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Mary Jo Fortes

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Sep, 2019

Stories (9)

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107 Followers

127 Following

9 Stories

306 karma pts

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Cigarettes, Chianti, and Karaoke

Shortlisted for Contest #158 ⭐️

The hot ember of her Kool Extra Long cigarette mesmerized him each time she waved her hand in conversation. He had long since lost focus on her words and even her smoldering green eyes. All he thought of was that familiar smoky scent invading his nostrils, his neurons. They had just finished devouring linguine and clams, paired with Chianti, at Mama Rossina's Ristorante on Elm Street. It was, in fact, a date—their first date. They met at a party hosted by mutual friends and hit it off immediately. He asked her out toward the end of the nig...

25 likes

The Music of Angels

Submitted to Contest #158

Trigger Warning: Contains violent content and domestic abuse. Child abuse is alluded to, as well. He felt the sting in his hand as he watched his knuckles gush red. What hurt the most was the realization that he had screwed up—again. It had been four months since he had punched anything. Darren Holmes, in all his sixteen years, had never tried as hard to accomplish anything as he has to control his temper. He was doing well for a while there. Then, after 5th-period Algebra class, he caught Courtney, his girlfriend of three-and-a-half month...

10 likes

"The Gutter Girls" and the Domino Effect

Submitted to Contest #131

I can still picture the terribly comical scene that my mother described as she recalled aloud (more than once) the story of how she and her five sisters got the nickname that has stuck with them for just over 50 years. Oh, to have been a fly on the proverbial wall back then! To have seen such a sight with my own two eyes, some sort of a costume (a fly or the like) would have been necessary. Mom and my aunts would never have let loose, acted so unencumbered, had child-me been a witness. As the story goes, it all started innocently enough, w...

18 likes

Inferno Dreams: A Marisol and Rick Romance (#2 in Series on Reedsy)

Submitted to Contest #130

[NOTE: Contains Sexual Content] She saw him again today—not for one of their “Special Days,” as they refer to their secret times of stolen intimacy, but just out and about. That was enough to heighten all her senses—to make colors brighter, the sound of her own breathing louder, the sun on her face warmer, the memory of his earthy smell more intoxicating, and the bite of the chilled iced water she was drinking almost sting her mouth and throat. It was enough to make her feel as if her heart would pound out of her chest; enough to arouse h...

14 likes

Saved by the Storm

I sip at my hot cocoa, amazed at this fortunate twist of events. Sympathetic to my tripmates’ feelings to the contrary, I do my best to restrain the urge to smile as I gaze into the flames of the fireplace that are keeping my fingers and toes toasty. I am a lifelong New Englander who hates the winter, snow, and all things related to it, and have my entire life since as far back as I can remember. Wait, I stand corrected… I do recall being awestruck by the sheer mass of snow during the Blizzard of ’78 and enjoying myself in it once we could g...

3 likes

The Perfect Time for Tea

…the sound of rumbling water in the kettle, finding its way to a boil.…puffs of steam escaping into the air, promising warmth and comfort.…scents of spearmint wafting through the kitchen, transporting me back to days gone by.…feelings of coziness that making a cup of tea ensures.…the sweet taste of anticipation—for the tea, for the news that we will discuss over our tea. ...

2 likes

Autumn Begins, Awakening Her Spirit

Autumn Begins, Awakening Her Spirit Everything is still in the black Mustang while outside Autumn is raging. Trees ablaze with color, the autumn air bitingly chilled, and fallen leaves whipping around the vehicle in a mad dance before the windshield. Rose takes it all in, marveling at the multi-sensory experience, lost in it—which can be dangerous. She forgets, just for a moment, that he's driving—a definite...

8 likes

Finding Ourselves In The Dark

Submitted to Contest #58

Music, check. Lingerie, check. Candles, check. What am I missing? Marisol performs a mental inventory while trying to recall how a seduction is supposed to look. ...

18 likes

Debt of Ingratitude

Submitted to Contest #57

To my beloved family, I leave you… Should I really go through with this? I know that they think I am some kind of millionaire, having worked so hard and not having a direct heir to whom to leave my estate. Lord knows, my brother and five sisters’ children (many of them) are all still looking for a piece of the proverbial pie. The thing is, most of them have received their pies— a car pie, a college tuition pie, a wedding pie, a house pie, an Auntie-I’m-broke-again pie—then come back for more, and never returned so much as a ...

14 likes

Author bio

Writing and storytelling have been passions for me since my earliest memories. I find inspiration in just about everything in life, from my own experiences and music to nature elements to people- watching. My best ideas come right when I am falling asleep, driving, or getting ready for the day (still haven't figured out how to keep a notebook dry in the shower). I write my drafts old-school, with pen on actual paper, then transpose them to electronic copies.
An Empty Nester, I also enjoy traveling, amateur photography, scrapbooking, and--more than anything, spending time with friends & family, particularly my grandchildren.
Thank you for taking the time to read my stories. Please do leave a comment--I believe that receiving feedback, both positive and constructive, is how we grow as writers. I appreciate your contributions toward my ongoing growth as a writer! Looking forward to reading your stories and getting to know you better, as well.

1 shortlisted story ⭐️

Contest #158

Cigarettes, Chianti, and Karaoke – read story