AbiBee

A collection of short stories (very short, some of them) written to prompts during Pride Month (June/July). Started in 2021, but ongoing...Turns out, we're back in 2026. Woo!**-Dark Eyes Melting My Soul - written to @lgbtq's 'Summer of Songs' 2021 prompt (write a song-fic). The title is shamelessly pinched from the song concerned. *Placed first in the contest*-An Awakening - written to @lgbtq's 'Rainbow Magic', Disney-themed prompt. The word limit was 500 to be an eligible entry, but this is way over that so ended up being just for fun. (2021)-At Home - for @mystery's "Case of Pride: different kind of mystery" (2026). The prompts were that a conversation changes things; that someone gets 'seen'; that somewhere unexpectedly feels like home. This is a conversation between two women, at least one of whom hopefully finally feels 'seen' and at home - so take your pick of which bits of the prompt it satisfies. (Word limit: 100)…

AbiBee

Various short stories written to prompts over the year. -'Slip-up', Weekend Write-In 09.01.26 - prompt: 'freeze'-'Bad Boy', Weekend Write-In 23.01.26 - prompt: 'louche'-'Unpaid Debts', Weekend Write-In 13.02.26 - prompt: 'credit'-'A Return On Investment', Weekend Write-In 27.02.26 - prompt: 'purchase'-' A Dose of Destiny', Weekend Write-In 13.03.26 - prompt: 'fortune'. (Check out the YouTube clip of MCC doing this song live. It's sooo good.)…

AbiBee

Nostalgia proves a powerful aphrodisiac for two very different women with a shared history. *This arose out of a romance-y-type prompt somewhere on here but has been so long in the writing that I've forgotten the details. Something about first loves, probably.*Update, August 2025: I've been reminded that this actually grew out of a prompt ("nostalgia") suggested about a year ago by the lovely community at the overlooked, independent profile Weekend Write-In. Check them out: there's a lot of great short stories and a very warm welcome.**The title and chapter headings are all swing/big band classics, for reasons which will become obvious as you read. If anyone fancies chasing them (and the other references) up, they're widely available in the usual places - personally, I've been mainlining the BBC Big Band's versions during the writing of this. That said, re 'Blue Room', there is an awesome video on YouTube of a seventy-something Benny Goodman and his band still doing it ample justice in 1985, shortly before the great man's death.If anyone cares why my characters sometimes have the names they do: in this case, 'Chloe' is also a big band tune, and her surname is a nod to another great jazz clarinettist, Artie Shaw.*Some swearing. Some passing sexual references*…

AbiBee

[On Hold for a bit]ONC 2026Prompt 23: You discover the quiet transfer student in your class is actually a world-famous pop star hiding in plain sight. Their secret reshapes both your lives.*When Bridget crashes back into her life after some time, and a difficult parting, Philippa is obliged to ask herself whether she should have let her get away the first time.The chapter titles and quotations are mostly supposed to reference the (entirely fictional) songs of Melissa Baker. If I wrote poetry, I'd have a stab at writing the complete songs, but I know my limitations... :)…

AbiBee

A blind date on New Year's Eve goes wrong - but the fireworks go ahead anyway. Based on a prompt I read somewhere back at the turn of 2023/4. As I became fond of the two main characters, it's grown and expanded, so it will eventually go beyond the initial meet-cute.*Trigger warning: contains some sexual scenes and at least one bad pun.…

AbiBee

Short stories written to prompts in 2025.*-'Blooming Cheek', Weekend Write-In 8.8.25 - prompt: 'resistance'-'Textual Healing', Shortys 2025 (2000-5000 words category). Prompt was: "Write about a romance which starts with a mistaken identity text."-'The Wanderers', Weekend Write-In 3.10.25 - prompt: 'frontier'. Got a bit political in this one. Not sorry.-'Afterglow', inspired by Weekend Write-In 14.11.25 - prompt: 'dignity'. Not submitted, as it was way over the informal word limit.-'A New Girl', written for the untiring @BooksbyLwordpress's Fall Contest 2025. Dani has lost control of her life, but finds hope over lunch in a cosy cafe.-'Far-off Fountains', Weekend Write-In 05.12.25 - prompt: 'torrent'.-'A True Love's Knot', Weekend Write-In 12.12.25 - prompt: 'polish'-'Wahey', Weekend Write-In 26.12.25 - prompt: 'cheer'…

