The No Where Apocalypse

Alone and drunk, Bob Reiniger awakens in a remote cabin in northern Michigan. He's on a break from his stressful life and job. A week of drinking, followed by another week of sobering up, is just what he needs. At least that's his plan.

Little does he know that he'll never again return to his life and his young wife in Joilett, IL. The end of the world as we know it has arrived while he slept.  And it traps him in the absolute center of NO WHERE!

With limited supplies and zero knowledge of how to survive on his own, Bob is forced to seek help from others. Even if that means meeting a strange cast of northern characters that each lives miles away from his grandfather's musty old cabin. Miles that must be traveled on foot. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.

Wolves, road bandits, and weather become his new adversaries. Even getting water from his well with a hand pump proves difficult. He worries that winter will kill him. If he only knew that several men would try to end his life before that, his worries could have been saved.

Come meet Bob. Come meet his neighbors: Dizzy, Lettie, Frank, Marge, Nate, and Violet. New people will enter his life. Some will be good and kind: Daisy, Libbie, Jean, Thaddeus Wilson and his sons. Others will be the scum of the Earth, looking to take all that is his.

In the end, Bob must either survive and protect his possessions and his friends, or give in and go the way of the former world!

   

If you are seeking a character driven, post-apocalyptic series for your fall reading -- these are the books for you. With over 300 four and five star ratings many have enjoyed Bob's tales. 

And, if you are a member of Kindle Unlimited you can read them all for free.

Check out book one of The No Where Apocalypse today.

Thank you for being a reader,

e a lake

It was a dark and stormy night...

Most of us believe that it was Charlie Brown's dog, Snoopy, that first penned these words. Not true, my friends, not true.

Actually, that is the opening line written by English novelist Edward Bulwer-Lytton in his 1830 novel Paul Clifford. 

I have to be honest, I've never read Paul Clifford. And until a few weeks ago, I would have given credit to Charles M. Schultz (the creator of Peanuts) for penning the words. And, of course, I would have been wrong!

So, what's my point?

A great opening line can really set the tone for the reader. Consider these:

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." (Dickens: A Tale of Two Cities)

"Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul." (Nabokov: Lolita)

"It was a pleasure to burn." (Bradbury: Fahrenheit 451)

And, of course:

"Call me Ishmael." (Melville: Moby Dick)

Not all Opening are created equal

Sometimes a story just starts; no banging of drums or blaring of trumpets. The writer eases into their words - hopefully sucking the reader along. If he or she is good, you keep going. But at times even great writers lose their reader in the first chapter, the first paragraph, perhaps even the first line.

Think about this the next time you start a new novel. See how the writer draws you into their world; a world created just for the readers enjoyment. What is it that makes you keep going? The story? The characters? Or perhaps something about the setting?

As a writer I often ease into the story, letting the reader become comfortable with the pace and setting. I have used flashy first lines, but that's the exception not the rule for me. 

Let me draw you in, dear reader. Let me create a world, for you, that is so easy to believe, so real, that you can't put my book down.

I hope that's what I do, at least. I've received many wonderful reviews and comments on my three published novels (see below). 

Tell me about your favorite opening line (or chapter) in the comment section below! I'd love to hear what each of you has to say.

Until next week, check out one of those novels I've mentioned above. Perhaps even give Paul Clifford a chance; I know I might.

e a lake

(click on my books below to see more)

                       

Game of Thrones: Who Is Your Favorite

Okay, let me start off by saying some of you won't like some of my choices. My youngest son and I argue about this all the time. The last two in particular.

"Games of Thrones" is a huge hit for HBO. And why not. It has a little bit of everything for everyone. As long as you like medieval times, lots of blood, a certain amount of foul language, and action that never seems to end (and did I mention blood?).

George R. R. Martin created a masterpiece - or should I say a large volume of masterpieces - a number of years back. The first book was published in 1996. That's some 15 years before the first episode was viewed by millions. There are five books (thus far) is this series:

1. A Game of Thrones
2. A Clash of Kings
3. A Storm of Swords
4. A Feast for Crows
5. A Dance with Dragons

And each book pretty is much laid out in the first five seasons of the TV series. Okay, stop it all you purists. Book five and season five have some differences. We will talk about those another day. Still, in these five books/seasons I have come to love three certain characters. So without further verbiage, here they are:

#1 - Tyrion Lannister

Yes, Tyrion Lannister is a dwarf - The Imp is his implied name on the show. The youngest of three children he is loved by his older brother and despised by his older sister (although most of us despise Cersei in return).

