Book synopsis and excerpt

A synopsis of the book:

Elizabeth Hennessey played the good daughter for her first three years at Ralston University, avoiding anything to do with music. Now, she’s playing cello in the Ralston Symphony, taking lessons, and playing in a quartet with Maggie, Chris and Jack. Elizabeth and Chris become fast friends from their first meeting, and begin dating. But her heart draws her to his best friend, Jack. Will their friendship with Chris be destroyed? Will her deep love for Jack survive the interference of an obsessed fellow musician?

And an excerpt for your viewing pleasure:

On Valentine’s Day, Jack made Elizabeth promise to take the entire day off with no studying or practicing for either of them so they could have the day together. The Competition was out of the way, and Elizabeth was under considerably less pressure now. They went shopping and he bought them both some lingerie. They went out for dinner and considered seeing a movie, but they were too excited to go home and try on their new purchases for each other. After modeling, taking pictures of each other, dancing for each other, making love and cuddling, it was still too early to go to sleep. They sat cross legged on the bed in their lingerie, caressing each other, talking about school; both entirely at home and comfortable with each other.
She told him, “When I close my eyes, I see your face. When I’m not with you I wonder what you’re doing; what you’re thinking; when will I see you again? How many hours until I can make love to you again?”
“I wonder the same things,” he smiled, wryly.
“And it’s not just since we got together. I’ve felt this way since we first met. Even when I’m occupied doing something, I’ve thought of you.”
“I froze when I touched you for the first time. It was like electricity. We just shook hands, but I just stood there like a prat for a couple of minutes before I could even take my chair. Although, when we talked on the phone to set up your audition, there was something in your voice that really struck me.”
“Me too, and I thought it was just your accent.”
He grimaced. “Oh, I wish I could lose the accent! Help me sound more American, will you?”
She shook her head vehemently, “Absolutely not!”
His face fell. “Why not?”
“I don’t want you to sound American. I love your accent!”
He was crestfallen. “Well maybe I could just sound more American around other people. Will you help me?” he asked her again.
“No way; you’re on your own!” she chuckled.
“But, it’s not fair that you have a spot-on British accent and I can’t sound American. In fact, I bet you could fool my family.”
“That would be incredibly intimidating, trying to pass myself off as British to real Brits, Jack.”
“And likewise to pass myself off as American, which is why I want you to help me,” he said, smiling.
She shook her head lightly, incredulous. “Okay, try it. Let’s see how you sound.”
He suddenly felt embarrassed to even try and burst out laughing. “Okay, it’s stupid, isn’t it?”
She laughed. “You can’t do it, can you?”
“No. I’ve even taped myself doing it; it just sounds ridiculous.”
“Don’t change your voice, please? When I first heard it, I hoped it was you, but I thought you were going to turn out to be Chris.”
“Why did you think I was Chris?”
“I thought he looked more British than you. You couldn’t be that good looking and have that voice too.”
He smiled sheepishly. “If you had ever fallen for Chris, I’d have been in real trouble. I kept having nightmares about you two announcing your engagement.”
“There was never any danger of that.”

An eventful week

Book 1 is finished!  I have sent copies to Mom, Aileen, Colby and one other person, because they are my trusted readers who have been with me during this long, arduous, yet lovely process!  I only hope that they will make time in their busy schedules to read it in a timely fashion.  I so appreciate their feedback!

This weekend, I will compile a preliminary list of agents to submit to, and next week, I will submit to 2 each day.  I will also make a couple of hard copies to keep with me, just in case I come across someone who can help me with my agent search.

I need to change the title. I actually want the second book to be called "Strings Attached" - I think it fits that particular story better.  I started writing a bit on it last night.

So, my eventful week has also been filled with:

1. Colby leaving for training in Ft. Lauderdale in the cruise industry.  He may be back in March for a bit because he hasn't been assigned a ship yet.

2. An attempt to join the local YMCA so I can swim.  I have a 7-day pass to start, but today I tried to go to class, could not find a place to park in 20 minutes, and realized that there must certainly be 100 people in that class!  I am not interested in displaying my bits and bobs in a swimsuit in front of 100 people.  I will go to a later, less popular class.  Also, I think I might walk or bike to class from now on.

3. Went to an OA meeting.  I went once about 5-6 years ago, but they were very religious (trusting in God that he would fix their problems, instead of doing something about them). This time, it was a very small group (one not big enough to provide literature or a sponsor), but I really liked these 4 ladies, felt welcomed and related to what they had to say. I will probably go back, but I need to find a way to make it to a big meeting where I can get a sponsor (they are all in the evening when I am teaching!)

4. Private Lives opened in Bath last night. The reports I read really make me want to get to London to see it!  I will save money like crazy (need about $2000!) and hopefully go to closing weekend, the first week in May.  There is research I want to do for my book while I am there, and then hopefully see the play 2-3 times.

Socially inept

I live in my cocoon where it's safe and warm and venture not into the world where I loom massively amongst normality. I create fantasies and stories and people thus sustaining my own social phobias. Most terrifying is I find myself emulating the person I fear most in the world. I am not him. I will never be him. And to make sure of that, I will change, as terrifying as that is.

I fantasize about living in a world where people actually like me and want to know me. In that world, I'm funny and smart and sexy and live up to my potential and actually utilize my gifts to make a great living, but it's not the real world and I am none of these things, in reality. I am just as mediochre as everyone else. But I don't want to be anymore. This can't be all there is. I have to make a life for myself and stop being scared of other people. I am intimidated by everyone. Everyone.

I went for a walk today and was stared at. I got 20 minutes of diet advice today from a skinny person. I called about attending a meeting and was treated rudely. I'm not interested in anybody understanding my motives, my "situation" or their advice or rudeness. I do not want to discuss it. I have no reservations about telling anybody to bugger off about it. I do not want praise or criticism: either signifies I am anything but normal. I will do this my way.

I will no longer apologize for any part of who I am.