Kathy L. Salt's Blog, page 2

Bittersweet and Sparrow Teaser 2

This is the second teaser for my upcoming novel Bittersweet and Sparrow. Press the read more below and enjoy!

Pure animal instinct—wanting to survive—flooded her veins.

There was less whistling now, which Sparrow took as a good sign. Instead the air filled with groans, grunts, and screams. People were dying all around her. She helped a young man to his feet. 

“Do you know the way out of here?” She asked. “I think we need to leave the capital.” 

“Yes.” Blood ran down his face. “But I need to find my father first, will you come with me?” 

Gunshots sounded. 

“What the hell?” She whispered. “What is happening?” 

Had the world been like this before she’d moved into the House? She couldn’t remember. But what she could remember was more green than concrete. Now the ground was hard under her feet and she hadn’t seen a single tree, bush, or pot of flowers, not that she’d notice anyway. 

“It’s the rebels,” the boy said. “Come on.” He waved at her to follow and they crawled down the alley to the other side. The houses here were made of wood, and one of them was on fire. Sparrow followed him. 

She watched the boy crawl onto the main road. He looked back at her, his mouth open as if to say something but nothing came out. Sparrow looked on in panic as he was shot four times in the chest. Who was shooting? The shots echoed in her head. Her eyes watered. 

I need to hide. Now. I need to hide so that no one can find me. She registered  footsteps marching  closer but didn’t see who it was, so instead she threw herself on the closest pile of bodies. She grabbed blood and mud and brought her hands to her face and her hair. After that, she lie very, very still. She willed her breath to soften and even though she couldn’t calm her raging heart, she thought and hoped that they couldn’t actually hear it. 

In the corner of her eye, she could see them now. They wore black head to toe and had big brass rifles in their hands. Are these the rebels? Whoever they were, Sparrow knew that she’d never be on their side. She felt like stopping and spitting at their feet. Whoever they were, they’d destroyed her home and killed hundreds of people.

To her horror, the man closest to her aimed his rifle at one of the people on the ground and fired. She looked on as the others started doing the same. 

“Please!” A female voice Sparrow couldn’t locate rang out. 

“Please what?” Another female voice answered. “I’m Deva of the Amelioratites, and I’m the one who will kill you.” It was followed by a gunshot. 

The shot echoed inside Sparrow’s head. Clearly she wasn’t the only one who had tried to hide among the dead. It was now or never; the people were coming closer. If she ran and they shot at her they might miss, but if she stayed as an unmoving target,  only one thing that could happen. The Amelioratites? Who are they?

Sparrow bolted. She heard the voices behind her and several shots fired. How they missed her, she didn’t know. A sharp sensation hit her shoulder and she staggered forward but her feet kept her running. She ran around a corner and fled into a cellar door, hoping that no one had seen where she went. She bolted the door and dove onto the floor. She went forward on her hands and knees until she found a cupboard. She opened it and crawled inside, the cupboard door closing behind her. It was uncomfortable, having her knees up and her head bent on top of them. But no one would look for her there, of that she was sure. 

Her body ached in a way that it never had before and warm blood oozed down her arm. Had a bullet grazed her shoulder? Had she scraped it while on the ground? She wasn’t sure. It hurt to breath, a sharp pain felt between her shoulder blades every time she inhaled. 

I’m going to die here. A sob escaped her. She wondered how she was still alive. If she’d been a little bit slower down the stairs, the bomb would’ve hit her. If she’d been faster out in the street, the bomb would’ve hit her. She could’ve been shot many times. I’m going to die here. Maybe she would bleed to death. Mama. Sparrow had never felt so alone. Now that she was no longer in direct danger, she started to feel pain. 

Please, please, please, please. Outside, the shooting had stopped and the whistling had begun again. Somewhere close a bomb fell and the ground shook. Sparrow screamed and fell out of the cupboard. She scrambled to her feet and ran to the door. What did it matter to have a hiding spot if a bomb could kill you anyway? She needed to move. Now. Fast. Anywhere was better than here. 

Author note: This is an excerpt from my upcoming novel “Bittersweet and Sparrow”, the first installment in the Waerdarei series. It will be out on the 1st of March.

