All About the Writing

Six Sentence Sunday #11: I Do . . .or Die

It's now less than one month until I Do. . .or Die releases, and I'm filled to the brim with excitement and nervousness. Kind of like my heroine here. . .

In this scene, there's someone with a gun outside Ryan's house. Shelby is scared, clinging to Ryan like a human backpack, and he's trying to distract her from panicking by chatting about other things:

"Maybe I just told you that about the boxer briefs," he said, creeping forward, his back muscles flexing against my chest, "so you wouldn’t be thinking of me going commando."

My heart lurched to a halt for what felt like fourteen minutes. Which was great, because it gave me time to learn how to breathe again.

Then my heart began pounding so hard I felt like I was going to go deaf. Which was fine, because I wouldn’t have to hear myself wheezing as I remembered how to pull oxygen into my lungs.

I was dizzy, and faint, and just about dying from a lust that needed some major, major slaking.

Thanks for coming by for Six Sentence Sunday. I appreciate your comments, and I always look forward to reading everyone else's posts. It's my favorite day of the week, so I can't even think about not doing this anymore!

Oh, and I wanted to share some news that made me smile this week. Another book that I've shared here, Lord Midnight, won the Chapter One contest for October at Cheryl Bradshaw's blog. There were 50 entries, and she chose mine as the winner! She said some lovely things about my chapter, and she interviewed me too. So check it out if you have a chance!

Six Sentence Sunday: I Do. . .or Die #10

I'm really excited about I Do. . .or Die releasing next month. On December 10th, to be exact. It was posted on Goodreads this week, so if you'd like, you can add it to your "Want to Read" list.

It's been a while since I've posted anything from this book, so a little reminder is probably in order. Shelby is commitment-shy (she likes to say she's had colds last longer than her relationships). But when gunfire erupts at the latest wedding she’s in, it ends up being the best thing to happen to her love life. Detective Ryan Nichols becomes her 24-hour bodyguard and she discovers she's developing feelings for him.

In this scene, Shelby is trying to find out from Ryan's partner, Detective Joseph, if Ryan might have similar feelings for her:

There wasn't anything typical about this situation--I knew that--but there were things I needed to know. 

"Does Ryan—is he—I mean, when someone, like me—well, does he—"

Detective Joseph watched me flail around trying to ask my question without actually asking it. He never once gave me a hint he was going to help me out though. His lips were twitching, but he kept his eyes trained on my mouth, fascinated, as if trying to figure out what my next words might be.

Hell, I didn’t even know what they were going to be.

Thanks for stopping by each week. It's always fun to share my snippets with you, and I love reading what each of you post each Sunday. Even better, this week we get an extra hour for Six Sentence Sunday!

Six Sentence Sunday: Bad Sex Karma #12

Delia is convinced that Bad Sex Karma has turned her into a human wrecking ball when it comes to men. However, there's one who doesn't seem to suffer any ill effects from being around her: the guy she encountered at the farmstand a couple of Sundays back. Still, she's superstitious enough that she won't admit she's interested, in case the curse decides to smite him.

In this scene, the man comes into the winery where Delia works, and she's just given him a Chardonnay to sample:

He closed his eyes as he breathed it in, and dear Lord, it was so unintentionally erotic, I had to grab on to the edge of the tasting bar for support. He lifted the glass to his lips and let the golden liquid flow into his mouth, taking his time while he savored the individual flavors.

I could feel my legs start to melt, and I leaned against the counter, casually, as if I wasn't using it to keep from sliding to the floor.

Finally, when I thought I couldn't take any more of his obvious enjoyment, he set his glass down and smiled. "That was amazing."

"Was it ever." 

Thanks for stopping by for Six Sentence Sunday. I hope everyone is safe and secure as Hurricane Sandy starts working its way up the coast. 

Six Sentence Sunday: Bad Sex Karma #11

While Delia is trying to convince her friends Brooke and Carly that it's dangerous for men to date her, thanks to the Bad Sex Karma, they are trying to find some way to restore Delia's confidence so that she will want to date.

