Savannah Hendricks's Blog, page 3

Release Day for Winston Versus the Snow

It’s here, it’s available!

What do you do when you don’t like something? When you don’t like the texture of something? You avoid it!!! And that is exactly what Winston does because he HATES snow! Find out if Winston can move past his sensory issue in Winston Versus the Snow. You can listen to my podcast interview where I discuss the book here. And read about it here.

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Advance Reviews:

While snow might not seem like a big deal to some, it’s cold and wet and not okay to Winston. A gentle and cute little story about a child with sensory-processing issues and his eventual ability and bravery to take on a snow day with the help of a dear old grandpa and a furry friend. – Meg Raby, author of My Brother Otto from Gibbs Smith Publishing

I love how the answer to Winston’s troubles were inspired by a dog! – Chris Robertson, author, and illustrator of Harry and the Hot Lava from Xist Publishing

A sweet story about facing your fears one step at a time. – Nina Crittenden, author, and illustrator of The Three Little Pugs from Little Bee Books

Hendricks pens a delightful tale of a boy and the snowy world that surrounds him. Readers will surely want to grab a cup of cocoa and cuddle up with this wintry and charming story. – Heather Macht, author of The Ant Farm Escape! from Pelican Publishing

Winston Versus the Snow is a tender story of creatively overcoming one’s fear. – Amanda Jackson, author of My Shape is Sam from Page Street Kids

Pick up your copy at Target, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, or Books-a-Million 

Living Your Best Life by Ransom

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It’s been a while since I’ve taken over Mom’s blog, and about time if I do say so! Ransom, aka, Menace here, hopefully at least some of you remember me. Mom is busy doing more author stuff so I wanted to share some non-writer stuff with you because frankly, you all might enjoy something different for a change. Today’s topic is about living your best life.

I, Menace live my best life every day. It’s hard not to when you’ve roped your mom into treating you like the king.

I spend as much time as I want sleeping and Mom gets up when I say it’s time. This is important when living your best life because you don’t want to waste time waiting around on others.

Fetch is the most important thing in life, outside of human food and naps. If you want to make it a priority you must do whatever it takes. I like the bark, whine, and stare approach and it gives me my desired results.

The hardest thing to obtain, when living your best life is human food. They say lots of things like, “it’s not for dogs,” “it’s not safe to eat,” and simply “no.” Which is not a reason why I can’t have it. Your best option is to take your chin and push it on their lap, really let them know you’re there and need what they have. In addition, I go for sad eyes, but look distant too, like you’re pondering what life would be like if you ran away. This usually gets their attention, because they don’t want to lose you.

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The best thing about living your best life is getting to do it with your human, snuggling with them, making them laugh, and hearing them call your name.

Hallmark Publishing’s Tracy Gardner ~ Author Interview

[image error] Please welcome author Tracy Gardner, to the blog. Her first book with Hallmark Publishing, Out of the Picture releases September 3rd!! This is Hallmark Publishing’s first-ever cozy mystery release.

Tell us why you decided to write Out of the Picture?

I’ve always loved mysteries. As a kid, I read every Nancy Drew book I could get my hands on. When I began writing several years ago, I found that the intrigue and suspense that hooks me when I’m reading holds the same appeal when I’m creating a story. So when my agent (the truly wonderful Fran Black of Literary Counsel) mentioned pitching an idea to Hallmark Publishing, I immediately started thinking of a storyline and setting that might be a good fit. Main character Savanna Shepherd popped into my head, followed shortly by her two sisters, Sydney and Skylar. Characters tend to drive the story for me, so then it was just a matter of figuring out what sorts of interesting situations former art authenticator Savanna might find herself involved in, having just returned to her small Lake Michigan hometown after a painful break-up.

As an author, what was the most surprising thing about the publishing world (that you can safely share)?

