Welcome to the Spot Writers. The prompt for this month is to write about a mishap involving paint. Today’s tale comes to us from Val Muller, author of the kidlit mystery series Corgi Capers. Art Show at the Swim Meet By Val Muller   Why would they leave out the senior art show during the state championship swim meet for ten-and-unders? Why? Why, why, why? Alice bit her lip. No one had seen. Her body acted without her brain’s permission, and before long she had shifted the large wall panels so that the ruined artwork faced the back wall. No one would know. Not yet, anyway. What the heck wa ..read more

Welcome to the Spot Writers. This month’s prompt is to write about falling in love in a museum. Today’s tale comes to us from Val Muller, author of the kidlit mystery series Corgi Capers. Puppy Love at the Folk Art Museum Val Muller It had been a year since his father died, yet Melvin still felt lost. From the outside, things were the same, but to him, life felt like a shell only. If something funny happened at work, he still thought about calling his dad on the way home. Dad was always one for—well, Dad jokes, stupid puns, and goofy misunderstandings. But as quickly as the instinct hit, so di ..read more

Welcome to the Spot Writers. This month’s prompt is to write a story that features a springtime ritual. Today’s tale comes to us from Val Muller, author of the Corgi Capers kidlit mystery series. Stay tuned for an illustrated re-release of the first three titles and the release of book 4! Mom’s Weekend Off By Val Muller It was the day that woke the soul. That’s how Patty thought about it, anyway. You know the one: the first spring day after winter when the sun is so warm that it’s dangerously close to feeling too hot, but it isn’t because the cold of winter is still stuck into the inside of yo ..read more

Welcome to the Spot Writers. The prompt for this month is to write about new neighbors moving in. Today’s tale comes to us from Val Muller, author of the Corgi Capers kidlit series.  Return of the Light By Val Muller The fire crackled, and Samantha tossed another log on it. She half turned, was almost about to shush the dog—Bella always startled when Sam threw a log on the fire. But then Sam remembered. Bella was gone. It hadn’t been a year, not quite. It seemed like forever. Then again, it seemed just yesterday that Bella had been there, at her feet.  But last year, at the winter so ..read more

Welcome to the Spot Writers. This month’s prompt is to use these five words in a tale: wax, teeth, stain, spirit, quiet. This week’s tale comes to us from Val Muller, author of the Corgi Capers kidlit mystery series. All Hallows Magic By Val Muller “Wax candies,” Grandma was saying. “They were wax and filled with juice. You bit into them and then drank the juice.” Rick and Ashley eyed each other. That sounded disgusting, and they wondered if Grandma really had such candies. Sometimes, the world she described seemed too strange to be real. “Now my favorite Halloween memory was when I actually s ..read more

Welcome to The Spot Writers. The prompt for this cycle is to write a story that involves waiting for something. Today’s tale comes to us from Cathy MacKenzie. Along with several short story collections, books of poetry, and two novels, Cathy has published three anthologies under her imprint, MacKenzie Publishing. The latest one is titled NO ONE SHOULD KISS A FROG, available on Amazon and other retailers—300 pages of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry by 75 authors around the world.  She also has a call out for submissions for another anthology to be published in 2024, to be titled SUCH A LO ..read more

Welcome to The Spot Writers. This month’s prompt is to write a story involving waiting.  Today’s tale comes to us from Val Muller, author of the kidlit series Corgi Capers. Lurking By Val Muller The autumn chill bit the air. Leaving the window cracked open seemed like such a good idea earlier, when it was warm and sunny. Now, Christy shivered against the cold. Her heavy fleece blanket was barely enough to keep her warm, and she drew the covers up over her shoulders like Garfield in those old cartoons.  She glanced toward the other side of the bed. Normally, she’d curl up against John ..read more

Welcome to the Spot Writers. This month’s prompt is to write a story involving a penguin. Today’s story comes to us from Val Muller, author of the kidlit series Corgi Capers.  Note: getting ready for my own baby penguin, I forgot to post this story on August 30. The penguin has since safely arrived and sleeps just about as well as the baby in this tale. Postpartum By Val Muller “The female emperor penguin,” Winnie said, looking up from her phone, “breeds during the coldest of winter. She lays an egg and then leaves it with the male while she goes off to feed. It’s the male’s job to keep t ..read more

Welcome to the Spot Writers. This month’s prompt is to write a story that involves worms. Today’s tale comes to us from Val Muller, author of the Corgi Capers mystery series. Served By Val Muller It was June 2—exactly two days of school left after today. Marsha had been a menace all year. It was time for Lisa to take matters into her own hands. Mom and Dad had were so old school. “Just punch her once, just once,” Dad had said. Even mom had agreed. “You’ll get in trouble once, but she’ll leave you alone forever.” Maybe in their day, but nowadays, fighting was serious. Students plummeted in teac ..read more

Welcome to the Spot Writers. This months prompt is “expectations for spring.” Today’s tale comes to us from Val Muller, author of the Corgi Capers mystery series. April Fool Val Muller Milton Miniver planned eveything, from what he would eat each week to when he would take off the storm windows and replace the screens. He loved cable TV despite all the modern alternatives because it kept to a schedule, just like him. April 1 was screen day. It worried him a little that this year, the switch from winter to spring behaviors coincided with April Fools Day, possibly his least favorite holiday, but ..read more