Showing posts with label linkups. Show all posts
Showing posts with label linkups. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Once Upon a Time linkup: Disaster



Well, it has been a good long while since I did the linkup and I thought to myself, I had better get back on board.

This prompt, disaster, came to me because it fits very well with the ending of my first novel.

So, this extract comes from In the Shadow, #1 of the Endless Fire Trilogy.


save me...

 

© Pure Grace
Word Count: 413

 

For a moment the room was still.
Merrie felt the panic rise in her as it drew on. All she could think was, Oh, God, I am caught. I can’t deny this one. There’s no way out…no way out… Julia has won. Merrie’s mouth wouldn’t work. She parted numb lips, her mouth as dry as a bad fig, and tried to run her thick tongue over stiffened lips.
“Tell me that is not what I think it is…” Claudia breathed.
Merrie swallowed and turned to her, ready to explain. The look on Claudia’s face stopped her.
“Tertia, you don’t know how this got here, do you?” Claudia turned to the girl on the couch.
Tertia looked from Claudia to Merrie, face stricken, scared to death.
“No!” she squeaked. “No! I have no idea.”
“Merrie?” Claudia turned to her. “What is this?”
Merrie tried to breathe. Every breath seemed constricted, like a huge stone crushed her chest. “I…I don’t know why it…where it…” she stopped, voice breaking off with a crack.
“Tertia, out.”
The girl rose and fled the room. Merrie stared at the curtains swinging into place behind her, breath hot and heavy in her lungs.
Disappointment flooded Claudia’s face. “I cannot believe it.”
Merrie stood sick, dry mouthed and burning all over. She could see everything falling away from her at once. Her home, her peace, her security…
“Nay,” she whispered, trembling. She caught her breath, paralyzed with dread, and watched Claudia’s eyes turn icy. Sweat broke out on her upper lip and she tasted salt on her tongue. “It was…not me!” She choked on the words. How could she possibly make Claudia understand? Her lips parted, desperate for the right words. There had to be away. Tears were stinging her eyes and she turned them up to Claudia, running her tongue along her lips. But the depth was gone from Claudia’s eyes. Nothing remained on her face but disconnected misery. All at once, Merrie felt the hope drain from her. I am lost. There is no way to right this now. What can mere words say against such proof as this?
She closed her eyes. It was over. She could feel it, deep down in her belly, as though something had been ripped out of her. There was no escape from this one. Julia had triumphed in her final maneuver. Merrie had been flirting with Julia’s treachery for too long and she was caught.
So be it.
 

 
Join the Once Upon a Time... linkup:Post a selection from your current WIP no larger than 500 words to your blog.
If there is a prompt, make sure your section fits the requirements.
Add the Once Upon a Time... linkup button: 


 





Connect your link using the linkup button on Wednesday or Thursday!
And voila, you are done! Don't forget to visit the other blogs and drop a line.




Also, Katie over at Whispering of Pens is hosting a Writing Contest. You can find it here: http://katie-writingblog.blogspot.com/2013/03/writing-contest.html She is offering some fun prizes and I think it will be neat to see all the winning entries!! Go check it out!!!



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Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Double Secrets



Shhhhh.... You can't tell.

It's a secret.

*in very soft whisper*

I am linking up with Write on Edge this week instead of doing my Once Upon a Time... linkup. But you can't say anything. The blog might get offended if it actually thought too hard about the meaning of my betrayal. ;)

The prompt for Write at the Merge {their linkup} this week is: a secret.

My selection is coming from In the Shadow.



Pinned Image

 
The setting:
the morning
two slaves and a master
burning hatred
double secrets

Word count: 163
Ó Pure Grace


“You have learned our language?” he asked in Latin.
“I did.”
Marcellus nearly smiled at the rage housed in her voice.
Cleopas spoke, giving a low laugh. “You would not believe it, master! Brixia found that Ionez already knew how to speak most of your tongue! She has had to instruct her but little.”
Surprise blossomed inside him. So she had known Latin all along! “Why did you not say before that you knew Latin?”
“Why should I?” she snarled. “You did not tell me your father was Consul of Britannica!”
Marcellus was silent a moment. She did not move. “Very well,” he shrugged, “it is the past now. But it would have made our conversation easier.”
“For you,” Ionez spoke pointedly, her voice low.
“My sister has always longed for a fair slave from the legendary land of Britannica. Don’t disappoint her.”
“How could I?” Ionez asked sweetly.
Marcellus’s eyes went hard. “Tomorrow I introduce you to your mistress. Now be gone.”


writing prompt
 
 
 



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Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Once Upon a Time... linkup: Threats


It is that time of week. Time for the linkup!

I've been having troubles with my internet and getting time to post... Hopefully soon things will slow down and the internet will speed up. ;)

This week the prompt is: threats.

This snippet is from Night Will Fall, #2 in The Endless Fire Trilogy.


The setting:
a dark room
best friends spit
conspiracy



Word count: 157
Ó Pure Grace

Nestor let out a small sigh. “Then there is nothing more I can say to you Marcellus. You have had my answer.”
Marcellus clenched his fists. “And I do not need you. I was mistaken about your worth. I will find another, more suitable to my task, one who will carry out my goals. And you had better be careful about who you mention this to.”
“You would threaten me, Marcellus?”
“I would do worse if I thought you would dash my dreams.”
“I won’t.”
“You had better not. Farewell, then. I hope you do not regret your stubborn rejection to join me when I am in control of this Empire.”
“You will add me to your list of enemies?”
“Nay,” Marcellus barked shortly. “But you will not be my Seneca."
“I would not want to be. That is a precarious position."
“Goodbye, Nestor,” Marcellus snarled.
“Peace to you,” Nestor whispered as Marcellus stormed out the door.


Join the Once Upon a Time... linkup:

Post a selection from your current WIP no larger than 500 words to your blog.

If there is a prompt, make sure your section fits the requirements.

Add the Once Upon a Time... linkup button:

 

 




Connect your link using the linkup button on Wednesday or Thursday!

And voila, you are done! Don't forget to visit the other blogs and drop a line.





P.S. Cait and Mime are hosting a frabjous giveaway over at their blog, Notebook Sisters. Go check it out!!!
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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Once Upon a Time... linkup: A Faceoff


Today is my 12th linkup!!! It is kind of strange to think about! I'm glad I decided to start doing this though. It is so much fun.

I rather like this snippet. It comes from In the Shadow, during a very important scene.
 
The setting:
a disobeidient slave
mockery
fear and hatred
 
 
Pinned Image
 
 

Word count: 291
Ó Pure Grace


Her smile was brash as he stopped in front of her.
“Ionez,” he said. “What are you doing?”
Ionez grinned innocently. “I came to see if my beloved mistress would care to view the gift her brother bought her.” Since he had caught her, Ionez decided to get as much pleasure out of taunting him as she could.
“And what did she think?” Marcellus’s response caught her off-guard.
Her eyes swerved to the passage behind him. “She was speechless.”
“Good,” he smiled.
“Oh, it was not from pleasure,” Ionez snapped. “She was disgusted.”
“I’m sorry she did not appreciate your beauty. How can I compensate?”
Ionez sputtered with rage. Would things always go wrong with Marcellus? How did he manage to twist her words and make her feel ridiculous? She was supposed to be making him furious, for being there, for mocking him. Instead, he seemed to enjoy listening to her and goaded her on.
“There is no need. I told her exactly what I thought of her ugly face too.”
“I am sure you did,” Marcellus chuckled. “And now are you returning to Brixia?”
Ionez folded her arms. “Is that where you want me?”
“It is where you belong.”
“I belong in Britannica.”
“Nay, you used to belong in Britannica. Now you belong here, in my house.”
“I will never belong here.”
“Perhaps. For now, we would be obliged if you would at least pretend you did."
Ionez was taken aback. He freely admitted she was unhappy here? And he did nothing about it! Anger constricted her throat and she took a step toward him. “I would chop every finger and toe from your body before I would surrender to that!”
“Thank you. Maybe I can do you a favor sometime.”


Join the Once Upon a Time... linkup:

Post a selection from your current WIP no larger than 500 words to your blog.

If there is a prompt, make sure your section fits the requirements.

Add the Once Upon a Time... linkup button:



Connect your link using the linkup button on Wednesday or Thursday!

And voila, you are done! Don't forget to visit the other blogs and drop a line.
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Thursday, January 24, 2013

Once Upon a Time... linkup: An Interview


I am so excited!! For the first time, I had two linker's {I know we all know it is not a word, but we all use it so why don't we just add it to the dictionary already, eh?} last week!! And I owe you all an apology for getting this up so late this week... no excuse. I just couldn't get on. :P I guess it is a double good reason this is now open Thursdays too, eh?

This week I am pretty thrilled to be sharing a favorite part of the first book in my Trilogy. It is a scene between one of my two protagonist's and her literal owner. She is a slave. And she has an important message for him. You can see the results below and guess at what is to come... ;) This scene is actually in the works right now, so this is NOT how it will end up. But I'm going to share it like this anyhow, because it's still fun and shows a bit more of my story, an angle you have never seen before. I probably should create a better blurb for this Trilogy than what I have on the About My Novel's page, but I'm not sure how without giving away too much...

Well, anyway, I hope you all enjoy! Let me know what you think of the feeling and how you relate to Merrie.


Setting:
the tablinum {a Roman Senator's study}
the scent of scrolls and ink and sweat
fear
a message that must be delivered
 

Pinned Image
 
 
Word count: 579 {yes, I am breaking my own rule, because this section just had to go together...}
Ó Pure Grace
 
“He is dangerous today, Merrie,” Jarius shook his head.
“He is always dangerous,” she whispered.
“There is an oratory to be delivered to the Senate that is irking him. He’s shouted at three slaves this hour. I can’t let you in there. He’ll shred you.”
Merrie smiled. “It doesn’t matter, Jarius. Whether it is now or later, I must speak to him. I’d rather it be now.”
“Very well,” Jarius sighed. “You take your own risk.”
“Aye,” Merrie nodded, mixed elation and dread settling around her shoulders. “I usually do.”
Jarius cleared his throat and went to the door, Merrie stepping behind him. The heady smell of parchment, wine, and sweat filled the tablinum.
“The slave Merrie to see you, Excellence,” Jarius spoke into the chest filled room, and then stepped aside, leaving Merrie vulnerable and slight in the doorway.
Heartbeat thrashing, she took one step forward and chewed at her bottom lip, waiting what seemed a lifetime for Antistius to look up. His stern brow, bent over a length of parchment scrawled with little black words, worked fear into her like she had never known. For seven years, she had avoided this man. And now, of her own choice, here she stood before him. The frown etched deep in the creases of his face flickered up to her, washing her in disapproval, and he scratched at the parchment with his stylus.
“What is it,” he snapped.
Merrie cracked her lips open, dry-mouthed and petrified. It felt like she had swallowed her tongue. A lump the size of a goose’s egg throbbed in her throat, choking her. “My lord, I have–” Merrie sucked in her breath, trying to speak. Fear churned in her belly and the little courage she had mustered slipped between her fingers like water.
“Well,” the Senator’s face cringed with forbidding impatience and he turned back to his oratory.
“I have reason to believe Claudia is in danger, master,” Merrie blurted out, again hating her tactlessness. She had never been blessed with a way with words. She hadn’t needed one. She told the truth, spoke with love, and that was all that had mattered. Now she felt handicapped. It took more than the truth to get around Antistius, Julia, and Claudia.
“Oh, really?” Antistius frowned at his page, ink dripping from his stylus tip onto the table, unheeded. His scowl deepened and he shoved a foot into the floor, hard. Irritation flashed over him and smacked Merrie in the face. She rushed on.
“I–I accidentally overheard a conversation my lord Publius had in the garden with Gauis Baculaius. They are planning on kidnapping her five days from now and forcing her to wed Gauis!”
The Senator jerked a new parchment from a stack at the top of the table and slapped it on top of the last one. “What absurdity!”
“It is no tale, my lord! It is truth.”
Antistius’s last fading benevolence vanished. “This is an endless outrage! How do they expect me to craft such a speech?” He glanced up at Merrie, brows glowering. “Are you still here, girl!” he screamed. “What do you want?”
Merrie gasped, folding her hands in pleading. “Please, will you not help her?”
“I have enough to do without listening to you weep and simper.” Antistius stood up, abruptly. Merrie shrank back, dragging her eyes to the floor as his dark gaze traveled over her. “Get out. I will waste no more time on your petty grievances.”
 
 
Join the Once Upon a Time... linkup:

Post a selection from your current WIP no larger than 500 words to your blog.

If there is a prompt, make sure your section fits the requirements.

Add the Once Upon a Time... linkup button:






Connect your link using the linkup button on Wednesday or Thursday!



And voila, you are done! Don't forget to visit the other blogs and drop a line.
 

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Sunday, January 20, 2013

In which I....die of embrassment


So, um, yeah, please laugh. Because I can't believe I am doing this.

