S.L. Pierce's Blog, page 7
June 23, 2011
Not Exactly Flash Fiction Part 1
I was going to post this on my blog this week but other promoting took precedence. So then I realized there is something called Flash Friday where you post flash fiction and I thought Great, I'll post it Friday. Then I discovered Flash Fiction is supposed to be less that 1000 words (though I never got a confirmation on that). So I am going to post half the story Friday and the other half Saturday. Then cheat and use the whole think for Sample Sunday. You can let me know in the comments if you like this way or would rather have the whole story all at once. I'm experimenting here so really let me know. Here is the first half of
Never Bring This Up Again:
I always knew someday I would kill somebody. I knew it like I knew I wouldn't like peas or broccoli before I ever tasted them. I'm not a bad person, just felt I had it in me. So, like a dumb ass, I let it slip to my buddy, Bob, one night when we were drunk. Well, maybe drunk isn't a strong enough word. We were wasted off our asses. At least I was. I didn't even remember telling him 'till he brought it up a few days later. We were just sitting in The Bar (The Bar not requiring a name since it was the only one in town). We were sitting at what may as well have been our table since we were here so frequently. And he just throws it out there. I'm talking about getting ready for football to start and he just blurts it out. "So, when you gonna kill somebody?" he asked."What? What the hell are you talking about?" "You told me you were sure someday you'd kill somebody.""When did I say that?""When we were drinking the other night."I laughed. "What night? We're here every night.""Saturday. Don't you remember?""As a matter of fact I don't remember. I do remember wishing I was dead for the first half of Sunday though.""Well, you said it." A few flashes of that night came back but I wanted to stop this now. "Whatever man," I said and went to get another round. But he wouldn't let it go. He bought it up at least once every time we were drinking. He just kept asking me when I was gonna do it. Finally, one night, I'd had enough. "Why can't you let this go? I was drunk. I don't even remember saying it."He glanced around the bar without moving his head. "Do you really think you could do it? Kill someone, I mean?""I don't know?" But I knew. "Why?""We've been friends a long time, right?""Right," I said, wondering where this was going."There's someone I want killed.""What?""There's this guy. He's sleeping with my wife. I want you to kill him.""Is this your idea of a joke?""I'm serious man."I took a long drink of my beer. Then I leaned close and looked him right in the eye. "You listen to me and you listen good. I am not a killer," I emphasized each word with a poke to his chest, "I know we've been friends a long time but enough is enough." I threw a twenty on the table and gave him my best tough guy look, "Never, ever bring this up again." The truth is, I was tempted. That's why I had to end this right now. Cold blooded murder just isn't the way I thought it would go. It had to be someone who deserved it. And no one could ever find out it was me. But he just wouldn't let it go. I guess my best tough guy was more John Denver than John Wayne. And it got worse. "Okay," he said one night, "it's not just some guy sleeping with my wife." "What's not?" I was distracted by the half naked woman playing pool at the far end of the bar. "The guy I want you to kill."I reluctantly looked at Bob. "Oh my God! I told you-"He leaned in, "I know what you told me," he whispered, "but this is serious." Again he looked around the bar, "I didn't want to give you the real reason cause I thought you wanted to do it, but since you won't I gotta tell you the truth.""Does this truth have anything to do with why you're acting like this?" "Acting like what?""Your leg is bouncing like it's on hot coals and every time someone walks in here you jump.""Huh?""Never mind," I leaned back and shrugged like I didn't care, "So, what's the truth?""They're plotting to kill me.""Who?""My wife and Tommy.""What makes you think that?""I don't know. I just feel it," he said."You're being ridiculous.""No man. They really are.""Then get a divorce," I said."That'll just speed them up. They want me gone and they want the insurance money.""Then cancel your insurance. Now quit asking me before I kill you instead." I returned to watching the pool game.He sat back resigned. For the night anyway. I have to admit my curiosity was piqued. I knew the guy he was talking about. Tommy Hinks, kind of a low life, new in town, and seriously lacking in personal hygiene. I couldn't picture Bob's wife sleeping with him. Sue was beautiful, in a small town kind of way. Blond, blue eyed, soft in all the right places, but a little naïve and self absorbed. In a big city she would be pretty, but in this small town well, let's just say, if she wanted to cheat, there was a line of men a lot better than Tommy that would jump at the chance. So no, I didn't believe Bob's story. But just to be sure, I followed Tommy for about a week. I figured people having an affair would meet at least once a week. Bob thought I was avoiding him. Following Tommy was pretty easy since worked the same hours as me. Plus, Tommy's not the brightest bulb on the tree. Bob was excited when I finally met him at the bar, but for the wrong reason. "So you've thought about it and-" he started.I held up my hands, cutting him off. "Let's just cut the bullshit, Okay. I followed your friend Tommy all week. He never got near your wife."
