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The Casket of Fictional Delights

Stories Brooches

New Message

by Joanna Sterling

Flash fiction Comical, Playful

“Have you checked the messages this morning?”

“No signal boss.  Joyriding around the mast again. Complete disregard for all the health and safety briefings.  One or two of the new recruits still haven’t passed their ‘Knowledge’.”

“We have the new satnav to fall back on.  Our distribution windows are too tight for error.”

“I’ll check to see if the engineering taskforce have it prioritised. Where did I put my electric heated boots?”

The new software installed over the summer with its integrated databases made checking and loading easier. But the boss missed his hand written ledgers, yellow Post-it notes with last minute requests and address changes.  He still made random checks on the merchandise before dispatch. His quality control team leader grumbled he was interfering with a well ordered system, opening boxes and poking around.

Once, he’d designed a prototype delivery vehicle. It had been vetoed by the head of distribution as unstable. The model sat on the shelf behind his desk, streamline aerodynamics, additional storage and higher seat, a pipe dream.

A rush of arctic air and the assistant head of operations bustled in brushing off copious amounts of snow from his all-weather waterproof down jacket and stomping his boots on the mat.

“The mast is being repositioned now. They drove straight into it.  Did we ever follow up their references I wonder?”

“Don’t fret. Remember 1972.  You were in such a tizzy we had to send out for your special tonic. Delayed loading no end.”

“We don’t have enough staff, used to have no problem recruiting. Now they all want to go to uni.  Each year new technology.  Text messages, I ask you, what’s wrong with sending a letter?”

A series of buzzes and the small screen on the desk lit up.

Dear Santa….

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About Joanna Sterling

Joanna writes short stories and flash fiction, has had her work published in a number of magazines and anthologies. She lives in London with her ever growing collection of Brooches.

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News

New Flash Fiction for March

Coming in March a new flash fiction by Fanni Suto  ‘Night Wait’ a restless and melancholic little tale.  In the meantime why not check out  some of Fanni's earlier Flash Fiction published on The Casket of Fictional Delights ‘Fires of Autumn', ' The Girl with Pearls in her Eyes', 'Rain of Thought', 'Summers End' and 'Darkest before Dawn'.

Fanni Suto's Flash Fiction stories

Competition

2018 Competition Winners Announced

The 2018 Flash Fiction Competition - WINNERS ANNOUNCED

This year’s winner is Rosie Garland with her story ‘Speaking in Tongues’  ** CONGRATULATIONS**

2nd Sync by Mark Farley; 3rd Floating by Mark Farley; 4th 1-2-5 by Gina Headden

Bikini by Sherri Turner; The Plughole Picker by Susan Carey; Serendipity by Sandra Purdy; Bombs, Lilies by Jason Jackson

Competition Results

Tweetings

  • New #FlashFiction for Friday by #Writer @rebeccapeyton 'The Unbiddable Hand' an optimistic and reflective tale #reading https://t.co/Hh6aXIy36D https://t.co/t8uAGN21M9, 13 hours ago
  • Arrived today from America ~ exhibition catalogue from The Metropolitan Museum of Art Chanel exhibition in 2005 by the late great Karl Lagerfeld #Chanel #karllagerfeld… https://t.co/rdhDc1Zqgn, Feb 20
  • Song Bird brooch/pendant by Carlo Giuliano after Burne Jones #beautiful #brooch #art #jewellery #wanttoown @ Tate Britain https://t.co/EqntgqCgEV, Feb 19
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Audio Stories

Prefer to listen? - from the beginning The Casket of Fictional Delights has specialised in producing high quality audio recordings of short stories and flash fiction compilations. The audios 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 Audio page for more. I hope you enjoy listening to them.

Casket audio 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