Author Interview—Lori MacLaughlin

Lori MacLaughlin's debut novel is out now! Who else is excited to read LADY, THY NAME IS TROUBLE? Don't you just love that title? I recently read an excerpt on Lori's blog and was so excited to read her novel. Lori was kind enough to go into the hot seat and answer a few of my questions. Welcome, Lori!

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What is your favorite line from Lady, Thy Name is Trouble?

I had to think about this for a while. I'm going to go with a line — two lines, actually — that mysterious rogue Jovan Trevillion says to my main character, Tara Triannon. "There will always be choices. You must choose with your heart and not your head." For Tara, who bears many emotional scars, choosing with her heart is a frightening prospect. Her struggle to overcome her fear of letting someone near her heart again is a pivotal moment in the story.

Ooh, I love those lines! What books or authors have most influenced your writing?

In terms of world-building and scope of adventure, I must credit J.R.R. Tolkien and Terry Brooks. Their amazing works left me in awe and gave me incredible heights to strive for, though I doubt I'll ever reach them.

Cornelia Funke, author of the Inkheart series, is another writer I admire. Her descriptions and use of similes and metaphors are wonderful, as is her storytelling. Her characters live and breathe as if they did walk right out of the book.

Tolkien is the king! What has been the hardest thing about publishing your novel?

The social media and marketing aspects have been the most difficult for me. I'm an introvert and would be more than happy to spend all my time in my little room, writing. I find it really hard to put myself and my writing out there, and not be overwhelmed by the worries and doubts. It's all very time consuming, as well.

I discovered, though, that I enjoy connecting with people through blogging, and I've met a lot of truly lovely people in the blogosphere. It's definitely time well spent.

Blogging is a great way to connect with other writers. What’s your next project?

My next project not related to Lady, Thy Name Is Trouble is another fantasy adventure novel I'm calling The Road Once Taken. I'm about two-thirds of the way through it. Here's a really short blurb:

While traveling in Vermont, Jacinda Harper comes across a fatal car accident. In fulfilling the driver's dying wish, Jaci is unwittingly transported into a world where magic rules in the form of a ruthless sorcerer who has been prevented from world domination by the lack of a single key. Jaci has that key.

Cool premise! Now for some fun questions!

Tell us about a unique or quirky habit of yours.

Well, I have this weird way of mowing my lawn. I think most people mow in a pattern, like around and around in a circle or back and forth diagonally. I've seen lawns with perfect diagonal or crosshatching patterns, and they look really nice, but I can't do that. I get bored going in the same direction all the time, so I'll mow a patch over here, then mow a path across and do a patch over there, sometimes in a circle, sometimes back and forth. It doesn't take any longer to do it that way, and it breaks the monotony. When my kids were younger, I used to mow maze paths for them to follow. Many adventures were had along those trails.

Haha. Sounds fun! Finish the sentence.

If I wasn’t afraid, I would __________. (What?) Skydive. I've always been fascinated by flight and wished I could fly without having to use a plane. There's no guarantee, though, that your parachute will open and work correctly every time, and it's a loooooong way down if it doesn't.

Someday, I want to ______________. (What?)  Travel more. There are so many places I'd love to see — Italy, Neuschwanstein, Machu Picchu, Greece, to name a few.

I would choose to skydive too! Here's one for you—If you had a time machine, where would you go?

I'd go far into the future and see if space travel like in Star Trek and Star Wars really happened. Are there other worlds out there with intelligent life?

Hmm, good question. If you could eliminate one thing from your daily schedule, what would it be and why?

Hmmmm. My first thought would be to pick a household chore, but in thinking about it, I really don't mind doing the chores, if I have the time to do them. Well, except for dusting. I hate dusting, but then, I don't do it every day. It really all comes down to time. I wish I could eliminate about two hours of sleep a night. If I could get by on five hours of sleep instead of seven, I'd have two extra hours every day I could spend writing. Unfortunately, my body says no to that option. Anyone out there know where I can find self-cleaning clothes and dishes?

