I'll have a SLICE of POV Pie, PLEASE!

Recently, while working on my current novel project, I began to wonder how well my POV changes were executed in my first published novel, Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider. I promptly grabbed the novel off the shelf and began to count and label POV switches, thinking that I might find a pattern or a lovely graph of POV usage to tickle my fancy. What I found was something that tasted a little like day-old donuts...

There were 81 POV Switches (herein called POV Instances, or POVI's) in all. That in itself is no crime with the ensemble cast I employed to tell the story. Beth Rider was the primary POV; which is to be expected as, well, read the title of the book... Okay, then her hero, Michael Stone was the 2nd most used POV, and then to Javier, a middle-of-the-road character who was seeking truth, the 3rd. So far, all this is perfect. Sitting firmly in 4th place is the antagonist, Jack Dawn. Right on course. Excellent.

So what's the problem?

I found some POV errors that me nor my editors noticed before the book went to print. 4 out of 81 POVI's were a little muddy or mixed. Do they matter? Not to the readers. Readers don't care about such things. But authors will notice and wonder, 'did she mean to do that?' So for the edification of all, I have charted the POVI's of Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider, The Judging, and my work in progress, Rabbit: Legacy. Let's have a look:

Here, you can see all of what I was sharing about the POV distribution among my characters... I like the distribution of POV, and am satisfied that it is correct for the storyline.


Now look at unpublished future sensation, THE JUDGING:

This novel has been edited close to 20 times by four people, and it about as close to perfect as it is going to get before it goes to print. It is proper that there are 4 main characters giving the POV, and 3 supporting. Also, my minors are so minor, that they only give one shot. This is good for victims... It works well.  The POVI's are good. But I found other problems that I would not have found had I not plotted the POVI's. I found some Chapter-ization errors. (Yes, I made that word up). I found some places I should break for a new chapter (such as when introducing a new character for the first time). I never really 'saw' that before I had the POVI's plotted.

Now, on my current project, I am finding the plotting is helpful to make sure I am on track. Writing a brand new novel from scratch, I have a tendency to run off with my emotional favorites and leave the heroine/hero behind as I develop the book. Here, Canaan appears to be the main character because so far, he has the most POVI's. But... it will likely be an even split between Canaan, Beth Rider and the antagonists. Let's see how it looks with 42,000/100,000 words down so far:

By looking at this POV Pie, I can see that the lukewarm guys and the evil guys have been written first, and the heroes last. I will need to get to writing those guys soon or no one will win the battle at the end!

So, I sincerely hope you enjoyed this slices of POV pie, and maybe you will one day plot your POVI's and see how you're doing in this sensitive subject among authors. I enjoyed the exercise and I will do it for all my novels now, BEFORE I send them to the editor.

I'm off to make changes!  Boker tov/have a great day!

A LEGACY of fine and exciting Characters...

Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider fans have a common cry among them: PLEASE WRITE MORE MRS. MAZE! 

Aiming to please those who ask as well as myself (for who loves to write more than a writer?), I am happily and busily working on the sequel to Rabbit. This novel is entitled RABBIT: LEGACY and it will bring all loose ends to a satisfying conclusion...most likely.* The goal is 100,000 words and tonight we sit at 37,000+. It is looking really, really exciting. Here is our proposed Book Cover:

*UPDATE 12/31/09 Rabbit: Legacy is not the last in the series. There will be one more entitled Rabbit: Redemption... FYI...

I will not post any spoilers here, in case you're not quite done with the first book, but it might be fun to chat about the characters a little...

The Bad Guys:
RUFUS: His name comes up only 2x in the first novel; in the Prologue, he is the one who was set on fire by Schaffer... Well, Rufus -- he looks bad. He's a Rakum Elder who has been taking the Dying Buzz for a few years now, and any of you who have read the first book, know that this action can morph your face slowly into that of a monster; namely, a vampire. Think Nosferatu. That is how bad he's gotten. He might look a little like this:

BERYL &; MERYL: Identical twins, these are beautiful and angelic of countenance, but have hearts of the coldest stone. Their blood father was Umbarto, the worst of the worst. Their spiritual Father, Abroghia, was the High Father of the Rakum race. Rabbit readers know that the old guy was 100% (demonic) spirit. Yeah. That's evil. The twins have not fallen into the habit of eating the dead nor taking the Dying Buzz, and they have maintained their comely appearance as they attempt to destroy everything that is good in the world they occupy. They might look a little like this:

The Guy in the Middle:

CANAAN: A Rakum Elder who wants to be left alone. He is my new favorite character. He has been hiding from the brethren so he can stay with a woman that he loves. He has no interest in joining Rufus and his ilk, and he is very insulted by the traitor Rakum who deserted the Brethren to become human. Yet he gets dragged into the fray because of threats Rufus makes against his wife and his lifestyle. This guy is neat. I think he looks a little like Dierks Bentley:

I'll stop for now. The Good Guys will travel over from the first novel; Beth Rider, Michael Stone, Jesse Cherrie, Javier D' Millier, and David Walker. As well as a new protagonist, Rakum Father-turned-mortal Damien. They will band together with Canaan to make a stand against the lunatic Rakum who would destroy them all.

So it's back to writing. Hope ya'll are having a great night!

20,000 Media Outlets Heard About RABBIT this week!

• My publicist is amazing. I received a list of all of the outlets my Press Release went to, and there were more than 20,000! Already, more than twenty have responded in favor and I guess if thousands respond, I may have to turn some down...right? It blows my mind!

• I have been writing on the sequel, Rabbit: Legacy. (Fall 2010) I am most enamoured right now with the new lead, a Rakum Elder named Canaan. He is fiercely loyal but brutal and incredibly hedonistic through most of the novel. True, he will have a spiritual awakening eventually, but not too soon... He is more interesting when he is running the show. Of course, if you haven't read RABBIT: CHASING BETH RIDER then you might be looking at me cross-eyed right now. But hey, that's okay. Just go pick up a copy and read it. You can buy it all sorts of places. And if they do not stock it yet (it has only been out 1 month), ask the store manager to get it.
• Ellen wrote a foreward for another author's book! Yes, 'tis true. A good friend and fellow author has written an amazing book entitled THE OCCULT INVASION OF HEALTHCARE and he asked me to write the foreward. This is quite an honor. Today I made him a kickin' foreward that should be published in his novel next month. I will advertise his book for him then. For now, his name is Michael Elmore. Good guy...
• So it's back to the writing mill for me. I have some promoting to do, some writing, and some adjustments to make on my web site. Ya'll have a nice day now, ya hear?

QUIRKY but it WORKS: writing the sequel

these photos are copyrighted by their individual owners and not for sale All writers have their quirky methods. I wonder if mine is any quirkier than anyone else’s? Nevertheless… It’s time. Time to collect faces for my new novel. Rabbit Legacy (the sequel to the terrific new novel RABBIT: CHASING BETH RIDER) will have several returning characters, plus a few new ones to fill out the plot. I use photos gleaned from the web to look at while I write; and the eyes have it. When I am writing a scene, I will glance at the character’s face and then they truly come alive for me. I can be moved to tears just by imagining my novel’s circumstances forced upon the poor character on the cast page. As you can see, these are some nice faces. New to the cast is... Selene Cherrie – RABBIT: CHASING BETH RIDER Chapter 47..... Mina Bushman – romances David Walker..... Canaan – a Rakum (the name of the vampire race in this novel series), a powerful Elder. Not mentioned in the 1st book, but mentioned in the Loose Rabbits (chapters not in the novel, but posted on the website—link )..... Marcy Haddle – not mentioned in the 1st Book; Canaan’s mate of choice..... Damien – Not mentioned in the 1st book, but mentioned in the Loose Rabbits; was a powerful Rakum Father, now human..... Theophilus – a Rakum Father in the 1st Book, under duress in the 2nd..... There are others that are not pictured… I am saving the bad guys for later. I am not into spoiling the novel for you this soon!..... Go pick up a copy of Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider today anywhere you buy books, or buy a signed copy on the website, http://www.rabbitnovel.com/, and see what the BUZZZ is all about!

