Flash Fiction: The Key to Time

The Key to Time

by Mel Dawn

Jane was going through the junk in the attic of the new house they had just bought. The former owners had never tossed anything out. Annoyed, she grabbed stuff and tossed it into a garbage bag. 

She grabbed another book off the shelf. Something dropped to the floor by her feet. It was a set of ancient brass keys. 

She briefly wondered what they could be for, but remembered there was an old desk here.

Now, she could see what was inside. The third key worked.

The drawer opened. Inside were several photographs, letters, and a small jewel box. When she touched a girl’s ring, the ghost of a little girl popped out of the box. 

Jane smiled at the image. 

“Hey, Jane, are you done up here yet?”

“Just a minute.”

“Do you have the garbage?”

“No, I want to have a better look.”

“I thought you said it was junk.”

“I think we can donate some to the Museum. These things belonged to a family and were very important to them. I’d feel bad just tossing it all out.”

“Works for me,” said her husband.

Flash Fiction: Theftproof

Theftproof

by Mel Dawn

Mark entered the cafe and tossed his backpack onto the floor.

“Hi, I’m Mark.”

“It’s ready.” She handed him a large brown bag and several drinks.

He carried his order to the table. “What the?” he exclaimed. “Someone has taken my bag!”

xxx

“That was an easy steal,” Tony thought.

Not bad. A tablet, a flip phone, and a box. He opened it.

Mist swirled out of it, along with the figure of a woman. “Return me or I shall haunt you forever,” she screamed at him.

It wasn’t just the image. Tony felt coldness and despair pierce his heart. He quickly closed the box and tossed it back.

“Now!” the voice yelled.

He raced back to the coffee shop.

zzz

Mark was in despair. They had searched all over. Then a man rushed in. 

“Sorry, I grabbed it by mistake!” He dropped the backpack onto the floor then quickly left.

“Mom!” said Tony, in relief. He pulled the box from the backpack. “Now we can resume your celebration of life.”

The Aquaria Chronicles Newsletter

The Aquaria Chronicles Newsletter
Photographs and Text Copyright Mel Dawn 2017.

By now the Aquaria Chronicles has been out for nearly six months. Thank you to everyone who has made this journey possible. I don’t want to go on and on about my book, so please enjoy these photographs from the Vancouver Aquarium, an interview with me, a fun maze, and more.   

Questions and Answers with Mel Dawn 

1. Question: What would you say is your biggest failure in life?

Answer: My biggest failures have actually led me to creative careers. So, you can tell me all you want that “You can’t make money doing that”, and my life’s experiences will prove you wrong. Ironically, since my big failures  I have made a living being a graphic designer, online content writer, and craftswoman. My entire life my brother has asked me when I will get a “real” job. 

2. Can you tell us about your current projects?

Answer: I am currently working with about five different story ideas, from middle grade to adult, in fantasy and science fiction. Most likely I’ll post on my author’s page and ask people to vote for their favorite concept, because I really can’t decide. 

3. Are you friends with other writers?

Answer: Yes, I am, and there are certain ones who have encouraged me to get back into writing again, around 2012, after a very long hiatus. I have local writer friends, and online writing friends. Some of them are listed in the dedication part of my book. I also enjoy attending writers’ festivals such as Creative Ink Festival, and writers’ conventions whenever I can. 

4. People believe that being a published author is glamorous, is that true?

Answer: It most definitely is not, and ironically, people even think those thoughts when you’re also a non-fiction writer, like I am. Some people seem to think that I only work two hours a day and sit in front of the TV the rest of the time. In fact, there are many days when I’m stuck in front of the computer screen for 16 hours, half for paid work, and then creative writing time to work on my own projects. It’s also not glamorous wearing dirty clothes because you haven’t had time to wash, or eating pizza because there is no time to cook. 

5. Another misconception is that all writers are independently wealthy, how true is that?

Answer: I do know many authors who are in their 60s and older, because they have retired from their jobs and can do what they want, but I wouldn’t consider them wealthy. They cover their expenses, and have some extra cash to work on their projects. As for us younger folk, most of us have a secondary job to finance our creative writing.

6. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Answer: After doing the final edit on my latest book I have a concern that each character doesn’t completely have their own speaking voice. While they may be similar, after all, they all love sea creatures in my storyline, I think that I need to spend more time carefully crafting their unique voices. But it’s good to always work toward a new goal with each successive book. 

