~*~*~
The challenge set forth to our authors for today's post: a writing prompt. The instructions: Writing prompts should be no more than 4-5 paragraphs (you'll find we count funny sometimes); use the following setting, the POV is up to you; keep the sensuality levels within our guidelines; on a ski slope, just as the snow is starting to fall.
Nell Dixon
On a ski slope, just as snow is beginning to fall,
And stars are twinkling bright.
Two lovers are meeting outside the Inn
Beneath a yellow street light.
The gentle glow reveals on their faces
A love so tender and true
A world that’s made oh so special
By a love that’s shared just by two.
Dayne Gearner
On a sky slope, just as the snow was beginning to fall, Jill surveyed the world from a high peak. She placed her sunglasses on her nose, and pushed off, aiming for a gentle ride down, rather than a speedy race.
At the bottom, Gary was waiting for her. "Nice run," he said.
She smiled at his patience. He reached out an arm, and she leaned into his embrace. After so many years alone, it was so nice to have someone who accepted her, unconditionally, with all of her quirks.
"How about some hot chocolate?" he asked. Jill nodded and kicked off her skis, as they headed to the lodge.
Meg Allison
Charlene gazed up at the slate grey clouds as the fat, fluffy snowflakes fell on her head and shoulders. They coated the ski slope with a fine white powder any skier would kill for…any skier but her. At the moment, all Charli wanted was a cup of cocoa and a blazing fire.
"Hey, you in there?"
She turned to see the object of her discontent staring at her. How did he sneek up like that? His heavy brows knit together beneath the brim of his ski hat as they stood in silence. It was the same hat she had made for him last Christmas. The same hat she’d love to shove down his ungrateful throat.
"I’m here," she murmured before turning her back to him and the painful mix of memories his presence set lose. "But not for long." Charli dug her poles into the snow and pushed off, ignoring the sound of his voice as the whistling wind filled her ears.
Cindy Green
It was sunset now. A light snow was beginning to fall but I was determined to make it down the slope. I’d chickened out last time but I was resolved to see it through tonight. At the moment there were only a few skiers enjoying the hill. It was the perfect time to finally succeed at this skiing thing. I had to do this. How could I face Erik tomorrow if I didn’t? Admit I was a chicken?
Never!
Bending my knees, I tried to work myself up into sending myself down the side of a cliff. This was crazy! Why would someone want to do something like this to themselves? I had just about convinced myself to turn around when I heard my name called out.
"Debbie!"
I shifted my skis to the side, trying to see who it was but I was pretty sure I knew.
"Erik…" Before I could stop myself I began to slide down the hill sideways. My heart was beating hard in my chest and despite the cold weather beads of sweat covered my face. I screamed and began to imagine my life as a paraplegic.
The poles in my hands were useless as they flailed hither and yon and did nothing to stop my descent. And then all of a sudden my floundering stature gained support. Erik was next to me. By some act of God, he was able to straighten me so that I was facing forward.
I tried to remember what I’d learned at ski school about poles and angles of the skis. Then Erik’s voice purred in my ear. "Just relax. You’re doing just fine." And he was right. I was fine. I was skiing!
Laura Hamby
The clouds let loose their load, slowly at first, but with growing intensity as skiers made their last run down the slopes. Oh, to be one of the holiday-makers, rather than one of the ski resort employees. Trish poured out the final cup of coffee and fixed the lid over the top.
"Here you go, sir. You shouldn’t linger too long. This storm’s going to shut the mountain down for the rest of the afternoon."
"What about you?" He asked, waving a gloved hand around the now deserted café.
"I’ll be fine. Cozy, in fact. Thank you for your concern." Lord love him, he had dimples. And, he’d been flirting with her every day now for a week. She wished it were permissible to get to know him better, but the resort had strict rules about consorting with the clientele.
The wind howled through the trees that flanked the slope. Trish glanced out the window, wishing she hadn’t. White-out conditions. The radio crackled, and the owner’s voice demanded to know if she knew the whereabouts of one Michael Casey. Her customer nodded ruefully at her.
"Word has it we’re good and stuck," Trish told him, like he hadn’t heard the exchange for himself.
"Good. I’ve been wanting to get stuck with you."
Shara Jones
The crisp, cold air ruffled the trim on her parka hood, which made the fur undulate in a wild ripple, much the way her stomach felt just about now. A few flecks of snow caused her to blink as it obscured her view and made her blood race faster and her cold knees shake harder. On a ski slope, just as the snow is beginning to fall was not the best place for a new skier to panic. Especially not with Derrick Payton at her side.
Famous, as much for his world-class romances as his world class skiing, a former high school sweetheart like her needed all the calm she could muster. Especially when he continued to look at her with enough warmth in his expression to melt the polar ice caps.
“I’m not one of your little ‘snow flakes’ as the press calls your groupies, Derrick, so don’t look at me like that. Just get me down off this mountain in one piece and I’ll be happy.” Kara hated the tremble she heard in her voice, put there by the strength of feelings for Derrick that hadn’t dimmed for her over the years.
“Well, I won’t be happy, Kara. You aren’t a single insignificant ‘snow flake’ to me. You’re an entire blizzard. I’ve been bidding my time until you were ready to understand that. So, do you?”
Kara’s heart thumped in her chest until she thought she might cause an avalanche. The sparkle that lit her eyes had nothing to do with the crystal carpet of snow around them and everything to do with the ring he slid onto her finger. “I do and I will.”
