Ompwriter Stories

A collection of short stories inspired initially by a wide array of prompts from various places. Sometimes it's one word; maybe a phrase or a saying; sometimes a particular photo setting the creative wheels in motion. I love the development from that first small glow of imagination, the germ of a story that begins to grow, and then the nurturing and careful pruning, until finally it blossoms. Let's see if you agree I've achieved this.

The third volume of stories from the WriteOn Refugees Weekend Write-In prompts.

The Weekend Write-In just keeps going ... .

Nothing creates a sense of space like a blanket of snow. Written for the weekend prompt, space.

"You two become farmers? You must be kidding!" How little our friends really knew us. Sure, that's how life had been for the Secretary and the Building Supervisor... but those were the keywords - "had been". An opportunity had arisen to learn farming, working for a friend for 18 months on a 6,000 acre cropping and sheep farm he'd inherited... our 'apprenticeship'. Once our rural sojourn began, it continued until today on our small retirement farm. Here are the tales of our journey, filled with humour and pathos; joy and a few sorrows, too; and woven throughout, our absolute love for the land and the animals we have shared our lives with. Each chapter is a 'stand alone' providing a choice for a quick read 'on the move' - or a more leisurely and relaxed involvement with my words. Enjoyed this first book in my 'Old McLarsen had some Farms' series? Now there's 'everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask' about a decade of dairy-farming in South Australia in my second book - 'The Milky Way'. This first book is available in ebook format at Amazon, and through Smashwords and their outlets, and I have been pre-recording excerpts for local radio. These are to be broadcast soon and I will be able to share them on Soundcloud in far superior quality than my amateurish sampling there just now. I have also begun a couple of different kinds of memoirs - 'Just Moodling About... My Favourite Things', and another - 'Growing up in the Fifties' And - 'Wishful Thinker' - my first collection of short/short stories and anecdotes . My writing skills don't extend to the creation of deeply hidden allegories or metaphors. I like it this way and hope you understand my simplicity of choice. I welcome your thoughts on my stories. This way I can learn and write in the future, so please don't be afraid to express 'the good and the bad' (maybe not any 'ugly'). And please don't hesitate to share and/or vote to show your enjoyment.

More stories from the WriteOn Refugees Weekend Write-In.

Sometimes Life starts handing us choices we are none too ready to make... and some choices should never have to be made at all. Here's a story originally written for a 500 word flash-fiction from a prompt that has taken on a life of its own, and now actually DEMANDS its own presentation in a length of its OWN choosing. Seems I have Hobson's choice in the matter! Warning: Profanity from 'Chapter Four: But Why Me?' Jake insisted his thoughts were his own... I'm just the scribe -what could I say?

A new volume of Weekend Write-In stories.

More short stories and flash fiction, exploring random themes and random moments.

Maria discovers a strange lump growing on her abdomen. A short tale of things beneath the skin.

A collection of tales of growing up in a working class suburb of South Australia in the 1950's. My Dad was the butcher, next door was the grocer. Milk and bread were delivered by horse-drawn vehicles, and what is now a busy highway was once an ordinary street with little traffic. Welcome to a whole other world - so simple, so full of hope after the years of War and want. We thought it would never end. How blessed to have lived in those best of times.

As the title suggests, my second book of memoirs encompasses tales from our decade of dairying on our own farm, back in our home State of South Australia. A different learning curve from the first farm, but no less steep. This time much experience was gained the hardest way - 'hands on' and teaching ourselves. The stories abound, as before, of the whole gamut of feelings from ultimate happiness to the depths of despair. Another celebration of the human spirit that laughed in the face of the tough times, and endured... and survived. This is second book in my Old McLarsen had some Farms series - 'The Milky Way' features tales from our dairy farm in our home State of South Australia, and follows the first 'Old McLarsen... ' book 'Brave Beginnings' , available in ebook format at Amazon, and through Smashwords and their outlets, and I have been pre-recording excerpts for local radio. These are to be broadcast soon and I will be able to share them on Soundcloud in far superior quality than my amateurish sampling there just now. ** 28/2/2016 - I have found a most receptive and supportive home on Amazon's Write On by Kindle platform. I'm finding the other writers there full of helpful advice and opinions of writing problems, not to mention friendship and fantastic encouragement. - So much to learn on their forum, and weekly 500 word 'flash' story challenges to take up if you choose. Wonderful experience in looking outside the square, and tightening writing style. - Sorry to the few who have followed me, but I will be focusing my creativity at Tablo (because it's Australian and working hard to become a force in this field), and Write On. The personal benefits and learning curves are too fantastic for me to miss.

Another collection of short pieces, random thoughts and things that occurred to me in the middle of the night.

A collection of short stories and random thoughts, covering various genres and tropes. Expect the unusual.

Forever Torn is the true and amazing story of two brothers and three generations of one family - a family torn apart by deaths, poverty, deceit and a promise made by a small boy to his Grandfather over 80 years ago. It is the story of one man who refused to acknowledge his past and his brother who remained bound to protect the secret, despite his own pain. If you have enjoyed fictional epics such as Blood Brothers and Kane and Abel, you will love Forever Torn, which unlike the aforementioned is based on a true and tragic story.

'Moodling' - it's all about mental doodling. This time it's looking at and loving many so-called 'material' things in my life. Read about my much beloved possessions, and try to decide what you would choose to take with you if disaster threatened. I think I would run around like a chicken with its head chopped off, trying to decide - and finally take nothing (or something perfectly ridiculous).

A collection of short pieces inspired by the work of Hokusai.

Whitney Wells is getting married to Ron Pond, a bloke she met on a Pacific Cruise just a few months ago. Whitney, called Whit by her friends and family, is agog with teenage excitement. She's barely nineteen and her beach wedding has been all she can talk about Her two BFF's, Lacey and Stacey can't stand Ron. They call him 'Pond Slime' behind Whit's back. They reckon he's sleazy, daggy, and at thirty one, too old for their friend. Her other girlfriend, maid-of -honour Britney, is no help. She only wants to giggle and flirt. Ron has a mother who's just come out of jail and she's shaping up to being the Mother-in-law from hell.' Many a time she's had Whit and her Mum Wendy in tears. What happens on the big day? Will people be able to control their tempers? Will the bridal party come to blows? Will the ice-cream wedding cake survive the stinking hot Aussie February heat?. Will the day disintegrate into chaos, and what shocking secret will have all the guests gob-smacked and gossiping at the end? All these questions answered and more, so get your best beach wear on and designer 'sunnies'and be ready for a wedding like no other.

More stories from the Weekend Write-In, all of them 500 words or less.

There have been countless heroes in wars throughout history. These are the stories of some ordinary Europeans who found extraordinary courage to survive WWII.