Loud (BBT)

1. What do you think of reading aloud/being read to? Does it bring back memories of your childhood? Your children’s childhood?
2. Does this affect the way you feel about audio books?
3. Do you now have times when you read aloud or are read to?

I loved being read to, until I figured out that if I read it on my own...I could read faster. Occasionally, I don't mind being read to, if the person reading is a good reader--pauses in the right places, understands the vocabulary, etc.

Audiobooks are different for me, because the folks reading are generally good readers and sometimes with delightful accents that enhance the story. I read aloud sometimes when I am testing out a character's voice for a story I'm working on, or if I'm babysitting. ~_^

Sadly, I don't have anyone reading to me on a regular basis--lol--so I can't comment on the last part. Fun question!

~Sara

Public (BBT)

Do you carry books with you when you’re out and about in the world?
And, do you ever try to hide the covers?

I used to take my library books with me (back when I actually went to the library rather obsessively). I don't think I've ever hid a cover of a book I read, except maybe, for the time I read The Girl With Silver Eyes, as I was in the company of certain folks who didn't think people should have silver eyes. I always read mystery books in public--and now my e-reader solves the issue if I worry about covers. Which, actually, I don't anymore, because it doesn't matter to me what folks think about what I read. ^_^

Cheers,

Sara H.

Sheldon's Shield (Fiction)

Author's Ramblings: I meant to post this for Friday Fiction, but I actually didn't finish it in time. But I had an idea that turned the story around from just a rambly, country drabble, so I went ahead and finished it up. I ought to save it for the weekend, I'm sure, LOL. But knowing me, I'll end up writing something new by then. So here goes! It's a snippet of prompt fiction to the prompt "Purple Ribbons". Meant to be a bit mysterious and happy-sad. Enjoy the read!

Sheldon's Shield. 
Prompt Fiction.
Contemporary Fantasy. 
724 words. 

 “Those are beautiful ribbons, Marie.” Sheldon fingered the strand of purple satin fluttering from the twin high-ponytails. 

She tilted her head to the side, watching the ribbons streaming out to her left. “Thanks, Sheldon. Gipsy gave them to me.”

“Gipsy? Really? I didn’t think ‘Ol Gips had it in him.”

“Hey! He’s nice.” Marie wrinkled her nose. “Or he’s been nice, nicer anyway.” She corrected. “So, are we going?”

“I don’t know.” Sheldon leaned forward on the porch railing, staring out into the blue-green mountains before them. “I think it’s getting close to dinnertime.”

“Nuh-uh! We just had lunch.” Marie elbowed him, standing up on tip-toe to try and reach the railing to brace on it too.

“Did we?”

“Sheldon!”

“I don’t want to rush you.”

“I’m bored!”

“You’re nine-years-old, of course you’re bored.” He rolled his eyes. “And I’m serious, Marie.”

“It was just a…a…a that.” Marie waved her bejeweled arms in the air. “What Gips said.”

“A scrape?” Sheldon shook his head. “No, I think it was a little worse than that.” He patted her head, his lingering fingers tugging on the satiny hair ribbons. “You almost died on me, Marie.”

“It didn’t even hurt.” She ducked away from his hand. “and Gips could’ve fixed me. He’s good like that. I wasn’t broken.”

“You were broken.” Sheldon ‘s hand settled on her shoulder with deliberate firmness. “and that was a stupid and dangerous thing to do.”

Solemn grey eyes fixed on the frustrated soldier. “I’m your shield, Sheldon. That’s what I’m supposed to do.” Her small voice held the faintest hint of softness. “And I’m really bored, can we go now?”

The front door to the cabin banged open and a husky fellow stumbled out onto the porch, a stick of jerky in his mouth while trying to wrestle his foot into one high-laced boot. “Sheldon? Ah, there you are. We gotta go. On call.”

“Now?” Sheldon straightened, pushing his glasses up his nose with one crooked middle finger. “They called everyone?”

“They called us.” The fellow said, simply. He plopped down on a nearby rocking chair and began to lace up the combat boots. “And we’re going. Got a problem with that?”

“No sir.”

“Then get moving, soldier!”

Sheldon bobbed his head in reply and extended a hand to the now bouncing girl beside him. “Yes, sir.”

“Are we going now?” Marie gave a little jump, her hand tightening in his. “I wanna go!”

“Yeah, we’re going.” He squeezed her hand and hurried through the front door. The cabin was a flurry of activity as the rest of the extraction group began to suit up. A jumble of chatter filled the air as the young children running about, came to stand beside their respective fighters.