“Bittersweet and Sparrow” News!

Bittersweet and Sparrow is now up for pre-sale over on Amazon! You can pre-order your kindle copy over here.

Bittersweet and Sparrow teaser 1

Ah, Valentines Day. What day is better for a teaser from my upcoming novel “Bittersweet and Sparrow”? That’s right, no day like today. This is the first teaser, a second teaser will be posted on 23rd of February. So what are you waiting for? Click on the read more and enjoy this steamy teaser!

“Astrid.” Sparrow loved saying her name, especially since she seemed to be the only one that used it. “It’s dark.” 

“I have good night vision, come on.” 

Before Sparrow had a chance to protest, Astrid turned between the vendors and found the trail that Sparrow had pointed at. Before losing her to the dark, Sparrow darted forward and grabbed a fistful of Astrid’s shirt from behind. Astrid didn’t say anything so Sparrow kept her grip on her shirt as they made their way through the dark. 

The scents were so much sweeter at night. Night-blooming flowers, the wet smell of earth, spicy pine. It all filled Sparrow’s nostrils and created a heady scent that made Sparrow question if this was really happening. Astrid moved with fluidity, her back warm against Sparrows knuckles, not like someone who’d recently been injured. Twice, Sparrow almost tripped over roots on the trail but then the trees became sparse and when they reached the cliff, there were no trees.

“Oh maker,” Astrid breathed. 

Before them, Anchorage spread out. The dark church cast a soft shadow and the tents looked like white and brown dots. Above it all, the dark blue sky twinkled with stars and two full moons. It was as if someone had turned a marine bowl over all of it. Sparrow couldn’t remember the sky ever looking so big. 

“This is…” Astrid looked back at Sparrow, her eyes twinkling. “Thank you for showing me. I understand if you wanted to keep this to yourself.” 

“I don’t mind sharing it with you.” Sparrow looked down, needing to break eye contact. If she kept it, Astrid would know. She would know what Sparrow wasn’t ready to admit to herself yet. “Come on.” She walked slowly towards the edge, careful not to step too close. 

She didn’t know where the bravery came from, but she sat down, dangling her legs over the edge like she’d done earlier that day. Astrid came and sat down next to her, groaning as she put pressure on her shoulder to get down. Silence fell between them as they looked at the view. 

Astrid sighed. A sad sound. 

“I’m sorry about Isabeau,” Sparrow said. “I remember her. I could see the friendship between you.” 

“We’re like sisters,” Astrid sighed again. “I need to help her.” 

Something glistened on her cheeks but Sparrow didn’t dare to think that Astrid was actually crying. An owl cried somewhere in the night. 

Astrid took the pills out of her pocket and threw them into her mouth. She swallowed soundly. 

“Why did you kiss me?” Sparrow had wanted to ask that for a long time now. Astrid hadn’t seemed interested in her body any of the times she’d visited so why, why, had she kissed her that final night at the House? 

Astrid snickered, the sound unexpected. Sparrow knitted her eyebrows and stared at her. What was so funny?

“Your lips look kissable, that’s all.”

“Oh.” Sparrow touched her finger to her lips. It was such a small comment and yet it made her feel things she couldn’t remember ever feeling before. “But did you—”

Her words were drowned when Astrid turned toward her, grabbed a hold of her nape, and pulled her in for a kiss. Sparrow moaned as Astrid’s warm mouth attacked hers, a wicked tongue finding its way inside. Sparrow couldn’t remember ever being kissed like this. So thoroughly and with emotion. Tears landed on her cheek but she wasn’t crying. Astrid was. Sparrow cupped her cheek, her hand becoming wet. Astrid bit her lip, causing Sparrow to whimper. She pulled away.

“What are you doing?”

Astrid leaned forward and licked the side of her mouth. The action caused lightning to fly inside Sparrow. She was breathing hard. 

“I want you. Please.” She took off her leather jacket and threw it on the ground, away from the edge of the cliff. “Let’s get away from the edge.” 

Sparrow traced her hand around the curve of Astrid’s jaw and let it travel up into her hair. She grabbed a handful of blonde strands and pulled. Astrid groaned but Sparrow could see her smile in the dark. “I’m doing this because I want to,” Sparrow whispered. “You need to know that.” 

