Saturday, July 27, 2019

You are mistaken - Snippet from Medieval Romance for #WeWriWa



Welcome to another Sunday with Weekend Writing Warriors. Meet writers in various genres and read 8-10 sentence snippets of their stories. Find a new author and sample their work. Enjoy!

I am continuing snippets from my new medieval romance set in fourteenth century England in and around my hometown of Reading. By the time you read this, I’ll be doing some field research over the same days as in this story – mid July to early August. 
Audrey, my heroine, countered the attack of a robber, and met the hero, Selwyn Drake, the Sheriff’s bailiff.  
You can read last week’s snippet here – https://auroraspringer.blogspot.com/2019/07/lord-williams-bailiff-snippet-from.html
Audrey and Selwyn have introduced themselves. Note, the tawdry woman was around earlier but I cut those sentences.
Please excuse my irregular punctuation.

     The tawdry woman interrupted, clutching at the bailiff’s cloak and whining, “He took my purse,” she fluttered her eyelashes and plumped her bosom.
     A frown flicked across his sun-browned face, and I guessed Master Drake was not impressed by her bountiful attractions; he was intent on his business of ridding the streets of criminals.
     One of his men offered a bag to the sheriff’s bailiff, “We found this pouch under the thief’s coat.”
     Untying the bag, Master Drake rolled down the top to expose the contents, four leather purses of different sizes and a red velvet pouch. He glanced at the buxom woman and cocked an eyebrow, “Which purse do you claim?”
     Her brows crinkled in concentration and she spoke quickly, “The red one.”  
     Weighing the pouch in the palm of his hand, he asked, “How many coins did you have?”
     After a suspicious hesitation, she rushed out, “Mayhap five gold coins,” - a wild guess in my opinion, and far too much wealth to match her shabby garb.
     “You are mistaken; this purse cannot belong to you,” he said in a grave tone. He tucked the bag under his elbow, and emptied the contents of the velvet pouch onto his hand; a set of small shiny stones, diamonds or similar precious gems, sparkled in his palm.

New Draft Blurb:
Travel to Chaucer’s England in this gritty Medieval romance with a touch of fantasy.
In fourteenth century Britain, Dame Audrey cherishes her independence as the widow of a wealthy cloth merchant. But the guild elders covet her profitable business and she fears they will invoke the Abbot’s authority to compel her to marry a man of their choice. Her lively spirit revolts against becoming the property of a cruel husband. While on a pilgrimage to pray for guidance, Audrey aids the dying victim of a brutal robbery. She wins the stranger’s blessing and a gold brooch with a green dragon. Back in her hometown, the faerie brooch attracts trouble from thieves of all ranks and the attentions of a handsome yeoman, Selwyn Drake. Can the magic brooch help Audrey evade the schemes to force her into wedlock or must she submit to a husband’s will?

I’m still editing the story, although I hope to publish it in a few weeks.

Church tower and 14th century dovecote at Avebury

As always, I’ll be happy to reply to your comments.  
Please return to www.wewriwa.com to sample the works of the other writers.

Find a catalog of my published stories HERE.
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Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Animal Stars of my Stories #SciFi and #Fantasy Adventure and Romance


 My Books

Do you have pets? Or do you enjoy watching wild animals? I have always loved animals, plants, and nature in general. Animals and various other lifeforms are often key characters in my stories.

 GM Cat


 One prime example is Grand Master’s Cat, a short prequel to Grand Master’s Pawn, starring a feisty orange kitten. The story is really about Grand Master Athanor Griffin and how his life changes for the better after he adopts the kitten, Rascal. The story also celebrates our first cat, a very friendly and mischievous animal. Once he climbed onto the roof of our house and then couldn’t climb down. We had to entice him to a lower section of roof where he could get down by jumping onto the car. 

 GM Galaxy


My series, the Grand Masters’ Galaxy, stars diverse alien species, including intelligent plants, amoeboids, and dragons. 
SciFi Fantasy - Super psychics in space. One young woman challenges the super psychics ruling the galaxy, and finds an impossible love

Grand Master’s Trilogy, Boxset of Books 1-3 – Cheapest option  Amazon  iBooks  Kobo  B&N  GooglePlay


 Secret Supers


My Secret Supers series is based on the concept of Earth aliens with super powers who bond with a specific animal. The heroine acquires a superpower and a snarky flying horse after an “accidental” explosion. The hero has a telepathic link with a black jaguar cat. The dappled grey mare is based on a real animal I used to visit – a mistreated mule with a dappled grey coat cowering in the corner of a field. He was covered in flies and sores. I rubbed his nose and gave him fresh grass.
Fantasy adventure & romance. Superheroes with quirky animal sidekicks tackle murderous villains in three fun adventures with a dash of romance.
Secret Supers, Boxset of Books 1-3  Amazon  iBooks  B&N  Kobo  GooglePlay
Starrella and the Lost Girl, Short story  Amazon   iBooks   B&N   Kobo  


 Taxyon sp



The stories in this series have intelligent alien animals. One species resembles a cross between a squid and a jellyfish. Another animal, a luma from the alien world of Rishalt, is like an amphibious otter with gills.  ,
Near Future SciFi adventure & alien romance. What alien creatures lurk under the icy surface of Europa?
Europa, Book 1  Amazon  iBooks  Kobo  B&N  GooglePlay  PRINT
Jupiter, Book 3  Amazon  iBooks  Kobo  B&N  GooglePlay


 Atrapako




The second two books in this series include reptilian animals from an alien planet. Book 2 stars dog-like Komodo dragons. In the third book, the hero rides a bipedal dinosaur.  
SciFi Romance. Feisty scientist solves puzzle of scaly aliens on the remote planet of Eden.



