by Sarah | Jul 20, 2015 | Books, Challenge, Holiday, Tuesday Tales, Writing
Welcome back to Tuesday Tales! This weeks prompt is Tiger.
Well, there’s the problem with writing short books, they really don’t last long in Tuesday Tales. I just put my first one in last week, and now Haunted Hearts is done in my files. This week’s scene comes from the last chapter.
Jenna and Bryce have finally decided to try this dating thing and have been going out for about 2 weeks. Kyle is Bryce’s cousin and friend:
If anyone had told Jenna as little as three weeks ago she’d be in her current situation, she’d have told them they were insane. As it happened, though, Kyle now sat across from her in her own kitchen.
When Bryce had shown up that morning, he’d had a pained look on his handsome features moments before Kyle had popped his head around the corner. Bryce had managed only a whispered apology before Kyle had started enthusiastic conversation about the search through the videos for proof of ghosts from their hunt.
Since Bryce was pretty busy during the week and Jenna herself had her weekends booked through Halloween, they’d had only a few short hours to do anything with the tapes. Of course, they’d also wanted some time to try this dating thing.
After some time talking about the one video tape they’d managed to get through, Kyle turned the discussion to his Halloween party.
Bryce’s brow furrowed. “Kyle. I don’t think that’s going to work. Jenna doesn’t do parties and I really don’t feel like going, not that I ever have before.”
“Come on, everyone is in costume. No one will care.” Kyle looked pointedly at Jenna. “It’ll be so much fun.”
A familiar knot settled in her stomach at the idea of a party. So many people. She sighed and shook her head. “I usually don’t have fun in crowds.”
“But we could dress up.” Kyle grinned wickedly.
Over Bryce’s groan, she tried another protest, “But I wouldn’t even know where to begin on a costume.”
“Well.” Kyle pointed to each of them in turn. “There’s three of us. So we could be a lion, a tiger, and a bear.”
Jenna just stared at him, unsure what even to do with that. The longer she sat the more Kyle nodded, actually waving her on.
Bryce shook his head with a sigh. “I think you were supposed to say ‘oh my’.”
“Right.” The phrase clicked in her head, and she couldn’t help but smile. “Kyle, you are a sad, sad man. You know that, right?”
“I do.” Kyle finished off his coffee. “At least tell me you’ll think about it.”
“That’s the most I can give you.” Jenna glanced at Bryce, who smiled warmly. She turned back to Kyle. “But I just don’t know. I don’t like crowds, at all. A Halloween party seems like a bad idea to me.”
“Crowd, schmowd. It’ll be a small, intimate affair. Ten, twenty, fifty of my closest friends at most.” Kyle winked.
“Ten, sure. It’s that fifty that bothers me.”
Bryce reached out to squeeze Jenna’s hand. “Just get out of here, Kyle. Jenna and I are busy today, I told you that.”
That day was supposed to be the first time they were able to spend a significant amount of time together. They’d planned on making good use of it, although Bryce was being hush hush about his ideas for what to do that would keep them away from big crowds.
Kyle rolled his eyes and pushed to his feet. “Yeah, yeah. I know, you told me.”
Jenna smirked. “You aren’t as put out as you want to be. You’re too happy for him.”
Bryce’s grin grew when Kyle stopped to eye her.
Kyle frowned slightly. “How’d you know that?”
“A good guess?” Jenna grinned at Bryce’s snort.
“Right.” Kyle kept one eye on her as he left the room.
When the door closed, Bryce chuckled. “It’s not often I see him speechless.”
“Well, he earned it today.”
*~*
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by Sarah | Jul 12, 2015 | Books, Challenge, Holiday, Tuesday Tales, Writing
Welcome back to Tuesday Tales! This weeks prompt is this picture.
Due to time constraints, we’re jumping to the 12th book my Holidays at Lake Point series, Haunted Hearts.
Jenna Vogel is a bank teller with a side job as the host of the town’s ghost tours. She also has a secret, she’s a sensitive, which is how she manages to help people get evidence on almost every single tour.
Bryce is a lawyer with a secret as well…despite his well established reputation around town as a man-whore who can, and does, sleep with anything with boobs…he’s actually the opposite. His cousin spreads the rumors and he actually encourages them b/c he’s had his heart broken one too many times.
