by Sarah | Mar 19, 2013 | Books, Hump Day Hook, Masked Hearts, Writing
Another Hump Day Hook!
This week I’m so excited to reveal my disturbingly gorgeous cover! Dawne Dominique did an amazing job at capturing just what I wanted and couldn’t get for myself.
Minnie and Roy are unlike any other couple I’ve written before. Their strength is quiet, their relationship simple and complex all at once. I created their story as a challenge to myself…to write something shorter than my typical 300k story that required breaking down into a series.
I wanted a set story, and went so far as to plan it out (and I succeeded, with only one surprise thrown in). Minnie and Roy did not come easily, both were so guarded about their past and themselves, but once they warmed to each other, they let me in a little more.
So here’s a little hint of Minnie and Roy…the blurb will follow. No release date yet, but hopefully soon I’ll have that for you 🙂 In this snip, Roy is trying to get Minnie to talk to him. To explain why she hates the Cheyenne that are part of their travelling wild west show, inevitably he turns her reasons back on herself:
“You stay.”
“I have no choice.” Her jaw worked. A glimmer of a tear shimmered at the corner of her eye before a rapid blink carried it away.
“And Max?”
“There’s a price on his head, and he’s old. He has no choice.”
“And me?”
“You don’t matter.” She tossed aside the tomahawk, and then turned to leave. “You’re one of them.”
BLURB:
Minnie Woodward lives a lie. After barely surviving the Bear River Massacre she’s spent her life in the white world of her guardian, Mister Rawlins. The burden of her life debt to Rawlins grows heavier with each passing day. The last thing she needs is Roy’s continuing attempts to gain her favor. With her fate sealed she’s never believed in hope, and not even Roy can make her start now.
Roy Ornum rescues Minnie every night in the traveling Wild West show. The job he took to pay his debts and break his gambling habit brought him a new addiction – her. He knows she doesn’t want to be rescued, but maybe he does. She’s the key to a past he lost, one he wants to find again more than anything.
As the two grow closer old wounds are reopened and their burgeoning trust is shattered. When lives hang in the balance of their choices they’ll need to put aside their fear and work together. Otherwise everything will be lost before hope can be found.
*~*~*
Hump Day Hook asks authors to post one paragraph of one of their stories, whether a WIP, one contracted, or already published. Please visit and comment on the participants – you might just stumble on the next great read for your library! To see more participants, click on the HDH banner below:
by Sarah | Mar 18, 2013 | Books, Hybrid, Tuesday Tales, Writing
The prompt this week was Tight. I finally managed to name this bad-boy…and she will be henceforth called Hybrid (at least until I decide to hate it and change it).
There will be no Tuesday Tales next week (~whimper~), so this is it for two weeks…hope I didn’t leave you hanging too badly. 😉
Remember, this is a meme with many contributing authors, so make sure to click the link at the bottom of the image to take you to see more!
Anyhow, as always this is un-edited mostly, so forgive any errors. :
An arid breeze stirred along my skin. The familiar scent of phlox blooming in the dusk relaxed even my worst nerves at being home. Distant peaks jutted against the deep purple and red of the setting suns.
I stepped onto the ledge just yards from the door we’d entered through and soaked in the familiarity. Where I stood now would be, to a human on the Terran plane, Liberty Island. The peaks and pits of the mountains were city buildings, skyscrapers. Millions of people occupying a land that in our world was desolate save for loners and wildlife.
Beside me, my father’s human veneer, which moments ago had sagged with regret, grew tight against his true form. Silver scales gleamed through the thinning human flesh, his eyes sparkling silver.
My own flesh became taut, pulling and stretching against my body’s instinct to grow taller and larger. Red lines etched along my arms, adding to the pattern of flowers and scale-like arches.
“I will have to break my arm to cover the signs with a cast at this rate. We shouldn’t remain long.” Even through my words I didn’t move, compelled to stay where I was as I reacclimated to the plane. The songs of dragons began to carry on the breeze, welcoming their king home, and me as well.
