Guest Post: Anjie Harrte (09/08) - Excerpt!
This week on the Tasha Turning Coaching Virtual Blog Tour, we were asked to write blog posts giving an excerpt of our latest piece of work etc. and this week I have the honour of hosting Anjie Harrte! ENJOY!
This excerpt is from one of my WIP presently being edited. I hadn’t thought of a blurb for this book as yet since I know thing can change during editing. But this assignment forced me to write one.
An Unexpected Desire
Fiona, a woman in her thirties, identifies herself as straight and known to her coworkers as the ice queen has had her share of disappointments and betrayal. Working in a job she hates and living a life filled with boredom she plods on as an introvert and builds such a strong wall around herself that it is hard for anyone to even contemplate climbing.
Nyasha, a twenty two year old lesbian fresh out of university lands what she terms “her dream job” as anchor for the six o’clock news on the second most popular news agency in the country. She had a bubbly spirit and loves life. However, she has a secret that keeps her from getting close to anyone. She moves from lover to lover never allowing herself to get too attached.
Fiona and Nyasha meet and something change in both of them. Can they resist the natural attraction to each other? As Fiona questions her sexuality, will she take the risk of giving her heart away? Can Nyasha break down that wall Fiona has built? Can Fiona be the one for Nyasha, or is she only going to be yet another lover?
Excerpt
Nyasha had emptied every piece of clothing from her wardrobe until she found the outfit that said, ‘I am a professional.’ She had watched her image so long in the mirror that she had to dare herself to leave her apartment in time to reach on time. The board of directors who had interviewed her had told her to reach for 8:30am for a meeting with the Chief Editor. Nyasha had decided 8:00am was far better than 8:30am.
After passing through security and peering into all of the studios on her way to the newsroom she had finally stepped into the newsroom. There were only about four people in the room, all busy behind computer screens. They had looked up for a quick second when she entered and then returned to their work and; before Nyasha could move to the door with the sign “Chief Editor,” the door behind her had flung open. She felt it connect with her back and the unexpected hit had caused her to topple forward and fall flat on her face. The first day on her new job and she had made quite an entrance; being knocked over and left sprawled on the newsroom floor.
The woman that came through the door didn’t try to help Nyasha up, but instead stood over her with her hands on her waist, waiting. What kind of place was this? Nyasha wondered as she got up and dusted herself off. She looked at the woman dressed in a brown gabardine flair skirt that reached below her knees and a cream chiffon shirt that was tucked into the skirt with a pussy bow at the neck and wondered if she had just walked out of an eighties magazine. Her hair was in a little bun on her head as she furrowed her brows at Nyasha. Nyasha smiled and rubbed her elbows which she had used to try and break her fall - bad idea!
The woman stood with her bag hanging on her hand and documents under her arm as keys jingled from the other one. She wore wide width brown pumps with a small 1/2 inch heel and as Nyasha watched her outfit the woman tilted her head from side to side. Nyasha didn’t want her to get the wrong impression so she smiled brightly and extended her hand introducing herself, “Hi, I am Nyasha Peterson, I am starting today.”
The woman watched at Nyasha’s extended hand and then to her and asked, “Starting what?”
The woman tried to sound harsh and authoritative but Nyasha couldn’t help hearing a soft tone spoken with sincerity, so she smiled and said, “Sorry, I am starting as the news anchor of 6 o’clock news.”
“Oh,” the woman said and turned towards the back of the room, “follow me,” she called over her shoulder startling Nyasha who hurried to keep up. No one had looked up from their work during the whole ordeal at the door and Nyasha looked around in amazement. This was her first job and she wasn’t sure how people behaved in an office but she really expected more. She stood with her right hand holding on to her left elbow as it burned a little and looked around the room. There were desks against the two walls of the room all with computers on them. Some of them had piles of papers and newspapers, some had recorders, cassettes and dvds. There was a lane of space between them that led to the two offices at the back. One was larger than the other and tinted, and the other was now being opened by the woman who didn’t smile.
The woman walked through the door and flicked on lights as Nyasha followed her and stood looking around. The office was neat and clean. The piles of paper were neatly kept in small piles on a desk in the left corner, there were three blue chairs sitting in the right corner with a small coffee table. Then, to the back of the office was a big mahogany desk with a flat screen computer and a large leather back office chair behind it. Beside the table to the right were filing cabinets and to the left was a small table with a coffee machine and cups turned down. The woman who didn’t smile rested her hand bag on top of the filing cabinet and moved behind the desk.
“Well, Ms. Peterson, I am Fiona Grant, Deputy Chief Editor, welcome to MBC Studios. Mr. Charran doesn’t get in early so I will introduce you around and…” she stopped and looked at Nyasha standing there holding on to her elbow.
