Tuesday, July 09, 2013

Christine Presents: Quotes From Writers About Writing

“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” 
― Ernest Hemingway

Love this quote. So do we always bleed when we pour our hearts and our souls into a story? I know that when I am so into a project, I sometimes become one with my characters. I cry when they cry and I laugh with them. I feel the love and support from my hero and heroine.

The Gift is part of A Valentine Anthology. It is set at the end of the War Between the States. This has always been a favorite part of history for me and I've always wanted to write a love story set in this time period. When I first began to publish back in '98, the word from the houses was that they no longer wanted stories in this era. So... I put my thoughts on the back burner so to speak. This novella gave me the chance to write from the heart and feel their soul deep love as they finally reunited. The Gift is also available as a single title.




The Gift
Christine Young
Excerpt Heat Level: 1
Book Heat Level: 1

Buy at: www.roguephoenixpress.com


"Get in the house, now!"

"Mama?"

Elice Weld shielded her eyes and watched the ground fog rising in the distance. She didn't know what was coming her way, but she could guess. The rumors that a Union cavalry unit was in the vicinity had spread like a wildfire on a Kansas prairie.

Rain had fallen all morning. Now the clouds had separated, and the sun heated the earth, causing the evaporation of the water-soaked ground. The cavalry rode through the mist like dark, avenging wraiths bent on the destruction of all mankind. She could see seven men silhouetted on the horizon.

"Izzy, go." Elice didn't want to frighten her daughter but the urgency of the moment could not be denied.

"But mama?"

"Go to the cellar. Now."

"It's dark."

Izzy's voice echoed in Elice's head, filling her with a wild panic she didn't know how to stop. Every time soldiers approached she was terrified. The last four years had been the longest years of her life. "Do as I say, quickly." Elice hugged her daughter, turning her at the same moment and with a gentle shove sent her through the open door of her house.

"Izzy."

Elice knew the panic in her voice would mobilize her young daughter. She despised the fear and the terror. She loathed the war. She looked up. The fog was dissipating, and she could see the dark blue of the Union coats. She didn't have anything left for the soldiers to take. Good God, they'd taken everything already--everything save her daughter and her hope for the future.

She inhaled a quick breath then stood on the steps, hands folded together in front of her, watching the dark wraiths inch closer. She knew from experience she couldn't fight these men. She would do as they said and when they left, she would put the pieces of her life back together.

Until the next time…

"Mama," Elice jumped when her daughter tugged on her skirt before looking at her with sorrow-filled eyes. "Are the soldiers going to take my doll?"

"No," Elice ruffled her little girl's hair. "Go back inside. Go to the cellar and don't come out until I tell you it's safe."

"What about you?"

"I'll be fine." But Elice knew she might be lying to her child. She wasn't always fine when the soldiers invaded their home. "Now go and don't make me say it again. Stay there until I come for you."

Izzy nodded before she turned and walked through the parlor to the stairs leading to the cellar.

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