Set up for this scene: Spoiled heiress and scientist, Rainey Childress, is in the women's tent at a Bedouin camp in the Sahara Desert. She's about to go on an adventure... not of her choosing.
Halima went to a corner of the tent and returned carrying a black dress and black face veil decorated with red cross-stitches. She said something to Rainey with gestures. Rainey gave her a look that conveyed her confusion. The two women closest to Rainey gently pulled her to her feet. They raised her hands and pulled the black dress over her head and clothing. Next, they placed the veil over her face. She peeked out the eye slits and laughed. Okay, I can play their dress-up game. Halima pointed to her own veil and said, "burqa." Rainey pointed to the veil she was wearing and repeated, "burqa." The women giggled and nodded their heads. Again, a man called from outside the tent, and Nadia motioned for Rainey to follow her. Rainey started to disrobe, but the women quickly stopped her, pushing her toward the tent flap. Confused, she walked outside. The women led her to an open area near some tethered camels. Several men standing near the camels began loosing them. The camels knelt in the sand. About half a dozen men climbed onto the backs of the camels. Rainey thought the sight very interesting. She looked for Roth. Scanning back and forth, her gaze stopped when it reached a tall, muscular Bedouin dressed in white layered robes and a white turban. Huh? The women guided her toward him. "Why are we dressed like Bedouins, Roth?" He ignored her and grabbed the reins of a camel. The other camels began to rise with Bedouins on their backs. Roth motioned her forward. She got that uneasy feeling again. "Rainey, we’re going on a little adventure." Rainey’s jaw dropped and her mouth hung open. But of course, no one could see her mouth because of her veil. She watched the camel kneel. She looked at the split saddle, apparently for two riders on the same camel. "No way," she whispered, feeling her breath bounce off the veil. Louder, she said, "There is absolutely no way I’m getting on that beast. I don’t know what kind of weird joke this is, but I am not, not, NOT, riding a camel to God knows where with you!" Her voice rose in volume until she was shouting. The camel nonchalantly watched her while chewing something.
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This is my first post at my new website. I wasn't able to bring my blogs over. Oh, I suppose I could, but it'd take months, so it's not gonna happen. I've recreated most of my other pages. Hopefully, this website is much improved. I've learned a lot over the past year about website design, blogs, tweets, FB, ebook publishing, print publishing, etc. It's been a stiff learning curve and a challenge. Who knows where I'll be a year from now. So exactly where am I from a year ago... In August, 2010, my first ebook novella was published by Solstice Publishing, Far Into Yesterday. In March, 11:11 Countdown to 2012 was published as an ebook by Echelon Press. Within the past few days, The Theory of Everything was published as an ebook, also from Echelon Press. So, what's next? Something exciting! I've ventured into the indie world. In less than a month, the first book in a trilogy will make its debut. I've been working on this project diligently for months, and after I saw the cover designed by Elaina Lee (For the Muse), my heart hasn't stopped its pitter-patter. What do you think? ![]() Is this picture hot or what!? So what's the book about? It's about three Shapelings--people who can shift their form. Here's a rundown of each book: Roth: Protector Fawn: Master Davide: Prince This trilogy is for anyone wanting to travel, explore, have adventures, uncover mysteries...heck, I'm at the top of that list. Below is a short excerpt. Chapter One First Impressions Roth captured the updraft with his wings, their seven foot span easily maneuvering the razor sharp crags of Ember Canyon. He changed direction and streaked toward the river, iridescent under a full moon. Diving low enough to feel the spray from rapids, he reveled in his mastery of shapeshifting. Within minutes he would learn what the Thirteen co-Princes considered a worthy decisive mission. For well over two thousand cycles of the sun he had been a Shapeling Protector. The successful completion of his next assignment would usher him into the realm of Shapeling Master, the second highest honor among shapelings; and again, another round of undetermined sun cycles with increasingly complex missions would be assigned to him. Finally, after achieving complete mastery, the honor of joining the co-Princes, leaders of all shapelings, would be his. He had no doubts about his abilities. He would not fail. Roth soared high again, intent on reaching the Cave of Thirteen before sunrise. He arrived in record time. Gently landing and pulling his wings closed, he lowered his head and prayed to the Source, repeating the Prayer of Secrecy he had been taught as a young shapeling by his Guide. Before the last word in the prayer had been uttered, he no longer had wings or talons; he now stood tall on two feet, his raven hair long and whipped by the wind. Pale blue eyes that observed everything looked upward in a gesture of respect for the Source. He flexed and stretched his lean muscular form, feeling the rush that always accompanied a shapeshift. Unlike humans, shapelings gave no consideration for his looks. In fact, shapelings never considered any of their kind greater or lesser than another. The focus of every shapeling was upon mastery; mastery of shapeshifting. Roth glanced at the glow in the eastern sky. Soon the edge of the sun would appear. He smiled and walked the short distance to the Cave of Thirteen. At the exact moment the sun made its appearance, he stepped inside the cave lit by fire torches. Reverently, he approached the Thirteen and knelt, speaking the Prayer of Respect, "May the embers of truth always glow." "Rise, Roth," commanded the Prominent Prince. |
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