Saturday, September 24, 2011

Sweet Saturday Sample: Excerpt #3 from The Man from Shenandoah

This week's snippet for Sweet Saturday Samples (clean fiction excerpts from authors) is once again an excerpt from the Western novel The Man from Shenandoah, the first book in "The Owen Family Saga." We'll meet other members of the Owen family. I hope you enjoy this sample.

Edited to add missing words (in blue). Blogger, what's up with that?
~~~ 

“Ma!” Albert ran in yelling from the trees at the corner of the yard. “Somebody’s riding in, mighty confident like,” he panted.

Julia Owen looked up from the corn she was grinding and pushed back a loose lock of dark hair.

“Confident, you say? Does he look like a Yankee?”

Albert hung his head. “I mostly just saw him a-coming before I ran in, Ma. But he’s riding real straight and sure of himself.”

“Get your pa,” she said, grabbing the Sharps rifle from the corner. “There won’t be no Yankees set foot in this house.

Julia walked through the doorway with the Sharps in firing position and watched as a horseman neared the end of the lane from the pike. Albert spoke the truth, she thought. That man rides bold.

“Hold up right there,” her voice rang out. “Put them hands where I can see ‘em, and get down off that horse.”

The mud-covered young man in the gray coat laughed. “You always did look fine with fire in your eye, Ma.”

“Carl?” She took a step, lowering the rifle barrel toward the ground. “Carl! Is it really you? Lawsy, boy, we almo

st gave up on ever seeing you again.” She swiped at her eyes with one hand. “Get off that horse and hug your ma.” Her son dropped gingerly to the muddy ground and approached with long strides.

“Ma, I’m home.” He grabbed her—rifle and all—and swung her into the air.

She caught sight of the wince that he tried to cover and the dried blood on his face, and immediately began to worry over his health.

Setting her on her feet, Carl brushed at the mud he had transferred to her dress. “I’m sorry about the mud, Ma. I had a little trouble with some fellers down the road a piece, and we wrasseled around a bit. Here, let me put that rifle aside. I reckon you don’t want to put a ball into me.”

“You ain’t been hurt? What’s that blood?” She followed him to the front of the house, where he leaned the rifle against the stone wall. “Here, let me look at you.” Julia grabbed his arm, moistened the corner of her apron with her tongue, and dabbed at his face.

“Ma!” he protested. “It’s just a little cut.”

“And it needs tending to,” she insisted, then hugged him again.
~~~


Participants in this week's Sweet Saturday Sample:


1. Joyce DiPastena - medieval romance
2. Lisa Beth Darling-Paranormal Thrillers
3. Kay Springsteen contemporary romance
4. Jennifer Lowery~Romantic Suspense
5. Mirriam Smyth - Paranormal Romance
6. J.F. Jenkins YA/Urban Fantasy
7. Marsha Ward~Westerns with Heart & Grit
8. Patricia Preston~historical romance
9. Jean Joachim Contemporary Romance
10. Rachel Rossano-fantasy
11. Beth Trissel-Historical/paranormal romance
12. Patricia Kiyono - historical romance
13. Meg Mims - Western Historical Suspense
14. J. Gunnar Grey, mystery-adventure
15. Carrie-Anne Brownian ~ historical fiction
16. Dianne Hartsock-paranormal/suspense
17. Emily and Dakota-YA
18. Lindsay Downs-Mystery
19. Lia Davis~paranormal romance
20. Sherry Gloag sweet paranormal
21. Elaine Cantrell-contemporary romance
22. Joselyn Vaughn ~ contemporary romance
23. Trish McCallan - paranormal romantic thriller
24. Liz Botts-YA/Romance
25. Gwendolyn Gage ~ Christian Historical Romance

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Sweet Saturday Sample: Excerpt #2 from The Man from Shenandoah

This week's snippet for Sweet Saturday Samples (clean fiction excerpts from authors) is once again an excerpt from The Man from Shenandoah, the first novel in "The Owen Family Saga." We find the main character, Carl Owen, in dire straits. I hope you enjoy this sample.

