ROW80 Midweek and a WIPpet farewell . . .

This week, the heat spell broke. We've opened the windows all day and are simply enjoying the sweet smell of air without smoke from wildfires. Meanwhile, my quest for that in-depth character analysis for the hero in my WIP continues a little murky. The more I think about Dougal, the less I understand of this shadowy man who abandons his wife. But I'm working up a profile and will persevere. After all, he's the hero.

WIPpet snippet: Here's an excerpt following yet another convoluted math calculation: July 23, 2014, 7 for July + x 2 (second excerpt I'm posting) = 14 paragraphs from the current work-in-progress, Rivers of Stone. Storyline: Cat has disguised herself as a boy to follow her husband, Dougal, and join the Hudson's Bay Company.

Chapter XX: York Factory (August 1842)

Cat ran into the barracks. Dougal was bent over his bunk, making a bedroll of clothing and a heavy blanket. "It's true then."

"I dinna want to tell you."

Surrounded by the other voyageurs packing equally fast, Cat could say nothing. "I suppose I wish you a safe journey."

"It's orders. I can refuse, but it's where we want to go. I dinna want us to stay in this cold hell hole. Sit down, Cat." Dougal pushed her down on the wooden shelf that served as his bed. "I'm being sent west, and you can't come with me. You're not strong eno. Ah, Cat, I'll be back for you."

Cat felt frozen. She knew this day would come, when Dougal would walk out of her life. She stared at the men readying for the journey, anywhere but at Dougal, but she saw nothing. She folded her grimy hands in her lap and wanted to throw up. "'Tis a good thing we dinna marry, then."

"Hush." Dougal cuffed her lightly. "You can't say anything now. You'll be sent back."

"What do I do? Stay here in hopes you'll return?"

"I canna make promises. A lot can happen between here and Fort Vancouver." Dougal took her hand. "There's bears and Indians. I'm not liking this, Cat. Maybe there's a way for you to come west , but I don't know."

"Leavin' your brother behind, are you?" Snarks paused to stare at Dougal and Cat. "He's a little guy, ain't he. Wouldn't last long out there. Dinna worry. We'll keep him safe here. We'll teach him to drink at Red River. Maybe he'll grow some hair on his face afore you get back." Snarks laughed and moved on, his hair hanging long over his face.

Dougal shrugged. "Not that you'll listen, but I'd advise against going down to Red River."

"This is no life for us, Dougal."

"We canna talk here. Meet me on the parade grounds. We'll have a bit of a walk."

"So when do you leave?"

"In the morning. Early."

ROW80 Weds check-in: Wednesday seems to come along so fast after Sunday, so this check-in will be remarkably short!

Writing: Slogging away on character development. Words written 995. Found absolutely great "beat" worksheets on Jamie 's site.

Marketing: More progress by Sunday. Mostly built the to-do list longer.

Community: Finished blurbs for library panel with two other local authors on e-publishing (December) and a workshop on "Building A Writer's Toolkit" for a local bookstore (August 20). 

Going to see J. A. Jance lecture tonight, and finished reading one of her books just in time. More about that later on the writing blog. Currently reading Annette Drake's Bone Girl and finding it tough to put down!

Check in to read other ROW80 updates HERE and post an encouraging word to keep us all motivated on these hot summer days. 

See what others have posted for WIPpet Wednesday, a blog hop created by Kate Schwengel at My Random Muse, to encourage writing. And so we write!