Showing posts with label Spooktoberfest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spooktoberfest. Show all posts

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Spooktoberfest 2015: Bad Meets Evil



The 4th Annual Spooktoberfest was difficult. I didn't realize how hard this was until I worked on my own flash fiction piece.
So many koodos and shout-outs to you wonderful writers who did this challenge and joined in on the fun!




The challenge was to write a 400 max word flash fiction piece using the 13 required items below.



Bad Meets Evil


An usher handed Charlotte a program with a handwritten note on the front:
To the lady in the leather corset, you look stunning.
She glanced at the usher, but he shook his head and continued to hand out programs.
Charlotte scanned the audience for her admirer. No one stood out, except for the people next to her, eating popcorn and sipping coffee. She'd gobble down a mushy banana over that, any day.
On stage, two actors pretended to fish from a makeshift pier, complete with seaweed.
Charlotte locked eyes with Lawrence. Or, at least, that was his character’s name in the play. She browsed the pamphlet for his real name—Kole Kaldwell. Probably not his birth name, either. She aimed the note at him; her way of asking if he was the author.
He nodded and smiled.
The theater was Charlotte’s refuge from the outside world, the one place she could escape her demons. She didn’t want to taint this haven by hooking up with some stranger. She bolted from the theater and down the steps. The heel of her boot caught on her skirt, causing her to tumble forward.
Kole swooped in and saved her from eating cement.
“Aren’t you missing your play?” She adjusted his tie.
“It’s worth it.” He pulled her into an embrace. “You’re breathtaking.”
“So are you.” She removed a poison dart from a secret compartment in her corset and pricked his skin with it.
At the same time, tingles soared through her arm until it went numb. She looked at Kole’s hand, which held a sapphire tie-pin. In her own excitement, she hadn't felt the pierce from it.
Kole slid to the ground, like a discarded marionette, and Charlotte followed, landing on top. If she could’ve laughed, she would have. She’d finally met her match, her equal, but didn’t realize it until they both had paralyzed each other. It was comical, really.
Bats flew above, and a dog barked.
“What’d ya find, boy?”
She didn’t recognize the voice, and couldn’t see his face, but that didn’t matter. She was going to be saved. Her eyes grew heavy until they closed.
Charlotte awoke in a van, bound to Kole with Ace bandages. Bad Meets Evil by Eminem played on the radio.
“You two will make a wonderful addition to my collection.” The usher stared back at her through the rearview mirror.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You can read other Spooktoberfest entries here by checking out the linky.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

4th annual Spooktoberfest

Welcome to the 4th Annual SPOOKTOBERFEST!!!

This year we are switching things up, Scattergories style!




Requirements:


1. Please display the above badge on your blog. 

2. Follow Cover Girls, and our co-Twitter, @covergirlsdj, if you don’t already. We do follow back, and if we miss yours, let us know, so we can follow you!
You can also follow our individual accounts: @jackiefel & @danibertrand

3. Your Flash Fiction piece must be 400 words or less.

4. You must use all 13 Scattergory items in your flash fiction piece. Please highlight or underline each of them in your story, so we know where to find them. (See the mandatory 13 topics below)



5. Post your flash fiction piece any day from Saturday, Oct 24th thru Wednesday, Oct. 28th.


6. It’s a blog hop, so… hop around to other participating blogs and leave them some awesome comments (also part of the challenge – everyone deserves some comment love.)

7. Be creative and have fun!!!

Your flash fiction piece can be spooky, comical, or whatever you'd like. You can use pictures to set the scene and/or a song to set the mood, if that helps.


The winners will be posted on Halloween!
We will each choose a winner. That’s right – two winners! And as an added bonus, we will also be selecting 2 runner-ups this year.     

That’s a total of 4 prizes! How awesome is that?!

PRIZES:
2 Winners - $20 Giftcards each
2 Runner-Ups – Either, a book from our bookshelves OR a critique (first 10 pages)


Oh, and yes, this blogfest is international. So what are you ghouls waiting for? 
Sign up using the Mister Linky Widget below and please, help spread the word (Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, etc).





Friday, October 31, 2014

Spooktoberfest '14 Winner and Runner-Up's

Happy Halloween!!!

