So last week I shared with you the first chapter of The Three Books (Legend 1 of the Sacred Knight series) and I said that I’d let you read my favorite scene in the book, as well as tell you a story about why it’s my favorite.
I was writing The Three Books during a very difficult time in my life. I won’t go on about how many years it took me to write this book because it was far too long and I’ve already discussed it in many other blogs. No more lamenting. It was a season of my life and now I’m in another.
Anyway, one night when I was reading through the manuscript, I was at the scene (this scene) where Martias, Steigan’s best friend, has put Steigan down into a tomb to hide Steigan. The problem is that Steigan doesn’t know if Martias will come back down here to get him or if this will wind up being his tomb.
I was really into the story, completely wrapped up in it. It’s two in the morning or so, a cold dark night with a slight wind blowing. Just enough to be spooky. A good time to be reading this scene. I was alone in the house because my children were off visiting their dad for the weekend. I probably should have gone to bed long before.
In the scene, Steigan starts hearing this “scratch, scratch, scratch” noise. I’m right there with Steigan and I felt my heart start to pound.
Suddenly, in the back of the house, I start hearing this “scratch, scratch, scratch.” No, really! I stopped reading. Now I’m listening. Silence.
I go back to reading. I hadn’t read more than a couple sentences when I start hearing, “Scratch, scratch, scratch,” again. This time, I know that it wasn’t just my imagination. I’m looking around to see what’s around me that I can use as a weapon.
Scratch, scratch.
What if it’s the corpse from the tomb? What if I’ve written Saint Steigan to life?
Scratch.
Okay, so I know that can’t be happening, right? Right?
The scratching grows louder.
My heart’s racing.
Thump!
I jump completely out of my chair. I’m ready to go running from my house.
Then I realize it’s my cat, Coville, back in his litter box. He’s the one scratching and trying to properly cover up the business he’s just done there. There is no one coming to get me.
As I settled back down into my chair, I grabbed my computer and started adding to the scene while my heart still fluttered with the memory of the fear. I deepened this scene for myself that night, adding little details in which came out of my experience of being scared by my cat. (scaredy cat – grin!)
I’ve never been able to read this scene now without thinking about my cat in his litter box. Stranger is that when I hear Coville back in his litter box, trying to cover up his business just so, I think of this scene. Yes, strange, but true.
So now, let’s read the scene, shall we?
The Three Books (Legend 1 of the Sacred Knight series)
Excerpt
This excerpt was available for one week only and has now turned back into a pumpkin. If you missed it, click on the links below to get the book now. There’s also another free story or story partial somewhere around my blog – I try to post something new every Wednesday. Hunt the story down, read, and enjoy!
Read the entire book now.
The Three Books – Copyright © 2011 Dawn Blair
Published by Morning Sky Studios
Cover and layout copyright 
2017 by Morning Sky Studios
Cover design by Dawn Blair/Morning Sky Studios
Cover art copyright Vadmary | Dreamstime.com and Bborriss | Dreamstime.com
Posted by dawnblair 
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