Ahh, that's what I need. Laundry is the bane of my existence. So, tell me, what’s your motto in life?

I have two of them: Anything is possible if you believe, and Nike's "Just do it."

Those are great ones! Thanks so much, Lori!

Thank you, Kristin, for having me here!

Lady, THY NAME IS TROUBLE

Trouble is Tara Triannon’s middle name. As swords for hire, Tara and her sister Laraina thrive on the danger. But a surprise invasion throws them into chaos... and trouble on a whole new level. Pursued by the Butcher, a terrifying assassin more wolf than man, Tara and Laraina must get a prince marked for death and a young, inept sorceress to safety. There’s only one problem – eluding the Butcher has never been done. Aided by a secretive soldier of fortune, they flee the relentless hunter.

Gifted with magic and cursed by nightmares that are all too real, Tara must stop an army led by a madman and fend off an evil Being caught in a centuries-old trap who seeks to control her magic and escape through her dreams – all while keeping one step ahead of the Butcher.

Available at:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Name-Trouble-Lori-MacLaughlin-ebook/dp/B00TT8NERU/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425178824&sr=1-1&keywords=lady+thy+name+is+trouble

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/lady-thy-name-is-trouble

My Website/blog: http://lorilmaclaughlin.com

Lori L. MacLaughlin traces her love of fantasy adventure to Tolkien and Terry Brooks, finding The Lord of the Rings and The Sword of Shannara particularly inspirational. She's been writing stories in her head since she was old enough to run wild through the forests on the farm on which she grew up.

She has been many things over the years – tree climber, dairy farmer, clothing salesperson, kids' shoe fitter, retail manager, medical transcriptionist, journalist, private pilot, traveler, wife and mother, Red Sox and New York Giants fan, muscle car enthusiast and NASCAR fan, and a lover of all things Scottish and Irish.

When she's not writing (or working), she can be found curled up somewhere dreaming up more story ideas, taking long walks in the countryside, or spending time with her kids. She lives with her family in northern Vermont.

Social Media Links:

Website/Blog: http://lorilmaclaughlin.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/28853366-lori-l-maclaughlin

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoriLMacLaughlin

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lorimaclaughlin/

Twitter: @LLMacL

Author Interview—Megan Miranda

I can't tell you how excited I am about the author interview I have for today. Megan Miranda is an acclaimed YA author who happens to be the writer of some of my favorite YA books. Just to name a few of her works: FRACTURE, VENGEANCE, HYSTERIA, and her most recent novel SOULPRINT released in February.

I recently had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Megan over coffee/hot cocoa, and I can attest that she is as lovely in person as she appears online. So, without further ado, let's get to the interview!

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I absolutely love the premise for SOULPRINT. What inspired you to write the novel?

Thank you! The idea for Soulprint came from a question I had years ago, when I was studying science in school. We had been learning about the human genome project—where scientists were mapping each section of our DNA to what it coded for—and I wondered: what if scientists found the soul? What would that look like? What would that mean? How could we use that….and, in the case of this story, how might that be used against us?

We often hear that writers unconsciously leave a little of themselves in their main character. How are you the same or different from Alina in SOULPRINT?

Oh, definitely. I think there are pieces of myself in each of my characters (totally subconsciously) because they are characteristics I am familiar with. I tend to be drawn to writing only children, since I am also one. Looking at it from the outside, I think we also share common interests, and that desire for knowledge.

But in practice, we are very different. A lot of Alina’s character comes as a result of her circumstances (she is very secretive and internal because she’s been unable to trust anyone; and she’s been contained on an island for her entire life, so she is driven---above all else—to escape at any cost).

Soulprint delves into the idea of a past life for the soul. If you had a past life, who would you have been or what would you have accomplished?

I don’t think I’d even want to know! Which is something I thought about a lot while writing Soulprint. Does that knowledge of who we were and what we’ve done help us or hurt us? Does that knowledge influence who we ultimately will become in this life? If we know, are we destined to essentially repeat the past?



What are you currently working on?

