Sunday Snippet: Quit the Music

Happy Valentine week to those who celebrate. I'll throw in Galentine, friends with benefits, and all things hearts and flowers, too. February is a short but sometimes brutal month. Celebrate whatever you can.

Very busy work week with some great projects. Ran into a few glitchy things in a manuscript and that slowed my flow down. I actually enjoy that sometimes. Makes me stop and think about the story and how to suggest better changes.

Semi-decent viewing week. Made it through my shortened list of shows but had no time for my rewatch of Battlestar Galactica.

Started off with the season three opener of My Life Is Murder. Still enjoying this show so much. I think three is the last season so I'm going to savor it.

Started a new two-part Agatha Raisin. Very much enjoyed the antics of Wilkes and I'm a little bummed that Bill and Toni aren't really connecting. Also kind of wish Roy had more to do.

Watched the season twenty-five opening episode of Silent Witness. Kind of cool to see Sam Ryan again. I think this season is focused around one main case and I'm kind of excited to see where it goes. Also kind of great to see Nikki and Jack maybe get their bookmark on the same page. We'll see how that goes.

Caught another episode of Death in Paradise. Very interesting premise for this one. Enjoyed the unraveling of the case to find out who did it.

Enjoyed another episode of Elementary. I like Joan's resistance to staying with Sherlock but it would be more interesting if she actually said why she didn't want to stick around.

Watched another episode of The Batman. I'd forgotten about this one and kind of loved how Barbara figured out who Batman is then decided she had it all wrong. Fun episode.

Caught another episode of Classic Rugrats. I have vague memories of the two vignettes and rather enjoyed both.

Got another episode of The Secret Life of Amy Benson in and pretty much loved it. The story is moving along and I'm excited to get more details to her past.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Quit the Music, a novella that pulls two people together then reveals a connection to the past.

Here's the miniblurb:

Prosper Bates, bartender and music lover, hears Drew Langerford play and his songs haunt her. Drawn to the gorgeous musician, she falls hard for him, but when his mentor shows up, the new relationship may end before it even gets started.

And a snippety peek…

Drew Langerford sat at the piano, his fingers picking out the tune of a popular song. He fumbled the keys and heaved a sigh.

"You know it doesn't have to be perfect, right?" His mentor took over, playing through the mistake and adding an extra riff to smooth out the chords.

Drew watched carefully. "So, when I screw up, just cover and go on like nothing happened?" Why did that always seem easier said than done?

Monroe transitioned into an ominous death march on the keyboard. "Absolutely. Playing should be fun. And being able to improvise on the fly will keep you in demand as a musician." He stopped playing and leaned in closer to Drew. "And contrary to what your dear old mom thinks, perfection is overrated."

Drew snorted. "You'll never convince her of that." He'd tried and failed. And now he had a damn competition over the weekend. He slumped forward. "I hate competing. It sucks."

Monroe shook his head. "No, competitions are a great training ground. You learn how to play under pressure and how to focus on the music." He shot Drew a sideways glance. "What do you think auditions are? They're informal competitions."

Drew cocked his head to one side. "Huh. Hadn't thought of that." His fingers flexed and he dove into a classical song on the list. "So, the higher I score, the better I'll do when I start auditioning for actual work?" He nodded. "Yeah, that makes sense." He turned the classical piece into a lively riff. "What do you think about a degree in music? Mom wants me to skip college and compete. But I want to explore the whole field of music." He stopped playing and turned toward Monroe.

Monroe took a moment before answering. "You've got enough talent to make a living without a degree. But having the education, understanding the theory behind the notes … gives you options you probably haven't even thought of yet." He slid off the stool and moved to sit in the armchair next to the piano. "What do you want to do? Competing gives you an opportunity to tour the world, but playing for a band does the same thing. It all depends on what your vision of the future holds."

Drew sighed. "That's part of the problem. Mom is determined to turn me into some kind of prodigy, but I really just want to play anything but classical music for the rest of my life." He frowned. "She won't even listen when I start to deviate from the songs on the competition lists."

Monroe made a commiserating sound. "That's rough. Having an audience that appreciates the effort is a big part of being comfortable playing." His lips twisted in a sad smile. "Before I became in demand, my little girl used to sit by my side and listen to everything I played. We could occupy the entire day, happy to share the music."

Drew hid his surprise. He had no idea Monroe had a kid. Questions buzzed on the edge of his tongue, but he didn't pry. Deep sadness filled his mentor's tone, and Drew understood how painful dragging up the past could be.

His mom reminded him almost daily that they only had each other since Drew's dad died in an accident at work.

