I decided to temporarily postpone blogging since I felt no one was reading my posts, especially the snippets from Charge of the Beast.
A fellow writer friend encouraged me to start blogging again. It's not necessarily about the number of readers, she said, it's more about doing it for yourself. I guess I'm preparing myself for future blogs when people will hopefully be reading as fans of a published author!
So, I'll start 'em back up. If anyone ever read my previous posts which included snippets from CotB and would like for me to keep posting more, let me know and I'll be happy to do so.
Comments, anyone??
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
New Novel
I'm about a quarter of the way through my second novel, which is yet to be named. I'm waiting for that perfect title to come to me. Right now, I'm just calling it "Tobago".
Tobago is a compelling story that details the events of two women's lives, strangers to each other, as they happen at the same time.
Trudie Paxton, from England, finds herself in Houston, Texas after her newly-bewedded husband is awarded a two year contract with an oil and gas company. The thing she fears most is the possibility of losing him to another woman.
Kelcy Steeples, a native Houstonian, is the winner of a reality show. She is hoping to start a new life in which no one will recognize her from television. She finds success and romance, but realizes that this new kind of life brings along its own challenges.
When they experience the same life-threatening situation, Trudie and Kelcy must set their uncertainty aside in order to return to the life that they took for granted.
Tobago will appeal mostly to women, but the men who are true romantics at heart will enjoy it as well.
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Tobago is a compelling story that details the events of two women's lives, strangers to each other, as they happen at the same time.
Trudie Paxton, from England, finds herself in Houston, Texas after her newly-bewedded husband is awarded a two year contract with an oil and gas company. The thing she fears most is the possibility of losing him to another woman.
Kelcy Steeples, a native Houstonian, is the winner of a reality show. She is hoping to start a new life in which no one will recognize her from television. She finds success and romance, but realizes that this new kind of life brings along its own challenges.
When they experience the same life-threatening situation, Trudie and Kelcy must set their uncertainty aside in order to return to the life that they took for granted.
Tobago will appeal mostly to women, but the men who are true romantics at heart will enjoy it as well.
Don't forget to become a follower. Simply click "Join this site" on the right side of the page and follow the directions. If you haven't already, 'like' my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ruth-A-Taylor/112941348748036.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
And So the Fun Begins... End of Chapter 15:
It was five till when Rina descended from the steps of the apartment building. She lifted her shoulders and raised her head.
“Hello lovely lady, I almost didn’t recognize you.”
Rina turned and saw Aidan standing near a corner where he had probably watched her for a few moments before approaching.
“I don’t know if that’s good or bad,” she answered with a smirk. Her arms tingled as Aidan neared her.
“It’s good,” Aidan replied. “Trust me.” He held his bent arm out at the waist. “Please, take my arm.”
She happily slid her left arm through. Aidan tightened his arm and pulled Rina close so they were shoulder to shoulder as he led the way.
“So, what are we doing?”
At that moment, they rounded a corner and stopped.
“Tell me, Rina, what do you see?” Aidan let go of her arm and faced her. The smile and expression on his face conveyed a hint of mischief.
She looked around, trying to figure out what Aidan was up to. “Am I supposed to be able to pick your car out of all of these? Besides, why did you go off and rent a car? I thought we agreed to use mine.”
Aidan assured her, “Oh, I didn’t rent a car. Not one that either of us would be driving anyway.”
Rina was confused.
“Look again,” he instructed as he cupped her shoulders and nudged them so that she would turn around, “this time behind you. What do you see now?”
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Thursday, January 26, 2012
From chapter 10
With the heavy curtains closed and lights turned off, except for a bright light shining behind Azriel to show his silhouette, the interview began.
“Please begin by stating your rank and occupation,” Aidan instructed.
“I am second lieutenant in Army of Israeli Defense Forces.” Azriel sat upright and looked directly at Aidan, who was sitting on the left side of the camera. “I work at security checkpoint in a Palestinian city. North West Bank area.”
“How long have you been in the Army, and what other positions have you held?”
“I have been in five years. First, my involvement was low-intensity warfare operation. After a year, I entered sikul memukad operation.”
“Could you please elaborate on the latter?”
“Sikul memukad means focused foiling.” Azriel began to express himself with his hands as he continued to speak. “We use this targeted killing method to destroy terrorist groups and their leaders. When exact location of target is discovered, next is a direct hit at site.”
“What were some of your experiences in focused foiling operations?”
“I was involved in several missions, but now I refer to one in particular.” Azriel took his eyes off Aidan and studied the ceiling, almost as if he did not know what to say next. After a short pause, he went on. “It is the one that led me to change occupation in Army.
“We were successful in killing target, a Qassam rocket and bomb maker, so mission was victory. What affected me though, is that ten civilians were killed.”
