Tag: wip

Partners in Fighting Crime #WIPpetWednesday #Snippet #WIP #Excerpt

I’ve been working on this novel for a week or so now. I thought it was crime/mystery at first. I realized the other day, it most definitely is not. It is a psychological thriller through and through. I even looked up a definition of it and sent it to my spouse going this, this, this, this, this, this…ALL OF THIS…is exactly what this novel is. haha.

So…I guess I’m writing a psychological thriller with a crime/mystery bent. This novel is about an FBI Special Agent Morgan Stone (yes, she is sister to Chaplain Amya Stone, Grace’s infamous girlfriend). Yes, Amya does show up in this novel, and Grace too, albeit briefly.

This novel is about my agent trying to catch a serial killer. That’s the basic of it. Morgan has been with the same partner at work for near a decade, so she knows him amazingly well. This is just a little snippet into their working and personal relationship. From chapter 3 of Stone’s Mistake. This is completely unedited as I never edit while writing a novel because well I won’t finish it if I do. So bear with me on that.

26 paragraphs from Chapter 3 of Stone’s Mistake. 26 is for the day of the month! That’s your WIPpet.

Sighing, Morgan glanced up as Pax jerked his chair back and plopped his briefcase heavily on the desktop. She shot him a questioning gaze before leaning up to focus on her obviously angry partner. “What happened?”

“Mel. Mel is what happened.” He huffed out a breath and sat next to her, grumbling something she couldn’t hear.

“Care to elaborate?”

Pax and his wife had been married fourteen years, and it still wasn’t unusual for him to show up miffed about a fight they’d had just before he’d left for the office. Morgan, in some ways, reveled in his life. Married, boy-girl twins, stability, a home. It was everything she didn’t have and only some things she wanted.

She’d known Pax since before he married Mel, had been the best man at his wedding even, so she knew the ins and outs of their issues. When he shot her a look, Morgan chuckled. “Forget to take out the trash?”

“One flipping day, that’s all I wanted.”

“Wanted for what?” Morgan turned back to her computer screen, deciding she wouldn’t waste all her energy on placating him in his foils.

Pax grunted. “I wanted to go golfing.”

“Since when do you golf?” She furrowed her brow, shook her head, and pursed her lips. “And who the hell do you golf with?”

“None of your business.”

“Wait. Hold on. You don’t golf. What did you really want to do?”

“It doesn’t matter,” he muttered, powering on his computer and clenching his jaw.

Morgan turned her lips to the side as she debated whether or not to pursue the topic. Giving in, she pushed slightly back from her desk and turned to face him fully. “No. What did you really want to go do?”

“I was trying to set up a renewal of our vows.”

“Oh…” Morgan pulled a face. “Really?”

“Yes.” He glared.

She laughed softly. “Didn’t figure your for the sentimental type.”

“It’s a surprise, for our fifteenth. Thought it might be nice.”

“You thought it would get you out of some hot water for something you did, or you thought it’d win you some bonus points for the future when you screw up.”

The look he gave her told her the latter was correct. She laughed again, shaking her head. If he was going this deep in his planning, he was going to have to lie better than trying to go play golf when the man had never swung a club in his life.

“Pax, you’re gonna have to learn to lie better.”

“I can’t lie to Mel, you know that.”

“You’re going to have to if you want this to be a surprise.”

“Can’t you—”

“Absolutely not. This is your own fresh hell you welcomed into your brain. You do it. I am not the best friend who plans vow renewals. You’re lucky enough I dressed up for your wedding and showed up for it.”

He grimaced. Ending the conversation, Morgan turned back to her computer and continued searching for Reilly’s real name and face. She was another hour deep into search when her phone in her pocket buzzed. Frowning at it, she knocked her head to Pax to see if he was paying attention or not. When he wasn’t, she slipped away from their desks and down the hall to a quiet and empty conference room.

A late #WIPpet but a WIPpet

I’m late today! It’s been an awful couple of days and anticipated coming week for me. Super stressful. I haven’t even written the last two days; it’s been that bad.

Anyway, I have started a new book, titled Stone’s Mistake. It may or may not turn into a series. Today I’m cutting to the chase. You get 8 chapters from chapter 2, which is the beginning of an MC’s point of view. This is completely unedited, so bear with me! =P

Morgan hit the button on the coffee pot to set the dark liquid brewing. It took a few minutes, but the scent wafted over to her, and she shuddered. She needed that dark brew at her lips immediately. Tapping her short fingernails against the counter, she stared down the coffee pot and willed it to brew faster.

Her day was going to be a busy and boring one, and while she didn’t relish going into the office in the middle of a snow storm that was supposed to hit them midday, she knew she had no other choice. There was paperwork to be done, research to be looked into, and conspiracies to test. Swallowing, Morgan glanced back down at the coffee, glad to see there was finally enough in the pot for one cup. She’d need at least three to get her brain spinning gears fast enough to work.

She grabbed her favorite mug her mother had given her with The Golden Girls on the side of it and jerked the pot back. The hiss of coffee falling directly onto the warmer underneath didn’t phase her as she poured her cup and set the pot back. One teaspoon of sugar later, and she was leaning against the counter, sipping the coffee and groaning as it’s dark roast hit the front of her tongue. It was heavenly.

It was going to be a hellaciously long couple weeks at work. She was due to leave the Chicago office and head south into Kansas on Friday and wasn’t planning on being back for at least seven to ten days. Clenching her jaw, Morgan looked around the tiny apartment she was so pleased to call home for less than half the year and sneered. She should probably clean up before she left, that way when she returned she’d have time to relax.

Snorting as the thought ran through her head, she rolled her eyes. Who was she kidding? She didn’t relax. The next sip of coffee hit the back of her throat, and Morgan felt the dregs of sleep pushing from her brain and clearing her thoughts. Perhaps she could get a cat. That could be good company for when she was actually at the apartment, and while she was gone, the cat could easily take care of itself.

