Verna Clay's Blog, page 5
November 10, 2011
Davide: Shapeling Trilogy Book Three: Prince - Book Cover Unveiling
I just love the book cover for Davide's story! Elaina Lee (For The Muse) designed all the covers in the trilogy. She is so talented and easy to work with!The edits are almost done. Of course, I'm such a perfectionist, I could edit for months and never get a book published. I have to draw a line and say, "Enough!"
I've been working on the back cover blurb for the paperback. Writing blurbs is my least favorite task in the whole process. I'll probably tweek this one several times, but it here's what I have so far:
Tentative Blurb:
Davide Beowolf: All his life Davide has been told that he is the prophesied Great Prince. Early on, he decided the universe had made a mistake. How could he possibly be the Shapeling Prince…when he has no shifting ability? For years he has requested an audience before the Thirteen co-Princes in order to convince them of their mistaken belief. When that opportunity is unexpectedly offered, it is with a strange stipulation. He must first travel to Uluru in The Red Center of Australia and go on a walkabout with his childhood friend and confidant, Zoe Spencer. Only after completing the walkabout will his father reveal directions to the Cave of Thirteen. Unfortunately, Zoe has been avoiding him for two years.
Zoe Spencer: Zoe just wants to get on with her life. She's spent too much of her adulthood pining for David Beowolf. After accepting the fact that he would always view her as his older childhood friend, never as his soul mate and lover, she severed contact to preserve her heart. While touring with her symphony orchestra in Spain, Davide unexpectedly arrives with an incredible request—that she accompany him to Australia and go on a walkabout! Could her heart survive if she agrees?
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October 23, 2011
Sample Sunday: Davide: Shapeling Trilogy Book Three: Prince
Book Three in the Trilogy is well on its way to completion. I'm aiming for a release on Christmas Day. Here's a fun sample. Note: it contains spoilers to Books One and Two.
Excerpt:
Davide sat under a brilliant moon on the balcony of his third story bedroom and watched the night flight of his parents. He saw their dark shapes soaring atop the wild-flower field beyond the manicured lawns of the Childress Estate. They reached the lawn and circled several times, obviously aware of him. He waved and they dived toward his balcony. The larger Bald Eagle landed first, near his feet, and then the smaller one next to it. Davide grinned and waited for the shift.
Within milliseconds, the eagles morphed into Roth and Rainey Beowolf, his parents.
The exhilarated look on his mother's face made Davide pat the chair next to him. "Take a seat, Mom, and tell me about the flight." For the next half hour, Davide listened to his mother's enraptured descriptions. He never tired of her enthusiasm. Finally, she rose and reached a hand toward her husband. "If we don't leave soon, I'm going to bore Davide to tears."
"Never," Davide responded, his voice sounding bittersweet.
His mother placed her hand gently on his cheek and his father patted his shoulder. His mother changed the subject. "Zoe isn't going to make it to your birthday party this year, either."
"When did you find out?" Davide frowned.
"Fawn called earlier today and told me."
"What country is her tour group in?"
"She's in Spain; Barcelona."
"I haven't seen her in two years. She used to attend every party."
"Did the two of you have a falling out?" Roth asked.
"If we did, then I don't know about it."
Roth shook his head. "I'm sure you've tried calling her?"
"Yeah, several times, and left voicemails. I've sent her emails, too. She only responded to a handful of emails saying how busy she is. It's not like her."
Roth patted his shoulder again. "Keep trying, son. We'll see you in the morning."
"Okay, Dad." Davide watched his parents lower their heads to speak the Prayer of Secrecy that would shift them back into eagles. They flapped powerful wings and lifted skyward. Davide watched their ascent and disappearance behind low clouds. He blew a breath and rubbed his temples, thinking about Zoe. The strange attitude the past two years of his best friend baffled and depressed him. They had grown up together. Zoe had even babysat him when she was a teenager. He remembered fondly the pillow fights she would always initiate when he was seven and she was fourteen. God, he missed her.
Davide caught sight of his parents zipping in and out of the clouds, diving and chasing one another. To take his mind off Zoe, he remembered the first time his mother had shifted. He had been ten years old and for ten years she'd faithfully followed his dad's instructions. His father had taught that the key to shifting rested in focus. Shortly before her first shift, he remembered seeing his mother in tears. He'd walked past the cracked library door and heard the desperation in her voice. "Roth, I'm a failure. I'll never be able to soar with you."
