#WeWriWa - #8Sunday The Protector: Help

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday, the weekly hops for everyone who loves to read and write! Writers share an 8 to10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other writers. You can find them here.

This week's snippet is from my sci-fi romance, The Protector (An Outer Rim Novel). Last week, Rissa discovered two girls hiding in the spaceport restroom. The older one proclaimed, “We are not going back.”

Apologies for the creative punctuation, which was done to keep within the sentence limit. 

Note: Traishan refers to natives of the planet Traish; Chellians are from the planet Chellus--both belong to the Central Planets. The story takes place out on the Rim, the frontier of space.

“You can’t make us, we’ll escape again.”

Since the taller one seemed to be the spokesperson, Rissa kept her eyes on her. Something about her was compelling—Rissa could be looking at herself at the same age. Then it hit her hard, like a blow to the stomach--that was what Miri would have looked like at that age, same strong Traishan features—olive skin, dark hair and eyes.

Rissa took a deep breath to steady herself before locking the outer door then said softly, “You asked for help, what can I do?”

“Get us out of here before they discover we’re gone,” the tall girl whispered, despite the strength in her voice, she worked hard to keep her chin from wobbling.

“Who?” Rissa said, afraid she knew.

“Those men, the Chellians. We can’t go back, we won’t.”

By the Matriarch, traffickers.

 Who knew rescuing two girls from traffickers would bring down a world of hurt?

After tavern owner Rissa Dix rescues two girls from a slave ship, she must rally the townsfolk to prevent traffickers from returning. Mining heir Dillan Rusteran has loved her for years. Little do they know that by rescuing more children they're tangling with a galactic trafficking ring.

Amazon ~ Kobo ~ Smashwords ~ B&N ~ iTunes

Be sure to check out the other WeWriWa authors.  

#WeWriWa - #8Sunday The Case of the Meddling Mama: The Client

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday, the weekly hops for everyone who loves to read and write! Writers share an 8 to10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other writers. You can find them here.

My snippet is from my upcoming release, THE CASE OF THE MEDDLING MAMA, an Alex O'Hara Novel, third in my PI mystery series. Apologies for the creative punctuation, which was done to keep within the sentence limit. The "reluctant" shopper who met Alex at the dress shop and blindsided by her friend into getting Alex to check out her new boyfriend, has shown up for an appointment.

“So nice to see you again, Ginnie,” I said, shaking her cold and shaky hand.

As she sat, I walked around the big mahogany desk that dominated the office and settled in the black ergonomic chair. From beneath my partially-closed eyelids, I saw a hint of apprehension swimming in her eyes—needing to put her at ease, I said, “Did you find a dress at Ellie’s?”

“Oh, yes,” she said, surprised at my question, “I always find something there, she carries fantastic clothes.”

I laughed, “At equally fantastic prices.” Time to find out what she wanted. “I wish Ellie had come to me before she met all those losers—she’s happy now, and that’s all that counts, so what can I do for you?”

She cleared her throat, looked down at her hands then up at me before saying, “What you did for Ellen, keep me from making a big mistake.”

After she told me what she knew about Karl Trimmer, I asked if she’d met his mother.

She made a face. “I’d rather not talk about that.”

Once again, Alex O’Hara is up to her ears in mysteries. After surviving an attempted murder, all she wants is R&R time with Nick Palzetti. But his mother leaving his father (“that horse’s patoot”) and moving in with Alex puts a crimp in their plans. Then Nick leaves on assignment and the teen she rescued from an abusive father believes his buddy is doing drugs. Meanwhile, Alex has two easy cases to take her mind off her shaky relationship with Nick—a philandering husband and a background check on a client’s boyfriend. Piece of cake.

Release date: this Monday, April 17, 2017. Available for pre-order at the special price of $1.99.

Amazon: http://a.co/2hk7fYF
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-case-of-the-meddling-mama-an-alex-o-hara-novel

There is a glitch with Amazon--a glaring misunderstanding. They will publish the unedited version then will send an immediate update. I hope they keep their promise!

Be sure to check out the other WeWriWa authors.  

#WeWriWa - #8Sunday The Case of the Meddling Mama: Caught!

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday, the weekly hops for everyone who loves to read and write! Writers share an 8 to10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other writers. You can find them here.

