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 I have lived all my life in the state of Ohio. I went most of my life not knowing what profession I wanted to pursue, until my first son was born, then, I knew. I have worked toward the goal of becoming a writer for over a year now. I have two young boys, a hubby, two cats, and two goldfish. I work in a restaurant two days a week.
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MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
- I got chosen for a writer's conference in my senior year of high school, by my Advanced Compostion teacher.
- My greatest accomplishment of all time is raising two polite young sons!
- I entered a contest recently, I did not make it to the semi-final, but, it made it into the contest, and I get a consolation prize. My own free book proof, and a free editor's review.
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MY FAVORITE LINKS:
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MY RESIDENCE INFO:
City: Hamilton
State/Country: Ohio
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BOOKS PUBLISHED:
This is a sample from the book I have submitted for the Amazon Breakthrough novel award. It did not make it to the sem-finals,but, I think that it just needs more polishing, then, it will be perfect..
Prologue
Standing at six-foot-two with a glorious halo of brown cropped curls, a commanding presence and eyes of the purest sky blue, Nathan Christopher Kyle Carlson, the son of an Earl, had nothing to recommend him.
Why? That had been the question he had asked himself on numerous occasions. Oh, he knew the cause of his demise, but, he still did not understand why he had agreed to ruin his pristine reputation at such a young age.
Ironically, his own mother had seemed to predict his eventual downfall when he had come screaming into the world on a dreary day in late September. Upon his birth, before he could fathom the concept of black reputation, his mother had exclaimed, "He will break hearts, see if he won't!"
His demise had begun when he had attended a ball given by one of his female friends, Vanessa DeMarco. She had sought him out wanting to speak with him about something of extreme importance. She had batted her eyelashes at him, using her light green eyes, conveying that she would surely rot if she could not garner his aid.
Her dramatics had him laughing but, he had followed her anyway. They had found a private room where they could converse alone. Once there, she had asked of him the most oddest request. She asked him to assist her with a suitor that her parents did not approve of and refused to let her marry.
In order to convince him to help her, she had pointed out that she knew how he had refused to accept any invitations that would boast the most effective way to make a matrimonial match.
To hear her say these things had been a shock to say the least, but, he had still needed much convincing to go along with such an insane scheme. So, she used their friendship to get her way. Vanessa reminded him how he owed her for something that had occurred over a few years past. This would be a way to collect and she would never ask for another thing for as long as she lived. They would be even she had said.
So, late one evening in July, he stripped himself bare climbing into bed with her so they would be caught by her family and the suitor she had decided to wed. All went well and she received her fondest wish. For her parents to agree to let her marry the suitor since he refused to marry her.
The scheme had worked far too easily it seemed, for more ladies had come to him seeking his aid. They wanted him to be found in a compromising position just as Vanessa had. He had known that she must have gossiped, he also knew that he should not go along with it, but, he did.
Four more ladies he rescued from a life of unhappiness and from then on, he did not even need to be present to be accused of the seduction of virginal misses. His reputation had been enough for the members of the ton to believe their stories and from then on, his life had changed.
His reputations of the seducer of innocents had garnered his wish. He still received invitations to ton events, but, all the debutantes allowed him a wide berth. No one asked him for dances or spoke to him if they could help themselves. A few close friends had been the only ones brave enough to risk their own reputations to speak to him.
In those times, he had pretended that the rumors and whispers had not affected him. He proved himself aloof when his own father had questioned him about the truth. Looking his own father in the face he had shrugged and admitted that he had been to Vanessa's bedchamber and had been found unclothed. Thus he could not dispute any of the other ladies versions.
Virtually, he had no defense, none that would make sense. Because of his mother's belief in him she had kept his father from throwing him out on the streets and thus he had been able to remain within society's bounds. He had been able to maintain his friendship with one other soul that he could not live without.
If only he had thought about his actions, if he could have gone back in time and fixed his mistake, he would have not missed out on the biggest opportunity of his life...
