More Vet Student WeWriWa fun!

It's WeWriWa time!

Click www.wewriwa.com for more information and to see other 8 Sentence Sunday posts.
This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight sentences from a published work or even a WIP (work in progress). Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! It's a great way to meet readers, writers, and your next favorite book!  :)

For the month of May, we will be reading snippets from The Vet Student, Katie's story in the Loving Her series.

One night changed everything for Katie. From that moment on, her life was propelled forward like a rocket. Determined to escape the small town and her religious, stifling parents, Katie works hard to get into veterinary school... in Philadelphia. 

Katie refused to let anything – or anyone – destroy her dream. Not even her own parents. Even in the face of danger, Katie held true to herself and her beliefs. She suffered many losses along the way, but she gained so much more. Tumultuous and tender, Katie's story closes the Loving Her series... for now.

Background on the snippet: Katie is seeing her best friend, Sam, for the first time in a long while since she started vet school. They have been friends forever. Sam came out to Katie during their senior year in high school. When Katie left for Philadelphia, they were "dating." Through correspondences, the girls stayed in touch, but each began to live her own life independent of the other. Sam's father forced her to date a young man named Dave. This is what happens when time and space separate people, no matter how close their bond.

“Katie, this is Dave, my fiancé.”
Katie felt as though she had just been punched in the gut. Fiancé? Hadn’t they only just started dating? Was this why Sam seemed so aloof? She didn’t know what to make of all this. She felt like she was losing her sanity and her best friend all at once.

Looking back at him, she said, “Dave, this is my friend, Katie.”


I hope you liked it! Happy reading!

Character of the Week: Tony from Unbreakable Hostage

How does one describe Tony Covelli? Odd? Controlling? Unstable? Confused? Desperate? Angry? Wounded? He's all of the above, and then some.

He's not the kind of character you'd really want to get to know. He's dark, unsocial, angry, peculiar, and even a bit creepy. Yet, there is so much more to him than what you'd initially expect.

Tony grew up in Fresno, California. He and his brother had fairly normal lives. Except when the family would vacation. His grandfather had built a small cabin in the woods by the Merced River. When they had reunions or take vacations, the entire family would stay in the cabin: Tony, Dominck, their parents, their aunts, uncles, and cousins. It was very confining to say the least. The real monster was Tony's Uncle Sal.

Uncle Sal was a very sick man who had his way with all of the children in the family. His illness became an illness for Dominick, Tony's brother. To some extent, it becomes Tony's illness as well, though his manifests differently.


Tony is an aimless person. He's very smart - perhaps too smart. Despite his IQ, he is unable to find a purpose or calling in life. He takes class after class, searching for an occupation. It is in such a class that he meets Lareina Oliveira.

Lareina is a small, feisty, beautiful Hispanic woman. From the first time he sees her, he is completely smitten.


Unfortunately, Tony's "illness" causes him to not respect boundaries. His smittenness becomes an infatuation which becomes an obsession, which leads to him kidnapping her.

Tony is unable to control his emotions. He can become violent, but he can also be as gentle as a lamb. He is unpredictable to say the least. Even he doesn't know what he's going to do next.

He takes Lareina to the family cabin. It's the only place he knows of that could possibly be safe, and that was secluded enough to keep the police at bay.

Unbeknownst to him, his brother Nick assaulted yet another little girl in the cabin. What he thought was a safe refuge was a target for the police.


Tony's intention was never to hurt Lareina. He just needed to have her. She was an object - perhaps even a trophy of sorts. He didn't understand - he couldn't understand that she was not a thing to be had.

He attempts to control her, he attempts to love her. Ultimately, he learns that she was never his in the first place.

It may seem odd to have some sympathy or to extend kindness to someone as sick and abusive as Tony Covelli. He is certainly no hero. He is, however, human. Sick and twisted, but human nonetheless.

Favorite quote from Tony: “That's your bed for tonight. Get some sleep. You're going to need it.”

Come decide for yourself!
http://www.amazon.com/Unbreakable-Hostage-Lauren-Shiro/dp/0615902456/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1427674225&sr=8-17&keywords=lauren+shiro

Another WeWriWa from The Vet Student

It's WeWriWa time!

Click www.wewriwa.com for more information and to see other 8 Sentence Sunday posts.
This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight sentences from a published work or even a WIP (work in progress). Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! It's a great way to meet readers, writers, and your next favorite book!  :)

For the month of May, we will be reading snippets from The Vet Student, Katie's story in the Loving Her series.

One night changed everything for Katie. From that moment on, her life was propelled forward like a rocket. Determined to escape the small town and her religious, stifling parents, Katie works hard to get into veterinary school... in Philadelphia. 

Katie refused to let anything – or anyone – destroy her dream. Not even her own parents. Even in the face of danger, Katie held true to herself and her beliefs. She suffered many losses along the way, but she gained so much more. Tumultuous and tender, Katie's story closes the Loving Her series... for now.

Background on the snippet: Katie is home back in Iowa during a school break. She is having dinner with her parents. She just told them about her new job at a pizza parlor. This snippet has been (significantly) edited to fit 8 sentences.

“I wish you would have told us about this sooner, I don’t want things distracting you from your studies,” her father chastised her.
“So, you want me to spend my free time with the Christian groups, but you also don’t want anything to distract me from my studies? That’s kind of contradictory, don’t you think?”
“Do not speak to your father that way!” Her mother shouted.
"It’s a good thing you’re here now: we’ll get your priorities all straightened out here. You need to get those back in order before you go back out there, understood?” Her father bellowed.