Our conversation weighed heavy on my mind, and my father’s quick agreement to my accessment the war wouldn’t be fight here on the Wyvern plane. Instinct clawed its way through my belly and twisted it into knots.
“You’re right, Father.”
“About what, Jyoti?”
“I am a very good tactician. You knew what I would say, that I would return and fight for the plane. You knew what was happening, there was nothing in that box and that’s why you didn’t force my hand.”
My accusations didn’t draw anger, but a smile creased his lips. “And why do you say such things, child? Accusing your father like that is dangerous.”
“How many are there?”
The smile faded and he clasped his arms behind his back. Lines returned to his face, etched deep along his forehead and around his mouth. “Jyoti.”
“You said I was the only one. The only one! Father, what have you done?” My heart pounded in my chest, bile rising in my thorat. “You said the experiments ended because none other would work. No hybrids survived but me because of the griffin…”
“Griffin blood gave you an edge that any other natural born hybrid did not and could not mimic. Our greatest minds attempted to find a solution. They did.” His silver eyes bore into mine, almost black in the depth of pain he tried to convey. “Our race would have died without the hybrids.”
“You let them use me? My blood?”
“The only pure, natural hybrid alive.”
My heart ceased its incessant pounding, in fact it stilled completely. Where heat had burned my veins and flesh now felt chilled and dead. “How many?”
“Approximately one hundred.”
*~*
Hope you enjoyed it! Click on the Tuesday Tales badge to see more excellent entries!!
*~*
by Sarah | Mar 17, 2013 | Book Release, Book Spotlight, Guest Authors, Writing
Very happy to have Tara here today to talk about her newest release, Afterburn. Tara was my editor for both Changing Tracks and the HerStory Anthology (which she also created and headed up). So give her a warm welcome, and go buy her book already!
Blurb:
Crystal is an enlisted mechanic with a tragic past. Grant is an officer and a pilot with a broken heart. When faced with a difficult decision, will Crystal choose wisely or lose the best thing that ever happened to her?
The love between them burns hot, but their relationship won’t stay fueled if they can’t beat the obstacles in their way. Besides breaking the fraternization rules, Grant and Crystal have the difference of race between them…but can they prove to the rest of the world, and to each other, that love is color blind?
Afterburn is about overcoming one’s past, not judging others, learning to forgive, and what it’s like to be a woman in a “man’s world”.
***
The book is novella length and has some language and sexual content, but the story far outweighs the sex. This is not erotica.
Below is an excerpt, a brief look into the troubles Crystal is facing and how Grant is helping her through.
“You called about a leak?” Crystal wasn’t surprised to find Grant, looking immaculate in his flight uniform, leaning against the fuselage of his Falcon. She peered up at him from under her cap, trying to look coy, but knowing she failed miserably. She was still shaking from her encounter with Swenson. She heard her tools rattling in her tool bag.
The smile on Grant’s face that had greeted her faded. “What’s wrong?” He reached out a hand and touched her shoulder. His casual stance tensed, his body looking ready to battle any and all of her demons.
Crystal took a deep breath. “I’m okay. Just those problems at work I didn’t want to talk about.” She turned away from him, not wanting him to see the tears that filled her eyes. “Where’s that leak? Which wing?” She dropped her bag onto the tarmac, lowered herself to her knees, and began removing fasteners of different sizes. “What size is it?” She kept her head down, avoiding his probing eyes.
“The only leak is in my heart. It doesn’t need a fastener, only for you to smile.” Grant’s soft voice rolled over her as he crouched down beside her. The smell of his cologne tickled her nostrils, bringing to mind memories of their wonderful weekend together. His kindness was her undoing. Much to her embarrassment, she began to cry. Tears fell into her canvas bag, wetting the tools of her trade.
Grant was on his knees beside her now, and he kept a lookout as he put his arms around her and let her sob, offering her shelter and comfort. He made soothing sounds, held her tight, and waited.
