The book is Word Paint: A Guide to Writing More Descriptively by Rebecca McClanahan. According to the book:
“Like painters, writers are the receptors of sensations from the real world and the world of the imagination, and effective description demands we sharpen our instruments of perception.”
“Description is an attempt to present as directly as possible the qualities of a person, place, object or event. When we describe, we make impressions, attempting through language to represent reality. Description is, in effect, word painting.”
The speedboat couldnât reach the island fast enough for Sophia. She stood at the bow, watching with impatience as the island slowly grew larger in the darkness. The wind whipped her dark auburn hair against her face but she didnât notice the stings on her skin. She was focused on getting there, the upcoming conversation and getting back. She had very little time.
She had told her daughter she would only be gone for the weekend. She hated leaving her there alone with him. She didnât know if she could trust him and prayed that she hadnât put her daughterâs life at risk. But that was why she had to come.
She could have made a simple phone call, but she didnât want just verbal answers. She wanted to feel the responses, to know the truth in them. And that could only be accomplished in person.
She could flash only about a hundred miles at a time, forcing her to the confines and time restrictions of an airplane, just like everyone else. It was frustratingly slow. Each one-way flight was fourteen hours. That didnât leave her much time to get the information she needed to calm her fearsâŚor to change their minds.
As the driver approached, Sophia could already feel the magic of the island. She felt her body automatically shedding the years of intense control, as if a second skin was falling off of her and slipping into the water. After so many years of being on guard, she could just let go and be herself. She had forgotten the exhilarating feeling. Too anxious to wait, she jumped from the slowing boat and easily cleared the ten feet to the dock.
Although she had such little time and she could have been at the door in the blink of an eye, she strode up the path to the mansion. It was a hurried walk for the average person, but slow enough for her that she could pull her thoughts together one more time.
She hadnât been to the island since her daughter was just an infant. It hadnât changed. The tall Cyprus trees lined the uphill path, leading to a walkway framed with stone arches, which had at one time intimidated her with their ancient history. She barely noticed them now. She focused on the primordial stone mansion that glowed white in the darkness, reflecting the moonâs light. She could see dim, flickering lights in the deep windows.
A familiar, lanky man opened the heavy, wood front door for her.
âGood evening, Ms. Sophia,â he said politely. âMs. Katerina is expecting you.â
Of course she was. It was virtually impossible to surprise Rina, but at least, Sophia planned it so there was not enough time for Rina to call a counsel. As their matriarch, Rina was fully capable of providing the answers Sophia sought. And Sophia wanted straight answers, directly from Rina, not contrived ones from the council.
âHello, my beloved,â said a soft, feminine voice. The stunning woman seemed to float down the massive stone stairs in a long, silver, satiny gown. Even in the immense, dark foyer, lit only by the flames in the wall sconces, her beauty was remarkable. The resemblance between Rina and Sophia was striking. The average human, with their average eyes, would believe them to be sisters, possibly twins. Sophiaâs face was a little softer, though, the angles not as sharp. Although it had been eighteen years since they had seen each other, neither had changed.
Rina wrapped her arms around Sophia. âI have missed you so.â
âHello, Mother.â Sophia stiffly returned the hug.
Hi,
This was so sweet – Sophia’s impatience mingling with anticipation, and her island homecoming.
I loved it.
best
F
Oh, wow, she left her daughter alone with someone she didn’t know if she could trust? There must be a good reason to do that. So now I’m wondering what the heck pulled her from her daughter and made her go see a mother she hasn’t seen in eighteen years. Yikes, I’m scared from both ways — the daughter she left and the mother she has to face — with good reason. This is very intriguing. Great job! đ
There was so much about this that pulled me in.
I could picture the desperation involved in leaving a child with someone she almost trusted. Then there was this phrase:
“It was a hurried walk for the average person, but slow enough for her that she could pull her thoughts together one more time.”
This was all I needed to start my brain whirring.
I’d love to know more.
Incredibly descriptive! Loved it!! And loved it even more because the MC and her best friend in my book are Sophia (Sophie) and Rina. It isn’t a fantasy – romantic suspence, but still – so cool!!
Wow, action flick to fairy tale. Either way, a distinct and vivid scene. Not bad!
That last paragraph took me by surprise. Well done.
……dhole
I love the descriptions, especially the line: “as if a second skin was falling off of her and slipping into the water.”
Well done.
You raise a lot of questions here, and I feel the tension in what she wants to do and meeting her mother.
The nostalgia and magic of the island really had a soft, almost touching vibe and was a nice balance to Sophia’s sense of panic and urgency.
ooooo Very interesting. I’m so glad you entered my little blogfest. The beginning made total sense to me, having been on a boat before I could imagine how deep in thought she’d have to be to not notice the surrounding aspects of the ride. The jump was cool too but description sake, the magic about the island was the best. Excellent post.
I thought the description of the mansion was excellent. However, I had a hard time moving on from the fact she left her daughter with someone she didn’t trust…ah!!! haha Nice work overall though. đ
nice to read a little bit about Rina and Sophia.