Life http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~3/Yzd0dAtgZpg/review-diabetes-lifestyle-book-facing-your-fe http://sefccw.posterous.com/review-diabetes-lifestyle-book-facing-your-fe <p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1459908.Diabetes_Lifestyle_Book" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1183837010m/1459908.jpg" border="0" alt="Diabetes Lifestyle Book: Facing Your Fears and Making Changes for a Long and Healthy Life" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1459908.Diabetes_Lifestyle_Book">Diabetes Lifestyle Book: Facing Your Fears and Making Changes for a Long and Healthy Life</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/684933.Jennifer_Callaghan_Glenn_M_Hayes_Steven_C_Gregg">Jennifer ; Callaghan, Glenn M. ; Hayes, Steven C. Gregg</a><br /> My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/256673275">2 of 5 stars</a><p /> Was first eBook download from my Public Library. Did not provide any information I did not already know through my doctor and nutritionist. <p /> May be useful for someone just diagnosed, but did not do anything for me. <p /> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7320487-steve">View all my reviews</a></p> </p> <p><a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/review-diabetes-lifestyle-book-facing-your-fe">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/review-diabetes-lifestyle-book-facing-your-fe#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=Yzd0dAtgZpg:XzszkS_0aBQ:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=Yzd0dAtgZpg:XzszkS_0aBQ:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?i=Yzd0dAtgZpg:XzszkS_0aBQ:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~4/Yzd0dAtgZpg" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/361360/scostello-square-smile-31dec09.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15WZVlxitah Steve Costello sefcug Steve Costello http://sefccw.posterous.com/review-diabetes-lifestyle-book-facing-your-fe Wed, 04 Jan 2012 08:15:00 -0800 eBooks And The Future http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~3/IJuTKZ7lzBM/ebooks-and-the-future http://sefccw.posterous.com/ebooks-and-the-future <p> <p><a href="http://ebookfriendly.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/ebookfriendly_cartoon_2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-50190" title="Ebooks and Hackers in 2020 | Ebook Friendly" src="http://ebookfriendly.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/ebookfriendly_cartoon_2-522x391.jpg" height="391" alt="Ebooks and Hackers in 2020 | Ebook Friendly" width="522" /></a></p> <h5>Via <a href="http://ebookfriendly.com/2012/01/04/ebooks-and-hackers-in-2020-cartoon/">Ebook Friendly</a></h5> <p>*******</p> <p>I got a Kindle Touch just after Thanksgiving. </p> <p>There are a lot of eBooks available for free, and I have downloaded them like crazy. Though not as easy as depicted in the cartoon above, the process is not all that difficult. </p> <p>Also, with just a little research on the web, obtaining free eBooks, in just about any genre, is relatively simple also.</p> <p>Check out <a href="http://ebookfriendly.com/">http://ebookfriendly.com</a> for good information about eBooks and eReaders.</p> <p>******</p> <p>Do you have an eReader? If so what is your experience with obtaining and downloading eBooks?</p> </p> <p><a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/ebooks-and-the-future">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/ebooks-and-the-future#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=IJuTKZ7lzBM:0Mh6NTgOtM0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=IJuTKZ7lzBM:0Mh6NTgOtM0:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?i=IJuTKZ7lzBM:0Mh6NTgOtM0:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~4/IJuTKZ7lzBM" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/361360/scostello-square-smile-31dec09.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15WZVlxitah Steve Costello sefcug Steve Costello http://sefccw.posterous.com/ebooks-and-the-future Thu, 22 Sep 2011 04:11:00 -0700 Booking Through Thursday - In Public http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~3/aOGsvOhpY9E/booking-through-thursday-in-public http://sefccw.posterous.com/booking-through-thursday-in-public <p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">Booking Through Thursday asks this week:</span></p> <blockquote> <p><span style="font-size: small;">Do you carry books with you when you’re out and about in the world?</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">And, do you ever try to hide the covers?</span></p> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">* * * * *</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">Yes, I carry books with me all the time. Usually I even have a spare paperback in the vehicles I use, for when I finish up the one I am currently reading. I am at the library at least once a week, and keep a bookcase full of paperbacks that I find at garage sales.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">I try to rotate crime novels, horror, western, sci-fi, fantasy, thrillers, action, and general fiction. Sometimes I will even pick up a classic, a biography, or even (gasp) a random book by an author unknown to me.