Hope you're all doing okay wherever in the world you are. We're under the influence of a rather strong tropical cyclone this weekend; went on cyclone warning Class 3 since yesterday (no one allowed to go out, definitive curfew at night, have to pull down antennas & satellite dishes, etc). 3 is one step short of 4, which would be Red, aka total destruction.
So I hope that
a) I get to post today, and
b) I get to still have power & Internet later today to visit your blogs.
Anyhow, this also got me thinking... Guess you peeps who regularly visit know I recently contracted a short story in the 1NightStand line at Decadent Publishing. The title is Once Upon A Stormy Night, and the one-night-stand encounter that Madame Eve sets up for the hero, Lars Rutherford, and the heroine, Simmi Moyer, takes place on the same day a cyclone warning goes up on the island.
What better way to highlight this Sunday than with an excerpt - and the very first glimpse I'm offering of this story! - via SSS?
Please note I don't yet have the cover for this one, and the snippet to follow also hasn't been through edits yet, so please bear with me.
'...
As she stepped out of the thatched-roof reception area of the Mauritian branch of Castillo Resorts and Hotels, located on the rugged southern coast of the island, a gust of wind propelled her toward the golf cart that would take her to the villa. The one Madame Eve had told her to go to, in the email she sent with the details, stood at the far end of the property, and overlooked the craggy, stony cliffs of the south coast across the eighteenth hole of the golf green. Secluded and private—exactly what one expected for a one-night tryst.
Around her, the wind picked up, and a few leaves hit her arm—had she been nuts to come? There was a cyclone warning class one over the island; mild in the big scheme of things, but which did imply a storm in the area, and the possibility the weather would get worse. But who did she contact to cancel the date? ...'
And yes, that pic above is of the south coast of Mauritius - all dark rocks and strong waves in a savage display of Nature's beauty.
Don't forget to check out the other SSS regular cast here; and big huge thanks to everyone who comes over & comments! You're all priceless!
From Mauritius with love,
Zee
44 comments:
A timely excerpt - fiction meets reality? Hope your cyclone doesn't cause too many problems for you.
I was thinking the same as Paula. A great six! Looking forward to seeing the cover, and to pick this up on the release date. :)
Hi Zee....loved your six. Sounds like this will be a fun story!
You stay safe :)
A very apt snippet! Cancel the date? Is she mad? lol!
Take care and keep safe. :)
Stay safe, Zee! Love the excerpt, but your situation gives it an all-too-real feel.
Lol Paula! That's exactly what I thought ever since yesterday when we went on alert.
Thankfully the alerts were lifted a couple hours ago, though the rain hasn't let up
Lol Jessica - I'm dying for the cover too. You're one of the few who've seen this one :)
Thanks Christine! We're still inside and the weather is horrible, but no longer any alert now :)
Lol, thanks Gayle! Yeah, I think she'd be mad too to cancel the date, especially when you know what Lars looks like (tall, buff Viking descendant!)
Hits close to home, indeed, Cate! :)
Good choice of snippet for your current weather state! Great six. And I'm pretty sure she's not going to be canceling any date anytime soon.
Stay safe Zee! And I love the snippet! Can't wait to see the cover!!!
Stay safe, Zee. Love your six. Can't wait for release day. :)
Thanks Heather! Lol, nope - one look at her date and all notions of fleeing will disappear :)
Thanks Lisa! I'm dying to see the cover too, biting my cuticles every single day with the waiting :)
Thank you Lia! Hugs
as we all know, NEVER cancel a Madame Eve date!
well done and beautifully descriptive Zee
Yikes! Stay safe, Zee. I live on the coast in the US and hurricanes can be a *bleep.* I'm glad to see you are (virtually) out and about this morning!
Perfect SSS under the circumstances, LOL. I LOVE the combo of storms and romance and the promise of what's to come in your six. Yum!
Sounds great.
Love the image you paint, Zee. And will be getting my hands on this 1NS story as soon as I can.
Thanks for sharing,
Thanks Liz! And yes, Madame Eve knows what she is doing, so who are we to cancel one of her dates? :)
Exactly, Sarah! Our cyclones are very similar to the hurricanes that hit the US coast around Florida and then ride in to Lousiana and the likes. Thank goodness they don't happen too often though.
Glad you liked the snippet! :)
Aww, thanks DL! That's so sweet of you :)
Looks like she's in for quite an evening! I hope you guys are okay today!
Zee, you know how to set a scene, girl. I was sitting in bed, but I could see this as if it was playing out in front of me. And the premise is so intriguing it's right now torturous. Promise to share more next week! Lovely six.
Lol, Angela, she is :)
Still not out of the woods - as much rain & wind as when the warnings were on, but hey, what do you know? Meteorological services say there's no reason for a warning, so here we are
Lol Jalisa! I promise more snippets from this one soon (waiting for a release date first to know how much time I have to kill *grin*)
Wow, I love it. I could see this actually playing out in my head.
Stay safe, Zee.
I guess our snow today doesn’t compare to your storm warnings... be safe. I see the alert has been lifted - whew
and yes good opportunity for a showing of your new work. I do a lot of proofing. Looks good. I just can’t proof my own work, as you know :D
I'm going to hazard a guess that when she sees him, she'll think a cyclone is a small price to pay in order to meet up...
Take care.
I like it. Great description of the island. I'm amazed at how many creative stories people have written for 1NS (I have one accepted by Decadent as well).
Good luck getting through the storm without any damage....
Now for your 6...Great description... Loved them.
Be safe Zee! Great six as always :)
Congratulations on the sale to Decadent! That's terrific! :)
I can really feel this scene! Wonderful!
Thanks Brenda! It helped to picture the resort in my mind - glad the 'visual' came through :)
Lol Sue - I'm a freelance editor and I rarely if ever notice the issues in my own work. Guess we're too close to our stories to be impartial and ruthless.
Stay safe with the snow there. Yep, warnings lifted, but weather is still awful. xoxo
Lol Julia - right on the money with that assumption! He's to die for :)
Thanks Cara. Yeah, it's astounding how authors can spin a single storyline into such a diverse offering of stories! And congrats on your 1NS too :)
Thanks Sara. Other than show us a faulty window that is letting some rain seep in, we're good to go. :)
Glad you liked the six - this story is quite close to my heart
Thank you DeAnna! XOXO
Lol Siobhan - I was jumping like a loon when they contracted the story :)
Thanks Jennifer! Good to know I managed to convey the mood and setting :)
Yes, you did a great job with conveying the mood and setting. Looking forward to reading more.
Hope that you are safe and dry!
Thanks Karysa!
We're okay, not too much damage (though it could've been worse!)
Hugs!
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