Gina Hartoog
"Don’t look now," Terri Roland said to her friend. "But I think Michael is in the lift behind us."
Jessica Bailey stiffened, "That’s about the last person I want to see right now."
Terri took Jessica’s gloved hand and gave it a squeeze.
"I’ll be here. You won’t have to face him alone."
The lift started its steep upward ascent to the top slope on Mount Keagan and Jessica stole a look behind her. Terri was right. It was Michael - and his new girlfriend.
"I need this trip to clear my head," Jessica said, wiping a snowflake from the tip of her nose. "I can’t face him right now. I’m not yet ready."
The lift pulled to a stop at the top of the ridge and the girls got off. Jessica had been looking forward to the trip for weeks. She needed time away from home, time away from everything that reminded her of Michael and their wedding that had been planned for the spring.
The two friends moved off to the top of the slope and Jessica again stole a look Michael’s way. His lift had slowed at the drop-off point and he jumped down and walked around to help his girlfriend. As he lifted her off the car, she bent forward and kissed him.
Jessica looked away and fresh tears stung her lids. Terri saw the exchange and curled her fingers around Jessica’s hand.
"Let’s hit that slope," she said. "Then we can go to the lodge for hot chocolate and marshmallows. It’s freezing out here and there’s a storm on the way."
Jessica nodded. Anything to get away from the pain Michael Shelton had branded on her heart, forever.
Josh Lockwood
They’d said it would be a milk run. One strafing pass to suppress anti-aircraft fire, put the bombs on the Jerry gun emplacements, and beat it back to Foggia. No sweat.
Only that’s not the way it was.
He’d taken hits in both engines before he ever lined up on his first pass. The cockpit had filled with smoke and flame immediately, and there was no doubt in his mind he would have to bail out.
He’d banked away to the northeast and watched the blurry mountains of northern Italy flick past beneath his wing as he forced the canopy open. The wind literally ripped him from the cockpit when he pushed himself erect in the pilot’s seat, and he didn’t bother counting to ten.
He came down on an unused ski slope just as the snow was beginning to fall, wrapped the white chute around his shoulders for as much camouflage as he could get, and stared in dismay at the little village below him. There were Jerries down there, he was sure of that, and they’d be hunting him within minutes. If he moved he’d leave tracks, yet he had to get down off this slope.
Maybe if he stayed in the trees ...
Linda Lattimer
Alex made sure the skis were secure. Why was he doing this? Because you love Claire, and you promised her a ski trip.
He wiped his brow.
"The snow is beginning to fall again," Claire said smiling. "Fresh snow. Are you ready, love?"
Not really. "Sure am."
"You appear a bit nervous."
"No, really this is my wedding gift to you. I told you if I got on the ski slope, I would definitely ski with you. Shall we?" Before I really lose the nerve.
"Last one down is a rotten egg," Claire said.
Judy Jarvie
The drifts of perfect snow began to thicken and Robbie was still fiddling with the zipper on his ski jacket pocket.
"C’mon Rob. We’d better catch that chairlift if we want to get right up there with the others," Serena urged.
"Serena wait!" His lashes were clogged with flakes and she could see the frustrated lines etched around his brows. "Oh dash. Some romantic proposal! I wanted this to be special, romantic…on the slopes at dusk. But the ring’s in my pocket and the zipper’s snagged. I’ve come all the way to Switzerland to propose, waited for this moment and stuffed it up…"
She put down her skis. Then pushed her face to his, wiped away the flakes and pressed her lips home. "I do. It is perfect – complete with frosting. Just kiss me."
Susan Atwood
Why was it that ski runs always looked so benign from the bottom? A gentle fall of white, groomed snow flanked on either side by dark green fir trees and dotted with skiers in colorful togs gracefully swishing along. The snow had just begun to fall, creating a magical, postcard-perfect picture.
Yeah, right.
I stood at the top of the nearly vertical run and took a deep breath of warm, wet-wool-laced air in an attempt to dispel the jittery feeling in my stomach. I adjusted my goggles against the blowing snow, uncovering one ear. Gloves off, goggles off, adjust hat, goggles on, gloves on. Okay. I can do this. I just have to wait until no one is around.
The lift disgorged a group of teenagers with boards who wasted no time in hurling themselves down the run. Now it was my turn. I pointed the tips of my skis downhill and talked myself through the first few turns. Gaining confidence, I gathered some speed and got into a rhythm: open skis, shift weight, close skis. Over a small rise, maintaining speed and confidence, I hit a patch of ice. My skis took opposite directions and, as I overbalanced, confidence and I tumbled and slid into a snowboarder who’d been standing at the edge of the run, holding his board in one hand.
We came down with an "ooof" in a tangle of arms, poles, skis and legs. He reached out, pulled my goggles up and looked down at me with the bluest eyes I’d ever seen. The corners crinkled before the grin reached his mouth. "Fancy running into you here."
Margaret Callaghan
Picking herself up and brushing the light dusting of snow from her goggles, Janice caught sight of Sophie whizzing past and stifled a sigh. She shouldn’t have come. Skiing! Why, she barely knew one end of a ski from another, and boy did it show.
‘You’ll be fine,’ her sister had airily reassured. ‘Everyone has to start somewhere. Why, give it a few days on the nursery slopes, and you’ll be up to scratch in no time. Trust me.’
Famous last words, Janice decided, digging in her poles and propelling herself downwards, her three minute run almost ending in disaster as she slithered to a halt and promptly overbalanced.
