Rain extract 4
by Leigh K Cunninghamin Rain
12 Nov 2010 | 20 Comments
|
Extract from Chapter 8, RAIN (publication date: 2011) June 1967 The sky was ablaze with red the night the mill burned to the ground. Tiny embers scrambled free, rising like fireflies in an Icarus-like ascent into the black ozone to extinguish then return to Earth as a scorched skerrick of a once greater mass. A crowd had gathered at the penultimate hour of June 22 in a sea of flannelette, football socks, slippers, and boots. Helena sobbed uncontrollably while James and Michael united in a jaundiced assault on an unperturbed furnace. James was a man obsessed and deranged, unable to accept certain ruination. A flame shroud unveiled images of his father, his grandfather, and his father before him, driving him to fight on in spite of futility. A burning mill was diuturnal—the night sun would not fall until the subdued winter sun supplanted it to reveal the completeness of its counterpart's devastation. Salt and soot stained Helena's face, anew now with corrugations of wretchedness indicative of a much older woman. She limped home to Park Lane for a tepid shower and an unsuccessful attempt to still the quivering. Her head throbbed, protesting the insatiated demand for tears and unrequited need for sustenance. She dressed in a loose, fleecy tracksuit, not bothering with the usual sensible appropriateness of dress for a workday. The administrative block at the mill had survived the night with a mere coating of black on the iron roof. The windows had not shattered and the timber had not been scarred black. Helena unlocked the sliding glass door with her back facing the carnage below so she could deny its existence. She had not seen her father for several hours, not since she cried out to him to pull back from the flames, his otiose blanket like slaying a dragon with a pin. James arrived soon after Helena, emaciated and damp. He had walked to the mill in the feathery rain wearing his usual short-sleeved, cream collared shirt. He owned a pullover, but never wore it—it was still new, and maintained for prosperity in a box of mothballs. He smiled forcibly at Helena then retired to his office to lock a gaze over the outdoor kiln.
|
Other Writer Blogs
|
Comments (20)
Thanks for your feedback, Kev, which in itself is lyrical!
21 Nov 2010, Leigh K Cunningham, www.leighkcunningham.com
What can I say, but WOW! Your first paragraph is stunning Leigh. I have been hanging out for the next blog post and I have to say it was worth the wait.
It grips, yet caresses at the same time. Amazing, thank you for sharing the beauty of your written word.
20 Nov 2010, Kev Webb, http://www.johnnymarsh.net
Hi Belinda, I actually started out writing adult fiction. Rain is my first piece of work but will be the third published. The Glass Table came about from a dream my husband had and it talked to me as a story for children. Then before I knew it, one book became two, and I left the ending of Shards open for a third book in the series. I think when an idea comes to you, no matter what genre it is, you should pursue it because that's the essence of creativity, in my opinion.
15 Nov 2010, Leigh K Cunningham, www.leighkcunningham.com
As a children's author, how did you manage to transition to adult fiction? I notice a lot of authors today seem to cross over.
15 Nov 2010, Belinda Kiat
Thanks, Robin. Yes, it was a nice surprise - I was not expecting it all and the news came via an email the morning we were leaving for Spain. A Mom's Choice Award is special to me because I tried to deliver positive messages to children without being preachy.
15 Nov 2010, Leigh K Cunningham, www.leighkcunningham.com
Nice style and voice, Leigh, and congrats on your Mom's Choice Awards for your children's books. You must be happy about that.
15 Nov 2010, Robin Matthews
I'm still completely amazed at how different RAIN is now compared to that early draft I read in 2004. I guess that's what re-writing is all about!
15 Nov 2010, Alice Maynard
For those of you who do not know my writing pal, Peter, he challenged me to have Michael in every extract I post even though Michael is not a primary character. At some point he'll be disappointed. Sorry, Peter!
15 Nov 2010, Leigh K Cunningham
And happy to see my fellow, Michael making an appearance in yet another extract. He might be a drunk (extract 2) but he's also a hero (fire-fighter extraordinaire)
15 Nov 2010, Peter Landry
Thanks everyone for your comments and feedback - very much appreciated!
15 Nov 2010, Leigh K Cunningham, www.leighkcunningham.com
Tara, original plan was to just issue an e-book, but a few readers have already asked for a print version so I seem to be heading down that path. Don't want to disappoint those who still prefer the feel of paper.
15 Nov 2010, Leigh K Cunningham, www.leighkcunningham.com
Lovely as always, Leigh, and makes you anticipate the next. Thank you for sharing.
15 Nov 2010, Kim, http://www.kimmirich.wordpress.com
Nice writing, Leigh. I'm really enjoying the crumbs you throw my way each month just to keep me interested :)
12 Nov 2010, Becca Rowland
Agree with Stephen - I could see this scene on the big screen.
12 Nov 2010, Katherine Charles
I've enjoyed all your excerpts to date, Leigh, but they just keep getting better and better as the story progresses - maybe it's just because I'm more involved with each one. This is a beautiful, but sad scene.
12 Nov 2010, Karen Beaty
I feel the pain in this scene, even without knowing the characters up to this point.
12 Nov 2010, Louisa Carrington
You had me with that first para, "Tiny embers scrambled free, rising like fireflies in an Icarus-like ascent into the black ozone to extinguish then return to Earth as a scorched skerrick of a once greater mass." That's just a pleasure to read!
12 Nov 2010, Emily J. James
I hope you're planning to publish Rain in print form and not just as an e-book. We minority tech-phobes would be disappointed.
12 Nov 2010, Tara Bradford
Yeah, I like this scene a lot. Would be great for a movie!
12 Nov 2010, Stephen Milner
Beautiful prose, Leigh!
12 Nov 2010, Alice Maynard