Happy June! April went fast, but May? Boy, it felt like rain on hot pavement! Summer is here (at least, in this part of the US), and my family and I are enjoying the break from normal routines. What about you? What do you like to during the summer?

Today, I’ve got some iced coffee since it’s hot outside. Why don’t you grab something too, and we can have a quick chat.

State of the Chronostream Trilogy

It’s been a busy month of writing! The first draft of Book 2 landed at 33,000 words. And that’s 33,000 rough words. There are a lot of things to add, but I left them on the table for two reasons.

1. Ainsley, Petra, Lucas, and the antagonist (whose name is redacted in case you haven’t ready Adrift in the Chronostream yet) spent every minute I was away from the computer badgering me for attention. (Does that sound crazy? Probably. But the villain especially would not leave me alone.)

2. I’m using a completely different approach for this trilogy. Plan it thoroughly then write. Stick to the plan (within reason). Get feedback more often. Hopefully, all of those things will help Book 2 and Book 3 come out much more quickly than they would if I used my old method of writing on a whim and hoping for the best.

Book 2 also had its first beta read! Okay, beta listen! My husband was my first victim listener. Since he knows where I’m planning to take the trilogy, is very analytical, and understands the time travel mechanics and rules, I turned to him for some early feedback on the direction of the story. And since he has more time to listen than read, I recorded this hot mess of a draft for him.

He just finished on Friday, and I have good news and bad news. The good news: it’s on the right general trajectory! The bad news: I had to bear the embarrassment of someone listening to the roughest version of a story that anyone (besides my mom) has ever seen. It was painful. PAINFUL. But it’s going to help me know where the 15,000 to 20,000 missing words should go and make sure I don’t damage the chronostream in the process (unlike some characters 👀).

Next up: I start adding in those extra 15,000 to 20,000 words with draft 2! Then off to some other beta readers (who won’t have to endure the incredibly hot mess this book is right now.)

In Other Author News

Speaking of recording myself reading early drafts aloud, I’m also exploring the possibility of recording the Adrift in the Chronostream audiobook! I have no updates on that except that I’m learning about patches, punch and rolls, and timelines (that aren’t related to time travel). We’ll see what God has planned for this adventure!

Do you know anything about audio recording? If you do, let me know! I’m eager to learn!

Last time, I mentioned that I’d entered a writing contest and was waiting for the results.

I got them…

It’s time travel but not related to the world of The Chronostream Trilogy. (I’m stuck in time travel mode right now, evidently.)

Once it’s published, I’ll share where to find the summer edition of the magazine!

Summer Fun!

With summer is coming up, I’ve decided to do something I’ve never done before. Over the years, I’ve met some amazing indie authors. I share their work on Instagram all the time, but I figured I’d take a moment to highlight a few here.

So, without further ado, some book recs based on where you’re planning on spending your summer!

Looking for fantasy (straight up or science fantasy)?

Thread of Dreams by Emily Barnett - This book is a dream. More literally than not. Nova harvests threads from human’s dreams (for good reasons) but ends up in the dream of a boy who’s been dreaming about her. It’s an exciting adventure in an incredible dreamscape. Enjoy it with a glass of dream-cockroach milk.

Earth Bound by Katee Stein - An adult adventure full of oaths, crazy twists, and creepy creatures that make sarlaccs and sandworms seem like small problems. Its sequel, Skysworn, is on my TBR, and I’m anxious to see what happens next. That ending. 👀

Where Darkness Dwells by Andrea Renae - In a land where darkness can be literally felt and terrifying creatures lurk in it, Amyrah discovers that there’s more. Light, in the form of luminescent creatures and her own gift. Book 2 is out and Book 3 is in the works.

The Goodness of Unicorns by Kayla E. Green - Rowan gets an unexpected gift for her sixteenth Naming Anniversary: magenta eyes and the ability to see into people’s souls. Not only does she have to learn about this mysterious gift, but she also has to navigate political intrigue and helping her crippled sister.

Trompe l’Oeil: Beauty and the Beast Retold by Bethany Kohler - This take on Beauty and the Beast is lovely. If you love new books that feel like the classics in word choice and pacing, this one’s for you.

Concordia by Brian Shukwitt - Little Shamerra is a medieval-style world full of creatures who have amazing adventures hidden from us big folk. When Thaddeus is adopted by Story, he has no idea that he’s about to learn the ancient art of sword magic known as Concordia. And it’s a good thing he does because Little Shamerra needs a hero.

All of these books are either contemporary or have all the island vibes, and pair perfectly with sunshine and sand.

Seashells and Other Souvenirs by Rachel Lawrence - Alex has turned 21, but she’s struggling to find her way forward. She returns to the beach where she and her cousins spent summer vacations and finds herself reliving those memories with Jude, the boy next door. It’s sweet and swoony and you’ll want to try all of Alex’s family’s beach traditions!

The Bennetts Bloom by Katie Fitzgerald - Fern and Dave are neighbors, but their relationship goes through some drastic changes over the 16 years covered in this book. It’s a slowburn romance, and it’s as sweet as they come.

Summer Sweethearts - This collection of short and swoony stories is completely summer themed. Mountains, beaches, amusement parks, ice cream shops… it’s short, sweet, and did I mention the ebook is FREE? (And I had the honor of being one of the authors!)

Unbetrothed by Candice Pedraza Yamnitz - Looking for fantasy with a Latin twist? Princess Beatriz doesn’t have a magical gift, which means she’s not marrying her best friend (Prince Luz) or anyone else in the near future. So she decides to go on a dangerous adventure, make a deadly oath, and travel to a valley where no one comes out alive.

Love a good superhero blockbuster or something a little more dystopian?

2034: A Cautionary Tale by Autumn Brueckmann - If you enjoyed 1984, this is an imagining of what could happen 50 years later. It’s exciting, unsettling, and hard to put down. What will happen to Georgiana Wellington in a world where corporations and government overreach controls everything?

Eye of Destiny by Tommy-Lee Sexton - What happens when three normal brothers are faced with an alien invasion, family secrets, and an artifact that can rewrite reality itself? A page-turning adventure that kept me at the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I bet Iron Man is jealous of all their cool tech. Book 2 is in the works!

Unleashed by Amber Kirkpatrick - A global event gives superpowers called Gifts to certain people, causing a total upheaval. Fen loses everything thanks to the event but ends up falling for Sara, a girl without a Gift who has quite the tragic past as well. When a new threat shows up, they end up on a thrilling and harrowing adventure with serious repercussions. Will you read it with a carafe of coffee like Fen or a cup of tea like Sara?