Morgan hummed and shook her head. No, what she needed was a date. It was nearing on a year since she’d gone on her last tried and true date, which had been an utter disaster. Getting called in to help with a homicidal maniac in the middle of a first date wasn’t exactly the best way to begin a relationship. She shook her head. Dating apps had failed her, going to the bar had failed her. She was left with little else to make connections for her except friends, which she was severely limited on.

Her coffee mug was halfway empty before she slipped from leaning against the counter and headed for her small bedroom off the side of her living area. The bedsheets were strewn apart after she’d forced herself to exit the warmth. She had clothes all over the floor that she had yet to pick up and wash, but it didn’t matter. She wouldn’t have time until the weekend anyway, which she wouldn’t be home for.

Clucking her tongue, Morgan set her coffee down on her night stand and tugged off her loose shirt and pajama bottoms, shucking them to the floor right by her bedside. That way when she returned in the wee hours of the night, she wouldn’t have to stumble around to find them. With a fresh pair of undies, the bra she’d worn the last week, Morgan dressed.

A small excerpt for a #WIPpetWednesday

I asked on Facebook this week if anyone was even participating in WIPpet anymore. I have no idea. Those who I knew who were doing it, aren’t anymore. But I miss it so much. I thought I’d share a little from what I have been writing this whole month.

This is from Learning Love which is a May/December romance. This is when Becca, the soon-to-be love interest, means the ex-husband for the first time. It’s part of what made me absolutely fall in love with her character. She’s so strong in ways she doesn’t even know.

13 paragraphs for the year 20 – the month 7 = 13.

As she got closer to the door, Becca could hear a voice shouting through it.

“Kimberly, open up! Come to the fucking door. Seriously, Kimmie. Open the damn door.”

Becca pursed her lips and glanced around to make sure Kimberly wasn’t hiding in the kitchen or on the couch. She hesitantly stepped toward the door and peeked out the small glass window before unlocking it and opening it.

“Who the hell are you?” he shouted with wide eyes before trying to get around her.

Becca planted her feet firmly, refused to open the door any more, and would not move.

“Who the hell are you?” she countered back. “Don’t you think it’s a bit obnoxious to pound on a poor woman’s door until someone comes to answer it. Aren’t there better methods of getting someone’s attention rather than being a beast in a suit?”

She eyed him up and down, deciding right then and there she didn’t like him. He was dressed impeccably, but his demeanor was all man, all power, all superior entitlement.

“I own this house.”

“Bullshit,” Kimberly’s voice echoed down the hall as feet pattered heavily on the floor.

“Daddy!” Michael ran right by Becca and wrapped his arms around the man’s legs tightly, burying his face in his legs. “Why are you here?”

“Yes, why are you here, Bradley?” Kimberly asked angrily.

Becca decided to step to the side, thinking Kimberly had this handled better than she could, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to completely leave.

“Who is she?” He jerked his head in Becca’s direction and spat the question.

I honestly cannot wait for everyone else to read this piece. It might be my favorite since Memoir in the Making. It’s definitely not my norm, but these two characters…I don’t know, but I fell head over heels in love with them both.

A new project… #WIPpetWednesday & #ROW80

Well, since I finished my NaNo novel last Wednesday evening, that means I need a new project. I decided to take a break from writing for a few days and came into a conundrum. I had no idea which book to start working on. I have three books in edits, one of those has a sequel, so I could write it. Or I could write the last book in my cop series. Or I could write a companion piece to it. OR I could write a whole new piece with a whole new world.

Since my cop series is the only one I technically “have” to write, I went for that one. So that means back to the world of Grace. If I write about 2,000 words a day, I should be able to finish this novel before the start of the new year (writing wise anyway) which means maybe, just maybe, my publisher will bump up its anticipated release date. =D

Anyway, in non-writing/editing news, I get to go to Fort Worth in February for a visit! It’s so exciting and I can’t contain it. I haven’t been back there since I moved in July. And I get to go to Columbus, OH in July next year where I’ll hopefully get to meet some awesome WIPpeteers that I’ve know for awhile.

So here we go…

ROW80 first.

1. Write 1667 words a day.

Sunday: 0
Monday 0
Tuesday: 2583

2. keep up with all blog posts ROW80, WIPpet, Open When and add in 1 extra post a week

Haven’t done this yet, and I haven’t made up for the Open When post I missed last week.

3. Edit at least one chapter a week on something.

I have definitely been keeping up with this. Since Sunday I’ve done 5 chapters for Jasmine Lee on her copy-edit. I’ve done 1 chapter for S. K. Hart on her copy-edit. I… started a chapter for me! Yay! I need to figure out how to get in some of my own editing time since I have 3 novels in the process of it right now.

4. crochet one round of border a week

Have no done this and really need to do it. My guess is I’ll cram it in after NaNo is over and these copy-edits are over. I just don’t have time to think about doing it right now.

Now… for WIPpet Wednesday

As I said before, I finally decided to write Grace through Redemption, the last book in the Spirit of Grace series. I have absolutely no plan going into this novel and that is a scary, scary thing for me, so hopefully after I do some writing and working today, I’ll be able to outline a bit of it.

All are welcome to join in WIPpet Wednesday. If you want to join in, just create a blog post with a snippet from your WIP (Work in Progress). The ONLY rule is that you correlate your snippet with the date somehow. Then go on over here and link up with everyone else. If you get a chance, check out some of the other writers and leave them a comment–we’re all not-so-secretly comment whores.

For today, you get 21 sentences straight from the Prologue of Grace through Redemption. my math is simply. 19 + 1 + 1 = 21.

Grace grabbed the railings on the treadmill briefly to steady herself before sprinting and focusing on running once more. It wasn’t the first time Amya had distracted her from something, and Grace knew it certainly wouldn’t be the last time. She hunched her shoulders and increased the speed again for the last two minutes of her run, knowing if Amya could see the speed she had set on her machine she would get yelled at.

Closing her eyes and focusing only on how her feet landed and each breath she took, Grace charged toward the end of her workout. Her hair flung around behind her, wisps of it getting into her face as she movement forced strands of hair out of her loose pony. Amya wouldn’t have that issue. Grace sneered and looked up.