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A young junior journalist finds herself reluctantly taking on an unusual investigation.*The first ("How It Begins") part was written as an entry in the @Ghost "Ghost in the Library" contest (Autumn 2020). The prompt was: 'You were walking along the Mythology section of the city library when a tiny mystical book wedged between huge collections of folktales catches your eye. As you try to pull it out, a ghost librarian suddenly appears next to you and says, "Come this way, honourable scholar."' Limit of 1,500 words. The second part ("The Basement") was written for @Adventure's prompt in the HalloweenVault 3D collab. The prompt (limit 1,500) was to describe spooky goings on in a basement - I've taken some liberties with it, but it was a useful hook on which to start developing Georgia's story.Part 3 ("One For Yes") was entered into another @Ghosts comp (A ghost visits you from the past - what's their story?) in November 2020. *And won! :)*…

AbiBee

The main place for any of my short stories written to prompts/challenges in 2024.*Featured on @ShortStory's "LGBTQPIA+ Shorts" Reading List* -"Imagine" - Weekend Write-in 12.04.24, 'bribery'.-"Don't Worry" - Weekend Write-in 19.04.24, 'worried'-"Meaningful Contact" - Weekend Write-in 03.05.24, 'aching'-"A Decent Interval" - Weekend Write-in 24.05.24, 'interval'. (If anyone's interested, the piece of music Caro and friends had just performed is the Wind Quintet no.2 in D minor, by Giuseppi Cambini; there's recordings on Spotify and YouTube.)-"What Price?" - Weekend Write-in 10.05.24, 'extortion'. Late, obvs - you know me by now.-"Legio Mihi Nomen Est" - Weekend Write-in prompt 21.06.24, 'legion'-"Abley-Assisted" - Weekend Write-in prompt 05.07.24, 'fall'.-"A Shot to Score" -Weekend Write-in prompt 12.07.24, 'penalty'-"Noli Me Tangere" - Weekend Write-in prompt 19.07.24, 'tangent' (Follow-on from 'Legio Mihi Nomen Est', read that first for context.)-"Sweet and Sour" - Weekend Write-in prompt 02.08.24, 'rotten'. (Beth from 'The Friends' (Short Stories 2021) pops up again.)-"Jacklin and Hudd" - Weekend Write-in prompt 16.08.24, 'nostalgia'-"Any Advance" - Weekend Write-in prompt 23.08.24, 'auction'. (Michaela from 'Taking A Hit' and 'Come Quietly' (Short Stories 2023), and Nancy and Elizabeth from 'Elizabeth's Triumph' pop up again.)-"On The Ground" - Weekend Write-in prompt 06.09.24, 'blanket. (Beth, again)-"Now In The Game" - inspired by Weekend Write-in 13.09.24, 'fortune', but not contributed (too long)…

AbiBee

A collection of short stories written to various prompts in 2023.-'Come Quietly'. Michaela Engel ("Taking A Hit"'s sexy and shadowy-but-effective problem-solver) pops up again. Written for BadAssReads' "Rebellious New Year 2023" contest. (2000 words, including three words or phrases from a given list (in bold in the text).) This was a nice excuse to give Michaela another outing. (Jan 2023)-"Playing With Fire". You finally kiss That One Person, a Valentine's kiss never to forget. But what happens in the aftermath: a sizzling new chapter, or catastrophe? (WattpadAfterDark and DangerousLove's 'Burning Desire' prompt, Feb 2023.)…

