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Author: CAstfalk

Carolyn Astfalk is a wife, mother, and author of contemporary Catholic romances, including her latest, All in Good Time. She formerly worked as a communications director and now works just to keep her head above water. Find her books on Amazon and her other words scattered around the blogosphere and social media.

Flash Fiction Challenge: Part One

Published by CAstfalk on 02/13/2015

In an effort to hit my 1,000 words/day goal, I’m trying something new: Chuck Wendig’s Flash Fiction Challenge. (HT: Sheri Williams) The object is to post a 1,000 word story beginning. Each week, another writer will build on the story culminating in a four-part tale written by four different authors.

I have a definite theme for this piece, and a vague idea of where I’d take it. It will be interesting to see what others do with the story.

Sanctified (Part One)

Bald Eagle in Flight

Marina trudged up the trail. Beads of sweat trickled down her forehead, stinging her eyes. She stopped and leaned her hiking pole against a fat oak trunk. The damp handkerchief in her back pocket smelled of perspiration but was her only means of effectively wiping her brow.

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Unethical Authors and Toddlers: Identical Behaviors?

Published by CAstfalk on 02/09/2015

Have you seen any of the videos making the rounds in which grown men behave like toddlers? [Insert your own dig at men and their big-boy toys here. Out of respect for my husband, I will refrain.] I’m talking about something like this:

Or this: Full-Grown Man Plays Toddler In ‘Convos With My 2-Year-Old’

What makes these so funny? Well, if you spend any amount of time around kids, you know they do these things. In spades. What’s so funny is that adults don’t. Or they shouldn’t.

But some do.

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Seven Quick Takes Friday

Published by CAstfalk on 02/06/2015

Seven Quick Takes Friday

What’s Hanging on the Walls Edition

So, here’s what’s hanging on the walls in our house – aside from dirt, kid prints, cobwebs, and errant crayon marks. This is a glimpse at most of the artwork in our home. I confess to knowing very little about art – from creating to appreciating to buying. In this brief look, our tastes seem pretty narrow: one French romantic, religious artwork, and pop movie posters. Perhaps if we had the wall space, money, and leisure to devote to it, we could enhance our home with some more inspiring pieces, but in this season of life, I’m just happy if I’m not scraping dried food from the wall. (Yeah, I’m looking at you, toddler boy.)

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Unrequited Love: Can it be true love?

Published by CAstfalk on 01/30/2015

Finally, a topic about which I am eminently qualified to write.

It started with Speed Racer when I was five and continued through a seemingly endless series of boys and then young men (of the non-Japanese animé variety) through grade school, high school and college. I was a charter member of the BGFC ([Name withheld to protect the innocent] Fan Club) in fourth grade. I daydreamed of romantic rides on  Kennywood’s dark ride, The Old Mill. There were crushes on classmates, friends of friends, and fellow interns. Every last one of them unrequited.

Speed Racer
What’s not to love?
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