Love and Diamonds ~ 15 authors - 15 short stories

Astraea Press Valentine’s Day Short Story Anthology

A challenge was made: write a short story of around 5000 words that incorporates love and diamonds. Using their varied talents and creativity, fifteen Astraea Press authors were up for the task.

These are their stories…

Sherry Gloag “Queen of Diamonds”Will Sybil's future be determined by diamonds?

Sherry Gloag writes to The Heart of Romance http://sherrygloagtheheartofromance.blogspot.co.uk/

Patricia Kiyono “Operation Rhombus”

Can a forgetful math teacher find the right formula for love?Patty is a retired elementary teacher who likes to write about the places she's visited. http://patriciakiyono.com

Heather Gray “Even When It Hurts”

Will he help her...even when it hurts?

Heather loves coffee, her family, God, and writing - not necessarily in that order. http://www.heathergraywriting.com

Kathy Bosman “The Engagement Ring”

Could the object of Rosalee’s pain bring hope and healing?

Kathy writes tender romance in Africa. http://www.kathybosman.com

Jennifer Rae Gravely “Love and Diamonds"

He struck out the first time.

Jennifer writes sweet Southern romance and coaches volleyball, her teams having won 5 state titles in South Carolina. www.facebook.com/JenniferRaeGravely

J. L. Salter “No Love, No Diamonds: The Story I Couldn’t Write”

Is that muscular man digging a mysterious hole next door just a distraction from Susan’s romantic story submission deadline, or could handsome Randy be her story?

Novelist; poet; retired librarian; veteran; former photo-journalist; husband; father; grandfather http://www.amazon.com/J.L.-Salter/e/B00D4F1YTE/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1390835362&sr=1-1

Amy Mullen “The Flood”

Sparks fly as the water rises.

Amy Mullen dreams of castles, knights, and interesting ladies - and the writes stories about them. www.authoramymullen.com

Vivian Roycroft “Treasure Hunt”

Men don't do romance worth a hoot. Women don't do adventure…, that is, not until challenged.

Vivian Roycroft is a pseudonym for historical fiction and adventure writer J. Gunnar Grey. And if she's not careful, her pseudonymous pseudonym will have its own pseudonym soon, too. http://taketwoonromance.weebly.com/vivians-blog.html

Liz Botts “Delusions of Love”

Love can make you crazy.

Liz writes YA and adult contemporary romance while homeschooling her three kids in Northern Illinois. www.lizbotts.com

Zanna Mackenzie “One Of These Days”Is losing something precious about to turn Megan’s world upside down?

Zanna writes contemporary, escapist romance, designed to make you smile. www.zannamackenzie.blogspot.co.uk

E.A. West “The Heart of Africa”Diamonds are a girl's best friend... unless they’re bloody.

E.A. West is an author providing journeys of hope, one story at a time. http://eawest.mcphitty.com

Brenda Maxfield “Meet Me in the Copy Room”

Beware when your ex returns to charm you!

Brenda Maxfield writes smart and sassy teen reads. http://www.brendamaxfield.com

Kelly Martin “The Best Catch”

One man. His Boat. And the woman of his dreams.

Kelly Martin writes dark inspirational YA fiction. https://www.facebook.com/KellyMartinAuthor

Kristine Cheney “Facets of the Heart”

A Jewel Heist had Never Gone So...Right

Kristine Cheney is a best-selling author of contemporary & inspirational romance www.kristinecheney.com

Nicole Zoltack “All for Love”

Can revenge ever bring back your love?

Nicole Zoltack writes speculative romances for young adults to adults. http://www.facebook.com/AuthorNicoleZoltack

* * * *

You'll be spoilt for choice.
* * * *

Available from:

Amazon link:  http://www.amazon.com/Love-Diamonds-Amy-Mullen-ebook/dp/B00I9MR450/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391650603&sr=1-1&keywords=love+and+diamonds+astraea+press

Barnes and Noble link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-and-diamonds-amy-mullen/1118579691?ean=2940148209317

Astraea Press link: http://www.astraeapress.com/#!/~/product/category=662245&id=33481096

And other online outlets.

Tuesday's Tales - Picture Prompt

 

Here is the picture for this week's Tuesday's Tales Prompt

 

My offering this week is a short snippet from a new WIP in a series of short stories.

~ ~ ~ ~

Like living frames, the pines flanked the view of the distant mountains from her window. Three years ago she’d crossed those snow-capped mountains and bought this former royal hunting lodge, and still didn’t know when cowardice or courage had driven her away from everything she held dear, and everything she’d lost.

She looked down at the horseshoe in her hand. No trace of the rust remained, now it caught a feeble ray of sunshine and glowed.

What a difference a day made! First when she lost her husband and son in a motorway pile-up and now the horseshoe that wasn’t there one moment and was the next.  How had she missed it sitting there on that shelf?  She used it regularly. And why, she pondered now, had she felt compelled to bring it straight inside and clean it up?

She’d expected sturdy grey metal and discovered bright shiny, almost unmarked silver instead. No one, not even a former king would have his horses shod with silver shoes.  The metal wasn’t enduring enough, and yet, this horse-shoe was full-sized.

Perhaps that last glass of celebratory wine had been one too many to toast the New Year? Otherwise why did she imagine the silver horse-shoe pulsed in her hand?

The sound of footsteps behind her spun her round where she stood and stole the breath from her lungs.

The man standing in front of her looked dangerous, tall, wide-shouldered and with a thatch of thick shaggy hair as golden as a sun in full summer.

“What are you doing here?”

His voice, so deep she felt the shock waves hit her heart, demanded answers.  His eyes, a violet so deep, reminded her of Scottish heather in full bloom, held disdain.

“I live here,” she said, pulling her shoulders back, “and you’re trespassing.”

Thanks you for reading another snippet this week, and please hop on over to read everyone's offering for this weeks Tuesday's Tales prompt

Six Sentence Sunday

As always, my thanks to all of you who stop by and read my efforts.  I always appreciate your company.

This week, I'm taking a break from offering snippets from my current novel, Duty Calls, available in paperback, ebook formats, kindle and nook. 

Instead here are the opening lines of my first short story, Precious Treasures, published in 2009 by LASR

(editied for SSS)

“Excuse me I’m looking for Sarah DeLacey.”

She didn’t need the touch of his fingers resting lightly on her shoulder, nor the sound of the gravelly voice to recognize the man standing behind her crouched frame. With a smile and word of assurance for the toddler grappling with his building blocks, she rose and turned.

Would he recognize her after all these years? Ten years had passed beneath the bridge called ‘Life’. Her hair no longer flowed down her back in a smooth black curtain, now it stood on end in carefully styled spikes of multi-hued blonde, her once make-up-free face was carefully masked beneath skillfully applied cosmetics.

“There’s no one here of that name.” She used her maiden name now.

Please visit my website to learn more, and read the reviews.
You will find other participants of Six Sunday Sentence HERE

Acceptance

When, earlier this year, LASR accepted my short story Precious Treasures I thought I'd fly as high as I could go.  When they accepted three more I thought 'It can't get better than this.'
But earlier this week, when TWRP accepted my full length story, The Brat,  I couldn't speak about it incase I woke up and discovered I dreamt it!!

Now?  Well now I'm shouting it to the rooftops, starting here.  And does it feel good?  Yeah!!!!

And I'd like to thank, Mel, Judy, Lauren, Kristy, Judith, Pepper and Nik, who have all shared my journey.