Fran Shaff's Blog - Posts Tagged "fran-shaff"
How Characters Treat Others
Words of wisdom such as "Actions speak louder than words," "These people pay me lip service" and "Do unto to others as you would have them do unto you" come to mind in thinking about this week's discussion of character definition. We're talking about defining fictional characters by the way they treat others.
Melanie Hamilton Wilkes pops into my mind when I think of a character being defined by the way she treats others. Remember how kindly she treated the prostitute Belle in "Gone with the wind?" Remember how generously the prostitute treated Rhett, Ashley and Dr. Mead when they were trying to escape the Yankee soldiers after having burnt out a dangerous encampment?
In both of these instances the attitudes these characters have toward fellow human beings goes a long way toward defining the hearts of Melanie and Belle.
In my book "Stephanie's Surprise" there is a married couple who has taken in the mentally handicapped sister of the wife. Showing this act of kindness in the early 20th Century when mentally handicapped people were often hidden in shame or institutionalized makes these folks look as though they've behaved heroically. The protagonist, Dr. Aaron Wesley, however, discovers the poor woman has been badly treated, and her sister and brother-in-law have taken her in merely to get their hands on her monthly stipend.
Showing readers the hearts of characters by revealing how they treat fellow human beings, especially in private, is highly effective in defining fictional characters.
I hope your week is beginning to show signs of spring.
Fran
Fran Shaff
http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff
Melanie Hamilton Wilkes pops into my mind when I think of a character being defined by the way she treats others. Remember how kindly she treated the prostitute Belle in "Gone with the wind?" Remember how generously the prostitute treated Rhett, Ashley and Dr. Mead when they were trying to escape the Yankee soldiers after having burnt out a dangerous encampment?
In both of these instances the attitudes these characters have toward fellow human beings goes a long way toward defining the hearts of Melanie and Belle.
In my book "Stephanie's Surprise" there is a married couple who has taken in the mentally handicapped sister of the wife. Showing this act of kindness in the early 20th Century when mentally handicapped people were often hidden in shame or institutionalized makes these folks look as though they've behaved heroically. The protagonist, Dr. Aaron Wesley, however, discovers the poor woman has been badly treated, and her sister and brother-in-law have taken her in merely to get their hands on her monthly stipend.
Showing readers the hearts of characters by revealing how they treat fellow human beings, especially in private, is highly effective in defining fictional characters.
I hope your week is beginning to show signs of spring.
Fran
Fran Shaff
http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff
Character, Inanimates and Animals
When we think of characters in stories, we think of people--Tom Joad, Ashley Wilkes, Dorothy Gale, Little Bo Peep, Luke Skywalker.
However, characters can also be things or animals.
If a thing or an animal is given human traits it becomes a character in a story.
Remember the scene in the movie "Backdraft" where the De Nero character explains to the Baldwin character as they watch a flame make its way up a wall that fire "thinks" and "moves" in an intellectual way? In this scene, the fire is a character because it is behaving in a human manner--thinking and moving with intent.
Helen Hunt's character in "Twister" believes a tornado behaves like a thinking entity. "You've never seen it come after you," she says at one point to the Bill Paxton character. He replies, "Is that what you think it did?"
Though it is completely irrational to believe a twister or a fire can think or behave in any way other than what its physical properties will allow, giving human characteristics to inanimate objects can increase the intensity in a story line, just as it did in "Backdraft" and "Twister"--as though those favorite movies weren't intense enough without the use of anthropomorphism.
Authors frequently use animals as characters in their stories. Pets can add humor to plot lines, provide a friend to a lonely protagonist or behave in a heroic way.
And don't we love it when we see a favorite animal behave as though he has reasoned a solution to a problem, fallen in love with someone or something or behaved in some other way unique to human beings? We must, because stories featuring animals as lead characters can be found in many books and movies.
When plotting a story, it's a good idea for writers to consider all possible characters who might add something positive or negative to their fictional tales--even inanimate objects and animals.
Fran
Fran Shaff, Award-Winning Author
http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff
However, characters can also be things or animals.
If a thing or an animal is given human traits it becomes a character in a story.
Remember the scene in the movie "Backdraft" where the De Nero character explains to the Baldwin character as they watch a flame make its way up a wall that fire "thinks" and "moves" in an intellectual way? In this scene, the fire is a character because it is behaving in a human manner--thinking and moving with intent.
Helen Hunt's character in "Twister" believes a tornado behaves like a thinking entity. "You've never seen it come after you," she says at one point to the Bill Paxton character. He replies, "Is that what you think it did?"