Bryce just moved to town and had never met Jenna before, but spots her out one day at The Diner. His cousin notices his instant attraction to the blonde and sets the up on a tour. The next evening, Bryce goes for a run at the local park and here is the all-too-brief, but in the 300 word count limit result:
The narrow dirt path wound through the thick of woods for two miles before emerging on a small tree lined lane at the back of the park. He swung around the path and back to the bridge to cross over into the main park. As he rounded the path to the bridge he stopped short in surprise.
In the middle of the bridge stood Jenna. Her arms draped casually over the side, a breeze stirring her curls as her eyes closed. Again that sexy, secretive smirk played across her lips.
His lungs seized up reminding him that he’d stopped in the middle of a good run, and that he’d managed to stop breathing altogether.
He gulped in air, bending over as his body coughed in retaliation for the world’s worst way to stop running. Both his hands pressed hard against his knees, his chest bowing at each heaving gasp until he managed to get himself together.
That’s when he noticed hands on his back, and Jenna’s quiet voice seeped into his awareness. “Are you all right?”
He nodded fiercely and held up a finger to let her know he needed another second. Once he was sure he could speak without hacking up another lung, he managed to stand. “Sorry.”
“If you wanted my attention you really only had to say hello.”
“I thought I’d go for the drama tactic.” He laughed when she did. “I mean, if that hadn’t work I could have tried breaking my ankle, now that would’ve really had you running.”
“Maybe in the opposite direction. I don’t handle others pain well.” She cringed, a delicate wrinkle forming in her nose when she did. “Your coughing fit was difficult enough, if there’s real pain I get sick.”
“Is that so?”
*~*
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by Sarah | Jul 9, 2015 | Books, Changing Tracks, Goals, Holiday, The Tribe, Writing
Yesterday on Facebook I saw a post from a fellow author. I can’t remember who or the exact words, but it was along the lines of:
I don’t every write anything down when it comes to my stories. When the idea hits me I just sit down and write.
I read that post and I literally said out loud, “I miss doing that. So much.”
Throughout the day the statement stuck with me. All day long and into the evening.
I thought about my goals for the rest of this year and my plans for 2016.
Then I thought about what it felt like a few years ago when I would just sit down and write and write some more. About how at times I could crank out 300k in a matter of three months. When I would snatch onto an idea and sit and write without interruption. Sure, some rewriting/reworking was necessary, but it was so freeing to sit at a keyboard and just go.
I realized that I’d already said I’m doing 5 books next year. I considered my stack of books I really want to write that have been neglected for deadlines. Then I went back to my steady stream of set release dates and contracted works I’ve had for the past two years.
See, when I started Lake Point, I wrote a stand-alone.
Santa, Maybe was written as a stand-alone story, but I loved the town so much I immediately made plans and a submission for 5 more stories to round it out to a full year.
Then, before 2014 was half over I had another proposal in for another 7 in the series.
SEVEN.
That’s seven books this year.
Yes they’re short and I can write them quickly, but those deadlines loom over my head.
I love my little town, and the people in it, but the obligation and looming deadlines are interrupting the other stories I want desperately to write.
So after Mistletoe Mixup (December 2015), the Holidays in Lake Point series is, well, taking a holiday. For at least six months, maybe a year. I have stories in mind for this little town, but I need to be free for a while.
Maybe without looming deadlines you’ll see more from this town in 2017. I just don’t know. I do know the series is NOT finished. I’ll know more after I’ve had some time to breathe and write some other stories that are screaming in my head.
What will I be working on?
Well, I had been planning on releasing my Tribe series this fall, but now I think those will dominate 2016. I have three written, one edited, and am about halfway through book 4, with two more planned to follow. I’d like to release them in rapid succession, so long as my editor and I can get on the same page, I hope for those to all be edited to be released in quick succession next year.
The town of Dominion Falls will hopefully both get new books, and some revamping of the old.
Say what? Yup, you read that right. In a recent re-read of the series I found some errors and some scenes I’d like to deepen. So I’m planning an overhaul of the first three books (and perhaps some cover modifications for the first two books). Those are also planned for next year, perhaps in time for the Dominion Falls series birthday in February.