For the first time, Azriel hung his head down and his shoulders began slump.
“I saw picture on TV of fifteen-year-old Palestinian girl. She was lying on stretcher, dead. She looked peaceful, almost like sleeping. Other than a few bruises on face, she looked fine. No, she looked…” Azriel began to choke up and paused to regain his composure. “She looked beautiful.
“Made me sad to think I helped kill that girl. What if I have daughter someday? I could not think to lose her that way.”
“Are you against focused foiling operations?”
“Not at all,” Azriel firmly replied as the light reflected off his green beret, creating what looked like a halo. “I believe are necessary to stop terror attacks on Israelis. I know civilian deaths are part of war. Can’t be avoided. I just don’t want to be responsible for deaths.”
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Thursday, January 19, 2012
A piece from chapter 8
As they turned into a small neighborhood, Rina and Aidan smiled when they saw a family picnicking on a grassy slope. There were eight children, all of whom were waving along with their parents.
“Do you know them?”
“Yes.” Rina smiled and waved back. “I have been here many times to visit the woman you are about to meet. I’m sure everyone knows by now that you’re coming.”
“People already know I’m coming?”
“Well, I was planning on visiting Mrs. Shalev today anyway. I phoned her this morning and told her about you.”
They neared one of the rectangular white buildings with a clay-tiled roof and came to a stop.
“Three families live here,” Rina said. “They’re expecting us and are extremely excited to see an American. Don’t be surprised if you’re suddenly surrounded by children when we approach the house.”
Rina’s advice couldn’t have come sooner.
As soon as Aidan stepped out, seven boys who wore kippah’s on their heads, and three girls ran to him. They smiled and laughed, speaking in Hebrew.
One boy knew a few English words and caused Aidan to laugh.
“Howdy,” the boy eagerly exclaimed with a strong accent, “I like rodeo and cowboy hat!”
“So do I.” Aidan patted the boy’s back as he walked by. “So do I.”
Rina cheerfully shouted a few words as she broke up the crowd around Aidan. “Don’t worry, everyone here is very kind. I wanted to take you here first, as this will be a pleasant experience.”
“I can tell already. This is great.”
“Good. Let’s go inside then.”
When they entered home, three middle-aged women were waiting to greet them from the living area. They began chattering away in Hebrew to Rina, saying their hellos as they hugged and kissed cheeks.
Without an introduction, all three ladies approached Aidan with their arms wide open as if they had known him for years. They smiled, laughed and appeared to be the happiest people, without a care in the world.
Aidan blushed as each of them embraced him, held their hands on either side of his head, and kissed his cheeks.
“Thank you, nice to meet you,” he sheepishly said.
Two of the women left the room as they waved and said, “Shalom, kol tuv.”
“Okay, bye,” Aidan answered with a wave.
“That means, ‘peace, be well,’” Rina said. “It’s basically the same thing as saying goodbye in English.”
“I need to learn that. Could you tell me again?”
“Shalom, kol tuv.”
“Wait.” Aidan raised his eyebrows. “I’m sorry, I didn’t get the part after shalom.”
“Oh, sorry. I said it too quickly." Rina slowly pronounced each word, “Shalom, kol tuv.”
“That’s not hard at all. Shalom, kol tuv.”
The first woman who gave Aidan a hug and kiss motioned with her hand for him to sit down on the couch. She brought a tray with a modest, white tea set. Steam surged through the spout of the ceramic pot as she set the tray down on the coffee table.
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Friday, January 13, 2012
This weeks' excerpt: short but sweet
“That is a very unusual request, one that I have never before heard.” Rina hesitated. “I might be able to help you, but I need to think it over. Meet me here at noon tomorrow and we can talk a little more.”
“Great!” He let out a long sigh. “I’ll be sitting on the bench just across the way ‘til I see you leave. By the way, my name’s Aidan Breaux.” He held out his hand and gave her a half smile.
“And I am Rina Sharett, pleased to meet you.” She held her hand out and returned with a firm shake.
And the rest is history... in my novel, that is!
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“Great!” He let out a long sigh. “I’ll be sitting on the bench just across the way ‘til I see you leave. By the way, my name’s Aidan Breaux.” He held out his hand and gave her a half smile.
“And I am Rina Sharett, pleased to meet you.” She held her hand out and returned with a firm shake.
And the rest is history... in my novel, that is!
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Friday, January 6, 2012
Elijah Zahavi
One of my most important supporting characters, Elijah, enters CotB in chapter 6.
Just as her eyelids began to droop, Eliana heard a faint knock at the door. After another knock, the door opened only slightly.
“Eliana?” She heard an unrecognizable male voice whisper. Pushing the door open a little further, the man spoke up. “Are you asleep?”
