#WWW and #WIPpet Wednesday – 23 December 2015

So I drove up to my parents’ place yesterday, and they have very minimal phone reception, not to mention, my phone battery was basically dead by the time I arrived. Which meant we nearly had a WIPpet Wednesday disaster, because I didn’t see the reminder to update the linky for this week until I was putting my phone on the charger just before bed. Luckily, this is one of those times when being Australian comes in handy, because it meant that 7am this morning was only just midnight in the UK and still only 2pm American EST, and all crises were averted in plenty of time.

As my Christmas present to you all, I thought I would actually share a WIPpet this week. For those unfamiliar with this blog hop, it’s one in which writers share excerpts from their current works in progress that somehow relate to the date. Today’s the 23rd, so I’ve added 2 and 3 together, and have five short paragraphs for you. Then I’ve added an extra line because it’s Christmas (and because it worked better to end it there). If you would like to join in, simply write up a post and then follow the little blue link in the top right to link up with us.

I finished plotting and started writing the first draft of my new WIP, tentatively titled Worlds Apart, a couple of weeks ago, and so far have just under 4000 words. I’m writing at least 200 words a day. Sometimes it’s sitting just at that total, though I’ve had a few good days of 750-1000 words. This scene is right at the beginning of the book. Princess Adelyn has been dragged back to the palace after it was discovered she was sneaking out and associating with some fairly shady commoners She’s trying to (quite justifiably) wriggle out of her punishment.

“I know what you’ve done. I was starting to piece it together and my friends in the city figured the rest out.” She moved further up the bed away from him, but Captain Masden simply moved around to the side of it and caught up to her. 

“A princess doesn’t have friends in the city, your Highness.” 

“Please don’t take away my memories again. You can tell my father that you did, and I’ll never mention anything about it to him. I’ll feign complete ignorance.” 

She saw him beckon to her companion, Maisie, who had been standing at the head of the bed, and she flinched as Maisie took her by the shoulders to hold her still. Captain Masden placed his fingers to her temples, paying no attention to her pleas. 

“I’m afraid I can’t risk you letting something slip, your Highness. These are your father’s orders. Now, please listen closely.” He ignored the small whimper she let out. “You were never in the city yesterday. You never met any healers, or their children, and you certainly weren’t about to let them lead you off to the shadier edges of town, where illegal magic is rife. You spent yesterday reading your favourite book, and sewing when the fancy took you. Your father came by and discussed plans for your mother’s anniversary next week. Do you remember?” 

“I remember,” the Princess repeated, her voice a monotone.

Oooh. 

I’m almost hesitant to go on to WWW Wednesday, because it’s been such a slow reading week for me. But on I shall go. WWW Wednesday is a weekly blog hop hosted by Sam over at A World of Words, in which we answer three questions about the books we’ve been reading this week. You can join in by leaving your link over on Sam’s blog.

• What are you currently reading? 

Very little movement on The Crash of Hennington by Patrick Ness or  The Magician’s Nephew by C. S. Lewis. I ended up having my dad in the car with my yesterday, so I didn’t actually get to listen to the audio books I had planned to on my way home. Otherwise I would be well and truly finished Magician’s Nephew at least. I also started The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater, because even though it’s three years old, I feel like everyone is reading it right now. I’m only around page 50, but I’m not minding it so far. I quite like Gansey.

• What did you recently finish reading? 

I spent Saturday doing absolutely nothing but reading Melophobia by James Morris. James got in touch with me on GoodReads to ask if I would like a review copy, and as I had heard good things, of course I said yes. There was one particular character whom I really didn’t like and that pulled me up a bit, but the alternate history was good. It’d been a while since I’d read an alternate history as opposed to a straight dystopia.

• What do you think you’ll read next? 

I’m hoping I’ll manage to finish The Magician’s Nephew while I’m home, then I can just pop on The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror  for my entire drive home next Tuesday. I won’t finish it on the drive, but I’ll make a fairly decent hole. Time Lord Fairy Tales also came in for me at the library after ages on hold, so that will probably be my next print book. I’m at 72 books for 2015 at the moment; I’m hoping I will reach 75 before the year is out.

This will be my last post before Christmas. I’ll be back for WWW/WIPpet Wednesday next week, but my next book reviews won’t be up until January 8. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season, whether you are Christian, of another faith, or secular. I’ll see you all on the other side!

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