by Sarah | Apr 12, 2013 | Books, Challenge, Holiday, Sweet Saturday Samples, Writing
I thought another meme was in order to give my blog some life on the weekends. Thankfully fellow SCP author, Jean Joachim pointed out this new meme to show of samples of our stories.
Sweet Saturday Samples are samples of any story, published, unpublished, whatever you like.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 know this week I already did a sample of Santa, Maybe with my Hump Day Hook, but I wanted to show a more cheerful sample of the story. Again, this is an unedited WIP that I’m writing for a submission call. I hope you enjoy it. And don’t forget to check out Sweet Saturday Samples for more samples!
She sighed and placed another kiss to the top of his head. “You’ll never guess who found me online last year.”
The change in subject relaxed his tight hold on her and the tension drained from his shoulders. “Who would that be?”
“Dolf.”
“No way.” That proved enough to reenergize him and he propped himself up on his elbow to face her. “Not the Dolf Biermann from 4G.”
“Yes. The very same.” Out of the sadness of a few minutes ago, they both started to grin. Her cheeks grew tight from her smile. “The one that used to play the accordion every night at 3:30AM on the dot.”
He started to chuckle. “And there was no soundproofing in that place. My God, do you remember that apartment?”
Laughter burst from its seams and she nodded fiercely. “Are you kidding? It was our first home! Not that I’d call it an apartment. It was a postage stamp.”
“And we barely scraped by on rent.” He nestled into the covers, his hand slipping along her stomach in a familiar and comfortable gesture. “You worked your ass off.”
“You had school.”
“And you had work and lessons. I still don’t know how you did it. Or how you managed to cook anything on that—well, I can’t call it a stove.”
“It was a glorified hot plate.” Tears started to form, her laughter grew so strong. “And that landlord. He was such a peeping tom. I swear he bore holes in the walls to look in on his tenants.”
“He was so creepy.” Alan shook his head. “I hope that guy doesn’t still run a building. He’s probably figured out how to install those small cameras all over the place.”
She shuddered. “Ugh. I wouldn’t doubt it. Creepy doesn’t begin to cover him.”
“Sad that I miss that place sometimes.”
“Looking back is always easier. It was a wonderful time in our lives.”
by Sarah | Apr 9, 2013 | Books, Holiday, Hump Day Hook, Writing
Another Hump Day Hook!
And this week it’s time for something new and completely different!
One of the WIP’s I’ve been working on in the background is a story for a holiday submission call. It’s tentatively called Santa, Maybe although I’ve also had the quirky suggestion of Holiday Peace (which both fits the story and matches the fact that I keep calling it my “holiday piece”. :D). I wish I could settle on a name, but it’s just not happening.
If this book is contracted and published, all proceeds will go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. 🙂
Anyhow, here’s one paragraph from this WIP…just one…don’t hate me:
“No. No more wishes.” She had to get a grip on herself or she’d fall back into the trap. Sniffling against the tears, she pulled back and swiped at them. Her fingers pressed to the bridge of her nose to try to settle them down. “This has to be the last time we walk away from each other. There’s nothing else left to wish for.”
*~*~*
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 | Apr 5, 2013 | Books, Hybrid, Tuesday Tales, Writing
The prompt this week was Noisy.
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. :
“Why did you wait so long?” I leaned my cheek against his arm as I had when I was young. “I might have been able to help you smooth things over.”
“I wanted you as far as possible while Alatus made trouble. As the first hybrid to ever exist, you have been in the most danger.”
“Because the other hybrids are not natural born…”
“And therefore nothing more than noisy little humans with a bit of magic.” Jdyne’s nose wrinkled, a huff of smoke erupting with his snort. “At least according to the most stubborn and elderly of the Assembly. They never have seen the value of humans.”
“Whereas you have a great affection and weakness for them.” I frowned. “What made the situation split our people so decisively?”
“Alatus captured a hybrid in the attack on Kryztalia. He forced the lad to show what he was capable of in front of the Assembly. Unfortunately, luck was with Alatus as the hybrid he captured was one of those more dragon than human.”
I stretched out my elegantly patterned hand, to see the now red nails grown to resemble talons. “Does he have the same capability as I do?”
“Alatus tortured the boy until he was half transformed, half human. It was a grotesque display.” My father took a deep breath before he stopped avoiding my question. “And yes, he learned of the unique skill you have, and a handful of the hybrids have. It incensed the assembly that any hybrid should have more power than a true dragon. Like I said, you have been in great danger.”
“Thanks for the warning.” I responded in a dry tone. “So why risk bringing me before the Assembly now?”
“You are skilled at making them see reason. They need to hear the other side without the rhetoric of Alatus in their ear.”
“Where is he now?”
“The Other World.”
“Getting reinforcements.”
“Aye.”
*~*
Hope you enjoyed it! Click on the Tuesday Tales badge to see more excellent entries!!
*~*
by Sarah | Apr 3, 2013 | 45 before 45, All About Me, Books, Bucket List, Changing Tracks, I'm A Writer
There were so many things I could have done for C.
Cystic Fibrosis, Colors, Cannonball, Canada…
But I chose [amazon_link id=”B00BEMN5SC” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Changing Tracks[/amazon_link].
Of course I’m a little biased. Changing Tracks is my first published novel. It’s the first in a series, and the characters just make me giddy with happiness on a regular basis.
It was another check off the bucket list when this one came out on February 8th.
I’ve been blessed to have friends read it (and communicate back to me their thoughts WHILE reading, which was hilariously fun)…and strangers alike.
