Monday 8 December 2014

A Poem a Day (59): Footsteps

A five-minute poem for you... 


Footsteps

it’s the footsteps that remind me
walking 
in the snow
ever falling in dancing clusters

it makes me think
remember, recount
the numerous events
ending in this day

where the ocean roars
carrying me ever forward
I can begin again
just here

in this endless drift
of petals swimming
towards a darkening
only I can see

and so I exist
where these footsteps tell me
I am walking backwards 
into my past

copyright Vickie Johnstone

Sunday 30 November 2014

MKSP party with prizes - I'm hosting Monday - #99c sale

There's a big book party going on right now with fun, games and prizes - it's all part of the MKSP Black Friday/ Cyber Monday event with games, books, bargains, things to win and authors chatting. I'd like to thank the amazing Kim for organising it and letting me join in. 

I'm hosting on Monday with the awesome Leland Hermit, who writes fantastic books starring dogs, on Monday at 1pm PST/ 2pm MST/ 3pm CST/ 4pm EST/ 9pm GMT. Yep, I'll be the one in my pyjamas! I've reviewed one of his books on my review page.

Here's the link - there are authors hosting hour-long sessions, offering prizes and playing games until Monday fades - https://www.facebook.com/events/735998423151432/

During the event, I have these ebooks on sale for ‪#‎99c‬ / 75p
I Dream of Zombies
3 Heads & a Tail
Kiwi in Cat City
The Sea Inside 

See you there!
Have a gorgeous weekend,
Vickie

Monday 17 November 2014

#WinterZombie2014 blog tour: meet John O'Brien


The stench of frozen rotted meat is in the air! Welcome to the Winter of Zombie Blog Tour 2014, with 10 of the best zombie authors spreading the disease in the month of November! I love zombie stuff (shivers) and I'm proud to be hosting today!


Stop by the event page on Facebook, so you don’t miss an interview, guest post or teaser…  and pick up some great swag as well! Giveaways galore from most of the authors, as well as interaction with them! #WinterZombie2014



SPOTLIGHT ON: John O’Brien




Why zombies, John?

While the creatures in the series aren’t technically zombies, they add a new dimension to survival in a post-apocalyptic world. If not for the added danger, most PA stories would be about agriculture and occasional encounters with marauders or other groups. There is just something about their relentless nature that prevents any feeling of ever being truly safe.

What is your latest zombie release?

A New World: Storm.

Can you give a quick description of it?

A vengeful darkness…
Gathers in the night…
One threat has been destroyed - another grows stronger. Even though Jack and the teams have won a major confrontation, their lives still hang by a thread. There are decisions to be made, and ones that have never been more critical.
Leonard continues to try to keep his crew together after being hit by another soul-shattering blow. They’ve only recently become aware of this new world, and it doesn’t seem to be letting up anytime soon as they silently plunge through the Pacific, looking for answers Leonard knows they may never find.
Michael knows he can no longer stand idle and wait as he feels thousands of his kind disappear from his mind night after night. The weight of the survival of his kind weighs heavily on his shoulders and he pushes forward to end the threats to their existence.
The new world must find its balance…
And the scales are about to tip…



Click the links below to find out more!




More about John O'Brien


John O'Brien is a former Air Force fighter instructor pilot who transitioned to Special Operations for the latter part of his career, gathering his campaign ribbon for Desert Storm. Immediately following his military service, John became a firefighter/EMT with a local department. He also fell into the Information Technology industry in corporate management. Currently, John is writing full-time on the series A New World.

A former marathon runner, John lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest and can now be found kayaking out in the waters of Puget Sound, mountain biking in the Capital Forest, hiking in the Olympic Peninsula, or pedalling his road bike along the many scenic roads.

*   *   *   *   *

Good luck John with your book!

Readers - cheers and I hope you enjoy the rest of the zombie tour!!

AND so you don’t miss any of the posts in November, 

here’s the complete list, updated daily:




Saturday 8 November 2014

Kiwi in Cat City: on sale for #99c / 75p

Happy Saturday!! The weekend didn't come soon enough :)

One of my ebooks, Kiwi in Cat City, is on sale at the moment for 
#99c or 75p... purrs...



Kiwi in Cat City is the tale of a magical cat and her friends. This 6-book series is full of furry fun for ages 9-99. It has 38 4/5-star reviews and book 4 was a finalist in the Indie Excellence Book Awards 2013. 

