Congratulations to Blackbladder on winning a short story commission in my inaugural contest. With nearly half on the entries in the contest it was little surprise that he won. Once Blackbladder and I work out the story parameters I will get to work on it. The story will most likely be posted on this blog sometime in the future.
There will be other contests coming soon. I think that I am going to post most of my stories to my blog first before posting them on other story sites. I'll come up with a contest of some sort around the story.
Varian.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Friday, September 11, 2015
Story: Role with It (Part 4 of 4)
Role with It (Part 4 of 4)
By Varian Milagro
Copyright © 2015 by Varian Milagro
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
After lunch we loaded the food and equipment into the car. Andrew showed up before we’d gotten too far along. He helped us finish loading. I was very thankful. I’d stored some of the equipment on the top shelves and I would have needed a ladder to get them. When I’d stored them it had been an easy reach, but now that I’d lost half a foot in height they were infuriatingly out of reach. He also carried both standing rib roasts for us, a task I’d done easily last month, but would’ve been nearly impossible today.
I kissed and hugged Lily goodbye. Both Evan and Tyler were catching the bus with Peter. Holly was headed home to watch all five kids.
I climbed into my Durango. As I waited for Abbey to start her car I looked in the rear-view mirror. I looked like a mess, my hair was sticking out all over the place and I looked tired. I shouldn’t have skipped putting on my makeup in the morning. For the life of me I couldn’t understand why I’d done that. I hated leaving the house without my face on. I fingered my gold wedding band hanging around my neck. Tomorrow after I returned the rental equipment I’d have to get it re-sized.
By Varian Milagro
Copyright © 2015 by Varian Milagro
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
After lunch we loaded the food and equipment into the car. Andrew showed up before we’d gotten too far along. He helped us finish loading. I was very thankful. I’d stored some of the equipment on the top shelves and I would have needed a ladder to get them. When I’d stored them it had been an easy reach, but now that I’d lost half a foot in height they were infuriatingly out of reach. He also carried both standing rib roasts for us, a task I’d done easily last month, but would’ve been nearly impossible today.
I kissed and hugged Lily goodbye. Both Evan and Tyler were catching the bus with Peter. Holly was headed home to watch all five kids.
I climbed into my Durango. As I waited for Abbey to start her car I looked in the rear-view mirror. I looked like a mess, my hair was sticking out all over the place and I looked tired. I shouldn’t have skipped putting on my makeup in the morning. For the life of me I couldn’t understand why I’d done that. I hated leaving the house without my face on. I fingered my gold wedding band hanging around my neck. Tomorrow after I returned the rental equipment I’d have to get it re-sized.
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Comic Recommendations: Sturkwurk
I recommend pretty much every thing Sturkwurk does. Simply because, even if the story stinks (they don't), or the subject matter doesn't strike my fancy (it happens), the art is flipping amazing. I used to hate 3-D comics until Sturwurk's comics (and cblack's) turned me around.
There are several places that I know of to see Sturkwurk's free art:
Sturkwurk on Deviantart: He has a lot, but not all, of his free art here.
Sturkwurk on Tumblr: More free art and home to WTF2. I loved WTF and was looking forward to the sequel, unfortunately it was abandoned after 350 pages or so. Sturkwurk is posting one page of WTF2 a
There are several places that I know of to see Sturkwurk's free art:
Sturkwurk on Deviantart: He has a lot, but not all, of his free art here.
Sturkwurk on Tumblr: More free art and home to WTF2. I loved WTF and was looking forward to the sequel, unfortunately it was abandoned after 350 pages or so. Sturkwurk is posting one page of WTF2 a
Monday, September 7, 2015
Story: Role with it (part 3 of 4)
Role with it (part 3 of 4)
By Varian Milagro
Copyright © 2015 by Varian Milagro
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
Tyler seemed better in the morning, although I couldn’t remember what had been bothering him. I asked Wendy, but she couldn’t remember either. We asked Tyler over breakfast. He answered with a shrug. I blew it off to the confusion of childhood.
After Tyler headed out the door for school I took a shower while Lily bounced in the door jamb. I skipped washing my hair. I didn’t have time to let it dry and blow drying was so rough on it. I sat on the bedroom floor in front of Lily and braided my hair. I talked to her about what I was doing and she bounced, babbled and laughed.
As I dressed I decided that it was time to do some more shopping with Abbey. First none of my bras fit; the bands had all shrunk. I couldn’t wrap them around my chest. I also struggled to find a shirt that fit well. They were all tight across my chest. On Sunday I was suddenly too big for my nightgown and today my shirts were too tight. I felt like a fat cow. It was time to join Abbey at her Weight Watchers meetings.
I didn’t know what to do about my breasts. I didn’t want to go braless, but I didn’t have time to go bra shopping either. None of my shirts had built-in bras; in fact, none of them looked like they’d been designed with boobs in mind. No wonder they were tight across the chest. That didn’t explain why they’d fit yesterday. I opted for a soft cotton, long sleeve shirt. My boobs bobbed and swayed with every step, but it couldn’t be helped. Once Tyler arrived home from school I’d take the kids to Target and buy a couple bras. I bundled up Lily and headed to the restaurant.
