Colleen Houck

“I took hold of that scourge -filled ship and crushed it between my limbs, hurtling it into the second sun, the red one that gave me strength. But I was too late." Terraformer

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  • AUGUST WRITING CONTEST WINNER ANNOUNCED!

    September 3, 2014

    First, a BIG thanks to everyone who participated in the AUGUST WRITING CONTEST! It was a great success and was so much fun to read the stories. There is some real talent and creativity!!! 

    Before I announce the winner, I wanted to mention that there were over 50 contest entries and I was looking for three things in selecting this month’s winner. One: technical writing skills. Proper grammar and a consistent flow of the story were a top priority. Two: creativity. The ability to take the story to an exciting place. (I noticed a theme of pirates with this contest). Three: Contestant followed the directions for the writing challenge. 

    For those of you just tuning in, August’s Writing Contest was a writing prompt (below) where everyone was asked to begin their story using those words.

    So, here’s the beginning . . .

    Every night, Alice hears music coming from the picture hanging above the fireplace mantel. She examines the picture night after night but is unable to identify the source of the sound. Until tonight. As she climbs out of bed and looks at the picture she sees the wind moving the sails and the waves moving. Alice rubs her eyes in disbelief and carefully reaches out to touch the picture. Just then she felt a cold wet wave rush over her feet. She looked down. The entire floor was covered in water and more was pouring into the room. . . 

    ship painting

     

    Here are the awesome GIVEAWAYS for this month’s contest!

    giveaway2

    For one lucky winner there will be an

    EXCLUSIVE KELSEY BACK TO SCHOOL

    PACKAGE GIVEAWAY!

    2014-07-27 20.12.56

     

    ~a Western Oregon University Tote Bag ~ WOU Sweatshirt ~WOU T-shirt ~WOU hat ~ Hair accessories ~ WOU notebook ~ WOU Gel Pens ~ And more!

    PLUS, For two lucky runner ups there will be a

    BACK TO SCHOOL PACK GIVEAWAY

    back to school

     

    ~ Notebook, Binder, Journal, Pens, And More!!

      So without further delay, I give you this month’s contest winners!

    The EXCLUSIVE KELSEY BACK TO SCHOOL PACKAGE GIVEAWAY goes to. . .

    Hailey Pearson, 14 years old

    The BACK TO SCHOOL PACK GIVEAWAY goes to. . .

    Lola Nurmanova, 12 years old

    and

    Trisha Saran, 16 years old

    Here are their stories,

    The Picture on the Mantelpiece

    Hailey Pearson, 14 years old

     

    Every night, Alice heard music coming from the picture hanging on the mantelpiece. She examined the picture constantly, but the source of the sound was unidentifiable. Until tonight. As she climbed out of bed and looked at the picture, she saw the sails and the waves moving. Alice rubbed her eyes in disbelief and carefully reached out to touch the picture. Just then she felt a cold wet wave rush over her feet.

    She looked down. The entire floor was covered in water and more was pouring into the room. The gelid water rose quickly, as Alice frantically tried to find where the water originated. The water rose higher and higher, slowing her panicked movements. Her body numb from the icy waves, she relented, and screamed, praying for help. She swam toward the front door, now underwater, and ducked under to open it. Nothing.

    Alice surfaced, the water inches from filling the room entirely. She gasped for a final breath, as she was swallowed by the mysterious water. She pounded the ceiling, but when she reached up, a hand plucked her from the waves. Her body was slammed onto hardwood, and she wheezed for air, coughing up water that filled her lungs.

     “We’ve been waiting for you, Alice.” A burly voice said.

     “I’m Franklin.”

     Franklin helped her up, and shouted, “Tell him she’s arrived.”*

     “Where am I?” Alice mouthed, her throat raw from the salty seawater.

     She felt like a drowned rat, her hair soaked, and her nightgown clinging to her body like a second skin. She stood on the boat, slightly dazed. She tried to place a familiar tune playing. Her jumbled thoughts raced, then she remembered. The music from the picture!