What about you?

Have you read any of these books? What are you planning on reading this summer?

Whatever your plans are, hope you have a great summer!

Until next time,

B.R.R. Cannon

Happy May! Specifically, happy Revenge of the Sixth! Or, if you’re a big Star Wars fan like me, let’s just go with This is the May.

Am I the only one who had May pop out of nowhere? It feels like April should have at least one more week in it. Regardless, here we are, and am I ready to chat! I’ve got a homemade latte today. What about you?

State of the Chronostream Trilogy

First, let’s address the biggest question I’ve been getting. Is Book 2 done yet?!

Not quite. As of writing this post, I’m 27 chapters and 24,000 words into Draft 1. By my outline, I’m a little over halfway there, and I’m getting into the really exciting stuff. Hope Ainsley, Petra, and Lucas are ready because it’s about to get wild.

As I mentioned before, I actually have an outline, which is entirely new and foreign for me. After decades of writing by the seat of my pants (aka, being a pantser) and letting the story go wherever without too much of a plan, becoming a plotter feels strange. But I make so much more progress in each writing session now because I know exactly what’s coming next. That’s probably a really good thing since time travel is absolutely crazy.

Fun fact: The first draft of Adrift in the Chronostream was finished on April 30, 2024. If I could go back and tell myself that the book would be published less than two years later, would I have believed it?

In other writing news…

I wrote and submitted a speculative fiction flash fiction story to Clean Fiction Magazine. Results come out next week!

I also had my first author event! My husband and parents were invaluable in making it happen. My parents provided merch, my husband designed my board, and they took turns helping me man my table during the event. They’re the best!

I’m incredibly grateful for all the support from my friends and family! So many came out to see me, give me a hug, and grab their copy of Adrift in the Chronostream. I’m excited to say some new friends got a copy too!

I taught a workshop, and it resulted in an unexpected question…

At the author event, I had the pleasure of teaching a workshop on flash fiction! A handful of people were already familiar with that genre, and I had the opportunity to introduce it to the rest of the group. While it was a great discussion on flash fiction, something unexpected happened when I opened the floor for questions.

Someone raised her hand and asked me how I deal with perfectionism.

Everyone had been listening intently before, but now they all looked at me with a different, eager expression. They all had the same question and needed the answer.

What I said was quick: I realized my work was never going to be perfect, but it was time to take the leap and publish my book.

In the days that followed, her question kept echoing in my head. I wish I had anticipated it so I could really dive in and encourage my contemporaries. Now, though, I think I know what I’ll say next time I get that question.

I used to be a perfectionist. I struggled with any criticism no matter how it was presented. My work had to be perfect. My novel had to be perfect.

I rode the waves of others’ approval. Plenty of people enjoyed my stories, but if they didn’t or if I received a rejection letter from a publisher, I struggled to handle it. Sometimes, I pulled back and kept my stories to myself for a while.

Then life got busy, and I faced some struggles. During those few years, I learned to lean on God in ways that I hadn’t before. I showed Him my imperfections instead of trying to keep them hidden away. I learned the importance of putting everything—absolutely everything—in His hands and trusting Him to handle things instead of trying to make them happen myself. One day, I’ll finish writing about that experience.

Through that process, my faith grew, and the foundation of my life became more solid. Waves still come, but I’m not holding on for dear life to the mast of a securely anchored boat. I’m standing on a rock that doesn’t move no matter how big the waves get.

That translates into my writing too. I’ve stopped riding the waves of others’ approval. I stand on the rock of my faith in Christ instead.

Whether the story is accepted or rejected, the rock doesn’t move. Whether the sales are through the roof or abysmal, the rock doesn’t move. Whether the ratings are 5 stars or 1 star, the rock doesn’t move. Instead of trying to make decisions on my own, I let God take the lead and do what He says. After my experience a few years ago, I know I can trust Him.

A little over a year after Adrift in the Chronostream was born, an author event popped up on my feed and my heart leapt. Was this a nudge from God? Was it time to dive into self-publishing?

My perfectionist inner critic panicked and reminded me that the book wasn’t perfect yet. I couldn’t possibly publish it. Where would I even start? But something deeper and louder inside of me didn’t care. If this was God’s timing, it was the right time. Period. Perfect or not.

Because here’s the simple fact. It will never be perfect.

Two days of praying and seeking advice later, I decided to move forward on self-publishing. Spots were sold out to that October event, but it turned out to be a good thing since Adrift wasn’t ready until the following March. Just before the author event I did get a spot for.

So, how would I suggest getting over perfectionism? Faith. It’s the only rock that holds fast against the waves. And it’s the only rock that can smoosh perfectionism when it tries to trip me up.

Does that mean I’m perfect at it? No. There’s always room to grow. But through years of practice and proving, I’ve learned that God isn’t going to steer me wrong. If He says it’s time, I can trust Him.

If you want to talk more about perfectionism or have questions about my faith, I’d love to talk to you. Feel free to contact me. :)

What about you?

How do you deal with perfectionism? What are your highlights from April? What are you looking forward to in May?

Until next time, friends,

B.R.R. Cannon

Hope you’re doing well! Instead of a quick chat today, how about a quick story? A flash fiction story, to be exact.

On Saturday, I had the delight of teaching a workshop about flash fiction at the Storyteller Summit (my first author event!). Ever since, I’ve been itching to get some flash fiction on the page.

Katie Fitzgerald is hosting a series of flash fiction prompts this month on her Instagram, so here’s my take on this week’s prompt: wings.

Why do we have to go by plane?

My fingers ache, so I loosen my grip on the armrest. I don't want my sister to think I'm crazy.

I glance out the window. Everyone else sees clouds and miniature towns. I see how far we'll plummet if something goes wrong. If my vision comes true.

The cabin shakes and rumbles. Turbulence. This isn't good. I dreamed about this, and those kinds of dreams always come true. I try to steady myself, but my knuckles are white again.

"Are you okay?" my sister asks.

I nod.

"Don't tell me," she sighs."You had a bad dream about this."

Before I can answer, we drop. Straight down. By the time things level out, I can't breathe. This is what happens before we go down. Even my sister stares at me in disbelief.

"We're making an emergency landing," the captain announces. "Everyone strap in and remain calm."

Calm. Sure. It's hard to when my sister is squeezing my hand so hard that I can't feel my fingers and I know what will happen next.

The ground comes closer and closer. I brace myself for the moment of impact, but it doesn’t come. Instead, the plane's wheels bump on the ground, and the plane rolls to a halt at the terminal.

