Today, you get a twofer– a link to a short work I’m very proud of (that’s first-appearing today!) and my normal weekly WIPpet all in one.
First on the agenda: my poem “Monstering 101” is now available at the literary mag Monstering. Yes, that’s my voice on the recording provided below the poem– no sassy cracks about the accent are allowed. I’m a proud Southern Appalachian woman, and, with that, comes a Southern Appalachian woman’s voice. It’s a unique accent, and one that I was once embarrassed by, but not anymore. If multiple college degrees didn’t knock the accent from me, nothing will.
It’s me. Take it or leave it.
Second: This week’s WIPpet Wednesday* comes again from Surrogate: Traditions, the third novel in the Surrogate Series. I’m going to share more WIPpets from Traditions for the next month or so then I’ll be shifting gears to one of my newer WIPs, not because Traditions is ready to go anywhere, far from it, but because I will have shared enough for a while.
Here’s my WIPpet math: 9/13/ 2017: Take the zero from 2017 and place it behind the 13 = 130 words from “35 Hours Before.”
The Setup: Merch, being the quintessential space prepper she is, has planned ahead for their current predicament and has told no one, not even Dresh or Etain, about her doings until now.
“I’d call you paranoid.” Dresh pulled Merch from the closet to kiss her. “But I’m too appreciative right now.”
“If I learned one thing from living through a colony revolt it’s to always be prepared for the worst.” Merch returned to the closet long enough to close the recessed control panel. “Oh,” She turned around smiling. “and I managed to send an emergency message right before they cut our outside access. Whether it gets through or not…”
“All these years and you’re still full of surprises.” Dresh shook her head. “So, we’ve made multiple distress calls, grouped, and locked down for the wait. Not much else to do right now, is there?”
“Well, we do have the guns.”
“Two or three functional antiques, your two side arms, and my duty weapons, but that’s—” Dresh cocked one brow and chuckled. “Where’d you hide them?”
You can read more WIPpet Wednesday’s from Surrogate: Traditions HERE.
*WIPpet Wednesday is a blog hop hosted by Emily Wrayburn wherein writers share excerpts of their latest WIP. All genres and levels of accomplishment are welcome. The only stipulation is that the excerpt must coincide with the date in some manner. For example, on 10/8/14 you might share 10 lines from page 8, 8 paragraphs from chapter 14, or perhaps 18 sentences by doing WIPpet math and adding the day to the month. We’re flexible like that.
Jeanne G'Fellers 
Definitely sounds like she was prepared. Love the interaction between them.
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Preemptive prepping – yep, always a good thing. And Mercha and Dresh, by this point in the series, have been together for a good two decades so they can just about finish each other’s sentences… and Etain’s.
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Great poem, and I love your accent. I have an acquaintance who sings with that accent, mainly American folk music, bluegrass, and old-time gospel. It’s really neat.
Love the snippet. I don’t think at this point I need to say much more than “Ah, more Dresh.” 🙂
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Thanks. I live less than an hour from what’s said to be the birthplace of country music, Bristol. Lots of Bluegrass and folk, which I have slowly come to appreciate in small doses. But gospel…. not so much.
And, ah, yes, Dresh. Interesting how so many of you like her. For a secondary character, she’s developed quite the following.
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The ending of the snippet is hilarious. It feels like it’s alluding to a not-so-hygienic storage method. I’m excited to find my bearings in this world you’re painting!!
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Merch commonly does the unexpected, but I don’t believe she’s done, or thought of that one… hmmm.
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Love the poem. Congrats on having it published online 🙂
Great snippet! Love that Merch goes and does her own thing, even though she is close to Dresh and Etain.
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Ah, so you’ve rather got Merch figured out. Yes, she does her own thing, always has. That’s simply Merch.
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Most poems go online anymore, it seems. Monstering is a unique zine, and I had just the poem for it. 🙂 Besides, it also paid pro rates, which certainly helped.
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That was a wonderful poem, and I enjoyed listening to you read it. As for the snippet, Merch is one smart cookie to be prepared.
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Thank you, and, yes, she is.
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I’ll save your poem to listen to when my husband isn’t asleep beside me. But this snippet makes me really want to know more and more and more about these characters and their reality. =D
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Thank you.
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I love your poem! It’s so powerful. I was only able to read it, not listen, as I am at work and currently on the front desk, but I will definitely do that when I am home.
I love Merch in this excerpt – I am that person, too.
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Thank you for reading the poem. It’s a very heartfelt piece for me as someone who’s earliest memories include being at the doctor having to “prove” to him how sick I actually was. (and I always was) It’s been a lifelong fight.
And, Merch. You know how authors put a bit of themselves into each character? I’m a bit of a prepper too, but certainly not to her extent. Goodness knows I don’t have that much power.
Thanks for reading.
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Wow, how fab is the rapport between Dresh and Merch! And I love your poem (and your accent). 🙂
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Thank you. Thank you. And, hmm. thank you with a Southern Appalachian accent thrown in? Heck, they all have that accent attached to them. *grin*
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