Alethea Paul

Issue 51 ​*   Managing Editor: Edward Ahern    * *   Associate Editor: Alison McBain    * *    Special Features Editor: Matthew P.S. Salinas    * *    Poetry Editor: Mary Keating   * ​...

I got a drabble published at Fair Field Scribes. <3

www.fairfieldscribes.com/issue-51.html/

Hey look, it's me!

Today in my daughter's slow descent into villainy:

I have introduced my daughter to "the Nightmare before Christmas" and she keeps wanting to watch "Santa go in the hole" - ie the part when Santa is shoved in a pipe and sent to Oogie Boogie.

Happy to share I'm helping judge "The Booby Prize" a new and exciting quarterly global flash fiction contest with a first prize of £500 which supports a great cause;
Conservation of the Blue-Footed Booby’s

theboobyprize.co.uk/home

This Prize Has Teeth by Alethea Paul Despite dragging my generously-called-a-prosthetic pogo stick of a leg through this dungeon, I’m practically dancing like it’s the aisle on The Price is Right. I might not be the only one to make i…

This Prize Has Teeth (by yours truly) has been published at @factorfourmagazine.com!

factorfourmag.com/this-prize-h...

Sharing to enter @augursociety.bsky.social Microfiction contest.

#AugurMicros2025

@weirdauntmadge.bsky.social

I feel like you might come up with something crazy for this.

Well, another TT story not on the board, but some lovely consolation trophies:

1x Most Original Take 💫
1x Best Title 📖
1x Best Opening Line 🏆

Wolf Grove Media

I have no idea what stories you have - but I've seen this call around - think they are only accepting Greek and Norse, but maybe you got something to throw at them?

(I have no affiliation, just try to keep track of calls I see.)

wolfgrove.media/modern-mytho...

Twisted Tournament - didn't make it on the leaderboard for round one but had some lovely supportive feedback.

Did get some sweet trophies, too.

3x Best Prose 🎨
1x Best Last Line 🎭

Someone recommended me a book lately and I told them that it sounded cool but I hadn't been reading much lately. Then I remembered I'm reading stories in contests, beta reading for friends, reading for other projects. I don't know why my brain told me that this wasn't "reading."

How Pinterest sees me
☆character
☆animal
☆lyrics
☆weather

I apparently haven't changed in 13 years.

@weirdauntmadge.bsky.social
Feels like a word we'd like for our stuff.

Congrats on placing!

I feel you in the lack of inspiration. I'm hoping a change of scenery coming up will help, but mostly telling myself it's OK if I don't write for a bit.

Stay strong!

Short Poem of the Day 📝

The Road Home

Winter ugly, coyote,
that bed-headed bone bag,
slinks onto the road

as I brake, gently.
Pausing, he stares up,
grinning me to a full stop.

Roger Pfingston

Nova wanted snuggles... or at least my daughter did. And Onyx wanted to help write.... or my chair, not sure which.

Apparently someone made a list of cozy fantasy stories on sale for $0.99. I'm following A.J. Lancaster elsewhere and the first book in their Stariel series is on the list, and I'm a fan of that one.

www.cozyupwithfantasy.com?fbclid=IwY2x...

👀

Recently getting into audio books. I thought I was always an auditory learning, but I swear I retain audio books less than print. (Though in school I was way more into seminars and lectures than textbooks.) Maybe its because I'm multitasking? Is this just me? Anyone recall audio books better?

Tried to submit but it says "There are presently no open calls for submissions." Does this mean you have already reached your cap?

If yes, I guess I better get on it faster next time.

Thanks!

I was recommended this movie by a friend, and I am not upset at all that my 3yo is demanding it on repeat.

Tag your OCs? Lol

Sometimes you're just trying to write and your kitten is "helping" either by attacking your clothes, watching from your shoulder, or chasing the typing sound you make on your keyboard.

On this episode of my daughter is growing up to become a villain: Evil Queen dies in Live Action Snow White and my daughter wants her to come back.

🤷🏼‍♀️

Ooh. Fiery and a little dark. Love it.

Now I want to go make color swatches for character reference...

Do you have a specific color in mind? Or are you going to bend your imagery to a spice that sounds more like your character?

They should make keyboard shaped cat beds.

Recently getting into audio books, but worst part is I can't highlight and save my favorite lines. Just finished this one and was able to jot down one that stood out:

"...who's face holds a map's worth of lines."

a man in a suit and tie is smiling in an office . ALT: a man in a suit and tie is smiling in an office .

When you're reading a book and the main character has conflicting duty and desire and acts upon duty and you are certain they will come to regret it.