Shannon here: Laura DeNooyer shares an excerpt from her Dual-Time Women’s Mystery Fiction, The Broken Weathervane, plus a chance to win an e-book or print copy pluse 4 other titles in my Oct Book Bundle #1. Comment or answer the question in any post dated Oct 2nd – 18th to enter the drawing. Deadline: Oct 25th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Laura:
Excerpt from The Broken Weathervane by Laura DeNooyer, Opening pages of Chapter 1:
Chapter 1
2015
All washed up at age thirty-five.
The premonition rumbled through Leslie Wickersham like a morose headline announcing her dismal future. Seated in the office of Raymond University’s administration building, Leslie Wickersham squinted at the framed quotation above the clock.
Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear,
too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice,
but for those who love, time is eternity. —Henry Van Dyke.
Its pithy wisdom churned her stomach. If she weren’t awaiting her third interview, she’d snap a picture, post it on Instagram, and ask, “Is time a friend or an enemy?”
Instead, she stared at the clock as if the hands had stopped at the hour of someone’s death, like back in the day. Perhaps this moment marked the demise of her career. Tomorrow she might be bagging groceries at Klipton’s.
Her phone pinged. Grimacing, she grabbed it from her purse to silence it. One look revealed a text from Vic, her ex. Ugh. She’d blocked him, so he must have a new number. She plunged the silenced phone back into her purse and wiped her sweaty palms.
An attractive man, perhaps early forties, with golden brown, windblown hair swaggered to the counter, a hint of Old Spice wafting. His presence engulfed the room the way a lake sunrise fills both sky and water, silently relishing its own brilliance. A plaid scarf circled his neck. Bronze whiskers framed his square jaw.
His voice affirmed his virtuosity as a lecturer. “Maggie, has anyone approved my proposal yet?”
The gray-haired administration assistant stiffened. “I’m sorry, Dr. Stafford. We’re still in the hiring process.” She glanced at Leslie. “I’ll call when I have news.”
Was this the inimitable Gregory Stafford?
Leslie expected to see him, but not so soon. Her muscles tensed. Four years ago when freelancing, she’d sought him for an interview as the renowned expert on the Buckwalter family. He’d thoroughly rebuffed her email with choice words for the magazine she wrote for. He deemed the publication as inconsequential as a dog scratching fleas. But what did Gregory Scott Stafford, PhD know? That magazine had far more readers than his lofty academic articles did.
Lofty but eloquent. She knew them well, having read several.
Dr. Stafford followed the direction of Maggie’s glance and nodded at Leslie. His green eyes briefly lit, but his stiff “How do you do?” left Leslie cold. His attention returned to Maggie.
Déjà vu. Another dismissive gesture.
He pulled a worn calendar from his bag as if he hadn’t yet joined the 21st century. “What’s the holdup? My grant proposal has a deadline.” When he clapped the countertop, Maggie flinched. He strutted out the door.
Leslie exhaled as if Dr. Stafford’s judgments had been directed at her.
“Leslie?” The provost appeared from around the corner. His deep voice and wizened face made up for his shorter stature.
Leslie approached him, hand outstretched. “I’m honored to meet you, Provost Martin.”
He gave a hearty handshake. “At least you didn’t call me Dr. Martens, like the shoes. Unlike our last candidate.” He chuckled.
His humor eased her anxiety, but interviews were not her forte. Inhale, exhale. Time to ramp up the fake confidence.
Reader Question: If you’re a dual-timeline fan, what do you enjoy most about the genre?
Oct Book Bundle Giveaway #1
Survival Secrets by Lana Christian and a bookmark, signed print copy, Biblical Fiction. If winner hasn’t read book one in series, New Star, they’ll receive it instead.
The Broken Weathervane by Laura DeNooyer, Dual-Time Women’s Fiction, winner’s choice ebook or paperback. USA only.
Don’t Blink by Jordyn Redwood, Romantic Suspense, e-book copy of the complete box set
To Speak His Name by Tara Johnson, Historical Romance, Print.
The Hidden Legacy by June Foster, Romantic Suspense, e-book copy.
About Laura:
Laura DeNooyer thrives on creativity and encouraging it in others. A Calvin College graduate, she is a teacher, wife, parent of four adult children, and an award-winning author of heart-warming historical and contemporary fiction. Her novels are perfect for fans of Patti Callahan Henry, Erin Bartels, or Amanda Cox. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her reading, walking, drinking tea with friends, or taking a road trip. Learn more & connect:
Laura’s Goodreads Laura’s Bookbub Laura’s Website
About the book – The Broken Weathervane:
Two co-workers seek the same information. One wants to publish it; the other has good reasons to keep it hidden.
As Leslie Wickersham, Raymond University grants officer, seeks information to unravel a family mystery, English professor Gregory Stafford seeks an elusive interview with one more Buckwalter relative for his upcoming author biography. While Greg and Leslie guard coveted details from each other, her goals are further complicated by letters of blackmail threatening to reveal all she has worked hard to hide.
In this dual timeline novel alternating between 2015 and the 1950s, loyalty is tested and secrets abound when family honor collides with truth. Leslie grapples with the trade-off: how far will a person go to help a loved one thrive?
“This beautifully written novel follows Leslie Wickersham, a grant writer who has always tried to hide her grandparents’ complicated past, until she ends up working for an academic whose research threatens to expose everything—and whose presence in her life becomes impossible to ignore. A Broken Weathervane is a bittersweet story about family secrets, reluctant love, and how the past refuses to stay buried.” ~ Suzanne Woods Fisher, bestselling author of The Moonlight School
The Broken Weathervane Book Trailer
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The Broken Weathervane Laura DeNooyer Books
Come back Oct 9th for Jordyn Redwood!
Thank you for featuring my book today, Shannon!
It makes my brain work LOL
After reading Jaime Jo Wright’s books, I’m a huge dial-timeline fan. I love seeing how the two timelines come together.
I meant dual-timeline!
That’s the fun part about dual timelines–seeing how they come together!
A dual timeline keeps me engaged in the story and I love seeing how it’s all woven together.
I agree, Jeannie! I love reading them as well as writing them.
I have a winner for my Oct Book Bundle #1. Jeannie Holderfield won the drawing! I appreciate Laura for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.