The week before she left her father died. He was murdered. Some said that it had to do with his wife’s mental state; others said that he’d been caught in some affair with another woman. When word got around, people said that if anyone should have been murdered in that family it should have been Laura’s mother.
By Forrest Cavale
That’s an excerpt from my short story The Witness which is in this summer’s issue of Carte Blanche Online Magazine.
You can read the entire story here:
http://carte-blanche.org/genres/fiction/
And while you’re there check out their submissions guidelines. They take fiction, non-fiction, poetry, photography, comic, video.
Carol Balawyder 
Very interesting excerpt…will read the story soon 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
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Carol – What a powerful, powerful story! You develop the characters really effectively, and you give just the right amount of foreshadowing without giving away the twist towards the end. Well done.
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Thanks, Margot. I truly appreciate your generous words. :0
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Finally…..I was able to read the whole story….I loved it! Congratulations!
Ursula
Sent from my iPad
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Thanks, Ursula…It makes me very happy that you loved it. 🙂 🙂
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Well told tale, Carol. I’m glad that Carte Blanche selected it for inclusion.
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Thanks, Nancy. 🙂
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Great story, Carol! I loved how it was told from her friend’s perspective. I’ve never tried that myself – it gives a very interesting light to the tale. Nice job!
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Thank you, Linda…:)
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Great story Carol. The photo is perfect for the emotions of your short story.
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I know. It’s a great photo. The magazine found it. I wish I was there! Thanks for your kind words, Frank. 🙂
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I’ve just read it Carol. It was wonderful!
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Thanks, Rebecca. I’m glad you liked it. 🙂
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Oh Carol, what a wonderful opening paragraph that draws the reader in from the beginning! (You are so talented, is there anything you can’t do?) The Carte Blanche website also looks very interesting. How many subscribers do you have? I’m going to research it further. Blessings,
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I think you misunderstood, Ellie. Carte Blanche is an online magazine. I don’t work for them. I just sent in my story and they liked it enough to publish it. If you go on my link you’ll find links to Carte Blanche.
Thanks for stopping by and for your encouraging comments. 🙂
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Whoops, I guess I did (you’re so modest – 🙂 Seems like a great magazine though! I enjoyed perusing through it. Blessings,
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🙂
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An absolutely fabulous story Carol. Powerful beyond belief. Your extract drew me in so I had to go read. You are one gifted lady. Congrats.
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Your kind and generous words warm my heart. Thank you so very much. 🙂
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I mean them. In addition to your voice, you tied all the ends beautifully. Here was ‘family horror’ written at its absolute tightest best.
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🙂
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It grabs the reader right away, Carol. Very powerful indeed. Will check it our. Thank you for sharing.
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🙂
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This is an intriguing excerpt, Carol. I’ll read the story tonight!
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I thoroughly enjoyed that great short story. Short, but full of interest and sadness. I enjoy your writing Carol and look forward to your new novel. 🙂
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Thanks, Debby…I’m looking forward to reading your latest. Enjoy your weekend. 🙂
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Sounds like an interesting read…
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Didn’t realize you wrote it… I’ll be sure to check it out…
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Wow! I am so proud of you, Carol. The twist at the end was superb. I am so pleased you won and I don’t doubt you will be winning more contests in the future. Awesome story! 🙂
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Thanks, Drew. It wasn’t a contest though but a story which I submitted to the magazine. BTW, you ought to send in some of your wonderful photography to them. Have a look at some of their back issues and the photographs in it. It’s all online. Have a grand weekend, dear friend. 🙂
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From what I read, it seems you have to be from Quebec. Unless, I have read it wrong.
Leah’s second chemo gave her a real scare. She had an allergy reaction. She began to puff up, and get pains in her chest. She decided to go with Benadryl and more Steroids because she is anxious to get these treatments done.
I am actually thinking of working on My Depression Baby. Some advice was to cut the entire part from Croatia, and just stick to the one scene on the train and the pick-up. Don’t know if you remember reading it, but I thought it might be worth a go.
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Drew, you don’t have to be from Quebec to submit to this magazine.Look up the bios from those who contributed.
I think it’s worth trying different angles for your depression baby and then see which works. Sometimes it’s good to change POV or tense.
Poor Leah. I wish her patience. The body takes time to heal.
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Really, I am so pleased thus far with her progress. I mean, she is half-way through. She will be afraid for the next treatment, but I told her, they now know she will have an allergy reaction and they will be ready for it. She is much braver than she was at the beginning. A lot of growth is taking place in her spirit and soul.
Thanks for the head’s up on the contributors. I will take another look. Hugs and happy days!
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I’m so happy to hear this about your daughter. She certainly is brave and so are you.
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Carol, your story is chilling. Very well done. Is it ok if I put a link to the story in my post with the review of your book?
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Of course…You’re so kind to do so, Luanne. 🙂 Happy Solstice Day ⭐
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Hi! Just dropping by to tell you that I have nominated you for a great award. Check out the nomination here (scroll down the page):
http://thetropicalfloweringzone.com/2014/06/22/magnolia-grandiflora/
Congratulations and best wishes!
Maria
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Oh, Marie, thank you so much for nominating me for such a sweet award. You are an angel 🙂
I must decline though as I normally don’t accept awards. I find it too difficult after to choose among the many bloggers I follow. ❤
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This is eerie, since its story could reflect a real situation. It sounds ‘true to life!’ You captured me from the onset and held my attention. So glad you had the unexpected ending, too. I am happy that you got it published, Carol, in this fine magazine! I mentioned your name on my 6/25th post, as a published author. Now, I know about your short stories, too! Thanks, Carol for being so kind in recent comments to my posts. Sorry that I get behind and have to play ‘catch up!’ Take it easy and bask in your ‘glory’ and ‘accolades!’ You deserve every one of them!
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Thanks, Robin. You always have such kind and gentle words. 🙂
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