NaNoWriMo has pretty much taken over my writing life. Images of floating cities and stone-powered airships have taken over my daydreams. Even my reading material has been taken over by steampunk stories–both good and horrible. So is it any surprise that my excerpt below is coming from my steampunk NaNoWriMo work?
The excerpt is a snippet of a surprise meeting between Eirika (a seemingly ordinary smuggler) and her notorious colleague, Fred (a main character in one of my earlier short stories).
Eirika straightened in her seat, eyeing the tall man who’d just entered the cafe. The man wore a scarf that hid his face, though Eirika was damn sure he wasn’t Drembly, unless the sodding fool had found a way to grow a couple heads taller and develop a broad chest overnight. Still, he seemed familiar, and it wasn’t until the man responded to the owner that she knew why.
“Tea’s fine,” the man rasped, his voice muffled by the scarf. Dark gloved hands unwrapped the cloth from his face, revealing a rugged, swarthy man in his thirties. He glanced around, saw Eirika staring hard at him, and grinned. “Plonk it over where the pretty lady’s sitting, thanks.”
“Fred.”
Story Notes: Amber and Tourmalines (working title, definitely not the final one) is a story of a black market dealer and her investigation into the untimely deaths of important colleagues. It is also a story of a man down on his luck and resorting to thievery to make ends meet. Only the man’s pretty bad at petty theft, but a rather decent clockmaker. The black market dealer has no problem pointing this out–and involuntarily recruiting him to a life of crime.
Story and Somnomancy 
You had me at “smuggler”. More, please.
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Hahaha, a smuggler’s life for me! Glad you liked 😀
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I love the Eirika swears while thinking to herself. Seems she might have met her match in this guy!
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Eirika does a lot of swearing as she thinks. Odd coming from a girl who’s been brought up as a lady, but there it is. Thanks for stopping by!
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Nice snippet! Keep up the good work!
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Thank you! 🙂
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Excellent storyline. I can’t wait to read more.
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I should probably continue next week with the conversation after this snippet *nods*
Thanks for stopping by!
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Looking forward to it!
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Loved it! You have distinct character and I like your voice. I so pictured that scene in my mind. I like it!
History Sleuth’s Mysteries
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Thanks! 😀
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He seems . . . friendly? She seems less so, but I’m sure she has reasons!
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Occupational hazard about being a smuggler: your colleagues shouldn’t really be trusted XD
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You’ve got me wondering why she doesn’t recognize him at first even though he obviously knows her.
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It must have been ages since the two have seen each other! Which makes sense, considering Fred has been too busy being chased by bounty hunters…
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Interesting story premise and I liked that Fred decides to sit with her, can’t wait to see what happens next. Great, descriptive snippet!
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Thanks! Eirika isn’t too pleased, but Fred sure is, lol
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Oh, nice snippet! I’m intrigued by Fred and how she might know him. Wish I could keep reading. 🙂
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Haha, thanks. The two are pretty much colleagues, inasmuch as you can call two smugglers working for the same boss “colleagues”.
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Hmmm and is that a good “Fred.” or a bad “Fred.” Nice intrigue. You do an excellent job painting with words. 🙂
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Thanks! And lol, I’d say it was a “this is so not the right time to come say hi to me, Fred”.
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