Lets write a best seller.

[Fred]

There is one rule..........if you are going to reply, you must reserve your place by writing "me" and posting then going back to modify what you want to say. And the next person must wait till the post is finished.  That will then give you time to write your piece without others overlapping and making a hodge podge out of this novel.

I'll start it off..........

Once upon a time..........

[Mopar Nut]

In the deep part of the forest

[Fred]

where night was falling

[Mopar Nut]

fast, there was a old lady

[Fred]

who lost her way and realised she would have to find some shelter soon or it would be to dark to see.

[Mopar Nut]

She needed to walk to Wal*mart for some wine

[Fred]

for the holy communion that was taking place tomorrow because there would be a celebration afterwards.

[JB400]

But, she only had enough money to buy a stick of gum.

[Mopar Nut]

The old lady decided to borrow the sweet wine and run like a deer.

[Fred]

As she was running, she spotted an owl. The owl said...."Who who are you?"

[JB400]

The old lady responded, "I'm a lonely widow in dire need of

[Mopar Nut]

a sip of this sweet cold wine. Who do you think you are, the lady replied?

[Fred]

PS there is one rule.........if you are going to reply, you must reserve your place by writing "me" and posting then going back to modify what you want to say. That will then give you time to write your piece without others overlapping and making a hodge podge out of this novel.

[Mopar Nut]

As the lady walked out the doors, she saw this skinny little man in the corner.

[JB400]

[Fred]

Hello!  


I mean ME

Well?
If you reserve your spot, you need to get on with it. There are writers queueing up.

[Fred]

"I am the wise old owl" said the owl. "Where are you going so late in the day?"

[JB400]

"I'm headed to church to offer a bottle of wine to

[Mopar Nut]

the pastor that did me a favor earlier in the day.

[Fred]

"I wish you well" said the owl and the old lady moved on.

The next day, to her relief, the sun was shining and all the town folk were gathering outside the little church. And she was overcome with such bliss, she could barely contain her happiness.

[Mopar Nut]

She said with joy, this is all for me, I don't deserve this as she was crying. Nobody has ever gave me this much attention. 

[Fred]

An hour later it was all over and they all went back to her place to partake of wine and nibbles. Ten minutes later the doorbell rang. She went to answer it. She didn't recognise the stranger standing in front of her so asked politely "can I help you?"

[Mopar Nut]

Hi grandma, I'm Lucy your grandaughter that you haven't seen for ten years.

[Fred]

The old lady was at first taken aback by Lucy's remark and took a minute to digest this information. She said "Lucy darling, how lovely to see you. Come in, come in."
"Everyone look, it's Lucy come to visit"  They were all immensely pleased to see Lucy again. Except for the man lurking in the shadows.

[Mopar Nut]

Lucy started to cry, grandma you look so like momma. The old lady told Lucy to please sit, sit over here with me young child. Meanwhile the man hiding in the shadows moved forward a little as to listen in.   

[Fred]

me, where's poly and stroker?

poly's in hijacked and strokers logged off.

[polywideblock]

  cooking tea ( dinner) just posting in the easy ones   . notice I didn't say m*

[Fred]

cooking tea ( dinner) just posting in the easy ones   . notice I didn't say m*

what's for tea? Not sausages I hope.   You don't have to reserve your place if you're not going to write.

[polywideblock]

are you enjoying daylight saving ?

[Fred]

are you enjoying daylight saving ?

Absolutely but we're writing a novel here if you don't mind.    I'll see you over in hijacked.

[Fred]

Lucy started to cry, grandma you look so like momma. The old lady told Lucy to please sit, sit over here with me young child. Meanwhile the man hiding in the shadows moved forward a little as to listen in.   

But the two women didn't notice, they were to absorbed with catching up on gossip.

[JB400]

As the hours went by, and the fire dwindled down to just embers,

[Mopar Nut]

causing a bright glow on their faces revealing big smiles. While Lucy was crying, she reluctantly said to grandma that momma passed away last month and daddy was nowhere to be found.

[Fred]

So grandma said, "Have you looked under the ground?" "But if she's not there then maybe someone hung her out to dry!" "Don't cry Lucy, we'll find her"

Meanwhile, the man in the shadows decided it was time to reveal his true identity to grandma and Lucy as time was running out.

