5 December 2025

Published December 3, 2025 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 © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

The photo shows a small grocery store with rows of jars and some decorations. In the background are some refrigerator cases. To the left are to square tables with folding chairs.

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Genre: Memoir
Word Count: 100

TURKISH DELIGHT

Shelves lined with souvenirs and jarred delicacies; Mediterranean Market didn’t look like much. However, the smoky baba ghanoush and succulent kabobs more than compensated for the lack of ambience.

My cousin Kent and I enjoyed long lunches and chatting with the Turkish co-owners.

“I miss the mountains,” Jihan would say with a faraway gaze, “and my mother.”

Sinan, the more gregarious brother, with black hair curling below his ears and huge eyes that didn’t quite go the same direction, would ask me, “You like the food?”

“The best.”

He would grin and giggle. “When the womens is heppy, everybody’s heppy.”

This is a true story. I only wish I’d gotten pictures of the Sinan and J’han. I really miss this little market where Kent and I spent a lot of time writing together.

29 August 2025

Published August 27, 2025 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 © Dale Rogerson

This week’s prompt has part of an empty wine glass in the right foreground. You can see a candle lighter through the glass. Toward the back is a candleholder with melted candles. There is a cork on the table.

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count:100

A NICE JEWISH GIRL FROM CINCINNATI

Papa recited the prayer over the wine. As he recounted the ancient story, ten-year-old Theodosia Goodman envisioned herself in a sweeping drama set in Egypt.

For his part in the Passover seder, her brother Marque asked the question, “Why is this night different from all other nights?”

She interjected, “Someday I’m going to be an actress.”

“Of course you are,” Papa patted her head. “Tonight, we remember when our ancestors were slaves in Egypt.“

”A quarter of a century later in 1918, mesmerized by her onscreen performance, millions of moviegoers applauded Theodosia, now Theda Bara in the blockbuster Cleopatra.

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22 August 2025

Published August 20, 2025 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

Description: There is a red brick building with what looks like a small courtyard with a couple of small trees in the foreground. There are three roadsigns in the lefthand corner that read “One way, End One Way” and “No Turn on Red.” There are taller buildings behind the brick building. There’s also a flight of stairs beside the red brick building that are painted red and blue.

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Genre: Hysterical Fiction
Word Count: 100

DO THIS, DON’T DO THAT

“Sign, sign, everywhere a sign…” Jan kept the beat on the steering wheel as he sang along with the radio.

Rochelle looked up from her research for her next Friday Fictioneers story on her iPhone. “What would we do without road signs?”

“Do I sense a history lesson?”

“The first two drivers in Detroit collided. Perhaps if there’d been signs their tragic deaths could’ve been prevented. By the 1920’s standardized road signs were developed. Of course they don’t prevent every accident, since people don’t pay attention. Speaking of…uh honey?”

“What now?”

“You’re going the wrong way on a one-way street.”

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

And just for the fun of it:

20 June 2025

Published June 18, 2025 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 © Ted Strutz

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Genre: Rambling Anecdote
Word Count: 100

AUDITORY CORTEX

Round like a circle in a spiral…

Earworms—tunes that go around and around in my head like a merry-go-round.

Like a wheel within a wheel.

Some days they seem never ending like an ever-spinning reel, don’t they?

Pictures hanging in a hallway…

Every one of those pictures is crooked. This situation must be rectified immediately.

…and the fragment of a song.

There. The pictures are straight. Much better.

Half remembered names and faces, but to whom do they belong?

I had at least four anonymous commentors last week.

Why did I come into this room in the first place?

31 January 2025

Published January 29, 2025 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 © Mr. Binks

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

CREATING HEAVEN ON EARTH

When I was a little girl, the Shakers took me in and educated me. They encouraged me to follow my own path, celibate and free.

As Mother Ann Lee taught, I gave my hands to work and my heart to God, making chairs and building cabinets.

Yet I dreamt of my gentle prince who would rescue me on his noble steed.

Ignoring Mother Ann’s wise counsel, I accepted a marriage proposal.

By my 26th year I had born five children—two who lived.

Tonight, I shall pack our belongings and beseech the Shakers to rescue me from my violent “prince.”

If you’re unfamiliar with the Shakers, here’s a short clip to introduce them.

6 December 2024

Published December 4, 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 © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

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Genre: Fiction
Word Count: 100

I
EXCEPTING ALICE

Despite my husband’s protests, I gather seashells along a Massachusetts beach. They are my favorite souvenirs from my travels.

