Welcome Guest Blogger Anita Birt!!

It’s Thursday, the weekend is almost here and the blog has been jumping. Keeping up the pace here at Junkies today is always a pleasure. 

Please help us welcome Anita Birt to the Junkies blog.

 

  Anita Birt writer, avid reader, knitter lives on Vancouver Island with her husband, three African violets, a Christmas cactus that never blooms at Christmas and a demanding computer that sulks when neglected.          

For Anita, writing romance novels is like having a love affair with words. Characters emerge. Plots develop. Crises erupt. Her historical stories are set in England, Scotland and Wales, countries she knows well.  

 Anita Brit

 

 When Ellie Paxton accepted the position of Nanny with Computer Skills to care for three month old, Nicki Blesnicoff she cheerfully moved to her employer’s mansion located deep in the Cascade Mountains in Washington. She’d save money, rescue her sinking bank balance and revive her credit cards. Private re-hab to treat her shop-a-holic problem. What she hadn’t factored into her new job were threats of rape, torture and death by armed thugs who invaded the mansion during the absence of Nicki’s parents. A city girl not given to feats of derring-do, Ellie wrapped Nicki in a soft blanket and escaped with him into a dense, terrifying forest. At midnight. 

As dawn light filtered through the trees, Jack Merano and his two tracking dogs found Ellie huddling with the baby. A nanny and a baby. What could be more innocently appealing? Rescuing her and the bay from the dangerous forest was the easy part but soon enough Jack learned there was a price on Ellie’s head and a master criminal stalking her.

 Excerpt for Too Young To Die by Anita Birt 

Misery dogged her footsteps. Her feet hurt. Her legs ached. Being scared out of her wits didn’t help. For Nicki’s sake she had to keep going. Had to reach safety.

She plodded on. What time was it? How long had she been walking? Had she made a mistake leaving the house? Maybe she could’ve bargained with the man in black, given him access to the computer in exchange for her freedom.

She shook her head. Not in a pig’s eye, her mother would have said. Why a pig’s eye? Ellie wasn’t sure and shifted the baby from one arm to the other to ease her tense shoulders.

Do pigs know who to trust and who not to? She puzzled over that. Miss Piggy might know. Don’t trust the boss man.

“What do you think, Nicki?” He slept peacefully in her arms. Every step wearied her. Her legs had taken on a life of their own. If she got out of the forest alive and in one piece would her legs know how to quit?

She stopped for a few minutes to catch her breath, glanced around and suddenly realized she could see. A faint pink glow filtered through the leaves overhead.

“Nicki, honey, I think it’s getting light.”

When had they left the house? Midnight?

Her spirits lifted. People lived and worked in the Cascades. Maybe she’d find a logging camp or a house with helpful people who’d phone the police.

She longed to rest. Longed to put Nicki down safely. Longed to sleep.

She plodded on. One foot followed the other. Don’t stop. Keep moving. The forest had to end somewhere.

“Oh no!” She choked on the words.Two large dogs bounded towards her. Hackles raised they approached stealthily. She huddled Nicki in her arms and buried her face in his blanket. “They’ve sent tracking dogs. We haven’t a hope in hell of getting away. I did my best, sweetie.”

The dogs circled, closed in and sniffed at her and the baby. “Don’t bite,” she pleaded.

Torn to pieces by dogs or shot quickly? She’d choose the gun. Quick and easy if they aimed at her heart or blasted a hole in her head.

As for Nicki. Please God don’t let Nicki die because I failed him. 

the sound of a loud whistle the dogs stiffened. A man emerged from the trees, a threatening rifle slung over his shoulder. The dogs left Ellie and stationed themselves beside the man, their eyes remained fixed on her.

The man walked up to her, frowning. “In the name of all the saints and the Pope himself, what are you doing here with a baby?”

Ellie backed away and bumped into a tree. “Don’t kill Nicki. He’s only three months old. He’s innocent. He doesn’t deserve to die.”

Nerves strung to the breaking point she sank down on her knees. Eyes blurry with tears she gazed up at the man.

“Give me a few minutes to pray then shoot me. Promise not to kill the baby.”

He knelt beside her. “I don’t kill babies and women.” He pulled a red and white polka dotted hanky from his jeans pocket and handed it to her. “Dry your eyes and tell me what you’re doing here. This is private land. No trespassing. Didn’t you see the signs?”

Crackling laughter erupted from Ellie’s dry throat. “No trespassing.” She rocked back and forth. “No trespassing. That’s very funny.”

She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t stop laughing. She’d been through too much. He’d caught her trespassing. Where was she? Would he shoot her for trespassing? She clamped her lips together choking back the laughter.

The man slapped her sharply on the side of her face. “Stop it, you damned fool. You’re scaring the baby.”

She jerked sideways and punched his arm. “What do you think you’re doing?” The hysteria died.

“Stopped you screaming, didn’t I?” He smiled showing even white teeth. Even in the early morning light he was better looking than George and the man in black.

Intelligent eyes. No boxing scars. Probably an expert tracker.

“So what’s next?” Too tired to think clearly Ellie waited for the end. He said he didn’t kill babies and women that’s so she’d calm down and make an easy target. A sitting duck and a duckling.It wouldn’t hurt much. A single shot would do the trick.

“Kill me and get it over with.”

“Stop babbling about killing. Got that? Explain what you’re doing on Vinnie’s land.”

Ellie shook her head. If he wasn’t one of them she was safe. But was she? Whoever raided the Blesnicoff’s home would be searching for her and the baby. She’d witnessed the carnage, could identify two of the men.

Sucking in a deep breath, her brain spun out of its death spiral and emerged intact with an alibi. No way would she tell him her name. He might hand her over. She used his hanky to wipe her sweaty, teary face and plucked a name from the past—her high school English teacher.

“I’m Sarah Hargreave. I’ve run away from my husband.” She raised her head. “He threatened me and the baby.”

The man’s gray eyes darkened. “Did you spend the night in the forest?”

Ellie nodded. “I had to or he’d have found us.”

“Then you’re damned lucky. There’s a cougar lurking in the neighborhood. It killed and mauled some range cattle. Good job it didn’t find you.”

A stalking cougar was too much for Ellie. “We could’ve died,” she wailed and sagged against him.

“But you didn’t.” Grasping her hands he stood and helped her up. “You’re worn out. I’ll take you to my cabin. You can rest there.”

“Is it far?” She’d walked all night. Her nerves were frazzled. The soles of her feet burned. Her ankle throbbed. If he said a mile she’d never make it.

“I’ve got a vehicle.”

Ellie almost kissed him. “Show me.”

For now she had to trust him.

Anita

http://www.anitabirt.com/
http://www.anitabirtstoryteller.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/ 

 

35 Responses to Welcome Guest Blogger Anita Birt!!

  1. интeллигeнт

    Отличная статья, кстати автору хочу предложить установить от яндекс.денег фишку на сайт “Дай рубль”. Я бы дал, так сказать на поддержание. 😉

  2. Bruno Davenport

    hi
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    good luck

  3. name

    Hi!,

  4. name

    Good day!,

  5. name

    Hello!,

  6. Anita Birt

    #27 – Karen H in NC, Thanks for your comments. I must get busy and finish my latest book. My problem – It’s summer and the sun is shining on Vancouver Island. I feel like idling away the days but the characters are calling me and won’t leave me alone. And I have another story beating a path to my brain. Such is the life of an author. Never a dull moment.

  7. Anita Birt

    #26 – Amy S. I think it’s a great book, Amy. I may be a trifle biased but the book has had fabulous reviews. Thanks for your comment.

  8. Anita Birt

    #25 – peggy. Thanks for your congratulations. They mean a great deal to me.

  9. Karen H in NC

    This book sounds great, very exciting. I’ll have to add it to my BTB list. I’ll be checking your website for info on your new historical book too.

  10. Amy S.

    Too Young To Die sounds great!

  11. peggy

    TO YOUNG TO DIE sounds great.congratutations on your book

  12. Anita Birt

    #16 – Cheryl – Thanks for your comments about my book. I think it’s pretty wonderful too but I am slightly biased. It has had fabulous reviews.

  13. Anita Birt

    #15 – Robynl – Thanks for coming by with a comment. I appreciate it. I’m glad someone else besides me has failed at crocheting. We should strart a group of “failed crocheters.” I’m smiling.

