Friday 24 June 2011

Romantic Friday Writers 7th Challenge & MC Blogfest!



If you're here looking for my entry to the MC blogfest, it's directly below the RFW Challenge!



For the RFW Challenge No. 7, I’ve snatched a snippet from my historical novella ‘Her Favoured Captain’.

Brief: Emerald, distraught, has rushed down to the creek and to someone she hardly knows but has come to trust, implicitly! But things are not as she has expected . . .

Why had her buccaneer deserted her so cruel, set sail, and not a word? They had agreed to meet again late afternoon, and if nothing else she would have pleaded to sleep a while in his arms if not able to sail away with him. Now, now she had to go back and face Ned and Moorby. Barely able to raise herself from her knees, a sleepless night had most certain taken its toll alongside dread of a fate worse than death.
       She retraced her footsteps, heart leaden. The bridge reached she sat upon the steps, tears flooding. How had it come to this? How could Ned be so irresponsible in gambling away the house, the estate, when already mortgaged beyond their means? What evil influence had possessed him, driven him to drink and to reckless carding?  Once a loving brother, now a monster, she neither knew him or understood this brother returned from war a hero, when so weak in other ways. Two years of Ned back at Penhavean, the estate coffers emptied and the life they had known slipping from their grasp.
       Sound of horses hooves and wheels stole her attention, for a carriage most certain on approach to the bridge and coming from the house. Could noon have passed, and Moorby on his way as threatened? Surely not, for it could not be more than half eleven and time enough to meet with the earl’s demands. She had to do something, any thing to save Penhavean and Ned from ruin. If not, her future would be more uncertain than before. At least as Moorby’s wife her status that of a lady would be retained, and as Ned had said, provide a son for the earl and take a young lover if you despise the old man that much.
         To be so uncertain as to who would be waiting upon her return to the house, quite daunting. If it was Ned she feared his wrath, but he could not hurt her any more than he already had. If Moorby, she would have to surrender herself to him. He might think of her as his, for he would have her body. Part of her heart, though, would forever remain at Penhavean Hall, the greater part at sea. No matter her buccaneer’s desertion he had unknowingly stolen her heart.
       Oh, how love hurts. . .

396 words!  To see other participants entries go here.
      

 This blogfest is kindly hosted by the lovely Elizabeth Mueller.




Right, the object of this blogfest is “How to Connect with Your MC”. In other words, a couch therapy session, as in, interview disguised as therapeutic bonding!

***

Hi, I’m Tara, a character in a contemporary romance, and the idea of being interviewed by my author sounded kind of wacky to me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure there are things I kept from her, not intentional for my part, just hadn’t thought them worth revealing. But anyhoo, the question session started something like this: see what you think!

Question 1:  What is your greatest fear?

Tara:  “I have a secret, simple as that. If ever it’s exposed my true identity will come to light.”

Question 2:   What is your biggest accomplishment?

Tara:  “Oh, that of my second greatest love, stage design. It landed me a job on Broadway.”

Question 3:   What is your biggest regret?

Tara:  “That I didn’t go with Rick. If I had, at least I’d know whether he’s alive or dead, presupposing I survived the air crash.” (tearful moment) “No body has been found with the wreckage of his aircraft, and it’s weeks since it was discovered on a remote beach in Brazil”


To see other participants in this blogfest go here.

While you're here, don't forget to check out other listed blogfests: see banners in sidebar!

26 comments:

Margo Benson said...

It's so tantalizing reading snippets from Her Favoured Captain - I'd love to read the whole thing!

Poor Emerald, trying to solve everything in a man's world, loving one man, loyal to her brother, yet maybe having to marry another for duty.....hurt indeed.

Like your MC interview, too!

Francine Howarth said...

Thanks Margo,

Her Favoured Captain is going to Kindle: soon!!!! The book trailer is almost how I want it to be, and then I'm going to let Emerald loose on the world. It's only a novella, and more in the pipeline of my mind... I'm a sucker for portrait galleries and they in turn inspire my writing.

best
F

Paula Martin said...

