Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Sent my revised wip to my editor...

Is it Friday yet?

It's been a long week for me...and it's only Tuesday. I know what they mean by WTF.  My days and nights are totally backwards...These doggoned shingles are the pits.  Can't sleep for more than a couple of hours before waking up in pain and having to move around. You know how that goes...ONCE UP, YOU CANNOT GET BACK TO SLEEP!

But I did manage to resubmit my wip to my lovely editor. Hope it passes inspection. I'd love to get another book out by July. 

I have restarted my special secret project three times now...I am just not quite satisfied with the way it's going. It's really difficult to have to create a book with a series in mind, because that means I actually have to PLAN...

And THINK...

AND I DON'T WANT TO MESS IT UP.

Sigh.  I think I prefer writing by the seat-of-the-pants methodology.

Want another excerpt from Skinwalker's Woman, for those of you who may not have rushed right out and bought it last October? (That would probably about 75% of you...LOL!) Here it is...



Skinwalker's Woman
excerpt copyright 2014 Fran Lee

Zeke heard her call out from the door of the outhouse and stepped off the porch to assure her he was there. He watched the circle of light from the lantern bob along as she hesitantly picked her way along the path from the privy to the cabin, then old ba’ts’osé howled to call his mate, and the innocent sound sent the woman into a headlong flight of terror. He barely reached her as she plunged forward, having tripped over her own feet in those deadly stilettos she chose to wear. He removed the lantern from her trembling fist and wrapped his free arm tightly around her as she clutched his body and sobbed against his chest.

He didn’t try to calm her. He simply buried his lips in her soft hair and breathed in her sweet, city-girl perfume and the scent of vanilla shampoo. He allowed her to calm herself with her tears, and when she’d collected herself enough to release her stranglehold on his body and step away a bit, he eased his arm from around her and lifted her chin gently with his free hand. “Ba’ts’osé wouldn’t hurt you. He protects this place while I sleep. He knows you are mine, as do all the small creatures you are so afraid of. The mouse digs a new burrow for her family. The owl and the fox go about their nightly hunting. Nothing in the night will harm you, except maybe those shoes you’re wearing.”

She stiffened and moved away from his hand on her face. “Don’t make fun of me. I’ve never been in a place like this. Unfamiliar things can scare a person. But I suppose nothing scares you.”

She couldn’t see the smile that curved his lips. “I fear many things, sweet thing. Especially you…”

Chellie blinked, her eyes searching the dark shadows above her that she knew hid his face. The lantern light didn’t give her any clue to what he’d meant by that. “You’re afraid of me?”

“Damn right.” The deep voice and his warm breath stirred her hair. “You are the only thing out here that can harm me.”

“How could I possibly hurt you?” she scoffed. “Have you ever taken a good look at yourself in a mirror? You outweigh me by a ton, and you dwarf me…not to mention that you’re built like a brick wall.”

She could feel the heat of his body, despite being several inches from him. She could smell the intoxicating scent of sage, juniper, pine pitch and man…as well as the dampness of her own tears.

Holy shit!

Her senses had never been so sharp…so alive before. The terror she’d experienced moments ago was gone. His presence and his aura had swept them away like a strong breeze.

His aura… Her inner voice told her to trust him.

Oh sure…but can I trust myself around him?
 
She slowly lifted her hand and placed it on his chest at the level where she knew his heart beat slowly and comfortingly. What drew her so completely to this stranger? Why did her inner voice purr softly inside her in his presence? Why did she crave—yes, that was the word—his closeness? Why was she no longer afraid? And for Pete’s sake, why the friggin’ hell couldn’t she even touch him without visualizing fucking his brains out?

Had her fury at Karl set free some inner nympho demon? She had never been so wanton, so utterly horny, in her entire life. It almost reminded her of that perfume ad on TV that bragged about the product containing human pheromones. Was that even possible? Did human beings even have pheromones? The idea had intrigued her, but she hadn’t gone out and bought any. She inhaled his scent again and wondered if maybe Zeke had gone out and bought himself some, because she sure as hell got all wobbly inside and her pussy clenched and her heart beat faster every time she got close to this guy.

The feel of his heart beating faster under her palm left her breathless. Her nipples beaded and her breasts grew heavy just thinking of his big hands on them, slowly kneading and adoring them. Did she have the same kind of effect on him? It sure seemed like it. Of course, that was ridiculous. Michelle Abernathy wasn’t the type of female to make men go nuts with lust. But as the big man’s breathing grew ragged and he growled softly under his breath, she wondered if maybe she’d have to revise that opinion.

Maybe being out here in the desert too long can do that to a guy.

But at that moment, he stepped away, holding the lantern up to light the rest of the path back to the cabin. “You can have the bed. I’ll sleep out here.”

Hugs!

Fran Lee