Roxanne Smolen's Blog, page 23

Sample Sunday – Rebel Rabble

*** Trigger Warning ***

My Brittany Meyer Novellas touch upon many subjects pertinent to a teenage girl’s life such as teen depression, lack of self-confidence, physical abuse, and abandonment. Rebel Rabble, the third book in the series, tackles a crime that is too prevalent in today’s society—date rape.

A Taboo Subject

The term date rape refers to the forcing of a victim into unwanted sexual activity by a friend. Because the victim knows the assailant, they often feel bewildered and betrayed and take the blame onto themselves. But sexual assault committed by an acquaintance is still rape.

I have never experienced date rape, but I know many who have, one of whom is dear to me. Brittany, the main character of Rebel Rabble, is strong enough to protect herself. But in real life, there is no magic wand to protect innocent girls from such predators.

Nearly eleven million women in the United States have been raped while drunk or drugged with date-rape drugs—but those are the victims we know about. It is estimated that only five percent of victims report the assault. The rest suffer in silence, blaming themselves.

Help is Out There

If you are a victim of sexual assault, it is never your fault. Date rape is a conscious decision made by the rapist and planned out in advance.

I urge you to call the National Sexual Assault Hotline, 800-686-HOPE, or visit their website, www.rainn.org.

Now, without further ado, here is an excerpt from Rebel Rabble.

*** Trigger Warning ***

CHAPTER ONE

2/4/2009 Loxahatchee, Florida

Brittany Meyer was a seventeen-year-old witch. Her aunt had taught her amazing things over the past year. But what was the use of having magical powers if she couldn’t protect the people she loved?

She huffed out a breath and curled deeper in the corner of the couch. The television was on, but she was barely listening. Her thoughts were on Cody, her ex-boyfriend—the way he looked, the way he took her hand. She understood why he broke up with her—he was on the run from some dangerous people, and he wanted to protect her from that.

But it wasn’t fair. Cody could be cold and hungry at that exact moment. He could be hurt—and she wouldn’t know. If only she could see him again.

At least, she was able to live with her aunt. If she were still at home, her mother would meddle. She’d be setting her up with blind dates and trying to get her to be sociable. Brittany didn’t want to be sociable. She just wanted to watch whatever this was on the television.

Aunt Lynette came into the living room. “There you be,” she drawled. “Watching something?”

“It’s a show about flipping houses. The woman likes to restore old things to their former glory.”

“Learning a lot, are you? Got flipping houses in your future?”

“Hardly.”

“Good.” She picked up the remote and switched off the TV. “Me and you are going to the Farmers’ Market.”

“What? In public?”

“You don’t gotta talk to no one,” Aunt Lynette said. “Get up.”

“I don’t want to. I was watching that.”

“You ain’t seen daylight in a month of Sundays.”

Which wasn’t strictly true. Brittany had taken a trip to Key West less than two weeks ago. “It isn’t Sunday, it’s Wednesday.”

“Just an expression. Come on.”

“Why can’t you leave me alone? I don’t want to go outside.”

“Girl, I’m not taking no for an answer. Now, let’s go.”

Brittany sat up and gave her pillow a good smack. She followed her aunt out of the living room with her arms crossed and her lips pursed.

Brittany lived with Aunt Lynette and Myra, her aunt’s partner and the third member of their coven. They shared the big creaky house Brittany’s grandfather had built. It had an enormous screened-in front porch which Myra called a lanai.

Myra sat there on a white wicker rocking chair with a book and a tall glass of sweet tea. She looked up. “Have fun, you two.”

“Oh, we’re going to have us a good time,” Aunt Lynette said. “I can already tell.”

Brittany turned her glare from Myra to her aunt. Did they think this was a joke? “Let’s just get it over with.”

Aunt Lynette skipped down the steps and headed toward her car. It was a used, new-to-her Ford Fiesta hatchback with someone else’s My Kid’s an Honor Student bumper sticker on the back. Her old Impala had been squashed flat when a tropical storm uprooted the orange tree.

Brittany grimaced at the blue sky and bright sunlight. It was another warm, breezy day—normal for February in South Florida. Shading her eyes, she climbed into the passenger seat. Her aunt started the car, and they were off.

There were several Farmers’ Markets in and around town. Loxahatchee was rural—not much to see but horses and farmland. Of course, Aunt Lynette preferred the market farthest away. She said they had the freshest produce. So, they rode in silence for twenty minutes.

Aunt Lynette pulled onto the grassy parking area and looked for a spot to park. The market was crowded even on a weekday—winter was Florida’s best growing season. They left the car on the end of a row and trekked back toward the striped awnings and milling people. Halfway there, Brittany noticed the many scents of the market—fruits and vegetables and flowers all smelling green and vibrant and fresh. Her spirits rose despite herself.

“Lynette!” A paunchy man with sweat-plastered hair waved to them.

“Morning, Rodrigo,” Aunt Lynette called back.

“Morning? It is nearly noon. You are running late today, my dear. Come. I’ve saved some fresh eggs just for you.” He led Aunt Lynette away.

Brittany wandered in the other direction. When her grandfather was alive, she used to go to a market with him. It was bigger than this one—even so, she knew everyone there, called everyone by name. She didn’t know any of these people.

A cart filled with zinnias and snapdragons drew her like a charm. Brittany strolled along the colorful blooms. Her mother always had cut flowers in the house. Maybe she should buy a couple dozen—might brighten her mood. But flowers always wilted and died. She couldn’t bear that.

Across from the flower cart was an arts and crafts display of garden pinwheels. They spun lazily in the breeze. Next came a variety of windchimes, some clicking and clattering, others making melodic gongs. One had bells interspersed with cherubs. The cherubs reminded Brittany of the pixies she saw on Fairy Island—but without the bushy eyebrows.

A whiff of citrus drew her next. Brittany ambled down an aisle of lemons and early grapefruit, dodging distracted shoppers. A cart filled with jars of honey caught her eye. She loved fresh honey on warm biscuits. Maybe she should take up beekeeping, start a hive in the back of their property. Myra could use the wax to make candles and—

“Excuse me. Coming through.”

Brittany stepped out of the way of a tall boy with a crate of oranges on his shoulder. He set down the crate, flipped back his long blond hair, and looked at her. His eyes were light brown, almost caramel-colored, and his cheeks dimpled when he smiled. Brittany cleared her throat and hurried away.

“Girl, where’ve you been?” Aunt Lynette caught up to her. Canvas sacks swung from her elbows showing eggplant, broccoli, and snap beans. “I need me some help with the squash.” She led Brittany to a stall filled with crates of butternut squash. “Pick out a few of these. Remember, not the shiny ones.”

“I know.” Brittany rummaged through the bin. She chose three that felt heavy for their sizes. From the corner of her eye, she watched the caramel-eyed boy deliver another crate of oranges.

They paid Farmer Ben for the squash, lugged their sacks through the parking lot, and returned home.

As they climbed from the car, Myra stepped outside, the screen door banging behind her. Haff, Brittany’s half-breed dog, crawled out from under the porch and greeted everyone enthusiastically. His collar jangled, and his feathery tail whipped the air.

Myra patted his head then asked Aunt Lynette, “Need help carrying in?”

“You can take this one.” Aunt Lynette handed her a sack.

“Ooh, butternut squash,” Myra said. “Reminds me of the winter vegetable stew you used to make. Remember that? We haven’t had it in ages.”

“That does bring back memories. But we’d be missing some sweet potatoes and parsnip.”

“I can go back,” Brittany put in. “It’s no problem.”

Aunt Lynette scrunched her face as if she was considering it. “No, it’s past noon. They’ll be cleaning up for the day.”

“Then I’ll go in the morning. Just give me a list of what you need.”

Both Myra and Aunt Lynette grinned, but Brittany couldn’t tell if it was at the prospect of stew or at getting her out of the house.

The next morning, Brittany climbed out of bed with the song The Farmer in the Dell stuck in her head. She put on blush and lipstick before going downstairs to pick up the shopping list. The main ingredients for Aunt Lynette’s Famous Winter Vegetable Stew were squash, sweet potatoes, gold potatoes, carrots, parsnips, and onions. Brittany climbed into Baby, her little, lime-green VW Bug. It felt good to be driving, good to have somewhere to go.

She got to the market early hoping to avoid the crush of late-morning shoppers, but if anything, it was more crowded than before. She chose the ingredients she needed, dawdling over the potatoes and parsnips as if she were a discerning chef—all the while keeping a look-out for the caramel-eyed boy.

Why did she want to see him again? He meant nothing to her. She didn’t even know his name. It didn’t matter anyway—he must have Thursdays off.

She paid for three large onions, slipped them into her canvas shopping bag, stepped back—and bumped into someone crowding in behind. It was him, standing so close she could see flecks of gold in his yummy eyes.

