Happy Memorial Day weekend, everyone (Yanks and non-Yanks alike)! Shop 'til you drop, barbecue 'til you pop, and somewhere in there spare a thought for the fallen.
Here's a little historical tidbit, for those who may not know: Memorial Day was first celebrated as "Decoration Day" on May 5, 1866 in Waterloo, N.Y, with the laying of flags and flowers on the graves of New York's Civil War dead.
So...not to be too cheesy about it, I thought I'd give you six more sentences from my Regency WIP, Lilacs at Dawn.
The hero, Marc Antony Warren, Viscount Webb, is a newly-returning combat veteran of the Napoleonic Wars. He fought and was wounded on The Peninsula and suffers from "battle fatigue" or what was known as "soldier's heart" during the Civil War, "shell shock" after World War II, and what we today call PTSD. Whatever you wish to call it, Webb remains haunted by nightmares of combat and his fallen comrades in arms.
So here are six more from Webb's homecoming:
Webb’s breath frosted the mist. He tasted the fog on his tongue, a cold, damp English welcome. Sharp pains in his leg had bedeviled him since Portsmouth. Nearly too weary now to retain his seat on the horse, he knew he’d overdone the riding. England, as usual, had overdone the weather.
With a practiced motion he flicked open a flask and tilted it to his mouth.
The hero, Marc Antony Warren, Viscount Webb, is a newly-returning combat veteran of the Napoleonic Wars. He fought and was wounded on The Peninsula and suffers from "battle fatigue" or what was known as "soldier's heart" during the Civil War, "shell shock" after World War II, and what we today call PTSD. Whatever you wish to call it, Webb remains haunted by nightmares of combat and his fallen comrades in arms.
So here are six more from Webb's homecoming:
Webb’s breath frosted the mist. He tasted the fog on his tongue, a cold, damp English welcome. Sharp pains in his leg had bedeviled him since Portsmouth. Nearly too weary now to retain his seat on the horse, he knew he’d overdone the riding. England, as usual, had overdone the weather.
With a practiced motion he flicked open a flask and tilted it to his mouth.
42 comments:
Hey!! I forgot to sign up this week. Too much going on. I need to get off the merry-go-round.
Anyway, loved your six and I swooned when I saw the picture of Sean. Love that guy!
I, too loved your pic! I felt your hero's pain~both physical and emotional. Great job!
Very atmospheric! And as a Brit, interesting to hear the history behind your holiday. :)
Your description is wonderful! I could picture the scene perfectly. :)
Oh good how I love me some Sean! Thanks for the great visual as I pictured him as the hero of your six - which was awesome!
You did a great job showing both his physical as well as his emotional pain!
ooh, tasted the fog on his tongue. Nice!
Vivid and engaging, great six!
Great use of the senses. Brings the scene to life!
Love your description. Great job! :)
Great six and perfect for the day.
love the snippet... England, as usual, had overdone the weather. -- I hear that LOL so very true.. hehe
Very vivid scene, and as usual, I LOVE IT! And how funny you should post a piccy of Sean Bean... I started watching Lady Chatterly's Lover the mini series last night (obviously the one he was in LOL)
Wow. That was awesome! (And love Sean. I was first introduced to him as Sharpe. Still love that series.)
Very atmospheric. And sounds like he could use a drink!
I shouldn't have scrolled down so fast. I couldn't stop staring at Sean - and in uniform! *sigh*
Great description of his homecoming.
Oh there were actually words on that page? Sorry, I was a bit distracted by the sexiness that is Sean Bean *drools*
Great snippet :-)
I'm a Brit too and I know exactly what it feels like when that damp chill seeps into your bones! Very atmospheric six!
Be still my heart - Sean Bean!!!! Your hero is totally lovable - can sooo feel for him. And lol at England had overdone the weather. :)
Fantastic historical setting and scene that tells so much about where he's been and who he is.
Great SSS!
Great six and love the pic! ;)
Wonderful description, captures the moment exactly.
I feel like I could really see the whole scene from your description. Well done!
I love the "England, as usual, had overdone the weather" line. And, you know, I'll never complain about looking at Sean Bean. :)
I've been that bone-tired before. Miserable. Love the atmosphere you created with the fog and his taking a nip of something for warmth. Nice six.
A flask AND Sean Bean? Great image. ,)
Hmm. I see the posting of the Sean Bean / Sharpe picture might have been the teensiest bit of a mistake. LOL! Distracted much, ladies?
Great six! Love Sean Bean ever since I saw him in Sharpe's Rifles (where the pic is from) but love your excerpt more. Great senses, vivid description of pain, and the "England overdid the weather" line is great.
I can see him, not the posted picture. Great atmosphere and a weary hero. Great for Memorial Day
Best personification today- England overdid the weather! Love it.
Great six, especially for the holiday.
Aloha,
Kristin Wolfgang
As always, Taryn, you've played the words like music. I love this six. It's absolutely fabu.
Well done!
All my best,
Allure Van Sanz
I love how you created such a real picture with a few words.
Very vivid and emotional. Well done. Great six.
I love the repetition of overdoing the riding and England overdoing the weather :) Very clever :)
Great atmospheric six. I felt his fatigue and achiness! But the pic of Sean perked me up and helped me to form a visual of him.
Vivid detail in your description. I like the repetition of "overdone" too. Good writing.
I really like this line: "England, as usual, had overdone the weather." It made me chuckle.
WOW - great six! And (droooooooool) Sean!
Love the voice in this piece. :)
Poor guy. I want to give him a hug. (If he looks like Sean Bean, I REALLY want to give him a hug.) Loved the line about the weather, too. Great snippet all around!
Definitely can feel his pain.
RE: SB
The problem is right now every time I see a picture of him, I think, "Ned Stark!"
A perfect piece for this weekend. Love the pic.
Love the line..."England, as usual, had overdone the weather." Perfect.
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