Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. When you finish here, you can find more snippets at :

http://www.wewriwa.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnippetSunday/

We know that Susan won her bet when Kurt asked her to go with him to a party. Today they have just arrived at the party where Kurt is joking around with their host and leads him to believe that he and Susan are involved. Susan took Kurt to task, and he got out of trouble by asking her to dance. When the dance ended they had some punch that Kurt warned her had tequila in it, but Susan doesn't believe him.

Excerpt:

The band returned from a break and began a slow, sensuous song. “Danz with me?” Kurt invited. He held out his hand.

Susan giggled when his warm fingers closed around hers. How sweet that he had mispronounced the word dance. He led her to the dance floor where he put his arms around her and pulled her against him.

“You shouldn’t hold me so close,” Susan sighed. She laid her head on his shoulder and made no effort to move away from him.

Kurt dropped a kiss on her hair. “Mmm, you smell like flowers.”  

Blurb:
Susan English can’t stand Robin Lanford! She’s so full of herself she irritates everyone on the faculty of Fairfield High. When Robin bets Susan fifty dollars that she can’t get a date with Kurt Deveraux, the head football coach, Susan jumps at the chance to put the little heifer in her place. She had no idea that teaching Robin a lesson would irrevocably change her life, strain treasured friendships, and throw two families into chaos.

Buy link: http://amzn.to/1NDgnrg

Beyond the Book: The Captain and the Cheerleader

I thought today I'd share a little bit from Kurt and Susan's lives with you. The first time Kurt saw Susan's house he thought it was neat and well decorated. I think it does have some curb appeal, don't you?

The house is located in an extremely well maintained little neighborhood built in the 1950's. Everyone in Fairfield think this is the prettiest area in Fairfield. Here's  a description of Susan's living room.

The interior looked nothing like he had expected. Susan had removed some interior walls to create an open floor plan, and the back side of the house had big, new windows that would let in lots of light. The skylight was awesome. If you turned off the lights, you’d be able to see the stars shining against the night sky. Susan had decorated the house in soothing neutrals, but splashes of red scattered around the room kept the decor from looking bland.

This open, airy space looked nothing like his small, cramped bachelor apartment furnished with his mother’s castoff furniture. 

With the exception of the skylight, I've redecorated my living room in neutrals with touches of red, gray, and gold. It's turning out pretty well. Once I finish, I'll let you have a look.

The Captain and the Cheerleader is available in both print and ebook. Don't forget. Books make great Christmas gifts.

Saturday Sample: Blue 52

Welcome to Saturday Sample. For the past few weeks I've been sharing samples from Blue 52. So far we've learned that President Richard Lovinggood was murdered by his wife who then committed suicide. Their son Hank was raised by his grandfather Senator Henry Lovinggood. A new high speed train is coming through the cemetery where President Lovinggood is buried, and Hank has made plans to open the coffins once they are disinterred so he can see his parents. He was only 3 when they died, and he doesn't really remember them.

My heroine Kathryn Sinclair learned about this plan from her uncle who is the director of the funeral home where the president's body will go. Her employer tells her to set up a meeting with Hank after he sees his parents. Last week she said she hoped it went well so she could be in the history books and have the satisfaction of righting a terrible wrong. In today's scene, Hank's grandmother has found out that he wishes to view his parents' remains. I'm picking up where I left off last Saturday.

His grandmother whirled around so fast she almost lost her balance and coldly attacked. “The Sinclair Mortuary called today. They left a message for you.”

“Oh?”

Her face turned cherry red. “You can drop the innocent act with me, young man! Have you totally lost your wits? Your mother and father died thirty years ago! Do you think you can pop the coffin lids and see them as they were in life?”

“Grandma...”

“Don’t interrupt me. This is crazy. You don’t need to see...” She broke off for a moment as a spasm of grief contorted her face. “This is all your doing, Henry. You raised Richard to be a hawk, but you’ve raised Hank to be a damned mourning dove!”

