Excerpt from Moon Dust

With the new year ahead, my thoughts have turned to the books I will be writing. The first has to be an historical to fulfill a commitment I made to readers and myself. After that, I may do something contemporary as I enjoy writing those-- especially based in Portland or maybe try one in Tucson.

This is an excerpt from Moon Dust. It's kind of a tough story in some ways but one of the books I feel most proud of as it deals with the adult ramifications of childhood abuse on men. I did a lot of research for it because I felt it was little understood. Of course, it's also a romance:

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

            "What are you doing for Thanksgiving?" George asked with an abrupt, and for Dane, unwelcome shift in the conversation.

            "Why?" Dane asked with a faint smile. "You issuing an invitation or want one?"

            "Neither. I'm joyfully going to my ex-wife, her kid, her new boyfriend, and our kid, the new American family along with turkey with all the trimmings--heartburn, the battle royal or is that the battle ax. No, I was just concerned about what you were doing."

            Dane laughed. "And you accuse me of being soft. Well, so you won't worry, I've got plans."

            "You and Susan make up your differences?"

            "Hardly. Didn't you see her with Russ Wright, her new boyfriend? Susan isn't interested in making up with me," Dane said bitterly, remembering again how beautiful she had looked. There was a time where that intelligent beauty had been his, where he'd felt a sense of pride in the knowledge that he would be the man taking her clothes off that night. Now the beauty was like a weapon piercing his heart.

            George shook his head. "Where was I supposed to have seen her?"

            "George, don't you ever look around, observe anything. When you brought the human barracuda to interview me, Susan was at the other end of the restaurant."

            "I thought you ended up liking Margo.”

            “She was doing her job.”

            “Well, I never saw Susan that night."

            Dane shook his head. "You were so high on getting that interview nailed down you wouldn't have noticed Cleopatra and her whole barge."

            "I would too," George denied with a grin, then returned uncomfortably to his point. "I don't like you spending a holiday alone, Dane. I know how rough divorce is... how hard those first months are. How about coming to dinner with me? I was just kidding about the arguing, honest."

            Dane grinned. "I can't believe any of what I'm hearing, that you of all people would become a broody hen. It's out of character, George."

            "It’s just--" George frowned.

            "Hey, quit worrying about me. I've spent a lot of Thanksgivings by myself. It wasn't until Susan that I wanted to be with anybody. I heard they got fresh snow up at Timberline. When you're stuffing your face with turkey, just think of me schussing down the slopes."

            "What if it rains up there?"

            Dane laughed, shaking his head. "Then I'll take a TV dinner out of the freezer. Quit worrying."

            "Your mother lives down the valley. Couldn't you have dinner with her?" George tried again, obviously determined to find a family with which Dane could roost.

            "No," Dane said.

 

Happy Holidays

Christmas is celebrated different ways by people across our country as well as the world. For some it's a bleak time. I saw evidence of that at rest stops along the freeway. We can't even safely say Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas and some get criticized if they say both. Well PC is not part of my writing philosophy or this blog :) I'm in favor of what makes a person happy that does not hurt anyone else. So whatever you call it, hope you have a great day.

Love Waits

Snippet from Book 4, Oregon Historicals, Love Waits:

     Miranda gave a little laugh. “Wal, I’ll be hornswoggled if it ain’t that handsome captain. My, ain’t he a fine figure of a man in his dress uniform.” Belle resisted turning, but it took all her control. “I think he’s coming our way,” Miranda whispered.

     Then Belle knew he was beside them. “Good evening ladies.” the deep voice said, freeing Belle to turn and look up into his eyes.

     “Captain,” she said, “I didn’t know if you’d be here tonight.”

     “You didn’t?” His voice was tight like his smile.

     “I met your father and brother. Your father is staying with Mr. Forester.”

     Before he could answer, Miranda said, “Josiah is beckoning me over to meet someone. Glad to see you both again.”

     Then they were alone. Or as alone as someone could be in a large hall with over a hundred guests milling around. “You look very beautiful, Belle,” he said, not taking his gaze from her.

     She smiled. “So do you.”

     “I don’t have cause to wear this uniform often.”

     “And a sword.”

     “Part of the dress code. Although in battle, it can become a lifesaver when a rifle jams or can’t be reloaded fast enough.”

     “You’ve used it in combat.”

     “I have. I see your frown. Don’t worry. I have cleaned it after each such battle.” This time she thought his smile was a teasing one.

     “You are a good soldier.”

     “Is there such a thing?” The smile turned cynical.

     “Of course there is or you’d not still be one, would you?”

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/3zh0CSOm-xY