Friday Freebits with Ginger #Frifreebits #blogshare

Hooray...its Friday.  Friday Freebits is something I have to look forward to since all other days seeem to blur into one since I've retired.  I'm happy that I decided to do a short-story collection entitled, Discovery, and today I'm sharing six paragraphs from the last story in the book.  Next week, we'll move on to something else.  Just an interesting tidbit...this was one of the best sellers when they were printed individually.

Paging Dr. Jones

With curled fists, [Dr. Jones] he rubbed the tiredness from his eyes and turned to leave, but Catherine stirred.  "Is someone there?"  Her question came out in a choked whisper, but still audible.

He brushed past the curtain and walked closer to her bed.  "Yes, Ms. McGuire.  It's me, Dr. Jones, remember?"

"Am I going to die?"  Her voice trembled.

Unprepared for that question, he curled his fingers back into a fist, sending his nails biting into his palm.  Damn her ex for putting him in this position.  "Ah...Of course not. You're going to be fine.  You might need a few minor surgical procedures, but we have to wait and see how your healing progresses.  By my estimate, you'll make a complete recovery."

He hoped what he told he wasn't a lie.

He patted her hand.  Now, you need to rest you voice and trust me and the hospital staff.  I have another patient to look in on before my shift ends, but I'll be back in the morning.  By then, you'll most likely have been moved to a regular room so someone can keep a closer eye on you.  You're in good hands, here."

So, Catherine has been beaten by her ex-husband and is in the hospital.  How will Dr. Jones figure into her recovery, and is there is Discovery Catherine will make that will change her life?

If you want to find out, you'll have to get your own copy of Discovery on my amazon page.

Friday Freebits with Ginger Simpson #frifreebits

Welcome to Friday Freebits and six paragraphs from my short story collection, Discovery.  I love short stories, and although warned they don't sell well, I remember subscribing to the Condensed Reader's Digest books and loving the opportunity to enjoy a short read.  I hope you'll be enticed to want to read more.  This is the second to the last story in this book, so after next week, I'll begin another book.  Until then, enjoy today's six:

Set up:  Sarah and Melinda are their mother's room after the woman's funeral.  Melinda is sitting on the edge of the bed and Sarah in her mother's favorite chair.

The Forget-Me-Nots

Sarah stood and walked to the ornate wooden box on the dresser.  She turned, her hand on the top.  "Would you mind if I went through Mom's jewelry and picked out a special keepsake?"

"Of course not.  Take whatever you want.  We're not going to be like some families who develop claws and fangs over a loved-one's personal belongings."

Melinda peered up at Sarah.  "When did you get so tall?  Seems like just yesterday you were ten and now your twenty and in college.  Where has time gone?"

Sarah shook her head.  "I don't know.  At times, I long to be a kid again, then Mom could spoil me rotten.  I always like being the baby of the family."

The doorbell rang.  Mel stood, patted Sarah's arm and meandered out toward the living room.  Sarah picked up the small mahogany chest that matched the other furniture pieces in the room and walked back to the rocking chair and sat.  Tears stung the back of her eyes.

She fingered the scalloped edges around the top and the gold plate being the initials "CP."   When she opened the box, her mother's favorite scent wafted out, stirring a wealth of memories.  Sarah doubted she could ever smell lavender again and not think of Mom.  The contents sparkled in the lamplight.

So, what will Sarah "discover" in the jewelry box?  Want to know more....yep, you guessed it.  I'm a tease and you'll have to find your own copy on my amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/author/gingersimpson.

If you wonder why there are no links, I've decided to keep this as a permanent feature for my own use.  I hope you'll continue to follow me each Friday.

Friday Freebits with Ginger Simpson #frifreebits #blogshare

It's time again for sharing six paragraph from Discovery.  Welcome to Friday Freebits and I hope you enjoy a little teaser from another of my short stories from this collection.

Just The Right Fit

She came full awake. "Mike. What a surprise."

"I've fought with myself all day about whether or not to call you.  I would really like to invite you out, but I've been so afraid you wouldn't be interested."

"You're kidding?"  She'd gone to such lengths to get his attention.  This must be a dream.  

"Why would you think that?  Unless of course you aren't interested?"

"I'd love to go out with you, but...."

"The woman...the one I saw you with in the store.  From the looks of things, she isn't just a regular customer."

If you want to find out more about the strange woman and whether or not a date takes place, you'll have to read Discovery and find out.  You can find it on my amazon page.