Drew's curiosity got the better of him. "What were your daughter's favorite songs?"

Monroe huffed out a breath. "Man, she didn't have any. She loved everything. Blues, rock and roll, Irish jigs. It didn't matter what I played. She loved any kind of music."

Drew wondered what having an audience of one that loved everything would be like?

Too bad he'd probably never find out … especially if his mom refused to let him try anything new.

I love writing Drew and his dilemma. He's on the cusp of making a big decision and his mom won't be happy with it at all.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Quit the Music

It's been a busy week with medical emergencies—not mine, thankfully—and vacationer pickups. Also had a few work projects to get worked in.

Had a great week for television. Started out by finishing up the sixteenth season of Classic Who and I got a start on season seventeen. Interesting choice to have Romana regenerate as the princess of the final arc. We'll see how that plays out.

Watched another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. The focus was on the Royal Air Force and I enjoyed the episode. I also started the next one which feature sacred sites and UFOs.

Caught two more episodes of The Muppet Show. Lou Rawls and Cleo Laine were the guest stars. Had a great conversation with my brother about watching this show while we were growing up.

Enjoyed another episode of The Hardy Boys. The jury is still out on whether the grandma is a good force or a not-so-good one. I'm really excited to watch the next episode with the secret room.

Watched another episode of Peak Practice and, yep, a tragedy occurred. I'm pretty sure we'll be seeing the last of Beth and Jack, which is actually what I expected. I'll look forward to their sendoff.

Caught another Master Class with David Carson. This one talked about working with clients and I got some solid information from the session. I might not work full-time with graphic design, but I do work with clients on a regular basis and the lesson had some good strategies for meeting expectations that can apply universally.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina had an interesting episode. I'm still not a Wardwell fan and even less so after this episode. I'm kind of excited to see what Cerebus is going to bring to the story and Zelda made a bold choice I didn't quite expect.

Watched the penultimate episode of Street Legal. I have to give Steven Lund kudos. I loved his journey in this episode. Olivia overstepped in a way I didn't quite believe. I hope there's a bit of an explanation in the final episode of season one.

Enjoyed another Ready Room recap. I'm having a lot of fun with guest stars who were previous cast members. I might not be able to say the same with season two. I'm not a Q fan in the slightest. Here's hoping the writing makes me change my mind.

Finished up another episode of Blue Heelers and enjoyed it. I also caught another episode and started a new one. I'm creeping up on the halfway point of season three.

Caught an episode of Chicago Med. Again, I really enjoyed the multiple threads. Will's arc impressed me. I loved the opening scene with Rhodes and Will working together and getting along, mainly because of the reactions of the rest of the team.

Watched another episode of Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries. Bertie cracks me up. I love Samuel and Violetta. I'm hurting for Peregrine and James but I can't wait to see more and how they work things out. I miss Fleur and I'm kind of hoping we'll see more characters of the Adventuress Club. So far, season two is making me very happy.

Enjoyed the first part of Silent Witness's two-parter. Nikki's dad is a piece of work. I'm kind of glad I can't remember how things play out with him. Looking forward to seeing the second part this week.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Quit the Music, a novella that has a family reunion one of the characters isn't sure they want.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Prosper Bates, bartender and music lover, hears Drew Langerford play and his songs haunt her. Drawn to the gorgeous musician, she falls hard for him, but when his mentor shows up, the new relationship may end before it even gets started.

And a snippety peek…

Prosper grabbed whatever she could fit inside a suitcase, an overnight bag, and a backpack.

It's your eighteenth birthday, meaning my obligation is done. Don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way out.

Prosper refused to cry or let the tears gathering in her eyes fall. "Thanks, Lanie. Kick me out three months before graduation." And after midnight.

She zipped up her bags, slipped her backpack over her shoulders and carried the other two into the living room. Prosper kind of hoped her dad would, by some miracle, show up and finally make everything right. Not much chance of that and her mom stood with her arms folded over her chest, tapping her foot on the floor. Prosper wouldn't bother asking if she could at least have twenty bucks to get some food.

Prosper turned before she left the house. "I hope you find your true happiness, Lanie. Have a great rest of your life." She dragged her stuff out the door and headed down the sidewalk.

Mixed feelings of being free and scared at the same time hit her. "What am I supposed to do?" She had nowhere to go.

She wanted to at least graduate. Overwhelmed, she entered the park and sat down on the bench ready to let the tears fail. She had a job, weekends at a small diner, and she could probably get ready for school there. But where could she sleep?