From the north, a rider came pounding up the road, spurring his horse, then sawing on the reins to bring it to a halt. He alighted and ran to the sergeant.

“The major’s coming down the road. You’d better not let him catch you cutting another Reb.”

The sergeant cursed and turned back to Carl, grabbing the front of his coat.

“You got no right to wear a uniform, you dirty Rebel pup.” He took a fresh grip on his knife and addressed the soldiers restraining Carl. “Hold him tight while I teach him a lesson.”

Carl felt the tight prickle of fear racing up his spine as the soldiers freshened their hold on his arms. The sergeant looked around at the road, cursed again, turned to Carl, and cut the embossed buttons from his coat. He jerked the coat open, grinning evilly, and cut the buttons from his shirt, as well.

“Now you’re not a soldier.” The man cackled as he pocketed the buttons and sheathed his knife. “Let him loose,” he ordered, motioning to the soldiers. As they dropped his arms, he looked Carl up and down once more, his expression changing to hatred. The sergeant half turned away, then spun back, and with a massive fist knocked Carl flat. “Mount up,” the sergeant barked, and strode toward his horse, weaving a bit.

Lying in the mud, propped on one elbow, Carl wiped blood from his jaw, tasting salt as he tongued his molars to see if they were still tight. He watched the patrol leave, hate burning his belly. He turned over onto his knees and got to his feet, wincing at the pain, then whistled for his horse. Looking around for his hat, he found it on the wall where it had landed when he was attacked. He brushed at the soft, shapeless felt, removing a splash of mud, then he jammed it onto his head.

Sherando came trotting out of the trees, gray coat glistening in the misty rain that had once again begun to fall. The horse jumped the fence to reach Carl and nickered softly. Carl checked to see that the Yankee rifle was secure in the scabbard. “Sure glad them Billy Blues was so drunk they didn’t find you, boy,” he whispered through raw lips.

He swung into the saddle and straightened his back, swiped at his face with both hands to remove as much mud as he could, then ran his fingers through the blond hair at the nape of his neck, tugging loose both tangles and mud. He hoped someone at home had a comb, for he had lost his personal gear in a wild, last-ditch ride for freedom with Colonel John Mosby. Carl’s patrol had ridden into a Yankee camp to surrender after the war’s end. Union officers gave the Confederate cavalrymen parole papers and turned them free instead of holding them as prisoners of war. Carl had stolen the rifle as he left camp, but hadn’t had a chance to replace other gear.

The young man turned his horse onto the Valley Pike, laughing as joy surged through him. “Benjamin will have a comb. It’ll be fine to see him again.” Carl kneed Sherando to a trot, and launched into a tune he’d heard somewhere. “Oh Shenandoah, I’m comin’ to ya. I’m here, you rolling river.”