Two yellow lights barreled toward her. She didn’t have time. The car sped so fast she wasn’t surprised when the front windows buckled. Grace dropped to the floor and rolled to the side, not catching her breath as she was showered with glass and metal. Dust settled around the gym when she heard the wheel spinning on the carpet.

Pushing herself up, Grace’s ears rang. She crawled on her hands and feet in the direction of where Amya had been and couldn’t keep up with her still racing heart. The pounding was so heavy she couldn’t concentrate on anything other than finding Amya.

She found her leg first. Grace gripped Amya’s ankle and followed it up her body until her face was only a few inches from Amya’s lips. “Amya—you okay?”

Amya nodded and lifted a hand to Grace’s cheek. “Yeah, fine. What happened?”

“Car—straight into the gym.”

And there you have it! Please join in WIPpet fun. It’s loads of interesting smashed into greatness.

WIPpet Wednesday…. a WIP that’s….not really a WIP =P

I might be breaking the rules a bit, but I don’t want to give you the tentacle erotica at all. So … I’m going to give you a bit more from the sci-fi short I gave you last week. I just submitted it on Sunday, so here’s to hoping I hear back soon. *crosses fingers*

So here you go! My WIPpet that’s not really truly a WIPpet anymore.

For the second of July, you get two lines from page 14. So…. here you go

“Where are we going?” Laila asked and glanced at the cave entrance.

“To fight a war.”

If you would like to join in WIPpet Wednesdays, all you have to do is post an excerpt of your work in progress (unlike me) on your blog and link it up here. Make sure your post correlates with the date somehow! Then check out all the other posts.

WIPpet Wednesday! May 21, 2014

Hey all!! Life is good, life is easy! I’m skipping straight to the WIPpet today. =P

Continuing on from last week, a bit more of Amya’s adventures in the shower.

My math is simple. This is the 5th month so you get 5 paragraphs. Yay! So here we go.

She wanted to kiss her way up Grace’s neck, something she’d only done a few times. She wanted to work her way back down and tug her shirt—Amya stopped. Her eyelids flew open and she stared down at the tub to where she’d dropped her loofa. She froze the movements of her hand on her body and took in a deep staggering breath.

What was she doing? She sniffled and moved her hand, feeling as she had betrayed herself, Grace, and their relationship. Amya stepped under the hot spray of the water and washed the suds from the pomegranate body wash off. She leaned down and turned the temperature up, heating her skin until it was red and not pink.

Her body still hummed. It betrayed her more and more with each passing second. She wanted to touch herself, wanted to imagine Grace doing those exact things to her body, making her feel high on pleasure. She wanted Grace to be there.

Amya ignored the tears in her eyes, reminding herself they had a date in a few hours. A date that would never result in touching, but at least they’d be together for a while. Amya took a breath and clenched her teeth.

“Screw it,” she said, her voice echoing in the empty room.

And that’s it folks! My life is crazy right now. In a few weeks I might have some more info for you about what’s going on and where I might be headed. Right now I’m just trying to get my summer scheduled and keep those necessary in the loop of chaos that has struck!

If you are available and willing, there’s still time to sign up for S.A. Snow’s Cover reveal on June 14. If not, S. A. will be having a book tour coming up if you really want to get your hands in that pot. Linky for cover reveal here!

Thanks to the awesome KL Schwengel for hosting this thing each week.

From ashes to ashes, from dust to dust…

I almost forgot about WIPpet Wednesday again this week! My life on the outside of writing finally seems to be heading in the direction I’ve been waiting and wanting for years! I’m not going to share specifics, but it’s ridiculously exciting. I will finally be able to do my dream job! Which isn’t writing, if you didn’t know that.

Anyway, onto my WIPpet post.

This post stems just after last weeks post with a few paragraphs or so in between. It’s a new scene, so you don’t really need any explanation of how they’re connected.

My math is simple this week. 4 + 9 = 13. 13 sentences from chapter 10!

 

Air caught in James’ throat as she tried to breathe. Smoke filled her lungs as she gasped over and over again, trying to find the exit. The door was covered in flames, the stairs eaten by fire as she crawled up them, one after the other, trying to get to the top. It was the only way she could go. Everything else was blocked off.

Panic welled up in her chest and blocked her from doing anything. She froze in place as the little girl stood in front of her. Flames were at her back, curling around her form as she controlled them. Dark eyes stared into James as if she wasn’t there and as if she was the entire focus at the same time. James let out a breath and collapsed down onto her knees.

“Lily.”

“Mama?”

“Bumblebee, we need to get out of here,” James whispered, her voice raspy from the smoke.

 

If you would like to join WIPpet Wednesday, it’s open to everyone. Just write a blog post with your current WIP (Work In Progress) that somehow correlates with the date. Link it up with everyone else’s and go read the other posts! We’re all comment whores, so make sure to tell us what you liked about it!

WIPpet Wednesday!! October 9, 2013

Wow…I really just tried to write July for the date! I will not be joining next week because I will be on a mini getaway with my boyfriend. I so need it. I’m only getting one day off for about 6 weeks straight. Feel free to come kidnap me! So long as fun things happen after the initial kidnapping and I’m not allowed home or near a computer.

Since I haven’t had much time to write, due to work and work and school, I’ll be giving you the next few lines from what I shared last week. I did cheat a bit as this will be my NaNoWriMo piece, but I’ll definitely hit more than 50k words in the one month, so I think I’m safe.

Here’s how WIPpet works. Take an excerpt from your current Work In Progress and post it in a blog. The excerpt must in some way related to the date. And feel free to get VERY creative with the math. Then share that blog with everyone else here and read all the other amazing posts!!

Here’s mine for this week. Taking off from last week, which you can find here, Grace continues to deal with the punk. I have 25 paragraphs (they’re short I promise). My math is this: 10 + 9 +2 + 1 +3 = 25

Climbing up and onto his back, she dug her knee into his spine and grasped for his hand, the knife blade flying out. Pulling her fingers into a fist, she smashed it down onto his wrist until he let go and cried out.

“Get off me, bitch!”

“Stop resisting!” Grace shouted back, seeing red as the punk tried to wiggle his way loose from under her.

