15 May 2015

Published May 13, 2015 by rochellewisoff

The next picture is the PHOTO PROMPT. Does it speak to you? Tell us a story in a hundred words or less.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Word Count: 100

EISENHOWER’S LAMENT

I was born seven years after the Nuremberg trials ended and in our household the subject of the Third Reich remained an open wound.

“Never forget what ‘they’ did to ‘us,’” intoned my mother.

Even now, whenever I see barbed wire, I’m haunted by visions of hollow stares and sunken faces.

Yet, there are those who try to reinvent history and their students swallow the lies like oysters on the half shell.

“Did the Holocaust really happen?” asks my young coworker.

“Tell me, Tanisha.” I gaze into her eyes and tap her bronze hands. “Did slavery in America really happen?”

Epilogue – Click Here

Voice of a Spanish Dancer – It’s Not the Destination but the Journey

Published May 11, 2015 by rochellewisoff

To see if my technique and form are correct, I recently watched a video on the mechanics of the flip turn. The instructor described the flip turn as the most efficient way for a swimmer, once she reaches the wall, to turn back and swim toward the other wall. Not only does it retain energy, but it’s the best way to maintain momentum.

The flip turn is one of my favorite things to do in swimming and, according to the online swim instructor, I’m doing it correctly.

I don’t think about mechanics while I’m in the water. For me there’s an ethereal quality. It’s a different world beneath the surface. I tuck, turn a somersault and gaze up at a crystal ceiling. Then, pressing my feet against the pool wall, I flip over and catapult myself in the opposite direction.

In a few months I will retire from my day job. In my younger days I viewed retirement as the end to real life where I would sit on park benches and feed the birds or languish in front of the television in a vegetative state.

Nowhere is either of those activities part of my plan. My first novel debuted last week. The sequel is due to be released in December. I’ve begun work on a third novel, the last part of the trilogy.

For me the flip turn is not only an enjoyable part of swimming but also a metaphor for my life. I’ve come to one end of the pool. With renewed vitality, I tuck into a ball, press my feet against the wall, flip and catapult myself into life’s flow.

Available from W & B Publishers

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And for those of you who want to know what a flip turn looks like:

8 May 2015

Published May 6, 2015 by rochellewisoff

The next photo is the PHOTO PROMPT. It’s an oldie but a goodie. To a handful of you it will be familiar.

PHOTO PROMPT – © Madison Woods

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A couple of weeks ago I wrote an unstory that I titled THE ULTIMATE COP OUT, this week I’m simply copping out by posting a rerun. With proofing, illustrating and a second novel coming out on the heels of the first, life is a busy proposition. (And there’s the full time job thing.) For most of you this is a new prompt. For those who have written a story for it, feel free to share it or write another, or take a week’s vacation. 😉

The following story is one of my husband Jan’s favorite of my flash fictions. I originally posted this on July 25,2012 when Madison Woods was still leading the pack. Since then our numbers have nearly tripled.

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Genre: Realistic Fiction

Word Count: 97

SNARL

“Nice doggie,” whispered Jolie.

Huddled against the fence she faced a mouthful of Pit Bull teeth. Which would be worse—the whipping she’d get for losing Grandma’s ring or to be eaten alive by a junkyard dog?

A few inches from the behemoth’s haunch, moonlight glinted off the sapphire. With her eyes fixed on his, she slid her hand toward the ring, hoping he wouldn’t notice.

But he snapped to his feet with a roaring bark and lunged.

Her heart thrashed against her ribs.

In one ferocious bite the Copperhead skulking toward her met a grisly fate.

ORIGINAL POST

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.Available from W&B Publishers

1 May 2015

Published April 29, 2015 by rochellewisoff

The next photo is the PHOTO PROMPT. Does it tell you a story? Write it in a hundred words or less.