What I love about Tyrion is his compassion, his humanity. He is the one character who always seems to have the best interests of everyone at heart. And yet, he is often times hated for these traits.

Peter Dinklage has done a great job in the role of The Imp. Most of the time I believe him to be the best actor, and thus the star, in the series.

#2 - Petyr Baelish

This guy is a stud. I mean an all out certified stud. No one loves him and everyone should fear him - always! He wields so much power from behind the scenes that it makes my head spin at times.

From the time he was a boy he was in love with Catelyn Stark. Yet, he betrays her husband at a critical moment in season one, which makes me wonder about the man. Did he feel that Ned's death would finally bring him what he has always desired?

Littlefinger, his nickname, knows how the Game of Thrones is played. And he shows his moves in the most subtle ways throughout the five seasons. Aidan Gillen brings the character to life of the small screen in an admirable way. The only criticism I have is in the casting. The books make him out to be short and older. Though I believe he is an excellent choice to bring Petyr Baelish to life.

#3 - Ser Jorah Mormont

Ah the sellsword, Jorah Mormont. The disgraced, Jorah Mormont. The protector (and betrayer) of Daenerys Stormborn Targaryen - Ser Jorah Mormont. (That's Ser Jorah on the right above, next to Daenerys).

Holy crap do I ever love this character. Iain Glen truly brings the fallen heir of Bear Island to life in the series. His father, Lord Jeor Mormont, is the Lord Commander of the Night's watch, way up at Castle Black - you know, on The Wall. Thus, he had big shoes to fill. But a series of unfortunate incidents finds Ser Jorah is Essos, far away from him home, selling his sword to the highest bidder. Ain't that just the way life goes sometimes?

Jorah is a nasty swordsman. I mean really nasty...and good. When we finally see his prowess in season five, I know my jaw dropped. He's also a dang good friend to Daenerys. Though he was originally sent by Lord Varys to spy on the thirteen-year-old child. Hey, none of us are perfect.

My youngest child spits when I mention how much I admire Ser Jorah. "He's just a dirty, rotten sellsword. He's only near Daenerys because he was bought by the Small Council back in King's Landing. A traitor, I tell you. That's all he is."

Well, we can argue about that next week when he and his brother give you their top three characters. Until then I'm sticking with The Imp, Littlefinger, and Ser Jorah.

Do you have a favorite from the show? Do you disagree with any of mine? Please comment below. I'd love to hear from everyone on this subject.

Until next week, consider picking up A Game of Thrones for your next read. It's only 830-some pages; how long can that take to read? (Hint - it goes fast, real fast).

e a lake

                       

The Walking Dead - Part One

So, you're a fan of AMC's The Walking Dead. Bully for you (and me...I love the show). Let's get right to it with this week's video.

This week, son #2 and I discuss the basics of the show, some of our favorite characters, the trouble with Atlanta, and even the graphic novel on which the show is based. Yes, we talk about zombies for a bit, the end of the world, the post-apocalyptic setting...all that happy stuff.

Next week we will explore the show even deeper. More specifically, we'll look into some of what I call "The Problems" with the show. At least issues that I have questions about. Perhaps son #2 will have some answers.

So look for the second part then; hope to have that up on Wednesday (7/29). Schedules and video feeds will determine that for us though...as it did this week.


Until then, have a great week. And start a good book!


e a lake

                       

New Book Blog Tour Announcement

Please share this with as many of your friends as you dare.

There will be special pricing on this book during the tour.







Thank you!


e a lake

                       

Cover that Book?

Copyrights: Literature vs. Music

Okay, I got a bone to pick this week with the music industry. And I think I make a good case - perhaps a great case. Or, maybe, it will just come off as whining. Let's get to it.

You will recall that last week I told you about my great idea for rewriting Hemingway's Old Man and The Sea. I'm going to change a few names, move it from Cuba to Bayfield, Wisconsin and let it roll. Mine will be titled, The Old Fart and the Lake. If you didn't read that post, click here.

But wait, that makes me a thief (or at least a hack)


If I don't change it enough, I violate Copyright Laws. At best, people will yawn and laugh at me. And that's not the reputation I am seeking.

And this is where my problem begins...

