
Hey, Weekend Writing Warriors. It’s a bit early, but Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Hope you are able to spend time with those special in your life, be it family, friends, or others you consider close. Yes, coworkers count. I know many of us will work through the holiday, I know I used to in retail.
Thanks for all the love, support and prayers. They are still requested as I continue this process. Life can be so hectic. But we make it through, by the grace of God
Elissa Celebrates Christmas and Elissa Learns Thankfulness are available through Amazon!! I’m too excited to offer both books side by side for the holidays. Pick up your copies today to get in time to read to your kiddos!!
SYNOPSIS:
With NaNoWriMo, I am taking you on the journey with me and giving you snippets from the book I’m writing. Keep in mind that these will be raw and unedited. So, excuse errors and grammar.
My piece for NaNoWriMo will be The Five Barred Gate III. Considering that The Five Barred Gate II will be released on January 5th, it would be my next logical piece to pen. Enjoy.
The Five Barred Gate is a dystopian world where the government has enacted laws against freedom of speech. This has hurt the religious community the most.
SNIPPET:
Summary:
The Five Barred Gate III picks where The Five Barred Gate II leaves off. Derrick Andrews is talking with his wife, Rachel, and feels he needs to go with is dad, Jacob, to Austin to talk with the authorities. They’ve been demanding Jacob to release his sermons for scrutiny before they are delivered from the pulpit. He has refused. Facing arrest, he now wants to make his appeal.
Here is a bit from last week.
“Guess my eyes were on the gate,” Jacob said.
Frank chuckled. “There is a sermon in there somewhere, Pastor.”
“Keep your eyes on the gate and you won’t see the scuff marks in your life,” Michael said.
“There ya go, son,” Frank said with a point of his hat.
We pick up right were we left off. Jacob is our main character. Frank Dunham is a business owner and friend. Derrick is Jacob’s son.
Jacob was brought back to his mission. He was on his way to Austin to plead his case with the name attached to the letters he had been receiving. Megan Woodland. She had been sending letters regularly, demanding the release of his quarterly sermon itinerary before he was to deliver them. This was based on regulations in the Anti-dehumanization Act. He was certain that there should be exceptions for religious purposes.
Jacob wrote his sermons when the Lord gave them to him, sometimes the evening before he was to deliver them. To plan a quarterly sermon, he felt he would be writing a speech and not being led by the Spirit. The pulpit was not a podium. In Austin and to Megan Woodland he wanted to convey this message.
::There is your ten, or so, but let’s continue a bit with the scene.::
“I need to get going, guys,” Jacob finally said.
“I want to go with you, Dad,” Michael said.
“Is that why you are here? Were you stalking me?”
“Not so much stalking, but shadowing. I was going to approach you once you got to where you were going.”
“Your mom’s idea?”
“No. Mine. Well, with a little encouragement from Rachel.”
Jacob smiled. “Well, instead of following me, let’s ride together. We can take your car back to your house.”
“I would love to join you two, but I would hate to entreat on a father-son moment. Besides, I have a business meeting. We are beginning construction on Dunham’s Fredericksburg next week.”
“Congratulations, Frank,” Jacob said. “I had no idea you were working on expansion.”
“Well, given your situation, I didn’t feel it right to shine my good fortune in the middle of your struggles. We leveled the ground last week and are ready to begin erecting the structure. God is good.
“Amen,” both men agreed.
All three discussed a time to meet and visit the land with Frank as they ascended the stairs. Jacob was still in awe of how Frank made his ascent so easily being over 80 now. He attributed his endurance to steak, a good potato, and a woman’s love. They agreed to meet at the gym when they returned on Wednesday.
Looks like we have a father/son road trip ahead. Good times and noodle salad. Again, this excerpt is from book 3, book two comes out in just over a month. You can read all about it stating with the Five Barred Gate. You also have the Elissa holiday books available. Check out links below.
Featured Titles

Little Reminders of Who I Am (2020)

The Transference (2022)
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Jeff S. Bray
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I like the way the relationship between father and son is developed. I enjoyed the excerpt!
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You pack information about their situation and relationship so easily and naturally into this scene. It never seems forced. Their situation is oppressive and dangerous and it’s impossible not to care for them and the choices they’ll make.
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I’m glad Michael is going with him. These are still dangerous times. Continued prayers for your full recovery, Jeff.
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