PHOTO PROMPT – © Dee Lovering

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Genre: Historical Fiction

Word Count: 100

FINAL SOLUTION

“These madmen take everything,” cried Leah. “They brand us like cattle because we are Jews and you do nothing?”

“How does one fight a pack of rabid dogs?” Abraham rubbed a painful lump on the back of his head. “Finish packing. We set sail in the morning while we still can.”

“They cannot have my grandmother’s bracelet.”

“Leave it! What’s a bauble when our people are being exterminated like cockroaches?”

Letting the bracelet fall from her fingers, she collapsed into his arms. “España is our home.”

“Querida, you are my home. 1493 in Portugal—it will be a better year.”

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Jews were forced to wear golden-yellow badges for identification. There’s nothing new under the sun.

History Lovers Click Here

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***

My novel, Please Say Kaddish for Me, is still available for preorder at a reduced price here.The Kindle version is available for preorder at Amazon.com.

Published by W&B Publishers

Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency

24 April 2015

Published April 22, 2015 by rochellewisoff

The following photo is the PHOTO PROMPT. What do you see? Don’t be afraid to step outside the confines of the box. Use your imagination.

My unstory will follow the prompt and the blue frog link. 😉

PHOTO PROMPT – © Douglas M. MacIlroy

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Genre: Non-fiction/Non-story

Word Count: 99

The story you are about to read is true. No names have been changed to protect the innocent.

THE ULTIMATE COP OUT

“It’s a fantastic prompt,” I tell Doug.

“I’ll take history for $30,” I mumble as I read an article about Roald Amundsen, the first person to reach the South Pole.

After days of edits, illustrations, full time job issues and insomnia, my busy brain, swirling with a thousand-thoughts-a-minute, is at a loss for a flash fiction.

Word came this week that my novel is going to be released in two weeks. So soon? I just sent the manuscript back to the publisher and I’m still writing acknowledgements.

“Another time, Roald.” I click out of Wikipedia. “No story this week.”

***

It’s true. For the first time in three years, I didn’t have the head space to write a story. I hope you’ll find it in your hearts to forgive me. Last week I received an email from my publisher with the following notice:

Beginning on April 20 Please Say Kaddish For Me will be available to preorder from Kindle in ebook form and to preorder from http://www.a-argusbooks.com/GalleryComing.htm in print form. Release date scheduled for May 8.

Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency

Many thanks to Cuzzin Kent Bonham for using his expertise to make the following book trailer. Click here for LINK. Of course the date’s a bit sooner than I was expecting. 😉

17 April 2015

Published April 15, 2015 by rochellewisoff

The next photo is the PHOTO PROMPT. There’s a lot to see. Does it ignite a story for you. Tell us in a hundred words or less.

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

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Genre: Realistic Fiction

Word Count: 100

MOTHER GOOSE

My doctor called it postpartum depression and assured me it was normal, but I knew better. I resented my son Daniel for what he was not. I wanted sugar and spice. Instead I got snips and snails.

One night, after putting the baby to bed, I turned on the television and came across a promotion for flame retardant pajamas. Graphic images of once handsome children, burned and scarred beyond recognition, seared through me.

“What’s wrong with me?” I bolted from the sofa to the nursery, gathered Daniel into my arms, inhaled his sweetness and whispered, “I love puppy dog tails.”

Original Artwork © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Character Study – Ulrich Dietrich

Published April 12, 2015 by rochellewisoff

“Although he could well afford to have his suits tailored by the Czar’s clothier, Ulrich Dietrich would have none of the aristocracy. The wealthy heir of a German banker and a successful musician in his own right, he baffled his colleagues by choosing to enlist the services of a poor Jewish tailor. When criticized, he would merely shrug and thank the critic to mind his or her own business.”

~~From Please Say Kaddish for Me by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

W&B Publishers

Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency

Original Artwork © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

When circumstances force Havah to leave Svechka for Kishinev, Ulrich who is a lonely widower, hires her to be his housemaid. She quickly becomes more than that to him. Impressed by her aptitude and talent, he takes her under his wing as a student in both English and music.

