Bri Clark's Blog, page 21

After being on vacation for two weeks and away from my latest WIP Eternal Witch, the sequel to Familial Witch, I didn't realize how much I missed it! Is that even possible? If I wasn't an author I'd be considered clinically insane. But luckily I am an author. Shew...that was a close one. The loony bin has been trying to get me for years.

But why is it OK to miss a manuscript or to even mourn one? I've read authors who wrote novels that were never published that sigh in interviews and dab at unshed tears over they fact that their beloved characters will never be seen. Then others rejoice over the fact sometimes years later they are able to get a contract and publish their beloved long ago buried ms.

So back to my Eternal Witch...I think it's the characters and their story. It's all up in my head and needs to get out. I'm so close to finishing that first initial draft and I NEED to get it out. I'm scared I'm going to forget something or suffer an accident causing amnesia and their story will never be finished. EEK!!

I think I may be having a bit of my smartypantsdiva moment. You think? So to my critique partner's bitter delight I'm about to load her up with a whole flipping MS.

What about you? Ever missed a WIP, MS or perhaps characters from a series you love?

Welcome to Six Sentence Sunday...Today you get a taste of Marie and Henry in my new release Glazier. To say Marie has a bit of a temper would be like calling the sun a little bright.

""OOOWWW. What happened to four?" With his grip even stronger, he spun me into his chest. When he tried to wrap his other arm around me to trap me in his grasp, my head whipped back, and I popped him right in the nose. Shouting in pain, he let go and I fell to the floor. I hadn't expected him to drop me. Rolling to my left side, I couldn't find any part of me that wasn't hurting."

To find out more about Glazier from book trailers to buy links go here.

And lets not forget to go back to Six Sentence Sunday for more fun and teasing.

Disclaimer: This novella is for 18 and older.

Product DescriptionBorn of a mortal woman but raised in Hell by the demon that sired him, Abdamas is a halfling-proof incarnate of the war between good and evil that exists in each of us. Shaebiel is an angel warrior earning her ultimate salvation in Heaven by fighting demons like Abdamas who are in search of human souls on Earth.

In the heat of a raging battle, Abdamas sees Shaebiel and wants her. When the blade of another demon aims for her, Abdamas is injured while trying to save her. Shaebiel can't believe a demon has rescued her from certain death and takes her questionable hero home with her to heal him.

As they both fight and surrender to their desires, the conflict around them continues, and there is Heaven and Hell to pay for their actions. Through divine intervention they are offered a gift. But Hell is nowhere near finished with either of them, and the stakes are getting higher and higher.

Can a questionable hero sacrifice enough to redeem himself in the eyes of Heaven so that he may claim the love of an angel?




Not a stranger to Kiki Howell's work I was once again impressed with her ability to create a tale like now other.  My experiences have always been more around magic, spells and witchcraft with her work. But in this one she really goes in a different direction. The result is a passionate, suspenseful and thrilling novella that leaves the reader breathless and wanting more. Because it is a novella I don't feel good going too in depth for fear of repeating what's from the blurb or causing a spoiler. Just trust me you'll love this one.
Book received via my reviewing position at Romancing the Book.  

So I recently found out that blogs subscriptions can be set up via your Kindle. I know right, AWESOME! I was thinking wow this is great my Kindle goes everywhere with me and if not my it then my Kindle app on my iPhone. Yeah you have to pay a little fee but that's for the convenience. Here Kindle explains it best....

Kindle blogs are fully downloaded onto your Kindle so you can read them even when you're not wirelessly connected. And unlike RSS readers which often only provide headlines, blogs on Kindle give you full text content and images, and are updated wirelessly throughout the day.

So I immediately go a hunting for my favorite blogs. The disappointment set in no one I already subscribe to was on there. Oh the agony...then a thought occurred. (imagine the Grinch grin here) What if I added my blog then shamelessly plug it encouraging my other friends I love to follow to do it as well? And so here's today's post.

Now for the shameless plugging....



 PSS... As soon as you set yours up come back and let me know so I can subscribe. I'm so excited to find a way to keep up with blogs now!!!

Wilma looked through the closet of her best friend Betsy. She didn't have many clothes but that was OK cause she borrowed what she needed from her sister Rita or Betsy. There were enough between them and coming from a family with nine children sharing was a lesson learned early.

"Toots," Betsy called. Toots was a nickname Wilma got when a small child. Only no one knew why or who started it. "You go ahead and get anything you want. In fact wear this blue sleeveless top with these white knee pants. It will bring out your eyes and when that fool Jimmy sees you he'll be rethinking spending his precious leave time with Bob instead of you." She said shoving the outfit in Wilma's hands.

After their morning chores and breakfast they walked to town. That was the great thing about Erin the railroad ran right through it and there were no strangers in the small town. Betsy swung her hands to and fro along the folds of her high back sun dress. Wilma listened to her as she talked on and on about the latest boy in town.

