Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the writing of a talented group of authors. Links to the entire lists can be found below the excerpt. For the past few weeks I've been sharing excerpts from Return Engagement. To recap, my hero and heroine meet on a beach ten years after his father broke them up. She agreed to have a hot dog with him even though she's engaged to another man. They've just finished eating and are walking down the beach. I've skipped a few paragraphs so you missed him talking her into it. In that part we learned that she was breaking a date with her fiancé to go to the amusement park with Richard.

“No roller coasters. I’m scared to death of them.”

Richard snickered at her. “Yes, ma’am, no roller coaster rides. Merry-go-round okay?”

“Yes, and so is the Ferris wheel.” She chunked a small piece of ice at him to pay him back for mocking her fears.

They picked up their trash, threw it in the garbage can, and continued their walk down the beach. They hadn’t gone ten steps before Richard took her hand. Elizabeth tried to breathe normally.

So what do you think? Will she let him hold her hand or not?

http://www.wewriwa.com
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The Clock Strikes Midnight

The Clock Strikes Midnight

by Joan C. Curtis

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

The Clock Strikes Midnight is a race against time in a quest for revenge and atonement. This is a story about hate, love, betrayal and forgiveness.

If you found out you had only 3 months to live, what would you do? That’s the question Janie Knox faces in this fast-paced mystery full of uncertainty and tension that will surprise you until the very last page.

Hiding behind the façade of a normal life, Janie keeps her family secrets tucked inside a broken heart. Everything changes on the day she learns she’s going to die. With the clock ticking and her time running out, she rushes to finish what she couldn’t do when she was 17—destroy her mother’s killer. But she can’t do it alone.

Janie returns to her childhood home to elicit help from her sister. She faces more than she bargained for when she discovers her sister’s life in shambles. Meanwhile her mother’s convicted killer, her stepfather, recently released from prison, blackmails the sisters and plots to extract millions from the state in retribution. New revelations challenge Janie’s resolve, but she refuses to allow either time or her enemies to her stop her from uncovering the truth she’s held captive for over 20 years.

EXCERPT:

“Daddy, when I get my kitty, can I name him Davy?” she had asked, yanking Marlene’s Davy Crockett mug full of M&M’s from her grasp. 

The colorful candy spilled all over the backseat of the car.

“Mama, tell Janie to—”

“Janie, behave,” Daddy said, admonishing her for an instant with his eyes from the rearview mirror.

“Malcolm, look out—!” Mom screamed.

Janie slammed into Marlene. Pain. The world tumbled topsy-turvy. The mug flew across the interior of the car, colors of the rainbow falling all around her.

Then, everything went black.

When she opened her eyes, Mom’s blood-streaked face rose in front of her out of the darkness.

“Wrap your arms around my neck, honey.” Mom lifted her from the wreckage.

Janie clutched her doll by the dress while the rain beat her curly hair flat.

Marlene stood on the side of the road.

“Try to walk,” Mom said, toppling her from her arms.

Her head pounded and blood trickled down her leg. She leaned on her good leg and limped in the direction of her sister.

“Mama, where’s Daddy?” Marlene asked between sobs.

Mom took Marlene’s hand and yanked her forward with Janie in tow.

Marlene lurched back toward the smashed Oldsmobile with smoke billowing from its hood and a big tree lying across the roof. The Davy Crockett mug lay shattered by the back tire.

“Daddy! We can’t leave Daddy!” Marlene yelled, picking up pieces of the broken glass.

They had left Daddy that day and piled into an old Chevy pick-up truck with a bashed in headlamp, belonging to a man with carrot-red hair. Mom pushed them inside the truck and ordered the man to get help. But by then it was too late for Daddy.

It was too late for all of them.

MY REVIEW:

This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. It's the kind of story that keeps you reading because you know something is going to be revealed but you don't know quite what it is, and you can't wait to find out. It's a story of human misery that ultimately gives way to triumph even in the face of devastating loss. You won't like all of the characters. Even some that you'd expect to like aren't very loveable. You will finally understand them, though, and maybe you'll see some of your own weaknesses and strengths portrayed in them.  You have a blurb to tell you what the story is about so all I can say is that this one is well worth 5 stars and maybe more.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Joan Curtis authored four business books published by Praeger Press. She is also published numerous stories, including:

•           Butterflies in a Strawberry Jar, Sea Oats Review, Winter, 2004

•           A Memoir Of A Friend, Chicken Soup for the Working Woman’s Soul, 2003 and Flint River Review, 1996

•           Jacque’s Story in From Eulogy to Joy, 2002

•           The Roommate, Whispering Willow Mystery Magazine, April 1997

•           A Special Sort of Stubbornness, Reader’s Digest, March 1997,

•           My Father’s Final Gift, Reader Digest, November 1994

Her first place writing awards include : Best mystery manuscript in the Malice Domestic Grants competition, best proposal for a nonfiction piece in the Harriette Austin competition, and best story, Butterflies in a Strawberry Jar in the Cassell Network of Freelance Writer’s Association.

