Saturday Snippet: This Is Not a Man's Handwriting

The following snippet is a sneak peek taken from 

Figgy Pudding by Francine

Old Timey Holiday Kitchen

by Zina Abbott

       

            Pushing a strand of her honey-blonde hair behind her ear, Francine heaved a deep sigh as she picked up the first page. Before reading beyond the salutation, her analytical mind prompted her to wrinkle her brow and hold the letter a few inches from her gaze to study the page as a whole. This is not a man’s handwriting.

            Although she was not a handwriting expert, she did have a father and two brothers who corresponded occasionally, plus she had seen a multitude of invoices and other correspondence written by men. She had also seen the script of her female students, not to mention, that of her mother and great aunt. With very few exceptions, she was able to determine the gender of the person who penned a document by the handwriting style. In spite of emphasis on proper penmanship at many academies, most men wrote with bolder strokes for uppercase letters mixed with sharp lowercase letters often not always fully formed or that seemed to have been written in a rush. On the other hand, most correspondence by women had more of a flow of rounded letters. She picked up the other two pages and turned to the ending. “Sincerely, Eli Morgan.” She knew her conclusions were subjective―not based on scientific fact―but she felt confident this letter from a man was not written by a man. His mother? His sister?

            Francine shifted so the light fully illuminated the page and began reading. Her sense of unease continued until she reached the statement in the third paragraph. “I think you will find he is I am fairly intelligent.” She smiled. No, Eli Morgan did not write this letter. Someone else did―someone who took pride in his academic achievements. Whether a woman close to him―possibly Mrs. Young’s “dear, dear friend"―wrote it on his behalf or at his request, she intended to challenge him. She would respond, but insist that, if he wished to continue the correspondence, he must find the time to write in person. She refused to correspond through a third party.

 

 My Old Timey Holiday Kitchen romance,Figgy Pudding by Francine will publish on November 22, 2021. It is available for preorder. 

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 If you would enjoy reading more of a sneak peek for Figgy Pudding by Francine (first three chapters), please download my 2021 Autumn Sampler currently available on the following BookFunnel promotion:

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