TISSUE ALL GONE but the RABBITS ON THE LOOSE

Finally! Your friendly neighborhood author is all better. Cold is all gone. Cough all gone. And while I was away from you...THE RABBIT WAS LOOSED UPON THE WORLD! Like wild-fire, she has spread out across the country and across the Pond to be sure everyone who wants to read my book, can... How about you? www.rabbitnovel.com baby... it is still being offered on the website at a discount for signed author copies. I was honored to do my first radio interview on the 19th. It turned out super, thank goodness, and I sounded fairly cognizant. If you would like to hear it, go to www.rabbitnovel.com and click 'Author Sightings' to listen. I am busily writing the sequel to RABBIT. Today I created a character named Mina. She'll be a new heroine I believe to support the returning characters. She's still being born, so I'll hush there. God is good (all the time). I have enjoyed surfing the 'net, looking for my book, and finding it all over the place. Not everywhere, but all the big bookstores. It is a dream come true. I'm having the best time! Please let me know what you think of the book, my friends. I'm off to write on Mina. She needs me...

The RABBIT and the SNUFFLEUPAGUS

The RABBIT author has a code in her node, her computer crashed on the 5th of November... so this blog is alseep for now... ZZzzzzzz... Feed the Rabbits daily and change their paper until we get back. SHHhhhh... the Nyquil is kicking in. Don't wake the baby... love, ellen

CATCHING and LOOSING Rabbits

This woman's look inspired the character Beth Rider...I can't remember who she is. Sorry. She is a Miss America finalist I think. Maybe from North Carolina?? Anyway, she is lovely...

First, go to my novel web site if you haven't, you naughty reader... http://www.rabbitnovel.com/

Now...let us continue...

I am having too much fun. It has to be wrong. Every since I began writing the Loose Rabbits (chapters that exist outside the novel) I have been enjoying too much pleasure. You have to admit...it's a great idea. An author is pressured by industry standards, especially in this tough economy and when she is unproven, to make her novel as short and succinct as possible. But I have a lot more to say that could fit inside 90,000 words!

The first Loose Rabbit ended up in the novel. I wanted to write how a human becomes a Cow and what it is like for the Rakum as well. I chose to write about how Javier met Simon. I wrote the scene outside the novel thinking that I would post it on my web site after the book came out, and people could then learn some backstory of this curious duo. Then, as I worked on polishing the novel, this scene found a place inside.

Chapter 21 of RABBIT:CHASING BETH RIDER includes the entire Loose Rabbit (that is no longer loose, but captured, of course...). Now I couldn't go inserting backstory left and right after that, so I wrote them as they came to mind and have slowly leaked them onto the web site under the Loose Rabbits Tab...

So if you read the Loose Rabbits before you read the novel, my good friend Jen says that you will be intrigued beyond measure and be addicted before you get your hands on a full copy... So go for it! And if you read them after you read the novel, or during, they will bring another dimension and fullness to your appreciation of the characters in this wonderful novel.

Today the story behind Selene came to mind. Selene's name doesn't come up until Chapter 47, but she is such a powerful character that she makes a big impression from that chapter on. And I can leak a tiny secret here.... Selene will play a larger part in the Rabbit sequel (but you didn't hear it from me!!).

So ya'll go read those Loose Rabbits and leave me a comment on the web site or drop me an email if you like them. I have many more sitting here waiting to tickle your interest and entertain your curious minds. C-Ya my Rabbit pals!

BOOK COVER approved; Ecstactic Author throws a BONE

YES! I am on cloud nine again... I heard from the publisher and our book cover was approved exactly as submitted! They did an awesome job of creating the spine and back of the book to match the front cover we designed. I could not be happier with their work! Alas, though, I am enduring a little bit of a trial concerning it because I want to make a slight change and the link they gave me to make my suggested changes is not functioning... I put in a call to the right peeps and now have to wait. Oh well... I pulled out my hair earlier about it, but now I am calm. Calm... Calm... shalom... shalom... ahhhh... So here is the bone. I am sending out a delicious bone. I love this bone so much that I am only sharing one-third of it with you... The other two-thirds will be available on the web site under the tab LOOSE RABBITS... Here is the delicious meaty bone concerning how Rakum (vampire) Javier ended up with Elder Roman. In the novel, their relationship is important to the plot, so this sweet partial chapter will mean much more when you get to read the novel. But it is still tasty by itself. Have a bite if you like. This Rabbit is yummy...

(the following is a rough draft and will likely meet some changes before it is posted to the web site in December... it is a sneak peak Bone for you my sweets..)

REMEMBER what a Loose Rabbit is... [hyperlink] these chapters are NOT in the novel. They are LOOSE... providing info and back-story, and although perfectly in sync with the novel, they do not directly effect the plot of RABBIT:CHASING BETH RIDER. Think of them as 'deleted scenes'...

RABBIT: Loose Rabbits Roman and Javier / The Early Years Year 1877 It was midnight when eight-year-old Javier arrived at Roman’s secluded log cabin in the wild forests outside Montreal. All legs and arms, Javier stumbled through the front door, accompanied by a Rakum Senior student who had escorted him from their burned-out Group-Lair fifty miles South. The youngster took in the room with huge green eyes, his lips parted in a comical ‘O’. His overseers had trimmed his black hair short for the trip and his skin was milky white. He wore rough canvas trousers two sizes too big and a stained white cotton shirt with sleeves two inches too long. Roman regarded the wafer-thin pup with an amused grin and shooed off his chaperone leaving the two of them alone. Elder and proselyte. Barely a proselyte, really. At a new eight, Javier smelled more human than not and Roman breathed through his mouth more than once in disdain. He was not accustomed to such young ones, but soon enough, he’d begin to transform the boy properly. Purge the weak, beggarly elements and replace them with immeasurable, unstoppable Rakum gifts. Born to a mortal woman by a Rakum Father, Javier would grow much like a human boy until he reached thirteen. At that point, his metabolism would slow gradually until he aged only days as the years passed him by. As his appointed guardian and Elder, Roman was expected to prepare him for an eternity of life at the top of the food chain. Little Javier stopped in the middle of the room, took in the four walls slowly, his mouth still agape, and then faced his superior. When Roman did not acknowledge him for several long seconds, he shifted his weight to one foot and bent his knee, throwing his balance to one side. He looked like a tiny gymnast, double-jointed and loose-limbed, perhaps able to contort himself into any number of odd shapes. Roman pondered all this as he watched the kid bear up under the scrutiny. He wanted to know what kind of pup they’d sent him. What was he up against with this orphan? This would be the youngest Rakum Roman had ever discipled. Yet he was up to the challenge. The Fathers requested him specifically, and that had to count for something. Roman softened his gaze and attempted to send the boy a telepathic directive. “Come close, Javier.” Roman watched the kid’s face, but gauged no reaction. His eyes were wide and intelligent, taking in every detail; yet he heard nothing telepathically. “Come close, Javier.” Roman said, his voice low, and the boy stepped up without hesitation. “What stage did you complete before your Group-Lair was destroyed?” “Stage five, Sir.” Javier responded in a thick French accent. “Parlez-vous du français?” Roman asked and the boy nodded shyly. “Quelles langues parlez-vous?” If the kid spoke more than two languages, it would suggest a higher-than-average IQ. Roman spoke fifty mortal languages and was prepared to test the boy in each and every one if he showed a propensity for linguistics. “English, German, Spanish, French and Hungarian.” Javier answered in accented English, attempting to dazzle his new Elder by his accomplishments. Roman nodded with approval. “We will get along fine, young man.” Roman allowed a small smile and Javier’s eyes sparkled. Roman grimaced. The kid was a romantic. From that point forward, Roman made an effort to disguise his affection. Very rarely, a Rakum was born with an over-developed sense of joviality. Now he understood why the Fathers chose him. They wanted to test him. Roman had never missed with a proselyte and the Fathers were capricious. They sought to trip him up; or at least see if they could. Roman cleared his throat gruffly and laid a heavy hand on the youth’s shoulder. “Stage five. How efficient are you?” Stage Five was drawing blood from a human victim, eventually against their will. Even an eight-year-old Rakum was expected to procure his own food, and Roman wanted to know where to begin. “Top of my class, Sir.” Javier responded, and puffed out his narrow chest. “Are you ready for Stage Six, then?” Roman removed his hand from Javier’s shoulder and pushed up the sleeve on his right arm. Stage Six was initiated by an Elder’s blood. The immature Rakum would experience extreme pleasure at ingestion, but crippling pain as the Elder’s time-enriched blood seeped into his system. And the leeching effect of Stage Six lasted several nights. Despite knowing all of this, Javier’s green eyes widened and he nodded his head. “Let’s see. Show me.” Roman put out his arm and Javier hesitated. “Sir?” “Yes?” “Can I go to the bathroom.” Javier frowned and took on a puppy-dog expression. Roman sighed and nodded. “That way.” He gestured through the hall door and watched the kid shuffle out of the room at a trot. He was cute and worse, he knew it. Roman shook his head. Why didn’t they send him a brute? A wild-child that no one else could control? Roman looked up at the ceiling, memories of other Rakum he’d discipled over the years filtered down to him. There had been dozens. But somehow this one connected with him on a deeper level. Roman closed his eyes. Discipling a youth through First Ritual required vicious and violent instruction. It was easier with the brutes. So much easier.

