Victoria Bernadine

A Warm Welcome to Victoria
Victoria Bernadine (a pseudonym) is, as the saying goes, a “woman of a certain age”. After twenty-something years of writer’s block, she began writing again in 2008. She began with fanfiction about a (now-cancelled) TV show called Jericho and particularly about the characters of Heather Lisinski and Edward Beck. From there, she expanded into writing original fic and she hasn’t stopped since.

Victoria enjoys reading all genres and particularly loves writing romantic comedy and post-apocalyptic science fiction. What those two have in common is anybody’s guess.
She lives in Edmonton with her two cats (The Grunt and The Runt). A Life Less Ordinary is the first novel she felt was good enough to be released into the wild.

Here's the Blurb: A LIFE LESS ORDINARY By Victoria Bernadine

For the last fifteen years, Rose “Manny” Mankowski has been a very good girl.  Now, at the age of 45, she’s questioning her choices and feeling more and more disconnected from her own life.  When she’s passed over for promotion and her much younger new boss implies Manny’s life will never change, something snaps.  In the blink of an eye, she’s quit her job, sold her house, cashed in her pension, and she’s leaving town on a six month road trip.
After placing an ad for a travelling companion, she’s joined in her mid-life crisis by Zeke Powell, the cynical, satirical, most read – and most controversial – blogger for the e-zine, What Women Want.  Zeke’s true goal is to expose Manny’s journey as a pitiful and desperate attempt to reclaim her lost youth – and increase his readership at the same time.
Now, armed with a bagful of destinations, a fistful of maps, and an out-spoken imaginary friend named Harvey, Manny’s on a quest to rediscover herself – and taking Zeke along for the ride.

Before treating us to an excerpt, Victoria Reveals:

In a couple of sentences, describe the hero’s character.  What do you like best/least about him?    

He’s an arrogant jerk who has some real problems with getting close to people and/or admitting he’s wrong.  What I like best about him is the fact that he has reasons for why he’s the way he is, and I find him lovable even with (or because of) his arrogance.  What I like the least about him is his determination to hold on to his ideas until he’s forced to change them.  He has his reasons, but it’s still frustrating – LOL.

And the heroine? How do you relate to her?     I know what it’s like to look at yourself and wonder what happened to your life.  I also know what it’s like to want to throw everything up in the air and take your chances with where it lands.  I love her loyalty to her friends and family, and I like that she’s willing to take risks.  What I like the least about her is that she could be a little more spontaneous...

Who controls the story – you or your characters?     My characters.  Absolutely.  I spend half my time wondering what they’re going to do and what’s going to come out of their mouths next!

What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your books?     I hope they come away with the thought that they were entertained for a few hours.  I really hope they come away with the feeling that they’d spent those few hours with friends.

What do you most enjoy about writing romance/your genre?     I write in several different genres, but what I most enjoy about this particular one is the combination of humor and drama.

What do you like best and least about writing?     What I like best is how fun it feels when I’m creating something, even when it’s really, really bad – LOL.  The thing I like the least is editing, as in proofreading because it just takes for-ev-er and there’s always something that’s missed.

Do you have a writing routine?     I don’t have a specific writing routine, although I’m trying to change that.  I do try to write every day, and my general objective is to write at least 1000 words a day.  When I’m in the midst of Editing Hell, though, the word count goes out the window and I just try to work on the story every day until it’s done.

Anything special you require to keep the creative juices flowing?     Noise (music, TV, something that acts as white noise), and when I’m really stuck, I need pens and paper to get the juices flowing.

What can we look forward to from you in the near future?    I'm working on a sequel to A Life Less Ordinary, tentatively titled A Year in the Life. there are a couple of other works that I'm working on that may eventually be oublished... or not. If anyone is interested, both are currently available online. One's called Historian's Daughter, a post-apocalyptic dystopian sorta-romance short novel, beginning here   (http://historiandghtr.livejournal.com/429.html), and the other will be the novelization of a script I wrote for a science fiction movie, available here(http://archiveofourown.org/works/404077) in all its unformatted glory - LOL. whether those last two will ever be published is anybody's guess.

