Author: Chris Hall

Novelist, story writer, writer of just about anything for anyone!

Nice to see you… (Tales from the SSC&B)

Chris Hall40 Comments

William Bereza on Unsplash

The red-headed writer (aka la Raconteuse) grinned a huge grin, as she looked up to see the Gatekeeper who had just arrived at the Six-Sentence-Café-and-Bistro; several other people looked as well, as he stopped at the second step down, and surveyed the room.

La Raconteuse looked the other way for a moment, as the Bartender gave a nod and a wink on the other side of the bar to the Gatekeeper: destiny was back, and the red-headed writer was more than pleased about that.

She hopped down from the stool as she turned around to see the Gatekeeper as he began to walk along the long bar – ‘gosh, you’re even smaller than I remember,’ he said – while she grinned – ‘just flat shoes for me now.’

Despite so many things had changed – and of course it had been several years from the start, but at least the main Proprietors were still in the heart of the Six-Sentence-Café-and-Bistro, although there were more exotic, devious and more besides too, who hang out there now, but the red-headed writer wasn’t worried.

The tall, thin man turned from the small group in the corner, as he strode to meet the Gatekeeper in the middle of the bar, right by the Bartender; in less than a minute, she’d served the finest malt whisky and two chunky glasses plus some ice – ‘let’s go through to the Manager’s office.’

La Raconteuse glanced out to see how dismal the weather was, as she sat down into her usual booth.

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Wednesday’s Three Things Challenge: DESTINY, DISMAL, DESPITE

Denise Farley of GirlieOnTheEdge
Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt: FLAT

More #SixSentenceStories

In her prime

Chris Hall42 Comments

she’s a beautiful girl
she’s in her prime
and now she has two youngsters
they are bold and fun, and running around
but she keeps one eye on the boisterous wee boys
and the other in the distance
but all is fine just now

~~~

Image credit: Johan Siggesson @Unsplash

This image shows a lioness with two cubs standing in long grasses. The lioness is looking to her left with narrowed eyes.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #301 photo prompt.

What do you see # 301- 11 August, 2025

A poem and a photo

Chris Hall39 Comments

canva.com

~~~

This is a Taiga with a tanka poem and a black and white photo – created by Colleen and Robbie.

Written in response to this week’s Tanka Challenge hosted by Willow.

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge #24, 8/5/25: Taiga & Canva Instructions



Earwigging… again (Tales from the SSC&B)

Chris Hall51 Comments

William Bereza on Unsplash

Back into that wonderful Six-Sentence-Café-and-Bistro, the red-headed writer (aka La Raconteuse) was ready to write another chapter in her story.

Earlier she had been far too busy to do anything but eat and drink, since she’d had a very late breakfast (or brunch); she had been umming and arring about the menu for ages, as Tom was on leave, and Mimi was not here either. In the end she plumped for a couple of small pancakes with bacon and syrup (very proper for those American people, as she grinned), and in the meantime she munched some toast with butter and jam, or was it marmalade she wondered for a moment, but anyway everything was delicious, and she drank two coffees as well.

She went back to her usual booth where she opened her laptop, she was so happy that it had been fixed by this clever guy, since it took more than three days to work properly again. Without her laptop she had to write things down using paper and pen or pencil, and now she had so many notes and scribbles in her little notebook – what a mess! – but at least now she could continue to write on that laptop.

She had been working for more than an hour, but then she walked over to the bar, she smiled and waved to her great friend, the Bartender, while the tall, thin man gestured to the small group in the corner, and now, of course, she would be earwigging again.

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Wednesday’s Three Things Challenge: JAM, MARMALADE, SYRUP

Denise Farley of GirlieOnTheEdge
Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt: GESTURE

More #SixSentenceStories

That Book

Chris Hall38 Comments

That Book

She looked at the cover,
and then picked it up,
she wondered who had written it
since there was no signature.
The back cover was also blank,
so time to open that book.

And what did she find?
Actually… nothing.
It’s her to write it you see.

~~~

Image credit: Eveling Salazar @Unsplash

This image shows a book with a title – Free forever printed on its cover. The image in monochrome where the book is greyish white and the background is dark.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #300 photo prompt.

What do you see # 300- 4th August, 2025

Art on Words

Chris Hall19 Comments

it’s a victory
flags are all around the world
but it is not true
is it in a gallery?
but no, it’s just in a house

so what would we think?
maybe it’s a metaphor
it’s just… difficult

~~~

Metaphor – a tanka and a haiku – great fun!
Written in response to this week’s Tanka Challenge hosted by Robbie Cheadle

Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge #23, 7/29/25: Metaphors

Tour de France 2025 – the final finale

Chris Hall31 Comments

Paris Photographer – Louis Paulin

‘Okay, the final race for the Tour de France this year, it has been excellent so far, don’t you think?’ smiled Francis, as he inverted the first bottle of champagne, while Joan and Scatty sip some, as they all watched the large television.