RABBIT TRAILER has been LOOSED on the Public!!

By the grace of God and the Windows Movie Maker, RABBIT:CHASING BETH RIDER has a smashing professional Book Trailer, and it cost me nothing. My family and I did it ourselves... It is getting rave reviews and I expect big things from it! I love it so much... I think I'll watch it again... Don't forget to visit http://www.rabbitnovel.com for all the Rabbit info available. Pre-ordering is well underway, so order yours now if you need a signed novel by Christmas. I will have a limited quantity when the book is released, but won't get additional cases until January. The novel will be available in all bookstores and online, including Amazon and BAM...

BOOK TRAILERS and Loose Rabbits

Book trailers.

RABBIT:Chasing Beth Rider will have a Book Trailer created by the publisher. But today I am thinking about creating one myself. I have photos, quotes and ideas, but perhaps not the know-how to use the flash player program to create the movie...

My sister Marty is my webmistress and she created a flash movie for my novel THE JUDGING (see the movie on the home page at http://www.thejudgingnovel.com/). For all intents and purposes, this is a book trailer. Add appropriate words to steer the folks to the bookstore or website, and you have yourself a free and easily created book trailer!

I think the kicker is that you have to use images that you have a copyright to use. As a fine artist, I appreciate and adhere to all copyright laws. So I went into town and took some pictures of Montgomery to use in my book trailer, since my book takes place in my town. Then I had a model pose for some photos of the voluntary blood-letting that abounds in my novel... So today, I will go play with the flash player widget and see what I can come up with. If it turns out half-decent, I will post it here. For now, though... I will leak my favorite photo from my new batch (photos I OWN THE COPYRIGHT TO!).

Don't forget, RABBIT will be loosed December 2009. Catch (pre-order) yours now at http://www.rabbitnovel.com/ !!

Have a great day!

ellen

LUKE GOSS and the HIGH SCHOOL POET

I met some really terrific poets on Facebook recently. Then I remembered...I used to be a poet. Like nearly every single adolescent on the planet, I wrote poetry to express myself when yelling, kicking, screaming and punching were not socially acceptable outlets for hormonal tragedies.

I wrote about puppies, kitties, foals and butterflies.

I wrote about football games, parties, boyfriends, and my face.

And I wrote about vampires...

Wanna see the one I wrote about my face? (humor me, and nod your head) Thanks.

Here it is. Sixteen-year-old Ellen C McCraney writes:

MY FACE Look at my face. It's my acne that scars My pimples that mars That don't leave a trace Of a clean, clear face.

Pretty awesome, eh? I guess if your definition of awesome is really really generous...

Try this one (I'm going to get to the vampire one in a second...)

A CAT A cat is strange in many odd ways. He seems very bossy whenever he plays. He sits very tall and shaped like a pear You'd think he could scare off any old bear. But if danger comes near, he jumps up a tree And won't be seen by the likes of me.

Now you're getting the picture. Ellen C McCraney was a pretty pathetic poet. But sure I thought I was great! I am looking at a stack of poems from 10th grade that I saved. They are typed and put into a homemade booklet that I illustrated and everything!

Okay, you've waited long enough. Here is my vampire poem... enjoy... (or not) Oh, and by the way, this poem is in the same booklet as the Cat and the Face one. Go figure...

A VAMPIRE'S POEM You're bleeding my son, come close to me That life-giving red is all that I see. The devil's in me and I'm so unclean. I'm on the vampire's side, get what I mean? They came last night and emptied my veins. It's your blood I need, that's why I came. Don't look at me with puzzled eyes. Don't torment me with terrible cries. Soon you'll prowl in the night with me And son, that life-giving red is all you'll see.

So you can all go your merry way now. You've seen the poems of one 16yr old Ellen. Have I always been so inclined to write about the struggle of the vampire in all of us? I think I have. And it all started with DRACULA, the novel by Bram Stoker.

You gotta start somewhere.

Good night and cover your neck.

PS. Why is Luke Goss headlining my Blog tonight? No reason. He just looks nice. :)

"Author CONCEIVES Rabbit at SIXTEEN"

Sure RABBIT: CHASING BETH RIDER is being delivered, actually born in about 7 weeks... but when was she conceived? Well, like many authors, my story was conceived much earlier in life. The most basic element of RABBIT was conceived when I was in the 10th grade. I'll be 41 in 2 weeks...

I used to write many short stories and a lot of them dealt with vampires. If course, my favorite movies then were vampire movies, and my favorite books...you guessed it. One book that influenced me more than many at this young age was THEY THIRST by Robert McCammon. Yep-- that book was rated R, but I didn't understand all the sexy stuff... Just the vampire stuff.

Anyway, I digress.

Today I dug out those original stories that have tiny elements of RABBIT inside. I digitized them and when the time is right, I will post them on http://www.rabbitnovel.com/ but for now, we'll let them sleep. See, I was only 16, and my writing is well...embarrassing. It is probably better than some kids my age, but still too weak to post until you guys have had a chance to see what kind of author I grew in to. So when RABBIT is successful.. I will post those original stories.

You're not missing much.

But it is curious to see where this plot line was first thought up!

Now I will return to my reading of RABBIT on the computer. I cannot wait to hold the novel in my hand for the first time. I will do a dance for days when that happens!

Good night all!

RABBIT Novel's First Contest...Got FACE'd yet???

FACEBOOK FANS RABBIT Contest

http://www.rabbitnovel.com/current-contests.php

This Contest is open only to members of the FaceBook Fan Group. Membership is FREE…so why not join us today athttp://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=96952574559&ref=ts What ya gotta do… 1. Read RABBIT: CHASING BETH RIDER 2. Afterward, write a review of the book, 35 - 100 words (longer is not necessarily better) and post it on the DISCUSSION BOARD of the FaceBook Group. 3. Wait patiently. Contest runs from December 25th, ‘09 to February 25th ‘10. Author will choose three reviews as winners, and these will be used both on the website and in the next novel release to advertise RABBIT. 4. Receive your prize—and autographed copy of RABBIT: CHASING BETH RIDER to give away, keep or re-sell J You will be notified via FaceBook message system on or around Feb.26th. ** Every entry will receive a signed RABBIT: CHASING BETH RIDER Bookmark just for entering!

Run Rabbit, run…chasing you is so much fun…

Author LEAKED A LITTLE RABBIT on her blog...Get a Towel

New York Times Bestselling author Beth Rider has a problem. Jack Dawn, supernatural monster belonging to a race of vampire-like beings called Rakum, has taken exception to her novel series "The Corescu Chronicles" and has vowed to hunt down and kill the young writer; punishing anyone who gets in his way. Aided by Jack's Rakum Lieutenant who doesn’t understand his infatuation with the young novelist but is compelled to help her anyway, Beth takes the fight to their world. In the face of peril and certain death, Beth and her new supernatural allies carry an unpopular Truth into the darkest places of man’s soul. Finally kidnapped and taken to the shadowy underground they call The Cave, Beth will face the ten Fathers of the Brotherhood, alive since before Christ walked the earth, and state her case with bravado only the Spirit of God can provide. Who will live and who will die is always up for grabs, but Beth knows where she is headed, and she wants to bring as many of the Rakum with her as possible.