PLUS, I hope to finally sit and write books 5.5, 6, & 7 in the series. 5.5 will likely feature a certain former Pinkerton and his lady love.
On top of that, well, if you saw my goals list, it’s pretty impressive. I have many books in mind, I have two series that have been waiting patiently for me to give them attention, and one that’s had a book published and seen no love since.
I have plenty to keep me busy, that’s for sure.
But I’m looking forward to it.
It’s kind of scary not having the set release dates and steady stream of assured business.
I guess I’ll just have to work harder at promo to make sure those books still get plenty of love.
But even without Lake Point it won’t be a quiet year, and it won’t be slow, either.
I’m excited to just sit and write.
by Sarah | Jul 2, 2015 | Books, General, Goals, Writing
Whoosh, this year is flying by! I can’t believe it is officially half over.
My goals for this year were crazy lofty, and I have slacked off on so very many of them. In the past month I’ve really pushed to getting back into the game again. Words and ideas are flowing wonderfully now. Only thing I’m lacking is the time to put them into motion.
So without further ado or ramblings from my overworked brain…here’s the update!
First, the overall goals to set the tone for the year…
- I’ve challenged myself to write 600,000 words in 2015. (really slacking. Only 198k as of 7/2/15)
- I will build my audience and work harder at promotion – including tours for my three series during the year. (Improving my numbers all the time. Have a great PR company getting my books out there. Had good numbers for a couple of months. The upcoming months will get even better.)
- I will regain my focus. (Finally making ground. Not perfect, but as my day job hours ease up again, and the craziness of my life eases a teeny bit, this will improve)
- I will detail at least one of the new series I have listed to play with. (Still nada. Maybe soon)
- I will decide by July if I’ll continue in Lake Point through 2016. (I did, I did! I am moving into 2016.)
- I will plan the 2016 books and have my proposal into the publisher by August 1st (one month? Yikes!)
And next is my list of projects. The books in ORANGE are current works-in-progress. Books in RED are completed. Books in BLUE are new adds!
- Free Falling (Holidays in Lake Point 10) – 30k (done 2/28)
- Love for Hire (Holidays in Lake Point 11) – 30k (done 3/31)
- Haunted Hearts (Holidays in Lake Point 12) – 30k (2000 words)
- Mistletoe Mixup (Holidays in Lake Point 13) – 30k
- Into a Mirror Darkly (Morgana Chronicles 1) – 100k (~10k done)
- Switchback (Dominion Falls 6) – 100k
- Dead Man’s Switch (Dominion Falls 7) – 100k
- The Virgin Madam (Dominion Falls 5.5) – 20k (This one is possible, but not definite)
- The Raven (The Tribe #4) – 85k (40,131 words)
- The Child (The Tribe #5) – 85k
- The Town (The Tribe #6) – 85k
- Escaping Humanity (Co-authoring w/ Mary Terrani) – 80k (54k done)
- Changing Tracks (revamping/updating) – 100k
- Derailed (revamping/updating) – 100k
- Dark Territory (revamping/updating) – 100k
It feels good to be working again. I really hope that by next month I’ve got some good changes to my numbers. I do have to write Haunted Hearts ASAP as it’s due to the publisher in a month. At least I have the cover done. Now just to get the words on the page!
Speaking of which, time to get back to writing.
by Sarah | Jun 28, 2015 | Books, The Tribe, Tuesday Tales, Writing
Welcome back to Tuesday Tales! This weeks prompt is Stiff.
Back again with The Raven, the 4th book in my Tribe series.
In this weeks installment, Velli gets an idea in the middle of the night. Before they came to the sanctuary to work on her friend John’s little problem, she made Kane promise to not let her get lost in the lab.
Also, her past is not pretty by a long shot and she has a tendency to run (she ran away from Kane for 6 whole years before he found her again). She has spent years believing, and experiencing, that the worst can, and usually will happen, to her.
Being with her mate has helped her move past such thoughts most of the time, but sometimes they creep back in.
Oh, and translations…Shëntse Táno means “Fucking Wolf”. And Möchésé táno means what it’s followed by “Ravenwolf”.
Hope you enjoy:
“Spirits, that’s it.”
Kane startled awake when the woman wrapped in his arms shouted in his ear and bolted from the bed. He rubbed his eyes as they adjusted to the dark. “Vels? What the actual fuck?”
