1 July 2023

Published June 28, 2023 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 © Dale Rogerson

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

TO BOLDLY GO

“Shma Yisra’el, Adonai Eloheynu, Adonai echad.” Standing beside his father in the synagogue, Billy sang the familiar words from the Torah “Hear oh Israel, Adonai is our God, Adonai is One.”

He rubbed his throbbing cheek. In Europe, the war against Nazi Germany raged. Reports of the death camps gave him nightmares. His grandparents had come to Montreal to escape such things. Why did the other kids pick fights with him just for being Jewish?

Papa leaned over and whispered, “Does the other boy have a black eye like yours?”

Billy Shatner grinned. “They don’t call me Toughie for nothing.”

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23 June 2023

Published June 21, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

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There are days and weeks when inspiration is a snap. The ideas flow and stories leap onto the page. Without boring you with the details, I’ll just say this hasn’t been one of those weeks.

Genre: All too realistic and hysterical fiction
Count: 100 Uninspired Words

UNINSPIRED

Shelly typed a line from a familiar childhood story, “Run, run as fast as you can. You can’t catch me. I’m the gingerbread man.”

Outside her window, birds chirped, heralding the dawn.

“Nope, not the least bit inspiring.” She backspaced over the sentence and tapped out. “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”

“There. I’ve used every letter of the alphabet. Now what?”

Downing the last of her coffee, Shelly pressed the backspace key again and stared at the photo prompt.

She leaned back and pouted. “I hate it when my muse gives me the silent treatment.”

16 June 2023

Published June 14, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Rowena Curtin

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The following is a snippet from my soon-to-be published novel. Gone over with a finetooth comb by my wonderful beta readers, I’ve sent the manuscript back to my publsiher for another round of edits. It’s amazing how each one of my readers fround something different. 😀

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Word Count: 100

EVASIVE MANEUVER

The sun behind Dr. Picard put his face in shadow. Elise winced. “Do you suppose you could move?”

He rose and sank into a different chair. “That’s a step in the right direction. Better?”

“Yes. What do you mean by that?”

“How often do you ask for what you need?”

“Often enough, I guess.”

“How often do you ask your husband?”

“John Wayne Picard, MD, PhD.” Elise read a framed medical certificate on the wall. “Nice bowtie, Doctor. That shade of cerulean brings out the blue in your eyes. Mind if I call you Wayne? Or do you prefer John?”

https://www.ozarkhollowpress.com/

Here I am with my enthusiastic publisher, head of OHP, Lia Wu. ❤

9 June 2023

Published June 7, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Lisa Fox

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Genre: Hysterical Faction
Word Count: 100

CHILD’S PLAY

The TV shows I loved as a kid are now retro footage on YouTube.

When did Paul McCartney, the cute Beatle, become an eighty-year-old, albeit nice-looking, grandfather? Man from U.N.C.L.E.’s heart throb David McCallum is pushing ninety.

My favorite toys such as Chatty Cathy and the little red spinning wheel are considered vintage and are available on eBay for three times the original price.

Somewhere along the line I stepped through Alice’s looking glass. Help me! I’m a child trapped inside an old woman’s body.

“Age is only a number.” I shrug. “Growing older is inevitable. Growing up is optional.”

I had the blonde version. My mom once sat down with her and wrote down all eleven of her sayings. 😀

2 June 2023

Published May 31, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

RHINESTONE COWBOY

Nuta Kotlvarenko loved cowboy movies, particularly ones starring his hero Tom Mix.

One evening in 1913, Mama handed a passport to Nuta’s older brother Julius. “Ukraine is not safe for Jewish boys. We’re sending you to America where the streets are paved with gold.”

“I don’t want to go.” Nuta’s eyes stung.

***

Following years of odd jobs, Nuta, now Nudie Cohn, found his niche as the rodeo tailor. Stars from Roy Rogers to Elvis Presley paid thousands for rhinestone-studded Nudie suits.

“Nudie,” asked a fan. “Why don’t your boots ever match?”

“To remind me that golden streets have a price.”

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19 May 2023

Published May 17, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Liz Young

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As of this Wednesday morning I will only be back in the country a day or so. In anticipation of jet lag I’m sharing a snippet of my the last book of Havah’s trilogy. AS ONE MUST, ONE CAN. I’ve reworked it a bit to fit into the stand-alone (which I hope it does) 100 word format.