“Excuse me,” she murmured.

“Ah, hi,” he said. “You were here yesterday.”

“Forgot a few things.” She motioned with her bag. Just then a shopper jostled her and sent her right into his chest. “Oh, sorry.”

“Yeah, it’s crazy here today.” He grinned, showing off his dimples. “How about we go somewhere quieter? I’ll buy you a coffee. There’s a stand right over there.”

“Well, all right. But I only have a minute.” What was she doing?

“Great! Come on!”

Brittany followed him through the crowd. Was she crazy? She didn’t even know him.

Relax. It’s just coffee. You can have a conversation, can’t you?

They reached the coffee stand.

“Morning, Missus Maxwell,” he chimed. “Two please.”

“Of course. Coming right up.” An older woman poured two cups of coffee and set them on a counter.

“Here you go.” He handed one to Brittany. “Don’t say I never gave you anything.”

Brittany glanced at the woman. “You didn’t pay.”

“My little joke,” he said. “It’s free because I work here. Let’s sit down.” He walked to a picnic table and sat.

Brittany juggled the hot coffee and the heavy sack of vegetables. Cody would have helped her, a voice inside complained. But not everybody could be like Cody.

She sat across from him. “So, you work for the market?”

“Nah, I work on a farm. My boss owns Citrus Acres.” He said it like the name should mean something to her. “I’m Jackson, by the way.”

“I’m Brittany.”

“Where do you work, Brittany?”

“I don’t. I’m in school. South University. You know, in Royal Palm. I’m studying herbology. I’m going to be—”

“Herbs like in cooking? Aw, man. I bet you’re a great cook. My mom has gotta be the worst cook in the world.” He chortled. “There was this one time. Thanksgiving, right? And we’re doing the big family thing with lots of people come to eat. And she takes this humongous turkey out of the oven and sets it on the kitchen counter. Just then, a chunk of plaster falls from the ceiling and puts a big dent in the turkey. I kid you not.”

Brittany gasped. “Oh, no.”

“Well, my mom doesn’t blink an eye, just dusts off the turkey with her oven mitts. And she says to me, Jackson, go upstairs and see what’s amiss. So, I go up, and there’s water all over the floor, and there’s my brother’s teddy bear in the toilet with just its face showing. I had to reach in with both hands to yank it out. And I knew where that toilet had been.”

Brittany chuckled. “Do you live with your mother?”

“Me? No. I have an apartment. You should come over. We could watch Netflix.”

“That would be nice.”

“How about tonight?”

“What?”

“Are you free tonight? We could go out for dinner then go to my place for a nightcap and a movie. Do you like Mexican?”

“Well, yes, I do, but—”

“Great. I’ll pick you up at seven. Where do you live?”

“It’s a little tricky to get to…” What was she doing?

“No problem. My car has a Magellan GPS. It can find anything. Just give me your address.”

She recited her address.

Jackson wrote it on a napkin with a mini-golf pencil he pulled from his shirt pocket. “Okay, then. See you tonight.” He regaled her with his dimpled grin and strode into the crowd.

Brittany looked at her cooling cup and shook her head. She must be insane. She tossed the coffee into a nearby garbage can, hoisted her bag onto her shoulder, and left the market.

By the time she got home, she was in a thoroughly bad mood. Why on Earth would she make a date with a stranger? He manipulated her. Trapped her. With his disarming smile and his yummy eyes. She hauled the sack into the house and plopped it onto the kitchen counter.

Aunt Lynette appeared in the kitchen doorway. “Get everything all right?”

“Fine.” Brittany sighed. “Are we having the stew today?”

“I thought I’d let it simmer all night and have it for lunch tomorrow.”

“Good. Because I have a dinner date for tonight.”

“Met someone new, have you? What’s his name?”

“Jackson.”

“That a first name or a last?”

Brittany shrugged, keeping her gaze turned away.

After a moment, Aunt Lynette said, “Well, why don’t you help me cut up these veggies? I’ll show you how it’s done.”

“I know how to cut up veggies.” Brittany stomped up the stairs to her room.

What was she thinking, making a date with another boy? Okay, he was cute, but he wasn’t that cute. Besides, she had a boyfriend.

A boyfriend who told her to get on with her life. A boyfriend she would probably never see again. She folded her arms and huffed out a breath. This was Cody’s fault. And he probably didn’t even miss her.

She spent the day in her room, grateful that both Myra and Aunt Lynette left her alone. She couldn’t explain to them why she agreed to go out with someone she’d just met. Couldn’t explain it to herself. In a fit of panic, she went so far as to look up Citrus Acres on the Internet and dial the number listed there, desperate to call off the date. But it was a business phone—the office closed at two o’clock.

As the sun went down, she dressed for her date. She chose a beige dress with a modest neckline and a row of pearl buttons down the front and swapped her boots for a pair of lace-up sandals. She even wore eye make-up—something she hadn’t bothered with for a while. Clutching an off-white silk purse barely larger than her cell phone, she went to the porch and waited.

Jackson drove up in a gleaming black car. The engine rumbled so loudly, it vibrated in her chest. As she approached, he leaned over and popped open the passenger door.

“Told you I could find you,” he said.

“Yes. You have a very smart car.” She strapped herself in.

“She’s more than just smart. This is a genuine 2006 Pontiac GTO. You ever been in a muscle car before?”

“Can’t say I have.”

He pulled a three-point turn in the driveway. “She’s one of the last ones made. I almost cried when they discontinued production. I mean, GTO. They’re a classic, am I right? I found her in a used car lot. Needed a little work.”

“You like to work on cars?”

“Absolutely. They speak to me, you know? Besides, I’m not going to spend the rest of my life on a farm.”

He drove down Okeechobee Boulevard to West Palm Beach, talking the whole time about his car, how beat up it had been when he bought it, and how difficult it had been to get the parts he needed. Brittany nodded appropriately, although she didn’t understand half of what he said. She was glad when they reached the restaurant. Maybe they could talk about something else over dinner.

The restaurant he’d chosen was called Amigas y Amigos. It was a small place with an even smaller parking lot. Jackson opened the bright red door and ushered her inside. An aroma of refried beans and corn chips greeted her. The yellow walls were decorated with sombreros, silk plants, and mock graffiti.

“This is nice,” she said as they were seated.

“Yeah. The food’s good.”

“Anything you’d recommend?”

“Get whatever you want. Money’s no object.” He dimpled at her.

A server approached. “Drinks?”

“How about a margarita?” Jackson asked Brittany. “It’s their specialty.”

Brittany’s cheeks warmed. He must think she was older than she was. She didn’t want to admit to being only seventeen. Neither did she want to embarrass herself by being carded on their first date. “I don’t think so.”

“Come on. One margarita. It will relax you.”

She looked up at the server. “Just an iced tea for me. And I’ll take the Loco Tostada.”

“Your loss.” Jackson blew out his breath as if disappointed. “I’ll have water and a beef burrito.”

The server smiled and walked away.

“So,” Brittany said, “you like movies?”

“Hmm?”

“Movies. You said you have Netflix.”

“Oh. Oh, yeah.”

“I used to work at the Video Stop in Loxahatchee. It was—”

“Really? Did you ever watch the Fast and Furious movies?”

“Well, no, I’m more of a—”

“I love racing. My boss has a racecar. A real sweet machine. He races it at Mad Hotrods here in West Palm Beach. Sometimes he goes to Palm Beach International over in Jupiter.”

“I know of that place,” Brittany said. “My little brother used to go there to see monster trucks.”

“That’s not racing,” he said. “I wouldn’t waste my eyes looking at monster trucks.”

“Oh,” she said. “I just meant that—”

“I worked the pits there a couple of times.” He raised his eyebrows and nodded.

She bristled. “The pit crew is kind of like old-fashioned gas station attendants, right? They put gas in the car. Wash the windshield.”

“They do more than that,” he said, obviously misreading her jibe for interest. “They change the tires, buff out the fenders. You have to be quick and precise. They don’t coddle slackers.”

“How exciting.”

“I got to meet the drivers.”

“Is that what you want to be? A racecar driver?”

He scoffed. “I don’t think I have the stamina to do what they do. I’ll be at Daytona with the other fans, though.”

He went into a fifteen-minute dissertation about Race Week at Daytona Beach and how it would kick off the NASCAR season. The server brought their meals, but Jackson was so busy talking he barely ate his burrito. Brittany, having nothing else to do except nod politely, finished her tostada. It was delicious.

“How about dessert?” Jackson asked. “Their fried ice cream is the best.”

“I don’t think so, thank you,” she said. “This has been fun, but I’d like to go home now.”

“All right.” He tossed his napkin onto his plate, motioned to the server, and paid in cash.

They went out to his GTO. Brittany hurried into her seat. Jackson started the car and backed out of the parking spot without buckling in. Once on Okeechobee Boulevard, they headed west, passing by strip malls and gated communities. Jackson seemed miffed and didn’t say much, which was an improvement.

