If you have never read Fictive Dream, I encourage you to do so.
February is the perfect month to begin. Editor Laura Black kicked off the lit mag’s annual Flash Fiction February the first of this month. The art by Claudia McGill is a deep breath of fresh air many of us may very well need. Read more about Claudia’s process behind the illustrations for FFF at her website, Claudia McGill and Her Art World here.
Flash fiction every single day of February! Short, sweet and petite, yet bursting within the constraint of few words.
I’ve been privileged to be part of Flash Fiction February several times. I hold a piece to submit when the call opens in the fall. I enjoy being part of a collective voice, an uplifting of the style and honestly, I’m in constant awe of the imaginative writers.
Not that every submission of mine has been accepted. But enough to claim space on a wall in my home specifically for Claudia’s art. :)
“Bubble Up” appears today February 5, 2025 as part of Fictive Dream’s annual celebration. A tiny tale, a bit of magic. The story can be read here.
Sign me up to further celebrate flash! Look for a few of my previous published FFF stories here this month. My style has evolved a bit, yet still maintains a bit of the strange muse.
“Extinction” (published by Fictive Dream 2/7/2023) was the first notice my writing was leaning micro and amazingly fun to write. I laughed, a lot and laughter is my sure sign the writing is on the “write” track.
I previously posted “Extinction” here on Shared Madness 11/20/2024. I loved creating this unique world. A bit of backstory on the piece. In my college days, I worked part-time at Western Auto, a retail chain of auto supplies, accessories and also - at least in my store - washers, dryers, refrigerators and weird stuff on the shelves. I spent much time polishing and buffing the appliances shiny. The job was boresville and the customer traffic was like watching paint dry, paint also carried and shelved to remain unpurchased at Western Auto.
Financially, the store failed miserably and eventually closed. The store manager blamed the demise on the huge oak out front of the store. He claimed the tree blocked the store sign. With this backstory in mind, read “Extinction” here at Fictive Dream.
Photo by Sheree Shatsky 2025
Missed a post last week, welcoming a bit of wee magic into our family. :)
As we roadtripped across the Florida state line, a couple of exits north, I noticed white sand off the highway. Hmmm, Georgia has white sand?
Typical long time Floridian assumption.
Not sand. The real white stuff. The “S” word. S-N-O-W. The cause of a colossal backup upon reaching South Carolina, long long wait time, long long. With summer coming up fast and furious and interstate traffic through the Palmetto State never fun, those who may find themselves with no view but the rear view of tractor trailers, remember this brief public service message.
U.S. Highway 17 is a recommended work around for those bound north and south.
Thanks for reading.
Photo by Sheree Shatsky 2025
Video by Sheree Shatsky 2025
Sheree, I’m so glad you did this post, because I read your excellent flash on Fictive Dream this morning & loved it & “liked” it, but I personally wanted to tell you that a) I will never look at bubble gum again in the same way, b) I’m now craving bubble gum, and c) (as I said) this is a wonderful flash! And yes, I too love Fictive Dream!