What would you most like to accomplish this year?     I would like to promote this book, finish the sequel and have it ready for publication before the end of the year.

What was your favourite book as a child/teen/adult? Are you currently reading anything?     My favourite fantasy series as a young teen was the Chronicles of Pyrdain by Lloyd Alexander.  I read it one summer (I was about 12 or so), and I bought one book in the series every time I got into town.  The last book...oh, man – I read that book in one sitting and about halfway through, something happened to the characters, and I began to cry – and I mean, body-wracking sobs.  I was still crying when I finished it at 2:00 a.m.  It was one of the most engrossing reading experiences of my life, and I adore that series to this day (although I admit:  I’ve never read it again).

What is your culinary speciality?        The phone book.  ;)

In a few words, how would you describe yourself? How do you think your husband/partner would describe you?     Perfect.  And since I don’t have a husband/partner, I don’t think that description will be debated!  LOL

BUY

Now A Taste of Victoria
“All I ever wanted was a life less ordinary.”
Manny lay flat on her back, eyes wide, staring at the ceiling while she waited for her clock to hit 6:00. Another day of work, she thought. Another day older and deeper in debt.

She had the alarm timed to the millisecond. The jarring noise had barely begun when she clicked it off. She sighed then threw back the covers and got out of bed.

She padded into the bathroom, glanced without interest in the full-length mirror that doubled as her shower doors and took her morning inventory.

Plain face? Check.

Looking tired? Check.

Thirty pounds overweight? Check.

Dark circles under deer-caught-in-headlights eyes? Check and check.

She shook her head at her limp, mousy hair and wondered when she’d gotten so old.

She sighed in resignation then conjured up her Perfect Fantasy Man–or Harvey, as she liked to call him–to give her a morning lift. She cocked her head to one side as she stared into the mirror and imagined him standing behind her. She smiled at the handsome man, and he smiled back, putting his hands on her shoulders. Everything about him was warm, in stark contrast to the cold shades of grey in which she lived her life. He had warm brown eyes, warm brown skin, and a warm smooth voice that always reminded her of golden honey. Today his hair was black with greying temples, and yes, even that seemed warm to her.

He was perfect, everything she considered ideal in a man–and extra-perfect, of course, because he was a fantasy. Just the thought of trying to establish a relationship with an actual man felt too much like work.

She sighed and Harvey disappeared.

“Instead I ended up in a rut–everything planned and executed to the minute.”

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Pleasure to meet you, Victoria!

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J.M.Kelly

A Warm Welcome to J.M.

Three years ago, native Pennsylvanian J.M. Kelley packed her bags and moved south. Now, the wannabe Carolina Girl can’t speak a single sentence without adding the word y’all at the end of it, and regards a blast of snow flurries as a doomsday-level event.  When the day job allows, and when she can pull herself away from George Takei’s Facebook fanpage, she likes to go on writing jaunts to her favorite lake, or a local coffee shop with delicious shakes and questionable Wi-Fi connections.

J.M. Kelley is a proud recipient of a Carrie McCray Memorial Literary award, and is a member of The South Carolina Writers Workshop and Romance Writers of America (PAN). Readers interested in more information may visit her website at www.jmkelleywrites.com.

Here's the Blurb for her latest release:

DADDY'S GIRL  By J.M. Kelley

Sometimes, returning home isn’t about confronting your past; it’s about discovering your future.

Janie McGee, the black sheep of her family, is free-spirited, uninhibited, and never one to stay in the same place for too long. When Janie learns her father, Joe, is gravely ill, she reluctantly returns home to rural Pennsylvania to care for him. Joe’s neighbor, David Harris, sports a pocket protector, collects coins, and is addicted to Antiques Roadshow. Everything about him rubs Janie the wrong way, from his nerdy wardrobe to his enviable friendship with Joe. And to make matters worse, her father thinks they’re perfect for each other, proof positive of how little Joe knows his own daughter…or so Janie thinks.

