I know I know, I’ve been absent from WIPpet Wednesday for about 3 weeks, possibly longer – I’ve lost track. And I also know that I’m posting this a day early – on Tuesday UK time. How shocking! 😉 Anyway I’ve had good reason to be absent. One of the weeks I missed I was busy with my launch of my debut novel The Inheritance (which if you haven’t read it and would like to is available in the US and UK). That was two weeks ago.
Then last week my mum came to stay the night and what with sorting out the house for her coming, and her actually being here on the Wednesday, I didn’t have much chance to prepare/post anything.
But I’m back now and in honour of it being the 2nd October today, I thought I’d post 2 paragraphs from chapter 5. My maths goes like this: 2 + 1 (the month minus the 0) + 2 (the year minus the 013) = 5! OK, OK I know I’m using the number 2 for the paragraphs and the chapter but that’s cos I can!
BTW I should say the photo in this post doesn’t have a lot to do with my contribution to this week’s WIPpet Wednesday, but I really like it (and I couldn’t find anything else suitable!). It’s very calming, which is actually what my main character Anna – in my current WIP Reunion – needs right now.
So without further ado I will introduce you to my excerpt which is from Reunion again. It’s going back a bit in the story from what I last shared with you. Anna and Melissa have just arrived at the hotel in London on their trip to meet Anna’s agent. Enjoy!
Melissa shrugged and rolled her eyes but said nothing. Their trip in the taxi was thankfully short after their tiring train journey. It wasn’t long before the two friends were at the hotel and were settling in to their twin bedroom. The hotel was a budget one, so fairly basic. Their room was long and narrow with a small, slightly dusty window at the far end.
The air smelled fustily of cigarettes, even though smoking was banned. Anna wrinkled her nose at the odour. She was enjoying herself none the less. Their room didn’t have much of a view but that didn’t matter to her. She had a vivid imagination and since she’d been a child had loved picturing imaginary places in her mind, so could always picture a view just by closing her eyes. Nowadays she enjoyed transforming hazy visions in her head into a more concrete idea of a place that could be a location in a story.
If you would like to take part in WIPpet Wednesday just post an excerpt on your blog of whatever you’re currently working on writing-wise. The only rule is that it has to relate in some way to today’s date. Then once you’ve done that add your name to this linky. Thanks to K. L. Schwengel for hosting. 🙂
Elaine Jeremiah 
Welcome back Elaine!
I really like all the details in this extract and how a mundane hotel room can be so much more by simply using your imagination. Oh the joys of being a writer!
LikeLike
Thanks Kate. It’s good to be back! Yes indeed, the joys of being a writer can be great. 🙂
LikeLike
Stale cigarette smoke in a hotel room is the worst. I stayed in a room like that in MI. It was supposed to be non-smoking as well. On the whole, their room sounds way better than the one I got stuck in. Excellent imagery.
LikeLike
Thank you Kathi. I write from experience – the number of times I’ve been into a hotel room and they’re supposed to be smoke-free (have been for years) and you just get that horrible stale smell. Yuk!
LikeLike
There’s something FUN about travel and staying in a hotel room, though I’d wrinkle my nose too at the scent of stale cigarette smoke. Boo. My eyes sort of tripped up on the the word “fustily” though. Is that a word? lol, I don’t think I’ve seen it used as an adverb before. Loved the descriptions, and welcome back!!
Oh, small tidbit. I bought your ebook, and when I opened it up in my Kindle App, it showed the cover page, the title page, and then went right into the first chapter. I skimmed to the last part of the book, and that’s where the chapter links and dedication page and copywright information all wound up. I don’t know if that was done on purpose, but if it wasn’t, I wanted to let you know about it 🙂 Haven’t read more than the first few pages yet, but I’ll keep you posted!
LikeLike
Um… just looked up ‘fustily’ and some dictionaries list it some don’t. But well spotted!
Thanks very much for buying my book. Hope you enjoy it! Hmmm thanks for the info re chapter links etc. will look into it although I know that most Kindle books I read just launch straight into the first chapter and I don’t generally even see the cover.
Anyway glad you enjoyed the extract. 🙂
LikeLike
The air smelled fustily of cigarettes, even though smoking was banned.
Reminds me of my old university residence. We were supposed to be at least 10 metres away from the door if we were smoking, but it didn’t stop some people from just doing it in their rooms!
I really like the other descriptions in the piece, too. It definitely conveys that Anna is a writer and observes all those little things that others might miss.
LikeLike
Oh I would have hated fusty-smelling halls of residence! Glad you like the descriptions too. BTW can you remind me when exactly you’re coming to the UK next month? Kate and I were going to see you in Bath I think, but I can’t remember exactly which date. 🙂
LikeLike
😀 Certainly! I am arriving in Bath about lunchtime on the 25th and am there until the 28th. And yeek, it hadn’t actually occurred to me yet that it’s now “next month”. Eee! 😀
LikeLike
Oh that’s fab. We’ll arrange to meet with Kate sometime during your stay in Bath. It’ll be great to meet another WIPpeteer! 🙂
LikeLike
haha so something I would do…also something I would do to calm nerves. Great descriptions in here!!
LikeLike
Glad you enjoyed it and can identify with it. 🙂
LikeLike
Welcome back!
LikeLike
Thanks! 😀
LikeLike
I like the nod to story writing. 🙂 Anna is much more gracious about cigarette smell than I am. *nose wrinkle*
LikeLike
I know what you mean. I get fed up when people smoke in bus shelters in my city which is now illegal. Have to admit I don’t have the courage to tell them to stop which makes me feel even madder!
LikeLike
It’s not lack of courage. You’re taking the high road. Being polite when they’re being rude. 🙂
LikeLike
Well thank you. And you’re definitely right, it is a form of rudeness to smoke like that when it’s not allowed!
LikeLike
Welcome back!
I’ve stayed in some rooms like that, though nowadays they don’t bother me as much any more. I think this is probably because I married a smoker and we spend a lot of time in Vegas where people are allowed to smoke inside of the casinos 😛
LikeLike
Thanks. I guess once you’re used to smoking it bothers you less. I must say I’m glad though that they’ve banned smoking in public places here in the UK because smoke can’t be contained!
LikeLike