I hope you liked it! Happy reading!

Character of the Week: Liz from The Ballerina/the Loving Her series

Hiya kids!

Today is the first Thursday in May!

I hope you had fun going through Pianissimo in the A to Z Challenge with me. Now, it's time to jump into my Character of the Week series with both feet.

To kick it off, we are starting with Liz from The Ballerina in the Loving Her series.

Liz is a bright, sunny character. She's full of life. She's funny, she's outgoing...she's a true red head! Let's get to know the woman behind the fiery red hair.

Liz comes from a small town called Robbins, North Carolina.

She is one of five from her biological parents. Her family was poor, and they struggled terribly to take care of five children.

Every week, her parents would take her to church. The music stirred something within her, and Liz would always dance around happily. Her joy was noticed by many people in the church, especially Robert and Kathy O'Kane.

The O'Kanes were unable to have children. They lived a quiet life, working hard on their farm. Every week at church, they noticed the happy little red-headed girl dancing around the church. Despite the fact that she appeared dirty and not well cared for, she was a jovial little spirit. Something drew Kathy to little Liz. She and Robert talked about it at length. They weren't sure if what they were doing was wrong, but they decided to approach Liz's biological parents.


They carefully discussed their affinity for the young girl. The O'Kanes told them they understood the hardships of raising five children, and they offered their home to Liz. Liz's biological parents didn't need much time to think. One less mouth to feed, one less burden. Liz would be well cared for, and they would still be a part of her life.


Liz was young enough to not recall the transition to her new home. She always remembered the O'Kanes as good, caring, fun parents. Liz would see her biological family in church. She'd even visit on occasion. Something didn't feel right, though. She felt uncomfortable there. Her siblings would tease her. Her birth parents were rough and distant, at best.

Liz came home with bruises on her arms from her biological father more than once. At that point, the O'Kanes sought full adoption, and Liz officially became their daughter.

Liz grew up working on the farm, and studying dance very seriously. From her experiences with her biological family, she was very grateful for all that she had. Her parents worked hard; they sacrificed and supported her love of dance through the years. Life wasn't always easy, but it was always good.

When it came time for Liz to go off to college, she received a full scholarship to Julliard. As a token of his love and support, Robert bequeathed his old truck to Liz. Though a farmer, Robert had always had dreams of owning a big, flashy show-truck. As a token of her love, Liz turned his old farm truck into a work of art.

Right out of school, Liz auditioned and was hired by a touring company. Always one to stand out from the crowd, she surpassed dancing in the ensemble, and was given the lead role. That was a foreshadowing of how well she would do in her dancing career.

In The Ballerina, we meet Liz at her curtain call after a performance in Florida. She captured the eye and heart of Jen. Liz had always been so dedicated to her adopted parents and her passion for dance, that romance was never even a thought that crossed her mind. Jen opened her up to many things.

After all her parents had done for her, Liz was petrified of coming out to Kathy and Robert. Would they accept her? Would they be disappointed in her? She would not be able to live with herself if they were angry or displeased in any way. Years went by. Jen was always with Liz, and the O'Kanes liked Jen very much. By the time Liz came out to them, Jen had dispelled any of their assumptions. Liking Jen for who she was made it very easy for them to accept Liz and Jen as a couple.

Like all couples, Liz and Jen had their share of trials and tribulations. Their dedication to themselves and to each other is what gets them through even the darkest of times.

Liz is like no one you've ever met before. She's an amazing woman with an amazing story. She's fun, she's vivacious, she's eclectic. Liz is just one of those awesome people. I loved writing her story, I hope you love reading it!

Favorite quote from Liz: "But I am more than just a ballerina."

Happy reading!
http://www.amazon.com/Ballerina-Loving-Her-Book-ebook/dp/B00EP01SP2/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1426886459&sr=8-12&keywords=lauren+shiro

May WeWriWa: The Vet Student

It's WeWriWa time!

Click www.wewriwa.com for more information and to see other 8 Sentence Sunday posts.
This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight sentences from a published work or even a WIP (work in progress). Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! It's a great way to meet readers, writers, and your next favorite book!  :)

For the month of May, we will be reading snippets from The Vet Student, Katie's story in the Loving Her series.

One night changed everything for Katie. From that moment on, her life was propelled forward like a rocket. Determined to escape the small town and her religious, stifling parents, Katie works hard to get into veterinary school... in Philadelphia. 

Katie refused to let anything – or anyone – destroy her dream. Not even her own parents. Even in the face of danger, Katie held true to herself and her beliefs. She suffered many losses along the way, but she gained so much more. Tumultuous and tender, Katie's story closes the Loving Her series... for now.

Background on the snippet: This is the opening of the book. Katie is in high school. She was invited to a friend's house where she and some other girls were playing Truth or Dare, including the most beautiful girl in school, Jackie Thompson. Katie had never played it before. She was a pastor's daughter and had a very sheltered upbringing, so this was both exhilarating and frightening. This snippet has been edited to fit 8 sentences.

Katie was afraid being alone in the same room with the gorgeous girl: she had a secret crush on her. But this was it. This was her opportunity to prove herself, to gain Jackie’s attention. Excitedly, Katie answered, “Dare!”

Jackie was a bit of a wild child. She had already tasted alcohol, dated several boys, and rumor had it she had even gone all the way with one of them! Everyone knew her dare would be something extreme. After a dramatic pause, she said, “Kiss someone in this room!”


I hope you liked it! Happy reading!