His biggest regret had been when the blush of youth had passed, his indiscretion came back to haunt him in a major bone crushing loss. When he had realized the error of his ways, the conclusion had come too late..
Love had struck him quickly without a warning. And, because of his same reputation, that love slipped through his fingers leaving him empty and in pain.
Chapter One :Part One
1
Strolling along in Mayfair, Olivia Juliet March knew that she would end up seeing one of her nearest and dearest friends. Everyone knew him as the infamous seducer of innocents but, she knew him by a quite different title indeed. A man who stood to be her one and only gentleman best friend.
As a child, when all the female members of polite society had snubbed her for her wild dark blond braids, he had been her confidant listening to her venting when things became too much for her to bear.
The fact that he remained a bachelor and she an unmarried Viscount's daughter, they found themselves going their own way most of the time. But, such as today, they found the time to speak with each other without ton members standing close by and wondering if anything untoward happened between them.
The secrecy is so that he would not have one more black mark upon his reputation that he did not deserve.
Once per week she made a plan to go on various errands. On those trips she would purchase new fabric for a dress, a new bonnet and more gloves. Before she left she had always dropped a note to her maid who passed it on to a footman and the footman eventually passed the message on to Nathan.
He would read the note, and make sure to have his own errands that needed accomplishing as well. And, when they "accidentally" ran into each other, politeness dictated they converse.
2
On those occasions they bumped into each other, she made sure to ask him why he allowed society to believe the black reputation that he had cultivated over the years.
Each and every time she asked, the thirty year old rogue just passed her a sly wink with that same mischievous sparkle in his eye, and say without fail, "Let them think what they will.. I have no exception to that.”
A half hour passed when she finally completed her shopping expedition. And, when she found her way to the waiting carriage, she found Nathan lounging there with that same slanted grin and the usual twinkle lurking beneath. Being the gentleman, he tipped his hat and offered to help her with her packages.
Once the task had been completed she once again turned the subject to his otherwise sheltered existence. She could not help but point out his fine qualities. "Nathan, why do you not claim the recognition you deserve?.. You and I both know that you are not some bounder that lures innocent maidens to their demise.. Why don’t you admit what you actually do when you are not in town?"
Nathan resisted the weary sigh he had coming at her pointless diatribe. Olivia had tried way too many times to convince him that he could redeem himself by becoming some hero to people that he could not sway even if he desired to do so.
Those same people who had treated her poorly as a child, just because she did not possess the preconceived standard of beauty, pale blond ringlets, and pale skinned and unblemished looks. Why would he want to please those fools who had not accepted her true beauty?
3
When he gazed down at her upturned face with her gentle hazel eyes, green flecks surrounding the irises, he did saw what others failed to perceive. Despite only having dark blond locks that barely held a curl she had one thing that they would never have, true inner beauty.
She accepted him for who he was. Even going as far as overlooking his more human traits. The traits that helped create the rumors. And, the undeniable fact that he had more than his fair share of women in his life.
"Olivia... I don’t believe we should discuss these things here.. It would only be a matter of time before someone overhears us, and where would your reputation be?”
Olivia huffed at his serious demeanor. That response had not been as she had expected. It seemed that they would have to be open and honest with each other for that would not be the case for much longer.
“Now, you plan to be my conscience? Since when are you so worried for my reputation? If that were the case, you would not have showed up here at all today... And, do not plan on interrupting me with some flippant remark! You can not forget that I know the real you. I know all about the wonderful things that you do for the people on your father's estates."
Nathan rolled his eyes, sighing this time. Looking over his shoulder to make sure that no one would be watching them. Grasping her arm, he steered her in the direction of his awaiting carriage. Olivia, being a smart woman did not try to deter him.
4
Only when they were far out of sight of prying eyes did Olivia dig in her heels making them both come to an abrupt halt, a mere foot from his carriage door. He felt her glare all the way to his toes.
"Now, Olivia..”
"No!" Putting her hand in front of her face, she let him know in no certain terms, that she had taken control over the conversation.
