Welcome to Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday. Snippets of ten sentences or less are yours for the reading!
Today’s snippet comes from Book Two of The Black Wing Chronicles ~ HERO’S END.
***
He sidled up to the doorframe and peered inside.
Two young humanoid females huddled behind a row of dank and musty seats, sobbing in terror. They reeked of that strange combination of sweet fragility and blind ambition that marked aspiring starlets. Ordinarily he didn’t see their type this frightened outside of fending off lecherous producers.
Energy blasts split the air around them.
Poor kids.
Fear paralyzed them making them stay put when good sense should be pushing them out the door to safety. They weren’t really in the line of fire, but they way they huddled there, one would think they were pinned down.
***
That’s the snippet for the week. Thank you for stopping by. Please take the time to visit the other wonderful authors taking part in Science Fiction/Fantasy Saturday!
Gotta Name My Blog 
Excellent portrayal of fear holding one back, rather than circumstances, having it observed by someone who has probably walked through those fires himself.
Welcome back to SFFSat!
Very insightful! Yes, Blade has indeed walked through those fires many times.
I’ve based many of his reactions on those of my uncle, who was a WWII vet and career military. Very little ever rattled him. The only thing that ever shook my uncle’s ever-present cool was a woman’s tears. It was the only thing that could send him into a panic.
Thanks for commenting!
Two young ladies frozen in fear? Sounds like they need a hero.
Love the title and the cover! Looking forward to picking this book up, too.
I know! Can’t you just hear the brass section fanfare now, a la John Williams?
Thanks! I hope to have it for the betas verrra soon!
Brilliant! Fear’ll do that to a person. Love Blade’s clinical observations to the situation, like a true veteran. I’m not worried, Blade will save the day and those young starlets will live another day.
Thanks!
Of course he will. There’s at least two more books in the pipeline after this one. 😛
Blade’s intelligence and understanding of human nature and psychology always comes across so well in all of his observances. He is such a great character, JC!
*heart throbs*
🙂 Heidi
Thanks, Heidi!
I really do owe TM for helping pull that out in this scene. When he beta’d this as a short story I was working on, he made some insightful comments that got me thinking. Sometimes a guy’s perspective on things is invaluable.
Glad to know I’m somewhat useful…hee hee. 🙂
Good stuff, as always!
Oh, did you over hear that conversation? Whoops!
Yes, goober! You’re quite useful…and entertaining!
Thanks! 😉
The description of their smell was fantastic. It says so much. Very visual scene. Still dying to know what Blade will do.
Thanks so much! I’ll tell you what Blade will do. He’ll methodically evaluate the situation and come up with a course of action. 😉
Oh the poetry of this! So cool. The imagery, the involvement of the senses is just amazing.
Poetry? *blushing* You flatter me! Thank you.
Nice snippet – really brings the scene alive.
Thank you! I appreciate that you stopped by to comment!
Leave it to Blade to notice how they smell! When does the book come out?
I don’t have a date as of today. It hasn’t gone to the betas yet. I’m still filling in plot holes and smoothing transitions.
I love the combination of sweet fragility and blind ambition. Could you give a link to the cover artist?
Thank you!
Sure, here’s her link:
http://tomomi-ink.blogspot.com/p/book-covers.html
You’ll see some familiar covers there.
Another nice snippet. I love the way you have Blade describes the things he experiences.
Thank you. I really do enjoy writing from his POV. He has such an interesting voice.
Nice snippet. Also, the covers of your books look great. I hope mine ends up looking as good.
Thank you!
In the beginning, I thought I would do my own cover art because I dabbled in art and graphic design in my youth. Thankfully, TK Toppin and Patrick Stutzman talked me out of that. I didn’t realize how much difference a REAL artist would make until I worked with one and she is AMAZING!
http://tomomi-ink.blogspot.com/p/book-covers.html
Sweet fragility and blind ambition. I absolutely love it!!
Great description of their fear.
“They reeked of that strange combination of sweet fragility and blind ambition that marked aspiring starlets.” Love that line – very vivid. 🙂
I love the combination line as well – says so much.
It is so cool that’s the line everyone loves. That wasn’t in the first draft. It wasn’t until I showed this scene to betas (as a short story) that I put it in. They kept asking “how does he know they’re aspiring starlets?” That right there is an argument in favor of the beta reader!
Thanks everyone!