My first blow is an
uppercut. A crack sounds in the cold air, the impact shivering up my arm as his
head snaps back. I bend, move in close, and get in a second blow. He stumbles
and steps backward.
I’ve boxed before,
in a ring, facing trained fighters. I start to relax. I’ll put this dude down
in no time. With Barney as a witness, this fight will provide a major boost to
my rep.
Then Deadlocks
pulls a knife.
The knife changes
everything.
This isn’t a fight
anymore. It’s combat, and only one side has a weapon.
Dreadlocks is out
to kill.
Screw pride, screw
anger, screw everything except survival. I grab Barney’s hand and yank her to
her feet. We start to run, but she’s limping. I don’t have to turn to know how
fast he’s closing on us. We get maybe four steps and she falls.
Time slows.
Two choices flash
through my head. Leave the girl and run like hell. Or turn to face him, knowing
there will be blood.
Most of it mine.
Being
God, copyright© 2013 by B. A. Binns
Being God is the sequel to the award-winning Pull published in 2010. The book becomes available in paperback and eBook on Feb 1, 2013, and I can barely keep from nibbling my fingers to the knuckles. As hard as it is to change a bad guy in real life, I think it's even harder to do it in fiction. I was supposed to control the pages, but this character frequently seized control and made things happen his way.
But now it's over. There is nothing to change, nothing more to do except flip the switch and make things live on Thursday night. Which leaves me antsy. Luckily, I do have a few things I'm supposed to be doing.
- Like prepping for a workshop on diversity in YA literature I have been asked to give at the Virginia Hamilton conference at Kent State University in April. (I know that sounds like a lot of time, but I know from past experience deadlines come sooner than I expect them to)
- Sprucing up the series of lectures I will be giving for the Man Talk online class I start teaching next week (gulp!)
- Prepare for the initial session of a library sponsored writing workshop I begin leading in two weeks. (Did I really say yes?)
- Start working on the speech I will be giving at the summer ALA meeting as part of YALSA at the ALA on ways to reach reluctant male readers (I actually asked to make this speech)
Oh yes, I also have to work on the next book.
Give-aways
In the meantime, I am giving away copies of Being God. The name my dog contest runs until Feb 1, when a winner and name will be chosen. Leave me a comment with a name, that's your entry fee. I am also planning to give away books at the Chicago Principals conference on Feb 7, and to hand out books at my old high school, Hyde Park. I have been asked to judge the entries submitted during the Poplar Creek teen holiday writing contest, and I will give everyone who entered a copy of Being God.
I am also sending copies of all three of my books to the Denney Juvenile Detention Center school in Washington. There my books will help many reluctant and at-risk kids. I would like to do more. I hope to donate books to at least four other facilities. So if you know of any deserving juvenile facilities, youth centers, alternative schools, or other groups that help needy kids who could use additions to their libraries, let me know. I would like to chose some to make donations to.
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