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THE STARLESS SKY – #flashfictionmagic

May 7, 2021 by Sheri

The Starless Sky – Jennette & Makam, Part 3

I glared back at Glide’s first moon as it sank lower behind the capital city, named for the planet. “For the eleventh time, what are we doing out here?” The red, jagged surface of Glide glinted in iridescent colors under the second moon’s light. The path we followed crumbled between sharp cliffs and ducked beneath arches that made my neck prickle. “What did you call this? Hiking?”
Makam flapped a hand at me, his gaze focused ahead. “It’s only been four times. And I told you, I want to show you something.”
“I don’t think we’re at that point in our relationship yet,” I said flatly.
He narrowed his eyes even as he smiled. “And yet, here you are.”
I muttered something rude, which he ignored. “I’m not spending the night out here. Camping, or whatever.”
He lengthened his stride and I stumbled as I tried to catch up. “Makam…”
“Shh.” He gestured to a small, deep looking crater that just brushed the path. “We’re here.”
I crossed my arms and fumed while he wrestled a torch from his backpack and pointed out deep steps cut into the crater’s side. “I’m not—“
“You can stay on the path, if you want.” He descended quickly, leaving me in the dark.
“I despise you,” I hissed after him.
“I think that’s the fresh air talking. Come on.” He directed the light for me and I stomped after him, as much as one can stomp while clinging to the wall. Makam waited on a wide ledge halfway down the crater, and when I joined him, he turned and vanished into a clever opening cut to look like a crevice. The crevice opened into a polished round room big enough to to park his space ship. The floor was tiled and carvings covered the wall, but otherwise it ached of emptiness.
“What is this?”
Makam sank to the ground, leaning back on his hands. “There’s a tiny hole at the top, and stars are never visible through it.”
I frowned. “How is that possible?”
He looked up at me, and for the first time his eyes felt safe. “I don’t know. But don’t you ever wonder what it would be like without stars?”
As I opened my mouth to answer, footsteps thudded from the far side. A tall woman stepped into our torch’s light, her hair pulled tight, her form slender in her black uniform. Her eyes glittered like space-mined diamonds. “Ah, Makam, you’ve brought her.” She stepped closer, extending her hand. “My name is Jennette Hayes, and I’ve wanted to meet you for a long, long time.

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About Sheri

Here Goes Something New!

Hi, I'm Sheri Yutzy. I love forests under the night sky, trying new foods, and drinking Irish tea. I've been to 17 countries, and once spent the night in a hotel lobby in Florence, Italy, because the entire city was fully booked for a festival.
I'm married to a musician who looks good in black, mama to three curious kids, and happy resident of a Cape Cod cottage in Ohio.
I write YA fantasy and am acquisitions editor at sparkflashfiction.com.
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I’m still here… Still living life, writing and I’m still here…
Still living life, writing and editing, loving every falling leaf and crisp breeze. I started listening to Christmas music yesterday while baking pumpkin muffins because I just couldn’t resist.😅 This year I’m planning to focus on Advent and the weeks leading up to Christmas, since we’re always traveling out of state over the 25th, and it seems to slip by in the busyness.
I have a lot going on right now, and social media is taking a back seat for the moment. Or the month. But I’ll be back, when I have the focus to spare. Until then, I wish you all a happy, mindful fall.
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Lovely things await! My contributor’s copy of CO Lovely things await!
My contributor’s copy of COMMONPLACE from @daughtersofpromise has arrived.
I gasped when I saw the artwork with my article on Forest bathing. So rich and beautiful!
As always, they’re a joy to write for. 

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🌚 COVER REVEAL🌚 We finally get to see the b 🌚 COVER REVEAL🌚

We finally get to see the beautiful cover for THREAD OF DREAMS, @embarnettauthor’s upcoming debut from @owlsnestpublishers! 
I can’t wait to get my hands on this dreamy book.

Here is the blurb:

Nova’s sunless planet is sustained by the magic of human dreams. Born as a moon mage, Nova’s job is to harvest dream threads from unaware humans to be used against a dark parasite eating away their land. 

Then, Nova meets Arlo, a boy who not only sees her but whose aching heart permeates his dreams. Desiring deep connection, Nova ignores the warnings of her people in order to visit the beauty of his subconscious.

But nightmares not only seep into minds and hearts, they also stalk the bioluminescent forests of Nova's world. Danger lurks in waking and sleeping, and to fail means succumbing to the parasite while cut off from Arlo forever. But if Nova can find a way to fight back, she and her people could be free to dream again.

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I’ve been reading a lot of books, but not taking I’ve been reading a lot of books, but not taking many pictures of them.🥸 
Mostly because this weather is as anti-inspirational as it gets for me.😭 this happens every year—the last few hot and muggy days of September make me want to hide inside 24/7. But it’s supposed to get cooler by the weekend, thank God.

I saw DREAMS LIE BENEATH at the bookstore and was captivated by the cover. It’s so different from A RIVER ENCHANTED that I didn’t realize it was the same Rebecca Ross. I actually thought, one of them needs to change their name.😅

This one is my next read, I think. Have you read it? What did you think?
@beccajross #rebeccaross 
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