What Now? Shang the Conqueror always took the messages alone. From all corners of his vast empire, messengers came with their news. Each time he heard their words, there were always two messengers there. Because Shang the Conqueror always killed one of them. Tetuto had twice before delivered news to the mighty king. Twice heContinue reading “Flash Friday #19”
Author Archives: Michael Frutig
The Quest #25
One up, a few down. I didn’t get any rejections in the last few weeks, but I decided to go through my list and assume I got a no from everyone more than four months old. I mean, if they wanted me, they wouldn’t need nine months to make up their mind. Maybe doing thatContinue reading “The Quest #25”
Flash Friday #18
Here Comes the Bride I made it to the church just in time. Traffic was bad, and worse, I was a little scatterbrained. I had never been able to get that part of my brain to work. Oh well. I came in running, everyone looking at me, but I managed to slide into a seatContinue reading “Flash Friday #18”
A Wave
We ride a wave. A great and roaring wave racing, but which will never reach the shore. The shore is behind, not ahead. To look behind is to remember, but not to see. The vast sea growing behind the wave hides where it was and will never be again. We are, and never again. TenContinue reading “A Wave”
Flash Friday #17
The Storm It was a storm that in ages past would have given rise to a god. The windows rattled, and not just from thunder. Wind howled as it threw itself against the stately manor. Rain pounded the glass like a host of solicitors come to swindle money from the impressive walls. When the thunderContinue reading “Flash Friday #17”
The Quest #24
None up, none back. I’ve got to go through and clean out anyone I queried six months ago or more. I think the ones I did with my old query letters are definitely rejections. I will be doing a new revision on the book I am querying. I think I can do a chapter aContinue reading “The Quest #24”
Flash Friday #16
Bombardier In the silence of space, the vast hulking shape of the spaceship slowed to a crawl, its engines pointed away. On the diplomatic deck, the governor of the rebellious planet began to make his speech. One about being pushed too far and that she tried all that she could in order to spare theContinue reading “Flash Friday #16”
Nominative Determinism
Modern Job Names At what point did we stop taking our last names from our professions? We have so many Smiths, but they’re not smithing. We have Thatchers, but I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who lived under a thatched roof. So many Wrights have never made a single wagon. This is a systemicContinue reading “Nominative Determinism”
Flash Friday #15
The Last Berserker This was the end, that much was clear. He was wounded seven times, warm blood flowing easily, soaking into the leather and cooling against the metal mail. His breath came slowly, haltingly. It was a pain, but not the final pain. The walls of the narrow pass echoed with the well-ordered stepsContinue reading “Flash Friday #15”
The Quest #23
Already got back a rejection for the kids book. So that was a surprise. Imagine a world where all agents were prompt. I’m up one in the main quest. I’ve made some posts here and there. Short form, long form. Thanks to the metrics I know that no one clicked on them. I’ve got toContinue reading “The Quest #23”
Michael Frutig 