Sunday Snippets With Ginger #sundaysnippets #promotion

Welcome to Snippet Sunday

The rules are simple. 

1. Sign up in the Linky List below. The Linky List will go live 12:01AM Monday and will close at 11:59PM Saturday night every week.
2. Post 6 paragraphs (no more, no less) from either a WIP or a published work. The post must be live by 9:00AM Sunday.
3. Open to both un-published and published authors.
4. Post the link back to Sneak Peek Sunday so that others can hop along. Feel Free to copy and use the Banner on your own blog or to promote your entry.
5. HAVE FUN!!

Here is my six paragraphs from Hattie's Hero - A western historical that takes an unexpected twist and lands my heroine in modern day, confused and wondering what her connection is to the people who rescued her:

"You don't think the Indians are still around, do you?" Hattie glanced over her shoulder and cast wide eyes at Billie.

"Nah, they're probably long gone, but you can never be too careful." He draped his rifle strap over his shoulder, allowing the weapon to dangle, and walked closer. "You almost done?"

"Yes." She wrung the water from the last diaper and tossed it into the laundry basket. Standing, she massaged the small of her back. "How do you think the scouts knew Indians killed those buffalo?"

He bent and picked up the wicker container. "Besides seeing arrows amidst the remains, the way the feathers are notched usually tell which tribe left 'em. If a white man had done the killin', they would have simply skinned the animal and left the rest. The Indians take pretty much everything. The meat, they use for food, the skins for blankets.and coverings for their lodges. Bones serve as utensils for cookin' and eatin', and the some of the innards become bowstrings and thread for their sewin'. I hear tell they use the animal's bladders to tote water."

The unpleasant thought of water carried in that manner caused Hattie to make a face. She wanted to hear more, but Billy dropped the laundry basket at his feet and held a silencing finger to his lips. She cast a questioning look his way, but complied, freezing in place. He craned his ear toward the high grass to his left and pulled his rifle from his shoulder. Placing one foot steadily in front of the other, he approached the dense growth.

A cold chill ran down her spine, but her apprehensive gaze followed his movement. She strained to hear something, but Billy walked on silent feet, causing only the slightest crackle of grass as he parted the crispy strands. He disappeared from sight, leaving her quivering with fear.

*****

If you'd like to read more, please feel free to visit my Amazon page where all my books are listed.



Here's this week's list...and don't forget to sign up for next week

1. Abbye Kivacevic 2. Amber Bentley 3. Taryn Raye's Love By Design 4. Two Love Again5. rosemarymorris. blogspot. com 6. Kahleena MacCarthy 7.Kaet Wallace8. Jen Black's Blog


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A Page Straight From Ginger Simpson #apagestraightfrom

Hattie's Heroes

by

Ginger Simpson

Hattie's heart pounded and she eyed the rapid current. Terror cloaked her, but she dove into the river, surfacing with a gasp for air. Billy wouldn't have urged her to save herself for no reason. Churning water whisked her away like a dandelion fluff in the wind. She tried calling for help, but water filled her mouth, gagging her and drowning out her words. She craned her neck to keep her head above the white caps, flailing her arms and shivering from fear.

As the riverbed curved around a bend, she lost sight of where she'd last seen Billy. Death called her name, but she refused to answer. Instead, she managed screams of her own, so loud they echoed off the valley wall that followed the river like a curling snake. Her sodden bonnet hampered her vision, and despite the summer sun, the water's coldness seeped into her every pore. Kicking feet, now entangled in the drenched folds of her skirt, Hattie summoned forth waning energy, and drew strength from her growing panic. Clawing through the current, she drew closer to shore. "P-please, God," she mumbled through coughs and gasps. "Don't let this be the end of me."

Arms outstretched and fingers reaching, she grabbed hold of tufted grass along the shore. Inch by inch, she pulled herself from the river despite its attempt to reel her back. Exhausted and gasping, she lay on her stomach and soaked in the warming rays of the sun, her cheek uncomfortable against the pebbled earth.
From beneath her soggy brim, she spied shiny brown shoes, the likes of which she'd never seen.

Buy link:  http://www.amazon.com/author/gingersimpson

Ginger's Sunday Sampler

Today is the first installment of Sunday Sampler here at Dishin' It Out.  I've been participating in Six Sentence Sunday, but I received word that they are discontinuing the practice.  Rather than wait until the last minute, I decided to use my own blog to share samples of my work and those of my peers who have written books I've read and think are exemplary.  Of course, today, I'm going to share a short excerpt from Hattie's Heroes, my latest release... a western historical with a time-travel twist, BUT, I invite each of you to leave your own short blurb or excerpt and buy link in the comments section.  If anyone is interested in being the spotlight author on a Sunday or one of our free days, please contact me.  In the meantime...enjoy a little about Hattie.

Scene set up:  Hattie is an orphan--the oldest in the asylum, and she's made an appointment to meet Mr. Franklin, the man who posted an ad in the local mercantile, seeking someone to help his wife with their three small children when the family embarks on a wagon train bound for California.  Here's that scene:

Today Hattie was meeting with Mister Franklin, the family’s husband and father to gain his approval. Whether or not they picked her, she wasn’t going back to the orphanage. She hadn’t asked permission to leave, but her absence wouldn’t cause a stir. Someone would take her place in an instant. Unsure what she would do if she wasn’t selected, she nibbled the biscuit she smuggled out from dinner last night and resolved to deal with bad news if and when it came.

