When the lovely and talented Sarah invited me to write a piece of flash fiction for her monthly Guest Storyteller feature, I was both honoured and absolutely delighted. Sarah is a speculative fiction, sci-fi, and fantasy author who also writes flash fiction, Haiku and tanka poetry (and posts some lovely photos too!) on her wonderful blog, one I greatly enjoy reading. I hope you will too, and also enjoy my guest story entitled ‘Chocolate Umbrella’, a seasonal story about a little girl’s discovery that she isn’t the only one in her family with a secret. Thank you so much Sarah, it has been a pleasure 🙂
Sherri is a freelance writer, published in a variety of national magazines, websites, and anthologies. She is writing her first book, a memoir, and regularly publishes articles, memoir bites, flash fiction and poetry on her blog. Having lived in California for twenty years, she now lives with her hubby, daughter and two cats in the West Country of England, where she walks, gardens and takes endless photographs.
You can connect with Sherri at
Blog: www.sherrimatthewsblog.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/aviewfrommysummerhouse
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/sherri-matthews/60/798/aa3
Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/103859680232786469097/posts
Memoir Book Blurb: https://sherrimatthewsblog.com/memoir-book-blurb/ )
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Sarah says: Welcome to my blog, Sherri, and thank you so much for contributing a most poignant and seasonal piece of flash fiction. In Sherri’s words: “This is about a little girl’s discovery that she isn’t the only one in her family who is keeping secrets”.
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Chocolate Umbrella
Emma knew magic because Daddy made…
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A View From My Summerhouse 
Chocolate Umbrella was a beautiful, well-written story, Sherri!
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Thank you so much for the read and the encouragement Amy, it’s the first time I’ve been invited to write a flash fiction story as a guest post and I’m so glad that you enjoyed it 🙂
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Look at all these places I can connect with you! I can pester your life out, Sherri 🙂
Life can be sad, in spite of chocolate umbrellas.
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Haha…it’s great Jo, thanks so much for liking my Facebook Page and for reading my story 🙂 Children don’t miss much do they?
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What a great write, Sherri! i found your blog from your guest post over at Sarah’s blog and now I’ll follow you too 🙂
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Hi Christy! Thank you so much for your lovely comments both here and over at Sarah’s and also for the follow! It is lovely to meet you 🙂
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Had me in with the word magic and did not see the end coming. Now want to read more.
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Wow Kath, thanks so much, I’m humbled by your lovely comment…
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Sherri, I wrote on the other site, too, but wanted to just say again, wow. Such a haunting story.
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Thank you so much Luanne, really means a lot that…
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I couldn’t help but see glimpses of you in Emma, Sherri. Nicely done indeed, my friend. xo
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Hi Jill and thanks so much my friend…and I’ll say no more 😉 xo
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I enjoyed your succinct fiction – I left a note on the other blog, but wanted to comment here too – well done! surprised by the ending – 🙂
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Ahh…thanks so much Y for going over to Sarah’s blog and also for leaving your lovely comment here. The ending surprised me too I have to admit, it came as I wrote on…which is the beauty of fiction isn’t it? 🙂
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Beautifully written story, Sherri. I felt this was written from the depths of your heart. xx
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Thank you so much Sylvia, I am very moved by your kind words… xx
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The joys and magic of Christmas comes alive in your story my friend. It’s Love and family that gives warmth, glow and meaning to our Christmas season, events and memories. Today, you inspired us in the most beautiful way. God bless you and your family.
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It is indeed the love of family that brings so much, especially during the Christmas season, even more so when things don’t always work out as we quite hoped. Thank you so much my friend for your lovely, encouraging words, sending blessings galore your way 🙂
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Neat, though with dad propping up the bar, a touch autobio perhaps? I enjoyed it as usual, because it was well told.
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🙄 Thanks so much Geoff, your comments are always a treat. Will catch up with you and your travels (and return) asap…
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I was not expecting that ending, it is a little sad to be on the cusp of losing the magic of Christmas but then again we make our own magic and I do like to watch Hook every Christmas so that helps me keep the spirit.
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Thanks so much for the read Ste and your thoughts…and yes, it is a sad thing, after all, what is life without a little magic in our lives? But you are right, we can indeed make our own and I love Hook, especially the beginning when Robin Williams is walking up the stairs in the house in London and he sees the painting of Captain Hook hanging on the landing, and then the music, and the ship’s bell…great stuff. Got the video hiding away somewhere, time to get the dvd methinks 😉
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I bet it is cheap now and the Blu ray will look awesome I’ll bet, Ru-fi-oooooo! No matter how old we get, it is wonderful to be able to retreat to imagination and indulge in magical inventions of the mind. I think it keeps us sane in this world of seriousness.
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Haha…you got it 😀
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Although a sad story in several ways, I find Chocolate Umbrella a perfect fit for the holiday season. Every Christmas for one child who falls for the magic there is one who stops believing in Santa. This is a lovely tale, Sherri, and I could see a little bit of yourself in the little girl, I think. Happy Holiday season to you and your family.
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I honestly didn’t know what to write for Sarah’s Guest Storyteller slot at first Eveyine, as you know fiction is a new genre for me, but, I admit, I’m having a lot of fun with 🙂 This is the first time I’ve been invited to write a fiction guest post, so you can imagine not only my delight and excitement, but my anxiety too 😮 The timing and the season was a great prompt and then, well, the rest came, even though the ending changed radically as I wrote on. And I will say that you are very perceptive my friend 🙄 Thank you so much as always for your ongoing support of my blog and my writing, it really means a great deal to me. I will be over to you shortly, but meanwhile, I would wish just the same for you and your family too, that the coming days do indeed bring a Happy Holiday season 🙂
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🎅🎄
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Your Christmas icons are so cute Evelyne 🙂 Here’s something for you 🐻
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Congratulations, Sherri, in your guest feature story for Sarah. You’re really good in the telling of the story and I was captivated to the end. Your words have an air of mystery and I can’t help but want it to continue. That’s the makings of a truly good writer, my friend. Bravo — that you are! 🙂
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Dear Pat, your ongoing support and encouragement of my writing blesses me greatly, thank you so much, wow, I am bowled over actually by your feedback
I am thrilled that you enjoyed it so much and in this busy time of year, that you took the time to head over to Sarah’s to read it. You’re a star my friend, a bright, shining star ⭐
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You deserve it, Sherri, because you’re putting yourself out there and doing it. I’m amazed at your repertoire and what you’ve accomplished. Kudos, my friend. =D>
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Ahh…well I would say just the same of you my friend, I really would 🙂
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Well done Sherri. Well disguised memoir I think and such a sad story. That loss of innocence on three counts. One that would come naturally with age, the other two forced upon little Emma. Great writing. Cheers my friend. 🙂
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You know me well my friend 🙂 Thank you so much for your great feedback. Isn’t it great to be able to have these opportunities to write flash fiction (and thanks to Charli who gave us such encouragement to keep going with it in the first place). I love this adventure we are on, as we write our memoirs but also explore fiction. Who knows where this will take us 🙄 ❤
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That is the joy of journeying at leisure – you can take off up all the side roads never knowing where you end up. Glad to be journeying with you Sherri. 🙂 ❤
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❤
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