By Varian Milagro
Copyright © 2015 by Varian Milagro
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
Tyler seemed better in the morning, although I couldn’t remember what had been bothering him. I asked Wendy, but she couldn’t remember either. We asked Tyler over breakfast. He answered with a shrug. I blew it off to the confusion of childhood.
After Tyler headed out the door for school I took a shower while Lily bounced in the door jamb. I skipped washing my hair. I didn’t have time to let it dry and blow drying was so rough on it. I sat on the bedroom floor in front of Lily and braided my hair. I talked to her about what I was doing and she bounced, babbled and laughed.
As I dressed I decided that it was time to do some more shopping with Abbey. First none of my bras fit; the bands had all shrunk. I couldn’t wrap them around my chest. I also struggled to find a shirt that fit well. They were all tight across my chest. On Sunday I was suddenly too big for my nightgown and today my shirts were too tight. I felt like a fat cow. It was time to join Abbey at her Weight Watchers meetings.
I didn’t know what to do about my breasts. I didn’t want to go braless, but I didn’t have time to go bra shopping either. None of my shirts had built-in bras; in fact, none of them looked like they’d been designed with boobs in mind. No wonder they were tight across the chest. That didn’t explain why they’d fit yesterday. I opted for a soft cotton, long sleeve shirt. My boobs bobbed and swayed with every step, but it couldn’t be helped. Once Tyler arrived home from school I’d take the kids to Target and buy a couple bras. I bundled up Lily and headed to the restaurant.
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Story: Role with it (part 2 of 4)
Role with it (part 2 of 4)
By Varian Milagro
Copyright © 2015 by Varian Milagro
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
I awoke to Wendy’s alarm on Monday morning. My first stop was to the bathroom to take a leak. As Wendy took a shower I threw on my robe and headed to Lily’s room. After changing her diaper I carried her to Tyler’s room to get him up. After that I headed to the kitchen to start some coffee and warm Lily’s bottle. I held Lily in one arm while I prepped breakfast, which isn’t easy. They don’t teach you how to mix pancake batter one handed at the Culinary Institute of America, but they should. Wendy appeared with Tyler in tow by time Lily’s bottle had warmed. She held Lily while she drank her formula and I got back to work on breakfast.
“What do you have going on today?” Wendy asked as we ate.
“While Tyler is in school I’ll be shopping for supplies for that catering gig,” I said.
“I get to do show and tell at school. I’m going to show the truck I got on my birthday,” Tyler said.
Lily babbled happily as she smeared her face with a slice of pear.
After kissing Wendy as she went out the door I helped Tyler dress for school. Lily and I waved goodbye to her brother as he walked down the street to his bus stop. I then hurried back to the car, buckled Lily into her car seat and drove to Abbey’s. She didn’t have to work until eleven, so she was going to watch Lily and then I was going to watch Evan after school.
I had three stores to hit before I had to pick Lily up again. My first stop was at The Restaurateur’s BFF, a restaurant supply store. I was catering an event for over a hundred people at Willow Grove lodge in three days. While I was only providing the food and another company was doing the actual serving, it was a big task for a lone chef and I needed to supplement my own meager supplies. I still had most everything I needed to make the food, but I was lacking on the supplies to serve it. Among other things, I’d need half a dozen chafing dishes, a couple insulated food carriers, several large salad bowls, a couple beverage dispensers, and a couple coffee urns.
By Varian Milagro
Copyright © 2015 by Varian Milagro
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
I awoke to Wendy’s alarm on Monday morning. My first stop was to the bathroom to take a leak. As Wendy took a shower I threw on my robe and headed to Lily’s room. After changing her diaper I carried her to Tyler’s room to get him up. After that I headed to the kitchen to start some coffee and warm Lily’s bottle. I held Lily in one arm while I prepped breakfast, which isn’t easy. They don’t teach you how to mix pancake batter one handed at the Culinary Institute of America, but they should. Wendy appeared with Tyler in tow by time Lily’s bottle had warmed. She held Lily while she drank her formula and I got back to work on breakfast.
“What do you have going on today?” Wendy asked as we ate.
“While Tyler is in school I’ll be shopping for supplies for that catering gig,” I said.
“I get to do show and tell at school. I’m going to show the truck I got on my birthday,” Tyler said.
Lily babbled happily as she smeared her face with a slice of pear.
After kissing Wendy as she went out the door I helped Tyler dress for school. Lily and I waved goodbye to her brother as he walked down the street to his bus stop. I then hurried back to the car, buckled Lily into her car seat and drove to Abbey’s. She didn’t have to work until eleven, so she was going to watch Lily and then I was going to watch Evan after school.
I had three stores to hit before I had to pick Lily up again. My first stop was at The Restaurateur’s BFF, a restaurant supply store. I was catering an event for over a hundred people at Willow Grove lodge in three days. While I was only providing the food and another company was doing the actual serving, it was a big task for a lone chef and I needed to supplement my own meager supplies. I still had most everything I needed to make the food, but I was lacking on the supplies to serve it. Among other things, I’d need half a dozen chafing dishes, a couple insulated food carriers, several large salad bowls, a couple beverage dispensers, and a couple coffee urns.