As always, the entries for Spooktoberfest were AMAZING! Dani and I had fun hosting. Thank you to all the participants for joining and letting us enjoy your awesome flash fiction pieces!
It was incredibly hard to choose, but after reading and rereading, you'll find my runner-up's and winner below.

My Runner-Up's...



To read, "I Am" by Lily at lilicasplace, click HERE

To read "12 past 2" by DRC at Writing Through Fiction, click HERE




And my pick for Spooktoberfest and the winner of an e-card is...



To read "Under the Glass" by Sarah at Sarah Marsh Writes, click HERE


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To read Dani's choices for Winner and Runner-Up's... go HERE

Thanks again to all of the participants for entering and for sharing your amazing writing talents with us!!! We hope to see you next year for Spooktoberfest 2015!



Friday, September 26, 2014

3rd Annual Spooktoberfest Hosted by Cover Girls

Are you feeling spookerific?

It’s baaaaack! 




Welcome to the 3rd annual  SPOOKTOBERFEST hosted by Cover Girls!

This year we are doing a bit of a rewind and using the original Spooktoberfest requirements.


Requirements:

1. Follow Cover Girls blog if you don’t already. It will be reciprocated!
          And on Twitter: @covergirlsdj
    You can also follow our individual accounts: @jackiefel & @danibertrand
    If you do have a Twitter account, please feel free to tweet using #spooktoberfest14

2. Your Flash Fiction piece cannot be any longer than 300 words. 
    Sorry… that’s part of the challenge.

3. You must use the 5 MANDATORY words listed below…
    (You may use any variation of these words as you like.)

            chill
            cocoon
            commotion
            curse
            virus

4. Post your Flash Fiction piece any day from Friday Oct 24th thru Tuesday, Oct. 28th.

5. It’s a blog hop, so… hop around to other participating blogs and leave them some awesome comments.

6. Have fun.

Your flash fiction piece can be scary, comical, romantic, or whatever you choose, just be creative! You can use pictures to set the scene and/or a song to set the mood.

The winners will be posted on HALLOWEEN, Oct. 31st!

Dani and I will each choose a winner. That’s right – two winners!


PRIZES: Each winner will receive a $25 e-giftcard of their choice.



Oh, and yes, this blogfest is international. 

So what are you ghouls waiting for? 
Sign up using the Linkie below, and please, help spread the word!





Friday, October 25, 2013

Spooktoberfest bloghop and Celebrate the small things


Celebrate the Small Things is the fun weekly meme hosted by Viklit @ Scribblings of an Aspiring Author, where bloggers share things they wish to celebrate, and then hop around to other bloggers to rejoice in their celebrations, too. :) Go HERE to sign up and join the celebration!


  • My 13 yr old made the basketball team!!! I'm so thrilled for him because he worked hard and never lost sight of his goal.
  • Spooktoberfest 2013 starts today! YAY! The rules, and my story, are below.
  • Dani and I are going shopping this weekend for the contest prizes. Girl time! Woot!



It's Spooktoberfest time, with my co-host Dani! Thanks goes to all of those who signed up! We heart you! 

Here are the basics of Spooktoberfest... 


  • Write a flash fiction piece between 300-500 words. 
  • Use 3 of the 6 mandatory words and highlight those 3 words in your story:  WRETCH(ED), IMPEDING, ALIEN(S), SKELETON(S), POTION(S), MASK(S) 
  • Use one of the pics below as the location for your story. 








  • Then, post your piece so we can read it, and hop around to the other participants and comment on their awesome stories. Dani and I will each post our winners on Halloween. Those two winners will receive a goodie box filled with Halloween stuff! 

CLICK HERE for the full, official deets on SPOOKTOBERFEST 2013.


And now, here's my flash fiction piece to get things started for Spooktoberfest. 





I jerk my head at the dark stairwell. “I can think of five different ideas that are better than going up there.”

The power’s been out for a week, and we’re on our last batch of batteries, so my sister won’t let me use any for flashlights. Heading upstairs in the dark isn’t my idea of safe.

“Up is our only way out, Sydney.” My sister grabs the back of my neck and forces my head toward the sliding glass door. "Take a look for yourself."

I stare at the creepy things as they pound on the glass and smear blood from their latest meal across it, like they’re erasing steam from a mirror. Some look like they have on Halloween masks, but the flesh slides off their bones and exposes their skeleton, proving this isn’t dress-up time.