[JB400]

He burst through the door and removed his cloak.  As the light pulled away the curtain of darkness, Lucy could clearly see it was the her long lost best friend who had left for war a decade ago.

[Fred]

"OMG!" exclaimed Lucy.  " Is that really you Jacko?"  "I thought about you so many times and prayed you would come back to me"  Jacko wiped the tear from his eyes and turned to Lucy saying..."Lucy darling, I missed you so. More than I miss my leg. Will you marry me?"

[JB400]

But, before Lucy could say "Yes", there came a knock from the door.  Straightening herself up emotionally, Lucy walked to the door.  She grabbed the door knob, gave it a twist and opened the door with am ear piercing, screeching sound.  In a flash, two bony arms grabbed her, and in a poof of smoke, she was gone.

[Fred]

Meanwhile, 2000 miles away in sunny Pasadoble, Mary was having sinister thoughts. She wasn't ready to give up jacko. Certainly not to Lucy of all people. But how can she prevent the inevitable from happening.  Mary had no idea of this latest turn of events.

[JB400]

Mary was Lucy's twin sister that was kidnapped from the hospital by an estranged nurse.  The two girls were reunited 15 years later after meeting each other in Paris.  Lucy sat in front of a lone candle that flickered to reveal a picture of the two girls at a cafe, which was taken by Jacko, who was a waiter there while studying to be an artist.

[Fred]

We need to introduce our characters more better

I just added Mary to the foray.

[polywideblock]

so she hatched a plan to get rid of Lucy in a slow and horrendous manner ,death by earth worm  ingestion while immersed in a tub of compost  


thought we were writing a book not having a conversation 

[Fred]

But When Mary's friend Cecil found out what was going on, he put a stop to it by locking Mary in the closet until she comes to her senses.

[JB400]

never mind

Let me know when we're back on track

[Fred]

so she hatched a plan to get rid of Lucy in a slow and horrendous manner ,death by earth worm  ingestion while immersed in a tub of compost  


thought we were writing a book not having a conversation 

You're quite write! 

[JB400]

Mary was Lucy's twin sister that was kidnapped from the hospital by an estranged nurse.  The two girls were reunited 15 years later after meeting each other in Paris.  Lucy sat in front of a lone candle that flickered to reveal a picture of the two girls at a cafe, which was taken by Jacko, who was a waiter there while studying to be an artist.

[Fred]

But the war put and end to that and after he lost a leg he was deeply depressed for years.  That's when he decided he would try and find his long lost love, Lucy and finally prose marriage.

[twodko]

The pentagram gouged roughly in the duff of the forest floor, it's craggy edges still smoking from the recent arrival, harkened back to times of fear and suspicion. Some things retain ageless horror and this ancient portal is one. Bony hands hung from spindle arms, the prone form of innocence laying within the symbol of dread began to stir. The rustle of rough woven damp material was the only sound as the body within moved around in this dark place.

[Back N Black]

Ok, i complied all of your reply's and this is how it reads so far.......
Once upon a time, In the deep part of the forest where night was falling fast, there was a old lady who lost her way and realised she would have to find some shelter soon or it would be to dark to see. She needed to walk to Wal*mart for some wine for the holy communion that was taking place tomorrow because there would be a celebration afterwards. But, she only had enough money to buy a stick of gum. The old lady decided to borrow the sweet wine and run like a deer. As she was running, she spotted an owl. The owl said...."Who who are you?" The old lady responded, "I'm a lonely widow in dire need of a sip of this sweet cold wine. Who do you think you are, the lady replied? "I am the wise old owl" said the owl. "Where are you going so late in the day?" "I'm headed to church to offer a bottle of wine to the pastor that did me a favor earlier in the day. "I wish you well" said the owl and the old lady moved on.

The next day, to her relief, the sun was shining and all the town folk were gathering outside the little church. And she was overcome with such bliss, she could barely contain her happiness. She said with joy, this is all for me, I don't deserve this as she was crying. Nobody has ever gave me this much attention. An hour later it was all over and they all went back to her place to partake of wine and nibbles. Ten minutes later the doorbell rang. She went to answer it. She didn't recognise the stranger standing in front of her so asked politely "can I help you?" Hi grandma, I'm Lucy your granddaughter that you haven't seen for ten years.