I’m working on the edits for my next YA – which is about a girl named Kelsey who has been raised on fear by her mother, who was a victim of abduction many years earlier. When her mother goes missing, Kelsey begins to question the sequence of events she’s grown up with, and realizes she may have just set something dangerous in motion.

I also have a debut adult suspense novel coming out next year, which is about 2 girls who go missing 10 years apart, and whose cases are linked by the same group of friends in a small NC town. The story is told over the course of 2 weeks, and it’s also told backwards.



What bit of advice can you give to aspiring authors?

The advice I always give first is to read a lot—both the types of books you like, and ones you think you might not. And to write. Write a lot. Try new things. Remember that if something doesn’t work, it’s not a failure—it’s just a step, a part of the process that will eventually get you to the version that works. Keep writing. Write the stories that speak to you, because I think it’s the things that make us different that will make our work stand out.

Now for some fun questions! :)

Tell us something nobody knows about you.

Oh man, that nobody knows? Okay. *I* am the one who ate all that missing Halloween candy, kids.

What would we find recorded on your DVR? In other words, what are your favorite TV shows?

The Blacklist…. I’m so far behind on television, everything else is just playing catch-up on Netflix. And I still haven’t gotten over the fact that Friday Night Lights has ended.



List five adjectives to describe yourself.

Type-A. Caffeinated (at the moment). Uncoordinated. Short. Not-a-morning-person.

If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do?

Well, not to be totally creepy, but…. Pretend to be a ghost? Levitate objects? Move things around and freak people out? All in the name of book research, of course!



If someone made a movie of your life, what would the name of the movie be?

Fueled By Pop-Tarts & Coffee


Thanks so much, Megan!

Thanks so much for having me!



Book Blurb:

Seventeen-year-old Alina Chase has spent her entire life imprisoned on a secluded island—not for a crime she committed in this lifetime, but one done by her past self. Her very soul is like a fingerprint, carried from one life to the next—and Alina is sick of being guilty.

Aided by three teens with their own ulterior motives, Alina manages to escape. Although she’s not sure she can trust any of them, she soon finds herself drawn to Cameron, the most enigmatic and alluring of the trio. But when she uncovers clues from her past life, secrets begin to unravel and Alina must figure out whether she’s more than the soul she inherited, or if she’s fated to repeat history.

This stunning “new world” romance from acclaimed author Megan Miranda will leave readers wondering how far they would go to escape the past.

Author bio:

Megan Miranda is the author of the young adult novels Fracture, Hysteria, Vengeance, and Soulprint (all from Bloomsbury). Her debut adult suspense novel will be published by Simon & Schuster in 2016. Megan has a degree in Biology from MIT and currently lives near Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband and two children.

You can find Megan here: Website 

You can buy SOULPRINT here: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
 

Author Interview—Lisa Buie-Collard

Lisa's latest novel The Seventh Man released in January, and she was kind enough to stop by and answer a few of my questions. And now, on to the interview!

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Tell us a little about The Seventh Man.

Here is the blurb:

When a young writer is kidnapped by a man who can't be seen, her only hope of escape rests on the one London cop who believes in ghosts.

On a cold, white, before-Christmas day, an assassin completes a job only to be pursued by police. Dodging through crowded city streets, the assassin nabs a young woman for cover.

Celia Wight, a reclusive American writer is shopping between engagements during a book tour. When a knife is pressed against her back, she loses her tenuous grasp on her carefully controlled existence.

Assigned to the homicide case, Detective Alban Thain, of the Metropolitan Police, suspects an assassin he calls the Wraith. The problem is, only Thain believes the assassin exists. Disregarding the consequences, Thain, who is the only one who believes there is a connection between the murder and the kidnapping, will do whatever it takes to exploit the Wraith’s first and only mistake: the kidnapping of an innocent bystander—if she is innocent.

What was your inspiration for the story?

