Welcome back to Sweet Saturday Samples. I was fortunate enough to find a moment to prepare this post, so even though I'm not in town, my words are. :-)
I'm giving you part of a scene from my WIP, Gone for a Soldier. It's an interaction between Rulon Owen and his new acquaintance, Ren Lovell. Rulon has just met the captain of his cavalry company. I hope you enjoy it.
"Whew." Rulon let out a breath, not sure if this would be the normal day's occurance or not. He brushed down his clothing. "I don't look as fine as he does."
"Not many of us do. When we get to Harper's Ferry, I reckon we'll get you outfitted with uniform pieces and the gear you'll need, if you didn't bring anything more from home."
"Saddle and saddlebags with my personal necessaries is all I had to bring." Rulon felt somehow like he'd let his country down, having so little to offer. He followed Lovell back to the tent where they had met.
"You'll bunk here with me'n Owen," Lovell said when they'd made it back.
"Owen? I'm Owen. Rulon Owen."
Lovell grinned, showing the ubiquitous dimples. "He's Owen Leoyd. What're the chances you two would end up in the same outfit, let alone be tent-mates?"
"What's he like?" Rulon asked, sitting on the blanket covering the one cot out of the four in the tent that gave the appearance of being unclaimed.
"You met him over yonder, guarding the captain from the Yankees."
"Hmm. I reckon we'll get along all right."
"He's not as easy-going as me, but there's no evil in him. I can't say the same about our fellow tent-mate. He's over to the hospital tent, playing sick."
"He's not sick?"
"More like he's perverse," Lovell responded with some heat. "He'd as soon stick you with a knife as shake your hand."
Rulon arose with haste. "I'm not takin' his cot, am I?"
"No. That's unused."
"What's he doing in the company?"
Lovell wore a sober face for the first time in their short acquaintance, and swore briefly. "He's the major's pet, some kind of kin. Wouldn't leave home without the rooster fart, so he dumped him on us."
Rulon caught himself before he laughed at the man's ephithet. After he could speak without chortling, he asked, "When do you reckon he'll show his face here again?"
"If I had my druthers, never." Lovell took a deep breath, apparently trying to return to happier thoughts. "Likely tomorrow. The doctors won't keep him long before sending him on his way."
"I reckon I have to meet him one time or another."
"Too bad you can't add 'never' to that."
"What's the man look like? I don't want to come upon him unaware and get on his bad side."
"He don't have a good side, Owen. Stick close to me, and I'll point him out before you're obliged to meet him here in the tent."
~~~
Thank you for
visiting. I love to read your comments, so if anything in the sample
compels you to speak up, rest assured that I eventually read what you write
and will reply, if needed. Questions? I'm open to them, too.
Please refer to the Buy Links Page
above for locations to purchase any of my work. Also take note of the
"Newsletter" tab above. Do consider subscribing to my mailing list so
you will receive my quarterly newsletter. It contains news about me,
book signings, places I'll be making special appearances, book news,
links to original material, and special offers.
Come back next Saturday for another sample. Now, use this list
to find other blogs for more Sweet Saturday Samples. I know the authors
participating in our weekly blog hop enjoy comments as much as I do, so
please don't be shy. Thank you!
From her home in the forest, writer Marsha Ward offers up an eclectic collage of musings on life, insights into the writing process, sample scenes and snippets from her work, book spotlights, and author interviews. Now including "The Characters in Marsha's Head."
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Sweet Saturday Samples - June 22, 2013
Welcome back to Sweet Saturday Samples. My goodness, this week has sped by. Okay, this entire month has sped by, and I'm not ready for the events of next week!
Today I'm sharing a tiny snippet from Mary Owen's perspective. This is from my WIP, Gone for a Soldier. I hope you find it interesting.
Mary held her belly and bent double, gasping at the force of the kick the creature inside her had dealt. Surely this child was a boy. No female could be so unruly.
She straightened with care, then grasped the supportive back of the chair beside her. Two weeks gone since she had last written to Rulon, and no letter had come back in that time. Was he even alive? Perhaps he was too busy to think of her. Or . . . perhaps the rumors she had heard of "camp followers" setting up tents— No! Those boys whispering outside the store, what did they know? She wouldn't pay heed to them. She couldn't.
But the black thoughts continued. Rulon had needs. What had he called them? She searched through her swirling mind to remember her wedding day. Lustful yearnings. Yes. Very powerful yearnings. The two of them had spent a good deal of time assuaging his needs before their honeymoon days were spent. How could he set those urges aside now?