Though it is completely irrational to believe a twister or a fire can think or behave in any way other than what its physical properties will allow, giving human characteristics to inanimate objects can increase the intensity in a story line, just as it did in "Backdraft" and "Twister"--as though those favorite movies weren't intense enough without the use of anthropomorphism.
Authors frequently use animals as characters in their stories. Pets can add humor to plot lines, provide a friend to a lonely protagonist or behave in a heroic way.
And don't we love it when we see a favorite animal behave as though he has reasoned a solution to a problem, fallen in love with someone or something or behaved in some other way unique to human beings? We must, because stories featuring animals as lead characters can be found in many books and movies.
When plotting a story, it's a good idea for writers to consider all possible characters who might add something positive or negative to their fictional tales--even inanimate objects and animals.
Fran
Fran Shaff, Award-Winning Author
http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff
Step by Step Guide to Completing a Novel, Part 1
"You should write a book," "I've got a great idea for a novel," "I've always wanted to write a book."
When people talk to me about writing I often hear from them that they've always wanted to write a book. Or they tell me they've got great ideas for stories. Or maybe someone has always told them they should write a book.
My response is always, "If you'd like to write a book, you should do it." In fact, if we have something we'd really like to do, perhaps a task on our "Bucket List," we should do it.
Often times, however, the new writer doesn't know where to begin. This week and next week this blog will set forth a step by step guide to completing a novel. Whether the writer wants to publish the book or just do it for the enjoyment and sense of fulfillment he'll feel from the accomplishment, this guide will help him reach his goal.
Step by Step Guide to Completing a Novel, Part 1
1. Commit yourself to accomplishing the goal.
2. Study every book you can about the writing craft.
3. While reading and studying craft books, write everyday.
4. Use ideas gleaned from your study of writing books to help you prepare to write your first draft.
5. Complete as much research as you feel is necessary before you begin to write your book, but don't include everything you've learned in your book. TMI for the reader.
6. Fully develop your main characters, and develop minor characters as much as necessary.
7. Write an outline, synopsis or chapter summary so you have a guide for your storyline.
8. Keeping your research, character sketches and outline close at hand, begin writing your first draft.
9. Write every day whether you are inspired to do so or not. If you look upon completing a novel in the same way you regard any other job in your life, your chances of success are greatly increased.
10. Once you've completed your first draft, set it aside for at least several weeks.
Part two of this guide will appear here next week (the week of May 15). Hope to see you here again then. :-)
Have a great week!
Fran
Fran Shaff, Award-Winning Author
http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff
When people talk to me about writing I often hear from them that they've always wanted to write a book. Or they tell me they've got great ideas for stories. Or maybe someone has always told them they should write a book.
My response is always, "If you'd like to write a book, you should do it." In fact, if we have something we'd really like to do, perhaps a task on our "Bucket List," we should do it.
Often times, however, the new writer doesn't know where to begin. This week and next week this blog will set forth a step by step guide to completing a novel. Whether the writer wants to publish the book or just do it for the enjoyment and sense of fulfillment he'll feel from the accomplishment, this guide will help him reach his goal.
Step by Step Guide to Completing a Novel, Part 1
1. Commit yourself to accomplishing the goal.
2. Study every book you can about the writing craft.
3. While reading and studying craft books, write everyday.
4. Use ideas gleaned from your study of writing books to help you prepare to write your first draft.
5. Complete as much research as you feel is necessary before you begin to write your book, but don't include everything you've learned in your book. TMI for the reader.
6. Fully develop your main characters, and develop minor characters as much as necessary.
7. Write an outline, synopsis or chapter summary so you have a guide for your storyline.
8. Keeping your research, character sketches and outline close at hand, begin writing your first draft.
9. Write every day whether you are inspired to do so or not. If you look upon completing a novel in the same way you regard any other job in your life, your chances of success are greatly increased.
10. Once you've completed your first draft, set it aside for at least several weeks.
Part two of this guide will appear here next week (the week of May 15). Hope to see you here again then. :-)
Have a great week!
Fran
Fran Shaff, Award-Winning Author
http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff
Step by Step Guide to Completing a Novel, Part 2
When we left off last week, our guide had gone as far as completing the first draft of your novel.
So what comes next?
After having completed the first draft of a novel and having let it set for a few weeks we dig out that lovely manuscript and begin rewrites.