Hank flinched as if she’d struck him with her fists instead of her words. So his grandfather wasn’t the only one who compared him unfavorably to his father. A mourning dove! 

Blue 52 is available at www.whiskeycreekpress.com and at Amazon.com

Saturday Sample: Blue 52

Welcome to Saturday Sample. I'm continuing today where I left off last week in Blue 52. If you'd like to read last week's post to refresh your memory, you can find it here. Basically, we've learned that the senator's son Richard was the President of the US. He and his wife are dead, and their bodies will have to be relocated because a high tech train line needs to go through the cemetery. We also learned that the senator has arthritis. Here we go with that excerpt. We are in the senator's point of view.

Richard Henry Lovinggood III, Hank to his family and friends, entered the study and gave his grandmother a kiss. “Hey, Grandma. What’s wrong with you?”

The senator’s heart gave a little leap. He looked so much like Richard! Tall and well-built with blond hair and beautiful blue eyes, he turned feminine heads everywhere he went. The expression in his eyes was different, though. Richard had burned within, but Hank had a peaceful, calm center. Elaine always said it was probably a legacy from his cursed mother because he sure didn’t get it from Richard’s side of the family. She was undoubtedly right about that.

Senator Lovinggood joined them in front of the fire. His old bones liked the warmth. “She’s upset because Morton Williams called today.”

“And?”

“Your parents will be disinterred on the twenty-third. We have to make arrangements.”

“I see.”

Senator Lovinggood blew his nose, the honking sound reverberating around the room. “Do you have any ideas about where you want to put them, Hank?”

“I do. I knew you couldn’t block the train forever, so I’ve been looking around. I visited a very nice cemetery this afternoon. Have you ever heard of Crystal Rivers?”

Elaine shook her head. “No. Where is it?”

“It’s about thirty minutes from here. It’s not a new cemetery, but it’s beautiful as far as cemeteries go.”

Elaine shrugged. “One place is as good as another.”

“If it isn’t a new cemetery, is there enough room for us to be buried there as well?” Senator Lovinggood worried.

“Yes, sir, there is. They’re willing to set aside an entire block of spaces for us.”

Senator Lovinggood’s face smoothed out. “Good. If you like it, Hank, that’s what we’ll do. Do you want to call Williams, or do you want me to? I know you don’t know him, so I’ll be glad to take care of it for you.”

“I’ll call him, Grandpa.”

Elaine cocked her head and stared at Hank. “Why have you decided to call Williams? You always tell Henry to take care of things like this.”

“Oh, no reason.” His eyes rested on the photo on the desk. “It’s just something I can do for Mother and Dad.”

Senator Lovinggood blew his nose again and wiped his eyes with his sleeve. “I know exactly how you feel. I’d give my right arm for the chance to help Richard one more time.”

Hank kissed his grandmother’s cheek. “Don’t worry, Grandma. It’ll be over and done with before you know it. Just think how proud Dad would be. His administration laid the groundwork for the Flash Train.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

The senator’s chest swelled with pride. “I’m proud of it too. The Flash Train can travel over three hundred fifty miles per hour.”

Hank rose to his feet. “I want to change clothes before dinner. I’ll see you guys in a minute.”

He dropped a kiss on his grandmother’s cheek and dashed upstairs.
“Just like Richard used to do,” Senator Lovinggood observed.

“Richard didn’t always change before dinner,” Elaine disagreed.

“No. Run up the stairs. Richard used to do that too.”

Elaine rolled her eyes. “I think I’ll change for dinner too.”

“You look fine to me.”

“No, I feel like changing.”

The senator shrugged. “I’m fine as I am.”

Elaine shot him a look he couldn’t define. “If you say
so.”

Really! Now what did she mean by that? 

Blue 52 is the sequel to Return Engagement. I'm sharing excerpts from that on Sundays if you'd care to take a look. Blue 52 is for sale at Amazon and http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com