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">I do not try to hide the covers. Sometimes someone will see me reading something and ask me about it, which brings up a discussion of authors who write similar books. The discussion will lead to new books for me to explore, which I would not know about otherwise.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">* * * * *</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">To see other responses, or to participate yourself follow this link: </span><a href="http://btt2.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/in-public/">http://btt2.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/in-public/</a> .</p> </p> <p><a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/booking-through-thursday-in-public">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/booking-through-thursday-in-public#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=aOGsvOhpY9E:sfzwOGQ5R5w:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=aOGsvOhpY9E:sfzwOGQ5R5w:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?i=aOGsvOhpY9E:sfzwOGQ5R5w:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~4/aOGsvOhpY9E" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/361360/scostello-square-smile-31dec09.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15WZVlxitah Steve Costello sefcug Steve Costello http://sefccw.posterous.com/booking-through-thursday-in-public Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:00:00 -0700 The Blue Heron And The Hippos http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~3/f2ioTccf6Tg/the-blue-heron-and-the-hippos http://sefccw.posterous.com/the-blue-heron-and-the-hippos <p> <div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stignygaard/2486542013/" target="_blank"><img title="Grey Heron and hippos by Stig Nygaard, on Flickr" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3084/2486542013_f60616d2cd.jpg" border="0" alt="Grey Heron and hippos by Stig Nygaard, on Flickr" /></a><br /><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" target="_blank"><img title="Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License" src="http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by/2.0/80x15.png" border="0" align="left" alt="Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License" /></a>  by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/stignygaard/" target="_blank"> Stig Nygaard</a><a href="http://www.imagecodr.org/" target="_blank"> </a></div> <div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span> <p>Characters:</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">Bleu - The Blue Heron</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">Hamza - The Male Hippopotamus</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">Hazel - The Female Hippopotamus</p> </div> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">Bleu perched upon Hamza's broad back as they moved downriver, and saw a small school of fish near the bank. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">He decided to <strong>request </strong>a detour to the area from his friend, but couldn't think of a way to <strong>justify</strong> the move. He decided to just ask and see what happened, so then got Hamza's attention.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">Hamza listened and agreed with the stipulation that the <strong>stop </strong>would be very short as he was <strong>lock</strong>ed in to making the <strong>return </strong>to his wife before she realized he was gone. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">As they approached the bank, Hamza opened his mouth wide to offer a <strong>deck </strong>for Bleu to hunt from. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">Hazel noticed they were gone and let out a loud snort. Startled, Hamza clamped his mouth shut reflexively, crushing Bleu's legs, and turned towards her.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;"><em>Moral:</em></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Never </strong>look <strong>away </strong>from a hippo, because they have a real short attention span, so if you <strong>don't pay </strong>attention you can get seriously hurt.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">*****</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">This is my submission to <a href="http://www.creativecopychallenge.com/writing-prompts-creative-copy-challenge-176/" title="Creative Copy Challenge #176">Creative Copy Challenge #176</a> to see the other submissions, or to add one of your own, just go to the link.</span></p> </p> <p><a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/the-blue-heron-and-the-hippos">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/the-blue-heron-and-the-hippos#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=f2ioTccf6Tg:bOM1cr54VDQ:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=f2ioTccf6Tg:bOM1cr54VDQ:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?i=f2ioTccf6Tg:bOM1cr54VDQ:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~4/f2ioTccf6Tg" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/361360/scostello-square-smile-31dec09.