Saturday 16 April 2016

Sunday Snippet: "Lying to myself wasn’t as comforting as it should have been."


I'll preface this week's Sunday Snippet by saying I'm blogging past my bedtime, and am paying the price for that. I can feel my eyelids drooping as I type, so if anything seems off tangent, that's why. A Real Job, half hour walks in the heat, barbecues, and mind-blowing reads tend to suck the life out of a writer. Anyway, it's that time of the week! I'm happy to share my snippet for Weekend Writing Warriors, the blog tour which allows new/indie authors to share their new and upcoming work. I'm continuing with pieces from my upcoming standalone novel, Storm Born. After learning she's been missing for a week due to a horrific ordeal in a hurricane, Ava tries to readjust to her new life. It's nowhere near as easy as she wants it to be...

“Order up, Ava!”
Crap. I lowered my hand from my chest, alarmed that I’d been touching my scar. The panic attacks had stopped, but I’d been having nightmares almost every single night. Well, not really nightmares. More like blurring flashes through my mind, and a scorching pain in my chest when I woke up. I told myself it was just my memories screwing around with me, that the rigid white scar over my heart couldn’t hurt me now because it was healed over.
Lying to myself wasn’t as comforting as it should have been.

***

http://www.amazon.com/Storm-Born-Amy-Braun-ebook/dp/B01CZ21TZU

It's been a pretty good week! I spent the first portion of it emailing various blogs and reviewing websites to snag some spotlights and interviews. I must have sent close to thirty emails. It was nuts. I've gotten some replies, which is nice, and hopefully the review response will be positive. I've already had one spotlight on Who She Reads, which was a lot of fun.

I've also managed to complete the first draft of Storm of the Gods, the first novel in my upcoming Greek mythology/urban fantasy series Areios Brothers. I'm working through the edits, and noticing how much I need to change. Thankfully my weekend is coming soon, since I'd like to have the Alpha edits done by the end of the month before I send the whole thing to Beta readers.

Last but not least, I received the official acceptance letter for my short Dark Sky story Engineered Deceit! The story will be featured in Mocha Memoirs Press's upcoming steampunk horror anthology, Ghosts, Gears, and Grimoires. I won't say much, other than it will be a short prequel told from Sawyer's perspective shortly after he meets fellow crew-mates Gemma and Nash. I'm very excited to be part of this anthology, and am happy it will coincide with the releases of my other Dark Sky prequel novellas, Amber Sky and Smoke Sky.

Next week will be busy (be on the lookout for an extra post on Tuesday when I take part in an Elise Kova cover reveal!), but I'm hoping to get a lot done. The month is winding down fast, and I've set some personal goals I would definitely like to see achieved.

Be sure to check out the other Weekend Writing Warriors authors and leave them some well-deserved love in the comments. Until tomorrow, cheers!

Amy

27 comments:

  1. That's a really strong final line - very effective!

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  2. Love the internal contemplation in this snippet. Looking forward to this book's release.

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    1. Thank you, and me too! 17 more days! :D

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    2. Yay! I may be finished with my current title off the TBR pile by then. ;-)

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  3. Uh-oh. I have a feeling that scar is going to be trouble!

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  4. I love the idea of a scar in her heart. I'm not so sure about this line in your intro, though: "mind-blowing reads tend to suck the life out of a writer." Mind-blowing read breath life INTO my life. ;-)

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    1. Ah, yes, that's actually what I meant... Like I said, I was half-awake when I wrote this haha.

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  5. Terrific interior voice and tension. And I LOVE that last line!

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  6. Love the internal dialogue, and especially the last line. We all lie to ourselves at times, I think. It makes your character so realistic.

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  7. Great excerpt, I can sense how torn up she is. I'm thinking those nightmares may become "daymares" soon!

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  8. When is lying to yourself ever comforting? I'd say I hope things get better, but I suspect worse will come...

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  9. Lying to oneself - the great hypocrisy - lol. Great snippet.
    Tweeted.

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  10. Very intriguing. And love that last line.

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  11. An itchy white scar - not pleasant.

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  12. Yes, lying to yourself is never a comfort. Enjoyed the snippet and the way you revealed her inner turmoil.

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  13. Fascinating snippet. I hope you were able to get some sleep.

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    1. Thanks, and I'm on my days off now so I'm catching up. :)

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  14. Intriguing snippet, and I love the last line! Looking forward to reading more.

    ~Joyce Scarbrough

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