First it was my infatuations for the actors Sean Bean and John Hannah. If it ever made it to the big screen, it seemed like a movie they might actually do. Second, I read a story about the amount of CCTV (over 1 million) cameras used in the UK, more than in any other country thanks in part to the IRA. Here is one article similar to what I read: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/mar/02/cctv-cameras-watching-surveillance Third, I love mysteries. I love London. I love York. I wanted to write a mystery tied to those places.

Do you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser?

I used to be a pantser, but have moved into a land in between. I use an outline. I also use a check list once the first few drafts are done. That said, I also usually write a first draft in scenes and not in any order. Just as they come to me. Then I put them all together in order to see if what I have will work and where my holes are.

What are you currently working on?

A novel tentatively titled “Rain.”

Every relationship has its secrets, but is this one too big?

Annalyn and Jack meet in a Caribbean paradise and fall in love. After a whirlwind romance they decide to marry, but Annalyn discovers a dark and sinister lie that tears apart the life they’ve started.

Desperate to forget the agony of a past so well loved and so thoroughly destroyed, they each embark upon separate journeys to try and rebuild their shattered lives, loves and faiths.

But Annalyn and Jack can’t build their futures or make peace with the past until the lie that tore them apart is put to rest. Will facing the truth allow them to find the healing they each so desperately need, or will it only confirm that there are no second chances?

What are some books in your TBR (To Be Read) pile?

Oh boy, sure you want to open that pandora’s box?

I want to read some YA like Woven, co-authored by David P. King and Michael Jensen

Sudden Secrets and The Great Timelock Disaster by C. Lee McKenzie
The second in the series about Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Sci Fi; Dragon of the Stars by Alex J. Cavanaugh

Romances like,
Indiscreet by Mary Balogh
Laughing Hawk by Linda Katmarian
Anything by Kristi Gold

And we haven’t even gotten to the suspense or mysteries, of which there are more than too many.

And now for some fun questions! :)

Tell us something you hate doing. Why?

Marketing. I really LOVE to write. But I hate to market. It is hard. It takes up a lot of time and energy with results I can’t count on, yet. I must be very self motivated, as I must in writing. But writing gives me better, and faster, gratification.

Favorite day of the week?

Only one? Thursday. Because I like the exercise class I take that day, and it’s the day before Friday so it feels like a “pre-Friday” Friday! Also, usually I don’t go anywhere on that day.

What makes you unique?

My DNA? Ha ha. Seriously, I think if there is one thing that makes me unique, it might be my take on life and emotions. I’ve been called naïve before and probably will be again, but I pay attention to my “emotional” intelligence more, sometimes, than my brain. Besides that? You’d have to ask my husband, my kids and my mom.

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?

Hmmm… “That 70s Girl?” or 80s or 90s? I don’t know. I find it hard to think in terms of my entire life. I think the times we live in do define us to a point. I’ve just finished watching a program done in the UK that started in 1964 and follows 14 seven year-old children right up to present day. It’s called the “Up Series” and I found it fascinating. In the last installment they were 56. The next installment doesn’t come out for another three or four years. I’ll be looking for it.

If you could visit any place in the world, where would you choose to go and why?

I’ve answered this question before and don’t remember what I said! But right now, I think I’d like to go to Australia. I’ve been to New Zealand and absolutely loved it. I would go again, but I have always wanted to see what the “down under” is really like, and I’d like to taste their beer!

Thanks so much, Lisa!

When a young writer is kidnapped by a man who can't be seen, her only hope of escape rests on the one London cop who believes in ghosts.

On a cold, white, before-Christmas day, an assassin completes a job only to be pursued by police. Dodging through crowded city streets, the assassin nabs a young woman for cover.

Celia Wight, a reclusive American writer is shopping between engagements during a book tour. When a knife is pressed against her back, she loses her tenuous grasp on her carefully controlled existence.

Assigned to the homicide case, Detective Alban Thain, of the Metropolitan Police, suspects an assassin he calls the Wraith. The problem is, only Thain believes the assassin exists. Disregarding the consequences, Thain, who is the only one who believes there is a connection between the murder and the kidnapping, will do whatever it takes to exploit the Wraith’s first and only mistake: the kidnapping of an innocent bystander—if she is innocent.

