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Page header for Flash Fiction Fridays. FREE stories every Friday, various genres.




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Competition entry image - screenshot this!

Check the dates and scroll down to this weekend's FREE story for more info.

Click on the FREE Flash Weekends image, or cover to go to store links.

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Check out prizes here!
THE FLASH FICTION READERS COMPETITION (17 June, 2022 - 31 August, 2022)!
BE IN TO WIN ONE OF 5 PRIZE PACKS (six stories included!):
The Flash Fiction Fridays Project Anthology, Victory Island (novel), and short stories On Thin Ice, Thirty-Four, Into The Mist, and, Burning The Cow.

​How to enter...
  1. Screenshot the empty grid,
  2. Check stories off as you get them,
  3. Read and rank the stories honestly,
  4. Collect a minimum of five stories,
  5. Post your grid and tag me before the end of August to be in the draw!
  6. "Name" on entry may be entrant's name or username, and must be filled in on the form (entrants must adhere to the minimum age requirements of the relevant platform).
  7. Tag a friend and receive one Bonus Entry! (maximum one bonus entry per entrant. Tag as many friends as you like, tagged friends do not need to enter for you to receive your Bonus Entry),
  8. Read and rank all 10 stories and go into the Top Reader Bonus draw!
See Terms and Conditions at the bottom of this page - all entries are bound by these terms and conditions.

Book one cover, One Last Cuppa a contemporary fiction story of life, death, and lost opportunities.
George, an elderly farmer, lives alone on Victory Island. Except for dwindling visits from his granddaughter, Charlotte, and weekly ones from Department of Conservation officer, Ben, he's used to fending for himself and prefers it that way.
Tonight though, worries weigh on George's mind: he's concerned for Charlotte who is in a relationship with a man George doesn't trust, and a recent reminder of his own mortality frustrates him.
With much to think through, George makes a cuppa and sits down to consider how Ben might help to solve his mounting problems, for Charlotte's sake more than his own.
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Book two cover, The Door That Wouldn’t Shut, contemporary fiction, a thrilling, frightening read.
​The basement door just won't stay shut.
To begin, it's a minor inconvenience, but as time goes on it seems something larger is in play.
With the narrator home alone as the first fierce storm of the season ramps up, the winds wreak havoc in the neighborhood, and the door succumbs to the will of the wind.
When it finally decides to close, the door changes the course of the narrator's life forever.
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Book three cover, Mushy Peas – a quarantine story. A cheeky, adults only take on lock down.
*Not suitable for younger readers! Adult content.
The pandemic has arrived; lockdown looms.
After a chance encounter with a stranger in a crowded supermarket queue, introverted Ebony makes a surprising discovery that leads her into previously unimaginable territory.
During her period of self-isolation, Ebony undertakes a daring metamorphosis, leaving behind her shy, awkward self, and emerging a wilder woman who knows what she craves.
But will she get what she wants, or will she be left with the mushy peas?
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Review (On Amazon)
S.C. Langgle          5.0 out of 5 stars           Plums and Peas
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2020          Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
This was an interesting take on our current pandemic...at times dark and others whimsical, wistful and bittersweet.

Book four cover, The Invitation. Historical fiction of first date nerves, peer influence, and young love.
Seventeen-year-old Tallulah has received an invitation.
On the surface, it seems innocent enough, but in 1950s Dunrobin, New Zealand, an invitation from a boy, to meet his older, cooler friends, and at the beach, raises challenges she could never have imagined.
This date requires careful thought, planning, and preparation - and she can't do it alone.
Will Tallulah impress, as she desperately wants to? Or will she and her date be disappointed?
There's only one way to find out - read The Invitation!
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Book five cover, Joseph’s Gold, Wild West gold, danger and desperation with a surprising twist.
The boy staggered into town just on dark, filthy, half-starved, and delirious. We took him to the infirmary, fed him, cleaned him up, and let him sleep. It wasn’t until I passed his cot the next morning that I noted the glint of gold between his clenched fingers and the fervent look in his eye.
Having been through unimaginable suffering in the desolate wilderness, the boy is determined to safeguard his treasure and protect the gold his family needs to survive in this harsh and dangerous place.
Desperation, fear, and distrust manifest in this story of the Old West, and it won't end quite how you think.
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Book six cover, contemporary fiction story Grandad’s Wild Ride. Hilarious antics and family adventures.
Grandad is set to relive his youth in this fast and fun story.
The new, homemade go-cart is the centre of attention and excitement on the farm when Grandma and Grandad come to visit, and not just for the kids. It's low and fast, and the older children ride without a care for danger. It's good fun for riders and spectators alike!
But when little Ollie decides that he won't ride without his grandfather, young-at-heart Grandad steps up, ready for his share of the action, until he takes a seat on the cart and realises just how steep and rough the track is. Has he bitten off more than he can chew? Will he survive this ride with all his old bones intact?
When Grandma catches him on the brink, eyes wide with horror, it's go or a lecture, and Grandad has to decide: what will hurt more?
Find out Grandad's fate in this fast-paced, quick-read for all ages.
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Book seven cover, The Calm Before The Storm, a contemporary fiction story of unexpected events.
Throwing caution to the wind, we headed off for a swim in the unusual, otherworldly conditions on that muggy afternoon; a low-hung, dark sky the only clue to the events that would unfold.
Far out in the bay, and waist-deep in the silver water, strange light threw the landscape into relief, and the unexpected phenomenon put us all on edge before the fat drops of rain began to fall.
This became a swim like no other, and one we vowed never to repeat again, even if we'd had a thrilling adventure during the calm before the storm.
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Book eight cover, Out Of My Depth, a thrilling contemporary fiction story of water and waves.
“I’ve heard that drowning is a peaceful way to go, but I’d like to dispute that assumption. In my experience, it’s a desperate scramble for the surface, followed by a crushing blow of anger when you realise this is how you’ll go. It’s not peaceful at all.”

