The book has been finished for more than a month now. I have been editing and have had it out to beta readers. I had to rewrite two whole chapters because I slipped in to a different POV. But it is finished and the editing is almost finished.
Now it is time to write a cover sheet and get it ready to submit to a publisher!
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Monday, November 10, 2014
Day Ten Word count 48,088
I am finished with Chapter 20. I still have five chapters to go for the planned end of my novel. I am excited to realize that I will exceed my word count by more than just a hundred words that I planed for a cushion.
I have been working hard and putting in a lot of long hours. My book is just about to reach its climax and I can feel the tension rise in the story line.
A small excerpt Chapter 20.
I have been working hard and putting in a lot of long hours. My book is just about to reach its climax and I can feel the tension rise in the story line.
A small excerpt Chapter 20.
Nate was almost home. He was bone weary and still did not
know how to tell Cynthia about the squaw. She was more help on the trail that
he would have thought. He was afraid that she would be a burden but he should
have known better. Teka never was.
When he woke up the next morning Teka was sitting beside
him.
“Why didn’t you wake me up when you got here?” Nate sat up
and stretched. He smelled breakfast cooking. Smelled like fish.
“She said you did not make camp until well after dark. I was
waiting until you woke up,” Teka said. “She told me what happened to you. I am
happy my tribe is not dead.”
Nate was rubbing his face with his hands. “Let’s have a cup
of coffee.”
The sat next to the fire. Nate was warming his hands. “Are
you thinking of going back to the tribe?”
“No,” Teka said. “My family is my tribe now. May and the
children would not adjust to my old way of life. I don’t think I would either.”
Nate nodded. He understood. He could not go home again. He
was happy in his new life so he did not mourn that life anymore.
Friday, November 7, 2014
Day 7 Word count 34,35 Chapter 15
Today I am going to do something a little different.
My word count is 34,135 and I am almost finished with chapter 15.
I am only posting a paragraph.
Nate glanced back before he shut the barn door. May had stopped working and
was holding Teka’s hand looking at his face. Nate looked away. Their love
was so new it still hurt to look at. Nate went in the house to check on Cynthia.
He did not know if he loved her but he knew that he would protect her and
the children. That seemed more important to him somehow.
My word count is 34,135 and I am almost finished with chapter 15.
I am only posting a paragraph.
Nate glanced back before he shut the barn door. May had stopped working and
was holding Teka’s hand looking at his face. Nate looked away. Their love
was so new it still hurt to look at. Nate went in the house to check on Cynthia.
He did not know if he loved her but he knew that he would protect her and
the children. That seemed more important to him somehow.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Day Five... yea I messed up some where.
Never mind the mess up. Today is Day Five! 28,139 Words to date!
Tomorrow I have three doctors appointments so I needed to get extra writing done today. Yea! I wrote for four and a half hours. I took a break for lunch then I wrote another two hours. I took another hour long break and wrote for my final hour.
This is the picture my husband sent me.
Texas sunrise. Perhaps this is what Nate and Teka saw in the mornings?
Nate's Gold Excerpt Chapter 12
Tomorrow I have three doctors appointments so I needed to get extra writing done today. Yea! I wrote for four and a half hours. I took a break for lunch then I wrote another two hours. I took another hour long break and wrote for my final hour.
This is the picture my husband sent me.
Texas sunrise. Perhaps this is what Nate and Teka saw in the mornings?
Nate's Gold Excerpt Chapter 12
“Where is your Indian?”
“That’s why I backtracked. He has
not showed up yet,” said Nate.
“Recon, he is dead?” The sheriff
smiled when he said it but Nate held his temper.
“No but he might be hurt somewhere.
He saved my life one time and I intend to return the favor.”
“Just don’t get in our way if you’re
not going to help.”
Nate acknowledged that he heard and
broke away from the men. He needed to find Teka. Nate rode on ahead looking for
signs that Teka might have left for him. Just before dark Nate heard the
sheriff and the other men shooting. They found the big herd and it sounded like
they were fighting with the rustlers. Nate left them to their business while he
hunted for Teka. Nate had almost given up because he had lost the light when he
heard the sound of a bobcat. Almost the sound of a bobcat Nate thought. Nate
smiled to himself. Teka was close.