AbiBee

A collection of short stories written to various prompts in 2022. -"I Need This". You and your quiet, mysterious crush reach for the same book at the same time. (Contemporary Romantics Award from @ContemporaryLit; limit 500 words. Jan 2022)-"A Gentle Encounter". A memorable New Year's Eve is related to the last short story your character read; in this case, Graham Greene's "Two Gentle People". (New Year's Fiesta 2022: WattpadShortStory's prompt. Jan 2022.)-"Don't I Know You...?". A dodgy blind date has unexpectedly positive consequences. (Aim to Engage 2022: WattpadAfterDark's prompt. Dec 2022)-"Juliette". You build up the courage to talk to the cutie on the school bus. Their face turns dark as they respond, 'You shouldn't able to see me.' (Aim to Engage 2022: TeenFiction's prompt. Dec 2022)-"Soul Mates". You have a timer which counts down to when you meet your soulmate. One day, your timer is left with only two more minutes. (Aim to Engage 2022: Romance's prompt. Dec 2022)-"Charity". You don't believe in angels and demons, until one day you wake up and can see them: local baker (angel), police officer next door (demon), librarian (demon), second-grade teacher (angel)... What happens when they find out you know who they are? (Aim to Enagage 2022: WattpadHornsandHalos's prompt. Dec 2022. This missed the deadline, so I let it run and become what it wanted to become.)…

AbiBee

A selfish young woman gets a lesson in gratitude. This is a reworking of the English fairy tale "The Well at the World's End". Written for @lgbtq's 'Coffee&Pride: #WrittenWithPride' challenge (June 2021), using the @retold prompt (I paraphrase): "While enjoying a stress-relieving mug of coffee, you see another person in the liquid, as if looking through a glass at a whole other side. Then something odd happens: you find yourself stuck in their body in their world."…

AbiBee

A short story (max. 1000 words), one of the winners of @FreetheLGBT's 'Pride Month Flash Fiction Party' (June 2021)The prompt was (I paraphrase) "Love Letter: You send a letter to your crush...to your surprise they reply..."…

AbiBee

All the short story entries inspired by prompts and contests, for 2021. (Excluding stuff written in June 2021, as that'll be in 'Rainbow Shorts'. It was a hectic month.)-'Ghilbe & Ruara' (inspired by SaintVal2021 contest, Feb 2021- I missed the deadline). The prompt was (I paraphrase): "You're woken from a magical sleep by a kiss, but the kisser is someone unexpected. What's your story?". As it turns out, I'm posting this on International Women's Day, which seems vaguely appropriate as it's about the important contributions women can make (and how beauty isn't just about appearance).-'The Friends'. (@NARomance's 'Love Is All We Need: Spring Into Love' comp, May 2021 - got an Honourable Mention). The prompt was: "In a quirky new bookshop, you bump into someone familiar - the One Who Got Away."…

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Stories for several comps/collabs, amalgamated into one collection. Two of them actually placed in their respective sections (yay!):-Mysterious Ways - 1st place, @PsychologicalNovel's "Wake Up In the Morning" comp (June 2020)-The Listeners - 1st place, Last Summer 2020 collab in the @WarriorGoddess section (July/August 2020)*-'The Flower Hunter'. Loosely based on the folklore of seductive water sprites, particularly the Vila (a Central European version of Rusalka). Written for @AfterDark's "Mirror, Mirror" contest (Mar 2020) -'Mysterious Ways'. A young woman wakes in the wrong version of her bedroom. Or is it so wrong after all? ('You wake in a strange place, possibly as someone else.')-'The Listeners'. Morial and her fellow Spirit Listeners work hard to maintain the balance between nature and mortals; until, one Summer, Morial is accused of upsetting that balance herself. ("I know what you did last summer". The prompt features as paragraph nine in my story.) -'Between the (Spread)Sheets'. An accountant and a trader play cat-and-mouse in a City firm. (@Crime's 'Deceptive Detective' Aug 2020: one criminal goes undercover to expose or be exposed by another.)-'The Unexpected Message'. A missed phone call proves momentous for a young art historian. (@AmbassadorsUK/@Fanatsy/@WattpadFairytales's 'Underground Tales' contest Nov 2020: pick a Tube station - King's Cross/Angel/Seven Sisters/Knightsbridge - and imagine what lies below which is connected with the name. I chose Angel.) The only real thing in this story is the Museum of London (which has an excellent Roman gallery, btw); any coincidence with real heritage experts - or indeed the unrealistic probability of such a find - is my fault.-'Cyclopean Arches'. In the year 3542, an advance exploration party finds some interesting ruins. (Nov 2020. 'Underground Tales' (again): King's Cross.)…

