Classic Movie Mondays ~ "The Mad Miss Manton"

 

If you've read my previous blog posts, you know how much I love Bette Davis movies. And while she is my all-time favorite, my second is the dramatic Barbara Stanwyck. 

Turner Classic Movies showed a string of Stanwyck's movies, so I put the DVR to work and recorded some I hadn't seen. 

The Mad Miss Manton was the first one I watched, and I loved it! Even though I like Stanwyck for her dramatic acting, she also nails this comedy role. 

The movie is a romantic comedy/ murder mystery. Stanwyck's character Melsa Manton a quirky lady with a group of ride or die friends that work together trying to solve a murder.

Melsa is out walking her dogs when she someone she knows come running from an empty home. She calls to him as he runs from the house, but he doesn't answer and jumps in his car and drives away.

Curious, Melsa enters the house and finds a dead body lying on the floor. She rushes out to call the police and when they show up; the body is gone.

Now, the police don't believe Melsa. Why? Because she's a quirky lady, and she calls police for trivial matters, like helping her sick dog. And she's known as a prankster. 

The police lieutenant doesn't believe her and scolds her for calling and wasting his time.

So, what does Melsa do? She calls in her "ride or die" group of ladies, and they get to work solving the mystery. 

This leads to many comical situations and her run-in with her love interest and editor of the newspaper, Peter Ames, played by Henry Fonda. 

The love/hate relationship between the two moves the story forward and also creates some funny scenes. 

In the end, with the help of her friends and Peter, Melsa solves the mystery. I won't spoil the ending by revealing the murderer. 

But, I will share one of my favorite scenes. 

Melsa and her friends find another dead body. She calls the police, but again, they don't believe her. so, what does this group of ladies do? Drop the dead body off the newspaper editor's office- Peter Ames.

The crazy antics and fun characters in the movie had me laughing out loud at times. I recommend watching this one, and I'd watch it again. 

Next week, don't be surprised if my post is another Barabar Stanwyck movie! 

 

Where'd You Come Up With That Wednesdays?! "Laugh Like a Baby"

"Laugh Like a Baby" is a short story about Charles, a man born with a strange condition. He emotions are mixed up--literally! As a baby, he cried when his diaper was full and bawled while playing pattycake. 

When Charles was born he came out laughing, not crying and from that day on, he wasn't like any other person he knew until he finally meets someone just like him. His dad. 

Charles grows up with a loving mother who tries her best to help him live as normal a life as possible despite his rare condition. And when she dies, he feels he has no one left in he world that will love and understand the way his mother had. 

The idea for this story actually came from a commercial. The ad was about people who have a condition that makes them laugh at inappropriate times.  The condition is called Pseudobulbar Affect.

After watching that I thought about how difficult a person's life could be if his or her emotions were not like everyone else's. What if a person was born with a different way of expressing joy and pain. That's when I came up with Charles, a person born with an unexplainable condition that made he laugh during sad times and cry during happy times. 

I'm not giving anything away, so you'll have to read the story to find out what happens to Charles and how his life turns out. 

You can read "Laugh Like a Baby" in Flashes of Fiction: Volume 2.  You can also listen to it with audio books from iTunes and Audible. 

Happy Reading! (And listening!)

Where'd You Come Up With That?! Wednesdays "Finders Weepers"

"Finders Weepers" is a short story about Leonard, a habitual liar. He lies to everyone as long it benefits him in some way. But Leonard learns the hard way where the line is drawn between the truth and lies, and what happens when you cross it. 

The story was first published in Bewildering Stories issue 247. 

Don't you just hate it when someone lies to you? That's where this story started. Someone (I won't mention names) told me a lie, and I later found out about it. That made think up all kinds of punishments for liars, and not just pants catching on fire--something worse!

For days, I thought up punishments and as usual, it wasn't until I was about to fall asleep that my mind started churning out the ideas. I had to get up to find paper and write it down, so I'd remember. The next day, I started writing Leonard's story. 

What would happen if every lie someone told came true? That's what I did to Leonard. He finds a ring that has the power to turn all his lies into the truth. 

You'll have to read the story to find out what Leonard's actual punishment is, but I'll give you a hint-- it's not good. ;)

You can read "Finders Weepers" in Flashes of Fiction: Volume 2, along with some other pretty interesting stories (if I do say so myself.) 

You can also listen to it from audible and iTunes. 

Happy Reading!!

