Laura Smith
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Katharine's Remarkable Road Trip historical fiction novel giveaway 4/22-5/6
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Author Gail Ward Olmsted is giving away a hard copy of her novel, Katharine's Remarkable Road Trip. Set in 1907, the story follows 77-year-old Kathari
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Katharine's Remarkable Road Trip historical fiction novel giveaway 4/22-5/6
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Author Gail Ward Olmsted is giving away a hard copy of her novel, Katharine's Remarkable Road Trip. Set in 1907, the story follows 77-year-old Kathari
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Advanced Copies for Review & Book Giveaways
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Katharine's Remarkable Road Trip historical fiction novel giveaway 4/22-5/6
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Author Gail Ward Olmsted is giving away a hard copy of her novel, Katharine's Remarkable Road Trip. Set in 1907, the story follows 77-year-old Kathari
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Katharines’s Remarkable Road Trip is a fictional account of a very real woman who lived long ago. Set in October 1907, 77-year-old Katharine Prescott Wormeley decides to drive herself from her home in Rhode Island to her second home in New Hampshire ...more | |
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Where I See You Dystopian Fiction Novel ARC Giveaway
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jzpaul wrote: "would it be a hard copy or ebook" An ebook.
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Coco The Mooing Horse is about an old, gray horse who dances to his own beat. Instead of neighing in the barnyard, he likes to moo, and that mooing eventually turns into singing. Despite jeers and complaints from many of his fellow animals on the far ...more | |
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“I didn’t see Danny come in or run towards me. He was just suddenly there, pulling me up by my arm so hard that I gasped. I felt his grip on my skin long after he let go. We ran down the steps where Mom met us, coughing. She was followed by a thick black cloud of smoke. I had never felt smoke that hot in my life. I tasted ash when I breathed in.
“Go! Get out!” she choked, waving us towards the front door.
We ran out into the night in our pajamas.
“Run to Violet’s!” Mom called behind us.
- The Stable House”
―
“Go! Get out!” she choked, waving us towards the front door.
We ran out into the night in our pajamas.
“Run to Violet’s!” Mom called behind us.
- The Stable House”
―
“Did I ever tell you that we used to keep our horses where your house is?”
“Yeah,” I mumbled.
She continued her story, “My brothers used to get up early every morning and go across the street, well, there wasn’t a street there yet. It was just a dirt road, and they used to get up and clean the stables and feed the horses every morning. I would go over there once they had finished and give the horses a brush, even though none of those horses were mine. I had always wanted my own horse, but I never got one. When my father got older, he got rid of the horses and sold the land, all but this yard here."
She spread her hand over the yard as she said this.
"I grew up and got married and had to move away. My husband and I lived in an apartment above a bread store. And it was so cramped, let me tell you. There was nowhere to move around and no yard to take care of. It was terrible. I’m not saying I wanted my husband to die. I’d never have wished that in a million years. But I was so relieved to come home after two years, and I've lived here ever since."
I had stopped raking, turned and looked at her.
"I know why you don’t want to leave this street," she said, "You’ve been in that house your whole life, just like me. And no matter where you go it’s not going to seem like home. But just like me, you’re going to come back. You have to remind yourself of that. And I did hate being away from home, but it was the most memorable time in my life, being away. It was an adventure as much as it was scary. But when I came home, I learned to get out more. I went to beauty school and got a job at the salon and took trips with friends. I like to get away from the house so that I can come back and still appreciate it. And you will too after you come back.”
I nodded at Violet. What she was saying made sense.
“I’ll go,” I said, “Tell them I’ll go.”
- The Stable House”
―
“Yeah,” I mumbled.
She continued her story, “My brothers used to get up early every morning and go across the street, well, there wasn’t a street there yet. It was just a dirt road, and they used to get up and clean the stables and feed the horses every morning. I would go over there once they had finished and give the horses a brush, even though none of those horses were mine. I had always wanted my own horse, but I never got one. When my father got older, he got rid of the horses and sold the land, all but this yard here."
She spread her hand over the yard as she said this.
"I grew up and got married and had to move away. My husband and I lived in an apartment above a bread store. And it was so cramped, let me tell you. There was nowhere to move around and no yard to take care of. It was terrible. I’m not saying I wanted my husband to die. I’d never have wished that in a million years. But I was so relieved to come home after two years, and I've lived here ever since."
I had stopped raking, turned and looked at her.
"I know why you don’t want to leave this street," she said, "You’ve been in that house your whole life, just like me. And no matter where you go it’s not going to seem like home. But just like me, you’re going to come back. You have to remind yourself of that. And I did hate being away from home, but it was the most memorable time in my life, being away. It was an adventure as much as it was scary. But when I came home, I learned to get out more. I went to beauty school and got a job at the salon and took trips with friends. I like to get away from the house so that I can come back and still appreciate it. And you will too after you come back.”