Return Tomorrow for the rest of the story.
Never Bring This Up Again:
I always knew someday I would kill somebody. I knew it like I knew I wouldn't like peas or broccoli before I ever tasted them. I'm not a bad person, just felt I had it in me. So, like a dumb ass, I let it slip to my buddy, Bob, one night when we were drunk. Well, maybe drunk isn't a strong enough word. We were wasted off our asses. At least I was. I didn't even remember telling him 'till he brought it up a few days later. We were just sitting in The Bar (The Bar not requiring a name since it was the only one in town). We were sitting at what may as well have been our table since we were here so frequently. And he just throws it out there. I'm talking about getting ready for football to start and he just blurts it out. "So, when you gonna kill somebody?" he asked."What? What the hell are you talking about?" "You told me you were sure someday you'd kill somebody.""When did I say that?""When we were drinking the other night."I laughed. "What night? We're here every night.""Saturday. Don't you remember?""As a matter of fact I don't remember. I do remember wishing I was dead for the first half of Sunday though.""Well, you said it." A few flashes of that night came back but I wanted to stop this now. "Whatever man," I said and went to get another round. But he wouldn't let it go. He bought it up at least once every time we were drinking. He just kept asking me when I was gonna do it. Finally, one night, I'd had enough. "Why can't you let this go? I was drunk. I don't even remember saying it."He glanced around the bar without moving his head. "Do you really think you could do it? Kill someone, I mean?""I don't know?" But I knew. "Why?""We've been friends a long time, right?""Right," I said, wondering where this was going."There's someone I want killed.""What?""There's this guy. He's sleeping with my wife. I want you to kill him.""Is this your idea of a joke?""I'm serious man."I took a long drink of my beer. Then I leaned close and looked him right in the eye. "You listen to me and you listen good. I am not a killer," I emphasized each word with a poke to his chest, "I know we've been friends a long time but enough is enough." I threw a twenty on the table and gave him my best tough guy look, "Never, ever bring this up again." The truth is, I was tempted. That's why I had to end this right now. Cold blooded murder just isn't the way I thought it would go. It had to be someone who deserved it. And no one could ever find out it was me. But he just wouldn't let it go. I guess my best tough guy was more John Denver than John Wayne. And it got worse. "Okay," he said one night, "it's not just some guy sleeping with my wife." "What's not?" I was distracted by the half naked woman playing pool at the far end of the bar. "The guy I want you to kill."I reluctantly looked at Bob. "Oh my God! I told you-"He leaned in, "I know what you told me," he whispered, "but this is serious." Again he looked around the bar, "I didn't want to give you the real reason cause I thought you wanted to do it, but since you won't I gotta tell you the truth.""Does this truth have anything to do with why you're acting like this?" "Acting like what?""Your leg is bouncing like it's on hot coals and every time someone walks in here you jump.""Huh?""Never mind," I leaned back and shrugged like I didn't care, "So, what's the truth?""They're plotting to kill me.""Who?""My wife and Tommy.""What makes you think that?""I don't know. I just feel it," he said."You're being ridiculous.""No man. They really are.""Then get a divorce," I said."That'll just speed them up. They want me gone and they want the insurance money.""Then cancel your insurance. Now quit asking me before I kill you instead." I returned to watching the pool game.He sat back resigned. For the night anyway. I have to admit my curiosity was piqued. I knew the guy he was talking about. Tommy Hinks, kind of a low life, new in town, and seriously lacking in personal hygiene. I couldn't picture Bob's wife sleeping with him. Sue was beautiful, in a small town kind of way. Blond, blue eyed, soft in all the right places, but a little naïve and self absorbed. In a big city she would be pretty, but in this small town well, let's just say, if she wanted to cheat, there was a line of men a lot better than Tommy that would jump at the chance. So no, I didn't believe Bob's story. But just to be sure, I followed Tommy for about a week. I figured people having an affair would meet at least once a week. Bob thought I was avoiding him. Following Tommy was pretty easy since worked the same hours as me. Plus, Tommy's not the brightest bulb on the tree. Bob was excited when I finally met him at the bar, but for the wrong reason. "So you've thought about it and-" he started.I held up my hands, cutting him off. "Let's just cut the bullshit, Okay. I followed your friend Tommy all week. He never got near your wife."