First off - I LOVE music covers. I love song covers, I love cover groups - I just love it all. Hey, I stopped and listened to Neil Dynamite at the MN State Fair several years ago. He was actually pretty darn good.

And who among us doesn't love a good (or even bad) Elvis impersonator? "Honeymoon in Vegas" style.

Here's OneRepublic with their hit Counting Stars:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT_nvWreIhg

I really like the song. I like the music, the lyrics, and even the video. (Though can someone tell me what the crocodile represents...please?)

Now while you are on YouTube, go ahead and search for covers on Counting Stars. Go on, do it now; I'll wait for you right here.

Results? About 100,000+. And some are quite impressive.

Alex Goot, Kurt Schneider, and Chrissy Costanza - 39 million+ views
Cimorelli - 10 million+
Christina Grimmie - 8 million+
Gardiner Sisters - 2.5 million+
MattyB - 8 million+

And the list goes on

My point: None of these cover groups wrote this music, or the lyrics. Each puts their own small spin on it (Cimorelli cleans up the lyrics, and Gardiner Sisters slow it down), but none are overly original.

AND THAT'S JUST FINE...

With both me and the music industry. Fine with me because I love covers. Fine for the industry because OneRepublic gets more exposure (and is monetized from YouTube). By the way, the original version of the song by the group has more than 829 million views on YouTube.

Cimorelli, for instance, has more than 3 million subscribers on their YouTube channel - built almost exclusively on covers. They have a number of original songs now, they do tour North America and Europe, but their original popularity comes from covering other hit songs. Written and recorded by someone else first. 

And just to be clear - I have NO problem with that.

Let's return to the world of the written word

Old Fart and the Lake will most likely never see the light of day (and that's a good thing in soooooo many ways). Primarily, I will never get permission to "cover" the classic tale in the way I'd like to. Honestly I don't even know where to start. Maybe I'll look up Hemingway in the local phone book and see if anyone is related.

Let's say, in a different vein, that I want to do a knock off of Hugh Howey's smash Wool. Now, there is some fan-fiction already out there in this series, and some of it is even fairly decent. But that's not what I want to do as an author. I want to be original.

In music, one can use covers to get their name out to the public. It's worked many times for many people (Christina Grimmie springs to mind). 

The same does not hold true when it comes to literature. Here, the Copyright Laws are more strictly enforced. Plus, there's no YouTube for writers. 

If you want to make it big in the writing business (and please feel free to define "big" however you would like) you need to be original. Even if there are only seven plot lines running around out there, as some claim.

Others will tell you, "It's all already been written. Anything you do from this point forward is merely cheap imitations." BullCrap! Double BullCrap!!

Get out there, write something. Dream of something wild and crazy to create. You can, as the saying goes, JUST DO IT!

As for me, I am almost finished with a new manuscript entitled 2085. If you can't see the parallel yet, it's okay: (Hint - I am a Dystopian author). I'll have more to say about it in the coming months. Look for it sometime either later this year or early 2016.

Until next week, beat the summer heat with a great read!

e a lake

                       

The Old Fart and the Lake

I've just come across a brilliant book idea. I'm dying to share it with you.

It involves and old man - more of an old fart really - who lives as a fisherman. He fishes daily on, let's say, Lake Superior. His only friend is a young boy, no change that, a young girl. The old fart is hapless, thus the young girl watches after him. Let's call the old man San Diego, and the young girl Marolin. 

One day San Diego goes out fishing and catches a large...fish. Some kind of fish you find in the Great Lakes. Perhaps a salmon or a lake trout. The fish drags him around for days in Superior. And in doing so the old fart discovers the true meaning of his life - perhaps all life.

The other fish, of course, chomp away at his catch after he hauls its corpse to the side of his boat. By the time he gets back to his home port, most of the fish is gone. Marolin finds the remnants of the fish - skeletal mostly - attached to the port side of his small boat, and goes in search of the old man. She finds him at his small dingy home, asleep. Sitting near him, she smiles and allows his slumber to continue unabated.

I tell you: This is going to be a HIT, a true CLASSIC!

Copyright Offender, Plagiarist, or Hack

You decide. Which one am I. No doubt you recognize my story, a whale of a tale of fishing adventure. All due regards to Mr. Hemingway, mine might be better. But - and this is important - it's not mine, literally or figuratively.

