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I just reviewed a book of war poetry by Brian Porter, British author . It's a gritty and realistic portrayal of war from a British view...
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A vote: SpaceHive, Space Hive, SPACEHIVE? You'll note there's a new title for my book, and I've chosen SpaceHive. Consultation w...
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Memorable Characters Writer's Workshop I went to my first writer's workshop last Saturday, put on by the Canadian Authors'... -
Our "Name the Book" Contest ends soon. Thanks to Val, Bob, Moo, and Judi for entering and each winning a $5.00 Amazon.com gift ca...
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The XBox 360 is "getting a little smarter." Unveiled Monday, this new software web experience will rival anything in Jason's ... -
It is my pleasure to welcome author Mari Collier to my blog today. We’ll start out with a few questions. If you choose not to a...
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This book is called The Insanity Machine because in 1978 Kenna McKinnon chatted with another inmate in the old 5C forensic psychiatr... -
I'll be in beautiful sunny Vancouver when you read this, taking a long overdue vacation. I'll be back on Thursday, May 24th. Hig... -
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A Lovecraftian short story I wrote. Enjoy, folks, and don't forget the comments! I also would like the opportunity to publish it! ...
Featured on Buck Books
Showing posts with label Canadian author. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canadian author. Show all posts
Thursday, May 2, 2019
A supernatural novella - ASCENDING
Inspired and Committed Author Gets the Job Done
ASCENDING, a new novella, is on pre-release on Amazon. I'm really excited about this book, which is a short read, because it's about what would have happened if my first husband, who was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1971, had come back as a ghost.
This supernatural novella is mostly fiction but based on some facts.
1974. A ghost in the house – a
young Canadian widow forced to choose between the living and the dead. Will she
prove strong enough to let go of the manacles of obsession?
Scarlett Kane and her son Troy
battle paranormal elements in this vintage story of the supernatural. Her late
husband Michael’s head was crushed in a horrific motorbike accident in June 1971.
Ten years later a resolution defies
the bonds of heaven and earth. An incredible secret releases her from the
inconceivable burden of her past.
A gentle, occasionally vicious, steampunk story of
first love and redemption.
BUY IT NOW ON PRE-RELEASE AND BE THE FIRST TO GET THIS STUNNING NEW NOVELLA ON JUNE 3, 2019!
REVIEWS ARE ESSENTIAL TO AN AUTHOR'S SUCCESS. PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW IF YOU LIKE THIS INCREDIBLE STORY OF AN ABUSIVE AND FAITHLESS MARRIAGE, AND THE INCREDIBLE RESOLUTION A DECADE AFTER DEATH SEPARATES THEM!!!
Thursday, January 10, 2019
Blood Sister FREE until Saturday - Jan. 9-12, 2019
- File Size: 1513 KB
- Print Length: 309 pages
- Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
- Publisher: Creativia; 1 edition (June 14, 2016)
- Publication Date: June 14, 2016
- Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
- Language: English
- ASIN: B01H3UB45E
- Text-to-Speech: Enabled
- Word Wise: Enabled
- Lending: Not Enabled
- Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,627 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
Saturday, December 1, 2018
Trailer for The Insanity Machine
A little video I made with Adobe Spark for our book about our journey with schizophrenia, written by Austin Mardon and myself.
Thursday, November 29, 2018
Mystery Within a Thriller by John W. Wood
Wow! This book should be required reading for any former or off duty Marines, and any active Marines (I am told there are no ex-Marines!) or law enforcement, who, I am sure, would understand the language perfectly. The author knows his stuff, from law enforcement to family life to war, all written in a plausible manner, and the PTSD in a chilling manner, but with intersperses of gentleness and love around the two burly heroes. I was about to give it 4 stars when I came to the amazing conclusion, which I didn't expect at all! Like a mystery within a thriller, this book unwinds to its inevitable yet astounding end. Well done, Mr. Wood!
Christmas season is almost upon us, and if you're thinking of stocking stuffers, why not a book!