Saturday, July 20, 2019

Lord William's bailiff - snippet from Medieval Romance for #WeWriWa



Welcome to another Sunday with Weekend Writing Warriors. Meet writers in various genres and read 8-10 sentence snippets of their stories. Find a new author and sample their work. Enjoy!

I am continuing snippets from my new medieval romance set in fourteenth century England in and around my hometown of Reading. By the time you read this, I’ll be doing some field research for this story.
Audrey has knocked the knife from an attacker’s hand. Then a man wielding a sword runs toward her.

The last line was: Doffing his hood and exposing his short auburn hair, he cried, “A cunning thrust, lady.”

Please excuse irregular punctuation to fit.
     With a shiver of excitement, I recognized the leader of the sheriff’s men who had overtaken my company on the road to Redding.
     His deep-set hazel eyes held glints of green; they widened a fraction and his lips curled in a slight smile of appreciation, “I’ve seen your face before.”
     “You rode by me on the road from Newbury.”
     “Aye, I remember; you had a frisky grey mare and a large hound.”
     His swift smile and the warmth of his tone set my heart fluttering. I felt my cheeks flush as if I were a maid of fourteen instead of a widow of twenty-three. Overcoming my embarrassment, I asked, “Are you the sheriff’s messenger?” 
     “Nay, I’m Lord William’s bailiff; he appointed me to keep peace during the fair.” He lifted the edge of his cloak to show the sheriff’s badge sewn on his doublet, “Selwyn Drake, at your service. Are you in town for the Fair?”

Draft Blurb
A young widow in possession of a good business must be in want of a husband.
     In fourteenth century Britain, Dame Audrey prizes her independence as the widow of a cloth merchant. The town elders covet her prosperous business, but she has no desire to remarry and submit to a husband’s will. Her kindness to a stranger earns Bridda’s blessing and a brooch with a green dragon offers a glimpse into the supernatural world. The faerie brooch attracts trouble from thieves of all ranks and the attentions of a handsome bailiff, Selwyn Drake. Can she evade the schemes to force her into wedlock and retain her independence?
     Dare to enter Chaucer’s England: this story, like the middle ages, is not for the faint of heart or squeamish. It mixes blood, mud, and violent death with joyful laughter and sweet-scented flowers.


 Hawk

Captured by the Hawk - 99c until August 15th


As always, I’ll be happy to reply to your comments.  
Please return to www.wewriwa.com to sample the works of the other writers.

Find a catalog of my published stories HERE.
Join me on Facebook and Twitter 


Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Celebrate this Century - What do you appreciate most about living today?


 My Books

Celebrate this Century

Earlier this month I asked my newsletter subscribers what they appreciated most about living in this century. I gave them five possible options and they could also click on Other and send me a comment.


Options and Votes

Medical Advances – 11%
Refrigerators – 5%
Social Media – 2%
Cell Phones – 1%
Fast Travel – 1%
Other – 6%

Examples of Other advantages

A good thing about being alive this century is that more girls (unfortunately not all) are taught to read and have access to reading materials for school and, of course, to books.

Computers. 

Living in this century, I’m thankful for Ben & Jerry’s salted caramel ice cream

 My Books2

Find a catalog of my books HERE

Join me on Facebook and Twitter

Saturday, July 13, 2019

A Cunning Thrust - Snippet from Medieval Romance for #WeWriWa



Welcome to another Sunday with Weekend Writing Warriors. Meet writers in various genres and read 8-10 sentence snippets of their stories. Find a new author and sample their work. Enjoy!

I am continuing snippets from my new medieval romance set in fourteenth century England in and around my hometown of Reading.
Audrey is walking home through gloomy streets during a break in the thunderstorms. Thirteen-year old Alfred, one of her servants, is with her.  
The last line was: A man came running out of the shadows toward us, a sword in his hand.
Note: I’ve skipped a couple of lines.

     He blew a whistle, and strode toward us. Wearing a horseman’s short cloak and boots, his lips were a grim line beneath his green hood, and he meant to intervene.
     Gripping my staff, I stood my ground. Before I could decide whether the newcomer favored me or my attacker, the clatter of fast running boots heralded two more armed men. They raced onto the street, and slowed by the tall man.
     He pointed his sword tip at the villain I’d felled and snapped an order, “Restrain the thief.”
     Alfred stepped aside as the yeomen obeyed their instructions.
     The leader sheathed his sword. He focused on me, his gaze lingering on my face. Doffing his hood and exposing his short auburn hair, he cried, “A cunning thrust, lady.”


Draft Blurb
     A young widow in possession of a good business must be in want of a husband.
     In fourteenth century Britain, Dame Audrey prizes her independence as the widow of a cloth merchant. The town elders covet her prosperous business, but she has no desire to remarry and submit to a husband’s will. Her kindness to a stranger earns Bridda’s blessing and a brooch with a green dragon offers a glimpse into the supernatural world. The faerie brooch attracts trouble from thieves of all ranks and the attentions of a handsome bailiff, Selwyn Drake. Can she evade the schemes to force her into wedlock and retain her independence?
     Dare to enter Chaucer’s England: this story, like the middle ages, is not for the faint of heart or squeamish. It mixes blood, mud, and violent death with joyful laughter and sweet-scented flowers.


 Colony

My Book Special this month
A Tale of Two Colonies – 99c in July
For refugees from an overcrowded Earth, dreams of a better life on an alien planet transform into a terrifying battle for survival.


As always, I’ll be happy to reply to your comments.  
Please return to www.wewriwa.com to sample the works of the other writers.

Find a catalog of my published stories HERE.
Join me on Facebook and Twitter