キャミー・タング著「戌年」連載小説 プロのドッグトレーナーであるマリ・ムトウは、厄年を迎えている。 犬小屋と訓練所の改築をしながら、いつも不服そうにしている家族と同居することになった。母と姉に言わせれば、犬の毛とよだれかけにまみれる仕事は、家族にとって恥ずべきものだという。彼女は元カレを説得し、数ヶ月間犬を預かってもらうことにした。しかし、彼の兄は、数週間前に彼女が誤って車に追突した、怒り狂ったセキュリティ専門家であることが判明する。 アシュウィン・ケイトウは十分な問題を抱えている。叔母が玄関先に現れ、同居を希望している。彼は彼女にすべてを借りているので、断ることができません。母親が家を出て行った後、ネルおばさんはアシュウィンと弟を引き取り、愛のあるキリスト教の家庭で育てた。しかも、弟のダスティもアパートを追い出され、居場所を求めている。しかし、彼は犬を飼っている。そして、その犬の飼い主は誰だと思いますか？ しかし、旧友でオアフ島のノースショアでデイスパを経営する私立探偵のエディサ・ゲレロから依頼を受ける。マリの施設で奇妙な破壊行為があり、3年前に失踪したエディサの妹の財布を発見する。エディサはマリが危険な目に遭っているのではと心配する。警備の専門家であるアシュウィンがすでにマリを知っていることを知ったエディサは、忙しい若い女性を密かに監視することを彼に依頼する。 アシュウィンは、活発でのんびりとしたドッグトレーナーに不本意ながら惹かれていく。彼女は、幸せそうな母親を思い出させる。その母親の裏切りによって、彼は人と距離を置くようになったのだ。マリは、アシュウィンの冷たい外見を見抜き、彼が家族に忠実な男であることを認める。彼は、彼女のキャリア選択を批判するだけの母親や姉とは違う。 マリのバラバラな家庭とアシュウィンのバラバラな家庭の中で、過去を隠そうとする人たちから、彼らの周りに危険が迫ってくるようになる。彼らは、影で動く秘密に光を当てることができるのか？ 過去に発表されたパートへのリンクはこちら。 *** 第8章 - 恐ろしくも真っ白な不動産書類 『みんな仲良くできないのかな？』 マリは無用に力を込めて箱に本を投げ入れた。最近、なぜ彼女は人生の中で全員と言い争いをしているのだろう？もしかすると、これは本当に悪いアイデア
Captain’s Log, Stardate 10.03.2006
Blog book giveaway:
My Monday book giveaway is Dark Hour by Ginger Garrett.
You can still enter. Just post a comment on the blog post above. On Thursday, I'll post the title for another book I'm giving away.
Continued from part 1:
Mary DeMuth gave a fabulous morning session for Advanced writers. It was both spiritual and practical, plus she’s a good speaker and teacher. Very open and honest, good points. If you haven’t gotten the MP3 for the conference yet, go get her four sessions.
Big congrats to Cara Putman, who was awarded with a contract at the conference!
I had the loveliest time talking with Serena Miller on Saturday morning. She needed some advice, and it made me feel so good to be able to help her out.
But even more, she was such a calming presence as Kat (conference tech goddess) rushed by a few times to let me know about problems with the Powerpoint. Serena was true to her name—she helped me to feel calmer and less stressed, to let go of my control-freak tendencies, to trust God to work everything out.
And He did—Kat came by again with good news about using the infrared remote to forward the slides from the audience.
Praying with Brandilyn Collins was wonderful, although way too short. I only had 5 minutes in between one appointment and dinner with my agents, but she said a powerful prayer over me. I felt so sad at the end because I could have sat there for another 20 minutes. I know God needs to work on things in my heart, so I’m praying He will continue to do it despite my busy schedule. I’m trying to learn how to rest.
I was able to pray for Cheryl Wyatt in the Prayer Room with Brandilyn. It was fabulous. We were all in tears but it was good tears. I’m praying for a quick recovery for Cheryl.
