Guest author Sandra Cox talks about sundials and time travel

A special welcome to guest blogger Sandra Cox, author of Sundial, a time travel romance. Sandra is sharing her thoughts on time travel and sundials. Take it away, Sandra...

Today they are ornamental and grace our gardens. But down through the ages the sundial has been a functional measurement of time. In fact, it was the first instrument developed to tell time. It was developed in BC and told time by the use of an object, commonly called a gnomon that threw a shadow from one side to the other as the object followed the sun. 

Since my lead female character is a garden painter, the sundial seemed the perfect means of transporting her back in time.

If you are writing, have written or thinking about writing a time travel what transport device appeals to you?

Thanks for joining me today. And a big thanks to Cheryl for having me.

(You are very welcome, Sandra! :-)

Now here’s an excerpt from the Sundial:

(Sarah is in a garden with her niece Meghan and cat Monet when she first discovers the sundial.)

Sarah blinked then squinted.  For the first time, she saw that Monet was seated beside an old sundial.

“Meghan, come here.  You’ve got to see this,” she called out excitedly, her headache forgotten. She heard an exaggerated sigh.

“You said not to come.”

“I’ve found an old sundial.  Or rather Monet has.”

“A real one?”  The rustling began again, as Meghan started pushing her way through.

“Appears so,” Sarah squatted down to study it.  “Looks to be a hundred years old. I bet it’s valuable.  You should see the intricate detail.  This will make a great piece to paint!”  

As Sarah studied it, she noticed the words.  “There’s writing on it.”  She read aloud, “Fate cannot be...drat, moss has grown over the rest of the words.”

A wave of superstitious terror washed over Meghan.  Suddenly, the pieces all fell into place.  And as the old woman had prophesied, she believed. 

“Sarah, don’t.  Get out of there now.  Please, Sarah, please,” she cried, her teeth chattering.

“What’s wrong with you?” Sarah asked irritably still studying the sundial.  “There’s actually heat radiating from it.  Surprising, it’s not that warm out.”

“Sarah, please,” Meghan pleaded.  “Don’t you remember what the old lady said?”  She fought her way through the overgrowth, not feeling the scratches a thorny branch left on her face or the warm blood trickling down her cheek.  But it was as if the thicket conspired to keep her out.

Tears streamed down Meghan’s face as she pushed at the bracken separating herself and her aunt.

She broke through just as Sarah reached down to brush the moss from the sundial.

“No, Sarah, no,” she screamed.  Later her mind would play the scene over again in slow motion:  Sarah’s hand reaching out; Monet jumping playfully at her fingers, bringing them both in touch with the sundial; the boom; the jagged streak of white; and then nothing.  They were gone, leaving Meghan alone in the clearing with the sundial.

Blurb: As Sarah Miles is driving down Eighteenth Street a stranger materializes in front of her car. She throws on her brakes, braces for impact and..drives straight through him. For a brief moment his voice filled with quiet despair echoes in her head. "Saura." Then he is gone. Later that day, Sarah discovers the Sundial ad her incredible journey through time begins.

Contest:

For a chance to win an autographed copy of SUNDIAL, a ‘seeing’ pendant and a Starbucks gift certificate just leave a comment mentioning Cheryl and SUNDIAL at www.sandracox.blogspot.com. The contest runs from October 15 – November 14 at 5:00 p.m.

SUNDIAL blog tour hostesses are invited to enter.