A long high whistle sounded interrupting Betsy's tirade. She turned, her shoulder length blond hair flipping around and arched a brow as she planted a hand on her slim hip.Wilma followed Betsy's glare having it fall on a handsome boy with dark hair and dark eyes. He walked toward them a half smile on his face leaving behind a Chevy with the hood raised.

"Betsy Darling you are looking mighty pretty today in that dress." He said winking and calling her by her first and middle name. Betsy smiled back. "Whose this other pretty lady with you?" He continued his flirtation nodding his head toward Wilma.

"This is my friend Wilma but everyone calls her Toots." He nodded toward Wilma and she smiled crossing her arms suddenly furious that James wasn't who she was with. If things had gone as she thought they were she should have been in his arms with a ring on her left ring finger.

"I'm Danny Allen. Why don't you two come sit on the porch and have a couple cokes." Wilma and Betsy shared a look then walked quickly to his porch. Cokes were a sweet and rare luxury for the two girls.

They hadn't been there long when Bob walked up toward the porch and he didn't look happy. Wilma squared her shoulders and put what she hope was a blank look on her face.

"Toots I've been looking everywhere for you. Jimmy is up at the house...been waiting all morning too." Bob pointed toward his home by the railroad tracks.

"Well if he was so eager to see me why didn't he take the opportunity to do it yesterday." Wilma replied before taking a long sip of her Coke. Danny and Betsy looked on wide eyed but quiet. Bob had a temper and Betsy was his sister and knew to steer clear. Color drained from Bob's face as he clenched and unclenched his fists.

"Now you get your hind end up there now you hear!" He yelled pointing again down the tracks.

"If Jimmy wants to see me let him know that I will be sitting right here." Wilma replied sitting her now empty glass bottle on the wooden porch beside her before meeting Bob's steely glare. Huffing he turned on his heel and headed in the direction he had pointed so many times before. Shortly her sister Rita followed attempting the same thing Bob had, still unsuccessful.

However, before Rita left she shared a death blow to Wilma. Jimmy was up there waiting to propose. He had showed the rings the night before to Bob. Betsy sat down beside her in the swing while Danny politely went to fetch more Cokes.

"Are you sure you don't want to go up there now Toots?" Betsy suggest leaning toward and lightly touching her hands fisted in her lap. Wilma took a deep breath and picture her backbone straight and solid.

"If those rings were meant for me then I should have seen then before Bob." She insisted. Then heard the familiar growl of a Ford driving too fast in the direction of the base. Wilma sighed then started on her second Coke.


Now I just want to point  out that there is a lot of creative license in this post. It's like hearing a family story then adding your own romantic imaginations to it. A lot...how about I call a spade a spade...a tremendous amount. LOL If you missed part one it's here.

 

In the hours I spend preparing to bid farewell to my beloved south this is what has happened.

The original plans for my mother taking me to the airport have changed and she is unable to drive do to a reaction to something. My grandfather who doesn't have complete lung function is hopping mad he can't go because the humidity and heat would be too hard on him. In a dream he had he thought he was fishing and mistaken his fishing line for his oxygen tube the night before. So granny made a trip to town in order to replace it. She was not happy. And all that was in the the first couple hours this morning.

As of 9 AM a cousin will be coming to stay with PawPaw granny will take us halfway to the airport and a friend who I consider more of a sister, Evie, will spend a few hours with the girls and I. Then she will bring us to the airport. Now lets see what else happens before I go...Perhaps morning flights do have their perks.

To all those people I didn't get to see know you were in my thoughts and I really wanted to see you. I apologize. Maybe next trip.

"My skill far exceeded his, especially with the added measure
Glazier gave me. I pulled my sword back, sashaying around him
unexpectedly, moving around at Glazier speed to his flank, my
sword curved around his neck, overpowering him. He froze,
realizing I had him.
"Drop the sword," I commanded. Glazier fought me for
control internally, wanting to end it, wanting his blood spilled."

Jimmy lifted the velvet box from his pocket, astonished that his hand shook a little. He was thirty years old, been on his own since eleven, a seasoned soldier after two wars, and he was the most afraid of his life. He doused another mug of homebrew, then looking into the swirling left over amber liquid in the bottom he considered he may be an alcoholic soon enough. What caused this man to drink more than usual and his hands to shake? Wilma Adams. His friends sister in law...eighteen year old sister in law.


Bob slammed his empty glass down and grunted at the bartender to give him and his friend another round.

"Come on Jimmy we are celebrating!" Bob exclaimed. "You are getting married." Jimmy looked up from under his red eyebrows fixing to remind his companion he hadn't even asked her yet. Then decided against it. Bob didn't need a reason to drink. But Jimmy needed to get back to the house. He hadn't seen Wilma at all since arriving in town from the base. They had been dating a while and he lived for the weekend when he would get a pass to go see her. She lived with her older sister Rita, Bob's wife. There were nine Adams siblings all together and a countless amount of cousins. But in Jimmy's eyes it was only Wilma.

