Book Give-away: where in the world is Kat Magendie?

Oh I am late today! I am frantic in working on some things - so everyone, please pardon me if I do not get by your places consistently for maybe a few days or so. And, I know as Tender Graces's release date approaches, I will become even more busy! Then when it gets here, more busy! And in between and around all that, I will have to sit my butt down (I can't wait!) and work on the second book--then I know I'll be scarce...but I know you all will understand!

That image is where my camera malfunctioned while I was photographing some tiny signs of spring. But, the "malfunction" is so beautiful and interesting, I kept it.

Today is the book give-away "contest" announcement. I am going to post the "instructions" at the top of my blog...teehee. Basically, if you want to "play" - for the next almost-week, I will be posting a "where is Kat?" hint, and you have to tell me where I am...the instructions will make it all clear, and those will be up later this evening....teeheehee -- you'll either have a good time, or throw up your hands and say "too much trouble!"

Now, I have to get busy. I'm already running behind on everything this morning! *muwah*

The next "installment" of The Fishing Day (almost at the end; I believe there are two more "installments" left):

....

The daughter turns to her father. “Do you need help?”

He shakes his head and straightens from his slump, pulling until the fish reveals itself in an explosion of water and sound. It arches and flops as he drags it onto the bank. Its gills open and close, the pink flesh beneath tender and sad as the fish tries to breathe. The father and daughter stare at its struggle. “Let’s get the hook out of it,” the father says as he bends down, the knees of his slacks soaking up the wetness from the bank.

“He’s trying to breathe out of the water, but he can’t.” The daughter watches the fish, its colors yellow, red, pale peachy pink.

The father works slowly to free the hook, frowning at the damage he has caused. The fish looks small and helpless now. It isn’t nearly as big as he had thought. “Oh, poor fish. I wish I had not caught it now.”

“Don’t hurt him,” she says, reaching out to the shimmering scales. The fish calms at her touch, and allows the father to pick it up and finally work the hook from its mouth. The daughter looks at the torn flesh. She looks at the father’s frown. She knows he will be okay. When he is released, he will heal. She knows much for her age, because of where she has been, and where she must return.

“I think we should put it back. What about you?”

“Yes, Daddy, let it go. It wants to be free again.”

The father gently places the fish into the water. At first, it does not react, but then with a shiver and flick of its tail, the creature swims off until it disappears into the murky lake, unseen, but there all the same.

“I bet he tells his friends about his adventure,” she says.

“He might. Unless he keeps it all to himself. He may not want anyone to know he was caught unawares and hurt like this. It may feel better to pretend it never happened.”

“What do you want to know, Daddy?”

The father gazes into the light, casting his face in shadow. He had not noticed how much the sun has descended. As he looks down at his daughter’s bright face, he wants to hug her close, but he can’t. He knows this is all that parents really want to do, hold their children safe so that they never come to harm. The father thinks of days when he swung his daughter up high, around and around, as his wife stood by laughing. His wife’s golden brown hair, caught up in two bobby pins to keep it off her tanned face, is a shorter version of their daughter’s. They had all three laughed like this every day it seems, even though he knows that is not real. But they had been happy and contented, this he knows is real... to be continued...