It’s weekend Writing Warriors/SnipSunday again today, and you’re invited to read and (we hope) comment on both. Click on the logos to get the lists of participants. I’ll try to get around and comment today, though I can’t promise anything a week from now.
Horse Power is free again today on Amazon, so I’m giving a short, repunctuated excerpt from that story today. It’s not a space opera, but a story of colonization of a frontier planet with the colonizing company trying to make debt slaves of the colonists. Yes, you’re seeing esper powers in this snippet, which is from just after the point where Amber hears the stampede and asks Roi to get them to the top of the hill.
Amber spared a quick glance at the mirror mounted on her handlebars as she pedaled wildly downhill, and cursed as she saw Roi standing next to his bike at the crest of the hill. Debating the ethics of getting involved, she thought furiously, and began waving her arms and screaming at the oncoming tide of silkies.
The leaders hardly slowed, but she suddenly realized that the rearmost animals were shaking their heads as if waking up, seeing the fresh greenery on either side of the trampled stampede path and turning toward it as if starved. She could almost see the wave of hesitation working forward through the herd until it reached the leaders, who were only a few armspans away when they stopped to graze. No running over the leaders, no piling up when they reached a barrier they could not cross, no broken legs or other injuries she could see. Just a quietly grazing herd, and a frantically pedaling cyclist following the stampede track. Twice the front wheel twisted and the cyclist fell, but each time the rider scrambled back onto the vehicle and continued the pursuit.
“A bicycle?” asked Roi, who had rejoined Amber so quietly she was not aware of his presence until he spoke.
Next weekend will be the last snippet from War’s End for a while, at least until I get it a lot closer to publication. I’ll still be here, but I’ll be posting snippets from my published books, Homecoming and Tourist Trap. If I feel up to editing Rescue Operation (the first of the trilogy of which War’s End is the third) I may give you some short bits from that.
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'Homecoming' Blog 
Wonderful imagery, l could see it all!
I agree, very visual. Your word choices are great. At the end there’s a nice release of tension though we still wonder where this going now. Thanks for sharing this bit!
I’m new to your story and I felt Amber’s reckless courage as she wildly cycled…. it sounds like a thunderous herd – lots of bravery – I like it 🙂
The story is free today on Amazon.
Great imagery in this snippet. Wonder who the cyclist that fell is? I like their use of bikes, makes total sense.
History Sleuth’s Milk Carton Murders
Minor character, but I might introduce her next time I have a free day.
Very dramatic, so much at stake here and I also loved the way the stampede ended, without the animals being injured. Another excellent excerpt!
Says a little about Roi’s character, as well as his abilities.
Nice imagery and a spunky heroine. I like it.
It’s free today and doesn’t take long to read.
Amber’s spent more than 10 years now as a rancher’s wife and partner.
I’m intrigued by Roi—I’ve always had a thing for the strong, silent type! 🙂
Homecoming and Tourist Trap are all about his youth.
Interesting story; especially the way they just suddenly stopped to graze.
That’s Roi in action.
Sueann
Lovely snippet with action shown to the reader in a delightfully heart pounding way. Interesting about the cyclist following the heard. Lots of questions and curiosity raised. Nicely done.
Pretty important for the plot.
Great sense of motion! I can picture it quite clearly in my head–and I’m amazed it ended the way it did. Stampedes are dangerous…
It definitely helps to have someone like Roi around.
Great visual here. Enjoyed your 8!
Glad you like it.
Full of action, Sue Ann, and the description of the herd behavior is fascinating! I have this book on my Kindle, making a note to read it!! 🙂
It’s more a short story than a book, but I hope you enjoy it.
Great action and imagery!
Thanks.
Seeing you use long sentences comfort me a bit. I like long sentences. Nice description.
I like to mix them up–sometimes long, sometimes short. But I think the creative punctuation made these a bit longer. (That 8 sentence limit!)
Dramatic visuals. Nice job!
Thanks.