"Souier, you cannot give up. If it's meant to happen, it will."
His mother had sobbed and Davide had peeked beyond the door to see his father gently kissing her tears away.
He also remembered his mother bursting into his room a few days after the crying incident and exclaiming, "I did it, Davide!" She'd rushed back out and he'd run behind her while she'd searched the house for his father. She'd found him in the surveillance room talking to Johnson, one of the many bodyguards employed by Hank Childress to protect his family. When she'd burst into the room looking like a wild woman, both Roth and Johnson had rushed toward her.
Davide grinned, remembering how she'd thrown her arms around his father's neck and started kissing him passionately. His father hadn't known the reason for her joyfulness, but he'd participated wholeheartedly in the kiss. When she'd pulled away, she'd repeated her words to Davide, "I did it!"
Excerpt:
Davide sat under a brilliant moon on the balcony of his third story bedroom and watched the night flight of his parents. He saw their dark shapes soaring atop the wild-flower field beyond the manicured lawns of the Childress Estate. They reached the lawn and circled several times, obviously aware of him. He waved and they dived toward his balcony. The larger Bald Eagle landed first, near his feet, and then the smaller one next to it. Davide grinned and waited for the shift.
Within milliseconds, the eagles morphed into Roth and Rainey Beowolf, his parents.
The exhilarated look on his mother's face made Davide pat the chair next to him. "Take a seat, Mom, and tell me about the flight." For the next half hour, Davide listened to his mother's enraptured descriptions. He never tired of her enthusiasm. Finally, she rose and reached a hand toward her husband. "If we don't leave soon, I'm going to bore Davide to tears."
"Never," Davide responded, his voice sounding bittersweet.
His mother placed her hand gently on his cheek and his father patted his shoulder. His mother changed the subject. "Zoe isn't going to make it to your birthday party this year, either."
"When did you find out?" Davide frowned.
"Fawn called earlier today and told me."
"What country is her tour group in?"
"She's in Spain; Barcelona."
"I haven't seen her in two years. She used to attend every party."
"Did the two of you have a falling out?" Roth asked.
"If we did, then I don't know about it."
Roth shook his head. "I'm sure you've tried calling her?"
"Yeah, several times, and left voicemails. I've sent her emails, too. She only responded to a handful of emails saying how busy she is. It's not like her."
Roth patted his shoulder again. "Keep trying, son. We'll see you in the morning."
"Okay, Dad." Davide watched his parents lower their heads to speak the Prayer of Secrecy that would shift them back into eagles. They flapped powerful wings and lifted skyward. Davide watched their ascent and disappearance behind low clouds. He blew a breath and rubbed his temples, thinking about Zoe. The strange attitude the past two years of his best friend baffled and depressed him. They had grown up together. Zoe had even babysat him when she was a teenager. He remembered fondly the pillow fights she would always initiate when he was seven and she was fourteen. God, he missed her.
Davide caught sight of his parents zipping in and out of the clouds, diving and chasing one another. To take his mind off Zoe, he remembered the first time his mother had shifted. He had been ten years old and for ten years she'd faithfully followed his dad's instructions. His father had taught that the key to shifting rested in focus. Shortly before her first shift, he remembered seeing his mother in tears. He'd walked past the cracked library door and heard the desperation in her voice. "Roth, I'm a failure. I'll never be able to soar with you."
"Souier, you cannot give up. If it's meant to happen, it will."
His mother had sobbed and Davide had peeked beyond the door to see his father gently kissing her tears away.
He also remembered his mother bursting into his room a few days after the crying incident and exclaiming, "I did it, Davide!" She'd rushed back out and he'd run behind her while she'd searched the house for his father. She'd found him in the surveillance room talking to Johnson, one of the many bodyguards employed by Hank Childress to protect his family. When she'd burst into the room looking like a wild woman, both Roth and Johnson had rushed toward her.
Davide grinned, remembering how she'd thrown her arms around his father's neck and started kissing him passionately. His father hadn't known the reason for her joyfulness, but he'd participated wholeheartedly in the kiss. When she'd pulled away, she'd repeated her words to Davide, "I did it!"
October 16, 2011
Sample Sunday: Fawn: Shapeling Trilogy Book Two: Master
In this scene, Fawn talks to her friend Rainey on the phone and then meets up with Wade for a tour of his ranch.