7. Question: Do you recall the first ever book/novel you read?

Answer: I believe this was “Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr. Seuss when I was five. I still remember when I was a little girl how much I hated both of those things, and today I still do, as I am a vegetarian now. 

8. Question: Have you ever left any of your books stew for months on end, or even a year?

Answer: Aqua Marine took me four years from writing, to editing, proofreading, formatting, and publishing. My first novel only took me weeks to get published, and thankfully it’s no longer available online. My next two books are in the same Aquaria Chronicles series, so they should be released before winter begins. 

9. Question: When did it dawn upon you that you wanted to be a writer?

Answer: When I was about eight or nine years old I wrote a “book” about a lost black cat. It wasn’t even for homework, I simply wrote it on my own. I showed it to a friend of my parents who read it, and said he had really enjoyed it. Sadly, I no longer have a copy. I was always that kid in school who wrote three stories for every one assigned. 

10. Question: When you were young, did you ever see writing as a career or full-time profession?

Answer: No, the goal was always to go to school to earn a degree, and then find work. I earned a gemologist degree before I realized I’d only be making minimum wage in that career. I have quite a list of degrees and diplomas to my name now, but it was a good thirty years before I earned two writing certificates. 

11. Question: Does your day job ever get in the way of your writing?

Answer: Yes, it does. It’s hard to stare at a glowing screen for eight hours, and then do it all over again that same night. 

12. Question: Do you like traveling or do you prefer staying indoors? 

Answer: I really enjoy travelling, and hope to do more in the future. I’ve been to Egypt, England, USA, and Canada. Right now a writer’s life means being stuck in front of the computer. The only compromise is getting out for small daily walks.

13. Question: Do you reply back to your fans and admirers personally?

Answer: Yes, definitely. Some of my favorite musicians and celebrities are those that reply back to me directly, so I want to do the same for my fans. 

14. Question: Have you ever taken any help from other writers?

Answer: Yes, I often ask for advice. There are some writers that are extremely giving and generous with their time. Hint: I buy their books!

15. Question: Have you ever considered writing an autobiography?

Answer: I have, but I was going to tie it in with a post-apocalyptic story, so it wouldn’t be entirely true. 

16. Question: Do you see the writing genes in any of your family members?

Answer: No, I don’t. I have no idea where I got my writing genes from. I can’t even think of any distant cousins who enjoy writing. 

17. Question: Has it ever happened to you that someone published your story in their own name?

Answer: Yes, but we had a contract. I frequently do ghostwriting for other writers or non-writers. It can actually be a lucrative form of income. 

18. Question: Have you ever destroyed any of your drafts?

Answer: Yes, once a story or book has been published I’ll save only the most recent one or two versions.   

19. Question: Do you need to be in a specific place or room to write, or can you just sit in the middle of a café full of people and write?

Answer: I can sit down and write anywhere, but editing and proofreading require quiet time at home. 

20. Question: Where Can I Buy The Aquaria Chronicles?

Answer: You can find my book on Kobo, iBooks, Nook, and Amazon. Here is a handy reference link if you need it: The Aquaria Chronicles. 

Aquarium Maze Time! 

After you have swam out of the maze, go back and colour in your pathway. 

You'll discover a surprise!

Navis Salubris – The Start of a Serialized Short Story – The Healing Ship

My blog has been sadly neglected for the past year. Paid writing work has taken priority over unpaid fiction. From dealing with a sick cat with hepatitis/liver disease, to a small cyst in my hand that hurts, I've decided to take a few weeks off. This has given me the chance to get my home in order, finish off a few projects, and get back into crafting and fictional writing.

Earlier this year I eagerly followed the serialized adventures of Jason P. Crawford. A blog is yet another avenue for reaching new readers. What a great idea! I decided to give it a try, and now I have time to do so. Hopefully 500 words each day won't slow down my daily chores, and as Isabel the Cat gets better, more time is freed up to do what I want.

Here's a brief summary of what I'm trying to accomplish. Of course it's a zombie short story, as zombies are what I do best. Just what does Navis Salubris mean? I enjoy dabbling in Latin and hope I have my translation correct. Navis means Navy, and I'm sure most people will recognize Salubris for the Good Health toast. Thus we have "The Healing Ship". Check out the futuristic ship photo I found online.

