I’m right in the middle (or more like one third into it) of an Instagram Challenge called #IGWritersOct created by Cheyanne Young.

I haven’t done any Instagram challenges before but towards the end of September, I saw Caraway Carter, whom I’ve been in a few anthologies with, post that he’d take part and decided to join.

Every day there is prompt, so hop over to Instagram and follow me (@ofelia.grand) to see my *clears throat* beautiful pictures. Today the prompt is #TeaserTuesday and it reminded me that I earlier this year said I’d do a Teaser Tuesday post every now and then…and then I mostly didn’t. But today’s the day!

The Snowflake will be released tomorrow, so here’s a little snippet from it.

“Dad.”

“Theophile.”

Silence filled the barn, making its walls belly out from the pressure of it.

“Still playing with ice?”

The chainsaw grew heavier in his hands. Theo searched for something to say, but, as usual, no words came to mind. “Sculpting.”

Dad snorted. “Still trying to be an artist?”

“I am one.” And soon, when he’d figured out what his next piece would be, his dad along with the rest of the world would be awestruck by his talent, his innovation, his…another good word that would make the masses bow in reverence.

“Theophile.” He tsked and shook his head. “The world has enough of queer artists trying to milk the stereotype. Grow up and get yourself a real job. You don’t have the grace to play the role.”

Theo couldn’t say what was happening. His mind clouded with black smoke, a roar sounded in his head, and in the next second, he pressed in the two start buttons on his chainsaw.

Blood splattered over the swan as the blade cut into his dad’s skin and continued through muscle and sinew. There was a small kickback as the nose of the blade severed the spine, but Theo gained control of the saw at the same time as the head thudded against the ground

The body collapsed, blood sprayed in pulses, turning the wood shavings almost black. Theo stared for a moment, unable to take it all in.

He’d beheaded his father.

For some reason, he’d always assumed death would be quieter, more…unique.

“Do you think the customer will appreciate the dye?” Cat tilted his head to the side as he watched the sculpture.

The ice was melting, no faster than it should, but talking to Dad had given it a few extra seconds. The blood glimmered like rubies around the swan’s neck and down its chest. “I think it’ll melt away.” Sadly.

Would it be more morally appropriate to bring out the other ice block and start over? But if they didn’t know the swan had been baptised in blood, did it matter?

Cat shrugged the way cats sometimes do and left the barn. Theo followed him with his gaze and then continued to look out through the open door after he’d disappeared from sight.

Filling his lungs with air, he looked down at his father’s head. He came across as so much nicer when he was quiet.

Nothing inspires art like love.

Theophile Lekas has spent the last seventeen years trying to build a name for himself as an ice sculptor. Ice is his world, but he lives for Dylan Mincer.

But loving from afar isn’t enough, and if Theo wants to win Dylan’s heart, he’ll need to sweep him off his feet. And what better way to do it than with a sculpture that will leave Dylan breathless and the world in no doubt of Theo’s genius?

After an argument leads to murder, Theo is hit with true inspiration. And he has the perfect block to begin his project. For Dylan, Theo will create his masterpiece. And it will be as unique as a snowflake.

Great art requires the perfect muse.

* By clicking the Books2Read link you’ll be taken to an external page. Links to Smashwords, Kobo U.S and Amazon contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.