Sunday’s the day for snippets from all kinds of authors. To find those posting on Weekend Writing Warriors, click the logo above; for snippet Sunday click the logo below.
I’ve picked 8 sentences from my second published book, Tourist Trap. The group is hang gliding off a major escarpment to the plains below. Roi is the last of the group to take off, because of his telekinetic ability to help the others if needed, and has been admiring the jewel-colored gliders as they turn north along the mountain front to take advantage of the updraft it is producing. Incidentally, Roi’s perception allows him to “feel” the thermals.
The cliff was beautifully streamlined, and the air beneath Roi flowed as smoothly as honey. The cliff rim was dropping behind him, and the plains spread to the end of the world ahead, dotted with the warm columns of rising thermals. He could fly beyond the horizon on a day like this, he thought exultantly, fly to the lake that lay somewhere at the end of the lazy curves traced by the Surprise far below. He pulled in slightly on the control bar, accelerating to turn northward after the others.
The wing nosed over, diving so abruptly toward the toe of the slope that Roi was caught by surprise. Startled, he pushed out hard, using his whole body to throw his weight as far back as he could. Slowly, reluctantly, the wing leveled out into steady flight. Then, as swiftly as it had dived, it tried to leap upward into a stall.
What’s happening? He just test-flew the glider yesterday, with no hint of a problem!
Tourist Trap is available from Barnes and Noble or Amazon. The blurb:
A vacation with his three best friends from slavery and a manhood challenge: Roi is given the graduation present he has dreamed of. Dogsledding, hang gliding, a chance to see Pleistocene animals transplanted to a Terraformed vacation world, horseback riding, sailing … all the sports he has returned to with his recovery from paralysis, and a few new ones to learn.
They’re prepared for danger from weather, wild animals and extreme sports. But none of them realize that Roi’s half brother Zhaim, determined to recover his old position as Lai’s heir, intends to kill them if he can—and he’s decided that the dangers of the trip will make a perfect cover for his schemes.
How long will it take them to realize that the “accidents” they keep running into are more than just accidents?
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I so envy him, flying! The description was breathtaking and wow, my adrenaline kicked in with his when the glider malfunctioned! Excellent excerpt!
I checked this part out with a hang gliding enthusiast.
oh spooky! Even with an extra ability I bet that scared the crap out of him! Nice excerpt, really hoping you pick up right from here next week 🙂
Sorry, the next three weeks are scheduled to be from Homecoming, exploring those memories that Roi really didn’t want to revisit. Might see if I can get more of this scene into 8 sentence bits later, though I hope I can do something from my new book.
Descriptions are spectacular and then my heart raced with the turn in events and now breathless, I’m worried. So special eight. Thanks.
He’s going to have his hands full.
You make hang-gliding sound almost worth the risks. Is there something sinister at work, or some kind of problem with the apparatus?
Try both.
Wonderful detail in this description. Love the idea that he can feel the thermals.
He has some extra abilities, but that doesn’t change the fact that major problems are coming up.
Great descriptions.
Glad you like them.
Thanks–I try to see them as I write them.
Lovely description! I can picture that spectacular view.
Something’s amiss with that glider, and it sounds like sabotage! (Cue dramatic music.)
Don’t know if I’ll go that far with this scene.
Wow! Roi’s life sure doesn’t stay peaceful for long, does it? 🙂
This is a couple of years after the scene with Derik.
Fantastic descriptions! What a view! Well done.
I did some pretty careful work on the geography of Falaron.
Great description and sense of danger.
You really don’t want a hang glider behaving like that.
The description really puts me in the scene. I don’t think I could bring myself to hang glide.
Some folks enjoy it; I’m going on books on how to do it and working with an experienced hang glider who checked my details.
I could see how people like it. I personally hate flying. I would be the person having a panic attack if I tried it. 🙂
Things are going to get worse before they get better.
No matter how much you test-drive something, it usually fails on you – when it’s the last thing you need. Great way to put that at the end. Nice 8!
Better than not testing it.
Truly great visuals, really captivating (& I am scared of heights, lol). Your blurb really sounds very intriguing.
I love looking out airplane windows.
I wanted to be up there flying with him 🙂 Talking about his abilities is interesting, and you captured the slight difference in his perception through it. Great snippet!
He’s had quite a lot of training since what I posted last week.
It felt like I was flying! Intense scene. Powerful 8!
Glad I managed to capture the feeling.
My stomach dropped as soon as the glider started to lurch. I felt like I was right there with him the whole time. Your descriptions are so vivid and powerful – great eight!
All part of the world building in Tourist Trap.