11. (continued numeration from previous post) In reevaluating and rewriting your novel it will be necessary to such things as the following:
A. Critique every scene--Does it have a goal, action and reaction, a cliff hanger?
B. Delete unnecessary scenes--if they don't move the story forward, they don't belong in your novel.
C. Find character inconsistencies in such things as appearance, behavior or personalities. Do characters stay true to who they are? Do they grow? Are they stagnant and unreal?
D. Decide if scenes are in the proper order.
E. Notice whether or not all subplots are adequately resolved and all questions raised are answered.
NOTE: Rewriting a novel includes much more than the above. These are just a few examples given to clarify what is meant by "rewrites."
12. Once your novel is rewritten to your satisfaction (this may take several tries, several weeks or even several years) it is then ready for edits. In edits you go over everything with a fine-toothed comb, taking note of such things as:
A. Sentence structure.
B. Errors in grammar.
C. Errors the spellchecker may have missed such as using "their" when you really mean "they're," using the word "anxious" when you really mean "eager," "infer" when you mean "imply," etc.
D. Look for overuse of certain words such as "then" and "that."
E. Fix repetitions of the same word over and over.
NOTE: Editing a novel includes much more than these few examples, but you get the idea by what's noted here what the difference is between rewrites and edits.
Once your novel is complete you can decide what you'd like to do with it. You can query publishers whom you'd like to publish it or agents whom you'd like to represent it. You can publish it yourself, share it with a select few people or just file it away and check its completion off your bucket list.
One more thing--here a few helpful hints for reaching your writing goals.
1. Write your first draft with your heart and succeeding drafts with your head.
2. While writing your first draft, don't let yourself get distracted by going off on tangents which drastically change your storyline. It'll make your rewrites even more difficult.
3. Don't let other people's negative attitudes or lack of support for your writing hinder your enthusiasm toward completing your project.
4. If you decide to submit your novel to a publisher for consideration, don't be discouraged if you are initially rejected--with a form letter. Most writers experience rejection, even those who have gone on to earn both fame and fortune as a novelist.
5. if you're sincere in wanting to reach writing goals, never, never give up.
Best of luck on your quest to become a novelist!
Fran
Fran Shaff, Award-Winning Author
http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff
So what comes next?
After having completed the first draft of a novel and having let it set for a few weeks we dig out that lovely manuscript and begin rewrites.
11. (continued numeration from previous post) In reevaluating and rewriting your novel it will be necessary to such things as the following:
A. Critique every scene--Does it have a goal, action and reaction, a cliff hanger?
B. Delete unnecessary scenes--if they don't move the story forward, they don't belong in your novel.
C. Find character inconsistencies in such things as appearance, behavior or personalities. Do characters stay true to who they are? Do they grow? Are they stagnant and unreal?
D. Decide if scenes are in the proper order.
E. Notice whether or not all subplots are adequately resolved and all questions raised are answered.
NOTE: Rewriting a novel includes much more than the above. These are just a few examples given to clarify what is meant by "rewrites."
12. Once your novel is rewritten to your satisfaction (this may take several tries, several weeks or even several years) it is then ready for edits. In edits you go over everything with a fine-toothed comb, taking note of such things as:
A. Sentence structure.
B. Errors in grammar.
C. Errors the spellchecker may have missed such as using "their" when you really mean "they're," using the word "anxious" when you really mean "eager," "infer" when you mean "imply," etc.
D. Look for overuse of certain words such as "then" and "that."
E. Fix repetitions of the same word over and over.
NOTE: Editing a novel includes much more than these few examples, but you get the idea by what's noted here what the difference is between rewrites and edits.
Once your novel is complete you can decide what you'd like to do with it. You can query publishers whom you'd like to publish it or agents whom you'd like to represent it. You can publish it yourself, share it with a select few people or just file it away and check its completion off your bucket list.
One more thing--here a few helpful hints for reaching your writing goals.
1. Write your first draft with your heart and succeeding drafts with your head.
2. While writing your first draft, don't let yourself get distracted by going off on tangents which drastically change your storyline. It'll make your rewrites even more difficult.
3. Don't let other people's negative attitudes or lack of support for your writing hinder your enthusiasm toward completing your project.
4. If you decide to submit your novel to a publisher for consideration, don't be discouraged if you are initially rejected--with a form letter. Most writers experience rejection, even those who have gone on to earn both fame and fortune as a novelist.
5. if you're sincere in wanting to reach writing goals, never, never give up.
Best of luck on your quest to become a novelist!
