Sunday Snippet: This is Your Life

Wow, halfway through 2017. It's crazy how fast time zooms by sometimes. My middle kid made it safely home from Alaska and had an epic adventure with his grandpa. Since it's summer, he had to adjust to it not getting completely dark in Anchorage, which makes for some terrific stories. Getting into San Francisco at around eleven PM, his first words to my dad were, "So, Grandpa, this is what night looks like. I'd forgotten." LOL I love that kid.

My Friday night shows had great episodes. I feel like I need to rewatch the first two seasons of Dark Matter, just for reference points. I love Three, which I honestly didn't think I'd say. There's something very appealing about interactions with the crew and the snark is perfect.

Wynonna Earp is having a great second season. It's not quite as flawless as the first, but I really like the dynamic between the characters. I'm really interested in how they're going to deal with Waverly.

Still need to catch up on Orphan Black. I think because it's the last season and I know it's the final one, I’m reluctant to watch and lose everyone at the end. But I can't not watch. I need to know where everyone ends up.

I'm almost through the first season of Young Justice and I'd forgotten how much I love animated DC shows. Looking forward to seeing how everything ends up playing out.

Next up is trying to find time to read for pleasure instead of work. I miss diving into a good story for the sheer enjoyment of doing so.

And that's it for entertainment this week. Tonight's post is from This is Your Life, a novella that got a start with the prompt of having one character bring the other out of a funk.

Here's the mini-blurb:

After a harrowing month of captivity in a rival faction's territory, Welch Harrinson can't seem to find his will to keep living. Rina Lewes devises a perfect way to remind Welch why life can be good.

And a preview snippet…

Rina Lewes nodded to her men. "Stay out here. Take out whoever tries to interfere." They took up posts, flanking the door.

Owen and Jack would guard this room with their lives. Both good men, she trusted each to have her back and take care of business while she crossed into personal territory. After almost a full month, she'd finally found her significant other, Welch Harrinson.

Kneeling in front of him, she took stock. Bruised and battered face, nothing she didn't expect to find. Welch could brawl with the best of them.

She touched her fingertips to his temple. "You're okay, Welch. We're going to get you out." Or die trying.

No way would she leave him to the machinations of the Shringla clan. The group of warlocks wanted more territory and decided taking a top knight in the Ravenswood coven could garner an advantage.

They only succeeded in pissing Rina off.

Welch didn't respond. His eyes gazed straight ahead, vacant and empty. Rina worked his bindings loose, nudging around with her mind, testing to see what else held him. She could work with and undo spells, but the Shringlas took precautions and used hex magick. Rina snarled, frustrated and worried. She needed him back with her.

Giving him a gentle shake, she snapped her fingers. "Welch, are you with me here?" She moved directly into his line of sight. "Do you understand?"

He blinked and finally looked in his direction. "Yes, I understand. We're leaving." He glanced away again, losing focus.

Relieved, she got an arm under him—he weighed a little less—and helped him to his feet.

Welch shook his head, resisting. "Where are you taking me?" He dug his heels in for a moment then shuffled along.

Rina thought quickly and decided against taking him to a healing center. "Home, Welch. I'm taking you home." She'd bring in whatever help he needed.

Welch nodded. "Where do I live?"

A pinch of worry edged along her ribs. "You live with me." She led him to the doorway.

Welch stopped and looked down. "I do?" His head tilted to one side, confusion marring his features.

The concern kicked against her heart. "Yes, for five years now." Five incredible years of happiness and crazy times.

He frowned. "Oh." His tone had gone flat.

Alarm stabbed harder. "Welch, what's wrong?" Her need to get him clear of the Shringlas battled with impatience at his inane questions.

He struggled again, pulling back and away. "I can't live with you." Fear replaced the vacancy in his stare.

The knife twisted and Rina started to freak out. "Really? Why not?" She grasped his hands, keeping him from jerking away.

Welch cocked his head, studying her. "Because I have no idea who you are." He tried to yank away from her.

Gutted, Rina spoke three words and caught Welch when he dropped. Biting back disappointment and, god dammit, frustration, she gave rein to anger and rage. The damned warlocks had taken away the one person who always stood by her side, her rock, hell, her salvation.

 Shifting her position, she got to her feet. "Guys! A little help here." Owen and Jack came bursting through the doorway. "We need to get him home."

The men each got a shoulder under Welch's arms and lifted him from the floor.

Jack met her gaze. "Why'd you put him under?" He moved forward with Owen's help.

Rina blew out a harsh breath. "He doesn’t know me." She motioned them ahead.

Owen grunted. "Ouch." What the hell else could he say?

Rina made a low growl. "Yeah, ouch." She charged out of the abandoned building, scanning for hex traps.

