I have been receiving newsletters in my email that I sign up for. I love these newsletters. It is a more personal way to get the thoughts and activity on the owner of the website, blog or business. In fact, I am thinking about starting a news letter to send to you twice a month. Won’t you consider signing up for mine? I will talk about everything from where I am going, events, plans for the future and whatever else finds it’s way to the newsletter. Its still in the idea stage and not ready for implementation. I need subscribers to get started, rest assured your email is kept private and safe!

One newsletter you may want to subscribe to is Quiltfiction. Frances is a writer of all kinds of books and recently she wrote a book for adults that has quilts and quilting in it. I loved the story, Birds in the Air, and she made several quilts as a part of her creative process. The next book is in the works and has quilts with stars, my favorite. In her newsletter, she gave a writing prompt to her readers. I chose to try it. I love PROMPTS and writing prompts help me be a better blogger and eventually newsletter writer. The first line is the prompt and the rest was a exercise for my writing.

The caved-in roof, the crumbling paint, the red door—it begged me to enter. Continue.”

 As I pushed the door open, I thought to myself… What was I thinking!?!? I couldn’t stand it anymore, I had to know. Why was there a light on in the attic every night?

The old house sat on the property next to mine. It was a complete mystery as to who owned it, why it was abandoned and why it was allowed to still be standing by the county officials. In the 16 years I had lived in my home, there was never sign of anyone on the neighboring property. But what really got to me was every night as the sun set for the past month, a light seemed to be glowing in the attic. However, every morning when I went to work the light was out.

It was really something that the police didn’t have time to investigate thoroughly. In fact, they said there was no light on when they went by after I reported it. I am not sure they even drove by, or if they did, it was in the daylight hours. And it was during the daylight that I decided to see for myself what may be in that house.

The red door groaned terribly as it was pushed opened. My footsteps make loud thudding sounds that echoed in the house. It was dark, not because there was a lack of sunlight to stream in. It was dark because it had very dark wood trim surrounding the tall skinny windows that were covered in tattered and faded curtains. It was dark because all the doors were old dark wood. It was dark because the old trees that surrounded the house provided a dense shade. The room was empty and the old wallpaper was peeling off the walls. It smelled very old and musty.

There was a stair case in the foyer that went up to the next floor. It creaked as I walked up them but they were surprisingly solid under my feet.  I had my cell phone with me and I put the flashlight app on. It gave enough light to ascend the stairs. I found myself in a very large open room once I reached the top. In the center was an old oil lamp on a table placed by rusty iron bed. The bed had several old quilts on it and a pillow. It looked like it was slept in recently. In fact, there were bags from fast food restaurants strewn about by the head of the bed.

It was clear that this house had someone here recently. Old photo albums lay open on the table. Who would be sleeping in this drafty old house with a sagging roof and painted red door was a question that I needed an answer to. So far all I had was more questions and not one single answer.

It was fun to write a story. Creativity comes in all forms and writing is one I like to practice occasionally. I have written a few little shorts that helped me in making quilt patterns before and plan to continue to that when I get “quilters block.”

Have you been joining in on the Daily Prompt Challenge? Jump in today we are coloring a paper we randomly folded yesterday and you can see what I did here , in the My Creative Corner3 Facebook group, later today.

Vicki