Excerpt from
The Circle of Friends, Book III...James
Chapter VI
Traffic was unusually heavy. Every car moved slowly and there were few opportunities to pass. James was used to congestion, but he did not like to be late for any reason. When the next light turned yellow, he reluctantly stopped. At least he would have a clear shot when the light changed.
He glanced at Maria and noticed her blank stare. “Hey,” he said, drawing her attention away from the road. “You’re awfully quiet today. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, I just got a lot on my mind,” she answered.
“Anything I did?” James asked.
Maria shot him a startled look and then shook her head. “No. It’s probably nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
“You’re not about to dump me, are you?”
She smiled and the light returned to her eyes. “No,” Maria said firmly, patting his thigh.
“Well, good. I couldn’t handle that right now,” said James, his lighthearted reply concealing the truth. It would devastate him to be alone now.
The light turned green and he hit the gas. There were no other cars for at least half a mile now. They might arrive on time after all.
James felt the jolt even before the sound of crunching metal reached his ears. The force knocked the wind right out of him and fear rose in his heart. Almost simultaneously, he felt a sharp pain in his head and a twinge in his left leg. James thought his hands were still on the wheel, but he felt as if he were grasping air. His mind raced as he tried to comprehend what had happened. Suddenly, everything went black.
Somewhere in the darkness, James could hear a voice. He struggled to identify the speaker, concentrating all energy on that single sound. The words were muffled and unclear, but the tone caused him great concern. James could sense urgency and alarm. The ache in his leg was still present and his head throbbed painfully. He could feel something warm and wet on his neck, but did not have the strength to move. Gradually, the dark hole of unconsciousness opened up again and James slipped once more into nothingness.
He slowly became aware of several voices. He struggled to awaken and return to his senses. The darkness around him no longer seemed all-consuming. Even through lidded eyes, he could tell that it was very bright. The smells were unfamiliar and boasted a medicinal odor. James detected movement near his feet and realized that he was lying on his back. Obviously, he was no longer in his Camaro. Panic swept through him as he tried to discern his present location. The last thing he remembered was driving to the park. The light had turned green and he pulled into the intersection. Something had collided rather forcefully with his car and…
“Maria!” he gasped.
THE CIRCLE OF FRIENDS
BOOK III … JAMES
BY L. DIANE WOLFE
Haunted by a troubled past…
The future appears bright for James Sheppard. Emerging from a troubled childhood, he is blessed with talent and a good work ethic. Excelling in his classes and at the campus newspaper, James’s goal of editor appears within his grasp.
However, years of abuse and loneliness have dampened his spirit. By the time Maria enters his world, James is nearing the breaking point. Her innocent love slowly fills the void in his life, boosting his confidence and giving him hope.
When a crisis abruptly forces him into adulthood, James is saddled with more responsibility than expected. Struggling to cope with the situation, the past returns to haunt him. Will James find peace before the mistakes of his father destroy him completely?
Release date: August 18, 2009, Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C.
$19.95 USA, 6x9 Trade paperback, 296 pages, Fiction/YA
ISBN 978-0-9816210-3-6 / 0-9816210-3-1
“This book is very motivating and inspiring! This just tells you how much someone is willing to go for the best in his or her life!! There are so many twists and turns and it can teach you how far you would be willing to go to have the perfect moment.”- TeensReadToo.com
“It is a study of the depth of the human heart and the choices we make in our lives… Wolfe deftly manages to draw you into the story and makes you care for these characters.”- The Book Pedler
Book III online-
The Circle of Friends
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Dancing Lemur Press LLC
10 comments:
Reading that excerpt, an old song came into my head. Don't remember the title, but I still pretty much remember the words: We were out on a date, in my daddy's car. We hadn't driven very far. When there in the road, straight ahead...
Helen
Straight From Hel
That's the idea, Karen!
Nicely done. Its fun describing the five senses of a character who has been traumitized like a car accident. Best wishes for the success of Circle of Friends.
Stephen Tremp
Your talents definitely go beyond writing books! I'm hooked from a short excerpt on a blog! (Like you said, that's the idea...)!
Uh-oh - not the best way to start or end the day! Great grabbing excerpt. I'll be ordering it soon.
Jane that would be wonderful!
Fine excerpt, Diane - I like the style of writing.
The Old Silly
Thanks, Marvin. I refer to it as 'easy beach read' - no big words 'cus I don't know any!
Okay I'm hooked. Your latest is now on my must buy and read list.
Good luck and best wishes for your continued success.
Regards,
Donna
Children’s Author
Write What Inspires You Blog
Donna M. McDine’s Website
You certainly have a gift for writing suspenseful passages! I may have to get book 3 after I've read book 4--which is being mailed to me tres soon!
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