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Laurie Spellman

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Feb, 2024

Stories (10)

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51 Followers

114 Following

10 Stories

484 karma pts

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Thirteen Dots

Laurie Spellman

Submitted to Contest #283

The Ferris wheel lights spun behind her in a blur, making me dizzy. At sunset on Christmas, I met Barcelona Cortés, the mind-surfer, at the Santa Monica Pier. Her fiery red hair burned more vividly than the bonfire on the beach."You look like someone staring at the screen too long. Did you get lost in the code like me?" Barcelona teased."I guess…I have been lost lately. But this isn't real; it's a dreamscape. I designed it, and I've never been to Santa Monica.""What is real to you? Is it the things we touch? The things we feel? Or is the spa...

15 likes

Noble Prickly Love ❤️ 🎄

Laurie Spellman

Submitted to Contest #281

As a sapling, I was teased relentlessly since my branches were too skinny. Raised at Wintervale Christmas Tree Farm, my two nursery mates, Sappy and Piney, took root alongside me. The grower grumbled as he shoveled the dirt. I was the runt of the grove and probably would not amount to a Noble Fir. He planned to use me for firewood if nobody wanted me. When he examined me, he said: "I'll call this one Prickly."On cutting day for Noble and Fraser Firs, who had turned fifteen that year, the most regal of the season would be crowned. But I didn'...

13 likes

Ton Talk

Laurie Spellman

Submitted to Contest #254

"Ton Talk"Society Papers Issue# 1 - The London Season of 1814April 13thDear Dear Gentle Readers,Prepare to be enthralled, my loyal accomplices, as the esteemed families in our tight-lipped society find themselves once again under the scrutiny of my sharpened quill. The Ton has been veiled in hushed silence for months in the off-season, awaiting the blossoms of spring. My ink well ran dry with the absence as the nobility took a holiday to country estates and long ocean voyages.Some of you thought I, too, convalesced taking summer off from gat...

18 likes

Archeology Of Enlightenment

Laurie Spellman

Submitted to Contest #251

July 17, 2164, Zion National Park, UtahDr. Jaden Reynolds A decade ago, during a research expedition in Thailand, I met my future husband while working on our thesis in the monastery of Wat Mahathat, also called the 'Temple of Relics.' We shared a lighthearted moment that marked the beginning of our relationship. As I stooped to brush the dirt off the ancient stone tablet, a voice behind me said, "Careful. Those tablets are known to cast a love spell on archaeologists." I turned around to see a charming smile on the...

31 likes

Sambas and Birdsongs: A Tale of Two Cities

Laurie Spellman

Submitted to Contest #248

João Santos, Music Journal, April 1, 2024, Rio de Janeiro They say once you lose your groove, you never get it back. But they are always wrong. I climbed on the mossy rock in the heart of Tijuca Forest and closed my eyes, letting the sounds resonate. The rustling of the breeze, birds chirping, and a waterfall's distant roar vibrated the earth beneath my feet. This was the place my Mom, Beatriz Santos, had taken me before she passed away. Growing up, we camped in this secret spot and explored the Rainforest together. Mom taught me t...

16 likes

Gummy Mayhem

Laurie Spellman

Submitted to Contest #246

It was just another day in the life of Velma Dinkley, the resident nerd and social outcast. It's safe to say that I will never have a shot at being famous. My love for all things cerebral and my less-than-stellar social skills made me an easy target for bullies like Katelynn Carson. She was a classic mean girl straight from Hollywood central casting. I'd been dealing with her taunts and jabs for years, but it all came to a head at her Halloween party last year.Katelynn had set up a game of spin the bottle, and I knew it wouldn't end well for...

18 likes

A Planet’s Worth

Laurie Spellman

Submitted to Contest #245

In the first photograph of Mercury captured by humans, I could see the fear etched on its cracked gray face. The planet's weathered visage held many secrets, its surface marked with millions of deep, enigmatic recesses. Upon closer inspection, a stark white spot emerged—a colossal 50-mile-wide crater the scientists called Debussy. Mercury was peering back at me, an all-seeing eye unveiling its truths. I orbit through the indigo expanse of stars, with only a few planets perceptible to my naked eye. I glimpse Venus, the hottest plan...

24 likes

Unleashing My Inner Unicorn

Laurie Spellman

Submitted to Contest #244

When I was little, I would run through the park, my hair streaming in a silky mane, pretending to be a unicorn with a shimmering coat and glittering horn. You should never let a unicorn wander too far into the woodlands alone. Otherwise, you might find yourself lost in the forest, chasing after a creature that's decided to follow its whimsical desires.Ahhh, sunsets over Manhattan are always the perfect backdrop for broadcasting from Studio Two. The red light flickered on the camera, panning on me at my reporter's desk. My director counted do...

23 likes

The Orion Effect

Laurie Spellman

Submitted to Contest #243

World Log Entry: February 29, 2164As we zoom in on the planet Natura Martis, divided by the vast Aetheric Sea, Abeona and Adiona, two distinct continents, come into focus where the airplane was never conceived. I am Abeona, a Roman deity who created this world. The continent that bears my name is the land of outward journeys. Rugged landscapes, steep mountains, and deep valleys divide the terrain. The mortal inhabitants are brave and adventurous. On the other continent, Adiona, named after the Roman Goddess of safe return, is home ...

23 likes

Angel Feathers

Laurie Spellman

Submitted to Contest #239

Luna stood atop the snow-capped mountain, staggered by the emerald feathers raining from the sky. She was tickled at the thought of the archangel dropping her a sign from heaven. Luna twirled around, catching feathers and stuffing them into her pockets. The sight of the feather storm was nothing short of a miracle.With a name like Luna Auriga Perez, she had always been drawn toward celestial inspiration. Her affinity for moons, zodiacs, and stars was evident in every piece of jewelry that bore her name. For a long time, she was afraid of tak...

16 likes