After reading Elaine Jeremiah’s recent post and her participation in K.L Schwengel’s WIPpet Wednesday, I couldn’t resist the urge to take part.
I needed the diversion, the thought of writing something that doesn’t make me want to bang my head against the wall (figuratively speaking). The final edit of Worlds Apart is not going well. My readers are waiting to get their hands on it, but I’m hesitant about sending it their way. I have a really strong picture of the main character in my head, but the world I placed her in doesn’t seem to fit. It’s a fun world, or I should say worlds, since the novel deals with alternate realities. But, as with all my characters, she responds to the environment I put her in and I can’t find a balance between her strength of will and the completely alien concept of interdimensional travel (her ability came as a surprise to her!).
So I’m putting it aside for a while, despite the fact I’ve given myself a deadline of November to get it published.
I’m also taking part in an anthology, a collection of Fantasy Romance stories. The excitement of writing something new adds weight to my decision to hold off on Worlds Apart! Perhaps if I write the first draft of the novella my mind will be completely clear and I can go back to it with a fresh pair of eyes. And I’m probably fooling myself. A huge part of me wants to run away from the characters in my head, even though I get so much pleasure out of them. I have an outline for the next Morgan and Fairchild series and book three of the Gifted is also vying for attention. I need a plan of action, and I definitely need to get inside Mishka Jenkins’ head because she would have a system I can use to help me focus. Since ‘borrowing’ someone’s consciousness is only available to me in Worlds Apart I’ll just have to ‘suck it up’ as my brother would say.
As I decided to take part in WIPpet Wednesday, here is an excerpt from the novella I’m writing for the anthology – as yet there is no title!
Tobias stood at the edge of the clearing and watched his partner work off the excess energy. A battle was coming, he could feel it in the air, in every fibre of his being, and he was ready for it.
“When you’re through with the peep show, how about you come spar with me for a while?” Monica said without turning.
The witch had eyes in the back of her head, he thought bitterly. She anticipated his every move. They either worked together too often, or he was getting old. Either way it made for an interesting practice session.
He watched her as he crossed the field, appreciating the fact she came prepared. Her uniform was custom made and, modified with a touch of magic, it clung to her curves. She was tall and lithe and exuded danger like a carefully applied camouflage.
Her dark, midnight blue hair was pulled back in a long plait that hung down her back. It was adorned with harmless looking jewellery, but Tobias knew it was an illusion. The hair was just another weapon. When she shot power into it, it would snap out like a snake, wrapping itself around her victim to cut off their circulation.
I hope you enjoyed the little snippet. Thanks to K. L. Schwengel for the opportunity and Elaine for passing the ball.
Thanks for reading.
Mel
Melissa Barker-Simpson 
I’d love to hear from you.