November first, is the start day of the Nanowrimo.
This will be my eighth year doing the Nano. I started doing this before I was a published author. I think its a great exercise for writers. Proving the impossible--that you can write a novel in a month.
It also means I have seven finished manuscripts.
Not all my Nanowrimo stories stay idle on my hard drive.
One manuscript, Matrix Crystal Hunter, is a Nano story. I wrote it two years ago. Let it set for six month then revised it. Let it sit another few months and then polished it.
It was published last year and did well. Number ten for a few days on Amazon best sellers list for Science Fiction Romance, then dropped to number eleven for two more weeks.
Team Alpha Three's spaceship is out of power after fighting a wormhole, and parked on the primitive world of Zenevieva. With half the team sick from radiation poisoning, the team commander entrust geologist, Maya Gladstone, to find enough matrix crystals to power up their spacecraft, so they can go home to Earth.
Vach Namaste of the powerful Clan Namaste, a native of the planet, has desired the lovely Maya since she stepped off the spaceship on that astonishing day a year ago. He’s hounded her every step since. As Hymeneal Night approaches, he makes plans to take her as his bride… willing or not.
“What’s wrong?”
Excerpt:
“There’s a bow in the rock wall.” Vach backed up, causing Maya to withdraw. “I’m bigger than the last time I went through here, but that was several years ago when my cousin, Xeno , brought me.”
He handed her the flashlight.
“Is there another way?” She shone the light around, noting how the crevice narrowed overhead.
“Not that I know of.” He grunted, trying to remove his robe, but there wasn't much room to maneuver.
“Here, let me help you.” Maya pulled the robe off his shoulder. “Surely the ancients didn't come through here?” She jerked one sleeve down over his hand and then reached to get the other side too, but found herself wedged between the rock wall and his hard body. Fighting the impulse to feel his muscles, she managed to get his other sleeve down.
“If there’s another entrance, it must have been blocked a long time ago.” He started to pull his tunic off, but struggled, thanks to his big arms and the lack of room. “Can you help me with my shirt?”
As Vach lifted his arms over his head, Maya grabbed a handful of cloth so she could lift the material high over his shoulders. “What are you going to do? Strip down and lube yourself with my cooking oil?”
“No.” He chuckled, his voice muffled by the shirt. “But that’s a good idea.”
With his arms up, Maya got a whiff of his spicy, male scent. It always surprised her that the Zeemen didn't stink after exertion as humans did. I wouldn’t mind rubbing his body down with oil. Warmth spiraled through her middle. She bit her lip. Keep your mind on business and not on being in a tight spot with a handsome Zeeman.
Vach stuck his clothes in the tote and then sidestepped through the narrow opening. Grunting as he pushed past the bow, he finally got through.
Maya approached the bend and realized it was about breast height on her. No wonder Vach had a problem, with his deep chest and heavily muscled back.
Contemplating the aperture, she stood on tiptoe but couldn't get high enough. Finally, she squatted down but then found she needed to keep her knees bent out sideways. Oh no, not awkward at all.
She managed a few crab steps before she got stuck. Vach grabbed her arm to pull her the rest of the way through. Her hiking boots slid over the loose gravel, while her thighs took the strain. He helped her to stand, leaving his hands placed on her waist as she leaned against the wall, panting. “I don’t know how we’re going to manage that going back.”
“At least we know it’s there.” His breath puffed against her face. It smelled of mint.
He must have used my toothpaste. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
With an electric jolt, Maya realized her shirt had risen up and Vach hands were resting on her bare skin. She became hyperaware of his scent, his closeness and the fact that he wore no shirt.
Moving even closer toward her in the confined space, he whispered in her ear. “I like the smell of your hair.”
His hand slid further under her shirt, gliding over her ribs.
Heat went through her as she rested her hand on his shoulder. “It’s my shampoo.”
“It’s nice.”
“You can borrow it sometime.”
————————————————————————————————-
US Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FJ10W26
UK Kindle: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Matrix-Crystal-Hunters-ebook/dp/B00FJ10W26/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1380662336&sr=1-3
US Trade paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Matrix-Crystal-Hunters-Janice-Seagraves/dp/1492709751/ref=tmm_pap_title_0
UK Trade paperback: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Matrix-Crystal-Hunters-Janice-Seagraves/dp/1492709751/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_t_1_KKW6
UK Kindle: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Matrix-Crystal-Hunters-ebook/dp/B00FJ10W26/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1380662336&sr=1-3
US Trade paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Matrix-Crystal-Hunters-Janice-Seagraves/dp/1492709751/ref=tmm_pap_title_0
UK Trade paperback: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Matrix-Crystal-Hunters-Janice-Seagraves/dp/1492709751/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_t_1_KKW6
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Matrix Crystal Hunters is now on Smashwords:http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/447796
Can you do me a huge favor? I in a Halloween blog hop, I'd love if you'd drop by and leave a comment. There's a chance at a prize too.
7 comments:
I've never done Nano. I think I'm afraid of it. Congratulations to you for doing it so well. And congratulations for the success of your book!
Every time I try Nano, I give up. The holidays always interrupt. Preparing the house and shopping for the family coming in from out of town for Thanksgiving keeps me from completing the month. I keep thinking I'll do my own Nano month that isn't so close to the the busy season. Good luck to all who do it.
Nano scares me.. I've got too much pressure to try. But good for you.....Nice excerpt...
Hi Cara, Thank you. There isn't anything to be afraid of when you do the Nano. Your not really pitted against all the other writers.
You're challenging yourself to write as fast as you can for one month.
Hi Judy, Yeah, I wondered why the Nano was placed in one of the busiest of months, but it was started by Chris Baty, a man.
But in his defense, he was looking for a date with lots of time off from work and school so others could participate.
Check the Nano website, there are a couple of other months that they also do the Nano. Check too with Romance Divas, they do one in January.
Hi Jean, True there is a great deal of pressure, but it one you place on yourself to write fast.
Maybe one day you'll give it a try. :)
Janice~
I've done local Nano groups for Michigan authors, nothing for the big one. With my full time job, there isn't enough hours in the day. Maybe some year!
All the best!!
I have never done Nano, but I would love to. It's hard to find the time during the holidays.
So glad to hear your book has done so well.
Hi Melissa,
That sounds great. I don't do the local one, but the one with the Nano website.
Hi Sandy,
Thank you. :) Maybe one day.
Janice~
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