NaNoWriMo - Live Journal for Nov 2008

This will be my 2008 NaNoWriMo journal, to keep track of my progress through the month. To read excerpt(s) of A Cat For Troy, go to my NaNo website. And check out my Live Journal for updates.

Below is my motivational/ inspirational flyer and binder cover that I made to keep me focused and on track while writing. I do love my flyers! LOL.

~*~ Excerpt from A Cat For Troy ~*~

Chapter 1

The park was one of Cat’s favorite places, the sounds and smells combining to lull her to sleep where she lay curled on a bench, the tip of her long tail waving gently to and fro as she snoozed. Mottled patches of sunlight shone on her multicolored coat as the sunlight filtered through the leaves of the spreading maples above. New-mown grass mixed with the fragrance of a multitude of flowers. Ducks quaked as they swarmed about the humans feeding them at the lake, and the laughter of children rang from the playground nearby.

Cat loved summer, loved laying in the sun, pleasantly warm and lazy. Although not particular fond of children, she liked to watch them at play. Her favorite children, Ben and Molly, came to this park often with Jacinth, their nanny. Cat’s whiskers twitched. Jacinth was turning out to be a fairly decent cook, and she debated the possibility of inviting herself to dinner. It would amuse her, too, to watch the antics of the kitten that Douglas, Ben and Molly’s father, had brought home for the children, and perhaps give him a swat or two. The kit needed to learn some respect. Amusing, too, to watch Jacinth, a 900-year-old Jinn, falling in love with a human, and a single father with 2 kids, at that. Jacinth wasn’t too bad – for a Jinn. And young Ben and Molly would have the coolest step-mother around.

The attack came without warning. One moment she was napping, and thinking deep cat thoughts, an ear cocked as always to sense a possible danger. The next moment the dog was on her, all sharp teeth and snarling fury. She fought back, attempting to claw its face, its eyes, anything to make the animal release her, but it had her in its grip. She squalled in pain and fear as the huge animal shook her back and forth like a rag toy, the teeth digging deep. From a distance she could hear children screaming, running footsteps hurrying closer, but dizziness washed over her, and her senses began to fade. Dimly, behind the dog’s fury, she could feel something else – a human intelligence, whose thoughts broadcast pleasure, and a vicious satisfaction.

Cat was scarcely aware when the iron jaws parted, releasing her. She lay crumpled on the ground where she fell, panting with pain. Above her, voices exclaimed in concern. Humans. They had beaten the dog off her, she realized belatedly. She tried to raise her head, but failed.