This link will take you to a post including a list of this week’s participants.
These are the first ten lines from my upcoming short story, From This Day Forward. The blurb is at the bottom of the post. This is told from Henry’s 1st-person POV:
Christine Granger answered the door, exclaimed, “Henry!” and enveloped me in a huge mama-bear hug. Then she burst into tears. I patted her back, and as much as I appreciated the sentiment, I hoped the whole afternoon wouldn’t be a chain reaction of this behavior. But considering Christine was the wife of my old department chairman, and I’d seen her only a handful of times each year, that was probably an optimistic expectation.
Sam held Buddy—or I should say Aiden. The almost-six-year-old had decided he wanted to use his “real” name after all. Although his upbringing thus far had been decidedly primitive, he was intelligent and quickly picked up on what would be considered typical behavior back here in civilized society. Apparently, he wanted to assimilate.
With their blond heads side by side, I could almost image Sam to be Aiden’s biological father, but of course, neither of us was. I looked nothing like either of them, sporting dark brown hair and brown eyes.
This story will release on August 6, 2016, and is available for pre-order in ebook formats now at: JMS Books, LLC.
It’s also available now as a bonus story at the end of the trade paperback format of the novel, ’Til Death Do Us Part.
Note: From This Day Forward is a direct sequel to my novel, ’Til Death Do Us Part, but will also stand alone as an individual story.
Blurb
Revisiting the characters from ’Til Death Do Us Part, Henry and Sam Miller-Greene are enjoying life in the summer after Henry’s rescue from a small South Pacific island, where Henry and three others were marooned.
Henry and Sam thought adopting Aiden—a child with whom Henry’d been stranded—would be smooth sailing. Matters are complicated by the public nature of their rescue that has turned the survivors into overnight celebrities. Anti-gay fueled animus rears its ugly head in the blogosphere, causing concerns over the the impact libelous rumors might have on Aiden.
Their nightmare separation behind them, Henry and Sam are anxious to renew both the intensity of their former intimacies—now hampered by having a curious and still apprehensive child sharing their home—and their commitment to one another.
Excellent excerpt!
Thanks!
I love that “chain reaction” thought on Henry’s part. I’m sure he is being very optimistic. I want to read this story, but want to read the novel first!
Thank you! Hope you enjoy them. 🙂
Sweet scene. I really love these characters.
Thank you! 🙂
Ooh, sounds like there’s a lot of complicated stuff going on here. Intriguing.
There is…thanks! 🙂
Very timely and sounds so real and poignant. Great snippet.
Thank you 🙂
Kids are so resilient. A lot of plot twists in this book, it sounds like. Good snippet!
They are indeed. There are a couple…this leading bit is to introduce some background info to readers of this short story who haven’t first read the novel it’s following. 🙂
Interesting snippet …. a few lines with lots of information, well done.
Thanks! Introducing readers to a sequel’s necessary background info without turning it into a blah info-drop is always a fun challenge. 🙂
Sweet and emotional scene. I like how so many different thoughts run through his head, especially the chain reaction one.
Thank you! 🙂
Great opening lines. They do exactly what first lines should!
Whew! Well that’s the goal. Thanks! 🙂
Such a sweet scene.
Thanks! 🙂
Kids are always so good at adapting when adults struggle. So good!
They are. Both physically and emotionally better at bouncing back/adjusting. Thanks! 🙂