For tonight, right there. She didn't have anywhere else to go and no money to get a room somewhere. Her phone had a full charge but she didn't want to risk using it. The older model didn't stay juiced if she tried to do more than make a call.

A man entered through the gate and Prosper hunched down a little. When he got closer, he shined a flashlight her way. She stared straight ahead, hoping he'd leave.

He didn't. Instead, he made his way toward her. Thankfully, he wore a uniform and a badge.

Stopping beside the bench, he arched an eyebrow. "Miss, what are you doing out after curfew?"

Prosper started to make an explanation then paused. "I'm not out after curfew. I turned eighteen today." A fully functional adult in the eyes of the law. "I don't have one anymore."

The officer stooped down and asked her a gentle question. "Okay, then, what are you doing here?" He rested one arm on his knee.

She didn't know how to respond. The urge to protect her secrets and how much her mother hated her made words stick in her throat. But the officer's understanding gaze showed concern not judgment.

Tears welled in her eyes and Prosper gave a watery answer. "I guess I'm homeless and I didn't know where else to go." Could she sound any more pathetic?

The officer moved up to sit next to her on the beach. "Why don't we start over? I'm George Dearman, an auxiliary officer with the city. And you are?"

She looked up and held his gaze. "Prosper Bates, kicked out my home two hours ago." Her stomach twisted when she said the word aloud.

George gave a nod. "I retired after thirty years on the job. I'm auxiliary now and I patrol the park two nights a week. I'm glad I found you tonight." He pitched his voice a little lower. "Why don't you tell me what's going on…"

Her whole sad and sordid tale spilled out and, by the time the first blue tinge of dawn began, she'd released a lot of her pent-up emotions.

George slowly stood up. "Why don't I take you down to job and family services and we'll see if we can get you into some temporary housing."

Prosper grabbed hold of the lifeline but had to know the reason he gave one to her. "Why are you helping me?"

George didn't hesitate with his answer. "I had a wife and daughter. Both were killed in a head-on collision. My little girl would've been your age."

Prosper paused, hit with a weird notion. "I can't take her place." She wouldn't have a clue how to act like a loving daughter.

George gave her a sad smile. "No. No one can. But if Maddie were still alive, I'd want someone to help her if she ever found herself in a situation like yours."

Prosper didn't say it, but Maddie would never have found herself in a park at the ass crack of dawn.

Because she'd had two loving parents who had given a damn about her.

I'm very pleased with how this story is coming along. Prosper got a rough break but she'll turn things around.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Quit the Music

Whew. Very long week where focus became a huge hurdle. Without getting into a whole too much information thing, hormones are a total pain in the ass and not a lot of fun to deal with. Bleh.

Decent viewing week in television. Caught another episode of Endeavour and it ended up being pretty terrific. Two more episodes of season five then a wait for season six.

Next up… Roswell, New Mexico. This show has been eating my brain in a really good way. I caught up on all the back episodes and started a rewatch already. Seriously, I haven't had a show do this to me since Battlestar Galactica and Arrow. I'm going to be so disappointed if Roswell, NM doesn't get a second season.

Started an episode of Midsomer Murders and it's rather interesting to see Jones sporting a beard. The character looks so different, especially when glasses are added to the mix.

Caught another episode of The Sarah Conner Chronicles and it's one I'd forgotten about. Only six or so more episodes before the end of the line. Also caught the next to last episode of Birds of Prey. I'll finish up that series and head back to Blade on CW Seed.

Watched the fifth episode of Strike Back and loved the twist and reveal of who Kingfisher actually is. Gotta say I didn't see it coming and loved not knowing. Things will get very tricky now, or more tricky because this show doesn't do anything else. With luck, the DEA agent will meet with a satisfying end. Just saying.

Caught an episode of Chicago Fire and have to comment how nice it is to not have the squirrely deputy commissioner in my face anymore. I'll keep saying that in the hopes he'll never grace the screen again. I'm still kind of "bleh" about Stella and Kelly's breakup. A little too contrived and disappointing.

Watched a Classic Roswell episode. I'd forgotten how much of an ass Kyle is in the first season. Geez.

Also caught a couple Classic Who episodes. Getting ready to watch the Time Meddler episodes, which should be fun.

And that's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Quit the Music, a novella that started with a writing community prompt of creating a scene with dancing, a kitchen, and a belt. The implied abuse angle is definitely there.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Prosper Bates, bartender and music lover, hears Drew Langerford play and his songs haunt her. Drawn to the gorgeous musician, she falls hard for him, but when his mentor shows up, the new relationship may end before it even gets started.

And a snippety peek…

Of all the bars in the city, I walk into the one Prosper Bates works in.