Fran
Fran Shaff, Award-Winning Author
http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff
A Secret Hideaway in "Montana Matched"
"Montana Match" was the first book Avalon Books published for me. Being newly published was very exciting, and I enjoyed every minute of the process.
More than ten years have passed since my first novel was published, and "Montana Match" has morphed into "Montana Matched." The new edition is about ten thousand words longer, updated and even more fun to read than the initial well-received contemporary romance was.
Attracting a woman has never been a problem for wealthy, handsome Montana rancher Jake Ruskin, but finding a woman to marry…that’s quite a different dilemma.
Fortunately, Chicago matchmaker Becky Montoya, whom many happy clients have called the best in the business, has promised Jake she can find him precisely the kind of woman he’d like to marry.
Becky’s been dreaming of expanding her business, and, once she finds Jake his perfect mate, she’ll be able to do just that with the windfall fee he’s promised her. Considering the amount of money involved, Becky flies to Montana to handle every detail of the Ruskin case personally.
To her surprise, she soon finds her personal dealings with Jake have become a bit too intimate, and, before long, sworn-single Becky is beginning to wonder--should she give in to her feelings for her handsome cowboy client or should she fly straight back to Chicago before she breaks every moral rule she’s ever believed in?
Excerpt:
Setup: Caught in a rainstorm, Jake and Becky spend the night in a country cabin.
Becky awoke as the first rays of light filtered through the windows. She didn’t know where she was at first, but it didn’t take her long to remember she was in the little cabin in the beautiful meadow--alone with Jake.
As she surveyed her surroundings she caught sight of her handsome host.
He lay cramped on the tiny sofa half naked and deadly asleep. Her gaze drifted from his handsome face to the black and gray curls covering his well-built, expansive chest. She watched his ribs expand and contract.
Her cheeks burned as she remembered the looks, the touches, the embraces she and Jake had shared over the last days. She thought about the first night she was with him and recalled how he’d engulfed her cheeks with his hands. They’d dropped the “Mr. Ruskin” and “Miss Montoya” titles as they’d gazed at the stars, the horses--and each other. They were Becky and Jake that night, not a matchmaker and a client, just a man and a woman.
She’d wanted him to hold her, touch her, kiss her. He almost had kissed her the very first night they were together.
He’d wanted to be with her too. He hadn’t tried to hide his interest in her.
Last night--Becky sighed and pulled the quilt to her chin.
She had no idea how they got through last night without getting close. Each of them half clothed, alone and vulnerable with nothing to keep them out of each other’s arms but their own restraint, she’d feared they’d get much closer than they should have.
She’d tried to shield her desire for him, but Jake was a very intuitive and intelligent man. She had no doubt he was as aware of her attraction to him as she was of his attraction to her.
If she hadn’t fallen asleep--passed out was more like it--on the sofa…
She bolted forward. She’d fallen asleep on the sofa!
Her cheeks began to burn again when she realized Jake must have carried her to bed.
She closed her eyes.
The thought of her half-dressed body being pressed into that magnificent, bared, masculine chest sent heat rushing through her.
A deep groan from the couch prompted Becky to gaze at Jake again. She watched him raise his arms over his head. He stretched and wriggled as his eyes slowly opened. “Becky?”
-----
"Montana Matched" is available in e-book at Amazon, B&N, I-Books, Kobo Books, Sony Bookstore and other places on the Internet. The paperback will be available in a couple of weeks at Amazon in a two-book edition along with its sequel "Montana's Magic."
I hope your April was good and your May will be even better.
Fran
Fran Shaff, Award-Winning Author
Fran's Web Page
More than ten years have passed since my first novel was published, and "Montana Match" has morphed into "Montana Matched." The new edition is about ten thousand words longer, updated and even more fun to read than the initial well-received contemporary romance was.
Attracting a woman has never been a problem for wealthy, handsome Montana rancher Jake Ruskin, but finding a woman to marry…that’s quite a different dilemma.
Fortunately, Chicago matchmaker Becky Montoya, whom many happy clients have called the best in the business, has promised Jake she can find him precisely the kind of woman he’d like to marry.
Becky’s been dreaming of expanding her business, and, once she finds Jake his perfect mate, she’ll be able to do just that with the windfall fee he’s promised her. Considering the amount of money involved, Becky flies to Montana to handle every detail of the Ruskin case personally.
To her surprise, she soon finds her personal dealings with Jake have become a bit too intimate, and, before long, sworn-single Becky is beginning to wonder--should she give in to her feelings for her handsome cowboy client or should she fly straight back to Chicago before she breaks every moral rule she’s ever believed in?