“Sorry. I got an idea.” She kissed his temple. “Go back to sleep. If Aidan wakes, I pumped earlier and there’s plenty of milk in the fridge.”
“No no no.” He grabbed her hand. “You promised.”
“I know, but I thought I’d be done long before the next moon when we came. If I put this off it might be another moon before we can go home.”
“Bribery is not the way to go.”
“Kane.” She yelped when he yanked her back in bed. “Stop. I have to go now before I forget what I was thinking.”
“You never forget anything.”
“Not entirely true,” her tone wobbled.
He cursed inwardly for the accidental reminder of the organization. They’d been doing well pretending that huge massive problem wasn’t looming over their heads. “Vels.”
“Give me five minutes to write this down. Please.”
“I thought you had to go.” He was glad she wasn’t, but he really didn’t want to draw out their stay any longer than they had to.
“I do, I should…but…fuck.”
“Easy.”
“There’s just too much.” She sat, her whole body now tense. “I should start this test now so it’s done soon. But I need to talk to you. Then there’s the bird. And the kids. And I promised I wouldn’t get lost down there. I made you swear not to let me, but if I don’t—”
“Easy.” He clasped her hand and used it to tug her back down to the bed. “What’s going on? You were fine a few minutes ago.”
“You reminded me of something. Something we need to discuss.”
“Can it wait?”
“No. Yes. No. It’s waited a long time already.” She curled close against him. “Part of me thinks we should deal with the latest crisis. The rest knows I have to tell you, but I’m scared you’ll think I’m all batshit crazy again.”
“How about we compromise?”
“How’s that?”
He rested his chin on her head, trailing his finger along her shoulder. “We’ll leave a note for Kimi, and take Aidan with us. While you run your tests, I’ll wait in the office with Aidan and once you’re able to, we’ll talk about this other thing.”
“I don’t like it when you’re calm and logical. It’s annoying as hell.”
“Poor baby.”
“The horrors I live through being your mate.” She chuckled against his chest. “Fine. We’ll do things your way. Live less stressfully and all that crap.”
“You’re just mad you’re getting used to it.”
“I am. It’ll hurt more when it’s all taken away.”
He reached for her as the last statement faded into the dark, but she was already in the closet getting dressed. Damn that woman for her sometimes inhuman speed. Rather than confront her outright, he gave her a minute to calm down. He grabbed his buckskins and slipped them on before padding over to the closet door. “You still think that?”
Her whole body grew stiff at the question, he could tell even in the dark of night. The Wolf in him sensed it as much as the scent of fear that edged into what had become the sweet scent of the calm air she’d acquired in the months at the reservation. A faint whisper caught the air, “Shëntse Táno.”
He crept up behind her and set his hands on her shoulders. There wasn’t a ripple of surprise in her at his touch, not that he expected one. What he expected more was some sort of attack, but she stayed still. “Don’t blame my Wolf .”
“I was not blaming your fucking Wolf, I was blaming you. Or is your Native name not Möchésé táno? Hm, Ravenwolf?” She leaned back against him. “You know I never let that go. I may never let that go. The instinct to run is not as great with you, and Kimi and Aidan, but I always fear the world tumbling down around me. I likely always will.”
“Even with the Spirits reassurances, and that of the Sage?”
“Even with all of that.”
He rubbed his hands along her arms gently. Even though he knew years of self-doubt, self-loathing, and pure torture couldn’t be erased in the short time they’d had together, he hated that part of her still succumbed to what her past had bred in her. “What can I do?”
“You’re doing everything right.”
“Should I do more wrong, then?”
*~*
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by Sarah | Jun 21, 2015 | Books, The Tribe, Tuesday Tales, Writing
Welcome back to Tuesday Tales! This weeks prompt is Old.
Well well well it’s been a long time since I have played this game! I’ve had a rough start to my year (let’s not talk about how far behind I am on my writing goals). BUT, in the past couple of weeks I’ve really begun to push myself back into working. With edits in on book one of my Tribe series, I decided to get a kick start on book 4, The Raven before I really have to buckle down for the next in my Lake Point series.
