Addictive Fiction

Using Photography to Inspire Writing

2010-09-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

Readers, I'm thrilled to announce a new guest blog by Hank Kellner! This article previously appeared on the Creativity Portal site. I also featured it earlier this month on my blog, Stealing Plums. I decided that Addictive Fiction needed a dose of Hank's photo-fabulosity, and posted it here on my Guest Starring page today! Enjoy!

New Interview with Terri Conrad Online at Creativity Portal!

2010-08-31T08:57:00.000-07:00

Stop the presses! My newest interview for Creativity Portal is now online, ready to delight and amaze an unsuspecting world. An Interview with Terri Conrad is an in-depth look at the life, faith, and creative work of an amazing designer who's taken her career to a whole new level.

And that's not all. This generous soul has agreed to donate some of her work for the Terri Conrad Designs Giveaway. You can find out all the juicy details at Creativity Portal. Three lucky readers will win fabulous prizes, designed by Terri herself!

To see more of Terri's work, please visit her website, Terri Conrad Designs. For up-to-the minute news and hot happenings, check out the Terri Conrad Designs Blog.

Rainy Day Inspiration

2010-08-30T09:46:00.000-07:00

What's your favorite way to celebrate a rainy day? As the clouds threaten and my dog cowers in terror at the thunder, I find myself wondering how my readers like to spend their rainy days. Email and let me know! I'll print the most creative answers here, and will give a free half-hour creativity consultation to the winner. To enter, just send your phone number and email contact info, along with your answer, to stealingplums@yahoo.com. Please note that this competition is only open to U.S. residents, and is void where prohibitied.

My favorite way to spend a rainy day? Curled up in bed with a good book! Right now I'm re-reading Marion Zimmer Bradley's novel, The Mists of Avalon... the perfect read for a stormy day.

On the Other Side of the Q&A

2010-08-27T15:40:00.000-07:00

Check out my newest project! Stealing Plums: An Interview with Molly Anderson-Childers was published today on Persist: The Blog.

This site celebrates passion, inspiration, and all things creative. The brainchild of author Peter Clothier, it is an amazing resource for creative souls.

Got Brew? New Edible Article Goes Live!

2010-08-26T09:43:00.000-07:00

Feeling a mighty thirst? Fear not. I've got the down-low on some fun events for die-hard fans of the foamy stuff. Check out my newest article, Got Brew? online now at Edible San Juan Mountains.

What's brewing? Three hot local events are jumping off this weekend. First up, Grillin' and Chillin'- Ouray's own microbrew festival. The festivities take place in Fellin Park, with live music, a barbecue, and a plentiful selection of microbrews.

Durango-bound? No worries. Stop by the Farmer's Market Saturday to check out the Iron Horse Chef Cooking Competition- our local take on the Food Network's Iron Chefs. Local chefs will compete against one another- and the clock! It promises to be quite a show. Stop by and support your favorite grill-meister.

Saturday afternoon, Ska Brewing Company celebrates its Fifteenth Anniversary with live music by The Supersuckers, Farmington Hill, and The Beautiful Losers. Brewing enthusiasts are in for a treat- Ska's invited fifteen of their favorite craft brewers to crack limited-release kegs of their finest beers. The fun kicks off at 4:00 p.m. at Ska World Headquarters, at 225 Girard Street in Durango. They'll be unveiling a new brew- Dementia! This hearty ale had its humble beginnings as Euphoria; after aging in bourbon barrels, it emerged triumphant as Dementia- Aged and Confused! Stop by and raise a glass to the Ska Crew- celebrating fifteen years of brewing excellence! Cheers to you!

New Article by Hank Kellner Featured on Stealing Plums!

2010-08-25T09:11:00.000-07:00

Check out the latest addition to Hank Kellner's series, Using Photography to Inspire Writing. I just posted it on the Guest Starring page at Stealing Plums. There's a new batch of photos by Kellner, along with a great new site to delight and inspire.

For a hearty dose of inspiration and photoelicitation, please visit Hank's blog, English Education. You'll see photos like these, along with links and resources for writers, artists, and educators.

Interview with Jennie Nash Published on Creativity Portal

2010-08-02T09:32:00.000-07:00

Greetings, readers, on this rainy morning. The perfect day to snuggle up with a warm keyboard and write...
I recently interviewed author Jennie Nash for Creativity Portal, and it was wonderful to reconnect with this talented scribbler.

