I’d like to thank Natalie Star for tagging me in The Next Big Thing blog hop. The usual way this blog hop works is for each tagged author to answer the questions about their most current book. But since I’ve been tagged for this Wednesday, and this week is TriciaPalooza week, Tricia and I are going to bend the rules a bit. This week, Tricia will answer the questions here, and next week I’ll answer them on her blog.
And now…The Next Big Thing…
What is the working title of your book? The title of my book is The Claiming Words. Where did the idea come from for the book? For me, the characters come first. Three of my main characters started chattering in my head. Well, actually, they were arguing. I felt compelled to put it down on paper, and from there, The Claiming Words eventually emerged.
What genre does your book fall under? My book is romantic fantasy for Young Adults. I could probably call it paranormal romance, but I don’t have any vampires or werewolves which is what most readers expect to find within the pages of a book in that genre.
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? Okay, this is probably the hardest question for me to answer. I don’t really watch a lot of television and I rarely go to the movies. I’m probably the worst when it comes to coming up with the names of actors and actresses. I’d like to say Emma Watson could play Alisa. I think of China Ann McClain when I think of Rachel, though China is a bit young. But, she’s adorable and very talented.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? When danger and magic come to the small town of Oaktree, can Rachel and Alisa put aside their differences over their love for the same guy in order to defeat the evil that stalks them?
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? My book has been published by Iconic Publishing.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? It took less than three months to write the first draft. Edits and rewrites are a whole different story.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? I think people bring up Twilight any time there’s a YA book with paranormal or romantic themes. I’d compare it to The Timeless Series Novels by Lisa Wiedmeier or Chrysalis by Michel Prince.
Who or What inspired you to write this book? Writing is something I’ve always wanted to do. I think my love of reading is what inspired me. I’m in awe of anyone who can weave a good tale, so I think it would be safe to say I was inspired by every author I’ve ever read.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? For a paranormal novel, The Claiming Words isn’t particularly dark. You’d think that a book with Witches and Demons would be gothic and moody, but it really isn’t. It’s actually quite funny in spots.
Thanks, Tricia. I truly hope your book is the next big thing. I have tagged the following authors. Visit their blogs next week to read about their latest WIP or book release.
About Alisa Cole: At sixteen years old, Alisa Cole, main character of The Claiming Words, is a junior in high school. She is bullied by the other kids in school, picked on by her own cousin, and has never been kissed. When Jace Alexander moves to town, everything changes.
Hello, Alisa. I’ve read the novel you’re in and am so excited you’re here today. Did you ever think that your life would end up being in a book? Are you kidding me? I have the most boring life ever, or at least I used to. Until I met my writer, I thought I was destined for a life of endless nothingness. Of course, there are times I crave the consistency of days past. Sometimes there’s a high price to pay for excitement.
Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.
*blushes* My first kiss. It was everything I’d ever hoped it would be and more. *sighs*
Oh yeah, that was a good scene. If you could rewrite anything in your book, what would it be?
Hmm. If you’d asked me that question last November, I would have had an entirely different answer. At the time, I begged my writer to write things differently, but now I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m currently in negotiations with my writer about a few situations she’s written me into in the next book. I can’t decide whether or not she’s cruel, or if she just likes to mess with me.
Probably just likes to mess with you. I know Tricia, and she can be full of mischief, but she’s really a very nice person. What impression do you make on people when they first meet you?
People think I’m a total geek when they meet me. I’m shy and awkward around people, so they usually write me off.
Been there, been that, sister. How about after people have known you for a while?
Once I get to know someone, I can be funny. I’m a very loyal friend, so for those few people who take the time to get to know me, I will fight to the death to defend them.
A good trait to have. Tell us about your best friend.
I have two best friends. My first best friend was a former crush. My second best friend is his girlfriend. Sound weird? Yeah, it sort of is, but my friends are the best. I’d trust them with my life. What are you most afraid of?
Public speaking. No, really. I don’t mean to trivialize everything else I’ve been through, but public speaking is the absolute worst. Give me Hunters and Demons any day, but ask me to get up in front of my class and read something? Nope. You and I are very alike, Alisa. Except you're the athletic type and I'm not. What’s the best trait your author has given you?
My author made me very perceptive.
What’s the worst?
