Carol A. Spradling, author

CarolASpradling · Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 11:36 pm Post subject: Victoria and Harrison excerpt

Consciousness thudded against Victoria’s brain and forced her to face reality. The effort it took to open her eyelids has rewarded with stabbing spears of light striking the backs of her vision. A fuzzy shadow walked toward her. Her tongue flicked at the wadded linen in her mouth, surprised that nothing was there. His arm tormented her shoulders as he lifted her and pressed something cold to her lips.

“Drink,” he said.

The words reverberated around her head like a kite bouncing in a windstorm. Her jaw screeched open and he poured the liquid in. She sputtered and gasped, but he continued until the glass was drained. “Are you trying to poison me?” she asked.

“You did enough of that on your own,” Harrison said.

“I never want another glass of wine.”

“Wine?”

She positioned her fingertips around her face for support. “Wasn’t I drinking wine?”

“Bourbon.”

“Bourbon? I don’t even like bourbon.”

“You mentioned that.”

She scrapped her tongue against her teeth, flinching at the riveting noise then looked at him through bleary-eyes. “What else did I say?”

“Nothing I’ll hold against you.” He opened the window but mercifully left the curtains drawn.

“Why not, I’m sure I gave you ample ammunition.”

He sat next to her and she grabbed the side of the bed to offset the pitch. Please don’t bounce. Gently, gently.

“Because as much as I have fought against it, and I truly hate to admit it, I still love you Victoria Greyson.”

“I’m gonna be sick. Move.” She shoved against him and stumbled to the chamber pot, dragging a sheet tangled around her ankle. It started with dry heaves, and she prayed she’d make it in time. She pushed the pounding in her head to the side and clutched the cold metal to her cheek. It was soothing, but temporary. Belching loudly, she reinforced her dislike of bourbon. In between waves of burning bitterness, she begged God to kill her. Now and fast would be glorious, anything to end her agony.

Relatively certain she would no longer need the pot, she staggered toward the bed with a cloth pressed to her mouth. Her bed had been straightened and turned down, her pillows fluffed. Harrison stood at the side of it.

“Oh. No,” she said. “Are you still here?

He laughed and held the blankets back for her.

She crawled in and hugged her pillow. “Don’t think this will undo what you said.” She shivered and closed her eyes. “But I will need it repeated when I’m better.”

“Endlessly. Now, rest.”
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Carol
www.CarolASpradling.com

Jeanne · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 3:01 am Post subject:

"Endlessly" BIG SIGH......................Love when he says this........................So romantic Exclamation

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Don't cry if you have lost the sun. The tears won't permit you to see the stars.

CarolASpradling · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 11:06 pm Post subject:

Jeanne,

I thought you would like that one. Although... I know the one you like more but that is too spoilerish to post.
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Carol
www.CarolASpradling.com

cale · Citizen Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 134 Location: Illinois

Do you have any dates for when this will be publiushed yet?

CarolASpradling · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 2:36 pm Post subject:

Hi Cale,

I wish I did. I expect edits this weekend. I usually have a month to complete those. Provided the editor and I agree on changes, it will then move on to final edits where I have one last chance to catch typos. Once it moves from there, we wait for publishing to give us dates. Generally, it takes nine months to a year from contract to release date. Basing everything on the same schedule as COF, the closest I can estimate a release date for digital is Feb. 2009. It would be so nice if it happened faster.
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Carol
www.CarolASpradling.com

brony1 · Citizen Joined: 11 May 2008 Posts: 159

Carol I love it! Exclamation

I want it! Exclamation

CarolASpradling · Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 12:59 pm Post subject:

Hi Brony,

Thanks! I'll let you know as soon as I have a release date. The good news is, the digital release and print release will be simultaneous this time.
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Carol
www.CarolASpradling.com

brony1 · Citizen Joined: 11 May 2008 Posts: 159

Thats great> it will be nice to have the down load to read while I await the arrival of the hard copy. Very Happy