  14. Anita Birt

    #14 – Lisa – Thank you for your congratutations. Reading remarks like that is heart warming.

  15. Anita Birt

    #13 – Ivka – I’m so glad you loved the excerpt of my book. Ellie was a wreck after a night in the forest with the baby. I know I would be a wreck!

  16. Anita Birt

    #12 – Sue – from Vancouver. I’m glad you enjoyed reading the excerpt. Choosing the right excerpt is always a challenge. Not to give away too much of the story but enough to lure readers. The sun is shining on the island.

  17. Anita Birt

    #11 – Nancy Bristow. Too Young To Die is an E-book. It has had great reviews. Thanks for your comment.

  18. Anita Birt

    #10 Martha – my African violets are years and years old and soldier on. I repotted on and it has been sulking every since. Not a bud. You asked about Isabelle’s Diary, it’s an e-book, a contemporary romance with a paranormal twist.

  19. Anita Birt

    #9 – DawnM – So glad you liked the blurb and excerpt of my book. Check my web site for more information about my books. http://www.anitabirt.com

  20. Cherie J

    Hi Anita,

    Your book sounds wonderful! I really enjoyed the excerpt! Thanks for guestblogging.

  21. Robynl

    Hi and welcome Anita,
    I, too, am a knitter and would love to know how to crochet.
    I have to say ‘hello neighbour’; well not quite a neighbour but I’m 2 provinces away in Sask.

  22. Lisa

    Hi Anita,
    Sound great! Congratulation on the book!
    Hugs!
    Lisa

  23. Ivka

    Congrats Anita,I loved reading excerpt of TOO YOUNG TO DIE!

  24. Sue A.

    I enjoyed the excerpt! Thanks! 😉

    Anita, I hope you get a chance to enjoy the sunshine were having. I’m in Vancouver and I’m imagining it is even warmer on the island.

  25. Nancy Bristow

    Hey Anita…Welcome…another reader member here from RJR. You’re a new-to-me author but I’m also a romance-suspense fan (big time) and I liked what I read in the blurb. This is a good place to be for readers to get to know you better. It more than blows my mind that I read a book a day and still there are so many other authors with whom I’ve yet to become acquainted. Is Too Young To Die in print or ebook? Nancy

  26. Martha

    Hi Anita-
    Hope your African violets are happy! They are one of my favorites- I’ve been growing them for years! I really liked thee blurb and excerpt! I like romantic suspense almost as much as I like historical! Had to go check out your website. I know I heard someone saying good things about Isabelle’s Diary recently! Guess I’ll be looking at more of your books!

  27. DawnM

    Excerpt and blurb sounds great Anita. Like a good suspense novel and this seems nice and fast paced

  28. Anita Birt

    Jenn, you are a sweetheart to have my comment up so quickly. I really appreciate it. I thought I had to post something right away so I was sitting at my computer a 6:15 am PCT ready to post. Yes, I had showered and dressed and eager to do my bit. The site looks great and I’m happy to spend the day with you.

  29. Anita Birt

    Thanks for dropping by, Alice. I’m writing a historical romance now with other projects gettting in the way i.e. another book idea. An author’s brain, as you know, is never idle.

  30. Anita Birt

    Thank you for coming by, Lis. Always nice to have comments like yours. My book has had fabulous reviews so I hope it does well.

  31. Anita Birt

    Thanks, Tina. I am all thumbs when I try to crochet. It is a skill I haven’t mastered and wish I could. Carry on crocheting and I will carry on knitting in between writing projects.

  32. Lis

    Hi Anita, this one looks interesting :o)

  33. tina brunelle

    congrates on your newest release. i was thrilled to see a fellow crafter as an author. I am a crocheter myself!

  34. Alice Valdal

    Hi Anita,

    Congratulations on publishing Too Young to Die. Where are you going next? More historicals or more suspense?

    Alice

  35. Jenn L

    Hi Anita and Welcome to the Blog. As posters visit you can reply to them right here on the blog in the comments section.

    I love a good romantic suspense and from what I read so far of Too Young to Die it definitely has to go on my TBB list.

    Have a great day here at Junkies and thanks again for joining us.

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