A shared devotion to the elder McGee begins to close the gulf between Janie and David, but a burgeoning romance opens the door to new problems and unexpected consequences neither could foresee. Joe, however, remains steadfast in his resolve to show Janie that Daddy knows what’s best for his little girl. Can Janie finally open her heart to David while watching the first man she ever truly loved fade away?

Before treating us to an excerpt, J.M. Reveals:

In a couple of sentences, describe the hero’s character.  What do you like best/least about him?

David Harris is a bit of a Boy Scout. He’s a noble guy who will drop his own groceries to help an elderly lady cross the street. He’s a little on the geeky side, and not the smoothest man in town. He loves Antiques Roadshow, and part of me suspects that he might actually know how to crochet. I honestly can’t think of anything significant I dislike about him, though for the sake of argument, I suppose you can say he can be a little exhausting for our heroine, Janie. As he grew as a character, I found myself falling in love with the man’s sense of loyalty and friendship. He has a pure heart, and will do just about anything for the people he holds dear.

And the heroine? How do you relate to her?

I certainly can relate to Janie. She’s been emotionally adrift, and has meandered through life, searching for something she can’t always define. Love, peace, fulfilment…I get that. I understand life in the emotional wilds. Even though Janie, like most of us, wants to love and be loved, she’s afraid of the need to open heart to someone else. She has her reasons for that, however, and I can sympathize with her hesitance.

Who controls the story – you or your characters?

There’s often a battle for control. Most of the time, I have a strong chokehold on the characters, but every once in a while they get a little antsy and start taking over. Unfortunately, I have to listen to them when that happens, because they usually want to go in a pretty awesome direction. I take back the reins as soon as possible, though.

What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your book?

I hope readers recognize the emotional connection I developed with Janie, David, Joe, and Colleen, and walk away feeling as though they visited family. That’s how I view these people, and I hope it translates.

What do you most enjoy about writing romance/your genre?

I enjoy focusing on the character and what’s going on in his or her head. I love to, as I write, delve into the motivation of the hero/heroine, and find out what truly drives them. When it comes to romance, I’ve always maintained that love is a chronically fascinating goal to write around. What will a person do for love? What will he forsake to win a woman’s heart? What will she sacrifice to be with him? What will they gain by coming together and getting their happily-ever-after? The possibilities are endless and exciting.

Anything special you require to keep the creative juices flowing?

Lulu. I require Lulu, my beta extraordinaire, to crack the whip or get the ideas flowing. See, I have the attention-span of a gnat, and without her, I’d be lost up in the Smoky Mountains, wandering through the forest, instead of focusing on my writing. I fear the day she realizes people probably get paid to do all she does for me.

What is the best writing advice you have ever received?

Stop stalling, stop complaining, stop getting distracted, and just write. I struggle with taking that advice, but it’s still the wisest course of action.

What can we look forward to from you in the near future?

This month, I will be releasing my first paranormal romance, Almost Magic. It was challenging and fun to construct a story that carries a light magical touch, and these might be some of my favourite characters to write to date. I will also be working on a contemporary romance entitled She Let Herself Go, which will be available in early 2014.

How do you like to spend your free time?

My favourite lazy-time activity is hanging out a nearby lake and relaxing for a couple hours. If I can’t do that, I will plug in my headphones and listen to some tunes, read, or watch an episode of Buffy. Not the most glamorous life, but it’ll do.

 What would you most like to accomplish this year?

Win the lottery? Quit the day-job and become a full-time author? Buy a beach house and live life in a hammock? A little wishful thinking never hurt anybody, I suppose. Realistically, I just want to keep on writing, pressing forward with my current projects, and being able to flesh out some fun ideas I’d like to work on next.

