Normally, when you see my name and the words Carrot Ranch, you link them to the 99Word flash fiction stories I write.

This week, however, I have had the pleasure of joining this literary community as a guest columnist.

Submitting your work to strangers and waiting for their comments is a daunting experience. One that has taken me a long time to feel comfortable with. You might think that can’t be because I have published books and had my work included in anthologies. I can tell you, it still isn’t easy putting yourself out there knowing what you write is not everyone’s cup of tea. 

Recently I threw caution to the wind, took an excerpt from one of the books I am writing, and posted it on one of the blogs I follow. This is a writing blog that has a broad range of writers contributing, encouraging and offering constructive comments. Every so often they ask for a snippet of what you’re working on. ​

The following is the piece I submitted and some of the comments I received in return. I should tell you that this book is a WIP and is not expected to be published until next year (maybe). I currently call it The Ranch, but that might change. I’ll see how I feel when it’s done.

Excerpt from The Ranch
By Ann Edall-Robson

Laying under the slicker, Emi wrapped her body as best as she could around Marc to keep him warm. He had drifted in and out of consciousness since she’d talked to Jake. The blood had stopped dripping from his shoulder, but the jagged red marks she could see through his shredded shirt were still oozing droplets along their ridges. His distorted arm with its wrist still wrapped in a chunk of the bridle rein lay at a precarious angle out in front of them.

“Where the hell are they?” she whispered more to hear a voice than expecting an answer from anyone.

“Em.”

“Stay still. I’m here, Jake’s on his way.”

“Hurt.”

Emi snuggled closer trying to give off as much of her body warmth to the injured man as she could.

“It’ll be okay.”

​The sound of the truck in the distance slid her mind even further into survival mode. Easing herself out from under the coat, she stood picking up her rifle from the stump where she had leaned it within her reach. Four strides down the trail towards the corrals, she stopped, pointed the rifle skyward and shot three rounds in rapid succession.

There were three short blasts from a truck horn in answer.

She had told Jake they were about a mile from the corrals. The sound of voices and doors slamming confirmed help was on its way.

Returning to Marc, she checked his pulse, felt his forehead and ran her finger down his cheek stopping above the shallow gash on his jaw.

“Em.”

Crouched on her haunches, she spoke softly to the man she was going to marry.​

“They’re coming. Help is here.”

My first visit to the Ranch took place shortly after the launch of Moon Rising: An Eclectic Collection of Works. It was an 'in limbo' time for me while I pondered the need to continue writing as I had been, short stories and poetry or dive into the world of novel writing. The latter eventually won out, and not only did I start one manuscript, I soon found I had three irons in the fire with other ideas flying around the brain wheel. The Quiet Spirits was the novel that got to the finish line first. The others are still under the banner of WIP and have now been joined by the sequel to The Quiet Spirits. In between, I continue to blog, write a monthly newsletter and have published the first of my Backyard Series - Birds in my Canadian Backyard.

​Life is grand!

Being involved with the Rough Writer Tour Around the World, encouraged me to take a trip back in time, though my 99-word archives. I couldn’t remember what my first submission was to the Carrot Ranch, and what I found made me smile, nod my head and whisper, “Damn straight!”

I found it interesting how my first post at the Ranch has so much more meaning with the completion of The Congress of the Rough Writers Flash Fiction Anthology Vol. 1.  The words I wrote, titled Ivor Oaks, fits the concept of the Carrot Ranch and Charli Mills’ vision to a tee. The prompt on that day in April 2015 - write a story about nurturing a neighbourly relationship.

Not once, did I imagine my early days of writing 99-words would eventually resonate with life at the Ranch, but they have. They are the epitome of what has happened over the years, driven by Charli’s dream for the Carrot Ranch to “provides words for people: stories to read, encouragement to practice craft and a commitment to creating community through literary art.” 

​I leave you with Ivor Oaks . . .