We chatted about her new novel, The Threadbare Heart, recently released by Berkley Books. It's a great summer read, the captivating story of a family torn apart by tragedy. Follow this link to read my Interview with Jennie Nash on Creativity Portal today! For more of this talented author's work and updates on her career, please visit her website, Jennie Nash.

New to Stealing Plums... An Interview with Michael A Shapiro

2010-07-30T11:57:00.000-07:00

Fab news. I've just posted An Interview with Michael A Shapiro to the Guest Starring page of my sister blog, Stealing Plums. I know you'll enjoy his fabulous photographs, and his thoughts on the creative process give you an inside look at the man behind the camera. Here's a sneak preview...

Photograph by Michael A Shapiro

Fabulous Article on Pinhole Photography- Check Out These Pix!

2010-07-29T09:23:00.000-07:00

Smashing Magazine recently published an amazing article on pinhole photography. The photos taken with these simple cameras are smply amazing! I was also stoked to see directions for making your own pinhole camera at home- perfect for you folks that like to get your hands dirty and learn a skill from the ground up.

Here's what I've been photographing lately...

"Story of a Selkie Wife" Published on Addictive Fiction

2010-07-28T13:16:00.000-07:00

New to my Guest Starring Page...

Author Jessica Goody was so inspired by one of my Story-Starters in a recent Creativity Portal article that she wrote "Story of a Selkie Wife." When she shared it with me, I knew I had to publish it here. This haunting tale is thought-provoking, dark, and ultimately uplifting. For more of Jessica's scribblings, please visit her blog, Much Magic.

Using Photographs to Inspire Writing... New Work by Hank Kellner

2010-07-27T10:49:00.000-07:00

Fabulous news! Photographer, writer and educator Hank Kellner is contributing a ten-part series of articles about photoelicitation- using photos to inspire writing. His words and photos can be found on my Guest Starring page. For a daily dose of inspiration, please visit his blog, English Education.

Looking for an Inspirational Summer Read? Look No Further...

2010-07-26T23:18:00.000-07:00

My newest offering at Creativity Portal is sure to kick the writer's block blues. Feeling stuck in the muck? Got the blues, the blahs, or a combination of the two? Check out the August article in my "Multicultural Muses" series, How to Be Your Own Best Muse: 101 Ways to Delight and Inspire Yourself. This juicy read is sure to get your pen moving!

What's Blooming in Your Backyard?

Lush Creativity, Juicy Words, and Wildly Colored Butterflies

Fabulous New Article Goes Live!

2010-07-23T11:39:00.000-07:00

My newest scribblings have found a home online, at English Education, Hank Kellner's amazing blog. My article, Irises Blooming in the Garden of Dreams, discusses ways for educators to help students get excited about writing.

This article also shows writers how to create a writer's notebook, a sort of catch-all for ideas, plot twists, and inspirations. Need some creative juiciness? Check it out!

If you're interested in seeing my words and pics on your site, send an email to stealingplums@yahoo.com.

Thinking About Starting a Writer's Group? Read This First.

2010-07-16T11:49:00.000-07:00

Exciting news! I recently contributed a new article, "Seven Questions to Ask Yourself Before Starting a Writers' Group," to Chuck Sambuchino's blog, Guide to Literary Agents. If you're thinking about starting a writers' group, this is a must-read!

"Seven Questions to Ask Yourself Before Starting a Writers' Group" is the first in a series of articles dedicated to starting, growing, and maintaining a writers' group. It is a practical, down-to-earth piece, based on my experiences as founder and facilitator of Durango's own Wild Women Writing.

Wild Women Writing is a group for emerging and established female writers in the Durango area, and is sponsored by the Durango Women's Resource Center. I've been working with Wild Women Writing for nearly three years. What a fabulous group of ladies...they inspire me every day. I love watching those tender blossoms bloom and unfold.

If you're at a point in your career where you're ready to give something back to the writing community, I highly recommend starting a group for emerging writers, or volunteering time to teach writing workshops geared towards new authors. It's such an amazing way to connect with others, and there is truly no greater joy than watching that nervous shy girl in the corner blossom into a strong, confident writer who can bring the house down when she finally dares to read her work aloud.

Who's That Shy Bloom Amongst the Briars?

A Budding Writer, Aching to Tell Her Tale

Plunge Into Poetry Strikes Again!

2010-07-16T10:06:00.000-07:00

Talented poet and educator Penny MacPherson has written a second lesson for her "Plunge Into Poetry" mini-workshop. You'll find her contributions on my Guest Starring... page. This offering focuses on creating an acrostic poem- fun for poets of any age! Click on the link and try it out.

