Thursday May 20th, 2021

The exercise:

Write about: the publication.

Sunday September 26th, 2010

The exercise:

One month away from my birthday, the prompt shall be: publication.

I have to admit that a 26 degree day this late in the year is quite nice, thank you very much.

Mine:

A book arrived in the mail this week that I've been anxiously awaiting for some time now. To the point that I had to take a picture of it shortly after opening the package:

Paddytum originally began on Protagonize, though it was taken down shortly after Tricia found someone willing to publish it (I assume this was very easy, seeing as any fool ought to have been jumping at the chance to publish something so brilliant). I'd told her on a couple of occasions that I felt guilty about reading her writing for free, so when I finally had a chance to pay for it I didn't hesitate.

I'm 100 pages in already, though the majority of that was the part of the story I'd already read on Protag. I'm going to attempt to slow down a bit, as I hate rushing through a book - I just get sad at the end that it's over so soon.

Anyway, I don't need to get anywhere near finished to recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Tricia is a fantastic writer and it gives me so much joy to own a book with her name on it. I'm sure many more will follow, and I plan to get them all.

Wednesday December 30th, 2009

The exercise:

After yesterday's musical edition of what I got for Christmas, I think today shall be the literary version. First up is The Roadby Cormac McCarthy - I wanted this after watching the trailer for the movie once. Thankfully my sister Nicky obliged :)

Trauma Farmby Brian Brett was one of the gifts Kat's parents got me. It wasn't something I asked for but I'm very, very much looking forward to digging into it.

Last, but probably the coolest of the three, is Knickles and Dimesby Jillian Hewitt, the other part of Kat's brother and fiancee's gift for me. Yes, Protagonize's own Jillian Hewitt. How awesome is that? It's not every day that you can put up a picture of a book on Facebook and tag the author because you're friends with her.

So, suitably enough, today's prompt is: the publication.

Continuations, as always, are most welcome.

Mine:

The man ran down the empty, rain-battered street, the book held tightly to his chest beneath his black trench coat. It was a mighty effort to keep his eyes on the asphalt before him; the itch between his shoulder blades screamed for him to look back, that he was being followed, that they had him in their rifle sights. But there were too many gaping, toothless potholes ready to wrench and twist his ankles the instant his concentration faltered, so he pushed the urge harshly aside.

He turned right at 67th Avenue and slowed to a stop beneath a green, frilly overhang. He bent double, still pinning the sacred book to his chest, and sucked in deep, shuddering breaths as his shoulder length black hair dripped blood-tinged rainwater onto the sidewalk. He returned to his full height slowly, fearing that a more sudden movement would lead to a faint that would end his mission in failure. As he took another moment to gather himself he took in his pale reflection in the shop window to his right.

I look frightened and weak and pathetic. Like prey that knows its predator is closing in and time is running out.

Then his eyes rose further, to the sign hanging askew above the shop door, and a tiny spark of hope flared in his breast.