‘It’s such a wonderful place in the heart of Paris, all those lovely buildings and statues, meanwhile the cyclists will cycle around the Champs-Elysees (four times as usual), but this time it will be longer since it’s going up to the top of the Butte Montmartre,’ said Francis.

‘Gosh, right by us,’ said Scatty, ‘you know, I’m going to go out there, just now; I can get a little patch of grass near the Basilica of the Sacre-Coeur, and that will be perfect,’ as she grabbed her coat, then she reversed for a moment to say, ‘I will have a great position there, I’m sure!’

‘Well, I think this is much cosier, and there’s only the two of us,’ said Joan – ‘yes, I think so too,’ said Francis, as he put his arm over her shoulder.

‘Ah ha, here it is,’ said Joan, ‘such a beautiful sculpture for the horse, and it looks very like me where I’m sitting proudly up on the Place des Pyramides – oh yes, valour… that was me at the time, wasn’t it,’ as she grinned, – while Francis gave her a big kiss.

But what happened to the two gargoyles… and where’s that red-headed woman? – well, we guess it’ll be next time!

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Friday’s Three Things Challenge: VALOUR, INVENT, REVERSE

 

Denise Farley of GirlieOnTheEdge
Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt: PATCH

More #SixSentenceStories

 

 

 

 

Walking around the Castle

Chris Hall42 Comments

She’s wearing her red coat, which is warm and long, and it’s perfect. She wonders what she should write today, since she has a small notebook in her pocket. She strides across the ancient bridge; she stops in the middle. She surveys the large loch, pulls out her pencil and paper, and scribbles a few lines: it’s a haiku – from Scotland to Japan.

from heather
to cherry blossom;
just divine

~~~

Image credit:  Christian Crocker @Unsplash

This image shows the back view of a woman dressed in modern day attire, and a red coat, walking towards an ancient castle in Scotland, over a stone bridge.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #299 photo prompt.

What do you see #299- 28 July, 2025

Margot and her 2CV

Chris Hall25 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

‘Gosh, this will be fun,’ grinned one of the boys.
‘Yes, we’re all going on an adventure.’
‘We have got everything we need,’ smiled Great Aunt Margot. ‘Now get into the back of my 2CV boys, we are going to the woods, since it’s autumn so we can get some mushrooms, and maybe some truffles.’
‘Truffles? What are those?’
Great Aunt Margot waved a hand as she continued to drive, and rather fast, ‘truffles are very good and very expensive, but we will see.’

The three of them tootled around in that little car for a bit, when suddenly Great Aunt Margot stopped, and then reversed, and stopped again. ‘Look boys, there’s eggs available. You can get out and ask,’ as she gave one of them some notes.

The two boys trotted over to the sign, and then into the little farm.
‘Is anyone here?’ shouted both of them.
For a moment it seemed that no-one was around, but just a little later, a very nice lady appeared.
‘Ah, that would be Madame Margot,’ the nice lady said. ‘Two dozen, I imagine,’ as she waved back.

Soon that was sorted, they were off again. ‘Time to find some mushrooms and do some truffle hunting,’ grinned Great Aunt Margot.

They walked around the woods, and all three of them had lovely mushrooms, although sadly they didn’t find any truffles this time.
But they did see something in the distance…
Yes, that’s right, a couple of unicorns – and yes, they are real.


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Posted for The Unicorn Challenge, a magical challenge hosted by Jenne Gray and C E Ayr, where they provide a photo and we, in turn, provide up to 250 words.

A Frog Song

Chris Hall33 Comments

Photo by Paul Szlosek


a small pool
forest green and clear
just lovely

and who can we see?
that’s right, a wonderful frog!
he says ‘om’ and ‘om’
and he’s placid and peaceful
in his lotus position

~~~

It’s a haiku 3/5/3, plus tanka – such fun!

Written in response to this week’s Tanka Challenge hosted by Selma
And there is Paul’s Wonderful World of Color – great photos!

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 22, July 22nd: Photographs