Below are two pieces of my award-winning writing that you can read for FREE!
Scroll down to see the story link and to read my poem.
My short Story, "Mayfield" from my coming book FORGOTTEN FEMALE FELONS, won Third Place in the Women Writing the West LAURA Short Fiction Award in October 2023.
Here's the link to read my story FREE
https://www.womenwritingthewest.org/awards/the-laura-short-fiction-award/
My poem "Rubina's Rose" won 3rd Honorable Mention in the 2024 Oklahoma Federation of Writers Contest.
https://www.owfi.org/2024-winners
Here is my poem "Rubina’s Rose"
“Rubina…Rubina…” the silky voice sighed through the evening gloom, arching over the ragged rocks and melting through the gnarled pinions.
Rubina froze, icicles of fear piercing her heart. She clasped the precious packet to her heaving chest, looking for the source of the sibilant voice.
“Rubina...Rubina…why are you fleeing?”
Rubina stumbled on an unseen stone and fell hard, ripping the blanket corner of her bundle. She lay there, eyes gazing upwards as the heavens revolved on their nightly journey.
“Rubina…Rubina…” the gentle voice whispered into her ear. “We know your secret. Let us help you.”
Rubina rose up in terror. She clutched her meager parcel and propelled herself forward to the bottomless cavity, dark as a fresh-dug grave.
“Rubina…Rubina…”
Rubina dropped to the edge of the black hole, cradling her lifeless daughter. Pain sliced through her heart, her loins. The birth seemed a lifetime away.
“Who are you?” Rubina wailed to the stars.
“Rubina, we are your grandmothers. Give us your child. We will keep her safe.”
“Why? How?” Rubina cried out in anguish.
“Rubina…Rubina… you must embrace your future with love not remorse, with wisdom not shame. Your daughter never took a breath of mortality. We will tenderly care for her until you come to us…”
Rubina hovered at the edge of eternity and surrendered Rose to the grandmothers, to await their celestial reunion.
