I'm not dead, just almost

 

Breath in. Breath out. I turn the music up, drowning out my own thoughts. The seconds tick away, scrambling any sense of organization I might have had. The speed of my fingers over the keyboard could start a fire.

 

 



 

 

I tried so hard. But I couldn't make it. I had so little to go...and the clock struck twelve.

 

 



 

 

Ok, happy April Fools. That was a poor joke, really, but I felt I must make something. You can't post today without cracking SOME sort of joke. The truth is...

 

I made it.

 

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I cannot believe I did it! I am so happy I could jump off a skyscraper and die happy!! ;)

 

So, what's next?

 

First off, I am going to officially copyright it with the Library of Congress. Then it is mine. And mine alone... hehe *evil laugh* I am so greedy. ;)

 

Then it will be going to my beta-readers and I will be getting some serious thoughts and opinions on it. That is the fun part. I love getting feedback from others, even if it's not always encouraging or nice. Because then I can make it better!!! :D

 

While I am doing that, I will begin querying. That means writing out a query letter, finding publishers I wouldn't mind letting print my book, and beginning the process of building a relationship with them. I want a long-term publisher, someone who will understand that this is just the first book of three and will be willing to print them all. I have to admit I abhor series that are published all over the board with different publishers and covers... It looks so tacky. And this is not the only book/series {I still call in one book even though it's broken up into a trilogy} I am writing. It would be cool if they would be interested in publishing my future novels too.

 

And that will hopefully end with me having my first book published! Like I said, I'm so excited. I can't believe it happened! I finished over 60 pages of tough editing in 11 or so days {or so because I didn't actually edit every day... in fact, I only edited about five of them. That resulted in three panic days on the 20th, 30th, and 31st. And one 2 in the morning stay awake... :P}

 

The bad thing about hitting one goal is having to make another.... So, who's up for round two? The second book in the trilogy is shorter than the first. I'm wondering if I could make it in one month. I don't know if I want to try.

 

Last but not least, you all get a treat!

 

Two snippets, from the last two chapters of In the Shadow. One from the last Merrie chapter, the other from the last Ionez chapter. Enjoy!!! And let me know what you think of them!!! :D

 

Word count: 117

© Pure Grace

 

Merrie trembled as she met Antistius’s eyes. The look in his face scared her. She struggled to master her voice. “I did not do it,” she whispered.

Antistius gasped, incredulous.

“She is lying, Father,” Messalina snapped. “She wants only to protect herself.”

“I do not doubt it,” Antistius agreed. He gestured to Manus. “Come forward, Nubian.”

Merrie swallowed, her whole body protesting. Heart pounding against her ribs, she closed her eyes. This could not be true. It must be a dream, a giant nightmare. She had to wake up. Could one feel pain in a dream?

Antistius’s eyes glimmered as he turned on Manus. “See if we can remind Merrie of the truth. Begin with three lashes.”

 

 

Word count: 189

© Pure Grace

 

When she could run no more Ionez stopped and found herself in the garden with the frescoes covering the walls. The vivid images, of Romans spilling blood, of the tribes of the world falling beneath their silver swords, of death and anger and gore, stirred her soul. She wondered how long it would take them to find her and kill her. She expected nothing less. Aelia would not even look at her again. She wondered how she would die. Crucified? Beheaded? Flayed? The tortures of Rome slid through her mind like an oozy picture and she shuddered. Perhaps if she were fortunate, they would just resell her.

She spun about abruptly and slammed her fist into the garden wall, feeling the plaster crumble beneath her knuckles. Sticky blood seeped from her cracked skin. She swore, softly at first, then louder and louder, until she was screaming. Worthless! This life was worthless. How long would it go on like this, another scheme to devise, another plot to fail? She had been given everything into her grasp and she had destroyed it in one heedless moment. Would she never defeat herself?