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Ephemeral Encounter

by Mike Fontenot

182 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #03-0543; ISBN 1-4120-0175-7; US$19.00, C$21.99, EUR15.50, £11.00

"...it seemed to me, that in every romance novel I read, the experience of falling in love was always secondary to the tons of mystery and intrique they contained. So I wrote my own- about nothing more than two very different people and their experiences as they fall in love." -Mike Fontenot

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about the book      about the author      sample excerpts      catalogue info

About the Book One young, suddenly famous actress, raised in a down-to-earth country environment- now struggling with the consequences of fame at an early age... One middle aged guy with a still pained heart, who can't seem to let go of a mistake in his past... Each trying to escape something... A chance encounter on a beach... and ... love at first sight? These two very different characters find a way to block out the pressures of their sepearate worlds, as they coexist in one of their own- and they discover the wonders of 'falling in love'. Says Mike of the book: Many of us are 'in love' with our spouses, girlfriends or significant others- but how many of us remember how we got there? How many of us remember that single instant when we fully understood what was happening? Of all the things life offers us, the most valuable has to be love- and by far, the most intense part of that would be the initial discovery... the moment when your mind acknowledges what your heart feels... We all need to stop occasionally and rediscover what is means to 'fall in love'- so as you read, allow yourself to become the characters...feel the emotions you think they are feeling at any given point in the story- and if your hair stands on end and you feel the goosebumps going up your arms- that means it's working!

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About the Author Mike, who is 47, is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, currently living in Florida. He was medically retired from the Navy in 1988. His first passion being photography, he took the book's cover photo himself. He is married to an 18 year veteran of "kindergarten"- his wife Angela is an elementary school teacher! This is Mike's first attempt at writing a novel. He is currently working on a compilation of short stories as his next venture.

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Sample Excerpts

Excerpt from Chapter Four

It turned out to be the last house on the street... only sand dunes between it and the beach. When she climbed the dunes at the end of the street, she realized where she was- below her was the spot he'd parked every time she had seen him. The house itself was built up on pillars allowing for a vehicle to be parked underneath... which is exactly where the Jeep was. She walked over to the stairs leading up to what she figured was the main entrance, and then hesitaited. She stood there... wondering what the hell she was doing? Her concentration was broken by a voice from somewhere above her.

"You can come up if you'd like... I promise to behave." She recognized his voice instantly. "I was about to make breakfast, if you're hungry?"

She wasn't sure where the voice had come from, and hesitated... until the door at the top of the stairs opened, and she saw him standing there, smiling. His eyes somehow put her at ease...

"Most people just come and go as they please around here. Hang around long enough and you'll get used to it" he said. When she didn't move, he came down the stairs and sat down on the third one up. He rested his chin in his hand, saying nothing but instead continuing to smile at her.

"I must look rather silly," she said, blushing badly as she did. "Actually, I was having coffee, and when I saw you turn down this street, I followed you- I'm not even sure why" she said as she climbed the first two steps and sat down next to him. It was as if she was supposed to...

"Some things in life, are without explanation Shortcake" he said, looking straight ahead, the sound of experience evident in his strained voice. "This" he said, turning to look right at her "is definitely one of them."

"Are you married?" she blurted out... not sure she really wanted to know the answer.

Excerpt from Chapter Eight

"I've known you're name since the first time I was at your house Marshall... and it fits you" she replied, with a sinister looking smile. He was right... she was the most perfect thing... in his life anyhow.

Again there was silence... broken only by the sound of the ocean.

On that dark beach, his heart made peace with the fact he had to let her go... back to her real life- the one she was meant to live. He stood up, held out his hand to her and said "Come on." She took his hand, he pulled her to his feet, guiding her to a spot under his arm, and then squeezed her tightly. "Let's go back to the house."

Excerpt from Chapter Eighteen

"Mum... has Reece gotten another new car?" she asked as she pulled a cup from the cupboard and proceeded to pour coffee into it. Although she noticed the two coins stacked atop each other on the counter, she just assumed one of her parents had left them there, and didn't give them any further thought.

"I don't believe so Rhiain, the one he has isn't even a year old yet" her mother replied. Tristen knew what had prompted the question, and waited for Rhiain to finish her query.

"Well then, whose car is that in the drive?"

"It belongs to the gentleman who is currently with your father in the horse barn" Tristen replied, doing her best to contain herself.

"Oh? Is papa selling one of the horses?" Rhiain asked, as she sipped her coffee.

"I don't believe so" Tristen replied. She could tell her cryptic answers were beginning to wear on her daughter's patience.

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Catalogue Information

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