The old lady was at first taken aback by Lucy's remark and took a minute to digest this information. She said "Lucy darling, how lovely to see you. Come in, come in."
"Everyone look, it's Lucy come to visit" They were all immensely pleased to see Lucy again. Except for the man lurking in the shadows. Lucy started to cry, grandma you look so like momma. The old lady told Lucy to please sit, sit over here with me young child. Meanwhile the man hiding in the shadows moved forward a little as to listen in. But the two women didn't notice, they were to absorbed with catching up on gossip. As the hours went by, and the fire dwindled down to just embers, causing a bright glow on their faces revealing big smiles. While Lucy was crying, she reluctantly said to grandma that momma passed away last month and daddy was nowhere to be found. So grandma said, "Have you looked under the ground?" "But if she's not there then maybe someone hung her out to dry!" "Don't cry Lucy, we'll find her"

Meanwhile, the man in the shadows decided it was time to reveal his true identity to grandma and Lucy as time was running out. He burst through the door and removed his cloak.  As the light pulled away the curtain of darkness, Lucy could clearly see it was the her long lost best friend who had left for war a decade ago. "OMG!" exclaimed Lucy.  " Is that really you Jacko?"  "I thought about you so many times and prayed you would come back to me"  Jacko wiped the tear from his eyes and turned to Lucy saying..."Lucy darling, I missed you so. More than I miss my leg. Will you marry me?"

But, before Lucy could say "Yes", there came a knock from the door.  Straightening herself up emotionally, Lucy walked to the door.  She grabbed the door knob, gave it a twist and opened the door with an ear piercing, screeching sound.  In a flash, two bony arms grabbed her, and in a poof of smoke, she was gone. Meanwhile, 2000 miles away in sunny Pasadoble, Mary was having sinister thoughts. She wasn't ready to give up jacko. Certainly not to Lucy of all people. But how can she prevent the inevitable from happening.  Mary had no idea of this latest turn of events.
Mary was Lucy's twin sister that was kidnapped from the hospital by an estranged nurse.  The two girls were reunited 15 years later after meeting each other in Paris.  Lucy sat in front of a lone candle that flickered to reveal a picture of the two girls at a cafe, which was taken by Jacko, who was a waiter there while studying to be an artist. So she hatched a plan to get rid of Lucy in a slow and horrendous manner, death by earth worm  ingestion while immersed in a tub of compost. dea But When Mary's friend Cecil found out what was going on, he put a stop to it by locking Mary in the closet until she comes to her senses.

Mary was Lucy's twin sister that was kidnapped from the hospital by an estranged nurse.  The two girls were reunited 15 years later after meeting each other in Paris.  Lucy sat in front of a lone candle that flickered to reveal a picture of the two girls at a cafe, which was taken by Jacko, who was a waiter there while studying to be an artist. But the war put an end to that and after he lost a leg he was deeply depressed for years.  That's when he decided he would try and find his long lost love, Lucy and finally prose marriage.

The pentagram gouged roughly in the duff of the forest floor, it's craggy edges still smoking from the recent arrival, harkened back to times of fear and suspicion. Some things retain ageless horror and this ancient portal is one. Bony hands hung from spindle arms, the prone form of innocence laying within the symbol of dread began to stir. The rustle of rough woven damp material was the only sound as the body within moved around in this dark place

[twodko]