Havah, in turn, finds herself attracted to this Christian man’s sense of humor and admiration of her people. Little by little she allows herself to forget Arel and fall in love with Ulrich.

10 April 2015

Published April 8, 2015 by rochellewisoff

The following PHOTO is the PROMPT. Where does your mind travel? Take us there in a hundred words or less.

My story follows the prompt and the link frog. I welcome honest comments and crit.

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Dear Friday Fictioneers,

Some of you may have noticed a lack of my comments and replies last week. My editor and I have been up to our eyeballs in novel edits. I hope to catch up soon. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

A heartfelt thanks to my editor and friend for sacrificing his time to help me untwist, un-hyphenate and smooth out the rough edges of the soon-to-be published PLEASE SAY KADDISH FOR ME.

Shalom,

Rochelle

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Gere: Historical Fiction

Word Count: 100

ONLY THE MOUNTAIN REMAINS

My dearest Zhilan,

This night my thoughts turn toward home and you. I cherish the times we invited the moon to join us as we shared rice wine. Remember how we dreamed I would find Gold Mountain?

Now my journey is hard and my days are filled with the pickaxe and train tracks. Never will I see you again, my fragrant orchid, nor our precious son…

***

“Fever musta took him.” Levi knelt beside the body and pried a piece of crumpled paper from its stiff hand. “Whatcha make a this?”

Orville squinted and shrugged. “Jest some ignorant Chinee scribbles.”

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More

3 April 2015

Published April 1, 2015 by rochellewisoff

The following photo is the PHOTO PROMPT and comes from Lauren Moscato by way of Amy Reese. What does it say to you? Watch your step and tell us a story in one hundred words or less.

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Genre: Realistic Fiction

Word Count: 100

MOVING UP

Bevy was a splash of color on God’s palette. When it came to interior design and giving parties, she was an artist without equal.

Every Monday we met for dinner with Bevy and George. On one such night we compared house-hunting woes.

“You should see the monstrosity George liked,” she said with a pained grimace. “Metal walls and a window air conditioner in every room.”

“Hey,” he said with a shrug, “it’s big enough for entertaining.”

A week later we learned she’d been keeping a secret.

Today heaven’s awash with color and celebration while my world’s become a dingier place.

Character Study – Fruma Ya’el

Published March 27, 2015 by rochellewisoff

The most dramatic operation she [Fruma Ya’el] had done in twenty years was to extract a well-deserved bullet from Pinkas Rabinovich’s backside after a tavern brawl. Never did she imagine she would be called upon to perform such grisly surgery as she had on a poor orphan. She wiped the amputation blade with her rag and laid it in the mahogany case between a pair of scissors and a scalpel. What else could she have done? Sometimes life left one no choices.

Taken from PLEASE SAY KADDISH FOR ME by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Although Havah’s introduction to Fruma Ya’el is a painful one, she will become one of the most important people in the girl’s life.

Fruma Ya’el Levine, the cantor’s wife, is a one of Svechka’s most beloved citizens for she is the village midwife. She is proud of the fact that she’s seen most of the babies’ faces before their own mothers. Her great love of children has earned her the title of Auntie Fruma.

In her youth she had the opportunity to immigrate to America to study medicine, but tragic circumstances barred the way. Trapped in an arranged and empty marriage, she pours her love into her only living child, Gittel.

Fruma Ya’el sees in Havah the passionately intelligent girl she used to be. Little by little an ironclad bond forms between them.

Published by W&B Publishers

Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency

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As a child growing up in a Jewish family, it never occurred to me that not everyone had a Hebrew name. My friend Lori Ginson was proud of her Yiddish/Hebrew name “Fruma Ya’el,” meaning Pious Strength of God. However Lori was a troubled soul and died much too young. I think she would be pleased that I gave her name to one of the strongest characters in my novels.