by Sarah | Oct 27, 2011 | Challenge, Changing Tracks, Writing
“Wake up,” Jane hissed. She jammed her elbow into her friend’s side. “You start snoring and we’re done for.”
“I’m up,” Marjorie mumbled. “It’s just the dark is easier on my eyes than that dress. What was that woman thinking?”
“She’s thinking she looks like a proper lady should.”
Marjorie’s eyes opened at that and she flashed her teeth at Jane, “Well she looks like a circus clown. What’s she going on about now?”
“About the evils of recreational drugs, hippies and their protests. I’m pretty sure she mentioned Woodstock in there. Of course, pants are evil and heaven forbid we wear short skirts.” At that Jane tugged at her own tiny slip of a dress. It wasn’t modesty, she had none. It was anger. “Now get back to helping me instead of dozing there.”
“Does she know we went?” Marjorie sat up and grabbed a few bibles and her stamp, stamping them dutifully, if a bit slow. “And how did we get stuck with this boring job? I mean really, stamping the new bibles with our church’s name?”
“Well neither of us sew, and we don’t bake. This is really all that’s left for girls wishing to do something for their church. Besides, do you really want to be in the middle of that quilt circle?” Jane stamped the next book with a bit too much force. The judging eyes of Mabel Greene turned their direction.
In unison both women gave her their most saccharine of smiles. Marjorie dropped hers the second Mabel looked away. “I’m all for helping people, that’s why I signed up for this Auxiliary thing. We’ve done no community outreach, and been judged every week because we live free.”
“You’d think with the flood victims we’d be doing something other than stamping brand new bibles.” Jane frowned down at the book in her hands. “The money used to buy these could have gone to buy clothes for the children.”
“Does that woman ever shut up?”
“I wish she subscribed to the same rule as her husband. A good sermon should be like a woman’s skirt; short enough to rouse the interest, but long enough to cover the essentials. Like mine.” While short and still in style, Jane always kept her skirts a little longer than most.
“Just wear pants and you never have to worry.” Margie slammed down her bible on the table, the humor of her statement lost in the rise of her anger. Speaking of sermons, it was clear she was about to blow with one of her own.
“Is there a problem, ladies?” Mabel looked over at them, “Are you tired from all of your free living and merry making?”
“No. We’re tired of you and your hypocritical ways, Mabel Greene. Does your husband know you diverted the funds to buy these bibles instead of buying food and clothing for the flood victims over in the next town?”
Jane rose to her feet next to her friend. There wasn’t a lick of embarrassment. Not at all, after all, Marjorie was right. “There are children without clothes or food and you’re worried about the length of my skirt?”
“Not just the length of your skirt. It’s your loose ways, Jane.”
“Loose? I am far from loose, Mabel. Then again you don’t care do you? You’re the one that spreads the rumors that claim I sleep with half the town’s police force just because I am friends with them.”
Marjorie laced her arm through Jane’s. She alone knew the truth of Jane’s feelings for one man alone. “We don’t need them, Jane. This isn’t the only church in town. And who says we need a church to do good deeds?”
Truth was she liked the preacher at the church. Before Marjorie had gotten to town he was one of the few that supported her and believed in her amnesia. Marjorie had a point, though. They didn’t need the Auxiliary to do good deeds. “You know what, Marjorie? You’re right. Let’s go.”
“I bet Cole will contribute something,” Marjorie said as they walked out the door. “Man hasn’t stepped foot in a church in years, but he’s not about to let people suffer in favor of fresh clean bibles.”
Jane laughed, “Well he’d let people suffer – but not innocent lives and definitely not in favor of bibles.”
Speak of the devil himself, Cole was standing outside leaning on his motorcycle. His cockeyed grin gave away his excitement to see them get out early. “Hey, Janey.”
She let him tug her close and returned his kiss without restraint. “Hey.”
“Didn’t expect the two of you for another hour.”
“Well we told Mabel Greene to shove her bibles up her ass.” Marjorie grinned, “And it felt real good.”
“Wish I could have seen that. You should have told me, we could have sold tickets for a show like that.” Cole’s hand slipped along the line of Jane’s skirt. The man would tease her until the day she died. Not that she minded as long as he followed through. “What set you off?”
