Sunday Snippet “Gumbo Ya Ya” (Soon to be Released) by Connie Vines

September 2017 is the release date of my anthology, Gumbo Ya Ya, by my publisher BWL Publishing.  And, as always, BWL’s art director, Michelle Houston, has designed a spectacular book cover for  me—with just enough heat to pepper every woman Gumbo!

Here’s a little teaser from, “A Slice of Scandal”, the third story in my Cajun anthology!


“Hey, now, ‘dis key lime pie’s like de one I sever at my restaurant.  Simple to make and good to eat!  Key limes perk up de mouth and makes you happy.”

Producer/Director, Julia Kincaid focused on her monitor and adjusted the mic of her headset. “Camera One, tighten that head shot.”  She watched as the camera feathered over the chef to capture the best angle.  The camera should have loved Chef Franklin.  His height was average, his hair black, short and curly and his skin gook on a polished bronze color under the harsh camera lights, but the camera didn’t like Franklin.  There was something about his eyes; like dark agate, forbidding and expressionless that was difficult to erase.

“Okay.  Now hold it, while Chef Franklin pulls the second pie from the refrigerator.  Follow him back to the island.  Good.”

When the chef stood on his mark, Julia said, “Cue the music.  Okay, Two, scan the audience. Back to Franklin.”

“It’s best to serve ‘dis chilled, a twist of key lime on the top. And, boy-oh, boy, does ‘dis taste goood!”

“Camera Two, pan the audience. . .focus on the pie. . .Camera One, close-up on the chef. . .Hold it.”

Julia heard the studio audience applause.

“Now, pull back. He cuts the pie. . . he puts it on the plate. . .now wait for the whipped cream and . . .okay. . .he’d got the fork. He’s taking a bite.”

The studio audience uttered a collective sigh.

“Let’s call it a day. . .”  Julia said, pulling off her headset and allowing it to dangle around her neck.  “Hey, Hey, what’s he doing, now?” she asked J.D., “This is where he says goodnight.  What’s he doing?”  Snagging the mic that was clipped at her waist she barked, “Someone cue Franklin.  He’s off his mark.”  It was times like this she questioned her sanity at trading a career in Hollywood daytime T.V. for that of the Good Eats Network in Orlando, Florida.  

From her left, she heard J.D. groan.  “Julia, Franklin’s spitting out the pie!  Harvey’s gonna boil all of our carcasses in the stock pot for--”

Julia hopped down from the camera and took off at a full run toward Franklin, the sound of clanging pots and pans crashing to the floor barely registering.

Gone was the applause.  People jumped to their feet.  People screamed.

“He’s on the floor!” J.D. bellowed.

Julia could see that!  Kneeling down beside Franklin, her fingers felt a faint pulse. “J.D. call the medics!  Franklin must be having a heart attack.”  


I hope you enjoyed this little snippet from my next release.
More anthology snippets to come!

Happy Reading,

Connie

Sneak-Peek-Sunday with Ginger #snkpkSunday

The rules are simple if you want to play:

1. Sign up in the Linky List on the hosting site. 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.
5. HAVE FUN!!

This week, my six paragraphs are from Odessa, my western historical romance.

Set Up:  Odessa started a trip with her father to Phoenix and along the way their wagon flipped, pinning and killing her father.  Zach Johnson finds her collapsed in the middle of the trail and delays his important plans to rescue her.  They've just encountered three suspicious-looking drifters, and...

As soon as the three riders moved back onto the trail, Zach placed his booted foot in the stirrup, mounted, then pulled Odessa up behind him.  She quickly tugged her dress down over her bared legs and swallowed hard.  She’d feel better as soon as some miles separated them from this mean-looking bunch.  A horrible thought jumped into her head.  What if they’d been the ones to find her rather than Zach?  Her stomach knotted.

Zach nudged Storm forward before Odessa had a chance to settle herself, and she almost slid off.  Gaining balance, she wrapped her arms around his waist and held on for dear life.  “Next time, warn me,” she hissed.