I nodded at Violet. What she was saying made sense.
“I’ll go,” I said, “Tell them I’ll go.”
- The Stable House”
―
“I had heard this dog barking over the music earlier, but this was the first time I had seen him. He was a giant, brown Great Dane who was either annoyed or excited by everything that was going on. He made a beeline for the girls who had just stepped back onto the sidewalk. Ruby was the first of them to spot him coming at them and began to scream and run backwards. The rest of the group froze in place. The dog was barking like crazy as it charged at them. He circled Ruby once and then pounced on her. Ruby screamed and swatted at the dog with her bucket and then took off down the sidewalk.
“Ruby!” I screamed, “Don’t run!”
- The Stable House”
―
“Ruby!” I screamed, “Don’t run!”
- The Stable House”
―
“Mike couldn’t believe that Mr. Mackey’s secret tragedy was connected to his store, and no one had ever told him.
“Do you think he’d ever take it back?”
“Why would he? His son was never found, and he still blames your dad for it. I think it’s his way of making himself feel better about the accident. He thinks horror movies are evil or something.”
“That’s stupid. Most kids are more scared of him than they are of horror movies,” Mike said, “He shouldn’t blame my dad.”
“He thinks he’s protecting the kids,” Tim said, rolling his eyes.
“Well, if he is trying to save kids, why is he so mean to us? Everyone’s afraid of him. Even Jack.”
“I don’t know. I guess he’s just a cranky old man. Don’t take it personally. He’s had it rough. He has to stand on that playground everyday knowing that just over that fence, his son’s body is down there somewhere.”
“Then why doesn’t he teach at another school?”
“I don’t know, bud. Sometimes people just like to torture themselves.”
- Saving Hascal's Horrors”
―
“Do you think he’d ever take it back?”
“Why would he? His son was never found, and he still blames your dad for it. I think it’s his way of making himself feel better about the accident. He thinks horror movies are evil or something.”
“That’s stupid. Most kids are more scared of him than they are of horror movies,” Mike said, “He shouldn’t blame my dad.”
“He thinks he’s protecting the kids,” Tim said, rolling his eyes.
“Well, if he is trying to save kids, why is he so mean to us? Everyone’s afraid of him. Even Jack.”
“I don’t know. I guess he’s just a cranky old man. Don’t take it personally. He’s had it rough. He has to stand on that playground everyday knowing that just over that fence, his son’s body is down there somewhere.”
“Then why doesn’t he teach at another school?”
“I don’t know, bud. Sometimes people just like to torture themselves.”
- Saving Hascal's Horrors”
―
“Don’t tell Mom, but I think my little emergency last night was a sign. And I was thinking of you when it happened. So, I’m worried that this is a prediction about you. Do you have something big planned? Something dangerous that you’re going to do?”
Mike looked away. He didn’t want to lie to her but he also couldn’t tell her his plan.
“Well, whatever it is, don’t do it, okay? You’re going to get the feeling soon too. I know it,” she yawned, “It feels like it’s a long way off, but I’ve never had this strong a reaction before. And now that I’m stuck in bed, I can’t help you…or stop you. So please, whatever you’re doing, let it go, okay? Especially if it’s about the shop. Just let me handle it.”
“I’ll be careful,” he said.
“Huh?” she yawned again.
He didn’t answer. Her eyelids grew heavy until they closed all the way. Mike lifted the sheet that was turned down from the bed and draped it over her. Then, he left the room, closing the door behind him.
- Saving Hascal's Horrors”
―
Mike looked away. He didn’t want to lie to her but he also couldn’t tell her his plan.
“Well, whatever it is, don’t do it, okay? You’re going to get the feeling soon too. I know it,” she yawned, “It feels like it’s a long way off, but I’ve never had this strong a reaction before. And now that I’m stuck in bed, I can’t help you…or stop you. So please, whatever you’re doing, let it go, okay? Especially if it’s about the shop. Just let me handle it.”
“I’ll be careful,” he said.
“Huh?” she yawned again.
He didn’t answer. Her eyelids grew heavy until they closed all the way. Mike lifted the sheet that was turned down from the bed and draped it over her. Then, he left the room, closing the door behind him.
- Saving Hascal's Horrors”
―
Advanced Copies for Review & Book Giveaways
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This is a group for authors to discuss their craft, as well as publishing and book marketing.
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Read, Review, and Make ConnectionsA This is a place for Authors, Bloggers, Publishers, Reviewers, Book Tours, Giveaways, and Interviews to make connec ...more