Mary Newman's Blog, page 2
August 14, 2016
Snippit!
I’ve been working on the second book in the After the Coming series, and thought I’d share a snippit. Mick (who was a runaway in the first book, In the Beginning) is one of the main characters and is meeting Joey and Flint for the first time:
When I opened my eyes again, I was lying on something soft and there was a wet cloth on my forehead. Cool hands were kind of petting and stroking my head and face. I turned my head to find a little guy that looked close to my age sitting beside me on a bed. He was cute, I noticed. Really cute. With coal black hair, bright blue eyes, and a sweet smile.
“Welcome back,” he said. “You look pretty rough, Sweetie. What’s your name?”
“Matt, I mean, Mickey.”
“Which is it, Honey? I’m not gonna hurt you and neither will my master. You can give me your real name.”
“Preacher Jonah called me Matthew after they shot my dad and told me I couldn’t ever say my real name again.”
“So, Mickey it is. My name’s Joey. You’re in my master’s bunker. Want to tell me why you were running?”
“Gonna kill me,” I muttered and closed my eyes. “Joshua was mad ‘cause I wouldn’t shoot and then someone stole the Jeep and I knew he was gonna kill me when him and Preacher Jonah got back.”
“Hmm… Hang on, Mickey. I think my master needs to hear this story so you don’t have to tell it twice. Think you can get up, now?”
I tested my legs, which seemed to be working and sat up. I nodded and stood. Joey stood up and he was a lot smaller than me. I felt huge next to him.
“You’re younger than me,” I blurted. “How come you’re in Hell? What bad stuff did you do?”
Joey laughed so hard he had to sit back on the bed. I just stared at him, wondering if everyone went crazy in Hell. He finally stopped and wiped the tears from his eyes.
“Oh, you are a sweetheart, aren’t you? I’m 25, Mickey, and this isn’t Hell, although I’m sure I’ve done plenty of bad stuff to rate a spot in the real one. For me, at least, this place is a little slice of heaven. Come on, Honey, let’s go back to the office and you can tell Flint your story.”
I followed Joey back to the office and sat on the big couch where he directed me. I was given another bottle of water and I drank it, since I didn’t know what else to do. The door opened and that red-haired man came in. I jumped up, spilling the rest of the water down my front.
“You’re dead,” I said in a shaky voice. “I saw you and you were dead! Please! I don’t want to be dead, too.”
Joey came over and sat me back on the couch while the tall, red-haired man just stared at me.
“It’s okay, Sweetie,” Joey patted my hand. “Flint’s not dead, but he was hurt. Did you see the ambush?”
“I was there,” I nodded and began babbling. “Me and Micah and Joseph and Garrett. We wouldn’t shoot. Garrett was having a panic attack and he held him while he cried and shook. We couldn’t kill anyone. It’s wrong. We didn’t want to cleanse all the sinners out. Joshua made us go, but then he was mad because I didn’t shoot any arrows and he’s gonna kill me. Preacher Jonah would have killed me anyway when he finds out I don’t want to have sex with the girls, and I promised them I’d come back and get them and now I’m gonna die, and I’ll never get to keep my promise!”
When I opened my eyes again, I was lying on something soft and there was a wet cloth on my forehead. Cool hands were kind of petting and stroking my head and face. I turned my head to find a little guy that looked close to my age sitting beside me on a bed. He was cute, I noticed. Really cute. With coal black hair, bright blue eyes, and a sweet smile.
“Welcome back,” he said. “You look pretty rough, Sweetie. What’s your name?”
“Matt, I mean, Mickey.”
“Which is it, Honey? I’m not gonna hurt you and neither will my master. You can give me your real name.”
“Preacher Jonah called me Matthew after they shot my dad and told me I couldn’t ever say my real name again.”
“So, Mickey it is. My name’s Joey. You’re in my master’s bunker. Want to tell me why you were running?”
“Gonna kill me,” I muttered and closed my eyes. “Joshua was mad ‘cause I wouldn’t shoot and then someone stole the Jeep and I knew he was gonna kill me when him and Preacher Jonah got back.”