Brittany sighed. The date had been a disaster. Jackson was a nice enough guy, but who was she kidding? She would never be happy with anyone but Cody. She just wanted to go home and forget the night had ever happened.

She gazed out the window at the quiet town of Royal Palm Beach then sat up straight. “You missed the turn.”

“What?”

“The turn to get to my house. You missed it.”

“Chill out, will you? We’re just taking the scenic route.”

Brittany went rigid. An alarm claxon went off in her mind. She clutched the seat belt with both hands. Outside, the night became darker as they passed through farmland and ranches. They got off Okeechobee at Cheetham Hill Road. Brittany recognized the area. They were near the safari park, a kind of drive-through zoo. But the safari was closed at this time of night. Where was he taking her?

“Jackson?” she said. “I want to go home.”

“I’ll take you home. If you ask nicely.”

“Please,” she said.

He made a sharp turn onto a side road.

She clung to the seatbelt and cataloged the contents of her purse. She didn’t carry anything she could use to defend herself—not even a pencil. If she lived through this night, she’d never again leave home without packets of knockout powder. Or something more intense. Maybe she could concoct a potion that would give her assailant acute and immediate diarrhea.

He left the road. The car lurched and jounced across a field. The headlights shone on a chain-link fence. He pulled up and turned off the engine.

She said, “What are we doing here?”

“Do you know where we are?”

Her voice wavered. “The safari park?”

He cracked open his window. “Shh. Listen. Sometimes you can hear the animals. The call of the wild.”

She gathered her courage. “I don’t like it. Take me home!”

“No. I bought you dinner. Now you’re going to be nice to me.”

He lunged at her, all hands and lips.

“No!” she cried. “Stop!”

She tried to fend him off, but he pinned her against the door. His mouth smashed against hers. She pressed both hands against his chest. White light shone between her fingers.

“Stop it!”

Light flashed, filling the car. He flew off her and struck the driver’s side door.

“Oh, no.” Brittany sat upright.

Jackson’s head lolled to the side. His eyes were closed.

“Oh, no!” She patted his cheeks. “Don’t be dead. You can’t be dead.”

He stirred and in a faraway voice said, “I am not dead.”

What? Had she blasted him into some sort of trance?

She said, “You will, uh… never attack a woman again. You respect women. In fact, you worship them.”

“I worship women,” he murmured.

Brittany unbuckled the seatbelt, grabbed her purse from the floor, fumbled with the door lock, and scrambled from the car. Her legs shook. The door ajar light blinked and dinged. She peered inside as Jackson raised a hand to his head.

Quietly, she closed the door and stepped back. She stumbled across the pitch-black field, cursing her sandals. Cursing her stupidity. What possessed her to go on a date with a stranger? She must be insane.

When she reached the road, Brittany walked briskly toward town. There were sandy driveways and mailboxes but no houses. No streetlights.

And no service on her phone. Typical. She’d have to get out of the dead zone before she could call her aunt and ask to be picked up.

Brittany walked as quickly as possible with the sand and the sandal straps biting into her feet. Crickets trilled from the surrounding brush. An owl screeched. She had the odd sensation of being watched and glanced back half expecting to see Jackson. He wasn’t there, of course. Just paranoia.

Calm down, she chided herself. There were bigger problems to think about. Like, what was that light that shot from her fingers? It wasn’t the first time it had happened. Once, it was against Surgat, one of Queen Imogene’s demons. He called it star fire and was outraged that Brittany had used it against him. But she didn’t know how she’d done it then and had no idea how she’d done it this time. Perhaps it only happened when she felt threatened.

She reached an intersection. The new road was flat and straight. Brittany walked down the center where the sand was packed, checking her phone for service. It was a clear night. The waxing moon silvered the landscape. A breeze teased her hair. It smelled of flowers and muck. Except for the chirruping of insects, the area was silent. A sudden splash told her a canal ran parallel to the road. She must have heard a fish. Or a gator.

Her heart leaped as headlights shone behind her. Was that Jackson? Maybe her post-trance suggestion didn’t take, and he intended to finish the job he started. What should she do? She glanced at the canal on one side of the road, the sporadic trees on the other. Just as she decided to crouch behind a skinny tree, she heard faint music. It wasn’t Jackson, then. He was too in love with the sound of his engine to play music. She would keep walking. Maybe the person would stop and offer her a ride.

She moved to the side of the road. The headlights threw stark shadows around her. As the car approached, she recognized the music as being heavy metal. Her stomach dropped. This might not be the rescue she’d hoped for.

The car slowed beside her. The window rolled down, and a puff of marijuana smoke escaped. Stoner boys.

“Hey there, cutie,” the passenger said. “What you doing out here all by yourself?”

Brittany kept her face forward, her chin up.

“Now, don’t be like that,” he said. “We’re just trying to be friendly.”

“Get her,” the driver said.

The door clicked.

Brittany gasped and spun toward the sound just as the car rose into the air. She glimpsed the two boys’ faces. Their eyes were wide, their mouths agape. As smoothly as if in the hands of a giant, the car moved backward and dropped with a splash in the canal.

She froze, trapped between the need to run away and the impulse to help them. The car sank until all that was visible was its roof. In the moonlight, two figures crawled up the opposite bank.

Amid coughing and wheezing, a voice cried, “My car! My car!”

“My weed!” cried another.

She turned and continued walking. A short distance away, a hulking shape appeared. She recognized him. Tusks. One of the queen’s demons.

Queen Imogene reigned over all the witches in South Florida. She ruled with the proverbial iron fist. No one liked her, but she was so powerful, no one dared to tell her so. Several demons worked for her—she’d killed them but kept a piece of them for a trophy. Horns. Tusks. Eyeballs. Their spirits were enslaved to her will as long as she had possession of the trophies. Brittany didn’t think the demons liked the queen either, but she was so powerful, they did what they were told. In a way, Brittany almost felt sorry for them. Some afterlife they were having. But on the other hand, they were demons. They weren’t the good guys.

And now one of them stood facing her. His piggy eyes glowed a dull red.

Brittany gulped in a dry throat. With her head high, she approached. “Hello, Tusks.” She didn’t know his real name. She called him Tusks because of the two broken tusks protruding from his jaw. She motioned at the submerged car. “Did you do that?”

“I did, Miss. Yes.” His voice was surprisingly high-pitched for such a large creature. “I was tasked with watching you and reporting your activities back to my mistress. But nothing was said that I could not intervene when your life was in peril.”

Tasked with… Then it struck her—Tusks was Queen Imogene’s spy. The local covens suspected the queen had spies and used them to keep tabs on the witches living in South Florida. That way, she had information to hold over their heads and keep them in line. She was using the demons as spies.

But what had he said about… “My life?” She looked back at the stoner boys. “They were going to kill me?”

“In seven out of ten timelines.”

“Oh.” A chill swept through her. She wobbled.

“Perhaps you will allow me to escort you home.”

“Yes,” she murmured. Her head swam. Those boys were going to kill her. “Yes, all right.”

She and the demon set off together. Brittany limped—the gritty sand was rubbing her feet raw.

“Tusks?” she said. “Can people see you?”

“No, Miss. At this moment, only you can see me.”

She nodded. That was good. She didn’t want to frighten anybody. His size was alarming enough, but if they saw his pig’s snout…

“Tusks? Why did the queen send you to spy on me?”

“I’m afraid she sees you as a threat, Miss.”

“Me? But, why?”

“Latent power.”

“I have latent power?”

“Indeed, you do. In addition, she feels that people… like you more than they like her.”

“Well, that’s her fault. She’s a tyrant. No one likes her. Do you like her?”

His voice dropped two octaves as he growled, “I would kill her if I could.”

Brittany blinked, and her step faltered. She glanced sideways at him. They walked in silence for a time.

Then he said, “You have impressed me this night. You dispatched that ruffian most handily.”

She scoffed. “You mean Jackson?”

“Indeed. First, you use star fire to wipe his memory, then into the void of his mind you tell him that he must worship females.”

Tusks made a squealing sound. After a moment, she realized he was laughing.

“He deserved it,” she said.

“Worship females. He will be burdened with your retribution for a very long time.” The demon squealed some more.

Brittany frowned. She imagined Jackson as the pastor of a church that worshipped and revered women. It could be the start of a movement, a new respect for women everywhere. What was so funny about that?

“Here we are.” Tusks stopped walking. “Safely home.”

She gasped. She stood in her front yard, damp grass cooling her feet. Light streamed from the windows of the silent house. “But we were miles from my home. It should have taken hours to walk here.”

“Forgive me, Miss.” He bowed his head. “I have no concept of time.” His image wavered then faded into nothing.

