30 Octber 2026

Published October 28, 2026 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 © Jennifer Pendergast

Prompt Description: We are on a beach. Gentle waves are lapping the shore and the sun is reflecting on the water. In the foreground, amid some large rocks is a helmet as worn by knights of old and an embellished sword. Leaning against a large slab is a cell phone.

Click the performing frog to join.

Genre: Edited Novel Excerpt
Word Count: 100

EMOTIONAL ARMOR

Aunt Ingrid’s inflamed gaze held Gracie captive. “You are a swimmer?”

The girl squirmed. “Yeah.”

“You wear a skimpy costume when you perform.”

Gracie braced herself for a lecture. But who had more of a right to deliver one than this heartbroken mother? She cast her gaze downward murmuring, “It’s a swimsuit, not a costume.”

“I don’t see much difference.”

Gracie reached into her purse and fingered the bottle of Ipecac she’d planned to use after lunch. One or two more times should do it to get down to her goal weight. Then she would stop. No harm. No foul.

GOOD NEWS! We’ve made some progress on the audio book. Seventeen more chapters recorded. Only twenty-seven more to go. 😀

16 October 2026

Published October 14, 2026 by rochellewisoff

Like us on Facebook

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

This week’s prompt takes us into a narrow kitchen. on the right we see cabinets and a stove. There’s a refrigerator at the end. On the hardwood floor there’s an oval rug. To the left it looks to be a long bookcase filled with books. At the very end, in the middle there’s a wall with decorations and a door with a lock.

Just a reminder: This is a community of writers. Comment on the stories of others as you would like them to comment on yours.

CLICK FROG TO ADD YOUR STORY

Genre: Fiction
Word Count: 100

MOUNT EVEREST SPECIAL

“How’s the novel coming?” Louise peered over Thelma’s shoulder.

“Not so great.” Thelma’s empty stomach rumbled. She stood and stretched to ease the kink in her neck. “I need sustenance.”

“How about a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?”

“Nah. The only excuse for jelly we have is your aunt’s poisonberry jam.”

“Hey, that’s not a very nice thing to call it.”

“Okay. Kerosene preserves then.” Thelma sliced an onion. Breathing in the pungent aroma she proclaimed, “Now that’s what goes on a peanut butter sandwich.”

“Ugh!” Louise wrinkled her nose. “You can’t possibly be serious.”

“It worked for Ernest Hemingway.”

To know more about Hemingway and PB&O Sandwiches Click

Incidentally, I had to try it out for myself. Peanut butter and onions makes a tasty combo. 😉

9 October 2026

Published October 7, 2026 by rochellewisoff

Like us on Facebook

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 © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

This week’s prompt has us walking along a path under a bridge. To the right there is a narrow stream. The stream is flanked by grassy banks. On the pillars of the bridge you see splotches of mud and muddy handprints.

CLICK the frog to join.

Genre: Anecdote?
Word Count: 100

MUDSLIDE

“Back in Abraham Lincoln’s day political candidates fought dirty,” said my fifth-grade teacher.

Suzie raised her hand. “Did they brawl in the mud like wrestlers?”

“Not exactly. What I mean is that instead of proclaiming their own good intentions, politicians spent their time ripping into their opponents.”

“Yeah,” said Billy. “They’d make speeches about the other guy’s nasty deeds to make themselves look good. Right, Mrs. Gerard?”

“Precisely. Fortunately, we’ve moved beyond those times as a civilized nation.”

Today, some sixty years later, head pounding, I switch off a mudslinging, political advertisement on television and sigh. “What happened to ‘civil-ization’?”

2 October 2026

Published September 30, 2026 by rochellewisoff

Like us on Facebook

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 © Sandra Crook

This week’s photo features a castle nestled in green rolling hills. There’s a bush of red flowers in the foreground.

CLICK frog to join

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

A TWIST OF FATE

“Please help us abort,” begged the desperate father.

Irene refused. “If the baby dies, Hitler wins. He’s murdered enough Jewish children already”

The young Polish housekeeper had harbored twelve fugitives in the cellar of Major Rügemer’s grand home for two years.

One day he came home early and met his uninvited guests.

Despite his anger and fear, he agreed to keep Irene’s secret in exchange for certain favors.

When Rügemer’s family rejected him after the war for his part in saving Jews, the baby’s parents took him in. Little Roman Haller knew the former Wehrmacht officer only as Zaydeh—grandpa.

CLICK to know more about this valiant woman. (It’s worth the watch).

It’s hard not to have mixed feelings about Major Rügemer. Here’s more of his story.

11 September 2026

Published September 9, 2026 by rochellewisoff

Like us on Facebook

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 © A member of the Fields Family who didn’t care to be Identified. 😉

This week we’re looking at the front of a two story building with a classic facade. The front door is covered by a colonial style roof and pillars. Behind it to the right is a red brick building. The windows are multi-paned rectangular and arched at the tops. The yard in front is green.

Click the frog to join the fun.

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

AUGUST 18, 1790

Jacob squirmed on the wooden seat between Papa and Grandpapa Aaron. “Why are we in synagogue today? It’s not Shabbat.”

