Today's post features a portion of the first chapter of C. L. Hart's contemporary holiday romantic fantasy novelette, morphed into a blackout poem and then a fictional Haibun. Information on this story and the anthology in which it is included appears after the poem.
The Original Snippet
Read the previous snippet from this story:
https://www.naughtynetherworldpress.com/2023/10/grounded-mfrwhooks.html
The diminutive woman at the counter looked like a
Christmas elf with her shimmery silver hair trimmed in a perky pixie cut. She
wore a soft, light cyan sweater and had a festive red and green cap with bells
perched on her head. As soon as Macario saw the apologetic look in her
neon-blue eyes, he knew he was out of luck. Yet, she was his last hope of not
being stuck in Nashville overnight, so he approached her.
“Miss, I really need to get to Phoenix as soon as
possible,” Macario said. “If you play poker, you need to work on your
expressions, because I could tell from the look on your face that you have no
cars left. However, I am also confident that you will do your best to assist a
traveler in need. Do you have any suggestions?”
A little more:
“I certainly do, but we’ll need to be quick,” the sprightly lady declared. “I’m going to call my brother Dom over at Snowman Railway. I’m not guaranteeing anything because a ride to Flagstaff on the Snowman Line is always very popular, especially at this time of year. However, I have a feeling we may be able to grant your wish. Hello Dom, it’s Pika. I have a passenger here who desperately needs to get to Arizona. You do? Oh, that’s splendid! When can you be here? Thank you, Dom, you really are a sugar plum! We’ll see you in fifteen.”
The little woman disconnected the call. Her
expression was joyful.
“Dom will be here to escort you to the train
himself,” she said. “You really are a lucky fellow, Mister…”
“Macario Bachmeier, but you can call me Mac,” Macario said, clasping the woman’s tiny hand in his. “Thank you, Miss Pika, you are a godsend! I will certainly tell your employer how helpful you were. If anyone deserves a holiday bonus, it’s you.”
The Poem In Progress
The diminutive woman at the counter looked like a Christmas elf with her shimmery silver hair trimmed in a perky pixie cut. She wore a soft, light cyan sweater and had a festive red and green cap with bells perched on her head. As soon as Macario saw the apologetic look in her neon-blue eyes, he knew he was out of luck. Yet, she was his last hope of not being stuck in Nashville overnight, so he approached her.
“Miss, I really need to get to Phoenix as soon as possible,” Macario said. “If you play poker, you need to work on your expressions, because I could tell from the look on your face that you have no cars left. However, I am also confident that you will do your best to assist a traveler in need. Do you have any suggestions?”
“I certainly do, but we’ll need to be quick,” the sprightly lady declared. “I’m going to call my brother Dom over at Snowman Railway. I’m not guaranteeing anything because a ride to Flagstaff on the Snowman Line is always very popular, especially at this time of year. However, I have a feeling we may be able to grant your wish. Hello Dom, it’s Pika. I have a passenger here who desperately needs to get to Arizona. You do? Oh, that’s splendid! When can you be here? Thank you, Dom, you really are a sugar plum! We’ll see you in fifteen.”
The little woman disconnected the call. Her expression was joyful.
“Dom will be here to escort you to the train himself,” she said. “You really are a lucky fellow, Mister…”
“Macario
Bachmeier, but you can call me Mac,” Macario said, clasping the woman’s tiny
hand in his. “Thank you, Miss Pika, you are a godsend! I will certainly tell
your employer how helpful you were. If anyone deserves a holiday bonus, it’s
you.”
The Finished Haibun
The diminutive woman at the counter was his last hope.
“Miss, I could tell from the look on your face that you will do your best to assist a traveler in need. Do you have any suggestions?”
“I certainly do, but we’ll need to be quick. I’m not guaranteeing anything because a ride to Flagstaff on the Snowman Line is always very popular, especially at this time of year. However, I have a feeling we may be able to grant your wish. You really are a lucky fellow, Mister.”
“Thank you, Miss, you are a godsend! If anyone deserves a holiday bonus, it’s you.”
when we show kindness
we bring relief to others
healing our own souls
Anthology:
For the Love of Winter
Anthology Genre:
Holiday Romance
Buy Link:
https://books2read.com/b/baqw6y
Publication Date:
December 6, 2023
Ebook Price:
$3.99 (Amazon pre-order)
Book Blurb:
Bake your cookies, light some candles, trim your trees, and be enchanted with thirteen sweet-to-spicy Chanukah, Christmas, and New Year's novellas that will sweep you from colonial days to contemporary times—each bearing a gift of happily-ever-after grand finales. This joyous collection is...
A Winter Mating by Lia Davis. He returns to Willow Glen with one goal, to claim his mate. Convincing her that she belongs to him will be his toughest challenge, but he's not above using seduction to get what he wants.
One Night at Christmas by Danica Winters. As the busy owner of a veterinary clinic, Emily Avery always has her hands full of puppies but empty of the one thing she really isn't sure she wants anyway—a man. When the kind-hearted Derek Night makes an emergency call to help his mom's naughty pup, they both must step outside of their shells and let the magic of Christmas and one mischievous pup bring them together.