Your little ones from 3 to 11 would enjoy our children's chapter book, "Benjamin and Rumblechum" featuring two children who journey in a minivan across Canada with their toy monkey, Benjamin, and their two eccentric aunts. Based on real life travels by one of the authors, this book is educational as well as a real treat to read!
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
A Children's Book featured with a recipe for Lakota Fry Bread
Karen's Killer Fixin's
I'm honored to have been featured on Karen Docter's blog.
For those readers who love bread and fried stuff, I've included a recipe for Lakota Fry Bread. It's great hot out of the pan, but also good cold. My First Nations friend said she makes tacos with it, bison or ground beef on top with tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, and sour cream. Yum.
I don't measure and don't have the recipe handy, but here is how I make it:
2 cups flour
3 tsp baking powder
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp sugar
1 cup water to make soft dough
oil for frying
Form dough into a ball and divide into quarters, then flatten and fry for a few minutes on each side, turning when the first side is brown.
You can find different recipes on line but this is the easiest I have come across, and it's delicious!
Here's a little teaser from our children's chapter book, the wonderful Benjamin and Rumblechum!
Sister and brother Katie and Jacob travel across Canada and back with their two eccentric aunts, Kathleen and Mary, in a minivan named Rumblechum, with Benjamin, their stuffed monkey, sitting between them.
Rumblechum transports them through Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the huge province of Ontario, and finally back to their little grey house in Edmonton, Alberta. Their dear calico cat Freedom is at the door to greet them, meowing with excitement and joy, and a mysterious parcel is opened.
A chapter book, the first of a planned series of young reader stories suitable for ages 3 to 12 years old. Fictional, but based on true traveling experiences.
Saturday, June 23, 2018
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE FASCINATING EVE GAAL!
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| Eve Gaal |
It is my pleasure to welcome you to my blog today, Eve. We’ll start out with
a few questions. If you choose not to answer any question, please feel free to
skip it, and if there is anything that I’ve missed, you’re welcome to add a
comment.
Let’s get started.
1) Can you tell us a
little bit about yourself?
I’m the author of Penniless Hearts which you read and reviewed. My
husband and I were married in Hawaii so it naturally became a great setting.
The second time we went for our first Anniversary. For some reason, I began
noticing things about Hawaii that made me see things without rose colored
glasses. Hawaii is gorgeous, but people still go to work. Crime happens. Even
the prettiest bouquet of tropical flowers will someday wilt. The contrast of
beauty and crime made me have fun with my characters. I enjoyed researching
Pele, helicopters and lava flows. It was a fun book to write.
Thank you, Kenna. I appreciate your kind words about my book. Here’s a link to your wonderful review: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/RQBJBHKN5G5DD/ref
2) As a child, what
did you want to do when you grew up?
My third Christmas, I received a small baby grand
piano. I think I drove my parents crazy pounding on the delicate keys. Though I
always loved music, it wasn’t meant to be because the following year, my father
made sure I had a child’s typewriter. That’s when my storytelling began. My
tiny, illustrated books were primitive but somehow, each one had a basic plot.
I hung out in
the school library and read books during recess. During summer, I signed up for
the reading programs and checked out tons of books. I had a thirst for good
stories and I still do. I also believe that if you don’t find the book you’re
looking for, it might be your turn to write it.
I wrote poetry as a young girl and sent them off to
magazines like McCall’s. Of course, I received many, many rejections. My high
school yearbooks published a few of my poems which encouraged me to continue
writing. My diaries and journals mention my future as a writer.
News items sometimes bother me enough to also end up as part of my books. A few months ago, there was an actual story about a child who was stuck in a furniture store overnight. It really made me wonder about the parents, the store security, the managers and the fears that the child must have gone through. That little tidbit is mentioned in my upcoming novel when Lani goes missing, her mother thinks back to the time she hid in an armoire, in a furniture store, to read a book.
3) When did you
first start writing?
I started those poems at age nine but the rough little books came a bit
earlier.
4) When did you
realize you wanted to be a writer?