Grandpapa patted Jacob’s knee. “I came to this colony of Rhode Island to escape oppression in Brazil when I was your age.” He pointed to the man sitting in the seat of honor. “This day you’ll remember for the rest of your life.”

Years later, Jacob told his own son, “I will never forget the day President Washington spoke these words in this very place, ‘The government of the United States gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution, no assistance.’”

CLICK to know more.

21 August 2026

Published August 19, 2026 by rochellewisoff

Like us on Facebook

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 © Lori Wilson

The prompt this week is the front porch of an old hotel in Missouri. There are stone arches in front. Double wooden doors welcome the guests. There is a light over the front doors. Through the glass on the doors and the windows you can see the pleasant lobby. Welcome! Enjoy your stay! 😉

CLICK the frogs to join

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

BLACK THURSDAY

Henry had a lucrative position with a Kansas City bank, a dream home, and a beautiful wife. The world was his oyster.

He’d booked a room in Booneville at the Frederick Hotel where they’d spent their wedding night. It was a crisp October day. Perfect for celebrating their first anniversary.

As he was packing the telephone rang.

Tears blurred his vision that night at dinner. How can I tell her we’ve lost everything?

As he groped for the right words, Ginny blurted out. “Oh Henry, 1930 is going to be the best year ever! You’re going to be a daddy!”

31 July 2026

Published July 29, 2026 by rochellewisoff

Like us on Facebook

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 © Sandra Crook

The prompt this weeks is of a rotted tree stump. Growing profusely from the wood are rows of turkey tail mushrooms. They look like columns of fans or tails of turkeys.

CLICK THE FROGS TO HOP ABOARD

This week, as I’ll be traveling out of state to visit my brother in North Carolina, I’m taking the easy way and posting a snippet from my novel LAST DANCE WITH ANNIE (soon to be available in audio).

Genre: Literary Fiction
Word Count: 100

ROUGH ROAD TO RECOVERY

Once the doors shut and the vehicle began to move, the EMT picked up the ambulance phone and poised his fingers over the buttons. “Do you want me to call your husband?”

Elise’s panic mushroomed. “Husband?”

The young man’s cheeks flushed as he pointed at her wedding ring. “I assumed—”

Elise swiveled the gold band around her ring finger with her pinkie and thumb. They’d had a terrible fight at the restaurant about her dinner—or lack thereof—as always.

Tony had filled a plate with chicken and vegetables and plopped it front of her. “Dammit, Elise, eat something!”

********************

A few more photos from our recent recording session. Jadyn, the young man in the photo will be voicing the male characters. The young lady sitting is my publisher Lia Wu.

17 July 2026

Published July 15, 2026 by rochellewisoff

Like us on Facebook

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.

In this week’s prompt we’re looking down a hallway. The walls and floors are made of stone. There are iron doors open along the way to a back door. There’s a table and chair in the left side of the foreground. Light is streaming through the door at the end of the hallway.

CLICK THE FROG TO HOP ABOARD

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

INCURABLE

Elizabeth lay on her cot counting the stones on the ceiling.

Had she not had the audacity to disagree with her husband’s theology, she would be tucking in her babies at this very moment.

This was insanity. If a woman dared to displease her almighty husband, it was his legal right to banish her for her “incompetence.”

After three years in Jacksonville Insane Asylum, it took a jury seven minutes to declare her to be of sound mind. Elizabeth Packard left the courtroom a free woman.

They had called her mad but all she did was refuse to be silent.

Click for More of her story.

10 July 2026

Published July 8, 2026 by rochellewisoff

Like us on Facebook

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.

This week’s prompt is from a playground. At the top of a double slide is a big orb with a smiley face. There is a railing with little sculpted children betweeen the bars. The sky is blue and there are green trees in the background.

CLICK THE FROG TO JOIN

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

LITTLE WANDA WITH THE BRAIDS

The SS guard smiled at the girl with tearful blue eyes. “Is there something I might help you with, Fraulein?”

She blushed and twirled the end of one of her blonde braids. “I-I need to see Corporal Gruber…a personal matter.”

“Ach.” The guard held the office door for her and winked. “I’m sure he will be most happy to see you, schatzi.”

Moments later, Corporal Gruber and two other officers fell to floor. Dead. Niuta Teitelbaum tucked her revolver back under her apron.

As she left, she waved at the guard, batted her eyelashes, and whispered, “Heil Hitler, you bastards.”

CLICK FOR MORE

3 July 2026

Published July 1, 2026 by rochellewisoff

Like us on Facebook

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.

CLICK FROG TO JOIN

Somehow a red flower managed to bloom on the “wrong side” of the fence. Just the bloom is peeking through the slats. There’s a green bush on the right side of the photo. .

Genre: Memoire
Word Count: 100

A BOOK IS LIKE A GARDEN, CARRIED IN THE POCKET

When did letters come together to form words and stories? I don’t recall exactly when it happened for me.

I owe much of it to Dick, Jane, and their baby sister Sally as do many former children of a certain age in these United States.

“Come here, Dick.”

“Go, Jane. Go, Sally, go!”

The illustrations made me as happy as the thrill of learning to read, thanks to Robert Childress. He wasn’t the first to paint lively pictures for the iconic books, but his were the ones that colored my early childhood. They still bloom like flowers in my memory.