Unfortunately, she also made me ridiculously self-conscious, so I’m always doubting myself.
How do you feel about your life right now?
My life is probably the best it’s ever been. That being said, everything is up in the air. I’m so afraid it’s all going to fall apart,like I don’t deserve the happiness I’ve been given. I’m surrounded by people who are special in every way, and I’m pretty ordinary. Sometimes I’m scared they’ll begin to wonder what they’re doing hanging around with someone so ordinary. Don’t tell Jace or Rachel I said that. My lips are zipped. What, if anything, would you like to change about your life?
Nothing. And everything. It’s hard to explain without giving away all the Alexanders’ secrets. Very intriguing. And since I’ve read The Claiming Words, I know some of the Alexanders’ secrets. And boy, are they some doozy secrets! It was good talking with you, Alisa. Come back when your next book comes out, okay? And keep Tricia on her toes.
You can find Alisa in The Claiming Words, and you can find The Claiming Words in paperback now, and Kindle and Nook soon, at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online stores.
This week we're celebrating the launch of Tricia Drammeh's new YA novel, The Claiming Words, a paranormal romance. Yesterday we talked with the author about her book. Today we have an excerpt from the book. The main characters are high school students, and Tricia has given them personalities we all know and love...and some we hate. In this excerpt, Alisa, the shy, quiet, unpopular type, is befriended by the new guy--a very handsome and very popular new guy named Jace...
The Claiming Words
By the time school rolled around the next day, I’d nearly convinced myself I’d dreamt everything from the walk home until I woke up in the morning. When I arrived in first period, I staked out my usual spot in the back of the classroom and tried to finish my homework.
Jace entered the classroom alone and took a seat beside me. “How are you today? Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. How are you, though?” I asked softly.
“Great. I’m looking forward to dinner tonight. You’re still coming, right?” He smiled at me, and I fell even more deeply in love with him. “Absolutely,” I said, returning his smile.
“You should give me your phone number,” he said. I scribbled my number on a sheet of notebook paper. He hadn’t accepted Becky’s number when she offered; I wondered why.
Jace spoke to me for a couple of minutes and I struggled to think of witty, semi-coherent replies. I wasn’t a very skilled conversationalist, so I was somewhat relieved when he moved to his seat at the front of the room. He probably felt obligated to talk to me, I thought. I decided I wouldn’t embarrass myself by trailing after him like a lovesick puppy.
I expected our early morning conversation to be the extent of our interaction at school, but I was wrong. I sat alone at the back of the lunchroom and picked at the unrecognizable food on my lunch tray. A sudden wind lifted the wisps of hair at the nape of my neck, and in an instant, the hottest guy in our school pulled up a chair to sit next to me.
“What are you doing here?” I blurted, gaping at Jace.
“Do you mind if I sit next to you?” he asked, gesturing at the four empty chairs grouped around the table where we sat.
“You don’t have to,” I said. “That’s good to know. What is this crap?” The fact that he couldn’t identify the food before him didn’t seem to dampen his appetite. He shoved forkfuls into his mouth, and I cringed as he devoured the mystery meat. Jace chatted in between bites as if it were perfectly normal to be sitting there with me. I felt like I should tell him he was off the hook—that he didn’t have to pretend to like me just because he thought I’d saved his life.
“Hey, aren’t you eating?” he asked. I shook my head, and he attacked my food with gusto. “My brother and I will pick you up for dinner tonight.”
I shivered as I recalled Bryce’s penetrating, cold stare. “I can walk. I like walking.”
“Yeah, but still. It may not be safe,” he insisted, glancing around the cafeteria to make sure no one was watching. They were. Everyone was staring. Jace leaned in closer, and I shivered. “You need protection.”
“Your brother said I’m not the one they’re looking for. What does that mean?” I asked, shocking myself. Ordinarily, I let others ask the questions, but my curiosity couldn’t be contained.
“Shhh. We’ll talk about it later. So, do you want to come over right after school?”
“I don’t know if I can. I mean, I didn’t ask…” I stammered. “My mom’s picking me up today…” “Just make sure she lets you come over tonight.” His smile stole my breath away and I nodded in agreement. “Let me know if you need help convincing her, because I can be very persuasive,” he claimed. I blushed and glanced away. I imagined he could persuade me to do nearly anything.
