Kaslyne's choice for the cover of her book
Kaslyne had three covers to choose from and this was her final choice....I really kind of like it
Kaslyne's story
This manuscript has not been named as of today. I'm writing this novel as a request from a sweet girl I met on one of my trips to Maine (my cousin's grand-daughter). The request was to write a story about a girl (Kaslyne) and her horse. Although I have never attempted to write a book for the middle school aged children, I took this project on.
Kaslyne explained the basics of what she wanted the novel to be about. I began the somewhat difficult task of writing this while keeping in contact with my cousin and Kaslyne. I must say Kaslyne seems to be very pleased with the idea of having a novel written just for her.
I'm posting the first chapter of the rough draft for everyone to see...please feel free to comment.
Kaslyne's story:
Chapter One:
Getting Ready Kaslyne was sleeping when the sun peaked through a gap in the curtains. She realized as soon as the sun hit her eyes it had finally stopped raining. She rubbed her sleepy eyes with her fingertips and hopped out of bed. She quickly rushed to the window and spread the curtains wide. After seeing nothing but rain for the past four days she was excited to finally have the opportunity to go to the barn and see her horse Butterscotch.
Without further hesitation she ran to her dresser and pulled out a pair of her favorite shorts, the blue ones with the tiny picture of a horse embroidered on the back pocket. She slid them on and then rummaged through the drawer that contained her favorite shirts. She was looking for the white tee shirt that her mother had sewn the little horse appliqué on. Finally she found it and pulled it on over her head. Kaslyne then grabbed a pair of white anklet socks, sat on the chair at her desk and pulled them on. She panicked when she couldn’t find her shoes.
She thought about the last time she had worn the white sneakers with blue and pink trim, and remembered she must have accidentally kicked them under her bed when her and her brother were lying on the floor playing a game of cards. She knelt down beside the bed and peered underneath, she straightened when she realized they weren’t there. Kaslyne sat on her heels as she tried to figure out where they could possibly be. Finally after a few long moments of heavy thinking she remembered her mother was in her room yesterday complaining about her shoes being left in the middle of the floor, she remembered her mom picked them up and placed them in her closet. She thought as she rose to her feet and headed toward the closet door, I don’t know why my mom always has to feel like she needs to clean my room. I have everything right where I want it and she still insists that my room is messy.
Kaslyne opened her closet door and peered down at the shoe rack, and just as she had suspected her mom put her shoes on the top shelf. She quickly grabbed the sneakers, returned to her desk, sat down and slid the shoes on. She ran to the bathroom down the hall and finished getting ready; she brushed her shoulder length blonde hair and washed her face. After she was completely satisfied with her appearance she left the bathroom. Standing at the top of the stairs she wondered if she should take the stairs or slide down the banister. The decision was made, she lifted her leg and swung it over the banister. She held a tight grasp until she was comfortable and then released her grip allowing herself and gravity to slide the full length of the stairs in a matter of a second.
Once she was at the bottom of the stairs she leapt off the railing causing an echo to sound in the open foyer. She smiled when she realized she had only been awake for ten minutes and she was completely dressed and ready for her day. Her mother called from the kitchen, “Kas. is that you?” She walked into the foyer and said sternly, “I thought I told you not use the banister as a slide. Don’t you realize if you lost your grip you could fall off and get seriously hurt? Please Kas I’m begging you to use your head…”
Kaslyne turned to her mother and said softly, “I just couldn’t help it, that's the fastest way down the stairs and I have to go see Butterscotch.”
Her mother shook her head and said with a smile, “I realize walking down the stairs takes a little…” she held her hand up keeping her thumb and forefinger about an inch apart, “…more time, but you have to understand quicker is not always better.”
She followed her mother into the kitchen, and asked, “Do you think Butterscotch forgot about me, I haven’t been able to see her in a few days because it’s been raining…I just hope she remembers me.”
Her mother placed her soft hand on Kaslyne’s check and explained, “You have owned that horse for a few weeks, I’m positive she’ll remember you.” She leaned down and kissed the top of her daughter’s head, “After breakfast you can go to the stables and spend the day with her.”
Kaslyne opened a cabinet door and pulled out a small bowl, and placed it on the counter. She slid open the drawer that held the flatware and pulled out a spoon and placed it beside the bowl. Her mother asked, “What cereal would you like this morning?”
Kaslyne turned toward her mother and said, “I think I’ll have the one with the marshmallows, I’m thinking today is going to be my lucky day.”
Her mother laughed out loud and asked, “Why do you think today is going to be lucky?”
“Well first of all the sun is shining.” She scratched her head and continued, “Plus I get to finally ride butterscotch and…”
Her mother interrupted, “Marcus mentioned he spied that mean dog Brutus roaming around last night. If you’re planning on riding your horse today you have to promise to stay far away from the fence line.”
“Why can’t Brutus’ owners keep him tied up?” She poured her cereal and her mother passed her the milk, “Did I tell you Butterscotch chased Brutus home the other day?”
“That horse chased away Brutus?” She took the milk from Kaslyne’s hand and placed it into the refrigerator, “Huh, maybe that horse will be more than just a pet. I believe she may already know this is her home and she’s willing to protect it.”
“Maybe I have the first ever watch horse.” Kaslyne laughed, “I think I like the idea of being protected by a horse.”
Kaslyne finished her breakfast in record time and rushed for the front door. She paused just before she opened it and said softly, “I hope Brutus found his way home, I would hate to run into him on the way to the stables.”
Her mother placed her hands on Kaslyne’s shoulders and said softly, “Would you like me to walk with you?”
“No that’s alright, I’ll run…” She didn’t turn her head because she didn’t want her mother to know she was a little nervous, “Besides, Brutus has to be home sleeping, he never comes here in the morning.”
She flung open the door and stepped outside into the bright sunshine.
Kaslyne explained the basics of what she wanted the novel to be about. I began the somewhat difficult task of writing this while keeping in contact with my cousin and Kaslyne. I must say Kaslyne seems to be very pleased with the idea of having a novel written just for her.
I'm posting the first chapter of the rough draft for everyone to see...please feel free to comment.
Kaslyne's story:
Chapter One:
Getting Ready Kaslyne was sleeping when the sun peaked through a gap in the curtains. She realized as soon as the sun hit her eyes it had finally stopped raining. She rubbed her sleepy eyes with her fingertips and hopped out of bed. She quickly rushed to the window and spread the curtains wide. After seeing nothing but rain for the past four days she was excited to finally have the opportunity to go to the barn and see her horse Butterscotch.
Without further hesitation she ran to her dresser and pulled out a pair of her favorite shorts, the blue ones with the tiny picture of a horse embroidered on the back pocket. She slid them on and then rummaged through the drawer that contained her favorite shirts. She was looking for the white tee shirt that her mother had sewn the little horse appliqué on. Finally she found it and pulled it on over her head. Kaslyne then grabbed a pair of white anklet socks, sat on the chair at her desk and pulled them on. She panicked when she couldn’t find her shoes.
She thought about the last time she had worn the white sneakers with blue and pink trim, and remembered she must have accidentally kicked them under her bed when her and her brother were lying on the floor playing a game of cards. She knelt down beside the bed and peered underneath, she straightened when she realized they weren’t there. Kaslyne sat on her heels as she tried to figure out where they could possibly be. Finally after a few long moments of heavy thinking she remembered her mother was in her room yesterday complaining about her shoes being left in the middle of the floor, she remembered her mom picked them up and placed them in her closet. She thought as she rose to her feet and headed toward the closet door, I don’t know why my mom always has to feel like she needs to clean my room. I have everything right where I want it and she still insists that my room is messy.
