Verna Clay's Blog, page 6

Update and excerpt of Book Two in Shapeling Trilogy: Fawn: Master (Sample Sunday)

The book cover for Shapeling Trilogy Book Two is almost complete. Elaina Lee has done it again...another fabulous design. I love the way she creates a cover that tells a story. When I look at the pictures, I'm immersed in Fawn and Wade's story. I can't wait for the unveiling.

The paperback ended up being 177 pages. I had hoped for at least 200, but the stories write themselves and when they're done; they're done. I'm aiming to have the ebook posted on Amazon the first week of September and the paperback shortly thereafter. This release date is a month earlier than previously anticipated. My fingers are numbs from typing so much!

I've been pleased with the sales of Book One, Roth's story. I hope Book Two, Fawn's story, is as well received.

Dreamcatcher Here's an excerpt of Wade taking Fawn on a tour of Dream Catcher Ranch:

Wade opened the kitchen door and waited for Fawn to exit. Her glossy black hair in its pony tail bounced back and forth. He wanted to reach and circle his fingers around it to see if it felt as silky as it looked.

Sam bounded around the side of the house and ran straight to Fawn. She knelt and scratched him behind his ears. He barked his 'happy bark'. Wade shook his head at the dog's antics.

Fawn looked up and said, "Your land is beautiful, Wade. How many acres do you own?"

"Around two thousand, give or take. The house faces north, so we're looking south toward New Mexico; southwest is Arizona, and west is Utah. The Four Corners area is where the states of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah meet. We're about forty miles from there."

"It's where the Anasazi lived, correct?"

"Yes, their ancient dwellings are scattered throughout the area. I've even found some in a canyon on my own property." The minute Wade said the words; he'd wanted to take them back. If the information got leaked, he'd have archeologists and government people swarming his land. He cleared his throat and said, "Uh, Hidden Canyon is not public information and I'd like to keep it that way."

"No problem, I won't tell anyone."

"Thanks. Come on, I'll show you the stables and living quarters for the ranch hands." He walked the length of his two-story ranch house and into the blaze of a late afternoon sun setting the gradually rising western hills aglow with myriad shades of pinks and reds. His great-grandfather and grandfather had cleared the surrounding land with its outbuildings, corrals, and pastures with their own hands. He led Fawn to the stable, with Sam at her heels. He turned to Sam and ordered, "Go guard the house." Sam looked innocently at him and whined. Wade couldn't believe it. The dog never disobeyed him.

Fawn knelt before Sam again, and said, "You know you're supposed to follow Wade's orders. We'll spend time together later."

Wade's mouth dropped when Sam turned, with his tail between his legs, and slowly walked back to the house.

Leading Fawn inside the coolness of the stable, he walked to Misty Morning's stall.

Rubbing the mare's head, he said, "Hello, girl." When Fawn patted Misty's shoulder, he introduced his horse. "This is Misty Morning; I rescued her from ending up at the glue factory. She'd been mistreated and looked nothing like she does now. She's the best horse I've ever owned. I call her Misty Morning because I was driving past an old farm house at dawn and almost didn't see her because of the mist. I made some inquiries about the owner of the farm and got some bad vibes, so I went back and purchased her from the old tyrant."

"Hello, Misty Morning. I'm happy to meet you." The horse whinnied and turned her head toward Fawn.

"Looks like she's takin' a liking to you. She's usually skittish around newcomers."

"I have a way with animals."

Obviously, thought Wade as he watched Fawn lean her forehead against Misty's snout. He'd never seen his horse or his dog bond so quickly with a stranger.

Wade motioned past the stall. "We'll leave the stable through the back entrance. The kitchen building and living quarters are just past it."

Fawn gave Misty one last pat and followed him. He said, "The guys are out repairing fences, looking for strays, that kind of stuff."

Fawn chuckled, "Doing 'cowboy' stuff?"

