24 March 2023

Published March 22, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Liz Young

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Anyone remember playing solitaire with real cards you held in your hand? Those who don’t will probably never know the “joy” of playing 52 Card Pickup. 😉 I still remember the colorful backs of my parents’ plastic coated playing cards. I learned early how to shuffle them and became adept at making a tunnel. A playing card turned your plain old bicycle into a motorcycle like magic. All it took was a clothespin to clip the cards to your wheel spokes.

I could go on about the joys of playing cards. Instead I’ll leave you to your own memories and musings and present my story for the week.

Genre: Fiction-ish
Word Count: 100

SOLITAIRE

“Two of hearts joins the ace of hearts.” Ten-year-old Elise arranged the four suits in neat rows on her beach towel. “King of clubs marries his queen.”

Elise’s mom, who worked full time, had found the perfect summer babysitter when she joined the pool. Leave childcare to the lifeguards.

Hot sun beat down on Elise’s bare back. She stacked and shuffled the cards. “I win,” she said to no one. “Time for a swim.”

Diving under the waves she imagined herself to be a mermaid with iridescent fins. The water caressed her. Immersed in her chlorinated haven, who needed playmates?

17 March 2023

Published March 15, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Pure Fiction
Word Count: 100

YOU CAN GET ANYTHING YOU WANT

After fifty-five years Alice still missed Johnny who’d been drafted and died in Vietnam. Their daughter Sunshine, a successful lawyer in Manhattan had little time for Alice.

One day, Alice texted Sunshine. “Leaving for Australia. Going to open a restaurant.”

“Mom, are you smoking weed again?”

***

Pushing a lock of long white hair from her forehead, Alice flipped veggie burgers on the grill in her thriving café. She gazed at the mountains kissing the cerulean sky outside the window. Her town—peaceful Alice Springs—three hours or less from anywhere in Australia and thousands of miles from the Divided States.

Alice Springs, Australia

And if you have 19 minutes to spare CLICK HERE to enjoy Alice’s Restaurant.

10 March 2023

Published March 8, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Jennifer Pendergast

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Genre: Hysterical Fiction
Word Count: 100

DOMESTIC GODDESS

After reading the book Fascinating Womanhood, Shelley prepared a special candlelight dinner.

In anticipation of a romantic evening, Shelley fixed her hair and put on her sexiest dress to greet her husband when he came home.

At 5:30 she heard him pull into the garage. Heart thumping, she opened the door for him.

Walking past her, Greg surveyed the dining room. “Did we have a power outage?” He flipped on the overhead light. Then he flopped on the couch and turned on the television.

After hitting him over the head with it, Shelley decided Fascinating Womanhood made a dandy doorstop.

You may or may not remember this book. Maybe it worked for some. 😉

Launderette Trauma

Published March 1, 2023 by rochellewisoff

TAKE A SPIN AND CLICK

I double dipped this week. The sight of the laundromat triggers a not so pleasant memory for me. I’m sure I’ll be able to let it go one of these days.

Genre: Memoir
Word Count: 100

LAUNDERETTE TRAUMA

As we crammed our bedspread into an industrial-size dryer, my iPhone pinged with an email from my agent. “Last Dance with Annie” was in the subject line.

“Good news?” asked my husband.

I bit back tears. “Maybe I’m not meant to be an author.”

The well-known publisher who’d expressed an interest in my novel based on personal experience turned it down flat. My agent released me from my contract.

“Failure,” intoned my inner voice.

A year later, at a writers’ conference, struggling with doubt, I pitched LDWA to a new publisher. Within twenty-four hours my book had found a home.

If I’d had a few more words (blasted word limit! 😉 ) I’d go on to share how my manuscript was turned down a few more times before my agent released me from the contract. I ignored the manuscript for more than a year I think. At the Ozarks Writers conference in October I met Lia Wu who owns Ozark Hollow Press. She was interested in my story of a middle aged woman’s battle with anorexia (A fictionalized version of my own struggle). I sent her the manuscript Sunday morning and she offered me a contract Sunday night. Hopefully Last Dance with Annie (title negotiable) will be out this year.

3 March 2023

Published March 1, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Miles Rost

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March is upon us, but I couldn’t resist adding one more neglected African American. She made laundry a little easier for the average housewife back in the 1800’s.

Genre: Washable Ficton
Word Count: 100

OVERHEARD AT THE LAUNDROMAT

Dale reached into the washing machine. “Laundry is such a pain in the tush.” She tossed wads of damp clothes into the dryer. “I suppose it’s better than scrubbing them on a washboard.”

Rochelle folded a T-shirt. “Well, ya know—now that you mention it.”

“Uh-oh. She’s bringing on the history lesson.”

“We can thank Ellin Eglin who invented the wringer in 1888. She sold the plans for it for $18.00. When asked why, she said, ‘You know I am black and if it was known that a negro woman patented the invention, white ladies would not buy the wringer.’”

