Rustypuppy

Finished reading the second Whimbrel House…

Rustypuppy — Sun, 09 Jun 2024 22:19:37 GMT

Finished reading the second Whimbrel House book, Heir of Uncertain Magic, by Charlie N. Holmberg. It’s been a while since I read the first book, Keeper of Enchanted Rooms, so it took a bit to get back into it, as the events happen right after each other.

Enjoyable, light read. Mystery (situational, not murder), bit of romance. Magic in the late 1800s in Massachusetts but not “witches” - this is a unique magic system with various traits inherited by bloodline, though the majority of those with magical ability are low level.

Just like the previous book, Heir is a complete story, though there are threads of more adventures to come.

And looking at the cover just now on upload, I again appreciate how much a good artist and art director can imbue of the story in their cover illustration - that scarf is so frigging important!

#bookstr #book #magic #magicalrealism #charlienholmberg #rustypuppyreads

SINGLE PAGE STORY SUNDAY* …

Rustypuppy — Sun, 03 Sep 2023 20:26:01 GMT

SINGLE PAGE STORY SUNDAY* …

REMEDY - After she dropped the kids off at soccer practice, the tamarind had an appointment with her horticulturist.

Browning leaves, a severe drop in fruit production, splotches on her bark - classic stress symptoms.

Easy enough for him to prescribe a new fertilizer, rest, and more water. She had the kids, the house, the dog, the gerbil, and the so very not semi-tropical New Jersey weather to deal with on a daily basis.

Sitting in her car, the tamarind dropped her head into her branches and wept sap-filled tears.

From somewhere down the street, the strings of a tanpura reached out and hugged her with their melody. Her bark lightened. A single flower bloomed upon her brow as the song filled one of the holes in her life. On her way to pick up the saplings, the tamarind bought a pair of headphones and a subscription to AlwaysMusicIndia.

At her next appointment, her horticulturist praised her recovery, clearly pleased with efficacy of his prescription.

* fanciful microfiction of less than 300 words

#story #microfiction #author #storystr #fiction #magicalrealism #grownostr #writer

SINGLE PAGE STORY SUNDAY - fanciful microfiction…

Rustypuppy — Sun, 20 Aug 2023 18:28:17 GMT

SINGLE PAGE STORY SUNDAY - fanciful microfiction of less than 300 words

LEGACY by rustypuppy - The fifth reincarnation of her dear Othenio loved to play hide-and-seek as much as the original. Thus, the countess found herself at the Upper Belvedere at 3 pm, studying each painting for a puppy who should not be there.

She found him hiding in the flowers of Klimt's "The Kiss."

Othenio whined and wagged his tail.

Thousands of works of art in the city, over sixty years since their first walk together, and still the dog knew Hans' favorite piece.

Though she had seen this painting many times when touring, today the black squares of the man's coat became voids that seduced memories from her heart.

She rubbed her fingers with her thumb, the pain of hand-stitching long gone. As was Hans’ jacket of patches. As was he.

The inheritance provided could have elevated her lifestyle to match her title had she not needed their Othenio beside her, always.

She reached into the painting and pulled the little hound to her chest as the security guard pretended not to notice.

"I miss him, too," she whispered, fondling the dog's floppy ears, "but not as much as I would."

#authorstr #microfiction #story #shortstory #writing #dogstr #grownostr #magicalrealism