Moments for the Heart

Here we are Weekend Writing Warriors, two weeks into NaNoWriMo, and I am half way there, 25K words. Although I am on pace with NaNo standards, I am far behind where I want to be. I am also a bit discouraged because I feel my characters are ahead of the game and am afraid that I will get to the big reveal before I am ready to deliver it. We’ll see how the next few days go and how I feel after the next couple of chapters.

Last Week in Review

Until then we rewind back to chapter four, where we are in our little world here in WeWriWa land. Last week Grady and LaCrosse searched Nelson’s vehicle and came up empty. And that blew Grady’s drug angle. Now we move into Branson’s search of the apartment.

Here is a bit from last week:

Nothing. No drugs, no money.

“So now what?” asked LaCrosse.

“Lock it back up and go see what Branson found,” said Grady trying not to let the defeat reflect in his voice.

SYNOPSIS:

Lieutenant Daniel Masters is a 27-year veteran Savannah Georgia Major Crimes Detective. He has seen many crime scenes like the one he saw last February. Little did he know this one would change his life. Grady, the newest addition to his team, is the first to see the abnormalities, but will the rest of the team listen in time. There is a serial murder on the loose in South Georgia, and for some reason the killer leaves their final victim alive right before committing suicide. But why? Masters and Grady must find out before its too late and the next killer strikes again.

SNIPPET:

SNIPPET
The apartment wasn’t much different than it was twelve hours earlier. Other than the missing bodies, it was undisturbed. Branson and Mesa were in the back room discovering exactly what he and LaCrosse found in the car: that Nelson had no interest in drugs, he had no hidden stashes of cash, and there was no bloody knife to be found. Nettles, as the bearer of the bad news, pulled kitchen duty. A flashbulb could be seen every so often from his cataloging Nelsons collection of steak and butter knives.

Grady went to make peace, “Sorry, didn’t mean for you to have to go through all of this.”

“Don’t be. We have to cover every angle. It was good insight. Masters would have been set off if we had missed it. Good job,” Nettles said.

***That is this week’s ten, or so. This may be a little longer than normal, but here is the rest of Chapter Four. ***

“Need help?”

“Nope. Last one now.” Nettles said, popping off the last photograph. He wrote length, color of handle, and general type of knife on the bag and sealed the evidence bag. Then dropped it into a box on the counter.

Grady picked up the box while Nettles collected his kit.  “Thanks. And don’t worry about Branson. He’ll be fine. He’s always anxious around new badges, especially ones with experience.”

“So, I’ve heard.”

“I think we’re done in here, but I don’t think any of these blades caused those wounds. There are a couple of chopping knives, but they are as dull as Mesa’s jokes.” Nettles jested.

“I heard that!” called a voice from the hall.

Nettles laughed. Grady echoed.

“Forensics will still look at them though. No stone goes unturned. We’re that thorough.”

When they entered the living room, both Branson and Mesa were there with LaCrosse. Mesa had a box under her arm too. “A couple of hunting knives. Short blades tucked in a closet. That and a straight razor for shaving. Both doubtful, but we don’t leave a stone unturned.”

Grady looked around, then fixed his eyes under the coffee table. He could see the condition of Mr. Nelson when he entered the room. His mind flashed to the four other scenes. From what little he remembered, they seemed identical. What was he missing? The missing piece was here, staring him in the face. He looked at the chair where Tanner was sitting right before he chose to end his life. To the left and just behind the victim.

“What are you thinking, Grady?” LaCrosse asked.

“He’s thinking he sent us on a wild goose chase with this drug angle,” Branson said. “Complete waste of time.”

“Branson, shut up,” Mesa said. “What is this team’s motto. We don’t leave a stone unturned. So, take your ego and shove it. If Grady is part of our team, his ideas are going to be explored.”

Grady wasn’t listening to the exchange. He was over near the chair. He stood at the chair and took the steps that Tanner had taken to get into the position of his demise. Four steps. Four good steps, just about six feet. He looked at the chair again, then at his feet. Nettles had joined him, not really sure what he was looking at, but studying all the same.

“I have to get back to the station,” Grady said, his eyes darting around the crime scene.

“Why, what’s wrong,” Nettles questioned, exchanging glances with the chair and Grady.

“I need to see the older case files photos. Something is missing here.”

Well Warriors, that takes us through four chapters. They have come to a dead end on the drug angle, and maybe a dead end on the missing weapon. But Grady’s detective mental wheels are turning once again. He has spotted something unusual. It has to do with what he sees, what he saw, and what lies in the case files. Let’s keep this going next week. I’m not done yet.

Have a great week. I just hope I survive another week of writing and dealing with my characters wanting to get this novel finished before I am ready to finish writing it. Best of luck to you if you are undertaking NaNoWriMo yourself.

Elissa Learns Thankfulness – Perfect Read for Thanksgiving!!

Thanksgiving is coming!! A great turkey day read for your little one!! Check it out!! On sale now!! $4 off regular price when you buy from the publisher!


Elissa Learns About Thankfulness
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, consider this charming story for your little reader. Book 4 in the Elissa the Curious Snail Series finds Elissa living with her human friend Francine. Elissa is sad because she cannot do some of the things her friends can do like fly or run. She eventually learns to be thankful for who she is and what she can do. Find out what that is when you cuddle up and read this book with your little one. It is available on Amazon at the link above.

Visit Moments for the Heart Facebook page for more

I have a Facebook page that has something going on everyday of the week. Come on over, follow, and interact with my page to check it out! Here is what you can expect to find there.

—Monday is Memory Monday – I share an important event that occurred on that Monday or sometime that particular week.

—Tuesday is Talk About it Tuesday – I post a weekly video where I cover a topic that has meant something to me over the past week.

—Wednesday is when I post my blog for the week.

—Thursday is This or That Thursday – A weekly two option poll that raises the question, do you like this, or do you prefer that?

—Friday is Fun Fact Friday – I find and share an interesting or obscure fact.

—Saturday is for Weekend Writing Warriors – This is when I post my 8 Sentence Snippet from a current or past work.

I really am trying to make it fun and engaging. Something that people look forward to visiting. It has been something that has been on my heart (no pun intended) for a long time and I am now acting on it. I would love your support!!

Important Links!!

– Little Reminders of Who I Am is now available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.

–The Five Barred Gate is still available on Amazon in Hardback, Paperback, and Kindle versions.

–You can purchase TFBG direct from me on my Home Page. The benefit of buying direct is you will receive a personalized signed copy!!

–My Children’s books, Elissa the Curious Snail are also on Amazon. There are 4 books about an adorable snail teaching children about prayer and believing in themselves.

–Finally you can see all updates regarding the progress of this current Untitled work in progress.

Fellow Warriors, I also have have a weekly blog that is posted in between these snippets. I would love to hear your thoughts.

AND if you have little warriors running around I now have many of my Children’s Short Stories on this website. They were originally on my Elissa the Curious Snail publisher’s website, but I now control that domain and have moved that content here. There are many stories for your little reader. These are great bedtime or anytime short stories.

In His Exciting Service,

Jeff S. Bray

Little Reminders of Who I Am

The Five Barred Gate

Elissa the Curious Snail Series

Check out amazing established and emerging writers at Weekend Writing Warriors. Each week we post new snippets from either published works or works in progress for each other to comment on. Gain insight of how the mind of a writer works and a behind the scenes look at works before they hit book stands everywhere.