Brittany stared at the spot where he had been. Was he still there? Still spying on her? It didn’t matter. She was home. She hurried up the porch steps and through the front door.

Aunt Lynette and Myra sat together on the couch each with a glass of wine.

“How was your date?” Aunt Lynette called.

“Oh, it was okay, you know,” Brittany said, one hand on the banister. “I’m going to take a shower and go to bed.”

“All right, dear.”

“Goodnight,” Myra said.

Brittany hurried up the stairs and into the bathroom. She stared at herself in the mirror. Her make-up was smeared beneath her eyes, and her bottom lip was bruised. The row of pearl buttons on her dress was ripped. She stripped off her clothes and threw them into the wastebasket then added her strappy sandals. Her feet were red and tender. She turned on the shower and stood beneath the stream until the hot water turned cold. Then she climbed into bed and cried herself to sleep.

I hope you enjoyed this excerpt of Rebel Rabble, the third book of the Brittany Meyer Series. Rebel Rabble can be purchased at Amazon for your Kindle or read for free on Kindle Unlimited. If you prefer audiobooks, look for it at your favorite online bookstore.

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Published on February 06, 2022 03:08

My Top Ten Tweets for #writers

My Top Ten Tweets

I love to write, but with writing comes marketing, the bane of my existence. I began gathering tips about writing and marketing from various blogs for easier reference. One day I thought why not share? So here we go. Follow me on Twitter @roxannesmolen for more tips.

Writing The First Draft: The No-Nonsense Guide For Authors https://buff.ly/2QOWZ64 #WritingCommunity #writetip

Verisimilitude – or keeping it real #writingtips #amwriting https://buff.ly/3g1OOR6 #WritingCommunity #writetip

How to Structure a Novel Before You Write it – Reedsy Live https://buff.ly/2Uwt5cy #WritingCommunity #writerslift

Writing And Publishing Literary Fiction With Roz Morris https://buff.ly/2UF05jb #WritingCommunity #writerslift

Everything Authors Need to Know About Writing in Atticus https://buff.ly/3s2L72R #WritingCommunity #writerscommunity

When a Writer Dies: Making Difficult Decisions About the Work Left Behind | Jane Friedman https://buff.ly/3HkYVMM #writerscommunity #writerslife

5 Eye-Catching Facebook Ad Images for Authors – Written Word Media https://buff.ly/3rWBqmA #WritingCommunity #bookmarketing

Showing Up As a Writer – Elizabeth Spann Craig https://buff.ly/3FVvL5l #WritingCommunity #writingtips

Unique Author Branding and Content Ideas Using February Observances https://buff.ly/344a2vi #WritingCommunity #bookmarketing

How to Write an Inciting Incident for Your Novel https://buff.ly/3fr8PjH #writerscommunity #writingtips

Bonus: Looking Ahead

11 Ways to Increase Instagram Engagement in 2022 https://buff.ly/2uj76Z3 #writingcommunity #bookmarketing #NewYear2022

Blatant Self Promotion

Do you like #witches, #unicorns, and #fairies? You’ll love my new Brittany Meyer series. In eBook, print, and audio. Buy today! #kindle #kindledeals #kindlebargains https://amazon.com/gp/product/B0957TPH55

Back in the days when we were rejected snail mail with a form letter or even worse with the word

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Published on February 05, 2022 02:33

Sunday Sample – Fairly Fairy

Fairly Fairy, a young adult urban fantasy, is the second book in the Brittany Meyer Novellas. The story takes place in Loxahatchee, Florida, but the main character takes a trip down to the Florida Keys.

Fun facts about the Florida Keys:

They say there are 800 islands in the Florida Keys.

Nah, there are way more than that. Key West is one of over 1700 Keys in Florida. The term Key comes from the Spanish word, Cayo, which means small island—but the Keys aren’t normal islands. They are the exposed parts of a vast network of coral reefs. The unprotected coral was quickly covered by mangrove trees. Mangrove don’t mind salt water.

Of the 1700 plus Keys, only forty-three are connected by bridges, and of those forty-three only thirty are populated. Dozens are privately owned and can be reached by boat or helicopter. Hundreds of others are owned by the government and kept as wildlife preservation sanctuaries housing creatures such as eagles, dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, and the miniature Key Deer.

Any sand you see was shipped in from the Caribbean.

Coral doesn’t produce sand, so the settlers had to borrow some from their neighbors. That’s the problem with living in the Keys—most everything has to be shipped in. Early on, building supplies were at a premium, so homes were often constructed with parts salvaged from the many shipwrecks around the area.

Key West’s historic homes are known for the gingerbread encircling their porches and rooftops. It was an unwritten rule at the time that each Key West Family had their own gingerbread design that could not be copied. You’ll see sailing ships, anchors, lace, and whiskey bottles representing the original family businesses. Today, there are strict guidelines to keep the homes as close as possible to historic standards.

All of this comes to play in my book, Fairly Fairy.

If you’ve never been to Key West, I have a good description of it in Fairly Fairy. In addition, I’ve appropriated a fictional Key and populated it with fairies, such as will-o’-wisps, pixies, hobgoblins, and grundels. The ruling class, elves, have a castle in the center of a mystical rainforest.

I love mixing fact with fantasy.

Fairly Fairy can be found at Amazon for your Kindle or for Kindle Unlimited. In addition, the audiobook can be found wherever audiobooks can be found.

Please enjoy this excerpt.

CHAPTER ONE

1/16/2009 Loxahatchee, Florida

Brittany woke to the sound of someone thundering up the stairs and a loud rapping at her bedroom door.

“Hurry! Get up!” Aunt Lynette rasped. “Queen Imogene just pulled into the driveway.”

Oh, no. The tyrant queen. What does she want at this time of the morning?

“Be right down.” Brittany groaned.

The queen had taken an interest in Brittany’s progress as a witch and started showing up at odd hours to educate her. Aunt Lynette didn’t believe the lessons were beneficial or even safe.

But Imogene was the queen of all the witches in South Florida. She must be benevolent. Brittany had to trust her. Right?

Brittany threw off the covers and staggered to the closet. She dressed in fresh jeans and a T-shirt. She still had sleepy hair, as her mother called it, but that couldn’t be helped. There was no time for a shower.

She scurried downstairs. Aunt Lynette’s partner, Myra, stood in the living room wringing her hands. Myra was also a member of Aunt Lynette’s coven—and she was terrified of the queen. Brittany hugged her. The front door stood open. The morning was breezy and cool, and the wind seemed to pull the breath out of the house.

Aunt Lynette stood outdoors with Queen Imogene and her ward, Ravyn Crowe.

The queen was a haughty hag with graying hair pulled into a messy bun. She always wore long flowing robes. She also wore clattering necklaces made from the spoils of her conquests—one had the horns of a demon.

Ravyn was seventeen, Brittany’s age. She had Asian features but dark skin. Her hair was a mass of long locs. Like Brittany, Ravyn had the potential to become the next witch queen. Unlike Brittany, she had been coached in witchcraft her entire life and knew things Brittany could barely imagine. And she made sure Brittany didn’t forget it.

Aunt Lynette sighed as if repeating something for the fifth time. “I ain’t contesting that the girls be trained together. I’m just saying we could work out a schedule. I’d like to know when to expect you.”

“But then we would lose the element of surprise.” Queen Imogene quirked her brows. “I find a person learns quicker under duress.”

“I was asleep.” Brittany pushed open the screen door. “I find a person learns quicker when they’re rested.”

The queen looked up at Brittany on the porch steps. For a moment, her face twisted, and her beady eyes gleamed. Then she smoothed her features. “We shall see.” With an enigmatic smile, she glided over the grass toward the backyard. A gust of wind caught her robes and made them flap behind her. Her necklaces clacked and clattered.

Brittany looked at her aunt. Aunt Lynette was Brittany’s guardian and a bona fide Wiccan priestess. She hadn’t known about the Queen of South Florida until she moved back to her childhood home after her father died. And Brittany hadn’t known of her potential as a witch until she met her aunt.

“It’s all right. I’ve got this,” Brittany told her.

“You sure?”

“Yeah. It’ll be fun.” She gave her a crooked smile and stepped beside Ravyn.

They walked along the side of the house, an old, two-story clapboard that Brittany’s grandfather had built. It had an enclosed front porch filled with white wicker furniture and an attached garage that had never seen a car; a flowerbed with hip-high weeds filled the space where a driveway would have been. Forest bordered the wide yard on all sides. Her grandfather once owned acres of land but sold some of it to pay taxes.

They reached the ritual site. It was made of the remains of a little pink playhouse that caught fire when Grandpa Earle tried to smoke out a hive of bees. Brittany still saw the playhouse like a spectral image when she looked at the place. She sensed the love with which Gramps had built it so many years ago and the innocent joy Aunt Lynette felt as she played there. All that was left were charred boards laid end-to-end in a ring and an altar made from the flat steppingstones that had once led to the playhouse door.