Honestly, I think the most surprising thing was learning that the writing is the easy part. I grew up writing short stories and poems, and began writing my first novel after my second child was born in 2002. In between working and being a mom, I began querying agents in 2009, was picked up several years later by Literary Counsel, and am now, in 2019, I’m finally fortunate enough to have my debut cozy mystery coming out with Hallmark Publishing. I’m not saying my experience is the norm, but I think the road to publishing is long and twisty and filled with potholes. There were many times I was ready to take the nearest exit, get off the road, and attempt to turn off the writer part of my brain for good. I actually did that in earnest once, about a year and a half ago. Or at least I tried. But my agent wouldn’t let me quit, and she probably saved my sanity by pushing me to stay the course and keep going.

Your first book, The Fall of our Secrets, was published back in 2014, how has this process (working with Hallmark Publishing) been different?

I published The Fall of Our Secrets with a small start-up publisher, but things didn’t work out very well and the book reverted to being published in my own name. The publisher was very helpful and provided a gorgeous cover, great editing and lots of support, but I think the company was just too new and too small. That book is available online, but I’m focusing attention on my current project with Hallmark and a couple other stories in the works.

Publishing with Hallmark has been a dream come true. Editor Stacey Donovan is an amazing, talented person and has been a valuable resource for me throughout this process. For cover design, she made sure she understood my vision when it came to the small town of Carson and the mansion where much of the mystery events take place. She has been very involved every step of the way, and I also couldn’t be happier with my editor Rhonda Merwarth. Stacey, Rhonda, and Fran were instrumental in bringing out the best in Out of the Picture. The support, information, and patience I receive from the Hallmark team and my agent makes this process pretty seamless.

Can you tell us how many more books you plan to write for the Out of the Picture series?[image error]

I’m currently working on book two in the Shepherd Sisters Mystery series, Behind the Frame.  Savanna’s ties to the art world and the smart, fun team of Savanna and her sisters, paired with Detective Nick Jordan and handsome town doctor Aidan Gallager, make it a breeze to dream up new scenarios and potential trouble in and around the small town of Carson, Michigan. I have exciting futures planned for the Shepherd sisters. I think the possibilities are endless for more escapades!

What types of music do you enjoy listening to and is the music different when you’re writing?

I love almost everything. I have different playlists on Spotify depending on which book, scene and character I’m writing. The words don’t flow as easily if I try to write without music. Right now, I have a lot of Twenty-One Pilots, One Republic, Lumineers, Vampire Weekend and Jon Bellion on constant shuffle, but there are definitely scenes that call for Panic at the Disco, My Chemical Romance, Green Day, The Fratellis, All-American Rejects, and my local favorite musician, Dan Tillery. And in the middle of all that are occasional tunes from some of my favorite musicals (a trait I share with Savanna), including Michael in the Bathroom from Be More Chill, Cecily Smith from Fly By Night, and anything from Hamilton.

[image error]Who are some of your favorite authors or books at the moment?

My taste in books is pretty eclectic. Stephen King is probably my all-time favorite author. His characters seem real to me, and when I’m reading his books, I forget I’m reading at all. He has a way of just drawing you into the story. If I had to name a favorite, it would probably be 11/22/63 or The Gunslinger in the Dark Tower series.

Aside from King, one of my favorite books is Garth Stein’s The Art of Racing in the Rain. And I absolutely loved the movie adaptation, though it did cost me a lot of tissues. Other favorites are Jo-Ann Mapson’s The Owl & Moon Café, Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones, Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor and Park, and Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief. John Steinbeck’s East of Eden is an all-time classic favorite just for the complex relationship dynamics. I also love anything John Green or Jennifer Weiner. So … as I said, eclectic!

How much time a day do you spending writing?[image error]

I always envy those authors who have set blocks of writing time every day. The truthful answer for me is, sometimes not at all. And sometimes two hours, or seven hours. It depends on life, on my family, on my job, and sometimes, even though I try not to let it, it also depends on my mood. Sometimes I can’t wait to sit down and get ideas and characters out of my head and into the story, and sometimes I am lazy, and choose to watch Sherlock on Netflix when I know I should be writing. I write best under deadline, which is a brand new thing I’ve learned about myself with Out of the Picture.

What do you hope readers take away from Out of the Picture?

 

I hope readers fall in love with Savanna Shepherd and her sisters. My goal was to create a compelling, clean cozy mystery with relatable characters, enough suspense to keep the reader guessing, and the hint of a blossoming romance. Savanna’s personal journey in the book mirrors her quest to solve the mystery, as she works toward closure and resolving feelings about her past in order to move forward toward a bright future.

