My Collection

As I mentioned, I am currently working on a collection of short stories.  I think the collection will have about 10 stories (is this right?  should there be more?).  I have several stories in the works and at different parts of the writing process.  Here is what we're looking at so far...

1. The Journey:  It's the story of Kalle, who is trying to deal with a rape that happened about 9 years ago.  She is suicidal, seeing that as her only way to escape her rapist who still haunts her.  What will she do?  Can her best friend, Jason, save her?

2.  Postcards:  It's the story of Alexa and Bryan who had broken up several years ago, but have kept in contact through blank postcards.  Bryan requests a meeting and Alexa decides to go.  What does he want?  What will Alexa decide to do?

3.  Summer of Choice:  It's the story of Kate who is faced with a surprise pregnancy.  The love of her life, Will, totally surprises her with his reaction to the news.  What will she do?  How much will Will and her feelings for him influence her decision?

4.  Sessions:  This story is new, but it's about promiscuity.  Beth joins a group for sex addicts and explores her own sexuality.  What is the root of her promiscuity? 

5.  Afraid to Love:  Also a new story.  It's the story of Simone and Ben and how they find love in an unlikely place.  I know, sounds like it has been done before, but how will this story be different?

Stories six and seven are untitled.  Six is about a woman dealing with bipolar disorder, and seven is about motherhood.  They are in the very early stages of the process.

So, question to my blog readers:  What story do you want to read?  Why?  I'll probably post them in the order that they have been completed, but if one sparks your interest and you can't wait to read it, let me know.

The Poem that was Published

frozen with fear

stumbling naked in the darkness

dreading his return

praying for this to subside

crying for help

touched by acid rain

begging for mercy

consumed by his ignorance

raped by his distorted views

lost in his dysfunctional world

dressed as a different woman

confused about what went wrong

asking why

hearing his bullshit excuses

wondering how things will end

hating him and all that support him

craving vengeance

weighing the consequences

feeling alone

running from reality

drinking to drown him out

leaving behind the important things

denying what happened

trying to cope

learning to live again

moving on slowly

excusing him for his stupidity

suffering each day because of him

growing up to prevent a reoccurrence

Spring 1996

Introductory Post

Hello, my name is Kimberly and I'm a writer.  I've been writing since I was in elementary school.  I used to make newspapers for my family to read when I was in second grade.  In junior high school, I wrote short stories and even started a novel (I still have it somewhere).  In high school I branched out to poetry and even attempted a play.  I wrote some in college, but it wasn't until a few years ago that I got really serious about my writing.  My concentration is fiction, and I am working on a collection of short stories.  I tend to write about serious women's issues (rape, abortion, relationships, etc), so my audience is adult women.

I have only been published once and it was while I was in college.  I had a poem published in the college literary magazine.  It was published anonymously.  It dealt with my own rape and the healing process I was going through.  At the time, since the event was so fresh, I felt it was better to publish it without my name on it.  But now, 15 years later, I wish my name was on it so I could show that I was published and that my words were out there for others to read.

My current goals are to finish my collection of short stories and shop it around.  Hopefully, I'll find an agent willing to take a chance on me and get my collection out there for others to read.  I really want to make a difference in the world by sharing my stories because I know that there are other women out there that are in similar situations to my characters.  I want to help other women.

This blog will be my chance to talk about my project and share my stories.  I appreciate feedback and encourage others to follow my blog.  Likewise, I would like to meet other writers and offer my feedback and suggestions for their work.

Happy Writing (and reading)!