Susanna Leonard Hill's 8th Annual Holiday Contest

I didn't think I'd have an entry for the contest this year. Then an idea finally came to me. I keep editing little parts of it. Hopefully it will be fully completed by the time judging comes around.

The rules are it has to be about some sort of a Holiday Hero and must be 250 words or less. My entry comes in at 216 words. I hope you enjoy it.

The Hero Every Baker Deserves
216 words

Kara sat on her bed reading her favorite magazine Superhero Digest when a bitter sweet smell caught her nose.

“That smell…I know that smell.”

I wide-eyed look came over Kara’s face when she realized what the smell was.

“Oh no! Not this year too!” She exclaimed and bolted into her closet.

There was a bright plaid flash and the smell of fresh baked cookies filled the room. After a few seconds she emerged as the superhero Bain-Marie, savior of baked goods everywhere.

She flew out of her bedroom and down the stairs into the kitchen.

She grasped the oven door and flung it open.

With her super protective oven mitt like hands, she grabbed the tray of cookies and pulled them from the oven.

“Phew!” She exclaimed. “Got them out just in time. We can’t give Santa burnt cookies two years in a row.”

She placed the cookies on the counter to cool.

She picked up a cookie and started to take a bite when the smell of the ocean filled her nose.

“Someone has used salt instead of sugar in their cookies. No time to eat, there are more Santa cookies to be saved!”

She set the cookie down and flew off to the next house to save another batch of cookies from certain doom.

Check out the other great entries here.

Happy Holidays!

Halloweensie Contest 2018 Edition

It's the time of year when the smell of pumpkin spice fills the air and Susuanna Leonard Hill unleashes her Halloweensie contest to the world. The rules for this year's contest are as follows: story is limited to 100 words and must include the words shiver, cauldron, and howl. My entry comes in at exactly 100 words. I hope you enjoy it.

Full Moon Stew

(100 words)

Spencer shivered in the cauldron’s cold water surrounded by vegetables shaped like toys.

The witch drooled and lit the fire.

Finally, a nice warm bath. It had been awhile since Spencer had one.

He played with a potato shaped like a boat.

“Oh no! Not now!” he shouted as a full moon revealed itself through the window.

Hair sprouted all over his body. His nails grew long and a muzzle formed on his face.

“Awoooo!” he howled.

“You’ve ruined my meal and broke my cauldron,” the witch screamed.

Spencer looked at the mess and asked, “Want to get some porridge?”

Check out the other great Halloweensie entries here.

Happy Halloween everyone!

#50PreciousWords 2018 Writing Challenge

In honor of Theodore Geisel's birthday, better known as Dr. Seuss, Vivian Kirkfield has brought back her 50 Precious Words Writing Challenge. The challenge is to write a complete story in 50 words or less. More information and the other entries here. The inspiration for my entry came from my son taking a bubble bath. I hope you enjoy it.

Bubbles

41 Words

The animals at the zoo were ready for their bath.

The shiny cotton candy scented bubbles made them laugh.

Out of bubble bath the animals let out a collective groan.

Mortimer the bear sprang into action making bubbles of his own.

2018 Valentiny Contest

It's time for the 3rd annual Susanna Leonard Hill Valentiny Writing Contest. The rules this time are a story that is 214 words in length in which someone must be hopeful. My entry comes in at exactly 214 words. I'm hopeful that you enjoy it.

A Squirrelly Valentine
(214 words)

“Did you see that?” asked Chipper.

“See what?” responded Twiggy.

“Bobby left his Valentine on the bench. We need to get it to him somehow before he gets to school.”

“How can we do that? We’re just squirrels.”

“If we take the squirrel superhighway, we should beat him to school.”

“Sounds great. Let’s go!”

They grabbed the Valentine, scurried up a tree, and leapt branch to branch high above the ground.

The traffic was bad. But they beat Bobby to the school.

“How do we get it back to him?” asked Twiggy.

“I have an idea,” responded Chipper. “You run in circles around his legs. While he’s stopped, I’ll drop it into his backpack from above.”

“I love running in circles!”

“Great. Let’s hope this works.”

Twiggy circled Bobby. Chipper took aim and dropped the valentine. A gust of wind blew it off course.

Twiggy stopped circling. Chipper joined him on the ground. Puzzled, Bobby continued into the school.

“We tried,” sighed Chipper.

“I hope someone isn’t too disappointed,” said Twiggy.

Chipper looked at the Valentine and exclaimed, “Hey, its’ addressed to us.”

Chipper opened the Valentine and read it, “You guys are nuts. Happy Valentine’s Day! Love, Bobby.”

“I think I’m going to cry,” sniffled Twiggy.

“I’ll get you a tissue,” replied Chipper.

Check out the other great entries at Susanna's blog: https://susannahill.com/blog/

Susanna Leonard Hill's 7th Annual Holiday Contest!!!

My brain had just barely returned to normal after the Halloweensie contest when the 7th Annual Holiday Contest was announced. I began brainstorming idea's and came up with nothing. After several glasses of eggnog and brandy, I came up with this story which is loosely based on actual events. I hope you enjoy it.

Santa in the Side Pocket245 words

Ah…Christmas Eve. The longest day in any present-loving kid’s life. One more obstacle to hurdle before Santa arrives with gifts.

My family went to my uncle’s house for Christmas Eve. The evening consisted of playing with cousins, dinner and the highlight of the evening: opening a few gifts.

I was greeted by the usual kaleidoscope of M & M’s. I grabbed a large handful and walked into the living room where I discovered a new piece of furniture… a pool table.

My cousins and I played pool all night long. I had so much fun that I wished I asked Santa for a pool table instead of LEGOs.

On the drive home, a bright streak in the sky caught my eye. SANTA!

“Can you bring me a pool table please, Santa?”

“I don’t think Santa will have time to fly all the way back up to the North Pole to get you a pool table, honey,” my mom responded.

I went to bed a little disheartened.

The morning sun hit my face and I sprang into gift opening mode.

I rounded the corner into the living room and…

KABLAMEY!

I ran smack into a kid-sized pool table.

“Thanks Santa!” I shouted. I unwrapped my other gifts so quickly that I had no idea what I received.

I played pool all day long until it was time for bed.

The next day, I woke up and played with LEGOs. I never touched the pool table again.

Thanks for reading. Check out the other great entries here.

Happy Holidays!

Vivian Kirkfield's Perfect Picture Book Friday

I'm honored to have The Bath of Least Resistance featured on Vivian Kirkfields Perfect Picture Book Friday. I'm so honored that I'm giving away a copy. Just leave a comment on her blog to be eligible to win.

And the winner's are....

Congratulations to the winner's in Susanna Leonard Hill's Halloweensie Contest! My story wasn't one of the top 15. But I did get an honorable mention for Great Kid Appeal. The results are posted here.