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15WZVlxitah Steve Costello sefcug Steve Costello http://sefccw.posterous.com/the-blue-heron-and-the-hippos Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:00:00 -0700 A Solution http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~3/lb-blIJPYw8/a-solution http://sefccw.posterous.com/a-solution <p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">Rhonda said, "I know. I can <strong>run </strong>down to the <strong>Stop</strong> and <strong>Go</strong>, <strong>get </strong>a <strong>slice </strong>of pizza and a <strong>piece</strong> of pie to <strong>give </strong>him."</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">This simple, yet thoughtful, solution brough at <strong>tear </strong>to my <strong>eye</strong>. Only one, as it was stupid to think a slice of pizza and a piece of pie could help a man shot in the temple, but at least Rhonda was trying to help.</span></p> <div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/megyarsh/2436625071/" target="_blank"><img title="Tears are tasteless by Megyarsh, on Flickr" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2284/2436625071_9235c00280_m.jpg" border="0" alt="Tears are tasteless by Megyarsh, on Flickr" /></a><br /><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" target="_blank"><img title="Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License" src="http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by/2.0/80x15.png" border="0" align="left" alt="Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License" /></a>  by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/megyarsh/" target="_blank"> Megyarsh</a><a href="http://www.imagecodr.org/" target="_blank"> </a></div> <p /> <div><em><span style="font-size: medium;">Moral:</span></em></div> <p /> <div><span style="font-size: medium;">If you don't know what to <strong>do</strong>, it might just be better to let someone else help.</span></div> <p /> <p>*****</p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">This is my submission to <a href="http://www.creativecopychallenge.com/writing-prompts-creative-copy-challenge-149/" title="Creative Copy Challenge #175">Creative Copy Challenge #175</a> to see the other submissions, or to add one of your own, just go to the link.</span></p> </p> <p><a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/a-solution">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/a-solution#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=lb-blIJPYw8:v2wrWy6m_Y0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=lb-blIJPYw8:v2wrWy6m_Y0:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?i=lb-blIJPYw8:v2wrWy6m_Y0:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~4/lb-blIJPYw8" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/361360/scostello-square-smile-31dec09.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15WZVlxitah Steve Costello sefcug Steve Costello http://sefccw.posterous.com/a-solution Thu, 08 Sep 2011 13:24:00 -0700 Ahah! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~3/02ADHL-XaOU/69107815 http://sefccw.posterous.com/69107815 <p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">Call her <strong>shortsighted</strong>, but Jennifer was only <strong>cogent </strong>of the string of <strong>digits </strong>being promised for just performing her job of hair <strong>stylist</strong>. The appointment was for one in the morning (<strong>ship</strong>'s time), with Jen being the only one except the client there. Though the request was unusual, Jen was ready and waiting.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">The client arrived for the private session dressed in a very nice pair of <strong>slacks </strong>and blouse. Jen complimented her outfit, determined the kind of styling she wanted, and started making her look even better.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">As the client's hair was drying she pulled a <strong>sack </strong>from her pocket. Once the contents were exposed to the atmosphere Jen immediately understood why none of her co-workers had stepped up.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">The off-planet passenger was snacking on a <strong>malodorous pudding </strong>of very questionable origin, with a very unappetizing look to it.</span></p> <div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/avlxyz/4560776950/" target="_blank"><img title="Boiled beef skull by avlxyz, on Flickr" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3163/4560776950_4bf1a35730_m.jpg" border="0" alt="Boiled beef skull by avlxyz, on Flickr" /></a><br /><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/" target="_blank"><img title="Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic License" src="http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-sa/2.0/80x15.png" border="0" align="left" alt="Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic License" /></a>  by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/avlxyz/" target="_blank"> avlxyz</a><a href="http://www.imagecodr.org/" target="_blank"> </a></div> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">Moral:</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">Do not let a large amount of money influence your  <strong>choice</strong>, especially when all your co-workers have turned down the opportunity.