Available now in EBook and TreeBook (soft cover) on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RUE8GOG

About the Author:

Lisa is a mother, wife, sister, and daughter, has waited tables, been a dental assistant, teacher, journalist, gardener and architectural administrative assistant. She's traveled in Europe, New Zealand, and the US. French and English are her languages of preference, with a little Spanish on the side. She grew up in Florida, lived four years in Georgia before moving to Texas for eighteen years. For the moment, she once again lives in Georgia. She writes full time and has completed six novels.

Review: This gripping story of revenge, passion, and longing is no mere police procedural but an exciting page turner that will have you wondering, to the end, who will outwit whom. Not to be missed! Linda Ellis, The Editing Place

Photo credit: Steven Heddon

Links:

Facebook:  http://tinyurl.com/mo4rs6n

Goodreads: http://tinyurl.com/m8paj8a

Twitter:  http://tinyurl.com/m8paj8a

Website: http://www.lisabuiecollard.com

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lisabuiecollard/

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/lisabuiecollard

First Chapter - Deady Arts

Here is the final page of Shella's first chapter...

The rest of the meeting went as normal. We covered procedures, schedules, mandatory classes that we would have to take. All the boring stuff that needed to get said.

To end the meeting, Mr. Stock said, “One last thing and you can all get out of here, if anyone wants some volunteer help in their class this year, please let me know. OK everyone, enjoy the rest of your day.”

Everyone quickly got up and formed into their groups. Me, I was solo. Even Deven and Juliet got up and walked off together. I returned the wheel to the hamster and whispered to him an apology for taking it away. Then I picked up my binder and hamster and thought about the personal goal requirement and wondered where my life was going. At the moment nowhere. It was boring. Not mine. My mind was not liking where my thoughts were going and turned it's on switch off. 

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My thoughts: Okay, I'm a little disappointed by the fact that nothing much happened in this chapter except that we met and got to know our narrator. Most first chapters need to have something happen in order to catch the attention of readers/agents/editors. Notice that I say most. Depending upon where this is going, this first chapter might work perfectly. But maybe there's a way to convey the character information that's here in a better way. Also notice that I said a little disappointed, because I really enjoyed trying to understand the narrator and where she was coming from. I think I know but I need to read more in order to confirm and thus the author succeeded - in getting me to want to read more to find out what happens next. 

A huge thanks to Shellah for submitting and readers, I hope you'll add your comments :)

Happy Friday!!!

 

First Chapter - Deadly Arts

Here are the next two pages of Shella's manuscript...

Mr. Stock had been there ever since she started working here. He was the one who hired her. In the past three years, she watched his belly grow pressing his suit jacket open to where he could not even button it now. But the change in his looks this year was his mustache. Stock was the kind of guy who tried hard to be in style, but he was always just shy of the bullseye. Never quite hitting the trend. (this is an example of a great fragment used to effect) This mustache was waxed at the tips, and it liked to jump like a kid on a trampoline when he talked.

“Let's get this meeting done so you can all get your rooms ready.” Mr. Stock smiled and looked at each and everyone one of us, “I know you females here love that part.”

All the girl teachers giggled. That was one of the things we all looked forward to. Picking a theme to decorate the room in. Perusing catalogs; both paper and online; (I think commas instead of semi-colons here) trying to find just the right one to inspire all the minds that would be surrounded by it. To be honest, I enjoyed it as well. It would be the only bright part of this day.

Mr. Stock continued, ”In front of each of you is your information folder. Everything is pretty standard except for a couple of things. First, there is a form you guys need to fill out about yourselves. The district wants to put everyone's picture and bio onto the website.”

Great, I thought, (you need punctuation here) what is mine going to say? I wake up. Get a coffee. Go to work. Eat. Paint. Go to sleep. That was all there was to my life. (Does she want more? If so, what does she want?)