Many thanks to my contributors for keeping my creative garden full of new blooms, wild seeds, and inspiration-trees! It's been a lush summer season in the studio, with new projects growing wild! Lately, I've been inspired to do some gardening, and to take a few new photos around the neighborhood. I'll be sharing those with you here as the season progresses. Here's a sampling of what's blooming on Durango's South Side!

New Interviews Posted on Creativity Portal!

2010-07-06T08:13:00.000-07:00

This month marks the end of an era. For the past ten months, I have been interviewing Jill Badonsky's Nine Modern-Day Muses (and a Bodyguard!), in hopes of learning their secrets. It must have worked some kind of magic on me, because I've finally made the leap from a day job to my dream job- and I'm loving it! The insights gleaned during my interviews for Creativity Portal inspired me to leave the workaday world and strike out on my own as a freelancer.

My Interview with Marge, the Muse of Okay-Now-Let's-Get-Started, is the latest in my exclusive series, "Multicultural Muses." I love Marge's practical, no-nonsense energy- she fires me up to take the next step on my creative path. What's brewing for next month? A brand-new article about inspiring yourself, and using your own experiences as an inspiration for creative work. Got a sticky problem to solve? Need a little motivation, a laugh, or some inspired silliniess? Visit Jill's website, The Muse Is In, for assistance with all your creative quandaries.

What's Blooming? New Interviews and Creative Excitement!

Photograph of Blooming Dogwood by Cynthia Staples

July's Interview with Cynthia Staples, the latest addition to my interview series, "Creating a Fun, Fabulous Career in the Arts," is an in-depth conversation about her journey as a writer and photographer. To view more of Cynthia's amazing photos, please visit Words and Images by Cynthia. Cynthia's been kind enough to share some of her photos here...

Robin's Egg

Photograph by Cynthia Staples

Dandelion Wishes

Photograph by Cynthia Staples

Boy and Bird

Photograph by Cynthia Staples

A Study in Contrasts

2010-07-05T09:51:00.000-07:00

Great news! I've been asked to contribute a photograph and some words of inspiration to Hank Kellner's amazing writing and photography blog, English Education. Follow the link to my photograph and essay, A Study in Contrasts.

I'll be contributing to other sites as I continue to grow my freelancing business and make new contacts, and I'll make sure to keep you in the loop. If you'd like me to contribute to your website or blog, please send an email with the details to stealingplums@yahoo.com. I offer professional blogging services; freelance writing, art, and photography; copywriting and editing; and creativity consultations. Too busy to blog? Need a creative solution to a knotty problem? I'd love to help. Let's connect!

A Closer Look

Photograph by Molly Anderson-Childers

Plunge Into Poetry Workshop Posted to Addictive Fiction!

2010-07-03T10:46:00.000-07:00

Visit my Guest Starring... page for a fabulous mini-workshop by noted poet Penny MacPherson. "Plunge Into Poetry" is an inspirational offering for writers and educators alike, with fun activities that can be adapted for any age or skill level. Check it out!

I'm currently seeking submissions for my blogs from emerging and established writers, photographers, and artists. If you'd like to see your work on Addictive Fiction or Stealing Plums, please send a query via email to stealingplums@yahoo.com.

White Iris Reaching For The Sun

Photograph by Molly Anderson-Childers

Celebrating The Glorious Fourth the Edible Way...

2010-07-02T12:32:00.000-07:00

Not sure what to do for the Fourth? If you live in Southwest Colorado, check out my local events blogs at Edible San Juan Mountains for some sizzling ideas.

Durango's got quite a celebration planned, and the fireworks display in nearby Silverton is always a stunner. If you're a little further afield, check out Paonia's historic Cherry Days Festival, which is jumping off today. Festivities continue all weekend with a full calendar of events. Enjoy live music, an art auction, a carnival, street dances, and more in lovely Paonia, Colorado.

What's your favorite memory of the Fourth? Got a great photo you'd love to share? Send an email to stealingplums@yahoo.com and let me know, and I'll publish the best of the bunch here at Addictive Fiction.

Flowers Are Nature's Fireworks...

Happy Fourth of July!

Photograph by Molly Anderson-Childers

Excellent New Resources for Educators

2010-07-01T11:00:00.000-07:00

If you are an educator, writer, or artist, I hope you'll find resources and inspiration here. I've worked as an art and writing instructor, and am well-acquainted with the difficulties and challenges faced by educators in today's classrooms. Teachers are the great unsung heroes of our time.

