Posts Tagged ‘Historical Fiction’
Apr
East Meets West
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
HISTORICAL FICTION ENTRY:
On 10 November 1989, Hans shuffled nervously across the debris littered street, clutching a package close to his chest.
He apprehensively approached the building, straightened his lapels then entered the revolving door.
On reaching the counter, he removed the book from the bag, sliding it across to the stern looking assistant. She opened the book’s cover and said “this is date stamped 13.08.1961. I do hope you have a good excuse.”
Hans anxiously responded “I’d have returned it sooner if it wasn’t for that damned Berlin Wall being built.” Their eyes briefly met before they erupted into gales of laughter.
From Guest Contributor Dougie Shepherd.
Apr
God Bless America
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
HISTORICAL FICTION ENTRY:
He was met by his family at the Orlando airport after 12 long months of active duty.
Captain Steven Hooks was a free man. Now that the Army didn’t need him anymore, he could get back to being a husband and a father and re-open his dental practice.
Gloria, his wife, suggested a movie for his first night home. They gave the kids baths, dressed them in cozy pajamas, and loaded them into the station wagon.
Upon arriving at the booth he handed the cashier the money but she wouldn’t take it.
“Sorry, but this drive-in is for whites only.”
From Guest Contributor E. Barnes
E. has works published at Entropy, Spillwords, The Purple Pen, The Haven, and several works are in the anthology, “NanoNightmares.”
Apr
Burning Uncertainty
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
HISTORICAL FICTION ENTRY:
My elder sister Tanya and I burn portraits of Nicholas, watching his solemn eyes melting. Melting, melting. Flames envelop his beard, rising into the night sky.
“To the Revolution,” she proclaims. “We’ll be happy again.”
“To happiness,” I proclaim. I hug Tanya. She smells of sweat and oil and victory.
I wonder what will come next. We’ve lost homes and positions, slaved in Siberia. She was a teacher and I, a writer. Those positions are in the past, though.
Will we be of use? Or will the Revolution brand us too bourgeois?
I wish the picture wouldn’t burn so fast.
From Guest Contributor Yash Seyedbagheri
Yash is a graduate of Colorado State University’s MFA program in fiction. Yash’s work is forthcoming or has been published in WestWard Quarterly, Café Lit, 50 Word Stories, (mac)ro (mic), and Ariel Chart.
Apr
Ignis Fatuus
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
HISTORICAL FICTION ENTRY:
The three sisters couldn’t spend their summer at home because of smallpox in the town. Their parents acquired the old farmhouse close to the boarding school and their favorite teacher agreed to spend her vacation taking care of them. She told them why the house was empty, of the little girl, who drowned in the cow pond. In time, the spirit came to each: in a dream; as a light over the field at dusk; and to the third sister, as the woman she spent the rest of her life with, from the age of twenty-eight, in a Boston marriage.
From Guest Contributor Jon Fain
Thus far in 2020, Jon’s fiction has appeared in 50-Word Stories, Fleas on the Dog, City. River. Tree., and Blue Lake Review.
Apr
Buried
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
HISTORICAL FICTION ENTRY:
Quintus, uncomfortably warm, found himself staring blankly at the frescoes on his wall of intertwined naked ladies and men. Startled out of his daydream when the floor shook and the walls cracked, he ran through the atrium to the front wooden door and opened it. People scrambled the streets, colliding into one another screaming in terror. Mount Vesuvius had erupted into fiery lava, ash and pumice.
Quintus ran, but the roof collapsed and buried him in a pile of burning rocks. With shallow breathing, and his lungs collapsed, he bid farewell to Pompeii as the sound of dying screams faded.
From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher
Apr
Botticelli
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
HISTORICAL FICTION ENTRY:
As Sandro walked to his home on Via Borgo Ognissanti, he was so completely preoccupied he did not pay attention to his surroundings and collided forcefully with an unfortunate gentleman. The moderately obscure artist’s parchments went sprawling on the brick walkway, some fluttering quite a distance in the breeze.
“Sandro, please look where you’re going.”
“I’m sorry, Filippo, but I’ve just made the most amazing discovery.”
Hoping his eccentric neighbor had some interesting gossip to share, Filippo inquired further.
“There is apparently a game, a quite popular one, that is being played around town, and they’ve named it after me!”
From Guest Contributor Sheila Fields
Apr
Stuck In A Cabin With You
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
HISTORICAL FICTION ENTRY:
Pete stared out the window, surprised at his boredom. ‘Cabin fever’ was becoming a thing. Alan and Dick each had areas staked out, and Pete felt like any incursion on his part might lead to an argument.
