It is my honor to introduce to you a talented science fiction writer and today she's sharing her work. Now this is Flash Fiction!
Take it away L. G. Keltner!
Before I begin, I’d like to
thank Yolanda Renee for letting me stop by her blog today! I have for all of you a piece of flash
fiction related to A Silent Soliloquy. It portrays the first time that our narrator
meets David.
* * *
The sun
seems particularly bright today. Then
again, that probably has a lot to do with the fact that we spent most of the
last week infiltrating an anti-government militia that took up residence in the
deep woods. Only hints of sunshine made
it all the way to the ground, and few unburned bits of the bodies TIPPIE left
behind won’t likely be discovered for decades to come.
The coffee
shop is full of upper-tier business people on lunch break. Suits, briefcases, and mindless chatter fill
the space. The strong aroma of dark roast
and fresh cinnamon rolls mingle in the air.
Much as I wish such things meant as little to me as they do to TIPPIE,
they actually lure me like a kid to a candy store.
Our business
here isn’t inside the establishment. The
tattered, dirty clothes TIPPIE donned for this would only get us kicked out
anyway. Instead, we’re leaning against a
lamppost beside the open door. Someone
might still call the authorities about the apparent loitering, but if all goes
according to plan, we won’t be here for long.
TIPPIE
casually examines the ratty sneakers on our feet for a few moments before
raising our head to scan the crowd again.
Adrift amongst the sea of pressed slacks and manicures, his dark, disheveled
hair and torn jeans make him stand out like a beacon in the night. Our eyes focus on him as TIPPIE begins her
scrutiny. His steps are hurried. He must know that standing still for too long
makes him a target.
As he gets
closer, his gaze focuses on us, and I notice that his irises are the same green
as the cheap shamrocks lower-tier eating establishments bring out for St.
Patrick’s Day. Regardless of the fact
that TIPPIE has never seen a photo of him, there’s no doubt that he’s the one
we’re here to meet. He doesn’t slow as
he approaches, but instead brushes a hand across our shoulder as he
passes. TIPPIE takes the cue and easily
falls into step beside him.
Once we’re
free of the knot of upper-tier patrons, he says in a hushed tone, “I’m David.”
“I’m
Tippie.” The reply comes out just as
quietly, and there’s a shy quality to it that’s meant to be disarming.
David must
think so, because he responds with a smile.
* * *
Title: A Silent Soliloquy
Author: L.G. Keltner
Genre: Science Fiction/Dystopian
Length: 28,000 words
Cover Art: Devross
Release Date: July 6th, 2015
Blurb:
TIPPIE
was created to be a weapon. By all
appearances, she's an ordinary girl of 18, and she uses that to her advantage
in her work for The Facility. What no
one sees is that there's another girl buried deep inside. She can't speak or control the movements of
the body she inhabits. As TIPPIE's
silent passenger, she can only observe.
She uses the details she learns from TIPPIE's work to reconstruct the
stories of other people's lives. It
helps her feel a little more connected to the world she can only watch.
When
TIPPIE's work leads her to David, a young man with a haunted past and
information that The Facility wants, TIPPIE uses her skills to earn his
trust. The silent girl beneath the
surface knows that TIPPIE is only going to hurt him, but she can't help but
feel for him. Those feelings only grow,
but she knows all too well that TIPPIE's work will soon come to an end.
Bio:
L.G.
Keltner spends most of her time trying to write while also cleaning up after
her crazy but wonderful kids and hanging out with her husband. Her favorite genre of all time is science
fiction, and she’s been trying to write novels since the age of six. Needless to say, those earliest attempts
weren’t all that good.
Her
non-writing hobbies include astronomy and playing Trivial Pursuit.
Purchase Links:
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to know but not have the ability to respond? LG did.
So intriguing! Thank you L. G.!