I always knew it.
5) How long does it
take you to write a book?
Two to three years when I’m not suffering from some bizarre malady.
6) What is your work
schedule like when you’re writing?
1-5 most days.
7) What would you
say is your most interesting writing quirk?
I prefer complete solitude and will go to almost any length to achieve
it. I even moved to a desert home in La Quinta for eight years and when that
wasn’t quiet enough, I pulled a desk into a closet. While in the desert, I
finished Penniless Hearts and The Fifth Commandment, which is a short,
faith-based novella. I don’t live in the
desert anymore, but still like having privacy in a closet. I use a laptop that
isn’t wired into the internet so there are very few distractions. Of course,
with two Chihuahuas around, distractions are inevitable.
8) Where do you get
your information and/or ideas for your books?
That’s an interesting question because The Fifth
Commandment came to me in a dream. So, I felt compelled to write it. A higher
power guided me through that small novella and I’m hoping He helps me with a
few others. That particular book has hit the Creativia bestseller list and did
very well in Australia.
The action scenes in Penniless Hearts and Penniless
Souls came to me when I’m waking up. Basically, I listen to my heart. I feel
all stories come from a good place. Even bad stories are meant to teach us
something.
9) What do you like
to do when you’re not writing?
I enjoy swimming, walking my pups and crocheting beanie hats for chemo
patients.
10)
What does your family think of your writing?
My husband is very supportive. I have an international family that
reads in many languages. It’s like the United Nations. Almost everyone is
bilingual. Some read books in Spanish and they are not that interested in
reading my books written in English. There is however, a Spanish version of The
Fifth Commandment available. Other
family members prefer reading in Filipino or Greek and even Hungarian.
11)
What was one of the most surprising things you
learned in creating books?
That even my thirty years of marketing and advertising experience
cannot help sell my books. I am most surprised that people openly admit that
they don’t read. Reminds me of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.
12)
How many books have you written? Which is your
favorite?
I have written three books but one of them is a new
release that will be coming soon.
Guess I don’t have a favorite because they are all
unique.
I like Penniless Hearts for being lighthearted and
fun. It takes people on a journey of the Hawaiian Islands and gives them a sort
of bird’s eye view of Kauai and the Big Island. I pull readers into dream
sequences and various hallucinations because my main character runs from tough
situations through her imagination. I imagine Penny running around in one of
those famous Escher prints where the stairs run up and down and there doesn’t
seem to be any escape.
Penniless Souls made me reflect on philosophical
ideas such as the multiple types of determinism, fatalism, subjectivism, deism,
I Ching, compatibilism, even quantum physics.
Have you ever wondered where you
get your good luck? Your bad luck? The story touches on the dark side of Las
Vegas and human trafficking. It’s about coincidence and a mother’s love. How
far would you go to save your child? It was an interesting book to write and I
can’t wait for others to read it.
I like The Fifth Commandment because those pages are
certifiable proof that I’m sorry for being a difficult kid. 
13)
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of
things do they say?
There are so many books on the market and they have so many choices
that I am always flattered when I hear they liked my novel. Usually they say
they enjoy the action and the dialogue but honestly, I don’t hear from them
much.
14)
What do you think makes a good story?
That depends. I like many types of books. My favorites usually consist
of a journey. The Alchemist by Paul Coelho or Life of Pi by Yann Martel or The
Wizard of Oz, Robinson Crusoe, etc. If you’re writing a book--take me on a trip--let
me see things through your eyes.
15)
How did you choose what genre to write in?
I’m not really sure because Penniless Hearts is part adventure and part
romance and I don’t think I can push it into any genre. Maybe it’s a
contemporary romantic adventure? Is there such a thing? Penniless Souls is more
of a romance but it’s also an adventure. The Fifth Commandment is more of a
Christian fantasy. I just write. There
is no plan other than a basic outline.
16)
Do you ever experience writer’s block?
Yes, it happens all the time and unless it’s a medical problem or a
bereavement, there are ways I overcome it.
17)
Is there any particular author or book that
influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?
How can I pick one?
Many books influenced me growing up, especially the
Bible.
I think of
Willa Cather and the tree she went to hug in the middle of the prairie in O
Pioneers. I remember the confidence of Templeton in Charlotte’s Web. The fox
telling The Little Prince about how it is only with the heart that one can see
clearly. How about Scarlett in Gone with the Wind telling the reader that she
can cry tomorrow? What a great point! Kahlil Gibran reminding me that by
knowing my deepest sorrow, I can appreciate my deepest joy and Harold and his
Purple Crayon telling me that I can do anything.
18)
Can you tell us about your challenges in getting
your first book published?
I had to self-publish due to an emergency. Seriously. It’s a long story. Maybe I’ll write about it someday.
I had to self-publish due to an emergency. Seriously. It’s a long story. Maybe I’ll write about it someday.
19)
What was your favorite chapter or part to write?
Why? In Penniless Hearts my favorite part is when she’s in the Waipo valley and
takes a nap on the beach after hiking straight down through a forest of guava
trees. The wild asses roam through there and eat the sticky, fallen fruit. She
wakes up to getting sloppy kisses from a member of the roaming herd. (I’ve made
that hike and seen the animals. They are super cute with long eyelashes and no,
they didn’t kiss me. My husband kissed me under a macadamia tree.)
20)
How did you come up with the title?
It came to me one day. I kept wondering why myself.
Later, I thought it might sell a lot of books because people might confuse
penniless with penile. Penile-less. And no, it’s not a story like that but I
thought a few people might take a second look. LOL
21)
What has been the toughest criticism given to you as
an author? What has been the best compliment? The toughest criticism usually
has to do with my short chapters. I pull the reader into action and pull them
out rather suddenly. It’s the same way I talk. You can talk to me face to face
about something and my mind might wander. A few minutes into the discussion, I
might compliment your sweater or ask for a drink of water. I usually go back to
the subject at hand, just as I do in my novel. (I had a college English
professor tell us to write the way we speak. It’s not always a good idea, but I
must have taken it to heart.)
The best compliment is that my books aren’t boring.
Nothing worse than a boring book.
22)
Can you tell us about your upcoming book?
I mentioned it a few times up above. Longer
chapters, more straightforward and more drama. I hope you like it.
23)
What projects are you working on now?
I really want to get back to writing more commandment stories. I’ve
started writing The Tenth Commandment already.
24)
Will you have a new book coming out soon?
Yes, yes, yes!! Penniless Souls
25)
What famous person, living or dead, would you like
to have lunch with? Why?
I know this sounds strange, but I’d pick the lovely
Melania Trump or any of our lovely First Ladies. I received a letter on White
House stationary from Mamie Eisenhower when I was born, welcoming me as a new
citizen of the United States of America. I’ve always been in awe of everything
the First Lady has to do.
26)
What would you serve?
A fancy salad with mixed greens, arugula, dried
cranberries, goat cheese, fresh chopped red peppers, chopped green onions, a
bit of cucumber and balsamic vinaigrette dressing served with fresh multiple
grain bread and butter and a tray of delicious cakes for dessert.
27)
If you had a magic wand to grant any wish, what
would that be?
Peace, love and happiness to all.
28)
Is there anything more that you would like to say to
your readers and fans?
Thank you for
choosing my books to read. I know there are endless options. Most of all,
follow your heart.
https://twitter.com/EveGaal
Thank you, Eve! It's been a pleasure having you on my blog. I would encourage your readers to pick up a copy of Penniless Souls! Have you tried Kenna's supernatural fantasy trilogy -- dark but quirky humor!
5 stars: "Dark and Twisty People"
"This is a fun read right off the bat!! I finished the first novella hysterically laughing at everyone's ill fate. George and Bernice will be missed!!!"
Friday, April 6, 2018
Just a tip for my faithful reader, SpaceHive will be available for 99 cents on the US and UK Amazon sites on April 18 - 19, 2018.