Jace continued eating and talking to me as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He didn’t act martyred or uncomfortable. I briefly entertained the idea that perhaps Jace actually saw me as a real person. I’d barely said a word to him, and yet he continued an almost one-sided conversation until the bell rang.
As I scurried nervously from the lunchroom, Jace finished up the last couple of morsels of food on my tray. “Hey, Alisa,” Jace practically shouted across the still full lunchroom. “I’ll see you tonight.”
I nodded to indicate I’d heard him, and then made my hasty retreat. I was painfully aware that half the school was watching me as I rushed to my next class. If he continued to associate with me, he’d better be prepared to join me in the cesspool of Cooper High gossip. I hoped he wouldn’t choose his budding popularity over our newly established friendship. I was tired of being alone. About the author:
The Claiming Words is Tricia Drammeh's debut novel, the first in a series. She is a mom, reader, blogger, writer, and coffee drinker living in St. Charles, Missouri with her husband and children. She can be reached at:
Hello, and welcome to TriciaPalooza! Tricia Drammeh’s debut novel, a young adult paranormal romance called The Claiming Words, will launch on October 6 in St. Charles Missouri. If you’re in the area, stop by Main Street Books from one to three o’clock next Saturday for the official launch. If you can’t make it, watch this blog all week for a new TriciaPalooza post every day! And if you leave a comment each day, you'll be eligible for the giveaway of a Kindle version of The Claiming Words. We’ll have book excerpts, character interviews, and a review. First, a little about the book:
"Welcome back, Tricia. I’m so excited about your launch. The Claiming Words is a very intriguing title. Where did you getthe idea for it?
The idea started with a random idea for a love triangle. The characters Alisa, Jace, and Bryce emerged first, and Rachel appeared once I began writing. The story didn’t exactly follow along my original train of thought, but that’s how it started.
The Claiming Words is a paranormal romance written for the young adult audience. Do you have any plans to write in any other genres?
I’ve dabbled in other genres. The Fifth Circle is geared toward an older YA market and there’s not a trace of fantasy or romance. It’s in first draft form and waiting for my attention. I’m also working on a chick-lit novel, a zombie book for an adult audience, and another paranormal YA novel.
You are prolific! What do you like best about writing?
My favorite thing about writing is having that ‘aha’ moment when everything comes together.
Aha! Sorry. Couldn't resist. What’s your least favorite thing?
My least favorite thing is writer’s block.
How did you come up with the title of your book?
I came up with the title for The Claiming Words when I was at work one day. The book was originally called “The Watchers,” but I wasn’t very fond of the title. I was doing a little brainstorming while entering Accounts Payable, and The Claiming Words just popped into my number-saturated brain.
I love it when the title of the book becomes clear in the story, and this scene is so good because Mordecai is so bad: “Bryce’s little brother will never choose you, and if the Alexanders were honest, you would have known that. The male of our species craves the magic of the female—power you do not possess. He will never whisper The Claiming Words in your ear. Perhaps you should run along now and find someone of your own kind.”
Which came first: the title or that scene with Mordecai? The title came first. I was in the middle of a massive rewrite when I came up with the new title, and the scene with Mordecai was an add-on.
You have some real bad guys—and girls—in this story. What was the inspiration for them?
My bad girl, Becky, is just your typical snotty high school cheerleader. I went to school with a few Beckys. As for the bad guys, obviously the Demons are just stone cold evil, so they are figments of my imagination. I love the bad guys in my book, probably more than I love the good ones.
How did you create the plot for this book?
I am ashamed to tell you my book had no plot for probably the first five revisions. There was a lot of stuff going on, but I didn’t really form a coherent plot until much, much later. Needless to say, I ended up scrapping more than half the book and rewriting it.
I love your cover art. Did you have any say in it? I couldn’t figure out what I wanted for a cover. My publisher had a view ideas that he passed on to a brilliant artist, Catherine LaPointe. She worked up a few sketches, and we chose one we really liked.
What do you think of it?
I was so impressed because her rendering of my characters is exactly how I envisioned them. Tell us about the artist. Catherine is a New York artist who does illustrations, book covers, shoes (how cool is that?) and just about anything else. She’s amazing. If you want to check out her work, here’s a link to her website: http://catherinelapointe.com/
There are a lot of characters in this novel. When you start a new book, do you know what the entire cast will be?