Kaslyne opened her closet door and peered down at the shoe rack, and just as she had suspected her mom put her shoes on the top shelf. She quickly grabbed the sneakers, returned to her desk, sat down and slid the shoes on. She ran to the bathroom down the hall and finished getting ready; she brushed her shoulder length blonde hair and washed her face. After she was completely satisfied with her appearance she left the bathroom. Standing at the top of the stairs she wondered if she should take the stairs or slide down the banister. The decision was made, she lifted her leg and swung it over the banister. She held a tight grasp until she was comfortable and then released her grip allowing herself and gravity to slide the full length of the stairs in a matter of a second.
Once she was at the bottom of the stairs she leapt off the railing causing an echo to sound in the open foyer. She smiled when she realized she had only been awake for ten minutes and she was completely dressed and ready for her day. Her mother called from the kitchen, “Kas. is that you?” She walked into the foyer and said sternly, “I thought I told you not use the banister as a slide. Don’t you realize if you lost your grip you could fall off and get seriously hurt? Please Kas I’m begging you to use your head…”
Kaslyne turned to her mother and said softly, “I just couldn’t help it, that's the fastest way down the stairs and I have to go see Butterscotch.”
Her mother shook her head and said with a smile, “I realize walking down the stairs takes a little…” she held her hand up keeping her thumb and forefinger about an inch apart, “…more time, but you have to understand quicker is not always better.”
She followed her mother into the kitchen, and asked, “Do you think Butterscotch forgot about me, I haven’t been able to see her in a few days because it’s been raining…I just hope she remembers me.”
Her mother placed her soft hand on Kaslyne’s check and explained, “You have owned that horse for a few weeks, I’m positive she’ll remember you.” She leaned down and kissed the top of her daughter’s head, “After breakfast you can go to the stables and spend the day with her.”
Kaslyne opened a cabinet door and pulled out a small bowl, and placed it on the counter. She slid open the drawer that held the flatware and pulled out a spoon and placed it beside the bowl. Her mother asked, “What cereal would you like this morning?”
Kaslyne turned toward her mother and said, “I think I’ll have the one with the marshmallows, I’m thinking today is going to be my lucky day.”
Her mother laughed out loud and asked, “Why do you think today is going to be lucky?”
“Well first of all the sun is shining.” She scratched her head and continued, “Plus I get to finally ride butterscotch and…”
Her mother interrupted, “Marcus mentioned he spied that mean dog Brutus roaming around last night. If you’re planning on riding your horse today you have to promise to stay far away from the fence line.”
“Why can’t Brutus’ owners keep him tied up?” She poured her cereal and her mother passed her the milk, “Did I tell you Butterscotch chased Brutus home the other day?”
“That horse chased away Brutus?” She took the milk from Kaslyne’s hand and placed it into the refrigerator, “Huh, maybe that horse will be more than just a pet. I believe she may already know this is her home and she’s willing to protect it.”
“Maybe I have the first ever watch horse.” Kaslyne laughed, “I think I like the idea of being protected by a horse.”
Kaslyne finished her breakfast in record time and rushed for the front door. She paused just before she opened it and said softly, “I hope Brutus found his way home, I would hate to run into him on the way to the stables.”
Her mother placed her hands on Kaslyne’s shoulders and said softly, “Would you like me to walk with you?”
“No that’s alright, I’ll run…” She didn’t turn her head because she didn’t want her mother to know she was a little nervous, “Besides, Brutus has to be home sleeping, he never comes here in the morning.”
She flung open the door and stepped outside into the bright sunshine.
For the Sake of Amelia series
This series deals with the sensitive issues of spousal abuse and Amelia's fight to have a peaceful life far away from her ex-husband. They are strictly for adults due to the brutality, vulgarity and sexual content. The first novel in the series has been published in e-book and hard copy formats, and is available through amazon.com, barnesandnobel.com, smashwords.com and lulu.com. I have received many comments from readers who have read Tormented, which boosts any writers ego. I am constantly asked when the next installment will be released. As of the moment I expect the novel Inhibition to be released sometime in January.
For a kindle version of Kaslyne's Story please hit the link below.
amazon.com
For a kindle version of Kaslyne's Story please hit the link below.
amazon.com