At the second bobcat call Nate said
Teka’s name quietly.
“Over here,” Teka said quietly.
When Nate figured out where he was,
he pulled the leaves off of Teka.
Teka was laying in a low spot with
leaves piled on top of him.
Nate gave Teka a drink of water and
found him some hard tack.
“I waited all day for you. You are
slow,” Teka said.
“I know, I’m sorry. It took me a
while to figure out that you were not returning.”
“You’re here now.” Teka said.
Nate built a fire. There was no
reason to hide now. The Sheriff was taking care of the rustlers. When he got
the fire built he move Teka closer so he could see where he was hurt. Nate knew
he would not have been hidden if there was not a reason. Teka’s leg was at an
odd angle.
“Were gonna have to straighten that
out,” Nate said. Nate looked for a straight stick and took some leather straps
out of his saddle bag.
Teka got a piece of leather out of
his pouch. He put it between his teeth and nodded. Then Teka closed his eyes.
Nate gave his leg a tug until the bones lined up and strapped the leg to the
stick. Teka did not make a sound but Nate noticed he was sweating. It was too
cool for him to sweat long or he would be ill. Nate got his blanket off Brownie
and covered Teka up.
“Tomorrow morning I will look for
your horse and we will head home.” Nate realized he was talking to himself.
Teka had already gone to sleep.
Nate slept sporadically making sure
he kept the fire going. By morning there was light rain and it was sharp and
bitter. Nate need to get Teka to shelter fast.
As he was getting Brownie ready he
spotted Teka’s horse. He hadn’t’ wandered far, most horses stayed close to
their owners when their reigns hit the ground. He coaxed the horse to the fire
with a little bit of a hard biscuit. He tied the reigns to Brownie. She would
stay on command. Teka wasn’t waking up and Nate knew they were in trouble. As
quickly as he could Nate made a litter for him and bound it to the horse. A day’s
ride in this weather with that broken leg was going to be hard on Teka but it
was going to have to be what it was.
Nate wished he knew what kind of
herbs to put on Teka’s leg but he didn’t. They rode as fast as they could. When
they neared Swede’s place Nate thought they were close enough to home and Teka
needed shelter now. As Nate saw the light in the window he realized that it had
started to snow. So early in the season. They would have a hard winter.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Day Three and 21,377 words
Nate's Gold excerpt from Chapter 10
The next few days Nate and Teka caught
the cattle and branded them. Nate
planned to brand the mules and horses next. When it came to the horses Teka
balked.
“No one steal horse,” Teka said. “He
run fast, he buck, he bite.”
Nate laughed. Sounded like Brownie
when she was a colt.
“Teka, you don’t have to brand your
horse but I have to brand Brownie. So everyone will know that she is mine. So
they will begin to recognize my brand.”
“You brand Teka?”
Nate was surprised. “Why would I
brand you Teka?”
“Teka and Nate and Cynthia and boy,
tribe.”
“Yes we are family but we don’t
brand each other,” said Nate.
“I see black man brand. He belong
to white man.”
Nate thought about that for a
minute. He knew about slavery but he didn’t approve.
“Teka, I don’t own you. You are
family.”
Teka nodded then he said, “I brand
you.”
“Now wait a minute,” Nate said
backing up.
Teka reached in the bag he carried
on his hip and took out a beaded bracelet.
“Put out hand,” he said to Nate.
Nate began to understand and put
his hand out. Teka put the bracelet on Nate and wove the ends together.
“Now we are same tribe,” Teka said.
“Cynthia same tribe. Boy same tribe.”
Nate nodded his head. He fought
back the tears. “Yes we are same tribe.”
Teka put his arm out and the
beading on his arm and Nate’s beading was the same pattern. He had not paid any
attention when Teka was teaching Cynthia the pattern. Nate nodded.
When Nate branded Brownie, she laid
her ears back but she did not move. Teka made a poultice to put on her. Then he
brought his horse to Nate.
“He buck, he bite. I hold.”