I pick up a rock and hold it in the palm of my hand. A whimsical drawing of a cat smiles at me.

Later as we have lunch at Theresa’s Stockbridge Café, I show my find to our server.

“Oh!” she exclaims. “You don’t see many of those on the beach these days. That’s an Alice original.”

My heart pounds. “You mean as in the Alice?”

“Yes!”

Suddenly I find myself singing, “You can get anything you want at Alice’s Restaurant.”

The photo prompt this week is mine and while it’s true that I can’t resist collecting shells on the beach, the ones pictured came from St. Thomas, Florida, and Wilmington NC. I’ve never been to Massachusetts. 😉

Click the images below for the full pictures:

This is a phoo of one of Alice's painted rocks. She enjoyed leaving them around for others to find and enjoy.

Genre: Tribute – Non Fiction
Word Count: 100

II
REMEMBER ALICE?

Alice’s Restaurant wasn’t really a song about Alice—or a restaurant. It’s just the name of the song.

As the story goes, “It all started two Thanksgivings ago…”

Rock stations across the United States play Arlo Guthrie’s classic narrative every Thanksgiving which falls in late November.

While she enjoyed cooking, Alice Brock never expected fame or fortune to come of it. In recent years, she reminisced how, thanks to her “funny looking friend with the guitar,” and his eighteen-minute ramble, she became the “living legend Earth Mother.”

She left us this year, a week before Thanksgiving. Rest in peace, Alice.

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And if you really want to step back in time, (or have eighteen minutes with nothing better to do) here’s the song about Alice…and the restaurant:

ONE FOR THE BOOKS

Published June 26, 2024 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Anecdote
Word Count: 100

ONE FOR THE BOOKS

A roomful of friends came to share my day. Some of them supported me through my darkest days. They congratulate me through their tears.

This is surreal. What will others think of me when they read my–albeit highly fictionalized—life story?

My artwork graces the books stacked on the table, both hardback and paperback. Friendly chatter fills the winery. Everything is beyond perfect.

Penultimate singer-songwriter and dear friend Bradley sings my song among other crowd favorites.

Before the afterglow of this special time has a chance to fade, the sudden realization strikes me. “Where do I go from here?”

21 June 2024

Published June 19, 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.

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Today, as this week’s Friday Fictioneers airs, it’s June 19th. In the States it’s Juneteenth, a Federal Holiday to celebrate and commemorate the ending of slavery in America. I hope my piece doesn’t sound defensive, although at the time, I was hurt by my friend’s barbs.

Genre: Memoir
Word Count: 100

IN BLACK AND WHITE

A while back, a fellow artist and I met for coffee. In the midst of the conversation, I said something my African American friend perceived as racist.

He frowned saying, “You white people say you don’t see color when you really do.”

His comments hurt, sending me on a soul-searching expedition.

He was partly correct in his assessment. The fact is, I do see a person’s skin color, as well as eye color and physique. I am a visual artist, after all. What I wanted to tell him is that I appreciate the brilliant rainbow the Ultimate Artist has created.

Here I am with some delightful friends in Israel. I’m glad they didn’t have a problem with short people. 😉

If only we could see how alike we all are.

****

And now for some shameless publicity 😉 This coming Sunday is my official Book Launch.

17 May 2024

Published May 15, 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.

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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.

8 September 2023

Published September 6, 2023 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.

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This week has been a busy one which didn’t leave much headspace for writing even one hundred words. So I’m sharing a pared down excert from my WIP “LAST DANCE WITH ANNIE”. I’m in the midst of what we’re hoping is the final round of line edits. My use of the prompt is quite loose. 😉

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Word Count: 100

LOVE AND WAR

Tony studied his friend CPO Marco Sanchez. Marco’s golden-haired fiancée sent him a ‘Dear John’ letter while he dodged VC sniper fire in Vietnam as a medical corpsman. When he came back to the states in 1970, he met and married Carla who succumbed to cancer ten years later, leaving Marco to raise three sons.

“How do you do it?”

“Sense of humor.” Marco shrugged. “Carlita always told me if we divorced, she’d make sure I got custody. Said she’d hire ‘lack-of-character’ witnesses. Prove she was an unfit mother. Guess she got the last laugh.” He grinned. “Lunch at Ruby’s?”