Excerpt:
Fawn sat on the side of her bed and perused her surroundings. Being tucked off the kitchen and secluded from the rest of the house suited her just fine. She smiled. Tonight, she'd slip out the kitchen door and shapeshift into—she pondered only a second—a feral horse. Feral herds roamed the area and the thought of running with them ran goose bumps up her arms.
Lying on her bed, she retrieved her cell phone and called her friend Rainey.
Rainey answered immediately, "Hey Fawn, you've got a special ring on my phone."
"Yeah, and what's that?"
"A dolphin's chatter, of course."
Fawn laughed. "So Roth told you how much I love the species, but I've never received an assignment…" Her voice trailed, and she finished, "…you know what I mean." Fawn and her friend always refrained from going into details about shapeshifting while communicating via phone or internet.
"Yeah, I know," Rainey agreed. "So, how's the new assignment? You're in a beautiful area. With Roth hovering like a mother hen and insisting I rest, I've been reading about the Four-Corners region of the U.S."
"Well, I agree with Roth, you're as big as a house with that baby. You need to take it easy."
"Jeez, thanks Fawn, being as big as a house is just what I wanted to hear." Rainey pretended to be offended, and then laughed.
"Our little prince is going to make his debut soon and his mother doesn't need to be exhausted from lab work." Fawn knew Rainey understood the deeper meaning to her reference to "prince". The entire prophesy of the Great Prince was known only to a few humans and shapelings.
"You're right, of course. So, tell me about your new digs."
"I have a room away from the rest of the house which makes it nice for night escapes."
"Oh, I'm glad to hear that. What about the family?"
"Not exactly what I expected. Mr. Spencer doesn't talk much. And I don't think I'm what he expected either. For a minute, I thought he was going to tell me to catch the next hopper back to Denver."
"Well, Fawn, you're not exactly the matronly looking type. Goodness, I used to be so jealous when I thought you and Roth were having an affair. You're flat-out gorgeous."
"Rainey, I am not gorgeous. I'm just a hardworking—" She refrained from saying the word shapeling. "—girl, doing her best to complete her latest—" She refrained from saying, mission. "—job."
"Whatever," Rainey chuckled. So tell me, what's Mr. Spencer like? Is he a handsome cowboy?"
"Rainey, you are incorrigible. He's a…rough cowboy. According to human standards of handsome, I'd say he's average. The co-Princes said he was in the car accident that killed his wife, so maybe that's where he got the scar running down his jaw alongside his ear. It actually doesn't detract from his looks. His eyes are a lovely shade of green, he's tall and lean—probably 6'2", and wears typical cowboy garb: Levis, chambray shirt, boots, big belt buckle. His hair is brown with blond sun streaks. He…
"Whoa girl, for someone who doesn't pay attention to looks, I'd say you're paying a lot of attention."
"Rainey, you asked me and I'm just telling you what you want to know."
"Okay, okay. Tell me about the child."
"She's seven, small for her age. When I first arrived she was having issues—wanted the voices in her head to stop."
"Oh, my. What happened?"
"Actually, Rainey, I'm not sure if she was trying to get attention, or really hearing something. I sat beside her until she calmed down. She seems to be in her own little world."
"I can relate to that. I grew up in my own world believing my mother didn't love me. How wrong I was."
"Zoe's mother is dead and it appears she's never recovered."
"That poor child; I'm glad you're there for her."
"Well, things have sure started with a bang. I better run. Mr. Spencer said he'd show me around the ranch."
"Okay, Fawn. Call if you need anything. Talk to you later."
Fawn entered the small bathroom in her bedroom and pulled a brush through her straight, shoulder-length hair, pulling it into a pony tail. She splashed water on her face, pinched her cheeks, and returned to the kitchen. Wade sat at a small drop leaf table positioned in the center of the room, sipping a cup of coffee.
"Hello Mr. Spen…Wade. How is Zoe?"
"She's sleeping now. This would be a good time to show you around. Would you like a cup of coffee? I think there's tea if you prefer."
"Coffee's fine."
Wade started to rise.
"No, please don't get up. I see the pot. I'll get it myself." Fawn lifted a cup from the cup-tree. She poured a cup of the blackest coffee she'd ever seen. "Do you have flavored creamer?" she asked.
"Ah…no. We've got real cream in the fridge. I'll get it for you."
"No, no. I'll get it." Fawn walked to the refrigerator next to the back door. The many cartons of creamer were easy to spot in the well-stocked jumble of items.
