WELCOME TO FRIDAY FICTIONEERS.
As always, writers are encouraged to be as innovative as possible with the prompt and 100 word constraints.
Henry David Thoreau said it best.
“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”
THE CHALLENGE:
Write a one hundred word story that has a beginning, middle and end. (No one will be ostracized for going a few words over the count.)
THE KEY:
Make every word count.
THE RULES:
- Copy your URL to the Linkz collection. You’ll find the tab following the photo prompt. It’s the little white box to the left with the blue froggy guy. Click on it and follow directions. This is the best way to get the most reads and comments.
- MAKE SURE YOUR LINK IS SPECIFIC TO YOUR FLASH. (Should you find that you’ve made an error you can delete by clicking the little red ‘x’ that should appear under your icon. Then re-enter your URL. (If there’s no red x email me at Runtshell@aol.com. I can delete the wrong link for you).
- While our name implies “fiction only” it’s perfectly Kosher to write a non-fiction piece as long as it meets the challenge of being a complete story in 100 words.
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- ***PLEASE MAKE NOTE IN YOUR BLOG IF YOU PREFER NOT TO RECEIVE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM.***
- REMINDER: This page is “FRIDAY FICTIONEERS CENTRAL” and is NOT the place to promote political or religious views. Also, you are responsible for the content of your story and policing comments on your blog. You have the right to delete any you consider offensive.
**Please exercise DISCRETION when commenting on a story! Be RESPECTFUL.**
Should someone have severe or hostile differences of opinion with another person it’s my hope that the involved parties would settle their disputes in private.
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My story follows the photo and link tool. I enjoy honest comments and relish constructive criticism.
- Shalom,
Rochelle

Copyright – Dawn M. Miller
This week’s photo was taken inside Union Station in Washington DC. So from there I boarded the train to my hometown of Kansas City, Missouri. Our Union Station opened its doors with a grand celebration 31 October 1914. Preserved today as a museum, it was the hub of departure and reunion through the two great wars to end all wars.
Perhaps one such departure went like this:
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
WE OWE GOD A DEATH
“Is this your thanks for a career with the Kansas City Star?”
“Tis a great life, Uncle Ty. Thanks to you I can tell chianti from claret, tell mayors to go to Hell and slap police commissioners on the back.”
Tyler Hemingway’s cheeks blazed. His voice echoed off Union Station’s high ceiling and roared in his own ears. “Ernie, this is no time for jest. I made your father a promise. What if you’re killed?”
“Every man’s life ends the same way.” Ernie’s keen, dark eyes flashed. “It’s only how he lived or died that distinguishes one man from another.”
___________________
Below is a young Ernest Hemingway months after he left Kansas City in 1918.
To learn more about Alfred Tyler Hemingway click here.
Dear Rochelle,
Such ideal and exquisite dialogue and the last line goes for all of us living today. Hemingway lived an extraordinary life, and died too soon and too tragic, in this picture he is strikingly handsome!
Peace
Shainbird
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Dear Shainbird,
All I can say is that I had a lot of help from Papa Hemingway whose end was tragic. Glad you liked my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It is so true..it is not how you are born or die..like an Oreo cookie it’s what’s in the middle that counts. Hemingway lived his life with mental illness yet he was a genius in his own right. I will now go and discover his Uncle.
Excellent story
Pat
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Dear Pat,
I love your Oreo cookie analogy. I think Hemingway’s life had “double-stuff” . Thank you for visiting and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Excellent job as always. Well done, Rochelle.
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Dear Sandra,
Many thanks. Coming from you, it means a lot.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That was great, Rochelle, and fascinating that it’s based on fact. It’s hard to tell a young man what’s best for him, especially when he has the chance at adventure like that.
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Dear David,
Thank you. I always enjoy your stories and comments on mine. I wonder if young Ernie had so much as an inkling of the life he’d lead. And of course there’s a fascination for me in his Kansas City connection.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s interesting to view this moment of his life from our perspective. I’m sure he had no idea what was in store from him (not that any of us do 🙂 )
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The dialogue in this piece is great, as ever, your research really pays off.
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Dear MissKZebra,
Thank you. The process is, and forever shall be, my favorite part of writing. Research falls under that heading. I’ve learned more writing than I ever took the time to learn in school.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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very rich. and beautiful dialogue. 🙂
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Many thanks, KZ.
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Stunning tale – reaching ever deeper, ever further each tme. This snippet will surely remain one of your most memorable.You really open your readers up like the sun or water opens flowers.