Brittany and Ravyn stood on the grass outside the circle. The overgrown lawn was wet with dew, and Brittany wished she’d taken a moment to put on her shoes. Queen Imogene trod upon the rich black soil within the site, leaving footprints to the altar. With a muttered chant, she placed a gold candle on the stacked stones. She had to light the candle twice because of the wind. “You have this long.” She strode out of the circle. As she stepped over the boards, a magical barrier sprang up behind her. The barrier consisted of sparkling energy and was meant to protect them from whatever she had just conjured up. Without another word, she glided back up to the house.

“Might as well get comfortable.” Ravyn grunted as she sat on the dew-drenched grass. She moved like she had a stiff neck. Bruises darkened her arm. They looked suspiciously like fingermarks.

Brittany motioned. “So, what happened to you?”

“Walked into a wall.”

“Mmm-hmm.”

“What? It happens. I was distracted.”

There was a hint of panic in her eyes. Had someone roughed her up? Ravyn had recently taken in a homeless girl—Maria, the love of her life. Perhaps they’d had a lover’s quarrel.

Brittany sat and crossed her legs. “How’s your girlfriend?”

“She’s fine. Better than fine. She made us a nice breakfast this morning. Imogene won’t let her live with us unless she does chores.”

“You’re letting Queen Imogene turn your girlfriend into a servant?”

“I don’t think she minds. She’s amazed at how much food we have. And she’s safe.” Her voice became wistful. “It’s nice to have someone around to talk to, you know? Someone who cares.”

“Queen Imogene cares about you. You’re her pet project.”

“Imogene doesn’t care about anyone.”

Someone cleared their throat. “Order. Come to order, please. This isn’t a social hour.”

Brittany looked toward the circle. A little man sat next to the candle dangling his feet over the edge of the stone altar. He looked to be no more than three feet tall. He had bright red hair and fluffy sideburns, and he wore shoes with big silver buckles.

“What happened to Surgat?” Brittany asked. Surgat, their previous instructor, was the enslaved ghost of a demon. She didn’t like him and was relieved to see someone new.

“Surgat says you are an Un-Teachable Monkey.” Ravyn smirked. “So, Imogene sent him on a mission. This is Stubby McFarland. Hey, Stubs.”

“Please don’t call me that,” the little man groaned.

“Stubby is a leprechaun.”

Brittany’s eyes widened. “Like with a pot of gold?”

“Unfortunately, my pot has been confiscated,” he muttered. “Now, if we could get down to the lesson at hand? Today, ye’ll be learning about the origins of magic.” He whipped his hand through the air, and a pair of reading glasses appeared. At the same time, a thick, worn-looking book appeared on his lap. He opened the book and perched the glasses on his nose. “Let me see. Ye know, of course, that magical races predate human beings. Entities such as dwarves, gremlins, ogres, and dragons were all here first.”

“What happened to them?” Brittany asked.

He blinked at her with his magnified eyes. “I don’t follow.”

“Well, they’re gone, right?”

“They are not gone.” He puffed up. “Their populations may have declined, but they are most certainly not gone.”

She frowned. “You’re saying there are still beings like ogres and dragons alive in the world today?”

Ravyn rolled onto her side with a fit of giggles. “You are such a monkey.”

Brittany ignored her. “What about fairies?”

“Amn’t I a fairy?”

“Leprechauns are fairies?”

He nodded. “Many fairy races still exist today. There is a large encampment of them not far from here. A sanctuary, so to speak.”

She gasped. Her aunt’s friend, Theodora, said there were fairies around, but Brittany thought she was joking. “Here. In Florida.”

“They live on a secret island,” he said. “They put an enchantment over it so ye barely know it’s there. Humans may see it, but their eyes kind of drift away. It’s an impressive piece of work.”

“Do fairies fly?” she asked.

“Will-o’-wisps do,” Ravyn said, still chuckling. “They’re sometimes mistaken for fireflies, but if you look close, you’ll see pastel colors glowing around their wings. I saw a frolic of them one time when I was hiking through the mountains.”

“Pixies also have wings,” Stubby said. “They’re the type of fairy ye’ll see most on the island.”

“How many types of fairy are there?” Brittany asked.

“Well, as I said, there are pixies. They’re about six inches high, and they have pointed ears and bushy eyebrows. They live in colonies high in the trees, but they magically cloak them so they can’t be seen. And when they attack, they do it en masse, like a swarm of bees.”

“I heard pixies live a hundred years or more,” Ravyn said.

“That would explain their animosity toward humans. A lot of persecution in that amount of time.” He kicked his dangling feet. “There’re also brownies. They look like pixies, but they have no wings.”

“Why do they call them brownies?” Brittany asked.

“They wear brown clothing. Also, because their faces are dirty. They live underground.”

“All right. So, leprechauns, will-o’-wisps, brownies, and pixies. That’s it?”

“Not at all,” he said. “Ye got your basic hobgoblin. They’re two feet tall. They set up in the trees. Uncivilized, ill-tempered buggers. Youse should hope ye never run into them.”

“There’s also grundels, right?” Ravyn said. “They are three feet tall or so, and they work for the elves. Kind of like servants.”

“Verry loyal.” Stubby nodded. “They’ll stay with the same family for generations.”

“Oh,” Brittany said. “Like house-elves.”

“Ah. You’re referring to the book. Indeed, they are exactly like house-elves,” he said. “However, they’re allowed to wear clothing. They prefer stripes.”

“Are elves a type of fairy?” Brittany asked.

“Ruling class. They stand about five feet, but they’re verry slight, verry delicate.”

“Do they have pointed ears like in the movies?”

“They do. Pointed ears, high cheekbones. No wings. They’re good at arts and crafts. Beautiful creations.”

“And they have wicked magic,” Ravyn warned. “Trust me.”

“All fairies have magic,” Stubby said, “of one sort or another. But elf magic is formidable. The queen is an elf.”

Brittany fell silent. Dangerous or not, she wished she could meet the elven queen.

“But we are off-topic.” He tapped the book. “As I said, magical beings were here first.”

“And humanity should all just get on a spaceship and leave the planet to you.” Ravyn scoffed. “Never took you to be a racist, Stubs.”

“We are all racist,” he said, “albeit to different degrees. But that isn’t the point. Because the magical races have used magic for so long, it flows from them. Fairies don’t have lessons. Ogres don’t write books. Magic for them occurs naturally. They don’t think about it. It just happens.”

“Just happens,” Brittany murmured, thinking about the strange white light that once burst out of her hands, turning several vampires to dust. She had no idea how she’d done it. It just happened.

“And that’s what ye should aspire to do. Use magic as easily as breathing.” He glanced at the flickering candle. It had burned down to a nub. “We’re almost out of time. Any questions?”

“Yeah,” Ravyn said. “Then why do we need lessons? Aren’t we magical beings?”

“Ye are not.”

“I was told that everybody has a little magic in them,” Brittany said. “They just need to try and—”

“Humans are not inherently magical. Some, such as yerselves have talent, but that is usually because their ancestry includes magical dalliances. With a fairy, perhaps. Or a troll.”

Ravyn laughed. “I’ve met a few people I thought were descended from trolls.”

“That is the lesson for today. Practice until magic feels—” POP! He blinked out of existence. The candle had gone out.

“That’s the end of that,” Ravyn said.

Brittany frowned. “I don’t like the idea that not everyone has magic.”

“Why? Don’t like being special?”

“I’m not special. Besides, if I had magical blood in my past, then so would the rest of my family. What about my older brother and sister? My little brother? My mother?”

“Your father?”

“No. Not him.” Brittany shuddered at the thought of her father having supernatural powers. She’d spent her childhood in fear of him—a drunkard and a brute. Which made her think again of the bruises on Ravyn’s arm. “The queen doesn’t hurt you, does she?”

Ravyn’s gaze shifted, looking everywhere but at her. She stood and brushed at the dampness on the back of her jeans. “Only when I deserve it,” she said and walked back toward the house.

The look on Ravyn’s face seemed familiar. Brittany had heard similar words. When she was young, her father used to beat her mother, and her mother always made excuses for him. It was my fault, or I deserved it.

Brittany got to her feet. Her head felt crowded with too many thoughts. She glanced at the altar with its puddle of cooling wax then followed Ravyn across the wide yard.

She heard the argument before she got to the front porch. Aunt Lynette and Queen Imogene were yelling at each other.

Brittany hurried around the corner of the house. Ravyn stood there as still as stone. The adults were on the screened-in porch. Myra sat on a white wicker rocking chair holding a glass of sweet tea as if she could hide behind it. Both Aunt Lynette and Queen Imogene were on their feet, facing each other. Red lightning strobed the queen’s hands—her anger barely contained.

“Do you think me a fool?” the queen shouted.