Copyright
Old Man and the Sea was written by Hemingway in 1951. According to the Copyright Laws of that time, his work is protected for 95 years from publication date. As such, I am in violation of the law for publishing something he wrote under my name. 

But, if I'm clever and adapt it enough I'm not really republishing his creation; I'm enhancing it, making it better - Right?

Plagiarist
To be a plagiarist, according to the Dictionary, I would have to do the following:

• to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own
• to use (another's production) without crediting the source
• to commit literary theft
• to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source

Okay, maybe that's what I'll be - a plagiarist. But can you really steal an idea? I mean hundreds, thousands have written cheesy romance novels throughout the years. And most of them revolve around two or three different plots. Are they, everyone but the originals, plagiarists?

A Hack
Most likely this is the one that all people would default to - a least their opinions would center around this fact. I'd be called unoriginal, dull, dimwitted. And for the most part they would be correct. I mean am I that lazy that I can't think up a decent plot on my own? 

If it was my first novel, it would no doubt be my last (at least under that pen name). Even if it was my fifteenth novel, who would dare purchase anything from me again? I'd be finished in the writing world.

A However
But there are those who take classics and give them new twists. To do this they painstakingly rewrite the base plot and insert their own ideas. Seth Grahame-Smith has done a wonderful job with this. Consider some of his works: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. Seth has created a whole new genre almost, combining the classics (which we've all read - right?) and some current popular ideas.

So it can be done. All throughout the art (creation) world it can work. Maybe...

Next week I'll do a little contrasting and comparing with other areas of art: Movies, Paintings, and my personal favorite - Song covers.


Until next time, perhaps give one of Seth's many titles a try...you might enjoy it.



e a lake

                       

Get to know the Author

Here's an idea; how about this week I answer some general questions about myself. That way you'll get a better idea just who I am, both as a person and as a writer.

All I've done is to take some questions from previous interviews, ones that I've been asked for my book blog tours. Perhaps you haven't read any of those interviews. And while I could point you in the direction of each and every one of them, saved here and there on the blogosphere, I believe it will be easier for all of us if I just do it here in one spot and at one time. Plus, you get a chance to meet me on video.

So, without further pause, let's get this show started:

As always, have a great week, read a great book, and enjoy the chilly spring nights curled up in bed.



e a lake

My Books:

                        https://booklaunch.io/ealake5/kids-at-war

Just say NO! to profanity

Let's start with football

Late last fall, I watched the Packers hammer the Pats in Green Bay. I watched it on TV, I should add, not in person. I already live in a cold climate, I know what cold feels like. I don't have to go out to enjoy freezing.

Anyway, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers faced off on the frozen tundra. The game was an instant classic, maybe. I hate the Pats, and equally hate the Pack. So I was sort of cheering for the end of the world while the game was on; that way they'd both lose.

After one fruitless series, I watched as Tom Brady trotted to the sidelines and let out a string of profanity that even my three-year-old granddaughter could have lip-read. One of the announcers said something like, "That Brady, he's such a competitor." The other mindless boob in the booth chimed in, "Sometimes you just got to get it out and move on."

Really? That's our attitude to open profanity now? Watched by 20 million people. Really?

Later that night I watched the Broncos and the Chiefs. I like the Broncos; I really like Peyton Manning. He's a classy guy.

So Manning trots off one time, after missing a wide open Wes Welker, and shakes his head. As lips parted, I carefully watched for his silent words (thank God they don't have a ton of open mikes on the sidelines). And then the frustration boiled over and Peyton let it fly.

"Dang it," he chided himself. "Dang it!"

Now, let's talk about writing

I know some of you are clever and like to use lots of large, complex words. Some even go as far to fill pages with similes and metaphors. Sentences have perfect construction; paragraphs fly by with seemingly no effort. All is well in your writing.

So explain this to me, as if I were a simpleton: Why do you feel the need to fill your dialog with profanity? Really, I'm dying to know.

I've been told there are good reasons for the use of these kinds of words, sparingly though. Certainly not in every other line. Here's a few of the good ones:

1. Profanity is the language of the real person. Really? You think the Barack Obama uses a lot of cussing throughout the day? I don't. I've heard my mother swear once in her life; sadly in reference to me. Something, I did, made an "ass" of myself. That's it; her big use of profanity, saved up for a one-time use on me - for effect.

2. Profanity makes your writing real. NO! It actual cheapens your writing. You couldn't be any more clever than to spit out a disgusting word that is typically reserved for rap songs and trailer park conversations? And you think that's real? Tell me, how stupid does that sound!

