When the bot was out of beta, Lester knew he had a goldmine. By entering some keywords and a premise, he could generate a buzzword-laden business book in 24 hours. A few more clicks—and eleven bucks—bought a cover design from a digital sweatshop in a country with a name he could not pronounce. Let the … Continue reading The New Normal by Paula Johnson
They met at a potluck and bonded over Larry’s incredible cookies. “Scharffen Berger,” he murmured later as he kissed Justine’s neck. “Chocolate chips…for adults only.” She fell hard when he explained how he ground his own flour from organic wheat. He planned the perfect meal for popping the question: Arugula salad with figs, prosciutto, and … Continue reading Mise en place or yours? by Paula Johnson
Adam took his name seriously. He knew he was the first among men. His hairline was eroding faster than the Galveston coastline in his home state of Texas, but he was a sharp dresser and a smooth talker. Ladies loved his drawl. At a Two-for-Tuesday happy hour, he sent a Cosmopolitan to a stunner in … Continue reading Texas Toast by Paula Johnson
Is this PolySci 204? Are you Professor Adams? Can I sit anywhere? Is the textbook online? What’s the WiFi password? Where can I plug in my mini Himalayan salt lamp? Do you grade on a curve? Do you want to pet my Emotional Support Animal? Are you allergic? Can I eat in class? Can I … Continue reading FAQs by Paula Johnson
It wasn’t that she borrowed the odd punch bowl. To Sharon, the neighborhood was a mall where merchandise was free and returns were rare. She was at my back door at dawn for toothpaste (“A squeeze?”), around noon for my daughter’s skateboard (“My ollie needs work!”) and at 3 pm for a stamp (“For your … Continue reading The Sharon Economy by Paula Johnson
When Alex saw his mother’s face in a cloud formation three days after her funeral, he assumed his eyes were playing tricks. “No way,” he whispered. But then the breeze transformed her lips into the half-smile that always meant she had a wonderful secret she just could not keep to herself. What is it? he … Continue reading The Cloud by Paula Johnson
When Emily saw the posters for the spelling bee, she resolved to work hard and win first prize. A shiny trophy might get her invited to sleepovers and birthday parties! She kept her crazy dream to herself and spent weeks preparing for the big day. When she entered the auditorium, her stomach knotted sharply, killing … Continue reading A Bad Spell by Paula Johnson
Lauren was now 13—finally a TEENAGER. She was even having a NIGHTTIME birthday party. With BOYS. After primping all day, she completed her look with Maybelline Baby Lips lip gloss in Tickled Pink. She was STUNNING. (Prettier than Amanda, but not as awesome as Megan.) Her outfit was PERFECTION: Fuchsia hoodie, skinny jeans, and ballet … Continue reading Candle Power by Paula Johnson
Question #1: Train A leaves the station heading east at 70 mph. Train B leaves a station 225 miles away, heading west at 60 mph. How far from each station do they meet? Jesse James robbed trains in the Wild West. What if Amtrak got robbed? I’d sneak up on the bad guys and throw … Continue reading Pencils Down by Paula Johnson
Oliver appeared when Audrey needed a jump-start. She looked out her window and saw him performing tai chi. But she was on the twenty-third floor, and the building next door was mostly steel beams. Catching her eye, he pointed to his watch, mimed eating, then dropped to his knees, begging. They met in her lobby. … Continue reading Manic Pixie Dream Boy by Paula Johnson
Trevor planned to kill himself on his sixteenth birthday. Mom always said that his condition restricted him to raw, organic produce, so…no cake. His heart murmur precluded driving, Homeschooling was for his own protection. College was off the table. His suicide would be dramatic, his weapon ordinary. He strolled to Arlington Garden and found bushes … Continue reading Killer Bees by Paula Johnson
“They got Marty!,” Deb shouted as she scurried into headquarters. “I knew something was wrong. Who leaves sugar-coated bacon on a spotless counter?” “Boric acid?” whispered Jeff. Deb was silent, antennae drooping in confirmation. She scanned her surroundings. Deb knew how to leap to safety, to this side of the portal. But not even the … Continue reading Today’s Special by Paula Johnson
After months of glances and weeks of conversation, he worked up the nerve to suggest dinner, but was drowned out by the blaring bus horn. They laughed. He tried again. She accepted. Several regular passengers applauded. She blinked back tears when he did not appear at the restaurant or answer his phone. While she died … Continue reading The Bus by Paula Johnson
Daisy was obsessed with Christmas. She loved everything about the holiday—the fragrant tree, shiny ornaments, twinkling lights, candy canes, the works. Just last week, her mother heard the seven-year-old belting out “Jingle Bell Rock” to an audience of dolls. It was cute. It would have been adorable, but it was August in Pasadena. And the … Continue reading Daisy’s Masterpiece by Paula Johnson
Originally, the Rose City Sisters blog served as test site for Paula Johnson’s experiments with HTML, animated GIFs and other web-based wonders. (Her sister, Janet, helps beta test the sites Paula designs for her clients.) In March 2009, novelist Margaret Finnegan suggested turning the Rose City Sisters into a showcase for short fiction. For that … Continue reading About+Contact
