Sneak Peak into Book One

I've been working on editing the first draft of my novel.  This particular part hasn't been edited yet, so take it with a grain of salt... but I thought I'd introduce you to the characters of the series.  :)

      The phone rang once, and his deep baritone filled the line. “Cade Construction – oh, hi Becca. How are you today?”

      A smile filled her face, and it grew warm as she noticed that Zoe was watching her with a knowing look. “Doing great, thanks. We just closed on the property.”

      “All done signing your life away, then?” Levi chuckled, remembering purchasing his own land.

      “Yep, all done. So, I just wanted to confirm that we're still meeting at the property? The other investors will be headed out there in a few minutes.”

      “I'm already here, walking the property with our utility guys. Everyone is ready to get started, as soon as you give the word.”

      Becca sighed with pleasure. “It would be wonderfully satisfying to just say 'word' right now. But I'd just as soon wait until everyone is there, and we've all walked through everything together. So hopefully I'll be giving you the word this afternoon.” She laughed.

      “I'll be waiting, and ready.” The timbre of his voice reflected amusement. He hoped it didn't reflect anything more than amusement, although he heard it himself. He wanted her. Naked. In his bed. Underneath him. He could almost feel what it would be like to touch her, to watch her go over that edge the first time. He shook his head, noticed that his hand was trembling, and he needed to get his breathing under control. He was acting like a randy teenager who couldn't control his hormones. Disgusted, he put formality in his voice. “We'll see you soon, Becca.”

      She caught the stiffened tone, and wondered at the cause of it. “OK, thanks, Levi. See you in a bit.” Confused, she hung up, and caught Zoe again staring at her.

      “He wants you, and he doesn't want to want you. You do know that, right?” Zoe asked in her typical blunt style.

      “Hmmmmm....” was Becca's noncommittal reply.

      Zoe rolled her eyes at her best friend. “Whatever. You know I'm right.”

      Their arrival at the campground saved Becca from any reply. The girls changed clothes and were headed back out the door in just minutes. As soon as they pulled into the drive at the property, Becca saw Levi at his truck. She studied him with a critical eye, and knew Zoe was doing the same. A grin broke out on her face at Zoe's low whistle of approval as she braked to a stop and shifted into Park.

      “Girlfriend, if you don't take him, I'm gonna.”

      Fire flashed in Becca's eyes as she whipped her eyes to Zoe's. She'd been had. She knew it even before she saw her friend's unrepentant grin. But there it was, about to split her face. Becca rolled her eyes on a heavy sigh, and turned to get out of the truck.

      The other girls arrived just behind them, and came to stand in a loose circle. Stepping into the middle of the circle, she drew Levi next to her. “Everyone, this is Levi Cade with Cade Contracting. He'll be handling all of the construction on our project.” 

     Turning to Levi, she said, “Levi, please allow me to introduce you to Eostara Partnership, Ltd.”

     Motioning to her best friend, she said, “This is Zoe. She's a Family Practitioner, Doula and herbalist. She'll be our doctor in residence once we're up and running. She's also my best friend. Usually.” She shot Zoe a warning look, and they both grinned.

      “Next, we have Carly. Carly is a CPA and our treasurer. She'll handle all financial issues, loan paperwork, and such. If there's any problems on that end, Carly is my go-to girl. She'll hang a shingle out when we're all set up and going.” Carly smiled and let out a self-conscious wave.

      “This is Alyssa. She's our IT guru, and is in charge of all things technically and web-oriented. She'll be providing wifi access through the site as well. She'll also run our worship center and daycare center. She's a homeschooling mom, and will provide a homeschool coop, too.” Alyssa smiled and nodded a greeting.

      “JJ is a very talented tarot card reader. She'll be setting up shop here, too. If you want to know what's in your cards, she's your girl. She also makes amazing clothes and crafts, and I'm trying to convince her to open a shop for her crafts, too.” JJ gave Becca a severe look, then turned to Levi and nodded regally in response.

      “Shannyn will be in charge of our RV park and equestrian center. She's an event planner, and will handle all retreats and conferences that may take place in our community.” Shannyn smiled and lifted her hand in a small wave.

      “And last, but certainly not least, as none of us can do without her, is Angelina. Angelina is the only one out of all of us that has the gift of growing things. She'll be in charge of our community garden and agricultural areas.” Angelina blushed and nodded her head.

      “So, now that I've completely overwhelmed you...” she grinned, knowing it was true. The look on his face said it all. Stepping toward him, she whispered conspiratorially, “Don't worry, there won't be a quiz.” Clearing her throat on a laugh, she stepped back again to include everyone. “We all play a very important part in our community, and we'll all be moving out here over the coming year or so. We'll try very hard to stay out of your way, while still doing everything we need to, to get set up and going.”

###

     No man could be resistant to the allure of working with these beautiful women, Levi considered. What Becca had obviously mistaken for concern at remembering names had really been simple shock at being surrounded by such extraordinarily beautiful, incredibly powerful women. He wondered slightly at his thought of the word powerful, but he didn't discount his instincts. He couldn't put his finger on it. But these women were not ordinary, in any sense of the word.

###

I've introduced you to my friends now... so tell me what you think of them!  I can't wait to tell their stories...  each of them is unique in their own right.

