novel – Page 2 – One Word at a Time

Caroline’s Purpose: Pain Excerpt

“A quick glimpse around the batting cages and the dugout showed her she was alone, the first to arrive for practice. The back gate squeaked as she pushed it open and entered the bullpen, the place where she had spent so many hours working on spins and velocity. She shuffled over to the off-white pitching rubber and stared down to home plate. She ran her thumb over the third finger on her right hand and pretended her callous was still there, molded from the seam of the ball burning her skin as it spun away toward the batter.
A blue crate of softballs sat to her left. Caroline turned toward it, thinking about the weight of the ball in her hand. She reached out, feeling the seams with just the tips of her fingers. It was the first time she had touched one since her last game, and it still felt like home.
Without giving it a second thought, she picked up the ball, dropped her backpack to the red clay dirt, and went back to the pitching rubber. She lined up her feet, placing each one with more purpose and exactness than she ever had before. She rolled the ball around in her hand, thinking about the possibility, the chance, that the doctors were wrong.
Just one pitch. One throw, and I can prove them all wrong, she thought to herself. One strike, that’s all I need. Then I can feel the excitement and joy Ryan has. Then I can have a purpose again. Caroline shifted her weight to her left foot, imagining the signal from her catcher. She rocked back, picturing where she wanted the ball to go. She took her stride toward the batter, wound her right arm up and around, and released, snapping the ball off next to her hip. The ball slammed to the ground right in front of her and skidded its way to home plate. Pain shot through her forearm and elbow, taking her breath away. She gripped her arm and went down to her knees, gasping for air…”

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Caroline’s Purpose: Light Excerpt

“The cold breeze lifted her blond hair, blowing it around her cheeks, the ends sticking to her face because of her tears. Caroline pulled her royal-blue sweatshirt closer to her body, setting the hood over her head, and folding the ends of the sleeves over her hands. She leaned back onto the cold metal of the top rail of the bleachers, crossing her arms over her chest and resting her feet on the seat in front of her.
The crowd was thin, so it had been easy to find a seat alone. That was the story of her life now. Alone.
She wasn’t sure why she was here. But between the bad dreams and the loneliness, she had needed to get out of her house.
All of her finals were done. All of her grades for the semester were set. There was no homework to distract her, and no friends to occupy her time. She had made sure of that when she cut off all communication with anyone who had ever cared about her.
This particular evening, tired of staring at the walls, dreading another night of nightmares, she had gotten in her car and left. She had driven around until she saw the lights sparkling against the night sky. The lights drew her in, and she found herself in the parking lot of the ballpark she had spent endless hours at during her little league and ponytail years.”

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Caroline’s Purpose-Believe

“He understood more about her than she had ever thought someone could. Maybe one day she would be able to tell him the truth, tell him her own story. And maybe one day, he’d be able to help her believe again.”

Do you need more of Caroline and Connor’s story? If so, Caroline’s Purpose is available now!

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Caroline’s Purpose-Run

“Connor reached for his auxiliary cord and dug his phone out of his pocket to plug it in. He called up his driving playlist as he prepared for the hour or so drive home. He tapped the shuffle button, and “Run” by Urban Rescue sprang to life in the speakers.

Letting the lyrics fall over him, he put his truck in reverse and left the parking lot. He whispered along as the first verse continued. “Please don’t leave me where I am. Take me back where love began. Though my eyes can’t see the end, I believe You have a plan.”

Connor turned onto the road and headed for the interstate. He let the song work its way into his heart as he drove and pictured Caroline. There was a plan; he just had to wait it out and keep praying for her every step of the way.”

Run is one of my favorite Urban Rescue songs, and I thought it fit well into this part of my book. If you want to know what led up to this moment, Caroline’s Purpose is available now! If you’ve read it, and enjoyed it, I would love for you to leave a review on Amazon!

https://youtu.be/Dzym5wa0Pqc

Hope: Caroline’s Purpose

“And he couldn’t help but let that wonder turn into a sense of hope.”

This is one of my favorite quotes from Caroline’s Purpose. If you want to know who ‘he’ is and what he’s hopeful about, Caroline’s Purpose is available now!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Carolines-Purpose-Erica-Zaborac/dp/1611533929/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=carolines+purpose&qid=1610989692&sprefix=caroline’s+purpo&sr=8-3

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Another Excerpt from Caroline’s Purpose

Connor rubbed the crescent moon on Luna’s forehead. “Caroline, can I ask you something?”

Caroline lifted her eyes to his as she continued working on Luna’s coat. “Yeah, go ahead.”

“Back in the classroom, when we started our presentation, it seemed like you couldn’t do it. You started to talk, but nothing came out. Then all of a sudden, you flipped a switch, and you were fine.” Connor paused, taking a breath.

Caroline stared at him. “I guess I’m waiting for a question?”

Connor laughed. “Right. Well, I guess I’m just wondering how you did it.”

A slight hint of red came across Caroline’s cheeks as she looked back down to Luna’s coat. “If I tell you, you’ll either laugh at me, or think I’m crazy.”

Connor grinned. “What if I promise to do neither?”

Caroline rolled her eyes. “I don’t think you can make that promise.”

“I think I can. I won’t laugh. I just want to know.”

Caroline looked at him, her eyes doubtful, her cheeks still red. “Alright, I’ll hold you to that.” She slid the curry comb off her hand and reached for the lead rope. “Do you want to get her other side?”

