Thursday, March 27, 2014

It's Raining in my Books by Janice Seagraves

I enjoy the rain, spring and the planting season. It's raining right this minute and I'm loving it.

 Photos owned by Janice Seagraves

I've added rain as a scene element in most of my stories. The weather is nearly a secondary character in Windswept Shores, while Megan and Seth struggle to survive on a deserted island in the Bahamas, and in Weather Witch, Meredith, shows her emotion in a most singular way, the weather. 


In my current release, Matrix Crystal Hunters, a science fiction romance, it's the start of the rainy season on the distant planet of Zenevieva. On a trek out to the badlands, Vach and Maya get caught in the rain, but my favorite scene comes just after.

 Blurb for Matrix Crysal Hunters:
The trail seemed to go on forever. Puddles reflected the dark gray sky. The air had a fresh-scrubbed smell, which contrasted with the earthy scent of the damp ground.
Several hours later, Maya checked her watch. Twelve o’clock. Which could mean it was closer to ten, since the Zeeman day had twenty-two hours and her watch used Earth’s twenty-four hour cycle. A hooded Zeeman stood not far off, staring at her. She stared back, wondering if it was a herder. But where was his flock?
Several more Zeeman-shaped figures were standing in a group, not far away, but their cloaks didn’t appear to be being stirred by the fretful wind. Maybe they weren’t Zeemen at all. Statues of some sort?
Later, she spotted one ahead of her, near the road. As she rode closer, she saw that it was a stone pillar of some kind. Zeeman-shaped, but much larger, maybe ten to twelve feet in height. She looked it up and down, trying to find carvings or letterings, but there were none.
She turned over the possibilities in her mind, finally coming to the conclusion that these must be the roots of long dead trees and bushes encased in limestone jackets. A few miles down the road, more of these pillars filled the landscape. The standing stones seemed to be watching her, from out on the flat plane. A shiver went down Maya’s back. Creepy.
Vach waited for her at the next rest stop. His nasty sherakey had been tied up at the far side, with a bush to chew on. Brawley made his way into the clearing, and Vach held his arms up, so he could help Maya dismount. She pulled a leg over the huge saddle horn and slid off into his arms.
Vach caught her, laughing. “Got you.”
She smiled. “Yes you do. Now, can you kindly help me walk? I’m as stiff as a board.”
“Of course.” He half-carried her over to a picnic table and bench set.
She let out a groan as she sat on the hard, ironwood surface.
“The ride will get better.” He rubbed her back.
Maya looked at him. “Promise?”
“It will.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~
at

13 comments:

  1. The Reading FrenzyMarch 27, 2014 at 9:13 AM

    I love the spring rain without the severe hazards that come with it of course.
    Great post ;)

    ReplyDelete
  2. SandyMarch 27, 2014 at 9:21 AM

    Great post, Janice. I like the soft spring rain pattering on the roof, but not the windy heavy rain in the spring.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Tina DonahueMarch 27, 2014 at 10:29 AM

    Enjoyed the excerpt, Janice.

    I like rain at times. Don't have much of it in Southern California.

    ReplyDelete
  4. jean hart stewartMarch 27, 2014 at 1:45 PM

    Love the excerpt. Other worlds always fascinate me....

    ReplyDelete
  5. Cara MarsiMarch 27, 2014 at 3:47 PM

    Great excerpt. And a great description of the rain. I think rain or a storm make a wonderful setting or a story.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Cara MarsiMarch 27, 2014 at 3:47 PM

    Great excerpt. And a great description of the rain. I think rain or a storm make a wonderful setting or a story.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Melissa KeirMarch 27, 2014 at 7:24 PM

    What a great scene. I love the sound of rain or thunderstorms. There's something soothing about the water.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Janice SeagravesMarch 28, 2014 at 1:36 AM

    Hi Debbie,

    Me too. Love spring rain.


    Hi Sandy,

    Same here. We get most of our rain in the spring in our part of the country.

    Hi Tina,

    Thank you. I live in California too, but in the Central Valley, and yes, we don't get much rain here either. That might be why I enjoy the rain so much.

    Hi Jean,

    Thank you. I had fun writing my book.

    Hi Cara,

    Thank you. I do too. :)

    Hi Melissa,

    Thank you. I think so too. :)

    Janice~

    ReplyDelete
  9. Viki LynMarch 28, 2014 at 10:14 AM

    I loved your excerpt. And I agree how the weather can be a character in a book as strongly as the people! I live in the desert and love when it rains since it's so infrequent!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Judy BakerMarch 28, 2014 at 10:29 AM

    Great post and cover. I love spring rains and hot summer days when it rains. I have lots of memories growing up in Tennessee of thunderstorms and pouring rain - love the sounds. I even like humidity, makes my skin feel soft.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Janice SeagravesMarch 28, 2014 at 6:47 PM

    Hi Viki,

    Thank you. :) Oh yes, we both live where it doesn't rain often, so we do appreciate it when it does.

    Hi Judy,

    Thank you. BTW, my dad was from Tennessee. He talked about the rain a great deal and how the thunder seemed to roll from one side of the sky to the other.

    Janice~

    ReplyDelete
  12. LKFMarch 28, 2014 at 7:28 PM

    Great excerpt, and I do love the cover. : ) I also am a sucker for a good spring shower. I have a swing outside the barn so I can sit and listen to the rain fall off the tin roof. It's so relaxing.
    Thanks for sharing
    Lynda

    ReplyDelete
  13. Janice SeagravesMarch 29, 2014 at 3:52 PM

    Hi Lynda,

    Thank you. Oh, a swing while it rains does sound lovely.

    Janice~

    ReplyDelete