From CHIMERAS, beginning of Chapter 11:
I rolled over and faced Hortensia’s pale shoulders, the soft bulges of her spine drawing a sinuous line all the way down to the small of her back. She turned—the hem of the sheets printed on her right cheek—and stared at me aloof, her parted lips an invitation to be devoured all over again.
“You missed a call,” she scolded, rubbing her eyes.
No point in asking why she didn’t tell me earlier. Whatever does not concern her, Hortensia does by inertia -- when she even bothers.
I reached over to grab the mobile on the nightstand and snapped it open, surfing through the list of calls. Diane Kyle, the display informed me.
If sex is a catharsis, love is a catastrophe.
I tossed the phone on the pillow and got out of bed, meandering through the stacks of painted canvases piled against the walls.
The above is my Sunday snippet submission for the Weekend writer Warriors (you can find the Snippet Sunday group also on Facebook, too). Check them out, it's a fun way to find upcoming books -- all genres welcome, there's something for everyone's tastes.
CHIMERAS, the first in a detective thriller series featuring LAPD Detective Track Presius, is now available in Kindle and paperback on Amazon.
Click to download sample chapters (ePub, Kindle and PDF available).
Book Description: Haunted by the girl he couldn't save in his youth, and the murder he committed to avenge her, Detective Track Presius has a unique gift: the vision and sense of smell of a predator. When a series of apparently unrelated murders reel him into the depths of genetic research, Track feels more than a call to duty. Children are dying, children who, like himself, could have been healthy, and yet something, at some point, went terribly wrong. For Track, saving the innocent becomes a quest for redemption. The only way he can come to terms with his dark past is to understand his true nature.
Interesting how he just tosses the phone on the pillow. I guess he won't be calling this woman back? Nice snippet.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the snippet. It was all about sex for him, I take it. Lol Not call back for her. :)
ReplyDeleteVery interesting/intriguing snippet - girl in bed, girl on phone - good hook. Wonder if he will really continue to ignore the missed call...somehow I doubt it.
ReplyDeletethank you Frank, Karen and Susan! he won't be calling her back, but .... ;-)
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the excerpt as always, love your "voice", intrigued that he isn't going to call the woman back...good stuff!
ReplyDeletethanks Veronica, always happy to see your comments! :-)
DeleteInteresting snippet, Elena. I'm intrigued by his actions of searching through the art. :)
ReplyDeletethanks, Siobhan -- Hortensia is a very eccentric artist. :-)
DeleteIf sex is a catharsis, love is a catastrophe. I like that line!
ReplyDeletethanks Elaine!
Delete"If sex is a catharsis, love is a catastrophe. " I like that line. I wanted to highlight it while I was listening to the book last week, but it got ahead of me--didn't want to stop what I was doing and take off my gloves to do it
ReplyDeleteHortensia adds a quirky element to the story. .
Good snippet. :-)
Glad you are enjoying Hortensia, Teresa! She is quirky. :-)
DeleteI thought I left a comment here...hmm? If you find two, please delete one. :-) I like the interest that Hortensia adds to the story. The eccentric artist, she's quirky and aloof, yet she's there within sight. Someone for the reader to wonder about. Good post, Elena. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Teresa, had to fetch your comments again from the spam folder, so sorry about that....
DeleteFascinating voice of your hero and awesome details--"the hem of the sheets printed on her right cheek".
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gem!
DeleteI liked this snippet. He might not call the girl back...but some girls don't give up easy...it'll be interesting to see how this all plays out : )
ReplyDeleteGreat snippet. Interesting reaction to the phone call. He's a great character and I can't wait to learn more about him.
ReplyDeletethanks so much Millie and Sarah!
ReplyDeleteIf sex is a catharsis, love is a catastrophe.
ReplyDeleteAwesome line!
I wonder if he is interested and trying to talk himself out of it or if he just doesn't care.
ReplyDelete