My snippet is from my upcoming release, THE CASE OF THE MEDDLING MAMA, an Alex O'Hara Novel, third in my PI mystery series. Apologies for the creative punctuation, which was done to keep within the sentence limit

In last week's snippet, Alex chastised Nick for kissing her, afraid that his mother would know. 

With a nonchalance that never failed to grab my attention, Nick put his hands on my chair arms and turned me to face him. His chocolate brown eyes smoldered—oh, yeah, melted dark chocolate that turned my insides all gooey—and when he leaned in to kiss me, my eyelids fluttered closed.

“Nicholas, I need your expense reports from last month, where are—” Maria said as she burst into Nick’s office, talking until she stood in the open connecting door with her hands on her hips. “No hanky-panky in the office.”

There we were, two red-faced adults acting like kids caught kissing behind the garage—we’d done that, too, at six and eight years old, only, it had been his dad who’d caught us.

“Ma, did you want something—uh, expense reports?” he said, recovering a lot faster than I did, since my mouth still hung open, like a guppy that had fallen out of the bowl.

She bristled, saying, “In all the years your father—that horse’s patoot—worked here, he and I never fooled around.”

Nick put his hands on her shoulders and said, “I remember a time when you two were kissing in the kitchenette, and, as I recall, he had his hands—”

“Enough,” she said, blushing from her neck up to her soft bangs. “This is a business, and you two will refrain from PDAs.”

Once again, Alex O’Hara is up to her ears in mysteries. After surviving an attempted murder, all she wants is R&R time with Nick Palzetti. But his mother leaving his father (“that horse’s patoot”) and moving in with Alex puts a crimp in their plans. Then Nick leaves on assignment and the teen she rescued from an abusive father believes his buddy is doing drugs. Meanwhile, Alex has two easy cases to take her mind off her shaky relationship with Nick—a philandering husband and a background check on a client’s boyfriend. Piece of cake.

Release date: April 17, 2017. Available for pre-order at the special price of $1.99.

Amazon: http://a.co/2hk7fYF
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-case-of-the-meddling-mama-an-alex-o-hara-novel

Be sure to check out the other authors. 

#WeWriWa - #8Sunday The Case of the Meddling Mama: What a Kiss!

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday, the weekly hops for everyone who loves to read and write! Writers share an 8 to10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other writers. You can find them here.

My snippet is from my upcoming release, THE CASE OF THE MEDDLING MAMA, an Alex O'Hara Novel, third in my PI mystery series. Along with some creative punctuation, it hasn't been edited yet, so suggestions are welcome.

In this snippet, Alex has changed into "professional" attire and is waiting for a client in her office.

“Hello, gorgeous,” Nick said from the open doorway between our offices. 

I wanted so much to fly into his arms, have him hold me and say everything would work out, but not with his mother nearby--and not when I'm supposed to be Ms. Independent.

“You’re back.” I gave him a brilliant smile to make up for not jumping his bones.

He sauntered in, pulled me out of my chair, and planted a kiss on me that melted my pantyhose. Good Lord, could that man kiss. 

When I came up for air, common sense reared its ugly head, and I whispered, “Not with your mother in the next room.”

Nick pulled away, reluctance and disappointment plastered on his face. “The offices are soundproof, she doesn’t know what we’re doing.”

“Don’t count on it.”

Once again, Alex O’Hara is up to her ears in mysteries. After surviving an attempted murder, all she wants is R&R time with Nick Palzetti. But his mother leaving his father (“that horse’s patoot”) and moving in with Alex puts a crimp in their plans. Then Nick leaves on assignment and the teen she rescued from an abusive father believes his buddy is doing drugs. Meanwhile, Alex has two easy cases to take her mind off her shaky relationship with Nick—a philandering husband and a background check on a client’s boyfriend. Piece of cake.

Release date: April 17, 2017. Available for pre-order at the special price of $1.99.

Amazon: http://a.co/2hk7fYF
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-case-of-the-meddling-mama-an-alex-o-hara-novel

Be sure to check out the other authors. 

#WeWriWa - #8Sunday: Meddling Mama

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday, the weekly hops for everyone who loves to read and write! Writers share an 8 to10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other writers. You can find them here.

My snippet is from my upcoming release, THE CASE OF THE MEDDLING MAMA, an Alex O'Hara Novel, third in my PI mystery series. Along with some creative punctuation, it hasn't been edited yet, so suggestions are welcome.

