Tag Archives: Avery Dawes

Wednesday Briefs: June 24, 2020

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Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

As Lovely as a Tree: Part 4 by Sarah Hayes

For a moment Yulia thought she smelled smoke lingering on the sleeves of Bonnie’s scrubs as the nurse hovered over her to check her various vitals. She shook her head the moment Bonnie turned away. The synapses in her brain must have fired off the wrong signals, that’s all.

Minutes later, the smoke was forgotten and Yulia was walking around her room, guided by a hand on her arm just in case she stumbled and fell. She forced herself to be ambulatory on a regular basis. It not,  she’d lose muscle definition and be too weak to take care of herself if, god forbid, both Bonnie and Elzie would be unavailable for a prolonged period of time.

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Wednesday Briefs: June 17, 2020

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Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Adrift: Part 8 by J. Alan Veerkamp

Jimmy waited in his truck, having long since bored of thumbing through his phone. Useless piece of junk. Who did he have to call anyways? Unchecked dust greyed the radio’s controls. The chittering of nature would always be preferable over modern music and DJ babbling. With August’s full moon several days behind him and the waning gibbous tomorrow night, he was calm enough to kill time in silence.

Working through the phases of the moon’s gentle caress could be a mixed blessing. When it was new, he missed its presence but found serenity. When it was full, he craved the sight, yet spent day and night agitated and needy.

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Wednesday Briefs: January 9, 2019

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Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Ghostly Blues in the Big Easy: Part 2 by Avery Dawes

The next day I tossed and turned, only managing a little sleep. One of the downsides of working odd hours meant I passed the daylight hours buried under the covers, taking full advantage of my awesome blackout drapes. It didn’t hurt that my windows faced west—thank you, Damien for that! After my grandma passed, I inherited her shotgun-style house. While it was cute, it needed work, and I didn’t have the time or energy for repairs. Then, along came Katrina, and well, it was more cost-effective to bulldoze it than rebuild it. Damien had a fabulous mansion . . .

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Wednesday Briefs: January 2, 2019

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Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

In Pieces #34 (8.7) by Julie Lynn Hayes

As it turned out, Ryan’s fears were groundless. Ben had Miles well in hand, and was keeping the infatuated  young man at what Ryan considered to be a safe distance. Ben was letting Miles’ friends take selfies of themselves with him, and all of the young people were clamoring for his attention, eating it up. But when Ben spotted Ryan coming toward him, his face lit up with unmistakable joy.

Ryan had intended to hang on the fringe of the group and take the photos for the host,  but Ben would have none of that. He bounced up to Ryan and welcomed him with a warm kiss, drawing a few giggles from the young people, as well as comments of “Hey, can priests do that now?” which were answered by a snarky “He’s not a real priest, dumbass.”

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Wednesday Briefs: May 9, 2018

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Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page

In Pieces #2 (1.2) by Julie Lynn Hayes

 Ryan turned his gaze toward his stepmother. Cassie was Dad’s third wife. Widow now. Ryan’s mother, who’d died when Ryan was an infant, had been the first Mrs. Fremont. And Dad’s second wife, Liza, had disappeared years ago, vanished without a trace. Along with his stepbrother, Ben. He’d hoped they would show up today—whether to pay their respects or simply acknowledge his dad’s passing, he couldn’t say—but that hadn’t happened. Maybe he shouldn’t have been surprised. He hadn’t heard a word from either of them in ten years. The last time his dad had been in contact was when he’d gotten the divorce papers signed, and even that was done through his lawyer, nothing direct.

Cassie’s head was bent, her eyes closed. Maybe she was praying.  Ryan sighed. Prayers never seemed to do any good, so why bother? Hadn’t gotten him anywhere today. He’d prayed to be able to see Ben. See how well that had worked out.

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Wednesday Briefs: April 25, 2018

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Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page

Two Girls and Some Ghouls: Part II by Avery Dawes

Last week, Private Mansfield politely asked if I could find out what became of his wife and young son after the war. I sensed the emotion behind his strong façade and gave him props for not shedding any ghost tears. Using the dates and locations he gave me, I thought I might have a chance at finding what had become of his family so it didn’t take much convincing for me to help him. His story had touched an unexpected nerve. He and his wife were newlyweds when he left to fight for Virginia. They’d gotten married once she found

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Wednesday Briefs: April 18, 2018

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Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page

Here Kitty Kitty: Chapter 7.3 by Carol Pedroso

“When can we go home?” “I want to go back to grandma’s house.” “I’m tired.”

The kits had been wonderful but the constant traveling was wearing on all of them and the kits most of all. Simon felt Kitryn tense and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Deep breath,” he muttered and received a tight smile.

Meg had moved to walk with the kits and she could be heard explaining once again why they couldn’t return to her house.

Simon looked at the sky. “We need to find shelter soon.” Kitryn nodded and they started checking the sides of the path

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Wednesday Briefs: July 26, 2017

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Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Disassembly Required: Part 3 by Sarah Hayes

Beatriz stepped forward, into the darkness. She reached out for a physical anchor, a counter or a cutting board, or even the fabric of Allen’s jacket sleeve, but found nothing. Her eyes registered nothing but black.

“Allen?” As soon as she spoke, Beatriz knew she would not be heard. The oppressive lack of light seemed to swallow up her words the second they left her lips, swaddled them up and muted them for good.

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Wednesday Briefs: July 19, 2017

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Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Mine! Part Two: Chapter Twenty-eight by Cia Nordwel

Trein had Ritch on his knees in front of him, his face swollen and blood trickling down his neck where Trein’s claws dug in to the vulnerable column. Two other Tigers held my mom and brother in the same position. Panic nearly swamped me, and it took everything I had not to attack.

It would only get them killed. I had a split second to hope Wilbur would know not to attack, but that was it before I focused in on Trein.

That bastard had a gloating smirk on his face as he watched me. Oh, he hated Deke, but

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Wednesday Briefs: July 5, 2017

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Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Friend or Foe? by Avery Dawes

Henry trudged down to the stream. Two empty buckets dangled from his calloused fingers. These hot, humid summer days would be the death of him. Despite the weather, chores on his farmette didn’t cease.

He crossed the last bit of farmland taking a well-worn path through the trees to the stream. As he entered the shade, he breathed a sigh of relief. Henry dropped the buckets before he plopped on the ground. He shucked his shoes and socks then rolled up his pant legs. Sliding closer to the stream, he dangled his feet in the cool water. Ah, heaven!

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