Many of the authors of Writing at the Ledges newest anthology, Voices from the Ledges, will read and discuss their works at the Grand Ledge District Library as part of the library’s Authors in the Garden series. Rosalie Sanara Petrouske, Randy Pearson, Colleen Nye-Shunk, Ashtyn Rapp, Abe Khan, Liz Wilson, and Lori Hudson, both as herself and her alter-ego, children’s author Judith Wade, will present at different times throughout the summer season. For specific dates and times, click on the following link, which will take you to the latest Lansing State Journal story about the series, complete with schedule of events.

LSJ Story about Authors in the Garden

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The following story is by WATL founder Rosalie Sanara Petrouske. She wrote it in response to a Fiction 440 challenge. If you’re not familiar with Fiction 440, it’s a Lansing-area group that challenges folks to write a short story of no more than 440 words using a set of prescribed words. They then invite the authors to read their stories aloud at a local pub or restaurant. For this story, the prompt was anniversary, toys, and composing. Enjoy!

Starlight

I open the door to Sierra’s room, and sit on the bed. Running my hand over the smooth yellow spread, I notice how the throw pillows are stacked perfectly against the headboard. I can remember yelling at her countless mornings about making her bed. Books we read together are slid neatly into their places on the shelves, along with the journals she kept filled with tales about girls her age, who traveled on adventures around the world. “Mommy, Mommy,” I hear her call, “come listen to my new story!”

Stuffed toys she slept with when she was afraid of the dark sit forlornly, some on her bed, others tucked upon shelves or perched on top of the dresser. Wrapping my hands around the little brown otter, Seaweed, I give him a kiss. Clicking open my pen, I begin composing another letter to her.

Dear Sierra,

Your dad is upstairs, already asleep, and Tucker is napping in his dog bed. Whenever Tucker hears the school bus stopping at the end of our block, he still runs to the door, tail wagging wildly. When you don’t come home, he plops down, dropping his head in his paws. I think dogs tell time by sound; certainly not by years. Tonight, the stars are out, scattered all over the sky like glitter confetti. If you were here, we’d put on our coats and go find the Big Dipper. Once I used to long for all this quiet, for hours with no interruptions. I don’t anymore because I miss you too much. If I didn’t know better, I could almost believe you were at your best friend’s house for a sleepover, and when you come home, I’d be whipping up a batter of pancakes with chocolate chips. Today is the first anniversary. . .

I stop writing and smile at my foolishness. My daughter has only left for college. It’s not like she has gone away forever, not like the daughter I read about in today’s newspaper who died in a car accident because she was texting and driving. I can’t even begin to imagine the pain that mother must be feeling. The phone starts ringing in the other room. Setting down my pen, I hurry to answer it. “Hi,” Sierra says. “I was just thinking about you.”

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“Walking back to my dorm. There are so many stars out tonight. The sky is amazing.”

Yes,” I tell her. “I know.”

I go to the window and look up.

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I am a woman of words.

I devoured them when I was young

and they became a part of me.

Then came a time when I felt the need

to return the words to the page,

infused with my life’s experiences.

Sometimes words are my friends,

flowing with ease onto the page,

giving voice to my pain, my love, my rage.

Sometimes they are my enemies,

refusing to cooperate,

stubbornly sticking in my brain.

But always, always they are there

waiting to be freed,

waiting to free my heart and soul.

I am a woman of words.

© Kathleen McKee Snyder

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The following story was written by Lori Hudson, a long-time member of Writing at the Ledges, at our May meeting where we were given the prompt: “She never should have gotten that tattoo.” It was such a great story, we decided to post it here for your reading pleasure. We hope it will inspire you to write your own story in response to the prompt.

Marika’s Tattoo

by Loraine J. Hudson

Marika is my best friend. She will always be my best friend, and I will support her no matter what— no matter what she says, where she goes, or what she does.

She is the kindest person. She loves puppies, recycles her neighbor’s newspapers, carries spiders outside rather than kill them, marches against war. She even makes delicious brownies.

That is why when I walked down West Street with her yesterday, I glared at the mail delivery man when he burst out laughing.

And even though I think I’m a pretty kind person myself, I said, “Mind your own business!” to Mrs. Brogan when she said pityingly to Marika, “Oh honey…”

And I yelled, “Shut up!” at the college kids whistling and calling, “Hey, baby!”

Marika’s face was flaming red when that happened.

Marika has just one fault, and that is that she can’t spell. She is such a terrible speller that I guess she didn’t realize “peace” is not spelled P-I-E-C-E.

Yes, Marika is my best friend, and I will support her no matter what she does, but she never should have gotten that tattoo.

To learn more about the author, click here.

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We will celebrate the new Voices from the Ledges anthology at a book launch party from 12 noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 1 at the Everybody Reads bookstore, 2019 East Michigan Avenue in Lansing. Many of the more than 20 authors will be on hand to chat, sign books and read selections from their works.

Come on down and celebrate with us!

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