Haven’t done one of these in a while, so here you go. An excerpt from late in the book: one of Grace’s past lives, fourteen-year-old Sophie, is treated for Dementia Praecox–or what we now call Schizophrenia–in 1902 France. But is she really ill?
“Go away. Please go away.” I stare at the ceiling, an unwitting audience to the spirits that flock to me now. I wipe a stray tear of frustration that races down my cheek toward my hairline as I lay in bed. My hands are mercifully free, as I’m supervised by the good Doctor for the moment.
“Sophie,” says Dr. Poireier, “do you speak to someone else now?”
It is difficult at these times to listen when I’m being spoken to. The voices of the living are often drowned out by those of the dead. The living speak to hear themselves, I have come to believe. The dead are just desperate to be heard.
I give up, and call for Noel.
“This Noel, tell me…” the Doctor’s words blend into the spirits’ din, and I wait for the needle to come.
at 10:20 am
That’s a powerful little snippet. Makes me wonder what’s coming. (FYI, I clicked over here from AW, where I’m ralf58.)
Ruth Chatlien’s latest blog post: Writing Historical Fiction: 19th c. Information Lag
at 10:23 am
Hi Ruth! How funny, I was just commenting on one of your blog posts that I found my way to from the same place, lol.
Thanks for your comment, glad to know the excerpt intrigued you :D
at 10:39 am
That is funny. I posted a reply to your question over on my blog.
Ruth Chatlien’s latest blog post: Writing Historical Fiction: 19th c. Information Lag
at 8:11 am
Ashley, this isn’t “just” anything, it’s riveting.
at 10:20 am
Aw, thanks Lucie. You have me blushing :”)