"Zoe likes cream on her cereal," Wade offered as explanation. "Sometimes that's all she'll eat so we go through a lot of it. Sugar's on the counter." He pointed back toward the coffee pot.
"Thanks, just cream is fine."
An uncomfortable silence settled.
"Well, why don't we take our coffees and I'll show you around the ranch?"
"I'd like that."
Excerpt:
Fawn sat on the side of her bed and perused her surroundings. Being tucked off the kitchen and secluded from the rest of the house suited her just fine. She smiled. Tonight, she'd slip out the kitchen door and shapeshift into—she pondered only a second—a feral horse. Feral herds roamed the area and the thought of running with them ran goose bumps up her arms.
Lying on her bed, she retrieved her cell phone and called her friend Rainey.
Rainey answered immediately, "Hey Fawn, you've got a special ring on my phone."
"Yeah, and what's that?"
"A dolphin's chatter, of course."
Fawn laughed. "So Roth told you how much I love the species, but I've never received an assignment…" Her voice trailed, and she finished, "…you know what I mean." Fawn and her friend always refrained from going into details about shapeshifting while communicating via phone or internet.
"Yeah, I know," Rainey agreed. "So, how's the new assignment? You're in a beautiful area. With Roth hovering like a mother hen and insisting I rest, I've been reading about the Four-Corners region of the U.S."
"Well, I agree with Roth, you're as big as a house with that baby. You need to take it easy."
"Jeez, thanks Fawn, being as big as a house is just what I wanted to hear." Rainey pretended to be offended, and then laughed.
"Our little prince is going to make his debut soon and his mother doesn't need to be exhausted from lab work." Fawn knew Rainey understood the deeper meaning to her reference to "prince". The entire prophesy of the Great Prince was known only to a few humans and shapelings.
"You're right, of course. So, tell me about your new digs."
"I have a room away from the rest of the house which makes it nice for night escapes."
"Oh, I'm glad to hear that. What about the family?"
"Not exactly what I expected. Mr. Spencer doesn't talk much. And I don't think I'm what he expected either. For a minute, I thought he was going to tell me to catch the next hopper back to Denver."
"Well, Fawn, you're not exactly the matronly looking type. Goodness, I used to be so jealous when I thought you and Roth were having an affair. You're flat-out gorgeous."
"Rainey, I am not gorgeous. I'm just a hardworking—" She refrained from saying the word shapeling. "—girl, doing her best to complete her latest—" She refrained from saying, mission. "—job."
"Whatever," Rainey chuckled. So tell me, what's Mr. Spencer like? Is he a handsome cowboy?"
"Rainey, you are incorrigible. He's a…rough cowboy. According to human standards of handsome, I'd say he's average. The co-Princes said he was in the car accident that killed his wife, so maybe that's where he got the scar running down his jaw alongside his ear. It actually doesn't detract from his looks. His eyes are a lovely shade of green, he's tall and lean—probably 6'2", and wears typical cowboy garb: Levis, chambray shirt, boots, big belt buckle. His hair is brown with blond sun streaks. He…
"Whoa girl, for someone who doesn't pay attention to looks, I'd say you're paying a lot of attention."
"Rainey, you asked me and I'm just telling you what you want to know."
"Okay, okay. Tell me about the child."
"She's seven, small for her age. When I first arrived she was having issues—wanted the voices in her head to stop."
"Oh, my. What happened?"
"Actually, Rainey, I'm not sure if she was trying to get attention, or really hearing something. I sat beside her until she calmed down. She seems to be in her own little world."
"I can relate to that. I grew up in my own world believing my mother didn't love me. How wrong I was."
"Zoe's mother is dead and it appears she's never recovered."
"That poor child; I'm glad you're there for her."
"Well, things have sure started with a bang. I better run. Mr. Spencer said he'd show me around the ranch."
"Okay, Fawn. Call if you need anything. Talk to you later."
Fawn entered the small bathroom in her bedroom and pulled a brush through her straight, shoulder-length hair, pulling it into a pony tail. She splashed water on her face, pinched her cheeks, and returned to the kitchen. Wade sat at a small drop leaf table positioned in the center of the room, sipping a cup of coffee.
"Hello Mr. Spen…Wade. How is Zoe?"
"She's sleeping now. This would be a good time to show you around. Would you like a cup of coffee? I think there's tea if you prefer."
"Coffee's fine."
Wade started to rise.