She moved up his body and rested her forearm against the back of his neck, working his face into the gravel. He cried out in pain, but Grace didn’t let up. She wouldn’t until his body completely relaxed and he decided to cooperate.

“Stop resisting, and I’ll let you up.”

Swallowing hard, Grace looked up to see Toulouse barreling his way down the street to her location. He had left his cruiser at the end of the block, driver’s side door flung open as he ran as fast as he could down the road.

Grace looked back down at her suspect and sneered as he tried to turn her over. She dug her knee farther into his back and put more pressure on his neck.

“A’ight. A’ight. Damn, bitch. I give up.”

Toulouse got to her and landed on the other side of the suspect. Toulouse grabbed for the suspects arm and wrenched it behind his back and pressed his own knee into the man’s back. Grace reached up and twisted the punks other arm back and watched as Toulouse clicked the handcuffs into place.

Grace let out a breath just as another cruiser pulled up. Two doors slammed and Grace knew who was walking over before she had a chance to even look up. The stupid cop that wouldn’t let up on her and his kid of a trainee. She took a deep breath and bolstered herself for any rude comments, sexual or personal, and started to tug the punk up by his cuffs.

“Got it all handled, Halling?”

If he hadn’t been facing her, Grace would have sneered. “Yes, it’s all handed. Thanks for the assist.”

She turned back to Toulouse and headed toward his cruiser to do the pat down. She knew the three men were giving each other nasty looks behind her back due to their silence, but she ignored them and kept on walking with the punk in front of her.

“You fucking tackled me! I’m gonna report this to your sup. Excessive force is what it is.”

“Shut up,” Grace muttered.

She shoved him against the back of the cruiser and spun him around. She patted down his arms and sides, deciding to wait for Toulouse to come back over for the rest of the pat down. A quick glance over her shoulder told her that he was already coming back.

“Got any needles on you? Anything sharp that’s going to poke me?”

The punk spit on the ground and growled. “None of your business.”

He pursed his lips and lifted his chin. Grace rolled her eyes and tugged on his cuffs to make her point. She didn’t want to get pricked if she could help it, and she was sure Toulouse would agree.

“It’s only going to be harder on you if you don’t cooperate.”

The punk didn’t respond.

“What we got, Halling?”

“Nothing yet. I only did the top half of the pat down, figured you could do the rest. You know, that whole man to man thing.” Grace smirked and stepped back when Toulouse grabbed hold of the handcuffs.

Before Grace could take three steps, an angry black woman came charging down the road, barefoot and braless. Grace immediately stepped between the punk, Toulouse, and the angry woman.

The woman was screaming so loudly with a hoarse and deep voice that Grace couldn’t understand a word she said. Every two steps the woman had to heave a breath as she waddled her large body closer and closer to the punk.

WIPpet Wednesday! September 25, 2013

Welcome to WIPpet Wednesday where we all make posts of our current WIP (Work In Progress) associated with the date. We link them up here and then read everyone else’s. Feel free to join in!

This week I’ll continue with Emma’s story…I had a title for it in my head and then I went to sleep and forgot it. I managed to actually get quite a bit of writing done this week, so it makes me happy to have lots of choices for WIPpet today. 13 sentences since it is 2013!

Context is Emma explaining to Molly what she “knows” about the “house” that Molly lives in and runs. This is after said kidnapping when Emma is still all drugged up, and Molly is so taking advantage of that.

“Caroline?”

It took Caroline a moment to respond. “Yeah?”

“When you first came here, was there a reason?”

“I don’t understand.”

“The first time I met you, when you base jumped off the building into my tree, did you land here on purpose?”

The color that had returned to Caroline’s face disappeared. She squeezed her hands tight and clenched her jaw—all signs of distress that Molly was sure to catalogue.

“I’d heard of this place before. You hide people and find them on occasion. I couldn’t find much information beyond that, and I’m a curious person.”

Molly felt that Caroline had more to tell, so she waited as the other woman gathered her thoughts. If need be she could beat the information out of her, but Molly had an inkling that the best way to get it with Caroline would be to wait her out.

WIPpet Wednesday! Sept 11, 2013

So last week, I didn’t get many comments. It was suggested that perhaps this was due to the small WIPpet that I posted. This week you’ll get more. 20 paragraphs 9 + 11 = 20 of what immediately follows last weeks post. I haven’t actually written anything in over a week *head desk* so finding something to post on was rather difficult. It’s been a crazy, insane week for me, meaning I started a new job and have 4 papers due for school along with quite possibly *cough* dating someone *cough cough*.

Here we go. I’ve included the few lines from last week. What you need to know is that Emma and Joel are driving to her old apartment to pick up some things. The few lines from last week are NOT included in my actual count and most of the paragraphs are dialogue, so this shouldn’t be too long.

“Why are you here, Caroline?”

She cringed inwardly at the name and chewed on the inside of her lip.

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Why are you at the house? Why did you come find us?”

Emma’s heart started to pound, but she shoved the feeling of panic down and took a deep breath. She needed to remain in control and not be cornered into telling him the truth. If anyone should find out, Molly should first. Emma turned to look at him and smiled.

“It was an accident.”

“You do realize that I know when you lie, right?”

“Umm…” Emma’s eyes widened as she stared at him.

“I’m an Empath.”

“Oh.”

Taking a deep breath and holding it her lungs until it burned, Emma blanched. She hadn’t expected Molly to keep an Empath so close at hand. That certainly complicated matters as he could tell when she lied and read her emotions—both of which she did not want him to do in any capacity.

“So yeah, you’ve been lying from the start. Care to tell the truth?”

“I don’t think it’s any of your damn business,” Emma spat back. She crossed her arms tighter and stared out the side window, willing herself to not respond to anything else that he said.

“Caroline—”

“Stop. Just stop it!”

Emma flung her hands out and curled her fingers into fists before pounding them onto her thighs. She’d lost her resolve. Grinding her teeth together, she seethed.

“It’s none of your business why I was base jumping. I was, and I crash landed in the wrong spot. You guys were nice enough to lend a hand. That’s all that happened.”

“Yes and no.”

