Work in Progress Wednesday!

I’m participating in #AuthorAugust23 and the prompt on Sunday is to share our current word count. I’d love to tell you that between Sunday and today there was a vast amount of new writing. Alack and alas, this is still pretty accurate because I’m cutting big chunks of Hannah’s Song to make room for my new main characters.

The good news is that I’m falling hard for the characters—in a way I never did before this overhaul of a rewrite.

Here’s a snippet I wrote recently when I realized we needed to meet Grace & Everson’s sweet dogs.

“Well, I felt like bringing you these,” I put her down and hand her the huge bundle.

“I love them! Look at these colors.” She hums a tune I haven’t heard before as she hunts for a vase large enough to put them in. 

“Where are the dogs?”

“Banished to the backyard while I cleaned. You can let them in if you wipe their paws.” 

I grab a “dog towel” from the laundry room and let in our rescue mutts, a chihuahua-terrier mix named Aslan and a mutt who looks like a schipperke named Guenhwyvar. “Hey kids,” I greet them. They sit on the doormat when they see the towel in my hand. “No dummies, you two,” I praise them. “Aslan, your feet, please.” He obliges. “Guen.” She lifts her jet black paw for me. “Please be neat and tidy for your momma,” I whisper to them. Their goofy grins let me know they understand. 

“Oh, pretty babies,” Grace coos. “Did you get cleaned up for me?” She scritches all four ears. “Go to bed, please. I’m not done in here.” They do as they’re told—I know, right? They are a testament to my wife’s patient training. Were it left up to me, we’d be unwashed heathens, all three of us, muddy paws and beer bottles strewn about. 

After Grace loves on the mutts and puts her flowers in a sunny spot on the kitchen table, she finishes up—what is that? Silver polish?—polishing silverware, I guess.

I put down my bookbag, loosen my tie, sit at the kitchen island, and try not to worry. Cleaning means Grace is upset. Or worried. Or both.