Where'd You Come Up With That?! Wednesdays: "The Sixtieth Year"

"The Sixtieth Year" is a short story about Alice: Alice and her husband, Sam, are coming up to their 60th anniversary when the unthinkable happens. Sam dies of a heart attack, leaving Alice alone in this world of new-fangled things where she doesn’t belong. Her heart aches to be with her husband, so much so much so that she longs to die to be with him. 

I started writing Alice's story back in 2007 when my dad was first diagnosed with prostate cancer. One of my first thoughts was what would Mom do without him. At that time they'd been married 46 years. I couldn't imagine losing someone who shared my life for long. So, I stared writing the story of Alice, a women so distraught over her husband's unexpected death, that she, too, no longer wanted to be a part of this world. 

I didn't finish the story until 2013 when Mom passed away. She was diagnosed with peritoneal cancer in late 2011. She went through chemo, had surgery in early spring 2012, went though more chemo, but passed away in July 2013, leaving Dad to be the one alone.

Dad was devastated. He had so many emotions. He was inconsolable. I had never in my all life seen my Dad sob. I saw him tear up at my Grandma's funeral and caught a glimmer of tears in his eyes at my Uncle's funeral, but never saw him actually weep with so much grief. 

He felt guilty because Mom died and he was still here fighting his cancer. He was lonely, depressed, and didn't want to live without her. He stopped all treatments. 

After watching what Dad was going through, it was through tears I started writing Alice's story again. I finished the story within a few months, but didn't really do much with it. 

We lost Dad about 14 months later on September 7, 2014. The only comfort I can take in all this is that they are no longer suffering and they are together. 

So, the Alice character is sort of a combination of Mom and Dad. She is tough but lacks the will to go on with life. I do believe that people can die from a broken heart and loneliness after losing someone who was so part of their life. 

I decided it was time to share Alice's story. You can read Alice's story on HubPages.

Where'd You Come Up With That?! Wednesdays- "Operation Onion"

Operation Onion is a short story about Samuel Clemens, a young man born with a strange affliction. His body emits different unpleasant odors that change with his mood. Samuel's story is about his journey to find his place in the world. His mom told him God doesn't make mistakes, but Samuel isn't so sure. 

This idea came to me because I hate body odor! I was standing in line at a grocery store and the person in front of me did not smell too pleasant, and my husband suggested maybe the person couldn't help it. That's what got me thinking--what if someone had no control over how they smell? What could possibly cause it? How would he deal with it?

I gave it some thought and realized you can't really control your mood, even if you pretend to be happy on the outside, you may still be feeling sad, angry, or even nervous on the inside. So, I tied mood with odors and came up with Samuel, aka Stinker. 

The story is light-hearted and humorous, and here's what one Amazon reader had to say about "Operation Onion":

"OPERATION ONION: HYSTERICAL!!! (And I just raised it from 3 to 5 stars!) Seriously: I was laughing so hard I finally gave up. Went into the other room and read it aloud to my husband. This one alone would have been enough, but so far I have liked them all!

Samuel Clemens was born with a problem. Because of that problem his Mom gave him the nickname Stinker. Seems that even at birth he could not hide his feelings: he smelled differently depending upon his mood. Made for some unbelievably funny stories (for the reader), and a very difficult life for Samuel. Can you just imagine trying to get through school or find a job with such a problem?

The ending to this story was great! Would not have thought of that in a million years, but it was the perfect solution! Way to go Stinker! Glad it finally worked out for you!"

"Operation Onion" was first published in Separate Worlds.  Now, you can read about Samuel Clemens in Flashes of Fiction: Volume 1 from Amazon Kindle.

You can also listen to the stories on audible and iTunes. 

Happy Reading! (and listening)

Where'd You Come Up With That? Wednesdays: Coming Soon!

All my life I've been told I come up with some strange ideas. My mom would often ask me, "Where do you come up with that stuff?!" I've also been told I'm weird, and then again, some people say I'm creative or imaginative. So, whether I'm a creative genius or just plain strange, you can be the judge when you read Where'd You Come Up With That? Wednesdays blog posts. 

Each week, I'll tell you the inspiration behind the story. Sometimes an idea is sparked by something someone said to me that day, and other times, I get ideas from a dream. Sometimes, I'm not even sure where it came from! (hehe) Where writers are concerned, there's always a story behind the story. 

I think this is a fun way to connect to readers and give you all some insight into the inner workings of the writer's brain.  bwahahaha!!


Check back Wednesday, May 6th to find out the what stirs up ideas inside my mind. 

In the meantime...

Happy Reading!

LitPick Interview Next Week

Wow! It's almost March! And time for my LitPick interview "Six Minutes with an Author." The interview is scheduled for March 2nd. It will be posted on the LitPick site and LitPick on Facebook.

I have two YA stories on LitPick with reviews.

Ally Ally Oxen Free is  short story about a little boy with a strange hobby. It's just a little creepy and a fun story for all ages.

It received a five star review by a LitPick reviewer.

Alfred C. Bogeyman is about three boys and a dog on a mission to give this boogieman a taste of his own medicine.

It's a fun story that is a little bit scary, while being a fun read.

This short story has two 4 star reviews on Litpick











I'll post links to my LitPick interview next week on my Facebook page.

Happy Reading!

Why Yes, I Am A Little Strange...Thank You For Noticing

I guess that's why I create some strange characters, like Samuel Clemens in "Operation Onion" from Flashes of Fiction Volume 1. He body emits different odors depending on his mood, and well, it make his life a bit difficult. Here's what one reader had to say:

OPERATION ONION: HYSTERICAL!!! (And I just raised it from 3 to 5 stars!) Seriously: I was laughing so hard I finally gave up. Went into the other room and read it aloud to my husband. This one alone would have been enough, but so far I have liked them all!

Samuel Clemens was born with a problem. Because of that problem his Mom gave him the nickname Stinker. Seems that even at birth he could not hide his feelings: he smelled differently depending upon his mood. Made for some unbelievably funny stories (for the reader), and a very difficult life for Samuel. Can you just imagine trying to get through school or find a job with such a problem?

The ending to this story was great! Would not have thought of that in a million years, but it was the perfect solution! Way to go Stinker! Glad it finally worked out for you!



In Flashes of Fiction Volume 2 you meet Charles. When he was born, he laughed. But...what a minute. Aren't newborn babies supposed to cry? Yes, but Charles is not your ordinary baby, he laughs at a full diaper and bawls while playing peekaboo. Doctors can't figure it out, but Charles finally gets a few answers when he sets to find his father. 

                               Laugh Like  a Baby

My life is kind of like a week old banana. It has some bruised areas, but it’s still good. As I reflect upon the soft, bruised areas of my past, I laugh hysterically. But, I will try to control my emotions as I fill you in.

I was unusual from the day of my birth. The doctor slapped my wrinkly bottom the day I was born, but I didn’t cry; I laughed. Everyone in the room was stunned, newborns can’t laugh. So, with Momma’s permission, I went through all sorts of tests.

The results? All doctors found me to be perfectly healthy. The doctors decided I was a baby with an abnormal cry, and I would grow out of it as my tiny lungs matured.

Momma  took  me  home  and  soon  discovered  the  doctors  were wrong. I laughed at a full diaper and bawled while playing peek-a-boo.

Every doctor that examined me as a child was baffled. “It is something that will straighten itself out as he heads into adulthood,” the doctors told us.

Momma finally gave up on the doctors and accepted me “as is.” She gave birth to me in her late forties. I was probably the first and last child she’d ever have, so she loved me even though I was a freak.

Momma learned to deal with my abnormality, laughing along with me as I sobbed watching cartoons, and kissing my bumps and bruises as I chuckled.

We had a great life, until I started school. I got in trouble every day through no fault of my own. It was after disrupting the class with my laughter while watching the end of Old Yeller that Mrs. Levy ordered me to see the principal, Mr. Pickett.

“Maybe I should speak with your father.” Mr. Pickett said.

It was at that moment I realized, I don’t have a father. “It’s just me and Momma,” I told Mister Pickett.

 “Sorry son, I’ll give your mother a call.”

He called Momma, and she hurried down to the school. They sat in that office with the door closed for an hour before calling me in to join them. Momma took my hands. Her hands were always soothing and warm. She only held them firmly when her news was something upsetting. “Charles, I told Mr. Pickett about your unusual condition, and we’ve decided to put you in a special class. How does that sound?”

I nodded in agreement, but all I could think about was my father. Who was he? Was he like me? Was he put in the special class, too? I wanted to ask Momma, but I didn’t want to hurt her feelings. What if he had been mean to her or run out on her?

Mr. Pickett told me to go back to my classroom and gather my things from my desk.

I shuffled into the classroom, and Mrs. Levy looked up at me.

“I’m going to a special class on Monday.” I snickered as I cleared out my desk.

Everyone sat quietly as I gathered my things.

“See ya around,” one boy yelled.

“Bye, Charles.” Mrs. Levy smiled. She was probably glad to see me go.

 I slung my backpack over my shoulder and walked out to the car. I didn’t say a word during the drive home. When I walked through the door, I went straight to my room.

I was quiet until dinner. We sat at the table eating, and I had to ask. “Where’s my father?”

Momma almost choked on her soda. “Charles, I–”

“Please, Momma, tell me. I can take it, whatever the story.”

She cleared her throat. “Well, he was a fireman. We were engaged, but he was killed saving a family from a burning home.”

“Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

“I didn’t  want  to  upset  you,  and  I thought  when  you  were  old enough you’d ask. You did and now you know.”

I believed her, or at least I pretended I did. My childhood years were lonely. I didn’t care for my new class. I had a few friends, but they only liked me because they could tell me the most horrible, gruesome stories and I laughed every time.

You can find them both @ www.amazon.com/author/m-allman

Happy Reading!

I Have One Question...

Maybe it's because I haven't told you enough about it? 

That's it, isn't it? 

Well how about an excerpt from one of the stories?

There are 5, and they are humorous, but I guess that's a matter of opinion...

Assailant

“I woke on the icy snow. I must have been knocked unconscious.” Lorna took a sip of coffee. “Thanks for the coffee, Detective Blankenship.”

“No problem, Lorna.”

“When I woke, I was in the hospital with a nasty bump on my head.”

“Do you think you got a good enough look at the attacker to describe him to a sketch artist?”

Lorna nodded her head. “Maybe. I can try.”

“Okay, I’ll go get Scotty. He does a great job.” Detective Blankenship left the room. Lorna sat there trying to recall details that might help him.

The door opened and a small, thin man walked in and sat down in front of Lorna. “Hi, I’m Scotty.” He offered her his hand. They shook.

“Lorna, Lorna Bradshaw,” she said.

“Okay, Lorna, begin by describing the assailant, and I will ask for more details if I need them.”

Lorna took a deep breath. “Sure, let’s see. He had big round dark eyes.”

“Okay.” Scotty began to scratch his pencil on the paper.

“He… he had a long pointy nose, his head was round and quite large.”

“What about his ears, big, small?” Scotty continued to sketch.

“No ears, at least, I didn’t notice any ears. He did have very thin lips, almost non-existent.” Lorna held her head. “I still have a headache from him bashing it against frozen ground. I’m having trouble concentrating, so bear with me.”

“Sure, Lorna. Take your time.”

“He was wearing some sort of hat. It was a large black hat, like a top hat, and a red scarf. Other than that, he was dressed in all white. I remember because I could see his body in the dark.”

“Okay, I have a sketch done.” Scotty stared at it a moment. “But um…give me a minute with the Detective outside, okay.”

“Yeah, sure...”

Scotty took his sketch out to Detective Blankenship. “Psst… come here.” He laid the picture on the desk. “Do you see what I see?”

“Frosty?” Blankenship raised his eyebrows.

“Yeah, I think that knock on the head messed her up. This is exactly what she described.”

Blankenship went back in to talk to Lorna. He sat down beside her and looked into her eyes. “How are you feeling?”

“Fine, expect for the headache.”

“And the doctor at the hospital said everything was fine?”

“Yeah, great...” She rubbed the back of her head, “Just a goose egg back there.”

“Lorna, let’s go over your statement again.” Blankenship took out his notes.

“Sure, if it’ll help.” She took another sip of coffee.

“So…let’s see, you were walking up to your front door, right?”

“Yes.” She nodded. “It was pitch black because the outside lights were out, so I only got a glimpse of his face from the light of my watch.It glows in the dark. See?”

“Yes, very nice.”  Blankenship smiled.  “Now the assailant… he came out of nowhere and you fought with him?”

“He… He scratched me, see?” She showed him the scratches on her hands and face.

“What’s that, there?” Blankenship pulled his glasses down to the end of his nose. “It looks like a splinter.”

“They took some splinters out at the hospital.”

“I see. So, at some point he knocked you to the ground and took ice?”

“That’s all he got, the bags of ice I bought for our Christmas party.” 

****

www.amazon.com/author/m-allman

Working on "Mermaid's Kiss"

Cover by Su Halfwerk

I started writing this YA short story well over a year ago, and had the cover made, but had to take time off from writing for personal reasons. Today, I've gotten the entire story written, but of course, it is going to need some rewriting and editing before publishing it as a Kindle short.

I hope to have it available on Kindle by the end of February.

Blurp: Thomas's grandfather is terminally ill, and he would do anything to save his beloved Grandpa. In Thomas' search for a solution, he learns that a mermaid's kiss is said to have healing powers. But, do mermaids even exist, and if they do, can Thomas catch one to kiss his grandfather?
Thomas is determined to find out.