.... is anybody here?

A lot has happened in the last few years, and one of the things that fell by the wayside—keeping up with this Goodreads blog—and Goodreads things in general. But I used to love the interaction with readers here, and if readers are still around...

So how about this: I'll post this excerpt from a WIP called Holiday Home Hotel, and a picture of the dog, and you can let me know in comments that you've seen it, okay? If anybody's out there, I'll make sure to stop by more often, maybe do contests, keep you posted on books, etc, have some fun here the way we used to do. :)

To set this up, Gunny is one of the MCs, and this near the start of the book, The Holiday Home Hotel. The poor guy is in the woods on a snowy winter evening, unable to get to his car, and though he's not exactly lost, he's in need of help.
_______________

But… wait.

He heard a sound… Music? Laughter? Voices?

Sure, Gunny. This is Lord of the Rings and those are elves.

He chuckled, though if he was losing his mind out here, it wasn’t funny at all. Not to jump to that conclusion though, he looked around, peering carefully in each direction, looking for some sign….

Lights!

He veered off the road, trudged a short way through brush and trees, and emerged onto a wide, snow-covered lane that certainly must-be a driveway.

Closer to the lights, he saw brilliant, twinkling colors framing a large sprawling building, every door and dormer lined with strings of holiday bulbs. While not a Grinch or a Scrooge, Gunny’s feelings about the winter holiday season had for years been mostly neutral. But just then, Gunny heard a sultry voice—hauntingly familiar though he didn’t know why—caressing well-worn, comfortable words about chestnuts roasting and kids from one to ninety-two, and seasonal spirit filled him up from hat to boots.

Or, more honestly, he figured he’d be out of the weather, off his injured ankle, and possibly sipping something hot within minutes—and if that wasn’t joy in December he didn’t know what was.



He stopped suddenly when a very large dog, so white he hadn’t seen her in the snowy dusk until she stopped three feet in front of him and barked three times. The short, sharp sound sliced through the haze of relief that had fallen over Gunny’s mind, and practically exploded his heart right out of his chest. “Uh….” he said, though he wasn’t really speaking to the dog.

From the distance he heard a call.

“Lelia! Lelia, come back. What the heck are you barking at?”

The dog, who was probably Lelia, trotted up to Darren and, before he could die of fear, licked at his gloved hand, then turned and walked slowly toward the big house with all the lights, turning around once to catch Gunny’s eye.

With great relief, Gunny understood she didn’t want to eat him; she wanted to rescue him. He breathed again, and followed her home.
________________

Thanks, people!