Another strong message from her babe demanded her attention, and for the moment, her body's needs prevailed over thoughts about Rulon's.
~~~
Thank you for visiting. I love to read your comments, so if anything in the sample compels you to speak up, rest assured that I eventually read what you write and will reply, if needed. Questions? I'm open to them, too.
Please refer to the Buy Links Page above for locations to purchase any of my work. Also take note of the "Newsletter" tab above. Do consider subscribing to my mailing list so you will receive my quarterly newsletter. It contains news about me, book signings, places I'll be making special appearances, book news, links to original material, and special offers.
Come back next Saturday for another sample. Now, use this list to find other blogs for more Sweet Saturday Samples. I know the authors participating in our weekly blog hop enjoy comments as much as I do, so please don't be shy. Thank you!
Today I'm sharing a tiny snippet from Mary Owen's perspective. This is from my WIP, Gone for a Soldier. I hope you find it interesting.
Mary held her belly and bent double, gasping at the force of the kick the creature inside her had dealt. Surely this child was a boy. No female could be so unruly.
She straightened with care, then grasped the supportive back of the chair beside her. Two weeks gone since she had last written to Rulon, and no letter had come back in that time. Was he even alive? Perhaps he was too busy to think of her. Or . . . perhaps the rumors she had heard of "camp followers" setting up tents— No! Those boys whispering outside the store, what did they know? She wouldn't pay heed to them. She couldn't.
But the black thoughts continued. Rulon had needs. What had he called them? She searched through her swirling mind to remember her wedding day. Lustful yearnings. Yes. Very powerful yearnings. The two of them had spent a good deal of time assuaging his needs before their honeymoon days were spent. How could he set those urges aside now?
Another strong message from her babe demanded her attention, and for the moment, her body's needs prevailed over thoughts about Rulon's.
~~~
Thank you for visiting. I love to read your comments, so if anything in the sample compels you to speak up, rest assured that I eventually read what you write and will reply, if needed. Questions? I'm open to them, too.
Please refer to the Buy Links Page above for locations to purchase any of my work. Also take note of the "Newsletter" tab above. Do consider subscribing to my mailing list so you will receive my quarterly newsletter. It contains news about me, book signings, places I'll be making special appearances, book news, links to original material, and special offers.
Come back next Saturday for another sample. Now, use this list to find other blogs for more Sweet Saturday Samples. I know the authors participating in our weekly blog hop enjoy comments as much as I do, so please don't be shy. Thank you!
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Book Bomb Today!
What is a Book Bomb, you ask?
Well, we authors have to come up with devices and strategies for bringing our books to the notice of readers. Right? Sometimes we band together and do special sales to attract attention.
That said, a Book Bomb is a one-day effort to raise Amazon rankings of a book so it is more visible through Amazon's mysterious mechanisms. I don't pretend to understand how Amazon does anything, but they do make suggestions, and the higher a book's ranking, the more it appears in suggestions. Or something like that.
Anyway, author Monique Bucheger writes delightful books for young people, and this is her Book Bomb Day!
By purchasing Monique's book, Simply West of Heaven, you become eligible to "buy" several free books and many very-low-priced books today!
Here's how:
Go to Amazon and buy Simply West of Heaven today.
Then go here to Monique's blog, read the instructions, and click on the Book Bomb poster. This will take you to a site where you leave your email address and the confirmation receipt number so Monique can forward all the links for the free and nearly free books. You enter the info and Monique sends the links.
Simple enough, right?
When you purchase Simply West of Heaven and get your redemption email--PLEASE buy all of the FREE books and whatever interests you of the .99 books. Amazon--especially--works on algorithms, so the more purchases, the higher visibility.
And nobody can touch so many e-books for the price on ONE!!
Several of these books are authored by multi-award winning, bestselling authors.
Well, we authors have to come up with devices and strategies for bringing our books to the notice of readers. Right? Sometimes we band together and do special sales to attract attention.
That said, a Book Bomb is a one-day effort to raise Amazon rankings of a book so it is more visible through Amazon's mysterious mechanisms. I don't pretend to understand how Amazon does anything, but they do make suggestions, and the higher a book's ranking, the more it appears in suggestions. Or something like that.
Anyway, author Monique Bucheger writes delightful books for young people, and this is her Book Bomb Day!
By purchasing Monique's book, Simply West of Heaven, you become eligible to "buy" several free books and many very-low-priced books today!
