Sunday Snippet - March 10, 2013

This weeks snippet is from the first book in the Ruth Chernock Series, Regarding Ruth. It is Sunday morning and Ruth's family has returned home after the weekly church service. Ruth is alone in the kitchen of the family home.

Ruth stood beside the sizable kitchen table slicing fresh bread when she heard her father’s deep voice at the front of the house.  As she looked up his frame filled the doorway.  Hannibal Johnes, only a few inches shorter than Josiah, followed him into the house.  Ruth watched Hannibal, studying his sharply masculine face, an older version of his attractive son.  She smiled at his husky voice with the delightful southern tone as he spoke.

“Ruth, where has your brain strayed to now?” Josiah called to her.

“Father my attention is on the knife and bread,” she replied.

“Again, your head has strayed.  Our guest requires victuals.  Hannibal, forgive my child, she is disposed to mental wanderings,” Josiah told him and the two fathers laughed heartily.

If you enjoyed this snippet you might like this series. All four books are available in paperback on Amazon.com and at Bull Moose Books in Scarborough, Maine. They are also on Kindle and Nook at only .99 each. The Ruth Chernock Series

March 3, 2013

No post. Houseful of guests. :)

Sunday Snippet - February 24, 2013

This weeks snippet is from the first book in the Ruth Chernock Series, Regarding Ruth. It is Sunday morning and Ruth's family is seated on their pews in the meeting house in East Grantham, Maine. In 18th century New England, attendance at the Sunday Service was a social and legal requirement. Most small towns in that period utilized a meeting house as the church, town hall and for community events. 

It is a warm summer day and strangers have come to town. Easily distracted, fifteen year-old Ruth is captivated by one of the handsome young men.

Watching the visitor attentively, Ruth felt butterflies begin to flutter in her stomach.  An inane smile danced across her lips.  She began contemplating actually reaching forward to brush her hand against his long hair.  She fantasized combing her fingers through it, then working her hand up to touch his neck.  How far might she go before he stopped her?  Suddenly she felt a sharp slap to the back of her head.

“Ruth Naomi Chernock, tend to the words of the good Reverend and dismiss the guest,” her eldest sister Amie hissed from behind. 

Ruth half turned in her seat to scowl at Amie as she sat in the pew behind with eighteen month-old Ethan on her lap.  As the toddler smiled and clapped his hands together Ruth could not help but smile.  Amie gestured for Ruth to turn back around on her bench.  Ruth wrinkled her nose at her sister, then swung back to look at Reverend Pierce, who took no notice of the exchange.

If you enjoyed this snippet you might like this series. All four books are available on Kindle and Nook at only .99 each. The Ruth Chernock Series

February 17, 2013

Unable to post this week due to family emergency.

Six Sentences - Feb 10, 2013

Six sentences from The Ruth Chernock Series, Book 1, Regarding Ruth for Six Sentences FB Group at: Link to Six Sentences FB Group

Thank you for stopping by for my six sentences. 

Over 200 years after Ruth was hung in East Grantham, Maine, her family still lives in the small town. As the centuries passed the truth about Ruth's life and death were rewritten. But the time has come for the story to be brought to light again. Cousins who have descended from Ruth have differing opinions of the stories told and one of them means to find out first hand.

Growing up, I had heard several versions of my great-great-grandmother Ruth's life story.  On a mission, I set out to dig up the truth and hopefully to set my cousin straight.  So many years had passed that no-one in my family knew the fully details any longer.  I discovered journals and documents that had belonged to Ruth and her family.  With additional research through public records and newspaper archives I was able to piece together more of her tale.  But the biggest surprise was uncovered in the journal I obtained from the archives of the judge who presided over Ruth's trial.  

This book is a work of historical fiction, but the story needed to be believable to work with what is to come.

The Ruth Chernock Series  

Weekend Writing Warriors - Feb 10, 2013

Eight sentences from The Ruth Chernock Series, Book 1, Regarding Ruth for Weekend Writing Warriors Group at: Link for Weekend Writing Warriors

Thank you for stopping by for my eight sentences. 

Over 200 years after Ruth was hung in East Grantham, Maine, her family still lives in the small town. As the centuries passed the truth about Ruth's life and death were rewritten. But the time has come for the story to be brought to light again. Cousins who have descended from Ruth have differing opinions of the stories told and one of them means to find out first hand.

Growing up, I had heard several versions of my great-great-grandmother Ruth's life story.  On a mission, I set out to dig up the truth and hopefully to set my cousin straight.  So many years had passed that no-one in my family knew the fully details any longer.  A great aunt granted me free access to her home, where Ruth had lived prior to her death.  There I discovered journals and documents that had belonged to Ruth and her family.  With additional research through public records and newspaper archives I was able to piece together more of her tale.  But the biggest surprise was uncovered in the journal I obtained from the archives of the judge who presided over Ruth's trial.  This is the unexpected true story of the demise of my ancestor, Ruth Chernock.     

This book is a work of historical fiction, but the story needed to be believable to work with what is to come.
The Ruth Chernock Series  

Weekend Writing Warriors - Feb 3, 2013

Eight sentences from The Ruth Chernock Series, Book 1, Regarding Ruth for Weekend Writing Warriors Group at: Link for Weekend Writing Warriors

Thank you for stopping by for my eight sentences. This is my first week posting my sentences so I decided to start near the beginning.

Ruth is a young woman in an 18th century jail in East Grantham, Maine. She has remained in her cell for nearly a year and a half while awaiting her fate. Reverend Jensen has come to speak one last time with Ruth. As she lies on the straw mattress on the cold stone floor she greets him with well deserved animosity.

“Have you no mercy for me Reverend Jensen?”

“Woman I have none. Pray God that He might find some before this week is done. I shall see you hung on Saturday next.”

“Peter Jensen are you so pure of heart that you might judge me?”

“You will not test me woman!”

With that Reverend Jensen banged the cell door closed and with a tick of the key in the iron box he locked it securely. His retreating footsteps echoed through the long hall, ending as the heavy front door slammed behind him.

Six Sentences for February 3, 2013

Six sentences from The Ruth Chernock Series, Book 1, Regarding Ruth for Six Sentence Sunday Group at: Link for Six Sentences FB Group

Thank you for stopping by for my six sentences. This is my first week posting my sentences so I decided to start near the beginning. 

Ruth is a young woman in an 18th century jail in East Grantham, Maine. She has remained in her cell for nearly a year and a half while awaiting her fate. Reverend Jensen has come to speak one last time with Ruth. As she lies on the straw mattress on the cold stone floor she greets him with well deserved animosity. 

“Have you no mercy for me Reverend Jensen?”

“Woman I have none. Pray God that He might find some before this week is done. I shall see you hung on Saturday next.”

“Peter Jensen are you so pure of heart that you might judge me?”

“You will not test me woman!”