As the zombie threat lessens, remnants of human society have degenerated into in-fighting. Five people from around the world find themselves with an unexpected ticket to the Navis Salubris. Our five main characters wake up on the ship, disoriented, and wondering how they got so far from home. Nell has missed much of the zombie apocalypse, being confined to her Vancouver home. Wei has survived by hiding in tiny crawl spaces that an adult could never fit. Abdul is a terrorist in Iraq. Riitta is a zombie, former politician in Sweden–aren't they all? Sam is a suicidal doctor in Nigeria. Are they in heaven, hell, or something much worse? As our candidates traverse strange waters, they may just find they've ended up with more than they had ever bargained for during their battle for human survival.

History Re-imagined: The Victorian Conservatory

Both structures may be identical, but a greenhouse is for plants, while a conservatory is for human habitation. Originally designed around the 17th century, this structure was composed of stone columns and thin glass panes. It housed all the delicate plants the English brought back from exotic travels.

Closer to Victorian times the English adopted the word 'conservatory' to mean an external sitting room adjacent to the main house. Generally today a greenhouse is extant from the main house, while a conservatory is connected to the main house or building, such as a hotel, via a narrow or short walkway.

Conservatories gained popularity around the mid-19th century as the glass tax was lifted and wrought iron and steel became cheaper to source. The walls traditionally were composed of glass with metal reinforcements, but modern structures can be made of shatter-resistant plastic and cedar.

Shortly after spring cleaning commenced, the glass windows were polished, the floor scrubbed clean, and the tea service would be set up. A conservatory allowed the Victorian a sanctuary to get away from it all, without ever stepping foot in the street. The conservatory was generally closed up in the winter, the sumptous pillows and wicker furniture being cleaned and stored away until the next warm season arrived.

Queen Victoria's favourite conservatory was located at Chatsworth House, London. It took five years to build and covered over three quarters of an acre. It featured a tent-like shape, and was centrally heated and lit with twelve thousand lamps. The Queen declared, "It's the most stupendous and extraordinary creation imaginable". Queen Victoria wasn't around in 1920 to save it from being demolished. Costs were used for the war efforts, with its costly upkeep no longer justified.

If you don't have the space in your backyard to build a conservatory, the best place to see one is right in Victoria, BC. The Empress Hotel is home to one large connected conservatory, and was built with the hotel from 1904 to 1908. Take a lovely stroll in their English garden and forget about modern contrivances.

Finding Isabel - Day Two of the Countdown to Queen Victoria's Birthday

Tabby cats were popular with the Victorians so today I'll tell my tabby stories. 

Today is Isabel's ninth birthday. I bought her a new kitty blanket, some treats, and made her a fascinator. 

She's only lived with me for two and a half years. It took a while before she came into my life. 

My entire life I had cats, except for an extremely long 14 years of renting apartments. In 2004 I adopted a tabby, but in the summer of 2009, the unthinkable happened. For her last year she rapidly declined, until I learned she had cancer. By the time we knew, she was already in her final days. I had become so attached to her in only five short years. I was devastated by her vet bills on my part-time income, and totally devastated in my heart. I knew I would adopt another cat one day, I just didn't know when. 

Several months passed. I graduated from college and found a better job. Not a day went past that I did not think of her. My boyfriend T drove me around to all the local shelters. I viewed hundreds of cats, but in my heart none of them were as special to me as Cristobel had been. 

"Leave the carrier in the car," I told T, at Katie's Place Cat Shelter in Maple Ridge, BC, November 2009. "I won't find a cat here either." He didn't listen to me and brought the pet taxi inside anyway. 

We spent two hours looking at cats. I wanted one around two years old, so I would have her for a long time. The staff helped me narrow down the cats that I had seen online. They didn't think a feisty young tabby was the right cat for me, so the hunt continued. They weren't going to let me leave without a cat in that pet taxi!

Discouraged, none of the cats really stood out for me. It was going on the third hour when I knew I wouldn't find one here either. The hunt for a cat would continue. I was taking this adoption seriously, and we had to be right for each other.

Finally, I decided to look at the older cats. There was nothing else to do on that day but go home anyway. I looked at 100 more, even the ones in the hospital area. 

I entered what must have been the last room of the shelter. All these cats were older, around 6 or more years. Not the right age, but I was just looking. 

And then I turned and I saw a gorgeous black, brown and peach tabby sitting on top of a tall scratching post. She had the sweetest expression on her face as I stroked her. She had the softest fur, her ears were rounded, and she seemed quite gentle. This was the cat I had been waiting for months to adopt!

She was named Cherub, like an angel, but she looked like an Isabel to me, so Cherub became her middle name. We brought her home and she cuddled up to me on that first night. There were no issues settling in, she immediately knew she was home.

That is how I found my kitty angel. Happy Birthday Isabel!