A.M. Leibowitz

queer slice-of-life stories

Rainbow Snippets

Rainbow Snippets: Instant coffee

Books, Writing

Happy Saturday! Last weekend of spring break. I feel bad that I didn’t end up getting to read everyone’s snippets last time. The day got away from me, even though it was supposed to be quiet.

Speaking of quiet…this week certainly wasn’t! Both kids were home, and almost every day had one or another (or multiple) of their friends over. Our house is pretty small, so it was a bit intense. Even so, I did manage to get some work done. I finished accepting/rejecting stories for the anthology with my publisher, and I started working on a new short story for a different anthology.

This week, I’m going back to “Ashes & Alms,” my over-age-50 story about a former missionary attending a reunion. Last time, Jo called Annie and agreed to go. This time, Jo is discussing a lot of things over coffee with her elderly mother.

“Coffee?” Jo’s mother offered.

“Sure.” She needed the caffeine, even if the only option was Mom’s weak instant grounds.

Mom set the steaming cup on the table in front of Jo, along with the cream pitcher—filled with skim milk—and the artificial sugar. Jo eyed the items and decided she’d rather drink it black.

Rainbow Snippets is a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQIA+ authors, readers, and bloggers to share 6 sentences each week from a work of fiction—published or in-progress—or a book recommendation. Feel free to join in!

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Rainbow Snippets: Inspired

Books, Writing

Happy Saturday! It’s basically a day off for us at last, with a whole week of vacation ahead. Finally!

I’m snipping again from my first novel, Lower Education. Be sure to join the virtual egg hunt on Facebook for a chance to win a free copy and meet some other fabulous indie authors in a wide range of genres.

In this scene, our “hero” Phin is watching his one-time nemesis practice a dance he’s choreographed. You can listen to the music that inspired the scene here. This is “The Old Castle,” from Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Originally composed for piano, I prefer the orchestrated version (perhaps because I’ve played it numerous times.) This is my favorite movement.

The music which had piqued Phin’s interest was now featuring a haunting saxophone melody. He smiled; Alex had good taste. Pictures at an Exhibition had long been one of Phin’s favorite pieces. Nothing could have prepared him for how elegant and sensual Alex was. He moved with the same fluid motion as a river, and it gave Phin the same sort of rush to watch. Alex was not particularly tall, but there was a long, muscular leanness to him. He was moving artfully with the music in a complicated pattern of steps and spins, his bare feet making soft thuds each time he landed a jump.

Synopsis:

Phin Patterson is an educational consultant dissatisfied with his job and his life.  On a mission to complete one last assignment before escaping his unfulfilling career and figure out what he wants, he accepts a commission from Donald Murdock at the New York State Education Department.  He’s sent to evaluate a tiny school in New York’s Southern Tier, not far from the town where he grew up.  Now his only goal is to get in, do his job, and get out before anyone from his past remembers him.

That turns out to be easier said than done.  Dani Sloane, the sharp-witted administrative assistant to the principal, learns the truth about why Phin is really there.  With the help of her friends, she sets out to unmask him and force the local board of education to stop the plans that could ruin their school.  Discovering that her sometime-lover is an old business associate of Phin’s only complicates both the situation and their relationship.

Meanwhile, Phin, who has committed himself to keeping his emotional distance, can’t resist the charm of the town and its residents—especially the school psychologist, who turns out to be an old friend he hasn’t seen in over twenty years.  While Dani works to take him down and save her school, Phin wrestles with learning how to do the right thing, including telling the truth to the man with whom he’s already falling in love.

Rainbow Snippets is a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQIA+ authors, readers, and bloggers to share 6 sentences each week from a work of fiction—published or in-progress—or a book recommendation. Feel free to join in!

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Rainbow Snippets: Entering the vault

Books, Writing

Happy Saturday! This afternoon, I get to go hear my older kid play some jazz! After several years of auditioning, he finally made it into the All County Jazz Band. He’s having a blast, and the conductor is amazing. I can’t wait to see the concert.

For today’s snippet, I’m going back in time to my first novel, Lower Education. The reason is that I’m giving away a copy later this week as part of a virtual egg hunt. Be sure to join the event on Facebook for an introduction to some amazing indie authors!

Here, we get a glimpse of our…uh…”hero,” Phin. His methods (and his ethics) often leave a bit to be desired.

Before leaving his room, [Phin] glanced at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. He smoothed his sandy blond hair, which he’d had cut and styled for the occasion, and gave himself a cheeky wink and a smirk. Surely he wouldn’t have any trouble finding someone to kiss up to. Or something more. That usually works better, he thought. There was always someone willing to provide dirt on a coworker, even in a school, for the right price.

Synopsis:

Phin Patterson is an educational consultant dissatisfied with his job and his life.  On a mission to complete one last assignment before escaping his unfulfilling career and figure out what he wants, he accepts a commission from Donald Murdock at the New York State Education Department.  He’s sent to evaluate a tiny school in New York’s Southern Tier, not far from the town where he grew up.  Now his only goal is to get in, do his job, and get out before anyone from his past remembers him.

