Harriet Is On Her Way
Hello my friend,
In the ever-evolving journey of storytelling, each step brings its own set of challenges and triumphs. This month, I find myself at a pivotal moment in the creation of my latest novel, Harriet's Way. With the clock ticking down, I've secured time with the talented Sue Toth for editorial guidance next month. This leaves me with a precious three weeks to refine and polish a coherent draft that not only meets but exceeds our collective expectations.
The path to finalizing Harriet's Way has been both exhilarating and daunting. I've crafted not one, not two, but three potential endings for our journey. The decision looms large on the horizon, a testament to the myriad possibilities that storytelling affords. Yet, it's not the conclusion that weighs heaviest on my mind—it's the journey itself. The narrative, in its current form, feels burdened in the middle, as if I've attempted to weave too many threads into the tapestry of the tale. It's a delicate balance, one that I'm striving to perfect. The art of writing, I've discovered, is as much about what one removes as what one adds.
This week, I'm thrilled to share with you a glimpse into the world of Harriet's Way. Below, you'll find a snippet from the manuscript, capturing the moment Harriet and Cindy's paths first cross. As you might expect, their initial encounter is anything but smooth. It's a scene that I hope will intrigue and entice, a promise of the complexity and depth awaiting within the pages of Harriet's Way.
As we navigate the intricate process of cutting and rearranging, of breathing life into the world of "Harriet's Way," I am reminded of the power of storytelling. It's a journey that demands patience, perseverance, and a willingness to embrace the unexpected. I am grateful for your continued support and enthusiasm as we venture forth into the heart of Harriet's story.
Warmest regards,
Kevin R Coleman
Molly dropped Harriet off at the largest stable. The doors were open and Harriet peered inside. Cindy was grooming an enormous horse, almost twice her height. Cindy still looked not much more than 20 years old, although Harriet knew she was at least thirty. Harriet took a closer look at the enormous horse. Trying to intimidate me, I suppose. But a horse is nothing compared to the boats I’ve run.
“Hi Cindy, I understand you’d like to talk.”
“Yes, Harriet, you don’t mind if I continue to brush Samson here while we talk.”
“Sure.” Harriet sat on a straw bale nearby.
“Harriet, I know this must all be new to you, and I know you think you know best for Dylan, but you should really spend some time learning how things run before you try to change them. Dylan has important work ahead, and he’s being trained for it.”
“What is the work? Dylan seems a little fuzzy on the details.” Harriet plucked a piece of straw from the bale and idly examined it in feigned indifference.
“He’s to run the oceans, in the same way that I run the lands of the earth. That’s what he’s training for.”
“Here, on this farm, you’re training Dylan? If I told you, I was thinking of hiring a large training ship and teaching students there about responsible farming, how well would that work?”
“It wouldn’t work.”
“Why not? I could have the best agricultural instructors, lots of video segments of farms. We could float far out in the ocean and teach them everything they need to know about horses and cows and farm management.”
“You’re being silly, you know that. We teach them here on the land, where they can practice and see for themselves.”
“Is that any sillier than taking a man who you expect to run the world’s oceans and teach him in the middle of a farm?”
“There’s a difference. On land, there’s a lot to touch and feel and taste. The ocean is just a big empty space, nothing really to do there.”
Harriet sat up and tilted her head. “So now you display your ignorance and expect to persuade me? It’s not really working Cindy.”
Cindy turned to look at her, a hard, cruel downturn of her mouth and squinting eyes. “I’m not trying to persuade you, sugar tits. I’m telling you to back off. This is not your family; you really don’t belong here. Dylan seems to like you, but he’s only seventeen. You’re his first love. You won’t be his last.”
“Seems to me, that’s Dylan’s choice. Just because you spent ten years going through different boys before settling with Vijay doesn’t mean either Dylan or I have to do the same.”
“Go away, Harriet. Just go away.”
“I will, in two more days, back to my village.”
“I can’t wait.”
“And I’m taking Dylan with me.”
Harriet stood up and walked out.
“No chance of that,” called Cindy behind her.
Harriet felt her cheeks flush and her eyes sting with tears. I won’t let her boss me around. I won’t.
IN THE STACKS WITH KEVIN
A corrupt megacity. A broken world. A girl who can no longer afford to hide from her past.
Jack is a techie and long-time shut-in, driven to save her father from corporate servitude. That means getting her hands on scrip, and lots of it. Going into debt with the most violent bikers in Hope Megacity will get her the cybernetic limbs she needs to overcome her disabilities, but that's only the beginning.
A vicious betrayal, a lethal cyberattack, and some broken neural hardware has Jack seeing things -- namely a huge column of light climbing all the way to the Global Corporations' city in the clouds. She'll need to join up with the city's most notorious hacker to find out what the elite are hiding from the millions of people living under their feet.
Have you recently swam in the ocean? Something evil lurks in the water besides sharks!
Sophia McFadden, a Water Microbiologist, never thought her assignment to solve a water crisis in Romala could put her in harm's way.
After three escapes from harm, Sophia receives a call to flee the town, end her analyses, or perish. She considers leaving but quitting shows her failing her mission.
A corrupt oil mogul and his hordes of extraterrestrials and humanoids offer a sizable bounty on Sophia's head. A daring agent steps forward to help her, but now peril stalks both—if she solves the mysterious enigma in the ocean.
Finding three missing girls shouldn't be so hard.
A rough place in space leads to action and adventure for these bounty hunters.