Welcome to the Snippet Sunday on the Weird, the Wild, and the Wicked. Thank you so much for visiting. If you choose to comment today, I really appreciate it. The snippets are from my Christmas novella, Christmas I.C.E. Magic, a paranormal romance set in the mountains northeast of Las Vegas. It's one of four stories in the Happy Holidays from the Crescent Moon Lodge Anthology, and it's only sale for only $0.99. And in a few weeks, the sequel to Christmas ICE Magic is coming out. If you missed last week's snippet, you can read it HERE.
In this snippet, while Lily Sinclair is struggling to find a place to sleep on the slopes, Zachary Snow, Ice Demon Search and Rescue professional, is on call down at the resort. His family and friends don't understand why Zach hangs out with humans.
Zach turned his
attention back to the repairs of the snowmobile’s engine. He loved his friends
and family in the Ice Demon realm, but they’d never understand his need of
color, flavor, scent, and richness found only among the humans. Ice Demons
followed winter, migratory like birds or gypsies. They brought all the winter
weather to the world, whether fierce blizzards, like the one they planned
tonight, or sweet, silent snowstorms, laying a blanket of calm over everything.
But their world
held colors of blue, green, gray, white, and black. Cold and damp, the scents
surrounding his people consisted of water in various states of freezing, and
flavors just as subtle. Zach yearned for something more, something rich and
wild and hot and colorful. The first time he’d had a cup of hot chocolate, he’d
held it until it cooled, sipping and sniffing the exotic flavors.
He’d taken the
job as an SAR officer for the Crescent Moon Lodge and his nomadic family
questioned him every winter they returned. He shook his head as he reached for
the snowmobile’s dipstick. Even the oil smelled of life, old life passed, but
still life.
Sounds like Zach is looking to expand his horizons. There are several great authors on the Weekend Writing Warrior list and in the Snippet Sunday Facebook group. A few of my favorites are Charley Descoteaux, SJ Maylee, Gem Sivad, Goran Zidar, Veronica Scott, and Karla Doyle.
If you're interested in more from Christmas ICE Magic, here's the blurb for the Anthology:
At the Crescent Moon Lodge, anything is
possible and Christmas wishes come in the most unusual packages.
Christmas I.C.E. Magic – By Siobhan Muir
For Lily Sinclair, Christmas means sorrow and loss since the death of her twin brother. The magic is gone and she only wants to see her brother one more time. As an Ice Demon Zachary Snow is used to rescuing people in winter, but he’d never rescued anyone like Lily. Now he must convince her the magic she wants is in life itself.
A Howling Yuletide –By Shannan Albright
Fleur Delecourt knew her Christmas holiday was doomed from the start. Not only
did she hate the cold and snow, but also she found herself saddled with a ski
instructor, courtesy of a friend’s twisted sense of humor.
Werewolf Rory Furr left Scotland to find a life and pack of his own. What he
was not prepared for was finding his mate in the form of a petite redhead who
tests both his self-control and patience.
Bon Appetite from the Lunar Eclipse Restaurant-By R.M. Sotera
Executive chef vampire Michael Stake loves his job at the Lunar Eclipse Restaurant. Although food critics do not visit often, he welcomes world-renown critic Penelope Rothchild to his establishment. That’s when all hell breaks loose. World-renown food critic Penelope Rothchild looks forward to her new assignment in Las Vegas. Christmas in the West, what could possibly go wrong? Everything. But it’s all in the name of the perfect meal.
Boo Christmas – By Johanna Riley
All Elvira "Elle" Grant wanted for Christmas was to get out from under her famous paranormal investigator parents' shadow. But being a medium she's always haunted by their profession. Thanks to a contest win, she gets the chance to do her own paranormal investigating during Christmas at the beautiful Crescent Moon Lodge near Las Vegas, Nevada. With hunky (albeit dead!) Casper Van Beau’s help. Can Elle get over her own insecurities long enough to open up to the possibilities of eternal love?
Happy Holidays from the Crescent Moon Lodge is only $0.99 at Amazon, All Romance, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. Pick up your copy and get swept away for Christmas. And keep an eye out for Cloudburst Ice Magic coming early August 2014!
I liked the analogy with the oil.
ReplyDeleteHe sounds like an outcast.
He is somewhat among his people because he wants more, Frank. Thanks for commenting. :)
DeleteColors and textures were so well described in this snippet. I found myself nodding at his reasons for staying. Great snippet!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gem. He's been a pretty exciting character to write. Thanks for commenting.
Deletelike the one they planned tonight <- so, I can blame your characters for all our winter storms. :D Lol!
ReplyDeleteThank you for showing us this side of his character. I really like him.
Yep, SJ, you can totally blame his people for the winter storms. They had a long year this yearh, eh? ;) Thanks for commenting.
DeleteThis is a gorgeous passage, Siobhan. I just want to give that man a hug and one of my MIL's blindingly colorful afghans.
ReplyDelete(I'm now humming, "Part of your world . . . " : ) )
Hehehe, he'd probably love it, Sarah. Especially if he can wrap his woman in it...hmm just got an idea. :D Thanks for commenting.
DeleteWonderful insight to this character. Enjoyed the snippet.
ReplyDeleteThank you for commenting, Karen. :)
DeleteOooh... I'm loving Zach He's not the black sheep of his family -- he's the tie-dyed one!
ReplyDeleteHe's totally the tie-dyed sheep, PT. LOL Just wait until he meets Lily and shows his true colors. Thanks for commenting.
DeleteThis reads like a fairy tale to me. Well done.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Elaine. :)
DeleteI love the way this unfolds-- giving us background & even mythology quickly & easily. We could use an Ice Demon around where I live. Can it be winter again? Now?
ReplyDeleteIt might be tough to convince them, Jeff, lol. They visited my house today, though. Thanks for commenting. ;)
DeleteI loved the idea of his reaction to his first cup of hot chocolate. Really an excellent excerpt!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Veronica. Yeah, Zach makes me appreciate some of the goodies we take for granted.
DeleteThe ice demons seem to like it up here.
ReplyDeleteIce Demons don't come from Hell in this world, Sue Ann. They are essentially weather elementals. :)
DeleteInteresting glimpse into his world. I like the mental picture of him savoring the hot chocolate.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carol. Zach really takes pleasure in some simple thing. His favorite thing about human winter wear is the brilliant colors of the Gore-Tex. :)
DeleteI love this emotional world building.
ReplyDelete