ROW80 and A Snip from Out of the Water

weekend of editing! Does it get any better than that? Well, unless you're drafting for a shiny new idea, of course.

I haven't posted a snip in a while (and I lost a follower, I think. I'm sorry, whoever you were!), so here's a wee peek at Out of the Water:

Brother Arcturus and Baha appeared together soon after, while the men were still out in the grounds, and led them further into the woods. Once they had left the fields and the river behind, and the calls and shouts of the fire fighters had receded, Arcturus and Baha lit torches and spaced themselves along the line. Rosa, finding her footing behind Arcturus with Tía Mira following in her steps, wished they had stayed in darkness. Torchlight was misleading, creating shadows, leading her to step high over obstacles that were not there, and not highlighting stray rocks and branches that littered the path.

After stubbing her toes for the tenth time, and stumbling backward into her aunt, Rosa waited for the group to pass, Baha carrying the final torch. She held her aunt back beside her with a whisper and the two of them resumed walking at the end of the line, feeling their way among the drifts of leaves. It was easier to keep their footing with the men marking a passage, and with both lights shining ahead of them. Baha glanced once over his shoulder at them and something warm that was not the heat of the fire or the torch flushed her cheeks.

Her shoulders bumped Tía Mira's every once in a while, but she did not try to prevent it, finding comfort in her aunt's closeness.

"She is my aunt!" She repeated fiercely in her mind, any time thoughts of Santiago's revelations threatened to intrude. Best to not think at all, but keep walking. Arcturus would lead them somewhere safe, where they could rest, and then she would have to answer all the questions they must be holding in, and to think and plan, for herself and for her family. Easier now to keep shuffling forward, filling her mind with idle fancies of laden tables and her soft bed, in the home and warmth that had been hers so many months ago.

But I was Rosa de Toledo then. Who am I now?

Three notes:

Found a great tumblr site thanks to Kate Kaynak: My Daguerreotype Boyfriend. I almost wish I had a story set in the 19th century so I could pretend one of these guys was my main character.

Since Julie tagged me in the meme from the other day, I'm linking to her page so you can check out her answers as well.

I've won a copy of Life, Liberty, and Pursuit by Susan Kaye Quinn! And I've finished reading Craving Perfect by Liz Fichera, which was great! Reviews coming soon...