“Damn it, Joel.”

“Stop leaving stuff out.”

“Stop the car.”

“What?”

Emma started to twist in her seat, unbuckling her belt as Joel took a right turn and tried the door handle. It was locked. She started to wrench it back and forth, using the full force of her body to try and get it opened. Joel was saying something, but she didn’t understand him. Emma swallowed scream after scream until she couldn’t anymore. She let out a feral shout before jerking around to glare at him.

Joel was finally slowing down and pulling to the curb. Emma lunged for the lock and pushed open the door, jumping out of the van before he’d come to a complete stop. She ran to the end of the block and turned the corner. She had to get away. She saw red as she aimed for the alley way.

“Caroline!”

If you would like to join in the amazingness that is WIPpet Wednesday, all you have to do is write a post with your current WIP (Work In Progress) and post it. Then link it up here and go read everyone elses. Love goes to MyRandomMuse for hosting this each week!

WIPpet Wednesday!! September 4, 2013

Good morning and welcome to the land of the living. I absolutely almost forgot that today was Wednesday. *hides* but I remembered!! In time, of course. It’s been a crazy week, but this morning I was filled with reading about Zombis in Haiti (they’re real there), and witches who are high on drugs and use broomsticks to transfer the drug to their bodies (that’s all I’m saying because the rest is inappropriate). Yes, I was actually reading this for class.

Nothing crazy like that in this story…yet. Even though there are witches. Hmmm…now I have ideas running around in my head.

Well here you go!

Since today is the 4th, you get 4 lines from Chapter 10 of the story that still has no name. Joel is talking to Emma in this…so have fun!!

 

“Why are you here, Caroline?”

She cringed inwardly at the name and chewed on the inside of her lip.

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Why are you at the house? Why did you come find us?”

If you would like to join in WIPpet, all you have to do is write up a blog post with some of your current WIP (Work In Progress) that correlates somehow to the date. Feel free to get crazy with the maths. Then you link it up here and read everyone elses work. It’s fantastic!!

 

Also…in case you missed it. I did an interview with a cover reveal last week. If you want to read the interview, you can go here. This, by the way, has been my favorite interview to do so far.

If you just want the cover reveal and to tell me how fantastic it is, look down.

Dying Embers is the second in the James Matthews Trilogy, but is a prequel to Forever Burn. In this novel, we learn more about Addison Lee. This book will be released THIS DECEMBER!!

definal3d-300x300

She thought she was on a new path, but life keeps tugging Addison Lee back to her past and her gift.

Addison struggles to make a new life in Norwich, one where she can be the Battalion Chief of Fire Station Seven and live life as she sees fit. She wants a life without the complications of an ex-fiancé and a job that put her life on the line for little more than a gift she was born with. Learning the ropes of a new job can always be tough, and being a Battalion Chief means she has a great responsibility to her crew and to the city. Nervous about her first day already, Addison realizes that adding in a one-night stand with a future employee has left her on rocky ground.

Plagued by visions of a dying woman, Addison continues to cope with difficulties at her new job. She has no idea who the dying woman is, where she is, or even, when she is—and no means to find out. Addison is distracted from the dying woman and her new job when called to Wyoming on an emergency, where she discovers it’s not as easy to leave her past behind as she hoped.

WIPpet Wednesday! August 20, 2013

Well, here we go. I’m back! Yay! School has started, work has started, I’m moving in 9 days, life is about to stay insane for awhile. But! the writing is good, as it always is. I have been awarded the wonderful position of Municipal Liaison for NaNoWriMo in the DFW region. I’m so excited to see what November has to bring. While I was gone for two amazing weeks, I got the proofs for the book cover for Dying Embers, which should coming out in December. w00t!

I also got to play with my new godsons, which is even better!!

Anyway, enough rambling, without further ado, 14 sentences from chapter 7 (20-8=12+2=14) of the newest thing with no name. To join in WIPpet Wednesday, just post some of your WIP (Work In Progress) and have it in some way correlate with the date. Feel free to get crazy with the math. Once you do that, go here and link it up and check out everyone else’s!

So Molly was a witch. Not something she completely expected, but it fit everything that Emma knew about the woman. Starting with why there were never any photos of her.

Witches lived for nearly ever, their aging process slowed down until it would take close to three hundred years before one wrinkle would appear on her pretty face. Emma had no idea how old Molly was, but if she had to guess, she’d say at least over a hundred and probably closer to two hundred.

Emma heard heels on the floor coming down the hall and she started to panic. She needed her purse. Flipping onto her other side, she looked at the night stand and sighed when she saw her purse sitting on top of it. Emma reached out and slid her hand inside, grabbing the tiny eight ounce water bottle. Twisting the already broken seal, she took the cap off and downed the contents of the bottle.

It was her last one. Putting the bottle back into her purse, she laid on her back and stared at the door just as Molly came through. Emma’s heart pounded in her chest and she tried to hide the flush in her cheeks. Molly instantly came over to her, concern written all over her features.

WIPpet Wednesday! August 7, 2013

Welcome, welcome, welcome. I decided since I’m procrastinating to do my WIPpet this week. You can join in! Anyone can. You simply have to post something that has to do with the date from your current WIP (Work In Progress). So since today is August 7th, it can be seven words from chapter 8, fifteen words from the 13th chapter. Get creative with the math! Make your post, then go here to link it all up. Go and read everyone’s and leave some comments of encouragement.

Thanks to MyRandomMuse for hosting this amazing event each week.

Seven sentences from the end of chapter four.

“I really wish you wouldn’t have lied to me. This would have been far less complicated.”

“Yeah,” Emma said, her gut wrenching. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Molly nodded and kissed her quickly before standing and leaving Emma’s small one-bedroom apartment. As soon as the door shut, Emma waved her hand and the locks clicked into place. That was a close call, she thought and curled up on her couch.

Now next week, no WIPpet for me. I’ll be without internet for exactly six days, something I’m hoping to survive! However, I get to play with babies, so it’s all good. Off to Montana I go!