As we exit the plane--hand in hand and with plans to take a rental car the rest of the way--we pass by the cockpit and I hear the captain.

"I had a weird dream about this flight. Good thing we landed when we did. Otherwise, I think we would have crashed."

Want to join in the flash fiction fun? Write your own 1,000 words or less story about wings and post it! If you do, let me know where to find it in the comments!

Until next time,

B.R.R. Cannon

Friends, March has been an exciting month! Adrift in the Chronostream is out, The Chronostream Trilogy book 2 is in the works, and April is shaping up to be full of new experiences as well.

So let’s get a drink together and have a chat. I’ve got some Taylors of Harrogate afternoon Darjeeling today. What about you?

Firstly, a thank you

Adrift in the Chronostream came out three weeks ago, and these first three weeks have been incredible! I’m so blessed to be surrounded by a supportive and encouraging community in person and online. I’m so grateful for all of you!

Many local friends and family members have bought copies from me in person, and it’s been a great excuse to hug people I don’t see all the time. It’s meant the world that people who read things I wrote in middle and high school are so excited to hold a printed copy of my book in their hands.

To those of you who bought a copy online, thank you! If I could give you a huge hug, I absolutely would. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Time Travelers’ Week was a blast! Thank you to everyone who played along with the ARG, joined the livestream, and shared the book! And a very special shoutout to Team Chronostream! You all made the publishing experience such a joy!

At the end of Time Travelers Week, I took the book on a World Tour.

Okay, it wasn’t a truly international tour. We went to Epcot. But it was such a fun and special way to celebrate my debut novella!

And to everyone who’s left a review on Amazon or Goodreads, thank you so much! Your words have been such an encouragement! If you enjoyed the book but haven’t left a review yet, would you take a moment to share your thoughts too?

What’s next for the chronostream?

There are two more books in this trilogy, and they’re stretching me as an author in good ways. For my whole life so far, I’ve been a pantser (which means that I write by the seat of my pants with very little planning).

But that’s doesn’t work with time travel. If I learned one thing from the last few chapters of Adrift (iykyk), it’s that I need a very careful plan (sometimes down to the minute… more than once).

So, I’m plotting out the next two books. It feels strange, but I’m allowing the planning phase to be like my first draft. Feel where the story wants to go but without all the effort of writing the words and hopefully spotting issues before I get too far.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about this to start with, but it actually has been working. I’ve been able to see the scenes in my head, and I jotted down all the details I need to recreate it in words when it’s time.

Book 2 has been plotted out, and I’m a few chapters into the first draft. It’s amazing how much more productive it is to write with a plan! (Should I be surprised, though?)

Once I’ve done the first draft of Book 2, I’m going to plan out Book 3. (Right now, it’s some ideas simmering in my brain.) I hope that creating Book 2 and 3 at the same time allows me to find potential issues, tie them together tightly, and keep them super consistence. And cut down on the time between book releases.

Speaking of Book 2, there’s a new, wild time-related mechanic coming. It’s going to throw the plot into the deep end (literally?) and keep me on my toes. And I thought chapters 35-37 of Adrift were hard to keep track of!

Let’s talk time travel

While working on Adrift, I did a lot of research into time travel. Instead of keeping it all in my head, I thought it’d be fun to share some of the things I discovered. This isn’t an exhaustive discussion by any stretch, but here are some quick tidbits that are too good not to share.

The science side is complicated and very theoretical. Wormholes have potential, but the gravity involved might be too much for a human to handle. One potential time machine could bend gravity to create a time-space donut around normal matter, but we aren’t exactly able to bend gravitational fields right now and it would leave you only able to travel within the loop.

There is a lot to it, but the long and short is that time travel to the future is more likely than the past. (Believe it or not, satellites and astronauts experience time milliseconds slower than those of us on Earth.) But the kind that we love in sci-fi stories probably can’t happen.

However, there are some strange real-life stories of people stepping into another time, called “time slips.” For instance, two early 1900’s teachers visited Versailles and purportedly found themselves in the 1700’s with different buildings and a glimpse of Marie Antoinette. And in 1935, Air Marshal Sir Robert Victor Goddard encountered strange clouds while flying over an abandoned airstrip, only to find it in use but with some notable changes, like different colored uniforms and an unfamiliar plane. Four years later, the airstrip appeared in the same state that he had seen it, in use with different uniforms, brand new type of plane, and all. (Read more about the phenomenon here or ten specific instances here.)

Are these strange stories true? Are they unexplained moments of time travel or jumps into a real-life multiverse? Only God knows. But I love the mind-bending exercise of time travel, especially all the wild consequences that can come from it. (Raises an eyebrow at certain characters in Adrift.)

The type of time travel that happens in Adrift doesn’t really line up with any of the current theories, which is one of the reasons I decided to create my own world. For Terrene, time flows like a river (hence the chronostream), and the river metaphor has shaped the mechanics and terms that appear in the books.

Can the chronostream branch into more than one stream of time? Can it move small obstructions made by time travelers out of the way like a rock? If there’s a larger disruption, does it cause ripples? There’s only one way to find out…

What’s next?

I’m less than two weeks from my first in-person author event! I’ll be one of the authors at a local author and indie bookstore festival on April 11th. I can’t wait to share that adventure with you next time!

Thanks for joining me for the chat! I hope you have a blessed Easter!

What about you? What’s new with you? Would you like to hear more about time travel or historical research I did to shape the locations in Terrene? Let me know!

Until next time, friends,

B.R.R. Cannon

The last month has been a whirlwind, friends. One I’ve dreamed about since I was nine. Maybe even younger. So, while I sip an ice coffee (with caramel macchiato creamer), let’s have a quick drink and catch up.

Today, my novella, Adrift in the Chronostream, is out on Amazon!

I’m just going to savor that sentence for a moment.

If you enjoy time travel, healthy friendships, and a touch of mystery, I’d love you to give it a try. It’s a great weekend read. Something a little lighter when life feels heavy. Time travel shenanigans that bend the mind a bit. (It certainly turned by brain upside down and inside out at times.)

Both paperback and ebook editions are available on Amazon.

Since this is Time Travelers’ Week, I also have some fun things happening over on Instagram, including a Time Guild ARG, ebook giveaways, and a livestream this Thursday at 8:00pm EDT. If you haven’t joined me over there yet, I’d love for you to drop by!

This month has also included buying my first set of author copies of my book (coming tomorrow!) and preparing for my first author event next month. There’s been plenty of designing posters and a websit, printing bookmark business cards (though “business cards” feels far too formal for my tastes), and learning about credit card processing.

