"The plot thickens"

The New Year has started out with a bang, and I’m very pleased at the direction it’s going. My search for support has garnered me a few hardy souls who are willing to act as beta readers, and they have provided some really good suggestions. I’m so myopic about my own work that it really helps to have new eyes to offer “what in the name of heaven are you trying to communicate?”
I asked the universe for a mentor and “poof” GCLS offered new writers the opportunity to work with a mentor if they planned to attend the June conference. So now I not only have an opportunity to discuss my work with one of my hero authors; I also have a deadline to get some work cleaned up and ready to submit in the next month. AAACK!

However, I wasn’t through asking for help, oh no. In addition to the valuable resources available online through yahoo chat groups, I also joined the Bella and Spinsters Ink online forum.

All set?

The only piece missing will be my ability to get to the finish line without shooting myself in the foot. Why would I shoot myself in the foot? Because, for reasons unknown, I have, on occasion, left promising projects undone. I choose to place the blame squarely on the malevolent forces known to me as...“The Sock Monkey Committee.” Come on, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Yeah, the voices in your head telling you that it’s no damn good.

Solution: The universe provided me with a life coach. Yup, I’ve got back up and a champion. We’ve only just started working, but I’m very hopeful that with support and encouragement and I will be able to take this ball into the end zone. (Super Bowl reference)

As soon as I get the first part of book one ready I will post it here for comments. Thanks for joining me on this epic adventure.

End of the year Wrap

This has been an adventure. What started as blog writing and a tentative step into writing, has turned into a full time passion. Problem is...I can't shut the story teller up long enough to revise the work.

Okay, that's good news-bad news. I now have five completed manuscripts,and just started book 4 in the Agent series, and have two stories ideas pounding on the door. A little self-discipline is in order but nowhere to be found. What I asked Santa for was a quiet, efficient housekeeper with unparalelled editing skills. I don't think that's too much to ask for. What?

This year's NaNoWrimo book (The Peace Accord at Iona) was so much fun to write because of the whacky and unpredictable Lucille Jackson, a true Texas spitfire. I am trying really hard to resist the siren call to follow up on those two gals. The story preceding this one was about the trials of the other woman in the story, the steadfast and devoted Dr. Samantha Stone and also has a tie in to the FBI Agent and her Nurse. Is this what one might describe as Nepotism??

I have given up worrying about the fact that my FBI agent and her Nurse may be the core of a continuing saga of epic proportions; I just need to let them tell their story and see where it goes.

When I get The Agents Retreat sucessfully tuned up I will submit it then reapeat the process with The Agent's Road Back and The Agent's Retribution.

So stay tuned, I will provide more excerpts soon.

A New Post and a New Story

I have been working on something new, so have not added to my series.
This time it's two widows, oil and water, thrown together on a vacation tour... sparks and fire works.


Lucille came upstairs just before Sam was ready to turn in. Saying goodbye would be painful for each and Sam bought Lucille a charm of a little shaggy highland cow on a necklace, and was just putting it on her pillow with a note when Lucille opened the door, she looked pale, anxious and upset.
“Lucille, are you alright, what is it?” Sam felt her medical training coming up.
“Yes I’m ok, but I have to say something, oh my god. Please listen, Sam, it’s important, will you promise?”
“Of course I will; do you want to sit down?”
“No, I need to stand up.” she was pacing rapidly back and forth in front of her very puzzled roommate. “I don’t know what’s happening but I feel very strange, and I know you’ll help me. Sam I was really shaken when you said you were staying here, and I couldn’t understand why it was so confusing and all I’ve been doing is thinking and thinking.” She walked over and stood directly in front of Sam, trembling. “Sam...I want to be with you.”
Sam was not hearing. She repeated it. “I want to be with you here or back home or whatever, I don’t know what it means but you’re the only thing that makes sense in my life and I need to be with you.” There was no reaction from Sam and she reached over slowly and took Sam’s face in her hands, looked her in the eye and kissed her softly and more sweetly than Sam had ever experienced.
Sam’s brain was spinning out of control and every warning light was flashing stop.stop.stop—but her lips were responding independently. They kissed warmly and tenderly, a wonderful heart thumping first kiss. It was the kind remembered from youth with innocence and tremulousness. It was tentative and deeply meaningful on many levels. Sam could not deny Lucille this brave act of intimacy and caring.
It ended and Sam wrapped her arms around the still trembling woman who had risked everything, and held her very close stroking her hair and whispering softly, “I understand.”

