Moments for the Heart

Hey, Weekend Writing Warriors. It has been an interesting week. Back to work writing, it felt good to see my inbox light up with my clients name. I did struggle a bit writing it because last Monday I had a seizure cluster that kicked my butt most of week. I’m still not 100 percent. But after a lot of rest and writing in between sleep breaks I got the job done and submitted. Will feel good to get payment because Carolyn still is not back at her job yet. Still a couple weeks out for that. Continued prayer for us over here. Thanks for everything so far.

The Five Barred Gate is available on Amazon! Pick up your copy today to get caught up before the second installment hits shelves in late February.

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.

“The good thing about your, Rachel, experience is that you were in a jail cell and not in a pit,” Frank said.

“Yes, I know. Although I was in the pit for almost a day. I couldn’t imagine what it would’ve been like to live there for three months,” Rachel said.

“We are here for you, Rachel. We are family and you will never have to deal with any of this again. You have my word.”

We pick up where left off, which was the end of Chapter Two. We now move into Chapter Three, back to Jacob, Michael and DA Megan Woodland. Jacob and Michael have just shared their stories, which are pretty much books one and two.


After an hour of conversation and pen scribbles, DA Megan Woodland was up to speed on the connection of Jacob Andrews and Nathan Edwards and how life had come full circle with recent events with his now-incarcerated relative, Kendrick Edwards.

“Forgive my severe interest in your story, Jacob. We studied your story throughout Law School. Especially since it was a Texas case. I never believed that I would one day sit across from you. And to now hear you tell me your story and not read it from a historical perspective, is fascinating. The law can be somewhat skewed. The historical account in the Officials manual makes you out to be at fault.”

“Of course it would,” Michael said. “You can never believe a word that comes from their lips, what would you think they would do tell it like it was? Heh, the name Edwards is synonymous with hero.”


::There is your ten, or so, but let’s continue a bit with the scene.::


“Well, not so much if they chose to make Federal laws to prevent other Officials and law enforcement from doing the things he did. They used him as a scapegoat. He was a load wolf.”

“Tell that to those who allowed Kendrick Edwards to exist,” Michael said.

“I’m sorry those things happened to your family. If there was anything I could do to make reparations, I would, but the past is the past and we both know we cannot change it.”

“And the future?” Jacob said, leaning forward in his chair. “I’m still asking for your help, Megan. I don’t want to go to prison, and I don’t want to face an endless pit of fines. I want to preach the word of the Lord without being hindered by the government.”

The furrowed brow returned to Megan’s brow. Michael felt he knew what was coming. The door was about to shut on them, again. They hadn’t gotten through. Despite their effort, the DA was about to spout off that the law was the law and her hands were tied. Duty before devotion.

“You know what I must do, gentlemen. While I find your devotion admirable, the law is the law, and you must adhere to it. Thank you for sharing your story with me. I have become more educated in our state’s history and the Act’s amendments.”

“This was a complete waste of time,” Michael said as he stood.

Jacob was a bit calmer. “I’m sorry you feel that way, Megan. I was hoping you would see our point of view and that our brushes with death had a direct impact on why we must continue to preach the gospel in the fashion that we do. We cannot be kept sil—”

“Mr. Andrews,” Megan, or was it Mrs. Woodland now, began. “you need not explain yourself to me. I fully understand your situation.” Megan Woodland stood and extended her hand. “I thank you for your time. While you are in town you should avail yourself of the sights. The courthouse has a beautiful courtyard. It holds much history. Before you leave town, you should visit it. I’m sorry. I must prepare for my 5 PM appointment.”

“I understand,” Jacob said, nodding to Megan’s raised eyebrows.

We can feel the frustration radiating off Michael. So much that it makes him blind to what’s going on. Do you think Jacob is picking up on it?

You can start your journey with the Five Barred Gate. Check out the featured link below.

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Additional Titles by Jeff S. Bray

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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 n ew 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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