Carl looked toward the shallow river flowing beside the road and grinned at the cleverness of his new words to an old song. “Hold up that head, horse. We’ll show the folks that a passel of Yankees can’t lick a Virginia boy. We’re goin’ home!”
~~~

Participants in this week's Sweet Saturday Sample:
1. J. Gunnar Grey, mystery-adventure
2. Kay Springsteen C. Romance
3. Mirriam Smyth – Contemporary Romance
4. Jennifer Lowery~Romantic Suspense
5. Jean Joachim, contemporary romance
6. Chynna Laird – YA
7. Emily and Dakota-YA
8. J.F. Jenkins YA/Urban Fantasy
9. Lindsay Downs-Mystery
10. Rachel Rossano, science fiction
11. Cheri Schmidt ~YA Paranormal Romance
12. Beth Trissel-Historical/paranormal romance
13. Patricia Kiyono, historical romance
14. Felicia Rogers~ contemporary romance
15. Joyce DiPastena – medieval romance
16. Lisa Beth Darling-Paranormal Erotic Thrillers
17. Joselyn Vaughn ~ contemporary romance
18. Sandy & Sandra ~ Contemporary Romance
19. Marsha Ward~Westerns with Heart & Grit
20. Lia Davis, paranormal romance
21. Andrea Buginsky – YA fantasy
22. M.E. Romana – Romantic Suspense
23. Dianne Hartsock-paranorml/suspense
24. Bri Clark, paranormal romance
25. Elaine Cantrell, contemporary romance
26. Carrie-Anne Brownian ~ historical fiction
27. Morgan Kearns – Contemporary Romance
28. Liz Botts–YA romance
29. Sherry Gloag – Sweet Paranormal
30. Patricia Preston~historical romance

Sunday, September 11, 2011

9/11

Everyone I know is sharing/blogging their feelings about the events of 9/11/2001. I'm not sure I can bear to do so. It's not a case of having lost someone dear to me, nor have I ever lived in New York or Washington, D.C. or Pennsylvania. It's that the emotions are still so live within me: outrage, sorrow, vicarious grief. I've suffered plenty of raw emotions in my life, and I can't bear to let them free again.

Instead, I want to have a simple, quiet day of reflection, worshipping God Almighty, and resting from the evils of the world.

I hope you will have such a day, too.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Sweet Saturday Sample: Excerpt from The Man from Shenandoah

This week's snippet for Sweet Saturday Samples (clean fiction excerpts from authors) is an excerpt from The Man from Shenandoah, the first novel in "The Owen Family Saga." I hope you enjoy it.

The gaunt-featured young man with the lanky build choked down the last of his moldy bread, then got to his feet and climbed atop the stone wall against which he’d been sitting. Carl Owen looked as far as he could see down the Valley Pike, about 200 yards, but no one was in sight. Turning to look at the burned-out field the wall enclosed, he surveyed the gray-toned devastation made muddy by today’s intermittent rain.

Rage ris
ing in him, thundering in his ears as his heartbeat quickened in frustration and hate, he shook his fist at the sky.

“Phil Sheridan, may God spit in your eye for the ruin you brought to this valley. Rot in hell, Sheridan!”

“Get him!” h
e heard, just before he was tackled from behind, tumbling him off the wall and into the mud. Carl came up sputtering muck. As he wiped gluey sludge from his eyes, someone kicked him. He was hauled to his feet—arms brutally twisted behind his back—and dragged over the wall to where a huge, red-faced sergeant in a faded blue uniform stood waiting for him.

“Yankees,” Carl groaned, berating himself for letting his guard down enough to miss their approach. Panic coursed through his belly. He tried to tear free, but two soldiers gripped his arms, and he finally quit struggling.

The sergeant stood with his legs spread apart, looking Carl up and down. “Johnny Reb, you’re on the loose. We have a stout prisoner of war camp for you up in Washington City.” He bent forward, laughing in Carl’s face, who involuntarily wrinkled his nose and squinted shut his eyes at the overpowering odor of liquor fumes. The man frowned, drew a knife from a sheath on his belt, and tested it on his thumb.

“You look at me, Johnny Reb,” he snarled. “Look at me when I speak to you!”

Carl opened his eyes and stared into the Yankee’s mean eyes. “I have parole papers,” he said, raising his muddy, stubbled chin in defiance.

“You’re violating your parole, wearing the uniform of the Confederate Army,” the Yankee said, and put his blade against Carl’s throat. The young man sucked in a breath, then held it, careful not to move.

Just then, a burly soldier came up behind the sergeant. “Sarge, you told us we were going to find some Southern belles to entertain us,” he complained. “Let’s dump him in the woods.”

“Keep your nose out of official business. I’ll open him up a bit and teach him how to act around his betters.”
~~~

Here are excerpts from other authors who are participating this week in Sweet Saturday Samples:

1. J. Gunnar Grey, mystery-adventure
2. Kay Springsteen, contemporary
3. Jennifer Lowery~Romantic Suspense
4. Sandy & Sandra, women’s fiction & romance
5. Joyce DiPastena – medieval romance (PG)
6. Jessica Knauss, magical realism
7. Joselyn Vaughn ~ contemporary romance
8. Patricia Kiyono, historical romance
9. J.F. Jenkins, YA fantasy
10. Marsha Ward~Westerns with Heart & Grit
11. Beth Trissel-Historical/paranormal romance
12. Morgan Kearns, romance
13. Chynna Laird – YA
14. Dianne Hartsock-paranormal suspense
15. Lindsay Downs-Mystery
16. Emily Dahill and Dakota, YA
17. Rachel Rossano, science fiction
18. Jean Joachim, contemporary romance
19. Bri Clark, contemporary and paranormal romance
20. Sherry Gloag, romance
21. Lia Davis, paranormal romance
22. The Way of Impressions, historical romance
23. Liz Botts, YA romance 

Saturday, September 03, 2011

Sweet Saturday Sample: Excerpt from Slim and the Schoolmarm

I started a novel a long time ago and called it Slim and the Schoolmarm. I haven't finished it yet, as it got sidelined by my current series, The Owen Family Saga. I thought it might make a good Sweet Saturday Sample for today. Here's the beginning scene from this Western novel. [Edited to add the missing words, which appear in blue below.]


“Do not come to Arizona. Stop. Accidents happen. Stop.”

Alice-Anne Barrows turned the telegram sheet to the back, as though it would give her further information. Nothing enlightened her there. She looked at the message again.

“I cannot imagine what this signifies, Cousin. Are you certain it was meant for me?”

Clarissa Pembroke looked up from the bandage she was knitting and nodded her graying head. “Yes, dear. See, your name is on the envelope. Who has sent it?”

“There is no name given. This is a puzzle. What does it mean?” Alice-Anne rose from her place on the sofa and paced the room.

“Is there a place of origination, my dear? I don’t think we know anyone in the West.” Miss Pembroke twisted her thin frame in her comfortable chair near the fireplace, following Alice-Anne’s progress.

Alice-Anne stopped and examined the paper once more. “Oh! Of course. It says ‘Bitter Springs, A.T.’ The initials must indicate ‘Arizona Territory’.” She read the message once more, then asked, “Who would want to bully me, Cousin? And at such a distance from New York City! I think this is a prank.” She crumpled up the telegram as though preparing to throw it into the fireplace, then changed her mind and smoothed it out, folded it neatly, and replaced it in the envelope.

Miss Pembroke shook her head. “I have no idea, dear.”

“I have no patience for 
 pranksters.” The young woman brushed back a blonde curl that threatened to fall into her eye, then put the envelope into her pocket. She took a deep breath. “Will you come to the lecture tonight? Doctor Harley is to speak about treating poisons.”

“I thought Mr. Spencer was calling this evening.”

Alice-Anne stepped to the window and moved the heavy damask drape aside. A distant bell jangled, drawing her eye to the horse-drawn streetcar at the end of the avenue. She turned to face her cousin. “I sent Will a message that I wouldn’t be receiving callers.”

“He is no ordinary caller, Alice-Anne. I do believe he will offer for your hand soon.”

“Oh, Cousin!” The young woman crossed the parlor to kneel at the older woman’s side. “Please, don’t encourage him. I know he means to ask me, but I don’t love him.”

“I wish you had the luxury of refusing every offer, but your stocks—” Miss Pembroke broke off and left

unspoken the fact of her cousin’s diminishing means.

“I will dismiss the servants and take a smaller house. I can find a position as a governess, or even clerk in a shop. I don’t love him, Cousin. I want a love match—like Momma and Papa.”

The older woman sighed. “It would help if I could find employment again. I cannot believe my usefulness as a nurse is over because of a few gray hairs.” She straightened her back as though in denial of aging. “Let us not fret about it, dear. If Mr. Spencer is not coming to call tonight, I will go and enjoy the lecture with you.” She held up her knitting. “This bandage will be finished by then, and I can take it and another eleven to the good doctor.”
~~~

Here's the list of participants in this Sweet Saturday Sample blog hop. Have fun reading them!
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...