It’s been a month of charting new waters that other have traversed before, and I’ve loved it. The further into this I’ve gotten, the more I realize this is just the right time for this book to come out. Not fifteen or twenty years ago, when I originally thought I’d be a professional author, but now. God has been gracious enough not to let me get ahead of myself while He quietly brought everything together in ways I never expected.

Thanks for sitting with me for a few minutes and listening to me go on about my book. If you decide to give it a try, I hope you enjoy it!

Until next time,

B.R.R. Cannon

If we were meeting in person today, I would absolutely talk your ear off. January might be known for post-holiday doldrums, but it’s been an incredibly exciting month for me. Let’s grab a warm drink and settle in for a few minutes. I’ve got coffee with some caramel macchiato creamer because I don’t think anything else can keep up with me right now.

First off, Adrift in the Chronostream’s cover is officially out there! (If you’ve been on Goodreads and found the book, you got a sneak peek a few weeks early. Also, it has three reviews from ARC readers, and I’m so happy I may have cried.)

It took about three months longer to finish designing than anticipated, but it was worth the wait. It’s amazing how God is using all the experience my husband and I have gained over the years to bring this whole project together.

With the cover done, I ordered a proof. Holding the book in my hands was surreal. Again, I teared up. Then I took a quick selfie to commemorate the moment and share with family and friends. This is my super excited face.

This is a day I’ve dreamed of since I was twelve. Maybe even younger. If I could see that tween version of myself now, I would encourage her to keep waiting and practicing and preparing. Where she sees delays, I now see the blessing of growing deep in carefully cultivated soil until the time is just right.

What’s next? I’ve reviewed the print and digital copies, fixed the handful of typos that sneaked in somehow, uploaded the final version of the cover and manuscript, and am prepping for March 9th! I have some fun things planned leading up to Release Day. All the details will be coming soon.

So, what else has been going on? I met one of my writing community friends, Laura Graves, face to face, and it was truly a delight! We’ve talked with each other, prayed for each other, and laughed together over Zoom for the past few years, but actually hugging her and spending time face to face was an absolute joy! We even made a friend together. If you’re on Instagram and don’t follow her yet, you should.

This year is also the 25th anniversary of The Fellowship of the Ring film. In my area, the whole trilogy was re-released to theaters for a limited run. Since Fellowship is my favorite of the films, I had to go see it. My husband and I bought tickets in advance, I dressed up (no, I can’t resist an opportunity to wear a costume), and we made a date out of it.

The experience wasn’t quite what we expected. Turns out our showing got canceled, and we weren’t able to hit another one. Maybe we’ll have better luck if they re-release the films for their 50th anniversary. Regardless, we still had fun, we ate popcorn, and I had a valid excuse to wear the cool Arwen dress my husband bought me for Christmas.

What’s your favorite movie theater treat? Let me know! I’m definitely a popcorn girl.

What’s something you did in January or something that you’re excited for this year?

Until next time,

B.R.R. Cannon

Hope you are doing well as 2025 comes to a close!

I have a warm cup of Darjeeling to sip while I write. What are you drinking today?

If we were sitting at a table together, I’d have plenty to tell you about writing. But before getting into that, I would talk about Christmas food. I made three bûches de Noël from scratch, baked tons of cookies and 12 pounds of fudge with my mom, ate plenty of calamari during my Italian family’s Feast of Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve, and tried homemade octopus on Christmas Day. (It was good!)

What are some of your favorite Christmas foods?

Now, let’s get to the fun stuff!

This year…

Plenty of words were written in 2025, but most of them will make their debut with Adrift in the Chronostream next year. However, I did have the honor of being part of two different anthologies: Amidst Fury and Valor and It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Romance.

My stories couldn’t be more different—in one, a dragon crashes Godzilla-style into a modern town, and in the other, a stranded new Floridian makes some new traditions with her neighbor and his family—but they both were a delight to write!

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas is available as a free ebook. If you didn’t get your copy yet, let me know in the comments, and I’ll get you set up!

Amidst Fury and Valor was a charity anthology compiled for a fellow author whose son was diagnosed with cancer last year. Thankfully, he’s now cancer free! It’s available on Amazon.

Next year…

Originally, I thought Adrift in the Chronostream would make its debut in Fall 2025. However, there are more steps and decisions related to publishing than I originally expected. That’s okay, though. I trust God and His timing.

I’m excited to announce that Adrift is releasing on March 9, 2026!

Why March 9th? If you’re in the US, it’s the Monday after Daylight Savings Time resumes. Instead of grumping about shifting the clocks (which I always do… just ask my friends and family), I’m dubbing it Time Traveler Week and celebrating by releasing my book about time travelers! I can’t wait to share more details and the cover, but more than that, I can’t wait for you to read it!

What’s something you’re looking forward to in 2026?

May your 2026 be blessed!

Until next time,

B.R.R. Cannon

And if you want to read more #flashfictionmagic stories (or join in the fun), check out the hashtag on Instagram!

I toss my keys onto the kitchen table and drop onto the wooden chair beside it. A sigh escapes from somewhere deep inside me. Somewhere empty.

My phone buzzes.

Headed your way, my husband’s text says. Need anything at the store?

I glance at the corner by the window where I thought a highchair would be by now.

Biting my lip, I text back, No.

Setting my phone down, my eyes wander back to the empty corner and quiet woods beyond it. Apparitions of laughing children mingle with the twilight.

Dinner won’t make itself, so I force myself to move. Before my knees straighten, a whistle slices through the silence and dazzling light crashes into the clearing behind the house.

I duck behind the table, expecting windows to explode, but when the light vanishes, all is silent again. I peek over the table and catch my breath.

Snow swirls outside. Snow? It’s 67 degrees outside. But there it is in a swirling frenzy. And in the middle… a tiny figure.

I hesitate. What is it? Should I help? Call 911? Splash it with water?

But when the snow halts abruptly and the figure collapses, instinct kicks in. Grabbing a blanket, I throw the back door open and run out.

The evening air is cool, but the temperature drops sharply in the gently falling snow. I pull the blanket tight around myself. What am I seeing?

A child—no, a girl with white hair fanned around her pale face. Every inch of her is made of snow.

I kneel beside her. When my hand brushes her limp fingers, they feel like ice. Literally.

Her eyes flit open, revealing sky-blue irises. Pulling away, she sits up.

“It’s okay,” I whisper.

She cocks her head, eyes narrowing.

“Are you okay?” I continue.

She nods, but her mouth remains a straight, thin line.