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Dear Managua,
And your comment on my story will also remain one of my most memorable. You humble me with high and poetic praise.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It is interesting how subtlety you show the very way Hemingway distinguished himself and yet how much alike his motives were to those of any other man. He took what he thought was important from his experiences and lived, and died, by his own rules. There is a unique thoughtfulness in your writing that guides the reader to appreciate more than they expect.
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Dear Honie,
it’s difficult to reply to such a comment, other than to humbly say thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What he said in the end was most meaningful. This is my favourite of your work so far.
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Dear Nightlake,
You’ve made me smile. I never mind being told I’ve written a favorite. Kind of you to say so.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Great story Rochelle, your historical fiction look so real and unique. Every time I learn something new.
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Dear Indira,
I’m always happy to hear that someone has learned from my little writings. I love the research and the things I learn in the process. Glad you do, too.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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although i adore “the old man and the sea,” i am not the biggest fan of most of hemingway’s stories. however, there is no denying that he revolutionized and resurrected american literature. he was the transition from 100-word sentences and one-sentence paragraphs, as in “the scarlet letter” and others, and started stripping down sentences to make more sense and actually be easily understood and enjoyed.
thanks for the peek into history.
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Dear Rich,
I’ll admit to being woefully behind in my Hemingway reading, having only recently read “The Short Happy Life of Frances Macomber.” The author himself fascinates me and my research for this little piece left me wanting to know more. Happy to take you along for the ride. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ride appreciated.
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i enjoyed this piece of fictional history. Lovely prompt 🙂
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Dear Y.S.
Thank you on both counts.
Salaam/Shalom,
Rochelle
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I was struck one Sunday by this truth during a sermon when the pastor said our life will be reflected on our tombstone with a horizontal dash between our date of birth and date of death. He instructed us to care and think about the way we lived our life.
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Dear Joe,
Good words from your pastor. Thank you for sharing them. It does give one pause, doesn’t it?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Earlier this week I was discussing “life changing moments” with someone. Occasionally, we make these decisions are selves, more often they are made for us and we can only respond. But all these experiences help shape our character.
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Dear Russell,
As I approach one of the “big ones” there are more and more life changing moments to look back on. As my muse if fond of saying, “grist for the mill”. Good points. Thanks for sharing them.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautiful, Rochelle. Great characterization of both.
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Dear Lisa,
Thank you for reading and commenting. Glad you like.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wow! What a great little piece of historical fiction — even if I’m not a huge fan of the man’s work.
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Dear Helena,
I’ve not read much of Hemingway so I can’t say that I feel one way or the other about his writing. I’ve seen movies based on his books, but I’ve learned to never judge a book by its movie. I find the man himself fascinating. When I found that he had a Kansas City connection I felt compelled to write about him. Glad to know you liked it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
.
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What a wonderful piece this morning! It is fun to think that Hemingway had his start right in Missouri. Imagine what those years must have been like, the writing world and otherwise!
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Dear Claudia,
I was excited when my research thread led to Hemingway. There’s actually quite a bit on the Kansas City Star website about him. Thanks for your lovely comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you for that bit of history and for the reminding photograph of the young Hemingway. Hemingway wrote the most shining example of Flash Fiction , which I will quote for you here: “For Sale, pair of baby shoes. Never worn.”
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Dear Lindaura,
If anyone could be our example for concise writing, it would be Mr. Hemingway. I’ve read that bit of flash fiction before but it never hurts to be reminded. Happy you stopped by and took the time to comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks for introducing us to Hemingway’s Kansas City connection, Rochelle–He certainly was talented, and a handsome dog to boot.
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Dear VB,
The pleasure of introducing everyone to Hemingway’s brief KC connection is all mine. I’m a KC girl, born and raised and I love studying the city’s history. And yes, he was gorgeous.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I really enjoy the history you bring to Friday Fictioneers. I have a rare moment where both grandchildren are sleeping.
Alastair went first …I’ve just posted my piece which continues our story. Thank you for the space to enjoy the photo prompts and such wonderful and talented company!
I hope to do some reading tomorrow.
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Dear Jules,
I’m pleased that you enjoyed my story and the prompt. Some of these photos challenge me as much as anybody else. I had a great time with this one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love when story telling becomes educational 🙂
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Dear Helen,
So do I. Particularly when it’s educational for the author. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You don’t disappoint, Rochelle. Again, you found a part of history and showed us a brilliant part of it. A scene that I can easily imagine, this of Hemingway before he became Papa, his head full of the want of adventure.
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Dear Dave,
Thank you for your lovely comments. I do love history and when I find these nuggets I have to pass them on. In researching I found a treasure trove of letters he wrote during this time. Even at 18 his letters were full of piss and vinegar and a lust for adventure.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love how you wove history into your telling. Taking us back in time to Union Station of yore and introduce us through fabulous dialogue to a literary legend. Great write. P.S. I never knew Ernie was so dashing a young man.
