Tuesday Tales is a weekly blog featuring diverse authors who post excerpts from their WIPs based on word and picture prompts. Today we write from a photograph of a window. The snippet is from a paranormal vintage romance set in the 1950s featuring Hannah Ross as a young woman set on renovating a 1920s hotel. Please visit the other fabulous authors at Tuesday Tales.
The scent of jasmine tickled her nostrils like a delicate half-forgotten memory. She glanced around, expecting to see Miss Mabel or another of the ladies fluttering a lace-trimmed handkerchief. Then came the music. A few tinkling notes from somewhere above, as if to entice. She grabbed a handful of curls and pulled, forcing the blood back to her scalp. An irritated hiss escaped her lips. For Pete’s sake. It wasn’t as if there was anything to be afraid of. If some hobo was camping in her attic, she was quite sure he wouldn’t be slathering on expensive feminine perfume. Brandishing her dust cloth like the sword of Ivanhoe, she hurried past the small sitting room and around the half wall separating it from the alcove.
She peered up. The stairs leading to the attic were steep and cramped, as if to keep out a Nosy Nelly like herself. Could she be deemed that, with such a high stake in the place? Surely not. She had all the right in the world to explore every square inch. She crept upward, testing each step before exerting her weight. Reaching the landing, she gasped in disbelief at the array of furniture and boxes. What in the world was all this stuff and why had Roscoe Wyver left it here?
Music tinkled, muffled but louder than before. The jasmine fragrance was stronger, too. Stepping carefully through a maze of boxes and clutter, she made her way toward a set of small wooden shutters. A breath of fresh air was just what she needed right now. She didn’t remember seeing a gothic shaped window anywhere on the hotel, but her directions were disoriented at the moment. Maybe it was obscured from outside or a faux window, though why would you have one in an attic? 
I hope you enjoyed this scene using a photo of this interesting window. Thanks for stopping by. Please visit the other fabulous authors at Tuesday Tales.
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic with Paranormal Romance
Awesome!
Jasmine and lavender are my favorite scents. What did she see? Will we find out? I’m sure this window is a portal to another universe.
I love jasmine and wisteria incense, Carmen– and violet. I hope we find out what she saw. Thanks for commenting.
I love stories with old hotels. In fact, I’m reading one right now. And attics are just so….well, creepy, LOL (or at least they can be). I love the premise, Flossie, and look forward to seeing more of this one. Wonderful excerpt!
I’m with you about old hotels– old houses too. I like writing vintage, Mae. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Love where tis is going. Can’t wait to see what she’s going to find. Jasmine reminds me of Aladdin and Arabian Nights.
Ooh, interesting connection with the Arabian Nights, Susanne!
I enjoyed the way the tension built in this, Flossie. The fragrances are pleasant but the whole piece had an air of creepiness that I loved. I’ll look forward to discovering what happens next.
I’m glad you enjoyed the creepiness feeling, Daisy. Thanks so much.
What a great excerpt!
Thank you, Vicki.
quite intriguing I love how you are entwining the past into this.
Thank you, Cathy! I enjoy entwining different eras.
Love the way you paint the scene with senses and your use of the picture prompt. Intriguing scene. Now I need to know what’s in the attic!
My 300 words ended before we could find out more about the window, Jean! Thanks for the good words
You stopped there! I wondered if she threw the window open if she’d fall into another time.
Hmmm, that is a great idea, Morgan!
love it and especially how you had all the senses involved. Well done!! Jillian
Her senses were in hyper at that moment apparently. Thanks, Jillian.