​A daytrip up the coast doesn’t go as planned for this nearly twelve-year-old. Lost in her book, she almost misses the chance for a swim in the frigid surf, and, when she gets out of her depth, it really does all go wrong.
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Book nine cover, The Gift, a historical fiction story with a family secret at the heart.
What makes a great gift? Is it the paper, the ribbon, or the extravagance of what awaits inside?
At the beginning of this story, Miss Catherine could have told you in a single sentence: “Whatever Aunt Maggie brings!”
Come the end, she adopts a sweeter view.
The complicated relationship between sisters Elizabeth and Margaret simmers beneath the simple pretension of an aunt bringing her niece a birthday gift. There is, however, something else at play, and Catherine only senses the hum of tension while she awaits the glorious moment of gift opening.
​But what is the great secret underpinning the carefully choreographed ritual, and will Catherine be enlightened?
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Book ten cover, science fiction story, 2019. Three cousins discover a secret that could end their family.
How can a father and his children have a difficult, even hateful relationship, yet grandfather and grandchildren share a close and unbreakable bond?
After beloved Grandpa Theo’s death, three cousins gather in an attempt to discover the truth behind the rift. The discovery of Theo’s journal, and the story he told Aidan on his deathbed, come together in a way nobody could ever have imagined.
Together with Sarah and Michael, Aidan pieces the incredible and sometimes unbelievable facts together to reveal the shocking beginnings of their family. From an unavoidable marriage to deep-seated guilt, fear of abandonment to questions of loyalty, the subsequent divisive events will split the group in a dramatic, unexpected, and potentially permanent way.
Every family has its secrets, but Theo’s past brings the cousin’s very existence into question. 
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Want
THE ENTIRE COLLECTION
​
for one low price?

​Why not grab the Flash Fiction Fridays Project: 2020 Anthology on Kindle or in Paperback?!
Click the image to view options...
Link to The Flash Fiction Fridays Project – 2020 Anthology Page, all ten stories in one book.

A note on the Free Period
Free Flash Fiction Friday runs from 12:01am Friday - 11:59pm Sunday, Pacific Time. This is the publisher's time zone. The free offer is available on all Amazon stores from this time, and will be announced on Emily's social media pages.

