Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Exclusive Excerpt of Glimmer & a Giveaway


As part of Vivi Anna's virtual book tour for her new book Glimmer she has stopped here to offer an exclusive excerpt along with the chance for one lucky reader to win a copy of Glimmer.

Exclusive Excerpt: GLIMMER by Vivi Anna, copyright February 2011


I sprinted down the stairs and out the balcony doors in a panicky rush, praying under my breath that he was still alive. I would never forgive myself if he had died on his own, alone and without help.

As I neared him, I saw fresh angry red scratches on his hands, arms, and face. Fearing the worse, I crouched down and placed my fingers on his neck to feel for a pulse. “Da?”

He groaned and I let the breath I was holding go, mumbling a thank you to the benevolent spirit that had heard my prayer. His pulse was strong under my fingers.

I rolled him onto his back. That was when I saw the four-inch creature licking blood from a tiny cut on my father’s chin. In a flash, its tiny head came up and it hissed at me, its thin lips stained crimson.

However many stories tell about the playful and whimsical nature of pixies, I knew the truth.


There was no whimsy in the creature’s slanted opaque eyes as it glared and spat like a wild cat. I could feel the malevolence wafting off it like steam from a scalding shower.

Games of fancy were not on its mind. Thoughts of blood and pain were definitely more like it by the look of venom on its tiny periwinkle face. Distending its long vicious claws, it leapt.

Luckily, I had quick reflexes and I managed to snag the little creature, arms pinned to its sides, in my fist before it could rip out my eye, which it had definitely been aiming for.

“Letz me go, wicked girl!” it shrieked.

Its voice was high pitched like a bell and inaudible to most people. But I had great hearing and discerned every single syllable it snarled. “Why are you here? How did you get here?”

The pixie struggled in my grip but I had no intention of letting go, not until I received some answers.

“Iz always here, stupidz.”

“I’d watch your little mouth, pest.” I increased the pressure of my grasp. “Why did you attack my father?”

It thrashed about again, trying to release its limbs so it could rip and tear into me. But I didn’t relinquish my hold. Fury lifted its blue lips into a cruel snarl, and I could plainly see two rows of tiny razor-like teeth. I had no time to respond to its intentions before it sunk those fangs into the meaty part of my thumb.

I yelped and nearly opened my hand, but I caught myself before I freed my prisoner. Cringing from the sharp pain singing up my arm, I gritted my teeth and asked my question again. “Why did you attack my father? Answer me or I will squeeze you like a tube of toothpaste.”

As the pixie unhooked its teeth from my flesh and glared, blood trickled down my wrist to drip onto my pants. Its hungry gaze eyed the red path with ruthless enthusiasm. Like a thin black worm, its tongue snaked out of its gaping mouth and lapped at the crimson feast.

Angry, I increased the pressure on its body. True to my word, I squeezed the little bugger like a tube of white goo.

“Stopz! Stopz!” It yelped and thrashed about. “Iz tell you want youz wantz.”

I released the pressure a little. “Go ahead.”

“Nightfallz tell me.”

“Who in Nightfall? What’s the person’s name?”

It shrugged its bony shoulders. “Iz no not.”

My father groaned again and I looked down at his slack face, marred by angry red marks. He was an old man, fragile and innocent. He didn’t deserve this fate. Rage blossomed inside me. I shook with it. Squeezing the pixie hard, I stared into its eyes and spoke low, my voice as cold as brittle ice, “Tell. Me. Who.”

It shook its head back and forth and moaned, “Iz no name. Just hearz a whisper on the windz.”

“What did it say? What were the words?”

I could see the hesitation on its face so I squeezed even harder. Its face darkened to a deep purple as the air left its tiny lungs. After one final struggle, it slumped in my fist and murmured on one of its final puffs of air, “Killz Jason Decker.” ****


This scene is one of my favorites in my book Glimmer. If I had to pick a scene that embodied everything I was trying to convey with my words it would be this one. The mood is one of danger and urgency and even a sense of the mysterious. That is how I pictured Glimmer. It’s a scene like this, for me, that makes all the time and sweat blood and tears I put into writing worth it. I’m very proud of this scene. I’m proud of the book. And I hope that you dear readers enjoy it as much as I did writing it.


Thanks to Roxanne for hosting me today!!

Have you ever read something that just took your breath away, that stuck with you even after you finished the book?


Answer in the comments of this post for your chance to win an ecopy of Glimmer!

26 comments:

Nicki J. Markus / Asta Idonea said...

For me it was Les Miserables. I had already seen and loved the musical but the novel blew me away. I fell in love with the characters and the writing and my copy is completely dog-earred where I keep wanting to go back and reread my favourite pages!

Rachel said...

Yes. Many times actually.

One of my strongest is Maggie Steifvaters Lament: The Faerie Queens Deception. I know her Mercy Falls series is much more popular, but when I read this book I was gobsmacked.
Her wring is flawless and flowing, and every time I read it, (and i've read it numerous times, lol) i'm captivated by the story and characters and caught all the way 'til the end that leave me broken-hearted and fulfilled at the same time.

rachybee101@live.com.au

SandyG265 said...