When I was writing this novel, set in Kansas City, Missouri in 1908, I was thrilled to find that this Chinese restaurant my family frequented during the 1950’s was in existence way back when. I thought Havah should enjoy it, too. 😉

A GOOD JEWISH MEAL

Havah marveled at the glossy woodwork that adorned the dining room of the King Joy Lo restaurant. She drank in unfamiliar aromas.

Picking up a pair of ivory sticks beside her plate, she studied the elegant calligraphy etched into them. “These are beautiful, but what are they for?”

“Chopsticks. For eating.” The waiter took them and lifted a piece of chicken between them. “Easy. Even babies in China use. Now you.”

Try as she might, they slipped between her fingers and fell amid the noodles on her plate.

“How on earth do they do it?”

“Like American babies. Very messy.”

CLICK to find out more about Havah’s Journey

Here are a few pictures of King Joy Lo through the years:

12 May 2023

Published May 10, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Jennifer Pendergast

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

A COLORFUL HISTORY

Edwin brought eleven-year-old Mary and four-year-old Edwin Jr. the fruits of his labor. “Look what Papa has for you!”

Mary rolled a wax stick in her hand. “We already have crayons. The violet color is pretty, though.”

Edwin Jr. took one. “Yellow! It’s like sunshine.”

Their mother gave each of the children a coloring book. “Let’s see what they do on paper, shall we?” She smiled. “These crayons need a special name. Let’s see. Craie is French for chalk and ola is Latin for oily. What about Crayola?”

Edwin Binney kissed his wife Alice’s cheek. “My dear. You’re a genius.”

5 May 2023

Published May 3, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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May already? As this is being posted, I’m preparing a trip out of country, so for the next couple of weeks, Friday Fictioneers will be on “auto pilot.” I will try to read and comment on your stories when I get a chance.

Meanwhile…

Genre: Colorful Faction
Word Count: 100

DIFFERENT STROKES

Clara looked up from her canvas. “Why do you do watercolor, Elise? It’s so hard to control.”

With a wide brush Elise swept cerulean onto the wet paper. Then she sprinkled coarse salt into the pigment. Color splayed into fascinating patterns. “Watercolor is fluid. It makes its own path.”

“Fine for you. I prefer my acrylics.”

When the background dried, Elise took a smaller brush and added stamens to purple flowers in the foreground. “It’s all about knowing when to pay attention to the details and when to take a risk and let go.”

“Sounds a lot like life.”

“Exactly.”

I love watercolor. 😀

28 April 2023

Published April 26, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count:100

LIKE A BAND-AID HELPS A CORPSE

The little wooden boat floated along the Galilee. JoAnna breathed in the fresh air.

Tears trickled down her cheek. She hugged her granddaughter, Rachel. “We’re the lucky ones. I took a boat ride on the St. Louis, from Germany with my family to seek freedom.”

“You found it in England and then here in Israel. Doesn’t that make you happy?”

“Cuba, America and Canada—all turned away—allowing only a handful of us refuge. The rest, including my parents, went back to face the Beast.”

“The US State Department offered an official apology.”

“After seventy-three years? Too little too late.”

Holocaust Remembrance Day was April 14 this year. But any time of year is a good time to remember.

To know more CLICK HERE

7 April 2023

Published April 5, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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To many this is Holy Week. Not only is the Christian celebration of the Resurrection coming up this Sunday, the Jewish observance of Passover begins Wednesday night at sundown. Here’s my own little glimpse into what one family scene might have been like.

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

L’DOR V’DOR*

Before Yosi could open the door, his mother whisked him into her arms. “No, my son! The Angel of Death lurks out there!”

Dafna sat him on the floor beside the infant who slumbered in her basket. “Watch your sister while I prepare for our journey.”

“Where are we going? Why is this night so different?”

“So many questions, Yosi, my firstborn.” Oriel dripped lamb’s blood on the doorpost. “Someday you’ll understand and teach your own children.”

***

Forty years later, Yosi prepared the Passover in the Promised Land.

“Abba,” Yosi’s son asked, “Why is this night different from all others?”

*From Generation to Generation

Although not reflected in the following video, the questions mentioned are preceded by the youngest child at the seder asking, “Why is this night different from all other nights?” TRADITION!