FLASH FICTION READERS COMPETITION (17 June, 2022 - 31 August, 2022)
​TERMS AND CONDITIONS
  1. The Flash Fiction Readers Competition (Run by Emily Larkins, Author) runs from 17 June 2022 to 31 August 2022 inclusive.
  2. Entries close 31 August, 2022, at 11:59pm, Pacific Time. Entries made after this date and time will be considered invalid and discarded. All entries are bound by these terms and conditions.
  3. The prize draws ('out of the hat') will take place on 2 September, 2022, with five winners to be announced on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, shortly after. Should the draw be prevented from taking place (by any extenuating circumstance), at the stated time, this will be notified on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and the draw will take place as soon as practicable thereafter. Draws will take place as follows - one winner will be drawn from each platform's entries - one winner from Facebook, one from Instagram, and one from Twitter. There will be one 'Top Reader' draw (see 18 for entry details). The final draw will encompass all remaining non-winning entries combined.
  4. Winners will be contacted on the relevant social media platform via Direct Message on or before 7 September, 2022, 11:59pm Pacific Time (provided extenuating circumstances do not delay the draw. Should this happen, a new contact date will be advised should draw date be delayed). Unclaimed prizes will be forfeit if not claimed before 30 November, 2022. 
  5. To enter, a minimum of five individual stories are to be read and ranked in order for an entry to be considered valid - it is not a requirement to follow the author's account to enter.
  6. Entrant's name or username must be included on entry form for entry to be considered valid.
  7. PRIMARY ENTRY - entries are limited to one entry per person, per platform (maximum three valid Primary Entries), and must be made according to the minimum age restrictions of the relevant platform. Entries made by underage entrants will be rendered invalid.
  8. BONUS ENTRY - entrants who tag one or more friends will receive one 'Bonus Entry' per platform - a maximum of three platforms and three Bonus Entries apply, no matter how many accounts are tagged.
  9. TOP READER ENTRY - entries with all ten titles checked, read, and ranked will receive entry to the Top Reader draw (one per entrant, per social media platform - a maximum of three 'Top Reader' entries). ONE Top Reader draw will take place. All remaining Top Reader entries will be included in the final, combined draw.
  10. Emily Larkins, Author, MUST be tagged with the relevant username on the following social media platforms: Facebook (@elarkinsauthor), Instagram (@emstar2322), or Twitter (@elarkinsauthor). Entries incorrectly tagged, or lacking tag will be considered invalid (Bonus and Top Reader entries included), so take care!
  11. To be valid, entries must include the competition entry image (as above), entrant's name/account username, stories read marked, and ranking out of 5 stars (checked, or coloured in on the entry form). Evidence of free/paid (see 16) purchase during the competition window (17 June to 31 August, 2022) may be requested by the author. Requested evidence must be produced, upon request, for entry to be deemed valid and eligible to win. Should requested evidence fail to be produced, the winner forfeits their prize. In this event, the prize will not be redrawn.
  12. Winners will receive one prize pack each, consisting of e-copies of six stories: The Flash Fiction Friday's Project Anthology, Victory Island, On Thin Ice, Thirty-Four, Into The Mist, and, Burning The Cow. Prize copies are PDF only and will be sent via email or Direct Message to be arranged between the author and winner).
  13. By entering, entrants automatically consent to their entry (rankings and/or usernames) being used in promotional material by Emily Larkins, Author, on social media, and/or her website, www.emilylarkins.nz. This use will be limited to announcing competition winners and in a 'reviews' capacity only. Entry data gathered will not be on sold or shared or used for any other purpose.
  14. Prizes are limited to a maximum ONE prize pack of six stories each (see 12), per drawn winner, and cannot be exchanged for cash, credit, or other titles by Emily Larkins.
  15. Individual stories are FREE during each title's free period ONLY (as stated above). Outside of the stated free period, stories may be purchased for their usual price on Amazon (see 16). 
  16. Readers may choose to purchase stories (for their usual retail price) outside of the free weekend period stated on the entry form in order to enter. This cost will not be reimbursed by the author, Amazon store, or hosting social media platform. Purchases are made at the entrant's discretion, and remain the entrant's responsibility. Entries made through paid purchase during the competition window (17 June to 31 August, 2022) are eligible to enter, and qualify for Bonus Entry and/or Top Reader entry by tagging a friend (on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter). Purchases made prior to 17 June, 2022, or after 31 August, 2022, are ineligible, and will be considered invalid.
  17. Tagged friends do not have to enter for entrants to qualify for Bonus Entries. Bonus Entries will only be valid should a friend be tagged across each platform. E.g. you enter correctly (as per terms and conditions) on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You tag friends on Facebook and Instagram, but not Twitter. You therefore qualify for three Primary Entries, and two Bonus Entries (for Facebook and Instagram) - a total of five valid entries.
  18. Readers qualify for a maximum of one Primary Entry per platform, one 'tagged friend' Bonus Entry per platform, and one 'Top Reader' bonus entry per platform - a MAXIMUM of 9 entries per reader in total. Duplicated entries will be considered invalid and discarded.
  19. Prizes are limited to ONE win per entrant (the same entrant cannot win across multiple draws). Should the same entrant win across multiple draws, a subsequent draw will take place at the author's discretion.
  20. Prizes remain the property of the named winner, and may not be on sold, shared, posted, published, or gifted without express written permission from the author (this may be done via direct message). The author reserves the right to decline as per the copyright of each prize title.
  21. The author accepts no responsibility (legal, financial, or otherwise) for invalid entries.
  22. Social media platforms Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, will not be held liable for any dispute resulting from this (Flash Fiction Readers Competition 17 June, 2022 - 31 August, 2022) competition. The above named platforms and their parent companies are hosts only.
  23. Entries may be withdrawn by the entrant at any time via written request (DM).
  24. The author reserves the right to remove invalid entries (as per these terms and conditions) from the competition at any time.
  25. No further correspondence will be entered into following the closing date of 31 August, 2022, (except where stated in these terms and conditions by the author).

QUESTIONS??? Contact Emily Larkins here.

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