“Where are you from?”

Her finger points toward the stars gathering above us. What does she mean? The sky? Outer space?

It doesn’t matter. I know that look on her face. Emptiness gnaws at her too.

I reach for her. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of you.”

I don’t even know how to care for a girl that seems to be made of snow, but that thin line on her face curves upward. As she wraps those frozen fingers around mine, my heart melts.

“Come on,” I say, lifting her to her feet. “You’re not alone.”

Today is the big day! Over the summer, my author friends Rachel Lawrence and Katie Fitzgerald invited several authors, including me, to be part of a Christmas romance collection, and now it’s officially out!

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Romance is a festive collection of twelve short stories by twelve authors (including me) full of cocoa and cookies, snowstorms and Santa suits, light displays, nutcrackers, and family time. (And seven saucy fishes… 🐟)

The best part? It’s the ebook is free and included below!

Here, you’ll find the epub file version (perfect for Kindles and other e-readers), a PDF version, and instructions for how to send the epub version to your Kindle.

My story, “A Feast of Seven Fishes,” is based on one of my favorite Christmas traditions: the Italian Feast of Seven Fishes. On Christmas Eve, the table is full of calamari, cod, shrimp, scallops, and spaghetti sauce. This is my plate with some of everything from last Christmas.

In my story, all the flights north are canceled by blizzards, and Carina Portelli thinks Christmas and her family’s Feast of Seven Fishes are ruined. However, everything changes when her neighbor, Liam Maxwell, invites her to spend Christmas Eve with his family and share in a very special tradition…

I hope you enjoy this lovely collection that’s been put together with love by the twelve of us! If you enjoy it, feel free to leave a review on Goodreads!

Hope your Thanksgiving (for my American friends) and start to the Christmas season are full of peace and joy!

Until next time,

BRR Cannon

The last two months have been quite an adventure. I have a warm cup of homemade pumpkin spice coffee, so let’s sit and catch up.

Adrift in the Chronostream Update

At the beginning of August, I nervously put out the invitation to join the street team for Adrift in the Chronostream. To my surprise and delight, people responded. To all of you who did, thank you again! I’m still blown away by your response and willingness to spend time helping me spread the word about my novella.

I expected final edits to be complete and ARCs (advance reader copies) to go out quickly afterward, but boy was I wrong. Every reread revealed more places that needed attention. Tiny inconsistencies. Bigger inconsistences. Deep questions about time travel mechanics. Repercussions that will stretch into the rest of the trilogy. As October settled in, I grew discouraged. Would I ever reach the end of that stage?

Thankfully, I’ve finally found the light at the end of the tunnel. (And it wasn’t a train poised to send me back to the drawing board with the whole book.) ARCs went out last week, which means I’ve shifted my focus to places I’ve never been.

I feel a bit like Sam Gamgee on the edge of the Shire. Writing and editing are familiar. The rest of the self-publishing process is entirely new, wild, and a little scary. There are so many decisions to make and options to consider. Where to print the book. How much to charge. How to distribute the ebook. How this will affect next year’s tax return.

Fortunately, I’m not on my own with any of these questions. Between my community (in person and online), my husband, and most of all God, I’m well supported as I navigate these unfamiliar waters.

Do I have an official publishing date? Not yet. Once we answer some of these questions, I’ll make the official announcement. Hopefully, that’ll be soon!

But the biggest piece—the story itself—is done!

What’s This About Saucy Fish?

Last year, Katie Fitzgerald and Rachel Lawrence invited me to be part of Summer Sweethearts. The sweet romance collection is full of short stories about all things summer.

On November 24th, they’re releasing a new one all about Christmas: It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Romance. And I’m delighted to say that I’m part of it! Honestly, it was a breath of fresh air while I wrestled with final edits on Adrift in the Chronostream.

The ebook is free, and you’ll receive it in your inbox on publishing day!

So, why saucy fish? My story centers around one of my favorite Christmas Eve traditions: the Italian Feast of Seven Fishes. It’s a meal comprised of seven different kinds of fish, plenty of tomato sauce, alfredo, and pasta.

What’s my story about?

When all the flights north are canceled by blizzards, Carina Portelli thinks Christmas and her family’s Feast of Seven Fishes are ruined. However, everything changes when her neighbor, Liam Maxwell, invites her to spend Christmas Eve with his family and share in a very special tradition… 👀

I hope you enjoy mine and the other stories in the ebook! (I had the delight of a sneak peek at Emily Barnett’s 🩰, and I can’t wait to read all the others!)

And if you missed it, here’s a look at the beautiful cover designed by Emily Barnett and Andrea Renae!

How about you? What adventures have you had since August started? I hope to hear from you!

Until next time,

B.R.R. Cannon

It’s been a while since my last post, and for good reason. Over the past few months, I’ve been working earnestly to accomplish one of my lifelong goals: publish a book!

Meet my upcoming debut YA time travel novella, Adrift in the Chronostream! It’s part one of a trilogy of novellas that all stem from some big, time-altering decisions made in book one. (And I will say no more because I’m bad about spoiling things when I’m excited.)

Is this book up your alley? It might be if you like these things:

• games of cat and mouse through time

• best friend duos

• slow burn crushes

• mysterious villains

• malfunctioning time machines

• time paradoxes

• the possibility of alternate timelines

• soft sci-fi that leans toward cozy vibes

If that piques your interest and you’d like to join me on this adventure, I’m assembling a team to help spread the word. You can sign up to share about it on social media on publishing day and/or receive an advance reader copy (ARC) that will let you have a sneak peek and share a review on Goodreads or Amazon.

Want to join Team Chronostream? Use this link to sign up.

Hope you are doing well and have a great start to the week!

Until next time,

BRR Cannon

March was way busier than expected, but I’m delighted that I finally made it in time for Spring into Flash Fiction with Katie Fitzgerald! If you’re not following her here on Substack or on Instagram, you’re missing out. She and her stories are a delight!

Without further ado, here’s my story for this week’s prompt.

I slid into my car and tossed my purse into the passenger seat. This long day was finally over, and now nothing stood between me and a long, relaxing evening of reading. I closed the car door and took a deep breath. I could already smell the freshly brewed coffee mingling with my well-loved book’s pages.

As I turned the key in the ignition, I glanced down at the dashboard. The gas light was on. Okay, a quick detour before my relaxing evening began. No big deal.