"I love this book. I bought it this morning and just finished it. I couldn't put it down! I recommend this book to all readers who love a good crime/mystery, and if they love cats." (Katharine Robey/Amazon)


Amazon US: http://ow.ly/kSQYy
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/15Nxfsv
Book trailer: http://youtu.be/CLjmVgNJcLM
Zazzle gift shop: http://www.zazzle.co.uk/kiwiincatcity

Tuesday 14 October 2014

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop - Oct 15-31 - win books!



Hi, I'm excited to be involved in the SPOOKTACULAR Giveaway Hop, hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writer (www.iamareader.com). The hop is running from October 15-21, and there are so many blogs involved that you could gather an awesome armful of books!

I'm giving away paperback copies of my fantasy novel The Sea Inside to 2 winners, and an ebook copy of Kiwi and the Living Nightmare to 10 runners-up :) Good luck!



The Sea Inside
Book 1 in the Cerulean Songs series

"A young woman is struggling to adjust to life after a spinal cord injury when she is given a gift by a mysterious older woman. Rather than merely help Jayne adjust to her new reality, this gifts offers the potential of a completely alternate existence. Jayne finds her true love only to be dealt another cruel blow by fate. In her journey to get back her new life she must face the biggest hurdles any of us can – our own fears and doubts. The Sea Inside is a young adult fantasy adventure that, like the Kiwi series, takes the reader on a visit to a fantastic realm." (Review, Amazon)






Kiwi and the Living Nightmare
Book 3 in the Kiwi Series

Amy, James and Kiwi embark on their spookiest adventure yet – on Halloween. What begins with an eerie dream about a three-legged cat will take the budding detectives on a quest to find an old house in the middle of the woods, meeting some perky squirrels along the way. Little do they know that there awaits an angry, restless ghost that will do anything to stop them leaving. Meanwhile, Inspector Furrball and Siam discover the human world, and that Ames and Jimster are not what they seem. 

"Living Nightmare has just the right amount of scary bits along with humour to make it a very enjoyable read for kids of all ages." (Review, Amazon)

For a chance to win, just do the Rafflecopter. Good luck! 
Click on the links at the end to hop to the other blogs offering fantastic prizes :)
 

Sunday 14 September 2014

Cover reveal: The Snake Pit: Jr High Can be Torture

Hi, today I'm introducing the new cover and relaunch of a friend's book. Donna Dillon has recently 
been signed up by Master Koda Select Publishing and this is the new cover of her novel, 
The Snake Pit: Jr High Can be Torture.


Donna believes it's an important book because of its content and subject matter. It's something students and teachers may find particularly interesting. Donna feels passionately about preventing bullying in school and this is a theme of the book.  

Donna published her first book in October 2010. When Master Koda Select Publishing approached her with a publishing contract, she seized the opportunity.

About Donna

I am the author of five and 1/4 books thus far. I have been writing in the young adult genre with The Snake Pit and Return to the Snake Pit, which both deal with bullying in the public schools, and in the children's genre with Why Did It Have to Rain Today? and My Special Christmas Child. My new book is a leap into the thriller/suspense genre, so I'm anxious to finish and see how that goes. 

Quick Q&A

Q: What led you to publish your work with MKSP? 
Donna: I can write, but I suck at marketing. Kim and her team had some definite ideas about how we could get The Snake Pit books moving. It was a no-brainer for me.

Q: Why did you write this book?
Donna: Cinda, the character in the book, was born with a cleft palate and so was I. The things that happen in the book are fiction, but how she felt was exactly how I felt growing up. Being bullied for something you can't possibly help or change is horrible. I chose to turn it into something positive, but many bullied children do not. I'm 47 years old now. I can still hear the bullies' voices in my head. But, the thing I remember the most - the thing that bothers me the most - is the silence from those who just stood by and let it happen, and did nothing to stop it. That is why I wrote this book.

3 fun facts about Donna

1. I can ride a unicycle.
2. I can't breathe through my nose and I've never had a sense of smell. I can taste though, but don't ask me why - it's a mystery.
3. When I was 22, I was flown out to Hollywood and made a make-up commercial for Victoria Jackson cosmetics, which you can still catch on TV late at night. I also met Johnny Depp and had my picture taken with Heavy D on that same trip.
Whoa, Donna!!! You met Johnny.... I am green!!! 