What is your culinary speciality?

Lasagna. I make pretty darn good lasagna, when I’m not dropping an entire pan of it on the kitchen floor. Yes, I have issues with balance.

Any exciting plans for the near future?

I am really looking forward to attending the RWA National Conference in Atlanta this summer. It’s my first time attending, I am a PAN member, and it’s near home, so I can drive down for the event. I can’t wait to make some new connections and see what’s happening in the industry.

And now A Taste of J.M.

BUY

The interloper entered the room. His eyes widened when he caught sight of Janie, and he raised his hands up in front of him.
“Don’t think I won’t hurt you!” Janie shrieked, holding her ground.

“Joe might need that the next time he buys a pair of shoes,” the man said. His eyebrows arched theatrically while he gave Janie an appraising once over. His eyes lingered on her chest, she noted, which bolstered her resolve to kill him if he made any sudden moves.

Great. Janie tightened her grip on the shoe stretcher. Pervert.

The man stayed where he was and plastered an expression on his face that Janie assumed conveyed harmlessness. “You shouldn’t bean me with that. I doubt they make those anymore. It would be a shame to break it.”

Janie held the stretcher up higher, wincing as it wobbled flaccidly over her head. “If you knew my father, you’d know he only buys shoes once a decade. Who are you, damn it?”

“David Harris.” He slowly lowered his hands and took a step back. “I live next door. For the record, your father bought a pair of shoes last month. Are you Janie?”

Janie narrowed her eyes. “You’re David.”

A bemused smile curved his lips. “Were you expecting someone else?”

Almost certain she wasn’t about to be attacked, Janie dropped the stretcher to the bed. “I figured you’d be an octogenarian like my dad.”

“Your father is in his seventies.”

“So?”

“That would make him a septuagenarian.”

Janie blinked. “Oh,” she said. “Well, I rounded up. Sue me. What are you, anyway, the vocabulary police?”

click here to follow the rest of J.M.'s tour

Many thanks for regaling us today, J.M. Pleasure to meet you!
J.M.'s LINKS:
Email: readers@jmkelleywrites.com
Website: http://www.jmkelleywrites.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/JM-Kelley/108021242585994
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorJMKelley
BUY Links: Turquoise MorningPress  Amazon Barnes & Noble Kobo Smashwords AllRomance Omnilit

Now leave a comment for the chance to win a gift basket of some of J.M.’s favourite things, including a $25 Amazon GC and a signed copy of the Foreign Affairs anthology from Turquoise Morning Press

A Shore of Secrets

by Megan Johns

I'm delighted to present my latest contemporary romance 'A Shore of Secrets' published by MuseItUp. LAUNCH SPECIAL OFFER BUY NOW AT 20% DISCOUNT

Here's the blurb:
‘Italia! Oh Italia! Thou who hast the fatal gift of beauty.’ Byron
And Venice is exquisite. Nor is the beauty confined to the place. Hotelier Giovanni Renaldi is tall, dark and devilishly handsome. Yet holiday representative Abi seems immune. Crossed in love, she is in no hurry to fall again. Plus his arrogance is so infuriating.
Surely the discomforting feelings he evokes can only be guilt at covering for his naive sister’s secret lover?
When passion finally wins through, the thrill of their lovemaking is soon wrecked. And Giovanni, proud and fierce defender of his family since inheriting the role of patriarch, is enraged to learn Abi has colluded with his sister.
But Abi quickly discovers her secrecy is nothing compared to Giovanni’s. As the family’s closely guarded secrets begin to unfold, she is sucked into their internal wrangling.
Is nothing what it seems in this clandestine community?
And can love triumph over the turmoil of scarred lives?

‘In all secrets there is a kind of guilt.’ Can Abi learn to trust, and Giovanni to forgive?

