Excerpts
Nine Lives Excerpts
Page 206
Feelings of hopelessness rushed at him, but he could muster no tears. His thoughts paralyzed him with sadness and helplessness and fear. The only rational image that came to mind was to pull himself together and slink out of the apartment, down the catwalk, and make a bee-line to the hotel, making his movements as obscure as possible. Let the cops, the landlord, the coroner, and the old laundering hag figure it out for themselves. He was staring at his hands folded in his lap, doing his best to coax himself to his feet when he heard the popping of bubbles coming from the water. Sam’s head was still down when a faint groan caught his attention. Sam lifted his eyes to see Harold’s boots slip off the ledge, and trail down the end of the tub with the common vibrating squeak that wet things make. His knees were bent now, with just the caps visible to Sam who was still on the floor. Harold’s left hand grasped the edge of the tub, claw-like, and then the right hand on the opposing side.
With both hands holding tight to the rim of the bath, fiery red hair emerged, drippiong with a slick, sheen of water, followed by a whole familiar head then a torso. The body raised to a crouched position at first, stabilizing its weight, then rose to a full standing position, with his eyes facing out the window and away from Sam.
***NEW*** Excerpt From Upcoming Novel: The Thirteenth Sign
I am cursed!
Plagued, doomed, possibly damned for all time or, at the very least, the rest of my natural life. It has taken me twenty-seven years to come to such a conclusion but I have yet to find another rational explanation for my state. Go on gossip if you wish on the possibilities of my state of mind, but what I am speaking about is a true condition, a reoccurring phenomenon that I can’t avoid anymore than breathing. Oh, sure I have tried to escape the clutches of what has entangled me since the beginning and have not received relief in the slightest way. Repeatedly I proposed to change my surrounding, either physical or mental to remove myself from the blasphemy that has surrounded my existence since birth but with no relief. Now, before you begin thinking to yourself that this girl has gone off the deep end, please rest assured. This is merely an acknowledgement not surrender. There should be no fear that I will take any rash or hasty actions at this point. But, since we’re on the subject, you may want to know what is it that I am raving, no, discussing in length about? What reported anti-blessing that has hung around my neck like an albatross for these twenty-seven year to date?
It is simply this: I am just too damned agreeable!
Shocking isn’t it? Maybe such a quality would seem desirable for the most part, but from where I stand, it is nothing short of weakness of character. I can’t say no to anyone! As far back as I can recall, it has been this way with me. Someone asks something of me and I am all too accepting of their wish. As if something inside me, something I have no control over has to say yes. Family, friends, coworkers-you name it. I will be more than happy to do whatever you ask of me. Just to cut through the red tape, I was thinking of getting the word sucker tattooed on my forehead.
Chapter One, Page One
NEW - The Thirteenth Sign Synopsis
Sydney Monroe is assisting the Saintclair family of New Orleans for one reason only: her grandmother forced her!
Not to be deterred, Sydney begrudgingly accepts the task—she actually has no choice—and goes kicking and screaming all in the attempt to help her fellow man.
The Saintclair’s being old acquaintances of the family, Sydney sets off to aid them, fully equipped with her psychic ability that has gone south, a personal relationship that just crashed and burned, a younger sister who is less than enthusiastic to help her in her time of need and, although she’s not Catholic, she holds a grudge against the church that would crack the black light over any velvet painting of the savior.
What Sydney Monroe is not prepared for is Vickers Saintclair: a vacant eyed waif of a girl that peeks out from behind her long, straight hair. With skin as pale as alabaster and a stark expression, Vickers may hold the mystery of her own family’s tragedy and a secret that could alter both Vickers’ and Sydney’s world forever.
