Linda McMullen

Linda McMullen is a wife, mother, and American diplomat, most often found in Africa or Asia, but currently on a domestic rotation in Washington, D.C. Her short stories are currently available on Burningword ('Aurora'), Typishly ('The Announcement'), Panoply ('Flavia') and Open: Journal of Arts and Letters ('Elaine's Idyll'); other pieces are forthcoming from Enzo Publications, Temptation Press, and Palaver.

On the Rocks

Melanie recognized Paula’s extension, and exhaled sharply. She smoothed her voice the way a widow adjusts her dress during an unseasonably hot funeral. “Hi, Paula.” Sincere but solemn. “Melanie, hi. Mark can’t do the trip. Jim wants you to come.” Melanie, after ten years as a diplomat, had the grace not to offer her opinion of what Jim did or didn’t want, but her forehead made a graceful arc onto her keyboard.

Linda McMullen

Linda McMullen is a wife, mother, and American diplomat, most often found in Africa or Asia, but currently on a domestic rotation in Washington, D.C. Her short stories are currently available on Burningword ('Aurora'), Typishly ('The Announcement'), Panoply ('Flavia') and Open: Journal of Arts and Letters ('Elaine's Idyll'); other pieces are forthcoming from Enzo Publications, Temptation Press, and Palaver.

On the Rocks

Melanie recognized Paula’s extension, and exhaled sharply. She smoothed her voice the way a widow adjusts her dress during an unseasonably hot funeral. “Hi, Paula.” Sincere but solemn. “Melanie, hi. Mark can’t do the trip. Jim wants you to come.” Melanie, after ten years as a diplomat, had the grace not to offer her opinion of what Jim did or didn’t want, but her forehead made a graceful arc onto her keyboard.

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