Now, click on the links below and visit my friends and see what they have in store for you today.

Jamie Hill
Tricia McGill
Juliet Waldron
Taryn Raye
Kathy Fischer-Brown
Rhobin Lee Courtright
Margaret Tanner

Friday Freebits with Ginger - #frifreebits #blogshare

I'm continuing with six paragraphs from White Heart, Lakota Spirit, my western historical release from Eternal Press.  In this book, the heroine from Destiny's Bride is present, and although this is a stand-alone story, I suggest you read Cecile/Green Eyes' history to familiarize yourself with her decision to stay with the Lakota as it plays a role in Grace's life.  I really enjoyed researching and writing this book.

Here are my six this week.  Enjoy:

 Realizing her mother hadn’t followed, Grace rose up on her knees and peeked outside. A pack of whooping Indians rode round and round the wagon, their voices creating a din of eerie screams while bullets exploded. The hair on Grace’s arms stood on end. She covered her ears, crouched against the sidewall and prayed the savages would go away.

Shots rang out from beneath the wagon when Papa and Kevin returned fire.  Fretting over her mother, Grace peeked out again. Mama shrieked and grabbed for the tailgate, but a mounted marauder

pumped a bullet into her shoulder. She fell, silenced for the moment, but tried to struggle to her feet. The Indian shot her again.

 Grace’s screams echoed in her own head. “No! Oh God, Mama,” she yelled at the top of her lungs. “Mamaaaa...”

Overpowered by hopelessness, Grace looked on as the painted rider stopped next to Mama’s fallen body and emptied another round into her. A stream of bright red trickled through the dry dirt, and her beloved mother lay motionless. Bile rose in Grace’s throat. She collapsed into a cowering heap, silenced her sobs with her hands, and clenched her teeth to keep from screaming.

God hadn’t intervened so maybe the ordeal was all a bad dream and Mama wasn’t really dead. Still, the shooting and whooping continued. Pounding hooves sent dust seeping into the wagon,

and Grace sputtered. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t awaken from the terror.

The gunfire suddenly ceased. She listened for the awful war cries but heard nothing but stony silence. Terror brought her breathing in ragged gasps. Were her brother and father still alive? And what about Mama?

*****

Available on my Amazon page.  Favorable reviews are greatly appreciated.

Now, please visit the other participants and see what they are offering this week:


Jamie Hill
Tricia McGill
Juliet Waldron
Taryn Raye
Kathy Fischer-Brown
Rhobin Lee Courtright
Margaret Tanner

Friday Freebits with Ginger - #frifreebits #blogshare

Today, I'm continuing with White Heart, Lakota Spirit, and hoping you are enjoying it as much as I am.  Sometimes re-reading a story brings back the excitement the author felt when writing it.  I'm engrossed all over again.  Here's my six paragraphs about Grace Cummings and her family camped by the Black Hills.

***********

 The yelling grew louder as they came closer.

The furrows in her father’s brow frightened Grace “What is it, Papa?”

He darted for the wagon. “It’s Injuns! Hurry! You two women get inside and keep low. Kevin, get yer rifle!”

Grace’s heartbeat quickened and fear clutched her chest, making it hard to breathe. She’d heard about savages, but never saw one up close. She didn’t want to.

Her mother stood frozen in place. Grace grabbed her hand and pulled. “C’mon, Mama, we’d better do as Papa says.”

They ran around to the back of the wagon, and her mother boosted her up and over the closed tailgate. Grace dove inside, her mind filled with horrible thoughts. Would she get scalped or worse…were they all going to die? 

All the while, piercing yells sliced the air while thundering hooves pounded the ground.

*******

Like it?  Did you check out the snarky reviews on Amazon?  You can find White Heart, Lakota Spirit on my Amazon page.  Do they fit?

Now,  please visit my fellow authors who participate in this weekly feature and check out their offerings:


Jamie Hill
Tricia McGill
Juliet Waldron
Taryn Raye
Kathy Fischer-Brown
Rhobin Lee Courtright
Margaret Tanner

Friday Freebits with Ginger - #frifreebits

I'm currently sharing six paragraphs from White Heart, Lakota Spirit, a work I hope to re-acquire some day so I can add in all the little rules I've learned since I first wrote the book and make it a better read. As is, I still think it's a "bang for your bucks."

