Nicole Sager's Blog: Publishing Arcrea - Posts Tagged "sneak-peek"
Summer Sneak Peek...
Summer is usually a slow time for me as far as my writing is concerned, but I've been having fun working on my new project, which I'll call "Hebbros" for now (actual title is still in the works)! Here's the first sneak peek:
"Christopher gave his sword-arm a shove and spun away from his opponent, whisking the sweat from his eyes with a fierce shake of his head. His light-brown hair had turned black under the weight of perspiration, and now stuck to his face and neck in soaked strands. His sharp blue gaze followed his competitor as the two boys circled one another and prepared for another bout. Surrounding the training arena, fellow squires shouted encouragement or advice and goaded their comrades to enhance their performance. Christopher blocked out the noise and focused solely on the contest at hand. He doubted anyone was cheering for him anyway." ~Hebbros
Check out my new Facebook page for future updates! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicole...
"Christopher gave his sword-arm a shove and spun away from his opponent, whisking the sweat from his eyes with a fierce shake of his head. His light-brown hair had turned black under the weight of perspiration, and now stuck to his face and neck in soaked strands. His sharp blue gaze followed his competitor as the two boys circled one another and prepared for another bout. Surrounding the training arena, fellow squires shouted encouragement or advice and goaded their comrades to enhance their performance. Christopher blocked out the noise and focused solely on the contest at hand. He doubted anyone was cheering for him anyway." ~Hebbros
Check out my new Facebook page for future updates! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicole...
Summer Sneak Peek... Sound Familiar?
Divided into 3 major parts, my newest project, Hebbros, begins years before the time of The Heart of Arcrea, and stretches to take place after The Arcrean Conquest has come to a close. Take a look at this scene, which may sound a bit familiar...
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Lord Frederick finished a turn and gently brought his sword around to meet the one held by his seven-year-old daughter, Elaina. She flashed him a dimpled smile that emanated confidence and then returned her focus to the weapons held carefully in the space between them. The two continued the intricate pattern of steps that comprised the Arcrean Sword Reel, a dance introduced by their land’s ancient natives and passed down to subsequent generations. Lord Frederick offered quiet instructions whenever the girl faltered.
Pausing briefly after an overzealous turn, Elaina brushed loose black curls from her face and then adjusted her grip on the pommel of her child-sized sword.
“Take the steps gently, daughter,” Frederick gave her an amused smile, “We’ll go faster when you know them so well you could dance it in your sleep.”
Her dark eyes glittered with humor, “I’d like that.” She copied the downward slant of her father’s sword and they made a full turn around one another before she grinned mischievously, “Wouldn’t Mother make a fuss about that?”
Frederick caught a laugh before it escaped, trying and failing to give her a stern look, “Tut tut, child. You mustn’t delight in vexing your poor mother.”
Elaina ignored his mild rebuke, “Here comes the box step. Then my favorite part where our swords meet at the cross-guard!”
The box step was performed in graceful movements, and when the swords locked as Elaina had anticipated the dancers paused long enough for Frederick to tap a finger against his daughter’s nose. She rewarded him with an impish grin and backed away to continue the reel. When the last step had been completed the two sheathed their swords and Lord Frederick made a low bow.
“Beautifully done.”
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Lord Frederick finished a turn and gently brought his sword around to meet the one held by his seven-year-old daughter, Elaina. She flashed him a dimpled smile that emanated confidence and then returned her focus to the weapons held carefully in the space between them. The two continued the intricate pattern of steps that comprised the Arcrean Sword Reel, a dance introduced by their land’s ancient natives and passed down to subsequent generations. Lord Frederick offered quiet instructions whenever the girl faltered.
Pausing briefly after an overzealous turn, Elaina brushed loose black curls from her face and then adjusted her grip on the pommel of her child-sized sword.
“Take the steps gently, daughter,” Frederick gave her an amused smile, “We’ll go faster when you know them so well you could dance it in your sleep.”
Her dark eyes glittered with humor, “I’d like that.” She copied the downward slant of her father’s sword and they made a full turn around one another before she grinned mischievously, “Wouldn’t Mother make a fuss about that?”
Frederick caught a laugh before it escaped, trying and failing to give her a stern look, “Tut tut, child. You mustn’t delight in vexing your poor mother.”
Elaina ignored his mild rebuke, “Here comes the box step. Then my favorite part where our swords meet at the cross-guard!”
The box step was performed in graceful movements, and when the swords locked as Elaina had anticipated the dancers paused long enough for Frederick to tap a finger against his daughter’s nose. She rewarded him with an impish grin and backed away to continue the reel. When the last step had been completed the two sheathed their swords and Lord Frederick made a low bow.
“Beautifully done.”