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #282723; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; background-color: #e4e0db;"> </span></span></p> <div style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">*****</span></div> <p style="margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #4f4543; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica; line-height: 24px; background-color: #e4e0db; font-size: x-small;">This is my submission to <span style="color: #7d6868; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://www.creativecopychallenge.com/writing-prompts-creative-copy-challenge-174/" title="Creative Copy Challenge #174">Creative Copy Challenge #174</a></span></span> to see the other submissions, or to add one of your own, just go to the link.</span></p> <p> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/69107815">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/69107815#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=02ADHL-XaOU:BLvHlypSbpo:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=02ADHL-XaOU:BLvHlypSbpo:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?i=02ADHL-XaOU:BLvHlypSbpo:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~4/02ADHL-XaOU" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/361360/scostello-square-smile-31dec09.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15WZVlxitah Steve Costello sefcug Steve Costello http://sefccw.posterous.com/69107815 Fri, 19 Aug 2011 06:41:00 -0700 The Bracelet Incident (Adult Content) http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~3/c3E8d1Im9bo/the-bracelet-incident-adult-content http://sefccw.posterous.com/the-bracelet-incident-adult-content <p> <div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paparutzi/285872797/" target="_blank"><img title="diamond bracelet by paparutzi, on Flickr" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/118/285872797_94cec288ee.jpg" border="0" alt="diamond bracelet by paparutzi, on Flickr" /></a><br /><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" target="_blank"><img title="Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License" src="http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by/2.0/80x15.png" border="0" align="left" alt="Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License" /></a>  by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/paparutzi/" target="_blank"> paparutzi</a><a href="http://www.imagecodr.org/" target="_blank"> </a></div> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">Jack was moving along with his normal after school clean up of the restrooms at Jensen Junior High, when he came to the second floor North boy's room.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">At first everything seemed normal, until he opened the second stall to start his cleanup, and spotted a diamond bracelet in the bottom of the bowl, and Billy (an eighth grader) beaten and lying beside the bowl.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">Jack immediately dropped everything and tried to rouse Billy. When Billy came around Jack asked what happened.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">Billy said: "I thought I was all alone, and was trying on this diamond bracelet I bought for my mom. Three of the other guys came in, and started saying how I looked really good with my new bracelet, and wanted to know who my boyfriend was."</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">Jack thought he knew what happened next but encouraged Billy to go on.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">"I tried to tell them that I didn't have a boyfriend. They didn't believe me and kept asking me about a boyfriend and what we did with each other. Finally, they all got naked and made me have sex with them. They said now I could do better with my boyfriend, beat me up and left."</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">Jack asked if he knew who the boys were, and Billy said no, but Jack knew he was lying. Then, Jack asked how Billy could afford a diamond bracelet and Billy replied that it was not real diamonds, but he thought his mother would really like it.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">Jack promised Billy that he would not tell anyone about what the other boys had done, even though it should be reported to the police, but if Billy would not say who it was it would just create a lot of trouble.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">They decided that Billy would tell everyone that he slipped and bounced off the stall wall and the bowl when he fell. Also, Jack wouldn't say anything about the bracelet to anyone.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">Several days later the police came and arrested Jack for sexually assaulting Billy. Jack tried to tell them what had actually happened, to no avail, and his life was ruined.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-size: medium;">Moral:</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">Whenever you see or suspect sexual improprieties with a minor, notify the authorities immediately, instead of trying to take care of things yourself.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">*****</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">The above story is in response to today's  <a href="http://thepromptwriter.com/building-a-silo-8-19-11/" title="The Prompt Writer - 19AUG11">The Prompt Writer</a> fourth prompt:</span></p> <blockquote> <p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; background-color: #ebe1c8; font-size: medium;">Subject (the main character), Item (something the main character needs to make the story go), Location (the place everything takes place), and Objective (the plot).