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Win a custom short story!
Contest!
First prize: A custom short story!
I'm launching my first ever contest. The first (and only) prize is a customized short story written by me. You will need to work for it though. I'm looking for help with my latest story "Role with It" and I think that you are the one who can help me.
There are three ways to enter the contest.
#1. Suggest a better title. It needs to be a reasonable title that makes sense based on the material.
-OR-
#2. Suggest a synopsis. A sentence or two that entices a reader to read the story, but doesn't give away the whole story.
First prize: A custom short story!
I'm launching my first ever contest. The first (and only) prize is a customized short story written by me. You will need to work for it though. I'm looking for help with my latest story "Role with It" and I think that you are the one who can help me.
There are three ways to enter the contest.
#1. Suggest a better title. It needs to be a reasonable title that makes sense based on the material.
-OR-
#2. Suggest a synopsis. A sentence or two that entices a reader to read the story, but doesn't give away the whole story.
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Story: Role with it (part 1 of 4)
Role with It (part 1 of 4)
by Varian Milagro
Copyright © 2015 by Varian Milagro
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
The cloying smell of cigar smoke assaulted me as I approached the door to the garage. I was going to kick my brother-in-law’s ass. He knew that Wendy didn’t allow smoking in the house, not even the garage. I opened the door. Wendy was showing off one of her power tools to Charlie and Roger. Sure enough, Charlie had a lit cigar. Then I noticed that Roger had one as well. So did Wendy.
I stared at her for nearly a minute. I watched as she lifted the half foot cigar to her mouth and wrapped her ruby lips around it. What an incongruous sight. My petite wife, dressed in a skirt and heels, her heart shaped face framed by her long blonde hair, her diamond wedding ring sparkling on her finger, her short nails painted the same shade of red as her lips, and a big fat cigar in her mouth. It looked so weird.
“What are you doing?” I asked Wendy.
“Sorry, I’ll turn on the fan,” Wendy said, smoke spurting from her mouth.
“Why are you smoking a cigar and in the house, for god’s sake?”
“We’ll smoke outside, okay?” Wendy put the cigar in her mouth, took her belt sander from Roger and set it on her work bench. “You could join us, you know. Charlie has another cigar.”
“I sure hope you’re kidding,” I said.
Wendy flashed me a slight frown as Roger and Charlie burst out laughing. I hit the button on the garage door opener and the door rumbled open.
Wendy stared at me for another moment and then said, “Come on you two. We can finish these on the back deck. I’ll show you the bench I made last week.”
I watched the three of them walk outside and then hit the garage door button again.
“He’s got you on a pretty short leash,” Charlie said as the door descended.
“You don’t know the half of it,” Wendy said. The rest was cut off when the door finished closing.
I walked back into the house, not understanding what I’d just witnessed. Wendy was an ardent non-smoker as was I. Why she’d suddenly take up smoking—cigars of all things—was beyond me. And on top of that she’d offered one to me. Why would she do that?
by Varian Milagro
Copyright © 2015 by Varian Milagro
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
The cloying smell of cigar smoke assaulted me as I approached the door to the garage. I was going to kick my brother-in-law’s ass. He knew that Wendy didn’t allow smoking in the house, not even the garage. I opened the door. Wendy was showing off one of her power tools to Charlie and Roger. Sure enough, Charlie had a lit cigar. Then I noticed that Roger had one as well. So did Wendy.
I stared at her for nearly a minute. I watched as she lifted the half foot cigar to her mouth and wrapped her ruby lips around it. What an incongruous sight. My petite wife, dressed in a skirt and heels, her heart shaped face framed by her long blonde hair, her diamond wedding ring sparkling on her finger, her short nails painted the same shade of red as her lips, and a big fat cigar in her mouth. It looked so weird.
“What are you doing?” I asked Wendy.
“Sorry, I’ll turn on the fan,” Wendy said, smoke spurting from her mouth.
“Why are you smoking a cigar and in the house, for god’s sake?”
“We’ll smoke outside, okay?” Wendy put the cigar in her mouth, took her belt sander from Roger and set it on her work bench. “You could join us, you know. Charlie has another cigar.”
“I sure hope you’re kidding,” I said.
Wendy flashed me a slight frown as Roger and Charlie burst out laughing. I hit the button on the garage door opener and the door rumbled open.
Wendy stared at me for another moment and then said, “Come on you two. We can finish these on the back deck. I’ll show you the bench I made last week.”
I watched the three of them walk outside and then hit the garage door button again.
“He’s got you on a pretty short leash,” Charlie said as the door descended.
“You don’t know the half of it,” Wendy said. The rest was cut off when the door finished closing.
I walked back into the house, not understanding what I’d just witnessed. Wendy was an ardent non-smoker as was I. Why she’d suddenly take up smoking—cigars of all things—was beyond me. And on top of that she’d offered one to me. Why would she do that?
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