“Friday Night”, my family
favorite romance short story, has a similar history with another contemporary
romance short story: “Happy
Anniversary”. Back in the last century (!), 1994, a print publisher in New
Jersey put out a call for romance short stories. *Extremely* short stories,
around 1,000 words. They accepted “Happy
Anniversary”, and then requested another one. “Friday Night” is the result,
clocking in at a little over 1,000.
If only Paula could meet
Mr. Right--someone like the new neighbor that had moved into the garden
apartment below hers. She hadn’t seen much of him, probably because their work
schedules conflicted. What she had seen, though, she instinctively liked. See
how a lost article of clothing introduces two neighbors.
After this story was
published, I was able to find for a new home for it. I decided to use it as a
freebie to promote my best-selling Regency time-travel romance, TIMELESS DECEPTION, at the time
released by the defunct Novel Books, Inc. Now this Regency is available at Awestruck.net and Amazon.com. But back to “Friday
Night”. Here is the original cover.
Soon this story appeared on
Fictionwise.com, and then my anthology LUCKY 13, no longer available
electronically, but still available in print from my website.
Thirteen delightful stories for your reading pleasure
by Susanne Marie Knight
Now I’ve released it on Amazon.com and Smashwords.com.
The story sells for $0.99.
As with all of my *very* short stories, I’d like to reduce the amount, however
99 cents is the lowest I’m allowed to go on Amazon and Smashwords. Again,
periodically Smashwords holds a sale, and I can set the price to free at that
time, so do check on the link every now and then.
A lost intimate article of clothing unites two lonely
neighbors!
This book is part of the
Romantic Contemporaries line.
Here
are two terrific reader comments:
"I really liked your
short story. Keep up the great writing!”
"Ah, the things
daydreams are made of--to have a sexy man fall right into your lap! Fun read!”
Now
for the real life tidbit: Since the publication I wrote “Friday Night” for was
located in New Jersey, I wanted to connect the story with the Garden State as I
did with “Happy Anniversary” and Route 206. I set the romance in garden
apartments; growing up in New York City, I’d never seen nor heard of these
types of apartments. But I was very familiar with laundromats... and the risk
of not thoroughly removing laundry from the dryers. Here’s what happened to
Paula.
Her
neighbor’s smile dazzled her. "Well, Paula, I think I have something of
yours." Extending his right hand, he held out something small and smooth.
Something mint green in color.
She looked
at him in surprise. "What is it?" After taking it, she felt the blood
drain from her face. It was a bra--her bra. Holding onto the doorknob for
support, she hoped the floor would open up and swallow her. This was just too
embarrassing. How had he gotten her bra?
He ran his
hand through his thick, ebony-colored hair. "I found it in one of the
dryers tonight."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I hope you enjoy Paula and
Ray’s cute meet!
Happy reading,
Susanne Marie Knight
Read outside the box:
award-winning Romance Writing With A Twist!