TTFN

WIPpet Wednesday!! July 31, 2013 (Harry Potter’s Birthday)

Good morning! I’m joining in from the East Coast today with a spectacular visit with my mother. Can you imagine? I sent a message saying I would be there in two days and she thought I was wrong. So when I posted on facebook yesterday that I was flying, she immediately writes back “Um…I thought you were coming on Thursday!” Talk about a shock to her. Anyway…she’s at work so here we go.

This is WIPpet Wednesday. There are 31 sentences here from chapter three of my new piece that has no name as of yet. If you want to join in, which is perfectly fine and appreciated, then make a post with your current WIP (Work In Progress), or if you don’t have a current one, start a new one. The only hard-fast rule is that your post has to somehow relate to the date. Thus since today is the 31st you get 31 sentences. Feel free to get very, very creative with the math!

Without further ado…

He took another two steps back and screamed. The floor under him gave way and he crashed through, one leg going through the hole in the floor and the other bunching up under his chest.

He panted and moaned once everything stopped and started to look around. Molly was across the room, holding on to the railing and the creature was in front of him spewing and hissing again. Joel raised up his hands in front of his face and his body jerked down again. He had to reach out and grab hold of something. Trying to find purchase as he slipped farther down the hole, Joel started to panic.

“Stop moving!” Molly shouted.

It took Joel a second for her words to register, but he did stop. She was closer this time, staring at him with wide eyes.

“You all right?”

“If you count the splinters being the only thing holding me up, then yes, I’m all right.”

“Glad to see you haven’t lost your sense of humor,” she said and looked at the creature as it continued to hiss, moving every so carefully closer to Joel.

“Shoot it already!” Joel yelled.

Molly raised her gun with the tranqs and aimed. Her finger twitched as her muscles tensed, and she pulled the trigger, hitting her mark square in the side. The creature hissed and coughed before sputtering and falling over. With it no longer moving and threatening him, Joel finally was able to get a good look at it.

“It’s huge!”

“He’s not that large,” Molly said and stepped closer.

“Are you kidding? That thing is the size of a Labrador.”

Joel shifted and slipped farther. Grunting, he caught himself and stared at Molly, silently begging her to get him up and out of the pit he’d fallen into. Molly took a few deep breaths and tested the wood all around him. It seemed the floor right behind him was the strongest. Molly knelt down against his back and wrapped her arms around his chest.

“Is only one leg hurting?” she asked.

“Seeing as how one is in a hole and I can’t feel it, and the other one is the only thing that’s keeping me on this level right now, I’m going to say that they are both hurting.”

“Quit with the attitude,” she muttered.

Joel snorted.

Thanks to MyRandomMuse for hosting this amazing event. If you choose to post, link it up here!

#WIPpet Wednesday: July 24, 2011 #wip #amwriting

So…It’s Wednesday! That means it’s WIP Wednesday! WooHoo! If you haven’t heard, I finished my last WIP, so guess what? I started another one. Because I’m absolutely insane and can’t take a break. This new one I’m very excited for. There are vampires (not the sparkly kind), witches (not the good and not the bad kind…the gray kind), and werewolves (who don’t just change when the moon is full), and so many other creatures I can’t begin to explain it all. I’m so excited to get into this piece. It’s the start of a serial. That’s right. A serial, and since my MC lives for like ever, I guess it can just go on for like ever. *head desk*

So here’s what’s happen. This is a WIPpet. You can join in if you want. Just make a blog post with your current WIP (work in progress) and have the post correlate to the date. Today you’re getting 24 sentences from my novel. It’s only from the second chapter, not from the seventh, because I haven’t written the seventh yet! Feel free to get creative with your numbers. Once you make the post, you link it up here!! Thanks to My Random Muse for hosting this awesome event!!

Here you go!! My WIPpet

Emma woke in a strange room with no one else around. She looked from side to side, her head feeling the pillow each time she moved as she frantically tried to figure out where she was. The drapes were a soft yellow and the walls a pale blue. She sighed and turned toward the door as soon as she heard someone coming down the hall.

She pushed up in the bed and leaned back, groaning when pain shot through her leg and into her hip. Everything seemed to be in a fog, like she was swimming through molasses just to be able to stay afloat. Her head rocked from side to side on her shoulders, and she had to squint as soon as the door opened.

The woman who stepped through was beautiful. Emma was struck into place, the molasses finally stopping its perpetual movement as the woman came forward. Long dark locks that cascaded down her shoulders, just touching the tops of her breasts, eyes that were so dark, Emma could barely make out her irises. Emma took a shuddering breath and planted a hand on her cheek, double checking that her jaw wasn’t hanging loose.

With each step that the woman took closer to where Emma lay, she could make out more and more of her. The woman wore a slimming green dress with heels that Emma herself could never walk in without falling. Her legs were toned and never ended, her hips swayed to an unknown beat, and her smile—Emma stopped.

“Hello,” the woman said.

“Hi,” Emma replied, tentatively.

She had no idea who the woman was other than she was probably the reason Emma was there. Throughout all of her research, she hadn’t been able to find a picture of the woman who owned the small house, but Emma knew she’d meet her eventually.

“I’m Molly. Do you remember anything?”

Emma shook her head and watched as Molly sat on the side of the bed. Her heart pounded in her chest as she worried over what was going to happen next. If she had said too much, then her world would be ending. Molly couldn’t know why she was there.

 

WIPpet Wednesdays: July 17, 2013

It’s Wednesday! That means it’s WIPpet Wednesday!! You can join us any time just by creating a post of your current WIP (Work In Progress). Your post has to correlate to the date in some way. It can be seventeen words from chapter seven, or seven words from chapter seventeen! Get creative!

Today is seven paragraphs from chapter 5 of Ashes Fall. All you need to know is that James WAS taking a shower, and Lily is her sixteen-year-old daughter.

The suds slid down her body when the curtain to the shower flung open. Lily stood on the other side, hesitating for only a second before she stepped over the edge of the tub and clasped a hand over James’ mouth and moving her into the corner of the shower. James’ heart rapped against her ribs and in her throat, making it hard to swallow and breathe.