Return Tomorrow for the rest of the story.
I'm terrible at promoting!
How can a writer forget to promote an interview?! This was up yesterday and I knew it would be up and still I forgot to post. I think I was so excited that I had finally thought of something fun to blog about (see yesterdays post) it just sipped my mind. I apologize to BookHimDanno because I think this interview is really fun and the questions are unique. So please stop by and check it out.
And there is still a giveaway going on at this site. Click the giveaway link.
Book Him Danno!: Author interview with S.L. Pierce - Secrets: " Thanks for taking the time to talk with me about your book, Secrets. Which by the way I really enjoyed reading. 1. Where did you come..."
And there is still a giveaway going on at this site. Click the giveaway link.
Book Him Danno!: Author interview with S.L. Pierce - Secrets: " Thanks for taking the time to talk with me about your book, Secrets. Which by the way I really enjoyed reading. 1. Where did you come..."
June 21, 2011
Am I That Desperate for Twitter Followers?
I have been trying to increase my twitter followers and have been going through lots and lots of users. I try to choose readers and writers (since writers are also readers). But once in a while I get someone following me who is obviously just selling something. I mean we are all 'selling' something but these are the ones who are only selling. You know what I mean. I don't follow back but twice now I've given in. I mean one had over 25,000 followers and one had over 100,000 followers. And they are following me. How can I resist that? And it doesn't seen like they are dropping people. They follow almost as many as are following them. I mean, if they retweet me even once, that's a lot of publicity.
So what's your opinion on these twitterers. Am I desperate or smart? What do you do?
And can anyone explain how you are following 900 people, have a couple following you and have just 1 tweet?
So what's your opinion on these twitterers. Am I desperate or smart? What do you do?
And can anyone explain how you are following 900 people, have a couple following you and have just 1 tweet?
Book Him Danno!:Book Giveaway
Book Him Danno is doing a book giveaway of Secrets. Check out the site to enter.Book Him Danno!: Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Blog Hop June 21-24 - 2 ...: " For this Blog Hop I have a copy of Switched by Amanda Hocking and signed by her as well. I picked this copy up at a local book signing..."
June 20, 2011
Book Him Danno!: Book Review
This week there is a new review of Secrets followed by the beginning of a mid-summer blog hop and giveaway on the Book Him Danno Site and my interview on Wednesday. Keep checking for updates and please check out the review!
Book Him Danno!: Book Review - Secrets - S. L. Pierce: "Title: Secrets Author: S.L Pierce Review : Do you have a secret that no one knows, not even your spouse? Well the main charact..."
Book Him Danno!: Book Review - Secrets - S. L. Pierce: "Title: Secrets Author: S.L Pierce Review : Do you have a secret that no one knows, not even your spouse? Well the main charact..."