So here we are with my favorite Shifter native Tribesmen, Nirvelli “Velli” Misu and Kane (no last name). As a refresher, Velli’s been to hell and back but in this fourth book she’s sort of actually found happiness. Kane is a 300+ years old Shifter with Healing magic. The bird they are referring to is an ancient Raven, one of the last of his kind on this earth. In some Native mythologies the Raven is known as a bringer of magic. He has sought out Velli for reasons unknown to her, although she’s begun to speculate. She didn’t come to the sanctuary to find out, she came to help out a friend – unfortunately the friend’s sanctuary is where this bird lives.
Is that clear as mud? lol. Sorry, trying to get you somewhat caught up before I throw you to the ~ahem~ Wolves:
“I don’t think I get what you’re saying.” Kane paced the length of the room. On the bed Velli glared at him deeper with every step. “What do you mean?”
“If I knew I wouldn’t be asking you now would I?”
“You know that isn’t what I meant, smartass.”
“All I did was ask why a Raven’s feathers would be turning silver.” She pushed to standing. By the time he’d made another circuit of the room she stood in front of him to block his path. “I thought they were gray at first, but today I got a better look and I’d swear they were silver.”
“It’s a Raven, Raven feathers are black.”
“Duh.”
He growled when she rolled her eyes. He didn’t like what she was telling him at all. Whatever it mean, he was sure it wasn’t good, and he was triple sure he didn’t want her involved in whatever it was. “Asking you ignore it is pretty pointless, isn’t it?”
“Not entirely.” She set her hands on his chest. “I haven’t said a word to the bird. I’m pretty sure he wanted me to see it this last time, so I kept my mouth shut. I don’t know what it means, and I won’t say a word until I have a better idea.”
“But asking you to forget and move onto something else?”
She shrugged.
“That’s what I thought. It’s pointless.”
“I think something’s wrong. While I don’t trust him to lead me down that path himself, I want to know what’s going on. I’m too curious to let it go.”
“You’re curiosity is a dangerous thing, you know.”
“I know.” She grinned as she met his gaze. “For all we know it’s a style choice and he was looking for a fashion critique.”
“You really think we’re that lucky?” He chuckled at her answering shrug. “If you were to give him a fashion critique what would it be?”
“He’s gone far too subtle with it.” She practically hopped with her enthusiasm over the silly subject. “The silver is too hidden to be glimpsed easily. At least one feather should be visible enough to make us seek out the rest.”
He frowned, even though she said it in jest. “Why wouldn’t he just mask them from you? He sure has the ability.”
“What if he doesn’t? What if it’s an illness?” The giddiness of the moment passed as her features lost their spark of joy. “What if that’s why he wanted me?”
“He’s an ancient Spirit. I don’t think illness is likely.”
She sighed and sank onto the bed. “I sort of like the old bird.”
“That doesn’t mean you need to get sucked into whatever ploy he’s scheming.” He sat on the edge of the bed. “Just leave it be, would you? Do what we came here for.”
“Sorry.” She sank down next to him. “I know you still don’t trust him, and I don’t trust him completely either.”
“Then drop it. I’d rather us not be stuck here any longer than necessary.” He draped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. His tension eased as she snuggled closer. “I also like having you happy, and most of all, safe.”
“Blah blah blah.” The way she wrapped her arms tighter around him didn’t match her droll tone. “You’re such a sap in your old age.”
“You hate that you like it.”
“You don’t know me.”
“Oh, but I do. Which is why I also know you haven’t dropped the subject. You’re placating me with your nearness.”
“I just want to call Noelle and check her grandmother’s journals.”
“Then will you let it go?” He didn’t like how she’d managed to get wrapped up with the bird. Even though he trusted her to be smart and not get wrapped up in any sort of deal with the bird, he didn’t like where this was going at all.
“Depends on what they say.”
“Vels.”
Rather than answer, she moved fast enough to surprise him. In a quick minute she straddled him. Every nerve in his body came alive at her simple, possessive touch.
He groaned and gripped her hips. “Vels. You’re changing the subject.”
Her lips brushed along his ear. “You’re complaining?”
“I should, but fuck no I’m not.”
She squealed when he grabbed her around the waist and spun her fast until he had her pinned hard against the bed. With a husky chuckle she arched into him. “You are such a man.”
“You never complained before.”
“And I’m not now. Come here.”
*~*
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