</span></p> </blockquote> <ul> <li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; background-color: #ebe1c8; font-size: medium;">S-A janitor</span></li> <li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; background-color: #ebe1c8; font-size: medium;">I-A diamond bracelet</span></li> <li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; background-color: #ebe1c8; font-size: medium;">L-The boys room</span></li> <li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; background-color: #ebe1c8; font-size: medium;">O-Judgement calls</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">I hope it will impress on all that sexual assault is nothing to take lightly, especially involving a minor.</span></p> </p> <p><a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/the-bracelet-incident-adult-content">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/the-bracelet-incident-adult-content#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=c3E8d1Im9bo:VvvF1UhTH3Q:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=c3E8d1Im9bo:VvvF1UhTH3Q:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?i=c3E8d1Im9bo:VvvF1UhTH3Q:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~4/c3E8d1Im9bo" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/361360/scostello-square-smile-31dec09.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15WZVlxitah Steve Costello sefcug Steve Costello http://sefccw.posterous.com/the-bracelet-incident-adult-content Wed, 17 Aug 2011 07:11:41 -0700 Tami Hoag Recently Read http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~3/jFk6o-rJGl8/59859497 http://sefccw.posterous.com/59859497 <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Thoag85books-100w" height="70" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-07-06/uaIwgGroxcBqHnykegCddhfduiEaEorummtGvjfyBHwBFyDhArpbvitixsIE/THoag85books-100w.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="100" /> </div> Covers from the <a href="http://www.tamihoag.com/hoag-books.htm" title="Tami Hoag site">Tami Hoag</a> site.</p> <p>I read both <em>Deeper than the Dead</em> and <em>Secrets to the Grave</em> (in that order), by Tami Hoag, over the July 4th weekend. I have read other novels by Ms. Hoag before and these looked interesting when I was at the library looking for something to read.</p> <p>The premise was intriguing, FBI profiling before technology, DNA, etc.; the events take place in 1985. I am not about to give away the plots, but I do want to acknowledge that Ms. Hoag is a great writer, and brings the 1980s to life with her writing.</p> <p>*****</p> <p>I had started writing this on July 6th, but never completed, due to pain meds clouding my mind at the time.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/59859497">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/59859497#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=jFk6o-rJGl8:CZGT2Bb4oFE:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=jFk6o-rJGl8:CZGT2Bb4oFE:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?i=jFk6o-rJGl8:CZGT2Bb4oFE:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~4/jFk6o-rJGl8" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/361360/scostello-square-smile-31dec09.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15WZVlxitah Steve Costello sefcug Steve Costello http://sefccw.posterous.com/59859497 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 04:16:00 -0700 The Anniversary Celebration (Adult Content) http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~3/6or7UC1OsM8/the-anniversary-celebration-adult-content http://sefccw.posterous.com/the-anniversary-celebration-adult-content <p> <div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rickberg/3904604654/" target="_blank"><img title="Praying Mantis by Rick Berg, on Flickr" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2564/3904604654_bd8b485ae4_m.jpg" border="0" alt="Praying Mantis by Rick Berg, on Flickr" /></a><br /><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/" target="_blank"><img title="Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 2.0 Generic License" src="http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc/2.0/80x15.png" border="0" align="left" alt="Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 2.0 Generic License" /></a>  by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/rickberg/" target="_blank"> Rick Berg</a><a href="http://www.imagecodr.org/" target="_blank"> </a></div> <p /> <div><span style="font-size: small;">They went down by the <strong>water</strong>, but he did not <strong>bother </strong>to <strong>discuss </strong>the implications of the agreement.</span></div> <p /> <div><span style="font-size: small;">She started to lick the <strong>sweet</strong> tasting <strong>sweat</strong>, and their combined juices, from his glistening nether region, while he looked to the <strong>sky</strong>. He saw a formation in the clouds which mirrored the way she had to <strong>celebrate </strong>their anniversary. He had failed to really <strong>listen </strong>to her when she said she wanted to set him <strong>free </strong>if he would just go along with her pretending they were praying mantises while having sex by the lake.