Michel Tordeau finished trying off the small beloved wooden painter to his modest dock. Another project waiting in the wings after repairs to the roof and chimney, work long over due on his modest New England home. All in due time was what he told himself "after all I'm retired" right?
Two lobster was the bounty of this mornings forage on the waters he never tired of seeing from his living room refuge.
Michel immigrated to the US seven years ago after an honorable but hard career as a DGSE man. The French version of our own Secret Service. Many milestones marked his career and he earned every franc of his pension to be sure. He was a man who was open and approachable but saw others with a policeman's eyes. Unless you were a cop he saw you as just another asshole. After 31 years on the job most were assholes. He'd seen to much, walked the fine line between what he was sworn to do and what circumstance demanded he do. To was tired and he was done.
At fifty three years old in good shape with an ex wife no longer a nuisance so far away in marseille the coming decades were his to enjoy.
Spending them alone was not part of the equation and he knew where Lucy resided these days.
Having met her ever so briefly that day along the Seine while watching yet another plotter of terror, she was never far from his mind. It was a typical petty crime against an unsuspecting tourist at one of the many streets vendor booths selling everything from pastries to flowers to hashish. Michel watched as she was being chatted up by a handsome young man who so smoothly snatched the wallet from her bag as her walked her along. Policemen were about in such an easy Pickens' tourist area and these crimes were not his concern. But she was so different, so........something. He simply walked right up to them and introduced himself as another vendor. He shook hands with them both but didn't release the young mans hand. The sot hadn't any time to understand he was had as Michel reached into the man's coat retrieving young Lucy's wallet.
The cretin tried to pull away but too late it was for him as a police officer arrived alerted by another vendor.  
Surprised, relieved and not a little bit shaky Lucy stammered her thanks and there began a two day whirlwind affair Michel and, he hoped, Lucy would not forget.
The lobsters in the fridge Michel stoked and banked the fire and pondered how he would go about trying to rekindle the magic she brought into his life along the Seine.

[Fred]

However, Lucy regretted her affair with Michel. Though not willing to admit it, she found him a little daunting. It unsettled her. He was so very different from Jacko who was kind and gentle. Michel came from a world Lucy new nothing about and being an ex DSG man has hardened him somewhat. Still, she told herself, that's all in the past. She must leave it there. But why then is she so reluctant to except Jacko's marriage proposal?  "I've got to get away"......she tells herself......"somewhere tranquil where I can thinks things through and sort out this turmoil" "Yes, that's it and I know just the place".   

[twodko]

It was always Lucy. Always. Whenever they were seen together from their youngest years it was always Lucy people remembered. Twins true enough but Lucy always stole the show. Always. Mary was just as pretty and smart as her sister but the gift of charisma didn't didn't find its way to Mary. Mary loved her sister but grew tired and despondent being the unseen twin. Lucy couldn't possibly understand the tearful wonderings Mary shared with her because they were twins for Gods sake and what Lucy had so did her sibling. At least to Lucy.

Mary moved to Sedona at the urging of Cecil who built a name and following for himself creating artworks using hay and ceramics. Cecil did quite well for himself and met Elsa at an artist retreat outside Sedona and they became an instant item. She herself a noted technical writer. Mary once again fell by the wayside.
As fate often dictates Mary found herself fascinated with all things copper. She made unique cookware, wall art, wood and patina'd copper sculptures and the list grew until demand for her works became so great she had to sequester herself in the sandy arid embrace of the compound she built for herself over the years in her desert environs.

That's where it started at least that's what Mary thought. The darkness of the closet Cecil "healed" her in long forgotten as young peoples shenanigans are often forgotten. She had men of course, any man she wished as a matter of fact but going out in public became impossible so great was her notoriety. Mary told herself she would still find the right guy through friends even if she didn't leave her enclave. That's what she told herself.

Those little smile lines around one's mouth, the tiny wrinkles spreading out like sun rays from the corners of her eyes seemed bigger, more pronounced these days than those of her girlfriends. They noticed how pronounced they were too but loving her as gal friends do they made light of them offering all manner of beauty magic suggestions to allay Mary's growing concern over what looked back at her in the mirror. Sweet Mary became less and less available, hosted far fewer parties and shared less of herself with those girlfriends closest to her.
"It" progressed. "It" got worse moving all over her once clear and lovely skin. And she lost weight. Good Lord she lost weight her skin sagging, taking on a sallow parchment texture. Her physical movement was still as fluid and sure as it had always been but what the hell was happening to her otherwise she had no idea. Her trusted go-to medical sources told her it was a dermatological malady that they would control with collagen, Botox and all manner of cutting edge skin elixirs. That's what they told her and she believed them..........for a long while she trusted their knowledge and expertise.
"It" continued to ravage her until she decided the desert was the cause. Yes, that's it! It's just too damn dry here, why didn't I think of this before? Why didn't her medicos think of this as well?
She began a search that took her to the Canadian wilds, frozen yet beautiful Alaska, Hawaii and points Asia. Anywhere but dry.
It was an idyllic newly built but modest home she finally found in ever so green and moist British Colombia perched on a small island she felt must surely have been made just for her. The damp climate felt so healing to her flesh and the privacy of her conifer retreat couldn't have fit the bill her needs required any better. She was done looking for a place to heal to rejuvenate to find the youth of her age that was being stolen from her. The first year was wonderful and she made mainland friends who would come for weekend visits. New confidants touted the good traits of this eligible bachelor or that one.
One such weekend invitation only gathering found her introduced to Gerard. He was an unassuming but charming handsome man a tad beyond Mary's years with a decidedly bad boy facet to him that rekindled those warm things men bring out in women. He told her he was a man of the forest and indeed owned and lived upon a neighboring spit of land awash on all sides with the same healing waters Mary sought redemption in. Outdoorsman, fisherman, chopper of his own firewood and master of his own destiny her told her. Mary was hopelessly smitten by this Woodsman. Yes, he was a man of the forest alright, one who needed a familiar. More than an assistant but less than a lover. He need a deep woods wraith to walk the nights with. Another to teach the owls their song and bend the smoke of fires....to practice the ways of those long lost and forgotten. The ancient ones.