If you are an educator, I salute you! Since I can't give you all a shiny red apple, I wanted to offer up a few resources for you in this post.

If you're in need of classroom materials that work in the real world, please visit Cottonwood Press - their site has a wealth of resources to make your job a little easier!

For how-to activities, ideas, and inspiration, check out Creativity Portal.

Looking for fresh new ways to inspire young writers? Visit Hank Kellner's blog, English Education, for a look at his evocative, intriguing photos. This blog helps educators use photographs to inspire their students to write poetry, fiction, and essays.

If you have a resource or link to share, please email me at stealingplums@yahoo.com and I'll post it here!

What Inspires You?

Photograph by Molly Anderson-Childers

New Guest Blog by Hank Kellner Dubbed a Hit!

2010-06-30T13:38:00.000-07:00

Window

Photograph by Hank Kellner

To view a poem inspired by this evocative photograph, as well as a few words of inspiration from the photographer himself, check out Hank Kellner's new guest blog on my Guest Starring... page.

Noted photographer, writer, and educator Hank Kellner is the author of Write What You See: 99 Photographs to Inspire Writing, published by Cottonwood Press. For a daily dose of creativity and fabulous photographs, check out Hank's blog, English Education. This site is an amazing resource for writers, photographers, artists, and educators alike.

Call For Submissions!

2010-06-27T04:03:00.000-07:00

Interested in seeing your work on Addictive Fiction or Stealing Plums? I am currently seeking submissions from emerging and established artists, writers, and photographers. You can see my "Guest Starring..." page for more information, or email me at stealingplums@yahoo.com for all the juicy details.

Desert Landscape

Photograph by Molly Anderson-Childers

Interviews, News, and Creative Blooms

2010-06-24T11:50:00.000-07:00

Everything's coming up roses...so many great creative projects are blooming, I barely know where to begin...

I've just posted some new blogs for Edible San Juan Mountains on some great local events. This weekend, there's big fun to be had in Durango at the First Annual Four Corners Pride Festival.

On Saturday, local foodies can treat themselves to a gourmet dinner at Fox Fire Farms. The Dinner at the Farm event promises to be fun, with a five-course meal prepared from farm-fresh ingredients, and Fox Fire Farms free-range meat and poultry. Each course will be paired with wine selections from Fox Fire's own vineyard, and Guy Drew Vineyards near Cortez.

What else is cooking in my creative kitchen? Lots of marvelous ideas for new stories are blooming this summer- I can barely write fast enough to keep up with my characters. I'll be sure to share my latest efforts here at Addictive Fiction when they're ready!

In other news, I will be interviewing Cynthia Staples for my Creativity Portal exclusive series, "Creating a Fun, Fabulous Career in the Arts." She is a phenomenal photographer and writer, and I'm honored to have had the chance to work with her. She wanted to share some of her photos with readers, so I'm posting one here. More of her photos can be found on her blog, Words and Images by Cynthia. I've also posted a few pics on my blog, Stealing Plums, to get readers excited about our upcoming interview.

My biggest news? I've made the leap from day-job to dream job! I am now officially job-free, and am currently offering new clients my services as a freelance writer, artist, blogger, editor, proof-reader, and creativity consultant. This is something I've dreamed of doing for years, and was always afraid to do. Now that it's done, I can't figure out why I didn't do this years ago...fear kept me from moving forward.

And so, today, I say to you, be fearless. Move boldly in the direction of your heart's deepest desire, its most secret ache. Let your creative dreams outside to play!

Blooming Dogwood

Photograph by Cynthia Staples

"Honoring the Green Man" posted on The Pagan Arts

2010-06-18T12:38:00.000-07:00

Hope you'll enjoy this creative offering... check out my newest article, Honoring the Green Man, posted online today at The Pagan Arts. This article is full of ways to help make your studio a greener place, and includes ritual and sacred art-making project ideas- a perfect read for this sizzlingly creative summer season!

What else is growing in my creative garden? I just published a couple of pieces in Edible San Juan Mountains- the first print issue is hot off the presses, and you'll find yours truly on the masthead. Look for it on the stands- it's a fabulous resource for anyone who eats, works, and lives in the San Juan Mountains region!

This week, I'm working on expanding my client base for my freelance writing services. To this end, I'll be offering my guest-blogging services to businesses both locally and nationally. I am also hoping to obtain new freelance writing, ghost-writing, and creativity consultation clients, and really make my business thrive. I'm querying new markets for my articles, poetry, interviews, guest blogs, and fiction.