A few minutes later, I pulled into a busy gas station. I grabbed my purse and reached for my wallet. The pocket where I always stored it was empty. I grimaced as I dug around and mentally retraced my steps. I took it out to buy coffee this afternoon… and I remember putting it back in my bag…

Thud. Out of my peripherals, I noticed unusual movement. Someone running. More people running. Something big.

I sat up and nearly jumped out of my skin. A dragon stood on the highway right in front of me, headed my direction.

A dragon? That didn’t make sense. Dragons weren’t real. They were just stories. Right? But this was clearly a dragon, giant wings and all.

The creature lumbered forward, thick legs and long tail smashing the halted cars. People dashed out of their vehicles and into the woods on either side of the road.

Forget the wallet. Forget the gas. I turned my car back on and looked for an exit. But the station around me had devolved into chaos. People running, abandoned cars blocking those trying to drive, a truck jumping the curb and crashing into an SUV pulling out.

What should I do?

Thud. The dragon was coming closer. I didn’t have time to waste. I grabbed my purse and keys, threw my door open, and ran behind the gas station. At least I would be out of view while I figured out where to go.

When I rounded the building, I noticed a neighborhood beyond a small patch of trees. That’s where I would go.

I was out of breath by the time I ran through an open backyard and around the front of house. In my haste, I almost ran straight into a car parked in the driveway. A police car.

Police? I hurried to the front door and pounded on it desperately. A frowning man in uniform opened it.

“There’s an emergency,” I panted. “Dragon!”

“Dragon?” he repeated, but he followed my pointed finger out the door and around the side of the house.

It was just visible through the trees.

The officer began giving orders that I couldn’t understand, but they resulted in me sitting inside his cruiser as he explained the situation to the station.

So much for my relaxing evening.

🐉

Want to read more of this story from a different perspective? Check out my new story “Teenage Knights in Faded Blue Jeans” in the Amidst Fury and Valor anthology from Twenty Hills Publishing! (80% of profits benefit a wonderful young man currently battling cancer.)

Hope you enjoy!

Until next time,

BRR Cannon

If you’re on Instagram, you might have heard that Friday marked the final week of #flashfictionmagic. Emily Barnett started the hashtag and weekly prompts about five years ago, and that era has come to a close. (Don’t worry! Katie Fitzgerald is taking up the flash fiction prompt mantle starting this week!)

Several of the writers decided to call back to their first #flashfictionmagic prompt, and I was among them.

Back in September 2021, my writing career looked very different. I didn’t have a single published work to my name. But after years of shelving my writing dreams, God called me back to them. I posted my first story, shy and unsure, but I was welcomed into an encouraging, quirky, delightful writing community that has become like family.

God brought #flashfictionmagic into my life at just the right moment, and it has been instrumental in the SEVEN short stories that have been published in the past two and a half years.

I’m so grateful for everyone in this beautiful writing community, and a special shoutout goes to Emily. Thank you for building a community where we build each other up, cheer each other on, and every win is a win for all of us. Here’s to the Cottage and all the writing adventures we will continue to have in the future!

And now, for my very first #flashfictionmagic story (which is quirky… you might want to read it top to bottom then bottom to top) and my last (which is not as stylistically unique).

Her voice breaks through the blackness. An unexpected voice.

This is the end. He is certain.

The din of battle around him grows dull. He is vaguely aware of the others who fall around him: friends and foes pierced by sword or arrow or both.

When they charge, he doesn’t get far. The arrow steals his breath and he falls.

The captain shouts. The moment has come.

He stands on the front line, ready. Unaware that his fate is about to change.

"This is not the end."

I fight to catch my breath, but the arrow lodged in my chest is too much. I feel myself slipping. Slipping away from the battlefield and toward the voice.

"This is not the end."

I expect the rumors of what death looks like. Instead, I find myself in a land of dreams. Stairs climbing through clouds. Glowing fish swimming above my head. And a woman in a flowing gown, staring at me.

"Am I...?" I start, but she lifts her hand and shakes her head.

"No. I'm the royal healer. I will tend you. I believe you will recover."

I look down where the arrow should be, but the white shirt is pristine--unlike the armor I had been wearing.

"You have many questions," she continues. "My friends and I have answers. We have been searching for you, and now we can fight the real enemy together."

"Real enemy?"

"Yes. Here, in the land we call Horizon. Now that I have found you here, I can find you on the battlefield. When I see you face to face, I will explain everything. Now, you must go so I can find you."

"Go?" I still don't understand, but she smiles.

"Yes. Go."

She pushes her hands toward me, and I feel myself slipping again. A soft cot and whispers have replaced the hard earth and war cries. I sense someone standing next to me.

I struggle to open my eyes. A white canvas tent stretches above me, but the person next to me is the real surprise. It's the woman from my dream dressed in a simple gown and apron, hairs that have escaped from her braids framing her face.

She smiles. "I told you this was not the end. Now, I have much to explain. We don't have much time."

✨

Hope you enjoyed the double feature! And now to work on Katie's prompt for this week: The Lost Umbrella…

Until next time,

BRR Cannon

Today is the conclusion of this month’s #flashfictionmagic series. I’ve enjoyed all these prompts hosted by Elise Gilmore! If you missed the first three weeks, check them out before reading today’s conclusion: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

Benjamin watched the street from the usual table in the coffee shop. Ella would be here any minute, books and laptop in tow. He could see it all now. She would plop her backpack down and slide into her chair with a grin. She’d thank him for getting her usual—which steamed in front of him right now. And he would break her heart.

His double life was catching up to him, and he couldn’t keep this bright happy world separate from the dark one he lived in anymore. But he had to at least say goodbye to this world before he left it forever.

The door swung open, and Ella grinned as she made her way to the table. Instead of her overstuffed backpack, she had a clutch and wore a floral dress.

“You beat me to it,” she said, slipping onto the seat and admiring the warm coffee.

“Yeah.” He grimaced at the strain in his voice.

He regretted that he had gotten himself into this situation in the first place. Or did he? Ella was wonderful, and these last few months had been too. She was the best thing in his life. The only thing that felt worthwhile. He didn’t want to lose her.

Ella frowned. “Is everything okay?”

As her eyebrows became weighed down with concern, his confidence broke.

“I have to tell you something,” he whispered, leaning closer and taking one of her hands. “I’m not who I say I am. I’ve been lying to you. I’ve been living a double life, and I can’t keep it up.”

He expected tears or anger, but she watched him with an even expression. It was unsettling.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he continued, “but I have to say goodbye. I hope you will forgive me.”

He searched her face and waited for the question. Was it another woman? A life of addiction or gambling that left him on the run? But no questions came.

Instead, she smiled. Smiled? “I know.”

