Finding the lost Snark and Lucky Seven Challenge…

Well, it’s been a busy week here at the Swamp. Eerie, Mischevious, the Muses and I decided to track down Snarky’s missing snark. Eerie, Mischevious and I had to swing by the Swamp Shack and drag out the Muses. They weren’t too thrilled to be put to work, but I really didn’t have the patience to deal with their complaints. Plus, they were facing off with Quirky’s bartending Muse regarding their running tab. Before things could get dicey, I convisicated all the sharp edged weapons, and got the mini crowd into the armored Humvee so we could start our search. Chances were good that Snark had probably started out to welcome Dreamer to the neightborhood and got sidetracked. She can be a little ditzy in the best of times, but we make allowances. First up was the Filet Your Own Deli (yep, the name changes weekly!) because the Muses decided they needed to “stock up” for the search. Seriously? You’d think those two had a hollow leg or three stashed somewhere. I sent Mischevious ahead to the Swamp Thing’s place, because my Muse was speculating how many feathers would be needed for her new pillow and Mischevious was looking a little gray.

Once Eerie and I had rounded up our remaining charges and set off down the trail, we made quick work of the shops Snark could have gotten lost in–Knaves’ End, Everzombie & Flesh, Cave & Coffin, and Vladimir’s Secret. No such luck. Finally, after hours of listening to the Muses gritch about the lack of beverage options, we ended up at the Werewolf Moonastary. We lost the old white haired dude somewhere in the whites, but over in the reds we found Snark. Oh yes, she was passed out in front of a bottle littered table. Seems the reds were a bit much for her plebian palate. Eerie and I dragged her to the Humvee, while my Muse took off with one of the hairy monks. Mischevious found us at Snarky’s, pouring coffee down the slowly reviving Snark. Give it a few more days, and she should be up to snuff. If not, I’m sure Snarky Dwark will whip her into shape. Literally.

As I headed home I passed Dreamer’s lovely place. She was out adding something colorful to her yard. I didn’t have the heart to tell her it may not make through the next full moon. Maybe she’ll get lucky and the moat and C. Adile’s cousins will be able to keep her lawn safe. If not, the Prankster Duo is having a fun time with the Hellhound playing hide-n-seek-the-pieces with Eerie’s Zombie hordes. We might be able to keep them hidden for a few more days! Just enough to worm our way into Dreamer’s heart.

So this weekend I’m off, leaving Knight in slightly muddy armor in charge of the Duo as Snarky and I crash the Desert Dreams Writer Conference. Hopefully we’ll make a few new conquests…umm..friends.

And lastly, this week I was challenged by the mighty UF writer Marie Loughin (aka @mmloughin on Twitter), for the Lucky Seven. For those who aren’t familiar, Lucky Seven is a simple little Twitter game that goes like this:

go to page 7 or 77 in your current manuscript
go to line 7
post on your blog the next 7 lines, or sentences, as they are
tag 7 other people to do the same

It’s fun, it’s simple, and it can give you a chance to make your fellow writers show off! So, since I just finished the third and final edits of Shadow’s Soul (out in June 2012), you’re getting a sneak peak of page 77:

Raine laughed, she couldn’t help it. Even Gavin couldn’t stop the twitch of his lips, while Xander lowered her head as if to hide her face. If Tomás thought threatening to sic Mulcahy on them was going to pull them in line, he was bound for disappointment. Mulcahy was the captain of the Wraiths, and if he hadn’t trusted them to do their job, he wouldn’t have sent them down here in the first place.

“Please do, Alpha Chavez,” she said. “Let him know we’ll contact him in the next day or so.” She didn’t need to lower her shields to feel the roil of power coming off the alpha because of her dismissive tone.

And now for the next seven victims!

Liv Rancourt @LivRancourt

Amber Kallyn @AmberKallyn

Joe Alfano @Zombie_Joe

Adriana Ryan @adrianaryansc

Mackenzie Crowne @MacCrowne

Cynthia Woolf @CynthiaWoolf

Rachel Firasek @RachelFirasek

* “Tagged” means that you were called to action or attention via social media avenues such as Twitter or Facebook. So I know I told you about it!

For those following along with my guest posts, this week you’ll find me:

4/22/12 Black Opal’s Some Stories Told should have my post on Pantsing It…Writer Style.

4/24/12 Denise Alicea’s The Pen Muse where you get to follow my first meeting with Raine McCord!