Check out my award-winning mystery story, “Walk Me Home”

I have an award-winning mystery short story! My story, “Walk Me Home,” won the 2022 Jim Martin Memorial Short Story Contest from Arizona Mystery Writers.

SQUEEEEEE!!!

Hey, I did warn you of incoming SQUEEEEE-laden announcements.

What’s the story about? Thanks for asking!

Rachel, a nerdy, socially awkward college freshman, wants Robert. And tonight she just might get him.

The story is set in and near Cal State Sacramento during tule fog season for that extra creep factor. The Guy West Bridge, Sacramento’s Golden Gate, makes an appearance.

Another bit of real-life inspiration: The painting of White Hot Jesus mentioned in the story was inspired by this painting of Jesus that adorns the dining hall at Camp Magruder in Oregon:

Somehow I doubt Jesus was that well-groomed, especially while on a boat in the Sea of Galilee. But, hey, artistic license, right?

I was just starting this story and struggling to get it to flow when I read Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them by Francine Prose. She points out that point of view is not only about who’s telling the story but who they’re telling it to. Something clicked in my brain–Rachel is telling this story to her best friend–and the words poured out. One of the many amazing things about writing is how the right nugget of advice or information can appear just when you need it.

I’ll end this post with a tease. There’s one tiny element of this story that’s autobiographical (besides the nerdy, socially awkward college student part. I nailed that bit, let me tell ya). I can’t say which without giving away a major spoiler, but if you want to know, drop a comment after you’ve read the story, and I’ll spill.

“Walk Me Home” is a quick read (~2500 words) and is available free online from the Arizona Mystery Writers site. Give it a read and let me know what you think.