Her dad taught Drew everything he knew about music. He should've recognized her right away. She had Monroe's eyes and the slight cleft in her chin matched his.

But… Monroe hadn't seen his daughter in a long, long time.

Drew nodded toward the door. "Are you leaving? Can I walk you somewhere?" He paused a moment. "Or do you maybe drive to work?" He shouldn't make assumptions.

She tilted her head to one side, a small curve to her lips. "Do you really have no place better to be at three thirty in the morning?"

He lifted a shoulder. "Not really." Did he sound as lame as he thought? "I, uh, well—" He broke off, chuckled, and started over. "I work nights so I'm up until all hours. Three thirty is about the middle of my day." God, what a dickhead thing to say.

Prosper leaned in closer to him. "I'll let you in on a little secret; it's pretty much the same for me." She moved back behind the bar and flipped a switch, dimming the lights. "And I'm not headed home, but you can join me if you want." She grabbed her jacket and small purse and came back around to his side. "I always stop in at Wakeman's Diner after work and get some much needed home cooking." Heading for the door, she quirked an eyebrow.

An invitation he wouldn't refuse. Even if it might put him in a tough spot.

He gave her a quick nod. "I'd love to. Is that the converted railroad depot?" If so, only a few blocks north of the bar.

She exited the building and swept her arm in that direction. "It is. And they have the very best home fries you'll ever eat." Draping her jacket over her shoulders, she waited on him to join her on the sidewalk then locked the door.

He sent her a sideways glance. "Does George live here?" He hadn't seen the owner leave.

She shook her head. "Nope. He always uses the back entry to come and go. And he scoots out pretty quick."

He fell into step beside her. "Wait, did he leave you there alone with me? What if I'd been an ax murderer?"

Prosper laughed. "You wouldn't have made it through the front door. George is a retired cop. He reads people better than anyone I've ever met." She stopped outside the diner's main door. "And, for the record, I don't ask people I just met to hang out with me after work. This is a first." She tugged the door open and breezed into the warmly lit restaurant.

Drew paused a moment, enjoying the way she greeted the employees with a bright smile and a hearty wave. "Man, I'm already in over my head here." But he wanted to know more, everything, about her.

Entering behind Prosper, he settled across from her in the booth she'd chosen. She held up two fingers and the waitress gave her a thumbs-up then spoke to the cook. She grabbed a pot of coffee and two mugs and started in their direction.

Drew raised his eyebrows. "What was that all about?"

Prosper flashed a quirky grin. "I ordered for us. Trust me. You're going to love it."

Drew honestly didn't doubt her word. The food could taste like sawdust and he probably wouldn't notice.

Drew is going to fall hard and Prosper will break all her rules. This one is fun to write!

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Quit the Music

Happy Halloween Eve! Our small town always has its annual trick or treat several days before the actual holiday. On Thursday, it was brisk and chilly, but we had a whole host of costumed kiddos strolling the streets. So much fun!

On the television front, Gotham had another great episode. I'm happy with how things are going on that show. Here's hoping the consistency holds through the end of the season.

The Flash and Agents of SHIELD pulled out some surprises. The new director guy on AoS is actually kind of fun and hopefully not evil. LOL I'm not gonna hold my breath on that score.

Arrow keeps making me happy. Diggle is out of prison, but who knows what'll happen next with him. The new team suffered some shake-ups. We'll see how that all shakes out.

Legends of Tomorrow delivered again. I like the new guy. And Mick is fast becoming another favorite. Brutal honesty goes a long way with this group and he's definitely not afraid to embrace the truth. LOL

MacGyver's episode might have been the set up for introducing Murdoc. I guess we'll see if the ghost pops back up again.

The Walking Dead… I skipped the premiere and watched The Talking Dead instead. I honestly couldn't see the point in watching when I couldn't bear watching any of my favorites die. I'll be watching tonight's episode… I think. LOL

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Quit the Music, a novella that got a start with a prompt—dancing, kitchen, belt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Prosper Bates, bartender and music lover, hears Drew Langerford play and his songs haunt her. Drawn to the gorgeous musician, she falls hard for him, but when his mentor shows up, the new relationship may end before it even gets started.

And a snippety peek…

Prosper Bates rocked her hips and swayed to the lively song on the radio. Elbow deep in dishwater, she scrubbed the pan from dinner. Singing along with the popular tune, she rinsed the pot and set it in the drainer.

Pulling the plug, she grabbed the hose and sprayed the sink. When the last of the suds swirled down the drain, she lifted the nozzle to her mouth and belted out the chorus.

