Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors (click the logo above) and Snippet Sunday (click the logo below.) These are blog hops where authors of all genres (mine’s science fiction) post up to 8 sentences of anything from rough drafts to published works.
I’m still posting from Tourist Trap (blurb below) my second published book. Roi is a few thousand feet above the ground in a malfunctioning hang glider, and has accidentally triggered a screamer that nullifies his esper abilities.
Both the screamer and the compensation circuits needed power, he thought. He had felt no difference in weight distribution when he’d lifted the glider for takeoff, so there was at least a chance that the small power pack in the right upright was feeding both. Carefully, almost holding his breath, he began working his hands toward each other on the control bar. When they touched, he maneuvered the left hand under the right. His right hand came up, working at the catch of the power pack compartment.
The catch had never been designed for mittens.
His breath sobbing with frustration, he brought his right hand back to his mouth and used his teeth to pull the scarlet mitten off and let it drop. It fell away to the rugged ground beneath him, turning over and over until it was so small he could no longer see it.
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?
Tourist Trap, the second novel of the Jarnian Confederation, won first place in science fiction and fiction book of the year in the 2011 Reader Views contest.
Reviewers say:
“Fans of Sue Ann Bowling’s novel Homecoming will not be disappointed with its sequel. Tourist Trap returns the reader to the world of the Jarnian Confederation—to Roi, Lai, Marna, and all of their friends and relations. The author does a stellar job of bringing these characters to life, allowing the reader to not only see their actions but to understand the culture and politics that motivate them. (ForeWord Clarion review)
“Tourist Trap” is a great read for anyone that wants motivation and feeling to accompany the action in their sci-fi adventure. Alien beings and super powers are an integral part of Roi’s story but what makes this novel really shine is the heart. Nobody is good or evil just because that’s their assigned role. Just like in real life, everyone has their own motivations and desires, and Bowling does a great job of letting the reader see what it would be like to walk in the shoes of Roi, Xazhar, and even madman Zhaim. (ReaderViews review)
Tourist Trap (iUniverse, 2011) is available from:
iUniverse http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/Products/SKU-000188494/Tourist-Trap.aspx
Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tourist-trap-sue-ann-bowling/1104199464
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Tourist-Trap-Sue-Ann-Bowling/dp/1462029582/
in dust jacket, trade paper, and e-book formats.
Buy Homecoming from iUniverse
'Homecoming' Blog 
Gorgeous description of the mitten. I love this eight and your gift of writing.
It’s a bit of a slowdown, but I wanted to give the feeling that time had slowed down a bit for Roi, as it sometimes seems to in a crisis.
ohh what a tease you are, leaving us here before we find out if Roi is safe or not! I love all this suspense. Your writing is so descriptive, Sue Ann.
I try to see what my characters would see, and then describe it.
Nice eight! I was right there with Roi and I clutched, I confess! Good job, Sue Ann!
At this point Roi is getting a little more than he bargained for from this vacation.
Is it bad that my first reaction was “That naughty kitten he’s lost his mitten and now he shall have no cream”? Great snippet, as always, and very ingenious solution to his problem.
If Roi were familiar with Earth-human nursery rhymes, the thought might cross his mind.
Your description of his frustration makes it palpable. Great 8.
Glad you like it.
Great details. I especially like the mitten falling out of sight. Puts us right there with him.
He had to do something with the mitten once he got it off.
Very visual writing, Sue Ann. I think I saw it as clearly as Roi did. 🙂
I wanted to emphasize how far above the ground he was.
Love the visuals your writing depicts, as usual. I watched that red mitten descend. . .
The travelers are at first coded by color. Roi’s is red.
There’s danger everywhere for poor Roi.
He’s starting to catch on to that.
Perfect visual of the mitten! I like how time seems to slow for him in times of crisis—and how he never gives up!
Now let’s see if he can do any better without the mitten. (At least he’s at a lower altitude by now, where it’s warmer.)
Oh boy…I’m looking forward to seeing if he can save himself, now that the darn mitten is out of the way! I too like that he just keeps working at a solution and doesn’t panic over the problem…and this is a doozy.
He’s had to survive as a slave, so he had to learn.
MITTENS!!! Eek, poor Roi, just when I think he’s going to be ok, there’s another (very believable) obstacle. Enjoyed the excerpt, your fine grasp of the necessary detail always amazes me.
Believable? You should live in Alaska and try to do even simple things like filling the gas tank with mittens on.
Great snippet. I am right there with him and feeling everything he does.
Glad you liked it.
That image of the mitten, slowly tumbling to the ground… *shudder*
Nice foreshadowing of what will happen if he doesn’t get this situation fixed!
It’s falling faster than he is, though.
Oh, I like that mitten tumbling end over end to oblivion, just like he’ll be if he doesn’t make this work. Great tension!
Let’s hope he does better than the mitten.
Very tense.
It was meant to be.
Vivid description. Excellent 8!
Glad you like it.