Raven West

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jul, 2023

Stories (13)

13 Stories

265 karma pts

?

“The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Writer” by Raven West

Submitted to Contest #261

Watching the 2024 Olympics in Paris and hearing the profiles of all the athletes who are competing, made me realize how very much alone we, as writers are in own field of dreams. Each athlete interviewed had personal stories to tell about coaches, teammates, family, friends and sometimes entire towns cheering them on. When they had doubts, when they fell, numerous supporters were ready at a moment’s notice to help them back on their feet. And when they were finally in the arena, thousands of spectators watched, cheered and applauded th...

Read story

“Worth More Than A Thousand Words” by Raven West

Submitted to Contest #258

Worth More Than A Thousand WordsByRaven West Hannah Levy rushed through the front door of her family’s home. The official notice to report to the IDF on her eighteenth birthday the following week clutched tightly in her hand. She didn’t know if she was more excited to join the Israeli army, or to finally be free from under the scrutiny of her overly protective parents. As far back as she could remember, Hannah never went anywhere without one or both of them tagging along. Hanna...

Read story

“Another Time, Another Place” by Raven West

Submitted to Contest #242

When the phone rang at six am, Michelle’s first reaction was to turn it off and go back to sleep. Having recently retired, she was getting used to not waking up before the time was double-digits, but the insistent ring tone had a different idea. Seeing her sister Cathy’s name on the caller-ID, Michelle was immediately alert, thinking it must be some emergency for her to be calling before the sun came up. “Cathy, what’s wrong?” She asked, trepidation in her voice. “Nothing’s wrong,” Cathy replied. “I’m really sorry to call you this early, b...

Read story

“Trust is a Four-Letter Word” by Raven West

Submitted to Contest #241

I’m still in the process of extracting all the knives in my back as I write this cautionary tale of misplaced trust and betrayal. After just completing my novel, I was cautiously optimistic when I signed up for a panel of movie producers who were looking for the next blockbuster. While waiting for the start of the event, I met Sandra Lindsky at the bar. She told me she was starting a movie production company and was looking for projects about strong women in difficult situations. Excited to be face-to-face with an actual producer, I gave h...

Read story

“The Key to Dimension Nine” by Raven West

Submitted to Contest #220

It was another New Year’s Eve and another annual extravaganza at the Garrison home in the opulent Mirada Estates in Palm Springs, California. Barbara Garrison, as usual, planned everything down to the finest detail, selecting the most expensive caterers, Waterford crystal, Mikasa china and a live twelve-piece band. She wasn’t about to let her husband Warren’s horrific taste in clothes spoil her perfect setting. “You are not wearing that awful jacket to my party!” she shrieked. “Take that thing off and put on the beige camel sports coat I...

Read story

“No Way Out?” by Raven West

Submitted to Contest #219

"I DON'T WANT TO DIE!" "Shut up, Chuck. We're not going to die." If he doesn't quit his whining, I'll kill him myself, Melanie thought as she ran her fingers along the concrete blocks feeling for an opening. "Katie, can you find any cracks on your side of the room?" "No, Mel. However Wyatt built this place, he made sure whoever or whatever he put in here wouldn't be able to get out." Katie tried to clear the dust away from an area on the floor next to Eric and Chuck, who had already resigned to their fate several minutes earlier...

Read story

“The Postmaster's Secret Passion” by Raven West

Submitted to Contest #212

The bulky manila envelope was heavy with the weight of rejection as Postmaster Alex Bentley placed it on the counter and began filling out the yellow pick-up slip. In the three years since his promotion to postmaster of the small rural office in upstate New York, Alex had delivered his share of good news and bad. Even if the tiny post office he ran was only a mailbox drop, he was there six days a week in rain, sleet, snow, and sometimes into the darkest of night. He tolerated the postal jokes, ran an efficient operation, and received numer...

Read story

“Ghost Writer in the Storm” by Raven West

Submitted to Contest #211

It was a dark and stormy night. Jessica thought sarcastically as her gold Chevy Malibu was being pelted by tirades of water from the angry gods. She clenched the wheel and tried desperately to keep the car from swerving off the muddy road. Moments before the storm hit, her editor had sent her to cover a human interest story on farmers protesting some new government regulations. He had conveniently omitted the part about the interview taking place in an uncivilized part of the country that had never heard of paved roads or streetlights. ...

Read story

“Aliens of the Universe v Earth Superior Court Case #26401” by Raven West

Submitted to Contest #210

It began the way most world altering events begin, with a temporary flash of media attention followed by public boredom and indifference. Maybe if we had been a bit more interested in the proceedings occurring in a New York civil court room and a bit less on the never ending presidential election coverage, mass shootings and serial killers, our lives would have been different.Unfortunately, politics and murder generates much higher ratings than a simple tort case. &n...

Read story

“Bridging The Generation Gap” by Raven West

Submitted to Contest #209

The District Manager had called a meeting at nine in the morning. Not unusual, but this one was at a new location and I didn't relish the thought of waking up at five in the morning to drive three hours even if was up the majestic California coast. I've never been a morning person, unless it was two or three in the morning and I'd been up all night, but that was a number of years ago. Unlike the other managers who were in their early twenties, my body was quickly approaching...

Read story

“Retro” by Raven West

Submitted to Contest #208

Jenny Reed and Johnny King had once been the top radio personalities at KKTM in Los Angeles. For four decades their on-air partnership and eventual marriage were the talk of the industry. But what was the top 100 hits in the 70’s had become a faded nostalgic memory to their ever decreasing listening audience, so when the network offered to buy them out, they both agreed it was time. After collecting all her memorabilia from more than forty years co-hosting Red Wine for Breakfast, Jenny took one last soulful look around the control room and ...

Read story

“Just Desserts” by Raven West

Submitted to Contest #207

Just Desserts Malika Badawi, owner of Almaza restaurant and her assistant Shakira finished setting up the dining room, then hurried to the kitchen to make sure they were out of sight before the male manager unlocked the front door. “Can you believe it’s been nearly a year since the occupation?” Shakira remarked as she removed her full body covering. &...

Read story

“The Power of Faith” by Raven West

Submitted to Contest #205

Rachel should have known the marriage wouldn't last. Her and Bill had been so young and idealistic. They truly believed that love could bridge the gap between their two religions. But from the very beginning, she felt his reluctance to accept her beliefs. Even though she had said nothing when he put up the Christmas tree, Bill had been very annoyed when she lit her candles. Eventually she totally abandoned the rituals she had known so well as a child. The situation was much more difficult at work Rachel did her best to ignore the stares an...

Read story

Author bio

Raven West is the author of Red Wine for Breakfast, (Lighthouse Press, 1999) First Class Male, (Lighthouse Press, 2001) and Undercover Reunion (Createspace, 2011) and her new novel Vashti's Daughter. Her short stories have won awards from several literary publications and she has been a frequent guest on radio, podcasts and cable television. For interviews, reviews and special events, please visit her website at http://ravenwest.net