Wade smiled. "Yeah, 'cowboy' stuff. They'll be returning in an hour for supper." He opened the door to the cafeteria style room. As if to underscore his words about supper, they heard a loud clang, and what sounded like French cursing coming from the kitchen.

Wade sighed. "Prepare yourself to meet Pierre. For the last ten years he's done nothing but complain about having to prepare 'American slop'. Every now and again, he sneaks in some fancy French dish which the guys razz him about. Pierre claims all cow hands have no 'palette discernment'. The fancy dish usually ends up being fed to the hogs." He laughed. "The hogs love Pierre."

Leading Fawn down the length of the room and past two rectangular dining tables pushed end-to-end with benches for seating, he held open a swinging door. "Hey, Pierre, watch your language, we've got company."

"Que? What? Company?"

Fawn entered the kitchen. Looking over her head, Wade saw Pierre quickly adjust his chef's hat that had fallen cockeyed across his forehead. The stubborn little man refused to cook without that damn hat, even though he was cooking for cowboys.

"Pierre Dubois, I'd like you to meet Fawn Woods. She'll be taking care of Zoe and the household."

Pierre started to roll his eyes, but caught himself. "Mademoiselle Woods, or is that Madame?" he asked with a slight bow.

"Monsieur Dubois, je suis Mademoiselle Woods."

"Parlez-vois Francais?"

"Oui. Je suis heureux de vous rencontrer."

Pierre's eyes rounded and his middle-aged but smooth baby features lit with a big grin. "Ah, finally, we are blessed with culture in this cowboys' den. I am happy to meet you, too."

"What's for dinner, Pierre?" Wade asked.

Pierre gave him a sour look and said, "Beans, beans, and beans, of course, but with the most heavenly cornbread in the State of Colorado. And, of course, the boring American apple pie for dessert."

"Good, I don't think the guys are ready for more Escargot," Wade laughed.

Shapeling Trilogy Book Two: Fawn (Six-Sentence Sunday) #8

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!

Set up:  This snippet is from Book Two in the Shapeling Trilogy. Fawn is a shapeling female and she's just had a serious accident while in the form of a feral horse.Tentative release date is October 1, 2011.

Her back hoof hit a mud pocket and she went down, throwing Wade sideways off her back. Shooting pain raced up her hind leg and she squealed. Wade jumped to his feet, sluicing mud from his body. He bent over her, "My God, No! No! Please God, let her be okay."

Thank you reading my snippet. It's much appreciated! The entire scene can be read here.

Shapeling Trilogy Book Two: Fawn (Release date October, 2011) (Sample Sunday #8)

Excerpt set up: Fawn is a shifter. Unknown to Wade, she is the mysterious feral white mare.

Whenever Fawn located Wade in a secluded section of the ranch, she'd shift into the white mare. At first, he'd cautiously approached the mare. However, after realizing she wasn't afraid of him, he'd whoop and pull off his cowboy hat whenever he saw her. Galloping toward her on Misty, he'd slide off his mount and straddle her bareback. Together they'd soar across his land. He'd even given her a name, Sweetheart.

Back at the ranch, she'd sometimes hear the cowboys razzing him about the ghost horse he always claimed to be riding. She'd never shown herself to anyone but Wade.

On one of their rides during late fall, a sudden gathering of clouds bumped each other and lightening zigzagged. The pasture darkened and rain poured like buckets. Wade, leaning low and grasping her mane, yelled for her to slow, but the feel of him on her back and the pelting rain excited her so much that she threw caution to the wind. He yelled again.

Her back hoof hit a mud pocket and she went down, throwing Wade sideways onto the ground. Shooting pain raced up her hind leg and she squealed. Wade jumped to his feet, sluicing mud from his body. He bent over her, "My God, No! No! Please God, let her be okay."

Fawn dug her hooves into the rain soaked earth and pushed herself up. Wade rubbed her neck and tried to sooth her. He zeroed in on her limping leg, and rasped, "Please don't let it be broken." His expert hands felt the leg and he whooshed with relief. I don't think it's broken, Sweetheart." He reached for the walkie-talkie clipped to his belt and lightening split the sky asunder. Shaking the device, he punched the buttons again. "Shit!"

