Don't forget to visit the other authors at the link above, there's something for all tastes.
I hope you had a lovely💗 Valentine's Day 💗and were spoilt or did the spoiling for) your loved one, if only a little bit. I had chocs and flowers from the hubby, dog and horse 😻 )
Something a little different from me for Snippet Sunday this week. (This will probably be the last time I post for a while but I'll try and visit my Writing Warrior friends whenever I can.)
Show Australia Some Love
As I mentioned last week, The Wild Rose Press, and 48 authors have published three volumes of short stories to raise funds to help those affected by the devastating wildfires.The ebooks can be found on Amazon as well as any other distributor where you purchase ebooks. They're available now. Print versions are also available from Amazon but Amazon will take their cut, whereas all of the money raised on the Wild Rose Press will go to the charity.
My contribution is in volume 1 and is an historical western - a change from my usual SF/Fantasy romances.
https://www.amazon.com/Australia-Burns-Show-Some-Love-ebook/dp/B0848W2HQT
My contribution is Portrait of a Gunfighter. It is in volume 1, and is a departure from my usual SF/Fantasy romance, although it still has romantic elements. Historical Westerns were actually my first love until I started writing stories that are 'out of this world'.
SNIPPET
(Please excuse some creative punctuation to conform to the ten sentence rule)
SNIPPET
(Please excuse some creative punctuation to conform to the ten sentence rule)
Almost two hours after High Noon; Freemont Street lies deserted, wilting in the fiery rays of the afternoon sun. I draw back the lace curtains and peer through the window, the only sign of life is a single horse, a large bay, hitched to the rail on the other side of the street.
“We’re gonna have to go now, Honey.”
The words, although spoken in a soft tone, startle me, I turn back from the window, to face the four men standing, waiting.
“Please—please don’t go. Let the sheriff handle it.”
“It’s too late for that now, Hun. You know it is - Sheriff Behan’s worse’n useless, if he was goin’ to stop it, he should’ve stepped in a long time ago.”
I know, deep down, that he has to go, but it breaks my heart to think he might be going to his death. I look up at him, trying to smile, and cling to him briefly, “Go then, God be with you.”
“We’ll be all right, Darlin’.”
Another hand touches my arm.,“Don’t you worry none, Sweet Lady we know what we’re doing.”
“We’re gonna have to go now, Honey.”
The words, although spoken in a soft tone, startle me, I turn back from the window, to face the four men standing, waiting.
“Please—please don’t go. Let the sheriff handle it.”
“It’s too late for that now, Hun. You know it is - Sheriff Behan’s worse’n useless, if he was goin’ to stop it, he should’ve stepped in a long time ago.”
I know, deep down, that he has to go, but it breaks my heart to think he might be going to his death. I look up at him, trying to smile, and cling to him briefly, “Go then, God be with you.”
“We’ll be all right, Darlin’.”
Another hand touches my arm.,“Don’t you worry none, Sweet Lady we know what we’re doing.”
One of the most important anthologies ever! From the authors of The Wild Rose Press.
February 14 was not just Valentines Day—it was also the release date for Australia Burns: Show Australia Some Love.
This is a three-volume book of stories by a total of forty eight authors at the Wild Rose Press. Romance, thrillers, mystery—whatever you like, and something for everyone. We are donating ALL proceeds to the Australia Red Cross, to be distributed as needed to help rebuild, rehabilitate, and help the thousands of people and animals affected by the horrible fires which swept across Australia, and the aftermath of the rainstorms.
Australia Burns: Show Australia Some Love will be available at all online stores. Please help us raise funds to help in this tragedy. It is now available on Amazon and The Wild Rose Press.
NOTE: If you buy the print from the Wild Rose Press it will bring in more money to send. https://www.thewildrosepress.com/product/australia-burns-volume-one
You get forty eight wonderful stories to enjoy and you’re supporting relief efforts in devastated Australia.
Volume One Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0848W2HQT
Volume Two Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0849MSLBT
Volume Three Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084H4J37S
UK Amazon Link:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=australia+burns+wild+rose+press+authors
Volume Two Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0849MSLBT
Volume Three Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084H4J37S
UK Amazon Link:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=australia+burns+wild+rose+press+authors
This sounds a lot more dire than the usual High Noon shenanigans. Good snippet, Hywela, and good luck to your anthology!
ReplyDeleteThanks Siobhan - this is actually based on a well known incident in the Old West, and it did end in something of a blood bath!
DeleteJust out of curiosity, what did the the dog and horse use to buy the chocs and flowers? Maybe I can get my dog use the same resource to pay for some of her food.
ReplyDeleteWell Ed, I have it straight from the horse's mouth :) (not to mention the dog's) that they had to make an exchange of dog and horse treats to get the husband to shop for them!
DeleteI can hardly wait to read your story!
ReplyDeleteI think this is such a wonderful thing WRP and so many of their authors are doing!
Aw thanks, Teresa. It's such a privilege to have been part of this and to do what we can to help those whose lives have been turned upside down by these terrible wildfires.
DeleteWell done, my friend. Yes, WRP is doing the right thing. Bless all of you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Charmaine. It's heartwarming the way the Publisher, editors and cover artists all stepped in to make this happen, and so many authors wanted to contribute.
DeleteClearly, there's trouble ahead.
ReplyDeleteHi Aurora - there clearly is!
DeleteHope those aren't famous last words! Your book is right at my elbow waiting for me to finish my current read. Can't wait to get into it. Don't stay away for too long! We'll miss you too much!
ReplyDeleteAw how lovely of you to say that, Nancy. I just need to take a step back from blogging and social media for a bit and get this darned ghost pony novel finished! :)
DeleteIntriguing snippet, very Wild Western in flavor and tone. I hope the anthology does well, so wonderful of all the authors to want to help Australia recover by contributing their work!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Veronica. I hope the anthology does well so we can send a worthwhile sum to Australia Red Cross. I think it's selling pretty well at the moment!
ReplyDeleteI hope everything turns out okay, but I fear something might go wrong.
ReplyDeleteI fear you're right, thanks for coming by, Kren.
ReplyDeleteI really get the feel of the old West. Great snippet!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Kate, glad you liked it.
ReplyDeleteOh no, I hope they do end up being safe. Loved the characters' interactions with each other.
ReplyDeleteKeep smiling,
Yawatta
Thanks Yawatta, so glad you enjoyed it!
DeleteA great anthology for a great cause.
ReplyDeleteThanks Diane - yes , let's hope we're able to help the poor victims of the wildfires.
ReplyDeleteThought about you. A few evenings ago, I watched a movie on Netflix called "The Ballad of Lefty Brown". I hadn't watched a good western in years. I'd never heard of the movie before I stumbled across it while looking for the new episode of "Picard". Anyway, for the life of me, I cannot imagine how Bill Pullman was not nominated for some kind of award for his acting! I recommend. :-) Hope you can get it where you live. :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Teresa - I'll have to look that up. I'm not actually on Netflix but I wonder if it might be available on DVD/ anway, thank s for thinking of me, I do love a good Western!
ReplyDelete