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Dear Dana,
I’m happy you enjoyed my story as much as I enjoyed the learning and writing process. Thank you for your comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It seems Hemingway was a hero in life and a coward in death but still he is one of my all time favorite writers. A great piece of work as always Rochelle. I missed you!
Tom
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Dear Tom,
It’s great to have you back in the Friday Fictioneers Fold. I’m not sure if I agree that Hemingway was a coward in death, given the circumstances of his physical and mental state at the time. Let’s just say my jury’s out on a judgement call. In any case, while I find him fascinating as a larger than life person, I’m woefully behind on reading his work. Another thing to add to my ever-growing bucket list.
Shalom
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I love your take on Hemingway.
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Thank you, Debra!
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Always a joy reading your stories Rochelle. Always. 🙂
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And I always enjoy your comments, Jackie. 😀
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It is a museum but also still a very active train station, and your story is a tribute to its history. Whenever I go there, I still get a little thrill knowing I’m walking in the same space as so many historical figures.
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I never really was a Hemingway fan, but you’re story was rather enjoyable.
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Dear Adam,
I don’t have any feelings one way or the other about Hemingway’s writing, having read so little of it. However I always love a biography. Glad you enjoyed this brief one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi Rochelle,
I really enjoyed what you posted about Uncle Tyler. I think I’ve read nearly all of Papa’s writing and some bios but this was new information for me. Did you know that Ernest also lived for a while in Piggott, Arkansas, and wrote part of A Farewell To Arms there. His second wife Pauline had family there. There’s a museum and writing center there. Ron
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Dear Ron,
I’d love to one day visit that museum. Hemingway was an incredible individual. More of his writing is on my bucket list. Glad you enjoyed. Thanks for swinging by and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very well captures what I believe was the spirit of the man in just a few lines of short crisp dialogue. Always hard to believe a man like that committed suicide. Great post as always, Rochelle!
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Dear Perry,
Your comments made me smile. As for his suicide, I can really see his reasons. He was always larger than life, the epitome of a man’s man until his health deteriorated. Couple that with debilitating mental illness and I can understand the act. Not sure exactly how I feel about it but can’t judge him harshly.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Superb story that conveys the spirit of Hemingway perfectly. I love the way you craft your stories with so much care and detail, and I look forward to learning from them each week. 🙂
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Dear JWD,
Thank you for your comments and compliments. Always happy to pass on what I learn in the process.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m new here and I’ll definitely make a submission
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Welcome, whoever you are. 😉
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Reblogged this on Randomly Speaking Unorthodoxly and commented:
Great idea to challenge your creative writing skills. Read.Follow.Share.Participate
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Dear GFixation,
Thanks again for the reblog and the plug.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’re welcome…..
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Oh exactly – we do need to live our lives to the full, since we all end up the same way, one way or another. Thought-provoking and great fun!
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Dear Freya,
Hemingway was the epitome of a man who lived life his way and to the fullest. I’m happy you liked.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, if you’re not a teacher already, you would have made a darn good one. What a lovely little story about Hemingway. And he was a handsome as a young man! I’ve always thought of him as a writer who did the absolute most with the talent he was given.
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Dear Linda,
I do enjoy teaching through my stories as I learn. However, when I was young and not so bright, I dropped out of college. We all know what they say about hindsight. I’ve actually taught some beginning and intermediate Hebrew classes. There’s nothing like seeing the “aha moment” on someone’s face and knowing I helped put it there.
I agree with your comments on Hemingway. Thank you for your lovely comments
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Another great historical snippet. You should look into writing a full historical novel, the genre seems to agree with you
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Dear Carrie,
Funny you should mention it. My historical novel entitled PLEASE SAY KADDISH FOR ME is currently in the hands of my agent Jeanie Loiacono looking for a home. It represents 8 years of writing, learning and rewriting. And I have a sequel in the works….two in fact.
Glad you liked my Hemingway flash. Each time I do one of these FF’s I learn a little more.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I always love the historical stuff that you do. I followed the link to read more about Alfred. Thank god for people like him to inspire our great minds. Lovely story and thanks for the history lesson.
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Dear E. A.
Your comments made me smile. Happy to share. There are so many in the past who’ve shaped our present that we are woefully unaware of. I love unearthing these little obscure nuggets. The internet is such a wonderful tool, isn’t it?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I see him soon becoming the young ambulance driver in Farewell to arms… great factual introduction leading us right into his books.
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Dear Bjorn,
It pleases me that you saw my story as an introduction to an amazing life.
Rochelle
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So, this is how greatness begins…again, you bring historical lessons to life in only a few words. thanks!
on another topic, Rochelle: about “the get the InLinkz code” which code should i copy in order to have the blue icon show up on my blog post so readers can enjoy other stories? sorry, it was all so confusing…
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Dear Sunshine.
Sorry about my slow turnaround to answer. Glad you liked my story.
As for the linkz code…it’s the second link that you would use. Sorry for the confusion. Honestly, if it hadn’t been for Madison’s tutelage last year, I’d probably still be trying to figure it all out.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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no worries, Rochelle…you manage things quite effective as i see it. when i saw the updated linkz code – yikes. i must have tried several ones but probably not the second link. thanks for the untangle. ☺
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On second read, I love this even more. You put a human face on a writer whose work I’m not particularly fond of with a few exceptions (Old Man and the Sea, The Short, Happy Life of Francis McComber, Hills Like White Elephants). Well done.
Here’s mine: http://unexpectedpaths.com/friday-fictioneers/good-service/
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Dear Maggie,
Thanks for reading twice. I only recently read The Short Happy Life of Frances Macomber. That’s my first Hemingway read. I hope to find the time to read more, though. Your compliments warmed me.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love that last line, Rochelle!
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Ernest and I thank you, Jan. 😉
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Love the uncle-nephew relationship you’ve drawn. ‘Thanks to you I can tell chianti from claret,…’ such a wonderful line, said with a glint in his eye perhaps. And the last line so true – Ernie the joker and philosopher in one. Another cracking story!
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Dear Sarah Ann,
Thank you for the lovely compliments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Terse and beautiful! Another great one, Rochelle.
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Dear Sharon,
Let me be succinct. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very good story. I didn’t know you were from Kansas City!
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Dear Stephen,
Yep. Kansas City girl, born and raised. Glad you liked the story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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We were just discussing Hemingway last night. His life, though chaotic and flawed, was full of so much rich material for his writing. One of my favorite books from recent reading was The Paris Wife, about his time in Paris with his first wide. Your story brought to life his first foray into that world.
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Dear Erin,
A friend recently introduced me to The Paris Wife. It’s on my list of books to read. Alas I’m lagging way behind. Thank you for your lovely comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So live with passion!
I always enjoy these bits of historical fiction. Thank you for sharing.
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Dear JK,
Your comments made me smile. Happy to share my favorite genre as often as a prompt inspires it. No matter one thinks of Hemingway, there’s no denying he lived with passion.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely little piece of historical fiction. And the article on Uncle Ty is fascinating. Thanks for giving us that.
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Dear Patrick,
Always a pleasure to share my little finds. Glad you liked my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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As always, loads of depth in your stories, Rochelle… the best HistoricFicWriter in the bunch of us. I can always expect an education with your stories. Hope to be adding mine to the Link soon. I’ve missed reading everyone’s stories and writing some FriFic of my own. Peace, Shalom, or Aloha as the Man on the Mountain would say.
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Dear Ted,
Thanks to your lovely comments I’m going to have to start buying bigger hats. 😉 I’m looking forward to seeing you back on the linkz list.
Thank you and…
Peace, Shalom and Aloha,
Rochelle
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On first read through, I thought the dialog came across a bit stylized, but when I read it again that didn’t bother me. I enjoyed the language and the characterization – both figures show multiple sides in this short piece. So nicely done.
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Dear Ben,
To be true to the language of the day I leaned heavily on Hemingway’s own words from letters he wrote to his family and friends as a young man. I often wonder what people back then would think about our speech patterns. Would they even understand us? I’m pleased that when all was said and done, you enjoyed the story. Thank you for honest comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
As always you take us on a fascinating journey. I love the way you manage to weave bits of history into all your stories for FF – I know historical fiction is your ‘thing’ but even so, it is difficult to get a historical twist in every time, but you manage to do it.
Thank you for the journey, I always learn something new from you, this time a bit more about the life of one of my favourite writers. His short story “Hills Like White Elephants” is one of my all time favourites.
Take care
Dee
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Dear Dee,
This has been an interesting journey for me, since I’ve not read much Hemingway. I certainly won’t judge his books by the movies based on them. 😉 This group seems a bit divided on whether or not participants like his writing. Naturally I’ll have to read and decide for myself. So far, I’ve only read The Short Happy Life of Frances Macomber and I did like it.
Mr. Hemingway himself was a fascinating individual and learning more about his early life has been fun. I’m happy you enjoyed my little snippet. Thanks for dropping by with such lovely comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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