Fawn needed to find a place to shift and she started to move away.

"No! Sweetheart, don't try to walk on that leg. I've got to get a vet for you."

Rain pelted them. Fawn heard a sound and looked toward it. Wade followed the direction of her head. Misty stood in the distance under the covering of an overhanging ledge. Wade called to her, but the rain suddenly started another downpour and lightening flashed again, followed by a deafening boom. Misty remained under her shelter.

Wade spat the words, "Damn! I've got my cell phone in the saddle bag. Maybe the service is working." His Stetson had flown off when he'd been thrown and he now reached to wipe rivulets of water from his eyes. He turned back to her, soothing her with words and touches. He said something that made her heart pound. "Sweetheart, we seem to have some sort of spiritual connection that I don't understand." He continued rubbing her. "Don't leave. I've got see if my cell phone is working and get a vet out here. He patted her neck and bent to bury his face in her mane. "I love you, Sweetheart." He turned and ran toward Misty.

With his back turned, Fawn knew what she had to do. She had to get back to the ranch before Mrs. Porter brought Zoe home. Fawn prayed, shifted into a sparrow and flew skyward against the downpour. Wade turned back around.

"Holy shit! Sweetheart, where'd you go?"

Time for an Update

I haven't posted anything for awhile because I've been so busy writing Book Two: Fawn, in the Shapeling Trilogy. My goal has been to publish Book Two within four months of the release of Book One: Roth. As you can see on the sidebar of my home page, I found a nifty little word meter that tracks my progress. I'm getting close to completing Fawn's story, and the twists and unexpected turns surprised even me. Of course, I couldn't leave Roth and Rainey only in Book One, so they make an appearance in Book Two. I'm aiming for a release date of October 1st. As for Book One, I must say, I've been extremely pleased with the sales. Since it's release on July 4, 2011, there have only been two days without sales.

After the release of Book Two, I told my husband I'm going to take some time off, maybe a month, from writing. Storytelling is very addicting and can consume all my free time. We'll see if I stick to my plan, because I've got a great idea for another book. In fact, I'd already written about thirty pages when I set it aside to finish Book Two of the Shapeling series. The new story swirling around in my mind is a contemporary romance without fantasy. I want it to be funny and emotional and heart shattering; but, of course, with a happy ending. I made a promise to myself that I would only write what I enjoy, whether it sells books or not, and I enjoy romance, adventure, mystery, fantasy, and happy endings.

Shapeling Trilogy Book Two: Fawn (coming soon): (Sample Sunday #7)

Set up: Fawn has just arrived at Dream Catcher Ranch to a strange reception.

The moment they stepped onto the wide porch of the two-storied ranch house, Eileen Porter, Wade's closest neighbor from three miles down the road, scurried through the door looking flustered. "She just started that yellin' when you drove up." Eileen looked beyond Wade to the new nanny, and her eyebrows almost hit her hairline.

Wade said, "Thank's Eileen. I appreciate you watching Zoe while I picked up Ms. Woods." He sighed, and thought, Looks like Zoe's gonna send Ms. Woods packin' sooner'n later.

"I'll call you this evening Wade and check on Zoe." Mrs. Porter gave another curious glance at Fawn before extending her hand and saying, "Pleased to meet ya."

Wade tipped his Stetson. "Excuse me, ladies. I'll leave you to get acquainted." He entered the house and heard Fawn say, "I'm Fawn Woods and I'm pleased to meet you, too, Mrs. Porter, but I should probably go with Wade to help with Zoe."

Halfway up the stairs Wade heard the screen door open and close.

Wade entered Zoe's bedroom to find her sitting in the middle of her pink princess bedspread shrieking like a banshee. She had her hands over her ears, shouting, "Make them stop talking to me. Make the voices stop."

