Walking by Faith

WIPpet Wednesday: What a Jerk

Happy Wednesday! Sorry I’m running late today. It’s been beyond hot here, and we don’t have air conditioning. Still, I managed to write about 2k words and attend a fellow author’s online release day party as well as taking care of some organizing tasks. Not bad.

This novel is currently a Very Sore Spot because Nate informed me I’m telling his story All Wrong. Which means that I need to make two seemingly minor changes which will eventually lead to much bigger changes. The good news is, it makes a lot more sense this way. What I can’t decide is if I need to ditch another plot strand. I’m thinking I do, but I’m not sure what that means for the story as a whole.

Anyway, on to the WIPpet. This follows directly from last week, when Nate walked into his shared apartment to find The Boyfriend arguing with his roommate Jamie. There’s a bit of non-consensual mild (not explicit) touching in this, so if that bothers you, you may want to skip it.

WIPmath: 7/13 = 7 + 13 = 20 sentences.

Nate listened for a few minutes, catching the gist of the argument. The Boyfriend was after Jamie about some plans he’d made which Jamie either didn’t want to go through with or hadn’t agreed to in the first place. Nate guessed it was the latter because Jamie wasn’t one to break a commitment.

“Please,” Jamie begged. “You know how I feel about it.” He sounded like he was on the verge of tears.

The Boyfriend tsk’d. “For once in your life, think about how I feel.”

“I am!” Jamie protested. “You can take someone else. I can’t, okay? Please.” He was shaking.

The Boyfriend obviously realized he wasn’t getting anywhere because his next move was to step closer and put his hands on Jamie’s shoulders. “Sh, baby. Come on. It’s not as big a deal as you’re making it. We don’t even have to stay the whole time. Everyone wants to see you, and I want to show them how hot you still are.” He kissed Jamie’s lips, despite the fact that Jamie was a stone in response.

Like what you read? Be sure to check out the other entries and add your own. Just post a bit of your WIP, connect it to the date, and link up with us. Many thanks to Emily Witt for giving us this space. Happy reading and writing!

WIPpet Wednesday: The Boyfriend’s Back

Fiction, Other Relationships, Writing

Happy Wednesday! I’ve already been busy. Over the weekend, I read 4 books in 4 days, and all of them have been really good. You can scroll through my recent blog posts to read the first three reviews, and the fourth one will be up tomorrow.

Now that I’ve sent Cat off to my publisher, he’s officially no longer a WIP. I already miss him, and I won’t see him again until I get my list of edits. Not only that, I don’t get to write about him again until at least this fall. So that means I’m on to posting what I’m currently writing: Nightsong, the sequel to Anthem. I don’t yet have a blurb for it. Like Anthem, it’s proving harder to write than I expected. I’m hoping to get the bulk of it done this month.

For anyone who’s forgotten, this series is about 4 roommates who are all aspiring musicians. Trevor, the Christian worship artist; Nate, the opera singer; and Mac and Jamie, who have a band (of sorts). Some of you might recall Jamie’s awful boyfriend, who thus far has gone nameless (he gets a name in Jamie’s story).

WIPmath: No math. It’s the first snippet from this novel, and it’s the first Wednesday of the month.

Tired and with aching feet, Nate opened the door to the apartment, ready to put away the few groceries he’d bought, grab a beer and throw himself onto the couch to watch mindless something or other until the other guys he lived with arrived home. Instead of silence, he was greeted by the sound of angry voices drifting from the hallway by the bedrooms. He was torn between worry and a sense of deja vu. If they kept it up, their downstairs neighbor—affectionately referred to as Mrs. Crochety—would have something to say about it. He stepped into the apartment and peered around cautiously.

Sure enough, outside the bathroom, Jamie was having another fight with his on-again, off-again boyfriend. Everything about Nate’s day felt like it was on repeat, from the backstage attitudes to Del’s relationship drama to this. Nate tried hard for Jamie’s sake not to hate The Boyfriend, whose name he intentionally didn’t remember, but it was damn hard. The Boyfriend was whiny, immature, and entitled. None of them understood why Jamie liked being around him, especially on days like today.