“Don’t over think the bio, we only need a paragraph and there are some tips on the form to guide you.” Mr. Stock looked down at his folder and flipped through some pages, “The other thing that is new...”

Screech. My hamster took this moment to start using his wheel. After he realized it was the hamster he continued on, “As I was saying, the other thing that is new is a personal goal worksheet. I went to a conference, and one of the talks was about focus.” He stopped and looked at the hamster again because the screeching was relentless. His eyebrows drew together, and he said, “Mary, can you please stop the hamster from making that noise?”

Everyone turned in their seats to look at me so I quickly opened the cage and yanked the wheel out. He nodded and continued on, “If the teacher's personal life is in focus it will transfer to their work lives. So this year we will give it a try.”

One of the teachers said out loud, “I’m not happy with sharing my personal goals.”

As I looked around, there were a couple of other teachers that were nodding their heads. I had to agree. I did not have any goals but if I did, I would not want to share it with my coworkers. 

“Sorry, I should have said you get to keep the worksheet all to yourself,” Mr. Stock answered. “This is something for you to work personally on. The joy you get out of making your life better rubs off on your work. You will become a better teacher if you are happier.” He looked around the room again nodding his head. “This is not required but I feel it might play a positive role on the staff. Please indulge me in this endeavor.” He tweaked his mustache.

*** 

My thoughts: Interestingly, the more I'm getting to know this character the less comments I seem to have, except...maybe that this has a sort of dreamy feel to it, like Twin Peaks, if that makes any sense. It feels like there's something going on beneath the surface, a mystery that's about to be revealed...

First chapter - Deadly Arts

Here are the next two pages of Shella's manuscript...

“My name is Deven.” He stuck his hand out for me to shake it.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Mary,” I said as I shook his clammy hand.

“What grade do you teach?” Deven asked.

“Kindergarten.”

“I'm teaching fourth grade.” The moisture on his upper lip started to grow, daring him to wipe at it with his finger.

I glanced at the clock and said, “It’s almost time for the meeting to start. I should find a seat. It was nice to meet you.”

Hopefully, he would get the cue and go sit down and leave me to myself.

“Yeah, you too,” Deven replied.

I went to the table in the back and set the hamster cage on it. Deven followed and sat right by me. I sighed and resigned myself to the fact that I was going to have to wear a mask (ah, but which mask? Or is there only one?) today even though it was exhausting.

I gave him a reassuring smile. The poor guy was obviously stressed out. I could at least try to be nice. But that was the hard part. I did not feel things the way others do and so sometimes I would say or do something that would come across as mean or rude and upset people. Ah, now this is an interesting tidbit of information!

The first year at the school. I tried hard. I tried to wear my mask every day, all day. But eventually the teachers realized that there was something not quite right about me, and they stopped including me. I became the outsider.

There was one teacher that never gave up though, Juliet. She was an older lady who had been teaching forever and looked like everyone's favorite grandma. She was the only one that still would try to talk to me.

“Mary!” Juliet said. She came over and gave me a hug, one that lasted a second too long. Juliet was the kind of person who could just not help being a mother hen. She knew I was not in the clique, and would try to make up for it. She was always an advocate for those who were outsiders. Even with the students. The shy, troubled, or picked on knew to go to her for help and comfort. When she let go, she said, “How was your summer? Do anything fun?”

There it was, the question I did not want to answer. I just needed to be quick and change the subject. No one wanted to know I did the same thing every day this summer.

“It was good. Juliet have you met Deven yet?” I said and motioned to him with my hand.

“No, how rude of me.” She looked right at him and continued, “My name is Juliet. I have been here forever if you need anything at all just ask OK?” She gave him a giant reassuring smile.

When that smile reached Deven, he instantly relaxed in his chair. That was one of those instances where I was different. It was not possible for me to make people relax. The whole time he was by me he was stiff like a fairy had come and locked him in place. But the second Juliet said hi that spell was broken.