He sat beside her and placed his arm around her thin shoulders. "Honey, it's okay. It's Daddy." She continued shrieking. "Make them stop! Make them stop!"

He glanced up to see Fawn standing in the doorway looking concerned. He shook his head, and said, "It may take some time for her to calm down."

Suddenly, Ms. Woods said sharply, "Zoe, I'm going to make the voices stop!"

Zoe paused in her shrieking.

Fawn said with quiet authority, "Voices, I command you to stop, NOW!"

Zoe studied Fawn and then said, "Okay, they stopped. Are you my new nanny? You're really pretty and so are your colors. I bet my daddy thinks you're pretty, too."

Wade's mouth went slack, but not because of the "pretty" comment. He'd never seen Zoe stop yelling so abruptly. He looked back at Fawn and narrowed his eyes.

Zoe jumped up, seemingly dismissing the two of them, and walked to her book shelves. Pulling out a book and sitting cross-legged on the floor, she started reading as if he and Fawn weren't in the room.

Shapeling Trilogy Book Two: Fawn (Six-Sentence Sunday #7)

Six-Sentence Sunday--Follow the fun! You can navigate to other six-sentence authors from the SSS website.  Better yet, follow and join the fun with your own six sentences!

Set up:  This snippet is from a WIP. In Book One of Shapeling Trilogy, I introduced Fawn Woods. In Book Two, she gets to tell her story. The Thirteen co-Princes have sent her on a mission to Cortez, Colorado to become caretaker to Zoe, a troubled seven year old girl, and housekeeper at Dream Catcher Ranch. Wade Spencer, the child's father and ranch owner, had expected the employment agency to send a matronly type, not a raven-haired beauty who looks like she should be on the cover of a romance novel. In this scene, he's just met her at the airport.

Wade led her to his decades old, rusty Ford pickup, and set her suitcases in the back. Sam, his ancient hound, sat stoically in the bed of the truck among a bale of hay, ropes of varying lengths, a tool chest, and several empty coke cans. When she reached to pet Sam, Wade warned, "Careful; he don't take well to strangers."

As if to make him a liar, Sam sidled over to the woman's hand and licked it like she was his best friend.

"Now, aren't you a sweetheart," she cooed, while Sam shivered and wagged his tail uncontrollably.

The dog actually cried when she turned to enter the cab.

Thank you reading my snippet. Here's a "Big Hug" of appreciation!

Shapeling Trilogy Book Two: Fawn (Six-Sentence Sunday #6)

Six-Sentence Sunday--Follow the fun! You can navigate to other six-sentence authors from the SSS website.  Better yet, follow and join the fun with your own six sentences!

Set up:  This snippet is taken from my WIP. It's book two in the Shapeling Trilogy that tells Fawn's story. Fawn is a character introduced in Book One. With a name like Fawn Woods, how could I not tell her story. In this scene, Wade Spencer is transporting his new housekeeper and caretaker for his child to his ranch. He had expected the agency to send a matronly type. Fawn looks anything but matronly.

Wade spit out the words, "I thought you probably wouldn't have the stamina to care for Zoe and run a household. You're kinda…small." He felt his face turn pink. He'd wanted to say, You're gorgeous, so what the hell are you doing in a cow town instead of posing before a Hollywood camera?

She replied, "So size matters?"

Wade almost drove the truck off the road. He jerked the wheel back and glanced in the rear view mirror at a rising dust cloud. He sneaked a glance at the woman; was she being facetious?

Thank you reading my snippet. "Big Hug" of appreciation!

Shapeling Trilogy Book One: Roth (Sample Sunday #6)

Set up: Roth Beowolf is transporting Rainey Childress to Egypt for her protection. She's not happy about it!