[read full prologue at www.rabbitnovel.com]

There you have the back cover blurb about the upcoming vampire novel RABBIT:CHASING BETH RIDER. The term 'Rabbit' is given to the human who the Rakum (vampire) deems deserving of a slow, torturous death because of some crime he or she committed against the Brethren.

That is where Beth Rider comes in. The lovely and innocent young novelist is attacked and marked as a Rabbit and then released to be chased by the rest of the Brethren. I am leaking Chapter 5 today to show how the hero enters the story. The unlikely hero is a Rakum, born in 1879, and not a known softy. In fact is reputation as a brute is well established. But our story picks up when his world is turned upsidedown.

Some of the best heroes start out as monsters...

CHAPTER FIVE

Rabbit:Chasing Beth Rider, release date Dec.2009, http://www.rabbitnovel.com/

Michael inserted his time card and was satisfied with the loud click it made as he was clocked out. His shift had been uneventful, as they all were, and he was ready for a quick dinner before sunup. Because of his need to stay in during the day, he put in six three-hour nighttime shifts a week as Airport Security Personnel; working 8:30 to 11:30 nightly. The pay was average and it kept him in his cozy one-bedroom house in the city. What else did he need? The work was never-endingly boring and in five years, he’d never had an incident.

Montgomery was a quiet Southern town, end of story. Excitement was for the large international hubs in the northeast and west, and Michael was old enough to appreciate peace and tranquility. Dannelly Field was equipped to welcome only regional jets so between arrivals, the various gates emptied often any given hour. Tonight’s Delta CRJ from Atlanta due at 10:50 arrived forty-five minutes late because of weather delays in Georgia. But now as he locked his sidearm and utility belt away he could hear disembarked passengers milling about seeking their luggage. He re-entered the terminal from the restricted area and immediately noticed a familiar and pleasing aroma.

Because he knew the scent well from past experience, Michael stopped walking and leaned against the wall to his right, if nothing else than to give the aroma his full concentration. His stomach responded and grumbled uncomfortably inside him. It was a glorious and fulfilling aroma that tickled his head with an agreeable buzz. Michael sighed contentedly without even realizing it, his eyes now darting over the heads of passengers coming and going around him. Inhaling deeply, Michael stood off the wall to concentrate fully on who it might be. He was seeking his prey now; following the unmistakable scent of a Rabbit. And it was headed his way. Michael smiled with confidence. He was the only one of his kind in the airport thus he was to have this Rabbit all to himself. What luck! Jesse who always came in on Tuesdays was expected within the hour. He had connected from New York City to Atlanta but his plane was also delayed by thunderstorms plaguing central Georgia.

Michael scrutinized the patrons as they filed past his position. A Rabbit was always easy to spot. They were contemptible creatures, the dregs of humanity, marked by the Elders for slow and deliberate execution by the Brethren. Michael had always been willing to be part of a Rabbit’s assassination crew.

It had been nearly a year since the last Rabbit came through the region, and Michael wasn’t the first on the scene that time. Boris caught the scoundrel, down at the old train yards, sneaking in and out of the abandoned warehouses like the rat he was. That particular Rabbit had been marked for treason. He was a pretty useful Cow before he turned on his master Rufus and tried to kill him. Michael heard through the grapevine that he had nearly succeeded by dousing his master with gasoline and setting him on fire. But Rufus was no mere Brother, but an Elder and an extremely powerful one at that. He had not been consumed beyond redemption, and in his anger, he tracked down and marked the Cow as a Rabbit for the others. Michael grinned as he remembered how they tormented the fat little man when Boris let them in on the game.

Me and Jesse, and that other guy…that loose cannon. What was his name? Tyson, yeah. We were merciless. That was a good time...

Michael allowed the vivid memories to come back fully as he waited for the new Rabbit to cross his path. They had gone at that guy again and again, even moving him to Tyson’s rented cottage for a few days to work him over even more. By the time the other brothers had their shot, the Rabbit was ready for the loony bin. The guy threw himself in front of a train the first chance he had to slip away. Broke his sorry back, severing his spine. One of the few ways to kill a Rabbit. It had been a shame to lose such an entertaining food source. But all of the brethren knew that despite the longevity and healing power the marking procedure provided, Rabbits had pretty short life spans.

Looking over the small crowd, Michael noticed a young woman standing across the wide hallway, a distraught look on her face. She was lovely and delicate; the kind of woman Michael enjoyed the company of when he had time, and she appeared to need some help. Her hair was long, wavy and dark blonde, and even from across the hall, Michael could see that she was beautiful by any man’s standards. He was also quick to note that she was shapely and attractive in a modest yet alluring pastel blue business suit, and she carried what looked like a laptop case in one hand and a soft leather briefcase in the other. Michael crossed the foot traffic to assist her and remained on the lookout for the Rabbit.

He was nearly at her side when the realization hit him full force. This beautiful woman, this innocent lamb, lost and alone in his busy airport terminal…this All-American beauty was his goal. Someone had marked her as a Rabbit. And as she turned into him to ask for help, Michael recognized the scent of the elder who marked her.

Jack Dawn.

His Elder. His Master.

It didn’t get any worse than that.

The PESKY VAMPIRE and a Righteous Dude

The Corescu Chronicles character Tony Agricola is a righteous dude. In THE JUDGING, he came to the aid of his former girlfriend Hope Brannen when she became entangled with a vampire named mark Corescu. In Book Two, DAMASCUS ROAD, circumstances outside of Tony’s control find him here, nearly a year later, living with a vampire spun off from Corescu. This young vampire, Paul Black, is impulsive and hedonistic, and oh-so-much fun to follow. He force-fed Tony his blood which made him immortal, but not a vampire; now he abuses Tony to no end.

But let's face it...that makes it really fun for the reader. Dear Reader, I offer to you Chapter 15 of Damascus Road for your pleasure and enjoyment. This Novel is not yet available, but coming soon. If you would like to be alerted when it is available, please join the FaceBook group (link below) dedicated to all of these great vampire tales. First, a few helpful shortcuts: THE JUDGING full prologue: http://www.thejudgingnovel.com/the-judging.php DAMASCUS ROAD full prologue: http://www.thejudgingnovel.com/damascus-road.php RABBIT:CHASING BETH RIDER prologue and Lost Books: http://www.rabbitnovel.com/ Join the FaceBook Fan Group: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=96952574559 Now…sink your teeth into this excerpt starring Paul and Tony… NOVEL TAGLINE: How far would you go to protect the innocent? Giving up your life to save a stranger is one thing, but subject yourself to constant torture in an effort to save some people you've never met? This is the kind of man you'd find in Tony Agricola; survivor of Book One:The Judging. Tony will sacrifice his very blood so the town can sleep safe at night. Would you? Novel Excerpt DAMASCUS ROAD The Corescu Chronicles: Book Two (contains spoilers from THE JUDGING, Book One) -Oh and…this is a rough draft. Both guys’ POV is inserted here while I choose which to go with- CHAPTER 15

“This is it?” Tony looked around the dusty store, and tried to think positive. Paul bought the store to serve as a mortal cover for him in his new identity but with the vampire’s self-control issues, Tony couldn’t imagine him working in a retail setting.

“I think it will do nicely.” Paul closed the front door behind him and shook the dust off his hands. The store had been closed for six months, although much of the inventory was still on the shelves. “I think the former owner died in a fire or something. I bought the whole thing, books, furniture. Everything.” Paul waited for Tony to turn and face him and then he laughed at the thoughts he gleaned from his partner’s worried mind. “No, silly, I am not going to run this store. We’ll hire a couple of college grads. They can keep the place going for me. I’m certainly not going to work anymore. My days of labor and servitude are over.”

Tony smirked and turned back to survey the room and then pointed to a narrow staircase. “Let’s see what’s up here.”

“I want you to take care of anything the hired help can’t do. You will be the general manager. I am just putting my name on the deed.” Paul followed Tony up the stairs, waiting to hear if he was going to agree or confront him on the issue. To his amazement, his partner simply nodded his head and opened the office door.

“I’ll take care of it.” Tony replied. “As long as you keep out of it completely. I don’t want you to even come in the store. If this is going to be my responsibility, I don’t want to have to think about you being in here messing things up.”

