Rainbow Snippet November 25th

Rainbow Snippets is a group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week to share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation (no spoilers please!).

In this group you’ll find anything from romance and historical fiction to mystery and YA. The common thread is that every story’s main character identifies as LGBTQ+. The snippets could range from zero flames to full-on sexytimes, anything goes content-wise. The only rule is snippets will be 6 sentences long–one for each color in the Pride flag.

I would invite everyone to please come check out the Rainbow Snippets group, click on a link, read and comment on the writing available and get involved yourselves in this awesome exercise. The link to the group can be found HERE. 

This week I've got a snippet from my upcoming Holiday Story, A Season of New Beginnings. 

“He won’t even answer my calls. I’ve left him messages, but he hasn’t called me back. I was so worried something had happened to him that I called around to some of our friends to see if he was okay. Turns out he is, just not talking to me.”

“Then maybe it’s time to put the phone down and go see him face-to-face.”

“I was on my way to do just that, when I got stuck in traffic; the whole highway is shut down right now; there’s a multi-car accident up ahead, and with the snow coming down, it’ll take a while. Maybe this is a sign that it just isn’t meant to be.”

“Oh pishposh—signs—what have I told you about all that mess?”

“That only the superstitious and the deranged believe in them.”

“And since you’re neither, you will focus on the facts, which are simple. Josh broke up with you because you are married to your job, and you don’t know how to balance your time so you have some for yourself and by extension, him.”

“Yeah, but how do I get him back?”

“I think you already know the answer to that, Clay. If you are serious about wanting him, or anyone in your life, then you need to learn when to say no.”

November 11th Rainbow Snippet

Rainbow Snippets is a group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week to share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation (no spoilers please!).

In this group you’ll find anything from romance and historical fiction to mystery and YA. The common thread is that every story’s main character identifies as LGBTQ+. The snippets could range from zero flames to full-on sexytimes, anything goes content-wise. The only rule is snippets will be 6 sentences long–one for each color in the Pride flag.

I would invite everyone to please come check out the Rainbow Snippets group, click on a link, read and comment on the writing available and get involved yourselves in this awesome exercise. The link to the group can be found HERE. 

Last week my snippet was serious, leaving many of you worried about Rogue. In this scene, Rogue's brother has finally caught up to them, not too long after last week's conversation and his entry to the house, isn't exactly wanted by either Rogue or Gypsy. (please note that Gypsy is non-binary, thus the they/them pronouns) and again I apologize for the length. 

Thunder accompanied the sound of the door being kicked open, the thud of it crashing against the wall jarred them from sleep. Fester woofed and let out a growl as the heavy tread of boots echoed off the kitchen floor. Gypsy stood, only to have their arm grabbed and held firm by Rogue. Without the candles, they couldn’t see his face, until a flash of lightning showed him reaching for his bag as the footsteps got closer. The press of metal into their palm alerted Gypsy to the fact they’d been handed a knife, and they closed their fist tight around the handle as he stood, silent and moving past them towards the noise.

Lightning illuminated a large figure in the doorway, and Gypsy gasped.

“You might want to back out of here nice and slow,” Rogue advised, his voice having gone low and deadly. “I’m armed, and you’re trespassing.”

“I figured I’d find you here.”

That voice, Gypsy tensed even more than they already had and fumbled around for the lighter Rogue had laid on the coffee table, fingers shaking as they attempted to light the candles. The first tiny flicker of flame in the darkness blinded them for a moment, and they blinked several times to clear their vision.

They almost wished they hadn’t, when they turned their gaze towards the voice. Randy stood in the doorway, as large and imposing as the last time they’d seen him. Fury rose up in them, warring with anxiety.

“What the hell are you doing in my house?”

All of Randy’s attention was on his brother, his expression hard, bordering on aggression. “Looking for this son of a bitch.”

“You ever hear of knocking! Who do you think you are? You can’t just kick the door in like some fuckin’ psycho.”

“I’m not the crazy one here.”

Gypsy looked between the two, noting the way Rogue still held the knife like he intended to use it. Stepping between them, Gypsy hoped to diffuse things before they got out of hand.

“What do you want, Randy?” They asked, taking a step towards him, hoping to heard him back towards the kitchen. Of course he was too stubborn to go.

“Isaac told me Rogue was headed this way. Saw his truck in the barn, thought maybe you were in trouble.”