“They bought brand new bibles. The old ones were holding up fine, but she used the Auxiliary money to buy new bibles instead of helping the victims over in the next town. After the flood those people have nothing.”
Cole’s eyebrow quirked up and his lip quirked up, “That mean you two are planning on doing something?”
“You bet we are. And you’re going to help.” Jane leaned against him. He wasn’t the only one that could tease. She moved in for a kiss but stopped just shy of touching her lips to his, “Right?”
“What’s in it for me?”
“Me.”
“I’ll do whatever you want.”
*~*~*~*~*
***I took characters from my (currently being queried) novel, Changing Tracks – and moved them forward in time 100 years. From the 1870’s to 1969.
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by Sarah | Oct 20, 2011 | Challenge, The Tribe
“Seriously?”
“Yes.”
“I’d really rather go out and find us a fresh kill than eat this.”
Velli rolled her eyes and handed him the chop sticks, “You’re three hundred years old. You’ve never eaten sushi?”
“Not on your life.” With a low growl, Kane grabbed the chopsticks and poked at the assemblage of rolls and nigiri on his plate. “What is that?”
“Use your nose and tell me.”
“It all smells like Lake Erie in the seventies.”
“You’re an uncouth oaf.” Velli dipped her roll in wasabi and held it out to him, “Eat. You’ll like it.”
“There’s a beak in it.”
“It’s a carrot, you dope. Eat.”
His nose wrinkled and his mouth twisted into a tight curl. The longer it sat in front of his face, the higher his lip curled up. “No. I’ll wait, Shift tonight and get something more appetizing.”
“The big tough man is afraid of a little sushi.” A giggle escaped and she stuffed the roll in her mouth. With a sigh, she sat back in her chair. “You’ve eaten fresh fish from the river.”
“Only when we were in Werewolf territory and all the local game was in hiding. I was desperate and it took all of our effort not to throw it back up.”
“Then eat that one. There’s no seafood in it.”
“The scent transfers the taste.”
“You should Shift into a chicken.”
“I just don’t get why we had to eat here when there’s a perfectly good steak house across the street.” Once again his chop sticks poked at the nigiri in front of him.
“Because you want me happy. I haven’t had sushi in weeks. I want sushi.” The moment he opened his mouth to protest she shoved a california roll in his mouth. “Now shut up and eat. Unless you want to have a very cold bed tonight.”
For a moment it looked like he was going to spit the food back out. His body wrenched when his gag reflex kicked in. There was no chewing, only one large gulp as he swallowed it whole. “I ought to spank you for that.”
“Really? Oh goody…let me do it again.”
*~*~*~*~*
***Same characters as last week’s post. I loved this prompt but was at a loss as to what to write for it. Then my friend and alpha-reader suggested these two arguing. It worked really well 😀
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by Sarah | Sep 3, 2011 | 100 Words, Challenge, The Tribe
I haven’t done much writing this week after a sort of boom last week. Not for lack of inspiration, but instead a lack of energy. I’m trying to push through and write despite the lacking energy. So, back to the challenges…
The prompt word for the 100 Word challenge was Storm. I had several flashes of inspiration, from weathering the storm to a storm front to a total blank on further ideas. When I sat down to write this morning what finally hit was the main character in the story I’m world building for. This book is tentatively called “The Tribe” (I know for a fact it’s not a final title, it’s just to tide me over until I get a better one).
The main characters name is Nirvelli. She’s been through a lot, and this short 100 words is inspired by her and the start of the trials of her life.
One of these days the 100 words will inspire something a little more light-hearted…maybe.
****
Around her everyone went about their business. To them nothing had changed, not even her.
They didn’t know the depth of evil roiling in her soul. The storming emotions threatening to erupt.
It would come out in bursts and fits, put off as teen rebellion.
They didn’t know the truth of her pain.
They would never know.
Because evil begets evil. She caused this, she had to have. It was her fault. The Spirits punished her for sins yet to be made. It was karma. She was marked for life.
Her soul already dead.
Opening her to a new Hell.
*******
Please, visit Velvet’s site to check out other more worthy entries…
by Sarah | Aug 20, 2011 | Broken Windows, Writing
Today I was fortunate to have one of those moments.
Weeks ago I got an idea for a story. The story was persistent enough that I made a cover for it.