All he could see outside were stars. The moon would come into view in a few minutes, but that brought its own set of painful thoughts.
The quarantine order had come several days ago. John signed off saying, “You’re safer there than back home.”
Apollo 12 was stuck in lunar orbit with a mysterious pandemic spreading on Earth. Pete did not feel safe.
From Guest Contributor Emma Sparks
Mar
The end times are nigh. Let’s write some stories.
by thegooddoctor in News
With forced quarantines around the world, there’s never been a better time to stay in and write. I’d like to help. That’s why I’m adding a new feature to the site.
Beginning April 1st, each month I’ll be opening up submissions based on a particular theme or genre. Every day, I’ll post one story for the contest, saving my favorite for the last day of the month. (I’ve amended this part of the contest, because it didn’t make sense when entries were still incoming. I will post the stories as they come in, and then announce the winner at the end) Assuming we get enough submissions, that will be 20 or so stories a month. And that’s in addition to the general submission stories I’m already posting.
Basically, it means you’ll get to enjoy two stories a day instead of one. Plus, some lucky writer will get to tell their readers they’ve won a flash fiction contest.
For month one, starting in April, the theme will be Historical Fiction.
The rules are simple:
- All stories must be set in a time period pre-2000.
- While it doesn’t need to be obvious, there has to be some indication within the story what the time period is. This might be anachronistic costume or technology, archaic language, or anything else you can imagine. Be creative.
- The story must be exactly 100 words, not including the title.
That’s it. Start writing. I hope I get plenty of stories, so spread the word.
Could there be a better way to face the end of the world?
*Note: This contest is meant for fun. While there are no actual prizes, extreme bragging rights are involved!
Feb
Pre-Order Quitting The Grave
by thegooddoctor in News
I’m very happy to announce that Quitting The Grave, my first full-length novel, is now available for pre-order.
Quitting The Grave Book Teaser from Entropy Squared on Vimeo.
If you want to read the first chapter, all you have to do is sign up for my monthly newsletter and I will send you a link to download a free preview. OR, follow me on Twitter, and tweet out “@doctorentropy2 I want to read the first chapter of #QuittingTheGrave” I’ll PM you the download link.
Eugene, Oregon. October, 1999. After three graves robberies–in each instance, the abducted corpse was a John Doe–the police have few leads and little interest in the case. Caya Blumenshine, a reporter for the local newspaper, canvasses Eugene, questioning anarchists, wyccans, and politicians, until her search hits upon a secluded house on the outskirts of the city. Its owner, Alexander Hilyard, a history-writing hermit who hasn’t been seen in years, may be involved in the grave robberies, or may have been the most recent victim.
Fort Vancouver, 1830’s. A trading outpost on the Columbia River is charged with harvesting as many furs as possible for the Hudson Bay Company, while at the same time discouraging American pioneers from settling in the region. Dr. McLoughlin, the chief factor, and his three adopted sons find the undertaking challenged by the arrival of Jason Lee and his Methodist missionaries, who seem more interested in establishing a new territorial government than converting any natives.
Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1846. After the murder of her father, Helen Hunsaker wants nothing more than to escape the strictures of a society that views women as second-class citizens. She sets out on the Oregon Trail hoping to find a measure of freedom not afforded to her by her family circumstances or gender. Unfortunately, a spurned suitor chases after her and will apparently stop at nothing to win her hand in marriage.
Three stories that span more than 150 years of American history, united by a shocking mystery. Will Caya be able to discover the truth? And how far will people go to keep their secrets buried?
In addition to the regular Kindle version, iPad owners have the option of purchasing an enhanced version, made possible thanks to the generous support provided by my Kickstarter backers.
The enhanced version of Quitting The Grave, available exclusively on the iPad, features more than 35 videos and 100+ photographs, illustrations, and maps that will help readers learn about the true history behind the stories and characters of Quitting The Grave.
To pre-order Quitting The Grave, visit Amazon. And for the enhanced version, check out iTunes(The Enhanced Version will be available starting February 28th).
Quitting The Grave Trailer from Entropy Squared on Vimeo.
Quitting The Grave goes on sale February 28th! Pre-order today.
Jan
The Great Compromiser
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Millard Fillmore, born in a log cabin, the thirteenth president, cursed his predecessor. If Taylor had not died his second year in office, Fillmore would not be in this mess.
The problem was California. A remote territory infested with Indians and Mexicans. Who would ever want to live there?
But the South wanted a new Slave state and the North was adamantly opposed. There was talk of secession.
Fillmore sought a compromise. Let a future president worry over the problem. If the Union dissolved under his watch, his legacy would be ruined.
Nothing mattered more to Fillmore than his legacy.