Lily made a shushing noise into her ear and took a deep breath, the water raining down onto both of them, the white suds from the body wash sliding down to the tub and swirling around before heading down the drain. James gripped her daughters hip to try and push her away, but Lily held strong and didn’t budge.

Managing to wriggle free enough to speak, James took a deep breath of the hot steam which suffocated her even more. “Lily, what’s going on?”

“Shhh…”

When Lily’s eyes found James’, the dark-brown was filled with worry and fear, her irises large and dilated. James started to breath heavier—something was definitely wrong. She tried again to push Lily aside and to reach for the shower curtain to leave the confines of the bathroom, but Lily held her still.

“I need to see what’s going on.”

“Someone’s here,” Lily whispered back. “Shut up or they’ll find us.”

To join us, make your post and link up here!! Thanks to My Random Muse for hosting!! See y’all next week!

WIPpet Wednesday!! July 10, 2013

Good morning and welcome to WIPpet Wednesday. Today on the show, you will find an excerpt from chapter nine of Ashes Fall, written and created and imagined by one Adrian J. Smith. She uses quick wit to break up tense scenes, but not in this excerpt. This particular scene is filled with angst, horror, and deep pain. Here is the excerpt for today:

James’ jaw dropped. She started to race toward Lily, stopping when the explosion rocked through the street and startled her. Spinning on her heel, James looked wildly around and tried to figure out exactly where it had come from. She went back to Lily, her eyes still hot with fire and her body radiating heat.

“What did you do?” she demanded.

“What needed to be done.” Lily shrugged and went back inside.

James’ heart doubled its speed in her chest as she ran down the block in the direction that Darcy had gone. She made it to the end of the block and saw the car. People had started to surround it, already on their cell phones. James couldn’t think. She ran forward, her bare feet on the asphalt as she ran toward the car, the back of it starting to catch fire, but the front completely consumed with flames.

“Darcy!” she shouted, her breath catching in her throat as she saw the ‘coexist’ bumper sticker on the rear of the car. “Darcy!”

James got to the car, not feeling anything she stepped on. She ran close to the fire, stepping back when it burst at her, threatening to burn her skin. Any tears she shed evaporated from the heat. She screamed again and tried to get to the door, but the fire came toward her again.

Someone grabbed her arms and dragged her back. James fought them. She had to get to Darcy. She was the only one that could save her. She saw movement in the front seat, white eyes in a darkened face covered with burned and ashy skin, rustling around and moving as the scorched body tied desperately to get out. James doubled her efforts to get away from whoever held her, but they were too strong.

Lights cast a glow on her face but disappeared in the flames as the fire engine and paramedics arrived, one right after the other. The hose was hooked up and fire crews in full gear swarmed the car. Another engine arrived in time to help, using the tank in their truck to douse the fire.

Turning into the warm body, James buried her face in the chest and let sobs take over. Arms rubbed her back and rocked her from side to side. She couldn’t watch. Smoke burned her nostrils, the small hairs detesting the scent of fuel and flesh touched by flame.

Time elapsed and they pulled the body out, laying it on the stretcher. There was hardly anything left. James slowly twisted around to stare as they covered Darcy’s body with the sheet and stuffed her into the back of the ambulance. The fire crew started to come near her and she shuddered. She couldn’t deal with them right now.

I hope you enjoyed the excerpt today. Adrian would appreciate any and all comments and has committed to responding to them in a timely manner. She has also opened the floor, like any Wednesday, to all those who wish to join in and get noticed. All you have to do is post an excerpt of your current Work In Progress that corresponds with the date. Today, Adrian posted ten paragraphs as it is the tenth of July. She did not choose from chapter seven for the month, although she could have. Adrian would love to see and read your excerpts, so post them and link them up over on this website right here. She’ll wander around later today and tomorrow, reading them for pleasure.

So, please, join in and have fun.

AND CUT!

#WIPpet Wednesday: July 3, 2013

So sorry I missed last week folks, but nothing I wrote was appropriate *giggles*

I do have appropriateness this week! Yay for writing non-sex scenes. Also, the sex-novel, aka the erotic sci-fi, is finished! wOOt…now to start the editing process.

So here’s what WIPpet Wednesday is. We (writers amongst the greatness) post our WIP’s, work in progresses. Not the whole thing, for sure, just a small smidgen of it. And it relate somehow to the date. So since today is July 3rd, it can be three paragraphs, three sentences, three words, maybe perhaps from chapter seven (not for me, I haven’t written chapter 7 yet, that’s for today). Then you go here and add yourself to the linky, and go check out other’s work and that’s how it all works out. Great? Fantastic? Yeah, I thought so too. So join in!

***
For me, this week, you get ten tiny little paragraphs. 7 for July and 3 for the day. This is from Ashes Fall, the third and final in the James Matthew’s series and it’s from Chapter 6. Enjoy. =P Things you should know 1) They are firefighters 2) James is a woman 3) James is the Battalion Chief to station 7 with two engines (65 & 67) 4) James has a “gift”
***

Anger bubbled in her throughout the entire drive back to her office. She stomped up the stairs and glared at her crew until they all gave her sorry looks. The police scanner in the corner of the room was turned on and had given away the ending to their tragedy of a call. James shook her head before nodding and going into her office. She needed time alone. The medicine had done nothing to kick her headache and she really just needed five minutes to herself.

She swung the door open and stopped short. Addison sat in the chair that she used to occupy. James’ jaw dropped as the brunette who had been dead for the better part of eleven years, spun in the chair and grinned up with her quirky smile. James’ heart started to pound in her chest, amping up into her throat until she couldn’t breathe anymore. She needed to move, to shut the door at least. No one in the other room would do well to see a dead woman walking around.

Except she didn’t look dead. James slipped into the room and shut the door, not daring to look away from Addison, so she did everything behind her back. She slipped the lock into place and opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Addison started to laugh–the sound rich and vibrating throughout the room. James panicked, suddenly thinking that someone else was going to be able to see and hear her if she was too loud.

She shook her head and put her hand up to try and quiet Addison down. The woman pouted, but she did stop.