“Sure, rat catcher.” 

Sparrow needed to wipe that cocky smile off Astrid’s face. She couldn’t stand it. She let go of Astrid’s hand and moved backwards until she reached Astrid’s leather jacket. She lay down, looking as Astrid moved like a cat towards her. The thought that this general wanted her made her dizzy and her heart beat fast. Astrid held herself above her, the azure fire in her eyes threatening to burn her up.

“Kiss me.” Please. Sparrow’s mouth was dry. 

Astrid relaxed her arms and let her whole body lie on top of Sparrow. Their bodies aligned and Sparrow squirmed; it was as if her body was on fire. Astrid didn’t move. She just stayed on top, looking at her. Their breaths mingled. What is Astrid looking for? Sparrow knew she was fully clothed but she felt naked. Before she had a chance to react, Astrid started rocking and moving against her. 

“You feel so good.” Astrid pressed a little kiss beneath Sparrow’s ear. She rocked harder and made a whimpering sound as if her frantic movement against Sparrow’s mound was nowhere near enough to push her over the edge. 

Sparrow was trembling and she put her hands on Astrid hips. She made a shushing sound. “I’ll help you.” She pressed a quick kiss to Astrid’s forehead. “Let me help you.” Sparrow wasn’t very smart. She wasn’t good at reading. But this she could do. This she could help with. This she was good at. And the thought of truly discovering the heart of Astrid made her mouth water. 

The look in Astrid’s eyes was more than urgent, as if she was in pain. 

“Turn around.” She tugged on Astrid’s hip and moved so that Astrid was on her back. 

They were still outside, stone underneath them and the starry night above. The night was cold. They couldn’t take their clothes off. Sparrow lay down next to her, head leaning against her hand, and pressed against Astrid’s side. She let her hand wander, cupping her breasts, kissing her cheek. 

“Please.” Astrid said again and closed her eyes. She chuckled. “I don’t even know what I’m asking for. 

“I do.” Sparrow pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. “Don’t forget to breathe.”

She pressed one last kiss to Astrid’s cheek and then crawled down the way of Astrid’s body. She undid the buttons on her leather trousers and placed a gentle kiss on top of the blonde curls she found there. 

“Oh maker.” Astrid put one of her arms over her eyes. “What are you doing to me?”

Sparrow put her fingers around the top hem of Astrid’s trousers. “Up.” 

As soon as Astrid let her, Sparrow pulled her trousers down to her knees, making sure the jacket was underneath her so that none of the rock touched Astrid’s bare skin. She inhaled deeply. She couldn’t believe what she was about to do or that she wanted it so much. 

Author’s note: This was a excerpt from my newest novel “Bittersweet and Sparrow” that comes out on the 1st of March.

Welcome to Rathmoria Emporie

Rathmoria Emporie, a beautiful pearl in the middle of the continent. Even though our homeland has no sea borders, it offers rich variants in climate and nature. Rathmoria has it all, lush forests, stimulating city life and fields that invite running and playing.

Rathmoria Emporie is run by Chancellor Timothy Rathmore, the head of the PFJ party. He was elected in 1688 in the second election of the common era, finally beating the previous Chancellor Kendrick who hadn’t done anything for the good of our nation. Chancellor Rathmore started his first term by growing our nation’s economy and setting the course of the nation. He opened up trade routes where there was none and he healed the damaged relationship with our neighbours. 

Please do visit our capital, Rathmoria City. When Rathmore was elected for his second term, he had a vision. To build a new capital on the bones of the old industrial town of Waerdi. The Chancellor oversaw the plans himself and today Rathmoria Emporie has the largest capital in the west. The old structures are incorporated, leaving beautiful bronze buildings, combined with newer wooden houses where the best and brightest in all the land live. 