“Hmm… Hang on, Mickey. I think my master needs to hear this story so you don’t have to tell it twice. Think you can get up, now?”
I tested my legs, which seemed to be working and sat up. I nodded and stood. Joey stood up and he was a lot smaller than me. I felt huge next to him.
“You’re younger than me,” I blurted. “How come you’re in Hell? What bad stuff did you do?”
Joey laughed so hard he had to sit back on the bed. I just stared at him, wondering if everyone went crazy in Hell. He finally stopped and wiped the tears from his eyes.
“Oh, you are a sweetheart, aren’t you? I’m 25, Mickey, and this isn’t Hell, although I’m sure I’ve done plenty of bad stuff to rate a spot in the real one. For me, at least, this place is a little slice of heaven. Come on, Honey, let’s go back to the office and you can tell Flint your story.”
I followed Joey back to the office and sat on the big couch where he directed me. I was given another bottle of water and I drank it, since I didn’t know what else to do. The door opened and that red-haired man came in. I jumped up, spilling the rest of the water down my front.
“You’re dead,” I said in a shaky voice. “I saw you and you were dead! Please! I don’t want to be dead, too.”
Joey came over and sat me back on the couch while the tall, red-haired man just stared at me.
“It’s okay, Sweetie,” Joey patted my hand. “Flint’s not dead, but he was hurt. Did you see the ambush?”
“I was there,” I nodded and began babbling. “Me and Micah and Joseph and Garrett. We wouldn’t shoot. Garrett was having a panic attack and he held him while he cried and shook. We couldn’t kill anyone. It’s wrong. We didn’t want to cleanse all the sinners out. Joshua made us go, but then he was mad because I didn’t shoot any arrows and he’s gonna kill me. Preacher Jonah would have killed me anyway when he finds out I don’t want to have sex with the girls, and I promised them I’d come back and get them and now I’m gonna die, and I’ll never get to keep my promise!”
July 30, 2016
Release date set for After the Coming
My newest book, In the Beginning, the first book in the After the Coming series, is set to release August 1st.
For the blurb and an excerpt, as well as buy links:
https://marynewmanauthor.wordpress.co...
July 17, 2016
Cover Reveal and Release Date
My newest book, In the Beginning, the first book in the After the Coming Series will be released August 1st. It should shortly be up for pre order on Amazon, Kobo, iBooks, Scribd, and Barnes & Noble. A paperback version will be available through Create Space soon, as well.
I'm thrilled with the cover, which was designed by Brandy Newton.
In the Beginning is a post-apocalyptic tale about what happens to those left on earth when aliens come in the name of religion and decimate the planet and it's people. There's some romance, of course, since that's my favorite genre, but it's not the entire focus of the book.
Let me share a small snippet:
There were bodies, wrecked bikes, and carnage everywhere. Arrows. No bullet holes, just arrows. Lots of arrows. The guys probably never knew what hit them. We dismounted to see if we could find any survivors, but I wasn’t holding out any hope. The sun had been shining the past couple of days, the nights would have been cold, and I doubted anyone had escaped without some form of injury. I found Bricker and all of his brothers together. They’d fallen while trying to defend each other. Phil was lying under his bike, an arrow sticking out of his chest. The scavengers had been at some of the bodies and they were now unrecognizable.
“Luke!”
I looked over to find Arnie kneeling beside a body and jogged over. Gabe was lying with his eyes closed, but he was breathing. Barely.
“He’s alive, but not sure for how much longer.”
I heard a moan and went searching, again. Flint was leaning against the back of his trike with a broken off arrow in his outer thigh and another in his shoulder. I knelt beside him and he opened his eyes. I neatly grabbed his wrist before he could skewer me with the knife he was holding in a death grip. I pried it from his grip and distractedly noted it was the stiletto Arnie had left for him after questioning Jet.
“Hey, now, Flint. Not supposed to kill the rescuer, yeah?
