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The DNA of Stories

Ideas and first drafts with a bit of analysis from time to time

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Tag: contemporary

A double rainbow over a large herb garden with a forest in the background AI image

Woods Cottage – Day 11

On January 1, 2025December 24, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn One Day at a Thyme, StoryLeave a comment

Life has been blessedly quiet after the nightshade episode. School is back and the new little coven has been introduced to a few other witches in the area as potential apprentices. There’s no way I could take all of them on, I barely cope with Sarah and Ben. Even sour-sauce Emma has a mentor in …

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an airport for flying pigs - where cute pink pigs with fluffy white wings take of and land at a whimsical version of an airport AI Image

Apology

On December 29, 2024November 27, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

"Are you expecting some sort of apology?" Dina snorted at Damien's question. "From you? I may as well set up an airport for pigs." "What's that supposed to mean?" "You stood me up on prom night. Did you apologise? No. You abandoned me in the middle of Rome, a strange city, among a language I …

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a bright, modern, open plan office. the image focuses on a large meeting table in the centre with an open bottle of champagne and several plastic cups with a little bit of champagne in each AI image

Acquisition

On December 25, 2024November 27, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

“We’ve been acquired!” Heads in the office popped up as Alistair burst through the doors, waving a bottle of champagne. “I didn’t know the company was for sale.” Whoever spoke didn’t sound too happy. Alistair didn’t seem to notice as he all but danced towards the kitchen area. “We weren’t but the EMX guys made …

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A Baroque-style manor house of decent, but not excessive size, against the backdrop of the rolling English countryside AI image

Woods Cottage – Day 10.5

On December 11, 2024November 26, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn One Day at a Thyme, StoryLeave a comment

Yes, I know that was not a helpful place to leave things, but I had an interruption. It’s all taken care of now, so I can resume. We set off about fifteen minutes later, the girls finished their tea and cake while I pulled together a few odds and ends that might come in useful …

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a basket on a table in a small greenhouse. The basket is half full of mysterious round linen bundles, tied with string AI image

String

On December 8, 2024November 26, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, Story2 Comments

String, string, where was the damn string when you needed it? I dug through the drawer under my planting table, I knew I had some in here somewhere. Or, wait, did I run out of it when I was tying up the tomato plants? Damn! Why hadn’t I added it to the shopping list? And …

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wooden kitchen table in with mugs of tea and a lemon drizzle cake on it. AI image

Woods Cottage – Day 10

On November 27, 2024November 23, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn One Day at a Thyme, StoryLeave a comment

I was in the still room when the back door wards hummed at me. I checked the camera feed on my phone, Sarah and her new friends were coming to visit, this could be interesting. I opened the door before they knocked, and the Highsmith girl gasped. “She’s psychic.” The fake American one rolled her …

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wellferns on a sunny windowsill AI image

Woods Cottage – Day 9

On November 13, 2024October 26, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn One Day at a Thyme, StoryLeave a comment

I was repotting young Ben's wellfern - he's growing like nobody's business just now, so naturally the plant assigned to monitoring his health is putting out new shoots, and roots, all but cracking its pot in response. I had it happily re-planted in a wide wooden tub on the windowsill of my still room, and …

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a six year old boy holding an ice cream cone with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. AI image

Lick

On November 10, 2024October 26, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

Jana watched as Damon inspected the ice cream cone he’d been handed, a serious frown on his small features as he turned it this way and that, then leaned in to sniff. “He’s never had ice cream before?” Jana favoured Tyler with a pinched smile. “Grandmother doesn’t believe in indulging children. I didn’t have it …

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a sink in stark white counter on one side of a scientific laboratory, the sink is piled high with dirty beakers AI image

Remark

On October 27, 2024October 5, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

Myra stared back at the silent group in the common room, daring them to remark on her appearance. No one took up her silent challenge until Jaxon walked in. “What the hell are you wearing, Mys?” “A dress.” “That’s a little more than a dress. You planning on infiltrating the Ruler’s ball or something?” “Yes.” …

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A woman with long dark brown hair in a bun, working on a high tech computer in a medical lab. The computer screen shows a data table with 8 columns ai image

Pattern

On October 23, 2024October 5, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

Giselle stared at the readout. There was a pattern here, she could feel it. Unfortunately, the head of the lab didn’t accept ‘feelings’ as valid data, even when they’d proven correct every other time. It was there, but she had no idea how to find it, what it was, what it meant. Even an inkling …

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