 For the present, I'm not at all happy with the "snarky" reviews I've gotten on Amazon, so if you like what you're reading and decide you'd like to review my book, I would greatly appreciate something favorable and TRUE.  I'm amazed that readers don't know that frequently women were taken hostage and choose to remain with their captors, whether out of an formed relationship or fear of how they would be treated after being a captive.  It's history, people!  In my FICTIONAL story, my heroine decided where her heart truly belonged.

 I also detest that someone felt the need to "tear down" the image my cover portrays, saying it smacked ofporn and Victoria Secret. Of course then someone else followed the leader.  Actually, Dawne Dominque captured the essence of the story with her creativity, and given all the practically nude and suggestive photos used on covers, I have no idea why someone felt a need to be so unkind. Judge for yourselves.  A young blonde woman is captured by the Lakota...does the image work?  I loved it!

 Oh well...on with my six paragraphs...

***********************

 Kev and I will finish our temporary shelter, so we can spread out

a bit.”

No more climbing in and out of a wagon to sleep. Grace clapped.

“Oh, Papa, that sounds so good.”

She sobered and flashed the look that always won him over…the half-pout, wistful gaze. “When we finally settle in our real house, it will be near a town, won’t it? Otherwise, how do you expect

me to be courted out here in the middle of nowhere?”

“I’m not so sure I want you to be cour...” He jerked around and looked over his shoulder. “Do you hear that?”

“Hear what?” Kevin asked.

“I hear it, Papa,” Grace chimed in. “Sounds like yelling.”

Her father stood and scanned the horizon. He pointed. “Look. There!”

***********************

If you'd like to check out the reviews or purchase your own copy, you can find White Heart, Lakota Spirit on my Amazon page.

Now hop on over to the other Friday Freebitters and see what they are offering up.  Bet you'll love it!

Jamie Hill
Tricia McGill
Juliet Waldron
Taryn Raye
Kathy Fischer-Brown
Rhobin Lee Courtright
Margaret Tanner

Friday Freebits with Ginger #frifreebits #blogshare

This Week, I'm continuing with my western historical, White Heart, Lakota Spirit.  If you enjoyed Destiny's Bride, Green Eyes continues as a character in this stand alone story.

This from the prologue:

 Her father drove the wagon while Kevin prodded their single

cow along and kept her from straying. Grace smiled, thinking of

her older brother’s silly jokes. He always seemed to find humor in

everything, and even when times got tough, he made her laugh.

Recalling a few nights back when he’d donned Mama’s bonnet and

danced a jig around the campfire to Papa’s fiddling, caused Grace’s gritty lips to lift in a smile. At twenty, Kevin should have a wife and be making his own plans, but with all the moving around, he hadn’t found a woman to share his life. Did it bother him? If so, he didn’t complain.

Lost in thought, Grace missed slamming into the back of the

wagon by inches. She swerved out of the way. Her father had

stopped the team to check the harnesses. She walked around

front and stood next to him. “Papa, when are we going to stop for

the night? My legs are tired.” Her words came out in a whine followed by a loud sigh.

He glanced at the surrounding terrain. “We’ve come a far piece

today. Don’t reckon’ we’ll find any place much better than right

here. Go gather up some kindlin’ for the fire.” The gaze in his eyes

turned dreamy. “Just think, in a couple more days, we’ll stop for

a good spell.”

* * * *

Living here, in the shadow of the mountains, two weeks had

passed. The loneliness and desolation weighed on Grace, and

made the time she’d lived in the wagon seem more like a lifetime.

She’d seen no other families, just solitary miners occasionally

passing by and working the hillsides, all too busy to share even a

howdy-do. Greed for the precious ore provided great motivation,

but left little room for making friends. The sounds of hammering

filled the days—a steady cadence that already grew tiresome.

She stared out at the miles of drying grass they’d traversed and

sighed. Surely this wasn’t to be her home until Papa struck it rich.

It might take forever. The accommodations paled in comparison

to living in a real house. The makeshift canvas tent, hooked to the

side of the wagon, served as a bedroom for her father and brother,

while she and Mama shared the wagon.

 Papa and Kevin worked during the last glimmer of sunlight

every evening on a temporary shelter built from spare planks and

pieces of wood found in and around the mining area. The lopsided

building didn’t look like it could provide much more protection

from the elements than the wagon did.

More next week.  Hop on over to the next person on the list for their offering.

Jamie Hill
Tricia McGill
Juliet Waldron
Taryn Raye
Kathy Fischer-Brown
Rhobin Lee Courtright
Margaret Tanner