My Cardboard Balcony

In a lot of ways, I'm very lucky to be where I am today. Obviously, I have a lot to do in terms of finding a teaching credential program I can afford, as well as seeking out opportunities to further supplement my income along with the hours I get at the bookstore. Money is very tight for me right now, and I have a fairly small savings account that I don't want to dive into just yet. But if you look away from the financial stuff, I am still very lucky, and not just because I can always write no matter what my situation is. Namely, I'm talking about my relationship. My girlfriend and I have been living together for a little over three months now, and so far, it's been smooth. One thing that's been hard for me to get used to, of course, is the idea that I am not exactly bringing in a lot of money. I had daydreamed of being the one to have a job that was both enjoyable and financially comfortable; instead, I am actually relying a lot on my girlfriend for support and f...

"Caramel Kisses" is an unfinished novel I began to write back in 2009 and stopped working on in 2010. The two main characters - Adriana Maguire Reynard and Emma Burking - would ultimately be revised for my later completed novella, "The Liffey Is Half-Asleep," in 2011. Several elements of "Liffey" can be found in their original forms in "Caramel Kisses," such as the characters' names, the haiku scene, and Adriana's penchant for writing. Because of its influence on my later writing, I figured that this story, though incomplete, was worth sharing. Caramel Kisses: Chapter Eight by Belinda Roddie By the time Emma sauntered into the kitchen, I was making breakfast. It wasn’t much, just pancakes browning on the stove, my hand twitching noticeably as I worked to flip them. I looked at her and she smiled, her eyes heavy with sleep but still unbelievably bright and warm to look at. She breathed deeply, sampling the smell of cheap, makeshift p...

Some say that Loretta Van Klaus hijacked the mayoral elections, but to me, it was all a matter of guts, grit, and gin, all hot and inebriating. I was a good friend of Loretta - had been for thirty years. And I had never seen a mayoral candidate strike so vividly into the hearts of a struggling, nearly bankrupt city. Loretta deserved to be mayor. What mattered now was whether or not she deserved to stay mayor.