“ADDDDDIIIIE!”
The tears sat there in her eyes. Zara was fearful to blink because if she did, there would be no stopping the fountains of emotion.
She stood there, scrutinizing every detail of the woods around her.
Every movement of every branch of every tree caught her attention.
She wished Peter was there. He would know what to do.
Should she go back to the house and call him?
She shook her head. No that would be a ridiculous waste of time.
Addie couldn’t have gone too far. She’s little and can’t possibly be brave enough to wander through the woods on her own.
Zara took a few more steps.
“ADDDDDIIIIE!”
As she strained to listen for a response, the image of her daughter wandering through the woods invaded her mind.
The thoughts that followed paralyzed her.
What if Addie meets a wild animal?
Zara shook her head. The worst creature she could meet up with is a coyote.
Would a pack of coyotes attack a four-year-old?
Zara shook her head again.
She took a few more steps and strained to listen.
What if Addie crosses paths with someone? The wrong person. A bad person.
Zara started to run through the forest. Her head felt disconnected from her body and her ears were ringing. She ran faster, her feet catching on overgrown roots and brush.
What if she’s already down by the river?
What if Addie falls into the river and is swept away? She can’t swim very well and even the best swimmers can’t handle the currents of the river.
Zara crashed to the ground but instantly rose to her feet and continued to sprint.
Panic filled her as the scenarios played out in her mind.
She tried to calm herself – Addie will be fine. Everything will be okay.
As images of her lifeless child filled her mind, the tears poured out of her.
How could she be so stupid?
What kind of mother is she?
Who lets their 4-year-old child play in an unfenced yard by themselves?
What about Peter? If something happened to Addie, how could he ever forgive Zara?
Zara shook her head again; these thoughts weren’t helping. Tears blinded her and she called out again.
“ADDDDDIIIIE!”
She stopped running and listened….
You have just read an excerpt from my novel, Where She Wandered. I’ve been working on this novel for NaNoWriMo 2014 and thought since I surpassed the 25,000 word milestone, I would share a snippet with you. I hope you like what you’ve read so far!
Come read an excerpt from Jennifer's #NaNoWriMo2014 project! Click To Tweet
Your attention to detail is great! You not only describe the surroundings, but also the emotions and the character. It makes me want to know why Addie wandered off, if Zara finds her, and what happens next. Congratulations on reaching the halfway point, and good luck for finishing up the challenge…. you can do it!!!!
Thank you Lyssa! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I’ve slowed down – which kind of has me freaked out. Hopefully I can pick up the pace again.
What a gripping story and agree such detail. Definitely, hope to read once you finish and publish the whole story!! ;)
Thanks Janine! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Wow Jennifer, I am truly impressed by this story. You did an amazing job but I never doubted that you wouldn’t. I knew it was going to be good and I can’t wait to read the rest of it. Now you’ve left us in suspense just waiting for the rest of it. Well I’ll be here waiting when you decide to share more. :) Here’s to a great weekend my friend.
Well, I still have to finish it. I have to write at least 16, 000 more words… which right now, is kind of daunting. Then I have to edit it and publish it. There’s a long road ahead but boy, do I EVER appreciate the encouragement.
OH this gave me CHILLS!!!! I am so glad you shared a part of your novel… but what a TEASE!!! I hope we all get to have access to it when it’s finished Jennifer!!
You leave me hanging on for MORE!!!
I’m enjoying the process but recently hit a wall. Praying my way through it.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Chris! Thanks for reading.
I loved it!! Although, it hits a bit close to home after we honestly thought for about 15 minutes that my oldest had run away last weekend! Perhaps that’s why it’s so intriguing! :-)
Oh my Lisa, that would be scary. Glad it wasn’t the case.
Thanks for reading. I’m delighted you enjoyed it.
Jennifer, such a great story! The excerpt you chose is compelling and griping. I think all mothers can relate to your story thus far. Congratulations reaching 25,000 words!
Keep going — you’re doing a terrific job.
Tammi
Thanks Tammi! I’m delighted you enjoyed it!
I’m at 34,000 words now and feeling a little stumped. Hopefully I get out of this slump soon!
Oh my gosh, heart racing passage!
No hurry on finishing your novel or anything, but I really need to know what happens :)
Hee, hee… glad you enjoyed it. Now to be in suspense until I finish this thing off!
I’ve had nightmares like this! Thanks for the snippet. And the picture of the child’s toy is a great cover.
So glad you enjoyed this Amanda – and that you liked the cover.
Thanks for reading!
Ohhhh! Can’t wait to read the final product. It’s already so good!
Yay! I’m glad you enjoyed it my friend!
Jennifer!
I loved it! You had me gripping my seat and reading downward, downward only to be disappointed because I couldn’t keep reading! LOL
Let me know when it’s done – I’ll get your book!
Thank you, my friend, for sharing. Very thoughtful.
I just know Addie is going to be okay……At least I hope so!
Have a great weekend.
Talk soon,
– Carol
Yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed this Carol. I was so nervous to put this snippet up here but the encouraging words have alleviated any anxiety I had about it.
Thanks for the encouragement.
OH man! What an attention grabber! I totally want to read more!
I’m delighted you enjoyed it! Thanks for reading Echo!
So gripping and every parent’s worst nightmare!