Deven did not get a chance to say anything back to Juliet because Mr. Stock the principle cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. When the majority of the teachers settled down and turned to look at him, he said, “Hello everyone!” He was standing in front of the white board with a clipboard in his hand. “Glad to see everyone is back and smiling.”

***

My thoughts: Now things are getting interesting, in a subtle way. At first I was a little distracted by the lack of contractions, but now it's part of the narrator's voice, the way she (I'm assuming) talks, thinks. Formally. Impersonally. The only suggestion I might make is to try to tighten those first two pages so that the reader (or an agent/editor) gets to this point a little sooner. But I say might because I kind of liked the introduction to this person. 

Readers, what are your thoughts?

First Chapter - Deadly Art

Okay, so this is a bit of a rush job because I'm having internet troubles and I'm not sure how long it will last. Here's the first two pages of Shellah's manuscript with some of my comments. I will add more (along with more info regarding this first page) as soon as I can, but I wanted to get this much up before I lose service again. As always your thoughts, dear reader, are welcome.

First day of school, well the first day for us teachers. (fragment) It always starts with a staff meeting. You know (comma) where all the teachers come together not just to get oriented for the coming year but to gossip about everyone else and what they did that summer. 

Did I do anything that summer? No. It was my same boring routine. All I did was stay home and work on my art. I did not go on any trips or do anything new. Just wake up, do some art, read and maybe watch TV. Maybe if I had a close friend or even a boyfriend, I might have the motivation to do something else. As it is, I don’t. So talking about my summer was something I wanted to avoid.

 I walked into the classroom where we were to have the meeting, holding the new (what happened to the old one?!) classroom hamster in a metal cage. The cute black and white hamster had his nose going. His nostrils were expanding at such a fast rate I thought he might pass out. I should have taken him to the classroom before I came to the meeting, but I would have been late and would have had to walk in front of everyone. Not wanting to do that I decided to take him with me to the meeting. I’m curious as to why doesn’t the narrator want to walk in front of everyone? If she's a teacher then she's used to being in front of a bunch of people, right?

I noticed all the same teachers from last year. They were huddled together in their cliques. The chatter was loud. So loud, no one noticed when I came through the door. This invisibility relieved me because I would not need to talk immediately. I wanted to dodge the other teachers, but then who am I kidding, everyone knew me and would just ignore me. The ones I really needed to avoid were the ones that were new. The ones that did not know what I was like. They were the ones that most likely would try to talk to me.

The classroom had those long tables set up for all the teachers to sit at. Someone had set them up in several rows facing the front desk. I wanted to find one that was in the back and not near the nosy people. But in my weaving through the standing teachers and trying not to bump the hamster too much, a new one approached me. Crap. Now I was going to have to talk. I was not nervous. I was not shy. I was not a recluse. I just wanted to not put on my mask. What mask? The mask that looked like the person I was talking too. The one that let me be an actor. The first social rule I learned growing up was how to mimic people.

This teacher looked nice, and most of them were. He was tall and nervous. His upper lip was glinting under the unflattering light. Even though the light was unflattering, it did not downplay the beauty of his eyes. The A crisp blue that betrayed his uneasiness.

“Hi,” He said with a shy smile not quite as big as it normally could be. If she hasn’t met him before how would she know how big his smile could normally be?

I put my new mask on and said, “Hi,” and gave him his smile back.

“Cute.” He said

“What?”

The shock must have been showing on my face because he stammered and said, “Uh... the hamster.” To make me understand even more, he pointed to the hamster.

Looking down at the little guy I said, “Oh yeah. Right.”

We stood there for a couple seconds not saying anything. He was glancing around the room when his eyes jumped back to me.

***

My thoughts: I'm okay with with sentence fragments as long as they're used sparingly, but I don't think I'd start my first page with one.  I do wonder (second paragraph) why our narrator is uncomfortable being alone. This is a good insight into our narrator - makes me curious about what's come before. I'm also a little confused by the paragraph about putting on masks. The narrator says she's not shy, not a recluse, and not nervous, but if she doesn't want to talk to anyone then she's odd in some way. I want to know and understand more about this.