I'm thrilled with the cover, which was designed by Brandy Newton.
In the Beginning is a post-apocalyptic tale about what happens to those left on earth when aliens come in the name of religion and decimate the planet and it's people. There's some romance, of course, since that's my favorite genre, but it's not the entire focus of the book.
Let me share a small snippet:
There were bodies, wrecked bikes, and carnage everywhere. Arrows. No bullet holes, just arrows. Lots of arrows. The guys probably never knew what hit them. We dismounted to see if we could find any survivors, but I wasn’t holding out any hope. The sun had been shining the past couple of days, the nights would have been cold, and I doubted anyone had escaped without some form of injury. I found Bricker and all of his brothers together. They’d fallen while trying to defend each other. Phil was lying under his bike, an arrow sticking out of his chest. The scavengers had been at some of the bodies and they were now unrecognizable.
“Luke!”
I looked over to find Arnie kneeling beside a body and jogged over. Gabe was lying with his eyes closed, but he was breathing. Barely.
“He’s alive, but not sure for how much longer.”
I heard a moan and went searching, again. Flint was leaning against the back of his trike with a broken off arrow in his outer thigh and another in his shoulder. I knelt beside him and he opened his eyes. I neatly grabbed his wrist before he could skewer me with the knife he was holding in a death grip. I pried it from his grip and distractedly noted it was the stiletto Arnie had left for him after questioning Jet.
“Hey, now, Flint. Not supposed to kill the rescuer, yeah?
July 10, 2016
Excitement Reigns!
The newest book is complete. The cover has been contracted. Edits are mostly complete. I'm entering the excited-and-can-hardly-wait-to-share-with-you stage. So, I decided to share another little snippet as a teaser. Enjoy!
“I’ve got a better way to warm you up.”
I went willingly to Rhett’s bedroom, and if you were to ask me why, later, I’d probably claim it was because I was numb from the cold and I was just too tired to fight it. Truthfully? I wanted to go with him so bad, I wouldn’t have turned him down for any reason, if he would have asked. Which he didn’t. And, I might have been shaking, but it wasn’t from the cold.
Rhett pulled me into his room, closed the door, and all I could do was stare at the bed. I’ve got a great imagination, and...
More:
https://marynewmanauthor.wordpress.co...
“I’ve got a better way to warm you up.”
I went willingly to Rhett’s bedroom, and if you were to ask me why, later, I’d probably claim it was because I was numb from the cold and I was just too tired to fight it. Truthfully? I wanted to go with him so bad, I wouldn’t have turned him down for any reason, if he would have asked. Which he didn’t. And, I might have been shaking, but it wasn’t from the cold.
Rhett pulled me into his room, closed the door, and all I could do was stare at the bed. I’ve got a great imagination, and...
More:
https://marynewmanauthor.wordpress.co...
July 3, 2016
What's Going On
I feel as if I'm a bad person since I've been neglecting my blog, lately. Part of it was a general feeling of "meh, I don't really feel like posting" and the rest was my nose was deep in a post-apocalyptic world writing my next book. That being the case, I figured I'd share a snippet. Please be aware, this is UNEDITED and may undergo some changes before the book is actually published.
Excerpt:
The store and bar was easy to find. There wasn’t anything else around. I’d expected a town of some sort, but there was nothing but the one big building. Arnie pulled up in front and we sat for a moment.
“I know I suggested this, but do you have a plan, Arnie?”
“Not really,” Arnie chuckled. “Just wasn’t going to stop you when you offered.”
“Gee, thanks for letting me stick my foot in it and leaving me hang.”
“Not a problem.”
“Seriously, how are we playing this?”
“Gonna play it by ear.”
“You’re lead, then. Rhett did say Joey would take to you more than me.”
“Yep.”