‘Trust you to end up in plaster,’ Sophie scorned when Janice arrived back at their hotel, her arm neatly cradled in a sling.
‘Every cloud has a silver lining,’ Janice countered brightly. Because if she hadn’t tumbled and broken her wrist, she wouldn’t have met that hunk of a paramedic who was taking her out to dinner later.
Jessica Raymond
"Okay, kids, make sure you all stay together. If you get a little separated just remember that everybody in our group has a green flag tied to one of their ski poles."
Anthea watched the children gingerly start to scoot across the fresh powder. It was the first day of the school ski trip and she was the only one who wasn’t excited about getting out on to the slopes. A sigh billowed out from above her scarf, misting the fresh air with its warmth.
"Penny for them?" Jane, who taught French, slid expertly up to Anthea and prodded her gently with her elbow.
"I’m fine. Really I am," she insisted, when Jane raised an eyebrow. Anthea looked up as a few snowflakes began to drift down from the heavens. "Okay. You’re right. I’m not fine. It’s… it’s Matt. We broke up just before I boarded the flight to come here."
Jane frowned. "Really? But isn’t that Matt over there, getting off the ski lift and boarding towards us as we speak?"
Judy Huston
As the first few snowflakes floated gently onto her face, Halina pulled the snow-lined hood of the heavy jacket over her head. Perspiration was already dripping a steady path down the bridge of her nose. She just knew she was going to collapse from heat exhaustion. She also knew she looked like a total idiot, kitted out in ski gear from top to toe under the scorching summer sky.
People were staring from cars as they passed. There were also a couple of interested onlookers peering through the window of the house opposite where that rather gorgeous looking doctor had just opened his surgery.
"Hurry up!" She glared at her nephew who, having taken forever to position her against the white wall of the house, was now perched on the front fence, camera at the ready. "Or better still, wait until you grow up and can afford an air-conditioned studio."
"Can’t." Michael squinted at the image. "This assignment’s due tomorrow. Come on, Hal, you’re on a ski slope in Switzerland, it’s starting to snow - keep the snow coming, Andy."
From a branch of the tree above Andrea obediently leaned out to scatter more cut up pieces of paper from an ice cream carton. She leaned too far, falling with a piercing shriek.
MG Braden
On a ski slope, just as the snow is beginning to fall a man stands beside a pine tree, head bowed in prayer. Opening his eyes, he looked up at the sky. Would he never forget the accident? It had been four years, and still the loss of his son in a snowboarding accident seemed fresh as yesterday. Dan came to the sight of the accident every year, to say a prayer, even though he knew that Danny was in a better place.
"Dan," the voice whispered beside him.
He turned, startled, as he hadn’t even heard Janice come up beside him. Putting an arm around her, he pulled her close, burying his nose in her hair.
"Let’s go home," she said and placed a single white rose near the tree, just as she did every year.
Dan took her hand and they walked away in silence.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
UE E-Mag Free Short Online Read: *New Years' Resolutions* by Laura Hamby
~*~*~
New Years' Resolutions
by Laura Hamby
Elayna Rudyard stretched, rubbed her eyes and opened them slowly. The warmth of the sun beat in through the window. Oh, she loved winter in Southern California. Sure beat the frozen far north of Minnesota where nothing thawed until summer. Nothing could entice her to return to Norway, Minnesota.
She didn’t even own a coat any more.
She intended to keep it that way.
The phone rang. "‘Lo?"
"Lanie? You answered! Mom’s in the hospital." A sob punctuated the sentence, followed by a deep breath. Elayna’s sister continued. "Gary phoned the airline. There’s a ticket waiting for you at the counter. Keith Garrett offered to meet your plane and drive you to the hospital."
Elayna waited a moment, uncertain if Kellie had more to say. There were more important things to worry about right now than her ride. Trust her sister to send the man responsible for Elayna’s flight from Norway in the first place.
"Send him with a coat. What’s the prognosis?"
Kellie drew another shaky breath. "The doctors are still conferring. I’ll call you as soon as I know. Are you leaving right now?"
"Right after I pack, shower and dress. Half an hour."
Guilt ate at Elayna as she tossed necessities into a carry-on bag. Would it really have hurt her to have gone home for Christmas? What a way to ring in the New Year, racing home to be at her ailing mother’s bedside.
An hour later, she walked barefooted through the metal detector, after the indignity of a troll-like security guard pawing through her bag. She called her sister from the gate, and left a message.
~~~
Keith Garrett stuck out in the crowd. Blond, blue-eyed, standing at six feet, six inches, his Nordic heritage couldn’t be denied. Just as she couldn’t deny from the way her heart lurched that he still had the same effect on her. Instead of feeling like the confident, successful woman she knew herself to be, Elayna flashed back to being a gauche, insecure high school girl.
She rushed to his side. "How’s Mom?"
"She broke her leg."
"And?"
"And what?"
"I flew across the width of the country, thinking my mother hung onto life by a thread, and it’s a broken leg? Did Kellie know this when she called?"
Keith’s eyes twinkled at her. "I’d imagine so. You know Kellie’s a drama queen. Puts all others to shame."
"I’m going to kill her with my cold, bare hands," Elayna vowed. "I should turn around and get back on the next plane flying to L.A."
"If you leave now, you won’t get to strangle Kellie. Plus, your mother would love to see you. I bet she’d stop pestering you to visit if you stayed for the New Year."