Marie let go of his hand to run and join them as they formed a circle in the center of the room. In a minute, the Captain joined them and they formed a second circle around the young children.

“Ready?” Marie called out.

The little heads nodded in answer.

“In the morning, the sun is shining, in the nighttime, the moon sings all the time.” She broke off, humming as the freckle-faced little boy beside her picked up the tune and continued on with a new verse.

As Marie joined in the chorus, a faint lilac glow began to envelop her.

Sheldon stepped up closer, resting one hand on each of her shoulders. He closed his eyes as the light grew bright and a sudden flash of warmth washed over him.

When he opened his eyes again, a heavy, flexible armor covered him from head to toe. A pair of bent, boomerang blades rested in his hands, a decent, light, weight. A familiar shade of purple gleamed in the daylight streaming through the cabin windows.

Sheldon half-smiled. He threw one hand up in the air to join his fellow soldiers in a victory cheer. He knew the day had just gotten longer and the danger he’d dive into would be hours in the making.

But the faint tune lingering in the back of his mind was a perfect reminder that things would turn out alright. They usually did.

Thanks, Marie.

He heard her laugh in his head.

Don’t thank me yet. Just get moving. Did I mention that I’m really, really bored?

This time, he laughed. 

2011 (c) Sara Harricharan  

Ending note: And yes, if you're confused, then Marie=living armor. She's a girl with the talent to shapeshift and one of her shifts is actually a heavy-duty set of armor. She's one of seven kids who can do this and works with Sheldon, her 'fighter'. Snippet of a possible NaNo idea I had this past week. I hope you enjoyed the read! Please leave a comment if you feel so inclined. I love the feedback! ^_^

Replay (BBT)

Have you ever finished a book and loved it so much you went right back and started re-reading it again?
(And obviously, if so, we want titles!)

Tamora Pierce's "Beka Cooper".

I read it. Reread it and carried it around with me for about a week, before I could stand to stop rereading some of my favorite passages and moments. Beka is my fave literary hero for a strong FMC in a medieval time-setting. (Not to mention she has a cat. A talking cat!) ^_^

~S

Queue (BBT)

What are you reading now?

Eight Cousins. (Frances H. Burnett.) 

Would you recommend it?

Yes! It's a classic as delightful as the Secret Garden, kind of what it would've been if mixed up with Little Women and The Little Princess. It's loads of fun. 

And what’s next?

Veins of Gold (Julia Cameron). Can't wait to start on that one. ^_^

~Sara

Tick-Tock (Friday Fiction)

Hi everyone! I've the pleasure of hosting Friday Fiction this week. To join in the fun, just add your name and link to the Simply Linked Widget below. You don't need a blog to participate, just a story and a place where folks can comment. Feel free to write, read and share! To learn more about this blog meme, visit on facebook.



Author's Ramblings: To all my USA readers, happy holiday weekend. I am looking forward to it as the fall semester has begun and my life flip-flops until I hammer down a solid routine. Due to that, it's prompt fiction again this week. *ducking* I know, I know, but since everyone enjoyed last week's snippet, I thought I'd slip away with it again. ~_^  I'm thrilled that everyone enjoyed Madrisa's story, there's definitely more to her stowed away in my head. Perhaps I'll have a chance to write her out sometime soon. This week features Chimey, a mysterious FMC with issues--such as, she won't stop singing in my head. (which wouldn't be a problem, but it's the theme for that old western show, Rawhide) anyway, enjoy the read and happy weekend! 

Tick-Tock : Snapshot : Light Fantasy 

Found on Google Images

Tick-tock.

Tick-tock.

The sound echoed in the empty bedroom. It rattled along the walls and spilled over at the windows.

Chimey bristled at the whisper of the wind that danced through her precious bedroom. She chewed on the end of her fat pencil and then stuck it into her messy braid of hair. “I can hear you, you know!”  She glared at the ornate wooden clock hanging on the wall before her.

Tick-tock.

Tick-tock.

She sighed and crumpled the half-written sheet of parchment before her. The pointlessness of the act mystified her. A realization made clear as the magical sheet dissolved to dust in her hands. Picking up the newly dusted sheet, she blew off the dust to the ground.

In wisps of sparkling gold they fluttered to the ground, disappearing almost at once. Chimey rose from the desk, replacing the paper. She walked to the bowl and washbasin at the far end of the room, snagging her clean shawl from the bed on her way.

Washing her face in slow, deliberate movements, Chimey straightened, cool water dripping down her neck. She breathed for a count of five, then reached for the shawl and swabbed her face.

“Windows, open” she murmured.

