In today’s six sentences, Hamet has decided to leave the castle and the pain of losing his beloved behind. The aging Seti finds much favor with Hamet, and although he is a slave, Pharaoh allows him to leave, understanding the young man’s sorrow. Here are my six:

All that he owned in the world really didn’t amount to much. He wasn’t sure why he’d decided to bring the basin he’d used to wash Pharaoh. There was really nothing special about it, and it was heavy and burdensome, but he couldn’t coax himself to leave it behind. He had the basin, a sack of freshly rolled food, two clean loincloths, a water pouch, Keati’s linen cloth, a small stone spear for protection, and the heavy amulet with the green-jeweled eye that graced his neck. Ramses had warned him to cover his chest, afraid that thieves would try to steal the appetizing amulet, but Hamet hadn’t listened. He would defend the amulet from thievery, just as he’d defended Ramses from a murderer.

Could there be something special about his amulet? Well, visit my blog next week and find out. I have a soft spot for this novel. I did extensive research (three years total) just to make the story feel authentic before I ever wrote the first word, but it was a blast. Be sure to check out the other six sentencers here, and my BFF’s contribution here (HAMET’S AWAKENING is Joyce’s favorite of all my pub’ed novels so far), and thanks for visiting.

‘Til Next Time…

Raised by thieves in the streets of ancient Egypt, 17-year-old Hamet has made a respectable life and name for himself in Seti’s palace. The good Pharaoh rescued the young man from the clutches of vicious Libyans during a time of war. Hamet daily performs the duty of wash boy, bathing and grooming the aging Seti. He lives in the servant’s quarters with his beautiful, young wife, Keati, and under the control of Throut, the Pharaoh’s gruff vizier and highest governing official.

When Keati is brutally murdered, Hamet never expects the swift, but necessary alliance that forms between himself and Ramses, the Pharaoh’s visionary son and co-ruler of Egypt. Together this unlikely pair must race against time to unravel the evil deeds of Throut and save their civilization from the tyrants aimed at destroying it.

I have a soft spot for this story because when it was in manuscript form, it won first place in the general fiction category at Writer’s Weekend in Seattle, WA, and also won the Judge’s Choice Award. Here are my six sentences:

Ramses grabbed Hamet’s arm and shouted, “Wait, it’s too quiet!” Pray for protection from the gods before we enter this room.”

“My prayers never reach the ears of the gods, Sire, or my home wouldn’t have been invaded by demons in the night. Now, let go of me.”

Hamet pulled away from Ramses and flew through the opened door again calling, “Keati, where are you?”

Ramses touched Hamet’s back and murmured, “She sleeps.”

I hope you enjoyed my sentences. Don’t forget to check out the other Six Sentencers here, especially my BFF and favorite editor, Joyce Scarbrough, and my friend and critique partner, Stephanie Lawton.

‘Til Next time

Last week for my debut on Six Sentence  Sunday, I introduced you to Isabel, our desperate heroine from my novel ONCE WAYWARD. Isabel was raised in the carnival by loving parents who decided that they wanted a better life for her. There had to be more out in the wide world somewhere for their daughter besides being the main attraction in the rifle booth of the Templeton Traveling Circus. And the wealthy Mr. Winston had promised to provide for the beautiful Isabel; a luxurious home, an education, and the prospect of someday courting a fine young man and truly settling down in a real home. So her trusting parents place her on an orphan train bound for Kansas and her new life. But Isabel soon learns that men don’t always keep their promises. Here are my six sentences for today:

“I asked you a question, girl, so answer me!”

Even with his anger raging, Isabel sat motionless, unable to will her lips to move. What purpose would it serve anyway? He’d won. She was again his prisoner. Her life was forfeit, and all she could manage was silence.

I do hope you read Isabel’s story. I truly enjoyed writing it. ONCE WAYWARD is actually book five of the Orphan Train series, launched by Champagne Books in 2009. Each book in the series is written by a different author, but follows the story of a girl from the same orphan train. So, you can easily read any of the books as a stand alone. It is a fabulous concept, and I’m honored to have been selected to write one of these ground-breaking novels.