"It’s New Year’s Eve today."
"Short visit. You won’t turn completely back into an icicle. Speaking of which, Kellie sent this along. Why didn’t you bring a coat?"
"Don’t have much need for this kind of Eskimo wear in sunny California."
"No, guess not. Might help thaw that inner Ice Princess of yours." Keith took her carry-on and headed for the parking garage, leaving Elayna to follow or lose him in the crowd. After that last comment she was tempted, if not for one thing. He had her bag.
"Ice Princess? That’s rich. You should hire yourself out as an automatic ice cube maker."
"May be, darlin’, but I recall a time when you possessed enough heat to thaw me into a puddle at your feet if you’d wanted to. Get in the truck."
~~~
"It’s snowing." She glared out the window, still angry at having been tricked home. Annoyed at Keith’s high-handedness.
"Does that frequently during winter."
"I’ve only been gone for two years. I know a blizzard when I see one. We’ll never make it home."
"You’re right. Good thing I got the last motel room off the interstate on my way to the airport."
"One room?"
"One. Lucky to get it, too."
"Hope you won’t freeze in your truck."
Keith laughed. "Darlin’, I have no intention of spending the blizzard in my truck while you’re toasty warm in my room. Be nice and I’ll let you inside."
Elayna snorted. "Good ol’ status quo Keith."
"Look who’s talking, girl. Still got ice around your heart."
Ouch. Direct hit. She blinked tears back, averting her face lest Keith noticed he’d hit his target. Sure, they’d ignited the sheets together. But that hadn’t stopped him from reminding her how cold-hearted he found her. The reason she’d fled. Her heart couldn’t take any more of his bitterness. She’d been unable to soothe the scars his mother had inflicted.
"Maybe the heat in L.A. thawed you a bit. Those real or crocodile tears?" Keith pulled his truck into a parking space, leaving the engine idling while he tugged Elayna around. "I’ll be."
"We’d better go inside while we can still see the motel." She pulled away from him. The lobby would be warm. They wouldn’t begrudge her space in the storm. She grabbed her bag from under the seat and jumped out, not waiting to see if Keith followed.
It wouldn’t matter to him where she spent the storm. The couch facing the TV would do very well. Ice cubes, after all, didn’t have feelings. Or hearts. Or the ability to love.
"What do you think you’re doing?" Keith stopped before her, glaring down at her as she settled herself for a long stay.
"You said the room is yours. As you can see, I’m not the only one camping—"
"Darlin’, it’s a wonder to me you’ve managed to get this far in life unscathed for all the use your brain gets."
Elayna gasped when Keith tossed her bag over his shoulder and grabbed her by the hand, yanking her to her feet. "You can’t do that."
"I just did. Hush now, girl. You’re making a scene when there are much better things you could be doing with your time."
"Such as?"
Keith’s expression changed from irritated to mischievously sensual. "Like remembering what fun being snowed in can be, with the right person."
"I don’t see any such critter here." Elayna glanced around, exaggerating her efforts. Keith’s low laugh informed her he wasn’t falling for her shenanigans. She made the mistake of looking at him. Bad Elayna. She’d seen that look in his eyes two years ago— like he loved her.
Then he’d broken her heart.
"Don’t run away from me again, Elayna. I can’t take another rejection. There are worse ways to bring in the New Year." His voice cracked emotionally.
Heaven above knew that something was missing from her new life in L.A. He stood beside her now, watching her with an intensity that should’ve scared her—had scared her in the past—but didn’t now.
"Let’s ring in 2008, shall we?"
Keith answered her with a toe-curling kiss.
~The End~
Copyright 2008 by Laura Hamby
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by Laura Hamby
Elayna Rudyard stretched, rubbed her eyes and opened them slowly. The warmth of the sun beat in through the window. Oh, she loved winter in Southern California. Sure beat the frozen far north of Minnesota where nothing thawed until summer. Nothing could entice her to return to Norway, Minnesota.
She didn’t even own a coat any more.
She intended to keep it that way.
The phone rang. "‘Lo?"
"Lanie? You answered! Mom’s in the hospital." A sob punctuated the sentence, followed by a deep breath. Elayna’s sister continued. "Gary phoned the airline. There’s a ticket waiting for you at the counter. Keith Garrett offered to meet your plane and drive you to the hospital."
Elayna waited a moment, uncertain if Kellie had more to say. There were more important things to worry about right now than her ride. Trust her sister to send the man responsible for Elayna’s flight from Norway in the first place.
"Send him with a coat. What’s the prognosis?"
Kellie drew another shaky breath. "The doctors are still conferring. I’ll call you as soon as I know. Are you leaving right now?"
"Right after I pack, shower and dress. Half an hour."
Guilt ate at Elayna as she tossed necessities into a carry-on bag. Would it really have hurt her to have gone home for Christmas? What a way to ring in the New Year, racing home to be at her ailing mother’s bedside.
An hour later, she walked barefooted through the metal detector, after the indignity of a troll-like security guard pawing through her bag. She called her sister from the gate, and left a message.
~~~
Keith Garrett stuck out in the crowd. Blond, blue-eyed, standing at six feet, six inches, his Nordic heritage couldn’t be denied. Just as she couldn’t deny from the way her heart lurched that he still had the same effect on her. Instead of feeling like the confident, successful woman she knew herself to be, Elayna flashed back to being a gauche, insecure high school girl.
She rushed to his side. "How’s Mom?"
