Come meet Gio, Sera and Aunt Georgette in The Year of the Rabbit, a novel about fate, family and forgiveness.
Save a tree and read the Ebook. Save your money and get it for free - until July 1st.
Write to Flo if you liked the book and follow her on Twitter. Drop by the Facebook page and give a little love - or Like. Thanks!
Free ebook copy:
Your coupon code: CG92S
Start here and follow the instructions:
The Year of the Rabbit
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/86160
Hop in before July 1, 2012.
Enjoy!
Showing posts with label forests. Show all posts
Showing posts with label forests. Show all posts
Friday, June 22, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Hide and Seek with Words
Too old for hide and seek?
How about something that requires less body movement but well-acquired hand-eye coordination? You can likely play this word search puzzle on your new tablet computer or use the traditional pen and paper method.
Perhaps you would like to read a hide and seek excerpt from The Year of the Rabbit?
Thanks for dropping by. Feel free to comment or ask questions. Remember to follow Flo on Twitter.
Since you're here, why not get a free Ebook copy of the novel? Valid until May 31st.
T
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Springing into Love
Ah, Spring. It's when a young man's fancy turns to love - or something... something like that.
What a lovely time of year for scantily clad youth to run freely, roll in the grass and climb trees. The warmer, dry weather also provides a good opportunity for young lovers to slip away while playing hide and seek with their chums.
Here's a snippet from The Year of the Rabbit where carpentry apprentice Walter George is deemed "it" for a game of hide and seek:
As Walter snuck down the path and up towards the forest, he saw Gwen racing from the garden towards home base, touching the shed and shouting "Home free!"
Whatever, thought Walter as he prowled and crept up the slope, I've got bigger fish to catch.
Deeper into the pine forest he crept, from tree to tree, bush to bush.
As he peered out and down towards the place the kids called ‘Rabbit Hollow’, he saw Amy and Daniel lying against one of the sloping rocks, nicely revealed by the reflective light of the gibbous moon. They were kissing wildly and Amy's hands were all over Daniel's body — rubbing stroking and clawing. Walter could hear their hushed voices just enough to know what would happen next.
So what happens next? Read the full excerpt and perhaps another describing the result.
Teen sexuality is a sticky subject. Young people need to be gently yet intelligently educated about their changing bodies and raging hormones. Sometimes though it's difficult for parents to deliver the talk.
Recently, the Canadian Museum of Science and Technology opened an exhibit about sex, providing information from a scientific perspective. It caused a bit of a furor and got plenty of news coverage but some parents recanted their complaints after visiting it themselves.
One teen even said, "I think they're showing us healthy sexuality ...they aren't sexualizing it. I mean they're showing the facts, we all have bodies and we all go through this stuff."
We all go through this stuff. So true.
If you want to read about a few young people who went through this stuff and came out okay after a few conflicts and disappointments, you may enjoy reading The Year of the Rabbit, a novel about Fate, Family and Forgiveness. Be quick and you can download a free copy of the eBook by May 31, 2012. Start here.
T
What a lovely time of year for scantily clad youth to run freely, roll in the grass and climb trees. The warmer, dry weather also provides a good opportunity for young lovers to slip away while playing hide and seek with their chums.
Here's a snippet from The Year of the Rabbit where carpentry apprentice Walter George is deemed "it" for a game of hide and seek:
As Walter snuck down the path and up towards the forest, he saw Gwen racing from the garden towards home base, touching the shed and shouting "Home free!"
Whatever, thought Walter as he prowled and crept up the slope, I've got bigger fish to catch.
Deeper into the pine forest he crept, from tree to tree, bush to bush.
As he peered out and down towards the place the kids called ‘Rabbit Hollow’, he saw Amy and Daniel lying against one of the sloping rocks, nicely revealed by the reflective light of the gibbous moon. They were kissing wildly and Amy's hands were all over Daniel's body — rubbing stroking and clawing. Walter could hear their hushed voices just enough to know what would happen next.
So what happens next? Read the full excerpt and perhaps another describing the result.
Teen sexuality is a sticky subject. Young people need to be gently yet intelligently educated about their changing bodies and raging hormones. Sometimes though it's difficult for parents to deliver the talk.
Recently, the Canadian Museum of Science and Technology opened an exhibit about sex, providing information from a scientific perspective. It caused a bit of a furor and got plenty of news coverage but some parents recanted their complaints after visiting it themselves.
One teen even said, "I think they're showing us healthy sexuality ...they aren't sexualizing it. I mean they're showing the facts, we all have bodies and we all go through this stuff."
We all go through this stuff. So true.
If you want to read about a few young people who went through this stuff and came out okay after a few conflicts and disappointments, you may enjoy reading The Year of the Rabbit, a novel about Fate, Family and Forgiveness. Be quick and you can download a free copy of the eBook by May 31, 2012. Start here.
T
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Happy Beltane, Nature Lovers
Darn it all! Can't find my Maypole.
Happy Beltane all you nature lovers! Enjoy an excerpt from the novel about young love (err.. lust) and a recycled blog post.
You will enjoy The Year of the Rabbit, a novel about Fate, Family and Forgiveness.
Learn about the novel's author, Florence T. Lyon. Follow her on Twitter as she explores and flounders with modern technology.
Follow the wall posts on Facebook and contribute to the discussions. Like it! Share it with your friends but NOT your dear, sweet Mother. This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages.
Get 20% of the Ebook for free. No trees were harmed during the creation of this edition.
Buy the Ebook from Smashwords, an awesome publishing platform for indie authors.
Thanks for dropping by.
T
Friday, March 2, 2012
Bullies and Trolls
Those who have read the novel The Year of the Rabbit will be familiar with antagonist Daryl MacDonald.
