SHORT STORIES AND OTHER FICTIONS
Flash fiction prompt from Carrot Ranch. For this prompt I imagined the greatest gift not as an object but as something intangible. https://carrotranch.com/2019/09/13/september-12-flash-fiction-challenge/ "So how have you been?" "Terrible! I keep plugging away at my art, struggling to generate interest, hoping to find an audience, even daring to yearn for some accolades, but all I … Continue reading 99 Word Prompt: The Greatest Gift
This is a 100 word piece of flash fiction prompted by Go Dog Go Cafe. The prompt is mischievous waters. I decided to write about water balloons, because what's more mischievous than a water balloon prank? Read and find out. https://godoggocafe.com/2019/09/03/tuesday-writing-prompt-challenge-tuesday-september-3-2019/ The army of pranksters, each with a bucket of water balloons, gathered around the … Continue reading Writing Prompt: Mischievous Waters
While looking for an appropriate image to respond to a friend's FB post, I came across this pie fighting GIF, and laughed for hours. Enjoy No matter what our differences are, we can all agree that people getting hit in the face with pies is invariably funny, and will always elicit laughs from everybody (well, … Continue reading Fun With Pies
First posted this short story just over four years ago, and I made some more changes to improve the narrative and the dialogue. This particular story means a lot to me, so I really want to get it right. The plot of Almaden is about a family's way of life coming to an end as … Continue reading Almaden (repost)
https://carrotranch.com/2019/08/01/august-1-flash-fiction-challenge/ Young Timmy held a broom horizontally and pantomimed strumming it like a guitar. He moved to the tune inside his head of the latest pop song and pretended he was playing as he wailed out the lyrics best as he could remember them. His mother came across his imaginary guitar virtuosity and beamed maternally. … Continue reading 99 Word Prompt: Rock Star
Finally completed rewrite of chapter 14 of Redwood Summer, a novel 1990 San Jose. This chapter is mostly an interior monologue as Jason, the main character, recovers from a hangover and reflects on the fraying relationship with his best friend Randy, the misery of his current work situation, and dread for the future. Redwood Summer … Continue reading Redwood Summer Chapter 14 (repost)
Illustrations by Charles Berton ©2019 Robert Kirkendall charlesberton.com
No, you don't have to take your clothes off to have a good time, but it sure can help. https://youtu.be/HWZisnZ-RGE
The latest Carrot Ranch 99 word flash fiction. This one was about paint, and after thinking back to some college parties I finally figured out how to write about it. https://carrotranch.com/2019/06/28/june-27-flash-fiction-challenge/ Mateo dabbed his thin brush onto his pallet, swirled around some blue paint, then applied it gingerly. His quick brushstrokes made lines, swirls, and … Continue reading 99 Word Prompt: Paint
Chapter 13 of Redwood Summer, a novel of 1990 San Jose. Of all the 17 chapters, this one has been the most challenging. At first I thought this chapter was all about the clash between the two main characters, but now I've come to realize that it's more of a breakup. No doubt I'll revisit … Continue reading Redwood Summer Chapter 13 (repost)