I hope the end of the book leaves readers feeling fulfilled but wanting more!

Visit Tracy at her website, or on Twitter and Facebook
Purchase Out of the Picture on Amazon and Barnes and Noble

The Thing About Hallmark (not the cards)

[image error]I said it a while back, Hallmark’s new movie Saturday takes me back to Sunday’s Wonderful World of Disney. Hallmark takes me away from where I am, like a memory from childhood.

Hallmark movies are fireflies to a first-timer.

Hallmark television is a best friend’s favorite story.[image error]

Hallmark movies are a cozy cup of hot chocolate on a winter’s night.

Hallmark television is a relaxing breath.

Hallmark movies are a glass of lemonade on a smoldering summer day.

[image error]Hallmark mysteries are a pondering question you can share with the dark.

Hallmark movies are a reminder of love.

Hallmark is what we need, and what we want.

Author Discovery ~ Mini Interview with Haleigh Wenger

[image error]Please welcome the author of The Art of Falling in Love – a YA story just released this month. At the end of the interview, you can find a blurb about the book. Be sure and add it to your Goodreads list!

What author do you compare your book(s)/writing style to the most?

I’d like to think that my style is a mix of Sarah Dessen and Morgan Matson, but those are two of my favorite authors, so it feels ambitious just to say!

What is your favorite book genre? Why?

I love contemporary YA. It highlights such an important time period, right when teens are making choices about what kind of person they want to be and why, and they’re still so vulnerable but are also discovering real-world truths.

What is your favorite television show? Why?

My favorite show right now is “The 100”. It has it all! Teen drama, romance, sci-fi suspense. My favorite thing about it is that the storyline dramatically changes every season, so the story always feels fresh and interesting.

If you could have written a popular, well-known book, what would it have been and why?

Any of Judy Blume or Sarah Dessen’s novels. They were all I read growing up, over and over again. I loved the way the stories about girls like me made me feel.

Using your most recent book, who would play your main character(s) in a movie?[image error]

In The Art of Falling in Love, I always imagine Shailene Woodley as my MC Claire. And for LI Foster, I think Ross Lynch would be a pretty good match.

Why should your readers pick your book over a well-known author’s book?

If you like YA contemporary that’s heavy on the romance, my book would be a great fit! I think the best part of discovering new authors is that you’re just adding to your stack of great books, and who can be mad about that?!

What is your go-to snack?

Anything chocolate! And always paired with cold water. LOL!

 

Website: HaleighWenger.com

Twitter: @haleighwenger

Facebook: Author Haleigh Wenger

 

The Art of Falling in Love – blurb

Seventeen-year-old Claire Haynes always spends summer vacation at her family’s beach house in Florida, sketching and dreaming of art school with her biggest fan—her Opa. But when Opa dies right before summer break, all Claire has left besides her memories is a sand-sculpting contest application with her name on it and the lingering question of why Opa filled it out in the first place. Claire has never even made a decent sandcastle, but she reluctantly turns in the entry forms, hoping the contest will help her navigate the grieving process by honoring one of Opa’s last wishes.

When she meets Foster, a teenage boy with a talent for turning recyclables into abstract sculptures, the two join forces to win the contest and salvage the Summer of Art. They spend the humid summer days shoveling sand, devouring ice cream, and exploring Florida’s art scene. Just like Opa, Foster understands Claire and her overwhelming need to create, but he has a secret that threatens to ruin everything: he’s homeless and hiding from an abusive brother who would have him believe family trumps all.

When Claire’s parents find out about Foster’s homelessness, they offer him a home along with their hearts. But even picture-perfect families like Claire’s can harbor an ugly side, especially in the aftermath of Opa’s death. When someone close to Claire spills Foster’s secret, they’re both forced to choose between love and familial obligation. If Claire can’t break through long-held beliefs and prove family is more than shared DNA, she could permanently lose Foster and a chance at the sand contest to honor Opa.