Hee hee, you really do put your heroine through the mill, don't you? Poor Emerald, hope something eventually does work out right for her!

The Poet said...

Hello.
I remember the last snippet about this trio. This one too has lots of intrigue. My heart goes out to Emerald. Her brother is an idiot and I remember too how much I disliked Moorby.

I hope Emerald has a happy ending...she has suffered too much already.

tarunima said...

i agree with andy,i hope emerald has a happy ending,i don't want her to suffer anymore:(
nice read..

Scarlet said...

Nice to meet you Francine.

Choices and dilemnas - what to do? I hope your Emerald finds a way.

Francine Howarth said...

Paula:

It gets worse for, Emerald, believe me. There's no easy way out of this predicament!

Andy: If you remember Emerald, then my battle to win hearts for her is already half done.

Francine Howarth said...

Tarunima:

I wish I could say it gets better soon for Emerald, but alas she has a little more pain to suffer.

Heaven:

Let me tell you a secret. Someone else is on Emerald's side and fighting her corner! ;)

Anonymous said...

Enjoyed your MC interview and the love hurts was very Scarlett and Rhett :O)

Raquel Byrnes said...

Secrets, plane crashes, no bodies? Sounds like a riveting ride. Loved your answers!
Edge of Your Seat Romance

Catch My Words said...

Tell your author to make sure Rick is alive. She is God, you know?

Joyce
http://joycelansky.blogspot.com/2011/06/meet-knob.html

JENNIFER WILCK said...

Terrific excerpts. Can't wait to read the full!

Debra St. John said...

Hi Francine,

*sigh*...I love buccaneers.

Can't wait to read about yours.

Elizabeth Mueller said...

Whoa, what a hook you've got going here, it makes me want to learn more about her! Thanks for participating!

♥.•*¨Elizabeth¨*•.♥
Can Alex save Winter from the darkness that hunts her?
YA Paranormal Romance, Darkspell coming fall of 2011!

Ana Morgan said...

Great excerpt, Francine. I can't wait to read the entire book
Ana

Kerrin said...

Nice love hurts entry!

Francine Howarth said...

Hi ladies,

Thanks for stopping by to comment re respective entries!

I've been flat out working on a book trailer, Her Favoured Captain about to go global! ;)

best
F

Shannon Lawrence said...

Sounds like there is a lot of intrigue in her story. I hope she finds out what happened to Rick.

N. R. Williams said...

Loved this one Francine. The language is exquisite. I also enjoyed the interview. You are a talented lady. Sorry I missed this time, my life got insane over the weekend.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, The Treasures of Carmelidrium

Small Town Shelly Brown said...

great stuff

Li said...

Am enjoying the bits from Her Favoured Captain. For some reason, I really like the name Moorby, shame he seems to be..err...not very nice! Nice job editing to fit the under 400 words (or was it just a natural stand-alone excerpt?).

Marsha A. Moore said...

Sounds like she has a lot of internal conflict over Rick--good reason to be in knots, since she has no idea if he's even alive.

Francine Howarth said...

Hi Nancy,

It happens, and toddlers although a delight to have around they can disrupt what is a normally calm atmosphere! ;)

Hi Shelly, nice to meet you, and thanks for stopping by to comment on the MC blogfest.

Hi Li, good to see you back. Hope you had a great time!

Hi Marsha, what a fun blogfest it's been. Some intriguing MCs out there. ;)

best to all
F

Beth said...

Wow 2 blogfests in one that must have been exhausting. You packed a punch in 396 words.
bethfred.com

Francine Howarth said...

Hi Beth,

Thanks for dropping in to comment! ;)

best
F

J.L. Campbell said...

Yup, love hurts. Good job in outlining what she'd have to go through to keep her home and surrender herself to the Earl. Hoping I can participate this week. Life has turned crazy on me these past few weeks.