Soooo at the beginning of the year, I decided I had to get that done! If I am going to do something, it needs to be done right! I spent part of January and half of February reediting The Key to Her Heart. It really was in pretty good form. There were only a few things needing some fixing. During that time, I spoke to some small publishers and tried to decide how I wanted to go with republishing and talked with several people on how to go about marketing. I also redid my website and began using Instagram, and reading books from some of my favorite experts and over all redid my presentation of me. It was kind of tedious and kind of fun. Had new photos taken. I didn't think that would be fun, but it really was. As I got all the pieces of my platform in place, and The Key ready, it was time to republish...
I worked on formatting to be sure it was right. The next three weeks I worked on uploading it to CreateSpace. Every problem you could imagine came up! I even had to change what I was using for word processing! But finally... Just yesterday morning... got everything in and I ordered my proof copies! I am over the moon!
Also I need to give a huge shout out for Self Pub Book Covers for the front cover, and most recently the spine and back cover. Just wait until I post the pictures! They did such a magnificent job on the cover! It is beyond my wildest dreams! So I can't wait to show you the results and see what you think. I will be going to my first vendor fair on March 18th here in the Quad Cities.
Now for news on Patrick's Rose... My new word processing program should actually make editing a little more seamless, and as I get closer to publication maybe there won't be the problems that I had with republishing The Key to Her Heart. Planning on releasing Patrick's Rose in August. I've been working on formatting and editing almost as tirelessly as I worked on republishing and my writing platform. Below I am going to add a sneak peek to whet your appetite, but first I should tell you a little about Patrick's Rose...
Anna is expecting. Even though things are not always perfect she and Patrick have each other and hope for a much better tomorrow. After beginning a new life in Santa Barbara, Anna finds a ministry that pricks her heart and causes her to pour out love for a group of women on a road not so different than her own. She realizes she can help them more than anyone would ask or expect... That help comes at a price. As the impossible truly becomes possible, and both Anna and Patrick look to a brighter future there is darkness lurking; watching for a time to pounce. All is not as beautiful as it would seem... Only Sherry Hansen realizes how much danger Anna still is in. Her premonitions and visions shake her soul as her worries cause her to kneel in prayer, hoping the darkening horizon she sees can be overcome. But as the future becomes reality is there anything she can do to help her pseudo daughter?
The scene I am going to share is set on Catalina Island; a small island right off the California coast. By ferry boat it is about an hour to an hour and half away from Newport Beach or Long Island. It is a little further from San Diego. It is a very Caribbeanish place with little shops, tours and a very festive feel to it. When I was a kid my mom and family would go kid free to spend the day on Catalina. I didn't get to go there until I graduated from high school then I spent the weekend on the island and explored to my heart content. As I was rewriting Patrick's Rose, I thought there couldn't be any place cooler for a photo shoot than Catalina Island. It sets up a really neat scene. Below is the sneak peek. Read it to see what you think. This is from chapter 12 after Anna has taken over World Stage Clothing. (The pictures I added to show some of the scenery I was writing, but they won't be in the book.)
Five
different photographers captured second long scenes of women sporting the
summer clothing line on a Caribbean looking destination. Azure skies framed the day as balmy breezes
tantalized the island palms. The sun
overhead would have anyone believing it was a late, May, day in the
Tropics. Oh, but it was a beautiful
December afternoon on a small island off the Southern California coast.
The
little shops were open as shopkeepers enjoyed the crowd the models and crew
from World Stage had become. Anna clapped her hands together seeing her vision
coming together in front of her. The day
was vibrant. She strolled through the
streets toward the dock. Excitement
filled her. Stylish models, cameras
snapping, smiling faces; it was exactly what she had been going for when she
talked Wendy into this photo shoot. This
would be their best season yet! Wow! Just wait until Cheryl saw the proofs! Today she was able to release the fear and
worry that had been plaguing her and just enjoy this moment when all she had in
her heart for the summer line came to reality.
A
chuckle bubbled from her lips as her soul leaped. The boat she had chartered to take her back
to the mainland pulled up as she arrived at the water's edge. Claudia stepped onto the dock from the boat,
waiting for her. She and Wendy would
finish up and fly back with the rest of the crew, but Anna wanted to enjoy the
ocean air.
“Has it gone
well?”
“Yup!” She answered with an optimistic indigence.
“Laura Aragon is
on the boat.” Claudia warned.
“She is asking a
lot of questions.”
“Even Laura
can't ruin this day.” The words joyfully
bubbled out of her.
“Everything has
gone as close to perfect as it gets!”
One of the
photographers slipped in an eight track into the portable player. The tropical rhythm, gentle, fragrant
breezes, and gaiety of their group mixed together in a moment that Anna knew
would forever live on as her definition of what life should be like. She grabbed Claudia's hand and twirled both
of them around as she gasped in laughter.
Cameras snapped and Anna stepped onto her ride back to the
mainland.
As
the boat pulled out of the harbor, Anna slipped on her sweater. The ocean
breeze rippled through her wavy cinnamon tresses. Breathing deeply, she closed her eyes,
soaking in the peace she had been blessed with.
“A good day I
take it?” Detective Aragon perched next
to her. Anna nodded.
“And you're not
spoiling it for me either.” A smile
curled her lips as she sighed slightly.
Now she was on her way home. She
had no more commitments. The next five
days belonged to her church and her husband.