“I do if you think you can get blood out of a turnip,” Aunt Lynette shouted back.

“Of course, you’re making money off that website. Why else would you have it?”

Website? Brittany frowned. She’d started a blog in her aunt’s name about herbs and their properties. But they weren’t being paid for it. She thought she’d wait until they had a following before she set it up to display ads.

“I am your queen. It is within my right to demand tribute.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. No Wiccan queen I ever known expected her subjects to buy her a car or a fancy condominium on the Atlantic Ocean.”

The queen sputtered, dark eyes glittering. Her gaze fell upon Ravyn and Brittany standing in the yard.

“Well.” She lowered her voice. “It appears lessons are ended for the day. We will continue this another time.”

“Different day, same answer,” Aunt Lynette said.

The queen slammed out the screen door and down the steps. “Come along, Ravyn.”

“See you later, monkey,” Ravyn murmured to Brittany. She got into the car. With their tires spinning on the loose gravel, they drove away.

Brittany rushed onto the porch. “What was that all about?”

Her aunt paced, muttering, “Old biddy. Who does she think she is?”

Myra stood slowly. Her face was pale, and her hands trembled, making the ice clink in her glass. “Queen Imogene expects a cut of the profits from the herb blog.”

“But there are no profits.”

“Yeah, right?” Aunt Lynette huffed out.

“We tried to tell her.” Myra looked ready to cry. “What are we going to do?”

Brittany rested a hand on her shoulder. “We’re going to go inside, and I’ll make us all some breakfast.” She guided Myra into the house, leaving Aunt Lynette to calm herself in peace.

Once in the kitchen, she started the coffee, beat a half dozen eggs with cream, nutmeg, and cinnamon, and cut thick slices from the loaf of homemade bread leftover from dinner. She let the slices marinate in the eggs while she melted butter in a heavy, cast-iron skillet.

Her aunt came in from the porch. She sat beside Myra at the kitchen table. Myra smiled and took her hand. Brittany cooked the French toast until they were golden brown and garnished them with early Florida strawberries.

“Thank you, Brit,” Aunt Lynette said as Brittany set a pair of steaming plates before her and Myra.

Brittany sat across from them. She smothered her plate in maple syrup. They’d gotten a bottle from the farmer’s market.

“How come you never told me we could be making money off that there blog?” her aunt asked.

Brittany nodded around a mouthful. “I planned to. You know, after the blog was established. I also thought we could take some of the more popular posts and make a book out of them. Sell it on Amazon.”

Aunt Lynette grunted and bit a strawberry.

Myra said, “The queen has the impression that we sell herbs from the blog.”

“We could do that. We could incorporate and then open an online store. Something similar to the candle shop you had in Georgia. But we’d never be able to compete with the major players. We don’t have the acreage for a large farm like they do. We don’t even have a garden.”

“Still, it’d be nice to have a little extra income,” she said.

“Not if that old hag wants a cut of it,” Aunt Lynette growled.

“Don’t call her that,” Myra whispered. “She might hear.”

Aunt Lynette threw down her fork. “You don’t buy into that nonsense that she has invisible spies, do you?”

“If she didn’t, how would she know about the blog?”

Brittany opened her mouth to explain about search engines, but that would just confuse them. Besides, an Internet search engine didn’t explain all the other things the queen was privy to.

“It’s bad enough the queen stops by unannounced,” Myra said, “but she always has Ravyn with her. Like a malevolent shadow. That girl gives me the creeps.”

“Probably filling her head with all sorts of dark magic,” Aunt Lynette muttered. “Girls like that lap it up.”

“I’m not a Ravyn fan,” Brittany said, “but do you think Queen Imogene might be hurting her?” They both looked up to stare, and she shrugged. “There are bruises on her arms.”

“Oh,” Myra said. She exchanged a long look with her partner.

“Well,” Aunt Lynette said, “let her know she’s always welcome here if she needs a safe place to stay.”

“But you don’t like her,” Brittany said.

“I don’t dislike her enough to leave her in an abusive situation.”

Brittany tried to imagine living with Ravyn Crowe. Smirks and snide remarks and Ravyn calling her monkey. They would never be close friends—but they might get along if they could get past the whole being rivals thing. Ravyn had been raised to think that becoming a witch queen was the sole purpose of her life. Brittany couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for her.

“I’ll be sure to tell her,” she said.

Want to read more?

Fairly Fairy, a young adult urban fantasy, is available at Amazon. Buy now for yourself or for the teen reader in your family.

View more on Roxanne Smolen's website »

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Published on January 30, 2022 02:41

My Top Ten Tweets for #Writers

My Top Ten Tweets

I love to write, but with writing comes marketing, the bane of my existence. I began gathering tips about writing and marketing from various blogs for easier reference. One day I thought why not share? So here we go. Follow me on Twitter @roxannesmolen for more tips.

Starting a Sentence with “And” or “But” – Should You Do It? https://buff.ly/3nGoVdw #WritingCommunity #writetip

How to Break Grammar Rules and Connect with Readers https://buff.ly/3GNbqjR #WritingCommunity #writetip

5 Tips for Keeping Your Writing Rolling https://buff.ly/3nHX391 #WritingCommunity #writetip

The Role of Causation and Plot Structure in Literary Fiction | Jane Friedman https://buff.ly/3fDO7wN #WritingCommunity #writetip

7 Deadly Query Sins: How to Write a Query That Won’t End up in Spam https://buff.ly/3txdIzH #WritingCommunity #writerslift

When Is My Novel Ready to Read: 7 Self-Editing Processes for Writers https://buff.ly/3zRs9OG #WritingCommunity #editing

How to Plan and Host Worthwhile Online Book Events | Jane Friedman https://buff.ly/3AbUdxW #WritingCommunity #bookmarketing

Things I Wish I Knew Before I Published: Part I | Writers In The Storm https://buff.ly/3AlbFjI #WritingCommunity #indieauthor

Is Writer’s Block a Thing? The Writer’s Block Expose https://buff.ly/3tXcvSz #WritingCommunity #writersblock

How to Get More Book Publicity as a Self-Published Author https://buff.ly/33OHCFa #WritingCommunity #indieauthors #bookmarketing

Bonus: Looking Ahead

How to Sell More Books Using The Global Reading Habits of 2021 https://buff.ly/3fzln8y #WritingCommunity #bookmarketing

Instagram for small business: How to grow in 2022 and beyond https://buff.ly/3dQPebI #WritingCommunity #bookmarketing

This is How the Instagram Algorithm Works in 2022 https://buff.ly/2GluEil #WritingCommunity #bookmarketing

How to Get Your Writing Done When New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work (and They Usually Don’t) | Jane Friedman https://buff.ly/3qakx8d #writers #writetip

Why Most Authors Don’t Need Social Media in 2022 https://buff.ly/3frIban #WritingCommunity #bookmarketing

Blatant Self Promotion

Do you like #witches, #unicorns, and #fairies? You’ll love my new Brittany Meyer series. In eBook, print, and audio. Buy today! #kindle #kindledeals #kindlebargains https://amazon.com/gp/product/B0957TPH55

[image error] " src="https://scontent-lax3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/272766486_3028179990782085_879300001060070314_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=6NJcQb_NAGcAX9UDJ1z&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AT9extkU2KrpDY3dx2f8Ln9H4PeQAPasprDosCq7VAcyeg&oe=61F9F946" /> [image error] " src="https://scontent-lax3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/272826948_4754296814648034_396872766653480667_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=JWv5qRgvszAAX8uGU_Y&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AT83Ik6a4R_HzkSzQxmuLM15zERuVsRMeJARj1kaLO4oVw&oe=61F97969" /> [image error] " src="https://scontent-lax3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/272748107_669090391108916_3556631680748409307_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=K6s1Cpns8vQAX--k2OX&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AT_EA4dk0QRyDq5b11LWi19UihboB7WhYZ1p63LhMOTT9g&oe=61FA2E77" /> [image error]⁠" src="https://scontent-lax3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/272851535_656783702345534_3776117633151830303_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=iIVuAFQuH0UAX8Ms6Pm&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AT_KSyJRLCgaTNQv_WkLHsJGM9Amm4FM33NNASrySrWCyg&oe=61F91A24" /> [image error] " src="https://scontent-lax3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/272748024_334155138591462_7794291475912033175_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=-8J1ZU3ZhTMAX_YwwS5&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AT8hmmlOnry6OpykAnwDl7s5w9yO98zFk301f5spSoSYpw&oe=61F9278D" /> [image error] " src="https://scontent-lax3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/272946446_1601221246927158_573360169735800187_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=i-0QPXiLNsMAX-dtFaV&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AT_qGpxVhudbGpOJvpLRSVqwXWch5kD5H_P8VjeW4zAioQ&oe=61F9A470" />

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Published on January 29, 2022 02:38

My Top Ten Tweets for #writers

My Top Ten Tweets

I love to write, but with writing comes marketing, the bane of my existence. I began gathering tips about writing and marketing from various blogs for easier reference. One day I thought why not share? So here we go. Follow me on Twitter @roxannesmolen for more tips.

