Snippet Sunday – Hard-Boiled/Noir WIP – November 29, 2015

Snippet Sunday is a Facebook group for writers I’ve been privileged enough to have been accepted into.

From the group guidelines; “Welcome to Snippet Sunday, where writers come together to share a few sentences of their current project–whether it’s a recently released novel, a WIP (work in progress), or an older manuscript that’s being revived. Intended to hook readers, gather feedback and build an author’s fan base, Snippet Sunday is the FB group that does all three.”

This week’s snippet picks up a little further along from where last week’s ended. Jake made it to his car and hit the road. Jed’s pals give chase. They break out the rifles and fire on Jake’s Olds. Jake decides to go off-road after they manage to shoot out his passenger-side window…

My passenger side window exploded inward. Glass flew by my face, nicking and cutting me on its way by. Blood trickled into my eyes.
The next shot took out a tire.

I pulled the wheel hard to the right

The Olds rumbled into the corn, mowing the stalks down as I went. I saw nothing but greenery smacking against the windshield and could only hope that there wasn’t something solid waiting for me up ahead.
Steering became an exercise in futility so I tried the brakes instead.  Nothing happened. I tried them again. The car bounced twice and almost flipped over before leveling out. I held onto the wheel and pretended I had something to do with choosing the direction.

I hit something low to the ground with a distressing thud, followed by a series of metallic bangs and clanks that had me envisioning a trail of auto parts left in my wake.
There was another thud, and then I could steer again. I jerked the wheel hard to the left, aiming for a r0w with a little more room in it.

The suspension cursed my existence as I forced the car into the tight space, then slammed on the brakes.

 

Thanks for stopping by to read & thanks for any feedback you feel inclined to leave.

Please visit other Snippet Sunday writers too. Here’s a link to the Facebook group; https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnippetSunday/

 

 

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Snippet Sunday – Hard-Boiled/Noir WIP -November 22, 2015

Snippet Sunday is a Facebook group for writers I’ve been privileged enough to have been accepted into.

From the group guidelines; “Welcome to Snippet Sunday, where writers come together to share a few sentences of their current project–whether it’s a recently released novel, a WIP (work in progress), or an older manuscript that’s being revived. Intended to hook readers, gather feedback and build an author’s fan base, Snippet Sunday is the FB group that does all three.”

This week’s snippet comes from a scene a little further on in the story. Jake decides to go into the lion’s den, so to speak. He takes a trip out to Jed’s place to poke around and see what he can stir up. He stirs up more than he can handle…

I vaulted off the porch at a dead run. The sound of my own ragged breathing almost drowned out the racket Jed’s pals made as they stomped and kicked their way through the debris field on their way out of the house.
The bright sunlight had me blinking hard as I staggered across the front yard, dodging farm equipment and disassembled auto carcasses.
Jed’s two friends emerged from the house, hollering and swearing.
I picked the clearest path across the wide lawn and headed straight for the driveway.
The shouts of my pursuers sounded louder and closer as I skidded onto the gravel at the end of the drive. I risked a look back and saw one of the two men take off toward the back of the house. The other stayed on me.
I pulled the Browning from where it sat nestled by my tailbone and ran harder.
My Oldsmobile shone like a metallic mint green beacon of safety in the afternoon sun near the end of the long driveway.

Thanks for stopping by to read my stuff and thanks for any feedback you feel inclined to leave.

Please take the time to visit other Snippet Sunday writers– especially if you’re a Snippet Sunday writer yourself.

Here’s a link to the Facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnippetSunday/

 

 

Snippet Sunday – Hard-Boiled/Noir WIP – November 15, 2015

Snippet Sunday is a Facebook group for writers I’ve been privileged enough to have been accepted into.

From the group guidelines; “Welcome to Snippet Sunday, where writers come together to share a few sentences of their current project–whether it’s a recently released novel, a WIP (work in progress), or an older manuscript that’s being revived. Intended to hook readers, gather feedback and build an author’s fan base, Snippet Sunday is the FB group that does all three.”

This is from the NaNoWriMo version of my WIP… Sometime after Jake’s run-in with Sheriff Jones at Marisa’s house Jake is talking with Evangeline in the Sunshade’s office. After a while, two locals he recognizes from Beau’s in come in and state that they’d like a word with Jake next door. Jake agrees to go, reluctantly. In this bit, Evangeline speaks first.

“You boys aren’t getting ready to do anything stupid, are you?” she asked the two locals. She might have been talking to me as well.

Neither man answered the question.

“Raymond?” she prodded.

“Us? No,” said the bearded man, shaking his big head. “Him? That’s what we’re aiming to find out, Evangeline.”

She shot me a look without fully taking her eyes off of them.

“You know what this is about?”

“Got a pretty good idea,” I said, standing up. “And I’m pretty sure you do too.” I gestured toward the door. “After you, gentlemen.”

Raymond and his friend stood there for another couple of seconds, then led the way out of the office.

Clouds had moved in, blotting out the stars and making things rough on the moon. Only the barest amount of blueish light escaped. The feeble efforts of the streetlights along the side of the road did little to pick up the slack.

None of us spoke during the short walk from the Sunshade to Beau’s. Raymond opened the bar’s door and waited for the red-haired guy and me to walk in.

He locked the door behind him.

The music had been turned way down from its usual volume. The bass line and an occasional drum flourish were about all I could make out.

I counted fourteen people inside, arranged on stools with their backs to the bar. Beau sat on the very end, still in his apron, shifting on his stool and tapping his foot. I’d never seen him on my side of the bar. I didn’t even know he had legs.

Thanks for stopping by & thanks for any feedback you feel inclined to leave.

Please visit other Snippet Sunday authors! Here’s a link to the Facebook group;

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnippetSunday/