Shannon here: Historical romance author, Shawna K. Williams shares an excerpt from her book, No Other. Comment on any post dated July 30 – August 3 for a chance to win a copy. Deadline: August 11th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Shawna:
Excerpt from No Other by Shawna K. Williams:
Jakob headed for the living room, holding the chandelier by its chain. “Hey Meri,” he called to her over the rain. “Come in here.”
Meri walked toward the living room, but paused at its entrance as a gust of wind hit her. “The window is broken,” she said.
“I know. The wind is blowing south though and the porch is keeping most of the rain out.”
Meri took slow steps toward him, crossing her arms and rubbing them as the chill from the storm hit her. Jakob stood in the center of the room with his hair blowing wildly.
“What are you doing?”
He closed his eyes and tilted his head back slightly. “It feels nice. Kinda like standing in the rain without getting wet.”
He laid the chandelier on the floor and marched over to the wall. Meri watched as he used his foot to clear pine needles and dirt from an area of the floor. He stood over the spot, inspecting it, and then unbuttoned his plaid shirt and took it off, revealing the white tee shirt he wore underneath.
Her heart jumped into her throat.
Jakob laid the shirt on the ground, then turned and sat next to it with his back leaning against the wall. “Come on,” he said. “I saved ya a seat.”
She furrowed her brow. Her teeth clattered with a sudden chill but she did as he asked. “This is crazy,” she said, taking a seat on his shirt.
“Nah.” He stretched out his legs, leaned his head back and closed his eyes.
“Jakob, what are you doing?”
“Just takin’ it all in.” He let out a relaxed sigh. “You should give it a try.”
Meri folded her arms. Then unfolded them. She hated feeling self-conscious. “I don’t know how.”
He cracked one eye at her. “Be still.”
“What?”
“Copy me,” he said. “Lean back, close your eyes.”
She did as he said. “Now what?” This was nuts.
“Quiet your mind, and just listen and feel.”
Meri took a deep breath and tried to relax. It wasn’t working. She sneaked a glance at Jakob. His face seemed beautifully serene amidst the swirling bits of debris flying through the room. It was so… him. Somehow, realizing that made her want to give herself over to the experience. She took another deep breath and let it out slowly.
The first thing she noticed was the musty scent had been cleansed from the air. The smell of rain, clean and fresh, took its place. Droplets rhythmically pattered against the roof. And the sound changed with the wind — becoming soft, like a whisper — then building into a crescendo with the howling gale. At its peak, rumbling thunder. It was music.
Her body relaxed fully and her shivers subsided. She surrendered to the moment, allowing the wild breeze and cool mist to touch her, tickle her. Tiny goose-bumps rose all over her skin. With her eyes closed it felt as if she were elsewhere — suspended and floating. Free.
“It’s beautiful,” escaped her lips.
“Glad you could join me,” Jakob whispered.
She felt the warmth of his hand slip around hers, his touch joining them in the experience. Their own private symphony.
About Shawna: Having never considered becoming a writer, Shawna K. Williams’ path changed in a single night all because of a dream. Her early writings were a mere attempt to fill in gaps within the dream and satisfy her curiosity, but later became the inspiration for her first two novels. She is a content editor for Desert Breeze Publishing and Solstice Publishing, acquisitions editor/social media specialist for The Wordsmith Journal Magazine, speaker, homeschooling mom and multi-published author of twentieth century historical fiction. Shawna enjoys books in almost any genre as long as they contain strong characters tackling real-life grit. She also has a thing for dogs and pygmy goats, and believes the world would be a better place if people aspired to be the person their pet believes them to be.
Shawna’s books: No Other, In All Things, The Good Fight, Orphaned Hearts, and coming in Dec. 2012: A Hand to Hold. All books are available as ebooks. No Other is also in print, In All Things releases in print in November 2012, and all other books will be available in print in 2013. Learn more at: http://shawnakwilliams.com/, http://shawnawilliams-oldsmobile.blogspot.com/, https://twitter.com/shawnakwilliams, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shawna-K-Williams/236629884245
About the book: In the aftermath of WWII all Jakob Wilheimer wants is to get over his pain, get on with life, and if at all possible, forgive those who’ve wronged his family — including himself. But it’s hard to do when there are constant reminders. One of them being his former schoolmate, now teacher, Meri Parker — Miss Port Delamar Pearl, Mayor’s daughter, Belle of the town — Meri Parker.
After enduring the stigma and isolation associated with the internment camp, the awkwardness of going back to school should’ve been a cake walk. But Jakob didn’t expect to find himself inexplicably drawn to Meri. Or to discover that the pain and loneliness of her life surpassed his own. She needed to be rescued from the wretched people seeking to control her life. And more than anything, he needed to be the one to save her.
Come back August 3rd for Jakob & Meri’s first kiss!
I love the description, I was there in the moment.
Glad you enjoyed it, Catherine.
I would love to read this book.
Blessings,
Jo
Shawna, you drew me into the moment. I can’t wait to read this book! Thanx, Shannon, for introducing me to another great author!!!!
Thank you, Jennifer! I’m glad you enjoyed this excerpt. If anyone is curious as to why Jakob is holding a chandelier by the chain, the house they are at was his family’s home. They were forced to leave and it’s been abandoned for some years. This is his first time back, and the chandelier had been a gift to his mother. He wanted to take it home to her. This little event is inspired by my grandmother and a chandelier she ordered from Sears that has traveled to every house she’s lived in since the 1940s.