The Zoo (Flash Fiction)

It was fun being the daughter of a zookeeper. Bianca especially loved the big cats, and would spend hours sitting outside their cage, just across the safety glass from the majestic animals. The lions seemed to like Bianca too, cuddling up to the glass and gazing at her with lazy eyes.

Perhaps it was because she was being brought up in such a rich environment, but Bianca was developmentally advanced, starting to read at the age of three. By the time she was turning five, Bianca was consuming large tomes of fiction, and even non-fiction.

One morning, Bianca was sitting reading just across the glass from the big cats when an earthquake shook the complex. The glass cracked, but Bianca spoke calmly to the felines and they lay still, adoring eyes fixed upon the child as she continued to read.

Not so with the hyenas, who escaped their cage and began to roam the zoo, looking for prey. The hyenas found the tunnels that human used to view the big cats, and came racing in, slobbering and slathering in anticipation of tasting tender little girl.

Bianca screamed in terror. Disturbed, the lead lion roared, the roar shattering the glass into a myriad of small pieces. The lion leapt through the opening and past Bianca. Bianca crept back into the lion’s cage and climbed into the safe arms of a tree. She watched the conflict with a shuddering heart.

The lion batted at one hyena with a huge paw. It rolled over, stunned. The lion shook himself and the other hyena fell to the ground with a thud. The lion roared, and the pack decided to back off, seeking easier prey elsewhere.

Bianca’s father found her clinging to a tree in the lion’s enclosure. He was grateful she was unharmed.

Cecelia Hopkins-Drewer 2018

(Monday image prompt supplied by Australian Speculative Fiction Facebook Group. This tale was submitted to the group's Facebook page and gathered comments and likes.) 

Mystic Evermore and Autumn Secrets are featured

 Joelbooks is an innovative website by Joel Stafford, who also runs a book club on Facebook. I am proud to have listings for my books on the site. The organisation describes itself as "an international book club" which has been in operation "since 2012". The club itself is a "closed community"of book lovers that "now shares...recommendations to the public", including reading selections and "the best books" in each "genre".

• "Mystic Evermore"

https://joelbooks.com/mystic-evermore-by-cecelia-hopkins-drewer/

(Book Synopsis: Mystic Evermore is a mysterious rural town where anything could happen. When the Etheridge family move in, they begin to meet the local residents and discover their secrets. Who or what does Bridget share her very first kiss with? Why does Jaylen Woodgate run away from home at least once a month? Is Javier Tilton a normal young boy who likes dressing like a Goth or something more? These mysteries and many more will be solved.")

• "Autumn Secrets"

(Book Synopsis: Summer is over and Fall brings secrets to the surface! New vampire in town, Christopher Arano, is trying to find a local girl to date when evil legend Sven Ermore returns to haunt Mystic Evermore. The Lenore family continue to mourn the death of Lena’s parents, and the community experience a truly magical Halloween night.) 

https://joelbooks.com/autumn-secrets-by-cecelia-hopkins-drewer/

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You can also join the discussion being led by Joel Stafford at Reddit:

Mystic Evermore is mentioned at: https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/a2n0s5/what_books_did_you_start_or_finish_reading_this/ebhkzi5/, and Autumn Secrets rtes  mention at:

https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/a4u4h7/what_books_did_you_start_or_finish_reading_this/ebwgtxm/

Fantastic Reads for 11 December 2018

Fantastic Reads  is a newsletter by author Amber Morant. Amber has kindly agreed to feature Mystic Evermore in the 11 December 2018 mailing. You can read Amber's newsletter at the following web address and also browse back issues.

https://mailchi.mp/4ac3d9bfe847/fantastic-reads-for-12-november-1551605

Oztober 2018

Autumn Secrets has also been entered into the Oztober promotion of Australian Fantasy and Science fiction.

Oztober, hosted by Ashley Capes, is a showcase of Australian Science Fiction, Fantasy, Steampunk, Horror and Paranormal fiction. I have sent Ashley the details of several of my books. However, I have received feedback that he only accepts one book per author, which seems fair enough. I should have realised this when I saw that he had only one book listed in his 2017 Oztober Showcase for the amazing and prolific Sean Williams!

You can check out Oztober at: http://promo.ashleycapes.com/

The organiser, Ashley Capes is a poet, who has participated in several Australian festivals and won acclaim in some competitions! He has helped edit the occasional periodical, and written several volumes of Science Fiction prose.


You can read more about Ashley Capes at: https://ashleycapes.com/

Short Story "LEMKIN" achieves web publication

I joined the Australian Speculative Fiction Group on Facebook. This appears to be a group of  authors drawn together by their interests in writing Science Fiction, Fantasy or both.

Horror/Dark Fantasy authors participating in the group include: Alan Baxter, Steve Herczeg, Steve Dillon, Keri Arthur, Shelley Russell Nolan, Pamela Jeffs, Noel Osualdini, and Ryn Lilley. Other members with a Science Fiction focus include: Alanah Andrews, Aiki Flinthart, Rebecca Langham, Jodie Rye, Carleton Chinner, Lachlan Walter, Alethea Kinsela, and Shelley Calopa.  Several writers, including Frank Prem and myself, also write poetry.

S.M. Isaac, Austin Sheenan, and Sue Maynes are among the successful submittors who have been featured on the  aussiespeculativefiction.com website. The competition for "Make it up Mondays" is very intense, and I sometimes wonder what their selection criteria might be, but after four months of participation, my 300 word short story "Lemkin" was chosen to be featured on the website:

https://aussiespeculativefiction.com/2019/04/09/lemkin-by-cecilia-hopkins-drewer/


The story of my involvement with this group is a bit sad, because I also achieved acceptance into their zodiac themed anthology entitled "Capricorn". However, issues with the editing process and problems with the contract necessitated my story being withdrawn.

Saints and Sinners, PLUS Autumn Secrets: sequels to Mystic Evermore

Hello everyone:

I have prepared a special Halloween treat of three creepy "Nevermore Parables", called Autumn Secrets, in time to go on sale for Halloween 2018. This follows the recent release of book two of the "Nevermore Parables", Saints and Sinners.

Volume 3:

(Book Synopsis: Summer is over and Fall brings secrets to the surface! New vampire in town, Christopher Arano, is trying to find a local girl to date when evil legend Sven Ermore returns to haunt Mystic Evermore. The Lenore family continue to mourn the death of Lena’s parents, and the community experience a truly magical Halloween night.) 

Available on Amazon at:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HKWJZ83/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i8

(Book synopsis: A love triangle comes to a head with unexpected results, and Zarah Strahan is left wondering whether she will ever see her sister again. On top of that, strange creatures are emerging from the sewers and other dark corners. Zarah and her friend Paul Booth think they destroy the source of all evil - but could this be leading towards a series of vampire wars? How would you feel if it happened to you?)

Available at:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D1FPG4Y/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i5

Goodreads Listopia features and listings for my books

Silver Springtime has been featured on Goodreads in Listopia lists specifically listing Australian writers. You may find the book listed at: https://www.goodreads.com/list/book/36099244

Faith and Love is also featured in "Listopia" on "Goodreads" - mostly in Christian lists! One or two secular lists I'm not sure about... and it seems that members have a very loose conception of Christian literature in some cases... however, it is good to be noticed! https://www.goodreads.com/list/book/41109544

Please feel free to visit and vote:

Please feel free to visit and vote:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/book/41109544