"No, please don't get up. I see the pot. I'll get it myself." Fawn lifted a cup from the cup-tree. She poured a cup of the blackest coffee she'd ever seen. "Do you have flavored creamer?" she asked.
"Ah…no. We've got real cream in the fridge. I'll get it for you."
"No, no. I'll get it." Fawn walked to the refrigerator next to the back door. The many cartons of creamer were easy to spot in the well-stocked jumble of items.
"Zoe likes cream on her cereal," Wade offered as explanation. "Sometimes that's all she'll eat so we go through a lot of it. Sugar's on the counter." He pointed back toward the coffee pot.
"Thanks, just cream is fine."
An uncomfortable silence settled.
"Well, why don't we take our coffees and I'll show you around the ranch?"
"I'd like that."
October 9, 2011
Sample Sunday: Davide: Shapeling Trilogy Book Three: Prince
I've written about thirty percent of the next book in the Shapeling Trilogy. This story continues with Davide as the focus. Here's a small snippet. I've had to keep it small because I don't want to give too much away.
Excerpt:
Wade lifted on his elbow and gazed at his beautiful wife. A shaft of moonlight caressed her face and he bent to kiss her cheek. She lifted her eyelids and turned her head until her mouth touched his. "I love you," she whispered.
Brushing his lips gently from her mouth to her ear, he responded, "And I love you more than life." Smoothing his hand through her coal black hair, he reveled in its silkiness. In that shaft of moonlight they lost themselves to a lovers' realm begun twenty-five years earlier.
Hours later, pink sunlight filtered through the curtains above their bed and Wade trailed the tip of his finger down Fawn's cheek. He felt a tear. "What is it, love? Something's bothering you. I've felt it for awhile, but I've been waiting until you're ready to talk. Does it have anything to do with a mission?"
Fawn sniffed and nodded. She turned her head to look into her husband's emerald eyes. "The mission was…was…Zoe's mission."
"Honey, that was years ago."
"I know. Wade, I'm worried about Zoe.
Excerpt:
Wade lifted on his elbow and gazed at his beautiful wife. A shaft of moonlight caressed her face and he bent to kiss her cheek. She lifted her eyelids and turned her head until her mouth touched his. "I love you," she whispered.
Brushing his lips gently from her mouth to her ear, he responded, "And I love you more than life." Smoothing his hand through her coal black hair, he reveled in its silkiness. In that shaft of moonlight they lost themselves to a lovers' realm begun twenty-five years earlier.
Hours later, pink sunlight filtered through the curtains above their bed and Wade trailed the tip of his finger down Fawn's cheek. He felt a tear. "What is it, love? Something's bothering you. I've felt it for awhile, but I've been waiting until you're ready to talk. Does it have anything to do with a mission?"
Fawn sniffed and nodded. She turned her head to look into her husband's emerald eyes. "The mission was…was…Zoe's mission."
"Honey, that was years ago."
"I know. Wade, I'm worried about Zoe.
Sample Sunday - Davide: Shapeling Trilogy Book Three: Prince
I've written about thirty percent of the next book in the Shapeling Trilogy. This story continues with Davide as the focus. Here's a small snippet. I've had to keep it small because I don't want to give too much away.
Excerpt:
Wade lifted on his elbow and gazed at his beautiful wife. A shaft of moonlight caressed her face and he bent to kiss her cheek. She lifted her eyelids and turned her head until her mouth touched his. "I love you," she whispered.
Brushing his lips gently from her mouth to her ear, he responded, "And I love you more than life." Smoothing his hand through her coal black hair, he reveled in its silkiness. In that shaft of moonlight they lost themselves to a lovers' realm begun twenty-five years earlier.
Hours later, pink sunlight filtered through the curtains above their bed and Wade trailed the tip of his finger down Fawn's cheek. He felt a tear. "What is it, love? Something's bothering you. I've felt it for awhile, but I've been waiting until you're ready to talk. Does it have anything to do with a mission?"
Fawn sniffed and nodded. She turned her head to look into her husband's emerald eyes. "The mission was…was…Zoe's mission."
"Honey, that was years ago."
"I know. Wade, I'm worried about Zoe.
Excerpt:
Wade lifted on his elbow and gazed at his beautiful wife. A shaft of moonlight caressed her face and he bent to kiss her cheek. She lifted her eyelids and turned her head until her mouth touched his. "I love you," she whispered.
