A drabble (100 words) — The immediate sequel to Sea of Green. As requested by, among others, Prasanna Srinath Subhasinghe. How will the astronauts get down from the tree? Hope you enjoy! Their descent proved easier than expected; Caroline found rope in the capsule’s emergency box. Wriggly Newton brought the most trouble. The moment Kepler’s…

Don’t mind me, I’m just having an image crisis — This is a quick post, just to reassure people that yes, I’m okay — although behind on ‘Watery Wednesdays’ uploads. Sigh. Why this post, then? Because the last time I interacted with The Accidental Monster on here, for example, I mentioned that I’d caught a lasting cold. …

Watery Wednesdays, #24: 9-15 November 2023 — Welcome back to Watery Wednesdays! In April 2023, Alec Zarenkiewicz threw down a creative gauntlet: to pick any topic and write about it every day for a year. My choice? Water, collected and shared in weekly posts. This week, much like Week #17’s offering, I’ve been writing senryū every day. …

Watery Wednesdays, #23: 2–8 November 2023 — In April 2023, Alec Zarenkiewicz threw down a creative gauntlet: to pick any topic and write about it every day for a year. My choice? Water, published in weekly collections. The Accidental Monster, you can have this soon, if possible — I’ve just decided to put it out before teatime…

Watery Wednesdays, #22: 26 October — 1 November 2023 — In April 2023, Alec Zarenkiewicz threw down a creative gauntlet: to pick any topic and write about it every day for a year. My choice? Water. It’s First Folio season! In this mini-series, we’re taking a look at water in Shakespeare’s works. In a week that also saw the wedding…

Watery Wednesdays, #21: 19-25 October 2023 — Welcome to Watery Wednesdays! In April 2023, Alec Zarenkiewicz threw down a creative gauntlet: to pick any topic and write about it every day for a year. My choice? Water, published in weekly collections. For the next installments, it’s Shakespeare time —this year marks four hundred years since the First…

Watery Wednesdays, #20: 12-18 October 2023 — Welcome back to Watery Wednesdays! In April 2023, Alec Zarenkiewicz threw down a creative gauntlet: pick any topic and write about it every day for a year. My choice? Water. This week, I’m dreaming of warm sunshine. In my real life, a storm is on the way to the UK… 12/10/2023 …

A flash fiction — This story was born from Prompt #33 by Jonathon Sawyer. The first shanty is a real one, often open to improvisation, called ‘Haul Away Joe’; the second is my own, and should fit the same tune. CW: horror, torture, reference to execution. On the Blossoming Bess Haul, haul away. We’ll haul… The sound of…

Watery Wednesdays, #19: 5-11 October 2023 — Welcome to Watery Wednesdays! In April 2023, Alec Zarenkiewicz threw down a creative gauntlet: to pick any topic and write about it every day for a year. That’s right — an entire year! I chose water. Here in the UK, 5th October was National Poetry Day, with the theme of…