I've been taking photo-walks to snap some new photos for my blogs- so keep an eye out for some fabulous new images. I want to invigorate my web-garden here with the lush, creative energy of summertime in the Rockies.

Who's Your Daddy?

2010-06-16T07:46:00.000-07:00

Great news, readers! I've just published another fabulous post at Edible San Juan Mountains. This week, join me to get the lowdown on the Sixth Annual "Who's Your Daddy?" Street Festival. It's all happening on Saturday! Bring the whole family, and hoist a few brews for a great cause. Games, live music, arts and crafts, and more!

This event is a fundraiser for the Durango Discovery Museum, and is sponsored by a great local business. Kudos to the folks at Carver Brewing Company for making it happen!

Summertime...A Season of Inspiration!

2010-06-14T15:42:00.000-07:00

Today, let something simple inspire you. Lie back and watch the clouds, and do some daydreaming. Follow a lady-bug's journey along the rose-vine; write a poem on your sidewalk in chalk and let the rain wash it away, knowing that all we do is transient and temporary on this earth. Only our work will live after we are gone...

Hot New Post on The Pagan Arts!

2010-05-18T10:25:00.000-07:00

Greetings on this beautiful May Day! Good news, faithful readers... there's a new article posted on The Pagan Arts for your artistic delectation. Just follow this link to my newest offering... High Summer in the Garden of Dreams. Drink of the sweet wine of inspiration! Sip the nectar of delight. Flutter from bloom to bloom like a butterfly. Dance your dream. Live your story. Shine!

Tantalizing New Blogs at Edible San Juan Mountains

2010-05-06T06:23:00.000-07:00

I am now doing a weekly blog post for Edible San Juan Mountains, a site that focuses on the stories behind the food on our plates. Check out my posts at Edible San Juan Mountains...you're sure to find something to tempt your palate!

Something Spicy on the Menu

Photograph by Molly Anderson-Childers

2010-04-24T02:23:00.001-07:00

The Pagan Arts- Guest Blogs!

2010-04-06T23:59:00.000-07:00

Greetings, readers! You'll be thrilled to know that I am working with Alane Brown, of The Pagan Arts, to further explore different aspects of spirituality and creative soul-work. To that end, I am contributing regular articles to her website. Please visit The Pagan Arts online at:

http://thepaganarts.com/

This site is a wonderful resource for Pagan spirituality, music, magick, art, and more. Much love to Alane for starting this amazing website, and giving me this opportunity to share my work with her readers!

The Hitchhiker: An Unlikely Love Story- New Page!

2010-04-06T23:29:00.000-07:00

I recently created a new page just for my novel, "The Hitchhiker: An Unlikely Love Story." It will appear there in a new format- one document, rather than a series of posts- I anticipate that readers will enjoy it more than ever. The entire manuscript will eventually appear here in full; I've gotten a great start already, and added some new material- only available on the "Hitchhiker" page- to entice readers to check it out!

Jumping Fences

2010-04-06T22:42:00.000-07:00

What holds you back from reaching for your dreams? What stops you, trips you up? What is fencing in your creative work, trapping it within a too-tiny space?

Take a closer look at this fence. It's old and rickety- it could fall down any second. All it needs is one swift kick! Jump the fences, or knock them down- don't let anything keep you from achieving your highest potential.

2010-04-03T12:40:00.000-07:00

Desert Medicine...

As I prepare for a retreat in the desert with my sisters, I reflect on the healing energy of the desert, which simply is and so simply gives you the space to be, just as you are, imperfect, ready or not, in this moment.

If I could give you one thing to take away with you today, it would be the peace of sitting around a campfire with a family of friends, singing at the moon and watching the sparks spiral up into the night sky. If you could write from this present, open-hearted state, how would it change your work?

Go to the desert and pray; write; dance with the coyotes and fly with the raven.

2009-10-13T07:30:00.000-07:00

Hello Fellow Art Lovers! Hope you can join me at the Ferocious Feelings show on the 24th. Looks like it will be a great event- and a lot of fun! I will be displaying four of my creative journals; each is a unique work of art, and a perfect container for YOUR ferocious feelings! I start with a blank journal or sketchbook and collage the front and back covers; then add writing prompts, inspirational quotes, or whatever else strikes my fancy. Come check it out!

The most exciting aspect of the show for me is that I will be doing live writing in front of a crowd, and may have a chance to read my work as well. I'll unleash my own ferocious inner writer, and supply an adoring public with red-hot writing on the spot, in the best improv tradition. See you there!!!