Some have even mentioned through conversation that they knew someone like him in their own home town. He could have been a wife beater, an angry drunk and abuser as well as a bully who controlled others because of his family's position in the town. Other adults were either afraid or indifferent so did not confront him. Finally, his reign is taken down by a twelve year-old girl - with a little help from nature.
The author has endured and confronted bullies at different points in her life. She has met talented writers who have published books on the topic of bullying, offering advice to kids, school children and to office workers. It may be encounters with these childhood bullies and anonymous cowards that have inspired her to create the doomed Daryl MacDonald and spout deep blonde thoughts on the subject.
Those who haven't read the novel yet, can sample some short excerpts. If you're still curious, you can download 20% of the Ebook for free from Smashwords. No trees were harmed ;o)
Thanks for visiting and reading this far. Please offer your feedback and words of wisdom. Sorry, anonymous comments are disabled.
T
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Peace, Rabbits and Frogs, oh my!
The novel is mentioned in Deep Blonde Thoughts. Hop on over for an entertaining blog entry titled "Frog Princes and Ancient Wisdom".
Enjoy!
T
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Seguin Sounder newspaper clipping - Gruesome Discovery
Curious? Read some excerpts from the Novel. Read some more news clippings unearthed on the long weekend.
Thanks to the awesome Newspaper Clipping Generator at Fodey.com. http://www.fodey.com/generators/newspaper/snippet.asp (Sure beats hours of tweaking around in MS Word!)
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Gio Meets Sera
It has been a hot, humid week in the Ottawa Valley this mid-July. I thought I'd share an excerpt from Chapter 1 so we all could enjoy a refreshing breeze from Georgian Bay. Yes, Seguin Sound is a fictional place. It is very, very similar to 1970s Parry Sound, Ontario.
Travel back in time with me to a slow-moving town. Enjoy the breeze and the shade of the cherry tree...
The Year of the Rabbit - A novel about Fate, Family and Forgiveness
Chapter 1 (Gio meets Sera)
It was an August morning when Father Giovanni Vinoletti found the courage to drive to the Fletcher house. He learned that Matthew had a woodworking job out on the Bay and he really wanted to take this opportunity to spend some time alone with his wife.
As he cruised along River Road in his shiny black Lincoln, he smiled gratefully as the refreshing breeze blew through the driver's window. He loosened his collar and reached over to the passenger seat to make sure the bottle of wine was well cushioned in his cardigan. He turned up the volume on the radio to hear the news report on the Woodstock concert from the weekend before. Almost a million young people had travelled to a farmer's field in upstate New York.
"I wish I’d been there," he thought. Those youngsters seemed to have so much freedom, and the ability to pick up and go on a whim. He was turning thirty soon and realized that he really hadn’t had that taste for adventure when he was a teenager — not like his brother Roberto.
As Gio came to the intersection of River Road and MacDonald, he noticed a black and white police car to his left. Its exterior was covered with a dusty grey film — Likely cruising some of the dry back roads, he thought. Someone had written “wash me” on the rear passenger door.
Smoking a cigarette and smiling, Constable Paul Brown let his left arm dangle through the driver’s window. I guess his job must be boring in this small town, Gio concluded, nothing much seems to happen.
Brown waved Gio through. Gio smiled and waved back. He was glad that he had been able to convince the diocese to let him use the car his family had donated. He appreciated the reliability of a solid vehicle and the ease with which it could get him around town. Lately, his knees had started to hurt from his increasing weight.
He approached the Fletcher property at the foot of Harbour Hill, pulled the large Lincoln into the driveway and turned off the engine.
Gio leaned back on the leather seat then promptly corrected his position as he felt the sweat dripping down his large, hairy back. The gold crucifix dangling around his neck reflected the summer sunlight onto the dashboard. He sat with the windows opened and mentally prepared himself for the visit.
He had only arrived in Seguin Sound a few weeks ago. It was a refreshing improvement to the inner-city parishes in which he had begun his work. He appreciated the small-town atmosphere, although it was boring, the closeness to nature, the constant, slow movement of the river below, and the refreshing openness of Georgian Bay. Most of the people living here seemed to move at the same relaxed pace.
Gio wiped perspiration from his brow, adjusted his black-framed glasses and scanned the property. On his right was the Fletcher home, a large, sturdy green two-storey house with an attached shed. The front lawn was well kept, as were a few patches of irises and tiger lilies.
To the left, there were what looked like two garden plots. Leftmost, between their yard and the neighbour’s, were a few small, twisted pine trees growing atop a small knoll. He saw two young redheaded girls and a dark-haired girl climbing, swinging and jumping from the little pines then running to a hammock strung up between one of the trees and the clothesline pole. They seemed to be having a great time. Weren’t they hot?, he thought. Father Gio had already met the redheads after church on Sunday. They were the precocious ten-year-old twins, Dela and Gwen.
One of the twins (he could not tell them apart from a distance) seemed preoccupied with burying something in the soil and patting it down with a small spade. Behind her and at the back of their neighbour's property was a pine forest that stretched up the hill and beyond.
To the rear was a large flat rock with a fire pit with log benches. Straight ahead, stretching towards the trestle of the high and looming CP Rail bridge, ran a small pathway which led towards another cluster of buildings. Beyond this view was the refreshing Georgian Bay.
Near the back of the house was a large tree, a deciduous of some sort, thick with green leaves casting cool shade onto the backyard. The Fletcher property looked pleasant and provided a safe place for children to play.
Children. He sighed. Gio placed his hands on the steering wheel, almost in an embrace and bowed his head. He softly repeated words he used seven years ago when confessing to his mentor after his carnal indiscretion. This was different.
"Heavenly Father, please give me courage to face this possibility, to accept the facts as they are presented. Please forgive me for my indiscretion so many years ago. One act of weakness... Whatever you will for me, I accept."