</span></div> <p /> <div><span style="font-size: small;">Their love-making had been long and very satisfying, so he was shocked when she bit off the head of his penis and told him: "I know about your affair with my best friend. Now I am divorcing you, and setting you free."</span></div> <p /> <div><span style="font-size: small;"><em>Moral:</em> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size: small;">Always think things through completely before making any kind of <strong>promise</strong>, and make sure you consider all consequences.</span></div> <p /> <div><span style="font-size: small;">*****</span></div> <p /> <div><span style="color: #4f4543; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica; line-height: 24px; background-color: #e4e0db;">This is my submission to <span style="color: #7d6868;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.creativecopychallenge.com/writing-prompts-creative-copy-challenge-168/" title="Creative Copy Challenge #168" target="_blank">Creative Copy Challenge #168</a></span></span> to see the other submissions, or to add one of your own, just go to the link. Todays words were used in numerical order.</span></div> </p> <p><a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/the-anniversary-celebration-adult-content">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/the-anniversary-celebration-adult-content#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=6or7UC1OsM8:sgu-TzEJhp8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=6or7UC1OsM8:sgu-TzEJhp8:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?i=6or7UC1OsM8:sgu-TzEJhp8:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~4/6or7UC1OsM8" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/361360/scostello-square-smile-31dec09.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15WZVlxitah Steve Costello sefcug Steve Costello http://sefccw.posterous.com/the-anniversary-celebration-adult-content Fri, 12 Aug 2011 11:02:00 -0700 TV With Gramps - Another Grandparent Recollection http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~3/cQYeMTJd-0Q/tv-with-gramps-another-grandparent-recollecti http://sefccw.posterous.com/tv-with-gramps-another-grandparent-recollecti <p> <div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/neonbubble/3641245320/" target="_blank"><img title="Watching TV by neonbubble, on Flickr" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3373/3641245320_98737c39e0.jpg" border="0" alt="Watching TV by neonbubble, on Flickr" /></a><br /><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/" target="_blank"><img title="Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic License" src="http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc-sa/2.0/80x15.png" border="0" align="left" alt="Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic License" /></a>  by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/neonbubble/" target="_blank"> neonbubble</a><a href="http://www.imagecodr.org/" target="_blank"> </a></div> <p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Sometime in the early 70s I can remember watching a show with Gramps that was all about the making of a toothpick. The show started with felling a tree and worked all the way down to the making of a single toothpick.</span></p> <div style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; font-size: small;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; font-size: small;">Unfortunately, I can not remember the name of the show, nor the network it was on. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; font-size: small;">We became so engrossed in the show that nothing around us bothered us, which is a feat with my grandmother, parents, and sisters getting things ready for the family dinner. </span><p /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">After that Gramps and I would watch many other educational shows together, including </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Sesame Street</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, I don’t know if he was getting senile and I was just humoring him, but I found I enjoyed the show.</span></span></div> <p>*****</p> <p>I know it has been a while since I have posted anything, but if you have read my About Me page, you know that I have had spinal surgery and am still recovering.</p> <p>The anasthesia and pain medication fog is finally lifting, and I hope to post more frequently, though you never know.</p> <p>Anyway, thank you in advance for your understanding.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/tv-with-gramps-another-grandparent-recollecti">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://sefccw.posterous.com/tv-with-gramps-another-grandparent-recollecti#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=cQYeMTJd-0Q:L4HBNRNo5EU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?a=cQYeMTJd-0Q:L4HBNRNo5EU:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions?i=cQYeMTJd-0Q:L4HBNRNo5EU:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyCreativeWritingSubmissions/~4/cQYeMTJd-0Q" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/361360/scostello-square-smile-31dec09.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15WZVlxitah Steve Costello sefcug Steve Costello http://sefccw.posterous.com/tv-with-gramps-another-grandparent-recollecti