in My books, My short stories 509 Words

“Slip Sliding Away” – historical short story

With a possible major ice storm predicted here on January 24 and 25, and the accompanying possibility of power outages stretching into the week of January 26, I am scheduling this blog post on Thursday, January 22, to be published on January 27. Our power lines are not underground here, so ice storms wreak havoc with our electricity.

This post is about the ninth story in my historical fiction book, Traveling Through History: A Collection of Historical Short Stories. “Slip Sliding Away: A Southern Appalachian Short Story,” transports the reader to 1875 and an isolated cove in the southern Appalachian Mountains.

I originally wrote this story in the early 2000s. In fact, it was my first historical short story. It has gone through many revisions (and, hopefully, improvements!) since then. It is the story I offer as a free e-download on my website (https://www.janetmorrisonbooks.com) for subscribers to my e-newsletter. If you wish, you may do that to get a free for my fiction writing style.

In “Slip Sliding Away,” Hannah Johnson’s husband, Daniel, has seriously injured himself. A late spring blizzard sets in. Hannah retrieves an envelope of powder from her box of private treasures in the corner cupboard. She adds small amounts of the powder to her suffering husband’s tea as the night passes and she has no way to call for help.

Is she using the precious powder to ease his pain?

And what part does Daniel’s brother, James, play in this story? In fact, all of Daniel’s brothers play a part in this story as it progresses. Therein lies some humor in this otherwise serious subject matter.

You will have to read the story to find out about the powder and Daniel’s ragtag brothers.

How to get a copy of “Slip Sliding Away”

“Slip Sliding Away” is available as a standalone short story on Amazon. It is available in paperback and e-book on Amazon.

“Slip Sliding Away,” by Janet Morrison

Of course, I would be thrilled for you to purchase my book, Traveling Through History: A Collection of Historical Short Stories. “Slip Sliding Away: A Southern Appalachian Short Story” is one of more than a dozen stories in the book.

Traveling Through History is available in paperback from Amazon at (https://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Through-History-Collection-Historical/dp/B0FZSR6FPX/) and e-book at (https://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Through-History-Collection-Historical/dp/B0FZSR6FPX/.) 

Traveling Through History: A Collection of Historical Short Stories, by Janet Morrison

It is available in Harrisburg, North Carolina at Second Look Books, or you can order it from any independent bookstore in the U.S. by visiting my website (https://janetmorrisonbooks.com) and clicking on the Bookshop.org button. (Full disclosure, as an affiliate of Bookshop.org, I will receive a commission from any books you order through Bookshop.org by going through my website.)    

If you enjoy my books, please leave a brief review on such online sites as Amazon and Goodreads.

Janet

The government should be afraid of its citizens, not the other way around.

9 thoughts on ““Slip Sliding Away” – historical short story”

  5. I am okay, Liz. Sorry I haven’t gotten back to you. Today I ventured out and moved the car out of the ice and backed it to where my sister can safely (we hope!) get to it tomorrow afternoon for me to take her for physical therapy. (The irony of that is not missed on me!) I was going to make sure the tractor would start, but when I got to the tractor shed I found the doors frozen to the ground. I helped Marie get on a meeting on Zoom until after 6pm. Somehow, the day passed and I have very little to show for it. Doing more research on Lancaster County, South Carolina in the mid-1700s, taking notes. My brain is swimming as I learn new information that might prompt changes in the draft of my second novel. Marie was expecting a return call from a friend in Raleigh tonight, so I’ve left the phone free. I’ll see what I can come up with to talk to you. I’m not a morning person, since I get very little sleep at night until almost daylight due to chronic fatigue syndrome. Marie’s appointment is smack in the middle of the afternoon. I’ll see what I can figure out. Sorry for not following up with you.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. The excerpt was meant to be very intriguing. LOL! Giving any other details would have been spoilers. Everyone will just have to read the story.

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