Be sure and check out all the other fine authors participating in Six Sentence Sunday at http://www.sixsunday.com, especially my BFF and editor, Joyce Scarbrough at http://www.joycescarbrough.blogspot.com and my critique partner and dear friend, Stephanie Lawton at http://www.stephanielawton.com

Next week I’ll be introducing you to Hamet, a character from my award-winning YA historical titled HAMET’S AWAKENING. See you then!

Cheers!

The smell of the train station sparked Isabel’s senses before she reached the platform. She never realized before that there had been a distinct odor all those years ago when she was a girl, eagerly awaiting a dream life that had turned into nothing but a nightmare. She recalled the bench she’d perched on after exiting the orphan train, legs dangling and heart racing. Her memories flooded back in waves, and she hated it. She pushed the raw emotions deep into a hiding place in her fractured soul and focused on the task at hand. She’d purchase a ticket without being discovered and get as far away from Kansas as possible.

Check back next Sunday for more of Isabel’s tale, or just go ahead and purchase her story on Kindle (or in paperback) at www.champagnebooks.com And don’t forget to check out the other amazing authors on www.sixsunday.com , especially my dear friend and crit partner, Stephanie Lawton, who introduced me to Six Sunday http://www.stephanielawton.com and my BFF and divine editor Joyce Sterling Scarbrough http://www.joycescarbrough.blogspot.com

Cheers!

Now, the Pulitzer jury has been quick to announce that they did indeed offer three finalists, but ultimately, the Pulitzer board couldn’t make a decision because essentially, the votes were too spread out to declare a true winner. What that essentially boils down to with me is that we all lose. And it’s a shame.

So, that’s just my 2 cents, for whatever it’s worth. And I sincerely hope it never happens again.

~’Til Next Time…

Mike Wallace was a hardcore reporter and interviewer who never backed down to politicians, celebrities and other media figures in his 60-year career. His on-air confrontations helped make “60 Minutes” one of the most successful television news programs ever. As a budding reporter myself back in the day, I was often awed and sometimes even amused at the information he could acquire from people…powerful people…important people. The way he read faces and body language, evoked emotion and got the story when others couldn’t was more than talent, it was magical. It was inspiring. I know it inspired me.

I was the editor-in-chief of my high school newspaper that didn’t even exist until I said, “Hey, I don’t want to work on the yearbook. I want to be a reporter.” And I was also the editor-in-chief of my college newspaper. Being a reporter taught me how to fact-find, dig deeper, leave no stone unturned and even solve mysteries once all the facts were neatly stacked in front of me. Those years of studying as a journalist have made me a better fiction writer, so for that I’m thankful. I’m grateful for Mike Wallace, and all the other journalists who sparked that fire for investigation in this small town girl who’s dreams have always been bigger than her surroundings.

He will be missed…

’til next time~

So, after reading the series and awaiting the onscreen arrival of the wildly popular first book, The Hunger Games was a satisfying movie experience. That said, there were some major differences in the book and the movie. Now, as any avid reader will tell you, we always feel that the book is better. It’s typical. We expect it. And although the movie was enjoyable, a few differences flew at me like Katniss’s arrow, so they’re worth mentioning. Here goes it…

First, no Madge? Really? I thought the moment that Madge visited Katniss and gave her the mockingjay pin was a very powerful moment in the book. And although it was sweet in the movie to have Katniss get the pin in the Hob and give it to Prim, and then have Prim give it back to Katniss to keep her safe, Madge’s visit to Katniss in the book was a tense yet gorgeous moment for me.

And no Avox girl either? Really?

Next, why allow Katniss to find water so quickly when in the book she nearly thirsted to death? I was quite surprised that immediately after the scene when she pulls out the empty water bottle, in the very next scene she’s filling it. Katniss nearly thirsting to death was important in the book.

Next, why did they change the part where Peeta tossed Katniss the bread when they were 12? I feel that people who only see the movie and haven’t read the book may not realize the significance of that scene. In the book, Peeta was willing to take a beating to give Katniss the bread. Oh, yeah, he loved her from a tender age…and always will. Vitally important…

There were other differences, obviously, but those are the things I would have liked to have seen included on the big screen. Now, there were some differences in the movie version that I actually agreed with. Here goes again…

It really bothered me in the book that the beasts at the end carried the features of the fallen tributes. There was something about that scenario that really got to me in a harsh way while I was reading. I was glad the movie just had “ordinary” beasts chasing them.