Summer Sneak Peek... Unlikely Duo
Here's another sneak peek at my newest project, Hebbros! Luke is one of my leading characters, a young Mizgalian peasant with a special gift; and Lord Bradley...well, he's got a lot on his plate.
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“What if God brought you here for a greater purpose? What if He plans to grant your desires, but in a way you had not expected?”
Lord Bradley let out a slight laugh, “I declare, you sound more like a prophet by the minute. Grant my desires you say? Very well, suppose your God should restore me to home again and with my inheritance intact; are you saying you believe He could also return my father to me?”
Luke’s grin spread into a full smile, every fiber of his being leaping to the nobleman’s challenge, “Are you prepared to find out?”
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“What if God brought you here for a greater purpose? What if He plans to grant your desires, but in a way you had not expected?”
Lord Bradley let out a slight laugh, “I declare, you sound more like a prophet by the minute. Grant my desires you say? Very well, suppose your God should restore me to home again and with my inheritance intact; are you saying you believe He could also return my father to me?”
Luke’s grin spread into a full smile, every fiber of his being leaping to the nobleman’s challenge, “Are you prepared to find out?”
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Sneak Peek ~ Pavia
Here's a brief look into a day in the life of Pavia, a little redheaded girl with a big problem...
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Pavia dropped her sword and scrambled up to the catawyld’s deserted cage. Crawling inside, she gripped the handle and pulled the cage door shut just as the beast leapt after her with a shriek.
Pavia echoed the scream as she held the door shut and listened to the perturbed beasts in the crates that surrounded her. She tried to take a deep breath, but the pungent air choked her and threatened to make her gag.
Clicking its tongue in an angry cadence, the escaped catawyld clawed at the cage door and the loosened panel threatened to give way. Pavia clung to the handle, putting all her strength to maintaining the closure of the door.
“God, save me!”
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Have a beautiful Autumn day, and praise the Lord for something in your life today!
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Pavia dropped her sword and scrambled up to the catawyld’s deserted cage. Crawling inside, she gripped the handle and pulled the cage door shut just as the beast leapt after her with a shriek.
Pavia echoed the scream as she held the door shut and listened to the perturbed beasts in the crates that surrounded her. She tried to take a deep breath, but the pungent air choked her and threatened to make her gag.
Clicking its tongue in an angry cadence, the escaped catawyld clawed at the cage door and the loosened panel threatened to give way. Pavia clung to the handle, putting all her strength to maintaining the closure of the door.
“God, save me!”
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Have a beautiful Autumn day, and praise the Lord for something in your life today!
300 Pages!
I've reached the 300 page mark in Hebbros!! Praise the Lord!
Here's a sneak peek to celebrate with:
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Luke’s small chest heaved with each excited breath as his gaze quickly honed in on a middle-aged man standing quietly before the barred gate.
Here was the reason behind the mayhem in Hebbros.
The stranger’s hands were bound before him with a leather thong, and a rope around his ankle constrained him to a sturdy pole anchored in the ground. A scattering of rotting vegetables gave proof that the prisoner had suffered these humiliating conditions for several days. His calm but probing eyes surveyed the jeering crowds until they landed on the little boy across the way and he offered a quiet smile.
Peace.
The serenity in those gray eyes jarred Luke’s senses as a foreign emotion combating the surrounding chaos.
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Here's a sneak peek to celebrate with:
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Luke’s small chest heaved with each excited breath as his gaze quickly honed in on a middle-aged man standing quietly before the barred gate.
Here was the reason behind the mayhem in Hebbros.
The stranger’s hands were bound before him with a leather thong, and a rope around his ankle constrained him to a sturdy pole anchored in the ground. A scattering of rotting vegetables gave proof that the prisoner had suffered these humiliating conditions for several days. His calm but probing eyes surveyed the jeering crowds until they landed on the little boy across the way and he offered a quiet smile.
Peace.
The serenity in those gray eyes jarred Luke’s senses as a foreign emotion combating the surrounding chaos.
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SNEAK PEEK - BURDNEY!
I've been so blessed to see the Lord working to smooth the way for my current Work In Progress, titled Burdney! This will be the second book in the Companions of Arcrea series, and the sequel to Hebbros.
Check out the first sneak peek for this upcoming title below!
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Epic’s heart pounded as he watched the firelight winking in the blade of a dagger. Sharpened to perform with quick accuracy, the weapon moved beneath the deft guidance of his master’s hand. Beads of sweat formed on the youth’s brow when fingers took hold of his collar from behind and the dagger was slid into place between leather and skin. With a tug and a thick snap the blade severed the mark of his slavery and the band fell away to land in his lap.