“What if we leave through the garage?” I waggle my brows. “There’s a Mustang calling your name.”

“As soon as the door lifts, those things will spill in like girls at a One Direction concert.” Trish ushers me to the staircase again. “Up we go.”

“No.” I squirm away.

“Why can’t you ever do as you’re told?”

“Why do you always boss me around?”

“Because I’m the oldest.”

“By 11 months.”

"Stop this, right now." She clutches my shoulders. “What’s your deal?”

I peer up the stairwell. “I’m scared of what’s up there.”  I chew on my lip. “Promise you won’t get mad.”

“What did you do?” Her eyes squint into two slits. 

“Lance and I wanted to hang out, but when he came through my window earlier, he said he scratched himself on the trellis. It looked more like—”

“Bites?”

“Yeah. I came downstairs to get some bandages or peroxide or a potion.”

“A potion? Seriously? You're so immature.” She rolls her eyes. “We agreed to not let anyone in until the virus passed, didn’t we?”

I nod, hating when my sister is right.

“Now you’ve risked our lives, over what? A make-out session?”

“Sorry.”

Trish thrusts a knife in my hand while gripping a bat in her fist. “I’m always cleaning up your messes.”

We head upstairs, causing creaks with each step. At the top, Lance stomps toward us, groaning. He smells, not of his usual aftershave, but like he slept in a dumpster. He lunges at Trish, but I step in front and shove her back.

The knife in my hand slams into Lance’s chest. I push hard, and as I do, life still lurks in his eyes. It’s like his body’s in control of his brain instead of the other way around. Then, his eyes close. I fling his limp body off me and kick him to make sure he’s "dead-dead."

I turn toward Trish. “You okay?”

“I think so.” She sits on the fifth step and rubs her forearm.

“See?” I smile. “I can clean up my own messes.”

My sister’s eyes widen, and I cry out, as Lance’s teeth sink into my calf.

~THE END~



Now, it's your turn! Let us read your flash fiction Spooktoberfest piece! 


Friday, September 13, 2013

Celebrate the small things and Spooktoberfest announcement


Celebrate the Small Things is the fun weekly meme hosted by Viklit @ Scribblings of an Aspiring Author, where we share things we wish to celebrate, and then hop around to other bloggers to rejoice in their celebrations, too. :) Go HERE to sign up and join the celebration!

My celebrations: 

  • Christine Rains has a cover reveal to share. You can check it out at her site HERE or at Cover Girls HERE, and I'll be posting her reveal this weekend as well. Congrats, Christine!!! 
  • Dani and I are announcing our blogfest today! You can learn more about Spooktoberfest below.
  • I went to a flower show this week and learned some cool stuff to utilize in the shop. I'm so excited to make new things!
  • Went to the movies and a walk n' talk with my BFF. <3
What things are you celebrating this week?



With the oncoming of the spookiest holiday of the year, Dani @ Entertaining Interests and myself are bringing sexy back – er –SPOOKTOBERFEST back this October. We had a great turnout last year, read some awesome entries, and gave away some amazing prizes!
We hope we'll have a great turnout this year, too!

Spooktoberfest Requirements:


1. Follow us - Dani and Jax, if you don’t already. We love meeting new bloggers, and we do follow back.
2. Your Flash Fiction piece should be between 300 - 500 words. It can be scary, funny, action-packed, romantic, or whatever you choose. Just let your creativity flow!
3. You must choose 3 of the 6 words listed below to include in your flash fiction piece…
WRETCH (ED)
IMPEDING
ALIEN (S)
SKELETON (S)
POTION (S)
MASK (S)

4.  Highlight those 3 words you in your story so we can find them.
5. Choose at least 1 of the 4 pictures below to be the setting for your flash fiction piece.
A forest, a cave/mine, a road, or a stairwell



photo credit of forest and cave: DANI
photo credit of road and stairs: ME 











6. Post your piece any day from Friday Oct 25th thru Monday, Oct. 28th.
7. It’s a blog hop, so… hop around to other participating blogs and leave them some awesome comments.
8. We'll announce the winners on Thurs Oct. 31, 2013 - Halloween! Dani and I will each choose a winner. You read that right – two winners! Woot!
9. Most important of all.... Have fun!!!