WIPpet Wednesday: Crash Landing

Fiction, Other Relationships, Writing

I’m sorry I missed a few weeks. Between one thing and another, it’s been really busy! We had end-of-year things with the kids, followed by our big family vacation to Cedar Point in Ohio. That was really fun. My 12-year-old has been talking about it for years, and we finally went. When we got there, he saw this excellent t-shirt with 6 of their big roller coasters on it. His goal was to ride all 6, which he did—some twice. I only made it on 4 of the 6 because I refused to ride the one that’s basically one giant vertical drop, and there wasn’t time for the other one. If you go, and if you like roller coasters, my favorite was Gatekeeper.

On to the WIPpet. This is possibly the last I’ll post of Cat for the time being. The novel is done, it’s been beta’d, and I’m doing one last read-through before I send it to my publisher. Provided all goes well, it will be out of my hands before the next WIPpet Wednesday. I’m both happy and sad, but I know I’ll get to revisit Cat next year when I finish the final part of the series.

WIPmath: 29 sentences for the 29th. This is not especially graphic, but there is definitely some violence, and Landon has moved past being creepy into assault. So if that’s something you’re sensitive to, you may wish to skip the excerpt.

“Your friend looks like he’s had a bit too much. Better get him out of here.”

“Right, on my way.”

Landon half-lifted him and sort of carried him to the door, where they slipped out around a few people coming in. It was warmer outside than inside, but the air was fresh, and Cat took a deep breath in a renewed effort to stay coherent. He let Landon guide him out to the parking lot, hardly registering where they were going until they were leaned up against a car. Landon didn’t make a move to unlock it or help Cat inside. Instead, he leaned Cat against the door and pressed up to him. Cat grunted in pain at the contact, but at least Landon was holding him up, and he was a little more clear than he’d been at the bar.

Cat took the opportunity to reach for his phone again, and he hit Zee’s number. While it was still ringing, Landon grasped it and tossed it aside into the dirt, and the sound stopped. He put his face right up against Cat’s.

“Glad I finally got you alone,” Landon murmured in his ear. “Didn’t think you really meant what you said earlier, not after I heard you in the bathroom. So hot. Should have been for me.”

“What?” Cat heard the slur in his own voice.

“I told you, I always get what I want.” He bit Cat’s earlobe, hard.

Cat’s head buzzed, and he pushed at Landon. “Stop…I can’t—”

His protest was muffled by the first blow, which caught him off-guard and knocked him to the ground. His phone lay next to his head, and he turned toward it when he heard Zee’s voice. “Zee?” he said. “Please! I need—”

This time, what cut him off was a foot landing a solid blow on his side. Landon was saying things to him, but none of them made sense—something about it being his fault. Cat gasped, trying to piece together how he’d gotten where he was and what the hell was happening. He never arrived there; something hit his head, and everything went black.

WIPpet Wednesday: Show Me

Fiction, Other Relationships, Writing

Sorry I missed last week. It’s been good, but we had a brutal few days with various performances. The kids are now down to (in order of appearance): my daughter’s class play, her 5th grade moving up ceremony, and one last dance recital. I think we can do this.

On to this week’s WIPpet. I’m nearly done editing this, so I’m only going to share from it for another week or two. After that, I’ll start posting bits of Nightsong, since I’ve begun writing it in earnest. Last time I posted, I think I shared a bit of heartbreak as Cat and Bryce decided to part ways. This week, they’re sealing the deal.

Note: If you prefer not to read, this contains implied sex. There’s nothing explicit, but I figured I should warn anyway. It might bother some more sensitive readers, especially because they’re in a secluded but public place, and they’re not quite alone.

WIPmath: Nothin’ fancy. Just 8 sentences for the 8th.

Bryce gazed down at him and then let out his breath in a rush as his shoulders slumped. He put his hand on the back of Cat’s neck and drew him in, kissing him long and deep. Cat melted into it, wanting to show Bryce how much he cared about him in the only way he knew how. They lost track of their position in time and space, kissing until both of them had raw lips and aching jaws, and yet they didn’t stop. Every part of Cat’s body was hot and alive, and he wanted Bryce—wanted to prove he would still be there when Bryce was ready.

He pulled back a couple of inches, and it seemed Bryce had the same idea. They pushed their way into the bathroom to the same stall where they’d gone the first time they’d been at the club. Cat wondered if Bryce had what they needed in his pocket but then giggled against Bryce’s mouth as someone in the next stall flicked a condom over the wall, hitting Bryce in the back of the head. Bryce rubbed the spot and grinned, kissing Cat quickly before bending down to retrieve the offending—though welcome—item.