I usually have a main character or two in mind and work around that.
Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.
My favorite scene is when Alisa gets fed up with Bryce and challenges him to a battle in the sparring ring. She doesn’t defeat him, but manages to best him a few times and wipe the smug grin off his face. Like they always say, it’s the quiet ones you have to watch out for.
I love that scene! Why did you let Bryce eventually beat her? I would have loved for her to wipe the floor with him as she did with Jace. There’s no way Alisa could ever defeat Bryce. He’s been professionally trained, unlike Jace who is still learning. I love that scene too. What song would you pick to go with your book?
"You Belong With Me" by Taylor Swift.
Who are your favorite authors?
J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, Tad Williams, Nora Roberts, Maeve Binchy, and Marian Keyes to name a few.
What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)?
I’m reading an Advance Review Copy of First Frost by Liz DeJesus. I’m also reading Heroes & Lovers by Wayne Zurl in paperback format. The reviews have been great for The Claiming Words, but criticism is part of the package for a writer. How do you handle criticism of your work?
It hurts when someone doesn’t like something you’ve put your heart and soul into. I try to remember that everyone has a different opinion and preferences. In nearly every negative critique, there’s at least a grain of truth. Sometimes the truth hurts.
You live in St Charles, Missouri. Tell us one weird thing, one nice thing, and one fact about where your town. I live right down the road from the historic district. One weird thing...last year St Charles was in national news because the Sugar Plum Fairy got fired.
Oh no!
One nice thing about St Charles is Historic Main Street. It’s right by the Missouri River and has the most wonderful, interesting shops imaginable, including Main Street Books where my book launch is being held.
I’ve been there, and you aren’t exaggerating.
There are a dozen different festivals at the Riverfront, but I love Main Street even on a deserted Sunday night. One historical fact about St Charles is that it was the first state capital of Missouri.
Writer’s block is inevitable. What do you do when it happens?
I am well acquainted with writer’s block. I get writer’s block every time I get to the middle of a manuscript. I usually solve it by starting a new project. Maybe that’s why I have six unfinished novels in various stages of incompletion.
Is there anything in particular that you do to help the writing flow? Music? Acting out the scene? Long showers?
Music helps. Acting out the scene? I’ve never done that, but I have been known to talk to my characters while I was alone in my car. Is that weird?
No comment. What’s one of your favorite quotes? "There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." - Albert Einstein.
I just finished reading The Claiming Words, and I'm ready for another Tricia Drammeh book. What are you working on now?
I’m working on a rewrite of The First Protector, which is a prequel to The Claiming Words.
Can you tell us a little bit about The First Protector? Will we see more of Jace, Rachel, Alisa, and Bryce?
Yes, we'll see Jace, Rachel, Alisa, and Bryce in The First Protector. The book takes a look at the story before The Claiming Words. It's written from the point of view of Jace & Bryce's father, Abe. It explains why the Demon Nevare has set his sites on destroying their family. The First Protector currently covers some of the territory explored in The Claiming Words, but delves more deeply into certain aspects of the Demon's vendetta against Abe.
Cool. Thanks for being here, Tricia. We'll talk to you more later in the week.
About the author:
Tricia Drammeh is a wife
and a mother of four children. Although she currently lives in Missouri, she
has called many places home, including Georgia, Ohio, and California. She’s
worked in retail, customer service, sales, and accounting, but writing has
always been her dream career. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys reading,
drinking vast amounts of coffee, and spending time with her family and the
multitude of animals who have taken over her home. Tricia is currently working
on her sixth novel.
">The story begins with a strange dream, which
has been torturing Eileen for nights. Trying to find out its hidden meaning she
leans on her best friend Amanda for help. The two of them go to a fortune-teller,
who predicts changes in Eileen’s life.
Eileen and Amanda, whose family is one of
the seven founders of the university, Dever, go there to start a new life and
get an education. Coming to the university, Eileen meets Christian, Amanda’s
brother, whom she falls in love with from the very first sight. But, as it
turns out later, Christian is in love with her too.
