Hot Flash Momma Stories: Peters, Lehnhoff, and Todd

In Susan Peters’ humorous story “Naked Tennis at the White House Lodge” an adventuresome woman accepts a date with a man she meets on an Internet dating site. Steven invites her on a camping trip to a “clothing optional resort.” Hiding beneath big towels and staying in the deep end of the pool aren’t too bad, but how does one keep middle-age wobblies under control while bouncing around a tennis court?

About the Author Susan W. Peters grew up in Kansas and has recently returned to her Midwestern roots after many years working overseas. Her work has appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Count Your Blessings, Writer’s Journal, and My First Year in the Classroom, and her poetry has won regional and national awards. She currently teaches at Johnson County (Kansas) Community College and is prose co-editor for Kansas City Voices.

Kim Lehnhoff’s story, “Women Seldom Behave Like Ladies on Ladies’ Night Out,” is a humorous adventure into the night life at the local sports bar. June’s stepdaughter, Ruth, decides that an evening of free drink, loud music, and dirty dancing is one way June could “get a life.” June is disappointed that the  crowd is much younger than the ones on the website and the shenigans going on around her are harder to swallow than the free drinks on ladies’ night.

About the Author: Kim Lehnhoff is a fifty-something wife, mom, stepmom, and grandma who has re-invented herself as she waits for this economy to create her next technical writing job. Kim likes blogging, reading, doing crossword puzzles and has re-discovered her love of cooking and baking, though she readily refers to herself as a Wilton cake decorating class dropout.

In “Mirror Image,” Sonia Todd gives a humorous reflection of how nervous a woman can be when she goes out on her first date in twenty years. She needs her daughter’s fashion advice to wear the right blouse, and the perfect shoes. The mother and daughter bond while they prepare Mom for her evening out on the town.

About the author: Sonia Todd is a member of two writing groups and ACW. She lives with her husband and two sons in Moscow, Idaho. She blogs at http://myfirstlaunch.blogspot.com.

Copyright © October 2010

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Three More Reasons to Read Hot Flash Mommas—Mozark Press LLC

A Shaker of Margaritas: Hot Flash Mommas includes twenty-five captivating stories. Last week’s post spotlighted the top three prizewinners, but all stories included in the anthology are winners. Mozark Press would like to highlight three more authors with a brief synopsis of their story.

In Harriett Ford’s humorous story “Harvey Saw Monsters” Ava finds an innovative approach to scare off an intruder. She overcomes her fear to prove her late husband, Harvey, was wrong about women not being able to think and act for themselves in an emergency situation. Armed with a pink slipper and her wits, Ava bravely confronts the intruder she believes to be her neighbor, Crazy Sam.

About the Author: Harriett L. Ford, a veteran investigative reporter, is the author of four books, numerous short stories, and feature articles for a variety of publications. She is a three-time First Place winner in both regional and national writing contests. Her Beyond Fantasy series (a biblically-based paranormal romantic suspense genre) has been adopted by Tri-Lakes Community Christian School in Branson, Missouri. Visit her website at www.deniedevidence.com. She loves hearing from her readers.

In this E. B. Davis mini mystery, “Implicated by a Phrase,” Janet and Bea’s day of relaxation at the beach, turns deadly. After enjoying Cranberry Fizzies at the Ocracoke Island Pub, they decide to tour some beach rentals. They hide in a closet to avoid being drawn into the middle of a lovers’ quarrel and become ear witnesses to murder.

About the Author: E. B. Davis, an unpublished author and beach bum of note, writes short stories and novels in the mystery and paranormal mystery genres. Ms. Davis graduated from George Washington University with a Masters Degree from the Elliot School of International Service, and continued degrading her writing skills working as a government contractor. Her employment in the construction industry further deteriorated her writing by using undesirable verbs such as cornicing and Tyvekking. An “Ah-Ha” moment revealed her desire to write murder mysteries, which also provided an outlet for her killer instinct. When she is not writing or blogging, she can be found at the beach, the setting for many of her stories. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and its Guppy (The Great Unpublished) subchapter. She blogs at http://writerswhokill.blogspot.com where her blog mates and she explain “the writing and getting published” adventure.

In Fred Farris’ “Titanium Butterfly” Violet is so sure she is on the verge of winning the $94,000 Jackpot at a St. Louis casino that she maxes out her credit cards and spends her daughter’s quarter collection. When Vi runs out of options, she borrows money from Tony who coerces Vi to take part in a blackmail scheme.  Vi is desperate to break free from Tony’s illegal dealings when she realizes her young daughter’s safety is jeopardized. Vi heads to Tony’s room for a final confrontation. Will Vi use the gun she bought to end this nightmare?

About the Author: Fred Farris, a retired advertising executive, now writes fiction for fun. His story, Cello Bells, won second prize In ByLine Magazine National competition for prose. Others have appeared in Goose River Anthology, Sweet Afternoon Tales published by Gulf Coast Writers, Best Times Magazine, and Kansas City Voices Literary Journal. Farris is now working on a short novella drawing from his World War II Infantry memories. He’s also gathering research on Missouri Ozark folklore characters . . . especially a woman named Patience Worth, rumored to have had three eyes. He invites your comments on her sightings. Fred is a member of the Kansas City Writers’ Group and lives in Leawood, Kansblas.         

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