I recently finished a wonderful book: The Last Letter by Susan Pogorzelski. It's a semi-autobiographical account of Susan's experiences living with Chronic Lyme Disease told from the point of view of 15-year-old Amelia. For anyone who has dealt with or had a loved one deal with a misdiagnosed disease that sucks the life out of you, this book takes a creative approach to letting you know you're not alone. The story will draw you in.
Susan is a consultant, editor, and creative coach at Brown Beagle Books, and an all around great cheerleader for authors and a courageous speaker for Lyme Disease sufferers.
In June, Janet Reid, Literary Agent at New Leaf Literary Agency, sponsored one of her 100-word flash fiction contests with this book as the reward (no, I did not win). We had to include five words in our story: last, letter, pogo, ease, lime.
This was the week we had two winners! Go here to read Janet's analyses and the qualities she looks for in determining the winning entries.
This was my entry:
Sidewalk Café
“Gah! Why can’t I remember its name?”
Complaisant, I listen to ma femme courageux.
“Ugh,” she taps a fist to her forehead, “Italian. Begins with the letters p-o.”
I savor the shish ta’ook with tabouli, melding and mingling the aroma. Délicieux.
“Pobo…poco…”
Ha! She is returned! Ma femme méthodique.
“Podo…pofo…”
Gone, at long last, la fatigue.
Bless.
La cuisine Lebanese? Her favori.
“Pogo...pojo…”
I relish her energie.
“Polo…pom—”
Ah! Anticipation is merveilleux.
“That’s it!” Delight dances on her lips, “The Pomodoro!”
This Lyme Disease? Long has ma femme laborieux.
“See! I will be a writerly dame!”