The scorching reflections from his cross bounced around the interior of the car as he prayed for courage and forgiveness. His heart was pounding in anticipation.
Children. A child. What if she is my child? His curiosity had hounded him enough to check the baptism registry at Saint Peter’s church. Her birth date was too coincidental. Why do they spell her name S-e-r-a? Why on the very first Sunday I am serving at this parish do I learn this information? That woman looked so familiar. The one-and-only time I ever had intimate relations with a woman and ... I have to find out if it really is her. I have to solve this mystery.
Gio took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, prying his large body out of the car. He stood for a few seconds adjusting his glasses and cross. He fluffed his damp short-sleeved, black dress shirt to cool his round torso, wiped his greasy, black curls back and pushed the straw hat down firmly. He reached in and grabbed the bottle of 1962 Vinoletti Red — his gift to the Fletchers.
As soon as Gio closed the car door, the redheads and their friend turned their attention to the driveway and came bounding down to greet him.
“Hi, Father Gio!” called Gwen and Dela in unison. At this point, he still didn't know one from the other. They were wearing matching shorts and T-shirts.
“Hello, girls.” He responded politely. “Are you enjoying this hot summer day?”
“Oh, yeah,” chirped in one, “We’re going to the beach with Amy and her Mom later.”
“Hello,” said Gio as he extended his chubby hand to the friend — a petit Asian girl, “Are you Amy? I’m Father Gio.”
Amy looked straight up at him with her dark eyes while shaking his hand, her delicate fingers squeezing two of his,
“Hello, Father Gio.”
"We're treasure planting," chirped the other redhead.
"Oh, really? What does that mean?"
"Oh, we're putting small treasures around the yard so they can be discovered in one hundred years. You know, like they found in Egypt with King Tut? Except, we're not using real gold and jewels, just trinkets."
"Ah," Gio nodded and responded politely. He smiled at them and wiped the perspiration from his brow. He looked at the twins one by one. Ah, yes. I think it was Gwen who had the crooked smile and ear. “Girls, are your parents around?”, he asked.
One piped in, “Dad’s working away on the Bay but Mom’s inside.”
“Oh, I see," he said feigning disappointment. "Well, if your mother is not too busy, may I speak with her please?”
“Sure, come on back to the shade,” the girl said as she grabbed his hand and led him past the driveway to a set of lawn chairs under the tree. Amy and the other one ran across the back porch and into the house.
“Thank you...Gwen...." he thought he'd take a chance at the name and seemed to have succeeded, "It’s so nice here in the shade,” Gio removed his hat, wiping his handkerchief across his brow, “I can even feel a breeze.”
“Uh-huh,” the girl responded, “Would you like a cold drink?”
“Oh, I would love a cold drink, Gwen!”
“I’ll be right back!” she shouted, already running towards the house.
Okay then, he concluded, Gwen is the one with the crooked left ear. At least I've got that straight — as long as they’re not wearing hats!
Gio tested the sturdiness of one of the lawn chairs then sat quietly under the tree, enjoying the calm and the gentle breeze. The cicadas buzzed loudly around him, seeming mostly to come from the pine forest. He looked around the immediate area. This seemed to be a favourite spot for the family as he observed the chairs and lounger.
A small red object plopped onto his lap. Another bounced off his belly. He picked up one of the small orbs then turned to look up at the tree, squinting into the sunlight radiating through the leaves. Ah, it’s a cherry tree, he concluded, likely one of the Pin Cherry species. I wonder how they are for wine.
Gio's family had operated a vineyard in the Tuscany region of Italy for many decades. When he was small, his parents immigrated to Canada to start a vineyard in southern Ontario. Growing up on his family’s land, he had learned quite a bit about grapes, wine and other fruit-bearing trees.
He rubbed the small orb in between his large fingers then popped it into his mouth for a taste. Ooh! A little sour, he discovered, puckering his face as he leaned over the side of the chair to spit out the pit.
As he sat cooling off, he recalled meeting the family after mass last Sunday.
. . .
Father O’Reilly had introduced him to the entire congregation during mass and again, individually, it seemed, in the reception hall. Gio had shaken hands with many parishioners, husbands, wives and children. The older priest called over Matthew Fletcher whom he referred to as the godsend carpenter who had repaired some of the aging pews.
Matthew was a muscular, tanned man with rough hands and gentle, blue eyes. Shaking his hand, Gio had felt a warm connection with him.
Matthew gestured over to some people at the other side of the crowded hall to call them over. Two redheaded girls of the same age clung to a woman's side while they mischievously stared at the new priest.
“Father Gio,” he said, “I would like to introduce my wife and a couple of our children.” He pulled closer to his side a small, attractive woman with reddish-brown hair and vivid green eyes whose face became clearer as she raised it to meet his gaze.
“Georgette!” burst out Gio. His knees nearly gave in and he felt the blood leaving his face. His mind flashed with memories of a beautiful woman, sweet desserts and a winter’s night of passion.
“No…” responded Matthew quizzically, “This is Marie.”
“Oh, ohhh. So sorry. Mea Culpa. Nice to meet you, Marie,” fumbled Gio with a prolonged handshake. “You look very much like someone I knew years ago...” Her hands felt so soft and cool. He didn't want to let go.
One of the redheaded girls piped in, “Georgette is our aunt in Montreal.” Gio forced his gaze to the twins standing side-by-side in their Sunday best, smiling at him with their sun-burnt faces. The only difference he could perceive was that one had a crooked grin and her left ear was slightly bent. The odd-looking twin asked, “Do you know Aunt Georgette?”
Gio stuttered, “Uh, err, I'm not sure. It was long ago.” He grimaced awkwardly at the girls, then Marie. He could feel the perspiration trickling down his back and into the crack of his buttocks.
Marie spoke next, smiling nervously, “It is nice to meet you, Father Gio. These are our daughters Dela and Gwen. The boys, you have met... they were the altar boys today... Daniel and Perry.”
“Yes,” he agreed. “Good boys.” He turned and smiled to the redheads, ”Hello, Dela. Hello, Gwen.”
“I want to be an altar girl,” said Dela.
The grown-ups laughed nervously at this young girl’s bold statement.
“Seriously,” she continued, “I really do. How about you, Gwen?”
“Sure,” replied her twin, “Sounds like fun.”
The rest of the conversation was polite with O’Reilly praising Matthew for the work he did for the church. Gio only remembered smiling and nodding, while gazing a few times at Marie. He was damn certain that she was the woman he had known intimately as Georgette seven years ago. She smiled and added politely to the conversation, avoiding eye contact with him.
Father O’Reilly piped in, “Now, where is the wee girl? Sera?”
Marie responded quickly, “Oh, she’s with her new friend at her family’s cottage. She’ll be back tonight.”
Gio’s heart jumped a beat. A wee girl? Another child?
Father O’Reilly had introduced him to the entire congregation during mass and again, individually, it seemed, in the reception hall. Gio had shaken hands with many parishioners, husbands, wives and children. The older priest called over Matthew Fletcher whom he referred to as the godsend carpenter who had repaired some of the aging pews.
Matthew was a muscular, tanned man with rough hands and gentle, blue eyes. Shaking his hand, Gio had felt a warm connection with him.
Matthew gestured over to some people at the other side of the crowded hall to call them over. Two redheaded girls of the same age clung to a woman's side while they mischievously stared at the new priest.
“Father Gio,” he said, “I would like to introduce my wife and a couple of our children.” He pulled closer to his side a small, attractive woman with reddish-brown hair and vivid green eyes whose face became clearer as she raised it to meet his gaze.
“Georgette!” burst out Gio. His knees nearly gave in and he felt the blood leaving his face. His mind flashed with memories of a beautiful woman, sweet desserts and a winter’s night of passion.
“No…” responded Matthew quizzically, “This is Marie.”
“Oh, ohhh. So sorry. Mea Culpa. Nice to meet you, Marie,” fumbled Gio with a prolonged handshake. “You look very much like someone I knew years ago...” Her hands felt so soft and cool. He didn't want to let go.
One of the redheaded girls piped in, “Georgette is our aunt in Montreal.” Gio forced his gaze to the twins standing side-by-side in their Sunday best, smiling at him with their sun-burnt faces. The only difference he could perceive was that one had a crooked grin and her left ear was slightly bent. The odd-looking twin asked, “Do you know Aunt Georgette?”
Gio stuttered, “Uh, err, I'm not sure. It was long ago.” He grimaced awkwardly at the girls, then Marie. He could feel the perspiration trickling down his back and into the crack of his buttocks.
Marie spoke next, smiling nervously, “It is nice to meet you, Father Gio. These are our daughters Dela and Gwen. The boys, you have met... they were the altar boys today... Daniel and Perry.”
“Yes,” he agreed. “Good boys.” He turned and smiled to the redheads, ”Hello, Dela. Hello, Gwen.”
“I want to be an altar girl,” said Dela.
The grown-ups laughed nervously at this young girl’s bold statement.
“Seriously,” she continued, “I really do. How about you, Gwen?”
“Sure,” replied her twin, “Sounds like fun.”
The rest of the conversation was polite with O’Reilly praising Matthew for the work he did for the church. Gio only remembered smiling and nodding, while gazing a few times at Marie. He was damn certain that she was the woman he had known intimately as Georgette seven years ago. She smiled and added politely to the conversation, avoiding eye contact with him.
Father O’Reilly piped in, “Now, where is the wee girl? Sera?”
Marie responded quickly, “Oh, she’s with her new friend at her family’s cottage. She’ll be back tonight.”
Gio’s heart jumped a beat. A wee girl? Another child?
. . .
A train whistle interrupted his reverie. The girls came skipping out of the house; Gwen, though, approached carefully with his drink with a theatrical expression. She handed it to him and offered her crooked smile.
“Here you go, Father Gio,” she curtseyed, "I even added a little more sugar for you."
“Oh.. well. Thank you, Gwen.” He took a sip to taste, concluded it was lemonade then took a few long gulps. “Ahhh! This is very refreshing. Thank you.”
The trio of girls ran back up the little slope to the pine trees. Gio felt another cherry bounce off his head. Another bounced off his belly and into his glass. It felt as if a force greater than gravity was aiding in their delivery.
He adjusted his eyeglasses in preparation for a closer inspection of the tree. His peripheral vision caught movement: a woman’s form approaching from the house. She was walking slowly, holding a tea towel and a glass of lemonade. She wore a light green summer dress. As she came closer, he recognized that walk. Those hips. As she came nearer, he was certain by that smile and those green eyes, this was the woman he once knew as Georgette.
“Hello, Father Gio,” She smiled nervously.
“Hello… Marie,” he responded, raising his glass while struggling to rise from the chair. He reached down beside his chair to retrieve the wine bottle he brought.
"A gift from my family's vineyards."
"Thank you," smiled Marie as she accepted the bottle and put it on her lap as she sat in the other chair.
A cherry bounced forcefully off his head. Another plopped into his glass. As he looked up to see the source, he heard the train approaching, its horn blowing louder and more frequently as it approached the bridge.
Marie stood up and shouted to the tree, “Sera! What are you doing up there! Come down this instant!”
The train rattled through the forest on the hill and onto the bridge, three diesel engines were pulling a trail of cargo cars and wheels clack-clacking over the rails above them. It blew its horn again and rolled on towards the other side of the valley, dragging an assortment of boxcars, tank cars and flats in an endless stream behind it.
Gio looked at the train and winced at the noise. Marie gave him a look of embarrassed apology then moved closer under the tree. In the middle of the noise and commotion, they observed two bare feet then legs extend down from one of the limbs. Gingerly, a small blonde girl in blue shorts and T-shirt, hung from a low branch, then dropped to the soft grass below.
Gio’s heart was pounding. Could this be? No, she’s so fair and has dark blue eyes. She looked like an angel with her fine blonde hair, messed up and decorated with twigs. She had a peaches-and-cream complexion with rosy cheeks and a small brown freckle under her right eye.
“Is this Sera?” he shouted nervously over the noise from the train.
“No,” responded Marie with a slow shake of her head, “This is her friend, Victoria.”
Victoria smiled and waved at them then held out her arms upwards to the tree. Down into her arms dropped a stuffed rabbit, which she kissed on the nose and put on Marie’s chair. Then she ran back and held out her arms again, catching a golden-brown teddy bear. It received a kiss on the nose as well.
By this time, the train had left. Its horn sounded in the distance, as it approached another level crossing. The air was finally quiet with only a light breeze rustling the leaves, the Chickadees and the distant calls of Blue Jays.
Gio’s curiosity was peaked. He put his lemonade glass gently beside his chair, shuffled closer to look under the tree limbs, up into the green canopy. Down from one of the branches dangled two dirty bare feet, as another small girl hung from a limb.
-- End excerpt --
A train whistle interrupted his reverie. The girls came skipping out of the house; Gwen, though, approached carefully with his drink with a theatrical expression. She handed it to him and offered her crooked smile.
“Here you go, Father Gio,” she curtseyed, "I even added a little more sugar for you."
“Oh.. well. Thank you, Gwen.” He took a sip to taste, concluded it was lemonade then took a few long gulps. “Ahhh! This is very refreshing. Thank you.”
The trio of girls ran back up the little slope to the pine trees. Gio felt another cherry bounce off his head. Another bounced off his belly and into his glass. It felt as if a force greater than gravity was aiding in their delivery.
He adjusted his eyeglasses in preparation for a closer inspection of the tree. His peripheral vision caught movement: a woman’s form approaching from the house. She was walking slowly, holding a tea towel and a glass of lemonade. She wore a light green summer dress. As she came closer, he recognized that walk. Those hips. As she came nearer, he was certain by that smile and those green eyes, this was the woman he once knew as Georgette.
“Hello, Father Gio,” She smiled nervously.
“Hello… Marie,” he responded, raising his glass while struggling to rise from the chair. He reached down beside his chair to retrieve the wine bottle he brought.
"A gift from my family's vineyards."
"Thank you," smiled Marie as she accepted the bottle and put it on her lap as she sat in the other chair.
A cherry bounced forcefully off his head. Another plopped into his glass. As he looked up to see the source, he heard the train approaching, its horn blowing louder and more frequently as it approached the bridge.
Marie stood up and shouted to the tree, “Sera! What are you doing up there! Come down this instant!”
The train rattled through the forest on the hill and onto the bridge, three diesel engines were pulling a trail of cargo cars and wheels clack-clacking over the rails above them. It blew its horn again and rolled on towards the other side of the valley, dragging an assortment of boxcars, tank cars and flats in an endless stream behind it.
Gio looked at the train and winced at the noise. Marie gave him a look of embarrassed apology then moved closer under the tree. In the middle of the noise and commotion, they observed two bare feet then legs extend down from one of the limbs. Gingerly, a small blonde girl in blue shorts and T-shirt, hung from a low branch, then dropped to the soft grass below.
Gio’s heart was pounding. Could this be? No, she’s so fair and has dark blue eyes. She looked like an angel with her fine blonde hair, messed up and decorated with twigs. She had a peaches-and-cream complexion with rosy cheeks and a small brown freckle under her right eye.
“Is this Sera?” he shouted nervously over the noise from the train.
“No,” responded Marie with a slow shake of her head, “This is her friend, Victoria.”
Victoria smiled and waved at them then held out her arms upwards to the tree. Down into her arms dropped a stuffed rabbit, which she kissed on the nose and put on Marie’s chair. Then she ran back and held out her arms again, catching a golden-brown teddy bear. It received a kiss on the nose as well.
By this time, the train had left. Its horn sounded in the distance, as it approached another level crossing. The air was finally quiet with only a light breeze rustling the leaves, the Chickadees and the distant calls of Blue Jays.
Gio’s curiosity was peaked. He put his lemonade glass gently beside his chair, shuffled closer to look under the tree limbs, up into the green canopy. Down from one of the branches dangled two dirty bare feet, as another small girl hung from a limb.
-- End excerpt --
Did you like that?
- Read more excerpts
- See comments from other readers
- New! September 2011: Buy the Ebook from Smashwords or download 20% of the novel for free.
- Follow Tweets by Florence (@FloTLyon)
- Visit www.yearoftherabbit.ca
Thursday, July 7, 2011
The Apple
In The Year of the Rabbit, the apple appears many times - mostly as a symbol of innocence and discovery. It leads Sera through thoughts of life after death then the accidental revelation of her true paternal origin. There is another scene where its innocent influences cannot prevent Sera from acting on uncontrollable rage.
Enjoy!
Friday, July 1, 2011
Another Public Reading for the Rabbit
On Wednesday June 29th, "Florence" made an appearance at the Ottawa Independent Writers Reading Night at the LAC.
I had to alter the text that I read aloud from my novel in order to hide the identity of the corpse in the "murder scene". Are we intrigued yet? Some people were!
After my reading, I sat at the back of the room listening to the others. As I gazed out one of the large windows into the dimming daylight, I noticed a patchy brown rabbit nibbling grass in one of the flowerbeds. I was excited to bring it to the attention of my seating companion. He responded with a smile and whispered the title of my novel.
I don't know why I would become excited at discovering this little mammal - although it was a lovely coincidence. It's not like there are any live rabbits represented in the story. The only ones referred to are those that appear in drawings, paintings at the Red Hare restaurant and a native boy's dream. The rabbit reference is more about the Chinese Zodiac character. It refers to young Sera Fletcher's unique coping methods after losing a friend in 1974 then gaining a newborn nephew in 1975. She creates a connection to the baby's birth in the same Zodiac year as her own and uses it as a sign of hope. Little does she know that she would eventually -- (Oops. I have said too much already).
During a lull in the readings, one member agreed to my request for a book exchange. He gladly traded a copy of his children's book for a copy of The Year of the Rabbit. I had to warn him that mine was NOT a book for children.
Another member was very interested in reading and purchasing the book but did not have cash on hand. I graciously advanced him a copy for his summer reading and we agreed on payment at a later date. I trust him. Besides, I know where he lives...
Do you want a taste of the Rabbit? (in a word sense, that is...)
Thanks for dropping by!
T
I had to alter the text that I read aloud from my novel in order to hide the identity of the corpse in the "murder scene". Are we intrigued yet? Some people were!
After my reading, I sat at the back of the room listening to the others. As I gazed out one of the large windows into the dimming daylight, I noticed a patchy brown rabbit nibbling grass in one of the flowerbeds. I was excited to bring it to the attention of my seating companion. He responded with a smile and whispered the title of my novel.
I don't know why I would become excited at discovering this little mammal - although it was a lovely coincidence. It's not like there are any live rabbits represented in the story. The only ones referred to are those that appear in drawings, paintings at the Red Hare restaurant and a native boy's dream. The rabbit reference is more about the Chinese Zodiac character. It refers to young Sera Fletcher's unique coping methods after losing a friend in 1974 then gaining a newborn nephew in 1975. She creates a connection to the baby's birth in the same Zodiac year as her own and uses it as a sign of hope. Little does she know that she would eventually -- (Oops. I have said too much already).
During a lull in the readings, one member agreed to my request for a book exchange. He gladly traded a copy of his children's book for a copy of The Year of the Rabbit. I had to warn him that mine was NOT a book for children.
Another member was very interested in reading and purchasing the book but did not have cash on hand. I graciously advanced him a copy for his summer reading and we agreed on payment at a later date. I trust him. Besides, I know where he lives...
Do you want a taste of the Rabbit? (in a word sense, that is...)
- Venture down the Rabbit hole (the novel's domain)
- Follow Florence T Lyon on Twitter (Please Retweet my request to convince a certain English Literature High Honours Graduate to read her mother's book. The agreed-upon condition was that she would only do so after it had sold 100 copies)
- Read some excerpts
- Please Like the Rabbit on the Facebook Fan Page
- Buy the book
Thanks for dropping by!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Hide and Seek - Childhood games and Lovers' Initiation
Chapter 4 Excerpt: Hide and Seek
Picture the month of May with greening woods and blossoming trees. It is a perfect time for young lovers, for renewal and for planting seeds. Handsome Daniel Fletcher has returned from his first year at military college with hopes of a carefree summer vacation. Family and friends gather for a barbecue on the Fletcher property.
Picture the month of May with greening woods and blossoming trees. It is a perfect time for young lovers, for renewal and for planting seeds. Handsome Daniel Fletcher has returned from his first year at military college with hopes of a carefree summer vacation. Family and friends gather for a barbecue on the Fletcher property.
~ ~ ~
After the joyful chaos and feeding frenzy at the barbecue, everyone had a hand in tidying up. It was soon turning to dusk and the younger children wanted to play hide and seek. It was one of their favourite outdoor games and they were elated when Daniel agreed to play as well. The adults retired indoors for drinks, to play cards and have a chance for some quiet.
Just as the children were noisily preparing for the game and to decide who was "it" first, Victoria's father hollered out from the MacDonald’s porch, "Victoria! Time to come in."
"Aww, Daddy," she pleaded, "Can I please stay a little longer?"
"No. Come in now, Princess."
Sera watched her friend's shoulders sink as she walked slowly towards home.
"Bye, Victoria. See you tomorrow."
"Yeah..."
"It's going to be biking day," Sera said, attempting to cheer up her friend.
"Yeah, okay. See ya."
The other kids were already clustered around Daniel as he started laying down the rules of the game.
"Okay, you punks, listen up! No going past or up the trestle. No going across the road. No going beyond the raspberry patch. Got it?"
The younger kids shouted in excited unison, "Yes!"
"Okay, then. Eenie, meenie, minee, moe..." He recited around the circle of kids to determine who was going to be "it" and ended up at Walter. The others whooped up in a cheer. Daniel said before turning to run, "Count to one hundred, Walt. You can do that now, can't you?"
Walter quipped back with a smirk, "Screw you, Danny boy. Of course I can and I'm gonna find you first."
"Well! Let the games begin," Daniel laughed heartily with his broad smile flashing across his handsome face.
Walter turned to the corner of the shed and hollered out, "One! Two! Three..."
The kids squealed and scattered into the dimming light towards the gardens, the lilacs and the raspberry bushes. Sera watched as Amy grabbed Daniel's hand and led him quickly down the path towards the train trestle then took a sharp left along the raspberry bushes. Sera quickly and quietly followed, crouching behind. The two teenagers ran beyond the bushes, up the slope towards the forest with Amy's long, black hair and blue skirt flaring around her. Sera stopped at the edge of the raspberry patch.
That’s not fair, she thought, Daniel said no going beyond the raspberry patch. That cheat!
Sera decided to follow them, creeping from tree to tree and bush to bush as she watched them climb up the slope towards the forest.
Walter finished counting, "ninety-eight, ninety-nine, ONE HUNDRED!,” then hollered, “Ready or not here I come!" He turned and scanned the Fletcher's large back yard and from the corner of his eye, noticed one of the twins' heads peering over the rock behind one of the gardens.
No, he thought, Too easy. I'm going to find Daniel first, that smart-ass! He straightened and smoothed his long braided tresses on each side of his head and sniffed the air, catching the lingering scent of the barbeque, cherry blossoms, lilacs and...Amy's perfume. Channel Number 5, here I come, he snickered to himself, You were practically hanging off the poor guy all evening. You're probably stuck to him right now.
As Walter snuck down the path and up towards the forest, he saw Gwen racing from the garden towards home base, touching the shed and shouting "Home free!"
Whatever, thought Walter as he prowled and crept up the slope, I've got bigger fish to catch.
Deeper into the pine forest he crept, from tree to tree, bush to bush.
As he peered out and down towards the place the kids called ‘Rabbit Hollow’, he saw Amy and Daniel lying against one of the sloping rocks, nicely revealed by the reflective light of the gibbous moon. They were kissing wildly and Amy's hands were all over Daniel's body — rubbing stroking and clawing. Walter could hear their hushed voices just enough to know what would happen next.
(Sorry. This section has been snipped due to steamy content. You'll have to purchase the book.)
With a mischievous thought about them getting into trouble, she (Sera) forgot the new experience and galloped down the hill. As she raced towards the shed, she noticed the other kids gathered around the cherry tree, laughing and whooping it up. As she flew by and touched the shed, she thought, "This is too easy." but declared anyways, "Home free!"
Gwen ran over to her, laughing, "Walter's got Daniel's shirt and is cornered in the tree like a cat!"
"Really?" Sera responded coyly, "I wonder how that happened?"
Walter was laughing while shaking the limbs, sending a sprinkling of blossoms from the tree. The younger children cheered and jumped around singing, “Let it snow, let it snow…” and "Here comes the bride!"
Daniel hissed at him, "Walt! Walter! That's enough. Give it back before our folks come out!"
Amy retreated to the safety of her friends, Dela and Gwen. Dela turned to her, puzzled. "Why is your hair messy?"
"I-I I guess from hiding behind the garden."
Gwen added, "and why are you covered in pine needles? Were you rolling on the ground?"
"Yes. Of course! Now do any of you ladies have a comb?"
Daniel had climbed up the tree as far as his larger build would take him.
"Okay, Walter," he hissed, "You WIN. Now give me back my shirt you sneaky bastard!" Just as he spit out the last word, the shirt landed on his sweaty face.
The grown-ups came out of the house to see what all the commotion was. Sera was worried that they'd find out about the dirty things Amy and Daniel were doing up in the woods. As she saw her brother struggling to put his shirt on, she ran up to intercept her father, grabbing him by the hand.
"Hi, Daddy!" she chirped.
"Hey, short stuff. What's going on?"
"Oh, Daniel lost at hide and seek and he's upset at Walter. That's all."
"Ahh. A sore loser, eh?"
"Yep. Please can you make us a bonfire so we can roast marshmallows?"
"Sure, Sweetie." then he called up into the tree, "Boys! Stop your fighting. Get along, now."
"Yes, Dad," answered Daniel.
"Yes, Mr. Fletcher, Sir!" shouted Walter before he punched Daniel on the arm, dangled and dropped catlike out of the tree. "I can help you build that fire, Sir."
"Alright, Walt." responded Matthew, "That will be a big help. Just cut out the tom-foolery."
"Yes, sir," He responded genuinely this time then turned up to the tree to faux-salute Daniel while giving him the finger and a wide grin.
Sera couldn't help but giggle at his antics. Walter was such a trickster. As he made his way to the woodpile beside the shed, his grandmother pulled him aside and snarled something in Ojibwa. He stopped to face her but looked down to the grass and responded softly in their language. She gave him a couple of light slaps on the cheek then returned to join the adults. She paused to smile at Sera and pat her on the shoulder.
Within a few minutes, the kids were sitting around the bonfire and toasting marshmallows. Amy was glued beside Daniel once again. As usual, Dela and Gwen were like two peas in a pod. Walter and Perry were comparing who could make the biggest flaming marshmallow without letting it burn to a crisp.
A couple of neighbourhood kids saw the activity at the fire pit and dropped by, offering a package of hot dog wieners and cans of pop as price of admission.
After the joyful chaos and feeding frenzy at the barbecue, everyone had a hand in tidying up. It was soon turning to dusk and the younger children wanted to play hide and seek. It was one of their favourite outdoor games and they were elated when Daniel agreed to play as well. The adults retired indoors for drinks, to play cards and have a chance for some quiet.
Just as the children were noisily preparing for the game and to decide who was "it" first, Victoria's father hollered out from the MacDonald’s porch, "Victoria! Time to come in."
"Aww, Daddy," she pleaded, "Can I please stay a little longer?"
"No. Come in now, Princess."
Sera watched her friend's shoulders sink as she walked slowly towards home.
"Bye, Victoria. See you tomorrow."
"Yeah..."
"It's going to be biking day," Sera said, attempting to cheer up her friend.
"Yeah, okay. See ya."
The other kids were already clustered around Daniel as he started laying down the rules of the game.
"Okay, you punks, listen up! No going past or up the trestle. No going across the road. No going beyond the raspberry patch. Got it?"
The younger kids shouted in excited unison, "Yes!"
"Okay, then. Eenie, meenie, minee, moe..." He recited around the circle of kids to determine who was going to be "it" and ended up at Walter. The others whooped up in a cheer. Daniel said before turning to run, "Count to one hundred, Walt. You can do that now, can't you?"
Walter quipped back with a smirk, "Screw you, Danny boy. Of course I can and I'm gonna find you first."
"Well! Let the games begin," Daniel laughed heartily with his broad smile flashing across his handsome face.
Walter turned to the corner of the shed and hollered out, "One! Two! Three..."
