This one's on kindle. Which -- Yay!!! Glad to see stories migrate to "the big screen." :D I'm afraid I can't access it, but if 'Drea's a fan, it must be great!

I think The Questing Beast was the first of your stories that I read, and I found it absolutely enchanting— especially the surprise ending concerning the nature of
Pellanore’s quest. But I probably agree with your decision to put the mask over the nose & mouth of Truth in Tears first. There is so much wisdom in this story!

Thanks for playing, Seraph!

https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/86409/truth-tears
https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/93243/questing-beast

Airbags, oxygen masks, what’s the difference? :)

Because it is very different from many of your other stories. Yet, good triumphs over evil, stereotypes are slain with great relish, and teenagers are given some entertainment they will not soon forget. All good!!!

Thanks for sharing your favorite, Leanna. Something very different that you posted recently got lodged in my noodle, and inspired a short story I hope to post tomorrow. ;-)

I can see why you dithered between the two, struggling womanfully to choose one to save, even as the cabin filled with smoke!

All joking aside, the warp and weft of these stories are the powerful emotions that you pull into all of your art. Each thread seems saturated with love and grief and longing and hope . . . .

Thank you.

I found four of your six “children” on the site. One of them, naughty girl, should still have been home in bed rather than up in the air with you, causing you more trouble than you already had in your choice.

But your stewardess can’t help you with your choice. First, FAA regulations prohibit it. I’m sure they do, somewhere, anyhow. But also, all of your kids are just so damned beautiful. It’s not fair, really . . . .

Comparing Love Less to the rest really is difficult; as a novella it just has a completely different rhythm to it. I loved the slow unfolding of Lesley’s character. I could practically feel their stomach muscles begin, ever so tentatively, to unclench.

The descriptive and evocative elements of Sky Blue really are stunning — a real showcase for your ability to paint a picture of a particular place, a moment in time. Shocking Pink was a carefully crafted story of a startling moment that unleashed a difficult self-realization in the protagonist. But Bobbie Majestic. . . Well. Something about the casual acceptance from the crusty old men on the porch really touched me. There should be so much more of that in the world.

Thanks for playing, Erin. Life isn’t fair, but sometimes we get good luck, or are spared by grace. I’m happy to be the bearer of good news.

This time, all of your beautiful children are safe!

https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/66969/bobbie-majestic
https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/26134/sky-blue
https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/book-page/77451/love-less
https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/3825/shocking-pink

Now, full-length works should not have been on this flight! They should all be safe! But, unlike Erin, it looks like you haven’t posted any short stories here, so you have a good excuse. :)

You never forget your first one, do you? :). Here’s the link: https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/book-page/78816/return-lilith

The only thing that has ever worked for me when that happens is to just keep grinding out a draft until it’s done. And then I go back and edit the hell out of it. Multiple passes, with days between them. Eventually I get it to where I’m happy, but having something down really moves it along.

I’d say this happens to me every time I write anything beyond maybe 15,000 words. Stories, now, but briefs and the like back when I was still working. It may not work for everyone, and God knows, it’s not nearly as much fun as writing when the muse is riding your ass. But I find having a draft makes all the difference.

Thanks for sharing, Rebecca! Here’s the link: https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/book-page/74063/better-than-a...

Ricky, you have so many short stories that this question must have been especially difficult. But I can’t imagine you would find many better choices than The Homecoming. It turns usual expectations on their head with respect to parents and children, pushes against prejudice in a careful and gentle way, and is just incredibly well-written. The details that you throw in, like the scallops on the front steps, add texture and realism without distracting at all from the simple plot. Really outstanding— thanks for recommending it!

So, you went and snuck an oxygen mask on a full-length novel — the kind of kid that wasn’t supposed to be on this flight! But . . . I’m really glad you did. Much as I enjoyed the playfulness of Sisters, I found the characters in Love Has No Pride to be even more compelling. Of course, that’s probably because I’m the age of the protagonists and I find us all to be deeply fascinating! :)

You provided the link, so I don’t have to, but really, everyone should read this. Sammy’s writing is both rich and deep. Give yourself a treat!

You cheated even more than Sammy, slipping a full-length novel in on me! But it was a great story and I’m very, very glad that you recommended it. Steve/Sara was very believable, but I particularly liked several of your supporting characters. Especially Tim, Sandy, and Aunt Marj. No children are perfect, but this one is definitely beautiful. Thank you!

I set the goal of reading the short stories authors had suggested as their “favorite children” before the blog post disappeared from the front page. But then Erin had to slip in a novella and three short stories, and I can’t very well say ‘no’ to Erin. And before you could say ‘bundesverfasungsgericht,’ I had novelettes and at least two novels. But!!! But!!! I persevered! I did it!

Until you tossed out six different novels. Six! I am defeated! ;-)