Conjured by Sarah Doughty
“Dreamless sleep was like a dark place
that played like a lullaby without sound.”
Dreamless sleep was like being lost in oblivion. But it wasn’t frightening or terrible by any means. It was a dark place that played like a lullaby without sound. It was a slow beating of the heart, contentment, free from thought or stress.
© Sarah Doughty
2016
A small excerpt from Listen,
book 4 of
the Earthen Witch Novels.
“I didn’t know the true meaning of sleep
until I was in his arms.”
It was my favorite place to be. Head resting over his heart. Feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest. Hearing the beat of his heart. I didn’t know the true meaning of sleep until I was in his arms.
© Sarah Doughty
2015
This was one of the
scenes from my first novel,
Just Breathe.
Though it’s not the
final draft version,
the moment was still the same.
“My darling, to say that I miss you
would be an understatement.”
To say that I miss you
would be an understatement.
To say that I’m tired
would be sugar coating
the amount of exhaustion I feel.
To say that I’m struggling
and feel like everything
is falling out of control is like
saying a tornado is just a stiff breeze.
I’m doing everything I can to live up to the high expectations I set for myself and I’m feeling as though I’m drowning in it. I’ll pull through, though. But it’s time to say that I’m only one person and I just can’t keep up.
My plan is to slow down,
but never stop.
Because I have to write.
Because I need to write.
© Sarah Doughty
2015
For the sake of telling the story that needs told. For the sake of my characters, I will go on. But I’ll need one more cup of coffee. One more push. One more encouraging cheer from a friend. But, ultimately, I need to allow myself to breathe a little.
Not too much. Because the demons will take over if I let them. I have so many books I want to read, so many I need to write. It’s time that I learned how to pace myself. After so much pain, I deserve to give myself a break.
“When I first looked into your eyes, I knew.
You were meant to be mine.”
I’ll always remember the day I met you. It started like any typical day. But then I felt it, deep down. I knew you were there.
When I first looked into your eyes, I was mesmerized. It wasn’t so much that their color was the most beautiful I ever saw. Though it was. And it wasn’t that it felt like I knew you, deep down. Though I did.
It was that it felt like those infinite depths of chocolate brown eyes could see right through to my soul.
I didn’t need to know you were meant to be mine in that moment. I could already feel it. I just didn’t want to admit it. And I knew, I was done for.
© Sarah Doughty
2015
This was one of the
first scenes from my first novel,
Just Breathe.
Though it’s not the
final draft version,
the moment was still the same.
Aisling and Connor
will always be my first loves.
“I saw the look in his eyes.
The look that told me how much he loved me.”
In that instant, it was just one look. That was all it took. One look that said everything. I saw the look in his eyes. The look that told me how much he loved me. I didn’t want that moment to end. But as the darkness spread in my vision, I hoped that he could read the look on my face and know how much I loved him too.
Before everything went silent.
© Sarah Doughty
2015
This was one of the
scenes from my first novel,
Just Breathe.
Though it’s not the
final draft version,
the moment was still the same.
Aisling and Connor
will always be my first loves.
I read somewhere that Sarah sees her writing poetry as a moment, whereas her writing fiction as a lifetime, and when I read this, it made total sense to me because I’ve read Sarah’s poetry for years and it is a moment, a strong powerful smack in the gut moment, but definitely a moment, whereas when I read her fiction, I can see the entire universe is being considered and she is methodical, paced and thorough in her plotting and building of characters.
Just Breathe delivered for me. I was surprised. Sarah knows her art, and she drew me into her world almost immediately.
I’m very familiar with Sarah’s poetry and have always appreciated her blunt and honest way of telling it like it is, that’s why it was a surprise to find out she is equally conversant and gifted with longer art forms. This isn’t just a hobby for her, you can tell she takes her writing very seriously and spends a lot of time ensuring she gets it right.
It doesn’t matter if a character
is a witch or a vampire
and whether those things exist
in our world or do not,
it matters that we believe
as we read that they are real.
That way we become
invested in them.Aisling (the heroine) is the kind of woman that women can relate to and she isn’t afraid to stand up for what she feels is right. For this reason, Just Breathe is a deeply redemptive book and that alone makes it worthy of reading.
And with this I leave you with one recommendation, pick Sarah Doughty’s work out of the genre and let it Just Breathe.
Special thanks to Indie Blu(e) and Candice Louisa Daquin
for such an eloquent review of Just Breathe.
While this is merely an excerpt of the entire review,
I am beyond humbled at all the kind things
she had to say about the book.
To read the review in its entirety, click here.
~ Sarah Doughty
Indie Blu(e) is such an exciting
new site dedicated to
Indie writers and their books.
Yesterday, you read about
a call for readers and reviewers
for writers of Indie Blu(e).
Today, I’m sending out
a call for writers.
Indie writers.
Are you wanting to join
this community
and make a positive change?
Head over here and get started.
~ Sarah Doughty
Indie Blu(e) is such an exciting
new site dedicated to
Indie writers and their books.
As many independent writers know,
reviews and exposure mean the difference
between having their books seen
or having them fall into an oblivion
of millions of other books.
Let’s work together and help them
stand out a little brighter.
Click here to learn more about
Indie Blu(e) and how you can help.
~ Sarah Doughty
To receive one of these rare, highly-intuitive and overwhelmingly positive reviews is never to be taken lightly. Not only am I a little speechless, grinning ear to ear at Ian Gregoire’s thoughts, I’m beyond honored. To know from an unlikely (male) source that my first book was everything I hoped it would be is a gift in and of itself. It reiterates that my decision to write and then share this story — the story that in many ways hits very close to my heart — was the right one.
“When vampires Liam and Jon go missing, it’s up to Aisling Green and her friends to find them, but doing so and surviving what awaits won’t be easy.”
Coming October 3rd!
The Earthen Witch Novels are an adult urban fantasy romance series featuring Earthen witch Aisling Green and witch Connor Jennings, written from Aisling’s perspective. The world is not an easy place, especially for these two. And they’re going to have to fight many battles before they can reach their happily ever after.
Battling against things she cannot fight isn’t something Earthen witch Aisling Green is used to, but she must act quickly and outsmart the one that wants her dead and save the lives of her friends before it’s too late.
As they follow the trail, they rescue a most unlikely person, and uncover a deeper, more sinister plot. With the lives of the two vampires on the line, they must fight for their lives, try to rescue their friends, and stop the evil plans. In the face of so much danger and uncertainty, they are forced to go to war and make a discovery that will change everything. The question then becomes at what price will they be forced to pay to survive?
I’m pleased to reveal the cover for Listen! I want to thank Kristyn McQuiggan of Drop Dead Designs (and @drop.dead.design) for her assistance. I couldn’t have done this without her.
Be sure to add it to Goodreads!
Click here to check out the rest of the books in this universe. All of my books are and will remain FREE. Download your copies from your favorite retailer!