WIPpet Wednesday: Faith Enough for Two

Fiction, Other Relationships, Writing

Happy Wednesday! Sorry I missed last week. It was so busy around here! I’m glad the school year is winding down at last.

Lots going on in my writer world. I have a short story going in an anthology this summer, and I got my first round of edits turned in. My editor’s email made my day—she said it was one of the easiest edits she’s done, and she called me a wonderful writer. I’m grateful to my beta readers for helping me put together such a great draft! I can’t wait to reveal the cover; it’s stunningly beautiful.

I’m hoping to wrap up Walking by Faith in June so I can put the final touches on and send it to my publisher. Then I can really get down to work on Nightsong, the sequel to Anthem (featuring opera, a drag queen, and a missing shoe).

Today’s snippet follows immediately from what I posted two weeks ago. Cat and Bryce are having a heart-to-heart because Bryce was cruel to Cat and is apologizing. (Seriously, though, don’t get attached to Bryce. He’s not in it much after this chapter.)

WIPmath: 5/25/2016 = 25 – (5 + 2 + 0 + 1 + 6) = 11 paragraphs

Cat slid his hand so their palms pressed together. “Tell me.”

Bryce closed his eyes and swallowed visibly. “I’m sorry I was a jerk to you earlier.”

“Okay,” Cat said. “You’re forgiven. What’s going on?”

“I can’t do this with you anymore,” he said.

Cat had known. He was surprised to find it didn’t make him angry, only sad. “I thought maybe.” He would never be who Bryce wanted or needed.

Bryce must have picked up on his thoughts because he said, “It’s not you, Cat!” His sigh was full of anguish. “I want to be with you.”

“Then why—”

“My parents suspect. It’s why I kept telling you we couldn’t be there when they were home. They said you’re not welcome there because you’re a bad influence on me, and they won’t pay for college if I don’t do what they say. I can’t get stuck in this crappy little town doing construction with my brothers. I can’t!” He was breathing hard, his chest heaving with the force.

“Hey.” Cat pushed off the wall and stood facing Bryce. “It’s okay. Maybe…maybe we can wait, right? It’s only another year, and then we’ll figure it out. We’ll go somewhere else.”

Bryce shook his head. “I don’t know.”

“That’s all right.” Cat reached up and touched his cheek. “I’ll have faith enough for both of us.”

WIPpet Wednesday: What’s Wrong?

Fiction, Other Relationships, Writing

We’re into the home stretch with the kids’ performances and such. Four school concerts, two dance recitals, and a piano recital to go. Last week, the cast of The Sound of Music performed at the Stars of Tomorrow gala. A panel of judges rates local high school musicals in various categories, and at the end, all the kids get to perform part of their musical on a professional stage and hear the results. Our kids’ school had recognition in every single category. In about a month, the cast of The Lion King Jr. will be singing the National Anthem at our local AAA baseball team’s game. For anyone whose kids are contemplating performing arts: this is what your life will look like. Just saying. (And really, I’m so proud of my kids and all their hard work. This is super exciting for them!)

Now that’s out of the way, on to this week’s WIPpet. Cat has just escaped the clutches of Creepy Landon (for now) and has gone in search of Bryce to make things right between them after their prior argument.

WIPmath: 5/11 = 5 + 11 = 16 sentences plus a bonus so I can leave you wondering. 😉

Still feeling annoyed and wary, Cat descended the stairs. He didn’t know where any of his friends had gone, so he walked the perimeter, keeping a lookout. Eventually, he saw Zee leaning against one wall, texting someone—probably his girlfriend—and Ezra was next to him with some guy’s tongue down his throat. Cat was torn between exasperation and amusement; there went his suspicions confirmed. He wouldn’t needle Ezra about it, though. Coming out was a process, and Ezra would talk in his own time. Later, Cat would work out some supportive but vague thing to say to Ezra.

At last Cat spotted Bryce. He was alone in the alcove by the bathrooms, and he didn’t look happy. Confused and worried, Cat threaded his way over to him. He settled in next to Bryce and put out one pinkie to twist it around Bryce’s.

“Hey,” he said.

Bryce looked down at him. “Hi, Cat.”

“Is everything okay?” Cat would have liked to add, because you’ve been a real jerk all day and now you’re alone in a corner, but he wasn’t feeling quite vengeful enough to start another fight.

“No,” Bryce said.

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