Feeling safer and reeling from all her conflicting emotions, Crystal finally began to talk. In a tearful voice wracked by an occasional sob, she told Grant about that morning, about the declined promotions, about how she dreaded walking into her shop every day. It felt as though a leak was fixed in her own heart, no fastener or sealing required, just the love and strength of a caring man. If only all of her problems could be solved like this…
When she had told him everything, she sat back on her heels and waited, wary at the clouds of anger on Grant’s face. He stared at her intently. “You need to go to EEO.” He reached out and brushed a tear off of Crystal’s face. “No one, no woman or man, is supposed to put up with discrimination or harassment over what they are. The military has a zero-tolerance policy. I’ve been there, Crystal, and I know you can fight it. We all deserve to be treated equally.”
“I’m afraid,” Crystal whispered. “Who will believe me?”
“I believe you.” Footsteps sounded behind him, and Grant straightened and stood next to the jet wing, blocking Crystal’s tear-stained face from view. She heard him quietly conversing with someone. When she saw the military boots walk away, she waited for Grant’s face to appear below the jet again. He held out a hand to her.
“I have to do a practice CAP.” He pulled her to her feet, grabbing her bag with his other hand.
She nodded, stood on shaky legs, and brushed off her coveralls. “Are you sure there isn’t a leak I need to fix before you go? Combat Air Patrol maneuvers are no light thing. Was that really a fake call? Is your jet fueled?” Her words came out in a rush of nervousness. Her fiasco from the morning was forgotten in light of her sudden, new concern. She didn’t want to watch him fly. Her feelings for him were growing too strong. A picture of her dad came to her mind. “I think I’ll be going now. I can’t watch you fly now that I…that I…” Her voice trailed off. She didn’t dare say it. Didn’t dare say the “L” word or that she cared for him deeply. It was too soon.
Grant placed his hands on her shoulders, preventing her from leaving. His voice was deep and serious. “Fake call. I just wanted to see you. Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.” He gave her a reassuring squeeze. “With me at the controls and you as its mechanic, this jet will perform wonders in the sky. We make a good team—in more ways than one.”
Mark Afterburn TO-READ on Goodreads.
Get your copy on [amazon_link id=”B00BUPUORI” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Amazon[/amazon_link].
***
Tara Chevrestt is a deaf woman, former aviation mechanic, writer, and an editor. She is most passionate about planes, motorcycles, dogs, and above all, reading. That led to her love of writing. Between her writing and her editing, which allows her to be home with her little canine kids, she believes she has the greatest job in the world. She is very happily married.
Her theme is Strong is Sexy. She shares a website with her naughty pen name: http://tarachevrestt.weebly.com/index.html and they have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tara-Chevrestt-Sonia-Hightower/218383211513877.
by Sarah | Mar 15, 2013 | Alison Nee Heller, Editors, Writing
One of the many hats I wear is Acquisitions Editor for Curiosity Quills Press. I really like this job! I’ve seen a lot great stories come through. There are so many people creating wonderful worlds and coming up with unique plots that I’m continually amazed at the ingenuity of my fellow authors (and you are an author, whether or not you’re published!).
However, one unfortunate trend I’ve seen is for people to send in unedited manuscripts. People, I know that we’re a small press, but that doesn’t mean that a) we’re any less professional than anyone else and b) that you should present a less than professional ‘face’ to us.
That said, I do realize that sometimes, especially for novice writers, the idea of editing is daunting. Overwhelming. Fear inspiring.
Deep breath. There. You ready? I’m going to show you three sites that will help you learn some of the basic steps you need to take before you send in that manuscript to anyone – Curiosity Quills, your dream agent, ABNA submissions, whomever. (Actually it’s four sites, but more on that later!) Used together their advice on how to tame and clean up the beast that your manuscript may have become covers the more important points.
1) http://poewar.com/get-rid-of-ugly-wordiness-how-to-cut-your-novel-down-to-size/
This article from Writer’s Resource Center discusses how to ‘Get Rid of Ugly Wordiness’. The bullet points (be sure to click link for full explanation on how to accomplish each!):
- Eliminate repetition
- Eliminate unnecessary words (more on that in the next two links too!)