So glad you shared part of your novel writing. I love the details and I kept thinking it was just too real for words.
Yay! I’m thrilled you liked it Tamara! Thanks so much for reading.
I’m with Chris Carter and Carol Amato, Jennifer. Intense.
My heart was in my throat and the father in me wanted to jump up and help find the child–emotionally ready to do unthinkable things to a stranger if one is discovered.
The only thing I would change is this: “Zara crashed to the ground but instantly rose to her feet and continued to sprint.”
Your command or should I say powerful manipulation of the readers emotions is really good. That line is the weakest part of this snippet…and it’s a stereotypical event with women running I always found annoying. Add her stumbling, or a branch tripping her, maybe internal dialogue where she distracted and trips…but give me something that doesn’t say she fell cause she’s a woman.
I think a LOT more of women than that. This is not a flaw in your writing, BTW…just a suggestion due to a pet peeve of mine.
You also stopped the story at the perfect moment and made people upset with you.
Awesome!! That’s EXACTLY the way a pro does it!!
(HUGE grin)
There’s my buck fifty—with a resounding “I WANT MORE!!”
Everyone here feels the same, Jennifer–so I think you just found another talent of yours. =)
Well done, little sister. Well done indeed!
SIGNED,
Your Fan
Thank you for your suggestion Jaime… and in my mind she DID trip on a root.
Funny story though (now that you brought this up)… I’m REALLY, very, terribly clumsy and I will fall if I run too fast! On top of that, when my husband and I first started dating, I had really low iron so I would faint… frequently. So I AM the stereotyped tripping, falling, and fainting woman. HA!
Thanks again for the kind comment! I’m so glad you enjoyed this excerpt!
OOOHHHHH, I like it! I can’t wait to read more! Thanks for sharing a snippet with us Jennifer.
Hope you’re having a great weekend!
xoxo
Yay! I’m thrilled you enjoyed it Tiffany!
I have to know what happened to her! I want to read more damn it!
LOL – glad you enjoyed it Kristen!
What a wonderful passage you chose to share! You drew us all in and left us hanging like a wonderful teaser should! I’m thrilled for you and so proud of your work so far. I can’t wait to read the whole story. Keep up the great work, Jennifer.
Thank you my friend! I’ve hit a bit of a slump – praying my way through it. I didn’t come this far to get hung up at 34,000 words!
Thanks for reading.
LOVE!!!!!!!! Oh my gosh, so scary. That’s like my worst nightmare, I was pulled right in lol. I can’t wait to read the rest! I love the way you described in detail the way she was feeling, with the tears sitting in her eyes and all the thoughts running through her head. I could totally picture it.
Yay! I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s supposed to make you uncomfortable, scared!
Thanks so much for reading. Now to write at least 16,000 more words….
I need MORE! You’ve got me on the edge of my seat. It sounds great so far! You can do it!
Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement my friend. I have to write at least 15,000 more words before the end of November. I hope I can pull it off!
Hi Jennifer…..OOOoooOOoo, where is Adie? Has something happened Adie?…For me all the promise of a well written story is all there!…I wanted to continue reading, but I was cruelly snapped back to reality by the end of the post!!!
You should be proud of yourself, you’ve worked hard and it shows. I look forward to reading the finished novel.
I’m so glad you enjoyed this Deb! If only I could get over the writer’s block I’ve been facing and jot down 15,000 more words!
Have you tried deep breathing exercises whilst hugging a tree (barefooted of course?)….Joking apart. I can imagine looking for that perfect chapter/scene, but nothing seeming good enough….Take a step back ( a big one if need be and follow your instincts; all will work out in the end).
How did I miss this???? I have been waiting on this with baited breath and I totally missed it by 5 days?
My heart is racing and seriously, I have now read it twice. Jennifer, I am so proud of you. I know I have no claim to you, but I am really proud of you that you are making something as powerful as this.
Seriously, I am tearing up right now. And I just hugged my little one close. I cannot wait to read more!
Wow! Thank you so much for the heartfelt words of encouragement Sarah. I just went through five days of writer’s block. It was so lovely to hear these words – it made me plow through that wall of bricks and start writing again. 12,000 words and 10 days to go!
Are you sure this is the first fiction novel you’ve ever written? Your story is already so riveting! I can’t wait to read it!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this Charlee! Thanks for reading it and for sharing such encouraging words!
Wow you are writing a novel! It sounds fantastic! Got to admit that it is a dream of mine to write a book, well done you! xx
OMG STOP! The suspense is killing me! That would be me, second guessing my decision and thinking of every awful life/death situation and horrible images flowing through my head. OMG Tell me she finds her.
I am so happy you’ve followed through with this! Put me down for the presale! I’m buying a copy!
Yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I just need to set it aside for the holidays and edit it in the New Year (then I’ll gladly accept pre-sales) LOL.
OMG Jennifer! It is amazing and will be a masterpiece once it is finished. Not that I doubted you one bit. I\’m so excited that you are at the halfway point now and cannot wait to read the rest! I have missed your cheery comments though but am happy knowing you are busy working away at this novel!Hoping you are having a beautiful day!
xxLysa
I’m delighted you enjoyed this Lysa! It’s been quite the project… totally consuming but I’m done! I’m going to put it aside until January and begin the editing process then.
Now I have to play catch-up. I’ve been barely keeping my head above water these past few weeks.