Recently, I decided to reread the classic novels that I had read in school.
Why?
I came to this decision after hearing a discussion about Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome. I had read it in school and I hated it. Which is surprising because I love Edith Wharton. Nothing pulls at my heart like The Age of Innocence.
As I listened to these two speakers talking about the book, I wondered what had my teenage self missed and what would my adult self discover now.
But I decided that I wouldn't stop with just that novel. This endeavour is more about reading classics. It has become about me seeing how I have changed, how I see the world has changed.
When I read The Age of Innocence as a teenager, I hated that Archer didn't end up with Ellen. To me happiness was all that mattered and to give that up and be miserable with May--pure foolishness to me.
As an adult, I see that ending differently. Archer had a duty to loved ones and would have hurt many people he cared about and perhaps himself. What would have happened too him and the Countess if he had left May. As May wasn't the stupid, blind, weak person I thought her once.
Life has thought me that lesson. Though, I write romance and always have an Happily Ever After in my novels, that doesn't me that I or other romance authors don't see that life doesn't always work that way.
Sometimes, the happily ever after is not the one expected but doesn't hold any less importance. We just have some time and wisdom to see it.
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Showing posts with label book. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Friday, January 27, 2017
Alien Heart by Janice Seagraves
Blade is my favorite character in my Chronicles of Arcon series. He shows up in nearly everyone of my stories from the free reads to Alien Heart and the later as yet unpublished books.
He's tough but still has a big heart. Blade's only fear is showing his tender side to the woman he loves. He doesn't want to be rejected. But all the sarcasm in the world can't cover how he feels.
Blade is just a few minutes older than his triplet, Keefe. They have an uneasy relationship. Blade is looked down on for being a military male. And Keefe can't help but feel the same, even though he loves his older brother.
I made the Arcon society the opposite of ours. I honestly respect our people, men and women, of our armed forces. But for my story, I had to make things different to show another society other than just another version of our own.
Keefe is front and center in the series and everything eventually revolves around him, and he reluctantly brings Blade along for the ride.
While I wrote about these two different brothers, I knew I had to have something so they'd stay together. What would keep them together? What would be their glue.
So I decided to give them a little brother.
Enter Paz, their little brother. He's around thirteen years old, smart, something of a couch potatoes and loves his computer. Paz is home schooled, but even his brothers can't help him with his homework because it is so advanced.
Blurb: Divorcee and single mom, hardworking Audrey Westberry is the host of a cable TV show called Miz Fixit.
Romance was the last thing on Audrey’s mind when two handsome extraterrestrials join the audience of her show.
Soon Audrey finds out a single word “mated” has different meaning when you are born a galaxy away. After a wonderful night of passion, Audrey finds herself far from home, impregnated and her life turned upside down.
Will she ever be able to leave the alien compound, see her son again, or get home in time to film the fall season of her Miz Fixit show?
But what's a girl to do with two aliens that smell like candy, and their kisses taste like it, too?
Excerpt:
“Why are these foolish
humans following us everywhere?” Blade scowled.
“Well...you’re the
newest thing. A walking, talking novelty act; aliens from outer space, elves
from middle earth, and Bigfoot rolled up into one,” Audrey said.
“Our feet aren’t big,
are they?” Paz stared at his shoes.
Audrey looked too—size
thirteen at least. “It’s the way our people feel about you.” She gestured
toward the window. “You’ve also been as elusive to film. That makes getting the
picture more exciting.”
“Humph, I don’t like
it. I feel unprotected.” Blade’s hand smoothed down his side as if he looked
for a weapon while he flushed violet from his green tipped hair to his silver
jumpsuit.
Gee, don’t get out much?
She got a glimpse of
the restaurant. Renaldo’s. This was Fox’s favorite restaurant, he took her here
often enough to discuss her future, and then she knew he had setup the date.
Damn him, he could have at least told me.
Mental note: fire Fox, but kick him in the ass first.
Once at the restaurant,
the photo flashes left Audrey almost blind. Damn,
no wonder celebrities wear sunglasses at night.
Audrey’s three dates
must have been through this before; each had whipped out a pair of wraparound
sunglasses, while she stood there, blinking away spots.
Where can I get a pair?
Someone noticed
Audrey’s problem, and placed an arm around her shoulders to lead her inside.
“Eh, it is Ms.
Westberry and our new alien friends, no?”
Audrey recognized the
voice of the head waiter, a man named Alberto, a tubby little Italian with a
pencil thin mustache.
“I’ll show you to a
private dining room. You’ll eat all by yourselves, eh.”
“Thank you, Alberto,
that’ll be great.” Audrey’s shoulders relaxed. Good, I don’t want to be stared at.