“Oh, I’ll around. I can’t agree to that.” Paul mumbled as they surveyed the office. There was one old desk and two chairs, and a few shelves on the wall. “You’ll have to call me boss and let me pop in once in a while…” Paul was not going to give the business another thought once it was open, but he did not like Tony telling him what to do. He would not accept orders from his new apprentice no matter how often and adamantly he tried to give them.

“Fine. Whatever.” Tony turned and squeezed past Paul on the steps to head back down. Paul was having his way; the bookstore was now theirs, the giant of a moving man was going to be coming over once a week to donate blood to the thirsty vampire, and Tony had no say in any of it. How did Paul convince that guy to donate his blood? Tony was curious about Paul’s plan to hire out blood donors but he did not want to know the details. If he knew the details, he might become involved. Tony vainly hoped that he could disassociate himself with Paul if the plans with the friendly moving man worked out.

Maybe God is going to let me loose of this monster soon. Maybe…

“Tony, Preacher Man, I wish you would keep all of that whining down to a minimum. You make me sick with all of your silent complaining …” Paul trotted down the steps and caught up with Tony where he had paused behind the cash register counter.

Tony did not reply and he kicked himself for forgetting that the monster could read his thoughts. I have to learn how to block my mind somehow…

“Yeah, that’ll be the day.” Paul returned telepathically and entered the small three-sided counter area where the employees would work when the store opened. He purposefully blocked the exit with his body and glared at Tony. “So, you know what day it is?”

Tony looked up from his daydreaming and shook his head. He knew it was Tuesday. He knew that tomorrow he had a pretty important meeting with the Pastorate of one of Montgomery’s largest Protestant congregations. But he did not know what either of these meant to his demented partner.

“Today we will have a little celebration. Here we are, two partners, six o’clock in the evening, about to open up our own business. Isn’t this exciting?” Paul stepped closer to Tony but was still cleverly blocking the opening behind him.

“Paul, what are you talking about? What kind of celebration?” Tony did not move from where he stood but he did know that Paul was menacing him again.

“Let’s have a drink.” Paul covered the distance between the two of them so quickly that Tony had not even seen him move at all. Once he realized that he was in Paul’s grasp as in times past, he glanced quickly to the front door.

“Paul! Someone will see you. Don’t you have any sense?” Speaking in a low whisper, Tony heard his voice crack a with fear.

“Why would someone see us? It is getting dark outside. We have the lights off in here…” Paul knelt down to the floor pulling Tony down with him. “The door is locked. We’ll just hunker down right here. Now how about that drink?”

“Please Paul, you can’t possibly be hungry again so soon…” Tony strained against the grip Paul had on his arm and attempted to stand. Without even changing expression, the vampire’s cruel grip on his arm tightened and Tony slumped back onto the floor and landed on his rump. “Tomorrow you’ll have that moving man. Tomorrow Paul.” Tony looked up to the white ceiling. “I can’t keep doing this!”

Paul chuckled and pulled Tony into an embrace full of false affection. “Oh come now, why are you being such a baby? Aren’t you just practicing what you preach? Aren’t you sacrificing your blood to protect the innocent? Hmmm?”

Tony put both of his hands to his own throat ineffectively covering the exposed skin and tried to stand up again. He knew that it was futile, but maybe, just maybe, if he could delay the attack, God might send help. It could happen.

But it didn’t.

Paul pulled back a fraction to look his partner in the eye and he grabbed his wrist tightly. Tony whimpered as he heard the bones in his wrist creak and then begin to fracture in Paul’s vise-like grip.

“My wrist, Paul. My wrist…”

“It’ll heal you big baby.” Paul yanked Tony’s hand away and buried his face in the preacher’s neck. As he opened his mouth wide and sank his now-elongated fangs into Tony’s neck he spoke to him telepathically. “Why do you make this so hard? Just be still and take your medicine. Shhh…”

Tony did become still as a few tears escaped from his eye and ran down his cheek. His broken bones were already healing, but they throbbed with a dull and alien sensation he never felt in his old life. His heart ached too as he realized that once again, God had not come to his rescue. Is this what I am reduced to? To serve as food for demons? Do I do this to protect the innocent as he said? If this is my sacrifice of love, I hope God accepts it. And I hope my tenure is over sooner than later.

He became quiet as the fiery sensation in his throat and the now dull pulse of knitting bones in his arm no longer distracted him. Tony relaxed in Paul’s embrace and concentrated on God’s purposes. When Paul released him and immediately began to tease him for praying to a deity who ignores him, Tony tuned him out stood shakily to his feet.

‘That’s okay, Paul. You will get yours.’ Tony thought as he waited for Paul to step aside and let him pass. His wrist was completely restored and he knew that the wounds on his throat would be closing as well. I guess it really isn’t so bad. It’s almost like it never happened… Almost.

“Yeah, like I said—you’re a big baby.”

Paul shoved Tony ahead toward the front door, smiling like a loon as he stumbled to catch his balance.

“Of course, I feel pretty good,” Paul rubbed his belly for emphasis, “for something that you pretend never happened…” Having a ready food source nearby all the time was a really good idea. Life had never been easier. And soon he’d have the giant too. “Let’s go home and see what’s on TV.”

Paul followed his partner out the door as he sulked in front of him. “Maybe we can catch an old Dracula movie on SCI-FI. You used to really like that stuff didn’t you Preacher Man? Isn’t that what you and that ridiculous Hope woman watched together?”

Tony ignored him and got into the truck. He did watch horror films with Hope in the past. Before he ever met a real monster. Before he knew that there were creatures out there that lived off human blood. No, he preferred comedies now. He didn’t care if he never saw another scary movie again. His whole life had become one long scary movie. And he sincerely hoped to make it to the ending alive and in one piece.

Adding a Pinch of POLICE to Spice Up the Conflict

Some author ramblings… regarding Damascus Road The Corescu Chronicles: Book Two http://www.thejudgingnovel.com/damascus-road.php When the time came for me to consider publishing The Corescu Chronicles, I went back to proof, tighten up, and generally perfect each individual novel. When I began looking at Book Two, Damascus Road, it was the right length (actually too long at over 130,000 words), but it seemed to be missing one element. That element was POLICE. I needed a conflict—a non-vampire conflict for Tony and Paul. After all, Paul had killed a mortal in Book One, and then hid the body rather hastily. Wouldn’t it make sense that the body was found and the police began investigating? (The answer is YES). So we have our police detectives. I wrote them into the story, weaving them seamlessly through the plot. And I fell in love with them, so much that I would like to spin them off into their own novel one day. But I digress...

So when I was done, the book was so much better. Of course, then it was too long, reaching nearly 160,000 words! So when I began my now patented method of WORD-WHACKING and cut out a few unnecessary characters, it slipped to a comfortable (yet still too long) 133,000. So that’s where it stands today. I am going to go through it again and WHACK unnecessary phrases, adverbs, etc, and try to get it to 110,000-115,000 and be happy. Now I want to share a little bit about my new characters, the police detectives who are trying to find out what happened to the corpse they disinterred… These two characters grew into a wonderful couple. They worked well together, held secret affections for each other, and by the end of the story, whether or not they caught the perp paled in comparison to whether or not they ended up married. For kicks I have leaked the introductory chapter of DAMASCUS ROAD that introduces this indomitable pair, who do not believe in vampires…at least not at first. Introducing Jonah Miller and Jennifer Speltz. (This chapter has not been WHACKED yet, so may contain extra words and phrases that will be chopped out later.) CHAPTER TWO …Do not rebel against the LORD, Nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; Their protection has departed them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them. Numbers 14:9 Detective Jonah Miller rubbed his tired eyes and mumbled something unintelligible to his partner. The Whitford City Police Department was quietly buzzing all around them but all Jonah could think of was how nice it would be if the end of his shift would roll around. Then he’d grab a bite to eat and shuffle off to his lonely abode. Jonah mumbled his complaint again and his partner shot a rubber band his way.

“What? We speak-uh da English here, buddy. Say again?”

“I said we got nothing, Speltz. Nothing.” Jonah peeked out over his palms but they remained obscuring most of his face. Detective Sergeant Jennifer Speltz, his partner for the better part of five years leaned back in her chair across from him, her desk butting up to his, their corporate junk mixing on both sides. She was forty-seven, sturdily built but sexy in a matronly way. Jonah had never told her so, but he went to bed many nights with her on his mind. He continued to stare at her over his hands as she righted herself and began to flip through a file folder on her desk.