Speaking of the best and brightest of Rathmoria Emporie. The Chancellor has, in his wisdom, closed the old public schools and opened the Ameliorate Institutes all over the country, the biggest one pulsing in the heart of Rathmoria City. The Chancellor has decreeded that all children should be raised at home and taught by their mothers until the age of 8. Then, if you’re lucky, you might get accepted into the Institute. There you will be taught about our country, advanced maths and chemistry and you will get a chance to sample books in the most complete libraries in the entire world. The students who graduate from the Institutes get a unique chance to serve in the Amelioratite branch of service, the Chancellor’s personal special force. The students get to serve for one or two years and if they do really well, some of them go on to have full careers with the Amelioratites. Most of the graduates however, go on to take on essential jobs, have families and live happy, full lives. 

No visit to Rathmoria Emporie is complete without a trip around the countryside. Rathmoria has, regretfully, during the last few years had a problem with countryside bandits, so take care when travelling. There are guides to book at the Rathmoria City tourist center and lists of safe places to visit. If you do meet bandits, please alert the authorities and help the Chancellor and the Amelioratites to stamp them out. Stay especially clear of the old town Stochhall Hollow or the bandit’s stronghold called Anchorage. 

If you want more information, or to find literature or book guides, visit the Rathmoria City tourist center, or talk to the local Rathmorians who love to help. 

I hope you enjoy your visit to Rathmoria Emporie!

Author note: This is a teaser for my upcoming novel “Bittersweet and Sparrow” that is coming out in the beginning of March. 

Bittersweet and Sparrow – Announcement

I’m so proud and happy to announce that the first installment in the Waerdarei-series will be published on the 1st of March through Triplicity Publishing.

The Blurb

Rathmoria Emporie, 1719. Sparrow Stonehill, a street walker, is forced to leave her house of employment when it’s bombed one night. From now on, Sparrow’s life will be on the run. Between a brutal oppressive leadership and an equally violent revolution – where is her place?  What side is she on in the civil war? And what does Astrid Dace, the alluring general of the revolution, want with her? 

A love story set in a fictional industrial age dystopia; Bittersweet and Sparrow is the exciting first installment in the Waerdarei-series.

There is still romance, there are still complicated female characters, there is still tears and emotions and sex but otherwise this one is different than my others.

I shall over the following weeks posT a few teAsers and reveaLs as We get closer to the release date, starting with “Welcome to Rathmoria Emporie” that will be posted on February 4th.

X stands for Xerox or X-Ray or Xenia – warrior princess

We didn’t have to put on the radio because Kathy sang the entire way there.

I start this blog post with a dilemma.

I haven’t posted since July. I didn’t do my usual end of the year posts or “Happy January 1st” posts that I love to do.I don’t actually have anything to say that starts with an x. I did play around with the idea of “Xometimes I feel like an alien” a month ago but then times got better and I started to feel more human again.

This post is going to be divided into three updates. A life update, a job update and most importantly, an author update. So let’s get to it.

Book/Author update

I have two novels coming out this year, I hope.

The first is something very exciting. Anyone who follows me on Instagram, have heard me mention “Bittersweet and Sparrow”. “Bittersweet and Sparrow” isn’t just my next novel but also the first installment in a fictional industrial age dystopian series. In February I shall start by posting teasers and blurb/cover reveals so look out for that. The first post shall be out on February first. Stay tuned for that! Great things are coming.

The second novel is a contemporary lesfic romance that I lovingly call “A Story of Two Charlottes”. It’s about about a romance with a big age gap between two teachers. I’m hoping to finish that before the summer.

I hope that my big summer project during 2021 will be the sequel to “Bittersweet and Sparrow”.

Job Update

Most people know how much I struggled with my own job, as documented here and here. After last summer, I got messages saying how happy people were for me that I finally got out of there. I started working kindergarten at a newly opened school in the city. And it was great in many ways, I loved working with students from different backgrounds and it was amazing to have 10 different languages in my classroom, I learned to sing “head, shoulders, knees and toes” in Portoguese, Somali and Arabic. I met many new people, loved my new boss, made new friends. One of these turned out to be a talented artist who wounded up drawing the cover of my newest book.