Finding none, she helped Jack and Owen get Welch inside the car. She didn't have to tell her men to stick around and gather any intel they could. Pulling away from Welch's prison, she eased into traffic and let the tears flow. The hollow ache in her soul grew and spread but she held it together otherwise.

Glancing in the rearview mirror, she made a promise. "I'm getting you back, Welch. No matter what it takes."

Getting Welch back won't be as easy as she hopes, especially because she has to ask for help from his dad.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Think Twice

June 18, 2017

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. My Dad is off on a grand adventure with my middle kid. They're in Alaska, which, oddly enough, is where my dad spent last Father's Day. From the pictures I've seen, they're having a great time.

It's been a crazy week. I need to rewatch Dark Matter. I had too many distractions going on and I feel like I missed important stuff. Wynonna Earp delivered another great episode. I like some of the twists and turns. I don't like losing Dawls and I'm a little iffy on the new evil overlord chick but I'll give this series a lot of leeway to provide a terrific viewing experience. I'm going to have a hard time wrapping my brain around Kevin Hanchard playing a possible bad guy when he's one of my favorite good guys on Orphan Black.

Speaking of Orphan Black, I have to catch up. We had busy Saturday and I missed the second episode. Thank whatever rules the universe for On Demand. LOL

I have the new ITV drama Fearless ready to go, but haven't had an opportunity to watch yet. I'm looking forward to seeing Jamie Bamber on television again.

I'm almost finished with my binge watch of City Homicide. I'll be seeking my next Australian drama in the very near future. Possibly a binge watch of Sea Patrol, another of my favorites.

Started a premiere viewing of Young Justice on Netflix. Four episodes in and I'm excited about the possibilities.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Think Twice, a novella that got its start and took its title from the two-word prompt "think twice".

Here's the mini-blurb:

When Judd Millian asks Pru Watson to work with him to take out the evil invading their city, she doesn't hesitate to say yes. But when he wants something more, she hesitates, unable to commit to an answer. The indecision drives a wedge between them, but Pru won't let Judd get sucked into the worst part of her past.

And a preview snippet…

Pru Watson didn't think twice when she stepped into the hail of bullets flying from the automatic rifles. The people behind her scrambled to a semblance of safety, taking cover behind the counter of the bus station. The spray of spent ammo bounced off Pru's form, landing with loud, metallic pings on the marble floor. The sound of casings played a weird, harmonic symphony when they flew from the weapons.

One lone woman stood off to the side, too terrified to move. Pru drew the fire from three masked, armed people and made her way to the lady.

Grabbing her arm, Pru spoke quietly. "Get behind me." She provided a bulletproof shield until the female finally crouched with her coworkers.

Once everyone appeared to be out of harm's way, Pru walked toward the masked figures. The group closed ranks and circled around her, slowing down the rain of fire to avoid shooting each other. She'd rattled the trio, holes appearing in her clothing from the gunfire but no blood or wounds. Ever since she'd come awake in a clandestine lab three years ago, she had the ability to make her body impervious to harm. Bullets, knives, fire, heat, subzero temperatures? Nothing. No damage. She wore a brand on her right shoulder—probably received before whatever happened to her happened. The number eight inside an "X".

"What the hell is up with this bitch? Why isn't she dead yet?" The tallest of the three-man attack team reloaded his rifle.

Pru's lips curved and she veered in his direction, making the other two cease firing or risk hitting their cohort. "Maybe that should tell you something, big man." She got within three feet of him and he tossed the gun aside and reached out, locking his arm around hers.

Her fighting skill needed work, but she held her position. His buddies moved closer, pinning her in. Exactly what she wanted.

The big guy smirked, the mouth opening of his mask making the action look bizarre. "What're you gonna do now, sweetheart?" His voice had a rough rumble to it.

Pru jerked her arm from his grasp.

The short, squat goon to her left snorted. "Not much she can do. We've got her trapped."

The final henchman grunted. "I wouldn't underestimate her. There's some freaky juju happening here."

Pru bit back a grin. They had no idea. Hell, she didn't either but not knowing wouldn't stop her from diverting their attention from the hostages.

She started a slow three hundred and sixty-degree turn. "Come on, fellas. You've got me." She came to a stop. "What's the plan?"

The tall one lunged for her and she sidestepped, driving her shoulder into the short guy while the third man went tumbling to the ground, taking the weight of the tall one.

She made a move to face the little dude but didn't have the opportunity to square off. The doors burst open and an army of black-clad operators came pouring into the stations from all entrances. Pandemonium ensued and Pru ducked for cover… the sea of militarized people kicking her heart rate into overdrive.

"I gotta get out of here." Grabbing hold of a railing, she swung upward, climbing into an overhang on the second floor.