Here's how:
Go to Amazon and buy Simply West of Heaven today.
Then go here to Monique's blog, read the instructions, and click on the Book Bomb poster. This will take you to a site where you leave your email address and the confirmation receipt number so Monique can forward all the links for the free and nearly free books. You enter the info and Monique sends the links.
Simple enough, right?
All the books being offered need to be redeemed by Friday, June 21 at midnight to guarantee the free or .99 price. Some authors may continue the promo prices longer--then that is up to them--but you never know, so go get them today!
When you purchase Simply West of Heaven and get your redemption email--PLEASE buy all of the FREE books and whatever interests you of the .99 books. Amazon--especially--works on algorithms, so the more purchases, the higher visibility.
Here's a quote from author Monique Bucheger:
My author friends are a generous group of people, so I am really hoping you will support them as well as me. Many of the .99 books have recently been offered for free and have run out of free days (imagine that--depending on where an author has their e-books-- they can only have them free for 5 days.) so PLEASE consider supporting the .99 books-- trust me--the ones I have read are WELL worth it.
And nobody can touch so many e-books for the price on ONE!!
Several of these books are authored by multi-award winning, bestselling authors.
Just
saying. :)
Do look for, and participate in, the Rafflecopter. The top prize is a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!!
I hope you will support this Book Bomb, and get some terrific books for Summer Reading for yourself and your kids.
Saturday, June 08, 2013
Sweet Saturday Samples - June 8, 2013
Welcome back to Sweet Saturday Samples. Today I'm giving you a short sample that I had intended to flesh out and use in my WIP, Gone for a Soldier. Now I'm not sure I'll be able to use it, but I thought I'd share it anyway.
Rulon had never seen such chaos, nor felt such a rush of energy than he experienced that day. Already worn out from the long ride out of the Valley through the pass, the cavalry companies had nevertheless feinted and parried with Federal forces all the day, capturing some here, some there, breaking away when necessary, but mostly pressing forward, as was Stuart's wont.
General Early's brigade came up and Stuart sent a rider to inform him that the Federals could be repulsed if Early acted with courage and swift movement. Then Rulon's company dashed again into the fray. He was nearly deaf after each cannonade from Lieutenant Beckham's guns. However, the artillery battery made up of sixteen guns was most welcome, as it's shelling drove the Federal troops into cover and prevented them turning the left flank.
They rode around a house and Stuart directed Beckham to open fire upon a regiment drawn up in front of a wood. The enemy began to retreat. Troops from Early's brigade took after the Federals while Beckham's guns continued the cannon fire, but when the enemy moved out of range, the battery fell silent. The cavalry moved on the chase once more, with Beckham's battery following.
Rulon learned that the very last of Stuart's chasers followed McDowell's army a full twelve miles, although he himself had been detailed to the rear accompanying a squad of captives. As he said to Ren Lovell that night, "The Colonel surely does cotton to the chase," to which Lovell replied with hoots of laughter.
Thank you for visiting. I love to read your comments, so if anything in the sample compels you to speak up, rest assured that I always read what you write and reply. Questions? I'm open to them, too.
Please refer to the Buy Links Page above for locations to purchase any of my work. Also take note of the "Newsletter" tab above. Do consider subscribing to my mailing list so you will receive my quarterly newsletter. It contains news about me, book signings, places I'll be making special appearances, book news, links to original material, and special offers.
Come back next Saturday for another sample. Now, use this list to find other blogs for more Sweet Saturday Samples. I know the authors participating in our weekly blog hop enjoy comments as much as I do, so please don't be shy. Thank you!
Rulon had never seen such chaos, nor felt such a rush of energy than he experienced that day. Already worn out from the long ride out of the Valley through the pass, the cavalry companies had nevertheless feinted and parried with Federal forces all the day, capturing some here, some there, breaking away when necessary, but mostly pressing forward, as was Stuart's wont.
General Early's brigade came up and Stuart sent a rider to inform him that the Federals could be repulsed if Early acted with courage and swift movement. Then Rulon's company dashed again into the fray. He was nearly deaf after each cannonade from Lieutenant Beckham's guns. However, the artillery battery made up of sixteen guns was most welcome, as it's shelling drove the Federal troops into cover and prevented them turning the left flank.
They rode around a house and Stuart directed Beckham to open fire upon a regiment drawn up in front of a wood. The enemy began to retreat. Troops from Early's brigade took after the Federals while Beckham's guns continued the cannon fire, but when the enemy moved out of range, the battery fell silent. The cavalry moved on the chase once more, with Beckham's battery following.
