Deek's Rhewminations: Snicked!

My beautiful Southern bride, Erin Rhew, and I have had a long-running debate on the word "snicked." She discussed it on her blog a couple of days ago. I used in, admittedly, incorrectly in 122 Rules, but it just "sounds" right. For those that don't know, I'm an auditory guy. I'll keep working on a passage, often reading it out loud, until it sounds right to my ear. I think this is a throwback to my roots as a musician.

Anyway, when I wrote the original chapter one of 122, it included this word. The actual line in the book that has raised such ire in my grammar-lover is:

The quiet snick of the latch in the jam resonated as ominous and final as the sealing of a sarcophagus.

Since we are exploring my abuse of this archaic word, I'll share the other two places it appears in 122 Rules:

As he snicked the lock shut, the pang in his chest intensified, giving him pause.

She tugged the small handle of the screen, and it popped out with a gentle snick.

Here is the actual definition of the word:

As you can see, there is an actual definition for the word that supports the way I am using it, but to be completely honest, I didn't know that at the time. In spite of her protests, I didn't remove it because it "sounded' right. Other than just this word, 122 has several places that caused my bride's grammar hair to stand, but this has easily been one of the most fun.

Erin and I made a bet that if it was a real word, she'd add it to one of her books, and if it wasn't, I'd remove it from mine. That leads to our contest!

Erin added the word to her upcoming book :-), The Fulfillment, and YOU get to benefit from it!

Starting on October 15, 2015, the day Erin's book comes out, and ending on November 7, 2015, our wedding anniversary, we will be running a contest to find this dastardly word in her book! What's at stake?

How about printed versions of all three books from The Fulfillment series!

Erin Rhew's, The Fulfillment series

As well as a print copy of 122 Rules published by Pandamoon Publishing when it comes out early 2016.

Deek Rhew's, 122 Rules

Keep this page tagged and ready for October 15th! Buy her book, find the bloody word "snicked," and enter the page number you found it on in Rafflecopter. No cheating!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Erin was my first editor for 122 Rules, and she is my ideal reader and the biggest supporter of my writing. Without her, my book and writing dream wouldn't have come true. I am forever grateful that she's willing to put up with my antics with a smile on her lips and a happy heart.

I'll leave you with a few fun pics from a few of our latest adventures.