Category: Revisions

Book Bite 9 — The Research Lab

Another book bite from my revisions of my novel about lies and deception in a small-town church in Canada. My protagonist visits a research lab in hopes of getting to the bottom of the strange occurrences in her town. She begins to suspect fowl play is afoot.

“Arriving at the research centre they were cleared at the gate by the security guard. The building was impressive with large glass windows where they could see people in white coats milling around and riding escalators up and down three storeys. Maddie and Charles had no problem being shown to the secure elevator and the guard used his keycard to unlock the panel before choosing a floor that had no number or name. Security badges had already been created for them with a level three security ID. She was quite impressed and struggled to stifle a wide grin.”

image by FotoshopTofs

I’m about halfway through my revisions now. It should be ready for publishing in late spring.

‘Til next time, remember you are loved by the One who created you in His image.

Lynne

Book Bite 8 — Calling For Help

Another book bite from the novel I’m revising about lies and deception in a small town church. Book Bites 8 — Calling For Help.

“Give it all to Me” was the quiet voice she heard in her heart. She looked up the verse that had seen her through that terrible time before. “I am a child of God,” she whispered to herself and smiled. She could do this with His help. She’d been trying to do it alone this far. It was time to call in His army!

The Judgment by Ray Majoran

This image was used by permission from the photographer, Ray Majoran, who posts his art in Compassion Gallery. Visit the gallery for more of Ray’s beautiful photos and hear about the work he does for others at https://compassion.gallery/photo-10074420/ 100% of the gallery’s profits go to charity.

Til next time, know you are loved by the One who created you in His image.

~ Lynne

Book Bites 7 — The Little Cafe

I’m about a third of the way through the first revision of my novel about lies and deception in a small-town church. Book Bites 7 — The Little Cafe, is the beginning of Tom seeing things from a different perspective.

“Not stopping to acknowledge anyone passing by, they hurried to the cafe. Surely, they thought, they’d be safe in there. Taking a shortcut down an alley they stepped back onto the main street and into the patio of the little café. There were two couples in bright clothes sitting at the patio tables. When they saw Maddie and Tom they beamed and greeted them but Maddie and Tom just smiled quickly, politely, and rushed inside. There was no one else in the café. Maddie and Tom were relieved.”

A couple running along a road
photo by Shrikesh Kumara

If you’d like to catch up on previous revision posts go here.

Have you ever gone to a place and had that ‘creepy’ feeling and just wanted to run?

Happy Reading whatever you’re reading right now.

~ Lynne

Book Bites 6 — A Warm Hug

From My Book In Revision

The novel I’m revising has a female protagonist and I’m writing from her point of view. ‘A Warm Hug’ is just what she needs right now.

Couple caressing
Image by Anastasiya Babienko from Pixabay

“She managed a faint smile and sat down on the couch, curling up beside him as he pulled the blanket around them both and held her tight. They hardly spoke a word during the show. She sensed Tom wanted to give her time to settle down after the ordeal and just be peaceful. He usually knew what she needed after all the years they’d been together and he was right. She just needed to sip chamomile tea under a blanket and feel his arms around her and see him smile.”

How do you show support for a loved one or a friend who’s facing negativity from others? Do you do as Sheldon from ‘The Big Bang’ does and offer a ‘refreshing beverage’?

Do you always add some romance into your stories? Have you written love from a different perspective, such as a parent and child, an owner and a pet, or the love of God for us?

If you’d like to browse a few romance novels, I have an online bookstore of Christian novels and other published work by various authors over at my Christian Authors website. I’m an Amazon affiliate and all the books are shipped from there.

If you’d like to follow along as I revise but you missed the previous posts, you can start back at the beginning here Book Bites 1.

Til next time, know you are loved by the One who created you in His image.

Lynne

Book Bites 5 — Depression

What was happening to her?

“She remembered the way she felt back then, lost and alone even though she had Tom and the children and all her friends supporting her. She’d slid into a dark place, one she felt trapped in and unable to climb out of. She’d called out to God but all she could say was His name. No prayers would come, no verses made sense. No hymns brought her comfort. She’d become a shell of herself and didn’t know how she would escape, let alone be well again. It was all so dark and terrifying in that place, alone, with no one – not even God. She felt abandoned by Him and didn’t know how to get back to Him or if she even wanted to. Her doctor prescribed a mild anti-depressant but it only served to make her frightfully euphoric.”

A dark cave representing depression
Image by JL G from Pixabay

From the revision of my novel about lies and deception in a small town church. Have you ever felt like this yourself or helped someone through a similar dark time? My protagonist is a believer in Christ but still has these same dark thoughts and fears. How will she overcome them? Will she overcome them?

