Excerpt from "The Birth of Paisley" by Amy Browne from 'If'

I have been friends with several of the contributors to the Circle 8 Writers anthologies for a few years now. Today's excerpt from their collaboration If comes from my good friend Amy Browne.

Book Blurb:

The stories of If:

Amy Browne: "And So It Begins: the Birth of Paisley" Short (Paisley)story: The kingdom rejoices at the birth of a new princess. If only grandma had been more careful, the baby would not have floated up, up and away.

Andi Caldwell: "Saint Theresa" Short Story: Theresa had something in common with her namesake Saint Theresa: seeking terrible vengeance on those closest to her. If only she had known then what she knows now--that the saint was no saint in her young life, either.

Angel Sharum: "As If You Cared" Short story: If Robert hadn’t been so alienated by his wife’s manic depression, maybe the cure wouldn’t have proved so deadly.

"If You’d Only Listened" Short story: Nobody ever listened to Will, not his mother, not even his best friend Dale—NOBODY! If they had, maybe Will wouldn’t have decided it’s time for Judgement Day.

"I’m Sorry" Flash story: Sorry, Charlie.

"I Want You Back" Flash fiction: If only Nathan would’ve washed his own dirty shirts.

LL Darroch: "Artemis Unbound" Short story: A scarlet ribbon always around her neck. Oh, dear, if poor Henry had only known or had guessed why his beloved never took it off.

"The Bracelet" Short story: If Mattie can only conjure up fake spirits, how can one that keeps taunting her with a bracelet prove to be too real.

"UserError" Flash fiction: If you’re going to use a computer to cheat, don’t drink coffee.

“Green Cheese” Flash Fiction: Green Cheese: What if the moon really was made of green cheese?

"Fortress" Poetry: If the past is a dead thing, should a tombstone marks its grave?

Brittany Joy Chadwick "IF" Short story: If Frank could only believe in his Imaginary Friend.

Robert L. Arend "Snow Globe Short story: If only Ralph hadn’t been so ambitious, greedy and selfish, he and his family might not be homeless and struggling to survive the harsh Philadelphia winter. If only he could change their present by changing his past.

"The Andre Peterson Conspiracy" Short Story: If Sirhan Sirhan didn’t kill Robert F. Kennedy, who did? Time will tell.

Read an excerpt from "The Birth of Paisley" by Amy Browne:

The baby settled down and relaxed. She looked in the eyes of the older woman.

While Ruth peered into the baby's eyes, a bond was created. “You have another telepathic child, Irena.”

“I should have guessed she was,” Irena sighed. “Cadence did seem to connect with the baby.”

“This one may very well have a lot in common with Cadence, and it will be good for both of them,” Ruth replied.

“She also has little birthmarks on her head. Sylvia found them earlier,” Irena said as she parted her daughter's hair to reveal the tiny coffee-colored marks.

“Oh,” Ruth exclaimed. She glanced at the tiny area where her daughter had parted the newborn’s hair. “Why, those are tear drop shaped marks. There are four of them.”

Irena stiffened her body without realizing it. She knew exactly what that meant. The child of the prophecy had been born. 

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Author bio:

Amy Browne discovered her passion for writing as a teenager in Athens, Pennsylvania. The many twists and turns in her life have added more water to her writing wellspring. The same traits that make her a successful single mom- dedication, commitment, and organization shine through in her writing.

Ms. Browne writes for various online and print publications. Very much a family person, she enjoys writing fiction that speaks to your heart and soul.