This has been a week of ups and downs. It has also been a week when I found who my true friends are. A couple of them I knew I could count on, but there were even more that I didn’t really know about until I received their notes of support. Tell me, when did you discover who your real friends were?
Here is an excerpt from the first draft of my MS, LADY CARO’S ACCIDENTAL MARRIAGE. Although, Horatia is helping Caro, I don’t think either Caro or Huntley are going to appreciate it.
“My lady.” La Valle, his aunt’s majordomo bowed. “The Duca di Venier is here to see you.”
Horatia took a breath. “Did he say what it was about?”
“No, my lady.”
Rising, she shook out her skirts. “Very well, show him into my study. Place two footmen inside the door.”
He bowed again. “Yes, my lady.”
Horatia turned to Caro and Huntley, her face tight with worry. “Make your plans. Caro, you may have run out of time.”
His aunt left the room and when Huntley turned back to Caro, her countenance was alive with tension. “What could he want?”
“Lady Caro, let me take you back to England.”
Her eyes flew open like a wild animal ready to flee.
That was obviously not a good suggestion. Very well then, not England. He rapidly reviewed the places he could take her and not cause a scandal. Where? “Paris. I have friends who have houses there. Two houses.”
Her lips curled. “Really, who are these friends?”
He kept his eyes on her and wished she’d let him take her hand. “You have a choice, either Lord and Lady Evesham’s residence or Lord and Lady Rutherford’s residence. The Evesham’s house is larger, but they are both well situated.”
The hand over her eyes pressed in. “Phoebe and Anna?”
Of course she would have met them both when she came out. “Yes. Both of them will help you.”
Caro crossed her arms over her stomach and rocked. Tears glistened in her eyes. “I don’t have a choice, do I?”
He bit the inside of his lip. “You have a choice now. Leave or …”
Her shattered gaze was fixed straight ahead, but her voice firmed. “Very well. When would you like to leave?”
Horatia came on to the balcony. “You’d better leave as soon as possible. The Marquis has made a formal offer for your hand.” She took a breath. “I told him you were already betrothed to Huntley.”
ellaquinnauthor
Wonderful post! I’d have to say that Friendship is built around a thousand little things, from a text message in the middle of the night offering support during dark times, to someone just giving you a warm smile when they know you need one. And of course, they stick by you, even in super sticky situations.
Thanks, Lauren.
Always good to find out who your BFF’s are! I’ve found mine in my critique group and hope to one day meet them in person! Don’t know what I’d do without them
Nice excerpt, Marion. Think I’m going to like this story 
Jennifer, Thank you. I think critique partners are some of the most supportive people on earth.
I have the best writing friends in the world. I just had a crisis, and four women propped me up through the hell it was.
First, I loved your excerpt. Second, I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for friends–my writer friends have been there for me through thick and thin.
Brenda, thank you. I agree. Writer friends are the best.
I liked your excerpt and it leaves me wondering what happens next.
A couple of points: I didn’t like being told at every speech what the speaker was doing and wonder whether it could be shown in some way. I forget who it was who famously said, “Don’t tell me the moon is shining – show me the glint of moonlight on metal” (or was it water?)
Is Caro pregnant? If not, why is she crossing her hands across her stomach and rocking? Also, I didn’t understand about the hands across her eyes pressing in; and what did you mean by “shattered gaze” – if shattered, how could it be fixed in one place? Can you express her tearfulness other than by her eyes glistening, which is a cliche?
I find it very difficult to write without using cliches, they come so naturally and say exactly what is meant, and it is hard work thinking up something original that does the same job.
Hope the above is helpful. For one of my novels, I received seven pages of criticism, which was somewhat daunting! Some I agreed with and realised I had had the same gut feeling, some I decided to think about, and some I felt was completely wrong and the reader had not got to the essence of the characters. As has been said to me, you don’t have to take any notice of other people’s comments if you don’t want to; after all, it is your book and you can do what you like with it.
Iris
Loved the excerpt. Yes – sometimes it’s hard to know who your friends are. But the ones I’ve found are the best. Thanks, Ella for reminding me.
Thank you.
You’re right about seeing who your true friends are. I can see right through people. If they are genuine or not and I too have noticed recently who really cares. Writing is a lonely business. Thank God for awesome cps!
Very nice excerpt!
Thank you. I agree it can be lonely and we are always putting ourselves out there to be smacked around.
Great excerpt. Friends have your back no matter what. It is great when we know those that we can count on.
NIchelle, Thank you. It is indeed.
It really is amazing who are true friends are. I’ve met a lot of people over the years online…and who can we really call our true friends if we meet them online. But a few years back when I was having problems with my wayward daugther and I was having a mental breakdown, my true friends came forth and called me to give me encouragement. I loved it! Sure made me feel important.
Marion, lovely excerpt!
Marie, Thank you. This week has been an eye opener in many ways.
Love the excerpt.
True friends mean so much but are at times hard to find or define. There have been a few times in my life that I got to fo through the fun of finding out who was real and who was just around. Always hard.
Good luck with for life and book
Aine, Thank you.
Ella,
Sorry you’ve had a bad week. Hope it’s nothing too serious.
Sending you cyber hugs,
Suzi
Hi Suzi, Thanks. It all worked out. Life has a way of doing that.
The excerpt sounds great! Can’t wait to read the book. I love historicals! The site looks really cool too. Love the head picture!
Melissa, Thank you.
Great excerpt. The mark of true friendship is when they listen to you and don’t judge or laugh at you.
Marika
Marika, Thank you.
Loved the excerpt. Wishing you a better week.
Maggie, Thank you. The week has gotten much better.
Wow–way to keep us hanging!
Thanks.
LOL. Thanks, Louisa. I appreciate all the help and encouragement you’ve given me.
Great excerpt! I want to read more.
True friends are hard to come by, but they are the ones you fight to keep. They are the ones you can call at 3am and they will do whatever they can to give you what you need. i have a couple of friends like that and feel blessed. Some of my best friends are cps–people I wouldn’t want to do without, even though i haven’t met them. They have been some of the most supportive people I’ve ever known. Thank God for them.
Jenna, Thank you. I agree. You don’t have to meet people for them to be a significant part of your life.
Interesting post. Loved the excerpt. I have tons of online writing friends. These are people who have listened to me complain and whine and gripe about life with my sister. Then there was dealing with my husband’s various illnesses and his death. Being a part of a writing group in some form makes the world less isolated. I wish I could find a good cp that would help.
Thank you, Cathy. You’ve had a rough year. I’m glad that friends were there to help.
Great excerpt! And you should be flogged for leaving us there! I want to know what happens next !
It is painful and disappointing when people we counted on and believed in prove themselves unworthy of our trust and belief. A little over a year ago, a group of writing friends I trusted as real friends showed themselves to be neither real nor friends. In fact, when I discovered the people they truly were I began to doubt my ability to judge character at all.
Fortunately, I have met so many supportive, wonderful, creative and truly sincere people since I joined RWA and started my writing journey, those others have become a small pothole in the road. And the thing about potholes is, the farther you move away from them the smaller they become in the rear view mirror, until they disappear completely.
The truth is I would never have gotten this far without the help of the true friends, mentors and critique partners I’ve met along the way. And I will always be there for those who have been so kind, supportive and giving to me.