I’ve been spending the past week on vacation out West, enjoying the dry heat and sweltering combustion between an estranged man and wife . . . on my computer screen. While trying to decide what to work on next, I’d begun “thumbing” through old projects left dangling without a home and hit the jackpot—a solid gold modern Western sitting for far too long in a file instead of on my editor’s desk. Enjoy this scene from my romantic suspense, AN UNTARNISHED HERO.
He was a linear thinker, from here to there with none of the wasted stops in-between. He’d learned that growing up on the streets, living minute to minute, where quick reflexes were the only thing keeping him from a boot back into a crowded group home or before a judge in juvenile court. A survivor never had time to second guess because things were usually exactly as they appeared. On the job, they were black and white, shoot or be killed. He’d never dealt with shades of gray until . . . until he’d married Willamina Sayers.
She’d panicked him with all her subtleties. The lift of a brow, the calmly spoken, “It’s fine” or “It’s no trouble.” Searching for truths behind those mild replies purely terrified and exhausted him, so he’d taken every word at face value to back away from potentially explosive misunderstandings. A boat unrocked wouldn’t dump him in the drink especially since he didn’t know how to swim in waters social or otherwise.
( . . . and a bit more . . .)
But he wasn’t on the job now. It took driving away from her after the funeral to stab that home. He was here as her husband, looking for clues to their future, not as a lawman who didn’t have to answer to anyone but his oath of office.
He needed to answer to Willamina Redbone. And to do that, he needed to seal the wounds of her past as well as his.
It’s funny how harsh or over-enthusiastic critiques can sour enthusiasm for a project you love. I came across this one from two years ago, all finished with just a rewrite of the ending left to do . . . that was never done. I’d gotten all the way through a final edit to the last chapter when my excitement for the project crumbled. Because of page after relentless page of comments that hindered rather than helped, instead of returning to it, after what seemed like (but after feelings calmed by time and some distance, really wasn’t too bad) an overwhelming beat down, I went on to the next book in the series (now finished with just a final edit to do!). Just this week, while waiting for the next episode of my latest “must binge” series to release, I began paging through my files and came across this . . . really darn good book, just laying there in the file. Well, no more. It’s been dusted off, spruced up and with just the ending to revise, ready to go to an editor who is anxious to see it. Moral of story – don’t let hurt feelings get in the way of what you believe in. My hero could have benefited from that, too!
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I very much like the start of this story.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Iris!! Just what I needed to hear!
DeleteI think there is some wonderful character development here. I am tremendously sensitive to criticism. I almost pulled my story from a forthcoming anthology because they wanted some very heavy rewriting. I grudgingly admit that the rewrite made it a better story. (It isn't the story I shared for Weekend Writing Warriors today, BTW.)
ReplyDeleteSometimes . . . they're right. Distance does make it easier to be honest with yourself. A professional does what needs to be done for the good of the story. I've tossed out many a scene that I adored! Just save them for extra content!
DeleteIt's interesting that he was attracted to a woman who was so different from what he was comfortable with. Maybe he enjoyed the challenge of her until it got to be too much. I'm really glad you've revived this book--I feel your pain at a critique that bleeds all over the page and makes you second guess yourself. Been there too, my dear. And very glad this story is now going to press. Congrats! Tweeted.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jenna!! I like the opposites attract then find out they're not so different after all!
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