She willed him to look her way, to join her for a cup of something so she could speak English with someone who would understand her idioms. But she remained invisible, watching the world saunter past.
End of Sample. If you enjoyed it, please click here to find out more.
Acknowledgments
As always, I’m so blessed to have Jane Lebak and Robin Patchen as critique partners. When I began to write this novella, I thought it would be simple. You know, just a shorter version of a novel. I was delusional. I’ve never struggled over a story as I did this one. I thought I had a good draft in the fall of 2015. It was short. It got the job done. Jane thought otherwise.
I rewrote. And yet, I’m not William Goldman, and this is not The Princess Bride. (Although I could wish…) Still, with Jane’s help and Robin’s help and then Ray Rhamey’s editorial comments, I have this, my attempt to explain how Tony and his parents got into the business.
Along with this brilliant threesome, I want to thank John Pelkey and some of my other Street Team members for their proofreading help and their faithful encouragement when I want to throw up my hands. Hugs and blessings to Susan Walters Peterson, Carol M. Boyer, Amy Campbell, Bonnie K. Tesh, Karen Riley, and DeeJay Sakata.
And also my darling Michael, who reads my fight scenes and keeps me focused.
Also by Normandie Fischer
BECALMED
2014 Heart of Excellence finalist
When a Southern woman with a broken heart finds herself falling for a widower with a broken boat, it's anything but smooth sailing.
With her days chock full - designing jewelry for the shop she co-owns with her best friend, sailing her sharpie, and hanging out with girlfriends - Tadie Longworth barely notices she's morphing into the town's maiden aunt. When Will, a widower with a perky daughter named Jilly, limps into town in a sailboat badly in need of engine repairs, Tadie welcomes the chance to help. Her shop becomes Jilly's haven while Will hunts boat parts, and Tadie even takes the two of them sailing. It's the kind of thing she lives for, and it's a welcome distraction from the fact that her ex-boyfriend Alex, aka The Jerk of Jerks, is back in town. With his northern bride. Oh, and he's hitting on Tadie, too.
Those entanglements are more than enough, thank you very much, so it's almost a relief when a hurricane blows into town: at least the weather can match Tadie's mood. When Will and Jilly take shelter in her home, though, Tadie finds herself battling her attraction to Will. Even worse, the feeling is mutual, tempting them all with what-ifs that petrify Will, who has sworn never to fall in love again. Mired in misunderstanding, he takes advantage of the clear skies and hauls Jilly out of there and back to his broken boat so fast, Tadie's head spins.
With the man she might have loved gone, and the man she wishes gone showing up on her doorstep, Tadie finds herself like a sailboat with no wind; becalmed, she has to fight her way back against the currents to the shores of the life, and the man, she wants.
Click to read more.
HEAVY WEATHER
2016 Award of Excellence Finalist
2016 Maggie Finalist
It takes a town to save a child. That town is Beaufort, North Carolina.
Annie Mac’s estranged husband vows that nothing will stop him from getting his baby girl. Not Annie Mac and certainly not that boy of hers.
Only four blocks away, Hannah Morgan lives in comfort with her husband and dog, making pottery and waiting for her best friend to come home. When she discovers the two children cowering in the bushes and their mama left for dead, it doesn’t take her long to set her coterie of do-gooders to some extra-strength do-gooding. Add in Clay, a lonely police lieutenant yanked out of his comfort zone and into the heart of this small family, and who knows what will happen?
From the author of Becalmed comes this latest tale of the Carolina coast, introducing some new characters to love—and to loathe.
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SAILING OUT OF DARKNESS
2014 Aspen Gold Finalist
2014 Maggie Award Finalist
2014 Selah Award Finalist
Love conquers all?
Maybe for some people.
When Samantha flies to Italy to gain distance from a disastrous affair with her childhood best friend, the last thing on her mind is romance. But Teo Anderson is nothing like her philandering ex-husband or her sailing buddy, Jack, who, despite his live-in girlfriend, caught her off guard with his flashing black eyes.
Teo has his own scars, both physical and emotional, that he represses by writing mysteries—until one strange and compelling vision comes to life in the person of Sam. Seeking answers, he offers friendship to this obviously hurting woman, a friendship that threatens to upend his fragile peace of mind.
But not even sailing the cobalt waters of the Mediterranean can assuage Sam’s guilt for destroying Jack’s relationship and hurting another woman. Soon the consequences of her behavior escalate, and the fallout threatens them all.
Sailing out of Darkness is the haunting story of mistakes and loss … and the grace that abounds through forgiveness.
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About the Author
I write both romantic suspense and romantic women’s fiction. I hope you’ll take a look at my website to learn more about me, my passions, and my work…and perhaps sign up to learn about the next releases or other delicious tidbits I share on a not-very-regular basis!
I’d love to hear from you!
@WritingOnBoard
NormandieFischer
www.normandiefischer.com
From Fire Into Fire Page 14