I wrote most of the description from my own personal experience. If you’re in a dark place right now, please seek professional help and if you’re a believer and follower of Christ, talk to your pastor about what you’re going through. Most importantly, talk honestly to God. He can take it. He’s your loving dad and wants you to tell Him how you’re feeling, even if you need to shout!

Read some experiences from other people who follow Christ and have gone through this too. An excellent book to read is Brett Ullman’s ebook “Reset”. I wrote a personal story in this. BUY IT ON AMAZON

Are you here for the first time? You can read previous Book Bites beginning here Book Bites 1.

Til next time, know you are loved by the One who created you in His image.

~ Lynne

Book Bites 4 – The Panic Attack

I’m back with another Book Bite. In this scene my hero is struggling with negative thoughts that haunt her from her past.

“All she could think to do was try to escape the crowd and give herself some breathing room, but she was unable to move, frozen in a panic attack. “God help me, please!” She screamed at Him in her thoughts and slowly shuffled along the steps toward the creek on the other side of the gazebo. There weren’t as many people there and she spotted a bench near the water where she hoped she could sit alone and undisturbed. Gathering what little strength she had remaining in her legs, she made it to the bench before she lost her balance and slumped down, leaning on the armrest.”

Face of an anxious woman in blue.
image by docbeatrice on pixabay

In this scene I added more description of her body language to express her anxiety. I’m actually having fun with my first revision. Many more to come, I’m sure! I’ll be back soon to catch you up on another scene. Thanks for reading 🙂

~ Lynne

Book Bites – 3 – Sickly Smirk

Here’s another Book Bite from the novel I’m writing. The working title is ‘Lies and Deception’ about a small town church in rural Canada. In this scene, Maddie suspects something’s wrong at the house of their new friends when she catches a sickly smirk out of the corner of her eye. She convinces her husband to leave.

A forest road with Autumn colours of yellow and brown.
Country road – Image by janeb13 on Pixabay

“Unsure if she actually saw what she thought she saw, Maddie flung the door open and almost tripped down the steps. Running to the car she shouted to Tom, “Go! Go!” Tom was bewildered by her behavior but decided the best thing he could do was just leave and hopefully she’d explain herself later. Maddie glanced in the mirror to see Carter in the doorway, watching her intently. That same sickly smirk on his face.”

Sleezy looking guy with a smirk on his face
Sickly Smirk – Image by prettysleepy1 on Pixabay

I wrote my first draft for NaNoWriMo 2018 and I hope you’ll keep in touch as I continue my revisions.

If you missed the other Book Bites you can catch up here.

Til next time, know you are loved by the One who created you in His image.

~ Lynne

Book Bites – 2 – The Brooch

The Brooch

Here’s another Book Bite from the novel I’m writing. The working title is ‘Lies and Deception’ about a small town church in rural Canada. In this scene, the protagonist, Maddie, has just been introduced to a new character and is sitting in their living room, admiring her grandmother’s antique brooch. She begins to feel a little uncomfortable.

A green antique brooch on a cashmere shawl
Her grandmother’s antique brooch

“I feel a draft.” Maddie frowned slightly and looked around the room to see if a window was possibly open. She drew her shawl around her shoulders and admired her grandmother’s brooch adorning the cashmere shawl. It was a family heirloom and she seldom wore it but today she felt she should try to make conversation with the young mother and the brooch always brought a compliment and a smile from admirers.”

I hope you’ll stay tuned as I continue my revisions.

If you missed the first Book Bite you can catch up here.

Til next time, know you are loved by the One who created you in His image.

~ Lynne

Book Bites – 1 – The Mansion

The Mansion

I really like previews of an upcoming movie, don’t you? They usually get me excited for the release of it in theatres and I immediately start planning when I’ll go. I’m revising the novel I wrote for NaNoWriMo and I thought you might like a few Book Bites before it’s published, like a movie preview but without all the noise. I hope you enjoy them!

new white mansion
photo by skeeze

This one’s near the beginning of the story and introduces two main characters, Maddie and Tom. The working title is ‘Lies and Deception’, set in a small town church in rural Canada.

“Maddie and Tom pulled onto the circular driveway of the large home, barely missing a pink trike, and parked beside what they decided was the side door. The front entrance looked like a door only the prime minister would use with its tall, ornate, double glass doors and huge planter urns. Maddie decided the side door was more appropriate seeing as she hadn’t worn her ballgown.”

If that didn’t quite grab your attention, stay tuned. I’ll be posting more Book Bites as I revise. (Follow along here)

If you follow along I’ll also have a playlist for you before my book’s published too. I love playlists!

Til next time, know you are loved by the One who created you in His image.

~ Lynne

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