Other Books:

Hire Smart and Keep ‘Em: How to Interview Strategically Using POINT, Praeger Press, an imprint of ABC-Clio, Santa Barbara, CA 2012.

The New Handshake: Sales Meets Social Media, Praeger Press, 2010, an imprint of ABC-Clio, Santa Barbara, CA

Managing Sticky Situations at Work: Communication Secrets for Success in the Workplace, 2009, Praeger Press, an imprint of ABC-Clio, Santa Barbara, CA.

Strategic Interviewing: Skills for Savvy Executives, 2000 published by Quorum Books, Greenwood Press.

“I write about characters who remind me of myself at times and my sister at times, but never fully so. My stories are told from a woman’s point of view. Characters drive my writing and my reading.”

Having grown up in the South with a mother from Westchester County New York, Joan has a unique take on blending the southern traditions with the eye of a northerner.  She spent most of her childhood in North Carolina and now resides in Georgia.

Links:  website:  http://www.joancurtis.com

Blog: http://www.joancurtis.com/blog

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/joanccurtisauthor

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/joancurtis

MuseItUp Publishing Author’s page: https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/our-authors/52-our-authors/authors-c/455-joan-curtis - https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/our-authors/52-our-authors/authors-c/455-joan-curtis

The author is giving away a $25 gift certificate from Amazon or B&N. Use the rafflecopter link below to enter. You can find her schedule at 

Revenge

BLURB:

Blurb:

As a job coach, it’s up to Olivia Foster to ensure her clients work in a safe environment, understand their positions, and serve their employer’s mission. The death of her brother drives her career choice, and she loves her job. It remains her only focus until one of her autistic clients goes missing. Then Olivia’s employer ends her position and adds her to the suspect list, but she makes plans to bring the missing young man home.

EXCERPT: 

Meanwhile, Detective Lt. Phillip Landon is deep into second-guessing his career choice, but his well-honed instincts see major flaws inside this missing person’s case. Surprising contacts, mysterious happenings, and threats can turn deadly. Can he keep Olivia safe, protect his heart, remove the job coach from someone’s target list, and adopt a faith he never knew all while adjusting to the new lives of his old family?

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1.       Tell us a little about yourself and your background? Born in Philadelphia, I live in Southern New Jersey with my husband and rescue kitty.  I enjoy writing in the romantic suspense, suspense, and mystery genres, but when not writing, I can be found reading or playing amateur photographer. Inside Christian fiction, I bring an “average” family into extraordinary situations, brush with life-size strokes of reality, adding just a touch of humor, and coat with suspense. It is my goal to do enough research that I can give readers a panoramic view from inside law enforcement to provide character authenticity.

2.       Which writers inspire you? Many writers have drawn me into their character's world, and it was their stories that ignited my writer's spark.

3.       So, what have you written? Tell us all about REVENGE: As a job coach, it’s up to Olivia Foster to ensure her clients work in a safe environment, understand their positions, and serve their employer’s mission. The death of her brother drives her career choice, and she loves her job. It remains her only focus until one of her autistic clients goes missing. Then Olivia’s employer ends her position and adds her to the suspect list, but she makes plans to bring the missing young man home. Meanwhile, Detective Lt. Phillip Landon is deep into second-guessing his career choice, but his well-honed instincts see major flaws inside this missing person’s case. Surprising contacts, mysterious happenings, and threats can turn deadly. Can he keep Olivia safe, protect his heart, remove the job coach from someone’s target list, and adopt a faith he never knew all while adjusting to the new lives of his old family?

4.       Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special? Olivia Foster has a caring heart and is willing to sacrifice herself when she makes plans to bring her missing client home.

5.       Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from REVENGE? I can see Kristen Stewart as Olivia Foster, and I’d vote for James Franco to play Detective Lt. Phillip Landon!

6.       What draws you to inspirational romance/romantic suspense?  Faith and romance is a solid foundation and a wonderful story but adding suspense is a mystery lovers dream!

7.       What are you working on at the moment? Revenge was not crafted as a series, but these secondary characters are practically demanding their own stories. I’m finishing up a separate romantic suspense story.  Also, I’m sitting on a mystery that’s into the rewrite stage.