June 18, 2011
Sample Sunday June 19
The Warning
I had just settled into my office when I saw the new hire, Jon, working his way toward me. "Morning Gwen," he said, leaning on the doorjamb."What is it?" I asked."Can't I just be saying good morning?""No. What do you want?" The words were harsh but the tone was joking."You know I got my first case yesterday.""Yes Jon," I said as I booted up my computer."Well, I thought you might find it interesting.""Did you?" I smiled."Yeah, a robbery at a jewelry store. Cops haven't gotten anywhere so the store owner hired us. The police experts say the security tapes weren't tampered with. They're one hundred percent sure. But one minute the jewelry is there. Next minute it's gone."I work for a company that investigates crimes companies don't want to report. Things that wouldn't look good if they went public. Once in a while, though, we were asked to figure out how a crime was committed when the police couldn't. "Jon, if you need help just ask," I said.Jon blushed. "I'm just not sure what to do.""Alright. So the jewelry is there and then gone?""Yes.""Then the answer is right in front of you.""I don't..""Jon, do you believe in magic?""What?" he laughed. "No.""Then answer is right in front of you," I said. "Sorry, I can't help you anymore."He left, sulking a little, I think. The truth was I could have told him. But this was a test. A very important test for new hires. The point was to see who could think for themselves. It should have taken about two seconds to dismiss what the 'experts' said and investigate the tapes himself. Obviously they had been tampered with. But Jon wasn't doing that. He was trying to make what they said fit the crime. He couldn't question authority. It didn't look good for Jon's future at the company.
"Ms. Roberts is here," my boss Allen informed me at ten. "Be right there," I said.I had a feeling this meeting was not going to go well. Ms. Abigail Roberts had hired us to find out who was stealing from her storeroom. It was obvious she already knew or she would have called the police. But she didn't want her grandson going to jail, nor did she want her other employees to know he was stealing. She just wanted a little proof to make him stop. But I had followed him, gotten to know him in his hidden moments, and this was not going to work. He wouldn't scare because he knew she would never turn him in. He knew and I knew. Ms. Roberts didn't know though. I'm sure she thought she could be strong enough to turn him in, but when it came right down to it, the picture of him behind bars would be too much and she'd cave. They were all waiting in the conference room. Allen, Ms. Roberts, and her grandson Patrick, who looked bored."Good morning Ms. Roberts," I said, ignoring Patrick."Good morning Gwen," she smiled warmly. "How are you today?""I'm well Ms. Roberts. How are you?" I asked. Typically, I like to skip the pleasantries, but not with Ms. Roberts. There was something about her that just didn't allow it. And, though I hated to admit it, she made me feel happy. Which made this all the harder."Let's get right to it."I sat down and pressed play on the remote control. The screen at the front of the room lit up. For three minutes we all sat in silence as images of Patrick stealing from his grandmother's store and her house filled the screen. There were also a few of him deliberately dinging her car as he walked by.Ms. Roberts looked quite shaken but quickly composed herself. She was prepared for the store thefts, but not her house. And damaging her car must have felt like an especially personal attack. "Patrick, how could you?"Patrick looked at me, then at his grandmother. "How could I? How could you Gram? How could you hire them to spy on me?"Outraged. What a surprise."Patrick, it was for your own good.""My own good! How is this for my own good? You made me do this. You won't give me the money for my business. It's just fifty thousand dollars. It's nothing to you.""I told you. You're not ready to run a business. You need to finish college, get some experience...""You just don't believe in me. You think I'm stupid and worthless. I can't believe you would do this to me.""Patrick, I'm trying to help...""Fine then," he said getting up from his chair so quick it fell over. "Call the police. Turn in your own grandson. See what your friends think then." He gave me a look of pure hatred and ran out of the room."Poor Patrick," Ms. Roberts said. "He's had it so hard. You know his father passed when he was just fourteen. I should have known this was the wrong approach." She stood and gathered her things. "Thank you Ms. Michaels, for your time, but I want you to destroy that tape and any copies. I won't be needing them.""Yes Ma'am," I answered. Once she left Allen looked at me. "That's it? Yes Ma'am? That's not like you Gwen.""I know, but anything else would be a waste of time. She'll never turn him in and he won't change.""But maybe you could have convinced her some time in jail would help him.""Sometimes you just have to let things go."He raised his eyebrows, surprised at this attitude from me. "Are you feeling alright?"I laughed. "I'm fine. Trust me. There's nothing else we can do.""If you say so," he said as we both left the conference room.At five o'clock exactly, I shut down my computer and locked up my office. I said goodbye to some coworkers, ignoring their smiles. I always left at five, on the dot. Always. And I know they wondered why. The truth was, I was good at my job and enjoyed it, but it wasn't my life, not anymore. It's dangerous to be all consumed with work. I know.Jack, my husband, and I had some Chinese take out and watched Star Trek on Netflix Watch Now. We went to bed at ten and Jack was asleep by ten fifteen.Lucky for me he's the world's heaviest sleeper...