“I know that you do not seem to care about your awful reputation, but, I do! I hate the things they say about you. I know how you have always taken care of those older citizens on the estates.. I know how you helped them worked themselves out of certain death, and devastation. After those floods threatened their lively hoods, you did not sit on your hands, and let them wallow in filth..."
“You lent your own two hands... You did not send some secretary to handle everything... So, how can you stand here and tell me that you deserve hateful stares and the way the matron's daughters avoid you like the plague?”
Nathan could not help but grin at her constant caring nature and gave her arm a gentle squeeze. "But, my Lady, I am no saint... I have had my share of affairs that you need not even know about... So, I do not see any reason for you to defend me to anyone. Do you not see that?”
Olivia sighed, defeated. "I do wish you would stop trying to convince me that you are the tyrant they are making you out to be... But, if you wish to continue to tarnish your good name, then who am I to disabuse you of that notion?”
5
Chuckling good naturedly, Nathan bowed elegantly. “I am most gratified by your keen wishes my dear, and bow to your ever growing dictates.”
Olivia swatted him with the edge of her fan, lightly, of course. “You louse you! I have half a mind to stop putting up with your utter nonsense.”
Nathan shrugged, but, could not help but, laugh once again. “But, then who else would put up with my antics, if not you? Other than my mother, that is?”
Olivia pretended to contemplate the matter most seriously her lips pursed, her eyes scrunched up in thought, then, she grinned most devilishly. “Why your numerous hordes of women that you have seduced, you fiend!”
A sensual smile graced his lips as he leaned forward, his mouth a short distance from hers, a sparkle of mischief glimmered in his eyes. “Maybe I should demonstrate my master technique with you?.. What say you, my fair maiden?”
Usually when Nathan took his jests one step too far she would respond with some cutting or obnoxious remark. But, this time seemed oddly different, and not one word would come out of her mouth. For some reason, she felt threatened, despite how ludicrous that sounded even to her own ears. Reacting instinctively, she began backing away hastily.
Only affront would work for him this time. “These childish games are beginning to bore me. I think I wish to go home now.”
6
Immediately, his back stiffened, and he became the most serious she had ever seen him, he held out his arm to her, gallantly. “Please let me escort you home Livvie. I am sorry if I have offended you in any way.”
Instantly she felt horrible that she could for one moment take his bold proposition as anything but a silly jest that he had been known to affect in her presence. Why had she acted as some silly ninny? It was not as if he had actually wished to kiss her, or seduce her in any way. He saw her as a sister, and she gazed upon him much the same way, as a brother.
Once she gained her composure, Olivia pasted on a most gracious smile. “I’d be delighted to let you escort me sir.. You certainly have not offended me you are a no good scamp, and we both know that to be the case.”
Grasping her hand, he placed it upon his sleeve, helplessly glad that she had not taken offense at his odious behavior. “If I do, do anything to ever offend you, you would tell me, would you not? I would hate to lose your ever flowing confidence in me.”
Shrugging her shoulders, nonchalantly, she informed him. “It is truly of no consequence, Nathan dear.. You have never hurt me with your humorous barbs... I simply must be heading home, my darling sister is waiting for me."
Brandon nodded making sure that Olivia would be safely tucked inside his carriage. He sent on a note with his footman, informing her family that she would be arriving home in the alternative conveyance. Her things would be sent on ahead.
7
As the plodded along, Olivia stared out the small window trying to find out why she had treated Nathan so oddly earlier. After everything she had said about how selfless he truly could be, she had treated him as his he were some wolf in sheep's clothing when he had made light of his less than stellar reputation.
Nothing she had ever seen of him would explain why she would feel threatened in any way. Her foolishness had to be dealt with! So, Olivia turned and caught staring at her.
She blushed and tried to apologize..
Nathan smiled, smoothly interjecting. "How is that sister of yours?"