Buy the book – Amazon and Barnes and Noble

The Library – 5 Minute Fiction

[image error]Six months and four days ago, I followed him into the library for the first time. He never noticed me. His walk alluded confidence and pride as his shoulders arched up and back. As he made his way to the hold section, I couldn’t help but follow. Something drew me to him. What would he check out? Fiction, mystery, mechanics? Maybe college research books? He appeared in his mid-twenties with a thick part down the middle of his crow black hair.

Soon, I fell into his schedule. He never browsed books, only went to the hold shelf, removed his items, checked them out, and drove off in his blue Nissan. I didn’t need to wait for the library to open, but I wanted to be courteous. Once inside, I’d scan the hold shelf searching his name. If it was missing, I’d leave and come back the next day. If his name appeared on a scrap of paper, rubber-banded to a book, I’d jot down the title. I read every book he requested after he did. At first, the books were from the New York Times bestseller list. Then they grew darker and to less popular titles.

With each new visit, his stride shortened, his shoulders hung lower. Stories about true crime and brutal nonfiction occupied his list. In the last month, self-help books and poetry became his new norm. As I followed in his reading path, I felt his life shift. I knew something was wrong, as it had been with me. Some time ago, the self-help books didn’t work.

On a Saturday morning, I noted he placed another self-help book on hold. With trembling hands, I took a scrap of library paper, a miniature pencil, and wrote a name and number down. I placed it in the book and slid it back on the shelf. As always, he entered the library, went to the holds, and checked out the book. I hoped he would call the number if he needed it. I never did. And today, I’m just as invisible as when I was alive.

*National Suicide Prevention Line (1-800-273-8255)

 

Interview~Author Debbie Burns

You have two rescue dogs and a cat, how was introducing them to make sure they got along?

Thankfully, our dogs seemed to know from the start that cats aren’t the same as rabbits or squirrels, which I don’t think they’d ever stop chasing if given a chance. However, we made sure to introduce the dogs to our cat on leash at first and made sure to feed them in separate locations. For the first few weeks, we kept them apart unless we were in the room to supervise the dogs’ behavior. In very little time, the dogs seemed to understand the cat was “off-limits.”

The cat, however, is a toughie at heart and never seemed to care. He’s half Maine Coon and has zero fear of dogs. In fact, if we don’t feed him first, he will force one of the dogs away from her dinner and take first dibs. They’ve all three been together over three years now, and they’re buddies—sometimes they even sleep cuddled together—though they definitely follow a “leader” hierarchy: Hazel (the border collie mix) is in charge, Owen (the cat) is next, and Nala (the pit-bull mix) is at the bottom of the totem pole but too happy and playful to notice.

Follow Debbie on Instagram to see her pets! @_debbieburns

I read you love to garden, what are you growing in Missouri?

I do love to garden! No pun intended, but there’s something very “grounding” about digging in the soil and watching something you’ve started from a seedling grow into a fruit (or veggie)-bearing plant. For years it was something I wanted to do but couldn’t find the time. A few years ago, at the encouragement of my daughter, we dove in and created a fairly large garden and made lots of mistakes along the way. One of the big ones was planting too many similar vegetables too close together, which resulted in some crazy hybrids like watermelon/zucchini crosses. In my few years of gardening, I’ve learned just enough about it to know that I have much more to learn before considering myself a knowledgeable gardener.

My favorite things to grow are tomatoes and pumpkins, though I moved houses last year and now live in the city of St. Louis. I love my gingerbread house and neighborhood, but I do miss having a large garden. This year I’ve been experimenting with container gardening only, and my go-tos have been tomatoes, herbs, and peppers. This fall, my teenage son is going to help build a large raised bed in the side of our yard. I’m also excited to start a native plant flower garden this fall.

Did you have a lot of animal rescue knowledge before writing the Rescue Me series, or was it something you gained during those stories?

This question reminds me of a mug I saw the other day: “Please don’t confuse your Google search with my medical degree.” I almost bought it as a reminder to keep by my desk while I’m writing, but I wasn’t ready to replace my current favorite mug: “Writers Block: When your imaginary friends stop talking to you.”