In several months the next book in the series will be out, and I’ll get to keep telling Jane Doe’s story…all while continuing to find new characters and stories to write in the background.
I’ve got a great job…and Changing Tracks helped make it officially a job. 🙂
Blurb:
There’s nothing simple about forgetting your past.
Cole Mitchell runs the busiest saloon and brothel in Dominion Falls. He keeps his women at a distance, unwilling to relive a past he worked hard to forget.
Until the night Jane Doe falls into his saloon bleeding and near death. She wakes with no memory, only the firm belief someone tried to kill her. In the strange world of amnesia she manages to find solace in Cole’s arms and he finds home in hers.
While they work together to solve the mystery of her appearance, their pasts – her lack of, and his buried – build a barrier between them.
To make matters worse, Jane’s past isn’t willing to let her go. A stranger proves he’ll kill to keep his secrets safe. With those she loves in danger, Jane’s errant memory is all that stands between them and death. Cole can only do so much to protect her, will it be enough?
Buy Links:
Secret Cravings Website
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
All Romance Ebooks
Bookstrand
*~*~*
The A-Z Challenge has over 1900 participants, all blogging from A to Z this month. Check them out and see if you can’t find a few new favorites!!
by Sarah | Apr 2, 2013 | Books, Changing Tracks, Hump Day Hook, Publishing Credits, Secret Cravings Publishing, Writing
Another Hump Day Hook!
So [amazon_link id=”B00BEMN5SC” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Changing Tracks[/amazon_link] has been out almost two months and Masked Hearts, is due out any time now (this month!!).
In the background I’ve been working on some other things. I have a holiday WIP that’s maybe 1/3 done (or more, since I don’t know the length, I’m not sure. lol)…I have a couple of horror shorts that I’m working out the details for.
But beyond that I’ve been doing work on the sequel to Changing Tracks, which is called Derailed. While it’s not due out until July, I have turned in my manuscript to my editor (who also worked on CT, and I love her 🙂 )…and shockingly enough, I managed to design, submit, and get approval for the cover art. I can’t tell you how squealingly happy I am that my art got approved again and I’m SUPER excited to show it off…but for once in my life i’m practicing patience. I’m going to do a slow reveal once the Masked Hearts publishing push is over. 😀 There may just be a prize involved in it.
~deep breath~ So after all of that, are you still with me? Today I’m going to go back to Changing Tracks and give you another snippet…as I’m still waiting on my galley of MH and I’m not sure I’m ready to show of my WIP yet…
In this hook, Jane is going head to head with the town’s richest man. She pissed him off recently at a horse auction, and he retaliated with a dastardly deed. This is her response to his affront:
“Sorry? Is this a real apology?”
“Of course. I am deeply sorry you haven’t got the sense of humor God gave much simpler men. That you take more pleasure in the size of your home than your heart. That you haven’t the faintest idea how to keep a friend, much less a woman. I may have the reputation of a jezebel, but I will never die as alone as you.”
*~*~*
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 31, 2013 | Books, Challenge, Hybrid, Tuesday Tales, Writing
The prompt this week was Funny. Of course, considering the MC’s in this piece are in the midst of a dramatic reveal…Funny was an interesting challenge to fit in, but I did it 😉
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. :
“This had better not be a joke. Because if it is, it’s not in the least bit funny.” Hot prickles of anger rushed up my chest to my cheeks. If my face wasn’t red before, it sure was now. “Tell me the truth, Father. What happened?”
“As the last natural born dragon, you already know the answer to that.” Jdyn sat on the ground near my feet. Fingers twined together, he flipped his hands and stretched his back, his entire form growing several inches with the action. More scales began to appear beneath his thinning human flesh.
“But I’m not dragon. Not entirely.”
“No. You’re unique.”
“You mean I was.”
“You still are.” He frowned. “They didn’t clone you. You are still the only natural born of your kind, you are still the only one just like you. For the others they…”
“What, father?”
His nose twitched, his lip curled. “Understand that I am paraphrasing, Jyoti. As Laewyn put it – they perfected the mix with the help of you. Griffin blood only helped make it all hold together, as a natural hybrid itself.”
My stomach churned and I wrinkled my nose. “Laewyn always had the greatest contempt for what I am. For what you created with the help of my weak mother.”
“You mother lay with dragons. She was far from weak.”
I joined his chuckle and dropped next to him with a heavy sigh. “And this is why Alatus fights now. How he has gathered so many close. The hybrids can’t properly transform. How old is the oldest?”
“Two hundred years.”
“When a dragon doesn’t return to form for that long, it looks suspicious. I would say I’m surprised Alatus hadn’t noticed sooner, but he as always rather self-centered.” I studied the lines on my hand. “So he has raised the ire of the masses. For the flock of hybrids you brought to our people.”
“I believe all will see in time that there was no choice. It was this, or we die off completely. The last born true dragon is almost a thousand years old now.” He sighed, a hand that now revealed claws folded over hers. “I wanted our race to live. Even if it meant by carrying on our line through hybrids. Many agreed, they were the sires.”
“Kryztalia sheltered them, didn’t they?”
“Not all of them. But it was a better location to live. The weather and land was more vibrant and green than most of our other cities. At the time of the attack, there were five hybrids restoring their energy there.”
I curled my hand over his. “Alatus will attack the Terran plane, because that it where most of the hybrids live and thrive.”
“Yes.”
*~*
Hope you enjoyed it! Click on the Tuesday Tales badge to see more excellent entries!!
*~*
I thought another meme was in order to give my blog some life on the weekends. Thankfully fellow SCP author, Jean Joachim pointed out this new meme to show of samples of our stories.