Excerpt:
Setup: Caught in a rainstorm, Jake and Becky spend the night in a country cabin.
Becky awoke as the first rays of light filtered through the windows. She didn’t know where she was at first, but it didn’t take her long to remember she was in the little cabin in the beautiful meadow--alone with Jake.
As she surveyed her surroundings she caught sight of her handsome host.
He lay cramped on the tiny sofa half naked and deadly asleep. Her gaze drifted from his handsome face to the black and gray curls covering his well-built, expansive chest. She watched his ribs expand and contract.
Her cheeks burned as she remembered the looks, the touches, the embraces she and Jake had shared over the last days. She thought about the first night she was with him and recalled how he’d engulfed her cheeks with his hands. They’d dropped the “Mr. Ruskin” and “Miss Montoya” titles as they’d gazed at the stars, the horses--and each other. They were Becky and Jake that night, not a matchmaker and a client, just a man and a woman.
She’d wanted him to hold her, touch her, kiss her. He almost had kissed her the very first night they were together.
He’d wanted to be with her too. He hadn’t tried to hide his interest in her.
Last night--Becky sighed and pulled the quilt to her chin.
She had no idea how they got through last night without getting close. Each of them half clothed, alone and vulnerable with nothing to keep them out of each other’s arms but their own restraint, she’d feared they’d get much closer than they should have.
She’d tried to shield her desire for him, but Jake was a very intuitive and intelligent man. She had no doubt he was as aware of her attraction to him as she was of his attraction to her.
If she hadn’t fallen asleep--passed out was more like it--on the sofa…
She bolted forward. She’d fallen asleep on the sofa!
Her cheeks began to burn again when she realized Jake must have carried her to bed.
She closed her eyes.
The thought of her half-dressed body being pressed into that magnificent, bared, masculine chest sent heat rushing through her.
A deep groan from the couch prompted Becky to gaze at Jake again. She watched him raise his arms over his head. He stretched and wriggled as his eyes slowly opened. “Becky?”
-----
"Montana Matched" is available in e-book at Amazon, B&N, I-Books, Kobo Books, Sony Bookstore and other places on the Internet. The paperback will be available in a couple of weeks at Amazon in a two-book edition along with its sequel "Montana's Magic."
I hope your April was good and your May will be even better.
Fran
Fran Shaff, Award-Winning Author
Fran's Web Page
"The Water's Fine" in "Montana's Magic"
"Montana's Magic" is the sequel to the popular contemporary romance "Montana Matched."
The fun continues in Montana, this time with a much younger couple. Neither C.R. nor Deanna are are looking for love but that doesn't mean it isn't going to sneak up on them anyway.
Had C.R. Whitmore been struck by lightning? Had the polar axes of the earth shifted? Or was it merely the smile of the exquisitely lovely Deanna Worthington that had doused him with the feeling that everything in his world had suddenly changed?
Whatever it was, C.R. needed to set his emotions aside as best he could. He had a secret mission on the Ruskin ranch, and nothing could deter him from reaching his goal.
Deanna had traveled from Peoria to Montana for two reasons: one, she wanted to help her sister Catherine with her new baby, and, two, she wanted to finish writing her Master’s thesis.
Her plans for the summer had seemed simple enough--until she met Cade Robert Whitmore…
Hand in hand walks in the open meadows, horseback riding through pristine wilderness, moonlight swims in secluded waters…
Deanna supposed, when it came to handsome cowboys, it was okay for a girl to change her summer plans, but would it be worth the risk to her career and her heart?
Excerpt
Setup: C.R. is giving Deanna a tour when they end up at his favorite place on the ranch.
“You like to swim, don’t you?” C.R. said enthusiastically.
He’d led her to a quiet lagoon which branched off the river. “I love swimming.” She’d gotten rather warm during their hike--from the exertion of the walk and from being with C.R. A swim in this magnificent pond seemed mighty tempting.
“I had a feeling you would.” He moved quickly to a nearby hollowed-out tree, lying on the ground and retrieved a duffle bag. He opened it up and pulled out a large towel. “I come here every chance I get so I try to keep extra clothes and towels around in case I want to come straight from the range. Nothing makes a person feel more alive than a swim in the river.”
Deanna clapped her hands together. “Oh, what fun! How lucky you are to have a place where you can swim whenever you want.”
“Well,” he said, “it isn’t always easy to fit a swim into my day. I’m usually awful busy with work during the warm months when swimming here is most pleasant.”
