I was SUPER excited to wake up this morning and find that “Brother’s Keeper” took the Grand Prize in the RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB’S 90-Day Alpha/Omega Beginning To End Short Story Contest!! I am SO proud of this story!
The inspiration for it came from a conversation with a family member. 🙂 You never know where they will come. As most of you know, my husband served fifteen years in a federal prison for a crime he did not commit. And, in a conversation with one of his cousins, she made the statement that she thought my husband’s little brother was involved in the crime, and that my husband took the fall for him. While that was not the case, it certainly inspired a story!
Excerpt:
Quentin Marks covered the length of the eight-by-ten jail cell stopping now and then to punch the concrete walls that held him.
A mere forty-eight hours ago, he was resting comfortably at home ― before his brother’s frantic visit.
He replayed the conversation in his head for the hundredth time.
Rowdy Marks had pounded Quentin’s door with desperate blows. “Open the door, Quen!”
When Quentin had opened the door, his brother rushed inside in full-blown panic mode.
“What the hell, Rowdy? What have you done now?” Quentin had questioned.
“You gotta help me, man.” Rowdy grabbed him by the shoulders.
The pungent odor of whiskey and cigarettes assaulted Quentin’s nostrils. “You’re drunk, Rowdy. Go home and sleep it off.”
“No! You don’t understand. I’m in big trouble.”
“Since when is that news?” Quentin snorted.
“It’s serious this time. A man is dead.”
Quentin stopped in his tracks. “Shit, Rowdy! What did you do?”
“Pour me a drink, and I’ll tell you everything,” Rowdy whined.
“Another drink’s the last thing you need,” Quentin snarled. “Start talking.”
Have you picked up your copy yet? It’s only 99 cents on Amazon!
Wow, congrats! That excerpt drew me right in. I want to know how Quentin ended up being the one in jail.
Enjoyed this, Jan
Jan, there’s a party going on for you on your RRBC Author Page! Enjoy it! https://ravereviewsbookclub.wordpress.com/about-jan-sikes-rijanjks-rrbc-rwisa/
Whoo hoo, Nonnie! Heading over!
Great job, Jan! Congratulations!
Thank you SO much, Mae!
Congratulations! Deep Down and Dirty Writing Secrets recently one the AZ/NM nonfiction ebook award for 2020. I was one of 12 collaborators in this helpful tips for fiction and nonfiction writers. Check it out here: https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Down-Dirty-Writing-Secrets-ebook/dp/B0866BTPD4
Awesome, John! Congrats! I’ll check it out!
Congrats Jan 🙂 A very deserved honor for a fantastic story.
Thank you SO much, Denise! I loved your review!
Woo Hoo, Jan! Well deserved.
Thank you SO much, Joan! I am thrilled!
Congratulations! You are the queen of short stories! 🙂
I am humbled and honored, Yvette. I love reading and writing shorts! Thank you for stopping by!
TBR for sure!
Music to my ears, Mark! Thank you!
Awesome, Jan! Congratulations! xo
Thank you, Natalie!
Congratulations, Jan. A super job on your short story.
Thank you, John!
Congratulations Jan Sikes. So glad your creativeness and hard work are recognized.
Thank you, Harriet. It was like getting a bouquet of roses!
That’s so cool, Jan. Congratulations! And how intriguing the background to the story is!
Thank you, Erika!! I appreciate you stopping in and leaving a comment!
You are welcome. I always enjoy visiting, Jan!
Congratulations, Jan. That’s quite the honor.
Thank you, Craig! I am super happy about it. This makes three years in a row I have taken the Grand Prize!!
Terrific, Jan! Congratulations, so deserved!
Thank you, Gwen! I am honored!
Congratulations, Jan. This is wonderful news.
Thank you, Robbie! I’m super proud of this story!
SO very happy for you!
Thank you, dear Annette!! And thank you for sharing!
Thank you, sweet lady! Your review of “Brother’s Keeper” was fabulous! Have a great weekend! Love you!
Congrats Jan, so well deserved.