BUT I missed my old school. At first it felt like I was just missing it because I was used to the chaos or because some strange form of Stockholm Syndrome. Whenever somebody mentioned that school, my place of origin, my chest ached a little bit. When I heard of them getting new management, or moving into new buildings, it just felt wrong. What was I doing here? What was I doing around these new people? I started to feel more and more misplaced. Like I shouldn’t have changed at all. I missed my old coworkers, the once who are still there. I missed the sense of belonging which I had felt every day there. One day in November last year, the boss from my old place of work contacted me and asked if I could come and teach a small group of special needs six graders. I’ve never done that before and still they feel like I’m the person for the job. So I’m going back, believe it or not. I finished my three months of notice last week and my first day back is on Monday. It’s strange to even write this here, considering how much I’ve spoken bad about it in the past… but when I got the call, I just knew. My heart and soul is in that school. It’s where I want to be. I’m supposed to be there. And I will get there, ready to fight.

Personal Update

And that’s how we get here. There was no happy new year posts on this blog. I think most of us made it out of 2020 with very strange feelings. I am one of the lucky ones, I live in Sweden, I’m a teacher, I got to work and live life like normal, albeit a bit bored. I was worried, I was scared but my family has so far made it through. Now I’m just praying my elderly parents can get the vaccine soon. January is almost done now but it doesn’t feel like a new year. I don’t have that exciting feeling of a new year. I’m sure I’m not the only one. Everything is different. I’ve grown tougher, I’ve grown more resilient, I know without a doubt what I’m supposed to do and where I’m supposed to do. After taking lessons, I’m getting closer to being fluent in Brazilian Portuguese, so that’s exciting. I learned how to properly hula-hoop during 2020. I got quicker at writing novels.

Everything is also the same. I feel like the older you get (and I’m 31 now) the more you turn into yourself. The genuine you that you were when you were a child. That’s what the quote at the top is about. When I was six or seven, I got to go with the neighbors to their holiday home on the countryside. It was a two hour something ride in the car. I don’t remember the car ride but I remember the mom telling my mom when we got back home that they hadn’t needed to turn on the radio for the entire ride because I had sung the whole way. That’s who I am and that’s who I remain.

May we all be ourselves. That’s my hope for us all.

If you have read this entire thing, I’m so sorry but also grateful. Feel free to check out any of my short stories that are up on my blog to read for free, or of course, any of my novels.

Lastly, I hope you will stick around To All the Lovely neWs that is coming your way on this blog, later this week. And yes, that was a clue.

U is for Understatement of the century

No… seriously.

Five days ago I wrote a post saying that this was the most unproductive summer I have had for ages and how it’s good for me to take a break and all. And then the bombshell hit.

I put my current work in process on ice and started another one. And in just three days I’m up 9 THOUSAND words. I don’t know what’s happening but I’m just grabbing my laptop and holding on for dear life.

I start work in ten days. Technically I could be up to 40k words by then. Doubt it, but I think I shall be close. The words are just pouring out of me.

I can’t tell you about it though, because then the magic will go away. I just hope it will be beautiful.

…and don’t worry about my other one, the Saltbridge Hollow #1. I put “A Tale of Spiders and Canned Soup” for hold for over a year while suddenly finding myself writing “Stargazing” and both books are out now and all is well.

Reminder that you can check out my novels here.

And you can read 10+ short stories for free here.

T is for 2020 Summer Update

I’m feeling meh.

It’s summer. Usually my summers are filled with writing, transformation, more writing, reflection, growth and even more writing. I opened the main document for my work in process (the first part of a series called “Saltbridge Hollow” so that’s exciting) it said that it was 5 days ago since it was edited. FIVE DAYS. I haven’t opened my work in process for five days.

Not to mention I’m not even at 20k words.

I want to go to my parent’s boat, but my wife is working and I’m not leaving her in the city alone.

I want to go to church but church is closed for another month.

I want to go to Norway and visit family but that’s not appropriate right now.

I want to go to Denmark and back to the fertility clinic where I have a frozen embryo waiting for its moms. Well, not waiting, but you know…

This is a meh summer at the end of a meh school year and in two weeks is over. I don’t feel like I’ve done anything.

…and still, I’m quite happy. If I forget that I’m an author I’ve had a good vacation. Spending time with wife and family. Cycling. Running. Swimming. A few weeks ago we jumped into cold water with our clothes on – that was fun. I discovered Animal Crossing and tried to re-install Sims2, failing, and am trying to do a legacy challenge on Sims4 instead. I’ve journaled a lot. Am reading Dracula and other horror stories by Bram Stoker.