This snippet comes immediately after last week's. The ending of which said Nick had disappeared on their wedding night.

When Nick showed up two and a half months later, I had second thoughts about being married to him. If his job took him away at the drop of a hat, he could leave any time, even if he did come back. But when a guy leaves you on your wedding night with no warning, no word for nearly three months, wouldn’t you have reservations?

We were just starting to hash things out when his mother showed up last week, declaring she’d left his father and was bunking in with me until she found an apartment. What could I say, no? I don’t think so.

I was still in a state of shock, so was Nick, who’d moved into the B&B owned by the biggest blabbermouth in the county because I wouldn’t sleep with him while his mother slept in the next room. Two days later, his agency sent him off on another mission—typical. We needed to talk, but how could we if he wasn’t around? See what I mean about reservations?

Once again, Alex O’Hara is up to her ears in mysteries. After surviving an attempted murder, all she wants is R&R time with Nick Palzetti. But his mother leaving his father (“that horse’s patoot”) and moving in with Alex puts a crimp in their plans. Then Nick leaves on assignment and the teen she rescued from an abusive father believes his buddy is doing drugs. Meanwhile, Alex has two easy cases to take her mind off her shaky relationship with Nick—a philandering husband and a background check on a client’s boyfriend. Piece of cake.

Release date: April 17, 2017. Available for pre-order at the special price of $1.99.

Amazon: http://a.co/2hk7fYF
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-case-of-the-meddling-mama-an-alex-o-hara-novel

Be sure to check out the other authors. 

#WeWriWa #8Sunday: Secret Marriage? The Case of the Meddling Mama

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday, the weekly hops for everyone who loves to read and write! Writers share an 8 to10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other writers. You can find them here.

My snippet is from my upcoming release, THE CASE OF THE MEDDLING MAMA, an Alex O'Hara Novel, third in my PI mystery series. Along with some creative punctuation, it hasn't been edited yet, so suggestions are welcome.

This snippet comes immediately after last week's. The ending of which said Maria Palzetti didn't know she was Alex's mother-in-law. Here's the explanation.

It’s like this—last fall, her son Nick returned to Far Haven. Dumb me, I thought he came to either A) take my business away from me, or B) see me. Wrong on both fronts. Seems he wasn’t a pencil pusher for the State Department, like I’d always thought. Nope, he was a spy for some agency that didn’t exist—well, it did, but you know what I mean. And he’d come home on a mission, which of course he hadn’t shared with me.

Once it was over, he declared he loved me. Me, the girl he’d grown up with, who’d had the biggest teenage crush on him, who’d given up on him ever seeing her as a woman, not like a kid sister. Not only that, we were so crazy in love—or was it lust?—that we “got married in a fever” as the song goes.

My dad and Nick’s folks had been on an Australian cruise of a lifetime, so they still didn’t know about the wedding. See, Nick disappeared on our wedding night.

Once again, Alex O’Hara is up to her ears in mysteries. After surviving an attempted murder, all she wants is R&R time with Nick Palzetti. But his mother leaving his father (“that horse’s patoot”) and moving in with Alex puts a crimp in their plans. Then Nick leaves on assignment and the teen she rescued from an abusive father believes his buddy is doing drugs. Meanwhile, Alex has two easy cases to take her mind off her shaky relationship with Nick—a philandering husband and a background check on a client’s boyfriend. Piece of cake.

Be sure to check out the other authors. 

#WeWriWa #8Sunday - Meddling Mama: Meet Maria

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday, the weekly hops for everyone who loves to read and write! Writers share an 8 to10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other writers. You can find them here.

My snippet is from my upcoming release, THE CASE OF THE MEDDLING MAMA, an Alex O'Hara Novel, third in my PI mystery series. Along with some creative punctuation, it hasn't been edited yet, so suggestions are welcome.

This snippet is from the first chapter and continues after Alex returns from the dress shop.

“Alexandra, is that you?” Maria Palzetti, Nick’s mom and self-appointed office manager, called out as I came in through the back door of the agency.

“Yes, it’s me.”

“It is I,” Maria corrected as she bustled down the hall. Short and a little on the plump side, she always looked stylish. Today, she wore a floral infinity scarf over a soft lavender short-sleeve sweater and a gray skirt. Her salt-and-pepper hair framed her face on which she wore light make-up. “Always remember to use proper English.”