AbiBee

A collection of short stories, all with a dating theme. The asterisked ones have (ahem) 'bonus material' in "That's More Than A Date". :)"Like A Book"An author goes to her first book festival. (Written April 2016)"The Stare"Lisa realises another woman fancies her, and likes it. (This ended up a bit long, oops. June 2016)"Homo-pho-nic"*A story about a slight misunderstanding, inspired by a conversation and a recipe (April 2017)"Safety Goggles"PPE and flirting. Chemistry happens. (The result of a great prompt - "write about safety googles" - from @KarahOneg. May 2020)"Stranger than Fiction"*On holiday, Alex makes new friends, partly thanks to the book she happens to be reading. (November 2020)…

AbiBee

This is a collection of stories exploring what might happen next. *Some of them will be based on my other short story collection, "That's A Date" (hence the title); these are marked with an asterisk, and you may like to read the backstory first. Some will feature characters from other stories of mine. Some will be stand-alone offerings. *Be warned: erotica isn't really my strong point, so this is an experiment. Don't expect great things...…

AbiBee

Lockdown obliges two office workers to ask: where or what is home, when you have to stay there?*The setting is a fictional version of the UK's East Midlands region. *I know that many people are having a really shit time at the moment, so I hope this is a way of acknowledging the current situation without being too heavy-handed, and maybe even cheers someone up. Although there is a potentially quite serious situation described, I hope the light way it's treated doesn't offend anyone, or imply that I'm not taking it seriously. I've tried to stay very conscious of the public health advice, as it was in the UK at the period covered. This basically came down to: Stay At Home (if you possibly can). Written May/June 2020…

AbiBee

Ten years after leaving their Catholic boarding school, three former classmates meet up at the headmistress's retirement, and find the past still has resonances in the present.This started as my attempt at the Open Novella Contest 2021 (20,000-40,000 words. This is at the upper end of this range.) It didn't get anywhere much, but it was an interesting experiment (and fun to plan and write).**Music, particularly for organ, plays quite a rôle in this story. Instead of providing accompanying media, I'll list the pieces that feature here, for anyone who wants to chase them up. Apart from Beatrice's (which doesn't exist, obvs) they're all available on YouTube.-JS Bach: Passacaglia & Fugue in C minor (BWV 582)-JG Rheinberger: Sonata no.11 in D minor (Op.148), Cantilène - Adagio *Beatrice's recital:-JS Bach: Prelude & Fugue in G (BWV 541)-Dietrich Buxtehude: Two chorale preludes - 'Ach Herr, mich arme Sünder' (BuxWV 178) / 'Komm, heiliger Geist, Herre Gott' (BuxWV 199)-Joseph Rheinberger: Five Trios (Op.189 1-5)-Niels Gade: Tre Tonestykke (Op.22)-Maurice Duruflé: Suite pour orgue (Op.5): prélude-Beatrice Sullivan: Fantasia on 'Ave Maris Stella'-JS Bach: Chorale prelude on 'Mensch, bewein dein Sünde gross' (BWV 622)-Louis Vierne: Hymne au Soleil (Op.53)*For an idea of the sort of Passion setting Bea mentions in ch.8, try 'St Matthew Passion' by Orlando di Lasso. *(Written February-March-April 2021 )…

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Two old flames rediscover each other.Written in response to one of @RaeKitano's excellent prompts. (The first line was given; the story also had to include an argument and a poem.)Thanks to @TessMackenzie for agreeing to the use of one of her poems.Written Feb 2014. xx…

AbiBee

DS Beth Woodcock finds herself with an unusual murder on her hands.I hope Beth stands on her own here, but her back story is available. She first appeared in "Short Stories 2021: 'The Friends'". Subsequently, she's popped up in "Short Stories 2024" twice: 'Sweet and Sour' and 'On the Ground'". 'On the Ground' is directly related to this story.Written to a Shortys2024 prompt: "When I looked at the list, half the names were already crossed off".…