In all seriousness, every time I write a book, I try to do it with reverence for all that I don’t know about the subject matter portrayed in the story. The truth is no amount of research can ever really make up for hours in the field. I’m an animal lover at heart and have acquired a good amount of volunteer, conservation, and nonprofit experience. Over the years, I’ve worked or volunteered with shelter dogs, abused horses, and certain endangered species like wolves and birds of prey, and I was quite comfortable writing about the non-profit, shelter world.

On the other hand, I am not (by any sense of the means) a professional dog trainer. My two rescue dogs are well behaved enough to fit right into my chaotic life with teens in the house. My dogs know (and perform for treats) basic commands but can be a touch forgetful of them when they want to be, especially Nala, my three-year-old pit-bull mix. But her obnoxious works for us. She likes to sit on laps, shove herself into conversations, beg for food, and hog attention. So…yes, while I have the experience, when writing scenes from characters’ points of view who are great trainers like Kurt Crawford in Sit, Stay Love and Tess Grasso in My Forever Home, I feel like just a touch of an imposter.

What drove you to be a writer?

As a kid, I had an active imagination and was always daydreaming and making up stories. I also loved to read and was hardly without a book. It wasn’t until I was graduating college with a BS in Biology and minors in Chemistry and Conservation that I had the idea to write down one the stories that was going through my mind. After so much science and math in college, the idea of creative writing was appealing, but I had no idea how to do it. My first manuscript took years to complete, but I learned a lot about writing in the process. I also fell in love with creative writing. That first novel wasn’t sellable (by any measure), but I enjoyed the writing process enough that I kept on writing in my free time while raising my kids and, at times, managing a full-time job.

By the time I got serious enough about writing for publication and had learned what I needed to learn to produce something publishable, I had quite a few roughly completed manuscripts and had been writing for over a decade—not a quick or easy path to publication by any measure. But I have no regrets. Over the years, I honed certain skills that make writing at the pace I’ve been maintaining for the last few years easier. I also took long enough getting published that I had become very sure that it was what I most want to do with my life.

Do you watch four-legged movies if you know they will tug at your heart, or do you simply avoid them?

I definitely watch them, and try to read the books beforehand, though sometimes I put off doing so until I’m in the mood for a good cry. Old Yeller was the first movie I saw as a kid that made me really bawl (who didn’t?) and a story I never forgot. I wanted that dog to live forever. Same with My Dog Skip. More recently, I loved reading Art of Racing in the Rain and can’t wait to see the movie, though Marley and Me is a personal favorite.

I love Marley and Me (both the book and movie!

You recently had an amazing announcement in Publisher’s Weekly! How exciting, but a lot of work. How will you tackle such a large project?

My recent four-book deal with Sourcebooks was split between two in the Rescue Me series (which was extended from the previously contracted six books to eight) and two stand-alone Women’s Fiction novels. I’m excited and thankful and a touch daunted! Over the last three and a half years, I’ve completed five Rescue Me manuscripts, and I now have writing contracts for five more that extend just beyond when my youngest child graduates high school in three years from now. And I have day job!

Gosh! I have a day job too! It makes our plates very full!

This pace has only been manageable because I love to write. I love to create fictional characters, create havoc in their world, and watch them muddle through to their happily ever afters. Writing at this pace can be a challenge, but not only is writing my passion, I also recognize it’s a tough business. I’ve been at it long enough to have seen several writers’ ups and downs in their careers, and I’m thankful to have this opportunity. I’m also energized by so many great fans who have been loving the series and are so supportive and encouraging as they await the next release.

Then, too, I have other hobbies like gardening, hiking, and hanging out with my teens, friends, and dogs. Making time for things like this that don’t involve sitting at a desk or the use of a keyboard or monitor is essential for keeping burnout at bay. I’ve also gotten into the habit of meditating (almost) daily. Through this practice and a yoga class or two each week, I feel like my creativity and energy are refreshed enough after a day of work to be able to write a few hours several nights a week and the majority of one weekend day as well. I try to take a full day off from the computer each weekend, though when I’m tight on a deadline that’s not always possible. When it’s all said and done, the only way I meet deadlines is because, in each and every manuscript, I fall in love with my characters (two and four-legged) and get great satisfaction in completing the project.

