Angie yanks a hanger from the clearance rack in Ramona’s Cabinet, holding it up to herself. “What about this one?” The white, sundress with red flowers is pretty, but a little gawdy.   I wrinkle my nose and shake my head.   “Okay,” she huffs, hanging the dress back up. ‘What’s going on with you?”  This question’s … Continue reading The Hidden Cityscape →

Jazz music plays from the front of Ron’s Antique Shop. Even several aisles in I can hear him humming along to the melody.   “The music of my time,” he’d cheerfully said when I walked in moments ago. On the counter beside him was an antique vinyl record player, still in mint working condition. “Just got … Continue reading Truth Be Told →

I lean back against my couch, stretching my arms and feeling a satisfying pull in my shoulders. My fingers are tired from all my typing, but it’s a good kind of gnawing. A gnawing of progression and productivity.   I am pursuing mental quiet.   Somehow, and I’m not quite sure how, but I’ve recently experienced an … Continue reading When The Bell Rings →

I can’t remember the last time I felt so nervous.   A neat stack of printed sheets sits on my coffee table, waiting patiently for me to review them. Hidden away inside, the marks, comments, and suggestions of my few readers.   C.C., Ginette, and Lucy each read my work what feels like ages ago. And not … Continue reading The Father Figure →

What is in a name?  Better yet, what is a title?  A one-word or multi-worded representation of an entire story that may—or may not—be anywhere around four hundred pages long.   I peruse the shelves of the local bookstore, picking up random hard-back and soft-back novels, reading the title, then reading the blurb on the back to make sense of … Continue reading Name →

Angie: Hey girl!! I read what you sent me already, and I REALLY like it!! Your main character is awesome. I wish I was her lol!  I bite my lip at Angie’s text. I feel pride at the fact she loves my story, but beneath it a strange sense of unrest gnaws at my insides.   … Continue reading Read →

It’s remarkable how many directions a person’s mind can go.   It’s irritating too.   My fingers dig furiously into my scalp, tousling my loose hair. Wavy strands fall into my face and I don’t bother shoving them away. Sick and tired of sitting at my desk all the time, I’ve opted for a seat on the … Continue reading Tweak →

I lay my forehead atop the cool wood of my desk. The clock sitting on the corner ticks away the wasting seconds. With an exasperated sigh, I roll my head from side to side, hoping—by some miracle—it'll smooth out the creases of my jumbled thoughts.   It’s been almost a month since I took the café … Continue reading Steep →

It’s an average day, in a small, average city, in an incredibly average—uneventful—life. The sun beats its heated rays atop my head, making me sweat. I regret not grabbing my sunglasses this morning. I already feel a headache gnawing at my temples from my pupils straining against the light. I use my hand to shield … Continue reading An Introduction →

Thanks for joining me at The Character Cafe! Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton   Well hello there, weary internet traveler! Thank you for stopping by! My name is Jacki Leigh, and I'm what you might call a "Winging-it" writer.