I followed as Arnie led the way into the bar side of the building. It wasn’t anything special, just a bar along one wall with the requisite home brews on tap and various bottles with dubious contents lined up behind it. A few tables and chairs were located in a haphazard fashion. Joey was easy to spot. Rhett wasn’t kidding that he looked like he’d yet to see his fifteenth birthday. Slender bordering on skinny, baby-faced, with coal black hair that probably didn’t occur naturally, bright blue eyes and pale skin. A thick black collar bedecked with shiny flat silver studs around his neck and fastened with a tiny padlock proclaimed he had an owner. Arnie, as direct as usual, approached him, and I watched for even a flicker of fear. Joey simply looked Arnie up and down, licked his lips, and smiled.
“I must have been a very good boy sometime in my life,” he said.
“Looking for Flint.”
“Oh, pooh, and here I thought it was gonna be my birthday and Christmas all wrapped up together.” Joey winked. “Have a seat, luscious, and I’ll fetch him.”
Arnie chose a table set apart from the others, and took a seat. Joey left through a rear door without even looking my way.
“You want something?”
“Probably should stick with water, Luke,” Arnie tossed a small drawstring bag, which I caught and headed to the bar.
“Two waters.”
The bartender raised his brow. “Bottled or tap?”
“Same difference, yeah?”
He chuckled and drew two mugs of water. I tossed a silver coin on the bar and he picked it up, looked at it and placed it on a scale. Once he nodded his acceptance, I picked up the two mugs and headed back to Arnie. We sipped the water for several minutes before Joey returned with a tall, red-haired male.
“You think you have business with me?” the same husky voice as last night asked.
“Yep. Have a seat, Flint. I’ve brought a message.”
“Lose the weapons and I’ll think about it.”
“Sit down and I won’t cut your fucking heart out with a rusty spoon.”
“I don’t do threats, big man.”
“And I don’t give second chances to those who launch an unprovoked attack on what’s mine.”
“Aha, so you’re the big bad with the arrows last night.”
Arnie stared at Flint, not flinching. Flint returned the stare then took a seat opposite Arnie.
“Get me a beer, Pet.”
Joey rushed over to the bar and grabbed the bottle the bartender had put up when Flint entered the room. I didn’t bother telling him his threats might work better if his employees didn’t have such easily read tells. Joey sat the beer in front of Flint and sank gracefully to the floor, resting his head on his master’s thigh.
“None of this would have been necessary if Rhett had just come out and talked to me,” Flint sighed.
“Bullshit. You don’t bring an army to talk.”
“Well, I might have been a teensy bit put out last night. He still could have come out.”
Excerpt:
The store and bar was easy to find. There wasn’t anything else around. I’d expected a town of some sort, but there was nothing but the one big building. Arnie pulled up in front and we sat for a moment.
“I know I suggested this, but do you have a plan, Arnie?”
“Not really,” Arnie chuckled. “Just wasn’t going to stop you when you offered.”
“Gee, thanks for letting me stick my foot in it and leaving me hang.”
“Not a problem.”
“Seriously, how are we playing this?”
“Gonna play it by ear.”
“You’re lead, then. Rhett did say Joey would take to you more than me.”
“Yep.”
I followed as Arnie led the way into the bar side of the building. It wasn’t anything special, just a bar along one wall with the requisite home brews on tap and various bottles with dubious contents lined up behind it. A few tables and chairs were located in a haphazard fashion. Joey was easy to spot. Rhett wasn’t kidding that he looked like he’d yet to see his fifteenth birthday. Slender bordering on skinny, baby-faced, with coal black hair that probably didn’t occur naturally, bright blue eyes and pale skin. A thick black collar bedecked with shiny flat silver studs around his neck and fastened with a tiny padlock proclaimed he had an owner. Arnie, as direct as usual, approached him, and I watched for even a flicker of fear. Joey simply looked Arnie up and down, licked his lips, and smiled.
“I must have been a very good boy sometime in my life,” he said.
“Looking for Flint.”
“Oh, pooh, and here I thought it was gonna be my birthday and Christmas all wrapped up together.” Joey winked. “Have a seat, luscious, and I’ll fetch him.”
Arnie chose a table set apart from the others, and took a seat. Joey left through a rear door without even looking my way.