[Fred]

So Mary was happy. But as Autumn turned into Winter again and Mary regained her beauty, she began to realise that her little island paradise in BC left a lot to be desired. It was much to isolated for a beauty such as her.
So Mary decided it was time to pay a visit to Jacko, her one true love. She thought........now that I'm so beautiful, he surely won't be able to resist me.
So she put in a call to Lucy. When Lucy picked up the phone she was surprised to hear it was Mary.

[JB400]

After the shock had settled, Mary told Lucy of her life since they last met, how she met Gerard, and how boring things have become.  The more that Mary said, made Lucy reflect back on her life.  She recalled how Lucy and her met Jacko in Paris, and the affair that she had with him.  It was a memory she reflected back on often as she had a portrait that Jacko had drawn of her on a red velvet divan dressed in only her natural beauty and an oval silver locket that was given to her by her deceased mother.

Lucy awoke from her memoirs just in time to hear Mary say " Lets both go to

[Fred]

 

Thanks for helping out Back N Black   

[Fred]

After the shock had settled, Mary told Lucy of her life since they last met, how she met Gerard, and how boring things have become.  The more that Mary said, made Lucy reflect back on her life.  She recalled how Lucy and her met Jacko in Paris, and the affair that she had with him.  It was a memory she reflected back on often as she had a portrait that Jacko had drawn of her on a red velvet divan dressed in only her natural beauty and an oval silver locket that was given to her by her deceased mother.

Lucy awoke from her memoirs just in time to hear Mary say " Lets both go to

get counselling. The maybe we can become friends again. But that wasn't Mary's true intention. For Mary was no longer interested in Lucy's welfare and had thought up a sinister plot to get rid of her.

[JB400]

Mary had heard of the affair, and lay witness to the event that resulted in the sketch.  Although she had a nice life with Gerard, she longed for the peg leg, Jacko.  Mary let Lucy decide on the counselor while she went to see the gypsy that only visits at eve of a full moon.

[Fred]

Meanwhile Jacko, although still very much in love with Lucy was allowing himself to be lured into Mary's web of deceit.

2000 miles away in the BC wilderness, Gerard was in a panic. He couldn't find Mary anywhere and after several days of searching, was wondering whether he should report her disappearance to the police.

[JB400]

Having given up on any chance of her coming home that day, he jumps in his truck and starts down the long twisty road towards town which is 80 miles away.  All goes well on his trip through a meadow of wildflowers and native grasses.  Then, about halfway through his journey, he hits a fork in the road.  One way leads toward the mountains in the distance, the other leads to a dark, dingy forest.  Gerard looks in his glove box for a map, but finds nothing but a couple old fuses.  After a little deliberation he decides to choose

[Fred]

the way of the dark, dingy forest. Driving more carefully now,he wonders how he could have gotten so lost. He knows this country like the back of his hand, or so he thought.
"This can't be happening to me" he thinks, "I must be dreaming". But he pushes on until after an hour or so he realises he's been going round in circles. All of a sudden the air is rendered with a piercing sound so loud he screeches to a halt. Beads of sweat covered his brow. He listens intently. But all is quite now.