Her palms turned moist the minute she spied a dapper gentleman standing outside Cronin’s. He wore the black Coachman’s hat Mister Cronin had said he would.

Despite her churning innards, she closed the gap between them on leaden legs, and managed a weak smile. His tailored charcoal frock coat, starched white shirt and perfectly pressed trousers showed him to be a man of means. A thick moustache, broad shoulders, and angular jaw made him quite attractive, but clearly impatient if his tapping foot was any indication. A glance down at her tacky apparel brought warmth to her cheeks. If her employment rested on her looks…

She clamped the frayed handle of her valise so tightly, her nails dug into her palms. At least she’d braided her long, mousy hair and washed her face before bedtime last night. Pausing a few feet from the gentleman, she cleared her throat. “Are-are you Mister Franklin?”

“Indeed I am.” One brow lifted as his gaze started at her feet and ended with a curious stare into her eyes. “And you’re Miss Carson?” His uplifted brows showed his shock.

“Yes, sir, but please call me Hattie.” She dipped her chin and took a deep breath.

“May I ask why you carry your luggage when we haven’t even discussed what will be required of you?”

Fueled by determination, Hattie set her valise on the ground then looked up. “I hope I can convince you I’m the right person to help your missus with the children. I’ve had lots of experience dealing with young ones.”

Fishing a watch from his vest pocket, he checked the time, and then cocked his head. “You realize this won’t be an easy venture?” The timepiece’s golden chain dangled between his fingers.

“I don’t expect it will, but I’m not fearful of hard work.” A cloud of dust drifted up from a passing wagon. She sneezed—not once, twice, but three times.

“God bless you.” Mister Franklin offered his handkerchief, but she declined to use the monogrammed square. “Tell me, Miss…uh, Hattie, do you have references?”

The lump in her throat threatened to choke her. “References?” She shook her head. She hadn’t thought of seeking a recommendation, especially in her haste to leave before anyone woke. Besides, who would she ask? To most who worked in the asylum, she was nothing more than a face in the crowd.

“I assume from your dress what Mister Cronin relayed is correct. You’ve been a guest at the orphanage?”

Her heart sank, but she squared her shoulders. “Yes sir, I’ve been there for as long as I can remember. I’m turning seventeen very soon, and an orphan’s asylum is no place for a woman nearly grown. I answered your advertisement with hopes that by traveling with your family, I might make a fresh start in California, as I have no relatives to speak of.”

“That is unfortunate for you, but I hardly think those reasons qualify you for employment.”

She detected a look of pity in his eyes and lifted her chin a tad higher. “I’m not asking you to feel sorry for me, rather judge me on my merits. If you ask Mister Cronin, I’m certain he’ll tell you I’m a hard worker, and if the little ones at the orphanage could speak on my behalf, I’m sure they would tell you how much I’ve helped them. I assure you, sir, you won’t be disappointed if you hire me.”

Returning the watch to his pocket, he rolled his eyes and clicked his tongue against his teeth. “I’m not saying you have the job, but come along home with me and meet Mrs. Franklin and the children. We’ll see how you get on with them.”

You can find another sample of Hattie's Heroes listed with my other work on my Amazon Author's Page.  Hope you're enticed by my offering.  Make sure to notice my beautiful cover done by Dawne Dominique.   Love that girl!

Ginger's New Video for her Upcoming release

Hattie's Heroes is coming any day now from Books We Love, Ltd.  Roseanne Dowell, someone who is always willing to read my ARCs, had this to say.  I value her opinion and know she's always going to be truthful.  Of course, we share many of the same opinions when it comes to writing style.  *smile*


Ms Simpson has done it again. She's woven a tale of a young girl about to embark on a new stage in life. Hattie Carson leaves the orphanage where she grew up - the only home she ever knew- to start a new adventure. Taking a job as a helpmate to a family with three children leaving on a wagon train to California. Anxious, and a little bit scared, Hattie can't wait to start her new life. Much to her surprise and delight, she meets up with Billy Monroe and easily slips into a relationship with him.  

 Fearing Indians, Billy shouts at Hattie to swim to safety. She swims safely to the other shore, right into a strange new world. I enjoyed thi book and highly recommend it. I'm giving it five stars.

Ginger's Six Sentence Sunday Offering

It's not an April Fool's joke.  Hattie's Heroes is finished and has been submitted.  There's just one little catch...what started as an historical western with only one hero has turned into a time-travel with two heroes, hence the change in the title and the cover.  My friend, Ro, did the final reading for me, and she gave it a big thumbs up, but then we both think alike when it comes to leaving out a lot of boring stuff that for us makes the story drag.  I'm a firm believer in getting to the point and moving on.  I hope you approve of my final six from Hattie's Heroes.  Next week, I'll be switching gears a bit.

Cover by Dawne Dominique

 Set Up:  After passing signs of Indians earlier in the day, Billy is standing guard over Hattie as she washes clothes.  Hearing a noise in the tall grass along the river, he disappears from sight, and all she hears is "Swim for safety, Hat--":

Hattie’s heart pounded and she eyed the rapid current.  Terror cloaked her, but she dove into the river, surfacing with a gasp for air. Billy wouldn’t have urged her to save herself for no reason.  Churning water whisked her away like a dandelion fluff in the wind.  She tried calling for help, but water filled her mouth, gagging her and drowning out her words.  She craned her neck to keep her head above the white caps, flailing her arms and shivering from fear. 

Now that you've finished with my six, how about returning to Six Sentence Sunday and following some of the other links?  There's some great stuff out there.