She wouldn't stick around long, but needed to make sure the hostages got out without harm. Then she'd do what she always did.

Run.

Pru will give it a good shot, but she won't get far.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: The Souvenir

Had a terrific weekend with great weather for my middle kid's graduation party. My boys were super easy. They're pretty much no muss, no fuss guys. My daughter, on the other hand, will be a sophomore and I think I'm going to start planning her party next week. LOL She's very much a social whirl and gets involved in tons of activities. I might need to rent a venue for hers. LOL

Gotham's finale rocked. I'm so glad the show seemed to find its footing in the third season. I'm pretty much thrilled with all the storylines and where they're leading into for the next season.

Friday brought some much-needed excitement back to my television screen. The double premiere of Dark Matter kept me glued to the screen. Then the follow-up with the Wynonna Earp premiere had me staying put. I'm so happy to have the shows back and can't wait to see where everything goes. Killjoys is up this week and I'm impatiently awaiting its return.

As mentioned last week, I'm just not into this season of Doctor Who. I wish I could sink into the storylines like I've been able to in the past, but I'm struggling. A lot. Very disappointing.

Orphan Black, by comparison, had a kickass return. The clones kicked Saturday night into high gear and I don't anticipate anything less than a wild and reckless ride. My one and only hope is I don't lose any of my favorites. But I'm not holding my breath on that one.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from The Souvenir, a novella that sets up and opens the events for Six Degrees of Separation.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Melick Traynor and Ramona Peartry, childhood friends and top students in the Academy of Light, compete for prominence in their respective classes. But when Melick throws out a challenge, Ramona takes an insane risk to prove him wrong and winds up tangling with the dragon plaguing campus grounds.

And a preview snippet…

Ramona sat soaking in the carved stone tub that had been filled for the third time. She finally felt clean, but she could still smell the stench of the dragon. She thought the scent might be permanently imbedded in her nose.

She shuddered and winced at the movement. Criminy, she ached in places she didn’t think it was possible to ache in. But she was blessedly alone, at least for a while.

She'd had to threaten to do bodily harm to the medical staff, once she was back on her feet, to get them to just go away already. She gingerly sank down in the tub, watching to make sure her knee didn’t get bumped. A huge sigh escaped her lips and she closed her eyes only to have them snap back open.

Someone was in the room with her.

“I thought I told you to leave me in peace for the next thirty minutes.” She sat back up again, moving slower than she would have liked. “Don’t make me get out of this tub and hurt you.”

She almost laughed at that. Odds weren't in her favor to be injuring anybody for a while.

“Is that any way to speak to a higher level mage, Threes?” Melick stepped out of the shadows dressed in casual workout clothes. He had a towel draped around his neck, a bottle of soap in one hand and the biggest, fluffiest sponge Ramona had seen since her last holiday home in the other hand.

She sat there stupefied. “What the flaming hell are you doing here?”

A floating sensation engulfed her when he walked closer. Maybe the painkillers the medic had given her right before she left had finally kicked in. Oh hell, could Ramona be hallucinating? It should have taken at least half an hour for the meds to take effect. The only reason the med staff allowed her that amount of time alone.

Melick ambled his way over to her. “Wow. Nice greeting from someone who asked me if I wanted to give them a bath.” He stooped down alongside the tub and ran his finger through the water. “Change your mind?” He was almost giddy with the excitement of finally getting his hands on her.

Ramona was sitting in a tub, naked, and her nightly fantasy was right next to her. It couldn’t possibly be real.

“Is this really happening?” She cocked her head to the side to see if Melick was still there. “You’re really here, aren’t you?”

She shook her head. If he wasn’t, she was going to find a way to keep a supply of whatever the hell it was they gave her on hand.

Melick chuckled. “I’m really here, Ramona.” He slid his hand over her shoulder, relishing the feel of her flesh against his fingers. “See. Real skin against skin.” He sat back to look at her. “What did they give you for the pain, anyway?” He was hoping to keep her off-guard, but he didn’t want her incoherent.

Overcome with modesty she hadn't known she possessed, Ramona sank down in the tub a little further, being careful with her knee. “Um… I’m not sure, but since you are actually here, it doesn’t matter.” Her brow wrinkled. “Do you really think you’re going to give me a bath?”

Was he insane?

Was she, for wanting said bath?

Melick dropped the sponge in the water with her. “That’s my plan.” He found an examination stool, wheeled it over to the edge of the tub and sat down on it. “Any objections?”

I need to work on some revisions to avoid head-hopping in this scene but I'm pleased with the interactions.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: That Explains Everything

June 4, 2017

Well, graduation turned out to be an inside affair, with bad weather predicted for the evening. That means a hot, crowded event in the gym. Bleh. But I loved watching my son get his diploma and even got him to stand still long enough to take a couple of pictures. LOL

Gotham is really going for broke. I'm not quite sure how I feel about Lee's walk on the dark side, but I'll hold out and see what happens.