Alberto showed the
group to their table. At least Audrey thought it was him. Finally, the spots that
blurred her vision faded to the point she could see the surroundings. In the
large banquet room, a single table set for their use with a cozy setting for
four.
It was Keefe who had an
arm around her.
Audrey smiled at him,
hoping to express her gratitude with her eyes. He’s such a nice guy. “Thank you.”
“You’re all right now?”
“Yes, I can see again.”
He gave her shoulders a
squeeze before letting go.
Being the lady, Audrey
got seated first, and then her dates arranged themselves around her.
Blue-shirted Keefe sat across from her, the smaller alien Paz to her left and
nervous Blade to her right where he watched the door with a frown.
Audrey remembered her
friend’s earlier comment and couldn’t help a peek at Keefe’s pants. Hmm, could be something extra in man-land.
Keefe’s red eyes
twinkled as he eased into his chair. Audrey’s face warmed. Oh hell, he noticed.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Janice Seagraves Links:
Website: janice-seagraves.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/janiceseagraves
Saturday, August 27, 2016
Eating in Windswept Shores Two by Janice Seagraves
When I normally write a dinner scene, I try to make sure it's something that people would eat at the city or country's setting. In Windswept Shores Two, I had a fancy restaurant where Seth and his old mate were eating lunch. The setting is Sydney, Australia, and from what I understand most of the diners there serve a lot of seafood. I had just took a vacation with my husband to Morro Bay, California, which is a far cry from Sydney, but the food I ate there was seafood.
So I thought why not.
 |
| the view from Dutchman's restaurant in Morro Bay California |
So, I thought about a lovely meal my husband and I had there at our favorite eatery called the Dutchman's restaurant and wrote the scene. Looked up if sword fish was on the menu in Sydney and found out it wasn't. Hmm. Well, that wouldn't work. Undaunted, I looked up what was served at most restaurants in Sydney and substituted sword fish for Tuna. I think it worked out just fine.
Excerpt from Windswept Shores Two:
Less than half an hour
later, they were at one of the more prestigious restaurants in the business
district. High ceilings, extremely decorated walls, and floor to ceiling
drapes. Seth whistled as he looked around. “You sure we can get in?”
“Of course.” Nigel
adjusted his silk tie. “You’re the CEO of Dawson Inc.. Why wouldn’t we, mate?”
“Do you have a
reservation?” asked the hostess.
Seth gazed into the
sitting area and saw a great many empty tables available and was just about to
point it out. “No, but—”
Nigel smoothly cut in
with, “This is Seth Dawson of Dawson Inc.. We came for tea. You got a table for
us, love?”
She looked down at the
reservation book. “Well, I—”
Nigel hung his hand
over the edge of the podium with a bill folded between two of his fingers. “How
about now?”
She snatched the money
and it disappeared down her cleavage. “A table just opened up. Sirs, if you’ll
come with me.”
They followed the
hostess over to a table near a window. Seth and Nigel took a seat.
“Your waiter will be
with you shortly.” She handed them menus and scurried back to her spot near the
door.
Seth hung an arm over
the back of his chair. “You still got the moves, mate.”
“You got that right.”
Nigel perused the menu. “What do you say we make this a martini lunch?”
“No, mate. I’m off the
sauce.”
His eyes were large as
he stared at him. “Whatz that?”
“My bird helped me get
clean and sober.” He gazed at his own menu.
“No beer on that old
fishing boat?”
“Not after I drank it
all, and then I went into the DTs.” Seth shivered remembering how hard it was.
“But Megz took care of me the whole time.”
The waiter come over,
they both placed their orders. Nigel chose prawns and noodles from the menu,
and Seth the lunch special of grilled tuna over mashed potatoes.
Once the waiter left,
Nigel turned back to him. “Blimey, no more late night parting like we used to
do?”
“Nope. I’m done.” Seth
picked up the water glass and chugged it down, but wished it was beer instead.
“Remember going on
your first date with Liz and getting drunk off your bum?”
They both laughed.
Seth wiped a tear off. “I made a right mess of it. It’s a wonder she ever went
out with me again.”
“How about when you
convinced that bird you knew how to brake dance and almost broke your fool
neck.”
Seth sat forward with
an elbows on the table. “Oy, I would have had that spin down if you hadn’t been
standing in the way.”
The food came, and
they ate. Many fun reminisces followed. All too soon Seth checked his watch,
and it was time to go back. He snatched up the bill. “This one is on me, mate.”
Nigel reached for the
check. “Naw, Setho, let me get it.”
“I’m the boss man now.
It’s mine to pay for.” He playfully held the paper away from him.
“Orright,” Nigel said grudgingly. “Can’t argue
with my boss now can I."------------------------------------------------------------
USA Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FJ10W26
UK Buy link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Windswept-Shores-Two-survivors-story/dp/1523945117/
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