Olivia blinked wondering at his turn of subject. But, she decided to take the hint and let their other discussion go at least for the time being. "Oh she is fiery as ever, when she doesn't get her way... Not that she would let anyone in society know this little failing of hers.. You have her at routs and parties I am sure. You must have seen how calm and demure she is?
A deep chuckle rumbled from Nathan's chest. "That may be very well why she has not found a husband, do you not agree? Every gentleman she has met must have realized her true nature she keeps hidden by now. That kind of thing usually has a tendency to shine through."
The subject of marriage had been breeched. And, now she could not avoid telling Nathan that the way of their friendship would be changing. She had to tell him now before he found out from someone else. Now seemed the time to tell him her final goodbye.
8
She tilted her head sideways, to better gauge his reaction. "Well, I think my sister's reason for not being safely wed is that she is dreadfully spoiled, in the way of our parent's affections, I mean.. And, I think that she is waiting for me to be sacrificed to the altar first."
Keeping his expression carefully blank, Nathan said the first thing that popped into his head. “You are not made for marriage my dear.. Your parents need your good sense, and your head for responsibility. Not to mention your overwhelming kindness in dealing with guests."
A crease formed across her brow, one of mild annoyance.
“Well, it seems that they disagree with you... Because a year from now, I will be a married lady after all.”
He could not keep his brows from raising to his hairline in shock. “I don’t think that I quite understand.. "
Rising from her seat across from him, Olivia sat down beside him, patting his hand in a gesture of goodwill and gratitude for the way the dreadful news affected him. “I have been informed, a mere few days ago, that I will wed an old friend of my father's. Unbeknownst to me, it had arranged for quite some time.. But, it the betrothal had to be postponed for a few good reasons.”
Trying to maintain a sense of decorum, and trying hard not to panic and scream about how bloody unfair it was, Nathan asked with a detached calm, “Which are?”
"Well, to be rather frank... One good reason comes to mind.. The man I was to marry, decided to marry someone else instead.”
9
A comical expression of anger and surprise overcame his features, and Olivia tried not to laugh. This was not the time to tempt fate. “You have got to be joking Livvie! You are only trying to get back at me for annoying you with my lame attempt at seduction my dear. This is pay back, I fear.”
"No, I am sorry to say I'm not... And, you were not trying to seduce me, I know you would never use our friendship to hurt me in that way. I am not one to fawn over you or assume that you only wish to ravish me. You forget that I have known you since I could write, walk and talk straight. I am rather serious here.”
"But... I am confused.. How can you marry someone who is married to someone else?"
Folding her hands primly in her lap, she fidgeted, wondering if she could ever look him in the face ever again once he heard the humiliating tale, if he would laugh at her, or commiserate instead? She could not even believe the tale herself, how would Nathan react?
Feeling warm fingertips upon her chin, Olivia found herself gazing into his large sky-blue eyes, a shiver having nothing to do with the cold raised up her arms at the same time. For a moment, she could no longer think of what the conversation had been about.
But, luckily, he did not seem to suffer the same predicament for he spoke with calm and control. "Talk to me Livvie, what is the matter?”
Blowing out her breath, she gently removed his hand. “This man.. A Baron by the name of Robert Foster.. I guess that he lost patience with my lack of readiness to be locked in married bliss..
10
"Little did he know that my parents had never informed me of his intentions.. Well, needless to say, he asked to be released from the contract, and he was.. Temporarily."
"You mean.. What?" Confusion further knitted his brow.
"I had been entered into a marriage contract with this man I am telling you about.. And, well I was only thirteen.. So, understandably they did not wish me to marry at that young of an age, and they made sure that the betrothal did not take place till I came of age."
"That does not make sense.. Why did your parents not tell you and have you marry this man then?"
"As I hear it be told, my parents seemed to have a change of heart.. You see the man is much older than me."
Nathan's face became incredulous. “Good God!.. Just how old is this friend of your father's?"
Smiling did nothing to calm her nerves or his for that matter, but, she did it anyway. "You need not fret over much. He had been four and thirty at the time.. He is now only two and forty."