"She broke her leg."
"And?"
"And what?"
"I flew across the width of the country, thinking my mother hung onto life by a thread, and it’s a broken leg? Did Kellie know this when she called?"
Keith’s eyes twinkled at her. "I’d imagine so. You know Kellie’s a drama queen. Puts all others to shame."
"I’m going to kill her with my cold, bare hands," Elayna vowed. "I should turn around and get back on the next plane flying to L.A."
"If you leave now, you won’t get to strangle Kellie. Plus, your mother would love to see you. I bet she’d stop pestering you to visit if you stayed for the New Year."
"It’s New Year’s Eve today."
"Short visit. You won’t turn completely back into an icicle. Speaking of which, Kellie sent this along. Why didn’t you bring a coat?"
"Don’t have much need for this kind of Eskimo wear in sunny California."
"No, guess not. Might help thaw that inner Ice Princess of yours." Keith took her carry-on and headed for the parking garage, leaving Elayna to follow or lose him in the crowd. After that last comment she was tempted, if not for one thing. He had her bag.
"Ice Princess? That’s rich. You should hire yourself out as an automatic ice cube maker."
"May be, darlin’, but I recall a time when you possessed enough heat to thaw me into a puddle at your feet if you’d wanted to. Get in the truck."
~~~
"It’s snowing." She glared out the window, still angry at having been tricked home. Annoyed at Keith’s high-handedness.
"Does that frequently during winter."
"I’ve only been gone for two years. I know a blizzard when I see one. We’ll never make it home."
"You’re right. Good thing I got the last motel room off the interstate on my way to the airport."
"One room?"
"One. Lucky to get it, too."
"Hope you won’t freeze in your truck."
Keith laughed. "Darlin’, I have no intention of spending the blizzard in my truck while you’re toasty warm in my room. Be nice and I’ll let you inside."
Elayna snorted. "Good ol’ status quo Keith."
"Look who’s talking, girl. Still got ice around your heart."
Ouch. Direct hit. She blinked tears back, averting her face lest Keith noticed he’d hit his target. Sure, they’d ignited the sheets together. But that hadn’t stopped him from reminding her how cold-hearted he found her. The reason she’d fled. Her heart couldn’t take any more of his bitterness. She’d been unable to soothe the scars his mother had inflicted.
"Maybe the heat in L.A. thawed you a bit. Those real or crocodile tears?" Keith pulled his truck into a parking space, leaving the engine idling while he tugged Elayna around. "I’ll be."
"We’d better go inside while we can still see the motel." She pulled away from him. The lobby would be warm. They wouldn’t begrudge her space in the storm. She grabbed her bag from under the seat and jumped out, not waiting to see if Keith followed.
It wouldn’t matter to him where she spent the storm. The couch facing the TV would do very well. Ice cubes, after all, didn’t have feelings. Or hearts. Or the ability to love.
"What do you think you’re doing?" Keith stopped before her, glaring down at her as she settled herself for a long stay.
"You said the room is yours. As you can see, I’m not the only one camping—"
"Darlin’, it’s a wonder to me you’ve managed to get this far in life unscathed for all the use your brain gets."
Elayna gasped when Keith tossed her bag over his shoulder and grabbed her by the hand, yanking her to her feet. "You can’t do that."
"I just did. Hush now, girl. You’re making a scene when there are much better things you could be doing with your time."
"Such as?"
Keith’s expression changed from irritated to mischievously sensual. "Like remembering what fun being snowed in can be, with the right person."
"I don’t see any such critter here." Elayna glanced around, exaggerating her efforts. Keith’s low laugh informed her he wasn’t falling for her shenanigans. She made the mistake of looking at him. Bad Elayna. She’d seen that look in his eyes two years ago— like he loved her.
Then he’d broken her heart.
"Don’t run away from me again, Elayna. I can’t take another rejection. There are worse ways to bring in the New Year." His voice cracked emotionally.
Heaven above knew that something was missing from her new life in L.A. He stood beside her now, watching her with an intensity that should’ve scared her—had scared her in the past—but didn’t now.
"Let’s ring in 2008, shall we?"
Keith answered her with a toe-curling kiss.
Copyright 2008 by Laura Hamby
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Laura's Website
Laura's Blog
Laura's MySpace
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Moonlit Romance Backlist Spotlight: *Learning to Live* by Meg Allison
Learning to Live
by Meg Allison
Katie Marie Morrison hides behind a flirtatious mask as she serves burgers and peach cobbler at Pops’ Diner. Her bright smile and sarcastic wit hide the devastating knowledge she was just a one-night-stand for the one man she ever loved.
Jeff McAlester, her only lover, returns home for good. But timing is everything and it’s Katie who’s now ready to leave. Despite their rekindled love, she doesn’t want to stay. Can Jeff help Katie learn to live a little and take a second chance on love?
~*~Excerpt~*~
"Hello, Katie?"
She caught her breath and felt her stomach tighten and twist like a pretzel.
"Yes, this is Katie." Play dumb, don’t let on how it matters, or that you’ve dreamt of that voice for years on end.
"It’s Jeff," he told her, then hesitated a beat too long. "I hope it’s not too late to call."
Of course it wasn’t, he should know that. Despite being a Glen Meadow native, Night Owl Katie had always been at her best this time of day. Jeff knew that, once.
"No, but it’s been a long day and I had to work a double and—"
"Katie?" His rich voice caressed her name the way no one else’s ever had and brought her rambling to a screeching halt.