8.       When did you decide to become a writer? Writing flowed from years of reading as a child, and I often thought up stories even as a youngster.  However, I didn’t actively start to consider this a serious endeavor until much later in life, during a period of convalesce. It was my husband who encouraged me to write my stories in earnest.

9.       Where do the your ideas come from? I enjoy photography and could be considered amateur at best, and I’m not sure when or even how, but writing and pics became a blended pair.  Now, I must say not all of my stories come from or with photos, and sometimes, a perfect photo can’t always link a scene, but my muse tends to sketch a story from a picture, even if story doesn’t exactly link to that photo.  For instance, Revenge, came from a photo that showed only conveyer belts and one worker assisting another.  It could have been in anyplace and at anytime, but when I saw the photo a theme came to light . . . assistance.  It’s something everyone needs, at times. My thoughts automatically spiraled through “what ifs” scenarios and my story sketch was born. 

10.    Do you work according to an outline or are you a pantser? Mostly a pantser!  Sometimes, I know exactly where my story is going, but most times, I have only a loose idea and am surprised as things happen.  I sketch my characters out, but they don’t always stick to my plans.  For example, in Revenge, Olivia Foster was supposed to be a damsel in distress while the Police detective was drafted as an Alpha male.  What happened?  Olivia became daring and not one to be led, and the lead man decided that his background needed to be front and center, making him pensive, brooding, and someone I didn’t know.

AUTHOR INFO

Paula Rose provides inspiration through Christian romantic suspense stories where "average" families come into extraordinary situations, brushed with life-size strokes of reality and a touch of humor. Born in Philadelphia, she lives in Southern New Jersey with her husband and rescue kitty but often plays amateur photographer in both states.

Author Links:

Website: http://paularosebooks.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaulaRoseauthor

Goodreads Paula Rose:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8392724.Paula_Rose

Goodreads Revenge: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22735988-revenge

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Paula-Rose-Books/1514088292150972

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/paularoseauthor/

Anaiah Press: http://anaiahpress.com/PRose.html

Bookfun.org profile: http://www.bookfun.org/profile/PaulaRose

Website: http://about.me/paularoseauthor
Add the book to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22735988-revenge

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Revenge

Revenge

By Paula Rose

Here is the trailer for Revenge on Youtube

Blurb:

As a job coach, it’s up to Olivia Foster to ensure her clients work in a safe environment, understand their positions, and serve their employer’s mission. The death of her brother drives her career choice, and she loves her job. It remains her only focus until one of her autistic clients

goes missing. Then Olivia’s employer ends her position and adds her to the suspect list, but she makes plans to bring the missing young man home.

Meanwhile, Detective Lt. Phillip Landon is deep into second-guessing his career choice, but his well-honed instincts see major flaws inside this missing person’s case. Surprising contacts, mysterious happenings, and threats can turn deadly. Can he keep Olivia safe, protect his heart, remove the job coach from someone’s target list, and adopt a faith he never knew all while adjusting to the new lives of his old family?

Release Date: December 16, 2014

Author Bio:

Paula Rose provides inspiration through Christian romantic suspense stories where "average" families come into extraordinary situations, brushed with life-size strokes of reality and a touch of humor. Born in Philadelphia, she lives in Southern New Jersey with her husband and rescue kitty but often plays amateur photographer in both states.

Find Paula at any of these sites.

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Pinterest

Goodreads

Links:

Revenge on Goodreads

Anaiah Press

A Plethora of Great Authors

Genre: Fiction About The Books

Revenge, Inc.

About The Book

This gripping page-turner from author Keleigh Crigler Hadley shows that all it takes is one bad decision for everything to change. Cherise Holder’s hell on earth begins on her 26th birthday. Unable to cope with a heart shattering loss, she gives in to a familiar addiction. Forced to attend AA meetings, Cherise befriends fellow alcoholics; Stuart, a disgraced banker, Greyson, a bitter cheerleader and Araceli, a broken teenager with an infamous parent.

An opportunity arises, and the foursome decides to work together to correct past wrongs in each of their lives. Their ingenious plan to get revenge works - too well and this is only the beginning. They find the electrifying high of revenge, more addictive than anything they’ve ever experienced. Cherise assumes that revenge will put out the fire in her heart, but she finds that it just makes her rage burn brighter. She sets out to prove that revenge is a dish best served over and over again. Revenge Inc. mesmerizes as it speeds you through the diverse Los Angeles landscape- from the barrio to the hills of Hollywood. Along the way, it exposes what the lust for revenge truly does to your heart, mind and soul.

