PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson
If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.
The rental was one of several identical row houses, one bedroom plus a loft, one-and-a-half baths, small kitchen and dining area. The neighborhood was quiet. It was a perfect place to finish his last novel. It would also be his first novel, but the publisher said it was a sure bestseller.
At seventy-one, his first and only bestseller after laboring for over forty years. It cost him his marriage, any connection to his family, and certainly his sobriety.
He could have it done and submitted in a few months. Once published, then the long, drunken descent into his last goodnight.
Time again to participate in Rochelle Wisoff-Fields 1 July 2023 edition of Friday Fictioneers. The idea is to use the image above as the prompt for crafting a short story or poem no longer than 100 words. My word count is exactly 100.
The photo reminded me of a quiet, cool, peaceful place to do some writing. However, there was also a sense of finality about things so I cast my aging author to live there as he finished his one and only tome. Sometimes we have only one moment of greatness within us, that is if we’re lucky.
To read other stories based on the prompt, visit Inlinkz.
My science fiction / cyberpunk short story “The Apprentice” is now featured in the Cloaked Press anthology Summer of Speculation.
poweredbyrobots.com 
Swimming upriver to spawn
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One last time.
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Better to go with one bestseller than nothing at all, or even several minor works. I like his style.
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Agreed. Thanks.
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It would be nice to reach a lifelong goal like that before the end. Congratulations on your story being published in an anthology.
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Thank you. The tragedy is that he’s not allowing himself to live long enough to see how his novel is received or so build something on it. He’s probably not the only person to have peaked later in life.
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You’re very welcome, James.
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Interesting character, one I think we can all understand.
Congrats on the publication.
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Thanks.
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So sad, yet at the same time–better to go out with a huge success!
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True. Thanks.
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As a plan for the future it leaves a lot to be desired!
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He’s tired of looking ahead.
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He does not plan on sticking around to see how well he does… sad state of affairs!
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I guess it comes from waiting too long and losing too much.
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Understandable for so many.
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A life’s work completed and finally satisfaction; but at what price?
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I guess he believes it’s possible to get tired of the world.
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Sometimes success can have its own problems – nicely told James 🙌
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Thank you.
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Gosh, there’s heart break in this, but also a sense of achievement. They say all of us have a book in us, I’m glad he’s letting his out into the world.
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He just wishes it could have gotten here sooner. Thanks.
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