“Sure thing.” Connor handed her the rope as he slid the curry over his own hand. He started working at Luna’s shoulder.

Caroline sighed, running her fingers through Luna’s forelock. “In high school softball, we were the Colts. That was our mascot. Our coach put a horseshoe on the wall by the entrance to the bullpen. When we got to the field for practice or a game, we would touch it. It was our way of leaving everything from our day outside, so we could focus on what we needed to do. Just a little mental trick. Obviously, I needed to focus on our presentation, so I pictured the horseshoe and touched it in my head.”

Connor watched as her cheeks turned a deeper red. Caroline wouldn’t look up at him. She just kept running her fingers through Luna’s forelock. “Hey, I’m not laughing,” Connor reassured her as he put the curry comb away and reached for the stiff bristled brush.

“True, but you have to think I’m crazy…”

*Remember you can pre-order now! Release date is January 5th!

Caroline’s Purpose: Softball Excerpt

“Caroline could feel the crowd’s anticipation. She could sense the energy pulsing through her team. Everyone knew this was it, the last batter she would have to face if she could get the out. The championship would be theirs.

The no-hitter would be hers.

She forced another deep breath as she stepped to the rubber to get her sign. Another drop ball. She repeated the motion and spin she had just thrown for a called strike one. She got the ball back, replanted her feet on the rubber, and waited for the next call.

Caroline nodded her head, agreeing to the changeup. Keep your arm speed up, she reminded herself as she worked the ball in her glove to get the grip she wanted. She flipped her wrist as she released, slowing down the pitch for a called strike two.

The fans for their team stood up in the stands, recognizing they needed just one more strike to win. Caroline took the ball to the edge of the pitching circle, looking out at the center field fence, then up to the lights shining down on the field. The last beams of light from the sunset glowed over the top of the mountains. The May breeze ruffled the end of her ponytail. She closed her eyes. You can do this. Throw a strike. It’s that easy.

Turning back, determination echoing in each step, she took to the rubber. The catcher relayed the sign to her. Screw ball, up and in.

With two strikes on the hitter, Caroline knew she needed to make this a chase pitch, something out of the strike zone that would trick the batter into swinging and missing. She pictured where she wanted it to go, and off she went.

She gave the pitch a little extra oomph, grunting as she snapped the ball. It ran in and up, going right where she wanted it. The batter swung through it, missing by several inches. Strike three. Three outs. Ballgame.

State championship.

No-hitter…”

Caroline’s Purpose is available for pre-order now!

The Beginning of Caroline’s Purpose

I thought I would share the beginning of the writing process for Caroline’s Purpose. This picture was taken three years ago today. It was an assignment for a class in my master’s degree program, and I was dealing with some serious writer’s block until I went outside and wrote in the barn with my horses. This was the first scene I wrote for the book, but it is actually in what is now Chapter 18. I very rarely write stories in order. I always start with the scenes or images or conversations that are the most vivid. The order comes together later.

Remember you can pre-order Caroline’s Purpose! Release date is January 5th, which is only three weeks away!

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Excerpt from Caroline’s Purpose

Today, I’m excited to share an excerpt from Caroline’s Purpose:

“With small steps, Caroline tiptoed away from Jasper’s stall, hoping for just a peek of Edison. He cowered in the back corner of his stall, pawing at the floor, his skin stretched taut over every rigid muscle in his body.

Caroline stopped three feet from the door. She peered over it on her tiptoes, seeing his grain bucket smashed against the wall, bent almost in half from the dent in the middle of it.

“Well, that wasn’t very smart, bud. What are you going to eat out of, now that you kicked your bucket?” Caroline muttered. Edison continued to paw.

Even under the patches of dirt and loose, dull hair, and the knots in his mane and tail, it was easy to see how beautiful he was. The copper red of his coat was highlighted by the blond of his mane. The angles of his haunches and shoulders were perfect, and his muscles showed off his athletic structure.

“No one here is going to hurt you. You have to know that by now.” Caroline took two steps closer to the stall. At the sound of her voice, Edison’s head snapped up and he froze, his eyes looking straight into hers.

Caroline’s breath caught in her throat. The connection she felt with him was so familiar. The pain and fear in his eyes reflected what she often felt herself. Without thinking, she closed the space between her and the door, reaching out and touching the top of it with her fingers…”

Caroline’s Purpose is available for pre-order now on the following sites! The release date is January 5th, 2021!

About Caroline’s Purpose

The question I get asked the most is probably, “What is your book about?” I’ve always struggled to answer, but now, I can just share what’s written on the back cover:

“Caroline Davis, a sophomore in college, finds herself at a crossroads, suffocated by fear and anxiety. Everything she claimed to be or dreamed of becoming has been lost to her, including her faith in God.

When she meets Connor Taylor, Caroline finds that he is able to relate to her pain more than she would have thought possible.

With the help of Edison, an abused horse, Connor seeks to help Caroline learn to use her past as a stepping stone towards the future.

As her relationship with Connor grows, Caroline must make a choice to conquer her fear or to stay where she feels safe. Their relationship and her future hang in the balance.”

Remember it’s now available for preorder on Amazon and Barnes and Noble! The Kindle and Nook editions are available too.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Carolines-Purpose-Erica-Zaborac/dp/1611533929

Barnes and Noble: https://m.barnesandnoble.com/w/carolines-purpose-erica-zaborac/1138372131?ean=9781611533927