Steve Shilstone

yellow bushes. ‘Oh, yeah, heh, heh,’ she mumbled in embarrassment.

dirt clods into the stream, bit her own arm, flung herself down and sobbed. When none of these things produced the slender trident, she sat up glowering, her face a silent storm. It was then that she noticed the slender trident jammed into the ground next to a stand of lush green

jammed it into the ground in the green wood so you could wander around babbling nonsense unencumbered,’ replied Charlotte, unsheathing her claws to have a nice rake across the gravel. The witch whirled around in fury and strode off into the green wood. She kicked a tree, threw

I know nothing about the silly trident,’ replied the raven, shuddering its neck feathers. ‘Now I’m looking at you, Charlotte,’ said the witch, turning her most withering gaze toward the black cat. ‘There’s nothing in the world I care less about than your trident. You probably

THE TRIDENT #31DaysOfHalloween ‘Where’s my slender trident? I distinctly remember leaving it leaning against the shed. Is it leaning against the shed? No, it is not leaning against the shed. So where is it? I’m looking at you, Bernard,’ said the witch. ‘Look at me all you want. pic.twitter.com/gaiDvyBixL

10:40 am · October 22, 2021

QUOTE #31DaysOfHalloween “When my granddaughter Anne was about five, she said to me one day: ‘Grandmamma, when I grow up, I think I shall be a witch. There are too many ladies, don’t you think?’” from Period Piece, a memoir of a Victorian childhood by Gwen Raverat.

11:25 pm · October 21, 2021

5 of 5 stars to Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter goodreads.com/review/show/43…

10:59 am · October 21, 2021

your still seeing eyes, which the Skoon soon gobbles up with a terrible gnashing of its daggery teeth.’ The witch’s daughter considered this new information. ‘Well, mother, I have decided to clean the cauldron after all.’ The witch mother nodded once. ‘I thought you might.’

10:59 am · October 21, 2021

my powers ready.’ The witch mother snorted impressively from her long bumpy green nose. ‘Your pitiful powers are nothing. The Halloween Skoon has a great lump of a body and 8 long poison fern leaf legs. One touch and you freeze, only to slowly melt until nothing remains but

10:59 am · October 21, 2021

THE HALLOWEEN SKOON #31DaysOfHalloween ‘Behave, or I’ll send you where the ferns grow to be eaten by the Halloween Skoon.’ The witch’s daughter narrowed her eyes, skepticism written all over her smooth green face. ‘Oh, there’s no such thing. And if there is, so what? I’ve got pic.twitter.com/C4cZbIiFX3

10:41 am · October 20, 2021

CODA #31DaysOfHalloween #FairyTaleTuesday I emerged from the forest at dawn, leaving behind forever bittersweet memories of witch, castle, loss of left leg, and ultimate failure. pic.twitter.com/76UwZl4Z1F

soul, I will spill the words for the second time. ‘__________’ Oh, it proceeds, but now, but now … show exasperation. ‘__________’ Lean in. Pluck up the courage, my darling. Do it. Do it. Little angel Gretel, please. OH JOY! OH RELEASE!

the inside. Such a thin meager hope. So many years. You are the least likely of all who have gone before. Nevertheless, I will spill the words of instruction for the hundredth time … thousandth? ‘__________’ What’s that? Don’t bring my ember to flame, only to douse it. Oh, my

How many times have I reached this point only to be squashed hopeless by the cowardice of children seeming to be far bolder and sturdier than you? Mournful waif. Oh, my bones, how they ache. My twisted fingers … agony to move. Go on, keep crying. Ah, you cry on the outside, I on

THE WITCH'S FINAL THOUGHTS #31DaysOfHalloween So many times … hopes dashed … curse prolonged. Are you the one? I’ve heard you conspire with the boy every day. Oh, yes, little one, my eyesight is weak, but my earhear is keen. Can such a tiny petal of life perform the miracle?

10:43 am · October 18, 2021

chest. Q: Ha ha. So, black cats are supposed to be evil. Do you resent that stereotype? Pyewacket: Your body shall be consumed by rats. Q: Ha ha. And a Happy Halloween to all. Pyewacket leaps, talons unsheathed.

10:43 am · October 18, 2021

PYEWACKET INTERVIEW #31DaysOfHalloween Q: Is your name taken from Elmer Fudd describing the noise made by a table of pies collapsing? Pywacket: You will die. Q: Ha ha. Seriously, is it true you served a witch in 1644? Pyewacket: Your beating heart shall be torn from your

4:42 pm · October 17, 2021

4 of 5 stars to Marnie by Winston Graham goodreads.com/review/show/42…

10:42 am · October 17, 2021

WITCH COTTAGE #31DaysOfHalloween #art pic.twitter.com/uYAgXlaVjg

11:11 am · October 16, 2021

5 of 5 stars to Blood on the Forge by William Attaway goodreads.com/review/show/42…

10:33 am · October 16, 2021

WITCH TREE #31DaysOfHalloween Witch tree caught in the act of casting a spell on that evergreen on the left, soon to be evergreen no more. pic.twitter.com/AtdUassx6S

10:46 am · October 15, 2021

placed the pot of honey near the tree’s twisted trunk, closed her eyes and turned about three times. She tried to walk away, but could not. She was no more. As a new scarlet leaf, she fluttered in the breeze.

10:46 am · October 15, 2021

possibilities are two. Your wish will be granted, or you shall be no more.” Doris looked at her rags and decided that the risk was worth it. She thanked the hermit and followed her instructions faithfully. In three days time, she found the tree witch. She took a deep breath,

10:46 am · October 15, 2021

TREE WITCH #31DaysOfHalloween “Beneath a leafy garb of scarlet and green you will see the bent and crusted limbs of the tree witch. Place the pot of honey next to the tree’s twisted trunk. Turn about thrice with your eyes closed and walk away without looking back. The pic.twitter.com/8c5zNA8TP9

10:39 am · October 14, 2021

CHEERLEADER #31DaysOfHalloween Here’s the shy pumpkin cheerleader hiding behind her pompons. pic.twitter.com/enp5DvHPPj

3:32 pm · October 13, 2021

HEADLINES #31DaysOfHalloween LOCAL SPIDER PREPARES FOR HALLOWEEN Hopes to Frighten Children, Capture Flies Neighbors Cautious in Response Derelict Blames Government pic.twitter.com/DiDXIMsuXP

11:27 am · October 12, 2021

3 of 5 stars to Frog Music by Emma Donoghue goodreads.com/review/show/42…

10:48 am · October 12, 2021

taps you on the neck. You awake. The moon is gone, leaving an inky sky sprayed with stars. You feel another tap, as if from an icy finger tip. You turn your head. There she is. You die.

10:48 am · October 12, 2021

snaps back, and you stare at the grinning skeleton. Stupid dream, you think. You note that the moon has made substantial progress across the sky. Slept longer than I thought, you think. You flex your limbs, adjusting to a new comfort. You nod off again. In your dream the skeleton