It's Almost Done!

Note From Melissa

I wrote this a couple weeks ago, trying to get ahead on all things "author platform", with plans to update this post today before sending it out into the world. Unfortunately, there's not much to update. I've been struggling a lot lately to do anything, so besides not writing, I have really fallen behind on cleaning and things, and now we're trying to get our garden ready to plant. Add in the fact that I'm going to have to go on a sudden out-of-province trip at any moment, and I have no idea when that will be...

So I'm going to take a writing break for a couple weeks or so to catch up on my other demands, and hopefully get back to finishing Rescue with more enthusiasm. I'll still be on social media, and there will still be a few blog posts on the way (as long as I remember to post them, lol), since I had them written in advance. I look forward to getting Rescue done so I can get it ready to release in the fall.

Update on Rescue

I had been doing weekly “Work in Progress Wednesday” posts for a while, but I’m at a point in the book now where I’m worried I might accidentally post spoilers for the ending. I mean, a lot could change between this rough draft and the final published version, but still. Nobody wants spoilers. Also, my progress has been slower than I’d like. Family life has been hectic, and now it's garden time. But it’s okay. Slow progress is still progress, and growing food for my family is incredibly important to me, especially with the state of the world at the moment.

So, I’m going to start posting monthly updates with an excerpt, and let you know how things are going, if you’re interested in following the journey of a beginning author. At this time, I’m happy to say, Rescue is almost finished! I’m so excited, and I have a lot of ideas about the editing process, which I need to be patient about and just finish the book first. Then put it away for a week or two, so I can come back to it with “fresh” eyes and ideas. I am hoping to have it ready to release by this fall, so we’ll see!

I had a cover in mind, from a pre-made cover company, and my plan was to buy the cover as a reward for finishing the first draft. Of course, waiting means risking that someone else will buy the cover first, but my imposter syndrome is holding me back with all its ‘what-ifs’- what if I don’t finish the book (which is ridiculous- it’s almost done). What if I chicken out and don’t end up publishing (not gonna happen- I’ve wanted this a long time)? What if my book isn’t really good enough (I call BS- it’s a cool idea)? Have you ever felt this way about the things you like to do?

Anyway, I got playing around on Canva, and I sort of accidentally made a cover myself that I like better, and I kind of want to use it instead. BUT the pre-made cover also has the option to include a print version, which I have no idea how to design & format myself, and also mock-ups for social media. So now I don’t know what to do lol.

That’s where things are this month. Hopefully next month’s post will be about the completion of Rescue . Without further ado, here is an excerpt from Rescue!

Excerpt From Rescue

Paige’s head felt fuzzy as she reached for her phone to shut the alarm off. Her phone wasn’t there. Or her night stand.

Then she heard breathing, and felt a warm body next to hers. And she realized her phone was in her pants, which were on the floor on the other side of the tack room. She untangled herself from Jake and winced as her skin peeled off the old leather couch. Jake sat upright and nearly knocked Paige over.

“Where you going?” he mumbled, his dark hair sticking up everywhere.

“Work,” Paige replied, finding her phone and shutting off the alarm. “Hope I can make it to the ranch in fifteen minutes.” Her alarm was set to give her the fifteen minutes she needed to dress and eat a slice of toast before her two-minute walk to the barn.

“Do you have to? It’s still dark.”

Jake stood up, and Paige thought about calling in sick. But she pulled on her jeans and carefully pulled her shirt over her head.

“Thanks for fixing up my arm,” she said.

He stepped up to her and kissed the top of her head. “You’re welcome. I’d make it worth your while if you stay a little longer.”

She looked up at him, thinking about last night and knowing her definitely could.

He grinned and added, “You wouldn’t believe how awesome my breakfasts are.”

Paige laughed. “Maybe another time?”

As soon as she said it, a weird mixture of hope and guilt and she didn’t know what other emotions washed over her. She took a deep breath and tried to ignore the guilt- she wasn’t in an actual relationship anymore, and she was allowed to see whoever she wanted.

Jake shrugged. “This might be your only chance.”

“Well, I can’t leave the 70-year-old to clean the barn by himself.”

Paige hugged Jake awkwardly, not really sure what she was supposed to do. He reluctantly let her go, and she pulled on her socks and boots.

“I’ll see you later?” she said.

He ran his hand through his hair and rumpled it up even more. “Yeah, I guess I might. I have a few stalls to fix up in the jumper barn.”

“Okay. Uh, bye.” Paige left the tack room, and immediately put the barn into an uproar with the horses demanding breakfast. Paige’s stomach rumbled as she hurried out to her car, and she wished she could stay for breakfast.

The sky was just beginning to lighten in the East as Paige pulled out of Jake’s driveway. There was a dirt track going into the woods on the opposite side of the road, and she thought she saw a black vehicle tucked back in the treeline.

Must be someone logging back there or something, she thought.

There was no traffic anywhere, and Paige managed to make it to the barn only five minutes late. She frowned when she saw Nick’s SUV was gone when she passed the house, and wondered if he’d found someone else to hang out with. Then she reminded herself she had no right to be upset.