Deleted scene from the new book

I try not to edit too much when I'm writing a first draft, but it does happen. And sometimes I think I have a good idea for a new scene in a book, but once I get it written I ponder it and decide it just isn't going to work. I present you one of those scenes today. I didn't even finish writing this one before I knew it didn't fit with the storyline. I still like it though, and maybe I'll find a way to use it in another book. We'll see.

When I woke, my bed seemed smaller than usual. And the room seemed darker than I remembered. I wondered if I was dreaming and just thought I was awake.

I tried to roll over, stretch to wake myself up and look at my clock, but something heavy had me pinned in place. I stifled a scream, not wanting to alert my captor to the fact that I was awake. Or was I asleep, and this was no dream but a nightmare? Or a flashback to last fall?

I closed my eyes again for a second, but when I re-opened them nothing had changed. I cautiously wiggled each of my arms, and then each of my legs, to analyze the situation. To my relief, only one arm was pinned down. If I took it slowly and carefully, I could squirm out from under the weight holding me down and roll off the mattress.

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

And just for eye-candy, here's another house that could serve as a model for a home in Oak Grove. Or I could see it as a farmhouse out in the country somewhere.

Another week gone

 I'm going to try an experiment. I'm going to post a snippet of the new book here, and then post about it over on Facebook. That way anyone who hasn't finished the first Oak Grove book won't have to read the spoiler if they don't want to. Sound good?

Because I'm having a lot of fun writing it and I'd like to share and get your reactions. 

As of now, the working title is "Her Ladyship's Ring." But I reserve the right to change the title anytime before publication.

Remember, this is raw and unedited, so I almost guarantee it will be changed!

     The wine glasses still graced the coffee table when I made my way to the kitchen and turned on the coffee pot. Sleep had been hard to come by, and I needed more of a kick start than my favorite mint tea would provide. So much for my effort to cut back on caffeine. Despite the brave face I'd put on for my friends, the all-too familiar prickle of worry kept me from sleeping soundly.

     As I waited for the coffee to brew, I put away the glasses and returned the chairs to the kitchen table. With my first cup in my hand, I settled into the loveseat and tucked my feet under me, ready to face the day. I’d venture downstairs to retrieve my newspaper after I woke up a little bit more.

     The footsteps on the outside stairs broke my temporary sense of contentment. Like a phone call in the middle of the night, anyone coming by this early in the morning could only be bringing bad news. Freddie's advice rang in my head as I headed to the door, and I peered through the peephole as my visitor's fist struck the door. Pale blue eyes looked back at me. I grinned, and threw the door open.

     “Still hacking into the police computer system, Eli?” I asked.

     His answer was his arms pulling me close and his lips pressed to mine.

As an added bonus, here's a house that can serve as inspiration for one of the houses in Oak Grove. The picture is raw and unedited as well.

Back to real life

Now that my vacations are over, it's time to get back to work. I left Harmony is a bit of a situation, and I have to get her out of it—eventually. But not right away. That wouldn't be any fun, would it?

Speaking of vacations, I wonder how Harmony would react to seeing the the Rocky Mountains for the first time. Yes, she lives among the rolling hills of western Pennsylvania-eastern Ohio, (not telling exactly where!) and is an East Coast girl, but she's never been to the Rockies. Because her parents were killed in a mountain climbing accident, so she has avoided going where the peaks reach to the sky.Hmm. I don't think I can work that into Book 2, maybe Book 3?

I was hoping to get the first draft of this book done by the end of August, but I'm not sure that's going to happen. I'm a little over 37,000 words, but I have so many loose ends going on right now I'm not sure how I'm going to tie them all together. But I'd better figure it out, because Harmony's life might depend upon it-again.

Busy, busy

I haven't forgotten you. I've been out of town, having a wonderful visit with my mother. (She's the wonderful lady I dedicated The Marquesa's Necklace to.) Now I have to get caught up at my day job and get ready for my daughter to visit. 

I did manage to get a couple of thousand words written while I was out of town, and boy, have I got Harmony in an interesting situation.  Oh, you want a peek? Okay, here's one, raw and unedited.

The window seat under the bay window on the south side of the house was the perfect spot to sit and read or contemplate the summer blooms in the garden. At least, that was my vision for the now-empty space. All that the window overlooked at the moment were bare bushes and a few remaining traces of the last snowfall Even though they still had the original single pane glass in them, I didn’t plan on replacing them.

I broke into song as I sprayed down the left-side window with an extra-thick coating of the cleaner and went to work. To reach the very top, I had to stand on my tippy-toes and stretch. As the layers of dust started rolling off and last few rays of sunlight streamed in the spot I’d gotten cleaned, I smiled.

And screamed and hit the floor as the window on the right-hand side shattered, covering me with broken glass.

I will return, with some more meanderings, hopefully more frequently once August is over