[JB400]

Gerard gets out of his truck and looks around.  Nothing looks familiar. Just trees barren of their leaves.  Not even a song from a bird pierces the quietness.  Suddenly, a crackle of thunder scares the quietness away and rain begins to fall.  He gets back in the truck and turns the key.  Nothing.  Lost in the woods, worried about his wife, Gerard is now a foot.

[Fred]

The rain is coming down in great sheets turning the ground to mud. If only he could get his bearings.  Where in heaven is the town. With no clue as to his where abouts, he forges ahead but as the sun sinks deeper and dusk is turning to dark, he realises there's nothing more he can do except find shelter for the night and hunker down. And with only thoughts of dear Mary to keep him warm, he drifts off into a restless slumber.

[JB400]

Meanwhile, Mary took up residence in a penthouse apartment in the heart of Sedona.  She knew she had to get even with Lucy for the affair with Jacko so many years ago.  But first, she had to gain the trust of Lucy again.  But where was Lucy?  They talked about getting together to meet a counselor at some point, a couple days ago, but hadn't heard from her since.  Mary went to the white painted cabinets and pulled out a crystal wine glass, followed by a bottle of Chardonnay from the stainless steel fridge.  She poured her a glass, and then walked through a sliding glass door, and placed herself upon a lounger on the patio.  The dry air blew through her hair and filled her nose with the scents of the area.

[Fred]

Back home, grandma had to go to Walmart again but this time she thought...... "I won't get caught out again" and hopped on her bicycle. It was touch going though because the seat was missing so she couldn't sit back. Still, there were some advantages, hunching forward in this particular way gave her such impetus that she found herself overtaking hemi chargers.

[JB400]

that were broke down along side the highway.

After hearing that her sis wanted to reconcile, Lucy packed her bags and loaded up the car. She wanted to tell Michel but he  was no where around.  "He must of went lobster fishing with the neighbors," she told herself.  She scrounged up a half used notepad and left him a note that she placed by his reading chair in front of the fire.  She then grabbed her keys, her purse, and her cell phone, and headed out the door.  As the door closed, a breeze entered the house, and blew the note into the fire.  As the fire consumed the words, Lucy was on her way to the nearest train depot.  She was off to go meet Mary.

[Fred]

Mary was feeling quite contrary about the men in her life. At the moment she couldn't decide which of them she wanted to be with. Was it really Jacko she loved? Or Gerard. A sense of cold dread came over her as she was thinking of Gerard. Something's happened to him she thought, I know it has. "I must go to him at once. Lucy will have to wait". And as she speeds off down the road, all thoughts of Lucy and Jacko are forgotten and she realises at last there's only one person in the world that she truly cares about and she must find him at all cost.

[JB400]

After a long night of sleeping in the truck while rain begged to get in, Gerard awoke to the same eerie quietness that greeted him when he first entered.  He gets out of the truck and then digs through it to find what he could use.  He finds an old Coke bottle, 47 cents, a couple of cigarettes, a package of cheese crackers and an old hoodie.  He packs up his supplies, and locks up the truck.  Now, he's faced with a decision: does he go home and wait for friends that routinely show up from time to time, or does he march on to town.  Having looked at both ways, he makes his decision.

[Fred]

And they all lived happily ever after.

THE END.

[JB400]

And they all lived happily ever after.

THE END.

of chapter one

[Fred]

CHAPTER TWO..........


As Gerard heads south, dawn is breaking causing him to realise he has veered off the two lane black top leaving him disoriented. He tries desperately to gather his thoughts and get his bearings when something up ahead catches his attention.

[JB400]

It was a cute little squirrel, playing with his nuts.  Not wanting to bother the squirrel, Gerard goes off the road, and wanders into the woods. The sounds of birds singing pleases him, and he decides to stop, and take in the sounds and smells of the woods.  

[Fred]

Meanwhile Mary was driving like a bat out of hell in hopes of finding Gerard. She's desperate to tell him how she feels but shake this feeling of dread.

[JB400]

Suddenly, she comes up over the hill and sees his truck.  She panics, and hits the brakes too hard, causing her to lose control.  The rear of the vehicle swings around, and catches a covert, which somehow flips the car.