The sting of the belt when it landed across the back of her thighs caught her by surprise. The burning sensation no longer phased Prosper, but the screech coming from her mother when she raised her arm for another strike spurred Prosper into action. She squeezed the button and doused her mom with a blast of cold water, giving Prosper time to avoid the bite of the blow.

Her mom growled and followed through with a swing. "Is this what you do when I'm not home?" The tip of the leather missed Prosper by a narrow margin. "Shake your ass and spew Satan's garbage?" Rage twisted Lanie Bates's face. "I told you. No dancing. No singing. And most of all"—she dropped the belt and charged over to the counter, yanking the radio off the surface and jerking the cord from the wall—"no fucking music!" Lanie heaved the device against the wall above Prosper's head where it shattered into pieces.

The room filled with silence, except for the snarling breaths coming from her mom. Prosper didn't point out that without the radio for the weather and traffic reports in the morning, her mother would be unhappy. Clearly, she'd reached a whole new level of irritation.

Prosper didn't move. She didn't speak. Her mom never wanted or expected a response. But she did believe in obedience and Prosper waited for her punishment for breaking cardinal rules.

Lanie stomped forward, stopping inches from Prosper's face. "You are your father's daughter. And you disgust me." She flung an arm outward and pointed toward the bedrooms. "Get out of my sight. If I could kick you out, I would. But the state says one of your parents has to be responsible for you and I’m it." She sneered, her words punctuated with the unspoken truth.

Because your dad isn't around.

Prosper fought the sharp stab anger that tempted her to pop off with a sarcastic comeback. She held her mother's gaze for a long moment, then turned and headed for her room. As far as punishments went, she got off lightly.

"I want the entire kitchen scrubbed from top to bottom tomorrow. Hope you didn't have plans for the weekend."

Okay, not so lightly.

And Prosper stopped making weekend plans six years ago, at the tender age of ten.

I like to dig down and see the defining moments for a character. This one definitely helped shape Prosper.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin 

Sunday Snippet: Quit the Music

Hello,

Argh. Super busy week so I missed the premiere of Haven and will hopefully be catching up tonight. But… I did NOT miss the opening episode of Sons of Anarchy. Holy hell. Without giving too much away, I wanted Gemma to die a slow painful death in the final frame of the series, but yeah, that's all changed. If died in the next episode it wouldn't be too soon for me. Take that as a challenge to change my mind, Mr. Sutter. Seriously.

Since I talked DC last week, I'll throw in my excitement for Marvel's Agents of SHEILD and Agent Carter. I think I'll like having Peggy take up the downtime between the two halves of AOS.

Tonight's post is from Quit the Music, a novella where my main characters have someone in common, but the person could break their relationship.

Here's the tagline:

Prosper Bates, bartender and music lover, hears Drew Langerford play and his songs haunt her. Drawn to the gorgeous musician, she falls hard for him, but when his mentor shows up, the new relationship may end before it even gets started.

And a snippety peek…

Prosper stood at the sink behind the bar and washed up the glasses from the night's business. A new musician settled behind the piano and chatted with George. Prosper frowned. Who auditioned after closing? Most of the talent came in around eleven, before the bar got busy with happy hour, to have the owner listen to their spiel. This guy, Drew something, asked to play after last call.

Rinsing the glasses, Prosper let her gaze wander over the potential new Friday night draw. Average height, with a lean build, he had dark and handsome working for him. Their female clientele would stick around for the good looks. But his hands would be the true test. Her dad always believed anyone could play, but true talent had everything to do with the magic in the fingers.

Placing the dishes in the drainer, Prosper grabbed a towel to start drying. Drew ran a few scales, getting a feel for the upright, and then he launched into a quick medley of popular tunes. George bobbed his head to the beat of the music. Prosper's lips quirked. Her boss loved upbeat, happy songs and Drew had a solid repertoire, playing continuously while she finished up and lined the glasses along the back of the bar.

George extended his palm and sealed the deal for a new piano player. After clapping Drew on the back, George made his way toward the back office and Drew began a new song, something Prosper hadn't heard. The melody had a familiar strain, but the haunting notes echoed in her mind. Prosper did some busy work, not quite ready to leave, wanting to listen to the end.

When Drew finished, he rose slowly, and met her gaze.

She nodded in the direction of the piano. "You're very good." She placed the towel over the rack. "Prosper Bates. Nice to meet you."

Drew smiled. "Drew Langerford, and thanks. I had a great mentor."

I'm having fun putting the pieces in place for this story. So far, Prosper is guiding the flow, but I think Drew is about to make his presence known in my head. :D

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin