Infatuated from the moment he sees her, David is determined to meet Amy, and if the fates are willing, to spend the rest of his life with her. But his shyness prevents him from approaching her—until his friends devise a contest to determine who will be the first to prove their manhood by seducing her.
I thought about Pete, at home in his room, getting ready for his date with Amy, going to his dresser to check his supply of condoms, opening his wallet and slipping a fresh one inside.
I quickly closed the book I had been pretending to read, grabbed the rest of my things and stepped through the forward door and out into the hallway. I made a quick right and walked toward the classroom’s rear door—the one Amy usually used. If I timed it perfectly, I would be able to “accidentally” bump into her, and after a quick apology, I could unleash my rehearsed small-talk.
The hallway was choked with bodies, all moving at the same sedentary pace. What if I’d already missed her? I maneuvered toward the middle, looking for her blonde hair.
Someone tugged on my shirtsleeve. I brushed it off, not wanting to take the time to turn around.
“Hey, what’s your hurry?”
She sounded familiar, like . . . Amy. For a brief moment, I wondered if my imagination—my desperate need to talk to her—was leading me to color someone else’s voice with expectation.
“Wait up a sec.”
This time I was sure. I stopped and turned around. Amy was standing so close—almost touching—that I started to back away. I caught myself and held my ground, hoping she didn’t notice.
I raced through my inventory of words and phrases, attempting to recall what I had memorized, desperate to get them in order. “I didn’t know you were behind me.” It was the best I could do. I half-expected her to roll her eyes and walk away.
“I don’t want to make you late for your next class,” she began. “I just wanted you to know I liked what you said.” She let a single fingertip find my arm and I felt a rush of air expand my chest. “It made a lot of sense,” she added. “Especially when it’s so hard to understand anything that goes on in that class.”
“I should have introduced myself earlier. I’m Dave.”
She nodded. “Amy.”
I have to say something clever and interesting. I have to ask questions, about where she used to live. I should ask her if she likes it here. No, that’s wrong. Backwards. She’s talking specifics—about the discussion we had in class.
“I hope I don’t disappoint you, but I’m not really into Shakespeare.” Why the hell did I say that? I sound like I’m not interested, like I’m trying to blow her off. I smiled nervously and shrugged. “In fact, today’s probably the first time I’ve ever thought about it. And . . . ” I held the pause intentionally, to sound sincere, “I think it’s because you asked.”
She smiled and leaned forward, then retreated, as we both realized our bodies had briefly touched. My breathing quickened into shallow drafts.
“I just thought it was unusual,” she said, “mature really, to consider a relationship in that way.”
“You caught me on a good day. Normally, I don’t have much to say.” It came out too fast and sounded a little forced.
“I’ve only been here for a couple of weeks, and—”
She stopped, distracted by someone tapping her on the shoulder. She turned to speak to him, and the change on my face had to be obvious—like a brilliantly lit Christmas tree turning cold and dark with the flip of a switch.
He was dragging out their conversation, not letting her go. I stood there like a stray dog, waiting for them to finish, painfully aware of the passing time—of every second lost—while her attention was focused on someone else.
Welcome Jaye! Thanks so much for stopping by. I excited for this opportunity to find out a little more about you and I'm thrilled that you are making this return visit!
Does travel play in the writing of your books? Have you attended a high school reunion? What did you learn?
Thought I’d answer both of these questions at the same time. Travel has most definitely been a key element in at least two of my stories. For some reason, when I break out of my working mindset and kick into vacation mode, the most interesting things happen. For example, The Cruise-All That Glitters was inspired by cruise vacations I’ve taken over the years. During one cruise in particular, a girlfriend I was traveling with was “stalked” by a guy on board who took a shining to her. Unable to shake him, she spent a lot of time in duck-and-cover mode, using me as a deflector shield. Eventually, he moved on to other prey, allowing her to finally relax and enjoy the trip. Later, we laughed about it, wondering what this guy was really all about, both of us agreeing that it was best we didn’t find out. And from that experience, Dean, the main character in The Cruise, was born. And boy, is he a piece of work . . .
The Possibilities of Amy was also inspired by travel, but in a different way. I attended a (distant) high school reunion several years ago, and became re-acquainted with a classmate who told me he had a crush on me all through high school. It was awkward at first, especially since I didn’t recognize him or even recall his name. When I returned home, I dug out my high school yearbooks and found all the clues he had left me in writing . . . carefully scripted messages, hints to the secret he was holding in his heart. I put myself in his place, and The Possibilities of Amy poured out.
Tell us about your current release.
The Beach, released in August of this year, is a sci-fi fantasy woven with a thread of the supernatural. The story is about Alan, a would-be dictator and self-resigned loner, who is given the opportunity to obtain his heart’s desire, and is horrified when his wish actually comes true.
The Beach, released in August of this year, is a sci-fi fantasy woven with a thread of the supernatural. The story is about Alan, a would-be dictator and self-resigned loner, who is given the opportunity to obtain his heart’s desire, and is horrified when his wish actually comes true.
In the companion novella Short Time, you’ll meet a respectable but bored middle-class executive who exchanges his future for six months of excess and extravagance, only to find out the price he must pay for his hedonistic indulgence is beyond anything he could have imagined.
Tell us about your next release.
Love Travels Forever, scheduled for a November 2012 release, is a collection of poignant short stories and essays that are very personal in nature. From a soldier trying to get home on leave to marry his sweetheart before being shipped overseas, to a teen-age girl’s angst-filled first valentine, the stories take the reader on heart-tugging journeys of love, commitment, and surprise.
How do you describe your writing style?
I call it simple narrative; others have described it as “diverse, challenging, and layered with alternative meaning.” While it’s true I generally have a point to make, I’m adamant about avoiding preachy, in-your-face rhetoric about good and bad. So in an effort to plant the seed of thought, I do my best to hide it between the lines, hoping I can motivate a reader to consider the alternatives, to wonder about the possibilities, or learn more about the opportunity. For example, The Kure was written with a strong basis in fact, reflecting the not-so-pleasant and usually subservient positions that women were often subjected to in the name of better medicine through non-consenting sex. In The Cruise, I wrote about the irrational labels and stereotypes that permeate our society, and how they often distort our perceptions and erroneously influence the assumptions we make about each other.
Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?
Do you have a favorite quote, quip, or saying? What is it?
“There are no ordinary moments” - Dan Millman
Occasionally, when grueling days and sleepless nights begin to resemble a personally-tailored version of “Groundhog Day,” I remind myself that no two moments are lived in exactly the same way, nor will they ever be.
Does your significant other read your stuff?
Indeed he does! In fact, he’ll be reading this before it finds it’s way to you . . .
My hubby is the cornerstone of my career, lending a hand with his amazing talent, knowledge, and incredible persistence. Without him, no one would know I exist.
Jaye
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The Kure was recently featured on my Paranormal blog, as well.
Author Links:
http://blog.jayefrances.com
http://www.facebook.com/jayefrancesauthor
http://www.jayefrances.com
http://www.amazon.com/author/www.jayefrances.com
http://www.jayefrances.com/The_Kure_-_Author_Notes.html
Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5232105.Jaye_Frances
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12718447-the-kure (
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4 comments:
Sounds great!
Great post. I particularly found how various things on Jaye's life gave inspired two of her stories. :)
I'm very much looking forward to reading The Possibilities of Amy! Thanks for the chance to win it.
Pam
Thank you for your comments, and good luck!
Jaye Frances
Oh my gosh! This sounds like a book I can finish in a weekend! Thank you for this lovely giveaway! The author's generosity is much appreciated. :D (Angie Edwards)
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