A Taste of Megan

The entrance to the Casa Mia was to the right of the piazza, now buzzing with early evening activity as people spilled out to join in with the pre-dinner passeggiata. A slow-moving river of holidaymakers glided along the pedestrian-only shopping street, reputed to be the longest in Europe. From time to time, a group would dip out of the main flow to browse around one of the endless shops that lined the route. Others scanned menus on display outside the equally proliferate
restaurants. Women in fine, tailored dresses and elegant gold jewellery promenaded arm-in-arm with designer-clad males. And then there was the younger set, exchanging playful banter, eager to show off their fashionable clothes. Families, too, strolled in convoy, at one in their low-key unfussy holiday attire. It was that type of resort. Nobody looked out of place.

  Abi paused to retrieve the note from her bag and scrutinised the writing to check she had not misread anything.

  “Hey, Abi!” A voice sounded from behind her.

  Turning, she acknowledged the client with a bright, “Hi. Everything okay?”

  “Great.” The woman’s low-cut dress revealed angry red strips across her breasts.

BUY

  She hunched a resigned shrug, accustomed by now to her clients’ ingrained disregard for the strength of the sun. Despite repeated warnings, it was an endemic madness for which the farmacia had an endless supply of high-strength creams. Thank goodness. The added complication of clients with severe burns would make her job intolerable. In the event, life was not so bad.

A trail of deep, pink bougainvillea escaped from the dense curtain of colourful bracts enshrouding the entrance to the Casa Mia. Stooping to push it back, she allowed a small smile to curve her lips.

  “Ciao.” A disembodied voice chimed the moment she stepped into the foyer.

  She turned to acknowledge Francesca beaming a broad smile from over in the dining room. The young girl’s perfect, naturally white teeth dazzled even from a distance.

  “Ciao,” Abi responded, her spirits lifted as ever. Francesca’s vitality bubbled over clear and bright, as refreshing as a mountain spring.

  “Come stai? Okay?” With careless abandon, the young girl threw down a handful of cutlery and proceeded to lay the table.

  "Così." Abi twitched a little shoulder shrug.

  Stopping her frenetic activity, the Italian girl fixed an earnest gaze on her. The brown eyes were anxious, almost child-like, as if a dimmer switch turned down the light in the youthful face. "Problema?"

  "I've come to meet Mr. Henderson." Abi swept the vicinity with vigilant eyes and then lobbed her a wink.

  A discordant clatter of cutlery resonated through the air. Francesca was by her side in no time. "He is no happy?"

  She grinned at the young girl, so fresh-faced and eager to please. Despite her best intentions, Francesca was like a butterfly—beautiful and graceful, always flitting here and there so you could never be certain what she was likely to do next.

  "Francesca!" Another disembodied voice echoed from the depths of the dining room, this one harsh and impatient. "Tavola!"

  "Un momento!" Rolling her eyes, Francesca blatantly disregarded the command.

  "It's okay. Mr. Henderson knows I'm meeting him here. You go back to the tables and I’ll wait." An oblique smile played at the corner of Abi’s mouth, reassuring the younger girl, and she pulled Rosa’s note from her bag, creased into neat folds, despite its dog-eared state.

  However, the voice was upon them before there was time to act. Giovanni's tall, dark form loomed out of the shadowy interior, the short sleeves of his crisp, white shirt a vivid contrast to his deep olive colouring.

  "Francesca!" A spark of temper lit his eyes to flaming gold and, with a commanding nod, he ushered his sister back to her abandoned duties.

  "Hallo." He turned to Abi, his annoyance curbed, and he adopted the cool, crisp, business-like manner that was his usual demeanour. "Can I help you?"

  His tone was mild, yet when she lifted her gaze she was hit by the piercing intensity of his stare. Her heart gave a little leap.

  "Thank you. I already have an appointment to meet Mr. Henderson here." Unsettled by the sensation of being scrutinised and assessed, she glanced aside. With a dry cough, she cleared her throat and endeavoured to regain the equilibrium he had destroyed. Her eyes shot back to him. “Actually, yes, you can help.  Maybe you could explain what happened last night? I need to complete a full and accurate report. There are a lot of unanswered questions at the moment.”