I had a main character. I knew her name. I knew her backstory.
I even had written the opening lines.
All I had was a vague sense of plot. A “well I think it has something to do with…”
I managed to write a page of it before I froze.
I didn’t have a story. I had two or three characters. It was in a genre I’ve never written before. Written in a form I’ve never used before. It was virgin territory for me.
The story persisted though.
Finally today while talking it out, out loud, with my writing buddy I had a mini breakthrough. A plot device, a key few moments to move the story along.
I love light bulb moments.
That’s when the story really starts to take shape. Even if no words are being written. My brain is moving. Rolling over ideas, showing me images of scenes.
That means soon I’ll be writing again full force.
While it means I’ll be leaving old friends behind (as that story is officially done…even though I’m still tinkering w/ edits & rereading just for fun)…it means I get to meet a few new ones.
And I’m starting to like them.
by Sarah | Aug 14, 2011 | Changing Tracks, Writing
For six months I’ve managed to delay the inevitable.
This post is yet another excuse to delay. Seeing as I haven’t posted in the six months that I’ve been dawdling I figured it was a good first step.
My series is almost complete. I have to finish two chapters and an epilogue – no big deal. After all, I’ve written the ending already in my (exceptionally) rough draft. I know that maybe some day down the line I have more stories for these characters.
But it’s so hard to say goodbye.
To put them away and let the new characters that are making themselves known take the lead.
For two years Jane and Cole have been in my head. Their love and laughter. Their smartass comments, wit, inteligence, fortitude…the secondary characters that are sometimes even more fun in their best moments.
They’re a part of me, and saying goodbye isn’t easy. I stall and delay for as long as I can.
By the end of this week this storyline will be complete. While Changing Tracks has been done for a year and making the agent circuit (I am currently waiting on an agent that has my full…and aching more with each passing day)…but the subsequent two novels – Derailed and Dark Territory – demanded to be finished before I moved on. Yes I should have let it go and move on – but like I said, Jane and Cole have been in my head and they are very demanding characters. Either way, this week I’ll write the final words of Dark Territory. I’ll leave them unedited. I’ll move on to Broken Windows or Train to Nowhere and let new characters take the lead for a while.
The time for dawdling is past. I’ve lingered too long trying to keep them alive. With a heavy heart I’ll say goodbye.
At least until I get a chance to visit again in editing.
by Sarah | Feb 4, 2011 | Books, Reviews
It is the man, and not the king, I love. ~Lady Catherine Gordon
Sandra Worth, captivated by one powerful 10-word statement has crafted a compelling novel that you’ll find impossible to put down.
In 1497 the Tudor line has wrested the throne away from the Plantagenet line. King Henry VII will stop at nothing to secure the Kingdom for his line. The news of the survival of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, the son of King Edward and next in line for the throne threatens the very crown on his head. For this reason alone, he will do all in his power to stop the young fledgling king from succeeding in proving his claim.
Lady Catherine Gordon, however, is young and very in love with her husband. Never does she dream what trying to gain a throne that belongs to her husband would destroy every bit of the world she knows.
Sandra Worth follows the story of this young, sometimes naive young woman into the depths of a darkness unimaginable. Through it all, Catherine never stops hoping, never stops loving, never stops using her strength and intelligence to keep herself alive, and free of a king’s affections.
Weaving the depth of research, and creating a character with a soul so deep and rich that you feel like this is a woman you would like to have as your friend. Catherine manages to stand tall in a world crashing against her, humiliating her and her husband, but that leaves her with brief bursts of joy.
After Richard (or “The Pretender” as Henry VII calls him) is executed, Catherine lives in mourning. For the loss of her husband, and the son that was ripped from her arms. Carrying this mourning with her, she still manages to fight off the advances of a King, and form friendships in a world that seems so against her.
Despite endless tragedy, Catherine never stops holding her head up. She has her innocence ripped from her, but not her pride. She never abandons hope, or love.
You will want to know her.
You’ll be glad that Sandra used the power of her words, her skill at weaving a story, to take that one 10 word phrase and bring to life this long forgotten character.
****
*I was given a copy of this book for free to review, but my opinions are my own.
“Wake up,” Jane hissed. She jammed her elbow into her friend’s side. “You start snoring and we’re done for.”
