The Candy Cane Dancer reaches 20,000 words

I know, a month and a half later than planned, but finally done. Now I just have to get the rest of it written. In the last excerpt you met Mayani, another of the Candy Cane’s dancers. In this one, Selene takes a good long look at one of the werewolves visiting the club:

The sight of him, made Selene’s body respond. This was one creature who could fuck her senseless and she wouldn’t care if he couldn’t dance a step. She was already imagining those big hands gliding over body, covering her breasts and squeezing as he breathed kisses on the back of her neck. She stifled a sigh and tried to focus on the task at hand.

Her mind rebelled and suggested what she might do if she had something else in her hand. That was one man she ached to lap dance for, the intensity of her body’s response catching her by surprise. After all, it wasn’t as if she was still in her first century. She was too old for the casual flings of old. No, this time if she gave herself to anyone, she wanted it to be more than just her body. This time she wanted to be able to give her heart, perhaps even a small part of her soul.

Next excerpt will be posted at 30,000 words, In the meantime, I’ll post an excerpt from Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat to celebrate when that tale reached the 20,000 word mark.

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Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat at 10,000 Words/The Candy Cane Dancer Update

Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat reached 10,000 words before I went on hiatus, but in line with my new tradition I’ve put an excerpt for you below:

In the last excerpt, Kitty pondered her ex-boyfriend, Charles. In this one, she has followed Egyptian detective, Sera, through an archway into time and almost lost herself in the mists that cover the realm beyond. Sera has come to her rescue… if only he can make her be quiet.

Sera’s hand covered her mouth, muffling her squawk of protest. The arm encircling her, tightened, and his voice boomed out in the mist.

Try as she might, Kitty didn’t understand a word. The language might, she decided, be Egyptian. But it felt older and she could taste the magic rising around them. Color flared, and Sera roared in answer. Kitty glimpsed flower-scattered fields beneath an expanse of cerulean sky, not a single one a rose. She closed her eyes, burying her face in Sera’s broad chest, letting the spicy scent of his skin comfort her as the world exploded into chaos around them.

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The next excerpt will be to celebrate 20,000 words. Look for it around the end of the month.

Progress Report on The Candy Cane Dancer: The Candy Cane Dancer currently stands at 18,000 words; I didn’t quite make the 20,000 word mark last month. I’m working on it, but I’ve hit a sticky patch. Give me a fortnight to convince the story it wants to play.

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The Candy Cane Dancer and Pussy Cat Pussy Cat

Good news! The new writing routine seems to be working for me. I have reached 16,000 words on The Candy Cane Dancer. It’s not an excerpt stage, I know so I thought I’d give you a short excerpt from Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat to celebrate the time it reached 1,000 words. Back then I wasn’t in the habit of sharing overly much so now it’s time to do a little catching up. Here is our first glimpse of the novel’s hero, Sera. He starts the story in a very dark place.

EXCERPT

Outside, the desert wind howled like some long-forgotten ghost. Inside, he listened to the sand hiss against the walls, scouring them clean, and imprisoning him with the dead.

Sera! It was like the elements called the short form of his name even while he sheltered from them. Sera! It was like they were tugging on his soul. Seranefret wanted to weep because he’d failed. The Magician had escaped and Pharaoh was imperiled.

Outside, the wind rose in another shriek. Frustration or rage, Sera didn’t know. Perhaps it was despair. If it weren’t for the oath he’d sworn to the high priests of Ma’at and Isis, he’d have stepped through the door and taken his punishment for failing his duty to Ra’s reincarnation. The lash of the sands would have scoured his bones clean and erased him from the world for good.

END EXCERPT

The next excerpt will be to celebrate 5,000 words. Look for it with the next update for The Candy Cane Dancer.

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The Candy Cane Dancer Reaches 10,000 Words

The last week has seen more writing and less messing around. I’m pleased to say I’ve added another 5,000 words and hope to do so again in each coming week until the story is finished.

Last week, we met Selene and the leader of the investigation team sent in by the local werewolf pack. This week, we meet another of the Candy Cane’s dancers. She is being observed by the werewolf captain and the club manager as she dances into danger, in spite of being in the safe confines of the club.

EXCERPT

Jeannie could dance. As Mayani she took the art form to a whole new level. Each move spoke of mystery and sex, and hinted at lovemaking which could only be imagined. Jeannie’s long hair was held back from her face in clasps of gold and fake emerald, its ebony length trailing down to the top of her ass. The male patrons couldn’t resist touching it or trailing their fingers across Mayani’s gold-dusted skin.

Their want of her was etched on their faces. Their lust portrayed in the tautness of their bodies and the avid interest in their eyes. Envy of the men she chose was diminished only slightly by the hope Mayani would choose them another night, or that she could be cajoled into joining them for a short rendezvous after work, or in the club’s private rooms. She never did, and other dancers enjoyed the rewards provided by Jeannie’s provocation.

“She’s the next target.”

END EXCERPT

The next excerpt will be to celebrate reaching the 20,000-word mark. It should be ready around the end of the November. So far this story looks like it’s going to be another short one, but one chapter has already surprised me, and I’ve added another section to the outline as a result, so we’ll just have to see. At this point I’m on track for having it ready for submission before the end of the year.

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The Candy Cane Dancer Reaches 5,000 words

It’s been a slow couple of months, but The Candy Cane Dancer has reached 5,000 words. As this is a small milestone, I’ve decided to treat you to another excerpt.

In the last excerpt, Martinette, one of The Candy Cane’s dancers was dancing for the killer. In this excerpt, we have left her in the killer’s lair and returned to the club she dances for. Here we meet the heroine, who has learned of Martinette’s disappearance and arrived at the club to let the manager know before she starts her shift. When she gets there, it’s to find he’s attracted assistance from the local werewolf pack.

Selene squared her shoulders and headed towards the office. The club’s manager glanced in her direction and raised his eyebrows. His movement drew the attention of the wolf at his side and Selene found herself caught in the hunt captain’s gaze.

The weight of it was almost physical, like a touch that set her skin ablaze and kindled desire between her thighs. For an instant, Selene wondered what it would be like to capture that gaze in her bed. Would it devour her, or woo her? A small part of her mind, wondered how those eyes would widen if she wore nothing but a red hooded cape. Her body heated and she watched his nostrils flare.

The next excerpt will be to celebrate 10,000 words. Look for it around the end of the month.

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