Ashley Slaughter

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Mar, 2021

Stories (8)

8 Stories

210 karma pts

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“We Build the City” by Ashley Slaughter

Submitted to Contest #113

New Orleans, 2021 Camille wakes with a gasp, just before the boy took her hand in his. Why do dreams always end just before the most heart-wrenching part? Closing her eyes against the gray morning light one more, Camille stubbornly tries to fall back into her dream. Just a few more minutes . . . But her phone’s alarm breaks her resolve with a not-so-gentle tinkling of bells, and she wants to cry. Couldn’t she get just a couple of more minutes with him? With a final, frustrated harumph, Camille rolls her limbs one by one out of bed and pads...

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“Eumonia's Monody” by Ashley Slaughter

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #111

There is another knock at the door downstairs, but I only play louder. I let the smooth, shrill notes of the violin fill the loft of my little flat as I run my bow across the strings. G, A, E, D, G sharp . . . Closing my eyes, the second movement of my work-in-progress comes together in a string of melodies— The door rattles again, and I squeak out an accidental B flat, derailing my rhythm. An irritated sigh passes my lips as I stand, glaring over the loft railing at the door. I know who it is, of course. I’d open the door, and my darling br...

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“The Plum-Rimmed Orchid of Tonga” by Ashley Slaughter

Submitted to Contest #100

The fabled plum-rimmed orchid was what made FeFe’s faikakai so irresistible. I’ve never seen one, not even in a photograph, but I knew without a doubt that those coconut caramel-smothered dumplings wouldn’t taste the same without it. If the only thing I learned in life was how to make FeFe’s faikakai, my entire existence would be completely and unconditionally fulfilled. If only FeFe ever let me set foot in the kitchen. “’Ikai!” she shouted, shooing me away with her wooden spoon. “No! No cook! I cook!” Her broken English carried through my d...

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“Kymopoleia” by Ashley Slaughter

Submitted to Contest #99

That familiar soft violet lining the horizon was the only thing that kept my head above the water. Even as waves buffeted my entire body forward and back, side to side, I made certain that my eyes stayed hooked on that wisteria violet, slowly turning to cherry blossom pink, then marigold orange, until finally, a sliver of sun burst forth with the first light of morning. Morning of the summer solstice, I reminded myself vaguely, the longest day of the year. Anything to keep me grounded despite the pull and push of the ocean’s waves. I refused...

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“A Bee's Eyes” by Ashley Slaughter

Submitted to Contest #86

The ostentatious orange petals catch your eye, and soon you’re rocketing toward the flower with a new sense of purpose: collect pollen. Feed the family.Your wings, paper-like but strong as scales, carry you through the viridian field of wildflowers, and you are naturally one to get easily distracted. That sun-yellow coreopsis smells nice as you pass by, so you take a short detour and rest your velvety body onto the collection of wide petals at your feet. You frantically stuff whatever pollen you can into your pollen baskets, or “corbiculae” ...

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“Two Birds with One Stone” by Ashley Slaughter

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city. It stinks. Literally—it smells terrible. Between the massive landfill along the interstate and the old papermill across the river, the stench of pollution and hard-earned money from both sides ride on the wings of the wind through the streets, whishing between the tall, dilapidated buildings of downtown. Good old Monroe, Louisiana. The city used to be a big deal back in the early- to mid-1900’s. The infamous Bonnie and Clyde hid in one of the old hotels, the first bottles of Coca-Cola were produced here, and...

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“The Warden's Switch” by Ashley Slaughter

Submitted to Contest #84

*Warning: Brief Instances of Adult Language and Themes* It’s Monday. Yes, definitely Monday. Or—Tuesday? Agh, dammit! I threw my hands into the air and groaned aloud in frustration. I’d been doing so well! I’d marked off the days on the calendar throughout December, then—since I didn’t have a calendar for the next year—drew my notches onto the floor underneath the couch in the living room. Every day. Come on, Nick. Think. Surely, it was Monday, March 16th, 2071. But days were not easy to remember, anymore. Not after you spend too many of the...

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“Guaiya” by Ashley Slaughter

Submitted to Contest #83

The frothy comfort of the waves rolling off the reef cooled my bare feet as my eyes careened to the horizon. The familiar vastness of the Pacific Ocean stared back at me, its numerous tiny crests twinkling in the sun. “Hanna,” I heard my husband call out. “Are you ready?” No, I sighed to myself. I’ll never quite be ready. His voice grew closer, and I heard his feet sliding in the sand. “The kids are all strapped in and ready to go.” Without tearing my eyes away from the water, I reached my hand behind me, searching for him. “Stand with ...

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Author bio

Hi everyone! I'm Ashley W. Slaughter, and I'm an aspiring author in the process of publishing my debut novel. I have always loved creative writing, and I had a very active imagination as a young girl. I'm sure my mom still has a manila folder full of my short stories stowed away somewhere! However, under the impression that STEM provided more job security, I decided to pursue another interest of mine: wildlife biology. I received my Bachelors degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and I worked as a wildlife biologist for one year with an amazing company called Quail Forever (look them up--they do awesome work!). I unfortunately had to move on from Quail Forever upon getting married and moving to Guam with my husband. Finding a job during the pandemic has proven to be a struggle, so, with the never-ending support of my amazing husband, I took the plunge and dove head-first into writing once again. As I am writing, I feel that I am doing what I'm meant to do. Sure, it has its own set of challenges, but I enjoy it so immensely that the difficulty feels oh so worth it. I started a project back in high school, the first forty pages of a novel. So, this year, I got re-acquainted with that storyline, fell in love with the characters once more, and took off running! I hope to get it out for the world to see soon! I love to use Reedsy Prompts to exercise those creative muscles that I've suppressed for so long. The prompts help to sharpen my writing, as well as to challenge myself to create stories about topics I'd normally never consider. I've also learned that writing a short story is VERY different from writing a novel! You have to fit an engaging plot, developed characters, and complex emotions in such a short prose. I am very much still honing those skills, so please, provide constructive criticism where you see fit! Thank you for being a community of fellow authors just trying to build each other up while perfecting our craft!

Shortlisted 1 story ⭐️

Contest #111

Eumonia's Monody – read story