I'm excited to share the cover of my upcoming release, Bard of Bristol.
When famous Bard, Leif Garnette, comes to a small out-of-the-way village, with the intent to a write a book of women’s fantasies, he’s met with a strong-willed woman who leaves him scrambling for words.
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Excerpt (copyright 2011) -
With his face half hidden, he peered through the window, wondering just how things had gotten out of hand.
“Well if it isn’t the famous peeping Tom who passes himself off as a writer.”
Leif turned around to see Becky standing with her hands on her hips and a scowl on her face.
“I promise you, I am a writer as well as a storyteller.”
“While I may not sit around dishing it up with the women of the town, I am not so deaf that I can’t hear all the talk buzzing around Dorchester Creek. Imagine the likes of you taking advantage of Celia and Danielle. I heard they were throwing themselves at you because you promised to make them rich. I think your behavior is disgusting and request you find yourself somewhere else to stay before you turn my boarding house into a brothel.”
“Can I explain?”
“What’s to explain? You’re walking around out there like the pied piper with a procession of half naked women. Maybe your idea of a proper woman differs from mine, but I’ll not have my good name run down in the mud with you.”
“You really want me to leave? Right now?”
“I’ll give you two days, then I want you out of here, stories and all.”
“Please Rebecca, you need to hear me.”
He wasn’t sure whether to get on his knees or not.
“I knew you were a smooth talker for a reason. All your compliments and poetry, it was all just get me in bed so you could write about me and add me to your list of sexual conquests.”
“No, you’re wrong. I have been writing about you, but not in the way you think. Last night I tried my hand at a poem, and it was about you. I was inspired by what you had written and it spoke straight to my heart. Because of your poetic words, my heart spoke back to you.”
“I don’t want to hear another word from you Mr. Garnette. Dinner will be ready at six sharp, provided of course you’re not off gallivanting around with the other half of the women in town.”
She turned and disappeared into a room in the corner, slamming the door behind her.
Leif felt like a jerk. As much as he wanted to get angry and yell at her, he could also see her side of things, and it looked bad. Out the window he could still see the group of women, and decided the whole project was out of control. If it would cost him the woman he loved, than it wasn’t worth it.
He strode up to his room and looked over the words he’d written since starting his journey.
Pages and pages of were filled with his ideas and visions coming to life, and how he hoped to make a difference. It could have worked, but he messed up somewhere. Through all the learning of what other women fantasized about, he’d come face to face with the woman he’d been dreaming of for a year. The black hair, soft body, sweet voice, it was Rebecca, he was sure of it.
Was the curse of Dorchester Creek behind all this? It seemed love was a taboo subject here, and it had its clutches around him as well.
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Bard of Bristol by Ann Cory - releases next week!
Ann Cory
