You’ve Got the LOOK

Thanks to a fellow author, Paula Martin, for tagging me with the ziggy zig zag tag—“You’ve got the LOOK!”

As part of this tag, I have to take my most recent work in progress or my current manuscript and search for the word “look,” then post the surrounding paragraphs/text.

My current ‘work in progress’ is as yet untitled, but is meant to be Book 2 of a series I’m hoping to write and publish. Book 1, The Seduction of Esther is a contemporary romance with a Jewish theme, and revolves around the holiday of Purim. Book 2 moves onto Passover and continues the story of two characters featured in Book 1–Miriam, the heroine’s sister, and Josh, the antagonist, who’s going to be turned into a good guy. This is the first draft and is very rough, so bear with me please! I used the word ‘look’ in the opening of the book, so these are the first three opening paragraphs, starting with Josh. Let me know what you think!

He threw his pen across the room. It sailed in an arc over the two sleek black chairs on the other side of his black marble desk, banged against the dove grey wall and landed behind the steel and black credenza. A splotch of ink, resembling a Rorschach pattern, marred the formerly perfect wall. Josh swore to himself and ran his hand down his face. Of all the ridiculous, unbelievable, annoying coincidences, this one was by far, the worst.

He swung around in his chair and stared out the window of his Manhattan office. Marvels of steel and concrete filled his view, and as an architect, he usually found solace, inspiration and satisfaction from looking at them. Even a little pride, when he identified ones he’d helped to design. But today, he didn’t see them. He saw her face and he clenched his jaw in aggravation.

The line from Casablanca flitted through his head. “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world…” He fisted his hands at his side, flared his nostrils and closed his eyes.

And now, the fun part–why should I be embarrassed on my own–I get to tag five more authors. So, Anne Holly, Lila Munro, Jessica Lauryn, Debra St. John and Nancy Herkness, tag, you’re it! You can post in your blogs, website or on your Facebook pages. And the rest of you, these ladies are great writers, so check them out!