Lushly, Juicily Yours,

Molly Childers

Creativity- Blossom and Bloom!

2009-08-31T11:29:00.000-07:00

Hollyhock Bud

Photograph by Charles Childers

This time of year is rich with wildflowers and rain. I plucked this hollyhock bud from a bush taller than I am, at nearby Haviland Lake. I wanted to share this picture with you today to remind you that all creative projects start as a seed; my new story, "A Phone Call," which you'll soon be seeing here, is a bud not yet unfurled. I have planted the seed; the idea is growing, but I haven't yet committed it to paper.

Given sunshine and love and plenty of water, the dream-seeds you plant today will thrive in their own time. Take the time to nurture one of your budding projects with a little sun, fresh water, or whatever it needs to grow. Let the light of your inspiration shine down! Let the Fount of the Muses flow freely over all the flowers in your creative garden! Dance barefoot in the mud and feel it squish between your toes! Sow your dream-seeds wherever you find fertile ground.

Chaos Reigns

2009-08-19T21:25:00.001-07:00

We're moving! We found a lovely little victorian in durango and can't wait to move in! Yay! Soon I will be within walking distance to downtown and I can park my clunker! Woo-hoo! I may not be posting as frequently during this period of transition, readers, and I know you'll miss me! Rest assured I will be missing you, and writing as frequently as I can to keep you in the loop. Going to post a third excerpt from "The Hitchhiker: An Unlikely Love Story" tonight for your fictional delectation... Sweet dreams and delicious nightmares, until we meet again!

-Molly

"The Hitchhiker: An Unlikely Love Story" Part II

2009-08-18T10:31:00.000-07:00

Cold wind on my face. Raindrops fall on my hot, bruised lips like tears. I smell mud and rain; something sweet and green. A hand- not my hand- on my shoulder.

"Oh fuck oh fuck..." his voice is trembling. Whatever he's seen, whatever it was, it must have been awful. He sounds so scared. "Are you all right? Say something," he begs. I don't know him. I would remember this voice, this warm hand. I do not know him. I look into his face, confused. Is he talking to me?

He's looking into my eyes, worried. He shakes my shoulder gently. "Hey...are you hurt?"

"What the fuck just happened?" My voice is rough and dusty. My tongue feels thick and foreign in my mouth. "Jesus." My voice is not my own. Disoriented, I look down at my hands. Red lacquered nails, long skinny fingers, wedding ring. They, at least, are familiar. I flex my fingers, absorbed by the sight of them moving along so obediently.

"Are you hurt?" he asks. Who is this guy? Why is he asking so many questions? I don't know him...do I?

"My face... I split my lip, I think." I lift one shaky hand to my poor, wounded mouth. It comes away slick and bloody, but all my teeth seem fine. The blood isn't much, but it's enought o turn my stomach. My lip feels too hot, too fat. It's already starting to swell. Shit.

"Your car went off the road. You hit a tree," he tells me, looking concerned. "Are you okay? Tell me where it hurts." His voice is gentle.

"My heart," I tell him. "I think it's broken. My husband...he's cheating on me again. We had a fight. Fucking bastard. Is he here?" I ask, confused.

"No. There was no one else in the car with you," he says, receiving the news of James' infidelity with a calm nod and a sorrowful smile. "Anything else? I could try to call an ambulance, if-"

"They can't help me. There's no cure for what I've got," I say in my strange new voice. It sounds harsh, streetwise. I like it. I light a cigarette, blow out smoke.

"Are you injured? Besides your heart?" he asks me, crouching down beside the open doot of the car to look at me more closely. I can see his dark curls, wet with rain; his soaked leather jacket, his sweet face.

Something about his face...so familiar...what is it? I know I've seen him before... somewhere...but where? And then I remember...

James' phone call comes just as I'm leaving work. He won't be home tonight, he says. So sorry. Poker night with the guys, over at Ray's house. Says he'll just crash there so he don't have to drive home drunk. And then I know. It's starting again. Motherfucker. The lies, the cheating. He's got another girlfriend, I know it. My guts know it even though my head doesn't want to believe he'd do it again.

"You pig!" I say, disgusted. "If you don't come home tonight, don't bother coming home at all."

"But, baby-" James says, trying to sweet-talk me.

"You bastard, fuck you. I'll see you at home."

"I can't," he says. "I already told Ray-"

"Bullshit. Come home. We need to talk," I tell him.