Want to read the rest of this story? It's free on Smashwords and on my website.
I had just settled into my office when I saw the new hire, Jon, working his way toward me. "Morning Gwen," he said, leaning on the doorjamb."What is it?" I asked."Can't I just be saying good morning?""No. What do you want?" The words were harsh but the tone was joking."You know I got my first case yesterday.""Yes Jon," I said as I booted up my computer."Well, I thought you might find it interesting.""Did you?" I smiled."Yeah, a robbery at a jewelry store. Cops haven't gotten anywhere so the store owner hired us. The police experts say the security tapes weren't tampered with. They're one hundred percent sure. But one minute the jewelry is there. Next minute it's gone."I work for a company that investigates crimes companies don't want to report. Things that wouldn't look good if they went public. Once in a while, though, we were asked to figure out how a crime was committed when the police couldn't. "Jon, if you need help just ask," I said.Jon blushed. "I'm just not sure what to do.""Alright. So the jewelry is there and then gone?""Yes.""Then the answer is right in front of you.""I don't..""Jon, do you believe in magic?""What?" he laughed. "No.""Then answer is right in front of you," I said. "Sorry, I can't help you anymore."He left, sulking a little, I think. The truth was I could have told him. But this was a test. A very important test for new hires. The point was to see who could think for themselves. It should have taken about two seconds to dismiss what the 'experts' said and investigate the tapes himself. Obviously they had been tampered with. But Jon wasn't doing that. He was trying to make what they said fit the crime. He couldn't question authority. It didn't look good for Jon's future at the company.
"Ms. Roberts is here," my boss Allen informed me at ten. "Be right there," I said.I had a feeling this meeting was not going to go well. Ms. Abigail Roberts had hired us to find out who was stealing from her storeroom. It was obvious she already knew or she would have called the police. But she didn't want her grandson going to jail, nor did she want her other employees to know he was stealing. She just wanted a little proof to make him stop. But I had followed him, gotten to know him in his hidden moments, and this was not going to work. He wouldn't scare because he knew she would never turn him in. He knew and I knew. Ms. Roberts didn't know though. I'm sure she thought she could be strong enough to turn him in, but when it came right down to it, the picture of him behind bars would be too much and she'd cave. They were all waiting in the conference room. Allen, Ms. Roberts, and her grandson Patrick, who looked bored."Good morning Ms. Roberts," I said, ignoring Patrick."Good morning Gwen," she smiled warmly. "How are you today?""I'm well Ms. Roberts. How are you?" I asked. Typically, I like to skip the pleasantries, but not with Ms. Roberts. There was something about her that just didn't allow it. And, though I hated to admit it, she made me feel happy. Which made this all the harder."Let's get right to it."I sat down and pressed play on the remote control. The screen at the front of the room lit up. For three minutes we all sat in silence as images of Patrick stealing from his grandmother's store and her house filled the screen. There were also a few of him deliberately dinging her car as he walked by.Ms. Roberts looked quite shaken but quickly composed herself. She was prepared for the store thefts, but not her house. And damaging her car must have felt like an especially personal attack. "Patrick, how could you?"Patrick looked at me, then at his grandmother. "How could I? How could you Gram? How could you hire them to spy on me?"Outraged. What a surprise."Patrick, it was for your own good.""My own good! How is this for my own good? You made me do this. You won't give me the money for my business. It's just fifty thousand dollars. It's nothing to you.""I told you. You're not ready to run a business. You need to finish college, get some experience...""You just don't believe in me. You think I'm stupid and worthless. I can't believe you would do this to me.""Patrick, I'm trying to help...""Fine then," he said getting