Thank you, Debbie, it’s been a pleasure to learn more about you and your stories.

Be sure to add Debbie’s Rescue Me series to your Goodreads list. The fourth book in the series, Love at First Bark is available on Tuesday! (July 30th). Love at First Bark is a second-chance romance for humans and dogs alike that celebrates the beauty of love that’s meant to last forever.

 

Free – Read Chapter One from Grounded in January

[image error]Please enjoy chapter one from Grounded in January – if you enjoy it, all retailers currently have it on sale. Snatch it up and find out what happens!

 

Chapter One

The chill of outside air seeping through the jetway caused Kate Wilson’s already petrified body to tense up more. She did not want to get on the plane.

A sunny but cold morning, as cold as Phoenix could be in January, only reminded her that going home was a necessity. She wanted, and needed, an honest winter. As an added bonus, winter was the best time to fly since turbulence spiked more so in the spring and summer months. Kate had learned this during her extensive research on the ramifications of flying for those with anxiety.

Kate paused and took a deep breath before stepping from the jetway onto the plane. The gap resembled a drawbridge, except below she didn’t see pavement, but a possible way out. Her mind raced. Does anyone else ever try to shove their foot into the gap and push it apart in order to squirm down onto the tarmac below? Or maybe they try to open the side door leading to the portable stairs which only employees use.

Caught up in her thoughts, Kate’s ebony boot, the right one, clipped the lip of the plane’s threshold throwing her midair.

A pilot and nearby flight attendant reached out in horror as Kate went down, face first. Her eyes just inches from their polished dress shoes. Her InStyle magazine went right, her US Weekly went left. Her unzipped faux leather purse landed in first-class while its contents rolled into coach. The mauve scarf now attached Kate to her carry-on bag.

“Oh, my dear!” a female flight attendant exclaimed. An arm locked around Kate, hoisting her to a standing position once again. Shaken from the mishap, she pushed her copper curls off her face.

“Good thing you aren’t flying this winged beast today, ma’am,” the pilot said, trying to make light of the situation.

Kate smiled, grateful that she was now perpendicular with the plane and once again on her feet. Yet her scarf remained caught on the carry-on bag. She wrestled the scarf free, as her carry-on thumped onto the plane’s floor. Kate’s face went as red as the anti-collision lights on the plane’s wingtips.

Behind her, there was complete silence. She stood, convinced that outside the gate the entire airport stood still, waiting to see what would happen next.

The pilot handed Kate one of her magazines. An attendant had fetched her purse and its contents.

“Are you okay, dear? Would you like someone to check you out?” The attendant held Kate’s purse as though it were her own.

Glancing down, she saw that her jeans were not ripped, but her knees burned. She wiggled her toes in her boots, and they felt fine. Her long-sleeve, charcoal-gray sweater protected her elbows from anything worse than being sore.

“I think I’m okay,” Kate murmured as she reached for her purse. She picked up her carry-on, smiled, and said, “Embarrassed, but okay, thank you.” She turned around to the line behind her. “However, I’m afraid I don’t know what happened to my ticket. I had it in my hand.”

The pilot, the two flight attendants, and Kate searched the floor, making sure they weren’t stepping on it. A little white piece of paper peeked out from behind where the pilot stood in front of the lavatory door.

“I think my ticket is there.” Kate pointed.

The pilot popped open the lavatory door to confirm Kate’s suspicion. Her face scrunched. Why am I even getting on this flying gasoline-filled death trap in the first place? Kate bent down to pick up her ticket at the same time as the pilot. Their heads smacked.

The ticket remained on the lavatory floor as they rubbed the pain from their foreheads.

“Here.” The pilot handed Kate her ticket.

“Thank you.” Kate took the ticket, her bag, and her diminished pride and headed down the aisle to locate her seat.

“Just make it to your seat and sit down,” Kate mumbled to herself. This day cannot get any worse.

Locating seat 13A, she stood on her tiptoes and reached up to place her carry-on into the overhead compartment. However, Kate could not get the bag over the compartment lip. In addition, the pain from the fall started to creep into her toes and knees.