     “You’re home.” Alice turned to the familiar voice, a handsome man walking toward her.

     “I don’t understand.”

    “Darling, try to remember.” He brushed her wet hair from her face.

     “Where am I?” She couldn’t be home. Home was a cozy fireplace, her own bed, her cat–not a ship of sailors and an attractive man claiming to know her.

     “Alice, you know the picture above the mantelpiece in your home?”

     Alice nodded, “You’re there. You’re here. You’re home.” He hugged her, but Alice remained stiff as a board, uncomfortable and confused.

     “Who are you? How do you know me?”

     “I, am Kameron Tobie, captain of this beautiful vessel, nephew to Franklin, whom you met earlier, and your fiancé.”

     Alice slapped a hand to her mouth. No boy had ever touched her, let alone proposed.

     “My WHAT?”

     “And now that you’re safe and free, we can be reunited!” Kameron cheered.

     “But–”

     “We’re under attack!” Someone from above shouted. Instantly the ship broke into madness. Shots rang, canons fired, and Alice was alone amidst the sudden invasion.

     “Blow them all down! Dead men tell no tales!” A disgusting pirate

    boarded, approaching Alice.

     “And you, Lassie, are coming with me.” He yanked her by the arm toward the board connecting the two ships.

     “No!” Kameron rushed over, firing at the buccaneer until he lay motionless.

     “I’m sorry, darling. It’s not safe. I love you, always.” He slipped a locket over her head, and took her to the edge.

     “What–”

     “Goodbye, my love.” He picked her up, and tossed her overboard. The waves swallowed her, and she struggled to swim to the top. When she surfaced, the water was rapidly draining into the floor. Before she knew it, she awoke under the mantelpiece. She rose her hand up to her neck, and opened the locket. Inside was a picture of Alice and Kameron, and she smiled, sadly, because she remembered.

     

     Mystery of the Painting

    Lola Nurmanova, 12 years old  

    Every night, Alice hears music coming from the picture hanging above the fireplace mantel. She examines the picture night after night but is unable to identify the source of the sound. Until tonight. As she climbs out of bed and looks at the picture she sees the wind moving the sails and the waves moving.

    Alice rubs her eyes in disbelief and carefully reaches out to touch the picture. Just then she feels a cold wet wave rush over her feet.She looks down. The entire floor is covered in water and more is pouring into the room! Alice’s vision clouds slightly in panic, and she clutches onto the arm of a couch to keep herself upright. She can’t tear her eyes away from the painting – how the water is pouring out of it, as if someone turned on a faucet.

    Her pajamas are assaulted with little splashes as the water surges out. One little droplet lands on her tongue, and Alice is surprised to find the water salty. The water has risen to her knees now, and a word runs through her mind: THEDOOR! However, as she lifts her foot, her soaked slipper gives her too much momentum and Alice crashes back into the water. When she resurfaces, she could swear that the water is flowing out of the painting even faster than before. She tries to head towards the door again, but the water has risen over it, and when she dives under, she can’t see, or feel the doorknob. A sob escapes her. Alice cries out for her nannie, but the either the water is too loud, or she must be too far away to hear. 

    Alice can’t reach the floor anymore, and begins treading water to stay above it. Trying not to get a mouthful of water, she yells out again, but no one pounds on the door or calls out to her. By this time she is nearing the living rooms ceiling, which she can now see has pretty little swirls on it. Alice remembers the source of the water, and looks back to the painting. The water has nearly overtaken it, but more is still pouring out. Then Alice’s pajama pants catch onto something, and she wriggles her legs- but it won’t let go!

    Her heart pounds against her chest, and her mind whirs with weird scenarios of her parents coming home to find her drowned, with her pant leg attached to a chair. All of a sudden, the water stops -then begins draining. A glance behind tells Alice that all the water is returning to the painting, and she feels relief cloak her tired body. Until she realizes in horror that the current is pulling her in as well! She lets out a shrill scream, but that is muffled by the water as it pours into her mouth.