Side note - not required: If you have a twitter account and have the extra time - go ahead and send out a tweet letting us know you have posted your submission (this step is very helpful for us.) Below is our @ accounts and the hashtag.
#Spooktoberfest

PRIZES: A grab bag (more like a box of awesome Halloween stuff) and candy. The winners will get the biggest bags we can find of their favorite candy along with some spookified items.

Oh, and yes, this blogfest is international. So what are you ghouls waiting for? Sign up using the Linky Thing below and spread the word!



Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Spooktoberfest Winner and Runner-ups!

You all made it so hard to choose a winner for Spooktoberfest! Now I know how Adam Levine feels on The Voice... trying to choose between all of those amazing people. That's how I felt after I read and reread over these entries.
Dani and I enjoyed hosting this blogfest. Some pieces made us laugh. Others had us scared out of our minds. And a few brought a chilling tear to our eyes.
That's great writing, folks. Thank you for participating and for sharing your talent with us. We're honored beyond belief.




My choice for Spooktoberfest Winner:

Crocked by Some Dark Romantic - Mina Lobo. 

You can read her amazing entry HERE.

Congrats, Mina! I will contact you soon about getting your prize to you!




My choice for Spooktoberfest Runner-ups:

*Carving by Writing Off the Edge - L.G. Keltner 

*Randomness by The Growing Writer by Von L. Cid. 

You can read their chilling entries HERE and HERE.


Winner and runner-ups, please feel free to put the above badges on your blog if you want to... or not. The choice is yours. :D

You can view Dani's selections HERE.

Again, thank you all for participating and sharing your stories with us. 
Dani and I hope you had fun! We sure did! 

Until next time... happy writing!


Friday, October 26, 2012

Spooktoberfest Bloghop is here!


It's time for Spooktoberfest!!! Dani and I have been so excited for this!

Requirements:

1.  Your Flash Fiction piece cannot be any longer than 300 words. Sorry… that’s part of the challenge. It can be scary, comical, romantic, whatever you choose. Just be creative!
2.  You must use the MANDATORY 5 words listed below:
   cobweb(s) 
   cauldron(s) 
   jack-o-lantern(s)
   ghost(s)
  razor(s)
3.  Post your Flash Fiction piece any day from Friday Oct. 26 - Monday, Oct. 29th. 
4.  Follow Dani and myself if you don’t already. We will follow back. And if we miss it, let us know so we can follow you.
5.  It’s a blog hop, so hop around to other participating blogs and leave some awesome comments.
6.  Have fun!

Dani and I will each choose a winner and post them on HALLOWEEN, Wednesday, Oct. 31st.

PRIZES: The winners will get the biggest bags we can find of their favorite candy along with some fun items.

Not required but it'd make us smile... if you have a twitter and have extra time, it'd be cool if you sent us a tweet that you've posted your submission. 
Our accounts and hashtag: 
@Danibertrand
@JackieFel
#Spooktoberfest




Sweet Kiss

Screams and eerie music bounce off the walls as Ben and I enter the town’s annual Haunted
Cave. Flickering lights from inside the jack-o-lanterns line the floor and cast dancing shadows around the space.
“Ethan told me it’s not so bad,” Ben says, taking my hand in his.
I shiver, but I’m not sure if it’s because of his touch or the creepiness of this place.
“Are you scared, Ash?”
“A little.” I stare at a cauldron bubbling over with smoke and green goo.
He wraps his arm around my waist. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
White sheets dangle from the ceiling like laundry set out to dry. In one swift move, the makeshift ghosts fly toward us. I jump and dig my fingernails into Ben’s arm.
He lets out a light laugh and tugs me closer to him. His arms become my safety net as we make our way through the hellish maze of creepy zombies, headless bodies, and mask-wearing creepers.
 An amputated hand points us to an arched doorway covered in cobwebs. We walk through and brush them off. I smile, thankful the exit sign is just a few feet away.
Ben pulls me to his chest. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”
“I guess not.” I shrug.
“I told you I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.” He tilts my head and runs a finger down the vein bulging in my neck. “But I’ll need to break that promise now.”
Ben puts his lips to my throat, caressing my skin with his tongue. His teeth sink in, and I cry out. My neck stings like I’m being cut with a razor.
Blood drips from the wound, and I melt into him as memories of my life fade away.

Thanks for reading my flash fiction piece! Please check out the other participant's entries below!