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 12, 2013 | Books, Changing Tracks, Hump Day Hook, Publishing Credits, Secret Cravings Publishing, Writing
Another Hump Day Hook! Changing Tracks has taken me on a whirlwind of joy this week. It showed up on Secret Cravings Bestseller list (#1 on the Historical Bestseller list still)…and got a Silver Star at All Romance Ebooks, indicating another best seller. I just got my first review & rating from someone unknown to me (and it was [amazon_link id=”B00BEMN5SC” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]4 stars[/amazon_link]!). So it’s been a bang-up week.
So as a treat I’m going to give another little hook from Derailed (Dominion Falls Series #2). One you might kill me for…because it’s from a little later in the scene that I posted two weeks ago – but it’s just another tease:
She couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. The tight grip his hand had on hers transferred his old panic and fear right to her heart. A soft gasp whispered through the room and she wiped at a tear, “You had no choice.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt her. I just was trying to get the knife.”
A small splash of salty sorrow landed on his stomach and curved along the lines to the bed beneath. “Cole.”
*~*~*
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 10, 2013 | Books, Hybrid, Tuesday Tales, Writing
The prompt this week is a picture prompt and it was author’s choice. Soon as I saw this image I knew how to end the first chapter of this story. Hard to believe just a few weeks of Tuesday Tales has brought me almost 3000 words and one full chapter into a story that as yet remains untitled.
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. :
Jdyne remained quiet. The thin human veneer he wore sagged into tired lines. Silver-streaked gray hair quivered in the breeze as he leaned his hand on his knee.
I didn’t know what else to say. My responsibility was clear, but to leave the life I’d formed, the family I’d grown attached to still weighed on me. “Who will protect them?”
“Hm?” My father shook out of his reverie. “The humans? It won’t get that far, if we handle it well.”
“Alatus will not play by the rules.”
“Very true.” A screech broke through the hum of wind, the phoenix appearing in a flash, bright red against the purple sky. It glided down to rest on Jdyne’s shoulder. “What are you suggesting?”
“I don’t know that I’m suggesting anything specific. However, the elders should face that Alatus is likely to involve humans.” When the phoenix bowed to me, I lifted a finger to run it along his forehead. Licks of flame traveled along the lines of my hand like a caress.
“You will come with me to speak with them. You are one of the best warriors and the best tactician we have. They will listen to your ideas.”
I pursed my lips and dropped my hand, “What of Darren and the children?”
“They won’t even know you’re gone.” He turned his now bright silver eyes on me. “Come, child.”
With a sigh, I set my hand on his and walked down the dune toward what had been the center of town. A wave of his arm brought a strong enough wind to sweep away the sand. Behind the dune sat a stone door frame, the door itself wrought like iron, but out of liquid silver. The doors already hung open, revealing the mountains of home.
I nodded and together we stepped through the gates home.
*~*
Hope you enjoyed it! Click on the Tuesday Tales badge to see more excellent entries!!
*~*
by Sarah | Mar 5, 2013 | Books, Changing Tracks, Hump Day Hook, Writing
{WINNER is Jennifer Simpkins!!}
Another Hump Day Hook! Changing Tracks has been quite lovely and taken me on a ride around the internet this month – and is still going. I’m hoping to have a cover to reveal so I can start showing you bits and pieces of Masked Hearts as well – but as for now, you can have another little taste of Jane…and because I’ve been taunting you with Jane and Cole and the cast of this book for so long…I’m going to include a giveaway in the post. One lucky commenter will win a copy of Changing Tracks – in their format of choice!!
This is not a typical paragraph that I’d post – but as it’s primarily dialogue of one liners, I needed to include a full four lines. Jane is asking Cole to assist her in a task that requires them to leave town:
“So will you help me?”
He studied her for a long minute. “What’s in it for me?”
“We’ll take one horse. Two people. One horse. Plenty cozy, don’t you think?”
“When do you wanna leave?”
*~*~*
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 | Feb 26, 2013 | Books, Changing Tracks, Hump Day Hook, Writing
Another Hump Day Hook! Once again I’m bringing Jane Doe to the party – but this time I’m responding to a request to see a paragraph from book 2 in the series, Derailed. As I don’t have a cover yet, you get my Changing Tracks cover.
This is the opening lines of Chapter 2 in Derailed. Jane and Cole are much relaxed in their room:
“I was sixteen.”
Jane grew completely still, the finger that had been dancing along his chest froze in place. Cole never spoke about anything beyond his years in Dominion Falls. For a moment she wondered if she should let him go on.
*~*~*
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 | Feb 24, 2013 | Books, Hybrid, Tuesday Tales, Writing
Another Tuesday Tales, the same story – still without a title.
The prompt this week is sand – and I knew immediately what I would do.
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. :
With a heavy heart and a heap of trepidation I opened my eyes. The devastation before me wrenched my heart down to my stomach. Ancient stone buildings lay in ruin. Sand swept across them, drifting up until most of the destruction was little more than tall dunes in a vast desert.
“Kryztalia. It couldn’t be.” Even through my denial I knew it was true. I recognized the destroyed town on instinct alone, for nothing of familiarity could be seen.
“It is, Jyoti. All of the citizens were killed in the blink of an eye.” My father trudged forward through the sand, climbing a dune to the evidence of stone peeking out from the top of it. “Kryztalia gone.”
“Who would have done such a thing?” Before he could respond the answer sank into my consciousness. “The Vanggars?”
“Very astute, Jyoti.”
“But they were our allies throughout the wars.” I followed his path up the dune, pausing beside him to survey the land. Far as the eye could see was sand and ruin, where once vegetation and even a river had flowed. Hot wind ruffled my human hair, and soothed the sting of my hand. “Why attack now?”
“The new prince was unhappy with my answer to his request.”
“That is why you require me? What was his request…me?”
“It is Alatus Vanggar. What do you think?”
“I think that he is a selfish brat that acts as though he’s a one-hundred year old youngling.” I lifted my chin. “You cannot believe that I would return for this. For him. A match made in fiery hell just to appease a spoiled child-man.”
“Not at all. I believed you would return to help us fight. The spoiled youngling, as you call him, has a vast appeal and charm.”
“Snake oil salesman.”
My father chuckled, “You always did like the old west, Jyoti. You date even yourself using that term.”
“I don’t care. So what you’re telling me is that he has used charm to gain followers.”
“Those who have forgotten what happened eons ago, or are itching for a new fight, and then there are the younglings eager to rush to his promises.”
“Which has made him capable of great devastation in little time.”
“Precisely.”
I inhaled the hot air, letting it fill my lungs. They pulsed within my chest at the heated boost before I blew out the air. “Are you really wanting to fight again?”
“I’ve tried politics, I’ve tried reason. That’s why I’ve waited so long to tell you.”
“Good King Jdyne. So tired of battle, he chooses words.”
“We were all tired of battle.”
“I remember. I was rather enjoying peace.”
*~*
Hope you enjoyed it! Click on the Tuesday Tales badge to see more excellent entries!!
*~*
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).