“Addy,” James mustered, her voice breaking the instant it sounded. She cleared her throat again. “Addy, what–”

But the woman had started to fade. The light dimmed and her body started to disappear into the waning light of the room. James reached forward and tried to grab for her, but she missed and hit only air. Tears started to stream down her cheeks and she brushed them away haphazardly, trying harder when the door opened.

“What is it?” James asked, looking up to find JC there.

“Just wanted to tell you we got another call, Chief.”

“What?” James looked at the clock on the computer and noted that three hours had passed. She sniffled and looked back at JC. “Send sixty-seven.”

“On it.” With one last look, JC shut the door to the office and exited the room, leaving James alone with her fading memories.

***

#WIPpet Wednesday June 19, 2013 #wippeeters

Good morning to all you lovelies!! This weeks WIPpet comes from my newest novel that I’m writing, ASHES FALL. It’s the third and final to the trilogy about James Matthews and is the sequel to FOREVER BURN.

Enjoy!!

This is the last 19 paragraphs (though most are really short because they’re dialogue) to the prologue. 19 because today is June 19. Feel free to join in for WIPpet Wednesday’s peoples! It’s a total blast. Just check out all the others here, or if you participate, add your post! Also, this is the first draft…so I’m 1) sure it will change 2) sure there’s grammar that will undoubtedly be incorrect.

***

Sliding her hands over her jeans, Lily looked around the room. Her mom was right; it did need to be cleaned. She moved to her desk and picked up a plastic bag. Shoving some pieces of trash and extra papers into it, she cleared off her stereo. Music would make this go faster. Gnawing on her lip, Lily put her iPod on shuffle and waited for the first song to ring through the speakers. Joan Jett’s Bad Reputation burst through the room. Lily smirked and pressed the volume button repeatedly until she could hear nothing other than the lyrics and notes.

“Much better,” she said to herself.

Picking the clothes up off the floor, she deposited them into the laundry basket without checking to see if they were clean or dirty. Her floor was picked up in no time. Starting on her desk, dresser, and nightstand tops, she threw most everything away. She paused when she found a notebook set on the corner of the desk. Opening the cover carefully, she smiled. The book was her diary from years before. She read through the first few pages, but set it aside. She would finish cleaning first.

Twenty minutes later, she sat on her bed and opened the notebook. The cover had pink and purple sweet peas painted on the front. They had been her favorite flower for a few years. The first page contained a “This Book Belongs to Alyssa Stanton-Matthews” written carefully with a swirl just under the last line. The words were written in bubbly letters, and she’d used her full name—Lily remembered when she had wanted to go by it and shook her head. No way was she an Alyssa. She had scrawled about the boy she liked in middle school and the teachers she hated. A few years later and the boy and she were best of friends, no dating happening in between.

Lily smiled at the memory and reached into her nightstand for a pen. Opening the book to the first blank page, she started to write.

My mom is dating someone new. I don’t like her, and I think my mom suspected that I wouldn’t. They met on a dating website of all things. I never thought my mom would go on one of those, but I also never thought she would date again either. Not after Addy. The new chick is a bitch. All she does is glare at me. She hardly ever speaks to anyone other than my mom, and she never has any fun. Not that a pharmacist would have fun. She also never leaves. She’s always here. I’m pretty sure she’s even coming to our dinner tonight. I don’t like her at all. I miss Addy. She was great, and now, I’m stuck with queen-B and her attitude. My mom deserves so much better than her.

Lily paused and read over what she had written. The words were like a real diary entry, and they satisfied her. Tapping the pen against the paper, she heard her door open again, and looking up, she watched as her mom walked into the room and turned the stereo down.

“Looks good.”

“I try.”

James rolled her eyes. “Are you done then?”

“Yeah, just have to take out the trash, and I’ll vacuum tomorrow.”

“Sounds like a plan.” James stood awkwardly halfway between the stereo and the bed where Lily sat. “Want to come down and help make dinner?”

“Sure, what are we having?”

“Butternut squash and parmesan breaded chicken.”

Lily grinned. “My favorite.”

“I thought you’d like it.”

“I’ll be down in a second. I’m just going to take the trash out.”

She watched as James nodded and left the room. Lily opened her book up to where she had written her previous entry and scribbled down a quick sentence before grabbing the small grocery bag filled with trash and heading down the stairs. Leaving the book open on her bed, Lily gave it one glance before exiting the room. No one would see what she had written. She fully believed what she scrawled was truth, even if someone did see it, they probably wouldn’t think she was serious.

Darcy Greystone must die.

***

Well, there you have it! Now back to writing. This is my camp Nano project for July!

WIPpet Wednesday: June 12, 2013

It’s Wednesday! That means it’s time for WIPpet Wednesday! That means it’s time to read!!!

If you want to join in, write a post, click the link, add your post! Your post must correlate in some way to the date, so keep that in mind!

I have finished my ghost story that I used a few weeks ago for the WIPpet day. Here’s the link to the beginning of the story. I’m not adding some more to it! This is the last update on the ghost story I’ve title FLASH OF DEATH. This picks up close to where it left off…Shea has taken her someplace where they can touch (yes, dirty minds you are free to roam). 12 sentences, and yes, they were just kissing.

***

They broke apart after time stopped, and CL looked around, taking in her surroundings. She wasn’t in her house anymore. Shea stood before her in a gray, fuzzy and muted area. There were no walls that she could see, no floor and no ceiling as she stepped away from him to increase her awareness. The gray was close enough that she thought she could reach out and touch it, but as soon as she reached her hand forward, all she felt was air.

Thunder roared around the room, but it sounded off, like someone had stuffed earplugs in her ears and then put sound-canceling headphones on. She spun back around to Shea when she realized that the thunder didn’t echo. Light filled the room for a momentary blast before receding back into the grayness. “Where are we?”

“In the in between,” he answered, not moving from where he was rooted. More lightning came and went; thunder resounded before disappearing into the ether. “This is where we collide.”

***

On other news, I finished my final edit of DYING EMBERS and have sent it to the publisher. Just waiting to hear back from her, and then I have to task of picking a book cover! So yay! Now I’m off to take pictures of sunflowers!!