3. The big authors do it, so should we. I know several who use profanity in their writing. Mostly, they use it sparingly, certainly not every page. But here's the rub: They are huge authors, with followings in the millions. You (we) are Joe (or Josette) Schmo; following in the dozens.

Early on in my writing career I read several articles on this touchy subject. The articles all said the same thing: You risk cutting your readership by more than half with the continued use of harsh language. That made me sit up and really think. The occasional "damn" or "hell" is forgiven. Even the once in a while "shit" can fly under the radar. But start dropping f-bombs and people will take notice - and not in a good way.

In 2016, I will introduce you to a character with a military background. In his particular branch of service, the f-word is used as a noun, an adjective, a verb, and so on. Yet, in the almost 650,000 words I plan for the four-book set, not once will he use something as crude as an f-bomb.

Mind you, I'm surrounding him with a family of younger ladies. And one of these young women is on him all the time about his salty language. "Really, Mr. Smith. Must you be so crude?" And that follows him telling her to "mind her own damn business." There are plenty of other ways to get his hardened personality across. I chose from the onset to portray John Smith's crustiness to my readers without resorting to long tirades of profanity.

In the end, it's your choice

So choose wisely, please.


Until next week, enjoy life through the eyes of another... in a book.


lake

My Books:

                        

How to improve your grammar, as you write

Today, I have a few writing tips for you. Mostly I'll focus on improving your grammar (perhaps I should call it prose). And here's a little secret before we begin, you can do these things right as you are creating your documents (in my case manuscripts).

Understanding Word

First off, many of us create using some type of Word program. Perhaps it's Microsoft Word itself (at least one of the various versions of this program available). Did you know there's also something called Microsoft Word Online? A Word program that you never have to download to your computer. I happen to use Word for Mac; it's not as robust and full of features as the standard Word version, but I like it nonetheless.

We all know, or at least we should know, that when you misspell a word in this program, a red line pops up under the word. Highlight that word and you can find correct spellings 99% of the time. As an aside, many times I get the dreaded No Suggestion comment, instead of two or three suggested spellings. All this means is that I've mistyped the intended word so badly even a highly enhanced computer program can't figure out what I'm trying to convey.

You should also know that Word tries to tell you when your sentences don't make sense. Some will say, "Really?" Yes, really folks.

As you're creating, you'll notice a green line pop up occasionally under a sentence. This means that your sentence is not structurally sound - your grammar has an error. Sometimes there will be Consider Revising. Oh, that's a lot of help. So my sentence is fragmented, and it needs revision. What the heck is a fragmented sentence anyway, and how can I fix it?

One method is to read the passage aloud, and see if you can talk your way to a better sentence. Early on in 2013 I did this a lot. Sometimes it works, and the foul green line disappears. More often than not, my fixes are just as bad as the original version.

Ever Heard of Grammarly?

Grammarly is a software package that "Checks your grammar right from your browser or Microsoft Office. Improve your writing in emails, documents, social media posts, messages, and more." It is, for me at least, the bee's knees!

Even after I've eliminated every error that I can find in my manuscripts, I always run each chapter through Grammarly before I send it out for beta-reading. The program helps me eliminate passive phrases, mis-used words, missing commas, poorly constructed compound sentences, and much, much more. In short, Grammarly makes me look twice as good as my rough draft would show.

There are other programs out the that do the same function. To list just a few there is: White Smoke, Writer's Workbench, Right Writer, and so on. Just search "writing enhancement software" in your browser, and all sorts of choices will pop up.

A Quick thought on Scrivener

Recently I began using a more robust writing software named Scrivener. While the jury is still out on it's true value for me, I will say that I like it - at first blush.

Positives - Create chapters and even scenes, all in one place. No more having a separate Word folder for each chapter (and then group of chapters as you combine). The same misspelling warning, (the thin red line) as found in Word, is embedded in Scrivener. And a big plus, I can keep all of my research and character sketches right in my manuscript file. No more searching for this folder or that file. Everything I need is in the left-hand drop down menu for my immediate use.

Negatives - First off, there's lots of options I just can't use. It's like a Ford Focus driver jumping into a Ferrari; there are just so many bells and whistles that you're not used to. Also, some of the document formatting tools aren't very user-friendly. Which also reminds me - their user manual needs an update. I have yet to be able to use that piece of literature.