Epic’s head jerked forward with the sudden liberation and he stared down at the broken collar draped so harmlessly across his knees. His expression one was one of wonder, but heavily dosed with fear. For nine years—exactly one-half of his respective lifetime—the leather strap had gripped his neck in the chokehold of bondage. It had signaled to all that he was worth no more than a dog, and permitted them to treat him as such.
Now, in the blink of an eye and the slip of a dagger, it was gone.
Epic lifted a hand to finger the calloused skin that ringed his neck in place of the leather. He should have been elated. He should have felt joy flooding his being. And yet…
He licked his dry lips, “I don’t like it, Master.”
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Check out the first sneak peek for this upcoming title below!
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Epic’s heart pounded as he watched the firelight winking in the blade of a dagger. Sharpened to perform with quick accuracy, the weapon moved beneath the deft guidance of his master’s hand. Beads of sweat formed on the youth’s brow when fingers took hold of his collar from behind and the dagger was slid into place between leather and skin. With a tug and a thick snap the blade severed the mark of his slavery and the band fell away to land in his lap.
Epic’s head jerked forward with the sudden liberation and he stared down at the broken collar draped so harmlessly across his knees. His expression one was one of wonder, but heavily dosed with fear. For nine years—exactly one-half of his respective lifetime—the leather strap had gripped his neck in the chokehold of bondage. It had signaled to all that he was worth no more than a dog, and permitted them to treat him as such.
Now, in the blink of an eye and the slip of a dagger, it was gone.
Epic lifted a hand to finger the calloused skin that ringed his neck in place of the leather. He should have been elated. He should have felt joy flooding his being. And yet…
He licked his dry lips, “I don’t like it, Master.”
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Update & Sneak Peek!!
Just over 1000 words added to "Book 3" yesterday! Praise the Lord for progress!
Check out this sneak peek from a scene introducing two of my newest characters...
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Meredie held his gaze, trying to cling to one last bit of defiance, but felt a look of remorse slip over her features nonetheless. Her anger over the scene in the practice yard began to melt away, replaced by an uncomfortable sense of mortification.
“They laughed at me.”
Emmet released a breath and looked down at his boots. “Meredie, you interrupted a practice duel by dragging a sword twice your size onto the field and yelling like a woman touched in the head. Then, when you tried to enter the fight, the weight of the weapon made you lose your balance and toppled you flat on your back.”
Meredie crossed her arms, “I was there, Emmet. You don’t have to tell me what happened.”
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Check out this sneak peek from a scene introducing two of my newest characters...
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Meredie held his gaze, trying to cling to one last bit of defiance, but felt a look of remorse slip over her features nonetheless. Her anger over the scene in the practice yard began to melt away, replaced by an uncomfortable sense of mortification.
“They laughed at me.”
Emmet released a breath and looked down at his boots. “Meredie, you interrupted a practice duel by dragging a sword twice your size onto the field and yelling like a woman touched in the head. Then, when you tried to enter the fight, the weight of the weapon made you lose your balance and toppled you flat on your back.”
Meredie crossed her arms, “I was there, Emmet. You don’t have to tell me what happened.”
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Take a peek inside The Knave...
|| Beyond the docks a village crawled up the banks and into the trees, familiar in that its steep setting reminded him of the home they had left behind. He marveled, however, at the way this place was different in a reckless sort of way. Cottages seemed to climb over rocks here and burrow into the hillside there. Paths worn into the dirt served as streets that formed a web of connection throughout the encampment.
People began to appear, stepping from their homes to stare down at them on the waterfront. Bracy’s mother looked back at them as she moved up beside him, and then she turned him to face her and knelt so she was level with his brown-eyed gaze.
“Bracy, love, there’s something I need to tell you.”
Something in her voice made him stiffen. The worry and fear she had carried through the woods and across the water seemed to seep from her fingers and into his shoulders, tightening his little body and whispering that everything was about to change. ||
* * * * * * * * * * * *
For fans and newcomers alike! Journey back before The Heart and discover the story behind one of Arcrea's most beloved characters.
Shelve The Knave on Goodreads, or get it on Amazon >> http://a.co/d/aaXxS7h
People began to appear, stepping from their homes to stare down at them on the waterfront. Bracy’s mother looked back at them as she moved up beside him, and then she turned him to face her and knelt so she was level with his brown-eyed gaze.
“Bracy, love, there’s something I need to tell you.”
Something in her voice made him stiffen. The worry and fear she had carried through the woods and across the water seemed to seep from her fingers and into his shoulders, tightening his little body and whispering that everything was about to change. ||
* * * * * * * * * * * *
For fans and newcomers alike! Journey back before The Heart and discover the story behind one of Arcrea's most beloved characters.
Shelve The Knave on Goodreads, or get it on Amazon >> http://a.co/d/aaXxS7h