Nate branded Teka’s horse and he
did buck and try to bite him but he was forewarned and stayed out of the way of
the teeth. Teka laughed as he held the horse.
“Horse strong, horse have courage.
Horse fight.” Teka could state the obvious in clear terms. He put the poultice
on his horse too even though he had to work harder at it.
When they finished supper that
evening Teka gave Cynthia a bracelet with the same pattern that Nate’s had.
Weaving it together he said, “You
now belong to tribe.”
Cynthia nodded gravely and handed
the baby to Teka. He had a necklace for the baby. It hung to his belly. She
took the baby back and swaddled him again.
“Now boy name Jasper. My tribe.
Comanche tribe.”
When she stood to put Jasper down
for the night she stopped and kissed Teka on the top of the head.
“Thank you,” was all she said.
Teka left the cabin. He never slept
there he liked it better in the barn. Nate played his harmonica and thought
about the family ceremony Teka had performed.
Strange how unplanned things can be
the most important things, Nate thought.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Day Two and 14,096 words so far
This morning I got up and wrote three hours before church.
I went to church and taught the little kids in Sunday School. Sometimes I get to substitute when there is no teacher for the little one.
Then I came home and wrote three more hours.
Here is an excerpt from Chapter 5: The Arrangement.
I went to church and taught the little kids in Sunday School. Sometimes I get to substitute when there is no teacher for the little one.
Then I came home and wrote three more hours.
Here is an excerpt from Chapter 5: The Arrangement.
They ordered breakfast and visited
like old friends. Henry telling all about the cabin they were building and his
need to come to town today to get supplies. Molly nodded from time to time
smiling at Henry. As they were
finishing up Spencer and Cynthia Spivey came down for breakfast. Nate started
to get up to leave when Spencer stood and spoke to him.
“Mr. Hobbs. It is good to see you
again. Have I introduced you to my sister?”
Nate turned and took his hat off.
He looked at Cynthia and said, “No you haven’t’.”
“This is my sister Cynthia Spivey. Cynthia
, this is Mr. Hobbs.”
Nate stuck his hand out, “Please
call me Nate.”
Cynthia did not say anything but
she took his hand and nodded her head.
“She is a bit shy,” Spenc said.
“Nice to meet you,” Nate said. He
turned to walk away when Spence began to speak.
“Mr. Hobbs, I have a proposition
for you.”
Curious Nate turned to Spence.
“What would that be,” he asked.
“Please sit and discuss it with us
while we eat breakfast.”
Nate sat and they ordered before
Spence started talking again.
“I understand that you’re not
married. My sister and I have quite a problem.”
“I’m not sure how I can help you,”
Nate said.
“Quite frankly, my sister needs a
husband.”
Nate was tipped back in his chair
waiting for the conversation to unfold. He almost tipped over backwards at
those words.
“What?” Nate set his chair upright.
“Mr. Hobbs, my sister needs a
husband. I am leaving with the Army tomorrow and I have not been able to find
my sister a husband. Our father died last month and his will states that she
cannot inherit her land without a husband. I thought you might be interested
because her land joins your land. The land you just bought. Hers is on the
other side of the river and runs along the same path.” Spence spoke quickly
before Nate could leave.
“I am not looking for a wife,” Nate
said. I’m still grieving for Alice, he thought.
“I understand that, but were in a
real bind here. It would be a good arrangement for both of you. You will be gone
for a year and that will give you plenty of time to adjust to a marriage. Cynthia
is a hard worker and she wants to keep her land. Think about it for a few
minutes and drink your coffee.” Spence was pushing hard but he knew he had to
give Nate a few minutes.
They ate breakfast and to Nate’s
surprise he started thinking about the benefits of an arranged marriage. Even
one this fast.
He would have someone to protect
his interest and there were the mules to take care of and… Yes this would work
out, Nate thought.
He looked at Cynthia. She’s so
plain, the thought. I wouldn’t have to worry about someone wanting to carry her
off. She’ll still be here when I get back.
“Ok,” Nate said.
Cynthia’s head jerked up looking at
him directly.
“I want children,” she said. “I
want to keep my land in my name.”