“What’s the matter?” Fiona asked
“It is burning a little, but I’ll be okay. You were saying.”
Fiona sighed and turned to the filing cabinet, opened the third drawer and took out a first aid kit. “Sit” she demanded and Nyasha plopped down quickly, afraid to anger her.
Fiona moved around the desk and sat on the other of the two chairs she had on the opposite side of her desk. “Show me,” she said and Nyasha tilted her hand so Fiona could see her elbow. Fiona opened the kit and took a piece of cotton wool, soaked it with rubbing alcohol and rubbed it on the elbow. Nyasha flinched and almost pulled her elbow away as the burning increased. It is then she realized that she had bruised her elbow.
Fiona gently touched Nyasha’s arm and pressed her lips together, something Nyasha realized was her attempt at a comforting smile. Fiona then leaned down and blew at the area as though to soothe it. Nyasha breathed in deep and watched the woman with her curly hair tucked back into the bun a little too tight, her clothes a little too loose and her face kept a little too stern. In the span of five minutes Nyasha had watched this woman put on the act of hard unemotional ice queen and changed completely to caring and gentle. When Nyasha relaxed, Fiona took out a band aid and placed it over the bruised area and then sat back in the chair. Nyasha suddenly felt uncomfortable. From her experience with women Nyasha knew how to move a woman and break down all her walls, but this woman who looked at her now, seemed to be some kind of puzzle. Nyasha shook her head and reminded herself that this wasn’t a puzzle for her to decipher, after all this was her job and this woman was her boss and even more important; this job was the first ring on her ladder to success. Those small black eyes that were staring at her, empty and hungry, filled with longing and unexplored passion. However, Nyasha decided they were not going to be a distraction, no matter how many boo boos she was ready to kiss away.
About the Author!
Anjie Harrte: Romance with some Caribbean flavour
Anjie Harrte is a twenty nine year old mother of one who resides in sunny Guyana, South America. Sometime between running a small business, having a full time job and being a mother and partner she finds time to pursue her passion for creating stories. Anjie dreams up stories of contemporary fiction splashed with some romance, a little dose of murder or an ounce of suspense and sometimes when no one is looking she dashes in a little twist. When she isn’t doing any of that, she is decorating a cake, knitting a chair back or sewing her latest design. Anjie even finds time to lurk around and stalk people and pages on facebook and you too can stalk her if you like at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anjie-Harrte/ or you can follow her on twitter @anjieharrte or keep updated with her writing at http://authoranjieharrte.blogspot.com/
-Joseph
Comment. Follow. Share.
This excerpt is from one of my WIP presently being edited. I hadn’t thought of a blurb for this book as yet since I know thing can change during editing. But this assignment forced me to write one.
An Unexpected Desire Fiona, a woman in her thirties, identifies herself as straight and known to her coworkers as the ice queen has had her share of disappointments and betrayal. Working in a job she hates and living a life filled with boredom she plods on as an introvert and builds such a strong wall around herself that it is hard for anyone to even contemplate climbing.
Nyasha, a twenty two year old lesbian fresh out of university lands what she terms “her dream job” as anchor for the six o’clock news on the second most popular news agency in the country. She had a bubbly spirit and loves life. However, she has a secret that keeps her from getting close to anyone. She moves from lover to lover never allowing herself to get too attached.
Fiona and Nyasha meet and something change in both of them. Can they resist the natural attraction to each other? As Fiona questions her sexuality, will she take the risk of giving her heart away? Can Nyasha break down that wall Fiona has built? Can Fiona be the one for Nyasha, or is she only going to be yet another lover?
Excerpt
Nyasha had emptied every piece of clothing from her wardrobe until she found the outfit that said, ‘I am a professional.’ She had watched her image so long in the mirror that she had to dare herself to leave her apartment in time to reach on time. The board of directors who had interviewed her had told her to reach for 8:30am for a meeting with the Chief Editor. Nyasha had decided 8:00am was far better than 8:30am.
After passing through security and peering into all of the studios on her way to the newsroom she had finally stepped into the newsroom. There were only about four people in the room, all busy behind computer screens. They had looked up for a quick second when she entered and then returned to their work and; before Nyasha could move to the door with the sign “Chief Editor,” the door behind her had flung open. She felt it connect with her back and the unexpected hit had caused her to topple forward and fall flat on her face. The first day on her new job and she had made quite an entrance; being knocked over and left sprawled on the newsroom floor.
The woman that came through the door didn’t try to help Nyasha up, but instead stood over her with her hands on her waist, waiting. What kind of place was this? Nyasha wondered as she got up and dusted herself off. She looked at the woman dressed in a brown gabardine flair skirt that reached below her knees and a cream chiffon shirt that was tucked into the skirt with a pussy bow at the neck and wondered if she had just walked out of an eighties magazine. Her hair was in a little bun on her head as she furrowed her brows at Nyasha. Nyasha smiled and rubbed her elbows which she had used to try and break her fall - bad idea!