“Let me help you,” a lanky, travel-chic woman said from behind her.

Kate spun around, allowing the bag to nearly fall onto her head.

“I saw what happened when you got on the plane,” the woman whispered. “You need all the support you can get.”

The travel-chic woman winked, snatched Kate’s bag from her hands, and placed it without any effort into the compartment.

Kate produced a half-smile and said, “Thank you.”

In a meek attempt to hide as quickly as possible, Kate squeezed past the seats’ edges and sat. Even without anyone else sitting in the seats, it remained a challenge to move in such a cramped space.

Kate rubbed the spot on her forehead, which felt as though it sprouted a small bump. The sunlight bounced off the airport’s windows as she gazed out. She prayed the actual flight would be far less of a mess than trying to get on the plane. Closing her eyes, Kate ran through her checklist. Dramamine, check. Motion sickness wristbands, check. Lavender oil, check. Puke bag in the seat pocket. Kate leaned forward and searched the seatback. Check. Safety instruction manual, check. Deep breath and counting, check. Plus, I hope I don’t have a seatmate who (a) got sick, (b) gets sick, and/or (c) skipped a shower in the last day.

As the plane filled up, Kate lucked out. Her seatmates consisted of a businessman who was more worried about when he could use his laptop and headphones than flying, and a woman focused on when she could get a glass of wine and read on her tablet.

The air pressure fluctuated and hummed in the cabin as they taxied out onto the runway. Kate took deep breaths and went over her mantra in her head. Remember, a real winter. Maybe she could even dig her skis out of her parents’ garage. This would be a time to clear her head and figure out her unhappiness. She checked to make sure her wristbands were in the correct spots and held her scarf to her nose, breathing in the lavender.

“You can do this,” she muttered as the plane shook with the roar of the engines gaining power. Kate closed her eyes. The plane lurched forward, pushing her firmly into the seat. She tightened the seat belt strap as the front wheel lifted off the ground. The back two were still on the runway. The plane’s nose pointed toward the sky. This was one of Kate’s favorite moments of flight. In that moment Kate was reminded of how amazing a plane can be, and how light her body could feel. She felt as though her body took a breath of freedom in that moment of weightlessness.

But then, the back two wheels came off the ground, and Kate’s stomach dropped. Her favorite moment was over. Put the wheels back down! Kate wanted to scream at the pilot. Noticing the choppiness of her breathing, she returned to her mantra. The last thing she needed was to have a panic attack at thirty-five-thousand feet.

The plane continued to climb, putting pressure on her ears. Kate attempted to fake yawn, encouraging them to pop, but without any success.

“Here,” the businessman seatmate said, and he held out a stick of gum. “I saw you trying to fake yawn. Try this, it works better.” The businessman made eye contact for half a second, before returning his eyes to the seatback in front of him.

“Thank you,” Kate said. She smiled and took the gum.

She folded the spearmint gum into her mouth and shoved the wrapper into the seat pocket. The plane began to level off, as Kate peered out the window at the brown landscape below. It had been an extra dry summer, without much monsoon rain, which set fall and winter up to fail. A few areas of green were scattered here and there. December had seen some rain, but Phoenix definitely needed the monsoon storms to bring enough moisture to make it through the dry spells. Seeing Arizona from above reminded Kate of why she still loved Washington. The state’s lush green landscape and snow-capped mountains often remained throughout the summer months.

The flight attendant came by with the beverage cart as Kate flipped through her glossy magazine pages. She ordered a glass of red wine. Even with all her checklist items checked, she wanted to be anywhere but here.

“Cheers,” Kate’s other seatmate said, reaching over the businessman to tap their plastic glasses together. Despite their toast, he didn’t lose focus on his electronic spreadsheet.

The wine and the Dramamine began making Kate drowsy. She dozed until the pilot’s voice broke through the humming of the pressurized plane.

“We are beginning our final descent into Seattle. For those of you who are visiting, welcome. For those of you coming home, welcome back. Flight attendants, prepare for landing.”

While most people find landing to be the worst part of a flight, Kate found it to be the only other thing she liked about flying. She listened for the snap of the landing gear like a child waiting to hear Santa on the roof.