And, finally, it really got off with me in the novel that Cato suffered all night at the fangs and claws of the mutations. It was very troubling. I thought it would have been better for Katniss to help Cato out of his misery quickly. This would have accomplished two things in Katniss’s character…forgiveness and compassion. I actually thought as I was reading that her shooting the squirrels in the eye when she was hunting was going to end up being foreshadowing that she could only see Cato’s eyes when the creatures had him and that was going to be how she ended his misery. I was glad in the movie that Cato’s suffering was ended quickly.

So, that’s my take on the movie. Let me say again, I did enjoy it thoroughly, and I’ve seen it twice already. And when the DVD comes out, I’ll buy it.

‘Til Next Time~

The rules:

1. Go to page 77 of your current MS.
2. Go to line 7.
3. Copy down the next 7 lines/sentences, and post them as they’re written. No cheating.
4. Tag 7 other victims …er, authors.

So, to obey the lucky 7 gods, the following is from my MS–a YA mystery–that I finished last month titled HARD CORE.

The waves in my stomach are replaced with mini-fireworks.

“Goodnight, Julia,” Ryan says when the kiss is over.

As I struggle to calm my racing insides, I’m bombarded with thoughts of all the ways we handle our breaths. We can take one, hold one, run out of one, lose one. Well, in this moment, Ryan had stolen mine.

“Good night.”

Well, that’s my lucky seven. And I must say, I was happy that it “landed” in this moment in my MS. I happen to love Julia’s reaction to her kiss with Ryan. I guess sometimes the gods smile in your favor

‘Til next time~

Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not all gut-twisting. I enjoy celebrating, and that’s exactly what I do when I open that email requesting a partial or full read of my manuscript. Epic Snoopy dancing all around. It’s some form of validation, and it’s fabulous. But after the dancing subsides, I know that I still have to hook that agent with my story. Nothing’s final until the contract is signed. So I cave to my Sour Skittles addiction yet again (thanks Carrie). And I wait…forever. The wheels of publishing grind slowly. I know this. Can I get an amen?

But what to do while I’m waiting? Write. That’s what I’ll do. It’s what I do anyway, and I’m good at it. Getting lost in another world has a way of making this one go away. Now I’m not going to lie and say I won’t set my iPhone right next to my laptop and snatch it up in 1.25 seconds when it dings an e-mail alert, but I’m not going to waste any time while querying— especially when it can be better served creating. And when I do sign with an agent, instead of one story to represent, maybe they’ll have two. Now pass the Skittles.

‘Til next time~

Lee Ann

Everyone might think they have a book in them, but in no way, shape, or form does that make everyone a writer. And do people really think that writing a book is a simple thing? Just something an author does in their spare time? What a slap in the face to us writers who have spent countless hours crafting, plotting, doing characterizations, rough drafts, revised drafts, final drafts, then shopping our finished product around to simply hope we get a nibble and possibly a book contract after the entire, daunting process. Possibly…

You can bet your butt no doctor has ever heard the words, “Oh, you’re a physician? Well, I’m going to be a doctor when I retire. Go off the medical school and all that. Would be a fun hobby.” Writing books is not a hobby. Do people write for pleasure? Absolutely. But following a dream to be a published author as your CAREER is not fun! Do I enjoy writing? More than you can imagine. Is it what I was born to do? You can bet the farm on it. But is editing and perfecting and querying agents and editors and receiving rejections and losing sleep because I have a bite on something and I can’t help but wonder if they’re liking what they’re reading FUN? No. It is a job, and it’s not an easy one. I am a published writer, and I have worked extremely hard earning the title of “Author”, just like that doctor who gets to put the Dr. in front of her name. If being a successfully published author was easy, everyone would be doing it. So be forewarned! If you ask me my occupation and then tell me you’re going to write a book when you’re old and have nothing better to do, you will be quizzed on YOUR occupation. And the next words out of my mouth will be, “Oh, so you’re an attorney? Well, I’m going to law school when I retire. I think it would be fun and relaxing. What a nice hobby…”

All right, enough ranting and back to the writing. And I promise the quality will reflect that my writing is not a hobby…

Cheers!