The woman stood with her bag hanging on her hand and documents under her arm as keys jingled from the other one. She wore wide width brown pumps with a small 1/2 inch heel and as Nyasha watched her outfit the woman tilted her head from side to side. Nyasha didn’t want her to get the wrong impression so she smiled brightly and extended her hand introducing herself, “Hi, I am Nyasha Peterson, I am starting today.”
The woman watched at Nyasha’s extended hand and then to her and asked, “Starting what?”
The woman tried to sound harsh and authoritative but Nyasha couldn’t help hearing a soft tone spoken with sincerity, so she smiled and said, “Sorry, I am starting as the news anchor of 6 o’clock news.”
“Oh,” the woman said and turned towards the back of the room, “follow me,” she called over her shoulder startling Nyasha who hurried to keep up. No one had looked up from their work during the whole ordeal at the door and Nyasha looked around in amazement. This was her first job and she wasn’t sure how people behaved in an office but she really expected more. She stood with her right hand holding on to her left elbow as it burned a little and looked around the room. There were desks against the two walls of the room all with computers on them. Some of them had piles of papers and newspapers, some had recorders, cassettes and dvds. There was a lane of space between them that led to the two offices at the back. One was larger than the other and tinted, and the other was now being opened by the woman who didn’t smile.
The woman walked through the door and flicked on lights as Nyasha followed her and stood looking around. The office was neat and clean. The piles of paper were neatly kept in small piles on a desk in the left corner, there were three blue chairs sitting in the right corner with a small coffee table. Then, to the back of the office was a big mahogany desk with a flat screen computer and a large leather back office chair behind it. Beside the table to the right were filing cabinets and to the left was a small table with a coffee machine and cups turned down. The woman who didn’t smile rested her hand bag on top of the filing cabinet and moved behind the desk.
“Well, Ms. Peterson, I am Fiona Grant, Deputy Chief Editor, welcome to MBC Studios. Mr. Charran doesn’t get in early so I will introduce you around and…” she stopped and looked at Nyasha standing there holding on to her elbow.
“What’s the matter?” Fiona asked
“It is burning a little, but I’ll be okay. You were saying.”
Fiona sighed and turned to the filing cabinet, opened the third drawer and took out a first aid kit. “Sit” she demanded and Nyasha plopped down quickly, afraid to anger her.
Fiona moved around the desk and sat on the other of the two chairs she had on the opposite side of her desk. “Show me,” she said and Nyasha tilted her hand so Fiona could see her elbow. Fiona opened the kit and took a piece of cotton wool, soaked it with rubbing alcohol and rubbed it on the elbow. Nyasha flinched and almost pulled her elbow away as the burning increased. It is then she realized that she had bruised her elbow.
Fiona gently touched Nyasha’s arm and pressed her lips together, something Nyasha realized was her attempt at a comforting smile. Fiona then leaned down and blew at the area as though to soothe it. Nyasha breathed in deep and watched the woman with her curly hair tucked back into the bun a little too tight, her clothes a little too loose and her face kept a little too stern. In the span of five minutes Nyasha had watched this woman put on the act of hard unemotional ice queen and changed completely to caring and gentle. When Nyasha relaxed, Fiona took out a band aid and placed it over the bruised area and then sat back in the chair. Nyasha suddenly felt uncomfortable. From her experience with women Nyasha knew how to move a woman and break down all her walls, but this woman who looked at her now, seemed to be some kind of puzzle. Nyasha shook her head and reminded herself that this wasn’t a puzzle for her to decipher, after all this was her job and this woman was her boss and even more important; this job was the first ring on her ladder to success. Those small black eyes that were staring at her, empty and hungry, filled with longing and unexplored passion. However, Nyasha decided they were not going to be a distraction, no matter how many boo boos she was ready to kiss away.
About the Author!
Anjie Harrte: Romance with some Caribbean flavour
Anjie Harrte is a twenty nine year old mother of one who resides in sunny Guyana, South America. Sometime between running a small business, having a full time job and being a mother and partner she finds time to pursue her passion for creating stories. Anjie dreams up stories of contemporary fiction splashed with some romance, a little dose of murder or an ounce of suspense and sometimes when no one is looking she dashes in a little twist. When she isn’t doing any of that, she is decorating a cake, knitting a chair back or sewing her latest design. Anjie even finds time to lurk around and stalk people and pages on facebook and you too can stalk her if you like at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anjie-Harrte/ or you can follow her on twitter @anjieharrte or keep updated with her writing at http://authoranjieharrte.blogspot.com/
-Joseph
Comment. Follow. Share.
No comments have been added yet.
