WeWriWa: Proud to be a Grrrrl!

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Sunday, July 09, 2017

WeWriWa: Proud to be a Grrrrl!


I spent the long holiday weekend enjoying two highly entertaining and vastly different movies with the same message: It ain’t easy being a girl so you might as well come out swinging. On the surface, Wonder Woman and Hidden Figures don’t seem to have much in common, a comic book Amazon and a trio of real life women in the ‘60s, but both celebrate strength when faced with overwhelming odds – a strength of body, of mind, of will and character (and bladder!) that had audiences cheering “You go, girl!”


It’s no secret that I love a strong heroine in my books. At first glance, Amber James, single mom, working as a bartender for shapeshifters (there’s that grrrrrr factor!) to make ends meet seems quietly determined to stay under the radar and simply survive. But when her greatest fear rears up from the past to threaten daughter and her love, she shows that superhero moxie in today's excerpt.


Rico was . . . gone, most likely dead if they could be believed, and no one else would notice her absence, not in time to save them. Amber forced down the flood of anxious, weepy emotions, refusing to let them weaken her, just as she’d defied her fear of Brady in his office, by focusing on Evie. 

They were safe for the moment, a moment she hoped would be long enough to provide a way out, because Brady, like her father, would be looking for an opportunity to crush her, his placating lies buying him time to formulate a suitable and probably long dreamed of revenge for emasculating him all those years ago. A man didn’t get over that kind of personal insult, his hatred of her equal or greater than her terror at being helpless within his grip again, but she still held the upper hand, if she could hang onto her nerve long enough to play it. 

She didn’t have to wait long. 

The door burst open, startling her into a defense pose as an enraged Brady shoved his man aside to close himself in the room with her, a room suddenly a hundred times smaller and less cozy. Though fright leapt in her chest, Amber forced her posture to relax as she regarded him coolly, smile remote and taunting. 

“You think this is a game,” he raged, holding himself in place with difficulty, big, brutal hands working at his sides as if eager to feel her neck between them, "that you can trick me with information that's coded.” 

“And without that code, useless to you. You’ll get the code when my family is out of your reach.”


I'm finishing the last few scenes of PRINCE OF FOOLS, (had that finale epiphany while doing my eye makeup on Friday morning before work and wished I had a super power to stop time so I could get it all written down right then!) and once they're done, it's editing time. I'm so looking forward to this first page to last read through. Glad I offered to only work two half days this week while my attorneys are out of the office. My super power is creating time when there is none. Shazzam! Now, to use it wisely . . .

And if you haven't, see those movies!!


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36 comments

  1. Good for her! I hope she continues to have the upper hand. :)

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  2. She's got some character and that's awesome.

    I haven't seen Wonder Woman, but I adore the movie - Hidden Figures. Those were some strong and brilliant women.

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    1. One of those eat chips and blubber all the way through it movies. Loved every minute!

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  3. Smart but risky. I hope she can get them to safety.

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    1. With a little help from her soon to be friends . . .

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  4. I wouldn't be toying with him like that. I hope she knows what she's doing. And Wonder Woman was AWESOME.

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  5. Well spoken! I haven't seen Hidden Figures but LOVED Wonder Woman. So much badassery! And if your snippet is anything to go by, she won't give him what he wants without a fight! :D

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    1. Thanks, Amy. Hidden figures is an AWESOME movie. A must see.

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  6. I admire her self control and I do believe that's true - that a mother like her will do anything to protect her family. Great snippet!

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    1. Thanks, Jean!! Yes, she is a tiger (or wolf) mama!

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  7. Powerful snippet. Despite her fear she find that inner strength to force him to reveal her family. Great job. Loved Hidden Figures! Strong women!

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    1. Your blog about the movie encouraged me to see it!

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  8. I love that she has the self-control and the presence of mind to taunt him with a smile. I think he's bitten off more than he can chew.

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  9. Amazing self-control in her. But she knows the stakes and that weepy/emotion isn't going to cut it with this guy. I just hope her strategy works. Great snippet!

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  10. Great job of showing her wrestle her weakness to the ground. She's one tough cookie. Hope you finish this book soon so we can read it!

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  11. She's super impressive, fighting through that fear and acting calm and in control. That takes true courage. I sure hope it works, that guy doesn't seem in control of his anger.

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  12. What a tense situation, she has some nerve, I hope she gets the better of him!

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  13. Always appear cool in the face of adversity. Good excerpt! (How about sharing your time-finding superpower? I could use it:) )

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  14. Have seen both movies and loved both. And I love your books. Go Grrrrrrrrl!

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  15. What an outstanding character! She is fierce. I like that you allowed us (readers) to know she was scared, but stood up to him. Yay, Amber!

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  16. Hidden figures moved me on many levels. It made me also want to work harder at my job.

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  17. Oh, I loved the tension. Reminded me of the movie Jennifer Lopez starred in called 'Enough'. Great snippet. And, BTW, I lurved Wonder Woman. I hope they make a bunch of movies starring her. She was 'wonder'ful.

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  18. Nice movies. i loved to watch wonder women. and i have watched this 3 times

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  19. Wonderful post . I have seen this post carefully and admired it .

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  20. I really enjoyed your blog Thanks for sharing such an informative post.

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