Read more: http://amzn.to/1nPaZqq

About The Author

 

Keleigh Crigler Hadley truly believes that faith and fiction are a match made in heaven. She wrote her first short story in the 7th grade and fell in love with the craft. Her goal in writing is to make you laugh, cry and throw the book across the room. She is the author of the riveting novel Revenge, Inc. and the young adult series, Preacher’s Kids. She has also written a nonfiction journal called, One Day at a Time. Recently, Keleigh contributed to Reshonda Tate Billingsely’s award winning anthology, The Motherhood Diaries. She pens her soulful stories from her home in the San Fernando Valley. She is constantly learning, growing and pushing the limits in the field of writing.

Dirty Little Secrets II

 

About The Book

Mark and Holly James feel their marriage has endured the worst. They’ve overcome infidelity and the looming question of their daughter’s paternity. Life is almost back to normal, until jealousy rears its ugly head, and someone they least expect decides it’s time to once again turn their worlds upside down. Their bond may be strong, but can it handle the unexpected?

Read more: http://www.lalewisexpressions.com/

About The Author

 

Lorna “L.A. Lewis” is an author, educator, and motivational speaker. L.A. was hit by the writing “bug” in the spring of 2009, she self-published her fi rst novel Dirty Little Secrets and her daily devotional The Gift of An Abundant Life within weeks of each other. Both books received raved reviews. In March 2012, she published her second novel Dirty Little Secrets II: Expect the Unexpected. L.A. has also written a motivational book Why Not Me?! She is a contributing author to national best-selling author, ReShonda Tate Billingsley’s anthology Motherhood Diaries.

Twist

 

About The Book

When a steamy incident in the back seat of a borrowed car plunges sixteen-year-old Beatrice Malcolm smack in the middle of a global manhunt, she discovers that the search for her fugitive father has more to do with her than she could ever imagine. With her mother gone, Bea’s life is unraveling in the worst possible way as she’s thrust into a world of government conspiracy, insanity, and mind-altering experimentation that forces her to make a life or death decision on who to believe—the FBI or her father. In Twist, Roni Teson has crafted a suspenseful tale of love, betrayal and intrigue with a cast of characters who will leap off the pages and stay in your heart long after the last page has been turned.

Read more: http://www.roniteson.com/

About The Author

 

Roni Teson’s dream to become an author was realized after she was diagnosed with stage IV cancer. She spent the better part of her treatment developing and fi ne-tuning her first novel, Heaven or Hell, which received an award at the 2013 Reader’s Favorite International Book Awards and the 2012-2013 Los Angeles Book Festival. A consummate believer in the declaration that all things happen for a reason, when Roni went into complete remission her passion to write intensifi ed along with her imagination. Her writing that was once a part of her cancer recovery became an integral part of her daily life. Twist, her most recent novel is the birth child of Roni’s wicked imagination and is a suspense driven love story that is delivered through a cast of characters who leap off the pages and find themselves living in the readers heart long after the last page has been turned. Today, Roni lives in Southern California where she writes, reads, enjoys living by the ocean and gives back by raising money for cancer research and prevention.

The Next Thing is Joy: The Gospel According to Vivian Grace

 

About The Book

Certain that she doesn’t want to live a life that lacks significance, Vivian Grace sets about working to empower the people in her community. She believes she’s found her true calling working as a member of the Black Panther Party in Chicago. What Vivian doesn’t count on finding is love. But Vivian’s love affair with the charismatic Black Panther Party leader, Reggie, takes a turn for the worse when his abusive side surfaces. To protect herself and her unborn child, Vivian has to commit a cardinal sin in order to escape the relationship with her life. She finds refuge in the most unlikely place and begins her long journey toward healing. If Vivian can receive God’s forgiveness and extend the same to those who have hurt her, waiting for her is a love she never imagined before. This story shows how the struggle to choose courage over fear and forgiveness over bitterness is a real but necessary fight—but one we don’t fight alone. 

Read more: http://www.traceymlewis.com/

About The Author

 

As a writer, educator and entrepreneur, Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts offers those who hear her speak and read her work an authentic experience; an opportunity to explore the intersection of identity, faith, and purpose at the deepest level. She is the author of seven books including The Gospel According to Sasha Renee, Interruption: The Gospel According to Crystal Justine, The Next Thing is Joy: The Gospel According to Vivian Grace (the "Gospel of Grace Women" trilogy) and The Unlikely Remnant. Tracey has written for numerous publications (regional, national, and online) including Circuit Rider, Philadelphia Weekly, Heart and Soul, and Denene Millner's MyBrownBaby.com. She holds a B.A. in Communication from the University of Kentucky, an M.B.A from Montclair State University, and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Fairleigh-Dickinson University.

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