She crinkled up her nose with the thought. Even the detective could not make this day
sour.
“It's been an
exceptional day.” Anna wistfully
answered still leaning against the rail basking in the peace.
“You know this
is a dangerous game you are playing.”
Anna gave a
brief glance to the frowning woman.
“I wasn't aware
I was playing any game.”
“You damn well
know you are and gambling at that!”
Surveying her, Anna would have laughed, but with the detective's mood,
it probably wouldn't have gone well.
Laura could get over herself. She
let the smile on her lips reign. It was
rare that she got to enjoy a full day without worry.
“The only game I
am playing is the game of life today. I
got to enjoy a hard-born idea come to fruition.”
“Is that what it
was?” The answer seemed to frustrate the
other woman even more.
“I earned
today. In a little less than three
months I've turned World Stage around, changing people's opinions of us for the
better, reclaiming sales, and creating styles and choices that are changing the
market and world at large. Do you have a
problem with that, Ms. Aragon?” Anna
turned her full attention on the detective, her blue eyes bright and
unconquerable.
“Not at
all. It must feel good.” The detective faced Anna eye to eye.
“The question
is, what are you willing to expose yourself to?” Each word fell at Anna's feet, darkening all
the good she felt this day.
“And how long do
you think you can keep it up?” Raising
her chin up slightly, Anna didn't dare show the bitter pill the woman caused
her to swallow. Days like this left her
with a little melancholy if she thought about it too much. The detective didn't have to remind her
things could slide into a mire at any moment, but times of good gave her hope
and strength to fight for a better life.
“After all what
are you-- four, five months along?” As
Laura spoke those words, everything stopped.
What did she just say? She sat
down quickly, and barely held onto the beauty she found today.
“Four, five
months along with what?” Playing dense
was the best alternative she had right that moment.
“Please, Miss
Paige, do you think I cannot see? And if
I can see it, so can others. So again, I
ask you-- What kind of game are you playing?”
Anna stood up, walked back to the railing taking a moment before hitting
the detective head on.
“You know,
Detective Aragon, there are other reasons for weight gain in women beside pregnancy.
It is not a safe bet to assume...”
Usually verbal sparring was invigorating. This was not.
The thought of escaping inside crossed her mind, but that would be a
sign of weakness that she could not afford.
Pulling the sweater closer, she stood at the railing even though she
felt chilled by the breeze. The woman's
question came back to slap her in the face as it echoed in her head.
She wasn't sure
how long it took before the detective came to stand beside her. Anna ignored her, thinking over her
options. She could shoot straight with
her. That probably wasn't the safest
choice. Lying was a possibility. Deception went against who she was though.
“For the record,
we are on the same team, fighting the same enemy.” The detective whispered finally. It was meant as a reprieve she was sure, but
it was no better than the jousting a moment earlier.
“Just because we
are fighting the same enemy doesn't mean we are on the same team.” Anna spoke as she stared blindly out at the
Pacific waters, but no longer seeing the beauty she found in this day.
“My agenda is
quite different than yours. I wish I had
never walked into your office...” She
spat the words at her letting her anger be felt.
“Unfortunately
for both of us, you are in the middle of everything I have been assigned, but I
realize you do not know who I am or what I am doing.” Frustration laced the detective’s words
together. Anna slowly turned and faced
the woman deciding how to handle this conflict.
“I don't want to
know.” Honesty and bluntness was always
her best policy. She would stick with
what she knew.
“You haven't
done anything to help me or Cheryl and her brother. So, I am done. I want nothing more to do with you. If you are going to pursue whatever it is
you're after, then count me out. If you
ever get Wolffe and are stuck in court, then give me a jingle. I'll testify against him. Baring that... Stay out of my life.” The detective stood there rigid as if a rod
had been shoved up her spine. Anna
didn't care. She had had enough. No more.
Jesse had done more to protect her than this woman and she was done.
“I will stay out
of your view Miss Paige, but I have a job to do.” The detective turned to leave the bow. There
was one more thing...
“For the record,
I'm six months pregnant and I've kept the public and in particular Wolffe from
finding that out for this long...” The
detective was like a statue for a second.
Anna smiled slightly, feeling the triumph of at least winning one
battle.
“You don't know
who I am either. Don't assume you do.”
Laura Aragon's
orifice stood slightly open for a second then she snapped it shut before she
would say something she would regret.
Perhaps it was better this way.
She could stay out of her sight.
It would be better protection anyway.
Now she had even more reason to make sure Anna Paige was protected. She shook her head slightly as she walked
away.
Damn! She was a fire breed! The thought made her smile. Anna didn't realize she knew a hell of a lot
more about her now than she had six weeks ago.
Now though she also knew what she had been hiding then. The past crossed her mind. She remembered her life not so long ago. There were choices she made and secrets she
hid. It was amazing how much could
change in sixteen years.
This is the update... Hope I whet your appetite a little, but more than anything, hope this gave you the info on what I am doing.
Also visit my website: https://writingcattales.com/
There are still some kinks I am working out, but pretty proud that I built it myself... Anyway, this is Cat out. Have an awesome day!
This is the update... Hope I whet your appetite a little, but more than anything, hope this gave you the info on what I am doing.
Also visit my website: https://writingcattales.com/
There are still some kinks I am working out, but pretty proud that I built it myself... Anyway, this is Cat out. Have an awesome day!
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