Roth moved his gaze from staring at emptiness outside the porthole of the jet, to Rainey seated across from him. She'd tilted her seat back and her head lolled to one side. Her deep breathing evidenced her exhaustion. He studied her face. In sleep, she looked young, innocent, and vulnerable; unlike the hellcat that had fought him earlier. He sighed and looked back out the porthole. The black night called to his animal instincts. To distract the desire of his body to shapeshift, he thought about their destination in Egypt.

Located two hundred miles southwest of Cairo, the town of Bawiti in the oasis of Bahariya made him quirk a smile. He remembered a previous assignment as a camel with a Bedouin tribe. He had been sent to make sure a young man named Tahnoon Kahlifa arrived for his nuptials. The Thirteen co-Princes believed the marriage of Tahnoon to a girl he had been espoused to since childhood, would prove favorable to the human condition. However, the young man didn't want to marry, and when he'd attempted to turn his camel around, Roth had steadfastly stayed on the path. The tenacity of the camel had unnerved the young bridegroom so much so that he'd decided his marriage was the will of Allah. Later, Roth had learned from the co-Princes that the marriage had turned out well.

He glanced at Rainey again, and then allowed himself to drift into sleep. A bank in the plane's direction roused him. He opened his eyes to a lovely pink glow rising in the eastern sky—and Rainey shooting arrows at him with her eyes.

"Good morning to you, too, Sunshine."

She looked away and stood. When she started to step into the aisle, he moved his leg to block her exit. She looked back at him and said acidly, "Do you think I'm going to commandeer the plane? I'm going to the bathroom."

He moved his leg back. "I just wanted to hear your sweet voice," he chuckled.

Rainey jerked past him and stalked down the aisle.

The pilot spoke over the speaker. "We'll begin our descent in fifteen minutes."
This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.

Shapeling Trilogy Book One (Six-Sentence Sunday #5)

Six-Sentence Sunday--Follow the fun! You can navigate to other six-sentence authors from the SSS website.  Better yet, follow and join the fun with your own six sentences!

This week's snippet is a continuation of the Shapeling Trilogy: Roth: Book One: Protector, released on July 4, 2011. Roth and Rainey always seem to be at odds...well, almost always.

Her fingers roamed through his shoulder length hair.

He wanted more and drew his mouth from her's, moving to her neck, and lower. She sighed and echoed his desire, "More."

Roth stopped his exploration and jerked upright. He cursed a shapeling profanity, "Miyu wiod hereio!" Turning on his heel, he stormed back to the house.

Thank you reading my snippet. "Big Hug" of appreciation!

Shapeling Trilogy Book One: Roth (Sample Sunday #5)

Excerpt:

Roth could feel Rainey's head lolling against his back. Her hands had gone slack and he held both of them in one of his against his stomach to keep her upright on the camel. He'd actually felt bad about springing their caravan travel on her. However, she'd left him no other option. If he'd told her beforehand, he would have had a spitfire on his hands. Roth smiled. For all her primness in dress, she was definitely a fiery woman. When his thoughts turned to the implications of that, he quickly suppressed them. He would not allow free reign to his imagination with her tightly tucked against his body.

They had been traveling for about two hours. Although hot, it was not dangerously so because of the spring season. Tahnoon halted his camel and their caravan began dismounting. When Roth's camel bowed to the ground, the movement jarred Rainey awake.

"Wh-what's happening?" She clutched his waist again.

"We're stopping to drink and rest." He dismounted and reached to lift her. She didn't fight him.

"Ouch," she said.

He held her arms to steady her. She glared at him and jerked away. Her action sent her unstable body pitching backward. He caught her by the waist before she landed on her rear in the hot sand. The veil covering her face slipped and one eye peeked through.

Reaching for the burqa, she jerked it off and said, "It's hot as a frying pan out here!" She pushed his hands away from her waist and reached to lift the dress over her head.

"Don't," Roth warned, and grabbed her hands to stop her. "The dress is protection. And even though you're wearing street clothes underneath, it would be vulgar to remove it in the midst of these men. I'll give you some water to drink and bathe your face. Then put the burqa back on."