Don’t Let Your Characters Fall Into the Daily Routine Trap | Jane Friedman https://buff.ly/31PPeXc #WritingCommunity #writetip

5 Things to consider when choosing a book title in the E-age https://buff.ly/3zONDgU #WritingCommunity #writerslife

9 Weird Ways to Beat Writer’s Block https://buff.ly/3gAQmQb #WritingCommunity #writersblock

How to Get Your Writing Done When New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work (and They Usually Don’t) | Jane Friedman https://buff.ly/3qakx8d #WritingCommunity #NewYear2022

Here’s What Can Happen When You Resolve to Write a Little Every Day | Jane Friedman https://buff.ly/3thCunz #WritingCommunity #writerslift

9 Author Blogs That Are Must-Reads For Writers | Web Design Relief – Web Design Relief https://buff.ly/33C4irR #WritingCommunity #BloggingCommunity

The Top Eight Publishing Trends For 2022 – Written Word Media https://buff.ly/3erYpjh #WritingCommunity #publishing #NewYear2022

5 Tips for Finishing Your Book https://buff.ly/3GvijGe #WritingCommunity #writetip

Top 10 Writing Tips by Author Mairi Chong @MairiChong #Top10WritingTips #TuesdayBookBlog #WritingTips #TopTipTuesday https://buff.ly/3Kn2cNF

Top 10 Writing Tips by Author Matt Cost @mattcost8 #Top10WritingTips #TuesdayBookBlog #WritingTips #TopTipTuesday https://buff.ly/3qIqytq

Blatant Self Promotion

Do you like #witches, #unicorns, and #fairies? You’ll love my new Brittany Meyer series. In eBook, print, and audio. Buy today! #kindle #kindledeals #kindlebargains https://amazon.com/gp/product/B0957TPH55

[image error] " src="https://scontent-lax3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/272232061_492977295504813_1028815721650045211_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=LA8AhUqrSx8AX-i2ADA&_nc_oc=AQlutlDY4bR5CShdk7G6im5-xtDoO-xSTqNmPFaXeV9JvcoXZJ2_hb60sv0fI3Jxibo&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AT8ILRFNpaGo_lkItqyZO05ZSyd-xWdFxLKzqrMeFCZ47A&oe=61F0CECC" /> [image error] " src="https://scontent-lax3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/272348541_357393022475205_4630897247140611806_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=8m5G2WWfyuMAX_1Mbtd&_nc_oc=AQkRBGzq6NLH859OmcQKFnV96yTBPZeJLt5wC6aFQWNpRAXKLq5Lu84_kLAG2W1_qL8&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AT8Ygyt9PXMOcPmsdK744RiCMU8CJ6LgbQj488TlIpFiHQ&oe=61F0B81E" /> [image error] " src="https://scontent-lax3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/272244880_930611694487076_2384063515466655545_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=saFnkDHL9SoAX8q_9J5&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AT8fwShpB5hXdZLNykB-9yu73kdRYMHSajgW_76lZmyWXA&oe=61F14D1D" /> [image error]⁠" src="https://scontent-lax3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/269222961_700197020965004_6784339808223059307_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=7wYwEvAQioEAX8VCQ1_&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AT9h-MgFn0tKpo3P94KhRx2UXUwWH5_AKhPmI3ftyp4mgA&oe=61EFEB0A" /> [image error] " src="https://scontent-lax3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/272121829_269992281898227_626726192382373118_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=LhXjoA2tpa8AX8mjJUO&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AT9iwiE2QGVV__2TBrnYNwkO-vL6g35nFir8g_A6B-ft0A&oe=61EFE529" /> [image error] " src="https://scontent-lax3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/269279180_662799721545799_2168906059868985174_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=ImAtRwokA_cAX-fVk1e&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AT9-PVphWZjtegGy50PMrUq2oZaXrVltAzHs01g6SFYu9w&oe=61F19AE8" />

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Published on January 22, 2022 02:08

My Top Ten Tweets for #writers

My Top Ten Tweets

I love to write, but with writing comes marketing, the bane of my existence. I began gathering tips about writing and marketing from various blogs for easier reference. One day I thought why not share? So here we go. Follow me on Twitter @roxannesmolen for more tips.

How Do I Find My Voice in Writing? https://buff.ly/32IQbB7 #WritingCommunity #writerslife

Podcasts and authors: Should you be a host or guest? – Build Book Buzz https://buff.ly/32Rc0OI #WritingCommunity #bookmarketing

BookTok: A Safe Haven for Young Female Readers | Jane Friedman https://buff.ly/3q5lCyt #WritingCommunity #bookmarketing

TikTok is driving book sales. Here are some titles #BookTok recommends https://buff.ly/32B6TBK #writerscommunity #bookmarketing #indieauthors

The Challenge of Keeping a Novel Series Fresh https://buff.ly/3t6tUrA #WritingCommunity #Novel

The Best Time to Post on Instagram in 2022, According to 35 Million Posts https://buff.ly/2nKL9fM #WritingCommunity #instagram

Tips to Help Writers Start the New Year Refreshed & Renewed https://buff.ly/3HR5qqf #writerscommunity #NewYear2022 #resolutions2022

Top 9 Social Media Trends to Prepare for in 2022 https://buff.ly/2APQc4g #WritingCommunity #bookmarketing #socialmediamarketing

The Top Eight Publishing Trends For 2022 – Written Word Media https://buff.ly/3erYpjh #WritingCommunity #BookPromotion

Do You Really Need an Editor? #writingtips #amwriting https://buff.ly/3HH2PPD #WritingCommunity #indieauthors

Blatant Self Promotion

Do you like #witches, #unicorns, and #fairies? You’ll love my new Brittany Meyer series. In eBook, print, and audio. Buy today! #kindle #kindledeals #kindlebargains https://amazon.com/gp/product/B0957TPH55

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Published on January 15, 2022 02:29

My Top Ten Tweets for #writers

My Top Ten Tweets

I love to write, but with writing comes marketing, the bane of my existence. I began gathering tips about writing and marketing from various blogs for easier reference. One day I thought why not share? So here we go. Follow me on Twitter @roxannesmolen for more tips.

Character Development: Easy-to-Follow Tips to Make Readers Love Your Characters https://buff.ly/3Hk8zPa #WritingCommunity #writetip

Wise Words About Endings (and New Beginnings, Too) • Career Authors https://buff.ly/3qz8793 #writingcommunity #quotes

The Inner Struggle Between Man vs. Self: How to Use Conflict in Your Writing https://buff.ly/3qxdTIh #WritingCommunity #writetip

10 Steps to Start Writing Your Book https://buff.ly/3ByUA5K #WritingCommunity #writetip #writingadvice

How Much Description is Too Much? – Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference https://buff.ly/3qzHb9l #WritingCommunity #writetip

5 Tips on Negotiating a Hybrid Publishing Agreement https://buff.ly/3qxvjoh #WritingCommunity #indieauthors #publisher

Make Your Children’s Writing Website Focused (9 Tips) | Writing for Children with Karen Cioffi https://buff.ly/3Dxwv0p #writerscommunity #bookmarketing

Write Faster, Die Happier – Quick Writing Tip – The Moonlighting Writer https://buff.ly/344E3dO #writerscommunity #WritingCommunity

Freelance Writing, What You Need to Know https://buff.ly/3ouPCkQ #WritingCommunity #writerscommunity

Sentence Linking: Essential Strategies to Solve Your Sentence Problems https://buff.ly/32nHImK #WritingCommunity #writetip

Bonus: Happy New Year 2022

21 Twitter Strategies for Writers in 2022 https://buff.ly/3pHFNSB #writerscommunity #socialmediatips

A New Book Marketing Plan for 2022: Book Marketing Podcast Recap https://buff.ly/3FFXoA8 #writerscommunity #indieauthors #bookmarketing

25 Authors and Their New Year Resolutions – Book Review – Hasty Book List https://buff.ly/3sTlJ1S #WritingCommunity #NewYearResolution

2022 Publishing Predictions from Literary Agent Laurie McLean https://buff.ly/345gyBm #WritingCommunity #writerslife

How to Plan Your Writing Projects for the New Year https://buff.ly/3n00tU9 #WritingCommunity #writerslife #NewYear2022

185 Writing Quotes From Writer’s Digest Magazine in 2021 https://buff.ly/3EOzzEX #WritingCommunity #writequote

What’s Selling in Children’s Books + What’s Ahead for 2022 | Jane Friedman https://buff.ly/3pP3OXX #WritingCommunity #bookmarketing

3 Keys to Your Success in 2022 https://buff.ly/3zqvqWy #WritingCommunity #writetip

Blatant Self Promotion

Do you like #witches, #unicorns, and #fairies? You’ll love my new Brittany Meyer series. In eBook, print, and audio. Buy today! #kindle #kindledeals #kindlebargains https://amazon.com/gp/product/B0957TPH55

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Published on January 08, 2022 03:01

My Top Ten Tweets for #writers

My Top Ten Tweets

I love to write, but with writing comes marketing, the bane of my existence. I began gathering tips about writing and marketing from various blogs for easier reference. One day I thought why not share? So here we go. Follow me on Twitter @roxannesmolen for more tips.