up from his chair so quick it fell over. "Call the police. Turn in your own grandson. See what your friends think then." He gave me a look of pure hatred and ran out of the room."Poor Patrick," Ms. Roberts said. "He's had it so hard. You know his father passed when he was just fourteen. I should have known this was the wrong approach." She stood and gathered her things. "Thank you Ms. Michaels, for your time, but I want you to destroy that tape and any copies. I won't be needing them.""Yes Ma'am," I answered. Once she left Allen looked at me. "That's it? Yes Ma'am? That's not like you Gwen.""I know, but anything else would be a waste of time. She'll never turn him in and he won't change.""But maybe you could have convinced her some time in jail would help him.""Sometimes you just have to let things go."He raised his eyebrows, surprised at this attitude from me. "Are you feeling alright?"I laughed. "I'm fine. Trust me. There's nothing else we can do.""If you say so," he said as we both left the conference room.At five o'clock exactly, I shut down my computer and locked up my office. I said goodbye to some coworkers, ignoring their smiles. I always left at five, on the dot. Always. And I know they wondered why. The truth was, I was good at my job and enjoyed it, but it wasn't my life, not anymore. It's dangerous to be all consumed with work. I know.Jack, my husband, and I had some Chinese take out and watched Star Trek on Netflix Watch Now. We went to bed at ten and Jack was asleep by ten fifteen.Lucky for me he's the world's heaviest sleeper...
Want to read the rest of this story? It's free on Smashwords and on my website.
June 17, 2011
Last Day of Book Tour
My last two book tour stops:
Review by Tessa Dick Presents: It's a Philip K. Dick World
Guest Post on Thoughts in Progress regarding Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher
Thanks for going on my Tour this week!
Review by Tessa Dick Presents: It's a Philip K. Dick World
Guest Post on Thoughts in Progress regarding Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher
Thanks for going on my Tour this week!
June 16, 2011
Rejected Book Covers
First, the new tour stop today is Lauriehere. Please stop by and leave a comment. One commentor will win a copy of Secrets.
Next, my own tour post:
I think I have posted about the importance of a book cover before (as have many). So I thought I would post a couple of the other possible covers I was considering for Secrets. You will see they are almost identical to what I did end up using. What I can't show you are the sixty photos I took just to get this one that worked for me. Yes, sixty photos. I went close up, far away, different angles, different lighting, a larger circuit board, no flashlight, etc. I am so glad for my next book (The Devil's Game coming this month) I have a cowriter who is also an awesome artist and photographer, who did our cover!
So are a couple of covers I didn't use:
Next, my own tour post:
I think I have posted about the importance of a book cover before (as have many). So I thought I would post a couple of the other possible covers I was considering for Secrets. You will see they are almost identical to what I did end up using. What I can't show you are the sixty photos I took just to get this one that worked for me. Yes, sixty photos. I went close up, far away, different angles, different lighting, a larger circuit board, no flashlight, etc. I am so glad for my next book (The Devil's Game coming this month) I have a cowriter who is also an awesome artist and photographer, who did our cover!
So are a couple of covers I didn't use:
June 15, 2011
More Tour Stops and Giveaway
More Reviews for Secrets. Again, leave a comment and you could win a copy of Secrets.
NUTURE Book Tour Post with Sneak Peak of The Devil's Game.
Lisa's World of Books: Blog Tour: Secrets by S.L. Pierce: "Synopsis: If you like strong women with a slice of attitude and a side order of kick a$$... Try Secrets...we all have them A woman with a ..."
NUTURE Book Tour Post with Sneak Peak of The Devil's Game.
Lisa's World of Books: Blog Tour: Secrets by S.L. Pierce: "Synopsis: If you like strong women with a slice of attitude and a side order of kick a$$... Try Secrets...we all have them A woman with a ..."