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24 February 2023

Published February 22, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

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Genre: Historical Friction
Word Count: 100

BRIGHT LIGHT

“Besides being the leader in rushing and scoring, he was my friend.” A former football player for Drake University recalls. “There was nobody like him. Next to impossible to bring down.”

Another player remembers October 20, 1951, “We’d heard Oklahoma’s head coach quoted as saying, “We have to get his black ass out of here.

“Ha! Even after Wilbanks Smith busted his jaw, John threw a 61-yard touchdown pass.”

Johnny Bright later forged a brilliant career in Canada as both athlete and educator.

It wasn’t until over twenty years after his death Oklahoma State University issued an apology to him.

As a Kansas City area resident (and native) you might guess I was glued to the TV Sunday Night, February 12 for the Super Bowl. How ’bout those Chieeeeeeeefs! With most of our best players, including MVP Patrick Mahomes, being black, what Mr. Bright went through is unfathomable.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AN AMAZING HUMAN BEING

If you have six more minutes, this video says what my 100 words could not.

17 February 2023

Published February 15, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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CALLING MY CAMERA HAPPY FICTIONEERS!!!

PROMPT PHOTOS NEEDED! SOMETHING INTERESTING! SOMETHING INTRIGUING! MY ONLY REQUEST IS THAT YOU DON’T SEND PICTURES OF ANIMALS OR STATUES. ONTO THE PHOTO BELOW. THANK YOU, LISA!

Send photos to runtshell@gmail.com

PHOTO PROMPT © Lisa Fox

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I enjoy February for all the forgotten remarkable people who come to light each year.

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

DOCTRESS OF MEDICINE

Rebecca sniffed the tea her aunt had brewed and grimaced. “What is it?”

“Willow bark to bring down Miss Addie’s fever.”

Miss Addie recovered and lived a long and healthy life thanks to Auntie’s wisdom and skill.

Rebecca paid close attention to her aunt’s remedies and the kindness with which she administered them.

Determined to follow in her footsteps, Rebecca became a nurse to ease human suffering. However, it wasn’t enough for the tenacious young woman.

In 1864, the only black face in sea of white, Rebecca Lee Crumpler M.D. received her diploma from the New England Female Medical College.

Chances are this is not a photo of Dr. Crumpler as my resources say there’s no known photograph of her. To learn a little more about the first Female African American physician CLICK HERE.

10 February 2023

Published February 8, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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This week I did something I rarely do. Due to the concern many readers had for poor jilted James, I decided to share his side of the story. 😉 If you haven’t read my story from last week or just want a refresher: CLICK HERE.

Genre: Hysterical Fiction
Word Count: 100

HAPPILY EVER AFTER PART II

James gazed at Hattie’s note. His fiancé was on her honeymoon with David?

Perhaps he should’ve seen it coming. Hattie and his best man had been good friends since childhood.

Now what?

The caterers had been paid. Flowers and streamers festooned the reception hall where an elegant three-tiered cake awaited the happy bride and groom.

Twirling Hattie’s engagement ring around his left pinkie finger, he typed in a number on his phone with his right index finger.

“James!” said a woman’s voice. “I didn’t expect to hear from you.”

“Hi Kate. As it turns out I’m free tonight after all.”

3 February 2023

Published February 1, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Romantic Fiction
Word Count: 100

HAPPILY EVER AFTER

Twirling in front of the mirror, Hattie admired her reflection. Her wedding dress, complete with a satin train, made her feel like a fairytale princess. The heart-shaped diamond on her left hand sparkled. The day James presented it to her everyone in the restaurant applauded. How could she refuse?

Reluctantly, Hattie slipped off the gown. Had she made the right decision? Marriage was a huge commitment.

She took off the ring and laid it beside a handwritten note that read,

“Dear James,

“By the time you read this, David and I will be on our honeymoon.

“Love and apologies,

Hattie”

28 January 2023

Published January 25, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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As my life has taken some spins and dives of late, my muse didn’t seem to want to come up with anything new. This week, January 27, 2023, marks the 78th anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. I feel it’s more important than ever to post a reminder with antisemitism and racist hatred on the rise. How can intelligent people become animals and beasts? The following is a snippet of an interview I had the honor of doing with survivor Sonia Warshawski, fondly known as “Big Sonia” seven years ago.

Genre: Interview
Word Count:100

THE INTERVIEW

“For I’m gon’ tell you,” says Sonia, a colorful and imposing presence at 4 feet 8 inches tall. “It happened so slowly. Not all at once.

“The soldiers line up rabbis in the street and made us watch them rip out their beards by the roots. Then they shot them.

“I’ll never forget. In front of me they slaughter babies. I’ll never forgive.

“Silence kills.” Her intense brown eyes dig trenches in my heart. “I tell you what is not in history books. As long as God gives me power, I will speak for them.”