“Stop whining, soldier. We have quite a few good prints. One wound. A hastily chosen weapon of opportunity. A body and an ID on said corpse. How can you say we got nothin’?” She had a point. The corpse found behind the abandoned BP Station was six-months old at least, but the ME sent them a very detailed write-up.

“Okay, okay, little miss perky.” Jonah rubbed his face once more and then sat up to rifle through the ME report. “This guy lived a good three minutes before he expired. I think we can assume he fought his attacker. Any corroborative evidence on your end?”

“Well we’re half a year after the fact, so there was no tissue evidence found on the vic, under the fingernails, in or around the wound site. And after six months of rain, wind and frost, we didn’t get any footprints or express evidence of blood around the body…” Jennifer scanned the report in her hand. “The vic’s rental turned up months ago at the bottom of the pond, but since we’re just now finding the body, that part of the chain of evidence is not helping us at all. But there was physical evidence on the oak tree. Tree bark peeled from the scene definitely had traces of blood underneath it. Could be the perp just as well as the vic.”

“And do we have the report back on that yet from the lab?” Jonah dropped the file on the messy desktop and took a swig of his decaf. He usually covered the deadies and let his partner cover the CSU-ies. That’s what she called them at least. They had a system that worked. She never had to handle the corpses and he rarely had to deal with the obnoxious science geeks in the evidence lab.

“Not yet.” Jennifer replied just as a uniform rushed by to drop a clear vinyl folder on her desk before disappearing around the next corner partition. “Wait. I think this is it.”

“Perfect timing. What’s it say?” Jonah stood up, his back creaking almost as loudly as his knees as he did so.

“Making old man noises now, Jonah?” Jennifer raised her eyebrows as he approached her desk. “Is this what I have to look forward to when I get to be your age?”

“Hah hah.” Jonah laughed sarcastically. “In three years, yeah, you’ll be as old as me. Better get to the gym before it’s too late.” He looked over her shoulder as she pulled open the lab report.

“I’m way ahead of ya grandpa. I bought a StairMaster last week. Haven’t missed a day on it. Twenty minutes a day three times a week for rock-hard abs. Or some other hogwash. Okay. Let’s see…” Jennifer traced the page with her finger. “Oh good. There was definitely blood on the tree bark, and it was definitely not the vic’s.”

“We got a blood type then? Too early for DNA?” Jonah tried to read ahead of her but even after adjusting his glasses, the letters remained out of focus.

“Well,” she began, her finger trailed down the page slowly. “That’s weird.”

“What?” Jonah squinted and still couldn’t make his eyes focus properly—it was time for a new prescription. Jennifer recommended contact lenses frequently enough but he never could get the hang of putting his finger on his eyeball.

“The lab has nada on this point. They don’t have a blood type or a DNA note here. I wonder if there’s a screw up?” Jennifer flipped the report to page two and it ended with a few lines of procedure but no additional information. “Have you ever gotten a summary from the lab that was incomplete?”

Jonah reached for the folder and brought it closer to his face. He could see the unchecked square that normally revealed the blood type of the donor. And the bottom of the page that was devoted to column after column of DNA information was completely blank.

“This is ridiculous. What kind of dog and pony show are we running here, partner?” Whitford City was a small town, to be sure, but he had always considered the police department to be first class. Jonah handed the folder back to her and returned to his chair to grab his jacket. “Get down to the lab and find out what the holdup is. This guy has a six-month lead on us and they send down shoddy police work like this? I can’t believe it.”

“They must have a reason. Don’t get your man-panties in a wad, Jonah. I know these guys. I’ll go get whatever they have. You can go down to that rental place and see if the rep remembers our vic. They are open ‘til nine. Maybe you’ll get lucky.” Jennifer stood up and heard a tiny pop from her own knees. She looked up and Jonah smiled widely at her. “Don’t say a word. That is the sound of knees getting stronger from riding my new toy every day. Not a word.”

Jonah laughed and shrugged on his brown suit coat. “I wasn’t going to say anything. Do unto others, my child.”

“Hah hah, Rabbi.” Jennifer shoved a few items into her brief case and shrugged on her light windbreaker. “I’ll check back with you at nine. Meet ya at Twirlies for a bite?”

“’Kay.” Jonah ignored the rabbi jibe and waved with his fingers as she turned to leave. When she had disappeared around the corner, he turned on his heel and headed for the men’s room.

Jenn sometimes called him rabbi because she once caught him carrying a Hebrew Bible to his car. He studied the Scriptures in his spare time, but he was a cop, not a preacher. Still, one could never know enough about God—so he kept the book in his locker. And he wasn’t Jewish either, not really. His great, great grandfather, Isaac Cohen was Jewish, but that was as close as he got to having Hebrew lineage. Although you wouldn’t know it to look at him.

Jonah made it to the men’s room and stopped to wash his face in the sink. He looked up at his reflection and stared into his own deep brown eyes through his wire-rimmed eyeglasses. He looked enough like his Cohen ancestor to pass as Jewish. He’d seen a silvery photograph once as a young man of the barber from Milwaukee, and like him, Jonah had almost no gray hair at fifty years old. He wore his dark brown locks a little long just so everyone would see that he not only had a terrific head of hair, but that he also had enviable curls. The only reason he was clean-shaven was because the one time he let his coarse beard and mustache grow, his mother accused him of going Orthodox. So he shaved.

Jonah coughed and hit his chest a few times for effect. It had been twelve years since he quit smoking, but when the weather was damp, it felt like he had never stopped. He ran his fingers through his unruly hair and his thoughts returned to the case and what Jennifer might find out from the geeks at CSU.

And then he thought about retirement. Again.

The captain had given them this very difficult case because he believed in them. Or so he said. Jonah had inkling that Captain Johansson dumped it on them because the rest of the detectives were busy catching the real bad guys. He and Jennifer had been on clean-up duty for over a year and it didn’t look like they were getting off anytime soon. Any case that the chief thought may never be solved he handed to Miller and Speltz. They worked quietly and efficiently, required very little departmental resources, and if they were ever successful in solving any of their impossible cases, they did it quietly and without media attention. The cleanup crew. No recognition. No promotion. Just work the cases as far as you can, stamp them closed or unsolved, and move on to the next. Jonah shook his head at his reflection and headed for the door. Retirement was looking better and better.

Maybe he could convince Jenn to come with him. It was a possibility. He was single, she was single, and they got along. It could happen, Jonah crossed the parking lot to his beat-up Cutlass. Nothing’s impossible…

A NOVEL IDEA that will tickle you to pieces

I know that sometimes you wish you knew MORE about the characters you read... Especially if the book is character driven. You fall in love with them, and it is natural because they are real. I'm not saying they're flesh and blood or 3-Dimensional, but trust me... my book characters are ALIVE. So many people have agreed with me on this. So--I have a novel (pun intended) idea...

Soon* you will be able to Visit http://www.rabbitnovel.com/ to explore the Lost Books of RABBIT: Chasing Beth Rider. Your web address for: · Deleted Scenes · Character Studies · Character Histories · Story Insights · And more entertaining items that did not make it into the final printed version of the novel Plus, Readers are encouraged to submit ideas for the next Lost Book to be posted, so if you finish the book and want to know something regarding a character or relationship---submit a suggestion on the website and wait to see if it is chosen! *SOON means by the 1st of October... The novel itself will be available, God-willing, by December.

For more information on other works by ellen c. maze, visit http://www.thejudgingnovel.com/ or email the author at ellenmaze@aol.com

BLOOD SPLATTER makes all the difference in the world...

It is a huge blessing to have an artist on staff who works for free. Well, she actually works for pizza, room and board; but it is still wonderful having a daughter who can create book covers for mom for FREE. My teen daughter created this cover for me months ago and just this week, we added the one missing element-- the blood splatter. See, without it, one might see the book cover and think it is a children's book. But just a little of the red stuff and SHAZAM! we now have a gothic horror feel to a novel that has more than its share of blood-letting. The road of the righteous is often sprinkled with the blood of sacrifice, and in this novel, such is the case for righteous character Beth Rider. As she moves forward in her mission and some of the vampires take up her cause, she is not alone on her journey. But unfortunately, anything easy is usually not worthwhile. I will be posting some random short prose soon. I don't want to leak anymore of RABBIT because it might ruin some of the book for you before you read it. But I have tons of work in a similar vein (ha ha ha) that will tickle your fancies... RABBIT: CHASING BETH RIDER will have it's own web site soon (by Oct.1) and I'm looking forward to launching that puppy. I will then make an author web site as per my husband's advice. For now...let's get to writing!!