Brushing his lips gently from her mouth to her ear, he responded, "And I love you more than life." Smoothing his hand through her coal black hair, he reveled in its silkiness. In that shaft of moonlight they lost themselves to a lovers' realm begun twenty-five years earlier.
Hours later, pink sunlight filtered through the curtains above their bed and Wade trailed the tip of his finger down Fawn's cheek. He felt a tear. "What is it, love? Something's bothering you. I've felt it for awhile, but I've been waiting until you're ready to talk. Does it have anything to do with a mission?"
Fawn sniffed and nodded. She turned her head to look into her husband's emerald eyes. "The mission was…was…Zoe's mission."
"Honey, that was years ago."
"I know. Wade, I'm worried about Zoe.
October 7, 2011
October is Starting out with a Bang!
I've been waiting on pins and needles to find out the winners in the Seventh Annual Literary Harvest Writing Contest sponsored by Central Oregon Writers Guild. When I received an email that said I was one of them, I did my happy dance (kind of a twist, hip hop, tango mix--really dorky). I'll be reading my entry, along with the other winners, at a Guild sponsored event on October 14. The info can be found in a link on my "About Me/Calendar" page.
The next great thing that happened: Hampton Reviews gave Fawn, Book Two in the Shapeling Trilogy, a 5-star review. The reviewer (Fallawolf) said some very nice things. Here's what she said about the ending of the story: Fawn is a fantastic story with a beautiful ending that brought tears to my eyes.
It made me want to cry knowing that someone else enjoyed the ending as much as I did. As for Book Three: Davide: Prince, I'm well into the writing and lovin' these characters. They've been whispering their story for weeks and I'm writing it as fast as I can.
Next month I go to the Book Fair in Central Point, Oregon to sell and sign books. This is a first for me.
The next great thing that happened: Hampton Reviews gave Fawn, Book Two in the Shapeling Trilogy, a 5-star review. The reviewer (Fallawolf) said some very nice things. Here's what she said about the ending of the story: Fawn is a fantastic story with a beautiful ending that brought tears to my eyes.
It made me want to cry knowing that someone else enjoyed the ending as much as I did. As for Book Three: Davide: Prince, I'm well into the writing and lovin' these characters. They've been whispering their story for weeks and I'm writing it as fast as I can.
Next month I go to the Book Fair in Central Point, Oregon to sell and sign books. This is a first for me.
September 25, 2011
Sample Sunday: Fawn: Shapeling Trilogy Book Two: Master
This sample is from Book Two in the Shapeling Trilogy and it's part of the sequel to Book One.
Excerpt:
After Fawn left, Roth touched his lips to Rainey's ear. "Let's go home, Soiuer."
She turned her head and met his azure gaze. "I love it when you call me that."
"The term is only for you."
"I know that now, but the first time you said it, I went crazy not knowing the meaning. And you weren't any help. Every time I asked for the translation you got mad."
"That's because I was calling you my lover when I had no intention of making it a reality. I was very frustrated." He bent and whispered in her ear again, "Soiuer, let's go home and make sure neither of us are frustrated."
Rainey giggled and playfully pushed at her husband's chest. With a twinkle in her eyes, she said coyly, "Only if you shift into your shapeling form."
Roth tilted his head back and laughed. "Anything for you, love." He captured her face in his palms and planted his mouth on hers. A little sound escaped her throat as she leaned into his passionate kiss. Pulling back, she glanced self-consciously past him and into the lab. Jim grinned and gave her a thumbs-up sign.
Late that night, Roth returned from soaring over the forests surrounding the Childress estate. He landed at the open French doors of their balcony and spoke the Prayer of Secrecy, shifting from a Bald Eagle into his human form. He approached his sleeping wife, gazing fondly at her round belly under the covers.
A moan from Rainey brought his attention back to her face. She grimaced and turned her head back and forth on her pillow. Roth knew she was having the dream again. The only thing marring their happiness was her recurring dreams about the hieroglyphs from the Sacred Cave in Egypt.
According to Tahnoon, leader of the Bedouin tribe who had led them to the cave, the ancient etchings contained the secrets of sound.
Roth heard Rainey moan again and sat on the side of the bed, stroking her forehead. "Soiuer, it's okay. It's only a dream." Roth waited for her to awaken and thought about the translation of the hieroglyphs.