Rulon learned that the very last of Stuart's chasers followed McDowell's army a full twelve miles, although he himself had been detailed to the rear accompanying a squad of captives. As he said to Ren Lovell that night, "The Colonel surely does cotton to the chase," to which Lovell replied with hoots of laughter.
Thank you for visiting. I love to read your comments, so if anything in the sample compels you to speak up, rest assured that I always read what you write and reply. Questions? I'm open to them, too.
Please refer to the Buy Links Page above for locations to purchase any of my work. Also take note of the "Newsletter" tab above. Do consider subscribing to my mailing list so you will receive my quarterly newsletter. It contains news about me, book signings, places I'll be making special appearances, book news, links to original material, and special offers.
Come back next Saturday for another sample. Now, use this list to find other blogs for more Sweet Saturday Samples. I know the authors participating in our weekly blog hop enjoy comments as much as I do, so please don't be shy. Thank you!
Saturday, June 01, 2013
Sweet Saturday Samples - June 1, 2013
Welcome back to Sweet Saturday Samples. I'm sharing a scene fragment fro the WIP Gone for a Soldier. Rulon has just asked his sweetheart to marry him. Enjoy!
Mary inhaled quickly, twice, then said, "I saw you talkin' to Papa. What did he say?"
"He gave consent," Rulon began.
Mary cut him off. "Thank the Good Lord!" Mary removed one of her hands from Rulon's grasp to dash the tears from her brimming eyes.
"He was somewhat reluctant, but did not seem inclined to demand a long courtship. He knows our time together is short with war coming upon us."
"Papa can be sensible when he puts his mind to it."
Rulon stroked the hand that Mary had allowed him to keep in his. "Your pa said he spoke to the minister about a ceremony."
She inhaled sharply. "He did?"
"Mr. Moore is available on May 11th. Three whole weeks away!"
"Only three weeks?" Mary shook her hand out of Rulon's and covered her face.
Rulon rocked backward at her strange reaction. "Sweet girl, three weeks is a lifetime to wait."
Mary peeked over her fingers. "Oh Rulon. I have only three weeks to get ready for my wedding day. I wonder what Mama will say?"
~~~
Thank you for visiting. I love to read your comments, so if anything in the sample compels you to speak up, rest assured that I always read what you write and reply. Questions? I'm open to them, too.
Please refer to the Buy Links Page above for locations to purchase any of my work. Also take note of the "Newsletter" tab above. Do consider subscribing to my mailing list so you will receive my quarterly newsletter. It contains news about me, book signings, places I'll be making special appearances, book news, links to original material, and special offers.
Come back next Saturday for another sample. Now, use this list to find other blogs for more Sweet Saturday Samples. I know the authors participating in our weekly blog hop enjoy comments as much as I do, so please don't be shy. Thank you!
Mary inhaled quickly, twice, then said, "I saw you talkin' to Papa. What did he say?"
"He gave consent," Rulon began.
Mary cut him off. "Thank the Good Lord!" Mary removed one of her hands from Rulon's grasp to dash the tears from her brimming eyes.
"He was somewhat reluctant, but did not seem inclined to demand a long courtship. He knows our time together is short with war coming upon us."
"Papa can be sensible when he puts his mind to it."
Rulon stroked the hand that Mary had allowed him to keep in his. "Your pa said he spoke to the minister about a ceremony."
She inhaled sharply. "He did?"
"Mr. Moore is available on May 11th. Three whole weeks away!"
"Only three weeks?" Mary shook her hand out of Rulon's and covered her face.
Rulon rocked backward at her strange reaction. "Sweet girl, three weeks is a lifetime to wait."
Mary peeked over her fingers. "Oh Rulon. I have only three weeks to get ready for my wedding day. I wonder what Mama will say?"
~~~
Thank you for visiting. I love to read your comments, so if anything in the sample compels you to speak up, rest assured that I always read what you write and reply. Questions? I'm open to them, too.
Please refer to the Buy Links Page above for locations to purchase any of my work. Also take note of the "Newsletter" tab above. Do consider subscribing to my mailing list so you will receive my quarterly newsletter. It contains news about me, book signings, places I'll be making special appearances, book news, links to original material, and special offers.
Come back next Saturday for another sample. Now, use this list to find other blogs for more Sweet Saturday Samples. I know the authors participating in our weekly blog hop enjoy comments as much as I do, so please don't be shy. Thank you!
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