Benjamin gaped. “What?”

Her grin broadened. “I know. I knew the first time I saw you and invited you to sit with me. And I think you’re good enough to join me.”

His mind felt like a tornado. He struggled to anchor his thoughts. “Join… you?”

“Yes. I haven’t been exactly honest with you either. I know you’re a spy. A good one too. Your history of undercover work drew my attention, and I insisted that I needed to meet you myself. I’m part of an elite organization from the future that protects the timeline from a variety of threats. You are just the kind of agent we need.” She slid her hand across the table and grabbed his. “Just the kind of person I’d like as my partner.”

Benjamin’s head was starting to hurt. Could this actually be true?

Ella seemed to read his mind. “I promise I’m telling the truth.” Her frown faded. “Your time here is about to end. Your next mission…”

“I’m going to die?”

She frowned. “Well, yes. But if you let me extract you before… well, I’m not supposed to give details. But if you agree, I’ll extract you before it happens. Everyone here will think you’re gone. Really, you’ll be on a new adventure. With me.”

It was a lot to take in. Benjamin hadn’t anticipated that he’d be the one blindsided today.

Ella squeezed his hand. “Well, Benjamin, what do you say? Come with me?”

“This is the strangest proposal I’ve ever heard.” He squeezed her hand back. “But I’m in, partner.”

⏳

Hope you’ve enjoyed this month’s story! I have something extra special planned for next week. Hope you join me!

Until then,

BRR Cannon

Hope this week is treating you well! It’s time for part 3 of this month’s #flashfictionmagic story hosted by Elise Gilmore! If you missed Part 1 or Part 2, you can catch up with those links.

Now, without further ado…

“Today,” Benjamin muttered. “It has to be today.”

As he reached the cafe door, he adjusted his collar and hoped that it was straight. He hadn’t realized how wrinkled this button-up had gotten in the suitcase, and he wanted to look presentable. If he had to break Ella’s heart, he didn’t want to look like the slob she would think he was.

He wasn’t sure whether or not to be grateful that the cafe was so quiet today. Ella seemed levelheaded, but this conversation was bound to make a scene. Fewer people meant a smaller audience, but there was no hiding in the hustle and bustle.

When he looked at their usual table, he froze. It was empty. No notebooks. No laptop. No Ella.

What did this mean? Did she know? Had she found out what he did when he wasn’t here, in this warm and bright coffee shop? The thought made him sick. What would she think…?

“Benjamin?”

He jumped as he turned to the counter. One of the usual baristas stood there with an envelope in her hand.

“That’s you, right?” she continued.

“Yeah,” he said, tentatively stepping closer.

“That lady you normally sit with. Ella. She said she had to leave early, and she left this envelope for you.”

Benjamin took it and turned, trying to hide his trembling fingers from the curious barista.

Benjamin,
I had to leave early to take care of something, but I’ll be here tomorrow. Hope to see you then!
🖤, Ella

Tomorrow? He had to get back before he was missed. But he couldn’t just leave a letter for Ella. No, he had to tell her in person. No matter what trouble it would get him in, he would be back first thing tomorrow.

☕

There have been some fun guesses in the comments about what’s going on. What’s your theory? Next week, all will be revealed!

Until then,

BRR Cannon

Happy Valentine’s Day! Here’s hoping your day is going better than Benjamin and Ella’s…

Not sure who I’m talking about? Check out last week’s story here! This month’s stories are interconnected, so you’ll want to start with their awkward introductions.

Without further ado, here’s part 2 of Benjamin and Ella’s story.

Benjamin walked past the coffee shop window and threw a casual glance inside. Ella sat at their usual table, notebooks and computer taking up all of the space aside from an open corner for him. Of course she was there, waiting. Just like she had been for the last two months.

As he reached for the front door, he stretched his sore leg and pushed down the knot in his stomach that wavered between butterflies and nausea. He really shouldn’t be here, but he had to see her again.

When the bell on the door rang, Ella turned, dropped the book she was holding, and waved to him. Benjamin forced a deep breath and a nonplussed smile as he wove between the mostly empty tables between them.

“Hey!” she said. “I’m glad you’re here!” Her smile faded a touch at the corners of her mouth. “Are you all right?”

He pointed to his bruised cheek. “This? Oh, yeah. Had a run-in with a wall.”

“Ouch. How did you do that?”

Those sweet eyes almost made his mind go blank. He was grateful he’d practiced the story the whole way here. “I was walking through the hotel room in the dark. I misjudged where the wall was.”

“Yikes. I’ve done that before. Let me go get you something. The usual?”

Benjamin nodded. “I’ll get it.”

“You got both of ours last time you were in town. I’m returning the favor.” Ella stood gracefully and flitted to the counter.

While Ella faced the barista, he eased into the empty chair and let out a deep sigh that released the nauseating butterflies. He had pulled it off. She didn’t know. And that was for the better. She didn’t need to know what had happened during his past three days out of town. She was still clueless about everything… but how long could he keep this up?

☕

Hope you enjoyed this week’s installment! Looking forward to sharing the next bit of the story next week!

In the meantime, happy Valentine’s Day! No matter where you are or what situation you find yourself in today, know that you are loved and you matter. You were handcrafted, and the One who made you loves you more than you could ever imagine. ❤️

Until next time,

BRR Cannon

My January flash fiction hiatus is over, and we have a new month of fun, romance-inspired prompts from my friend and guest host Elise Gilmore!

This month’s stories are going to be interconnected. Part 2 is coming next week.

“Benjamin!”

Benjamin wove through the restless crowd and grabbed his cup off the counter. This coffee shop was usually quiet by now, but evidently the latest cold front blew everyone in for a midmorning warm-up.

He successfully navigated back through the sea of people and reached the seating area… only to find it dishearteningly full. Every inside table was taken, and he didn’t like the idea of shivering outside with a cold espresso.

He checked his watch. Thirty minutes until it was time to leave. Under other circumstances, he would have found somewhere else to go, but not in this weather.

As he scanned the tables for someone getting ready to leave, a woman cleared her throat. “Need somewhere to sit?”

Benjamin glanced down. The woman at the table on his left motioned toward the empty seat across from her.

“That’s okay—”

The woman piled up the notebooks and pens sprawled all over the table and pulled them to her side. “No, really. Please, sit.” She gave him a warm smile.

Against his better judgment, Benjamin sat and cradled his cup. “Thanks.”

“Ella,” the woman said, reaching her hand over the notebooks.

He took it. “Benjamin.”

“Nice to meet you. Come here often?”

