Rebecca M. Douglass, Author

I haven't done a lot of flash fiction lately, but with the WEP closing down I came back from my non-participation (I wasn't getting the inspiration from the songs and movies, as well as moving away from so much flash fiction on the blog). I also thought I'd look in on the WritePhoto prompt at KL Caley's New2Writing, and that put me in mind of my on-going story about the Scots vs. Aliens. I'd kind of finished that, but decided a little wrapping up wouldn't hurt. It's not much of a story, but here it is. The WEP prompt is "Over to You," which is offered as freedom to write what we want, so I did, but am linking back for the farewell. The WritePhoto Challenge is issued each Thursday with posts to be up and shared by the following Tuesday. The prompt is, of course a photo: Photo credit KL Caley My story isn't particulalry related to the photo, even if it did start my mind going back to that castle where the Campbells began the rebellion. Here...

I tend to wander through the non-fiction audio section of my library's Overdrive and tag books that I might enjoy listening to while I do my daily walks. This was one of those selections, an excellent choice for walking.   Title: Surfacing Author: Kathleen Jamie. Read by Cathleen McCarron Publication Info: Books on Tape, 2019, 6h 45 min. Original hardback, 2019, Sort of Books, 240 pages. Source: Library Publisher's Blurb: An immersive exploration of time and place in a shrinking world, from the award-winning author of Sightlines. In this remarkable blend of memoir, cultural history, and travelogue, poet and author Kathleen Jamie touches points on a timeline spanning millennia, and considers what surfaces and what reconnects us to our past. From the thawing tundra linking a Yup'ik village in Alaska to its hunter-gatherer past to the shifting sand dunes revealing the impressively preserved homes of neolithic farmers in Scotland, Jamie explores how the changing natural ...

  I wrote the first few hundred words of this story a couple of weeks ago for the #WritePhoto challenge. I have since rewritten that and continued the story, so I'm including the whole 1950 words here--grab a cup of tea and relax with this double-sized flash fiction. These are the photos from KL Caley's WritePhoto page that set off the story. I didn't make the deadline, but go ahead and follow the link for other takes on the prompt.         At the Castle   I. Approach   Once, the entry to the castle must have shouted a large and inarguable “do not enter.” Moat, drawbridge, portcullis. With appropriate guards, it would keep out all but the most determined invaders.   There is one invader that no wall can protect against: time. The moat had long since filled itself in, the portcullis was rusted, and someone had built an all-too-solid bridge.   The new arrivals considered the antique pile and w...

I've had company this last week, so I'm a bit behind with my posts--looks like "Photo Friday" is on Monday this time! In my last few travel posts, I described time spent hiking the John O'Groats trail and visiting Edinburgh. From there I went to spend a few days--while recovering from COVID--in a cabin in Glencoe in the West Highlands. Happily, I felt good enough to do a little hiking, keeping my distance from other hikers, of course. My first outing took me through the village and up to the Glencoe Lochan. The Glencoe museum. I didn't go in, due to my contagion. World War I memorial. I saw many such in villages around Europe, and was struck by how often there were multiple young men with the same last name listed--brothers or cousins, all lost to that insane, pointless war. On up to the lochlan, the large pond or very small lake above the village. A grey and misty day, but without actual rain, as I recall. After strolling around the lake I started back towar...

The earlier reports on my trip to Scotland are here and here . I left you with just one more day to hike on the JOG, but it was the longest day. JOG Day 5: Keiss to John O'Groats I started this day back at Keiss Harbour, this time leaving from the other end of the (very small) harbour area and heading north. Happily, the wind cooperated once more, staying mostly out of my face for a hike through sun, wind, and drizzle. My hiking partner was still feeling a bit gimpy, so again met me at some of the more accessible highlights, as well as the end of the trail. One of the first things I encountered was Keiss Castle, old and new. The old castle was built in the 1600s, and apparently didn't last long. The new one (Keiss House) was built in 1755, and is privately owned. I'm not sure who actually owns all the ruins on the headlands! Keiss House on the left, Keiss Castle on the right. The next cool thing was the Nybster Broch. Seeing this on the itinerary for the day had sent me to...