A fun way to sample new books and find new writers! Here’s the link to the Weekend Writing Warriors central page, so you can visit all the participants sharing excerpts today…
My new book is still a week or two (finished the copy edits yesterday) away from being Released, so I thought I’d fill the gap with excerpts from PRIESTESS OF THE NILE, which was my first published work, because the new book is a sequel to PRIESTESS.
This excerpt is a tiny bit edited from the published book to meet the eight sentence requirement.
You can read the beginning of Chapter One of PRIESTESS here on my website so for the excerpt I’ll go a bit further into the story. Last week, Merys, who has been tending an abandoned temple of the Crocodile God Sobek, didn’t realize she was talking to him (in his human form).
Sobek forms a habit of stopping by the beach in the evenings to chat with Merys. He grows ever more attracted to her, she falls in love with him (of course or there’d be no story)…but she still doesn’t know who he is. Isis intervenes with serious threats….but eventually Sobek can’t resist sneaking back to the beach to catch a glimpse of Merys… “just to hear her sing”.
And now the events begin that cause him to reveal his true identity….she’s been fishing with a net in the Nile shallows when she loses her protective amulet, which unbeknownst to her Sobek had bespelled to keep his crocodiles from attacking her. With it gone, she’s easy prey…
She pushed her hair out of her eyes roughly and sighed in frustration, checking her neck one more time, not quite accepting the loss of her necklace. The slithering sensation against her skin as the old leather thong parted and the amulet fell had been so startling, she had not grabbed for it in time. Peering uselessly into the murk of the Nile, Merys blinked back tears. The only possession of my great-grandmother’s I had left, the symbol of my being a priestess—gone. I’ll wait for the silt to settle and then hopefully I can find it. Taking a moment to enjoy the soaring flight of a flock of white ibis against the blue sky, she stood straighter, easing her muscles.
The sky tilted and vertigo assailed her as her feet were violently yanked out from under her. A crocodile closed its mighty jaws around her ankle, ripping a desperate scream from her throat.
Next week we’ll see what Sobek does…I love your comments and feedback!
The story:
Drawn to his abandoned temple on the banks of the Nile by an enchanting song, Sobek the Crocodile god is even more captivated by the sight of the singer herself. Appearing to her as a man, he learns she is Merys, a descendant of his last priestess. Though filled with lust, Sobek believes Merys deserves to be more than just his mistress. But the rules that govern the Egyptian pantheon forbid anything beyond a physical joining of a Great One and a human.
Merys is attracted to the handsome stranger, who arouses passions in her that no man ever has. But with no dowry and no hope of ever leaving her village, she dares not dream of the future—or love.
Sobek takes every opportunity to visit Merys, taxing his resolve to leave her pure. And when he saves her life, their mutual desire must be sated. But can a love between a human and an immortal survive the ultimate test of the gods?
Available: Amazon Barnes & Noble Carina Press All Romance
That was a lovely set-up! Too bad it had to end with the crocodile biting her ankle. How awful for her! I wonder if Sobek can save her?
Vivid details. You do a wonderful hob of conveying her sense of loss, and then OMG CROCODILE!!!!!
Reblogged this on Illuminite Caliginosus.
Thanks, that’s really quite a compliment!
Poor Merys, nicely done portraying her sadness about the locket’s loss and lovely peaceful description nicely shattered by the croc. Good job.
Veronica, your writing is beautiful. I’m on the shore watching-so powerful is the scene. Thank you.
The description of the amulet slipping from her neck is perfect…and oh, the shock of the croc…definitely captured me! I can’t wait to see more. Love this.
She is NOT having a good day!!
It will get better, thanks to Sobek 🙂
Spooky and, um, gripping …. somebody had to say it! Lovely excerpt as always. We already know from the book blurb that Sobek saves her, but it’s the *how* that matters. Anxious for more 🙂
I’m right there with her. Wonderful sensory details, and a great cliffhanger!
Wow, I feel her loss and then you yank me down right with her. Well done.
Being grabbed by a crocodile makes the loss of her necklace seem like small potatoes!
Never fear, an Egyptian god is near : )
I cracked up over your comment, Millie!
Wow! Tender, slow, easy pace…and then… WHAMMO! Great job, Veronica! 🙂
Oh, I love a cliffhanger! And this one is fantastic! Can’t wait to see what Sobek does! Great 8!
I was thinking, such nice detail, and then BAM. The crocodile got her. I did not see that coming. Nicely done.
I’m not worried. Sobek will save her.
Yikes! I like the way you’ve shown her sadness at losing her heirloom (and her identity, in a way) and then BAM! a crocodile attack. Can things get any worse?
Pulled me into the scene, lulled me with the serenity of the area and then hit me hard with the croc attack. Great snippet.
I just finished this book yesterday and I LOVE IT! I can’t say enough about it—or anything about my favorite bits that wouldn’t be a spoiler.
But I will say that Sobek has . . . interesting . . . ways of getting a girl’s attention. 😀
Oh, I’m so glad you enjoyed the book! Thanks for letting me know, that makes me very happy.
What a vivid scene. I was right there, mourning the loss of the necklace when… wham! Can’t wait to see how Sobek will react and if she’ll get out of the crocodile attack unscathed. Great 8!
Wonder if the amulet’s protection has made her careless?
Earlier in the novella, she tells him the amulet protects her, because of course the ancient Egyptians did have a strong belief in magic charms of this sort. Sobek bespells it when she’s not looking, to REALLY tell his crocodiles she’s off limits, but once the cord breaks and she loses the amulet, she’s fair game to them.
I really appreciate everyone’s comments! I was tempted to give you a glimpse of her half-sister Tyema, since she’s the heroine in the next book, but I decided it was more important here to get to the point where Merys finally learns who she’s been talking too all this time. We’re on the way to that reveal, I promise!
Very nice. Great description, emotion and then fantastic way to end it! Though, let’s hope their not too hungry!
Oh my! You left us hanging!! Great snippet!!
That was a terrible place to stop. I want more. 🙂 Well done!
When she lost the amulet I just knew she’d be targeted by a croc, but I thought Sobek would do something to stop it before it happened, but… omigosh!
Oh no!! Poor girl! Not only did she lose the only thing that shows she’s royalty, but a crocodile has her ankle!! Tense 8.