    With a last burst of energy, she starts kicking out and waving her arms in a futile attempt to fight the inevitable.   

    The next morning, when Alice’s nannie walks into the room, her face pales at the new addition to the painting… A young girl, her mouth forming a scream, is being pulled under by the waves.”

     

     

    The Wave in the Water

    Trisha Saran. 16 years old

                          

                       Every night, Alice hears music coming from the picture hanging above the fireplace mantel. She examines the picture night after night but is unable to identify the source of the sound. Until tonight. As she climbs out of bed and looks at the picture she sees the wind moving the sails and the waves moving. Alice rubs her eyes in disbelief and carefully reaches out to touch the picture. Just then she felt a cold wet wave rush over her feet. She looked down. The entire floor was covered in water and more was pouring into the room.

    Panic began to take over Alice’s mind, compelling her body to shake out of her dangerous fear. Water. Something she never bonded with.      

         The part of her brain, where tranquility was at its best keeping a tight grip in the mind, told her to run for the door and call for her grandparents. But she knew they were out of the house. She ran to the door to figure it wouldn’t budge a move. So she stood backed up against the wall, breathing hard as she stared at the clear water pouring endlessly in the tiny room. Until the water finally filled up to Alice’s mouth. Alice gasped for breath and sunk herself under the surface. After a breathless effort of kicking her legs to help her swim, she reached to the picture and grabbed the golden frame for support. And before she even knew it, she was sucked within the frame.

        Alice found herself spinning as if she was in a whirlpool. She kicked her legs again to help her break the surface. Alice was gasping for breath when she saw that water was all she could see ahead. She realized she was inside the picture. And before she could even panic, she had heard that music. That same music flowed in her ears. Alice turned sideways to see the same ship with the moving sails in her way.

       Alice began to swim extremely carefully. She moved an inch every second, terrified of what the water could do to her. And in every move, the music was streaming in her ears calmly, as if trying to soothe her. When she finally reached the ship, she grabbed ahold of a rope and climbed upon the ship. Breathing hard, she noticed that a woman was playing a violin very melodiously. Alice’s heart froze completely. Because the woman was none other than Alice’s mother. Who had died when Alice was five. The woman stopped playing and started towards Alice slowly. The woman simply stared at the shocked one. She cupped Alice’s face and quietly whispered “Alice. My daughter. Alice…

        With a gasp, Alice rose from her bed to see she was in her room. She touched her body hastily and sighed in relief that it was all a dream. Until she saw the picture and a puddle of water underneath it.

    What did you all think? That second story by Lola would make a great ghost story. Again, congrats to everyone who participated! For those of you who aspire to be a writer, remember, “Everything you want is almost always on the other side of fear” and that “Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try”!

    Stay tuned for next month’s contest!

     ~ Till next time,

    Linda Louise Lotti

     

    This entry was posted in Contest, Contest Winners.

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    Linda

    I’m Linda Louise, one of the bloggers on this website and Colleen’s little sister. I’m just a girl in her mid-thirties who feels thirteen when I play outside with my boys, fifteen when I sing my heart out listening to tunes while driving by myself, and sixty five when I go out past ten at night. I have a thing for junior mints, Mt. Dew, shrimp and kale (though not all at once) and I have a crush on Superman. I still get girlish butterflies when I read Twilight, cry when I read These is My Words, and smile from ear to ear when I read Anne of Green Gables. I have nightmares about aliens on a regular basis and I have a bad habit of midnight snacking. I love everything sports, except golf (although can that honestly be considered a sport??), and I hate anything that slithers, hisses, or stings. I have a problem with giggling at inappropriate moments and I sometimes wish life was a musical. I love science, hate math, love Dr. Seuss, and hate olives. My family is my world and my joys come from their happiness. I’ve learned I don’t know much about anything and I live for a good adventure, naps, cuddles, stories, exceptional food and The Shire.