Author Archives: Fran Hart

About Fran Hart

Disciple of Christ, earning a living as the director of US-based operations for a Taiwanese company, managing an engineering organization while carving out time to write. Wife, Mother, Grandmother.

The phone rang at 4am.

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Fran Hart

Nothing good can come from this. I wake my spouse, “What’s amiss?” “Hello? Hello?” he answers gruffly, Then disconnects, just as roughly. “Who so rudely breaks our slumber?” “Can you believe it? Wrong number!” _________________ I missed the deadline with … Continue reading →

Posted in 33 words, Challenged, Fiction, Trifecta, Trifextra, Writing | 20 Comments

Wretched! Trifecta Challenge (Week 16)

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Fran Hart

Teenie sat at the kitchen table, hands cupping her cold mug of coffee, staring into the space above her stove, not seeing the wall behind the stove, stained with grease, tomato sauce splatter and other evidence of previous meals. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Challenged, Fiction, Trifecta, Writing | 5 Comments

The Bumblebee Chronicles

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Fran Hart

On the third day of Abril, Bativa emerged from the hole where she’d wintered, hunger ultimately pushing her past any concerns for late freezes. She navigated through layers of fallen leaves, the damp, rich insulation that protected her while she … Continue reading →

Posted in Challenged, Fiction, IndieInk, Writing | 6 Comments

Whodunnit?

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Fran Hart

“Who is it?” “I don’t know for sure.” “And … you found this in our attic?” “In the trunk we got when my Grandpa died.” “Well, who do you think it is?” “Uncle Joe.” ____________________ A response to the Trifecta … Continue reading →

Posted in 33 words, Challenged, Fiction, Trifecta, Trifextra, Writing | 11 Comments

Slower Traffic Keep Right

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Fran Hart

“Get over!” “What?” Marie, lost in her Kindle, wasn’t paying attention to traffic and had no idea what I was talking about. “Nothing. This idiot. Go back to your book.” “Hmmm.” She turned back to whatever she was reading. She was … Continue reading →

Posted in Challenged, Fiction, IndieInk, Is it just me?, Writing | 6 Comments

Another day, another house to flip: Lodestone

Posted on February 19, 2012 by Fran Hart

On Friday, Mr. H and I closed on another foreclosed/HUD home. We paid ~$85k, we expect to spend ~$20k during the 2 months of rehab. A conservative selling price is $140k. Minus closing costs, we anticipate a profit of over … Continue reading →

Posted in Flipping, Flipping Houses, Real Estate, Rehab | Comments Off on Another day, another house to flip: Lodestone

Never without you

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Fran Hart

Benny shuffled into the kitchen, knees stiff, shoulders hunched, feeling every minute of his ninety years. Mornings were like that. His age seemed to settle on him like a heavy blanket in the night, draining his energy and leaving him … Continue reading →

Posted in adulthood, Challenged, commitment, family, Fiction, IndieInk, life, love, Writing | 8 Comments

A debt that can never be repaid

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Fran Hart

My name is Charlie. Charles Daniel Bandshaw. Those who know me well call me Chuck. Those who don’t learn soon enough not to make any wisecracks about my name. My mama, Georgia Bandshaw, had a sense of humor and my daddy … Continue reading →

Posted in Challenged, Fiction, IndieInk, Writing | 6 Comments

Last man standing

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Fran Hart

Jed sat on his front porch, his chair tilted back on two legs, his feet resting on the rail, his eyes closed, hands resting on his chest, fingers laced together, as relaxed as any man could be on a Sunday … Continue reading →

Posted in Challenged, Fiction, IndieInk, Writing | 7 Comments

For better or worse, I wasn’t in the mood

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Fran Hart

This afternoon we successfully sold the house we’d owned for about 18months as a rental, making it our first “flip.” We bought the house in June, 2010: $87,000 At that time, we invested $2,500 in repairs in preparation for occupation … Continue reading →

Posted in Flipping, Flipping Houses, Real Estate | Comments Off on For better or worse, I wasn’t in the mood