- Eliminate backstory
- Eliminate anything that doesn’t reveal character or move the plot forward
2) http://www.rachellegardner.com/2012/04/how-to-cut-thousands-of-words/
Most writers can significantly shorten their manuscript simply by eliminating extraneous adverbs, adjectives, gerunds, and passive verbs, i.e. things you don’t need anyway. If you cut 10 words per page in a 350-page manuscript, you’ve already shortened it by 3,500 (unnecessary) words.
Miss Gardner has specific points as well as a list of ‘words to watch for’ to help you clean up your manuscript.
3) http://www.absolutewrite.com/novels/ten_quick_fixes.htm
So you have your list of ‘words to watch for’, but how do you actually go about changing your sentences to eliminate them? This article takes some of the most common words and shows you examples of how to rework sentences.
*
In addition you might want to check out Autocrit http://www.autocrit.com/. It’s not one of my top three suggestions because, in order to use it effectively, you need to use it at the paid subscription level, something not everyone can afford.
Now doing these things doesn’t guarantee that you’re going to be accepted by anyone, but it does mean you’re presenting a more polished manuscript. And that is just more polished. But by no means does it mean you’re ready to go and publish your piece yourself. Heck even people who are strong editors need to have someone else lookover their work! (Here’s a great article by Barbara O’Neal, who’s been writing and published for over twenty years and works as an editor herself, on The Value of Editors: http://writerunboxed.com/20018/ – actually Writers Unboxed is a great site for any number of articles!)
Doing these initial edits will help us slush readers, I mean Acquisition Editors, see your story more clearly. And that can be the difference between ‘it needs a little work, let’s consider it’ and ‘it needs a lot of work, so it’s a no’. And it it’s a ‘yes’ our editors will help you with the final steps you need to get your story ready for publication. Then, next thing you know your book will be out and published.
But first, you’ve got to do the initial edits.
*~*
To find out more about what Alison is looking for check out this blog post: http://curiosityquills.com/alison-nee-heller-acquisitions-editor-wants-your-ms/
If you’re interested in learning more about Curiosity Quills Press take advantage of their huge 99 cent Luck o’the Irish Sale. More information on the sale, as well as the author giveaways will be posted here on 3/17: http://sharonbayliss.blogspot.com/
*~*
Alison can be found on the web as her writing alter ego, Ellie Heller, at www.elliewrites2.com, @Elliewrites2 and on facebook as Ellie Heller Author.
by Sarah | Mar 14, 2013 | All About Me, All of Us, Blogging Life, I'm A Writer
I’ve been hit by a truck…did anyone get the license number?
Okay, not really, but it sure feels like it.
Last month, [amazon_link id=”B00BEMN5SC” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Changing Tracks[/amazon_link] released.
Last week [amazon_link id=”1938397495″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]HerStory[/amazon_link] with my short story An Uncivil War within it released.
I got new contracts in the past couple of months.
I’ve started new stories.
I have spent the past month writing dozens of blog posts – for other blogs. The writing side of my blog has taken off with dozens of guest authors and book releases and the writing meme’s I participate in.
In some ways I feel like I’ve been surgically attached to my computer.
Therefore not living.
Therefore having little to write about.
Yet so much to write about.
Like my Straight A Student.
My advanced reader.
My blossoming introvert.
But when I sit down to write it, I find myself just enjoying a moment of peace.
Soon the whirlwind will ease up for a little while. Edits for Masked Hearts are done. It doesn’t release until at least mid-April (I think). I’m almost done with the blog tour for Changing Tracks, and won’t be spending hours writing posts for others.
I’ve missed this blog and feel guilty every day I don’t post. Hopefully soon I’ll be bustling with posts again…and will pre-write as many as I can for the next book-tour rush so I don’t neglect this one so much.
And now that the weather shows signs of turning – I might just be more apt to go outside for a while. You know, remember how to have a life again.
Another Hump Day Hook!
