Friday 15 April 2011

Author Spotlight week - Excerpt from Summer Love


Moderator's Note: Leave a comment on today's blog and a winner will be picked on Monday to receive a PDF copy of Linda's release, "Summer Love." Check this post on Monday for the winner. Be sure to leave a good email in case you win so I can get ahold of you.

Smiles
Moderator Steph

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Enjoy this excerpt of "Summer Love" by Linda Swift.


Amy fastened her hair into a neat ponytail as Paula completed her makeup.

"I hope you haven't neglected studying because of me. Everyone but you seemed to be spending an awful lot of time on class assignments."

"Let's just say I planned ahead," Paula said, knowing it was worth whatever it had cost her to have this weekend with her daughter.

"I wish Sharon could have gone with us," Amy said. "She's missing a great opportunity to be with Derek."

"I don't think she's interested in Derek," Paula said mildly.
"Well, she should be. He's a great guy."


"But he's old enough to be her father, honey."

"Well, Dad is dating someone that young."

Paula drew her breath in sharply. "He is?"

"Oh, I thought you knew. Haven't your friends--?"

"I'm not in touch with anyone back home," Paula said quietly and sat down on the closest bed, feeling as though she had just received another blow to her solar plexus. "Do you know -- who she is?"

"No, Mom. I don't know her name, and I don't think she's from Tuscumbia. I'm sure he met her through the band."

"Band? What band?" Paula asked faintly.

"Haven't you talked with Dad lately? The country-western band he plays guitar for."

"I didn't know... about that either."

"Well, neither did I until I went home to get my things. As Dad was driving by our house, he saw Chris' car so he stopped to talk with us." She shook her head. "He looked so... different."

"How do you mean?" Paula asked, dreading the answer.

"He was wearing faded Levis and a tee shirt with the band's logo and gold chains. His hair is a lot longer now, and he's grown a beard."

"I see." And she could see it all in her mind's eye. Quent changed into a man she didn't know, a hip musician who moved in a world that was totally alien to the life they had shared together. "And the... girl?"

"She was sitting in his convertible, and the top was down so we saw her clearly, but we didn't meet her."

What did she look like? Was she pretty? "Convertible?"

"Yes, a red BMW. And Dad just said she was a singer in the band. He seemed sort of embarrassed about it."

"Then maybe they're not--"

"Oh, yes, they are. I asked a couple of my friends who follow the band. And they said Bootsie was about my age, and they'd seen her out with Dad."

"Bootsie?"

"That's her stage name, because her trademark is all the different boots she wears. But they didn't know her real name."

"I... see."

Amy crossed the room, put her arms around her mother. "Don't look so shocked, Mom. Chris says it's just a stage Dad's going through. He said he wouldn't be surprised if Dad came back to you when he gets it all out of his system."

"That isn't going to happen, honey," Paula told her sadly.

"I'm really sorry if I upset you, Mom. But I thought you already knew."

"I didn't. But it's okay." Paula made an effort to sound more cheerful. "And I'm glad I heard this from you instead of someone else. I'm sure the whole town knows about it."

"I guess so. Oh, Mom," Amy's voice was tearful, "I wish everything could be the way it was before..."

"Me, too, honey." Paula hugged her daughter closer. "But it can't be. So we have to make the best of the way things are."

"I know." Amy sniffed and wiped her cheek with the back of her hand. "And I'm proud of you for what you're doing. You have some really nice friends and you're different, too, but not in the silly way Dad is. I could never imagine you going out with a younger man."

Amy's words reminded Paula of Derek. "We should have been downstairs by now. Derek is probably double parked and wondering where we are."

Amy picked up her flight bag. "All set, Mom. Let's go."

12 comments:

  1. The excerpt was very interesting. The subject of dating different aged persons is a timely one.

    And congratulations to Desert Breeze Publishing for sharing and celebrating MY birthday...April 30th! You sound like a terrific group!

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  2. Thank you for visiting and for your nice comments, Gladys. I wish you a happy birthday also. And yes, the Desert Breeze authors and publisher are a great group.
    Linda

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  3. Now this sounds like life imitating fiction. I mean that in a good way. Years ago, decades really, I was the guy in this story only I didn't grow a beard. But I did marry a younger woman. All my friends said it would last a year at best. This winter we celebrated our 42nd anniversary. Love made the difference; love and being best buddies as well as partners in marriage.
    I've got to get this one to read, Linda. Best wishes for many sales on it.
    Cheers,
    Pat Dale

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  4. Oh man, I'm so mad at that guy already!!! Great excerpt, Linda!

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  5. Congratulations on your long and happy marriage, Pat. And for your comments on my book. You know what they say about truth being stranger than fiction. I, too, have been happily married to the same man forever but we are almost the same age and we "grew up together" after a very early marriage. But I can relate to the feeling Paula had when Quent left her.

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  6. Hi Destiny, he only gets worse. If you want to get REALLY mad, you have to read the book. But our girl Paula will of course win in the end. This is women's fiction/romance after all. Thanks for visiting.

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  7. Really enjoyed reading the author spotlight week interviews and "Summer Love" excerpt. Can't wait to read this book!!

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  8. Thanks for visiting, Kaye. And for your nice comments. Hope to see you soon.

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  9. I do like the way you've shown Paula (my namesake LOL!) finding out about Quent from her daughter, and also her realisation that Quent had changed inro a man she didn't know. Can't wait to read 'Summer Love' and find out who Paula chooses in the end.
    Best of luck with your release, Linda.

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  10. Linda,
    This is a great excerpt and I like the conversation between the mother and daughter. It's very revealing to the kind of relationship they share. Summer Love sounds like an awesome read with wonderful characters.

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  11. I'd love to read "Summer Love." Sounds like my kind of romance. Plenty of drama and a mother/daughter relationship.

    landtbeth@yahoo.com

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  12. Thanks for being patient with me, everyone! Grr... busy real life day! Congrats to Paula Martin, she's the name I drew out of the hat to win a copy of Linda's story, Summer Love!

    Thanks for everyone for popping in!
    Smiles
    Moderator Steph

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