D. A. Ratliff
Bio
A Southerner with saltwater in her veins, Deborah lives in the Florida sun and writes murder mysteries. She is published in several anthologies and her first novel, Crescent City Lies, is scheduled for release in the winter of 2025.
Achievements (1)
Stories (102)
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Night Strings
Night Strings D. A. Ratliff I couldn’t feel the ship. Unnerving sensation for a captain. I had walked too many decks for too long not to miss the ever-so-slight vibration from the stardrive. It wasn’t there. Not for five months and twenty-seven days. Not that I was counting.
By D. A. Ratliff3 years ago in Fiction
Finally Home (Chapter Two)
Finally Home D. A. Ratliff Chapter Two It was nearly seven-thirty when Lia’s hunger pangs sent her to the kitchen. She turned on the oven following Sadie’s directions, and while the casserole baked, she made a salad and uncorked a bottle of pinot noir. She chuckled about the conversation she had with Sadie during the house tour. She had been reluctant to select a bottle from the wine cellar on the ground floor until Sadie poked her in the ribs and scolded her. “The wine is yours. Drink it.” She couldn’t get her head around the reality that the house was hers. She doubted she would ever become accustomed to the thought.
By D. A. Ratliff3 years ago in Fiction
A Cuppa . Top Story - March 2023.
A Cuppa D. A. Ratliff She lived in a little cottage up the lane. You know the place. A narrow leaf-strewn path through the woods glowing from dappled sunlight shining down. At the path’s end, a stone wall seemingly built before the dawn of time—the stones worn and pitted, moss in the crevices, and ivy creeping over the top—enclosed a tiny cottage. The arched wooden gate with openings in the slats allowed you to peek into the small flower-filled yard.
By D. A. Ratliff3 years ago in Fiction
Finally Home
Finally Home D. A. Ratliff Chapter One The Arrival Not for the first time since she arrived, Lia Sinclair considered turning her rental car around and returning to the Savannah airport. As she neared her destination, the uneasy feeling was intensifying. Why she had allowed her mother to talk her into coming to this tiny coastal town escaped her.
By D. A. Ratliff3 years ago in Fiction
Fix This
Fix This D. A. Ratliff The dragonfly landed on a budding branch, glanced around, then flitted away as I wished I could. I watched the diaphanous winged creature fly toward the next perch as the chatter from the garden party guests returned to my head. Time to join the real world again, if one could call this pretentious gathering orchestrated by an equally pretentious man–my father–real.
By D. A. Ratliff3 years ago in Fiction
The Tower Talks
The Tower Talks D. A. Ratliff “If walls could talk.” How many times a day does someone say that? I have lost count because I quit counting quite a long time ago. Let me introduce myself, I am the White Tower, and when I tell you I have seen it all, I am not exaggerating. Allow me to tell you my story.
By D. A. Ratliff3 years ago in Fiction
Sacred Ground
Sacred Ground D. A. Ratliff The twin suns of the Icai system were beginning to peek over the horizon as Renata Ledger raced toward the ancient viaduct. Since arriving on the planet, when she was twelve years old, she had met the sunrise on the ancient bridge. Running to the highest point, she stopped, dropped her backpack, leaned on the stone ledge, and watched the orbs rise, one slightly behind the other, and bring light to the day.
By D. A. Ratliff3 years ago in Fiction
Follow the Footsteps
Follow the Footsteps D. A. Ratliff My quarry sat across the open dining area, holding court with his main henchman, a couple of beauties, and a few locals. I have to say—if I were going to flee from authorities, an island in the South Pacific would be the place to go. Add in a country with no extradition agreement with the United States, and it’s just about perfect.
By D. A. Ratliff3 years ago in Fiction
Tied With Twine
Tied With Twine D. A. Ratliff A Detective Elijah Boone Mystery Louisa DeLong wrapped her arms around her, pulling her sweater tighter against her slender body. Mist floated in the air, obscuring the trees as she made her way along the Bayou Lafourche in the early morning hours. The note clutched in her hand instructed her to meet him south of Lockport on LA-1 and park behind his truck. He would wait for her along the banks of the bayou.
By D. A. Ratliff3 years ago in Fiction
The Neighborhood
The Neighborhood D. A. Ratliff A Detective Elijah Boone Mystery Mama Leone set the plate of Spaghetti Pomodoro on the table with all the flourish of a waiter in a five-star restaurant, certainly not at a family restaurant in a semi-residential neighborhood of New Orleans. Since leaving the Navy, where I served as an MP, I relocated to New Orleans and joined the NOLA police department. As a rookie officer, I spent many hours on the streets in this community among the shotgun and garden houses, small businesses, and docks along the Mississippi River. I grew to love the area so much that I bought a house, married, and planned to raise a family here. Still have the house, but not the family.
By D. A. Ratliff3 years ago in Fiction