In this snippet, Brooke has insisted they take their daily walk at the local college, where the lacrosse players are having their practice:

I peeled off my sweatshirt, keeping a hand on the shirt underneath so I wouldn't get arrested for flashing the young men who would be financing my Social Security checks one day. My ponytail holder got caught, so I yanked it out, and gave my hair one of those sexy swings back and forth to fluff it up.

I heard a whistle, and nearly smacked Brooke—until I realized it was coming from an adorable, sexy young man on the grass in front of us. When he said, "You're hot", I laughed, and then blew a little kiss his direction.

Next thing I knew he was on the ground, under a pile of his teammates, who'd plowed into the back of him when he'd stopped to admire me.

"Now do you believe me?" I asked my friends, but they were too busy waving their hands at me in an unmistakable "we're not worthy" fashion.

Thanks for stopping by on this Six Sentence Sunday. I'm looking forward to reading everyone's posts today!

Six Sentence Sunday: Bad Sex Karma #10

Welcome to Six Sentence Sunday again! Here's another snippet from my WIP, Bad Sex Karma.

Delia is convinced she's cursed with bad sex karma, ever since her boyfriend dumped her at their anniversary dinner, after their first episode of bad sex. She's just gone on a blind date set up by her two best friends. It didn't go well, for several reasons -- one of them because the waiter managed to slip and fall after showing some interest in her. Delia's sure it's a sign that it's not safe to date:

"Yeah, well, if you guys had picked better the first time, we wouldn’t be negotiating ‘Man B’ right now."

That earned me a couple of fierce scowls, which I ignored. Instead, I let them plot who they were going to come up with for the next victim—I mean, date.  With any luck – for me and my unsuspecting date – the evening would not involve the numbers "911" or a ride to the ER in an ambulance.

Besides, if the Bad Sex Karma gods decided something should happen to the next guy I dated, I’d rather it not be somebody I had picked out.

As they always say, it’s all fun and games until your date ends the night with a brain injury.

My friend, and fellow author in the Samhain Stranger on a Train series -- Samantha Hunter -- is doing her first Six Sentence Sunday post today. I got to beta read the book she's highlighting, probably because I asked about Garrett after reading the previous book he'd appeared in. (Okay, this is probably a more accurate depiction: "When is Garrett's book coming out? Pretty soon? Boy, I sure can't wait for his book. I wish it was now. When did you say it's coming out?") Anyway, he's a yummy hero, and he's a bodyguard. . . and well, just check out her post here!

And if you didn't get a chance to check out my interview this week with Mae Clair, whose debut, Weathering Rock, just released, you can click here to read it. We had a lot of fun, so feel free to join in the merriment!

Six Sentence Sunday: Bad Sex Karma #9

For my Six Sentence Sunday this week, I'm returning to Bad Sex Karma, which is the WIP where Delia was dumped by her boyfriend at their anniversary dinner.

She's moved into her new apartment, and she's trying to move forward with her life, even though her friends can't convince her yet that dating is a good idea.

In this snippet she's at a local farmstand, and she spies a cute guy who interests her, but she isn't brave enough to approach him:

All of a sudden I could smell the most delicious scent, even better than fresh-baked bread or newly-minted money. I turned, and the source of that intoxicating aroma was standing next to me, smiling.

He leaned forward to peek into my shopping basket, which I'd optimistically filled with field-grown tomatoes and cucumbers and a massive head of red leaf lettuce that looked like a mad scientist's experiment gone awry. "What are you making?"

"Nothing short of a miracle," I answered. "Or maybe unintentional gazpacho for the garbage man to haul away next week."

I hope everyone is having a great weekend. Thanks for stopping by each week. It's always great to see your comments, and I'm looking forward to reading your posts!

Six Sentence Sunday: Lord Midnight #5

I've decided to return to Lord Midnight for Six Sentence Sunday this week. In the last snippet, Gabriel shows up at Marisa's betrothal ball, which is a masquerade, wearing his highwayman garb as his "costume". He waltzes with her, even though it's dangerous for him to be there. Afterwards, he is reluctant to leave, especially when Marisa's betrothed appears by her side:

Marisa was visibly nervous by Gabriel's continued presence, and there was no need to prolong her agony.