Nate stuck his hand out. “Done.”
She shook his hand out and he said,
“When you finish breakfast we will ask where the parson lives.”
Spence stood up and said, “Cynthia,
you didn’t need me. Not one bit. You made a good bargain Sis.”
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Chapter One: For Love or Money
Here are the first few paragraphs of the novel I am writing for NaNoWriMo.
There are 2038 words. This will not be edited nor corrected until after the month of November is over.
There are 2038 words. This will not be edited nor corrected until after the month of November is over.
For a few minutes Nate crouched
behind the outcropping overlooking the men below. When he rode up he had
stumbled upon the men talking and he was waiting to see if they were the posy chasing
him He knew from experience that he could hear almost everything that echoed off
the far canyon wall. Most of the conversation he could hear had to do with the
cabin below. His cabin. Nate’s wife was in there, waiting for him. . It was
going to be harder to get his wife out of the cabin if they were the posy that
was hunting him. Nate planned to go around back, through the hidden trail. He
liked to sneak up on his wife and surprise her. She always laughed when he did
that and he liked to see her smile.
Nate’s was listening very closely
now. They were starting to argue.
“Let’s just shoot the cabin up,”
said the taller man.
“Hang on, hang on. Let’s not be
hasty. Are we sure that is the cabin that belongs to Nate Hobbs?” Nate was
peeking out when he saw that it was the Sheriff speaking.
Nate ducked back behind the ledge
as one of the men started to turn his way.
“I haven’t seen anyone come out
since we’ve been sitting here watching. Are we sure someone is in there?” Nate
didn’t recognize that voice but it didn’t sound like the sheriff.
“I’ll go down and look, I can work
my way around that way,” he said. Nate watched him pointing to the west.
Nate figured that there were only
four of them. He thought that there might have been a fifth but he didn’t hear
him speak. He listened for a few more minutes before he started to work his way
back to the hidden trail to the cabin.
Nate gathered the reign’s to his
horse when he hear the sheriff yell to the cabin.
“Hello the cabin.”
Nate returned to his watching
position. The men in the posy were standing in open sight now. They were
looking toward the cabin most crowding to the front of their outcropping watching
the cabin as the Sherriff continued to yell.
“Hello the cabin. Nate Hobbs, are
you in there?”
Nate looked at the
window where the sink was. He knew that Alice, his wife would look through that
one if she was home.
Friday, October 31, 2014
This is my first year participating with NaNoWriMo 2014
A 50,000 word novel in the month of November.
I have tied up my loose ends and gotten my schedule clear and warned my family to only disturb me if they have Cokes or Chocolate.
To date
I have written a character out line for the main character.
Planned some temporary Chapter Titles
Created a story outline that has been revised at least twice
Printed out guidelines for my story that have to do with
Elements of a good scene
Story Development and Revision Worksheet
Plot and Conflict flow sheet
Plot template.
Today is my last day to plan and I will be filling out all of my worksheets and flow charts and posting them on the wall.
I will try every day to at least give a summary of the work I did for the day and perhaps just a taste of some of the work I have done. My web page does not allow me space to do that so I thought blogging would be a good work space for that.
I am learning what makes a good novel. I am also learning that the only way to learn to write... is to WRITE. Butt in seat, Hands on keys!
A 50,000 word novel in the month of November.
I have tied up my loose ends and gotten my schedule clear and warned my family to only disturb me if they have Cokes or Chocolate.
To date
I have written a character out line for the main character.
Planned some temporary Chapter Titles
Created a story outline that has been revised at least twice
Printed out guidelines for my story that have to do with
Elements of a good scene
Story Development and Revision Worksheet
Plot and Conflict flow sheet
Plot template.
Today is my last day to plan and I will be filling out all of my worksheets and flow charts and posting them on the wall.
I will try every day to at least give a summary of the work I did for the day and perhaps just a taste of some of the work I have done. My web page does not allow me space to do that so I thought blogging would be a good work space for that.
I am learning what makes a good novel. I am also learning that the only way to learn to write... is to WRITE. Butt in seat, Hands on keys!
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