Harvest Festival Writing Challenge 2009

For those of you already working on an entry, I realized I left out an important piece of information. Please be sure your entries fit the guidelines for Love Inspired, Love Inspired Suspense, or Love Inspired Historical.

Thanks!

Ah, Ila -- that's sweet.  Thanks for entering.

Thank you Janet & Hope---I'm looking forward to reading more entries.  You know me, I couldn't possibly stick with the expected for pumpkins and things :P 

It was the limit of 250 words that was the hardest!  Good luck to all.

ila that was lovely, thoroughly enjoyed it, well done!

Jayne

We want more entries!! :)

  This little story popped into my head, so even though I am not sure it works, enjoy and let me know what ya think.

Rhyanna

Mystery Clues
“Ok the clues are…wooden leg, pumpkin, kiss and silent night. What do they have in common?” Miranda asks. As her brothers stare at her she snaps, “You wanted to do this, so now solve this!”
“Don’t answer the door if there’s a man standing there with a wooden leg?” fourteen-year-old Manuel says.
As they laugh, Miranda gnashes her teeth biting her inner cheek.
“Especially if its Pumpkin head at the door.” Thirteen-year-old James laughs.
“Oh yeah let’s not forget old time favorite movie.” Daniel drawls, “Silent Night, Creepy Night where you’d be kissed to death with your choice of chainsaw, whacked with an ax or scared to death, then they suck the life out of ya.”
“Let’s not forget the Kiss of the Black Widow.” James shouts laughing.
Screaming silently Miranda retorts, “If you’re done.”
“How’s it going?” Kendall says entering the room. Then he kisses Miranda. While returning the kiss her brain is still working furiously.
“Ok the other clues are…” She says sternly as her boyfriend Kendall sits next to her.
“Stars, ships, gifts of…”
“It’s not Christmas. Wait does that mean we’ll be getting presents?” the boys quickly tease, “No she wants them at her wedding for presents.”
Kendall’s laugh dies as Miranda glares at him. “Wrong. No not Christmas either.”
“Gifts for the guests.” They laugh.
“NO!” She retorts. “They’re elements from stories which means you need to solve a mystery.”
Stymied they reply, “Oh.”
“Shut your mouths unless you’re trying to catch flies.” She scolds.

Daeanarah and Write NB Style -- Thanks to both of you for your entries!  Enjoyed reading them both

                                                             TREY’S PROMISE

            As soon as Jory’s father passed out on the couch, she grabbed her little sister’s hand and quietly led her out the backdoor.  It wasn’t until they were a half-a-mile away that her younger sister tugged on her hand. 

            “What is it, Izzy?”  She glanced down at her sister, not slowing her pace.

            “Where are we going?” 

            Jory felt a ting of regret when she noticed the tiny doll Izzy held close to her side.  Its dress was tattered and her wooden legs had seen better days.  It was the only thing she’d taken from their meager home. 

            “Were going to, Trey’s.” 

            “But…”

            “Not now, Izzy, “she said, sternly. 

            After a few miles, they turned off the dirt road into a field.  The silent night was deceiving; they were far from safe. 

            Izzy stumbled over a pumpkin and cried out. 

            “Its okay, Izzy.”  She quickly pulled her sister up.  “Were almost there.”

            When Jory saw the old farm house come into sight, she silently thanked God.  They quickly made their way up the wooden porch.  She only hesitated a minute before knocking. 

            Several minutes later, the door opened.

            Trey’s eyes met hers.  She didn’t have to say anything.  The bruises on her face spoke loudly. 

            “Izzy, why don’t you go in while Trey and I talk for a minute?”

            Trey softly closed the door, and wrapped his arms around her, gently kissing the top of her head.    

            “You’re safe now, Jory.  I’ll never let him hurt you, again.  I promise.”

Kym -- Thanks for the story.  I liked it.  You used some of the required things in unusual ways (like the doll legs).

Meredith stepped out into the cool October night. The wind whistled through the trees, briefly, as she tugged her sweater tighter. Then it was quiet...blissful quiet. She closed her eyes and smiled. It felt like ages since she'd had a silent night like this. She settled herself on the front steps, across from the family pumpkins and the propped up sign her children had painstakingly prepared that read: "Very sinsere." She gazed out at the twinkling stars, at peace. The night sky never failed to make her feel small, safe and comforted by God's love and majesty. It was breathtaking.

She didn't stir as the door behind her opened. Her husband, Matt, pushed aside their son's pirate hat and wooden leg and sat down behind her.  Meredith leaned back.

"They're asleep," Matt said, twirling a lock of her hair gently.

"I wish I knew how you managed that," Meredith said. "I could use some of that magic during the day, you know."

"Just a father's touch," Matt grinned. "You do wonderfully during the day or it wouldn't go so smoothly at night."

"You're a good man, Matt," Meredith said. "Let's see now - the kids are asleep, the night is young and we are nearly alone." She couldn't even say it without beaming.

"Nearly?" Matt asked.

Meredith guided his hand to rest on her stomach. "Ready to be outnumbered? Say, for Father's Day?"

Matt laughed, delighted. "Oh, Meri, we are blessed," he said, kissing her. "Yes, I am ready."

This is so much fun reading everyone's entries and seeing how creatively each of the elements are used. I'm so glad I'm not Janet. :)

...for fear of messing up my imagination. Nice job, everyone! I'm having fun reading!

Here's my entry:

Pumpkin Patch Promise

It was the pumpkin’s fault. All Tory needed was a pumpkin for the church’s fall festival.

Peter Pirate’s Pumpkin Patch was overrun with squealing kindergartners. The decibel level had to be past the legal limit. Tory covered her ears, but it didn’t help. And it didn’t get her any closer to the perfect pumpkin.

Suddenly, Tory spotted just the one. As she headed for it, a tow-headed boy tripped a red-haired girl, who landed in the middle of the
pumpkin, squashing it.

“No!”

“Trouble, Tory?”

Peter looked dashing in full pirate regalia, half of his trousers tucked into a wooden leg instead of his usual prosthetic. Adding the pirate idea to the farm after his return from Afghanistan had been a stroke of genius.

“Those kids squished the pumpkin I wanted for the fall festival.”

His hazel eyes radiated sympathy and something else: love.

“Can you stay awhile?”

Tory nodded.

After roasting marshmallows, the kids boarded the bus with their prizes. Only the cracking of the bonfire disturbed the silent night.

Peter led Tory to the barn. On a pile of hay sat the perfect pumpkin.

“I saved it for you. I wasn’t going to tell you in case you found something better…”

“I haven’t found anything better…or anyone.”

Peter pulled Tory into his arms. “That’s answered prayer.”

Their lips met in a tender kiss.

“God answered mine, too. Not only did you save me the perfect pumpkin…”

Peter grinned. “I saved you me.”

It was all the pumpkin’s fault.

     Macy jumped as the knock tore through the silent night. Who could that be? Not a single customer had visited her shop all day. Even her own mother had attended the town’s Harvest Festival.

     Macy had been so disappointed, she’d finally closed early. She’d had such high hopes that business would finally pick up.       

     She hurried through the dark, yelping as she banged her knee on the wooden leg of a chair.    

     Macy peeked out the front window and frowned. She swung the door open. “Gabe, what are you doing here? I thought you were running the pumpkin patch for the church.”    

     She wasn’t surprised that he jammed his hands in his pockets and took his time answering. Gabe Reynolds was the shyest man in town. So even though he made her heart beat faster, she wasn’t ever expecting him to ask her out. He seemed pretty content for them to just be friends. She prayed about the situation all the time and had finally decided to leave it up to God.

     Gabe cleared his throat. “I saved a pumpkin for you.”

     She wrinkled her nose. “Why? You know I can’t bake, so don’t be thinking you’ll get a pie.”

     He grinned, a dimple flashing in one tanned cheek. “Could I have a kiss instead?”

     “What?” she gasped.

     He stepped aside to reveal the pumpkin on the ground behind him. A flickering candle inside the pumpkin illuminated the words he’d carved.

     I Love U!

A howl pierced the silent night. Abigail clutched her cape, her basket tight at her breast.

"Don't worry, Abby." She comforted herself, leaves crunching underfoot. "Tis only the wind."

Quickening pace toward Penn Manor, she steadied the crock of pumpkin soup. Tendrils of fog twisted between naked trees.

"Beware of ghost pirates in the woods!" Goody Comstock cackled in memory. "It's All Hallows Eve, after all."

Haunted forest or not, her Christian duty as Apothecary's daughter was to see after Mason Penn's injury. Villagers whispered that the landowner's son bewitched her, and mayhap ‘twas true. Perhaps he had, with his raven hair and brooding eyes. Her heart stuttered.

This is a fool's errand. She pushed a branch to view Penn's stone house beyond the shadowy bridge. Once across she'd deliver the soup, her errand complete. She stepped to the entrance.

Howls shredded the icy air.

A ghoul, come to strike? Her pulse raced, rabbit-fast. A ghostly wooden-legged pirate, bent on destruction?

A hollow thunk sounded. Then another.

"Abigail..." The voice beckoned.

She stood fast, focused on the gaping entrance.

Mason emerged, cane in hand. It thocked against the floorboards, his hunting dog whined alongside. Maple-brown
eyes, hazy with pain, met and locked with hers.

"Sweet mercy!" Abigail crossed herself.