Today

Last night, I was able to get a fair jump on catching up some on NaNoWriMo.  I think my story is shaping up nicely, although I'm already thinking about all of the editing I'll be doing on it.  :)  I'm trying not to do it now, as the main point of NaNo, as I understand it, is to get the first (very rough) draft finished.  It must have a beginning, a middle, and an end.  Then I have all the time I need to whip it into shape afterward.  That's my understanding, obviously, but that's what I'm trying to do.  I'm hoping by the time I do the first revision, I'll have a book worth showing my First Readers for feedback.  :) 

I'm very lucky to have three people interested in reading it.  My Hubby (who doesn't read romance, but knows a lot about construction, so he'll be able to point out any errors I've made with the story there), my Mom (who does read romance and paranormal, along with a host of other things, and who I got my addiction to reading from, Thank You, Mom!!!!), and my friend Melissa (she'll always be Missy to me, who reads as voraciously as I do, and has been my guinea pig since we were fifteen, reading angsty poetry to each other and encouraging each other in our writing... she's also an excellent copyeditor, so she'll have her work cut out for her... hehehehe).  :) 

So I have some awesome first readers, and I'm looking forward to being able to have a manuscript that I can show them, even if it's still a couple of months out.  They're already looking forward to reading my second and third book in my witchy/pagan series, as much, I think, as I'm looking forward to writing them!  :)  Now just to see if an agent or publisher will be interested in publishing them... and that thought brings on cold sweats, so we won't go there yet.  I'm going to have to depend on my husband to keep me motivated to send it out the door when that time comes. 

But I'm getting way, way ahead of myself.  It's shaping up to look like the first draft will be more than 50K long, but I'm still hoping to finish in the next 11 days, to qualify to "win" NaNoWriMo.  So, we'll see.  I can use all the good luck, good wishes, good vibes, and/or prayers you care to send!  :)

Carli & Reed

In this exercise, we were required to write at least a 400 word scene with the character we'd created for the workshop.  Do you know how hard it is to convey everything your characters are feeling without adding "she sighed"?  LOL.  Here's my submission:

"Who are you?"
"What the hell did you think you were doing?"
"I was trying a small spell, as if it's any of your business."
"Lady, when you nearly create a twister in my woods, I make it my business."
"Oh, they're your woods, are they? Funny, because I own this area."
"Yes, but I own this area."
"Oh. So you're... Well, the only tree I damaged is on my land, so-"
"True, but that twister could have damn well made it on my land."
“But it didn't, did it? And it wasn't a twister, damn it. Just a little wind. I knew what I was doing. And I handled it.”
“Didn't look like you knew what you were doing from where I was standing.”
“Well, I did. And I'll say it again. I handled it.”
“Barely. If I hadn't sent some of my energy your way, you wouldn't have.”
“Of all the arrogant...”
“The truth is the truth.”
“Unbelievable...”
“You know, you could say thank you. For helping you put out your near disaster there.”
“By the gods!!! You are so arrogant. I didn't.... I wasn't... it wasn't... Oh, you're right!!! Why can't I do spells?”
“Oh, lady, don't cry. I didn't mean to make you cry. I'm sorry. I know, I'm hot-headed sometimes. Here, here, take this.”
“A towel? You carry a towel out in the woods with you?”
“Well, um, I kinda ran when I sensed the energy going awry.”
“Awry...”
“You know what? Let's try this again. We're obviously neighbors, and will be for some time. I'm sorry if I came off like an asshole. That's better. I much prefer laughter to tears, even if it's directed at me. OK, ok, so I am sorry I was an asshole. Can we start over?”
“Ummmm... what do you mean?”
“Hi. I'm Reed Cunningham. I'm you're new neighbor.”
“Oh. Um, I'm Carli Jacobs. Nice to meet you Reed. I think.”
“Uh oh. I'm even more of an asshole than I realized. You're one of the developers of Eostara?”
“Yep.”
“Well, at least that made you smile. That's better, too. So, will you give me a chance to make it up to you? Care to have dinner tonight?”
“That's really not necessary, Reed. But thanks for the offer.”
“Please, I insist. Then you'll see that I'm not always a jerk.”
“What time?”
“Seven-thirty?”
“If you're sure...”
“I'm positive. And maybe we could talk a little about the little... um... problem you've been having.”

I've come to really like these guys.  How about you?

My favorite characters are witches...

This short scene was done for a writing conference.  We were asked to basically do a character sketch that we thought of, spur-of-the-moment.  This is what I wrote:

Carli stopped for a moment to breathe deep and clear her mind. Her spell was NOT going to go awry this time. Gods, please? She entreated silently. The night was balmy and still, a perfect night to try a gentle stirring of the air. Feeling centered, she opened her eyes and stepped forward. Taking up her athame and sea salt, she cast the circle just as she'd read. She began to chant, 

"Gently now, I wish to stir the air
Isis, create a gentle breeze, quiet and fair
I entreat your help to train my power
Now in this magickal hour
By the power of three times three
Let the air stir and not harm me or thee"

A smile appeared on her face as she felt the air begin to stir, leaves gently rustling in the trees. Her excitement was short-lived, though, as the trees began to sway harder, and her long black hair lashed her face. The wind continued to build as she searched for the words to end it.

"Isis please, I entreat thee
Quiet the air that I have stirred
ummmm... Let it be gone, and the world be undisturbed
Put back to rights that which I have changed
And bring no harm upon anyone by my name.
Ummm... By the power of three times three, as I will, so mote it be"

The air slowly stilled as she was continued to try to write new words in her head. Her head bowed, tears dripping to the earth, she steeled herself with another deep breath, then slowly raised her eyes to survey the damage. One large limb was broken, her salt scattered to the winds, and her clothing and hair in disarray. She continued to weep quietly as she took a coin and buried it shallowly at the base of the tree, as an offering and an apology for her meddling.

"Why can't I work spells?" she asked aloud in frustration, staring into the now calm and star bright skies.

She jumped as a baritone voice came from the shadows. "I don't know, but I sure wouldn't recommend you try it again until you figure it out."

So, what do you think?  Would you like to learn more about Carli?  :)  I think I might... please, tell me what you think.