“Yes, Mother,” I said, hoping my grin would take the sting out of my smart-aleck response. After Mom died, Maria had become the closest thing to a mother, even though she never tried to take Mom’s place. Actually, she was my mother-in-law—she just didn’t know it.

And I wasn’t saying.

Last week, I played with the blurb. Not exactly what I want but better than before.

Once again, Alex O’Hara is up to her ears in mysteries. After surviving an attempted murder, all she wants is R&R time with Nick Palzetti. But his mother leaving his father (“that horse’s patoot”) and moving in with Alex puts a crimp in their plans. Then Nick leaves on assignment and the teen she rescued from an abusive father believes his buddy is doing drugs. Meanwhile, Alex has two easy cases to take her mind off her shaky relationship with Nick—a philandering husband and a background check on a client’s boyfriend. Piece of cake.

Be sure to check out the other authors. 

#WeWriWa - #8Sunday Meddling Mama: Klutzy Alex

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday, the weekly hops for everyone who loves to read and write! Writers share an 8 to10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other writers. You can find them here.

Is it the weekend already? Hubs and I returned home from visiting our son & his family in Arizona. Michigan welcomed us with snow and bone-chilling cold.

My snippet is from my upcoming release, THE CASE OF THE MEDDLING MAMA, an Alex O'Hara Novel, third in my cozy mystery series. Along with some creative punctuation, It hasn't been edited yet, so suggestions are welcome.

This snippet is from the first chapter and continues where last week's snippet left off. While Alex tries on a bridesmaid dress for her friend's (the store owner) wedding, she's introduced to a potential client.

Poor Ginnie—a deer captured in the headlights had nothing on her—with her blond hair and fair complexion, her embarrassment was even more apparent, so I figured I’d better do something to break the awkwardness. With a smile, I leaned over, held out my hand, and said, “Hi, I’m Alex O’Hara, reluctant dress shopper.”

“Ginnie Bakker, also a reluctant shopper,” she said as she shook my hand and returned my smile. “I like your dress.”

I preened—didn’t get a chance to do that very often since elegant clothes were not my normal attire. In fact, I felt more comfortable in the jeans and T-shirt hanging on hooks in the dressing room. Give me a good pair of running shoes, and I’m happy.

“The gown is for Ellie’s wedding next month,” I said as I twirled around and nearly ended up on my face, pins scratched my ankles through my socks, and I almost wrenched my ankle—high heels and I never got along.

“Whoa, are you all right?” Ginnie said, putting out a hand to steady me.

While I laughed, Ellie rushed up to us saying, “Is Klutzy Alex at it again?”

Rough blurb:

PI Alex O'Hara, just rescued from another kidnapping attack, needs a break to enjoy Nick's attention when his mother shows up, claiming she's left his father, and is moving in with Alex. No way is she sleeping with Nick with his mother down the hall. Her new case, a background check on a potential suitor, is exactly the direction she wants to take the agency. The teen boy they rescued from an abusive stepfather is sure his buddy is doing drugs. And Nick's job takes him away. Again. At least the background check should be a piece of cake.

Be sure to check out the other authors. 

#WeWriWa - #8Sunday: The Case of the Meddling Mama

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday, the weekly hops for everyone who loves to read and write! Writers share an 8 to10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other writers. You can find them here.

My snippet this week is from my upcoming release, THE CASE OF THE MEDDLING MAMA, an Alex O'Hara Novel. This book is the third in my cozy mystery series. It hasn't been edited yet. Suggestions are welcome.

The snippet is from the first chapter when Alex is trying on the bridesmaid dress for her friend's (the store owner) wedding.

When two women entered the exclusive dress shop, Ellie left to greet them while her assistant chivvied me to put on the shoes. White socks, black strappy heels, and the gorgeous emerald green bridesmaid dress—I made such a fashion statement as I stood on the platform, call Vogue.

I so didn’t want to be there, especially when I recognized one of the women. I’d been the bearer of bad news to Nora Finley last week—her Mr. Perfect turned out to be a Black Widower. He and his cohorts had the perfect plan, a plan I thwarted just in time.

“Oh, you’re here,” Nora cried out when she spotted me and tugged on her companion’s wrist, practically dragging her over. “Ginnie, this is the PI that saved my life, Alex O’Hara!”

I cringed while heat bloomed in my cheeks.

