by Cherise Papa | Aug 22, 2024 | Life, Teaching
As summer winds to an end, I wanted to announce the cool things I have going on this fall and school year. First off, I’m teaching a new course series at Homeschool Connections for teens, that I got to develop and create all on my own. It’ll feature...
by Cherise Papa | Aug 21, 2024 | Fantasy, Flash Fiction, Romance
With a single hand, the traveler adjusted his long hair to ensure his pointed ears were covered. In his other hand, he cradled the last two bites of a pastry, delicate flakes clinging to his palm. Need to devour the remnants itched at the back of his throat, but he...
by Cherise Papa | Aug 14, 2024 | Flash Fiction, Paranormal, Romance
His cold hands ghosted over her bare shoulders as Elizabeth stared into the old mirror, only her reflection gazing back. “This dress,” the vampire groaned, “it will be my undoing.” Her lips quirked in a small smile, despite the ball of...
by Cherise Papa | Aug 7, 2024 | Fantasy, Flash Fiction
Shouting rumbled through the walls below, and the boy lazily stuck a bookmark into his comic book and tossed it on his bed. The shouting grew louder, and rushed footsteps ascended the stairs. One breath, two breaths. The boy’s bedroom door slammed open. His...
by Cherise Papa | Aug 4, 2024 | Fantasy, Flash Fiction
Getting this up a few days late. But we have conquered COVID after it slowly worked through our family the past two weeks. I’m still not back to normal, but that will come with time. I’m just happy to be able to breathe properly again. The splash of water...
by Cherise Papa | Jul 24, 2024 | Fantasy, Flash Fiction
Moonlight sparkled on the cresting waves behind us as we sped across the dark lake, away from the smoke billowing in the forest depths. I pulled my legs to my chest, resting my chin on my knees as my hair turned into small whips against my face in the wind. ...
by Cherise Papa | Jul 17, 2024 | Lessons Learned from Work
My writing process has never been the same for each book. Sometimes I outline heavily; sometimes I just discover the world as I write and see where it takes me. Usually I’m somewhere in the middle, a strange balance of outline and discovery that shifts for what the...
by Cherise Papa | Jul 17, 2024 | Life
I’m rather failing a whole lot of everything. Writing, writing community responsibilities, work responsibilities, kid things, family things. Every single personal goal I had. I thought at the start of the year, I’d soon be able to get into the swing of...
by Cherise Papa | Jul 17, 2024 | Flash Fiction, Paranormal
Through a sliver of light sneaking in around old curtains, Joseph stared at the deserted workshop, taking in the scattered tools, toppled tables, and the tattered work gloves drenched in a pool of blood. Someone else found his target first. Blood stains stretched...
by Cherise Papa | Jul 10, 2024 | Flash Fiction, Literary
Jacob sat on the edge of the hospice bed, clinging to Marianne’s frail hand. A knife stabbed his heart with each of her frail breaths. “I’m so tired,” she mumbled, her lips thin and pale. He held her hand to his cheek, her skin ice to...