Randell Jones
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6-minute Stories

Everybody loves a good story
Listen to these 6-minute stories
from both new voices and experienced writers
from the Personal Story Publishing Project anthologies:
Bearing Up , Exploring , That Southern Thing , Luck & Opportunity,
Trouble , Curious Stuff , Twists and Turns , Sooner or Later , and Now or Never.
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"Initially Disappointed" by Suzanne Cottrell

 – “my precious”

Cycling through the ring run-around

 

Author’s Talk

Suzanne Cottrell

Suzanne Cottrell, a member of Creative Voices, Taste Life Twice Writers, and NC Writers’ Network, lives with her husband in Granville County, NC. An outdoor enthusiast and retired teacher, she enjoys reading, writing, knitting, hiking, and Pilates. Her prose has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies, including the Personal Story Publishing Project, Inwood Indiana Press, Quail Bell Magazine, Parks and Points, and Nailpolish Stories. She’s the author of three poetry chapbooks: Gifts of the Seasons, Autumn and Winter; Gifts of the Seasons, Spring and Summer; and Scarred Resilience.

Most of my writing ideas pop into my head when I’m engaged in a relaxing activity like walking, reading, and coloring although a few happen when I’m researching topics. As a history major, a bit of a science nerd, and former teacher, I enjoy researching to satisfy my curiosity. I’m a role model for life-long learning. Going off on tangents can be problematic when I’m working on a writing piece. I have a huge notebook of writing ideas. Maintaining focus on a given piece can be challenging. I frequently alternate between 2 writing pieces, working on one while letting the other marinate. Writing in spurts works for me. On non-creative writing days, I’m observing, reading, researching, editing, and/or revising.

The idea for “Initially Disappointed” came to me one morning when I selected my jewelry to complement my outfit of blue, my favorite color. I often wear my high school class ring because of the unique rectangular, royal blue, crystal stone mounted horizontally. Besides the ring’s blue stone and setting, the ring holds sentimental value beyond my high school years at Charles O. Dickerson High School in Trumansburg, New York. Although upset by the loss of my first ring and disappointed with an engraving error on the replacement, my ring is serendipity. By reading my story and you’ll find out why. — Suzanne Cottrell

Randell Jones