About The Snake Pit: Jr. High can be Torture 

Cinda doesn't look like other twelve-year-old girls. A facial defect and corrective surgery has left her looking scarred and disfigured. When she walks into Hargrove Junior High for the first time, Cinda knows the other kids won't see how smart she is or what a good friend she could be; the other kids will see her as a monster and her life will be torture.

The school cafeteria, or The Snake Pit, as the kids call it, is the prime location for bullying. One pretty girl in particular takes an instant dislike to Cinda. Day after day, she is pushed, tripped and laughed at. Not all the other kids bully her, but only one tries to help.

Charlene Carsten is Cinda's only friend. She tries to stop the bullying, but the other kids will not listen. She tries to tell the Principal, but he only sees what he wants to. She tries to tell the teachers, but they all say the same thing - “Kids will be kids.”

When Cinda falls victim to a vicious prank at a school dance, it sets off a series of events that will change the lives of everyone involved.

Links


Tuesday 12 August 2014

A Poem a Day (58): In the time that we were thus

If we dance here a while in waiting
Remembrance may come a-baiting
I’ll trace a line in this fallen snow
Tie a pink ribbon into the neatest bow
Wrap my fingers in and simply twist
As the begging bough begins to list

I remember this
In the time that we were thus

In the making I am one
Of this memory I am done
Do you falter between walking
Blissfully ignore me while I’m talking?
I wish upon a single scented rose
Though mentioning it I suppose

You might remember this
In the time that we were thus

A cloud of passion in the air
Dare to ever stop and stare
As I post you the cheekiest smile?
Ever stop to wonder a while
How I am ever almost so near?
Is it intimacy you most fear?

Will I always remember this
In the time that we were thus?

Are you slowly cottoning on
Or should I say I am finally done
With love, this idle stupid thing?
Of sanity I can never hope to win
In an endless search for perfection
Amidst this moral dereliction

May you remember this
In the time that we were thus

So I shall go on my idle way
Without a hint of I might stay
Yet I fathom not a blink from you
Though I never doubted you true
Tomorrow stretches out its hand
And upon my two feet I shall land

I may not always remember this
In the time that we were thus

copyright Vickie Johnstone, August 12, 2014.


Sunday 10 August 2014

#99c / 75p #kindle sale!

Hi, four of my books are going cheap at the moment and two are forever free. Here are the links. :) Cheers.

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vickie-Johnstone/e/B004SZ9TGE
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Vickie-Johnstone/e/B004SZ9TGE


Sunday 22 June 2014

A Poem a Day (57): She steps in time

Ahhh, I got a shock today when I realised it has been a month almost since I last wrote something. I've been working full-time this year, and coming home from work and flopping in front of the TV, feeling like an extra from Dawn of the Dead. Ah, this must end, and I must start switching off the TV and writing. So, sending you all inspirational bits and bobs, and bobbettes, and thoughts of creativity... switch off the TV and switch on to your hobby and passion in life, whatever that may be. Here's a poem I just wrote.

She steps in time

She steps out in time
To a summer rhyme
Spilling silken sounds
Forever kept at bay

Little secret smiles
Spiky dances of a child
Like a spinning top
These things beguile

Walking brisk in time
To the Showman’s whip
Obedient, we never slip
Or cause the slightest rift

Hear the sinking swim
The glowing neon drips
Bending curves of light
Glittering in my sight

In wrapt delight, I bathe
Beneath this August sun ­-
I’m wishing on the wings
Of an arching blackbird

Copyright Vickie Johnstone, June 22, 2014


Wednesday 28 May 2014

#WW Wow Wednesday: Sherrill Willis

Hi guys and girls! Yep, it's that day of the week again. Welcome to WOW Wednesday
My guest today is Sherrill Willis, author of Ruby Lake
Read on to find out more about Sherrill and her writing...



All about Sherrill

I am the author of Ruby Lake, A Wedding in Ruby Lake and Stay a While in Ruby Lake. I started reading when I was three and my parents encouraged me to start writing soon after. I wrote my first poem at age five (about a tree, I believe) and this has been my passion for my entire life. Writing is what keeps me sane and, hopefully, connects me to others. I’ve always felt we are all connected, whether through experiences, blood or community. With my writing, my ultimate hope is to transcend barriers and reach out to those I might otherwise never meet (being able to afford all the cheese I want is on my list of wants as well).

I’m always writing in my head. There are days I don’t get a word done on the manuscript and other days it just flows like a winding river, picking up its own pace as I keep writing. No matter what your passion is do it. Don't listen to the critics and naysayers – believe in , despite what others say you cannot do. Truly, the best revenge isn’t just living well; sometimes it’s also being able to smile triumphantly at those who tried to hold you back.

All about Ruby Lake

Sydney Myers has been through several failed relationships in the past year, in addition to several other traumas, and is now giving up on finding her knight in dented armour. When her boss sends her to Ruby Lake - a small, rural town in northern Wisconsin - the last thing she is looking for is love at first sight, not to mention a place in the world where she finally fits in. Add her city-savvy best friend, a jealous ex-girlfriend, a famous father and a coffee shop of off-the wall characters, and it becomes more challenging for Sydney to manage than a spinning-plate competition.

When disaster strikes close to home, Sydney is left with the unbearable choice of her family or the life she has always dreamed of. Come with Sydney on her journey, and laugh, cry and rediscover why some choices are not really choices at all - they are simply fate.

Excerpt:

“Really? What were you doing about twenty minutes ago? And don’t tell me you were thinking; I know what your ‘thinking’ face is. Besides, we’re leaving Saturday, and we are staying at the hotel until then, so it’s not like I am going to get a chance at him anyway. I was just commenting on how cute he is.” Illana folded her arms over her chest and stuck her chin out at Sydney. “At least I’m honest about it, unlike some people.”

“What do you want me to say?” Sydney threw her arms up in frustration. “Yes, I think Zeke is hot, like burn-me-at-the-stake kind of hot. The man brought me a perfect cup of coffee while I was sleeping. Who does that? I almost spilled my coffee this afternoon when Betty told me he called her to find out how I like my coffee. So, yeah, I want him. How could I not? I mean, the only thing that would make him sexier is a gold-hoop earring! My heart does jumping jacks whenever he walks into the room.” At Illana’s wide-eyed look, Sydney said, “And he’s standing right behind me, isn’t he?”

“Yeah, but don’t stop now, especially if you’re going to do jumping jacks,” Zeke said, leaning against the door jam and wearing a very satisfied grin.

Links


 Sherrill's dream cast

Sydney Myers (Greyson)
Jennifer Lawrence. She’s adorable and so is Syd – she would pull off the klutzy, but loveable character to a T!
Zeke Greyson
Chris Hemsworth, because I’m a dreamer and want to hear him say, “I’m so glad I get to keep her.”
Illana Garet (Greyson)
Oh man, Selma Hayek – a younger version with less of an accent. I’d love to hear her say, “I never date men prettier than I am.”
Alex Greyson 
Bradley Cooper, but he’d have to dye his hair brown – oh, but those eyes are ALL Alex!


Thanks for reading!
Look out for next week's guest!

Tuesday 20 May 2014

Finalist in the Indie Excellence Awards 2014! Yay!!

I'm so excited today and super chuffed. My horror novel, I Dream of Zombies was a finalist today in the National Indie Excellence Book Awards. Last year, my children's book, Kiwi and the Serpent of the Isle, made it. I went to work today on cloud nine. It's so great when someone turns around and tells you your book isn't rubbish!

A big thank you to my beta readers, Penny, Stewart and Ally for their constructive advice on this book. Beta readers are invaluable, as I discovered when I got to my 13th book. If only I'd realised earlier!! :))

Happy Tuesday folks! Hope all is well and dandy in your neck of the woods. Apologies as I've written absolutely nothing for weeks. I have a full-time job and have been socialising more!! Yep, that's my excuse! I'm also working on book 2 to I Dream of Zombies and hope to publish it this weekend. Some time. Fingers crossed! xx


Tuesday 29 April 2014

Win one of my books in the Fairy Tale Fortnight Hop


Hi!!! Happy Tuesday to you and boo to the Tube strike, although I sympathise with the cause...

Big thanks to The Book Rat for hosting me today as part of the Fairy Tale Fortnight Hop (April 20 - May 3).

There were some fun questions for me to answer and I wrote a new ending for a story that made me bawl as a kid - which story made you cry buckets? You'll have to hop to the blog below to find out mine.


There's a competition too where you can win a paperback copy of The Sea Inside fantasy (2 runners-up will win ebooks). Awesome 3 Bears furry thanks to Misty for organising this :)

This is my post - http://www.thebookrat.com/2014/04/interview-giveaway-with-vickie.html

Check out her blog for the rest of the hop. Tour schedule: http://www.thebookrat.com/2014/04/fairy-tale-fortnight-welcome-schedule.html

Hope you enjoy and find some cool new authors. :)

Cheers! Happy reading and writing :) 

Sunday 27 April 2014

A Poem a Day (56): The house



This one is for Leland Hermit, who writes books starring dogs. 
His novels are great and include Angelo's Journey, which I reviewed (see the review page). 
Anyway, I asked him for a pic or a word prompt and this is what he came up with. 
Here is his photo (of his doggie, of course) and here is the poem I wrote for it.
Happy Sunday to you :)



The house

In the distance it endures
Still as the aching breeze
Shaded by the magnificence 
Of the towering mountainside

He takes but one hesitant step
Then stops to sniff this chill air
As the dawn sun strokes his fur
Filling his eyes with gold specks

As he pants, his mood lightens
For there lies the end of the road
The haven forever calling him
To follow safely its distant echo

A wooden house in hues of blue 
Twisting smoke from a single chimney
Where the man will always reside
Ever awaiting his dear friend’s return

copyright Vickie Johnstone


Saturday 26 April 2014

A Poem a Day (55): Dreamscape

This one's for Leland Hermit, who just told me to "pick up that PENtameter and write" when I said I wasn't feeling lyrical. So, here's the first thing that sprung to mind - some 10-minute free verse. What's it about? It's up to you :) Happy Saturday! May it be treating you well. Happy bunnies and all that.


Dreamscape

It twists
Where morning rises
Watching, barefoot
In the mind’s eye glaring
Between close spaces
A twitch
A sigh
A burrowing down deep
Where the raven cries
A sharp shrill
Breaking silence
So sad it ceases to sigh

Fulfilled anew it dances
In the shallow light of eyes
Twisting
Unable to break
Beneath the moon’s rinse -
A pure silvery light
Unshaded by the night sky
So soon to distil itself
Into a dreamscape
Snaking round sleeping souls
They drift

In drifting they wake the world
To rebegin again
In the echo of their dreams
Such a muse despairs
No longer
Twisting, it aches
It breaks to breathe anew
Where past patterns fixed

The raven takes flight
His heavy wings pumping air
Like a swimmer’s limbs
The somnambulant express
He tips, soaring
Way above the sleeping heads
And floating dreams, soundless
Snaking
It twists,
Forever twisting.

copyright Vickie Johnstone

Wednesday 9 April 2014

#WW Wow Wednesday: Stephanie Myers

Hi guys and girls! Yep, it's that day of the week again. Welcome to WOW Wednesday
My guest today is Stephanie Myers, author of the paranormal YA novel Dark Revelation
Read on to find out more about Stephanie and her writing...


All about Stephanie

I am an author. It’s what I do. It’s what I want to do. It’s not the only thing I do, but it’s what I want to be when I grow up!

Stephanie was born in San Antonio, Texas, and spent most of her youth in Germany. She then joined the military and travelled the world... somewhat. She lived in Japan, spent time in India and currently resides in Sacramento, California. She is surrounded by her close friends, family and animals. She lives with her oldest daughter (Illeana), youngest daughter (Kathryn), Punky and Snoopy (their Chorkies) and a cat (Miss Kitty). She misses her son, Gavin, terribly. He currently lives in Georgia.

Stephanie has written for many years. She started writing songs at the age of ten. Her writing progressed into short stories, poetry, screenplays and, more recently, her novel Dark RevelationWhile Dark Revelation is of the YA genre, her other WIPs (works in progress) are more adult in nature – but no, not that kind of adult.

Stick around, read her blog, follow her on twitter and, most of all, read her books!
She is currently working on the second book in the Dark Revelation series.

Reviews
Currently, 45 on Amazon.com, ranking 4.1 out of 5 stars

Spellbinding 
“This book had me hooked in the first chapter, wondering just what was so special about Ryleigh. As it turned out there was no way on earth I could have guessed how complicated things were for her. As her story unfolds, surprising twists and turns take the reader through a maze of exciting discoveries about the secret world of Ryleigh’s family. Both the good side and the bad side. The details of Ryleigh’s powers and how she learns to control them were vividly described. Plenty of suspense and some very original characters make this a fun book to read. I was especially taken with the author’s take on the Fae, family histories and magical energies of these characters. It’s vastly different and I think more compelling than many of the paranormal thrillers I have read before. I look forward to the next book in this series. I was thoroughly entertained by this one. The story is fast paced, original and suspenseful. I don’t often read this genre, but after reading this I may sample more.”
AE Drury, ‘Ed Drury’

 “I loved this book. I love how it was written and the entire story. I could hardly put it down.”
Ashley

“This is really good. I love it! It is such a good book, I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.”
Struwberry13

Links



Thanks for reading!
Look out for next week's guest!


Friday 4 April 2014

New release: Far Away In Time by Maria Savva

Hi guys! Today I'm pleased to welcome Maria Savva and announce the release of her new collection of short stories, Far Away In Time. Read on to find out more about Maria and her book, and you can check out the trailer too, which, I have to say, got me hooked! :) 


Eight unforgettable tales reaching out to a place Far Away In Time...

Our lives are a series of stories, and we are the characters with the starring roles. The memories, regrets, secrets and struggles that fill these pages are at once unique and relatable. These stories belong to us all.

Universal book link: getBook.at/FarAwayInTime

About Maria Savva


Maria Savva lives and works in London. She studied law at Middlesex University and The College of Law. She is a lawyer, although not currently practising. She writes novels and short stories in various genres, including drama, psychological thriller and family saga. 

Many of her books and stories are inspired by her years spent working as a lawyer, although she has not written a courtroom drama to date. She has published five novels, the most recent of which is Haunted, a crime fiction/psychological thriller. Far Away In Time is her sixth collection of short stories. 

You can find out more about her work at her official website: www.mariasavva.com


Reviews

By Sheri A. Wilkinson (5 stars)

Far Away In Time is a collection of eight short stories fantastically told by Maria Savva. These stories are different genres, from fantasy, to mystery and paranormal. All stories have their own qualities that I loved, written with detail that grabs your attention and won’t let go. I enjoyed all of them, but I would have to say my three favourites were The Ghost of Christmas Past, Echos of Her Dreams & Tragedy of Love. I feel there is something for everyone in this awesome collection of stories.”

By BookAddict (5 stars)

“Maria Savva has a knack for writing powerful short stories. As with much of her writing, we aren’t confined to any specific genre. Some of these stories made me smile while others made me shudder. They’re all different, yet blend beautifully. While I enjoyed them all, the title story stands out as my favourite. This is a blend of mystery, fantasy and paranormal, and I just love the character of Mr. Silverfrost. I hope he’ll make more appearances in future stories.”

Thanks for reading. Have a good day!

Thursday 3 April 2014

Flash Fiction 2: Missed Connection

Hi, I entered a flash fiction contest on the Indies Unlimited website. It's time to vote today and you can read all of the entries here - 
http://www.indiesunlimited.com/2014/04/02/flash-fiction-vote-7/
The contest takes place every week. :) Good luck if you enter next week.



Flash Fiction Challenge: Missed Connection


new orleans 1999 pomegranateI saw the pomegranate on the windowsill, but the shutters were closed. The contact was not there. Something had gone wrong.
It happens more often that you’d think, and way more often than I like. A missed connection doesn’t necessarily mean the mission has been blown, but it is never a good sign.
The only thing to do in situations like this is to stay calm and remain vigilant. I took the pomegranate and proceeded down the alleyway to the secondary rendezvous point. That’s when I noticed I was being followed…
In 250 words or less, tell us a story incorporating the elements in the picture. 
My entry: 
Crouching still, I swung my head to the left and right, pricking my keen ears in a bid to detect the movement I could only sense. I cursed my lack of supersonic anything; if only. The gloom revealed not a soul behind me, so perhaps I only imagined it. I crept on, taking one careful step at a time…
A crunch! I turned swiftly, in time to spy a fleeting picture of him. Feeling the pomegranate give a little under the pressure I inflicted, I willed myself to remain calm.
Not far to go, I urged myself too late for he would never give up; as restless in death as in life. If only his appetite had been satisfied, but I could not help him now. I knew I would forever be doomed to echo this same farce night in, night out, hunted.
Listless, I padded away, listening to the beat of my feet on the gravel-strewn concrete. The alleyway eeled and I turned with it, only to come face to face with him: my foe, my opponent in every existence. My alter ego, Crow.
He would always crave my delicious pomegranate. With a meow, I let it fall to the ground in front of him. A squawk escaped his beak before the man with the spade clobbered him over the head, in the same way he always did, night in, night out. Then I, too, vanished into the night, flying on the back of the wind.
Until tomorrow.