Author Archives: Hannah Steenbock

About Hannah Steenbock

Hannah Steenbock is an author, dreamer, and coach. She has published several short stories in English and German, as well as one novel in German. In 2013 she started self-publishing her work. In 2014, she has won two awards for her short story "Sequoia".

Flash Friday: The Summoning

Well, demons are the favorite playthings of some summoners. Not all of them, as you can see. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Carefully, Daron drew the pentacle with holy chalk. Then he lit the candles one by one, closing the circle with the calling … Continue reading

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Flash Friday: My Friend

Water had always been my friend. Until today. Today, it had become my enemy. Alone in the sea, my boat sinking to the bottom, I knew that water would kill me. It was just a matter of time. For now, … Continue reading

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Flash Friday: Alchemist’s Dream

He was so close. The residue in the glass had gleamed in such a way he knew making gold was in his grasp. Once again he mixed fluids, heated them gently, stirred them diligently. This time, he would add one … Continue reading

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Flash Friday: Perfect Murder

The mud moved, heaved and bubbled. Parts of it solidified, grew, rose from the murky depth. Round bulbs elongated, turned into a head, and arms. The creature rose further, stretched into the air and finally stood on its own two … Continue reading

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Flash Friday: Gryphon Harvest

(Yep, it’s Saturday. These things happen. Posting a story anyway.) It was hot in the steppe. High buttes reached up to the sky, dotting the steppe. Selina had come to climb up to the top of one. Only here did … Continue reading

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Flash Friday: Mage Wars

I couldn’t believe my eyes when Mom threw our bedding into the big wagon, while Dad hitched the horses to it in great haste. “But… but it’s summer. We don’t travel in summer.” I gestured towards the fields. “We do … Continue reading

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Flash Friday: The Halfwit

“Rain!” his high voice wailed. “But, Dayda, the rain season is over. See, the sky is blue.” “Bad rain!” Dayda looked frantic. I didn’t know what to do with him. He was the family halfwit, and today he was in … Continue reading

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Flash Friday: The Winner takes All

This final duel would determine who would become archmage of Tsaranval. Both Saniral and Ysanna had proven their might as mages, but only one of them could rule this realm. Saniral won the draw of first strike. Ysanna simply smoothed … Continue reading

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Flash Friday: The Reward

Okay. I’m late. So what, I’m still going to let you have some Flash fun. And I bet in a week or two, it no longer matters. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Reward The last enemy fell, slain by the swift sword of … Continue reading

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The Pain of Wasted Story Telling

Actually, the word “telling” in the headline is what it is all about. Stories are not about telling at all.  Stories are about allowing readers live through them. And not every published book accomplishes this. I’ve read (or tried to … Continue reading

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