Good News and U Got the Look

First of all, yay!  I won 2nd place in Mina's Resurrection Blogfest!  Now I get to sport this fashionable badge on my blog, plus I got an Amazon giftcard.  The giftcard balance disappeared quickly as I eagerly jumped on the opportunity to go book shopping.  I think shopping for books has to be one of my all time favorite things, if only because it leads up to me sitting down with a good book to read and a hot cup of coffee.  A big thank you to Mina for hosting the blogfest, and a quick thank you also to everyone who voted.  With so many terrific entries to choose from, your task as voters couldn't have been easy.  

Also, congratulations to Tamara of One Magic Bean Buyer for her 1st place win, and to Kristina Perez for her 3rd place finish.  Your entries were great.  The other finalists should also be proud of their work.  There's a ton of talent in this blogosphere of ours, no doubt about it.

Next, I was recently tagged for the "U Got the Look" Meme by Jennifer at A Creative Exercise.  Thanks!

This meme didn't come with a badge or anything like that, but I figured I'd post a picture of an eye to stare at you while you read the rest of this post.  Why?  I thought it would be fun, perhaps even a little creepy.  Either way, it works for me.

Image courtesy of graur codrin
/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This meme asks that you go to your current WIP, hunt down the word LOOK, and post the surrounding paragraphs.  Then tag 5 people.

As I perused for the word, which didn't take long at all, it struck me that "look" is a strange word.  It just sounds, and looks, weird if you . . . well . . . look at it too long.  Dang.  No wonder it's such a pervasive word!  It's so darn easy to use!

Anyway, this is from the story I'm editing/rewriting right now.  I haven't edited this particular scene yet, but it seemed like an exciting one to share, so here it is.

Lassandra was focused on the intensity of his golden eyes.  She wondered if this man was real, and what his eyes looked like in real life.  This shade, more gold than the rarest coin, hardly seemed possible in nature.  And she felt certain that the fire bursts of red inside his irises were a figment of Dreamer #18765’s delusion.  The flames licked at the dark circumference of his pupils, igniting in her an insatiable curiosity about just how far he could take her.

As if in response to her silent question, he wrapped his fist in the thin garment and tore it away like it was made of tissue.  The fragments twisted and fluttered like smoldering tendrils.  Gravity failed as they floated, obscuring the movements of the man’s hands, though Lassandra still felt them as they traveled along the soft skin of her stomach.  She trembled beneath his fingers.

The Dreamer’s delicate hand moved through the cloud of red to touch his face.  Lassandra waited eagerly, drinking in the sensations as she felt the stubble on his face, and his hot breath on the palm.

Then the man grasped her wrist, and she held her breath.  Time slowed to a near stop.  This happened often enough during the dreaming, typically during the most intense moments.  It served only to heighten her anticipation, making the payoff that much sweeter.

Only this time, the pause continued long past its normal duration.  Lassandra remained there, frozen, for several long moments before a worried thought wormed its way through the excitement.  Is this a glitch?  If something’s wrong with the system, how long will it take them to get me out?

So, now it's time to tag some people.  Watch out!  I'm coming to get you!

1. C.M. Brown
2. David Powers King
3. Sylvia at Playful Creative
4. Kyra Lennon at Write Here, Write Now
5. Mina Lobo at Some Dark Romantic

The 5 of you can post from anything you're writing right now, or, if you don't want to do that, you can rant about how easy it is to overuse the infernal word look.  

I know it's a busy month for everyone, so don't feel too pressured to do this if you don't feel like it.  I understand, and I won't send aliens to your home to abduct you if you don't.  I'm not that mean.

Image courtesy of digitalart
 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net