I wish I’d been there for prayer for Pammer and Heather. Brandilyn prayed over the four of us two years ago and it was something we had wanted this year. I had also wanted to be there when she prayed for my friends Robin Cynclair, Ronie Kendig, and Dineen Miller.
Next: Name dropping.
TMI:
Writing: Doing revisions. Trying to take it in small pieces so I’m not too overwhelmed.
I wish my manuscript were a spreadsheet. That would be so much easier, I think. Move a cell here, change a value there. Create a macro or a formula to make things easier.
I’m such a geek. What is a left brain like me doing writing???
I posted a review of The Guy I’m Not Dating by Trish Perry below.
Diet: I exercised yesterday! Denise Austin’s Daily Workout and Power Yoga. And boy are my legs tired. As in JELLO-in-a-San-Francisco-earthquake tired.
Hopefully I can keep this up this week. I’ve discovered that I really don’t lose weight—no matter how much I try to change my diet—unless I exercise at least 4 hours a week. It’s not that bad. I do about 45-50 minutes a day five days a week.
I should try walking the dog on weekends, but I just get so lazy. And poor Snickers gets FAT.
Blog book giveaway:
My Monday book giveaway is Dark Hour by Ginger Garrett.
You can still enter. Just post a comment on the blog post above. On Thursday, I'll post the title for another book I'm giving away.
Continued from part 1:
Mary DeMuth gave a fabulous morning session for Advanced writers. It was both spiritual and practical, plus she’s a good speaker and teacher. Very open and honest, good points. If you haven’t gotten the MP3 for the conference yet, go get her four sessions.
Big congrats to Cara Putman, who was awarded with a contract at the conference!
I had the loveliest time talking with Serena Miller on Saturday morning. She needed some advice, and it made me feel so good to be able to help her out.
But even more, she was such a calming presence as Kat (conference tech goddess) rushed by a few times to let me know about problems with the Powerpoint. Serena was true to her name—she helped me to feel calmer and less stressed, to let go of my control-freak tendencies, to trust God to work everything out.
And He did—Kat came by again with good news about using the infrared remote to forward the slides from the audience.
Praying with Brandilyn Collins was wonderful, although way too short. I only had 5 minutes in between one appointment and dinner with my agents, but she said a powerful prayer over me. I felt so sad at the end because I could have sat there for another 20 minutes. I know God needs to work on things in my heart, so I’m praying He will continue to do it despite my busy schedule. I’m trying to learn how to rest.
I was able to pray for Cheryl Wyatt in the Prayer Room with Brandilyn. It was fabulous. We were all in tears but it was good tears. I’m praying for a quick recovery for Cheryl.
I wish I’d been there for prayer for Pammer and Heather. Brandilyn prayed over the four of us two years ago and it was something we had wanted this year. I had also wanted to be there when she prayed for my friends Robin Cynclair, Ronie Kendig, and Dineen Miller.
Next: Name dropping.
TMI:
Writing: Doing revisions. Trying to take it in small pieces so I’m not too overwhelmed.
I wish my manuscript were a spreadsheet. That would be so much easier, I think. Move a cell here, change a value there. Create a macro or a formula to make things easier.
I’m such a geek. What is a left brain like me doing writing???
I posted a review of The Guy I’m Not Dating by Trish Perry below.
Diet: I exercised yesterday! Denise Austin’s Daily Workout and Power Yoga. And boy are my legs tired. As in JELLO-in-a-San-Francisco-earthquake tired.
Hopefully I can keep this up this week. I’ve discovered that I really don’t lose weight—no matter how much I try to change my diet—unless I exercise at least 4 hours a week. It’s not that bad. I do about 45-50 minutes a day five days a week.
I should try walking the dog on weekends, but I just get so lazy. And poor Snickers gets FAT.
Comments
And thanks for the nice comments about my teaching. You're so nice!
And I know what you're saying about wishing your script were a spreadsheet. I'm actually very right brained and visual, so I have to draw out a sort of time line so I can "see" all the pieces(and we're talkin' stick figures here :) Helps so much!
J