“You want something?”
“Probably should stick with water, Luke,” Arnie tossed a small drawstring bag, which I caught and headed to the bar.
“Two waters.”
The bartender raised his brow. “Bottled or tap?”
“Same difference, yeah?”
He chuckled and drew two mugs of water. I tossed a silver coin on the bar and he picked it up, looked at it and placed it on a scale. Once he nodded his acceptance, I picked up the two mugs and headed back to Arnie. We sipped the water for several minutes before Joey returned with a tall, red-haired male.
“You think you have business with me?” the same husky voice as last night asked.
“Yep. Have a seat, Flint. I’ve brought a message.”
“Lose the weapons and I’ll think about it.”
“Sit down and I won’t cut your fucking heart out with a rusty spoon.”
“I don’t do threats, big man.”
“And I don’t give second chances to those who launch an unprovoked attack on what’s mine.”
“Aha, so you’re the big bad with the arrows last night.”
Arnie stared at Flint, not flinching. Flint returned the stare then took a seat opposite Arnie.
“Get me a beer, Pet.”
Joey rushed over to the bar and grabbed the bottle the bartender had put up when Flint entered the room. I didn’t bother telling him his threats might work better if his employees didn’t have such easily read tells. Joey sat the beer in front of Flint and sank gracefully to the floor, resting his head on his master’s thigh.
“None of this would have been necessary if Rhett had just come out and talked to me,” Flint sighed.
“Bullshit. You don’t bring an army to talk.”
“Well, I might have been a teensy bit put out last night. He still could have come out.”
June 27, 2016
Birthday Giveaway
I'm running a giveaway on my FB author page this week:
https://www.facebook.com/writermaryne...
Up for grabs is a Kindle Fire, $10 Amazon gift cards, and $5 Amazon gift cards. Go check it out!
https://www.facebook.com/writermaryne...
Up for grabs is a Kindle Fire, $10 Amazon gift cards, and $5 Amazon gift cards. Go check it out!
June 12, 2016
Fear of Loving
Yesterday was a great day for me. I spent a little more than three hours at the local LGBT center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center, http://www.okeq.org/ where I’ve agreed to volunteer each Saturday. About half an hour of that was touring the facility, learning the history, and just getting to know a few of the people who volunteer and work there. During that time, it was noted that the security system was top notch – all the glass in the front was bullet proof, the front door was kept locked and you had to be admitted...
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May 29, 2016
Lifting A Glass
It's Memorial Day weekend in the US, a time for remembering and honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. In most cases, this turns into an three day party that might or might not involve family, friends, barbecues and beer. You might think I'm going to decry the current state of what should be a solemn day of remembrance, but you'd be very wrong.
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May 22, 2016
It's Not Okay
Other than my blog posts, I haven’t been writing for over a month. Yes, there’s a reason for that. I lost my voice. No, I wasn’t physically ill, but I was spiritually suffering – and I still am. I enjoy reading other’s blogs and stories. I am a voracious reader. I could care less what gender (or race, religion, orientation, etc.) the author is, if the writing is good, I want to read it. My preference, of course, is romance with a side of fantasy or scifi, but I also read blogs by other writers, and news stories. What is out there can be confusing. contradictory, and sometimes hateful. We have become a society of offended children and it shows in what is being written.
More here...
https://marynewmanauthor.wordpress.co...
More here...
https://marynewmanauthor.wordpress.co...
May 15, 2016
Lessons from a Ladybug
Approximately, two weeks ago I noticed an insect of some sort crawling on the outside of my window. I’ve got a big white tarp over my RV to help keep rain out and it extends down on one side to cover the windows. So, the insect was in between the tarp and the window and it just kept crawling in these little circles. I was reading a book, but kept glancing up at it because it was just acting weird. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was the larvae of a ladybird beetle, or “ladybug” as we call them down south. They’re a strange looking thing, all black with some tiny orange spots, kind of triangular-shaped, and soft-bodied. I soon lost interest...
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