That turns out to be easier said than done.  Dani Sloane, the sharp-witted administrative assistant to the principal, learns the truth about why Phin is really there.  With the help of her friends, she sets out to unmask him and force the local board of education to stop the plans that could ruin their school.  Discovering that her sometime-lover is an old business associate of Phin’s only complicates both the situation and their relationship.

Meanwhile, Phin, who has committed himself to keeping his emotional distance, can’t resist the charm of the town and its residents—especially the school psychologist, who turns out to be an old friend he hasn’t seen in over twenty years.  While Dani works to take him down and save her school, Phin wrestles with learning how to do the right thing, including telling the truth to the man with whom he’s already falling in love.

Rainbow Snippets is a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQIA+ authors, readers, and bloggers to share 6 sentences each week from a work of fiction—published or in-progress—or a book recommendation. Feel free to join in!

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Rainbow Snippets: I’ll Be There

Books, Writing

Happy Saturday! Last weekend’s concert was amazing. Shockingly, we have this weekend free. I don’t think that happens again until May.

Lots of weird stuff happening this week. Most significantly, a bunch of us emailed Pixabay because pictures of cigarettes were showing up in searches for “gay.” Their first reaction was to shame and scold people who messaged, but ultimately, they removed the tags that allowed this to happen. I’m torn on whether to use the site. They fixed the issue, but not until after harassing people over it.

Also, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get me your submissions for the upcoming Supposed Crimes anthology, Upstaged! This is all about women who love women in performing arts, and I’d love to see what you all could do with this.

Anyway, on to the snippet. I’m sharing again from “Ashes & Alms,” my short story in the Never Too Late anthology from Beaten Track. Last week, Annie asked Jo if she was coming to the reunion of their missionary team. This week, Jo’s answer.

“Well, that’s what I’m not sure about.” Jo’s mind whirled as she tried to come up with an excuse not to go. “I haven’t been to any of the others—”

Annie scoffed. “That’s because there weren’t any. No one organized them. But it’s been forty years, and…well, I wanted to have a go.” Annie was quiet on the other end. “I really think you should come.”

“I don’t know…” Jo didn’t add that she thought the others might not even want to see her.

“That’s it, you’re coming.” The bounce was back. “Everyone will be so excited when I tell them. Trust me, you’ll have a great time catching up with them. Oh, I can’t wait!”

Jo sighed. “All right. I’ll be there.”

Rainbow Snippets is a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQIA+ authors, readers, and bloggers to share 6 sentences each week from a work of fiction—published or in-progress—or a book recommendation. Feel free to join in!

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Rainbow Snippets: Excited

Books, Writing

Happy (and thank God it’s) Saturday! It’s been a week, and I’m sure lots of us are feeling the strain. But I’m going to focus right now on a happy thing, which is that my older kid is performing in a county-wide chorus later today. He sings Tenor 2. Apparently, he made a new friend yesterday, which isn’t surprising. It’s not an exaggeration to say my son is the happiest person I’ve ever met, and people are drawn to his sunny nature.

I’m working away on multiple projects, but I feel a bit like writing has stalled out again. It’s feeling directionless to me, and I’m not sure what I want out of my writing life. I need a change, but I’m not sure what that looks like.

Anyway, I’m still snipping from “Ashes & Alms.” It’s a second-chances story about a woman seeing her first love after 40 years apart. Last week, she picked up the phone and made the call.

“Jo!” Annie’s mellow tones were replaced with the bright enthusiasm Jo remembered, and it made her smile in spite of the situation. “How are you these days?”

“I’m doing all right. Yourself?” She felt oddly formal.

“Fine, fine. You’re calling about the reunion, right?”

“I am. I’m not sure—”

“So you’re coming?” Annie sounded so excited that Jo pictured her bouncing on her toes.

Rainbow Snippets is a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQIA+ authors, readers, and bloggers to share 6 sentences each week from a work of fiction—published or in-progress—or a book recommendation. Feel free to join in!

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Rainbow Snippets: Making the call

Books, Writing

Happy Saturday! It’s my first weekend off in what feels like forever. No more early mornings, rushing to get the kids to rehearsals. At least, not for the next 6 months or so. The show went well, though, so all those Saturdays we gave up paid off.

I’m still snipping from “Ashes & Alms,” my short story featuring characters over 50. Last week, Jo was about to call Annie. Here, she’s finally making the call.

After several minutes of indecision, Jo dialed the number on the post card. She bounced her knee while she listened to it ring.

“Hello?” Annie’s voice was warmer than Jo remembered.

“Is this Annie Tomassino?”

“Yes, it is. May I ask who’s calling?”

Jo swallowed before answering, trying to settle her nerves. “It’s Jo Brighton, formerly Hodges.”

Rainbow Snippets is a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQIA+ authors, readers, and bloggers to share 6 sentences each week from a work of fiction—published or in-progress—or a book recommendation. Feel free to join in!

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