23 August 2024

Published August 21, 2024 by rochellewisoff

The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.

PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

THE GOOD LIFE

Kneading the dough of his latest creation, Cato gazed at Salonia. No longer a slave, but his young wife, great with his child. She had been his solace after the death of Licinia. It was hard for him to believe he would soon be a new father at the seasoned age of eighty.

“What are you making, husband?” she asked.

“I call it Placenta.” *

She took a deep breath through her nose. “An aroma fit for the gods. You are a marvelous cook, Cato. What’s in it?”

“Cheese, ground spelt, wheat, and plenty of honey. As sweet as my bride.”

*Pronounced pla-CHEN-ta and has nothing to do with afterbirth. 😉

Here’s a link to the RECIPE et al

To know more about the man CLICK

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A REVIEW TO RELISH

16 August 2024

Published August 14, 2024 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Mr. Binks

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

HEART OF GOLD WITH A SHMEAR

Bronia loved Kansas City. Who would have dreamed she would have such a home and business.

She loved her customers at M&M Bakery and never forgot a name.

“Do you hate the Germans?” People would ask her.

“You cannot condemn a nation. What will hate give me? I’d be a miserable, bitter person.”

One afternoon, a man burst into her deli wielding a gun. “Give me all your money or die!”

Undaunted, heart racing, Bronia stuffed a donut in his mouth. “You think I’m afraid? Hitler couldn’t kill me. No robber will kill me either!”

The would-be thief fled emptyhanded.

A bit more about this amazing woman and her legacy:

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9 August 2024

Published August 7, 2024 by rochellewisoff

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The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.

PHOTO PROMPT © Jennifer Pendergast

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

THE GOLDEN GOOSE

Clarabella climbed onto Alfred’s lap. “Tell me about Jacob, Grandad.”

“I was a lad in 1842, not quite nineteen, serving with the Coldstream Guard in the Canadian colonies. One of me mates had rescued a goose from a fox whilst on sentry duty. After that, the bird made himself quite at home, so we named him Jacob.”

Clarabella clapped her hands. “One night, Jacob spied some French rebels sneaking through the snow to attack. He squawked and flew at them. Your regiment showed their gratitude by making hiim an officer.”

“I’ve told you this story before, haven’t I?”

“O-Yes, Grandad.”

Some things you just can’t make up. CLICK HERE to meet the real Jacob

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2 August 2024

Published July 31, 2024 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

COME ON IN, THE WATER’S FINE

So begins my annual Sibling Revelry vacation . 😉 You can click on the link to see what it’s like. The pictures I take this year will be pretty much the same as last year, beach, sister-in-law, brother and fur babies.

With the Summer Olympics in the forefront, I went with a story about an Olympian I’d never heard for before. A swimmer, of course.

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

“Lay down. You are sick,” said Dad.

“But I’m not—”

“Do as I say!”

When they came for her, Dad told the Pro-Nazi Arrow Crossman, “She is the swimming champion of Hungary, and one day you will be happy you saved her life.”

“She’s a Jew.” The officer’s eyes flashed—one brown, one gray. Yet, he let her live.

In 1950 Eva Szekely won a gold medal for the 100m freestyle on Margaret Island in Budapest. A special prize was presented by the major of the communist political police. He smiled at her, eyes shining—one brown, one gray.

To learn more CLICK HERE

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26 July 2024

Published July 24, 2024 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

TREDEGAR 1911

Tears streamed from my papa’s eyes, soaking his beard. “For this we fled Russia—to be slaughtered in Wales?”

I trembled. Last night I’d hidden under my bed, covering my ears to blot out angry shouts and the crash of shattering glass.

“Thank the Almighty we are alive,” said Mama.

“Ha! If God lived on the earth, the goyim would break His windows, too.”

At that moment a Christian youth entered our tailor shop, head bowed, and handed Papa a banknote. “Father sends his apologies.” The boy took a broom from the floor. “Perhaps we can help rebuild.”

For more on the history CLICK HERE

******

Thank you, Dale for such a lovely review on LAST DANCE WITH ANNIE! 😀

14 June 2024

Published June 12, 2024 by rochellewisoff

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The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.

PHOTO PROMPT © Lisa Fox

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

WE BEGIN WITH THE YOUNG

“I like the pretty golden bird on the cover of this book, Opa. What’s it about?

Herrick gently took the blue, leather-bound volume from his granddaughter.

“This was given to me a very long time ago.”

“Will you read me a bedtime story from it?”

Gathering Gretchen onto his lap, Herrick closed his eyes and remembered the day the youth leader had issued him a fresh uniform and the virulent tome. So proud he’d been to serve his country. So fervent.

Herrick fished a pack of matches from his pocket.

“Nein, Liebling. I ‘ve a better plan für dieses buch.”

Original artwork © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

LAST DANCE WITH ANNIE is available to order in hardback, paperback or ebook, HERE, HERE, and HERE! Also available on Amazon Canada, Australia, UK, Germany and New Zealand.

7 June 2024

Published June 5, 2024 by rochellewisoff

LAST DANCE WITH ANNIE is available to order in hardback, paperback or ebook, HERE, HERE, and HERE! Also available on Amazon Canada, Australia, UK, Germany and New Zealand. 😉

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The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

FORWARD CRAWL

Eight-year-old Johann hurried through breakfast. He couldn’t wait to go to Fullerton Beach. “Swimming lessons, today.”

“What if you drown?” asked his little brother, Peter.

“Drown? I’m going to be the greatest fish in the sea.”

Later, trembling with excitement, he dove into the chilly waves of Lake Michigan, beginning a love affair with the water that never ended.

Johnny Weissmuller, an Olympic gold medal winner, went on to become the most popular on-screen Tarzan of all time.

When a young swimmer asked him for advice, he replied,

“Don’t let go of the vine when you’re swinging through the jungle!”

CLICK TO LEARN MORE

17 May 2024

Published May 15, 2024 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

VOCATION OF LOVE

Mama’s words echoed in Sister Benedicta’s memory. “Edith, how can your turn your back on your people this way? To be baptized is an outrage! You are a Jew.”

“Our Lord Jesus himself was a Jew.” Edith had calmly replied. “I am still a Jew.

The Nazis agreed and forced her to pin a yellow star to her habit.

It boggled her mind that anyone could be so cruel.

The gas chambers of Auschwitz loomed before her. Her sister Rosa wept at her side.

Putting an arm around her shoulder, Sister Benedicta whispered, “Come, we are going for our people.”

To know more about Edith Stein CLICK HERE.

3 May 2024

Published May 1, 2024 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Historical Ficton
Word Count: 100

CALL THE MIDWIFE

We couldn’t afford for Mama to have her baby at the white clinic, so Daddy hired Miss Coley.

“I ain’t lettin’ no dirty colored woman touch me,” said Mama.

Daddy shrugged. “Ain’t no choice, Maybelle.”

When Miss Mary came, she patted my head. “Look at them purty blue eyes.”

She arranged her birthing tools on newspapers. Then she scrubbed her hands. “Everything gotsta be extra clean.”

Miss Mary sat with Mama all night until my baby brother was born. Two years later, even though times was better, Mama wouldn’t trust nobody else to bring my baby sister into the world.

I couldn’t resist using the title. It just seemed to fit. You can read more about Miss Mary HERE

You can watch the 1952 documentary about Miss Mary HERE

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Last Dance With Annie will be available June 4th in paperback, hardcover, and ebook. Preorder on Amazon, Nook, Kobo, and more! (click “more” for four more places to preorder. :D)

Here’s an installment of an interview I did for Ozark Hollow Press:

26 April 2024

Published April 24, 2024 by rochellewisoff

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The following is admittedly a seven-year-old rerun. I’ve been extremely distracted of late and didn’t feel I could get away with another “my muse didn’t show up story.”…which she didn’t. 😉

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

FAMILY TREE

“‘And they lived happily ever after.’” Leah shut the storybook.

Shifra’s raisin-brown eyes, round as bottle caps, sparkled. “Bubbie? Did you love Grandpa at first sight?”

“He was only eight when we met. Mama took him in…hid him from the khappers, bad men who snatched little Jewish boys from their homes and made them serve twenty-five years in the Czar’s army.”

“Did she hide him in the closet?”

“No she was smart, my Mama.”

“He was like your brother, right?”

Leah pointed to a tintype on the table of two little bonneted girls and grinned. “More like my sister.“

*****

Below is my first attempt at creating a reel on Canva and posting it to Instagram. It works on my end if I click the picture. Let me know how it works for you.

The ebook can be preordered HERE, HERE and HERE! Release Date is June 4! If you’re not an ebook fan, paperback and hard back copies will be available on and after June 4! 😀