Tim photo © Alptraum
Creek photo © David Coleman

Tim’s Shiner is the first story in Diary of a Misfit and was one of the reasons Diary of a Misfit was written. As a writer, I had to get the story out. And it proved to me something I had not thought possible before … I could actually write a short story with the right circumstances in place.

I am a novelist by nature. My ideas don’t come in short work form, but are always more geared to longer works. I have attempted short stories in the past, but nothing satisfied me because I wanted to write the full story and stopping short felt incomplete, and so the story died a swift death while an inner battle raged.

Tim’s Shiner was different. I had already written the full story … well, I’m still writing the story, but working on book four in the series … and I didn’t feel the same need to complete the story because I looked at the short as a scene and not a complete work. I also already knew the characters well, and that might be a part of why other short stories are hard for me to write. The characters develop as I write, and I get to know them along the way. A short story doesn’t have enough words for me to become properly acquainted with the characters.

And Tim’s Shiner was something I had wanted to write for a while. A chance to give a bit more of Katie’s best friend’s background, and to show their relationship in a younger time. Before everything changed.

The teaser: When her best friend Tim shows up on her doorstep with a black eye, Katie McCabe teases him for being a klutz, until she learns the horrifying truth.

Diary of a Misfit is available now for Kindle. A portion of the proceeds from Diary of a Misfit will go to the Shaka Franklin Foundation for Youth.

The post Diary of a Misfit – Tim’s Shiner appeared first on Be the Cat.

Photo of Tim: © Alptraum | Dreamstime.com
Creek Photo: © David Coleman | Dreamstime.com

In a Read it before you can buy it measure, I’ve decided to post a few snippets from the companion book to the Misfit McCabe series I have been working on. The title of the eventual book is Diary of a Misfit and will be available in ebook only (or at least that’s the plan for now). I am concurrently working on the companion book and One Way Ticket Home which will be the fourth book in the series.

Anyway, while working on the stories, which will be parts of Katie McCabe’s diary, giving a little of the background which doesn’t actually make it into the novels, Katie’s thoughts on some of the things that happen in the books, as well as her thoughts on current events.

Tim’s Shiner is a glimpse into the past with Katie and her best friend, Tim Lawrence and gives some insight on Tim’s family situation. I’m going to post the first couple paragraphs here, and then provide a link to the full story (which is 3,100 words, so short and quickly read).

When her best friend Tim shows up on her doorstep with a black eye, Katie McCabe teases him for being a klutz, until she learns the horrifying truth.

Tim’s Shiner

I ran into my room and dove on the bed. How could I be such a horrible friend? My eyes traced the whorls in the ceiling support beam as tears welled. I hammered my fist against the mattress. Frustration and rage made me want to scream, but if I did, Timmy might hear me. And that would make things worse.
     Closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply. As I forced the air out of my lungs, I grabbed my diary from the nightstand and sat up. Maybe writing everything out would help.
     Today started off like any other day. But it might have ended as the worst day in all my twelve years….

* * * * *

“Katie, hurry up!”
     Most people knocked on the door, but not Timmy. When we had plans, he’d stand on the grass outside my room and yell.
     “The fish’ll be takin’ a nap if you wait much longer.” He held both our fishing poles and the can for worms.
     I poked my head out the window. “Keep your pants on, why doncha? I just hafta get my shoes on.” Scrambling to the closet, I shoved my feet into sneakers, and headed out the door, laces flopping with each step. I yanked the front door open and a blast of heat barreled in. Another scorcher, but summer would be over too soon, the weather would cool, and we’d be stuck inside.

Link to the Complete Story: Tim’s Shiner – Absolutely Free!

The post Sneak Peek: Diary Of A Misfit – Tim’s Shiner appeared first on Be the Cat.