Watch for it then!
"Sometimes humorous, sometimes terrifying, and always imaginative, this high-tech, interplanetary tale will keep you buzzing through page after page. You will never look at bees the same way!" -Val Muller, author of Corgi Capers: Deceit on Dorset Drive
"SPACE HIVE is not only imaginative, but also extremely thought provoking. An absolute credit to this first time author. Bravo!" - Philip Parry, published author of Wishful Thinking.
GET IT NOW AND BEAT THE RUSH
Sunday, April 24, 2016
Brand new printing!
Great News! Short Circuit and Other Geek Stories.
My new publisher, Creativia, has released my book of short stories in memorial for my son Steve Wild. The eBook is on Amazon right now. The print book will be available soon.
From a robot who kills to a robot who loves, stories of death and the music of the spheres, there's a story in here for every SF reader.
Monday, August 26, 2013
ALISON BRUCE INTERVIEW WITH A CON
SPACEHIVE eBook 99 cents till the end of the week, including Aug. 31. Get it here.Excerpt from interview on Alison Bruce's blog:
Kenna, you are a fascinating woman. You are open about your schizophrenia and reach out to help other people dealing with this mental health issue. What impact has this had on your writing career and the stories you choose to tell?
It' s had very little impact other than I suspect the illness has given me a scope of living experience and glimpses of creativity and imagination that made me who I am today, and thus the writer I am. I think I'm more tolerant as a result and hate to see racism or bigotry in any form, as I've been the victim of it too often in the past, and others like me have also been victims of discrimination and ignorance.
You must realize, Alison, that I'm almost 69 years old and have been ill for almost 40 years, part of that unmedicated and misdiagnosed. I haven't always been as open about the schizophrenia nor as well as I am today. However, I've always had a great thirst for learning and new experiences, and this has served me well in carving out a path of recovery, often without a great deal of assistance. That being said, the proper medication is essential, and adhering to a medication schedule and developing a therapeutic relationship with an excellent psychiatrist. This has not always been the case, and only recently have medications and the medical community been more open to admitting the hope and growth that's possible with mental illness.
I've written my story with the assistance of a friend, Austin Mardon, PhD, CM (Order of Canada), who also has schizophrenia. It's a book called The Insanity Machine and is available on Amazon and select bookstores. The book includes the latest research at the time of writing (2012) and anecdotes from our lives including somewhat chilling renderings of manifestations of the illness, reactions from family, friends, and medical personnel, and advice to caregivers. Note I have never had a caregiver nor a great deal of support until now, after I committed in 2009 a criminal act and received help from the legal system to address the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, delusions, and obsessive ruminating.
Any comments, gentle readers? Those of you in another time zone, another country, another culture, what is your reaction to a senior Canadian author who has struggled with a mental illness for the better part of her adult life, and has to show for it a successful life? (Well, almost)...I'd love to hear your comments and any kudos or slams as a result of my honesty.
Monday, August 19, 2013
INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR KAT FLANNERY
INTRODUCING CANADIAN AUTHOR EXTRAORDINAIRE -- KAT FLANNERY
Interview with this fascinating young Albertan author, who is part of Imajin Books' Summer Sizzle Sale from Aug. 15-31.
 |
| Kat Flannery |
Kenna: Hello, Kat. Please tell
us something about yourself, where you’re based, and how you came to be a
writer.
Kat: I live near Edmonton, Canada. I’ve
always loved to write. I used to jot down lyrics, poems and the odd short story
when I was younger. As I grew older the need to write intensified and I
couldn’t stop. I wrote while I was pregnant with my sons and I’m still writing,
only now I am published.
Kenna: What genre do you generally
write and what have you had published to date?
Kat: I write Western Historical
Romance. However my recent book had a touch of paranormal and I really enjoyed
exploring that side of the genre realm. My next book will have paranormal in
it. I’ve written two full-length novels, CHASING CLOVERS, and LAKOTA HONOR and
a novella HAZARDOUS UNIONS have all been published with Imajin Books.
Kenna: What do you think of eBooks?
Kat: I will always love the smell of a
new book, but I do feel eBook is the wave of the future. I love the
accessibility of being able to download a book anywhere and read it.
Kenna: Have you self-published?
Kat: No, I have not.
Kenna: Do you have a favorite of your stories
or characters?
Kat: My favorite book is LAKOTA HONOR
and Otakatay is my favorite character thus far.
 | |
| Lakota Honor book cover |
Kenna: If any of your books were made
into films, who would you have as the leading actor/s?
Kat: I get asked this all the time. In
LAKOTA HONOR I’d have Jason Momoa and Emily Blunt play the main characters.
Kenna: Which authors did you read when
you were younger and did they shape you as a writer?
Kat: I read Linda Lael Miller, Steven
King and Jane Austin. But it wasn’t until I was older that I read for pure
pleasure.
Kenna: Do you manage to write every day,
and do you plot your stories or just get an idea and run with it?
Kat: I do write every day when I’m into
a story. I have to. I do a little of both, some plotting and some by the seat
of my pants.
Kenna: Do you do a lot of editing or
research?
Kat: I do a ton of research, more so
than I need. As for editing I do a bit as I go but nothing as extensive as when
I’m done. I also use an editor.
Kenna: What point of view do you find
most to your liking: first person or third person? Have you ever tried second person?
Kat: I’m a third person gal. I have a
difficult time reading first person and therefore I don’t write it. No, I’ve
never tried second person.
Kenna: What’s your favourite / least
favourite aspect of your writing life? Has anything surprised you?
Kat: My favourite aspect is getting to
do what I love for a living and the least favourite is the long hours and brain
overload while doing it.
Kenna: If you could invite three people
from any era to dinner, who would you choose and what would you cook (or hide
the takeaway containers)?
Kat: I’d choose Jane Austin, JFK and
Dean Martin and I'd cook Lasagne.
Kenna: Are you involved in anything
else writing-related other than actual writing or marketing of your writing?
Kat: I freelance and write marketing
material for other companies.
Kenna: What are you working on at the
moment / next?
Kat: I’m getting ready for the release
of HAZARDOUS UNIONS, two Civil War tales, one written by myself and the other
by fellow author Alison Bruce, September 7th.
Kenna: Where can we find out about you
and your writing?
Kenna: Is there anything else you’d
like to mention?
Kat: I love to hear from my readers, so
please drop me a line on my Facebook page or via my website.
Kenna: Is there anything you’d like to
ask me?
Kat: Yes, Coffee or Tea and if you
could go anywhere in the world where would it be?
Kenna: I'm a real tea granny and drink
black hot tea frequently during the day. If I could go anywhere in the world
I'd go to the Greek islands and take a classical tour.
Kat: Thank you, Kenna, for having me on
your blog. I wish you and your readers a wonderful day!!
Thank
you again for taking part in this blog interview, Kat. I’m very grateful for
you taking time out from your writing to answer these questions and wish you all
the best with your future projects.
NOW FOR SOMETHING MORE ABOUT KAT AND HER NOVELS:
Bestselling Western Romance author, Kat Flannery takes you on a new
journey with her new Historical Paranormal Romance, Lakota Honor.
Fate has brought them together, but will a promise
tear them apart?
In the small
town of Willow Creek, Colorado, Nora Rushton spends most of her days locked up
in her home with a father who resents her and fighting off unwanted marriage
proposals from the wealthy Elwood Calhoun. Marked as a witch, Nora must hide
her healing powers from those who wish to destroy all the witkowin—crazy women. What she doesn't know is
that a bounty hunter is hot on her trail.
Lakota native
Otakatay has an obligation to fulfill. He has been hired to kill the witkowin.
In a time when race and difference are a threat and innocence holds no ground,
courage, love and honor will bring Nora and Otakatay together as they fight for
their freedom. Will the desire to fulfill his promise drive Otakatay to kill
Nora? Or will the kindness he sees in her blue eyes push him to be the man he
once was?
Reviews:
"Transport
back to the old west with this paranormal historical, and its alpha hero, and a
heroine hiding her secret talents."
—Shannon
Donnelly, author of the Mackenzie Solomon Urban Fantasy series
"Ms. Flannery doesn’t shy away from
writing gritty scenes or about unpleasant topics…That’s what good writing is
all about—bringing out strong emotions in a reader."
—Peggy L. Henderson, bestselling author of the
Yellowstone Romance Series
"Those who relish the conflict of a
heroic half-breed trapped between the white man's world and the Indian will
fall in love with LAKOTA HONOR."
—Cindy Nord, award-winning author of No Greater Glory
"LAKOTA
HONOR weaves a fast paced and beautiful prose that lures you through every
chapter and leaves you wanting more."
—Erika Knudsen, paranormal author of Monarchy of Blood
Excerpt
PROLOGUE
Colorado Mountains, 1880
The blade slicing his throat
made no sound, but the dead body hitting the ground did. With no time to stop,
he hurried through the dark tunnel until he reached the ladder leading out of
the shaft.
He’d been two hundred feet below ground for
ten days, with no food and little water. Weak and woozy, he stared up the
ladder. He’d have to climb it and it wasn’t going to be easy. He wiped the
bloody blade on his torn pants and placed it between his teeth. Scraped
knuckles and unwashed hands gripped the wooden rung.
The earth swayed. He closed
his eyes and forced the spinning in his head to cease. One thin bronzed leg
lifted and came down wobbly. He waited until his leg stopped shaking before he
climbed another rung. Each step caused pain, but was paired with determination.
He made it to the top faster than he’d thought he would. The sky was black and
the air was cool, but fresh. Thank goodness it was fresh.
He took two long breaths before he emerged
from the hole. The smell from below ground still lingered in his nostrils;
unwashed bodies, feces and mangy rats. His stomach pitched. He tugged at the
rope around his hands. There had been no time to chew the thick bands around
his wrists when he’d planned his escape. It was better to run than crawl, and
he chewed through the strips that bound his feet instead. There would be time
to free his wrists later.
He pressed his body against
the mountain and inched toward the shack. He frowned. A guard stood at the
entrance to where they were. The blade from the knife pinched his lip, cutting
the thin skin and he tasted blood. He needed to get in there. He needed to say
goodbye. He needed to make a promise.
The tower bell rang mercilessly. There was no
time left. He pushed away from the rocky wall, dropped the knife from his mouth
into his bound hands, aimed and threw it. The dagger dug into the man’s chest.
He ran over, pulled the blade from the guard and quickly slid it across his
throat. The guard bled out in seconds.
He tapped the barred window
on the north side of the dilapidated shack. The time seemed to stretch. He
glanced at the large house not fifty yards from where he stood. He would come
back, and he would kill the bastard inside.
He tapped again, harder this
time, and heard the weak steps of those like him shuffling from inside. The
window slid open, and a small hand slipped out.
“Toksha ake—I shall see you
again,” he whispered in Lakota.
The hand squeezed his once,
twice and on the third time held tight before it let go and disappeared inside
the room.
A tear slipped from his dark
eyes, and his hand, still on the window sill, balled into a fist. He swallowed
past the sob and felt the burn in his throat. His chest ached for what he was
leaving behind. He would survive, and he would return.
Men shouted to his right, and
he crouched down low. He took one last look around and fled into the cover of
the forest.
BIO
Kat
Flannery has loved writing ever since she
was a girl. She is often seen jotting her ideas down in a little black book.
When not writing, or researching, Kat enjoys snuggling on her couch with a hot
chocolate and a great book.
Her
first novel, CHASING CLOVERS became an Amazon’s bestseller in Historical and
Western romance. This is Kat’s second book, and she is currently hard at work
on the third.
When not
focusing on her creative passions, Kat is busy with her three boys and doting
husband.
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