‘Queen of the Sky’ is published

My short story “Queen of the Sky” is in the October 2024 issue of Well Read Magazine. The publication is full of great reads, interviews and tasteful ads about books to read.

Here’s how the story begins:

Mommy says now that I'm eight years old I get to be queen all day. So early this morning, she put my queen costume from Halloween at the foot of my bed. I was so excited. I got out of my jammies and into that dress quick as a greyhound dog. It's this beautiful deep red with one of those accordion style collars that kinda makes me look like I don't have a neck, but Mommy says that's how the very first Queen Elizabeth used to look.

I put on my fancy black ankle boots, too. They're tight, but not too bad. I danced all around. Mommy gave me her sad, dented-can smile. It wasn't long before I knew why. …

You’ll find the whole story here: https://issuu.com/wellreadmagazine/docs/october_2024_magazine/s/58482186

This artwork by my granddaughter Reina doesn’t fit the story, except for the child’s spirit it conveys. I love it. I should read her the story and ask her to do a painting for it.

I’ve been so absorbed with novel writing in recent years, I’ve not been writing shorter works, though I am itching to get back into writing flash fiction regularly. But with paid work and family and pet care and home upkeep and the aging process and some volunteer work, a gal can only do so much.