Participants post 8-10 sentences from a writing project, either published or unpublished.
I have a *new* pen name and another direction for my creativity. While Rose Anderson writes the intimate side of award-winning romance and will continue to do so, Madeline Archer will write the other flavors of fiction. Madeline will keep my writing styles and genres separate and write everything Rose doesn't. It might be a sweeter love story, an otherworldly walk in the twilight zone, or something dark...
Today it's a bit from the sweeter side of my imagination ~
Heart of Stone. This story is part of Entice Me ~ a multi-author anthology by the authors from Romance Books '4' Us. Nine luscious love stories make up our 99¢ anthology.
(Watch for the pre-order!)
First my 10 with details after...
Wiping her hands on her apron, she turned back to the trailhead and waited. Her daughter’s family lived on the adjacent lands, in the clearing below the wooded hillside. It should not take this long for Abigayle to venture here. The bird returned and widely circled three more times before disappearing beyond the trees. Finding his behavior both anxious and agitated, Finola frowned and murmured,
“Where are ye, girl?”
Turning to the packrat sitting atop the pork barrel, she told her familiar, “I’m feelin’ uneasy, Martin. Abigayle should have come by now.” Her chin jerked skyward, she mumbled, “And will you look at him? Something is amiss.”
Martin nodded.
Blurb~
The story opens with the notorious witch hunts in 17th Century Salem, Massachusetts.
As formal education for women lacks substance in her own country, Neila Flannigan leaves Ireland in 1904 to attend Radcliffe women’s college America. Shy and introverted, Neila passes her lonesome hours sketching the Harvard grounds and sending drawings home to her father. A chance encounter with a kind and elderly Irish woman inspires her to sketch a statue in an old, unused building. Desperately lonely, Neila ends up sharing her thoughts and feelings with a man carved in stone. Some days it feels like he listens.
Setting the Stage~
In the scene above, the notion of foreboding dogging Finola Maguire's steps all day comes to fruition when a piebald raven swoops into view. He's not actually a raven but Nicodemus her daughter’s witch's familiar in bird form. The ancient eldrich spirit seems agitated...
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I liked this scene. First, her worry over the Raven, then her talking to her pack rat - a nice surprise.
ReplyDeleteFascinating beginning. You've captured me, dear writer.
ReplyDeleteLoved the dialect and the last line. I felt Finola's anxiety.
ReplyDeleteAn intriguing snippet and story! Great job!
ReplyDelete