Note from Kathleen: I give you permission to skip this part and go directly to the excerpt, if you like. 🙂
Soon my contract with the publisher will end and I’ll be on my own again. Reminds me of the song: On My Own Again, by Gilbert O’Sullivan. Okay, it’s not exactly the same situation, but the title fits. Just incase you want to listen to it later, Â or while you’re reading my post, here it is. I think you’ll love it:Â https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_P-v1BVQn8&noredirect=1.
I’m not sure what’s going to happen, but I’m moving on and working on other projects, one being a novel called Big Town Secrets or (Claire) I named it BTS first, but when I saw that one of my favorite books Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani http://www.amazon.com/Big-Stone-Gap-Adriana-Trigiani-ebook/dp/B000FBFMS4 is coming out with a movie and  because I want to promote it, I thought maybe I should change the name. I read the book a number of years ago and it wasn’t on my mind when I named my book beginning with the word “Big’, it was just coincidence, anyway still thinking about it. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I posted the first page under, Project. I don’t know if other writers feel this way, but when I read a book and see something that reminds me of my book I sort of cringe because I don’t want anyone to think I got the idea from another book.
I’ve decided to do a full outline which will include interviews with all the characters. I’ll have some of them at the end of the book, and maybe all, who knows. One of the reasons I decided to do this is that there have been times while reading a book I long to know more about a character or have a deeper understanding of the story-line. Â Another reason is that a couple of years ago after reading a book I was so disappointed it was over that I thumbed through the back of the book in search of anything that would keep me in the story. There I found an interview and I was not only thrilled, but I loved it. After that I always knew i wanted to do that.
With September Wind I sat down and wrote the story in six months. I won second place in a contest, and then I started my edits, adding chapters and taking others out, self-publishing once, and pulling it back. I sent it to two other publishers, and then it was picked up my Solstice Publishing, now under Summer Solstice: http://solsticepublishing.com/summer-solstice-young-adult-romance/?sort=featured&page=2. Thanks for publishing my book Solstice.
I know we’re supposed to let our books go, but I’m looking to change a few things, rework the cover and release it again.
So far, the reviews on Amazon for SEPTEMBER WIND have been great. I’ve had numerous well-written comments, which I appreciate, although as I’m finding samples to post I see little things here and there I want to change, which I have done here:
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
Emily and Rose walked into the terminal at the San Francisco airport just as their flight to the Midway in Chicago was announced. Officer Douglas escorted them out to where the plane sat on the tarmac and ordered them to stay back until all the other passengers were onboard.
Emily looked the plane over amazed at its size and frightened by what was about to happen to her. She tightened the grip on her bag feeling the notebook through the cloth comforted by the bird on the cover with its beautiful white wings like soft pillows waiting, always waiting, to carry her from her troubles.
As the last passenger headed up the steps, Emily felt the officer beside her. “Let’s go,” he said. “We don’t have all day.”
Rose took her hand, and Emily felt the tension and the sweat in her palm. It warmed her and yet made her feel sad to see how hard her sister was trying to help keep her spirits up.
“You know, Rose,” she said, looking up at the white plane with its red and blue strips. “I’ve always wondered what it would be like to ride on one of those.” Her throat was so dry it didn’t come out as cheerful as she intended.
Rose looked over, raising her brows. “Oh, me too, me too.” She gave Emily’s hand a squeeze, and they smiled at one another stretching their lips out as far as they would go.
The officer motioned Rose to go first, and then followed Emily up the steps. Inside, the plane was like a tunnel, not exactly cozy, leaning toward cramped, everyone already seated, staring at the trio as they passed. The tension was overwhelming, and Emily figured Rose must have felt it too because all of a sudden she whipped around and grabbed her by the elbow.
“This won’t be so bad,” she whispered happily. “I hear there’s a snack once we’re up in the air.”
“That’ll be nice,” Emily said, trying to sound even more excited. “And it’s free… well for me anyway.” Another big smile between the girls.
“The important thing is that we’re sharing the experience together, don’t you think?” Rose bent to get a better look out the window. “And on such a beautiful day.”
Emily cringed to think how she would be reacting if Rose hadn’t come along. She cracked another smile when she realized how much they were alike trying to make the best of things, and joking around pretending they didn’t want to cry.
“All right you two, all the way to the back,” the officer said.
They exchanged a what-a-grouch look and kept walking.
When they reached the last row, Rose offered Emily the window seat, and Officer Douglas sat across the aisle.
As a stewardess laid out safety procedures, the engines rumbled to a start. The cabin fell silent except for the whine of motors and the purr of fans as they taxied from the building. They slowed, turned into position, and then stopped.
Emily leaned toward the window as they began to move again, quickly picking up speed, the world passing in streaks and flickers. With a breath-catching sweep, the plane lifted moving swiftly from the earth as buildings and cars became miniature toys. It seemed they would never stop and then they leveled and finally the roar of the engines faded to a hum.
The stewardesses began to move carts up the aisle. “Emily?” Rose nudged her. “You okay?”
Emily stared out the window a moment longer then leaned back in her seat. “I’m going to jail.”
“No, you’re not.”
“I don’t know, Rose. On the way up, I realized they must really want me bad.” She looked over at Officer Douglas. “Him, and then this plane ride almost all the way across the entire country. Would they go to all this trouble if they didn’t want me there?”
“Oh, come now, you can’t think that way. Listen, let’s talk about something nice. I know. Why don’t you tell me about the guy you met on the train?”
They began to talk then, and laugh a little too, until Emily almost forgot what was waiting for her at the other end.
As they neared their destination, they succumbed to lack of sleep and dozed.
When the plane took a sudden descent, Emily opened her eyes and leaned to the window as they careened over the landscape, closer and closer to the ground until the wheels hit the runway. The earth passed in a blur, and gravity set her up in her seat. The engines groaned as they slowed and made a turn and began to taxi toward the buildings.
Officer Douglas stood and motioned for Emily to stay seated.
When the engines died, an eerie calm filled the cabin as everyone stood and quietly gathered their belongings.
Emily clinched her bag to her chest, taking a deep breath . “Rose? There’s a storm coming. I can feel it in my bones.”
Rose put a hand over Emily’s. “Don’t say that. It’ll be all right.” But Emily heard the uneasiness in her voice.
