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Weekend Writing Warriors 11/30/14 #8sunday

coverI have a new book of short stories, The Futility of Loving a Soldier, available now from Evolved Publishing!

The Futility of Loving a Soldier is a collection of eleven short stories about the effects of combat on relationships with military friends and family. Moving between why we love our troops to why we hate them, The Futility of Loving a Soldier demonstrates that we wouldn’t want lives without them.

Today’s excerpt is from “A Wedding,” which is my favorite story in the collection. Eli and Abby were best friends growing up and haven’t really talked in nearly ten years – Abby went to college and Eli enlisted. Now they’re both back in their small hometown where everyone feels like commenting on their lives.

“So, Abby, did you hear that the Hicks boy is getting married this month?” she asked as she placed a couple frozen pizzas on the belt.

I nodded and reached for the bar to separate our orders.

“Jamie Linn is just a doll, ain’t she? They’re so happy together,” the gray-haired woman said, straining to lift a two-liter Diet Coke from her cart, “ and Eli deserves some happiness after all he’s been through, bless him.”

I bit my lip and swallowed the lump in my throat.

“You and him was so close growing up,  we expected y’all to get married someday.”

The lump grew with each of the woman’s words.

“But that was before he came back ” – her voice dropped to a false whisper – “like that.”

Read more about Abby and Eli, and the other soldiers in this collection, by getting your copy at Amazon for just $2.99. Then post a link to your eight sentences blog entry, or join the fun at the Weekend Writing Warriors website.

And while you’re at Amazon, get a free copy of my latest short story, “Not My Thing.”

7 Comments

  1. Oh yes, you nailed the dialog completely! Felt like I was standing right there with them…excellent excerpt.

  2. Very emotional, I felt the lump in my throat, a reality faced by so many who waited while soldiers returned. Great 8.

  3. I liked the “lump in the throat”. It really worked to show her emotion as the rest of the story evolved around it. Very nice.

  4. I really enjoyed the conversation, and I loved the main character’s angst. Some people just don’t know how to read the room and stop talking :) I feel bad for her and the guy. I’m assuming he came back disfigured?

    Great set-up. I can tell this story is full of drama (my favorite type of story).

    Keep smiling,
    Yawatta

    P.S. Congratulations on your new release!!!

  5. Great scene. Very realistic in feel and dialogue with a nice tease at the end.

  6. Strong snippet. I felt everything that went through her as the other woman talked. Well done.

  7. Enjoyed the snippet. You drew me right in with the realistic banter. Made me want to know more about Eli.

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