Coming February 27th to my sister site: Fox Spirit – A Tale of Two Cultures
Here’s a sneak preview of my novel Fox Spirit, which I will be publishing chapter by chapter on my sister site AJMcCready.wordpress.com, with new episodes every Monday and Thursday until the thrilling conclusion.
When Sara Miller’s husband dies and the inquest is inconclusive, Sara impulsively accepts an offer to work in Beijing, away from gossiping neighbors and a resentful daughter-in-law. In Beijing she finds a new set of challenges, as she navigates culture clashes, political minefields, and a perilous possibility of new love.
Here’s the first few pages:
Fox Spirit
Huli jing (Mandarin Chinese): Fox spirit. Literally, “exquisite fox.” Also a modern colloquial term for a dangerous seductress.
你做过了一万里的路 来完成我的等待
为此停滞的夜 升起了繁星
– 陈立强
You traveled a ten thousand mile road
To fulfill my long waiting.
Hence from the stagnant night
Burst forth a million stars
-Chen Li Qiang (1998)
Sara
August 1997
“I thought sure the corpse would be bleedin’.”
Sara was certain she was meant to overhear the half-whispered remark. She stiffened her back, sitting as straight as possible, and willed herself not to turn her head. She could feel the tell-tale flush rising, knew her cheeks would be splotched with red, but if she didn’t turn her head, they would not see.
The mortuary chapel was quiet for the moments between the soft organ music and when her brother Jasper would step forward and begin the memorial service. She was the widow, she was not expected to speak, she would not have to face the whisperer. At the end of the service she would be in a receiving line with her son Mark, his wife Rennie, Jasper and his wife Carol. Everyone would walk past and take her hand. She would not try to identify the whisperer, not look for shifty eyes, ironic voice tones. They would be there, in more than one face, more than one voice.
If she had known the consequences, would she have acted differently?
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If you would like to follow Sara’s adventures and misadventures in China at the turn of the 21st century, hop over to my sister site https://ajmccready.wordpress.com and look for a new episode every Monday and Thursday.
Allyson Johnson 