The bronzed fasteners on the foggy window clicked open, swinging out into the night air with a faint sparkle of pink-gold.

Tick-tock.

Tick-tock.

Tick-Tick…Tock.

Chimey moved to stand by the window. She stuck her head through the opening, breathing in the night air in great, big gulps. The coolness soothed her at once and she withdrew to the room’s warmth when a few shivers became known.

Tick-tock.

Tick-tock.

“Yes, yes, I know!” She scowled, returning to the desk and beginning to scribble once more, the half-damp shawl wrapped around her thin shoulders. In a matter of minutes, she finished the document, folding it neatly before stamping her seal on the front.

Trembling hands held the official missive for a few silent moments before she tucked it inside her blouse. This was one message that required hand-delivery. There was no way she’d let it fall into any other hands.

Delivering it herself would also allow no room for error. If the Empress chose to accept her offer, then she’d be right there.

“It’s quite logical, you know.”

Tock-Tick.

Tock-Tick.

“No, I don’t agree.” She swept from the desk to her closet in a huff. “Stop talking in riddles.”

Tocker-Tick.

Tocker-Tick.

Tick…Tick…Tick.

“Oh be quiet!” Chimey fished out her rich, fur-collared traveling coat from the musty depths of her wardrobe. From the stiff sleeves and thick fluffiness that rose up around her face, she took a few cautious breaths. The wardrobe hadn’t done much for it, but then again, neither had she.

Her traveling boots awaited to the left of her bed and her traveling pack appeared shortly afterwards in a poof of pink sparkles. Chimey grinned. “Thank you, much appreciated.”

She bustled about shoving her feet into boots and checking the pack for all of her usual reading and writing materials. The well-stocked result was hefted over one arm. A cursory glance swept over the room and Chimey finished with a raised eyebrow at the accusing clock.

“Well?”

Tock-tocker-tock!

“That’s not the right answer.”

Tocker-tock!

“I’m well aware of that, but I don’t have a choice. You do. I would never make you-”

Tick-tock.

Tocker-tick-tocker.

“I know that, but if I’m going to be used, I’d rather chose who uses me.” She sniffed. “Don’t you think that’s a better way to look at it?”

Ticker-tocker.

“I know.”

Tocker-ticker.

“I know that too. Look, are you going to stay up there all night?”

Tick-tock.

“Then I’ll leave you behind.”

Tick-tick-tick-tock.

“That went out the window the moment you said-”

A swirl of pink-golden sparkles guided the clock from its place on the wall to waist-level before Chimey. It danced about before the lights grew bright and she closed her eyes. When it faded, she opened her eyes to stare down at a short, redheaded little boy with accusing green eyes.

He opened his mouth to speak and she clapped a hand over it.

“I know, I know…tocker-tick. Do you want another time-out? I don’t have all day here. I’d like to get going as soon as possible and I really don’t want to leave you behind, you have a habit of cleaning the wrong things.”

He bit her hand.

She jumped back, wiping the hand on the rich material of her travel coat. He glared at her. She glared back. He sniffed. She held the coat open.

He rushed forward, throwing skinny arms around her waist. She smiled. “You’re adorable—and you’re the best assistant I’ve ever had." She ruffled his curly red hair. "We’ll be off now, okay? Hold on tight.”

In a wisp of golden sparkles, she blew through the bedroom window. Floating in the air above the castle courtyard, she watched the guards on duty playing cards by candlelight. Her smile wavered as she thought of the king and his selfish demands.

Bequeathing her services to the enemy Empress was a risky move at best, betrayal at least.

“Tocker-tick” the voice from around her waist mumbled.

Chimey smiled. “Yes, I’m fine. We’ll be fine. We always are. It’s illegal to kill timekeepers, remember?”

“Tocker-tick-tick.”

“Ha. If they forget, then we’ll just time-freeze them too.”

© Sara Harricharan

A/N: And the prompt was....Tick-Tock! ^_^ I hope you enjoyed the story. Comment if you feel so inclined. ^_^ 

Stormy Weather (BBT)

While my town dries out of record-setting, epic flooding from Hurricane Irene, let me ask you:
What’s your book with weather events? Hurricanes? Tornadoes? Blizzards? Real? Fiction? Doesn’t matter … weather comes up a lot in books, so there’s got to be a favorite somewhere, huh?

I'd say Dee Henderson's novel featuring Stephen O'Malley, The Rescuer. There's plenty of weather-related disasters and such throughout her O'Malley series, but I like Stephen's tale best for that. It's got mystery, jewels and my favorite O'Malley as well--Kate!

~Sara