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I wanted the second book right away and told a friend that she couldn't come for Thnaksgiving dinner unless she at least tried it.

sgiden at verizon.net

Jen B. said...

I have had quite a few over the years. One of the perils of being a voracious reader! I sometimes have flashbacks to favorites and I must then go back and revisit the scene. For instance, in Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon, when Soteria assumes Acheron has led a charmed life and he then sets her straight. Or in Hot Target by Suzanne Brockmann, almost any scene with Jules and Robin. As far as whole books go, I rarely do full re-reads. I just don't have time with all of the books out there I have never read. That being said, I did nearly a full re-read of Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey. I sat down to revisit specific scenes and found myself drawn back in. The writing is just so... I don't even have a word for it.

Reading said...

Yes, there are books that have taken my breath away. I just read the Giver and it stayed with me after I finished it.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Sharon S. said...

The Hunger Game trilogy did that to me. They were so emotionally powerful.

RFTC Blog said...

Lover Awakened did that for me. I absolutely love that book.

iqb99@yahoo.com

Sweet Vernal Zephyr said...

A slight spoiler.. but the death of a fairy in the beginning of Shadowfae bowled me over and stuck with me through the whole story, a sort of aching sadness to hang over the continuing events.

mdwartistry at yahoo dot com

Anne said...

Yes, it was a book by Charlaine Harris, one of her earlier mystery series. A major character dies and I was STUNNED, to this day I remember how I couldn't believe she had written it. She does it to lesser effect (to me) in two later series as well.

acm05atjuno.com

Jess said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jess said...

I just finished Zsadist story from the BDB series. Oh my. I love Zsadist and I know his story will stick with me. The whole series is awesome but his story was special.

jcross719 at yahoo dot com

Vivi Anna said...

Thanks for sharing those moments with me.

@Sharon S I'm totally with you on the Hunger Games. That trilogy is mind blowing

@Bethie, I was like that with The Giver as well. Powerful book

Tanya said...

I read The Hunger Games trilogy two weeks ago and it is still something I keep thinking about. It was breathtaking.

Bethany C. said...

Vicki Pettersson's Cheat The Grave is the only book that's ever actually made me gasp out loud. And other books that qualify as 'breathtaking' to me (because I was so impressed with the quality of the writing)- Lady Chatterley's Lover and Erica Jong's Parachutes and Kisses.

b(dot)cardone(at)hotmail(dot)com

Estella said...

I read so many books I can't remember titles, but there have been several that have given me a jolt.

Karen said...

There are a number of books that have done it for me -- Adrian Phoenix's Maker Series has a bunch of scenes that I love to go back and read.

Most recently, tho, I would have to say the last chapter (and in particular the last sentence) of Spirit Dances by C.E. Murphy. I finished the book 4 days ago & have read 2 books since, and I still keep thinking about it. (And I'm not saying what it is....)

Julie S said...

The Hunger Games really stuck with me for a while after I finished reading the series. It is so powerful.

juliecookies(at)gmail.com

*yadkny* said...

I read back to back Raelikson and Mac Liam by Renee Vincent. Both were absolutely amazing and very hard to put down... highly recommended reads!!!

yadkny@hotmail.com

Amy said...

The Hunger Games trilogy really blew me away. The story is still in my mind long after I finished reading it.

angeldream3[at]gmail[dot]com

Debby said...

There are some historical romance authors that write such wonderful stires that they take my breath away. Julie Garwood comes to mind as do Kathleen Woodiwiss.
debby236 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Please enter me in contest. I really want to read this book. Tore923@aol.com

Anonymous said...

I have to say the Twilight series has really stuck with me. Tore923@aol.com

Natasha Larry said...

Yes, Watchmen by Alan Moore. I think I sat slack-jawed for days after reading that ending.

natasha20002000@gmail.com

Tanya1224 said...

There is a lot that sticks with me but one I'll never forget is Kim Harrison's Hollow series...I think by book 4. SPOILERS*****
SPOILERS***
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*
*
*
Its where Kisten dies. I cried so hard I couldn't see the pages. I had to stop and go again later. I was so emotionally drained after reading that book. I told Kim that in a signing I went too but I did stick with the series. I just had to take a break. It was the first book to do that to me so bad.
Glimmer sounds like a very good read. Please count me in.
Tanyaw1224(at)yahoo(dot)com

JenM said...

I love stories about the fae, especially the darker side of it, which is why this book sounds just fantastic to me. One story that has totally stuck with me is Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey trilogy. The imagery of the iron fey is so vivid and so imaginative.

jen at delux dot com

Sherry said...

I've read a few that will always stay with me. I can't remember the names of a lot of them but I've read plenty of books that will just pop into my mind at different times.

sstrode@scrtc.com

 
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