The kids squealed and scattered into the dimming light towards the gardens, the lilacs and the raspberry bushes. Sera watched as Amy grabbed Daniel's hand and led him quickly down the path towards the train trestle then took a sharp left along the raspberry bushes. Sera quickly and quietly followed, crouching behind. The two teenagers ran beyond the bushes, up the slope towards the forest with Amy's long, black hair and blue skirt flaring around her. Sera stopped at the edge of the raspberry patch.
That’s not fair, she thought, Daniel said no going beyond the raspberry patch. That cheat!
Sera decided to follow them, creeping from tree to tree and bush to bush as she watched them climb up the slope towards the forest.
Walter finished counting, "ninety-eight, ninety-nine, ONE HUNDRED!,” then hollered, “Ready or not here I come!" He turned and scanned the Fletcher's large back yard and from the corner of his eye, noticed one of the twins' heads peering over the rock behind one of the gardens.
No, he thought, Too easy. I'm going to find Daniel first, that smart-ass! He straightened and smoothed his long braided tresses on each side of his head and sniffed the air, catching the lingering scent of the barbeque, cherry blossoms, lilacs and...Amy's perfume. Channel Number 5, here I come, he snickered to himself, You were practically hanging off the poor guy all evening. You're probably stuck to him right now.
As Walter snuck down the path and up towards the forest, he saw Gwen racing from the garden towards home base, touching the shed and shouting "Home free!"
Whatever, thought Walter as he prowled and crept up the slope, I've got bigger fish to catch.
Deeper into the pine forest he crept, from tree to tree, bush to bush.
As he peered out and down towards the place the kids called ‘Rabbit Hollow’, he saw Amy and Daniel lying against one of the sloping rocks, nicely revealed by the reflective light of the gibbous moon. They were kissing wildly and Amy's hands were all over Daniel's body — rubbing stroking and clawing. Walter could hear their hushed voices just enough to know what would happen next.
(Sorry. This section has been snipped due to steamy content. You'll have to purchase the book.)
With a mischievous thought about them getting into trouble, she (Sera) forgot the new experience and galloped down the hill. As she raced towards the shed, she noticed the other kids gathered around the cherry tree, laughing and whooping it up. As she flew by and touched the shed, she thought, "This is too easy." but declared anyways, "Home free!"
Gwen ran over to her, laughing, "Walter's got Daniel's shirt and is cornered in the tree like a cat!"
"Really?" Sera responded coyly, "I wonder how that happened?"
Walter was laughing while shaking the limbs, sending a sprinkling of blossoms from the tree. The younger children cheered and jumped around singing, “Let it snow, let it snow…” and "Here comes the bride!"
Daniel hissed at him, "Walt! Walter! That's enough. Give it back before our folks come out!"
Amy retreated to the safety of her friends, Dela and Gwen. Dela turned to her, puzzled. "Why is your hair messy?"
"I-I I guess from hiding behind the garden."
Gwen added, "and why are you covered in pine needles? Were you rolling on the ground?"
"Yes. Of course! Now do any of you ladies have a comb?"
Daniel had climbed up the tree as far as his larger build would take him.
"Okay, Walter," he hissed, "You WIN. Now give me back my shirt you sneaky bastard!" Just as he spit out the last word, the shirt landed on his sweaty face.
The grown-ups came out of the house to see what all the commotion was. Sera was worried that they'd find out about the dirty things Amy and Daniel were doing up in the woods. As she saw her brother struggling to put his shirt on, she ran up to intercept her father, grabbing him by the hand.
"Hi, Daddy!" she chirped.
"Hey, short stuff. What's going on?"
"Oh, Daniel lost at hide and seek and he's upset at Walter. That's all."
"Ahh. A sore loser, eh?"
"Yep. Please can you make us a bonfire so we can roast marshmallows?"
"Sure, Sweetie." then he called up into the tree, "Boys! Stop your fighting. Get along, now."
"Yes, Dad," answered Daniel.
"Yes, Mr. Fletcher, Sir!" shouted Walter before he punched Daniel on the arm, dangled and dropped catlike out of the tree. "I can help you build that fire, Sir."
"Alright, Walt." responded Matthew, "That will be a big help. Just cut out the tom-foolery."
"Yes, sir," He responded genuinely this time then turned up to the tree to faux-salute Daniel while giving him the finger and a wide grin.
Sera couldn't help but giggle at his antics. Walter was such a trickster. As he made his way to the woodpile beside the shed, his grandmother pulled him aside and snarled something in Ojibwa. He stopped to face her but looked down to the grass and responded softly in their language. She gave him a couple of light slaps on the cheek then returned to join the adults. She paused to smile at Sera and pat her on the shoulder.
Within a few minutes, the kids were sitting around the bonfire and toasting marshmallows. Amy was glued beside Daniel once again. As usual, Dela and Gwen were like two peas in a pod. Walter and Perry were comparing who could make the biggest flaming marshmallow without letting it burn to a crisp.
A couple of neighbourhood kids saw the activity at the fire pit and dropped by, offering a package of hot dog wieners and cans of pop as price of admission.
~ ~ ~
End excerpt
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Let the Celebrations Begin!
Born in the Year of the Rabbit? What the Chinese say about you, reported at TheEpochTimes.
You're in good company ;-) I'm presently burrowed up inside due to the snow storm that passed through southern Ontario this week and is heading eastward. I am surprised that Shubenacadie Sam actually got up today!
Did you know... 2011 has also been declared International Year of Forests?
I find this a beautiful coincidence. In my novel, eleven-year-old Sera Fletcher tries to make sense of her lonely world and sees the 1975 Year of the Rabbit as a year of hope with the birth of her illegitimate nephew. She is also a lover of nature, trees and an unintentional avenger, protector of a forest in her own community.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)