"Callie, I'll talk to you all you want tomorrow, but you're too upset right now. You're not making any sense-"

"Upset? I'm upset? Upset is for when I break a fingernail, James. This is a whole different ballpark!"

"Callie...honey...what's the big deal? It's just a night out with the guys."

"Oh you fucking liar. You know what, forget it. Don't come home tonight. Don't come home at all. Have fun with your new girlfriend, asshole."

"Callie, what-"

"I know what you're doing, James. I'm not a fucking idiot."

"You're completely paranoid," he says, sounding shaky. I busted him. I know it, and he knows it, too.

"I'm not paranoid, I'm right. I'll see you in divorce court, you prick." I hang up. I refuse to cry and smoke a cigarette instead. It will kill me to cry over James again, and so I bite my tears back and get in the car. It's raining. I leave town, and it starts to rain harder. We live up in the mountains, and the highway's always deserted this time of night. I pass a few cars heading back towards city limits, and then no one. The road is empty, a black void... and then I see the hitchhiker.

I remember it all; the puddle, the wild loopy skid; his white face looking back over his shoulder. A final, mortal thud. "Oh fuck." I am absolutely convinced that he must be dead. And if he's dead, I'm either seeing his ghost, or I'm dead, too. "I... did I hit you?" I ask him, for this boy bears the same face as the one in my memory. "Are you an angel?"

This excerpt from "The Hitchhiker: An Unlikely Love Story" is an original work of fiction by Molly Anderson-Childers. Copyright 2009. All rights reserved by the author.

Excerpt from "The Swan Maidens"

2009-08-17T11:41:00.000-07:00

I fly with my sisters to a lonely lake deep in the forest. We go there to bathe at sunrise and sunset, when the golden light reveals that we are not merely swans; not entirely- rather, we are women with a secret. When we remove our golden necklaces and feather robes, and hang them from the oak trees that crouch low beside the water, it is clear that we are not only swans, but lovely golden-haired maidens under an enchantment.

Many years ago, our father- a stupid, if handsome, man- had angered a witch. Some stories say he tried to cheat her out of a few extra sous when selling a cow to her at market. Others maintain that he had spurned her affections in favor of a village girl- our mother. Whatever the reason, whatever the excuse, cursed is cursed. We were doomed to live a half-life, the seven of us sisters. During the day, we appeared to the world as swans, with long graceful necks and snowy feathers. We swam and learned to fly, to look for food with the other birds. But when the sun went down, we made our way to a lonely lake or pond to ready ourselves for the night. It was only after sunset that we were able to return to our human forms, removing the enchanted necklaces and cloaks that imprisoned us from dawn until dusk.

Some nights, we went home to our parents, but these reunions were always teary and exhausting, and we could not stay there long without causing harsh words between our parents about whose fault it was that their lovely daughters had been turned into birds. As we grew older, we took to staying away from our family's sad little farm. We built a hut in the woods, far from the village, and set up housekeeping there.

We had begun life as normal human girls, you see. The witch's kindness-or her cruelty- had cursed us to a half-life, with one foot in the world of the humans, and one in the world of the birds. We could never mate, nor bear children- for who would have us? None of the boys in the village wished to court a girl who spent her days as a bird. The very idea was laughable. If they happened to see us out at night, walking the streets of the village, they threw rocks and hurled insults. Their cruel words hurt worse than any stone that ever bruised my flesh...

This story is an original work of fiction by Molly Anderson-Childers. Copyright 2009. Use of this work, in whole or in part, is not permitted without written consent by the author.

This story was inspired by my recent researches into the Swan Maidens of Scandinavian and German lore; most notably, the Wunschelwybere of Germany. While writing an article for Creativity Portal about the Muses of the Air, I came across the strange story of the Swan Maidens and knew I had to explore further, with a story of my own.

Excerpt from "The Hitchhiker: An Unlikely Love Story"

2009-08-13T06:10:00.000-07:00

I am driving home in the rain when I see the hitchhiker. Visibility's shit- sheets of rain slash at the car, obscuring him from view until the last second, and then he appears amongst the trees, trudging along the shoulder of the highway. He's hunched over, hands in the pockets of his black leather jacket. He doesn't even bother to put out his thumb as my car approaches- looks like he's given up on finding a ride tonight. His hopeless trudge- head down, hands in pockets- hurts me somehow, in the place my heart used to be.

Jesus, I think. He's just a kid. He looks like he's cold...