I found some random docs on my computer of schoolwork I did back in 2007, when I was in 9th grade. I was doing a program called the Omnibus for History and Writing. Which of course made it super fun....but let's not hold our breath over my 13-year-old writing, eh? Just for fun, I am posting up a story I wrote, unedited, raw, exactly the way it was on that doc when I pulled it up.

I'm pretty sure this assignment had a point to it, besides being set in William the Conquerer's Norman England {I'm related to him, by the way, directly through royalty, with proven docs. Just a random, cool sidenote there... :D}. Something about knowing what's really important or something like that. Else I can't justify that ending....

Anyway....laugh. Please.


Pinned Image


The Norman Way
By
 Pure Grace
 
Ó Pure Grace


The sun was shinning brightly over the glistening indigo sea. The sharp morning breeze carried the exultant call of birds, greeting each other anew for the day, along with the distinctly salty flavor of the ocean. From his high perch among the rocks, Edmund could clearly see the approaching vessels. This time, the fair Saxon knew, they were not coming to simply speak with King Harold. They were coming to conquer. Simply enough, the boy thought, they are coming to kill us–and our families!
He turned and briskly began to scramble down the cliff. Sprinting along the trail, Edmond felt a quaver of hatred, taken over by one of fear, not for himself, but for his sisters and mother. What right had those Normans to take England into their domain? In a moment the lad was joined by another.
“You saw them?” he panted, without slowing his pace.
“Aye,” the other responded. “We will tell the others.”
In a few minutes they reached a small camp. The man obviously in charge immediately called them to him. After reporting the boys helped clear the camp and begin to fall back. The main English army was ready when William the Conqueror disembarked. The invaders were to be repulsed to the last defense. Expectantly, Edmund stood by his father on the battle field with a heaving chest. If the Normans won, Saxon Britain was dead.
After much waiting the enemy troops appeared. The conflict that ensued became known as the Battle of Hastings. Edmund fought to defend his country, his people, his family valiantly, but still one by one the Saxons fell. At the close of the batter few men were alive. Edmund, captured, lay desperate with fear. The Normans had won! It was of little comfort when the noble lad was set free. Few would retain their position unless they conformed. That would be imposable for him. Yet one glance at the faces of his dear ones at home changed that opinion, and as others before him, he reluctantly reformed to the Norman way of life. A family was better than any tradition.



 
 
Don't forget about the giveaway found HERE for this item!!
 
 
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Also, this week's Once Upon a Time... linkup will be on: an interview.



 
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Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Once Upon a Time... linkup: What If?


It's that time a week again!!! This is the tenth week for the linkup! Woot!!!

I'd like to draw your attention to a new change, as well. From now on, the link is going to be open Wednesday's and Thursday's. Because people have joined the blog from all over the globe, it made it easier for everyone to be able to linkup, since times and dates are off for us all.

So, today's prompt is: what if?

This excerpt is from In the Shadow, book #1 in The Endless Fire Trilogy.

The setting:
the dark of night
internal struggle
a broken past



Pinned Image


Word count: 264
Ó Pure Grace

Merrie rolled over, sweat trickling down her back. Fear wormed its way into her belly. For the first time, Merrie wondered if she would ever gain back her trust. What did she really want anyway? To be free? Or to be loved? Did it matter anymore? What if it didn’t? She was afraid her life was undone. There would be no going back, just as there was no returning to Judea. But just what did that mean?
She wasn’t prepared to think about it.
The hours drew on. Merrie’s breathing was heavy and every muscle knotted. Her eyes felt heavy and a blanket descended upon her mind, foggy. Her head spun, circling over her thoughts like a hungry vulture. Tingling grew in her left arm and she realized it was falling asleep. She rolled over and flexed her hand to loosen the muscles. Eyes pried open, dry and thick, she stared at the dark door where Julia would come.
Merrie woke with a start, panting hard and sweat dripping off her face. Her dreams lingered in the air, dark and eerie. Her father had stood before her, his arms reaching out to her, his mouth open, as if he were trying to form words of comfort and hope, but he could not. Tears had run down his face, palms open to her, his face broken and shoulders weighed down. Because he could not save her. She lay still, choking back the tears that burned the in her throat, when she heard the noise. At once, every muscle in her body tensed. It was time.


Join the Once Upon a Time... linkup:

Post a selection from your current WIP no larger than 500 words to your blog.

If there is a prompt, make sure your section fits the requirements.

Add the Once Upon a Time... linkup button:




Connect your link using the linkup button on Wednesday or Thursday (they will always be held on Wednesday's and Thursdays)!

