Another week down,  another what might well be a novel started. I’m working on Conall and Bea’s story, but it’s quickly taking on a life of its own.  We’ll see, but I think at the very least it’s going to be a long novella if not a short novel.

Welcome to #WIPpet Wednesday*, a blog hop where authors share from their current works in progress (WIPs).

This week I’m picking up where we left off in Chapter Two.  Birdie, one of the homestead’s house spirits, has faded from view and now Betty is doing something that’ll help Cent make a memorable entrance into the Hunter kingdom.

Here’s my #WIPpet math for 1/23/2019: 1 and 2+3+1=6 for sixteen paragraphs from Keeping House.

     “Give me your hand.” Betty grabbed a bottle of nail polish from the table behind the sofa. “I want to mark you too, but my magic isn’t the same as Tess and the spirits’, so I’m sending you off with those black nails you said will make Dane wicked mad.” Betty shook the bottle and laid a rag over her thigh. “But according to Stowne, the Hunters wear a lot of black already.”

     “It’s their traditional color, along with their tartan, but black’s a power color in magical terms. Stowne says Dane doesn’t like her women wearing it.” Cent curled her fingers into her palm before Betty could start. “That has natural ingredients, right?”

     “Of course.” Betty pulled Cent’s hand onto her leg. “And that’s such a backward way of thinking, especially for a woman, especially since you’re not— you’re doing all you can to repulse her, aren’t you? You’re not one bit a numb cuttah.”

     “Thanks.” Cent admired the steadiness in Betty’s hands as she worked. “I’ll try anything to repulse Dane, but I can’t banish my creator no matter how much I hate her. And the Hunters ain’t nothing but backasswards if you ask me.”

No, Cent’s definitely not numb or dumb, but she might well be stirring up trouble she’s not ready for. So what would you do in this sort of situation? Would you go headfirst into the unknown with your guns blazing or would you sit back and watch? Me? Probably a bit of both like Cent is. Eyes wide open, observant, but armed and ready just in case.

*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.