I'm wondering if I should stop and offer him a ride when the car hits a puddle and starts to slide. Hydroplaning. That feeling in my stomach like being at the top of a roller-coaster, right before the drop. My battered Ford Taurus loops crazily across the skittery surface of the road. I haul on the steering wheel, try to steer out of the skid. The passenger-side tires drop off the pavement and sink into the mud and gravel of the soft shoulder, where the kid was walking only a second ago.

Where is he? Where is he? I don't want to hit him. Can't see...

The steering wheel twists in my hands like something alive. I'm screaming, cursing, honking the horn, slamming on the brakes- all at once. All of a sudden, I see the surprised white O of his face in the headlights' glare. He sees me, sees the car, turns to run. I twist the wheel in one last effort to stop this terrible, terrible thing from happening. The car responds, but too late. Too late. I feel the bumper strike something solid and my face slams into the steering wheel, splitting my lip open. My seatbelt snaps, locking into place across my chest, my lap. It hurts, it hurts- not like a slap but like a bear hug, squeezing me too tight.

The world fades out in a shimmering wave of silver and blue. I ache inside. He was just a kid, I think, with a tearing sense of regret. And then everything goes grey, then black. I surrender to the void, feeling the hot sticky blood run down my face.

This post is an excerpt "The Hitchhiker: An Unlikely Love Story." Stay tuned for more of this story- and others- at http://www.addictivefiction.blogspot.com
"The Hitchhiker: An Unlikely Love Story" is an original work of fiction by Molly Anderson- Childers. All rights reserved by author. Copyright 2009.
If you are an agent or editor wishing to connect with Ms. Anderson-Childers regarding representation or publication of this work, please send an email to stealingplums@yahoo.com.

The Joys of Imperfection: Come As You Are!

2009-08-08T10:54:00.000-07:00

Who Can Define Beauty? What Is The Essence of Perfection?

The above picture, in technical terms, is closer to "perfection," closer to our traditional ideals of beauty...the wildflower is in focus, and centered perfectly within the frame...but I prefer the second snapshot, featured below.

While I was trying to take a picture of this flower, it nodded and swayed gently in the wind. The resulting photograph is slightly blurred, imperfect...and infinitely more alive and engaging.

Today I want to write about starting imperfectly- simply showing up, and coming to the page or the canvas as you are. I have realized that you can't wait for the perfect time to begin a writing project, to have a baby, to change jobs, to leave the man who's done you wrong. There is no perfect time, and you'll just get older waiting for it.

Is there something you've been putting off until the time is right? Have you decided that you can't start that novel you've been wanting to write until you wash the dishes, pay a few bills, clean the house, change your life? What if I told you that right now is the right time? In any case, it's the only time we really have. The past is gone; the future is out of our reach. I don't care if you've got three weeks' worth of laundry piled up in a heap in front of your door. For one moment, for one day, drop everything and just show up on the page. Give your creative work your first priority, and your most urgent and focused attention.

For a long time- too long- I waited for "the right time" to start this blog to share my fiction with the world, and create a unique resource for other writers. One day, I realized the right time wasn't just going to show up and announce itself with trumpets blaring... I had to meet the muses halfway and show up, ready to work, with knots in my hair and paint on my hands; imperfect and willing to risk further mistakes, errors, and imperfections for the simple joy of getting started.

The second photo- one of my favorites- is an illustration of my point. What is not perfect is often beautiful- not in spite of its innate imperfections, but because of them. It may be out of focus, and a little blurry around the edges, but its movement, color and unexpected luminous beauty can still take my breath away.

Don't wait another day to dust off those dreams half-forgotten, the songs never sung. Pick up the pen, and begin, right now, just as you are, joyous mistakes, bloopers, imperfections and all!

Imperfectly Yours,

Molly

Addictive Fiction... An Invitation to the Dance

2009-08-02T19:30:00.000-07:00

Welcome, rabid readers and fabulous fans! I will be sharing tidbits of my most tantalizing fictional offerings here for your delectation. This is a map of my journey as a writer, and I hope to chart my progress here. I'll also be helping you develop characters that jump off the page, overcome writer's block, create believable plots and storylines, and more!

If you are interested in a writing/creativity consultation, please contact me for more information about working with me one-on-one to improve your writing and editing skills. You may reach me via email at: stealingplums@yahoo.com .

Check out my blog at www.stealingplums.blogspot.com for juicy photos and more creative inspiration!

You can also visit this webpage for a guide to my creativity-inducing articles online now at Creativity Portal, a Writer's Digest Best Web Site...
www.creativity-portal.com/bc/molly.childers