I’m just stressed about not having a productive summer. I haven’t taken time off in about five years. I always have the author stuff hanging over my head (write, social media, update blog, write, plan, social media, update blog). After the year I’ve had, at work, and with the pandemic and all, maybe I can be a bit lenient with myself.

In a week I want to start preparing for my new job. It’s been many years since I worked in kindergarten and I’ve never been in charge of my own kindergarten class. I want to be prepared. It’s exciting though. And even though I’m sad to see the end of my summer I feel some butterflies starting to hop at the thought of doing something new.

Saltbridge Hollow #1 will be written eventually. If not this summer then probably during the autumn. I hope in a less toxic environment I won’t have creativity sucked out of me.

I’m going to update some other things on the blog, then I want to just watch some Westworld with the wife and maybe drink something warm.

I will try to write, honestly I will, but I’m not going to force myself too. This is my vacation. This is my time to recuperate. I only get one life and I’m not going to spend it stressed that I can’t pump out 2k.

What about you? The one reading this. Is your summer like normal? Is it very different? Feel free to share in the comments.

Thanks for reading and I hope that the rest of your July is good.

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I Love You, Nora Whispered is here!

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This book is my absolute baby. Never have I been prouder. Are you interested in a romantic historical lesfic that has both horses and complicated women? Look no further. Pick up your kindle copy here. In a few days the physical copy should be available too.

Love in the time of horses and polio.

England, 1948.

Nora Lakes suffers from post polio syndrome and very low self-esteem. She has spent her entire life in the chaos of her huge family, always feeling less than and without any future dreams. When her sister Martha manages to get her a job at Waterhouse Acre Stables, she can hardly believe it. She had never imagined that anyone would have employed her, damaged as she is. She also never imagined she would meet anybody like Katherine.

Katherine Waterhouse was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. She has a mean streak and doesn’t like people in general. What she does like, is horses. She wants to be a professional rider but growing up in a conservative house where her choices are limited by her sex, Katherine has always been trapped in her role as a woman.

Nora and Katherine – two women with very different backgrounds, drawn to each other with an intensity neither of them are prepared for.

Do they stand a chance?

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S if for Spring Update (both teacher and author)

Today I signed a contract for a new job! After posts like this and this and others, you can imagine how happy I am.

I’m going to be teaching kindergarten and I really prefer working with younger children.
I love my new boss. It’s a woman with principal experience. She seems really organised and direct. We really clicked (I think).
Most of my students will have Swedish as a second language and some of them will not speak a word of Swedish. I’m looking forward for the challenge.
The school hasn’t opened yet. It opens after the summer. I get to be there at the start of a school, the start of an organisation. Have a lot of say.
The building is completely new. Not even finished building yet at the point of writing this blog post. It’s going to be so nice to not be in old, moldy, rooms.

The feeling I had when resigning from my current one was one of wonder and finale. I have given over 3 years to this school, to this impossible situation. Shame on the politicians who kept us in poisonous environments for that long.

Just 21 normal school days left now. Then I’m free of that place. Forever. And before that I’m going to enjoy the last few weeks with the best 24 kids I know. It’s crazy to think that they’ve been “mine” since 2017.

Now, let’s leave teaching behind and talk a bit about writing and novels.

“I Love You Nora Whispered” is still in editing. I revised the second edit today and sent it back to my editor. I hope to have a cover reveal for you all soon.
Zombie series is again put on the back burner. I can’t help myself as I again start another contemporary romance.
For the second time a short story is in the process of turning into a novel. That’s my project for this year. So far I call it “Like a Dream” and both main protagonist are teachers. I’m very excited about it.

So that’s all updates for now. My summer holiday is shorter this year but still long. I’m looking forward to nice summer days, spending my days writing and just enjoying life. It wont be the same considering corona and all. But I’m going to try to keep it as normal as possible.

More than anything I want it to be productive.

If you’ve read all the way here, thank you. I’m going to go back to novel writing now.

A.N: It seems like I screwed up the alphabet when doing my ABC-series of posts. Ooops.