RABBIT plans coming together...

I love it when a plan comes together...

This weekend, my husband and I attended the Gulf Coast Writer's Conference in Panama City, FL. I met some really cool people; authors, writers, editors, publishers and an agent. I gathered as many contact numbers as I could, and all of them are on FaceBook. How convenient!

So what am I blogging about today, you ask? I have a few ideas regarding RABBIT:CHASING BETH RIDER that my readers may be interested in.

First, I am looking into starting a new website that will be dedicated to this one book. I want to do this because RABBIT is coming out soon and people will be able to find it easily if it has its own domain name. I'll try to get RABBITNOVEL.com or something like that...

AND I would like to post chapters from the story that are not in the novel. For instance, the one I posted here earlier regarding how Jesse Cherrie picks up blood donors. I have so many ideas for 'lost chapters' that don't fit into this plot/story, but readers will really enjoy them because their just FUN to know and to read. So when the new website is up next week, I will have a tab for 'RABBIT:THE LOST BOOKS'. This seems like a great idea to me :-)

I feel like writing one now so I'm going to my Word Processor.

Have a great night and keep reading!

The GIRL, the VAMPIRE and the BELGIAN DRAFT HORSE

I am a fine artist.

Artists sketch when they're bored.

Writer's also sketch...but their pictures are made up of words.

I have been sketching a little story I call DEVIL'S MOXY (sorry, the title is mine now, don't try to steal it! I know it rocks!), and I have no idea where it is going so far. I have a fantastic couple of characters that have come to life on me. A woman named Shannon (goes by Tink) and a really cool vampire named Peter Van Willows (Nune). And the story takes place in 2 different times, and 2 different countries. 10 Years ago in Vienna, Austria when Shannon was a 17-yr old on holiday, and then in Athens, GA ten years later.

And Tina lives on a Horse Farm and rides at the Olympic level.

So let's review: beautiful girl, devilishly handsome vampire, lots of horses...

Plot? Hey, back off, this is still just an exercise, a sketch. The author is working on another project seriously (Rabbit:Chasing Beth Rider), and this one is just for fun...for now. But one day it will become the CURRENT PROJECT...

For now, it is good, clean fun.

If anyone reads this blog, they will peek into DEVIL'S MOXY a good 2 years before it goes to print. Have fun and if you want to see the next chapter, you'll have to leave a comment. Otherwise, the sketch-artist won't know the sketch was enjoyed...

DEVIL'S MOXY word-sketch, pre-novel by ellen c maze

Chapter 2 (probably) Tink stroked the Belgian’s thick neck and hopped off his broad back. Turtle was not a particularly slow animal, but his back was the widest part of his body. She grinned as she rubbed her sore thigh muscles.

“You’re killing me Turt!” She reached for the reins and pulled them over his poll with effort. He was seventeen hands and not likely to lower his head and help out. Tink turned to lug the fuzzy giant back to the barn and waved at the youngster trotting her way.

“Kelly! Where’s the fire?” Her histrionics were well-documented and Tink was not taken in. The teen reached her side breathing hard.

“Tink! Mrs. Tankersley’s looking for you! You need to go see her right away. The buyer is here and she wanted you to show him around the property!” Fourteen-year-old Kelly spoke in short, excited bursts and Tink shook her head and smiled.

“Okay, okay, Kelly. Calm down. I’m going.” Tink tugged three times on Turtle’s reins before he made any forward progress. Kelly kicked her mare into a trot and was tracking left along the rail, pigtails flying. “Kelly! Heels down! Eyes up!”

Tink laughed at the kid’s enthusiasm and led her giant Equine pal toward the barn. The covered arena was situated across the driveway from the stables and Tink noticed an emerald green Lexus parked beside Mrs. Tankersley’s Jeep. So the new owner drives a luxury car. Point one. Tink was collecting facts for the boarders; they would inevitably pester her for information in tomorrow’s lesson.

Tink stopped in the barn entrance and looked up to the wide metal sign that hung above her head. WILLOW’S WEEP FARM. She had named the place herself. Evelyn Tankersley bought the property fifty years ago and converted the unused fifty-acre pecan grove into a highly functioning boarding and training stable. Evelyn called it ‘Tankersley’s Belgians’ until Tink came along five years ago and added Olympic level instruction in jumping and dressage. Today, the elderly Tankersley sold it lock stock and barrel, and Tink was only one of thirty-two people who were directly affected. What would the new guy change? Will he close the Boarding Stables? Will he hire new personnel? Not knowing plagued the lot of them. Tink set her jaw and towed Turtle past the threshold.

“Here I am Tink!” Lucy, a fourteen-year-old Pony Clubber jogged up carrying Turtle’s giant blue halter. “I got him!”

Tink handed her the reins. “Okay, Luce, but I’m going to check his feet. Don’t forget his feet.” She watched Lucy nod and tug the horse’s reins looking like an ant pulling a building. “Tinkers! Get over here!”

It was Mrs. Tankersley. Tink hopped to and comically jogged to the office door. She had a good rapport with the old horsewoman and she would miss her a lot. The office door was open and Tink stepped just inside and waited; hands behind her back at casual attention. She could see that a man sat at the desk, his back to her, and she wanted to make a good impression. After all, her future employment rested squarely in his hands. Mrs. Tankersley stood up from her chair and gestured toward Tink in the doorway.

“Mr. Nune, this is Tink Hattering, my barn manager…”

Tink stepped forward and smiled broadly for her new employer as he stood up and turned to face her. As soon as their eyes met, her expression fell and white spots filled her vision. It was him; the first man she had ever loved.

No…it was the vampire. And he had come back for her.

Peter stepped to the young woman’s side and caught her as she collapsed. With his arms wrapped around her, her body right up against his, he was rushed back in time as the memories of a decade ago flooded his mind.

Ten years ago, Vienna. The woman in his arms was a child of seventeen that year and he had already seen six hundred birthdays. She was a visitor to his country, on a very short one-month visa. But together, they had stretched the days into eternity.

Peter forced the memories away for the moment fought to remain expressionless. The old woman did not need to know any of his past, even if it included her barn manager. He carefully placed her on the office sofa and arranged her arms across her chest. She was even more beautiful now. As a child, she was all legs and arms, exuberance and audacity. She was fearless with wild eyes that flashed with whims even he did not understand. Now, although he got only a small glimpse of her before she recognized him and lost consciousness, he saw in her eyes maturity and compassion.

Mrs. Tankersley made it to his side and began to fan the young woman with her hand and call her name loudly. Peter smiled and patted her wrist gently, indicating that he had the matter well in hand. She frowned, indignant but returned to the desk, her face flush with surprise and unease. She was seventy-two if a day and Peter knew she battled pancreatic cancer—he had a knack for smelling cancer. Always had.

His fainting friend stirred and he rocked back on his heels stooped next to her. He whispered her name—the one she used back then.

“Shannon…Shannon?”

Her eyelids fluttered and she opened her eyes.

“Peter?” She spoke his name as if she hoped he’d shake his head. But he nodded and stood to his feet. She did not make any move to rise but she never took her eyes from his.

“Oh thank goodness, Tink! You ‘bout gave me a heart attack! What is wrong with you? Be sure you get enough fluids when you’re riding all day!” Mrs. Tankersley at her desk slurped from a bottle of water as she shouted.

Peter paid her no mind. He would not be the first to break visual contact. He looked into Shannon’s stormy blue eyes and waited. If she was anything like her old self, she was good at the game. Two or three long seconds passed and her lips parted to whisper to him.

“What are you doing here?”

Peter thrust his hands into his trouser pockets and tilted his head toward the old woman. “I am buying a horse farm.” He matched her tone and watched her delicate hand travel up to her throat. She pressed it there protectively. Peter shook his head, “I just came for the horses, dear. Just the horses.”

