The incredibly talented Author Heidi Chandler invited me to participate in the Work in Progress (WIP) Blog Tour. I’m happy to take part.
Here is the link to Heidi Chandler’s latest work in progress right Here. Heidi Chandler’s first book looks so heart breaking. The second has me intrigued with only a few snippets. I can’t wait to read the finished product. You have a fan in me, Heidi.
Now…here are the rules for the tour: Provide the link back to the post by the person who nominated you (see above). Write a little about and give the first sentences of the first three chapters of your current WIP, then nominate four other writers to do the same.
Sweet Sleep was released on August 5th 2014. This is the first book in the Children of Ankh series. The second book I will post some snippets for, hopefully without any obvious spoilers. I’m still trying to decide between three names for the second book in the series.
The silken texture of the grass beneath her body along with the warmth of the sunlight that seductively caressed the length of her bare legs was magic. She lay next to him in the grass as they quietly observed the sky above. His hand seemed to be always just out of reach. Kayn wanted to hold his hand so badly it was torturous. It was just about touching his but not quite. His fingers brushed a path across her fingertips as if to say in the exquisite beauty of the moment, “I will always be right here.” She would open her eyes long enough to know it was not reality and then close them again. For her desire to live there in that moment with him was so strong. She had to at least make an attempt to slip back into the dream.
The days that passed had begun to melt together into weeks and months, creating a twisted mosaic of memories in her mind. Her dreams traveled a tortuous path between what had actually happened, and what could have been.
Chapter 1
Grey grinned raised his glass and said, “To the newest of the Ankh.” They all raised their glasses and then awkwardly attempted to clink their exceptionally classy pink flamingo plastic wine glasses.
Kayn took a big gulp of the peach cider. She was surprised, it was delicious. She said, “May I ask who picked out these delightful pink flamingo wine glasses? They are absolutely amazing.”
Grey chuckled, “That would be me. Do not mock my flamingo wine glasses.”
Kayn said, “How can one mock these flamingo wine glasses. When, they are so obviously awesome.”
Grey said, “And this is why me and Miss Brighton are going to be best friends.”
Chapter 2
Kayn sat on the shore and wiggled her toes back and forth slowly. She had always enjoyed the warm calming feeling of the sand. It slipped as a silken scarf of liquid sunshine across the surface of her skin. Kayn took one hand and ran it over the surface of the sand. It shifted as though it had been moved by a light breeze without her hand making contact. Her life now had no room for feet being firmly planted on the ground. She had to allow her mind to take off in flight and except the impossible. She had to embrace life as a toddler. In a child's world, every breath of life is a mystery; everything has the possibility of being magic. She smiled as she imagined that the suns last rays were flames from a distant dragon. Kayn understood that she was an immortal toddler of sorts. She stared at a crab as it tickled a path in the palm of her hand.
The shade of the sky changed ever so slightly in her peripheral vision. She raised her eyes from her toes to the horizon. To witness the suns last dance in the daylight as it began to descend slowly...Magically into the distant sea. Exotic pastel hues of orange and fuchsia were now painted across the fading expression of the day. A calm yet isolating vision to take into her heart for it made her feel exceedingly small in the grand scheme of things.
Chapter 3
Moments… there are always moments where a decision has to be made. In mortal life there is a choice to be made. One road, or another? The ultimate chose your own adventure story. In the clans, there is only one option, and that is to do whatever your clan’s oracle tells you to do.
Kayn's steps crunched through the icy snow. She smiled as she watched her breath escape into the crisp evening air. She sat down on the cold wooden bench outside the clinic. Gentle flakes of white powdery snow began to float from the heavens above them. Kayn loved to watch Grey's face in moments such as this one. He never forgot to enjoy the simplest of things. He practiced what he preached. It made them all want to enjoy those moments with him. He smiled and kept his eyes open as the flakes caught in his eyelashes. He blinked as they melted instantaneously from the warmth of his breath as the twirling waves of his moist heat traveled up from his parted lips towards his eyes. Kayn found herself trying to emulate him. She went one step further and stuck out her tongue. The flakes melted instantaneously it wasn't quite cold enough outside for them to remain. She had now been to places where her bubble gum froze inside of her mouth as she tried to chew it. Places where when your nose ran it froze solid on her skin in seconds. It was a place like that where Zach learned that peeing in the snow was an incredibly inept idea. She smiled at the memory. Kayn stuck her tongue out as far as it she could in an attempt to see the flakes that rested on its tip. Realizing she was cross eyed as she attempted to look at the tip of her tongue and she probably looked hilarious. She slipped her tongue back in between her lips.
Chapter 4
A large part of their training for the testing seemed to revolve around just that. Understanding that they could not die, this was a surprisingly difficult thing to wrap your mind around. There was only one of the clan members that had no fear. This was Lexy. Lexy ran head on into situations that most sane people ran away from. She never flinched. There was never a moment of hesitation for her. They met up with Markus, Arrianna and a girl named Flora. They needed Arrianna to run the tombs so they could take a trip to the in-between with Lexy. Kayn loved this part of the training.
Lily had borrowed a storage unit. They walked inside and Frost pulled the rope on the door and closed it. Grey created a small flame in the palm of his hand for light. Grey, Lily, Lexy, and Frost nonchalantly threw down their Ankh stones on the floor. They made a hollow sound as they landed on the cement. In the dimly lit storage unit, four stone Ankh tombs appeared as a hologram and then solidified.
Zach said, “That is always so cool.”
Kayn looked at him and said, “Ditto.”
Grey climbed into tomb and glanced at Arrianna. She chucked Grey's tunes at him. He caught them mid air and said, “Thanks babe” Everyone hopped into their tombs. Kayn wondered,
Which Ankh would she be sharing a tomb with?
Grey teased, “Melody, come hop in mine. There’s plenty of room."
Arrianna shook her head at Grey and sparred,” Oh, just lay off the poor girl, Romeo.”She directed Melody to Lily’s tomb and said, “That one doesn't bite.”
Grey winked and said, “Just in case you three haven’t figured it out. I’m being mocked and ridiculed because Arrianna is my ex girlfriend. She thinks she can get away with it. I’ll have you know that I haven’t bitten anyone in a very long time.”
Arrianna teased, “Is that the true Lily?”
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