They couldn’t even imagine that many years
ago their lives were bound by magical spells. But now they have to find out
why…
Hi Diana, you have one published book and another
about to be published. How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing for a year and a month:)
Yes, I do remember the exact day when I started writing my first book. It was
July 1, and my debut fantasy novel, named Love
lines was ready in 30 days. It was originally written in Russian, but some
time later it was translated into English and published in the US on March 29. Almost
five months have passed since that day, and now I’m working on my second book,
named Songs of the wind, which is the
second book of the Love lines series.
I’m planning to publish it this fall.
Thirty days? WOW. That's incredible! What do you
like best about writing?
The most pleasurable
thing about writing is the opportunity to take a dive into the midst of events
of another world that is completely different from our everyday life. And my
favorite genre—fantasy--is the best choice to create magical illusions that
don’t exist in reality. I enjoy writing, creating imaginary characters and
events that would make my readers smile, or cry, or even start writing too.
What’s your least favorite thing?
The only thing I
don’t like about my work is proofreading, of course. It takes so much time,
that when the book is finally ready it feels like you know the text by heart.
I agree totally. How did you create the plot for
this book?
First of all, I
wanted to create a magical world that would be different from most of the
stories of the same kind. That’s why, besides from magic itself, my characters
possess other supernatural talents such as seeing futures, reading auras, dream
interpreting, healing people, and possessing the powers of nature elements.
Secondly, my book was supposed to show how beautiful and sincere true love can
be, how strong friendship can be, how supportive and understanding friends can
be, and how important family ties are. The plot of my story is built on
emotional background. So I hope that every reader would be able to feel
everything I tried to show with every word of the book.
What a beautiful premise. Your book sounds very
inspirational. Your cover art is beautiful too. Did you have any say in it?
The original cover of
Love Lines, the black & white
version, was
my creation. I’m very proud of myself for drawing it. It mirrors the main idea
of the plot, and I hope it also attracts the readers’ attention. The cover of
the gift edition was created by Jennifer Avey, a very talented designer. It’s
colorful and beautiful, and magical. In other words – it has everything that I
would love to see on Love Lines
cover.
You should be proud
of your cover. I’m impressed you did the black and white version yourself. Okay, let's talk names. I’m
constantly on the lookout for new ones. How do you name your characters?
When I was thinking
about the main characters’ names I read different books, interpreting the
meaning of every name. So I chose those that I thought were best and had
something special in themselves that I would use later in the plot.
What would your main
character say about you?
That she really hates
me for making her go through so many trials:) I can almost hear her saying:
“Why on earth wouldn’t she make everything so much easier?!”
I think our main characters have something in
common! Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.
My favorite scene is
the moment when Eileen and Christian see their tattoos for the first time. In
my imagination it looks fantastic with the lacy lines shining on their backs
and their first kiss. Though I like all the scenes of my book, of course:)
What song would you pick to go with your book?
That would definitely
be Richard Marx’s “Right here waiting.”
Readers make good
authors. What book are you currently reading and in what format
(e-book/paperback/hardcover)?
I just finished “Pushing The Limits,” by Katie McGarry,
and I enjoyed every page of it. It was an e-book.
Reviews come with the territory. How do you handle
criticism of your work?
People are free to
say whatever they think should be said about my books. I can’t make them all
like my works, it’s simply impossible. Everyone has his own opinion, and I
appreciate honest reviews.
What do you like to
do when you’re not writing?
I have a little
daughter, and most of my free time I spend with her, my beloved husband and our
cat:) They all suffer from sharing me so often with my heroes, so every time
they see me not staring at my notebook, they do all their best to get my
attention.
If you could take a trip anywhere in the world,
where would you go?
I would choose Brazil
and Australia. I want to see the annual February carnival and kangaroos:)
Cool. I’m available in February if you need a
travel buddy! Seriously, thank you for being here and answering my questions. I
hope you’ll come back when your second book in the series is published. Thanks,
Diana!
Author bio:
Diana Nixon
was born in Minsk, Belarus, where she still lives and works on her series.
Before becoming a writer, she received a Master of Law degree from Belorussian
state University. She has always liked reading fantasy novels, so when she came
up with the idea of writing a book, she already knew what genre to choose. At
the moment Diana is working on her Love Lines
series.
I am happy to welcome the first non-fiction writer to my blog today. Christine Rice is the author of Freelance Writing Guide: What to Expect in Your First Year as a Freelance Writer.