He headed his horse back the way they’d come.  “Don’t look back.” His voice drifted over his shoulder, but he kept his gaze forward.  “My gut tells me not to trust ‘em.”

Odessa’s mouth went dry.  “Mine, too.  They looked at me liked buzzards viewing their prey.”

“I noticed. But I was outnumbered. We’ll just ride away and hope they don’t follow.”

“What if they do?”

If I've whet your appetite for more, you can find this an all my books available on my Amazon Author's Page.  Now, click on the banner at the top of the page and scoot back to Sneak-Peek Sunday for more samples.  Have fun!

Sneak-Peek-Sunday with Ginger

Welcome to Sneak Peek Sunday. The rules are simple and anyone can join in.

1. Sign up in the Linky List on the host's site.  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.
5. HAVE FUN!!

Today, I'm giving you a peek at the sequel to Destiny's Bride, White Heart, Lakota Spirit.  This is the day Grace is brought to the Lakota Camp.  Cecile, from the previous novel, has become Green Eyes and is now married to Chief Lone Eagle.  Her ties to her white heart kick in when she sees a poor, scared girl being dragged into the masses:

Green Eyes stood outside her lodge and spread three large rabbit pelts across her drying rack. A commotion caught her attention, and she crossed the compound to where a crowd gathered. She stood on tiptoes, looking over shoulders to see what caused the excitement.

 Little Elk stepped aside, and the reason for the fervor became evident. Black Crow towered over a terrified young white girl who looked to be around sixteen. Her sobbing had no affect on him, and with eyes wide with fright, she cowered in the dirt at her captor’s feet.

Intent on helping the poor child, Green Eyes pushed through the crowd. She tapped Little Elk on the shoulder. “Who is this girl?  Where did she come from?”

“Black Crow captured her. She will be his prisoner.” The young brave standing before Green Eyes hardly compared to the twelve-year-old orphan left behind by Spotted Doe. His body was no longer that of a child, and his voice boomed with authority.

His attitude angered Green Eyes. “What were you thinking? You cannot keep her against her will.”

Black Crow grabbed the white girl by her wrist and yanked her to her feet. He pushed Little Elk aside and glared at Green Eyes. “You have no say in the matter. It is not your place to question the actions of a warrior. Go away from me.”

If you want to read more, you can purchase all my books via Amazon on my author page.  Now, scroll back to the top and click the logo to return to visit the sites of other participants for Sneak-Peek-Sunday.

Sneak-Peek-Sunday with Ginger

Welcome to Sneak-Peek Sunday.  The rules are simple and anyone can participate by visiting the host's site.  Here's how you play along:

1. Sign up in the Linky List for the appropriate Sunday.  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.
5. HAVE FUN!!

Today, I'm allowing you to peek into Ellie's Legacy, a favorite western historical of mine because I love my sassy, tomboy heroine.  Here she is in a scene in which she's set to prove that her secret shooting lessons have allowed her to "outdo" her pa's ranch foreman.  Will she?  At what reward?  Guess you'll have to read more if you want to know.  (See, that's the great part of peeking...it's supposed to make you want more.)  Have I succeeded?

Here are my six paragraphs:

Ty had already tethered his horse and busied himself setting up a line of cans along a fallen log. Ellie found a stump and sat, her heartbeat sounding in her ears.

He straightened from his task and glanced over at her. “You ready?”

She stood on wobbly legs. “I…I guess.”

“You don’t sound too convincing. We can call the whole thing off if you aren’t feeling sure of yourself.”

Oh, that irritating tone in his voice. Call it off? Not a chance. She could do this—she had to do this. Besides, his attitude was downright insulting. “I’m quite confident about my abilities, thank you.” Ellie spoke through clenched teeth.

She brushed by him and walked toward the target area. With a glance over her shoulder, she feigned confidence. “So how are we going to do this?”

You can purchase any of my books through my Amazon Author's page.

Now scroll back to the logo at the top and click on it to get back for more participants in todays sneak-peeks.