"Oh.. Only you say?" Nathan repeated incredulously.
"Nathan hush! It will not be so bad.. I think.."
"Good lord! How can this be happening? Why would your
parents change their minds again and make you marry this man?"
"They explained everything when they sat me down a few
days prior.. My father informed me that the Baron had lost his wife
rather recently. And, he approached my father asking if he could
reinstate the betrothal.. After his morning period, of course."
11
"Why did your father agree to this? The man married
someone else, he abandoned you! And, now he wants you to replace
some dead wife of his?”
Olivia deflated in front of him. “I suppose that he is feeling rather lonely. And, as I have said, my parents had not honored the original contract with him.. Nor had the intended to when I had come of age.. So, if you look at the situation from the Baron’s perspective..”
"They had been in breach of contract.. Even though the Baron broke it by going off and marrying someone else."
"Exactly... He.. he could sue us if he wished."
Nathan grasped her arms, his eyes imploring desperately. “Is there nothing you can do to stop this nonsense?"
Shaking her head wearily, Olivia squeezed her eyes shut.
Nathan dropped his hands finding that he had nothing to say. Everything he had done in his life he had told Livvie about. He never lied about anything. Olivia knew his reputation and she still stood by him and defended him if ever the situation arose. He appreciated her candor and the way she believed the best of him.
Even if he had attempted to tell her of how his reputation had begun in the first place, Livvie would not let him finish. She reminded him of his mother in that way, she absolutely refused to believe anything that reflected upon him in a negative way. The woman believed without fail that he possessed a kind soul and would never bring harm to anyone.
If she only knew that his sins were many and he could not call himself perfect in any way. Vanessa had wanted him to make the situation look real and so he did. It had become much too real for him.
12
Every day he regretted going to her bed, he regretted removing his clothes and most of all he regretted what had happened next. Something he had never told anyone. Not even his other best friend, Jonathon.
And, now here he sat beside Olivia March, the one woman, whom he thought could stay his friend forever. Only to have her tell him that she would be forced to marry a man twice her age.
"I don’t understand how your father could do this to you.”
"Olivia swung her head his way again, gazing directly upon his face. "He has no real choice.. He believes that I will be happy though.. The Baron is quite nice, according to him."
Nathan's anger rose by the minute. Every time she spoke about this Baron, his heart dropped, causing a crushing ache. "He's quite nice is he? That is why he is forcing you marry him? He's the one who abandoned you! He should have not married someone else. The man should have enforced the contract earlier."
Olivia swallowed. She knew what he said made sense. But, something else stood in the way of his logic. "Nathan.. The contract is not the only issue. My father thinks that I need to make this match for Jennifer's sake.. She can not truly marry until I do.. So, I must do my duty for the family."
" But, why does her fate have to reside with yours?”
A laugh escaped her lips, but, not one that could be construed as filled with mirth. “My goodness Nathan! Do you not know anything? I am the eldest, and as such, I need to set an example, you see? I am naught but a woman, and must needs know my place.”
13
Nathan's whole body grew stiff as he intoned, "I wish that I could say that I am happy for you.. But, lying is something that I promised I would never do, not to you.. This is a travesty, if you want my opinion on the subject?"
Olivia bit her lip trying to hold back tears as she reached out her gloved hand, cupping it against his newly shaven cheek. "At least I will always have you as a friend.. I can only live happily, knowing that fact."
Nathan saw the tears she held at bay and something made him reach out placing his hand upon hers, stilling it so that he could hold use it as an anchor. The fear he felt at the impact of her statement made him come to a realization..
"If your future husband even allows it."
Immediately, righteous indignation puffed up that lithe body of hers, and she boldly declared inches from his face, “I will insist to my husband, that you must visit from time to time.. I will not lose all that is dear to me, I promise you that.”
Her breath stuttered out, her chest rising and falling from the effort of her emphatic words and Nathan truly became aware of the short distance between their mouths. She still had her hand pressed firmly against his face and he still held on to her there.
