I’ve been playing with Paint.NET to give a new look to some of the drawings I made with Brushes for iPad.
Yellow and Red
Violet Country
Friday Snippet #10
Technically speaking there are still six minutes left before Saturday in Redmond. The fact that I’m typing from Porano in Umbria and it’s already 8:54 of the next morning it only proves the Earth isn’t flat after all. It’s not cheating.
Before it’s too late, here is the snippet from this week. TCOM, again.*
Marie had been taught that ending in a waste plant was a better fate than serving as a mother, but she wasn’t sure Carnia would be happy. “She’ll be fine, don’t worry.” She didn’t have a clue of what she was talking about, but she felt the need to reassure Verena once more. The wind shook the branches with more strength and the whole green umbrella swayed under the assault. Something swiftly moved at the corner of Marie’s eye and she automatically turned to her right only to see Grant stepping back into the shadows of the corner. He was listening. Her heart skipped a beat.
“What was it?” Verena tilted her head and Marie rearranged her body in a useless attempt at hiding Grant’s presence when he was probably already gone.
“Nothing.”
“A cat, probably.”
Marie wished she was alone. “Yes, a cat.” He wants to know about Carnia. She felt her stomach contract.
*For the sake of being honest, it’s now 12:01 in Redmond, which it means it’s a Saturday snippet after all. Oh well, I did try…
Breathe
Life is not always easy. Sometimes, it’s just unfair. When there’s nothing you can do, just breathe.
Friday Snippet #9
In Italy, visiting my parents. Umbria’s rolling hills and red terracotta roofs before my eyes, the sun lowering behind the hamlet saddled on the ridge, I’m writing under the shadow of two mulberry trees.
I’ve been busy otherwise, but here is something I wrote before leaving. This snippet is offered you by TCOM:
As Marie had imagined, the redhead wasn’t alone; Carnia was followed by Grant who kept his arm around her waist. He looked at Marie and she felt judged once again.
“Verena, please, don’t tell anybody you saw me.” Carnia’s eyes were red and swollen, her face streaked with hours of crying.
Marie felt pity at her sight, but she couldn’t understand why Carnia was taking it so hard when she clearly didn’t have a problem being around men.
“I can’t, you know that.” Verena sounded even more heartbroken than Carnia.
“I won’t leave.” Carnia’s statement had a finality Marie didn’t like.
“Don’t say it like that.” She was getting scared. It was an unfamiliar situation for her and she wasn’t sure what they were dealing with exactly. The presence of a man among them unnerved her. It was wrong. “They’ll treat you with respect. I’ve been told you aren’t forced to—” She didn’t know how to say the words without being crude.
“I won’t leave him.”
“What?” What the heck is she talking about? “Verena?” Marie looked at her roommate hoping she could confirm she had heard wrong.
Nero, The Beagle Who Would Do Anything For Food
My beagle, Nero, is funny. I believe all dogs are funny, but beagles have something puppy-like about them and that makes them even funnier. Or maybe it’s just because Nero is my dog and I’m slightly biased. Either way, I spoil him because he deserves so.
Would you be mine?
I really want some.
My Precious…
Nero ❤ Honey Bunches of Oats.
Beagle in the Grass.
Little Ball of Fur.
Friday Snippet #8
Without realizing it, I skipped a week. Days, like mismatched socks, tend to go missing lately. Can’t even remember what I was busy doing last week. Not writing, for sure. I did take my Wacom tablet out for a leisure stroll and I did produce something nice though. The fruit of my labor will be revealed in due time. For now, enjoy my humble snippet.
A quiet moment for Dalia and Aragon, the two main characters in Notturno.
Dalia looked at him and wondered at the enigma he represented; she touched him, but he didn’t react to her fingers tracing the lines of his arm. She followed the long sinews defining his dark skin and then stopped at the hollow space where the muscles on his neck met the shoulders. His breathing caught for the briefest moment, his eyes fluttered under his closed eyelids, but he didn’t move. She raised her hand and put it on her lap, the urge of lying down with him calling to her. Aragon was the strongest man she had ever seen, but at the moment he was defenseless and she felt the irrational desire to protect him. The thought made her laugh.
On clue, a snort from the corner made her turn. “Where are you, Mo?” The animal snorted a second time, emerging from the darkness. “Come here, baby.” Mo obeyed and walked toward them. “Sit, Mo.” Dalia smiled when Mo bent her trunk-like legs to sit by her master. “Good girl, stay here and protect us if you like.” Mo emitted a sound Dalia didn’t try to decipher.
“Are we all friends now?” Aragon opened one eye and took Dalia’s flying hand. She had been surprised by him not being as asleep as she had thought and almost poked his eyes in response. “I’m glad.”
“Didn’t you need to rest?” She blushed.
Le Me #2, Whiter Than White
Yesterday it was a great day. Italy won against Germany and advanced to the final on Sunday. Pax got its first review on Amazon and Goodreads. I decided to celebrate with purple highlights. Photo manipulation came later at night, when I was too excited to go to sleep.
This is me, with less color than usual and sketched with Paint.Net.
Grazie Mille, Merci Beaucoup!
Just two pics about the little things that make a small indie author like me happy. The road to success is paved by this kind of accomplishments. One at a time.
The Italian mug shot is from February. I personally know the three people who adopted my little book and found in their hearts the strength to give my words a home. One of them deserves a special thanks: Grazie, papa’.
Today, much to my surprise, I found I sold a copy in France. What a great way to start the weekend.
Friday Snippet #7
And, esteemed ladies and jellyfishes*, we have lucky number seven today. I took the whole week as a mental vacation and stood by it. Not a single rational thought was produced in the last seven days. If you ask me, it was a difficult task to accomplish, but I am truly that good.
Another snippet from TCOM.
Four or five more bursts of applauses and another elder, a slightly less exalted copy of the first, took her spot to tell the first story of the night.
Marie liked to hear a good tale like anybody else and her eyes and focus zeroed in on the newcomer.
“Darlene is one of the best storytellers, you’ll see.” Cina elbowed Marie. “I’m sure you’ve never heard anybody so good.”
Cina wasn’t exaggerating; Darlene had a gift. The whole time the elder spoke, not a single breath was heard. Darlene’s voice was pleasant enough, but the quality of the narration was what kept everybody glued to the story she was slowly unraveling.
“What a complicated plot, and with so many characters—” Marie shook her head in awe, unable to shush her inner thoughts. “She sure has a great imagination.”
“It is said she’s friend with one of the guards…”
“Oh, do you mean…?” Marie lowered her voice to a whisper.
“I mean what you’re thinking. Darlene has special permission to watch TV with her pure breed friend.”
“I’d give anything to watch a TV show again.” Marie’d had a glimpse of a television show once at the Institute and sighed at the memory.
*loosely stolen from Eddie Izzard, one of the funniest men on earth.
Pax In The Land Of Women
I’m proud to announce that after several months of gestation and two days of labor, Pax was digitally born yesterday night, June 10 2012; she weights 485 KB and looks beautiful. Mom’s tired but happy.
Monica La Porta 