Ghost Connection is a story about learning how your ancestors make up a part of who you are. Clayton Thompson has been haunted all his life. When he finds out who his ghost is he also learns how he fits into his family. Ghost Connection A short story by Manelle Oliphant I’ve been haunted by…
A short story by Manelle Oliphant The day started out like any other. I broke my fast in the dim light of dawn and headed into the forest with my cart in tow. Throughout the morning I chopped a large tree, which had been my project during the previous few days. It’s wood only filled…
Here’s my latest “story.” I put story in quotes because with this one it’s more of an implied story told through the image and the underlying context of a poem. The image popped into my head one day when I was thinking about how it would look if beauty and the beast were reversed. Once…
A Short Story By Manelle Oliphant Goody Alice’s hate began on a sunny day and grew from there. Over the years she’d stoked it with all the anger and resentment she had until it burned like a bonfire, warning others to avoid her at all costs. She lived in a ramshackle cottage at the edge…
A Short Story By Manelle Oliphant Tiffanie ran into her father’s office and slammed the door. “Father,” she gulped for breath, “quite by chance I’ve found out the information we need.” Mr. Barton looked up from the documents spread over his desk. Tiffanie held on to the wingback chair across from him with one hand, while she…
In my recent story, Cinderella’s Prince, you can read about one Prince Charming’s method for finding love. After I published the story Alabaster mentioned to me Cinderella’s Prince Charming used one of 5 usual methods for finding his love. I was unaware there were “usual” ways these things were done but was interested in what Alabaster had to…
A Short Fairy Tale Retelling By Manelle Oliphant The rolling motion of the carriage stops and I jerk awake. My neck hurts. I rub it with my hand and look out the window. The next house on our list is grand and grey, much like the last one. How did the fashion of grey start…
Stepmothers are a common theme in fairy tales. Sometimes, as is the case with my most recent story The Six Swans, it’s a wicked mother-in-law but the themes and actions of the story are the same. I mentioned this thought to my friend Alabaster (you might remember her from this guest post) and she told…
A Short Fairy Tale Retelling By Manelle Oliphant Text and illustrations © 2014 by Manelle Oliphant The morning sun warmed my face and I opened my eyes. Blinking, I waited for my mind to wake up. I still felt tired after my night’s sleep. I remembered my long labor and my baby. I pulled the…
A Short Story By Manelle Oliphant Joseph stood on the ship’s deck where he’d served for the last three years and stared at the miniature painting his wife had sent. The picture showed his smiling two-year-old son in a sailor’s outfit. “I show him your portrait and tell him about you every day. We are…