Two Valentine Blogfests-YAmore & I'll Tumble 4 YA

 
 What's better than one Valentine blogfest? Two Valentine blogfests! The first, That's YAmore is sponsored Jessie Harrell. The instructions: post a romantic 250-word excerpt from your new project. Here's mine, from Fireseed One, my brand new YA futuristic thriller with the most fire and ice relationship ever. In this scene, Varik is warming up to his former archenemy, Marisa. Enjoy!

I smile inside. “Different is good. Don’t they always say that opposites attract?”

There’s an edge of danger to Marisa. I think I like the edge. It’s less boring than being with a good girl with mousy hair from Land Dominion who reads all the right books and stays out of trouble. I only had that one other girlfriend. Even that felt nervy, although all we did was grope each other at the Stream flicks. What will happen next with Marisa?  I picture kissing her again, stroking her wild red hair that smells of violets and sweat, her pressing against me under the night sky. Not knowing how it will unfold, especially down in this untamed Hotzone, makes my breath come fast. She could’ve killed me, she could’ve run, she could’ve double-tricked me. But she’s done none of this, and now she’s helping me with her contacts. Audun was right—she was mesmerized by Bryan like those Lionfish disciples were. Conned by his clever rant.  It’s scary how even smart, rational people fall into traps. Our earlier argument seems far away. We’re both growing out of our old skin, like two desert lizards, and the feeling of connecting is amazing.

Up at the crest of the hill by the cave entrances, we turn to each other at the same time and find each other’s lips. Hers taste of salty sweat, yet of sweetness. Her skin brushing against the palms of my hands feels like plush leaves.

She’s spring sun after polar night.

Fireseed One copyright 2011Catherine Stine

Pop over to read romantic excerpts from the following. But first, check out the next fest, I'll Tumble 4 YA, 80s crushes! Jessie Harrell, Charity Bradford, Sheri Larson, Nikki Katz, Nicole Zoltack, Adrianne Russell, Cecelia, Commutinggirl, Katy Upperman, Robin Reul, Lori M. Lee, Angelhorn, Georgia Summers, Larissa, Jessica @ Angels, Demons & Portals. Oh My, Liz Czukas, Connie Ann Michael, AE Rought, Roza Marie, Theresa Paolo

The second fest, I'll Tumble for YA, is all about your hottest 80's crushes. It's sponsored by Nikki Elson, Suze and M Pax. Here's my 80s crush. I'd just moved to New York, and my dream was to be a famous painter. My mentor was the talented painter of surrealistic murals, James Rosenquist. It didn't hurt that he was one handsome dude.

Rosenquist working in his studio

I had his photo in my makeshift studio, and I would gaze at it longingly, as if the mysteries of artistic success could sift from his printed eyes into my blood. Then, one day when I was trolling around Little Italy, I spotted him! He was loading paintings into a truck. OMG! I stood across the street gaping at him. He didn't look quite as dashing in person though. Was that blond hair of his dyed or what? It glinted a bit too brightly in the sun. Still, he remained a mentor and I still have that crumbling photo of him to remind me of the innocent dreams of art, writing and the wild creativity that breeds in New York.

Check out other 80's Crush posts. But before you jump off, leave a comment about your 80's crush or whatever you want. Other I'll Tumble 4 YA posts here: Analog Breakfast, Alex J Cavenaugh, Gypsy in my Soul, LG Smith Bards & Prophets, Tony Van Helsing's Mystery Theater, tara tyler, Media Sharif, Jennifer Lane Books, erica and christy, Hope Roberson, Libby Heily, Aloha, and hi from HI, dlcruising altitude 2.0, TF Walsh, Arlee Birds Tossing it Out, Susan Fields, Brinda Berry Blogs, Culture Shock, Cedar Valley Sustainable Farming, Whatever Floats Your Canoe, Patricia Leever, PK Hrezo, Magpie Writes, Lauren Writes, The Fallen Monkey, Writing Worlds, Diane-Spunk on a Stick, Dave Wrote This, M Pax-Wistful Nebulae, Nicki Elson, Wake up, eat, write, sleep, Steven Tremp, Excuse Me While I Write This Down, Rek, The Armchair Squid, Christine Rains, MelissaSugar, Lara Schiffbauer, Theresas Tales, Nancy S Thompson, BragonDorns Asylum, What Else is Possible?, Carrie-Anne, Thoughts of a Fantasy Novelist, Trisha @ WORD+STUFF, The Other Side, Random Interruptions, PepperWords, Feather and Julio, Weathering the Storm, Kelly Polark, Writing at High Altitude, Susan Oloier, Jay Paoloni, Actor, Lina Lamont Fan Club: sci-fi fantasy writing, Back to the Keep.

Now that's a bunch of big, bleeping Valentine blogfests!