Moments for the Heart

Here we are, heading into the final week of March. Where has this year gone Writing Warriors? I have so much to do here and October will be here before I know it. I’ve chosen to give Little Reminders another pass through, and boy am I glad I did. I don’t remember this many errors in it. It’s almost like I saved the wrong draft. But it’s all good. I’m making tweaks and giving it the life it needs. I said done by April 1, but I’ve gotten so busy with work that I haven’t had the time. So now my new date is May 1st. Done or not this book goes to the publisher. They do an edit anyhow, so it’s not like it wont get edited. Then it comes back to me for approval of their “edits”. The ball is rolling. I thank you again for going on this journey with me.

Next week will be the final installment of Little Reminders Snippets. Well, it depends on how the next one ends. It may go one more beyond that. We shall see. But this is getting fun to write, but I can’t give it all to you. Right?

SYNOPSIS:

Stephanie Marshall is the owner of a successful Charlotte, NC writing firm. She and her staff advertise for some of the biggest names up and down the east coast. Even though the writer’s life is exciting, and her company is in demand, she struggles with the monotony of home life. Stephanie is on the verge of an affair and has chosen to take the next step in that relationship.

… And then there is Carter.

Our angelic friend is back, and he visits Stephanie to teach her three lessons about her life. One that involves her past, one about her present life, and one that will challenge her to the reality of the choices she makes.

SNIPPET:

Summary:
Last time we left Stephanie she had waken up in familiar, but unfamiliar surroundings. It was her hotel room, but yet it wasn’t. Many things were different. Did you catch them? Now we get into her really seeing the differences and her fears kick in. We pick up where we left off.


First a bit from last time:

“That’s not possible. Let me call him back….” Stephanie reached for the phone.

“Her,” the maid said, placing her hand over the phone. “Gayla Yandel is the manager. She will tell you what you need to do downstairs. But the front desk clerk says you need to leave this room immediately. It’s reserved, and I’m here to give it a final cleaning.”

“I need to find the man I checked in with,” Stephanie demanded. “I may have been drugged and possibly raped. Don’t you understand? I arrived here with this man, and I don’t have any memories since I arrived and your rude awakening. Now I need you to call your manager, call the police, call whomever you need to. I need help. Now!!”


Now let’s get into our new snippet:

Half an hour later, Stephanie was sitting in the hotel’s lobby. She was trembling because it was not the lobby she had been sitting in eight hours earlier. The reception desk was a creepy cherry-wood paneling, and the restaurant did not have the diner countertop where she and Carter had their spiritual discussion. What in the world is going on? Stephane asked herself. She had already checked the address and questioned if she was in the right hotel. Even an angry outburst about their sanity didn’t get far. The only thing she did have was the suitcase she had brought with her on the trip; that much remained unchanged. Everything else had experienced a time warp.

The manager approached her, clearing her throat. She leaned over and, as quietly as possible, said, “Ms. Marshall, we can do two things. First, we can allow you to leave the premises without asking questions. I will even throw in a complimentary breakfast in our diner. Or we can call the authorities and allow them to handle the situation.” She raised her eyebrows with his second option.


::There is your ten (or so). And now we continue to finish the scene::


Stephanie knew she was in no position to fight. Either Kenneth had nothing to do with this, or he was in on it, and fighting would only make things worse. She knew what she had to do, get out while she was ahead. “I will leave,” Stephanie said. “I’m sorry to have troubled you. Yes, I would appreciate the meal. I promise to keep to myself.”

“We thank you for choosing our fine establishment, Ms. Marshall,” the manager said, extending her hand, which Stephanie accepted. She handed her a meal voucher and walked away.

Stephanie sighed, and before anything worse could happen, she headed into the restaurant. Her skin crawled walking into the place that was worlds different as she slept. A sign read to seat yourself, so she found a booth near the window that gave her a partial view of the ocean, hoping it would calm her nervousness.

A waitress came and poured her a cup of coffee. She thought of asking about hazelnut, but without the diner-looking counter, she thought better of it. Still, the coffee’s aroma was pleasant and inviting. It reminded her of something she’d have at Latte Loco. She took a sip and, for the first time that morning, smiled. Coffee was a way of relaxing an anxious mind and comforting when you needed it the most.

“It’s great stuff, isn’t it,” the familiar voice stated.

Stephanie’s head spun around, and the familiar figure stood at a distance.

“What the heck?”

“Relax. Relax,” Carter said, his hands surrendered. “If you give me a moment, I will explain everything. Just please remain calm, and we can both get through this in one piece.”

So, now we figure there must be a time shift here, but was Carter the cause of it. We will soon find out. It does seem he has something to explain. — “Carter, you got some s’planin’ to do.” — How much time has passed though? We will see next week, the final week of snippets for this book. Well, we will see. If the crux of what I want to give you is not where I want to be, I may go one more week. Thanks for reading. – Don’t forget to check out the wrap up below.

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Monday is Memory Monday
We remember an important event that occurred on that Monday or sometime that week.

Tuesday is Two Twenty-Two Tuesday
A weekly vlog where I talk about writing or something that’s been on my heart, all in two minutes and twenty-two seconds.
This is posted on my YouTube channel.

Wednesday is when I post my blog for the week.
I speak from my heart on various topics from writing to faith.

Thursday is This or That Thursday
A weekly two-option poll that raises the question, do you like this, or do you prefer that?
I host this on this on Twitter, IG, and Facebook.

Friday is Fun Fact Friday
I find and share interesting or obscure facts on my pages.

Saturday is for Weekend Writing Warriors
Saturday is for Snippets from a current piece or past work.

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THIS WEEK’S WRAP-UP

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT:
Thanks for your help last week. I’m still not sure which way to go. I’m probably going to send both titles to my publisher and give him the green light to select which he feels will be more marketable. I enjoyed hearing your feedback and it gave perspective to what readers my feel. I appreciate it.

Next on my list? Well, I had agreed with myself to step away from NaNoWriMo this year. I was going to take a year off and let things rest. Last year I overwhelmed myself and lost sales because I released two books in one year. BUT, as you know all my novel ideas come to me in dreams. I had a back burner idea for a sequel to The Transference. Last week I had a dream that solidified a sequel idea. So, now I have a basis for a new novel. I will keep you posted.

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In His Exciting Service,

Jeff S. Bray

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 into how the mind of a writer works and a behind-the-scenes look at works before they hit bookstands everywhere.

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