Sheri Yutzy - Speculative Fiction Author

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HAUNTED – #flashfictionmagic

November 18, 2021 by Sheri

I knew the music box was a menace the moment its silver handle caught a ray of sunlight and bounced it around the parlor. I shut the curtains tightly, of course, but that ridiculous box still gleamed.
As ridiculous as the nephew who left it on my mantle.
I didn’t touch it for the first week, didn’t even look its way while I read Frankenstein on the armchair. Of course I turned my favorite chair to face the other way. I finished my favorite horror novels, read all the Poe I owned twice, and scowled into my fiendishly bitter coffee in between. The music box was like a tickle at the nape of my neck, and while I love giving my victims chills, I didn’t like it one bit myself.
All Hallows’ Eve was coming. I could go out again, the Crone of of Sable Manor roaming free to terrorize the neighborhood. The horror I’d soak up would be enough to let me grab the blasted box and throw it out. But I had to survive until then.
The wind howled the night before the Eve, bare branches screeching along the windows. Just how I liked it. I let the fire grow cold and shivered in my chair, my wasted lips twisted in a smile.
Soon. Soon I would be free.
At the stroke of midnight, the box opened. My claws sank into my black gown as a tinkling tune began to play. Bright and disgustingly sweet. My scream rattled in my throat as a silver mist wrapped around me, sucking away the darkness I loved. The curtains whisked open and moonlight brightened the parlor, leaving me bare and wrinkled.
I should have known the box was haunted.

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About Sheri

Here Goes Something New!

Hi, I'm Sheri Yutzy. I love forests under the night sky, trying new foods, and drinking Irish tea.
I'm married to a musician who looks good in black, mama to two toddlers who love to eat, and happy resident of a Cape Cod cottage in Ohio.
I write YA fantasy and am acquisitions editor at sparkflashfiction.com.
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A little bit of coming spring in great-grandma’s A little bit of coming spring in great-grandma’s pitcher.
A little pink and green promise of golden age to come.
🪴🪴🪴

#twentywordtuesday 
#poetsofinstagram #flowerpoetry #sheriyutzy

#slowliving #quietlife #antiquecreamer #cottageflowers
I never seem to find enough time to do what I want I never seem to find enough time to do what I want to do.
Sound familiar?
This month I’ve learned a few things about pursuing quiet.
For me, quiet feels slow.
I think I can still pursue it even while having bursts of activity, but in between the bursts, I have to slow.
That slowness can breed frustration, which isn’t quiet at all.
It’s not really about making time for it, more about letting time go. Let it pass, without making it perform.
I love it even though it makes me uncomfortable to begin.
I had a little extra writing time last week and in this picture I’m attempting to find quiet in the midst of it. Journaling helps me focus my thoughts on quiet things.

How do you find quiet in your daily life?

#sheriyutzy #livingquietly #quietliving #sojourncafe #yafantasyauthor #intentionalliving #writinglifestyle #amwritingyafantasy #writingcommunity #journalingcommunity #slowliving #cottagelife
A misty rain has come and melted the snow away. We A misty rain has come and melted the snow away. We passed so many fallen snowmen on the way home from church. It was a little sad, but I’m going to enjoy the damp weather until it freezes again next week. Here in Ohio, we never fear, winter is always just around the corner again until April or so.😏
But it’s almost February, which means I want to start wearing pale pink and blue and poke around in the garden looking for hyacinth buds (they’re sprouting!).
Then I come in from the cold and read over a steaming cup of tea. I have lots of books to read before winter is done!
What’s your favorite indoor winter activity?

#booksandtea #cottageliving #cottagegardenflowers #slowliving #intentionalliving #lovingwinter #afacelikeglass #thescorpioraces #maggiestiefvater #yafantasy #franceshardinge #sundayreads #sheriyutzy #amreadingyafantasy
Hello, I hope you’re doing well this Saturday. H Hello, I hope you’re doing well this Saturday.
Here’s a peaceful pot of tea. ♥️

#potoftea #slowliving #quietliving #pouringtea #blacktea #cottagecore #cottageliving #intentionalliving
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