“No.” Eliana sat straight up and pulled her legs over to the edge of the bed.
“May I come in?”
Why would a doctor ask permission to come into my room? “Okay.”
As the man entered the room, Eliana realized he was no doctor. A full head of salt and pepper hair framed his broad face. By the friendly way that he looked at her, she sensed that somehow he was not just a stranger.
“I know you don’t recognize me,” he said in a deep, silky tone. “The last time I saw you in person, you were barely six months old. You look the same in person as you do in the photographs your mother has shown me over the years.”
As he approached the bed, Eliana merely stared at the man, confused.
“My name is Elijah Zahavi. Your mother was a close friend of mine. I also knew your father for a very short period of time.” Elijah pulled a flimsy chair near the bed and sat.
“Oh, I… she…” A close friend who she didn’t tell me about?
“It’s alright, dear. You’re dealing with too much right now. I’ll tell you more later.”
“Later?”
“Yes.” Elijah’s shoulders bounced as he nodded his head. “I’m in touch with your grandparents. They gave me permission to pay you a visit today, and eventually they will allow me to speak with you over the phone once you have recovered.”
“You know my grandparents? In America?” Eliana searched Elijah’s eyes, hoping to discover something in his expression.
“I don’t know them personally, but they know who I am. Sarina helped me get in touch with them after… Eh, after…” The fluorescent light reflected off Elijah’s moistening eyes.
“Were you and mama together? I mean, in love?”
“Oh, no!” Elijah’s tears disappeared as he chuckled. “Far from it, dear.”
“Well, then who are you?”
“All I can tell you for now is that we were close friends, and when your father was here, he helped me immensely. Now I want to do the same by helping you.” Elijah stood and gently placed his hand on Eliana’s lower arm. “When the time is right, we’ll talk. I just wanted to introduce myself so that you would remember me.”
Eliana trembled as she focused on the man’s hand.
“Get some rest now. You’re tired.”
With her wide eyes glued to Elijah, Eliana leaned back on the pillow and stretched out as he lifted the sheet and pulled it over her.
“I wish you luck on your voyage, dear.” Elijah bent down, kissed Eliana on the forehead and left the room without looking back.
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Just as her eyelids began to droop, Eliana heard a faint knock at the door. After another knock, the door opened only slightly.
“Eliana?” She heard an unrecognizable male voice whisper. Pushing the door open a little further, the man spoke up. “Are you asleep?”
“No.” Eliana sat straight up and pulled her legs over to the edge of the bed.
“May I come in?”
Why would a doctor ask permission to come into my room? “Okay.”
As the man entered the room, Eliana realized he was no doctor. A full head of salt and pepper hair framed his broad face. By the friendly way that he looked at her, she sensed that somehow he was not just a stranger.
“I know you don’t recognize me,” he said in a deep, silky tone. “The last time I saw you in person, you were barely six months old. You look the same in person as you do in the photographs your mother has shown me over the years.”
As he approached the bed, Eliana merely stared at the man, confused.
“My name is Elijah Zahavi. Your mother was a close friend of mine. I also knew your father for a very short period of time.” Elijah pulled a flimsy chair near the bed and sat.
“Oh, I… she…” A close friend who she didn’t tell me about?
“It’s alright, dear. You’re dealing with too much right now. I’ll tell you more later.”
“Later?”
“Yes.” Elijah’s shoulders bounced as he nodded his head. “I’m in touch with your grandparents. They gave me permission to pay you a visit today, and eventually they will allow me to speak with you over the phone once you have recovered.”
“You know my grandparents? In America?” Eliana searched Elijah’s eyes, hoping to discover something in his expression.
“I don’t know them personally, but they know who I am. Sarina helped me get in touch with them after… Eh, after…” The fluorescent light reflected off Elijah’s moistening eyes.
“Were you and mama together? I mean, in love?”
“Oh, no!” Elijah’s tears disappeared as he chuckled. “Far from it, dear.”
“Well, then who are you?”
“All I can tell you for now is that we were close friends, and when your father was here, he helped me immensely. Now I want to do the same by helping you.” Elijah stood and gently placed his hand on Eliana’s lower arm. “When the time is right, we’ll talk. I just wanted to introduce myself so that you would remember me.”
Eliana trembled as she focused on the man’s hand.
“Get some rest now. You’re tired.”
With her wide eyes glued to Elijah, Eliana leaned back on the pillow and stretched out as he lifted the sheet and pulled it over her.
“I wish you luck on your voyage, dear.” Elijah bent down, kissed Eliana on the forehead and left the room without looking back.
Don't forget to become a follower. Simply click "Join this site" on the right side of the page and follow the directions. If you haven't already, 'like' my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ruth-A-Taylor/112941348748036.
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