Hey, Weekend Writing Warriors. It’s Thursday and I’m half way through the week with my family. It has been such a great visit. Reliving old and creating new memories. My wife is getting her Hot Ones gift tomorrow and the family will go through the infamous hot sauce challenge. That should be tons of fun. I am going to try to post a video on my YouTube Channel. We sill also celebrate Christmas on Saturday.
On another note, I had to move my going under the knife to Monday because I am experience a great deal of discomfort. Not sure what that is all about, but going two weeks, I don’t think would be a good idea. I am pushing it with what I am doing now.
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 for a stocking stuffer for your little reader.
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.
A tall rectangle window in the corner of the room lit a pathway from the door to Mrs. Woodland’s desk, like a yellow carpet leading them to their destiny. The DA’s office had a ceiling-to-floor bookcase with important-looking spines. Michael always wondered how many of those books lawyers ever read or touched. Or were they like in the movies, filled with important past cases that could help prove someone somewhere dealt with something somehow and could be set free if that one case fact could be found?
“Good afternoon, gentlemen,” a strong voice said, snapping Michael from his skyward gaze. “Please have a seat, and we can begin?”
We pick up right just about we left off. Jacob and Michael are meeting with the DA in her office.
Michael looked up and a younger-than-expected woman in a dark suit and glasses stood behind a solid oak desk. She set down a file on top of a small stack in front of her.
“Which one of you is Jacob Andrews?” she said, resting her glasses on the file.
“I am, ma’am,” Jacob said.
“DA. Woodland is preferable to ma’am,” D.A. Woodland said.
“Yes, D.A. Woodland, my apologies,” Jacob said.
“None needed. I don’t feel old enough yet to desire that moniker,” she said with a quick smile. “Please have a seat. We haven’t much time.”
“Right. Fifteen minutes.”
::There is your ten, or so, but let’s continue a bit with the scene.::
“What can I help you with today, Mr. Andrews?”
Jacob had practiced his speech a thousand times in his head, even preached it a time or two, but now, under the gun, he had stage fright. The time restriction wasn’t helping.
“As I am sure you have read, I am here today to plead my case regarding the demand for the submission of my itinerary of sermons.”
“Yes, I have read your complaint. However, Mr. Andrews, this is the law. It is clearly spelled out within the Anti-Dehumanization Act. You must submit your itinerary of sermons to ensure you are not in violation of the Federal Speech Act. Violation of these laws brings fines and can include prison time if your violation is severe enough. And in all honesty, Mr. Andrews, your continued disregard of the law, you are dangerously near that ‘severe enough’ line.”
“This is what brings me here today, D.A. Woodland,” Jacob sighed. “May I call you Megan?”
D.A. Woodland seemed taken aback. She looked over to Michael, then back to Jacob. “I don’t believe that would be appropriate, Mr. Andrews.”
“Call me Jacob,” Jacob said.
“I don’t feel that appropriate either.”
“If you don’t feel comfortable, then look at it as trying to keep our names straight. This is my son, Michael Andrews. To call me Mr. Andrews, neither of us would know which one of us you are speaking to,” Jacob said with his eyebrows raised.
Mrs. Woodland again exchanged glances between father and son. “What do you want me to do for you, Jacob?”
“I want to know what I can do to avoid being prosecuted, D.A. Wood—”
“Since we are already on first names, just call me Megan. Let’s just save time here.”
“Thank you, Megan. Megan, I don’t want to go to jail. I want to avoid being prosecuted and want to know what my options are. I know your letters are clear about the law. But what exactly am I up against and what can I do to keep my privacy and maintain some sort of semblance of abidance with the law?”
Jacob is trying to have the best of both worlds, but will the law allow it? Will he find favor with DA Woodland? Tune in next week to find out. You can read all about his first stating in the Five Barred Gate. You also have Elissa the Curious Snail’s holiday books available. Check out the links below.
Featured Titles
Little Reminders of Who I Am (2020)
The Transference (2022)
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