Nora looked up at me saying, “I’ve been telling Ginnie here that she absolutely must hire you to check out her boyfriend—she met him on one of those online dating sites.”

Ginnie winced, like she wanted the floor to open up and swallow her—I knew the feeling.

Rough blurb:

PI Alex O'Hara, just rescued from another kidnapping attack, needs a break to enjoy Nick's attention when his mother shows up, claiming she's left his father, and is moving in with Alex. No way is she sleeping with Nick with his mother down the hall. Her new case, a background check on a potential suitor, is exactly the direction she wants to take the agency. The teen boy they rescued from an abusive stepfather is sure his buddy is doing drugs. And Nick's job takes him away. Again. At least the background check should be a piece of cake.

Be sure to check out the other authors. 

#WeWriWa - #8Sunday: ONE RED SHOE - Cute Meet

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday, the weekly hops for everyone who loves to read and write! Writers share an 8 to10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other writers. You can find them here.

I'm back again with the last snippet from my romantic suspense, One Red Shoe. In last week's snippet, Sam's in the restroom mopping up blood from being shot--in the butt and calf-- when in races a desperate tourist. Daria.

When Daria found the ladies' room, she came face-to-face with a man pointing a weapon at her—a pervert, with unzipped jeans, wielding a green box knife. Because she’d raced into the restroom without checking out the situation, he now stood between her and the exit.

She was at the end of the proverbial rope. After walking in circles, she finally found a restroom, and nobody was stopping her from using it. Especially not someone who was playing copycat with that guy in the movie who wore one red shoe.

“I am having a really bad day,” she declared in the don’t cross me voice she used on her brothers. As soon as her words echoed off the hideous pink and black tiled walls and floor, she lowered her voice, saying, “You are in the wrong place, mister, now zip up and get out.” She pointed straight-armed toward the door.

The man shook his head, set the flimsy knife on the counter, and said, “Lady, you have more guts than sense. You are in the wrong place, at the wrong time.”

It Happened One Night meets Knight and Day

When elementary teacher Daria Mason left Iowa for a writers’ conference in New York City, she didn’t expect to come home with a wounded spy. Sam Jozwiak works for a shadow agency that gathers intel vital to U.S. security. From the moment he steals digital files from a Russian Mafia kingpin, Murphy’s Law takes over. No matter how he covers his tracks, the kingpin’s assassins find him. What’s worse than getting shot in the butt? Accepting help from an Iowa tourist. Thus, begins a road trip that takes Sam and Daria cross country with the assassins right behind them. 

TWRP ~ Amazon ~ iTunes ~ Kobo ~ Barnes & Noble

Be sure to check out the other authors. 

Next week, I'll share a snippet from my WIP, The Case of the Meddling Mama.

#WeWriWa - #8Sunday ONE RED SHOE - Bleeding like a stuck pig

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday, the weekly hops for everyone who loves to read write! Writers share an 8 to10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other writers. You can find them here.

I'm back again with another snippet from my romantic suspense, One Red Shoe. In last week's snippet, Sam was shot in the butt by a stray bullet. Another one creased his calf. He finally found a place (unfortunately, the ladies' restroom) to take care of the bleeding before the two assassins followed his trail of blood.

The air moved—Sam’s only warning that the door to the restroom had opened. As a whirlwind in beige blasted past him, Sam instinctively cataloged the intruder: female, five-ten, weight uncertain due to voluminous coat, late twenties, long dark single braid, penny loafers, and a large button clipped to her purse. Shit. More dangerous than a Russian Mafia hit man—a wide-eyed innocent, the kind he’d sworn to protect—and there he was bleeding like a stuck pig, so dizzy he was going to fall flat on his face.

It Happened One Night meets Knight and Day

When elementary teacher Daria Mason left Iowa for a writers’ conference in New York City, she didn’t expect to come home with a wounded spy. Sam Jozwiak works for a shadow agency that gathers intel vital to U.S. security. From the moment he steals digital files from a Russian Mafia kingpin, Murphy’s Law takes over. No matter how he covers his tracks, the kingpin’s assassins find him. What’s worse than getting shot in the butt? Accepting help from an Iowa tourist. Thus, begins a road trip that takes Sam and Daria cross country with the assassins right behind them. 

TWRP ~ Amazon ~ iTunes ~ Kobo ~ Barnes & Noble

Be sure to check out the other authors.