This partial scene is from my novel The Severed Sky. I'm sharing this text and audio sample to give you a taste of my writing, and of my voice narration.

I hope you enjoy them both.

From "The Severed Sky", Chapter Two...

John sat down nearby. “Look, I know I’ve told you this before, but... I’m proud of you,” he said.

“John,” she interrupted. He’d switched to his “serious” voice, which usually led to the kind of discussion she wasn't prepared to have out here under the stars.

“No, now, let me be serious for a minute.” John held up his hand. “You didn't like my joke, so let me be serious.”

Of course, I’ve never been able to stop him before.

When John broke out the serious voice, his whole demeanor changed. His eyes never wavered from the person he was talking to, and his normally steady, strong voice grew quieter and warmer.

“That Daniel is a good kid,” he continued. “He’s a good, solid kid, and he obviously loves you a lot. And you two are great together.”

So this is the kind of stuff that shakes loose when two dudes snooze, talk, and fish together for hours. Mel held back a chuckle.

“So, I just wanted to say that I’m glad you’ve found someone like my June was for me, and like Scooter was for your mom. That you’ve found that kind of partner.”

It was funny, in a way. John had only once actually said to her: “your dad would be proud,” but every time the serious voice came out, that sentiment seemed to color whatever he said. As if, unconsciously, he wanted to tell her the things her dad no longer could.

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Thanks for reading!