Book Three: The Agent's Retribution

Zeke provided a brief verbal account of the ordeal and planned to write a formal report as ordered. First, she had hoped to get her boss to make an informal phone call explaining that a civilian nurse, Anne Reynolds, had become involved in an undercover operation and was unable to make any phone calls.
Special Agent in Charge de la Jolla simply looked at the piece of paper with the name and phone number of Anne's manager, then at Zeke. "Are you serious?"
"Yes, ma'am, if you wouldn't mind. I know it sounds silly, but she just started a new position, and she really can't explain where she's been..." Zeke smiled sheepishly. The call was made.

When Zeke asked to be transferred to New Mexico, she had naively expected a pretty boring assignment but in the two months since her arrival--while on her supposed medical leave--it had been anything but boring. Within two weeks of her arrival, she had been tracked down by people connected to her last case in Chicago, and they beat her viciously then sexually assaulted her.

The newcomer was then asked to work undercover, as a favor to the Agency, before officially starting, and made a good connection with a well connected Mexican National, who now seemed to have something to do with her abduction. While visiting Arizona with a friend only two weeks prior, they were both abducted and pistol whipped to gain information on a Guantanamo detainee.
Now finally this very special agent officially starts to actually work, works one day...and the two women were again abducted and this time taken to Mexico by the same people who are still trying to get an indicted murderer released from Guantanamo Bay.
Special Agent Zeke Beignet was rumored to be an excellent field agent but was certainly proving to be a lightning rod for trouble.
Zeke thanked her boss and quickly returned to her cubicle to write up her rather convoluted report. Before discussing her negotiated Deal with the Devil, she wanted to talk with Captain Donovan, since he was her original contact in New Mexico and the one with the interest in the Border affairs and the connection with the CIA.

Another snippet

Excerpt from Book Two: The Agent's Road Back


"Zeke stood up and went into the adjoining bathroom and washed her face. The swelling was nearly gone and the dark circles were moving down her cheeks. She could feel the anger rising up from her toes, “fucking bastards. I will not let you rob me of my life,” Zeke spat under her breath.
After climbing into bed, she willed herself to let go of the hurtful image and replace it with the pure beauty of the wonderful night she spent with her new lover in Taos, NM. She methodically visualized the beautiful room with the candles and fireplace. She could feel the delicate touch of Anne's trembling fingers unbuttoning and slowly removing her clothes, the tentative exploring mouth on her body, and the deep kisses dancing back and forth rhythmically. Give and take, in and out, back and forth, touching everything and starting over again, the passion ebbed and flowed for both. There were trembling crescendos that exploded in her core that Zeke had never known were possible. It was a dream and it was real and she deserved to have that happiness, they both did. Zeke slipped off to sleep holding a pillow close to her with far away twinkling blue eyes watching."

Excerpt from Book One: The Agent's Retreat

“It looks like you should be fine here, Aldonza has everything under control and seems very fond of you. Of course, I’d like you to let me know if you need anything…I mean you’re not 100% just yet,”said Anne smiling.
The protective nurse began to emerge--probably more so to protect the uncomfortable nurse.

She continued as she packed up her things, “You really will need to stay off that ankle for another week or so and then gradually start putting weighed on it. The bandage on your back should be changed again Wednesday… And I can show Aldonza if you’d like me to.”
“Gosh, it sounds as though my nurse is quitting…” said Zeke sadly.
“No…of course not, it’s just that I thought you might want to get back to your vacation and not be pestered all the time.”
Zeke sat forward in her chair looking directly at Anne, “why on earth would you say a thing like that?”
Stunned by Zeke’s frankness, Anne stammered, “I don’t know…”
“In spite of the bizarre circumstances, I have really enjoyed the time we’ve spent together, and I liked the fact that I had a friend in New Mexico.” Zeke responded warmly.
Now Anne felt like a complete fool, “Oh no…I mean, I do too. I’ve enjoyed it. It’s just, well…sometime people feel smothered…that’s all.”
“You know, Anne, sometimes having a job like mine creates a sense of disconnectedness and a sense of being adrift. I have my parents in Mississippi, but I don’t have a lot of close friends and I thought we kind of connected”
Anne was actually blushing by now. “Shoot me now for being so stupid. I was just way off.”
“I don’t think I would say that to an armed Federal officer.” They both laughed at the reference.
Anne stood up and picked up the empty beer bottles, Zeke followed her into her room.

“I should really get going; I do need to work tomorrow.”
“Right.” They both just stood still--not more that three feet apart.
“Why don’t you give me a call later to let me know how you’re faring?”
“I will,” said Zeke leaning against the desk and setting the crutches aside.

Anne started to take a step toward the door and Zeke opened her arms; Anne turned involuntarily and was drawn into a warm but tentative embrace as Zeke said, “I appreciate everything you’ve done, I really mean it.”