Rainbow Snippet November 4

Rainbow Snippets is a group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week to share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation (no spoilers please!).

In this group you’ll find anything from romance and historical fiction to mystery and YA. The common thread is that every story’s main character identifies as LGBTQ+. The snippets could range from zero flames to full-on sexytimes, anything goes content-wise. The only rule is snippets will be 6 sentences long–one for each color in the Pride flag.

I would invite everyone to please come check out the Rainbow Snippets group, click on a link, read and comment on the writing available and get involved yourselves in this awesome exercise. The link to the group can be found HERE. 

Last week my snippet was full of steamy bits, this week, we're on the serious side as Gypsy and Rogue try to navigate what living together will be like. (please note that Gypsy is non-binary, thus the they/them pronouns)

Sorry for the length, but the scene doesn't make sense cut in half. 

“Gypsy, we talked about this, remember. Part of me staying here is me doing the work that needs doing if I can do it, and I can do this, so please let me. I need a good project. It’s damn near the only thing that will tire me out enough that I’ll sleep for more than a couple hours.”

“Yeah? What are some of the other things?”

They hadn’t meant to sound coy or teasing, it had just sort of slipped out that way. They’d expected him to chuckle, maybe even respond with some teasing innuendoes, or a graphic depiction of some of the things that helped bleed his tension away. Instead, he’d just shrugged.

“A bike build, or anything mechanical to fiddle with. Stripping and restoring stuff. Tile work, landscaping, and practice, anything with repetition. Working with my blades used to leave me exhausted. I miss it.”

“Please tell me you still have them all.”

“Yeah.”

“Then why not practice if you need to, there’s plenty of space.”

“Why bother, it isn’t as if I’ll be performing again.”

They sat up, turning so they could grip his hair and force him to meet his gaze.

“How about because you enjoyed it, that should be reason enough.”

He shrugged again, tried to lower his head, but that just wouldn’t do. They weren’t about to let him blow this off like it was nothing.

“It’s a part of my life I can never go back to.”

“But it doesn’t mean it’s a part that’s over. There is more than one carnival in this country.”

“I know. But I have no intention of joining any of them, so just leave it, okay. I’m done with all of that.”

They snorted, trying to glare him into submission.

“It’s a shame to waste talent, it’s like destroying something beautiful. Criminal really. There are people who’d kill to have the kind of talent you have.”

“Who knows, that might be a merciful way to go.”

Stunned, mouth hanging open, they stared at him, shocked speechless by the callus tone to his words. He sounded like someone who’d given up, or at least, someone who didn’t believe they had anything to live for.

Friday Flash: In the span of a Traffic Light

I've been dying to revitalize my blog after several months of inactivity, and I thought, what better way to jump back into the swing of things by bringing back the Friday Flash. This weeks was inspired by the writing group I attended last night. One of the assignments given was to write about a missed connection, a moment when eyes met, but there was no opportunity for interaction. As soon as it was read, the following scene burst into my mind, so without further ado, here is the missed connection I envisioned. Who knows, there may even be a follow up for them in the future.

In the Span of a Traffic Light

I saw you at the corner of 8^th and vine. You were barefoot and dancing, wearing a flower and singing “Lips of an Angel.” You’re long, silken curls shimmered a warm chestnut in the waning Autumn sun. I wanted to hear you better, so I ignored the light, stared, listened as you through you head back to hit the high note. Your eyes were electric blue when you opened them again, so stunning I could hardly breathe when you locked on mine. You smiled, hips swaying as you moved to a beat only you could hear. I’ll never be able to listen to that song again without thinking of you.

You twirled and I saw butterfly wings tattooed across your shoulders, the pattern flowing down the backs of your arms and I could almost picture you flying, flitting from flower to flower though none could ever be as beautiful as you.

Someone honked, shattering the moment, and I froze, torn between moving and staying put, even as they honked again.

“Honey why you callin’ me, so late?” you sang, in a voice so sweet it was almost mocking. I’d love to call you.

“Can I have your number?” My words drowned out by the honking horn. I turned, started to wave them past, when I saw the cop car turning towards us. Last thing I needed was him putting his flashers on. With regret, I took my foot off the break as the final notes of your song faded away.

You licked twilight purple lips as I drove past, launched into another song, a few notes trailing after me like a haunting requiem.

“How I wish, how wish you were here….”

Yeah baby, I wish I was too, I thought, as I drove away.