He reached once more for her hand, depositing a quick kiss on her gloved fingers. "I must thank you for the rare pleasure of the waltz. You have diverted this highwayman from further thoughts of robbery." A devil provoked him to add, "Lest it is to steal you from this gentleman."

Her fingers dug into his hand.

I'm having a "Lord Midnight Madness Sale", to celebrate Lord Midnight being featured several places this week. It is a mere $1.99 right now, so if you haven't had a chance to get your copy, now's the time!

Thanks again for stopping by each week. I enjoy your comments, and I truly enjoy reading all of your posts each Sunday.

Six Sentence Sunday: Driving Miss Crazy #3

Here's another snippet from my WIP Driving Miss Crazy. In the first one, Katie and Slade meet when he vaults into her convertible and then kisses her like they're long-time lovers. In the second one, Katie agrees to take him to his car, but she gets angry when he confesses his car is two states away. Slade enjoys the physical manifestations of her anger a bit more than he probably should.

In this bit, Katie and Slade are each trying to win the argument of what happens next. Slade flashes the smile that gets him what he wants 99.9% of the time, but it doesn't seem to be working on a very stubborn Katie, who wants him out of her car:

"Well, sugar, I believe we are at an impasse."

"No, sugar," she said, with a fake grin that meant she had a different "sh" word in mind, one that most likely ended with "head". "It's my car, and I get to make the rules for the passengers."

"I can make this worth your while," he replied, clamping his hand on hers when she reached to unlatch his seat belt.

"How?"

"For starters, how does a million bucks sound?"

Thanks for stopping by and making Six Sentence Sunday so much fun each week. You really keep me motivated, and I appreciate that! 

Six Sentence Sunday: Driving Miss Crazy #2

In last week's Six Sentence Sunday snippet from Driving Miss Crazy, Katie is on a stakeout when Slade, a hot guy she doesn't know, jumps into her convertible, and then acts as if they're lovers. In this scene, she agrees to drive Slade to his car--until she finds out it is two states away.

Here is Slade's take on the situation:

She had two bright spots of color on her cheeks, matching the polka dots on her halter dress, and her chest heaved with each angry breath, making it impossible to keep his eyes away from all that luscious rounded flesh.

"Look at me," she demanded.

"I am," he said, his voice a little too dreamy.

She grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him until their noses were almost touching. He barked out a laugh, but then bit the inside of his lip to keep from smiling at how adorable and sexy she looked. He knew she considered herself fierce, and why should he let her think any differently?

I hope you enjoy this story. I plan to get back to it very soon. Thanks for stopping by each week, Sixies!

 

Six Sentence Sunday: Driving Miss Crazy

Here's a snippet from another WIP, a contemporary romantic comedy called Driving Miss Crazy. It's definitely a work-in-progress/first draft, so this is still a little rough.

The hero, Slade, and the heroine, Katie, are both trying to retrieve the same valuable object, only they don't know they're both after the same thing. Katie is doing a little stakeout, trying to avoid getting a parking ticket, so her eyes are on the traffic cop checking cars behind her. Slade is on the run from some bad guys and can't get to his car. He's a very resourceful guy.

"Hey, sugar, sorry I'm late."

Katie's eyes snapped away from the rearview mirror to see an unnecessarily handsome man tossing a duffle bag into the backseat of her convertible, and then vaulting into the passenger seat as if he were in an action movie.

And as if he expected her to know who he was.

Before Katie could ask what the hell he was talking about, he leaned towards her, his lips tilted up with pure mischief. "Let me make it up to you, okay?"

In the next instant, his sexy mouth was on hers, and she couldn't remember how to protest.

My apologies for not getting to everyone's Six Sentence Sunday snippets last week. It's always the highlight of my writing week, but the day job wore me out more than usual, so I didn't get to read all the great excerpts. I don't plan for that to happen this week!

One last thing--I received a wonderful review of LORD MIDNIGHT this week, from Liz at Fictional Candy. If you'd like to read it, I've posted the link here.

Have a great Sunday!