About the book:
Freelance Writing Guide
is a resourceful book that informs readers what they can expect during
the first year of a freelance writing career. The information is
presented honestly and directly, and covers everything the author
experienced in her first year as a freelance writer in an informational
and insightful manner.
The book covers ghostwriting, article
writing, book writing, book reviewing, self-publishing, traditional
publishing, business and finance topics for freelance writers, the
lifestyle of a freelance writer, freelance writing income and types of
pay, and many other topics. This is an informative book from an
experienced freelance writer, written for writers who wish to start a
freelance writing career.
And now, Eight with Amy
Your book sounds great, Christine. You’re a writer and an editor. What do you like best about writing? My
favorite thing about writing is being able to communicate clearly and
descriptively. Along with that comes editing, which I enjoy. I like
using writing to express my thoughts, to network with my friends and
colleagues, to share my experiences, to relax, and for enjoyment. There
is nothing that I dislike about writing or my career as a writer. I have
truly found my dream job.
How would you describe your book in a tweet? (140 characters or less.) Freelance
Writing Guide: informative & resourceful guide that educates people
on what 2 expect in the 1st yr of a freelance writing career.
For people who keep track—and I do—that’s 139 characters. Woohoo! Do you outline or write by the seat of your pants? It
depends. For the poetry that I wrote in my book, Poetry for the Heart, I
sat down and just started typing my thoughts. For articles and essays,
like the ones in Essays for the Soul, I start by writing the
introduction paragraph and the topics - or in some cases the subheadings
- I want to include, and then I fill in the rest. For my autobiography,
My Not-So-Ordinary Life, I wrote about my experiences in chronological
order, from the beginning of my life up until age 28, and I didn’t use
an outline. But, for my latest book, Freelance Writing Guide, I created a
thorough and detailed outline of the parts, chapter titles, topics, and
main ideas. It was invaluable to my completing the book and including
more information in it, than if I hadn’t done an outline beforehand.
What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)? I
am reading ’59 by Anthony Sunderland in ebook format. It is a
science-fiction novel that starts in the year 2059. Donald Lewis, a
mission commander, goes on a space quest but doesn’t return as planned.
His daughter, Janine, believes he’s still alive. That’s as far as I’ve
read in the book so far. It is an interesting and entertaining story.
My laptop is permanently attached to me. Well, almost. Where and when do you prefer to do your writing? I
prefer to write at my desktop computer in my office. I have a
widescreen monitor and a wireless mouse, a spacious desk - with all of
my supplies and paperwork on it or nearby - and a printer within arm’s
reach. All of these things help me with my writing. I’ve recently gotten
into an earlier schedule, but I still usually write at night. Sometimes
I write in the afternoon, but never in the morning, because that is
when I go through and answer my emails and network online. Where’s home for you? I
live in a two-bedroom, third story apartment in the city of Worcester,
Massachusetts USA with my husband and our cat. I am very content here.
It is nice that everything is so close by and most of what we need is
within walking distance.
Sounds wonderful. I love Massachusetts. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? I
dream about living in the country, because I would have more peace and
quiet for my writing and work. I don’t have a specific place in the
country picked out, but I envision living in the mountains, maybe in New
Hampshire where I grew up, where there are lots of trees, open land,
and a stream or brook nearby. I enjoy hiking, so living in the mountains
would give me a good opportunity to do it.
You’ve already published four books. What are you working on now? I am working on three manuscripts at the moment:
Chronicles of a Troubled Girl
- A memoir of my journal entries from age 9 to age 30 that reveals my
emotional struggles and bad decisions during adolescence and adulthood.
(November 2012)
Articles for the Mind - A compilation of
all of the articles I published online in 2011. There is a large variety
of different article topics. (December 2012)
Freedom from Fat
- A memoir about my setbacks and success with trying to lose weight,
and how I finally reach my goal weight. It is a collection of journal
entries and blog posts from 2010-present (will go up to 2013.) (May
2013)
They all sound like great projects. And that’s eight
questions. Thank you so much for being here. Best of luck with all of
your works in progress. Please come back when your next book comes out.
About the author:
Christine
Rice is a freelance writer, an editor, and an author. She has been
publishing books since 2007. She is the author of four books - Poetry
for the Heart, Essays for the Soul, My Not-So-Ordinary Life, and
Freelance Writing Guide - and plans to publish two more books by the end
of 2012. She has been a freelance writer and an editor since 2011.