Stopping the bar tender from refilling their glasses he pulled Bob up. He had already spent too much time drinking up courage to propose. Hopefully Wilma wouldn't be in tift he had been gone so long. A half smile adorned his lips. She was all stubborn backbone and spirit. Just like his moma. The moma he lost when just a boy.

Bob almost lost an arm as Jimmy pulled him to his car. A 1956 Ford...only two years old and went through gas like a barmaid went through rouge. But she was his and every time he walked by her his hand slid across the hood in admiration.

The Fords headlights moved along the drive that led to Bob's and Jimmy's heart raced as he noticed only a small light was on by the window. In the chair was no doubt Bob's wife Rita...waiting. He cursed and hit the steering wheel. Wilma may already be asleep. It was much later than he realized the pub's lack of windows had deceived him once again.

Yet again pulling on a drunk Bob's arm he headed to the door. Rita opened it,  her hair in curlers beneath a hair net, thin lips tight as she held her tongue. Jimmy suspected Bob might be one of those men who would take a swing when non coherent and Rita's behavior proved that theory now.

After Rita tucked Bob into their room she came back out with a handkerchief in her hand. She cleared her throat and offered him a forced smile.

"Thanks for watching out for him Jimmy." She thanked him. While he ducked his head and blushed he felt ashamed that he even went out with Bob.

"Is Wilma in the bed?" He asked the only thought skipping through his mind like a scratched record. Rita's shoulders tensed and her thin lips went tight again.

"I can't tell you that Jimmy. She's not here...been gone all evening in fact."

Jimmy's fist enclosed around the box with the rings in his pocket as his stomach seemed to drop to his feet like the first time he parachuted from a plane with the 101st Airborne. Then a combination of fear, anger, and pride sparked filling the empty space his stomach vacated. If she wasn't there then where was she...or better yet who was she with?


This post was different in my Feature Friday usual style. Still' in my beloved South I've been hearing stories of my family and in true Belle fashion are adding my own sprinklings of fiction to the facts shared with me.

Want to know what happened next? If I get at least ten comments I'll continue.

Those of you who know me on social media, or have read the blog at all know I'm a sassy southern belle. Well today I'm going a step farther and being brassy. What has spurred this sudden post more toward my blunt cocky side and less of my sweet sass? Perhaps its the fact I'm on a trip to my roots...my beloved south...or could it possibly be that I just released Glazier!


Oh yeah that's right after three years of work my novel Glazier released today. And I couldn't be happier...prouder and just plain arrogant. Now I couldn't have possibly got here without good friends, mentors, friends, and family that supported and critiqued me with honesty and tact. They know who they are and are in the acknowledgement of every book that is published in ebook or print. But I wanted to take a second and acknowledge those haters that dogged me every step of the way with two words.

"piss off!"

And that's all they will be getting from me cause now I will savor the spoils of Glazier's release before I get buried in promo and the other two novels I'm releasing this year. Continue on for an obscene unashamed amount of marketing about Glazier...



Glazier Blurb

Marie Kincaid is devastated after losing her family in a violent crash…so she runs. One morning, she awakes in an infirmary with total memory loss and a new power: Glazier. The cold frozen mists of Glazier's instincts enable Marie to embark on a new life free of pain but most importantly free of the past. Heightened senses, accelerated strength,speed, and learning abilities make Marie a perfect candidate to be a spy…also a perfect companion for Henry Tenison, the only other known Glazier. Henry, a loner and proud rogue finds his world upended when his connection to Marie is forged. Unsure of how to progress, he endeavors to keep it strictly professional. As far away missions and romantic surroundings entice him into pursuing his deeper desires, he caves. However, Marie's love changes everything.
Determined to free them both of the spy world and the hold Glazier has over their lives, Henry implements a plot to disappear. However, when things become dangerous in their latest mission and memories of Marie's past surface suggesting another man…will Henry's efforts come too late? If Marie remembers her past, will she still want their future?

While this isn't really a "writer post" per say it does refer to my platform as an author. I'm visiting in my home state of TN and it's been over two years since I moved from here. While I've moved 46 times in my 29 years there has been one constant…a tiny two-bedroom house at the end of a dirt lane off Old Black Top Rd. Granny and Paw Paws….



 
No matter where I lived or how chaotic my life became from infancy, adolescence to adulthood my grandparents house is and has been a constant place of stability. Although there have been a couple remodels over the years the feel is much the same. I learned to swish a ball on a rusty backboardless hoop. The inspiration for the Peony flower living birthmark on Aisleen in Familial Witch came from this little place. Every May since I've been born three bushes at the front left of the house grow from strong roots and produce the most beautiful white and pink Peonies. The fragrance is something that I always associate with home. In addition, every fall my grandfather mows the bushes all the way down in his lifelong battle to rid the yard of these flower bushes that have a talent for thriving. 


It's from similar roots that create the stock that I'm made of... A grandmother with a lineage going back to presidents and a grandfather with a soldier in most generations. But really its the simplicity of country living, hard work and love that nurtured this Belle.




Stay tuned for the next installment where I reveal a childhood addiction and nickname.