UPDATE

FROM PREVIOUS POST-
I started writing the story in my spiral notebook, which is where all my stories begin; handwritten, messy, sloppy handwriting. Before I knew it, I had written about 20 pages. The story is still being written. The story of Karen and Kyra, a mom and a daughter, who at one point in their story spend a day at the same beach my daughter and I spent our day. But what happens before and after that day in Karen’s life…that is a story. Dining in the finest restaurants, owning a house in the best neighborhood, then suddenly she finds herself seeking refuge for the night in an empty boat docked at the marina, penniless, hopeless, with a young child by her side. Then she…..(nope, can't tell you what happens…besides…it isn’t finished yet…who knows where my imagination will lead Karen).

UPDATE-
As I continue to write Karen and Kyra's story, it continues to grow. The story and I have reached the point of no return. The words, sentences, paragraphs, scenes keep coming and I keep writing. The story is now to large to fit into a book of short stories, which is what So, Whatcha Think is supposed to be. A book of short stories that take the reader on a journey through the human condition and allows the reader (you) to comment to the authors (Paige and I) with their (your) opinions of the stories and how the stories made them (you) feel.

The story of Karen and Kyra will become a book all its own. I have no title yet, not even a working

A Pay Phone, Teddy Bear, and Gems

A pay phone, a teddy bear, and some uncut gems...what do they have in common? A young women who finds herself in a bad situation.

Katie is attending Jewelers School. She is weeks away from graduating. Part of her education is

Home Is Where The Heart Is

“I know Mom. I understand all that, but I want to do this!” Colton says with distain in his voice.

“Son, you are in your last year of college. You can’t quit now! Being a rodeo star is dangerous and it isn’t a career choice! You need to finish your education!” She was trying hard to convince her son not

I am still here at Paige’s. We have written, we have played, we have worked, we have laughed, we have enjoyed…but best of all…we have remembered how to be kids. Although the husbands are still rolling their eyes at us, we are having a great time.

Just so you know, we have accomplished a lot on the book so far this weekend. We will continue to work diligently to finish this book and get it into your hands.

Thanks for reading!

Brooke Ryter

A Writing We Will Do….

I am spending the weekend at Paige’s house for a working weekend. We will be writing and collaborating on the book.

We have both been writing and exchanging our works by email…but there is nothing better than being in

Panic on a Wednesday...Makes for a great day!! And a headache. =)

You can call me an idiot if you would like…because I certainly feel like one at this very moment. I have the files for the book on a flash drive. It contains many files, some contain

Story Idea...From a Day Long Ago

Story ideas come from the strangest places sometimes. Let me explain…many, many years ago I spent a day at the beach with my little girl. She was a little more than a year old at the time. It was just the two of us. We built sandcastles, we played in the waves, we sat on a blanket on the sand and had a picnic lunch, and she napped with her head in my lap as I sat on a park bench in the shade by the playground. On that day I found a lighter case in the sand. It is silver with a gold unicorn on it. I still have that lighter case all these years later. It reminds me of that day.

I was going through my jewelry box looking for something and I came across that lighter case. As I picked it up and held it in my hand, memories of that wonderful day came flooding back. I probably looked ridiculous standing there, smiling at this small thing in my hand. As I stood there remembering the past, my imagination took that day in time and ran with it. All of a sudden there was a story.

I started writing the story in my spiral notebook, which is where all my stories begin; handwritten, messy, sloppy handwriting. Before I knew it, I had written about 20 pages. The story is still being written. The story of Karen and Kyra, a mom and a daughter, who at one point in their story spend a day at the same beach my daughter and I spent our day. But what happens before and after that day in Karen’s life…that is a story. Dining in the finest restaurants, owning a house in the best neighborhood, then suddenly she finds herself seeking refuge for the night in an empty boat docked at the marina, penniless, hopeless, with a young child by her side. Then she…..(nope, can't tell you what happens…besides…it isn’t finished yet…who knows where my imagination will lead Karen).

Thanks for reading!

Brooke Ryter

Writing

Writing is fun. It is a great way to ‘get away from it all’ while you create your own world. Different types of writing promote different feelings. As you can imagine, writing a science report could very well make one feel exhausted and, dare I say, bored. Writing a love story might make one feel wonderful. Writing a comedy could make one laugh so hard they might just pee on themselves.

And the examples could go on and on.

Sometimes it is fun to write like a child. To put your hands on the keyboard, place your mind in a child’s mind, and just start typing. For me, this brings forth joy and remembrances of when life was

Sisters by Chance, Friends by Choice

“You have no right checking up on me!” he screams.

“Stop it! Both of you!” Ashley yells, as she stands up.

“Don’t tell me to stop!” He stands up and moves towards her. “I am not the one sneaking around in someone else’s past. I don’t have to stop! I have every right to be pissed! Your sister is sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong!” he is screaming at her.

“Knock it off! She is only trying to protect me! Besides, you haven’t answered her question. It is true!?! Now, I want an answer!” she says angrily.

“What!?! Now you too! How dare you!”

Julie steps closer to him and yells, “Well!?! Answer the question!! Is it true!?! She has a right to know

What is....

...the best most unusual thing that has ever happened to you?

My BEST most unusual:

It was a Tuesday morning and the day had started out a little off. I was already stressed about tons of things, both professional and personal. This particular Tuesday I had to stop by the grocery store on my way to work because it was my turn to bring 'Tuesday Treats'; lucky me!! I could have gone to

The Fortune

This is a small portion of one of the stories contained in So, Whatcha Think?




“At the end of our meal, the waiter brought the check and fortune cookies. You know how they always put the check on the little black tray and just place the cookies on top?” Sharon asked.

“Yeah…and?” Mary said, sounding a bit confused.

“Well, it was odd. The check was on the little black tray but the waiter placed a tea cup in front of each of us and our fortune cookies were inside.”

“That’s weird. Maybe that place is just trying to be more personal to their customers.” Mary said.

“I wasn’t sure what to think. I opened my fortune cookie as Seth was getting his card to pay the bill. I couldn’t believe what the fortune said.” Sharon's voice fell off a bit as she spoke.

“Did it say you had found your handsome prince?” Mary said with a sweet smile.

“No, it said. ‘Your life is in danger! You must leave the city immediately! Say nothing to anyone! We will contact you. Remember…say NOTHING!’” Sharon's voice was almost a whisper.

“What!?! Was it some kind of cruel joke?”

“I just froze and I read it again. When I looked up, Seth was staring at me.”

'"Something wrong? Didn’t get the fortune you wanted?' He asked me.

“I could see out of the corner of my eye, those two men were now watching me very intently. I wasn’t sure what to do. So, I just said. ‘Have you ever played the lucky numbers from your fortune on the lottery?’”

“He laughed. ‘Those fortunes are just for entertainment you know.’”

“I said. ‘Yeah, I know. I was just thinking how wonderful it would be to win the lottery.’ “I didn’t know what else to say. I just slipped the fortune into my purse.” Sharon opened her purse and took out the fortune. She handed it to Mary to read.

“Oh My God! Sharon! What does this mean!?!” Mary said very shocked.

“At the time I didn’t know…but now I do.”

Mary was just staring at Sharon in complete disbelief.

“That look you have on your face is exactly how I have felt since reading the fortune.” Sharon said, her voice filled with sadness and fear.

What happened to Sharon after she received the fortune was unbelievable! Want to know what happened?