Amun, Lord of silence, without mother, without father, being everything, creates nothing. Mut, Lady of Heaven, without mother, without father, balances everything with a feather. Khonsu, great snake, son of Amun and Mut, fertilizes the cosmic egg with disharmony to create.
He trailed his fingers across her cheek. At first she had scoffed at the poetic words having relevance to anything. However, upon their return to the United States, the dreams had begun. She said the dreams were always similar; she was in a black void consumed by thought forms. At first, the thoughts passed slowly through her mind, but then began speeding up until she waited for the inevitable explosion because there was no release for them.
Roth continued stroking her forehead and she relaxed and opened her eyes. He bent and softly kissed her lips. "It's only a dream. I'm here."
He looked at the strange expression on her face. "What is it?"
With a quick intake of breath, she said, "I understand the dreams, Roth. I know the secrets of sound."
Excerpt:
After Fawn left, Roth touched his lips to Rainey's ear. "Let's go home, Soiuer."
She turned her head and met his azure gaze. "I love it when you call me that."
"The term is only for you."
"I know that now, but the first time you said it, I went crazy not knowing the meaning. And you weren't any help. Every time I asked for the translation you got mad."
"That's because I was calling you my lover when I had no intention of making it a reality. I was very frustrated." He bent and whispered in her ear again, "Soiuer, let's go home and make sure neither of us are frustrated."
Rainey giggled and playfully pushed at her husband's chest. With a twinkle in her eyes, she said coyly, "Only if you shift into your shapeling form."
Roth tilted his head back and laughed. "Anything for you, love." He captured her face in his palms and planted his mouth on hers. A little sound escaped her throat as she leaned into his passionate kiss. Pulling back, she glanced self-consciously past him and into the lab. Jim grinned and gave her a thumbs-up sign.
Late that night, Roth returned from soaring over the forests surrounding the Childress estate. He landed at the open French doors of their balcony and spoke the Prayer of Secrecy, shifting from a Bald Eagle into his human form. He approached his sleeping wife, gazing fondly at her round belly under the covers.
A moan from Rainey brought his attention back to her face. She grimaced and turned her head back and forth on her pillow. Roth knew she was having the dream again. The only thing marring their happiness was her recurring dreams about the hieroglyphs from the Sacred Cave in Egypt.
According to Tahnoon, leader of the Bedouin tribe who had led them to the cave, the ancient etchings contained the secrets of sound.
Roth heard Rainey moan again and sat on the side of the bed, stroking her forehead. "Soiuer, it's okay. It's only a dream." Roth waited for her to awaken and thought about the translation of the hieroglyphs.
Amun, Lord of silence, without mother, without father, being everything, creates nothing. Mut, Lady of Heaven, without mother, without father, balances everything with a feather. Khonsu, great snake, son of Amun and Mut, fertilizes the cosmic egg with disharmony to create.
He trailed his fingers across her cheek. At first she had scoffed at the poetic words having relevance to anything. However, upon their return to the United States, the dreams had begun. She said the dreams were always similar; she was in a black void consumed by thought forms. At first, the thoughts passed slowly through her mind, but then began speeding up until she waited for the inevitable explosion because there was no release for them.
Roth continued stroking her forehead and she relaxed and opened her eyes. He bent and softly kissed her lips. "It's only a dream. I'm here."
He looked at the strange expression on her face. "What is it?"
With a quick intake of breath, she said, "I understand the dreams, Roth. I know the secrets of sound."
September 23, 2011
Thank You Readers!
I'm "tickled pink" that the Shapeling Books One (Roth) and Two (Fawn) are both showing up in the top 100 on Amazon in the category: Fiction/Fantasy/Series. I've been working diligently on Davide's story, the third book in the trilogy. DAVIDE is a dream and I'm madly in love with him; I hope you will be too! Of course, he'll be traveling to some exciting and exotic locations. Half the fun of writing a story is searching for that perfect spot. Here's a hint about one of the locations: it's a continent that starts with an "A". Mmm...could be Asia or Australia or Antarctica.
Anyway, after the trilogy is complete, I'm going to keep working on a sweet romance between a younger man and an older woman. It's called Dream Kisses and it's been a dream to write. I kinda work on it when the mood hits. I'm hoping to have it out by next spring.
Thank you Readers!
Anyway, after the trilogy is complete, I'm going to keep working on a sweet romance between a younger man and an older woman. It's called Dream Kisses and it's been a dream to write. I kinda work on it when the mood hits. I'm hoping to have it out by next spring.