And voila, you are done! Don't forget to visit the other blogs and drop a line.
 
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Friday, November 16, 2012

The Tempest


 
Today is Write On Edge’s Friday linkup! Their prompt this week is: rain.
 
 
 
 
This selection comes from my historical fiction, Till Dawn Rises, the 3rd book in The Endless Fire Trilogy.
 
The setting:
A dark alleyway, deep in the heart of ancient Alexandria
Inside conspirators and an ambush
Pouring rain

 
Pinned Image

 
Word count: 392
Ó Pure Grace

 
 
Marcellus’s foot slipped with a splash into a puddle and awoke his mind to the street around him. The wind had picked up and his torch sputtered helplessly in his hand, winking the last of its strength away in a feeble attempt to outlive the whirling, devilish wind and rain. The frigid water soaked through the bottom of his sandal and jolted to the bones. Everything was wet, slick, grimy. Rivers of rain cascaded over him, running in jets down his arms and dripping from his hair. He glanced down, watching the water streaming through the street and plink upon the cobblestones as it poured from the sky.
A startled cry from Claudia beside him caused him to whirl. There, the first step had begun. Merci stood, wreathed in torchlight, at the end of the street, like a beckoning angel in the midst of the tempest.
Claudia broke away from his side, slipping in the rain, trying to run, her arms stretched toward Merci. He had to stop her. He couldn’t let this happen. The pieces were falling into place. But not for Gauis.
Aelia gripped his elbow and the electric touch of her cold hand stimulated his senses.
“Nay, Claudia, stop!” he shouted. The rebellious wind blew his words back into his mouth as it struck the rain into his eyes and nose. But it was time he made things right. Before he could think twice, he sprinted after her. There were many things he had done in his lifetime, and he was proud of none of them. They flashed across his mind, pictures, snippets of memory, things he would have liked to have forgotten, blood screaming on his hands. He had to fix it, once and for all.
Dropping the dead torch, he concentrated on the world before him. Claudia raced toward Merci, oblivious of the biting cold and fierce wind. The girl still stood calmly in the shielding alcove, her face emotionless, eyes as old and blank as the first moment he had seen her. Marcellus knew Aulus’s dagger pierced her back, a deadly reminder for her to stay still, to say nothing. And Gauis, the instigator, the monster, lurked in the shadows behind her, waiting to snatch Claudia the moment she reached her wayward Merci, to cart her away and finish her. And it was all his doing.
 
 
Pinned Image
 
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Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Once Upon a Time... linkup: Questions



It's time! For the weekly Once Upon a Time... linkup!

Before I say anything more, I want to thank Cait for fixing up my linkup button!! Now you all can get it to really work on your blogs! Hurrah! No more amateur fiddlings here!

So, this week's prompt is: questions.

This should be a fun one, because any number of situations can come from questions. Mix-ups, anger, confusion, explanations....

My excerpt comes from The Last Scribe again.

The setting:
The edge of the vast Woodland of Eradrea.
A knight, a girl, and Breem.
 
 
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Word count: 202
Ó Pure Grace


“Wait!”
Mikailah jerks back, her face blank with surprise. “Why? What is it?”
“We should travel only at night?” I swallow my air, trying to reason with my mind, make myself reasonable, speak what I am thinking.
“Why?” Kiar demands. “We are three nobody travelers. The warriors of Sargon concern themselves with rich.”
That isn’t true. That we are nobody’s. And he knows it. But it also isn’t true the Sargonian warriors only attack rich men. They kill anyone. Anyone. But I can’t tell them how I know. Not without answering a million questions, questions I don’t want them to ask, questions I don’t want to think about, things I don’t want to remember.
“Why Breem?”
I shrug. “It will be safer.”
“But it’s faster to travel in daylight.” Kiar is already stepping out onto the slope, Mikailah at his heels. “And the faster we get into Messeran, the faster we can get an escort to find Mytharal.”
I can’t stop them. I can’t leave them. I glance behind me, into the refuge of the Woodland, where TerRors and fire-breathing alligators make their home, and think of how safe it was. How easy it was to hide. To get away. I felt…protected.
 

Join the Once Upon a Time... linkup:

Post a selection from your current WIP no larger than 500 words to your blog.

If there is a prompt, make sure your section fits the requirements.

Add the Once Upon a Time... linkup button:




Connect your link using the linkup button on Wednesdays (they will always be held on Wednesdays)!

And voila, you are done! Don't forget to visit the other blogs and drop a line.
 
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