Summary Sunday

As I mentioned last week, I am currently paying a visit to my sister and didn't think I'd have much time to write while I was here. And it's true, I haven't had "much time." But I decided no matter how tired I was from a fun-filled day, I should be able to squeeze out at least 100 new words a day while I'm here. I know it doesn't sound like much, but even 100 words a day advances the story bit by bit, which means I'll be that much further along when I get home than I would have been if I hadn't written 100 words a day. :-) So far, I've surpassed that goal each night, sometimes by just a little, sometimes by a considerable amount. Here is a sampling of what I've added so far to The Lady and the Minstrel during my vacation.

Monday: (cleaning/packing day)

Tuesday: (traveling day)

Wednesday: Two blurry, bloody rocks lay near him. He reached out a shaking hand. Nay, one rock only. Pain hazed and doubled his vision.

Thursday: Even with his blurred vision, he could see the trees thinning, and then they parted altogether to allow him a foggy image of men and horses milling about beneath the walls of Sir Triston’s castle.

Friday: “Saints, man, where have you been?”

Saturday: Perhaps it was pride, but this was one part of the night’s story he did not wish to confess to Gunthar.

Summary Sunday

This may be my last Summary Sunday for a couple of weeks. I'm going on vacation to visit my sister 

and don't know how much writing time she will let me squeeze in, so I shared a few extra sentences on Saturday to tide you over. ;-) As always, this is a sampling of my work this week on The Lady and the Minstrel.

Monday: That mindless ease in his privilege had infuriated Robert and set Gunthar in his mind, at first, among the detestable ranks of men like Beckford and Strode.

Tuesday: The breeze had dispersed the day’s clouds so that Robert could watch the progression of the moon across stars so thick they seemed to form a white smear across the sky.

Wednesday: Every bitter memory had screamed at Robert to throw Kit into the fire of Gunthar’s suspicion last night.

Thursday:“Oui, seigneur, mais c'était seulement un chevreuil.” (Okay, confession. I don’t speak French! This character is supposed to be saying, “Yes, my lord, but it was only a deer.” Did I get it right?)

Friday: He had abandoned his post to trail Kit and could only imagine Gunthar’s disgust if dawn arrived to reveal the escaped villein in whom he had placed his trust had apparently run away like a coward.

Saturday: There was nothing to stop him from taking revenge. Revenge for his father’s murder, for Lottie’s bruises and tears, for William’s aching loneliness . . . Vengeance flooded Robert’s mouth, scalding and corrosive. His hand clenched tighter on his hilt. Nothing to stop him . . .

It's Christmas in July!

Well, sort of. For those of you who still prefer print books over e-books, my short Christmas romance, A Candlelight Courting, is now available in a "gift size" paperback!

Margaret (Literary Chanteuse) wrote the following about A Candlelight Courting:

"The author has created one of the most unique love stories I think I have ever read. Christina, a compelling young woman during medieval times . . .  is faced with marriage instead of fulfilling her dream of dedicating her life to the church. How she manages to find love and a guardian of her heart in Burthred, her betrothed is amazing. An excellent choice for Christmas or anytime of the year."

A Candlelight Courting: A Short Christmas Romance is a 2012 RONE Award Finalist. Print copies are currently on sale at Amazon for only $3.75. (Regular price $3.95.) How long this sale will last is up to the caprices of Amazon, but if you'd like to snag a copy for yourself and a few copies for stocking stuffers, now might be a good time. :-)

A Candlelight Courting is also available in Kindle, Nook, and multiple e-book formats for $1.99.

Summary Sunday

Most of this week's writing was devoted to the first direct encounter between my hero, Robert, and the Earl of Gunthar (yes, from Loyalty's Web). I decided to write the scene from Gunthar's POV. It's always fun for me to get inside another character's head and see how he or she views my hero. :-)

Monday - Wednesday's sentences are all from Gunthar's POV. Thursday and Friday began a new chapter. No, Gunthar is not the one with the sausage fingers. Is he the one Rob is glaring at on Friday? You'll have to wait until I finish the book to find out. ;-)

These are all from The Lady and the Minstrel.

Monday: It passed briefly through his mind that Peter would have been near an age with the minstrel, had his son survived that curst Crusade.

Tuesday: “I do not know what you are concealing from me, and I will not tolerate any further impertinence from you, but that this still beats—” he thumped a fist to his heart— “I will not forget.”

Wednesday: Like the discipline in Robert’s eyes, his tone this time betrayed no mockery or scorn. Yet Gunthar felt somehow accused, judged, then simply dismissed, as though saying anything more would be a waste of the minstrel’s breath.

Thursday: “My fingers feel like they turn into sausages whenever I pick up a pen.”

Friday: Robert glared at him, bristling at the hated epithet flung at villeins by their lords.

Freedom to Read Hop: Winners!

Congratulations to the winners of the Freedom to Read Hop on JDP NEWS:

Bernice H

BookLady

Joana A

These ladies will each receive a print copy of my short medieval Christmas romance, A Candlelight Courting.

Thank you so much to everyone who entered. Merry Christmas in July!

Summary Sunday

I took two days off this week, one for the 4th of July and the other to work on another little project I have in mind, but here are some new sentences for the other days of the week, all from The Lady and the Minstrel.

Monday: Richard pushed a piece of dry bread through the gravy that had congealed on his plate during his absence in the tent, but he made no attempt to raise the grease-clumped morsel to his mouth.

Tuesday: The knight rolled off his stool as Robert’s hand coiled away, the torchlight catching the whites of the dead man’s eyes and the hilt of the dagger thrust into his back.

Wednesday: . Gunthar thought he heard a grunt, but Roger was shouting over it—“Hie hie hie! To Gunthar! To the earl!”—as he rattled about for a light source on the table next to the cot.

Thursday: (Took off the 4th of July)

Friday: Gunthar did not know how he did it, but the minstrel somehow wrestled himself free. From the way one of his knights lurched sideways and another stumbled back with his chin in the air, Gunthar guessed a push and possibly a punch were involved, but Robert moved too fast to be sure how he did it.

Saturday: (worked on formatting a different project) 

"Freedom To Read' Giveaway Hop

It's been awhile since I've participated in a blog hop. Let's see if I remember how to do it? :-) Thank you to Book Hounds and I Am a Reader, Not a Writer for sponsoring this hop!

Here at JDP NEWS I'm combining "Freedom to Read" with "Christmas in July" and giving away three paperback copies of my short Christmas story, A Candlelight Courting: A Short Christmas Romance. A Candlelight Courting is an InD'Tale Magazine 2013 RONE Award Finalist. It has previously been available as a short e-book, and is making it's debut appearance in print.

If you would like to win a copy, just enter via the Rafflecopter form below, then keep your fingers crossed. Winners will be selected on July 10th. Since these are print copies, USA entries only, please.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

OFFICIAL RULES: NO PURCHASE NECESSSARY. Entrants must be 18 years or older. Winners will be selected on July 10 and have 48 hours to respond to an email notifying them of their win. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Questions? Contact me at jdipastena@yahoo.com.

All entered? Then hop along to the links below for some more awesome prizes!