Ready, Aim, Fire: Just Write Already! – Quick Writing Tip – The Moonlighting Writer https://buff.ly/3sf5Ouu #WritingCommunity #writetip

A Sequence of Words: Constructing a Sentence https://buff.ly/3m2iWPD #WritingCommunity #writetip

What Makes a Story Feel Like a Story? | Jane Friedman https://buff.ly/32nCAOP #WritingCommunity #writetip

5 Awesome Creative Writing Blogs ! – Writers Attic https://buff.ly/3qkKUau #WritingCommunity #writetip

Writing Wisdom from Gary Provost | https://buff.ly/2RlgnFW https://buff.ly/3h3rbZx #WritingCommunity #bookmarketing #indieauthors

How to Write Telepathic Characters in Fiction https://buff.ly/3FDOymx #WritingCommunity #writetip

Good Storytelling: Give Your Characters Something to Die For (Part One) https://buff.ly/3sY6jGm #WritingCommunity #writetip

Ready, Set, Revise! — Jean M. Grant https://buff.ly/3cgruy6 #WritingCommunity #amediting

Release Checklist – Elizabeth Spann Craig https://buff.ly/3xhX05B #WritingCommunity #writerslift

Roadmap Step 9 – How to Write a First Draft – Novel Factory https://buff.ly/3ExlQlS #WritingCommunity #writetip

Bonus: Happy New Year 2022

21 Most Popular Writing Posts of 2021 https://buff.ly/3H8X6Cb #WritingCommunity #writetip

10 top book marketing articles from Build Book Buzz in 2021 – Build Book Buzz https://buff.ly/3FmLc7a #WritingCommunity #BookMarketing

How to Sell More Books in 2022: New Year’s Planning Goals https://buff.ly/3pd0QMF #WritingCommunity #BookMarketing

22 Must-Have Resources for Book Marketers in 2022 https://buff.ly/3D8MTTU #WritingCommunity #bookmarketing #indieauthors

5 Resolutions Every Writer Should Make • Career Authors https://buff.ly/3JpRZzc #WritingCommunity #writerslift #newyearresolution

Blatant Self Promotion

Do you like #witches, #unicorns, and #fairies? You’ll love my new Brittany Meyer series. In eBook, print, and audio. Buy today! #kindle #kindledeals #kindlebargains https://amazon.com/gp/product/B0957TPH55

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Published on January 01, 2022 02:38

My Top Ten Tweets for #writers

My Top Ten Tweets

I love to write, but with writing comes marketing, the bane of my existence. I began gathering tips about writing and marketing from various blogs for easier reference. One day I thought why not share? So here we go. Follow me on Twitter @roxannesmolen for more tips.

Writing Flash Fiction: 5 Quick Tips for Mini Masterpieces https://buff.ly/3IGmBvZ #WritingCommunity #writetip

What is Flash Fiction? Short, Sharp, Memorable Stories https://buff.ly/3GuKtkr #WritingCommunity #writetip

Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Ending Your Story Too Soon https://buff.ly/3IGhuMy #WritingCommunity #writetip

How To Develop Bestselling Story Ideas With JD Barker | The Creative Penn https://buff.ly/3dir5bm #WritingCommunity #writetip

Writing Historical Fiction https://buff.ly/3Gs2AY8 #WritingCommunity #writetip

The Two Halves of the Inciting Event – Helping Writers Become Authors https://buff.ly/3D8ETCQ #WritingCommnunity #writingtips

25 Things I’ve Learned After Writing for 20 Years – Writing and Wellness https://buff.ly/31ZrVKv #WritingCommunity #writerslift

7 Ways to Beat the Winter Writing Blues – Writing and Wellness https://buff.ly/31Zsd46 #WritingCommunity #writerslift

Hanna C. Howard: Keep Submitting, Writing, Working, Trying https://buff.ly/2RHPyhU #WritingCommunity #writerslife

How to Become a Better Writer: 20 Hacks and Tips https://buff.ly/3tW5W0b #WritingCommunity #writetip

Bonus: Happy New Year 2022

22 Awesome Book Marketing Promotions and Predictions for 2022 https://buff.ly/31NP7ee #WritingCommunity #BookMarketing

22 Smart Author Marketing Strategies to Start Using in 2022 https://buff.ly/3q1dVrx #WritingCommunity #BookMarketing

10 Ways To Get Your Writing Project Going In 2021 https://buff.ly/3y7tOk4 #WritingCommunity #writetip

Bonus: Post-NaNoWriMo 2021

How To Find the Right Professional Editor for Your Writing https://buff.ly/3ED2nRl #WritingCommunity #amediting #nanowrimo2021

When Are You Ready for Professional Editing? – WRITERS HELPING WRITERS® https://buff.ly/3pGG47l #WritingCommunity #writingtips

NaNoWriMo’s Over … Now What? https://buff.ly/3GaPKgU #WritingCommunity #indieauthors #nanowrimo2021

#NaNoWriMo2021 Afterthoughts: What Our Readers Learned https://buff.ly/3yr8DcE #WritingCommunity #indieauthors

Blatant Self Promotion

Do you like #witches, #unicorns, and #fairies? You’ll love my new Brittany Meyer series. In eBook, print, and audio. Buy today! #kindle #kindledeals #kindlebargains https://amazon.com/gp/product/B0957TPH55

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Published on December 25, 2021 04:43

My Top Ten Tweets for #writers

My Top Ten Tweets

I love to write, but with writing comes marketing, the bane of my existence. I began gathering tips about writing and marketing from various blogs for easier reference. One day I thought why not share? So here we go. Follow me on Twitter @roxannesmolen for more tips.

7 Ways Reading Fiction Improves Your Life https://buff.ly/3FXNJoa #WritingCommunity #readerscommunity

How to track book marketing activity and results – Build Book Buzz https://buff.ly/3FGzxzK #WritingCommunity #BookMarketing

The Kindle Vella Experience: Is It for You? | Jane Friedman https://buff.ly/3DtLJTb #WritingCommunity #indieauthor #KindleVella

How To Turn an Idea Into a Chapter Book Series https://buff.ly/3psHG4s #WritingCommunity #writetip

How to Become a Better Writer: 20 Hacks and Tips https://buff.ly/3tW5W0b #WritingCommunity #writetip

Why you shouldn’t give your book away – Build Book Buzz https://buff.ly/3xGRwmV #WritingCommunity #indieauthor

Writing A Book? Avoid These Two Pitfalls https://buff.ly/3o84GGs #WritingCommunity #writetip

How to Make Your Character’s Choices More Difficult – Helping Writers Become Authors https://buff.ly/3DVNf0V #WritingCommunity #writetip

Emotional Writing: One Surprising Method for Creating Emotion in Your Readers https://buff.ly/2L9Yr3m #WritingCommunity #writetip

Mythic Structure: Refusal of the Call to Adventure | https://buff.ly/2RlgnFW https://buff.ly/3ouAmGh #WritingCommunity #writetip

Bonus: Post-NaNoWriMo 2021

NaNoWriMo’s Over … Now What? https://buff.ly/3GaPKgU #WritingCommunity #indieauthor #NaNoWriMo21 #nanowrimo2021 #nanowrimo

Blatant Self Promotion

Do you like #witches, #unicorns, and #fairies? You’ll love my new Brittany Meyer series. In eBook, print, and audio. Buy today! #kindle #kindledeals #kindlebargains https://amazon.com/gp/product/B0957TPH55

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Published on December 11, 2021 02:25

Roxanne Smolen's Blog, page 23

February 6, 2022

Sample Sunday – Rebel Rabble

February 5, 2022

My Top Ten Tweets for #writers

January 30, 2022

Sunday Sample – Fairly Fairy

January 29, 2022

My Top Ten Tweets for #Writers

January 22, 2022

My Top Ten Tweets for #writers

January 15, 2022

My Top Ten Tweets for #writers

January 8, 2022

My Top Ten Tweets for #writers

January 1, 2022

My Top Ten Tweets for #writers

December 25, 2021

My Top Ten Tweets for #writers

December 11, 2021

My Top Ten Tweets for #writers

Roxanne Smolen's Blog