Welcome to this week’s installment of Rainbowsnippets*! This one is uniquely mine, but there are lots of other great snippets to read, so after you finish here click the FB link at the bottom of the post to discover other great LGBTQIA authors and their works.
I’m sharing again from Cleaning House. The novel is an Appalachian-set Contemporary/ Paranormal Fantasy where the past and the present are blended with a healthy dose of granny magic. The mountains are alive, and a little moonshine can cure what ails you. It’s a little more than two weeks until the release, and I’m stoked!
The Setup: It’s early, and Cent’s run into her friend Betty on the front stoop of their apartment.
“What is it, six months now?” Cent stood on the bottom step and peered down the street.
“Two-hundred-ten days but who’s counting?” Betty tapped Cent’s backside with the toe of her high heel. “Want me to walk you to work?”
“I can’t afford your rate.” Cent glanced back at Betty. Beneath the lacquered-on foundation, false lashes, and heavy eyeliner, Betty was actually a soft-heart, at least where Cent was concerned.
“No charge for a cute cuttah like you, and I need some smokes anyways.”
We all have coping mechanisms, be they healthy or not. Betty’s is nicotine, among other things. What’s yours… that you’re willing to share? Mine is actually writing. It’s a great way to vent via characters.
I have a Meet the Characters blog post concerning Betty from 7/9, if you want to know more about her.
Here’s a link to my Meet the Characters blog series. It’s a multimedia approach on my part, a song, a collage, a description, and a quote… combined to introduce each character in Cleaning House. One post for each character. Right now, I’m on number Seven – Ivan Ruleman.
Ready to read more from Cleaning House? You can do so HERE and/or pre-order the ebook version HERE or at other online book retailers. There’s a link to the print version on the same page if you’d druther.
*RainbowSnippets is a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQIA+ authors, readers, and bloggers to share 6 sentences each week from a work of fiction—published or in-progress—or a book recommendation. Feel free to join in!
I love your character collage for Betty. She seems like a wonderful side character.
LikeLiked by 1 person
She is fun, and she’s a more prominent character in the sequel to Cleaning House.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great snippet. I can’t wait until the book is out 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
Nice! I really like the line about affording her rate. Made me giggle. I’m with you on writing. It’s about all I want to do anymore, even if I’m too timid to try getting my series published. Thank you for sharing. And Happy Writing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Try. You’ll never know until you try. 😊
LikeLike
I’m becoming as fond as Betty as I am of Aunt Tess. Different as they might be in vastly different settings, there’s a certain quirky, no-nonsense humor about both of them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, they are alike in some ways, but have vastly different life experiences. Thanks for noticing this.
LikeLike
I’m liking Betty a lot.
Coping mechanism: lately it’s doing puzzles on jigzone.com — the 247 piece triangle cut.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Betty’s a lot like Cent in that there’s more going on than there appears. Puzzles are good. I’ve a word search book I use when I need to think but want something rather mindless to occupy my hands. I’ve never heard of the puzzle sight, so I’ll have to check it out.
LikeLike
Great snippet! My coping mechanisms are: music (listening and performing) ,and reading. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, yes. Reading too! And thanks.
LikeLike
Betty seems like such a great character.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve adored her since the first moment she dropped into my head. She might get her own story some day. We’ll see.
LikeLike