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Sunday, September 27, 2015

WQ135!

Here I go again :-) A new Iron Writer Weekend Quickie, 250 words, 3 elements...
http://theironwriter.com/the-iron-writer-challenge-weekend-quickie-135/

This Thursday starts one week of reading and voting in the Iron Writer Autumn Open Prelims! Please get your voting fingers ready!

Oh, I've copied my WQ135 here, too :-)


WQ135 - an image of a crowd in a busy town, altruism, ostracism

It had been a long time since he’d been ostracised. He remembered that horrendous day, those thousands of ostraka with his name sat there in a pile on the assembly floor. They said it was the largest amount ever collected, a record still held for all he knew. He was only trying to help them, the citizens of the place he once called home, from the plague of rats that had appeared almost overnight. He had worked selflessly with altruism to solve the problem, and that was exactly what he’d done. Pumping the toxic poison he had created into the sewers had ridden the town of rats, but unfortunately had also seeped into the ground and contaminated the local drinking water. It was then found that one of his chain of wholesale stores had drawn the rats to town with forgotten raw meat left in a backyard, rotting away.
Now, here he was on the threshold of returning, after many years of travelling, surviving, looking for a way to live after such a calamity. Stepping over the town border, he began to walk the streets. As he moved onwards, he felt that something had changed. It was no longer the place he once knew, no longer the quiet, peaceful community he loved and adored. Within a few minutes he found himself deep within the crowd, suffocating, being pushed from one shoulder to the next, unable to see where he was going.
“Oh my!” he cried out. “The vermin have returned!”



It had been a long time since he’d been ostracised. He remembered that horrendous day, those thousands of ostraka with his name sat there in a pile on the assembly floor. They said it was the largest amount ever collected, a record still held for all he knew. He was only trying to help them, the citizens of the place he once called home, from the plague of rats that had appeared almost overnight. He had worked selflessly with altruism to solve the problem, and that was exactly what he’d done. Pumping the toxic poison he had created into the sewers had ridden the town of rats, but unfortunately had also seeped into the ground and contaminated the local drinking water. It was then found that one of his chain of wholesale stores had drawn the rats to town with forgotten raw meat left in a backyard, rotting away.
Now, here he was on the threshold of returning, after many years of travelling, surviving, looking for a way to live after such a calamity. Stepping over the town border, he began to walk the streets. As he moved onwards, he felt that something had changed. It was no longer the place he once knew, no longer the quiet, peaceful community he loved and adored. Within a few minutes he found himself deep within the crowd, suffocating, being pushed from one shoulder to the next, unable to see where he was going.
“Oh my!” he cried out. “The vermin have returned!” - See more at: http://theironwriter.com/the-iron-writer-challenge-weekend-quickie-135/#sthash.hkSBVk2J.dpuf

It had been a long time since he’d been ostracised. He remembered that horrendous day, those thousands of ostraka with his name sat there in a pile on the assembly floor. They said it was the largest amount ever collected, a record still held for all he knew. He was only trying to help them, the citizens of the place he once called home, from the plague of rats that had appeared almost overnight. He had worked selflessly with altruism to solve the problem, and that was exactly what he’d done. Pumping the toxic poison he had created into the sewers had ridden the town of rats, but unfortunately had also seeped into the ground and contaminated the local drinking water. It was then found that one of his chain of wholesale stores had drawn the rats to town with forgotten raw meat left in a backyard, rotting away.
Now, here he was on the threshold of returning, after many years of travelling, surviving, looking for a way to live after such a calamity. Stepping over the town border, he began to walk the streets. As he moved onwards, he felt that something had changed. It was no longer the place he once knew, no longer the quiet, peaceful community he loved and adored. Within a few minutes he found himself deep within the crowd, suffocating, being pushed from one shoulder to the next, unable to see where he was going.
“Oh my!” he cried out. “The vermin have returned!” - See more at: http://theironwriter.com/the-iron-writer-challenge-weekend-quickie-135/#sthash.hkSBVk2J.dpuf
It had been a long time since he’d been ostracised. He remembered that horrendous day, those thousands of ostraka with his name sat there in a pile on the assembly floor. They said it was the largest amount ever collected, a record still held for all he knew. He was only trying to help them, the citizens of the place he once called home, from the plague of rats that had appeared almost overnight. He had worked selflessly with altruism to solve the problem, and that was exactly what he’d done. Pumping the toxic poison he had created into the sewers had ridden the town of rats, but unfortunately had also seeped into the ground and contaminated the local drinking water. It was then found that one of his chain of wholesale stores had drawn the rats to town with forgotten raw meat left in a backyard, rotting away.
Now, here he was on the threshold of returning, after many years of travelling, surviving, looking for a way to live after such a calamity. Stepping over the town border, he began to walk the streets. As he moved onwards, he felt that something had changed. It was no longer the place he once knew, no longer the quiet, peaceful community he loved and adored. Within a few minutes he found himself deep within the crowd, suffocating, being pushed from one shoulder to the next, unable to see where he was going.
“Oh my!” he cried out. “The vermin have returned!” - See more at: http://theironwriter.com/the-iron-writer-challenge-weekend-quickie-135/#sthash.hkSBVk2J.dpuf

Friday, September 25, 2015

New Interview on Black Heart Magazine!

I have a new interview on Black Heart magazine, thanks to Laura Roberts! Thank you!
Click on the link below to have a look :-) I'm getting more personal here, why not, no one's getting any younger...
http://blackheartmagazine.com/2015/09/18/seven-easy-questions-an-interview-with-dani-j-caile/

I won Iron Writer Challenge 128, thank you to all who voted, your vote makes me win...literally. Thanks for your support!
I'm also in the Autumn Open Prelims (Challenge 129) and it's a pretty good story, if I say so myself!
I'll post the link as soon as I've got it.
Anything else? Hush, hush,  something big is happening...:-)

Friday, September 18, 2015

WQ 134...an elergy? Not a poem, but...

Had a go at the Iron Writer WQ 134, as did a lot of good people...
http://theironwriter.com/the-iron-writer-challenge-weekend-quickie-134

Oh, and if you haven't voted yet, Challenge 128 is up and I'm there :-) Please vote!
http://theironwriter.com/the-iron-writer-challenge-128/

 :-) Here's my...
WQ 134 - an image of a goldfish in a bowl, ambition, a compromise


"Today I will conquer the world! A pen, a pen! I need a pen! I'm gonna write the best novel EVER! It'll be a Bestseller for months!" He ran around the flat, pushing away empty cans and pizza boxes, opening cupboards and looking under the furniture.
"Here," she said, passing him a biro. "So, that's your 'big thing' now, huh?"
"What?"
"Nothing."
"I'm gonna write the best book ever, mark my words! I'll be rich, a fat cat among the pigeons, a big fish in the sea!"
"More like a goldfish in a bowl," she muttered.
"What?"
"Nothing. Well, I'm off to make some money, Those burgers won't get served by themselves." She closed the door behind her.
"Right." He sat down, pen in hand and started scribbling. He scrunched up the paper and took another...

A pile of crumpled paper covered the sofa. He'd tried a novel, novella, short story, Flash fiction piece...nothing.
"Okay, how about...a poem!" Off he went again. "A compromise I know, but I'm damned sure I can kick out some fantastically wicked poetry!" He started an ode, an elergy, some verse, a sonnet, a haiku - after looking on wiki to find out what that was. "Hell!" It all seemed... flat. "Ah-ha!" He took another piece of paper and wrote down his words. Beaming with pride, he stuck it to the fridge door. "You see! I can write!" He put on his jacket and left the flat. (Gone for a beer. Back at 6.)

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Don Kermione by Dani J Caile! Vote! Please!

Yes, I have another 500 word story up on the Iron Writer involving 'The Muppet Show', one of my favourites shows ever!
This time Kermit has... changed...
http://theironwriter.com/the-iron-writer-challenge-128/
Please come and read...AND VOTE... for which story you think deserves that finger-click of yours :-)
On another note, I submitted a 'funny' afterlife Flash Fiction story for an anthology...let's see if I can gain yet another rejection...yay!
So, where  was I? Oh yes, go, vote, spread the word :-)


Wednesday, September 16, 2015

New Review for "How to...Castle!"

Yes! Thanks, Christopher for reading my new book and reviewing it!
And such a cool review for a cool book...if I may say so myself...

http://www.amazon.com/Build-Castle-Seven-Easy-Steps/dp/1940938430



"How to Build a Castle in Seven Easy Steps"

This wasn't my first Dani J Caile read and it won't be my last. Witty, funny and full of the dry humor that I've come to expect from Dani. This is one of those books that, when read in public, people will wonder what the hell you're laughing about. In this case, I tell them. This is a damn good read!
PLUS...
I'm in the next Iron Writer Challenge, so get your voting fingers ready again :-) Challenge 128, with a "Muppet Show" feel :-) 

Oh, a picture? Yes, the book again :-)


Saturday, September 12, 2015

WQ133 - #StopFranzen #Purity



Had a go at Iron Writer  Weekend Quickie 133..
Find it here with others from Richard and Maureen...
http://theironwriter.com/the-iron-writer-challenge-weekend-quickie-133/

Or read it here...(yes, Franzen kills words with sentences)...


"What are you doing, Richard?" asked his cohort in crime, Christina.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" He went back to the microscope.
Christina glanced over and saw Richard was examining a small piece of paper with words on it. Richard looked up and sighed.
"Oh, the boredom of it all. The hours I've spent reading and analysing and thinking and reading some more and contemplating and... and now I'm using a microscope to look at some of the words cut from a page, maybe there's something hidden, something I'm not seeing..."
"What, Richard? What are you not seeing?"
"Why 'Purity' by Jonathan Franzen is on the Bestseller's list."
"Ah," nodded Christina.
"Why is this piece of putrid nonsense so revered over others less known? What has he got in his writing that we do not? What is the essence of his success?"
"Friends in big chairs and big cars?" said Christina.
"I'm missing something, Christina, there must be something here..." Richard went back to twiddling with the microscope.
"Look, Richard, do you really want to write like him? Do you really want to cheat any potential readers with meaningless twaddle and tripe? Just write, don't stoop down to his level."
"Yes... yes, you're right." Richard stood up and pushed the microscope away. "Thank you, Christina, I think I've made an important discovery today. Writing isn't about selling, it's about... writing," he said, leaving the room.
"Where are you going, Richard?" asked Christina.
"Where do you think I'm going?"

Sunday, September 6, 2015

More of WQ131...and WQ132

Richard Russell laid down the challenge in the Iron Writer Facebook Group to come up with two different stories using the same elements in Weekend Quickie 131. I did it. Here it is...
http://theironwriter.com/the-iron-writer-challenge-weekend-quickie-131-2/#comment-234972
Or here...



WQ131 – (second) - image of lonely dark alley with woman walking away, high tension, a surprise. 250 words


"Item number 131, "Woman on Lonely Street" by Ivan Oldslumpypiecopooh. Let's start the bidding at, say, 100 Euros," smiled the auctioneer.
"1000!" shouted a woman from the back. 1000 Euros? It had already escalated.
"1500!" I said. It was going to be tough.
"1500 to you, sir," said the auctioneer.
"2000!" The people in the room began to mutter.
"2500!" I gave back. The muttering grew, as did the tension in the room.
"3000!" The auctioneer's eyes fell on me.
"Sir, the bid against you is 3000 Euros."
I started to bite my fingernails. I knew it would be a fight but the stakes were high.
"Going once, going twice..."
"4000!" That was almost everything I had. The auctioneer looked over to the woman. If only he would hit the gavel now!
"10,000!" screamed the woman from the back. I shook my head and the hammer hit the gavel.
"The Oldslumpypiecopooh is yours, madam." Applause filled the room and a man stood up.
"Stop! That picture is a fake!"
"Sir! How dare you accuse this famed auctioneer house of handling a fake! How dare you! Where's your proof, sir?"
"I AM Ivan Oldslumpypiecopooh and I know for a fact that I did not paint that monstrosity!"
There were gasps in the room and the woman who won the bid fainted. The auctioneer fell back in his chair, flabbergasted.
"Well, that's a surprise," said the man next to me.
"Really?" I asked.
"Yes, I thought the old git was dead."



I also did WQ132. Some of you may recognise this. It's an action from my past life...
http://theironwriter.com/the-iron-writer-challenge-weekend-quickie-132/



132 - Pretend you are writing a story, or a scene, which will be included into a full length movie and your story/scene will be accompanied by a song in the background.   Pick a song then write a story/scene for the song to compliment.  Word count doesn’t matter, but keep it short; 100 to 300 words ought be enough.  Be sure to include a link to the song so we can listen to it as we picture your story/scene in our minds.

(100 words)

Time leave. It was all too much. The drugs, the people, the knives in backs, the lies, the fights, the jokes, the girls looking for a good time. All under the guise of a rock band. Rock band? We were playing regurgitated blues. Badly. If I could have stood it for just a moment longer, I'm sure I'd have a ton of money in my palm, but why? To be here a little longer, in the gutter, going nowhere fast, killing myself, one molecule at a time? I picked up my rucksack and guitar and headed for the front door.

Aimee Mann - Calling it Quits
 



Saturday, September 5, 2015

More Iron Writer...WQ131



After winning Challenge 125, I tried Challenge 126, though I fear I may be murdered through misunderstanding, so I1ll leave it until 'Dani's Shorts 5' to show that one. It might not be noticed...though I doubt it.
Anyway, here's WQ 131!
You can go here to see it...
http://theironwriter.com/the-iron-writer-challenge-weekend-quickie-131-2/
Or read it here :-)


Weekend Quickie 131-  an image of a woman walking in a lonely dark street, high tension, a surprise

The town was quiet, the night cool. Only the light of the moon hitting the cobblestones broke the darkness of the streets. He followed her, keeping his distance. The tension was unbearable now, he didn't know for how long he could hold it inside, the desire to act burning his brain.
Each step raised the stakes, brought the inevitable closer. His hands shook, sweat flowed down his neck. Tonight would be the night. Finally, so many opportunities missed, so many chances blown, now was the time. She stopped for a moment and he slunk back, out of view. She continued to move on. He couldn't risk it, it had to be. His body quivered in anticipation, tension. Taking a side street, he quietly quickened the pace, using shortcuts he'd memorised for years, knowing his moment would come if he persevered.
Peeping from a corner he could see her, closer now. Soon, so very soon. Creeping back down the alley, he took those last few twists and turns between houses, walls at breakneck speed, making sure he would gain on her as she walked her usual route.
Reaching his goal, he took one last breath before plunging into what he had planned for so long. Everything was perfect! Now, now he had to act! He jumped out from the shadows and met her face to face.
"Surprise!"
"Oh, Richard! Next time remember to wear your trainers! I heard your shoes a mile off, you idiot." She stormed off in a huff.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Won TIW 125! And "Alice" FREE

Yes, I won the Iron Writer Challenge 125! Thanks to all who voted for me, it means I now have 2 stories in the upcoming 3rd Anthology of this great writing challenge.
And yes! "Alice on the Outside-In" is FREE on Amazon! You wouldn't believe how many people only 'shop' at Amazon and not Smashwords...
Here's the link! I can't remember how long it's FREE for...
It's #16 in Short Stories!! (and #117 in One hour Lit Fic...
Please, help it go higher! Into the Top 10!
http://www.amazon.com/Alice-Outside--Dani-J-Caile-ebook/dp/B012JCCTT6