But, and I say this again, I like the tool all-in-all.

There are lots of tools available for every writer of every level. You just need to find them, and then consistently use them. At the end of the day these tools make your editor's job a whole lot easier. Oh yeah, don't forget to use an editor. Another set of professional eyes needs to review your manuscript before you hit the publish button. My editors are worth their weight in gold.


Until next week, keep enjoying winter. I'm using it to read a couple of classics over the next month: Joseph Heller's Catch-22, and, 'Salem's Lot by Stephen King.



e a lake

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Enjoying Winter? Move Here!

Living in the upper Midwest, Minnesota more precisely, winter can be a brutal season. Already we've experienced double-digit negative temps; wind chills that can freeze exposed flesh in five to ten minutes; daytime highs below zero. Yeah, for all of you not from here, it's cold - really cold.

Another thing I need to tell you warm weather folks is that you never actually get used to being this cold. Oh sure, people up here brag about surviving in the icebox of the US. "Needed a scarf today, even a hat," locals joke. But on nights where it's 30 below and the windchill hovers around 50 below, no one goes outside unless they really, really have to.

But just how cold is it? I don't mean temperature, I mean in words.

It's really cold outside.

Okay, this tells me absolutely nothing. Cold is a relative term. A cold morning in LA could mean 45 degrees...above zero (wimps). Cold in Alaska could be 50 below. Let's try again.

It's cold enough to freeze the feet off a brass monkey.

Oh, now we're going with cliches; how wonderful. Again this tells me nothing. Use your words.

It's the type cold that takes your breath away.

This is better. Especially if you live in a climate where you know what cold really means. But what about for our warmer weather friends? People who've never had the cold take their breath away?

It's the type of cold where snow crunches under the weight of car tires, sounding like...

This is good, really good. When you use senses to help describe situations, people start to develop a picture in their mind. The better the words and phrases, the clearer the picture.

It's cold enough to freeze hot water within seconds; where exposed flesh will freeze (and ultimately burn) from three minutes of exposure. A cold so brutal, so bracing that even dogs refuse to go outside. Where steam rises from 33-degree lake water, freezing into tiny ice crystals in the frigid air.

There is a lesson here for all of us; not just writers, but everyone. We each possess enough language skills to accurately tell anyone from anywhere what we are thinking. Challenge yourself to find the best words possible for each sentence. Don't give into vagueness or cliches.

This year I'm trying to focus my descriptions into clear pictures. Not just sometimes, but every time - all descriptions. Of course, I need to watch out for the dreaded "purple prose"; where over-description ruins paragraph after paragraph. I know there's a fine line, a sharp edge to this game. Happily, I accept the challenge of finding that elusive line.


Have a great week,


e a lake

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Bonus Post: Excerpt from WWIV - Kids at War (Book 2)

Today, I have a gift for my readers. An excerpt from Book Two of my WWIV series (Kids at War).

The other day, while thinking of this book, I realized that maybe some of you are on the fence about Book Two. Maybe it's because this book has a new setting, new characters, new time. Perhaps it's because my protagonist in Kids at War is a 27-year-old nun. But Sister Theresa is awesome I have to tell you. Small is size, but huge in heart.

Give this small excerpt from Chapters 7 and 8:

Excerpt from WWIV – Kids at War

The five teens, clutching five babies, stood nervously in the far end of the front bedroom. Theresa eyed them cautiously. “We need to keep the babies as quiet as possible for the next little bit,” she said. “Hopefully this danger will pass quickly and we can get on with our day.”

The girls snuck peeks at one another as Theresa went amongst them with words of encouragement. Reaching Sarah, Theresa whispered in her ear. “Is the back door still locked?”

Sarah’s eyes instantly filled with tears as she gave a small shake of her head. “I unlocked it to get some wood for the fire in the dining room. I’m so sorry, Sister.”

Theresa stroked her arm gently. “It’s okay Sara. All will be fine.”

Theresa listened carefully for what seemed to be an hour, but likely was only a minute or two. From the far lower end of the house they heard the back door creak loudly as it opened. Raising a single finger to her lips, she reminded the girls to keep quiet.

“Hello?” boomed a male voice from the first level. “We know you’re all here somewhere. We saw the lot of you yesterday.” Most of the teens’ eyes filled with tears hearing the baritone voice. Theresa remained strong and gave the group a reassuring nod.

“All we want is some food and company. Really,” the same voice sang out once more. Theresa listened carefully for any other conversation, hoping to stay a step ahead of the pair.

The group waited as they heard doors being opened, drawers pulled out, and loud plodding footsteps from the men below. For once, only by God’s grace in Theresa’s mind, all of the babies laid quietly next to their mothers. Theresa’s quaking right hand covered her mouth as she tried to steady her breathing. She prayed fervently the men would not come upstairs.

Only another slow moment passed before she heard the door of the stairway open. Turning to her group, she again pressed the same finger to her lips. Several heads nodded their agreement. Emily sat on one of the beds, face pointed down, clutching and rocking Cal. Theresa softly touched her shoulder hoping to calm the young girl.

“We know you’re up here somewhere. Pretty sure you didn’t all just disappear on us,” the same man called again with a noticeable laugh in his tone. “We just want some food, darlings.” The creaking of the old white painted stairs caused Theresa to flinch. She needed a plan, badly, but none came to mind as she scanned the room for a weapon.

The sound of Karen’s door being torn open caused Sheila, and then Sara, to scream. Theresa glanced back at the frightened pair, both in tears. Flashing a quick stern look, she turned as footsteps came closer. After a brief moment of silence, she drew a sharp breath as the door handle spun.

Throwing the door open, the first man stepped inside grinning. Tall and heavy, he eyed the group with great anticipation. Theresa was about to say something when the second man entered behind the first. This man was tall as well, but thinner than the first. Much thinner.

After mustering all the courage she could find, Theresa stepped forward to stop the men’s advance. The leader eyed her lewdly. Still in her nightshirt and sweat pants, Theresa crossed her arms to cover her chest. The man’s eye finally came back to hers.

“Well hello there, darling,” he said in an almost sweet tone. “Why’d you make it so hard for me and Johnny to find you all?”

Theresa stared down at the blade in his hand.

Noticing her eyes, he held the knife up for everyone’s inspection. “This is just to make sure no one does anything stupid. Right Johnny?” he said to his partner.

Johnny’s smirk made Theresa wince. His dry lips and dull gray teeth displayed his months and years of life on the road. “That’s right, Randy,” he replied, holding his larger knife up as well.

Theresa took another smaller step forward. “I’m going to have to ask you men to leave,” she said as forcefully as possible. “We have babies here that are being taken care of by my group. There’s no room or time for this. Please, be decent and just leave.”

The nasty pair smirked at her words.

“Really, I am Sister Theresa of the order of …”

The leader raised his hand, cutting off her words. “I don’t care who you are lady. What we want is food,” he demanded. Licking his chapped lips he gazed past Theresa at the younger girls. “And a couple of you to keep us company while we get that food. You…” He pointed at Theresa then at Karen. “…and you. Come downstairs and make us some breakfast. The rest of you stay up here. We have, ah…” He winked at his partner. “…adult things to discuss. It doesn’t pertain to a bunch of little girls. Just these two.” He waggled his knife between Theresa and Karen emphasizing his point.

Theresa slowly raised her folded hands toward the man. “I beg of you, please. This isn’t what you want. We can give you food and then you can be on your way. Please, don’t harm any of my girls.”

The leader leered deep into Theresa’s pleading eyes and drew a long deep breath. “Sister, it appears you need to understand the situation a little better. We want food and some adult entertainment. We have knives, you…well, you see what you’re up against. Don’t make us hurt one of those babies to convince you what you need to do otherwise.”

Tears filling her eyes, Theresa approached dangerously close to the man. “Please sir, please,” she begged. “Just take me then. Leave the others alone. I’ll give you food and whatever else you want. Just don’t harm any of the others.”

The man’s eyes steeled as his face drew tight. “Sister,” he began in a quiet ominous tone. “We make the rules. We have the knives.” The knife’s sharp edge drew near to her face. She tried to speak again but nothing came out. Trying to make a quick decision, her thoughts left her as another voice came from the hallway.

"And I’m the guy with the gun.” A lone man stepped forward with a barrel trained on the pair of road ruffians. “And I think she said she wanted you to leave.” The man’s dead eyes bore into the knife-wielding pair. No emotion crossed his face as he remained fixed on the two.

I hope you enjoyed this little preview. If you have any questions on this book, or any of my writing, please feel free to drop me a line at: ealake5@gmail.com.



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