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The Casket of Fictional Delights

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Fires of Autumn

by Fanni Suto

Flash Fiction Poignant, Reflective

Phoebe loves the smell of autumn; the dying sweetness of overripe fruits and the crispiness of fallen leaves. She stands on the terrace, barefoot, the marble silky cold under her soles. The sun is setting behind the mountains, bathing the landscape in light. Below the terrace, the garden seems ablaze, pebbles burning white and the koi in the pond flashing like embers.

It is a perfect moment for parting: The sun bidding farewell to the day, nature waving goodbye to the summer. The girl shakes her head; she doesn’t want to think about it yet. She is wearing a crimson kimono embroidered with old gold leaves, the silk embracing her graceful body. She seems more like a painting than a real person.

Phoebe likes the life she has built herself here. But the moments of her fragile peace are numbered. Death is in the air. It comes with the smell of funeral pyres on the back of the evening wind. It arrives in the bitter taste of almond, a memory of Phoebe’s last meal, and in the thunder of heavy boots. The mages of the Emperor are close. Phoebe can feel their greedy breath on her skin. They will cage her, tear her apart.  Dissect her again and again. They will never understand her, the flame burning in her heart.

Soldiers and mages swarm the terrace. But before they can get close, Phoebe drops her kimono. The men freeze. In one moment they see the girl’s alabaster skin, in the next they see only flames.  As the fire dies down, the men can glimpse the last phoenix as she flies towards her freedom.

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About Fanni Suto

Fanni is a writer in her mid-twenties. She writes in Hungarian and English; poems, flash fiction and countless unfinished novels. She tries to find the magical in the everyday and likes to spy on the secret life of cities and their inhabitants.
Visit Fanni Suto on the web

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News

Christmas is Coming

We are gearing up for Christmas here at The Casket.  We have two stories by Morgan Parks  in December

A Bigger Tree Each Year

Lucky Elf

And the Brooch of the Month comes from Estonia.

Don't to forget to let us know what you think of all our stories and our brooches  @casketfiction.

 

Check out other short stories on The Casket of Fictional Delights

The Goldsmiths' Fair

Journeys through Jewellery

Rue Pigalle designs women-only trips around the world, for intimate groups of art, jewellery and culture lovers.  Isabelle describes herself as having three passions; jewellery, art and craftsmanship. She takes her clients on journeys of discovery around the world, destinations include Paris, Barcelona and New York.  There are trips to London planned in 2020 and as a prelude Isabelle asked me to write two pieces on this year’s Goldsmiths’ Fair. Followers of my Brooch of the Month blog will know I regularly visit and shop at the Goldsmiths’ Fair, so I was delighted to take up the challenge and report back all the highlights for readers of Rue Pigalle.

Goldsmiths' Fair Week One

Goldsmiths' Fair Week Two

Tweetings

  • It is Christmas time here at #TheCasket, this festive #Brooch is from #Estonia https://t.co/BVIWvoxtAY https://t.co/hwDetseGUB, 7 hours ago
  • New Brooch of the Month from The Casket of Fictional Delights - https://t.co/EsB8HYHqI1, Dec 10
  • RT @WordFactoryUK: Don't miss @RazzMag's brilliant interview with @cathygalvin1. She talks controversial novels, finding your voice, and championing emerging writers. https://t.co/fLy0EdWBMp, Dec 10
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Podcasts

Prefer to listen? - from the beginning The Casket of Fictional Delights has specialised in producing high quality podcasts of short stories and flash fiction compilations. The podcasts are recorded by actors and voiceover artists and produced by a professional studio manager ensuring we maintain a consistent high standard. I’ve chosen three to highlight the variety and quality of work we have to offer - visit our Podcast page for more. I hope you enjoy listening to them.

Casket podcast highlights

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Text & stories © Joanna Sterling 2019
Stories © various authors
Audio by Menna Bonsels
Maintained by Brighton WebTech
Brooch photography by Mark Colliton