"Yes?"
"I need to see you. I need to talk to you about … things."
She stared at the wall, the pictures hanging there blurred as her gaze went out of focus. Her body felt heavy and numb as she lost her connection to everything but the sound of his voice.
"What … things?"
She heard his weary sigh, could almost feel the weight of it on the phone line. "The past, us. Things."
Katie blinked, her thoughts in a blur. What on earth was he talking about?
"What do you want from me, Jeff? It’s been fifteen years."
Silence. For a moment she thought maybe he hung up on her. It might be for the best.
"Please, Katie? I know I don’t deserve anything from you, but all I want is to talk."
"There’s nothing to say."
"Yes, there is. I’ve got a lot to say. All I need is a few minutes of your time."
If she had learned anything from her granny, it was to be fair and to let the other guy have his say. She couldn’t quite get around that bit of her grandmother’s spirit. The lesson had been so ingrained in her that she just couldn’t tell Jeff to go take a flying leap.
Katie sighed. "Okay, if you really need to do this, I suppose the least I can do is listen. But Jeff, the past is the past. I think it’s best if we just move on."
"I agree, Katie. I agree one hundred percent." She frowned at the eager note in his voice. Maybe he wasn’t interested in rekindling their short romance after all. The idea bruised her ego just a bit. But it would be for the best, wouldn’t it? Of course it would. She needed a romance right now like she needed those dozen cats.
(c) 2006
This Blue Plate Special: Pops' Girls novel is available in the 2006 catalog at Moonlit Romance. While you're there, check out the other Pops' Girls titles: Learning to Trust by Laura Hamby, Lessons in Love by Shara Jones, and Pops' Diner (an anthology) by Laura Hamby, Shara Jones and Meg Allison. And don't forget to visit the Pops' Diner website.
Meg's Website
Meg's Blog
Meg's MySpace
Purchase Learning to Live
Monday, January 7, 2008
Moonlit Romance in the Spotlight: *Learning to Live* by Meg Allison
~*~*~*~
Backlist Spotlight: Moonlit Romance
In our backlist spotlight today: Learning to Live by Meg Allison. Learning to Live is part of Moonlit's Blue Plate Special: Pops' Girls series, which also includes novels by Shara Jones and Laura Hamby.
As an only child, Meg Allison spent her childhood creating worlds and characters to populate them. It’s amazing how sheer boredom can spark the imagination. Writing those stories down became a necessity when her own identity began to vanish in the daily shuffle of life with five children, a husband, and several assorted pets all clamoring for attention.
An avid reader of romantic fiction, Meg spends her ‘spare’ time writing romance novels and short stories for her publishers when she’s not home schooling, driving the children around town or throwing some attention at her husband. Writing is the best therapy for stress… except when there’s a deadline. Meg is a graduate of the University of Charleston with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications. In a former life she worked as a reporter for a large newspaper in Charleston, WV.
Meg's Website
Visit Meg's Space: MySpace
Meg's Blog
Moonlit's Backlist Spotlight continues tomorrow, with an excerpt from Learning to Live by Meg Allison.
The "Hello Contest"
We started off our brand new blog with an invitation to post a simple "hello" for a chance to win an e-book of your choice from either Moonlit Romance or By Grace. The winner of the "Hello Contest" is JENNIE! Congratulations, Jennie. Peruse our websites at your leisure, then email your choice to: ueauthorsblog at yahoo dot com.
~*~*~
Feel the need for something great to read? Your TBR pile becoming worryingly short? Visit us and wander through our electronic bookshelves. By Grace and Moonlit Romance... so many choices!
In our backlist spotlight today: Learning to Live by Meg Allison. Learning to Live is part of Moonlit's Blue Plate Special: Pops' Girls series, which also includes novels by Shara Jones and Laura Hamby.
As an only child, Meg Allison spent her childhood creating worlds and characters to populate them. It’s amazing how sheer boredom can spark the imagination. Writing those stories down became a necessity when her own identity began to vanish in the daily shuffle of life with five children, a husband, and several assorted pets all clamoring for attention.
An avid reader of romantic fiction, Meg spends her ‘spare’ time writing romance novels and short stories for her publishers when she’s not home schooling, driving the children around town or throwing some attention at her husband. Writing is the best therapy for stress… except when there’s a deadline. Meg is a graduate of the University of Charleston with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications. In a former life she worked as a reporter for a large newspaper in Charleston, WV.
Meg's Website
Visit Meg's Space: MySpace
Meg's Blog
Moonlit's Backlist Spotlight continues tomorrow, with an excerpt from Learning to Live by Meg Allison.
We started off our brand new blog with an invitation to post a simple "hello" for a chance to win an e-book of your choice from either Moonlit Romance or By Grace. The winner of the "Hello Contest" is JENNIE! Congratulations, Jennie. Peruse our websites at your leisure, then email your choice to: ueauthorsblog at yahoo dot com.
Feel the need for something great to read? Your TBR pile becoming worryingly short? Visit us and wander through our electronic bookshelves. By Grace and Moonlit Romance... so many choices!
Friday, January 4, 2008
Unique Enterprises University Day: What We Publish
~*~*~*~
University Day... Take an author, aspiring and pubbed, to school day. And no, you don't have to leave your house. We don't care if you come in your jammies, if your hair is sticking out in eleventy forty-seven directions or if you have dragon breath. University Day is an opportunity for us to take a look at what we've learned along the way, help and encourage each other, and maybe, just maybe, learn something new.