“I’m sure you are.” She walked right up to the water and stuck her hand into it. “Is it safe to swim here? The pond looks calm enough, but the river is rushing pretty fast.”
He joined her at the water’s edge. “It’s perfectly safe.”
Deanna stood up and tugged at the large, unbuttoned shirt she’d worn over her tank top and shorts. “Ooh, I’d love to jump right in, but I don’t have a bathing suit with me.”
He took her hand and gave her a naughty grin. “Neither do I.”
She smiled back at him as all sorts of wicked thoughts raced through her mind.
She’d been skinny dipping before, but not since she was eight years old. She’d certainly never gone swimming in the nude with a man.
She pondered her situation a moment longer. Then, without further hesitation, and going completely against her usual cautious nature, she decided, why not?
“C.R.,” she said, taking off her shirt, “I’d love to go swimming with you.”
-------
"Montana's Magic" is available in paperback with "Montana Matched" -- one book, two novels -- at Amazon. The E-Book edition of "Montana's Magic" is available at: Amazon, B&N, I-Books, Sony Bookstore, Kobo Books, and other places on the Internet.
I hope something wonderful touches your life this week.
God bless you, Dear Readers.
Fran
Fran Shaff, Award-Winning Author
Fran's Web Page
The fun continues in Montana, this time with a much younger couple. Neither C.R. nor Deanna are are looking for love but that doesn't mean it isn't going to sneak up on them anyway.
Had C.R. Whitmore been struck by lightning? Had the polar axes of the earth shifted? Or was it merely the smile of the exquisitely lovely Deanna Worthington that had doused him with the feeling that everything in his world had suddenly changed?
Whatever it was, C.R. needed to set his emotions aside as best he could. He had a secret mission on the Ruskin ranch, and nothing could deter him from reaching his goal.
Deanna had traveled from Peoria to Montana for two reasons: one, she wanted to help her sister Catherine with her new baby, and, two, she wanted to finish writing her Master’s thesis.
Her plans for the summer had seemed simple enough--until she met Cade Robert Whitmore…
Hand in hand walks in the open meadows, horseback riding through pristine wilderness, moonlight swims in secluded waters…
Deanna supposed, when it came to handsome cowboys, it was okay for a girl to change her summer plans, but would it be worth the risk to her career and her heart?
Excerpt
Setup: C.R. is giving Deanna a tour when they end up at his favorite place on the ranch.
“You like to swim, don’t you?” C.R. said enthusiastically.
He’d led her to a quiet lagoon which branched off the river. “I love swimming.” She’d gotten rather warm during their hike--from the exertion of the walk and from being with C.R. A swim in this magnificent pond seemed mighty tempting.
“I had a feeling you would.” He moved quickly to a nearby hollowed-out tree, lying on the ground and retrieved a duffle bag. He opened it up and pulled out a large towel. “I come here every chance I get so I try to keep extra clothes and towels around in case I want to come straight from the range. Nothing makes a person feel more alive than a swim in the river.”
Deanna clapped her hands together. “Oh, what fun! How lucky you are to have a place where you can swim whenever you want.”
“Well,” he said, “it isn’t always easy to fit a swim into my day. I’m usually awful busy with work during the warm months when swimming here is most pleasant.”
“I’m sure you are.” She walked right up to the water and stuck her hand into it. “Is it safe to swim here? The pond looks calm enough, but the river is rushing pretty fast.”
He joined her at the water’s edge. “It’s perfectly safe.”
Deanna stood up and tugged at the large, unbuttoned shirt she’d worn over her tank top and shorts. “Ooh, I’d love to jump right in, but I don’t have a bathing suit with me.”
He took her hand and gave her a naughty grin. “Neither do I.”
She smiled back at him as all sorts of wicked thoughts raced through her mind.
She’d been skinny dipping before, but not since she was eight years old. She’d certainly never gone swimming in the nude with a man.
She pondered her situation a moment longer. Then, without further hesitation, and going completely against her usual cautious nature, she decided, why not?
“C.R.,” she said, taking off her shirt, “I’d love to go swimming with you.”
-------
"Montana's Magic" is available in paperback with "Montana Matched" -- one book, two novels -- at Amazon. The E-Book edition of "Montana's Magic" is available at: Amazon, B&N, I-Books, Sony Bookstore, Kobo Books, and other places on the Internet.
I hope something wonderful touches your life this week.
God bless you, Dear Readers.
Fran
Fran Shaff, Award-Winning Author
Fran's Web Page