“Sometimes.” He wasn’t about to tell this stranger just how often, no matter nice she seemed.

“It’s my first time.” Ella pointed to her notebooks. “I’ve been doing research on this area. I’m working on a book.”

“Book?”

“Yeah,” she continued. “I figured the best way to get to know the area is to spend some time at a local coffee shop and talk to people.”

He nodded and peeked at the clock on the wall behind Ella. 25 minutes to go.

“So… how long have you been in the area?”

Benjamin frowned before he could catch himself. When Ella frowned too, he tried to divert the conversation with a laugh. “I pass through a lot.”

She raised her eyebrows and smiled, but he wasn’t about to give more details.

Ella sighed. “Well, I guess I’ll leave you to your coffee then. Stay as long as you like.”

As she opened one of her notebooks, Benjamin took a sip of coffee, trying to recover from the lost warmth of his tablemate’s smile. His life was lonely. Maybe a little conversation would be all right.

“What have you learned about this town so far?” he asked.

Ella dopped the notebook and grinned. “It has a long and fascinating history. Do you know how old this building is?”

Benjamin smiled. “No, but I’d love to hear all about it.”

☕

Hope you enjoyed!

Until next week,

BRR Cannon

I hope that you enjoyed the holidays and that you’re adjusting well to the normal routine. Here, the Christmas tree is still up and the last of the fudge is still in the fridge, but everything else is returning to normal.

Including some fun announcements!

First off, it’s JRR Tolkien’s birthday today! If you’ve been looking for an excuse to rewatch The Lord of the Rings or read The Hobbit, this is it. We’re going to celebrate with a dinner worthy of a hobbit and a toast at 9pm to the Professor. (Learn more about it on the Tolkien Society’s website.)

The second thing is a little more personal. It’s a free-to-read weekend for Havok, which means you can read three of my short stories without a subscription. Full access is available from Friday, January 3rd at 6:00pm (CST) until Sunday, January 5th at 10:00pm.

Here are the three flash fiction stories I’ve published with Havok. Click on the picture to read it!

A selfish astronaut cheats herself onto a prestigious mission. Instead of fame, she discovers that the ghost stories of dark alien ships lurking out in space are true. Will she and her crew escape the dark ships before it’s too late?

A friendly golden retriever. A rash of river rescues. A young girl searching for answers. Join Marie as she finds the truth about the Goldberry Bridge, the Tuttle River, and Ace the so-called hero dog.

What happens when a cat gets involved during an alien invasion? She saves the world, of course! How? Join Leona on her adventure to find out.

There are so many other free stories to enjoy as well! Hope you take advantage of the free weekend!

Looking for more flash fiction? The #flashfictionmagic prompts return in February, and so will my weekly stories. In the meantime, I have a time travel novella to edit for another round of beta readers!

Until next time,

BRR Cannon

I hope the weather is treating you well and that you’re enjoying the Christmas season! It’s been a while since we’ve chatted. I have some warm coffee with caramel macchiato creamer for this rainy afternoon. What about you?

I don’t know about you, but it’s been a busy November and December. We put the tree up before Thanksgiving for the first time, but most of our Christmas traditions waited until after we’d enjoyed turkey with family. That includes a lot of baking, from French bûche de Noël cake to chocolate chip gingerbread cookies.

While I make a lot of things, my mom and I are renowned for fudge. This year’s fare included chocolate, butterbeer, sugar cookie, peanut butter (a very old family recipe), and our famous and coveted orange creamsicle (that tastes just like the frozen treat).

Of course, baking isn’t the only thing I’ve been up to. There’s been a lot of writing going on too!

Yes, I had a story accepted in the past month that’s coming out in 2025! Twenty Hills Publishing’s YA dragon-centric anthology will benefit a fellow writer whose son is battling cancer. I’ll share more information about the book soon!

As I close out the year, I’m grateful for a lot of things, and one of them is you! Thank you for joining me on this writing journey! I’m looking forward to our chats in the new year!

I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and start to the New Year! See you in 2025!

Until next time,

BRR Cannon

This week’s story is a continuation of last week’s by popular request. (And by popular request, I mean my friend Rachel asked for more, and I don’t want to disappoint her and her gaggle. By the way, if you don’t follow her yet, you should. She’s a delight and a fellow cheese lover.)

This week’s theme from Emily Barnett is a cliché or trope reimagined. So it only feels natural to take the portal to somewhere and turn it on its head.

Want to catch up on last week’s story before you read this one? Click here!

I stare at the woman, unable to believe what I’ve just witnessed. First, the house I thought was haunted turns out to have some sort of portal. Then I find out that it’s sucked up this wild-eyed young woman. It’s too much to be true.

“I promise I’m telling the truth,” she pleads, like she can hear my thoughts. I wonder for a second if she can. “My parents thought I’d been kidnapped, but I wasn’t. I was here all along. What year is it? I know it’s not 1954.”

That was over fifty years ago. I shake my head. She turns pale.

“Let’s start at the beginning,” I say, trying to steady myself as much as her. “What happened?”

She draws a deep breath, closes her eyes, and lets the breath out. When she opens her eyes again, she seems to see this room as it used to be.

“It was the night of my eighteenth birthday,” she starts. “I had had dinner with my friends, and my parents surprised me with a beautiful cake. It had been the most perfect night. It was so late and I was so tired that I didn’t change my clothes. I just plopped onto my bed to go to sleep. Then…” She screws up her face. “Then the wall next to my bed changed. It looked wavy. Strange. So I sat up and pressed my hand against it. Next thing I knew, I was in the wall.

“I expected to find something through this portal—like Narnia or something—but instead, I was still here. Just trapped in the wall. I could see everything, but it was like being inside a mirror… That’s the only way I can think to explain it.”

I nodded. “And everyone thought you were gone?”

“Yes! I shouted and banged on the wall, but no one seemed to hear. Well, they heard the banging, and it scared them. My parents were heartbroken. My aunt thought the house was haunted by my ghost. She wasn’t far off. They only stayed a few months before they moved. I haven’t seen them since. I haven’t seen any of them.”

She sighed. “The house was abandoned for a while. Every time someone came, I tried to get their attention by banging on the walls, but no one could find me. They just thought the house was haunted. They would leave as quickly as they came.”

Finally, she made eye contact with me. “Then you came. And you could hear me. I wonder why.” She paused. “What’s the date?”

I check my watch. “November 1st.”

She gives a mirthless laugh. “My birthday. The anniversary of my disappearance.”

✨

Hope you enjoyed today’s story!

Until next time,

BRR Cannon