  He turned his watchful stare on her again. “It was nothing of any consequence. The fire alarm in the kitchen was triggered by some smoke from a pan.”

  “At one o’clock in the morning?”

  “Signor Donadini was making himself a snack. We hoteliers often have to eat at odd hours.” His manner remained bland, despite his obvious impatience.

  “And the ambulance?”

  “There was a minor mishap and the pan caught fire. Signor Donadini burnt his arm whilst putting it out and I insisted he should have the wound checked. There’s no need to make a drama of the situation.” Swiping the air with his hand as if to erase the words, he signalled the matter was closed. His body language defied her to question him further.

  A surge of anger threatened Abi’s equilibrium again. She, and not he, should be in the role of assessor. Yet Giovanni oozed authority from every pore. Not for the first time in his presence, she found herself struggling to maintain a professional standing.  She caught his ironic smile, as if he was enjoying her discomfort.

  “Is that all?”

  “Hmm...” Her tone was sceptical, conveying she was far from convinced, and her combative gaze clashed against his.

  For a fleeting second, his eyes seemed to spark. What the hell went on behind them she couldn’t begin to imagine. The moment passed. With one bat of his long lashes, he renewed his assault with a stare so icy it would have frozen a geyser.

BUY 'A Shore of Secrets' from MuseItUpPublishing 20% DISCOUNT click here Amazon Kindle U.S.  Amazon Kindle U.K.

Author LINKS: Megan’s Web Site   Megan’s Blog   Megan's Amazon Author Page  Megan on Facebook   Megan on Twitter  
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Angela Kay Austin

A Warm Welcome to Angela

Bestselling author Angela Kay Austin has expressed herself through words for as long as she can remember.  Poems became songs performed with her cousin at every family gathering.  But, eventually, short stories filled her favorite pink diary.  An infatuation with music and theater led to years playing various instruments and small extra roles in TV shows before giving way to a degree and career in radio and TV production.  After completing another degree in marketing, Angela found herself combining her love for all things creative and worked for many many years in promotions and advertising.  But once again, she found herself writing, which led to her first published work which stayed on her publisher’s bestseller list for ten weeks.  Her second release hit the bestseller list at All Romance eBooks. She’s spoken on author panels, and served on boards for various author groups.  When she’s not writing, you can find her reading her favorite authors, or researching her next story idea.  Angela shares her downtime with her mixed-bred rescue terrier—Midnight, in the beautiful southern state of Tennessee.

BUY click here

Here's the blurb for her latest release Derailed:

When you’re given away by the people who are supposed to love you forever, it makes it hard to believe love and family really exist.

JoAn Fentress thought the military would take care of her in the way her family never did, but that didn’t happen.  Homeless on the streets of Memphis, TN, she walked through the only open door she could find, and it changed her life.

Jeremy Hooks needed only to smile, and the world gave him whatever he asked of it.  Eventually, people stop partying, right…at least when they’re threatened.  He has one more chance to prove himself before he loses everything.

Before treating us to an excerpt, Angela Reveals:

From where do you get inspiration and what inspired you to write Derailed?

For me, inspiration comes from life: news, the local mall, church, wherever there is something happening.  All of it can give me the answer to the question—what if. 
Sweet Victory was birthed from my own life and today’s economy.  Everyone I know can tell me a story about someone they know who has lost their job in the past two years.  But, what happens next?  What if, they lost their job, and then had to return to their hometown?  What if there, they had an estranged grandfather and an ex-love?  What if there was a ton of history which they wanted to forget?  But, what if the only person or people willing to help were the people they’d hurt or who’d hurt them?
This basically becomes a story structure for me.

 How do you relate to the heroine?

I relate to Victoria James, my heroine in Sweet Victory because we both had to face what do we do after we lose everything?  When you have your life planned to go in one direction, and you hit a wall...what happens next?
I love that Victoria never gave up.  Even when she was scared, and had absolutely no clue about what to do next.

Who controls the story – you or your characters?

My characters.  I’ve tried to force story ideas.  Outlined everything.  Character descriptions.  But, the stories wouldn’t flow.  They would get stuck in the middle, but when I let go of what my ideas were, and let the characters tell me their stories, the ideas are much clearer and stronger.

 What do you enjoy about writing romance?

Contemporary Romance inspires me.  I don’t necessarily need fairy tales.  I need to know if I work hard, and don’t give up there is a reward.  That you gain ground, not lose it.  So often, fairy tales replace reality.  Or, worse yet, reality overtakes dreams.  There has to be a balance.  Why can’t life offer wonderful surprises or rewards for those who give it everything they’ve got: life, love, work, family, etc.

What do you like best and least about writing?

Not knowing what’s going to happen next.

What is the best writing advice you have ever received?

The best writers think their writing is no good J

 How do you like to spend your free time?

Living.  Doing anything that will allow me to have one more thing to write about.

Do you have any unfulfilled ambitions you wish to accomplish? What would you most like to accomplish this year?

There are a million things I’d like to do.  I’ve crossed several off of my list: acting, writing, playing a musical instrument, travelling, etc.  What I’d like to do is to continue to add to each one of these “pots.”  More of all of it.  Is that too greedy.
This year, I’d like to attend a conference.  I also want to achieve enough sales to be considered PRO by RWA.

Now A Taste of Angela:

Derailed

“Damn it!” JoAn Fentress sprinted through the traffic of downtown Memphis, Tennessee – not much compared to Nashville, but enough to stop her from reaching her car. “Wait! Wait!”

The young driver danced to the beat of whatever played through his headphones. He didn’t see her flailing her arms, and definitely didn’t hear her pleas. He continued to hook her car to the back of his truck.

A gust of wind, powered by the bus barreling down the road beside her, blew her skirt in soft waves around her legs. The faster she ran the more the ankle strap of her shoe slipped. With one misplaced step the shoe twisted, along with her ankle, and the heel snapped. She fell to the cold hard ground beneath her, tearing and muddying the papers she carried.

The pain of her ankle pissed her off because she didn’t have time for it. Tears filled her eyes, as she stretched her hand toward the tow truck dragging her car away. Damn! Damn! Damn!

The unwanted crowd of people hovering around assisted her to her feet as they questioned her. “Are you okay?” asked one short woman watching from nearby with bags of groceries.

She stared at the car wishing for something to happen. Something to stop that truck…to give her a chance to talk to the guy towing it. No food. No clothes. Nowhere to sleep. Anger forced the tears she held back to fall. What am I going to do now?

If only the people surrounding her would go away. “Yes, thanks.” She sniffed. Annoyed with herself, she picked up her torn papers and, with the help of a young man, tried to stand. “Crap.” The sting of the pain traveled through her left leg fast.

“Maybe we should call an ambulance,” he said with a question in his voice.

How would she pay for an ambulance or a doctor’s examination? “No, I should be fine.” Tears fell steadily and heavy, now, she wished she could disappear. If she just had a few minutes to close her eyes and make it all disappear until she could figure out what to do next.

“Could you help me to the church on the corner?” she asked. “I just need to sit for a little while, and I’ll be okay.”

He looked at her, at her tears, at her torn clothes as if he didn’t believe her. “Okay.”

Day turned to night as she sat on the back pew of the church with no idea what to do next.

Pleasure to host you, Angela!
You can contact Angela at these links: Website: http://www.angelakayaustin.com/  Blog: www.angelakayaustin.blogspot.com
FaceBook: www.FaceBook.com/AngelaKayAustin  Twitter: @AngelaKayAustin  YouTube: www.YouTube.com/AngelaKayAustin