What We Publish
We publish quality romantic fiction: By Grace-- inspirational, sweet/tender, chick lit, light paranormal, romantic comedy. By Grace publishes 2 themed anthologies: June's Brides and Bouquets and a spooky anthology in September. Brides and Bouquets centers around the wedding traditions, while the spooky anthology is a light paranormal. Traditionally, we publish 3 novellas in each anthology. There are two available "slots" in each at this time. Moonlit Romance publishes racier titles, from PG to R ratings. Moonlit Madness is our "hard R" imprint, but please note: we DO NOT publish erotica.
By Grace Publishing
By Grace Publishing is a small electronic and print on demand publisher. We specialize in G Rated Romance of all kinds. Some of our titles are inspirational, many others are sweet romances. Keep your eye out for romantic suspense, light paranormal, and romantic comedy in addition to our wonderful Christian centered titles.
By Grace's Guidelines
Directly from our website:
Thank you for your interest in our company. If you are a writer with the desire to publish your Christian or tender romance, we would be happy to look at your work. We are also accepting Chick-lit, however we prefer Christian Chick-lit. Secular, but "chaste" Chick-Lit will also be acceptable.
We are a royalty paying publisher. Regrettably, we cannot pay an advance, but we do pay 50% of the net earnings to our authors.
We will provide you with cover art, and promotions. You will be expected to help promote your work.
Our Current Needs As of May 1, 2007
We are swamped with submissions and unfortunately must close our submission door! **Note: we will be re-opening for submissions in the near future.
What we do not want:
Stories that anthropomorphize God, or His angels.
Foul language. If you are unsure, be safe, and do not use the word.
Heroes that do not respect women. This includes stories in which the hero is redeemed.
Graphic violence.
Incomplete manuscripts. We have been known to request a full from a partial in one week.
Divorce that is not for Biblical reasons.
Moonlit Romance's Guidelines
Directly from our website:
All books will be published in ebook format, and print on demand. We are currently accepting submissions of manuscripts, however, please give us at least three months. We are often deluged by submissions. Our guidelines are simple.
We are looking for contemporary AND historical romantic fiction.
Sensuality levels should fall between PG and soft R for our regular lines.
There will be three divisions for length, ranging from 5,000 to 60,000 words.
Paranormal, and time travel will be welcomed under a yet to be named imprint.
Heterosexual, monogamous couples only please.
Also seeking hard R stories for our new Moonlit Madness line.
NO multiple submissions. This means submitting the same manuscript to multiple publishers.
Sensuality LevelsWe define our sensuality levels as PG, soft R, and hard R.
PG contains sexual situations, but no actual sex is described. We pan away from the scene to return later.
Soft R stops the scene just before the act of lovemaking, or moves from the physical aspects to the mental/emotional.
Hard R describes the sexual act, but the focus is still emotional. There must be an emotional attachment before sex can occur, and language must never be crude. We do not publish "erotica."
What We Are Currently Looking For: At this time, both Moonlit Romance and By Grace are looking for a winter themed novel for December, 2008. WINTER, not holiday-themed, please. By Grace is looking for bridal themed novellas for Brides and Bouquets 2008, and two light paranormals for the annual spooky anthology.
University Day... Take an author, aspiring and pubbed, to school day. And no, you don't have to leave your house. We don't care if you come in your jammies, if your hair is sticking out in eleventy forty-seven directions or if you have dragon breath. University Day is an opportunity for us to take a look at what we've learned along the way, help and encourage each other, and maybe, just maybe, learn something new.
What We Publish
We publish quality romantic fiction: By Grace-- inspirational, sweet/tender, chick lit, light paranormal, romantic comedy. By Grace publishes 2 themed anthologies: June's Brides and Bouquets and a spooky anthology in September. Brides and Bouquets centers around the wedding traditions, while the spooky anthology is a light paranormal. Traditionally, we publish 3 novellas in each anthology. There are two available "slots" in each at this time. Moonlit Romance publishes racier titles, from PG to R ratings. Moonlit Madness is our "hard R" imprint, but please note: we DO NOT publish erotica.
By Grace Publishing
By Grace Publishing is a small electronic and print on demand publisher. We specialize in G Rated Romance of all kinds. Some of our titles are inspirational, many others are sweet romances. Keep your eye out for romantic suspense, light paranormal, and romantic comedy in addition to our wonderful Christian centered titles.
By Grace's Guidelines
Directly from our website:
Thank you for your interest in our company. If you are a writer with the desire to publish your Christian or tender romance, we would be happy to look at your work. We are also accepting Chick-lit, however we prefer Christian Chick-lit. Secular, but "chaste" Chick-Lit will also be acceptable.
We are a royalty paying publisher. Regrettably, we cannot pay an advance, but we do pay 50% of the net earnings to our authors.
We will provide you with cover art, and promotions. You will be expected to help promote your work.
Our Current Needs As of May 1, 2007
We are swamped with submissions and unfortunately must close our submission door! **Note: we will be re-opening for submissions in the near future.
What we do not want:
Stories that anthropomorphize God, or His angels.
Foul language. If you are unsure, be safe, and do not use the word.
Heroes that do not respect women. This includes stories in which the hero is redeemed.
Graphic violence.
Incomplete manuscripts. We have been known to request a full from a partial in one week.
Divorce that is not for Biblical reasons.