"You came." He limped closer, his muscular arm wrapped around her waist.

"You're...better." Relief flooded.

"Wounds heal." His warm lips pressed to hers, kiss thrumming her soul.

"Do they?"

He nodded."My heart's another matter-unless you promise to marry me, Abigail."

------------------

My first time participating in one of these! What fun! I'm enjoying all the entries...

Happy Harvest time!

~Ashley

www.ashleyludwig.com  |  @wiremamma  |   www.mamawriters.com

All or Nothing - Historical, Inspirational Romance - 5 books at LASR
A widow finds love...
A soldier seeks redemption...
And a murderous bandit, who could destroy them both.

By Another Name - Contemporary, Inspirational Romance
"Need to read" from You Gotta Read Reviews

I'm really enjoying reading all the entries!! 

I love what everyone is writing!

I've had so much fun reading all of these. Lots of talent in this group! great prompts, too! Word economy w/ a 250 word tale can be a great way to edit oneself. 

 ~Ashley

Someone pointed out that Thursday is the 15th, not the 16th. I went with dates Janet gave me, but I know she intended for the contest to run through midnight tonight, with a winner announced tomorrow. (If I'm wrong, Janet, correct me.) So I changed the dates in the header, but the days are the same. Hope that doesn't cause confusion for anyone.

Dream

Ladies -- I am very impressed!  You have all done very well with the challenge.  Here are some of the things I particularly liked about each of the entries (in the order they were written):

'Trust in Love' by Ila -- Good description.  You gave us the whole thing -- a conflict, a black moment, and a happily ever after.  You really packed a full story into your 250 words. Good job.

"First Halloween Kiss' by Rhyanna -- I loved the time travel.  It was too big a story to squeeze into the 250 words but I'm glad you intend to keep going with it.  It shows promise.

'Mystery Clues' by Rhyanna -- Again, this was a great scene.  It made me smile.

'Hiding in the Pumpkin Patch' by Lorraine -- You did a great job of setting up the atmosphere.

'Trey's Promise' by Kym -- A touching story.  I liked how you built the scene -- not telling us about the bruises until the end.

'Outnumbered' by Sydwi - You gave us a very nice scene.  I could almost feel what it was like to sit on that porch.

'Pumpkin Patch Promise' by Hope -- I liked your characters and enjoyed the pirate touch.  I especially liked your final 'it was the pumpkin's fault.'

Pumpkin Surprise by Amy -- Yours was very sweet.  I liked that he carved 'I Love U' in the pumpkin.

Untitled by Ashley -- You really gave us an excellent historical feel.  Your description was vivid.  You had strong action words and great character names.  Overall, good work.

Untitled by Niki -- I enjoyed your entry.  You have some very good word choices -- like 'twisted tendrils.' Very promising.

The job of picking a winner from all of these excellent entries was not easy.  I eventually chose Ila as the winner. I will send her the $25 gift certificate.  However, you all did such great jobs, I would like to send you each a free book (you too Ila).  Email me at my website www.janettronstad.com and give me your full name and address (and also the name you used here) -- then let me know if you'd like my latest contemporary 'Silent Night in Dry Creek' or my upcoming historical 'Mistletoe Courtship' (which includes a novella by me and one by Sara Mitchell). I feel honored and priviledged to have read your work. Thank you for meeting the challenge.  Now, let's hear the trumpets and watch the confetti fall as we congratulate Ila!!!

Congratuations, Ila! I really didn't think I could top your story, but I had to write one, anyway. It was touching and special. You have a real gift. Keep up the good work!

Thank you for offering each of us a book, Janet! I really appreciate that! I'll send an e-mail shortly, DV. Thank you also for the comments on my story! I noticed the same things about everyones' stories that you did, especially that lovely "twisted tendrils." I thought all the entries were wonderful, and I know I found it a real challenge to keep it to 250 words. (In fact, it ran about 285, and I cut, but it's always easier to cut than to pad a story.)

Happy Harvest, everyone!

Your story had that little something extra and I can certainly agree with Janet.  An admirable win!

Keep up the good work.

Congratulations, lla, and to everyone else.  You all did an awesome job. I’m excited to receive a copy of Janet’s, book.  Loved her story in, Small-Town Brides…loved Clay!  Thanks Janet for taking the time to allow us to enter this fun contest and for your generosity in offering us a copy of one of your books. 

Blessing everyone.

Kym

Congrats to you Illa...

I hope they do this writing challenge again, as its stirred a few creative juices.

rhyanna

i'm not an aspiring author in any form or fashion but I love reading the entries in these kinds of contests. There were some really good ones here. Congrats Ila on winning!

Janet, hope you're feeling much much better!  And I LOVE checking th mailbox for things other than bills, so no problem :)