He found that he could not let her leave not without giving her a proper goodbye. One that neither she or he would ever forget. Not giving her a moment to react or call him a fool, he swooped down pressing his lips hard upon hers.
Abruptly, he ended it before Livvie could respond.
14
"Here's to hoping that you will never lose me."
Olivia could only stare in befuddlement as he deposited her back in her seat. He avoided her eye or any further conversation. He dropped her off on the corner of the block of which she lived waving to her as if nothing had unusual occurred. In a daze, she waved back to him as the driver flicked the reins and drove away.
The very next morning when Olivia woke, she sent out a note wanting to meet him so they could discuss what had happened between them. But, to her dismay, weeks went by and he never responded...
Nathan sat at home staring at the letter gripped in his hand. All he could do was stare for he knew what the note said without reading it again. Always the thoughts ran through his head. Her neat precise writing asking him to meet her to discuss what he had been thinking when he had kissed her in the carriage.
She never put the words to paper about the kiss, but, he knew that is what she meant when she asked to meet to discuss the awkward matter between them.
He knew his lack of response would hurt her. But, he could not take the chance of him going to her and doing something foolish as to try to take her away so that he could marry her instead of that idiot the Baron. She did not need to blemish her pristine reputation and that would be what would happen.
His decision had been selfish, but, he knew that in the end, someday she would thank him.
Note: This is my revised version of my story. And, not the first draft I had submitted before. Please read and offer feedback.
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Here is a sample of my drabble writings on Eliosa James/Julia Quinn BB.. You have to use a quote in your writing and it can only be 500 words maxiumum.
This quote, "Honest people don't hide their deeds."
Cassius, or Clay as most people called him panted as sweat poured
down his face. He felt on fire today which could be considered ironic since his
suit probably resembled the shade his cheeks should be about now, red as the
proverbial flames of hell. Not only had his deeds gone virtually unnoticed today,
but, this time he considered this job enough of a payback of sorts. You see, it all
began with one phrase...
"Clay, we just have one too many Santa's today.. I am sorry, but, you'll
have to just pick up your paycheck and leave."
That prick, Sanford Lee Bradford had been the last straw in the worst
day in the history of his life. First, the tires on his pickup had gone flat, then, once
at work, the brats in line had been whimpering, simpering, and worst of
all, he had been peed on! After finally settling down to his work, the "company" had
decided to cut back for Christmas Eve, and he would be the unlucky recipient of the
"company's" greed.
For that reason alone, was why he stood here in the mall at this time of
night, doing his good deed for the day, a present that would last a lifetime. Once
they came in the next day, they would see what he thought of their tightwad ways.
Clay cursed, his knuckles flaming now, from the sting of his heavy duty hammer.
He had missed on his last swing and now he had a swollen thumb to go along with
his otherwise crappy day.
"Well, hell!" Clay said to himself.
Then, he found out that his day could be much worse, for only a moment's
warning alerted him a presence behind him, then, he swung around, only to find a
two hundred pound guard, with a gun in his hand, a real one, and not a stun gun.
"Freeze, punk!"
Clay froze, raising his hands, as well as the hammer at the same time.
The guard obviously took offense, for he shouted, "Drop your weapon at once!"
A few seconds passed before Clay realized what he meant, and he dropped
the hammer, which happened to land straight on his toe, and he yelped in pain. The
guard, came forward shining a flashlight in his face, then, he swung the light toward
where Clay had left his present.
The guard a once fierce foe, began laughing, and lowering his gun. "I believe
you have suffered enough Mister."
Clay did not understand what could be so funny, then he did a double take as
he realized what he had done. The sign he wanted to deface, the one he rearranged in
the dark ended up saying the most ridiculous thing...
Instead of the sign saying, "Go to hell, you cheap bastards!, the sign proclaimed,
that no matter how pressed you are for Christmas shopping these days, you will find that
there are people to guide you on your way.. And, honest people don't hide their deeds."
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