Moonlit Romance's Guidelines
Directly from our website:
All books will be published in ebook format, and print on demand. We are currently accepting submissions of manuscripts, however, please give us at least three months. We are often deluged by submissions. Our guidelines are simple.
We are looking for contemporary AND historical romantic fiction.
Sensuality levels should fall between PG and soft R for our regular lines.
There will be three divisions for length, ranging from 5,000 to 60,000 words.
Paranormal, and time travel will be welcomed under a yet to be named imprint.
Heterosexual, monogamous couples only please.
Also seeking hard R stories for our new Moonlit Madness line.
NO multiple submissions. This means submitting the same manuscript to multiple publishers.
Sensuality LevelsWe define our sensuality levels as PG, soft R, and hard R.
PG contains sexual situations, but no actual sex is described. We pan away from the scene to return later.
Soft R stops the scene just before the act of lovemaking, or moves from the physical aspects to the mental/emotional.
Hard R describes the sexual act, but the focus is still emotional. There must be an emotional attachment before sex can occur, and language must never be crude. We do not publish "erotica."
What We Are Currently Looking For: At this time, both Moonlit Romance and By Grace are looking for a winter themed novel for December, 2008. WINTER, not holiday-themed, please. By Grace is looking for bridal themed novellas for Brides and Bouquets 2008, and two light paranormals for the annual spooky anthology.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
January *Name That Title!* Contest
~*~*~
One of our new features: the *Name That Title* (or author) Contest. It's simple. There are 5 hints for you to use to guess the title (or the author!). You email your guess to laurahambyeditor at yahoo dot com (put January Name That Title Contest in the subject line). Next Thursday, all those who sent the correct answer will be eligible for a drawing to win an e-book from the author's backlist (the author who provided the clues.) .
Ready?
1. The setting of this particular novel is Northern California.
2. It is published by Moonlit Romance.
3. The original title was *Meddling Mamas*.
4. The author is Laura Hamby.
5. Includes a scene in which one of the heroine's best friends explains the facts of life as she puts condiments on a hot dog.
One of our new features: the *Name That Title* (or author) Contest. It's simple. There are 5 hints for you to use to guess the title (or the author!). You email your guess to laurahambyeditor at yahoo dot com (put January Name That Title Contest in the subject line). Next Thursday, all those who sent the correct answer will be eligible for a drawing to win an e-book from the author's backlist (the author who provided the clues.) .
Ready?
1. The setting of this particular novel is Northern California.
2. It is published by Moonlit Romance.
3. The original title was *Meddling Mamas*.
4. The author is Laura Hamby.
5. Includes a scene in which one of the heroine's best friends explains the facts of life as she puts condiments on a hot dog.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
We're Here... Officially!
~*~ ~*~
Dear Readers,
Welcome to our new and improved blog! Unique Enterprises is a romance ebook publisher with two sides to enjoy. By Grace Publishing offers G rated and Christian romance titles. Moonlit Romance carries our racier titles. Drop by our websites to get a feel for what we have for you.
We have reader loops! Come join the fun: By Grace Readers' Loop and Moonlit Romance Readers' Loop.
Think you know Unique Enterprises, or want to know more about us? Do this crossword
by looking at both the Moonlit Romance and By Grace Publishing websites. You may need to use the searchboxes to find your answers.
We welcome aspiring authors to check our submission guidelines, which can be found on our websites.
We'd like to congratulate our authors who have titles nominated for awards: Lyndell King, Deborah Kinnard and Laura Hamby all have their Brides and Bouquets 2007 novellas up for Best Short Story of 2007 at The Long and Short of It Reviews. Polling is open now. Denise Patrick's Adopting Alyssa is an EPPIE finalist and a CAPA nominee; The Spirit of Christmas by Cindy Green is also up for a CAPA; and Love's Blessings by MG Braden is also up for a CAPA. Congratulations to all our authors! We're so proud of you.
Last, but certainly not least, to kick off this new blog and ring in a merry and peaceful New Year, post a "Hello" comment between now and Friday, and you'll be entered to win a free e-book. The winner will be announced on Monday, January 7th.
Dear Readers,
Welcome to our new and improved blog! Unique Enterprises is a romance ebook publisher with two sides to enjoy. By Grace Publishing offers G rated and Christian romance titles. Moonlit Romance carries our racier titles. Drop by our websites to get a feel for what we have for you.
We have reader loops! Come join the fun: By Grace Readers' Loop and Moonlit Romance Readers' Loop.
Think you know Unique Enterprises, or want to know more about us? Do this crossword
by looking at both the Moonlit Romance and By Grace Publishing websites. You may need to use the searchboxes to find your answers.
We welcome aspiring authors to check our submission guidelines, which can be found on our websites.
We'd like to congratulate our authors who have titles nominated for awards: Lyndell King, Deborah Kinnard and Laura Hamby all have their Brides and Bouquets 2007 novellas up for Best Short Story of 2007 at The Long and Short of It Reviews. Polling is open now. Denise Patrick's Adopting Alyssa is an EPPIE finalist and a CAPA nominee; The Spirit of Christmas by Cindy Green is also up for a CAPA; and Love's Blessings by MG Braden is also up for a CAPA. Congratulations to all our authors! We're so proud of you.
Last, but certainly not least, to kick off this new blog and ring in a merry and peaceful New Year, post a "Hello" comment between now and Friday, and you'll be entered to win a free e-book. The winner will be announced on Monday, January 7th.
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