Weekend Writing Warriors: Snippet 87- Gwynneth

weekend writing warriorsIt’s time for Weekend Writing Warriors! Every Sunday, a bunch of writers post 8-10-sentence snippets from their WIPs on their blogs. There’s a lot of reading, commenting and great writing. Click on the link to see the full list.

Hammer of the Gods comes out June 1st, but it’s already available for preorder! More info below the snippet.

For once, Kendryk and Gwynneth aren’t having a very adventuresome time. They’re in Zeelund, negotiating loans to finance Lennart’s invasion. Banking is boring, but on the plus side, they get invited to a lot of parties. This time, they’re at the home of Kamyla Melchor, a wealthy businesswoman and new bride. Those of you who’ve read Valley of the Shadow will recognize this as the aftermath of Arian and Anton’s pirating adventure. Gwynneth is looking over the new husband:

Devries Geerts was short, fat, and bald. While Gwynneth had known other men of the type to be merry, likable sorts, Geerts was not one of them, with a perpetually down-turned mouth, and beady, unfriendly eyes.

“What does Vrouw Melchor see in him?” Gwynneth whispered to her dinner companion, a jolly young woman who looked like she enjoyed gossip.

“Money,” the woman whispered back. “A few years ago, her husband was kidnapped by pirates and disappeared. She lost a few ships along with the husband, and fell on hard times. None of her schemes succeeded, and everyone’s certain she had to marry Geerts in exchange for him bailing out her business.”

“How dreadful,” Gwynneth said. But as she looked around the ornate dining room and identified the exquisite china and crystal as Sanovan, she told herself she’d probably do the same, rather than give up something this fine. But when she looked at Geerts again, she wasn’t so sure.

Our girl Gwynneth is pretty mercenary, but maybe not THAT mercenary!

Previous snippets are here.

Hammer of the Gods v4

A war-ravaged continent. An epic battle for power. An endless chain of betrayals . . . 

In her quest for dominance, Teodora will destroy everything in her path. 

Kendryk and Gwynneth enjoy their reunion and look to the future, laying plans to regain their home. But all their hopes rest on King Lennart’s invasion.

Determined to overthrow Teodora and everything she stands for, Lennart finds himself thwarted by an unlikely opponent as he gathers allies. While he struggles to gain the upper hand, Teodora must repay a debt which will alter her life forever.

Unmoored in his grief, Braeden risks everything in an ill-fated bid for revenge; Anton struggles to make a new life for himself while forced to fight for the enemy;  and Elektra gathers her forces, determined to be Empress someday— if she can survive long enough.

The Desolate Empire, Christina Ochs’ epic fantasy series, continues in Book 3: Hammer of the Gods.

Click on the cover to pre-order for 99 cents.

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24 Comments on “Weekend Writing Warriors: Snippet 87- Gwynneth

  1. I think it’s smart that she tries to put herself in the other woman’s situation. One never knows what they’ll do in hard times.

  2. I think we all might wonder how we would react in such a situation–choose between survival and love or at least affection in a marriage. More than one woman–Charlotte Collins in Pride and Prejudice–come to mind. Glad I never had to make that choice! Great snippet!

    • Yes, I always think of Charlotte Collins in that situation! In this case, the woman’s last marriage was a romantic one, she thought, but she made a spectacular misjudgment.

  3. lol – love the – a jolly woman who looked like she enjoyed gossip – I know several people who fit that description.

    What a spectacular cover. The look on his face – no messing with him.

    Tweeted.

  4. Great snippet (of course)! As you know from countless emails, I adore Gwyennth. And without adding any spoilers, I’ll just say that the tension with her story nearly killed me! :O Seriously, heart was pounding the whole time. I’m almost done the novel, and it’s been spectacular!

    • Yes, I decided it was time for Gwynneth to have some real adventure. So glad you’re enjoying it, sorrynotsorry about the heart-pounding. 🙂

    • Awesome, thanks! I think that’s some of the most fun I have in the writing process, figuring out how to make the various plotlines come together.

  5. Scenes like this, in which a character finds a conflict inside herself, are some of the most powerful internal dialogues, and you’ve done a great job with this internal conflict.

  6. It’s funny how the presence of money can make an ugly man look a little more acceptable! However, not only is he short, fat and bald, (which can be overlooked), he is miserable too (which is less easy to overlook, money or no money). Great writing Christina.

  7. Gwynneth must be even more glad that she married Kendryk, despite having fallen on hard times. But those can be blamed on Teodora! I’m about halfway through the ARC of Hammer and am really enjoying the twists!

    Marcia

  8. You never know what you’ll do in such a situation until you’re in it. It’s difficult to spend your life with a man like that, but sometimes there isn’t much choice…

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