The Christmas Crash by Tessa Lyons. Sparks fly when a relentless optimist and a grieving veterinarian are snowed in together at Christmas. Can they rediscover the magic of the season and find love in the most unexpected place?
His Christmas Date by Sara J. Walker. In this heartwarming story of seasoned romance, Dino Dudley and Hilde McQuire must navigate family drama and their own emotional baggage to find true love.
Jordyn's Christmas Gift by Marie Morton. Jordyn Billings, a busy marketing executive, is gifted a holiday getaway to Chateau D'Or by her family, where she discovers an unforgettable and life-changing Christmas gift.
Four Chanukahs and a Wedding by Merrie Angel. Widowed and alone in 1973, Millie explores a professional photographer's life, and stumbles upon Adam--an insatiable adventure seeker related to Jackie Kennedy. Will they find a way to ignite a flame that burns far beyond Millie's expectations and set ablaze their own festival of lights?
Recipe for Romance by Gloria Ferguson. Ashley McClain wants to win the Holiday Bake-Off with her late mom's cupcake recipe. Can she join forces with her friend and neighbor to claim the prize and a bit of romance just in time for Christmas?
Before the Rising Sun by V.L. Czerny. Their romance blighted at a colonial ball, Gertrude and Nicholas, forgetting their past acquaintance, are maneuvered by the Christmas spirit to set love loose and so refashion time's expected plans.
Unexpected Angels by C.L. Hart. Sometimes the best things come together when everything is falling apart.
Christmas Market Magic by Tessie Benton. Sydney Hawthorne hires an escort for a business date, but he's not what he appears to be, and their mutual deception sparks desire while careers hang in the balance.
A Merry White Christmas by Sally Murphy. Merry London, tasked with organizing an opulent Christmas ball for the McPhersons, faces an unexpected challenge in the form of Joel McPherson, whose fiery charm threatens to melt her icy exterior and unravel her meticulously laid plans.
Lavender and Love Restored by M.J. Gates. Chief architect Jess Carlson is restoring a haunted historic hotel and helping a friendly spirit while reclaiming her life and love before the hotel's grand reopening on New Year's Eve.
Marry Me by Midnight by Leah Miles. Navy SEAL Kendall Nelson can't manage a successful proposal, and single mom Luisa Sanchez has no time for romance.
Proceeds benefit the First Coast Romance Writers, an independent non-profit organization helping writers hone their craft and expand their knowledge of the publishing industry.
About the Author:
C. L. Hart, the owner and sole employee of Naughty Netherworld Press, is spoken of in hushed tones. She is described as The Mad Scribe of the Northeastern Colorado Plains, The Terrible Old Woman, and The Author That Should Not Be.
When not penning sanity-destroying works of dystopian fiction, Lovecraftian fantasy, or old-school horror with the occasional sweet romance thrown in to upset the cosmic apple cart, Ms. Hart enjoys creating baked goods she hopes will be considered palatable.
Ms. Hart shares a home in a remote rural town of 134 souls with her adult son and three cats. Her sense of fashion is best described as Early Twenty-First Century Unmade Bed. This disabled former nurse can usually be found arguing with herself about subplots or rehabilitating eldritch horrors.
Follow C. L. Hart
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https://bit.ly/CLHartAmazonAuthor
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notes
Let's discuss the process and prompts used to create this epic work of literary art!
https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/2023-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-5
Write a book-based poem.
What could be better than using one of my own stories?
Initially, I only intended to create a blackout poem. Then I saw that by trimming away details from the longer story, I was creating a more compact version of the same story, so I decided to go with a fictional Haibun.
I needed to create a short poem (Senryu, I guess, since it's about human nature rather than the environment or the seasons), so I consulted the trusty old Carpe Diem Haiku blog for a prompt. I'm rather pleased with the end result.
https://chevrefeuillescarpediem.blogspot.com/2012/11/carpe-diem-33-all-souls-daymummers-dance.html
I created the illustration for the poem by adding text art and effects to the base image using Pixlr. You are welcome to share the image, but please credit Cara Hartley/Ornery Owl if you do. A link back to this blog would also be appreciated.
By the way, I have no intention of debating with anyone whether this is a "proper" Haibun. I'm not the sort of poet or person who tends to follow exacting rules. While I don't really expect anyone to stir the shit at this point, there was a person who came around making much ado about nothing some five or six years ago, and I admit, it really bothered me.
At that point in time, I was still quite concerned with trying to make people like me. At this point, I couldn't give a tin shit about anyone's approval or lack thereof when it comes to me or my writing. Like this poem. Don't like this poem. I don't really give a damn. I don't intend to waste my time arguing about it.
I like to think of this poem as a C. L. Hart/Ornery Owl collaboration. Yes, they are different aspects of me. C. L. Hart is my fantasy/horror/sci-fi/weird fiction pen name and Ornery Owl is my snarky poetry persona. Nevertheless, it's a bit of an unusual circumstance when the twain meet thusly, so I say it's cause for acknowledgment.
The following videos really have nothing to do with the poem. This was just what I was listening to while I was creating it.
