Here's installment one of my serialized short story 'Magazine Launch'.
And here's installment two...
Magazine Launch (continued)
The inn
was just as I’d pictured it—hidden away on a quiet street. The gold handled
door was flanked on both sides by fragrant rose bushes. The interior was a
blend of burgundy and gold. I flowed past an oval table that was covered by a
white lace tablecloth and held a vase of pink teacup roses.
The well-groomed man behind the counter smiled at us. “Good evening,” he said. “Welcome to the Rosewood Inn. How may I be of service?”
I stepped behind Byron; Byron stepped behind me. Our waltz ended with me in front.
“Good evening.” I flipped open the folder and the contents fell to the floor. I squatted down to collect the pages. “Somewhere in all this mess is a…a…” I giggled nervously.
Byron found the reservation, handed it to me and took the folder.
I looked up. The man was leaning on the counter and peering down at me. He was trying to hide a grin—but not doing a very good job.
I stood up; the man leaned away from the counter and went to his computer. After clicking a few keys, he led us to our room. It was so beautiful—delicate print wallpaper, wainscoting, French doors opening to a small balcony, King sized bed draped by a duvet that matched the wallpaper. I wanted to live there forever.
About writing creative non-fiction...
'My memoir, of course, is based on things that actually happened. Admittedly, the facts have been shaped and edited. I am telling a story, and wish to make it entertaining. This involves selecting pertinent details, deciding what to include and what to leave out. It involves manipulating the material and, yes, sometimes distorting it.' ('To Tell the Truth' by Martin Hunter, an article published in the Quill and Quire.)
'Toronto novelist and essayist Stacey May Fowles...[explains that] the personal essay allows the writer to interpret the facts through their own lens, insert feelings, and find meaning....Iain Reid, author of the family memoirs One Bird's Choice and The Truth About Luck (both published by House of Anansi Press), believes the distinction between fiction and non-fiction isn't as relevant anymore. "What matters is having a story," he says.' ('Truth Be Told' by Kelli Korducki, an article published in the Quill and Quire)
It's part of a larger project that my husband and I are working on together. Here's a sneak peek at that...
My husband says that it looks like a bomb went off in our front yard. All I can see is the progress we've made and the potential the yard has. We've worked very hard. And it's true we have a long way to go. But how do you overcome a challenge? One step at a time.