Thank you Readers!
September 4, 2011
Shapeling Trilogy Book Two: Fawn (Six-Sentence Sunday) #9
Six-Sentence Sunday--Follow the fun! You can navigate to other six-sentence authors from the SSS website. Better yet, join the fun with your own six sentences!
This snippet is from my just released fantasy romance: Shapeling Trilogy Book Two: Fawn: Master
Planting the Stetson on his head, he tipped the brow with his index finger, and smiled. "I'll check in on you later." He left the kitchen.
Fawn wanted to melt. Never had her emotions been in such turmoil. Don't let me fall for a human, she begged her heart.
Thank you reading my snippet. It's much appreciated!
This snippet is from my just released fantasy romance: Shapeling Trilogy Book Two: Fawn: Master
Planting the Stetson on his head, he tipped the brow with his index finger, and smiled. "I'll check in on you later." He left the kitchen.
Fawn wanted to melt. Never had her emotions been in such turmoil. Don't let me fall for a human, she begged her heart.
Thank you reading my snippet. It's much appreciated!
September 3, 2011
My Habit: Addicted to Writing
So...I've got Shapeling Trilogy launched. And, as always happens, I've had to work out a few bugs the first days after publication. Now the bugs are taken care of and I'm happy with the ebook. I've got the paperback in process and great ideas for the third book swimming in my head, and ...I haven't cleaned my bathrooms in six weeks! So...instead of going directly to the bathrooms (I hate cleaning bathrooms), I scrubbed the kitchen (even cleaned the refrigerator), then grabbed the vacuum and hauled ass around the living room. Suddenly, my writing addiction made itself known. What's an addict to do? I fought the urge, but to no avail. Alas, here I sit writing this ridiculous blog.
Just to satisfy my habit, I guess I'll write some goals for the rest of this year and next. First, I'd like to finish the edits on a middle school novella I started about three years ago, entitled Restoring 'Tween Time. I'm so close. It just needs edits and a cover. Next, I want to begin the third book in the Shapeling Trilogy, which is Davide's story. The plot is intricate and the locations fantastic. It's going to take a lot of brain power, which I'm kinda low on right now with all the effort I've put into the first two books. I also have a gem of a story I started about four months ago entitled Dream Kisses. I just love this story about an older woman (45ish) and a younger guy (35ish). It's not fantasy; it's contemporary romance. There's a unique twist that I think readers will love. The story keeps calling and I keep ignoring the call.
In November, I'm participating at a book fair where I'll be selling paperbacks of Shapeling Trilogy books one and two. If Restoring 'Tween Time is ready, I'll also be selling it. The Oregon Book Fair's location is Padgham Pavilion at the Jackson County Expo Park in Central Point, which is near Medford, Oregon. I'll post more about this as the time approaches; very exciting for me!
In the midst of pursuing my goals and cleaning house occasionally, I'm editing a book for Sarah Schofield. It's a fabulous YA novel with an awesome cover. We're aiming to have the book published by the end of the year.
Well, having written the above, I feel better. I guess I can face the bathrooms now.
Just to satisfy my habit, I guess I'll write some goals for the rest of this year and next. First, I'd like to finish the edits on a middle school novella I started about three years ago, entitled Restoring 'Tween Time. I'm so close. It just needs edits and a cover. Next, I want to begin the third book in the Shapeling Trilogy, which is Davide's story. The plot is intricate and the locations fantastic. It's going to take a lot of brain power, which I'm kinda low on right now with all the effort I've put into the first two books. I also have a gem of a story I started about four months ago entitled Dream Kisses. I just love this story about an older woman (45ish) and a younger guy (35ish). It's not fantasy; it's contemporary romance. There's a unique twist that I think readers will love. The story keeps calling and I keep ignoring the call.
In November, I'm participating at a book fair where I'll be selling paperbacks of Shapeling Trilogy books one and two. If Restoring 'Tween Time is ready, I'll also be selling it. The Oregon Book Fair's location is Padgham Pavilion at the Jackson County Expo Park in Central Point, which is near Medford, Oregon. I'll post more about this as the time approaches; very exciting for me!
In the midst of pursuing my goals and cleaning house occasionally, I'm editing a book for Sarah Schofield. It's a fabulous YA novel with an awesome cover. We're aiming to have the book published by the end of the year.
Well, having written the above, I feel better. I guess I can face the bathrooms now.
