Snippet Sunday: Maternal Advice

We have another early passage from our manuscript today, a flashback conversation between Chloe and her mother Linda from the past.

"Don't judge all men by your father, Chloe," her mother told her. "There are good men out there."

"Why did you never remarry, Mom?" Chloe asked.

"It's not easy for a woman with a child," Linda answered honestly. "The man who marries a single mother is getting a package deal. If it's going to work, he has to love the entire package."

"So you never remarried because of me?"

"I never met the right man," Linda said. "Having you made me more careful than I was when I married your father."

"I'm never getting married," Chloe said.

Snippet Sunday: Is Chivalry Really Dead?

Something else today from early on in our text, with Chloe in a rather cynical state of mind...

            In her mind, she could hear her mother’s voice: “It’s bad luck to open an umbrella indoors, honey.”

I’m not tempting fate, Mom. The bad luck’s already arrived.

She hadn’t had time for breakfast, and now her stomach was reminding her it needed nourishment. She took a large chocolate bar from the top drawer of her desk, unwrapped it and took a big bite. She went to the window. The rain was showing no signs of letting up. She thought of that pig who’d taken her cab. Chivalry’s not only dead, it’s entombed in the bowels of the earth, she thought. Even after ten years of life in the so-called concrete jungle, there was a part of her that longed to be the princess, rescued by the gallant prince and carried off to a beautiful, far away kingdom. Not in the cards, Chloe thought, taking another bite.

Snippet Sunday: A Pennsylvania Homecoming

Something from early on in our manuscript. This passage features Gabriel returning home after his photo trip to Europe.

Gabriel drove down the country road north of Philadelphia, farm country around him, low hills and woods breaking up the pattern of fields. I could drive this road blindfolded, he thought with a smile. His home was up ahead, and after three weeks away, he was looking forward to some rest. Coming to his driveway, he pulled the Jeep in, starting down the gravel path. He had a farm, most of the arable land rented out to a neighbour who farmed the hay on the fields to supplement his own supply for his herd. The bulk of the rest of the land was forest and meadow, a sprawling property that gave Gabriel at least a sense of peace. Even if my house doesn’t feel like a home, he reminded himself ruefully. He passed by the fields, just recovering from the winter, yet to be seriously planted, and saw the buildings up ahead.