I continue to be saddened by the "meh" of Doctor Who. I miss the days when I couldn't wait for new episodes. Now I'm lucky if I remember to turn it on because there's no anticipation for new stuff. Eh… hopefully that will change soon. I really enjoy the quasi-spinoff, Class. I'd love to see more of that one.

Orphan Black starts the final trip next weekend and I'm excited and sad and impatiently awaiting the premiere. Can't wait to see what Sarah and her sestras bring to the screen.

Watched a Torchwood marathon, well, only the first two seasons because I loved them so much. The third wasn't bad but the fourth… ugh. Ended up pretty much hating that one. If rumors are true and there's going to be a Torchwood revival, I'm hoping like hell it's more like the first two seasons. Fingers crossed.

That's it for television. Tonight's post is from That Explains Everything, a novella that started with a writing community prompt of have one of the characters revealed to be an enemy agent or spy. I always love twists that make writing fun.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Tasha Yale wants Brax Vermillion, but can't seem to break her connection to Staz Yarrow—until she's taken by Lanai Conns. Finally aware of the nefarious machinations, Tasha fights to get back to her clan and Brax… before it's too late.

And a preview snippet…

Tasha Yale crawled out of bed and stretched in the morning sunlight.

Movement from the living room drew her forward and she poked her head into the area. "Are you leaving already?"

Staz Yarrow zipped up his duffel bag. "Soon. Waiting on the coffee to finish, then I'll be taking off." He nodded toward the counter where the pot brewed.

She pushed away from the door. "Give me five. Don't leave until I'm back." Dashing into the bathroom, she brushed her teeth and washed her face, getting rid of the gritty sand caked around her eyes.

She returned to the living room and took the mug of coffee Staz handed her. "Mmm. Smells terrific." Placing the cup on the counter, she grasped his hips and tugged him forward. "Do you have to go?" Surely someone else could lead the forage.

Staz's lips quirked with a brief smile and something odd flashed in his eyes. "I do this time. But I won't be gone longer than a week." He dropped a kiss on her nose when a horn beeped outside.

Her shoulders slumped but she followed him to the door. "Okay, then. I hope you find the elusive plants you need." Reaching down, she grabbed his duffel and handed it over. "Safe journey. Come back to me in one piece." She planted a kiss on his lips while he hoisted the bag over his shoulder.

Staz made a quick exit, promising to call if he'd be longer than expected. Tasha went about her usual morning routine. Washed up the few dishes he'd used for breakfast and finished her coffee. She got the woodstove going and brought out her candle making supplies. The task of pouring the wax into the molds always soothed her, especially when she battled disquiet over Staz leaving.

She made the first batch of pillars, leaving them by the window to cool slowly. Her head finally cleared of the hazy anger she'd put aside to wish him well. Something she'd been doing a lot of lately.

"Why am I so malleable all of a sudden?"

They'd had a terrible fight the night before. He'd been leaving more and more frequently, which usually didn't bother Tasha. She had lots of orders to fill and wanted to expand her business. Staz kept throwing up roadblocks. Her work sold well but Staz didn't believe she'd make enough income to cover the rent on a full-time shop.

Okay, his doubt stung, but she could use her garden shed to get started, right? Then move into the village. Nope. Staz refused to budge on the topic. He didn't want a bunch of people parking in the yard and creating chaos in their personal life.

"Like doubling my sales wouldn't make up for that." Apparently, it wouldn't.

She blinked and shook her head. From this point forward, she'd drop the subject with Staz. If she found a way to make opening her business happen, she'd do it on her own.

Or ask Brax Vermillion to back her up.

She started the process for a new batch of taper candles. Brax suggested the idea of offering the long, slender lights as a complement to the pillars. She hand carved ancient blessings into the wax and they sold well. Better than well, actually. She could barely keep up with orders and had to slow down on the varied jar versions she also made.

Another thing Brax helped her launch. He loved brainstorming ideas to help her grow and expand her talent. His encouragement pushed her to challenge herself and try new products. Why the hell couldn't Staz do the same thing?

Maybe because Staz thought Brax had ulterior motives. Staz admitted jealousy over her friendship with Brax. But Tasha wouldn't cut him from her life. She'd known Brax as long as she could remember.

A tug of loneliness had her cleaning up her morning's work and heading out into the warm sunshine. A visit with Brax sounded wonderful. And with Staz gone for at least a week, Tasha could indulge in getting a much needed ego boost.

I had a great time brainstorming ideas for this one and hope it all comes together the way I hope it will.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye