Writing is like being able to put life into a snow globe. It takes the things that are too big and scary and reduces them into a form that I can put away when I want and look at from a distance. It also takes all that’s good in life and captures it into something I can take out when I want and look at close up and keep forever. It makes the bad things into something I can hold…and the good things into something I can hold onto. Both help so much that I need that little souvenir of life.

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Not Your Mother’s Book…On Being a Mom and Succinctly Yours #154: Young ‘Uns


I would lovelovelove the Not Your Mother’s Book series even if I hadn’t penned a story or two for them. This series puts the “up” in uplifting, because the stories are fun and funny and upbeat in addition to being inspirational. I think the pictures at the end are a nice touch, too.

I have it on good authority that my story, “The End of an Era” (about a frightening entity which defies even games of twenty questions) is the last story in the upcoming book, Not Your Mother’s Book…On Being a Mom. The book was co created by Dianna Graveman and Ken and Dahlynn McKowen of Pubishing Syndicate. Please look for it April 8th and get your Mother’s Day shopping done early.




And here with a fitting theme is this week’s offering from Grandma’s Goulash’s Succinctly Yours, a meme in which the challenge is to write a story of 140 characters or 140 words. Mine ended up to be an unintentional poem that has 131 characters including spaces, and the bonus word was identical.







While in the tide pool, baby Bri went fishing. She could see her right toes, but the identical left ones had suddenly gone missing!






I suddenly felt ashamed that we only had one [child], as though we were dabbling in family, not really serious. ~Elizabeth Berg, The Pull of the Moon

19 comments:

  1. Tammy-- I agree. The stories are a hoot, the pictures are a welcome touch, and apparently this collection has a wonderful end. I hope we can get a book signing of all the St. Louis area writers. THAT would be a hoot.

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  2. Sioux, great minds think alike. ;)

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  3. Congrats on your story! I shall be pondering the "entity" until I get my hands on a copy. Seems like only yesterday I was "hooting" my own horn about this upcoming release.

    As for that picture, it speaks to me. I'm no poet, and have been rumored to have a dark side. Pardon me for stealing that little gal's name from your entry. I'm not all that creative. Most of the time you post these photos, I can't squeeze out a coherent thought. Yours inspired me to snatch that idea and run with it. Sorry. Take me to court for grand larceny.

    Not yet fully recovered from a recent game of "cat got your tongue," little Bri became a reluctant participant in "shark got your toes."

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    1. You should enter that and share with everyone the REAL fate of baby Bri's toes.

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  4. Perhaps the fish nibbled them off and she didn't even feel it.

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    1. LOL...I just meant her toes were in murky water. You people are kind of dark, huh? I like that. ;)

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  5. Fishing with the legs in the water can be distracting. Hoping the line will not get entangled with the legs! Nicely Tammy!

    Hank

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  6. Poor baby; I am glad her toes aren't actually missing; only from sight.

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    1. Me too, Judy. I can't be that dark where little kids are concerned. Now adults are another thing...!

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  7. I think perhaps the left ones got stuck in the mud. Like a stick in the mud.
    ..

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    1. Yes! Or a foot in the mud. Not to be confused with a foot in the mouth (a sticky situation I've found myself mired in a time or two, unfortunately).

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  8. Baby Bri is the cutest story! Can't wait to read your "mom" story.

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  9. Congrats on the Mom book! I'm sure your story is wonderful! Love both of your meme's too! You're good at that!

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  10. Yay, Tammy! Congrats on your latest publication!

    Pat
    Critter Alley

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  11. So happy your story made it into the soon-to-be-out NYMB, Tammy. Congratulations! I can't wait to buy the book, turn to that last story and enjoy! Also loved your "Baby Bri" short. You definitely have a way with words, my friend!

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  12. Congrats on your pub! And I love your microfiction. That photo is precious, and your rhyme is a perfect fit.

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