“Get up silly! I need you to show Mr. Nune around. Come on!” Mrs. Tankersley came around Peter and pulled Tink to her feet.

Peter smiled, his lips pressed together and watched her gather her wits.

She was going to be fine. She had always been a hardy and resilient type.

RABBIT resolution made author VERKLEMPT

sniffle....

Yesterday I recieved the resolution (ending) of my current project and it made me verklempt (for non-yiddishites, 'choked with emotion').

Yeah...it is incredibly sweet; especially after everything I put these characters through, to see them end up this way---only my writing Partner could come up with such a wonderful ending.

I can't wait to share it with you.

God-willing, it'll be by November 1st.:-)

RABBIT Character Jesse Cherrie BUSTED OUT TONIGHT

[This is a photo of actor Oded Fehr, and this is who I would cast in the role of Jesse Cherrie]

Sometimes a character has more to say than will fit in the novel. Hey, I have a word count limit, and I can only include chapters that will move the plot forward . I can't just go willy-nilly, sticking in every little thing each character wants me to say about them; inserting scenes of their love lives or distant history that have nothing to do with the current story-line. This is where blogging comes in.

Like the scenes that end up on the cutting room floor, here is a scene in the life of RABBIT:CHASING BETH RIDER character Jesse Cherrie. Jesse belongs to the race of vampire-like wraiths, called Rakum. In this scene, he picks up a woman with the intention of having her over for a drink. Implied vampire activity intentional!

This scene fits into the novel, with all references to my other characters and their motivations, but alas, this scene takes place weeks before our novel begins... so let's sit back and enjoy a few words to Jesse's honor. He loves to be the center of attention...

DELETED SCENE

Jesse Cherrie and the Tennis Pro

Jesse opened his eyes to watch Atlanta fade into his past once again. Like clockwork, every Tuesday at sundown, he left his comfortable apartment in New York City for JFK, hopped a 747 to Atlanta, and then a regional jet to Montgomery. All to check his holdings in the Southern Companies, and of course, to visit Michael Stone.

Jesse and Michael went way back, practically to the beginning. They were dumped in the same Lair-House at the age of five and paired up soon after by the Group Proctor. They were a perfect match with Michael’s natural brawn and Jesse’s mystical gifts; there was nothing they couldn’t accomplish together. Delivered over to Elder Jack Dawn for Ritual training, they were made tough and successful. The duo graduated First Ritual at the head of their class over a century ago. Of course, those days were thankfully far behind them. Since then, they settled into separate and comfortable lives, co-existing with the cattle that populated the planet; enjoying what mankind had to offer in the way of luxury and comfort, while avoiding the traps that befell the humans as a matter of course.

Jesse smiled to himself and turned up the volume on his iPod. It wasn’t so much the music, he’d listen to almost anything, but it was the distraction. He had an hour-long flight ahead of him and if no one spoke to him or vied for his attention, he’d be on cloud nine. Tonight, it so happened he was listening to the Moody Blues and he cranked up the volume to nine, readjusting his briefcase in the seat next to him. He always purchased two seats to assure his privacy and he always flew first class.

Jesse nodded his head along with the second tune and thought about the night ahead. He would try to get Michael to hit the town with him again. Last week, they’d gone to a bar frequented by dozens of twenty-somethings sipping dainty cocktails and fruity wine-coolers. What Michael saw in the place, Jesse couldn’t fathom, but it was more than boring. Mike probably liked looking at the girls—he was a bit of a horn dog. But none of them were touchable and none of them reliably alone. Jesse made him promise they’d avoid that place in the future. So tonight, what could he talk his old friend in to?

The song ended and in the quiet break Jesse heard someone clucking at him. He opened his eyes, turned to the aisle and pulled out the ear bud on that side.

“I’m sorry to disturb you sir, but we’ve had a little accident two rows back. Would you be so kind to allow this passenger to sit with you for a few minutes while we clean up her seat?”

It was the petite blonde flight attendant who’d seated him with a gigantic smile only minutes before. She was seriously not Jesse’s type, and he made an irritated noise but pulled his case out of the seat and to tuck under his knees. Blondie smiled, all dimples blushing bright pink, and stepped aside for another person to pass.

Jesse was rearranging his case and checking the floor space when she stepped in, and so the first thing he saw was a toe to knee cast on a woman’s leg. The woman maneuvered carefully into the space, crutches, purse and briefcase making the job a truer challenge. When she collapsed gratefully into her chair, Blondie left them alone.

“I am so sorry to barge in on you like this.”

The woman stuck out her hand and Jesse shook with her, easily masking his distaste. He did not welcome physical contact, but to fit the role he played, shaking with them was expected.

“My neighbor spilled his coffee in my seat when I stepped out to the restroom. How he could be so clumsy I’ll never know.”

Jesse nodded his head and offered her a tight smile, but did not meet her eyes. If he could survive the intrusion for ten minutes without getting to know the woman, that would suit him best.

“Pardon me, but, I notice you wear your watch on the right. Are you left handed?”

Jesse stifled a sigh. “Yes.”

“I thought so.” She replied and held up her right hand to show that on her slender wrist dangled an expensive and feminine Rolex.

Jesse smiled, appreciating her taste in watches, as he wore the same brand and she had already noticed the coincidence. She was about to make more small talk with him and he prepared for it, now allowing himself to study her eyes, her face, her mouth. Why not? She was barging into his private world now and fair game to a little scrutiny.

The woman had copper-colored hair, cropped close and spiked on top with product, and she looked at him with confidence with her sea-foam green eyes. Because of an organizational emblem on her purse strap, Jesse surmised that she was a tennis player and maybe a pro by the looks of her athletic build. But today she was dressed in a business suit; dark gray slacks, matching blazer and a low-cut deep red silk shirt. A diamond and white-gold tennis racket adorned her lapel and her briefcase was very similar to Jesse’s. She made a comment about it as soon as she noticed his interest. He nodded and she launched into more conversation.

“I am buying a restaurant in Montgomery. Is that where you’re headed?”

Jesse smiled and shook his head. As he expected, he’d spent enough time with the woman now—a good four minutes, sitting close enough to reach out and touch her—that he wanted to try her out. She wasn’t wearing a wedding ring, and that was a good first sign.

“No, I am going to see a friend.” He offered, slowly taking in her figure in such a way that she would notice. But she didn’t cringe or seem offended in the least. She waited until his eye landed on her obvious injured leg and she placed her hand on her bare knee, just above the plaster.

“I was in a car accident last week.” She rearranged the folded pants leg that made way for the cast and when Jesse met her eyes, she was watching him the way he was watching her. As far as she knew.

“What is your name?”

“Oh, sorry.” The woman laughed and put her knee hand now to her breast, knowing Jesse would follow with his eyes. “Kelly Jacobs. Where’re my manners!”

Jesse smiled wider and she blushed. He had her now.

“Jesse Compton. Nice to meet you Kelly.”

It was alias he used with women often enough. Jessie Cherrie was a man you could Google. Jesse Compton was nobody he knew.

The woman accepted the name and batted her eyelashes as she looked away. They were so easy, the mortals. And he was the luckiest Rakum he knew. Unlike Michael who situated regular voluntary blood donors all over town, Jesse had only two where he lived. He preferred to pick up his dinner on the fly. The variety and excitement gave him more satisfaction, which was of course his main goal.

Blondie the Flight Attendant returned just then and offered to help Kelly Jacobs back to her seat. Jesse held up his hand and invited her to stay with him.

“Oh thank you Jesse.”

Jessie sent the irritating tot away and relaxed into his seat, stretching his long legs. The tennis pro watched his every move, as he knew she would, and he could see he was her type.

“When we land in Montgomery, will you join me for a drink?” Jesse asked her, giving her a glimpse of his killer smile.

She interpreted his gaze as a come-on and blushed again. Jesse waited until she consented with a tiny nod. She was playing innocent and coy, but she’d been around. She’d never been with one of Jesse’s kind, but she was accustomed to picking up men wherever she went.

Jesse listened to her small talk with one ear, and the end of the Moody Blues album in the other; his plans for the night set. Take Kelly Jacobs to his hotel room and get that drink.

Then he’d send her on her way, his stomach full.

He was the luckiest Rakum alive.