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I can’t believe I have no reviews on Dark & Fluffy I!!
Well, regardless, whilst also working on my novel, I’ve still got one eye on Dark & Fluffy II which will be out in December. The first four stories that I have in mind for it are:-

Vintage
That Steampunk Vibe
The Disney Club
The Puzzle
and I’m thinking of writing a stand-alone story using the main character from my novel, Benedict. I thought it might be a nice way to introduce him.

I’ll keep you posted on further details.

Does anyone else remember Tales of the Unexpected? I have recently got into watching re-runs of these short tales and I had forgotten how much I enjoyed them. They are stand-alone dramas adapted from Roald Dahl’s short stories in his books of the same name. Always with a, sometimes sinister, twist at the end. The great man himself introduced the first two series. What’s not to like! Ninety percent of my short stories are like this and I think they really engage the reader/watcher and can stick in the mind for sometime when the ending is clever enough. Give it a go in your writing if you haven’t tried it before. You can always get some inspiration from watching the Tales on YouTube.

So we’re in September, should we have another writing challenge? Same as last month 500 words? How about ‘Obsessions’ that should give a wide scope for writing a piece. Not keen on that one? Then have a go at one of your own, but still give it a share on the website :-)

Here it is then, my attempt at the August challenge. Feel free to leave comments when you’ve read it.

A Stormy Affair

She sat on the bed, exhaling as she looked down at her suitcase. The fierce weather slammed into the bedroom window and she jumped at the noise; a sheet of rain hit it, then branches from a tree crashed onto it. She quickly pulled the curtains together, blocking out the performance.
Behind her the phone pinged and she rushed over to it.
‘OK? Everything on track 😊’
‘Yes, I’m just about to leave.’
‘Good, so am I. Take care driving in this weather x.’
So, this was it. They had tried to leave their respective partners once before, and he hadn’t been able to go through with it. But she had held on and out of the blue two weeks ago, he left his wife and moved into an apartment across town. Now it was her turn to make the break.
They had decided to spend tonight in the hotel where they had first met whilst attending a conference. In the morning they would take an early flight out to Spain and have a two week break away from all the fall-out. Then she would move in with him.
The bedroom window rattled as if fighting back against the elements. She grabbed her jacket, pocketed her phone and wheeled her suitcase out of the room. Downstairs, she took one last look behind her, picked up her car keys and turned off the hall light.
The journey was scary; the car was constantly buffeted by the winds and wayward branches regularly smacked onto her windscreen. Sirens and blue lights battled with the elements for attention.
She was almost at the hotel when she heard what sounded like a huge mournful scream. Looking frantically around her, she saw nothing, she was alone on the road. Then in her rear-view mirror a huge tree appeared; it seemed to be walking, like some bizarre fantasy figure. Then it lurched precariously. She instinctively pressed the accelerator to the floor and sped away as the tree crashed down, shaking the ground.
It needed reporting, but she was so close now and there were no other cars around to have been affected. Surely it could wait, there was no-one needing help and the emergency services were so busy.
At the hotel she was surprised that his car wasn’t in the carpark.
She checked in, but there was no sign of him and no message.
Once in the room, she called him. All thoughts of calling the emergency services forgotten.
‘Simon!?’
‘No, this is Sister White at County General, are you Simon’s wife? I was just about to call’
Her stomach flipped.
‘I’m afraid Simon’s been involved in a serious road accident, on the A72, I don’t know if you know it? She did know it, it was the road she had just travelled down. ‘A tree has fallen onto his car. Are you able to get here? And Mrs Willows, I know it’s bad out there, but I suggest you get here as quickly as you can.’

So how are you writers getting on, have you drafted out your 500 words for this month’s writing challenge yet? I’m pretty much there with my attempt so will post that over the next few days. In the meantime If you want something to read over the long weekend don’t forget about my book, now with a free preview to tempt you.