A quick note to let you all know I’m still here and spinning webs as fast as my spinnerets will spew out the story threads. (editor’s note: ew.)
I’ve decided to focus my energy this year on two projects:
The Jake Omnibus which includes:
1) a completely revamped A Chick, A Dick and A Witch Walk Into a Barn
2) three new vignettes featuring Mama Effie, Radu and Bear Gunn
BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE!
3) the first chapter of the seventh story in the Jake saga. Currently untitled but it’s gonna be ONE HELL OF A RIDE! (editor’s note: exactly how much coffee have you had today?)
I am also working on a story, Crown of Feathers. It’s a lovely tale about a little boy who in an attempt to save his mother’s life turns her into an eldritch abomination. Family fun! (editor’s note: maybe look up the definition of family, Nik)
I’m especially looking forward to working on this project because my daughter, Brenna Gael, is going to be illustrating it and doing the layout. And she’s freaking brilliant.Crown of Feathers is not only going to be a good read but it’s going to be BEAUTIFUL. I don’t know how I’m going to finance it but, by the Hammer of Vulcan and the Fires of Brigid, IT WILL BE DONE!! (editor’s note: someone check Nik’s coffee consumption stat)
But, until I can unleash those two creatures onto the literary landscape, I want to give you all a little bit of something something to keep you coming back to the fountain for a quick drink of Nik. (Editor’s notes: I got nothing.)
SO, I’ve been doing an exercise every morning to grease my brain meats. For Christmas, I bought myself this coolio writing tip journal. On each page, there is a prompt and the challenge is to write a very quick story. I’m going to share one of these with you. Unedited. First draft virginal fresh.
Here. We. Go.
The prompt: SHE KEPT HER THREE FAVORITE THINGS LINED UP ON THE SHELF ABOVE HER BED – BUT, AS SHE LOOKED AT THEM NOW, SHE REALIZED ONE WAS MISSING.
“Damn.” She knocked three times on the bed frame. Her arthritic knuckles screamed at the mistreatment. “Oy! Down there. Give it back.”
Silence.
“I know you took it. Every time. Give it back!”
A skittering from beneath her bed frame answered.
“NOW. Don’t make me pull rank, creature.”
“Buh…but…” said a squeaking, rusty voice that sounded like coffin nails raking across a chalkboard. “It is sooo shiny.”
The old goddess sighed and rolled her eyes. “Of course, it is, fool! It is the last pure thing in this stank hole of a world. I keep it in that Globe to keep it that way. Give it back before you drop it!”
The bogie from beneath the bed sniffled.
“It is so shiny. And it is so dark here.”
The old goddess sighed. What best service for the Last Pure Thing than to give comfort in the dark?
“Fine. Keep it safe.”
The bed shook as the bogie shivered in happiness and curled up around its prize to sleep dreamless slumber.
“T’ank you.”
The old goddess pulled her comforter up to her chin. “S’Allright.”
The End.
I hope you enjoyed it. I’ll post more and keep shouting into the void.
-Nik
Nikki Nelson-Hicks 