The plane dipped to the left as they circled around the Space Needle. Rain skimmed across the window. It was as though the sky were crying tears of joy along with Kate. The gray clouds were so thick that it was impossible to tell where one cloud ended and the next one began. Evergreens popped into view as though they were reaching up, trying to touch the plane’s belly. The aircraft lined up with the runway as the houses below came into view. They appeared like a child’s playset, miniature and without the flaws of life. Kate envisioned a tiny toddler’s hand coming in and picking up the plane; spinning them around the room before dropping them onto the carpet.

The wheels touched down on the rain-soaked runway and the brakes worked hard to slow them. Kate yanked her seat belt tighter for safety. Once, as a child, her seat belt had not been tight enough, and she went shooting forward. The seat belt caught under her arms as her legs flailed around, soon choking her.

The brakes finally took hold, grabbing the runway with force. Then the plane bounced softly forward as it taxied toward the gate. The dampness of the air crept down the aisle from the now open door. Passengers hurried to get their bags and disembark. Kate remained seated, staring out at the rain. She hated all the shoving and bumping just to get somewhere one minute faster.

When the last passenger exited the aisle, Kate stood and reached for her carry-on. Forgetting she didn’t put it up there, she now realized she could not get it down.

The flight attendants were busy thanking and saying goodbye to the remaining passengers, so Kate placed her left boot on the armrest of the seat and her right boot on the seat. Hoisting herself up, she grabbed the compartment edge. Letting go with her left hand, she snatched the bag, yanking it toward the edge. In an attempt to climb down and take the carry-on with her, Kate’s boots tangled around the seat arm. Trying to fall forward into the row, she braced herself as she slid awkwardly into the aisle seat.

Getting to her feet, she rubbed the side of her hip. At least her carry-on was on the floor now where she could reach it. Taking a deep breath, Kate headed toward the front of the plane.

“Are you okay?” a flight attendant asked.

Of course, the attendants saw her latest mishap. Kate rubbed at the pain.

“I’m fine,” Kate said. “Have a wonderful day.”

“You too, dear,” the flight attendant replied.

As Kate turned back to give her a smile, she tripped over the airplane door gap again. She stumbled forward, but was able to catch herself this time. Kate straightened her scarf and readjusted her sweater.

With a fake smile plastered across her face, she headed downstairs to baggage claim with her head held high, regardless of the giggles she heard from behind her.

 

If you enjoyed chapter one, be sure to get the book or ebook and meet Oxnard and find out what happens!

Have You Missed an Interview???

I’ve been busy with interviews and articles on other blogs and completely forgot that many of my readers might have missed out on some interesting facts. (Right? You can never know too much about a person? Hmmm…maybe you can.) If you’re curious, check them out.

From Big Wheel to Kiddie Pool

The MS Factor

An interview translated into Greek!!!! (for a blog in Greece)

Rachael Bloome’s Blog

Jacqueline Seewald’s Blog

Shay Laurent’s Blog

Kate Foster’s Blog

The Book ~ flash fiction

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THE BOOK by Savannah Hendricks

She gripped the weathered pages. Years of fingerprints touching pages had caused a wrinkled cluster of papers. Glue yellowed, and without much hold left. The cover’s aged leather, velvet against her palm.

She carried it with her as one would a Coach purse. Held close in crowds, in her lap on the bus, and covered it when the sky threatened rain.

Today, they went to the ocean. The salt air ruffled the edges of them both. Waves of thoughts crashed through pondering of conscientiousness.

The unique one-edition story filled her soul with imagination and hope. The dream of something more, guarded, but without a reading by others, it becomes lost in the history of one. She knew it deserved to be read by many more, needed to be. Until the words were no longer pressed with ink into the pages, but recited from memory.

How the arrangement of words on paper were as beautiful as the colors of a setting sun on water.

With time coming for her, she couldn’t allow the book to be buried too. Through her weakened eyes, she noticed the blue roof and the pine frame. Upon closer discovery, inside rested other stories that had seen as much love as the one she held to her heart.

Today, she left the story for another reader. Yet, kept the memory of every word.