Excerpt from Secrets Clad in Light by Kyra Gregory
A petite shadow cast over them shortly.
When he glanced up he saw the earlier person standing there in the water,
shoulders low as it struggled in holding a medium sized trunk. “It sounds like
you’ve made a decision.”
“How much good does it do? It only hurts
more.” With this decision his heart felt heavier, sickness settling into his
stomach. He glanced back up and then dropped his gaze to the trunk, “What is
that?”
“Reinforcement.” A boot peaked out from
beneath the long coat as it stepped up, approaching slowly before chucking the
trunk on the bed. The weight of the trunk caused it to bounce on the poor
mattress. “Do you need more of my help or do you think you can do it?”
“Who are you?” He couldn’t help asking. The
figure reached up and grabbed at the hood, lowering it so that finally Henry
could see the gentle face of a young woman.
Her face was what was tender but otherwise
her gaze was rather hard and cold. Her voice hadn’t given in to her femininity
as she was so cold, or perhaps he had been so distracted by Seth that he hadn’t
noticed.
The woman knelt down onto the bed, reaching
out to touch the man’s cheek with her gloved fingers before she snatched the
scarf from around his neck and took a look at the wound. From then on her
movements were rather prompt as she opened up the small trunk and placed a hand
over his chest, feeling for his heart. “The choice is really yours. He can’t
decide anything at this point.”
Henry shifted uncomfortably and glanced at
the man’s constant fighting. He lowered his head, shoulders beginning to shake
with emotion. “Please save him.”
The damage was as extensive as he had
dreaded. It was a difficult procedure with what the woman murmured to be
sub-humane medical conditions. Henry only watched and assisted where he could,
attempting as much as possible to make the area sterile by making use of some
alcohol on each instrument that the woman intended to use.
He watched her actions very carefully, not
knowing what type of person she truly was but not so wary that he was inclined
to stop her from trying to save Seth. Other than watch her he could only follow
her sporadic and rather unfeeling orders, hold the man’s hand and comb back his
soaking hair.
Occasionally he could feel the woman’s eyes
wandering up to examine him as scrupulously as she did the gaping wound. He
wasn’t too surprised by the reaction. The sight was certainly one to see and he
would have been staring too had he been in her position.
She exhaled heavily, wiping her damp cheek
and forehead in her shoulder, “He’s probably not going to be thanking you for
any of this if he lives.”
“How high are the chances that he’ll live?”
Henry’s response came quickly with no real response in mind to her statement.
“They’re not too bad.” She seated herself
rather unlady-like on the dusty mattress, holding up a needle and thread to the
dim lighting of the roaring fire.
Henry winced sharply at the sight of the
pointed object; the thought alone of the woman stitching the man’s tender skin
made him sick with unease. “I’m sure he’ll be angry at me at first. Maybe for a
little while.” Her earlier statement finally sunk in and a response left his
lips before he could really give it much thought. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“How well do you know him?” She enquired,
eyes shooting to glance at Henry. She didn’t hold that gaze for very long,
quickly beginning to stitch up the wound.
Henry clenched Seth’s hand tightly in his
as though he were trying to comfort him, unsure about whether he was in a lot
of pain or not.
“There’s a lot of damage here.” She pointed
out. “If he ever wakes up I don’t think he’s going to be very pleased with the
state he’ll be in.”
“I’ll tend to him for however long
necessary.” Henry whispered, lifting the man’s hand in his own clasped ones.
“I’m sure he’ll get better. He…he’s still breathing. He’s…survived a lot
already.”
“Only so much.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
The young woman appeared to smirk meekly,
no doubt satisfied that she had jerked a response out of him. “It means, my
dear friend, that he’s most likely not going to be thanking you when he wakes
up. He won’t berate you either. Or say much of anything else.”
Henry wasn’t sure what had happened but he
suddenly couldn’t tell the difference between his own body and Seth’s. Both
were ice cold. “I don’t understand… Are you…”
Come back on October 10th for an interview with Henry. For more on Kyra Gregory, scroll down for an interview with the author.
Rachel, though China is a bit young. But, she’s adorable and very talented. 
