by Sarah | Apr 19, 2013 | Books, Challenge, Hex Ranch, Sweet Saturday Samples, Writing
Another Saturday, another sample.
Sweet Saturday Samples are samples of any story, published, unpublished, whatever you like. Any genre is welcome of any heat level – but the samples themselves are all rated PG-13, so yes, all samples are safe for innocent (or not) eyes.
I’m going back to something that’s sitting in my files waiting for my return. A Historical Western Paranormal Romance. How’s that for a tongue twister? Anyway, I call it Hex Ranch. It’s definitely a WIP, and very little is written, but I love the characters. I hope you enjoy it. And don’t forget to check out Sweet Saturday Samples for more samples!
“So are you really a witch?”
Thea let one corner of her lips lift to betray her amusement. “I don’t think that’s an appropriate question Sheriff.”
His brow quirked up, drawing her attention back to the stunning azure of his eyes. Just like the skies in her dreams since she was a girl. “The town is sure you are. After the way your cowhand died, you could be at risk.”
“Oh I doubt that.” She allowed the smile to unfurl to its fullest at the idea he might actually worry for her safety. “They are frightened of the magic they think I got. Like I might turn them all into toads or something.”
“Can you do that?” Seth’s voice dropped to a secretive and excited tone. “Just for curiosities sake.”
“That’s against the laws of nature,” she laughed. “How could you turn a man into something so small? Why try? Why waste magic on such dark things if it’s real?”
“Is it real?”
“Do you believe in God?”
He straightened with a blink and a small shake of his head. Dark brows furrowed together in an adorable twist of confusion. She really could eat the man up if he let her, but for now he was too focused on magic. He opened his mouth, then shut it before he set his hands on his hips. “What’s that got to do with anything?”
“Everything, Sheriff.”
“Not sure I follow.”
She sighed and pulled the hat off her head, twirling it through her fingers with a frown. After a moment she tossed it to the porch and held out her hand, “Come with me. Come on, I promise I ain’t gonna bite unless you want me to.”
After a brief hesitation he set his hand on hers, but before she could pull him away he yanked her close. His face hovered close to hers, sending warm tingles right between her legs at the thought he might kiss her. It had been years since she’d had a man, a good one.
“You’ll behave? Wouldn’t want to arrest you for kidnapping the Sheriff.”
Goddess, she really wanted him to take her right now.
by Sarah | Oct 31, 2012 | Books, Hex Ranch, Writing
To get some more writing posts up – at least until I figure out the blog layout craziness – and then especially after that, I found myself a new weekly blog hop to take part in. This one is the Hump Day Hook. The point is to post one paragraph of your writing. It can be a WIP, a finished MS or a book you have out in the world for sale.
To quote the creator (Kerrianne Coombes):
This is a new blog hop where you post ONE paragraph from a WIP or finished book for all to see. Then, it would be really cool if you could visit other writers participating and comment on their paragraph!
This is a fun way to meet new writers, gain more readers and basically have fun with your work! You can tweet about it, Facebook it Etc, and get word out about HHH and your work.
So for my first foray into the world of the HHH I’m putting out a paragraph from my WIP, Hex Ranch. Instead of starting from the beginning I started somewhere in the middle so I’d have a good idea of the characters and their personalities before I tried to start Chapter 1. One thing is for sure, it didn’t take long for Thea “Teddy” Drake to make her personality clear. Here’s her response to the Sheriff (Seth) asking if she’ll behave:
Goddess, she really wanted him to take her right now. His strong arms held her close enough to feel his own excitement pressed hard against her belly. Her body hummed, nipples taut against the thin cotton of her dress. “I make no promises, Sheriff. Can’t recall a time I’ve ever been real good at behaving.”
To see more participants, click on the HHH banner below:
by Sarah | Oct 2, 2012 | Books, Changing Tracks, General, Hex Ranch, Writing, writing tips
[flickr id=”6367108607″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]You work diligently on a piece. At times you’re almost frantic.
You edit. Refine. Perfect.
You send it off into the world.
Breathe a sigh of relief.
And freeze.
What next?
You have to wait.
Sometimes it’s days, others it’s months or even years (I waited almost 2 years for a reply on a full before throwing in the towel – not without hesitation and sadness).
What next?
Sure they tell you to dive into the next thing.
It should be that easy.
Unless you know – the wait is only a couple of weeks. Maybe a month.
When you’re waiting for each email alert.
It’s easy to get distracted.
Facebook. Twitter. Blog posts. Real life.
Sleep. Oh, sleep is beautiful.
No beating yourself over the head to write, or edit, to make each sentence shine.
You miss it – but oh the break is nice. It’s only a few weeks anyway. Who cares if you take a break?
Except you miss it.
The break is stupid.
But how can you write when you’re distracted by email alerts? Facebook games (just ONE more quest…then I’ll write. Oh, wait – that quest is easy, one more. I swear it.).
It’s time to regain focus. Time goes too slow when you’re waiting on word.
It’s best to get lost in a new world.
Meet new friends (i.e. Characters).
How do you do it? What tricks do you use to regain focus?
Me? Well, I’m dropping my Facebook games. I don’t need them clogging up my feed anyway. I’ll just keep one game that doesn’t clog my feed and takes forever to regain lives. That means I need to focus and get back on my schedule. I have plenty more stories in my head that need to come out.
But just one more quest before I quit…
Just one….
by Sarah | Sep 1, 2012 | Books, Changing Tracks, Children of Gaia, Hex Ranch, Writing
[flickr id=”6367108607″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]It starts with a spark.
One small idea.
It can happen anywhere.
In the car.
While surfing the web.
In the shower.
No matter how it happens, it happens.
Sometimes after that the facts dribble in slowly.
Others it’s a mad rush.
Everything falls into place. Ideas gel. Facts line up.
And then…
The glorious moment you have a story.
Characters introduce themselves. Plots weave their tangled web.
That’s where I am. On the cusp of turning in Changing Tracks to my editor and starting revisions on book 2 (Derailed) a new story has come into mind. It breaks down genre barriers, mixing at least 4 together into one novel.
My fingers itch to pull the trigger and start. The world is almost built. My hero and heroine are being friendly and chatty and letting me know their personalities.
It’s a good feeling, that Mad Rush.
Another Saturday, another sample.