Happy Friday. Sometimes, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Just sayin’… Have a great weekend, all!
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Thursday Thoughts: Universal Don’t Know
Since I messed up the title on Tuesday’s post and had to go back and fix it, I should probably totally confuse people and label this post TUESDAY THOUGHTS. I won’t, though. As I’m actually typing this on Wednesday (see why I get confused without copious amounts of coffee?), I am attempting to lose the headache I achieved on Wednesday morning. See, I have glaucoma and as a result, there’s significat damge to my optic nerves. The left eye is legally blink. I can see shapes and colors but not real distinguishing features–like text, pictures, etc. If I get my head in just the right, I can make out part of the first letter on the biggest row of an eye–at least enough to say whether it is curved or straight. The right eye is technically 2025/2030, or there abouts. That said, there are also blind spots in its vision. This is one reason I’ve gone almost exclusively to audio books. And yes, I am making a long story longer. I have real trouble with text. There are ways–allegedly–to make text thicker and/or “framed” so the letters are clearer. Copilot (Microsofts AI) and I spent four hours Wednesday morning trying to find a workaround because some versions of Windows 11 have done away with the easy way. Don’t get me started. This is not the first time I’ve tried to do something only to discover that what I wanted to do USED to be available in older versions but no longer is. Anyway, I gave up. and another day I’d planned on spending with Ariel’s Dang Book hit the dumpster. Headaches and frustration over tech are imagination killers.
So anyway. This missive from The Universe dropped into my inbox yesterday. I finally read it after I’d gotten through about 100 emails. And it struck a chord. Just becuase. So I’m just going to drop it here and let it stand. Y’all make of it what suits you.
Yes, Silver, it’s true…
There are so many things you don’t know. Things, quite frankly, that you can’t know.
About the magic, the unseen, and the miraculous logistics that can so swiftly change your life.
But then, Silver, one needn’t learn the mysteries of the wind to sail effortlessly around the world either.
Actually, you got a pretty good deal.
Land ho,
The Universe
©www.tut.comP.S. Besides, Silver, isn’t it enough to know that in some forgotten time, together we shared these secrets? That even now, our march through eternity continues? And that before you know it, we’ll laugh like rolling thunder once again?
I’m really ready for some the magic. How ’bout y’all?
Posted in Writing Life
Tagged #TechnologyHatesMe, health, inspiration, links, quotes, Thursday Thoughts, Universe
2 Comments
Wednesday Words: What’s a Little Chaos Among Friends?
Here we are at another Wednesday. And once again, I’ve managed to create some new words. The following snipppet is something of a spoiler but not too much. Hopefully, y’all will have forgotten the details by the time I get around to getting this puppy out there in the wild. Here’s the prompt from last week’s Thurday Threads: *“Do you know what chaos is?”* The scene happens…well…at least half-way through the story. Or thereabouts. Stuff keeps happening that needs to happen and the story gets longer as a result. I don’d even want to think about editing this sucker. Why yes, I am doing mental muppet flails, why do you ask? Gotta finish the dang thing before that can happen. Right? Right! Anyway, here’s your weekly dose of words.
****
Titania erupted from the chair where she’d been lounging and stalked across the room. Everyone there was a predator in one form or another. Werewolf. Dragon. Master vampire. Human FBI agent, who was both armed and dangerous. It was Sade the fae queen stopped in front of.
“Do you know what chaos is?”
Sade snorted. “I’ve lived in the middle of chaos since the day I was born.” She angled one finger toward Titania. “My turn. Chaos happens every time one of you meddles in my world. When the Veil ripped and gave your kind free access to my world, everything went to shit. That is the essence of chaos.
Titania flushed, her eyes sparkling with angry magic. “Your world? Who died and made you queen?”
A slow smile curved Sade’s lips but her green eyes were as hard as broken bottle glass. “I could ask you the same question but you slept your way onto the throne.”
Before any of the men could move, Titania had her long, spidery fingers around the human’s throat. Then, inexplicably, her grip loosened and she released Sade.
“They don’t cost as much as silver bullets and I have a full magazine of iron ones.” She glanced down at the small round hole smoking in the silk of Titania’s blouse. “I’m done with you, your majesty. Your bitch sister has Ariel and the girl. You can help me get them back or get the hell out of my way.”
Titania growled. “Then why are we still standing here?”
****
There weren’t many participants last week so there was only a winner and then the judge very kindly gave his opinion of all the rest. This is what he had to say about the above: As always, I love the characters, and they always feel like a Crime Noir vibe set in a fantasy world. It’s romantic in it’s energy for adventure. Every time I get a boost like this, I can stifle the inner demons that whisper in my ear about how sucky this book is. Encouragement is a good thing. I haven’t managed to write every day so far but I have written so…progress! I’ll write more today and more tomorrow and hopefully on Friday too. Weekends tend to be Real Life Days™️so I’m playing them by ear for now. How about the rest of you? Writers, you’ve got the prompt. Writers and readers, don’t let the whispers get lodged in your head. Get out there and do your stuff! That said, what stuff are you doing?
Posted in Writing Life
Tagged #ThursdayThreads, characters, good stuff, inspiration, Penumbra Papers, quotes, reading, snippet, WIPs, writing
5 Comments
Tuesday Treats & Titles: Spring Moon Hershey Kiss Cookies
Easter is coming and when I saw these cookies, I smiled. They looke like Easter eggs or spring flowers. And who doesn’t love Hershey’s Kisses, especially when they come with cookies? This recipe is a little more work invovled than many I share but I think they’d totally be worth the effort in an Easter basket or displayed on the table.
Hershey Kisses Springtime Thumbprint Cookies
Ingredients & Directions
Yields: 36 cookies
Prep: 1 hr.
Bake: 9 min.
Total: 1 Hr. 9 Min.
Ingredients
36 HERSHEY’S KISSES Milk Chocolates
6 Tbsps butter or margarine, softened
1⁄3 cup packed light brown sugar
1⁄4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1⁄4 tsp baking soda
1⁄4 tsp salt
food color in desired color or colors
decorating sugars to match cookie color
1⁄3 cup ready-to-spread vanilla frosting or your favorite homemade vanilla frosting
Directions
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Remove wrappers from 36 HERSHEY’S KISSES Milk Chocolates.
2. Beat 6 tbsps butter, 1/3 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup granulated sugar in large bowl until well blended. Add 1 egg, 1 tbsp milk and 1 tsp vanilla. Beat until well blended. Stir together 2 cups flour, 1/4 tsp baking soda and 1/4 tsp salt; add to butter mixture, blending thoroughly.
3. Divide dough into separate bowl for each color desired. Add desired food coloring to each bowl, mixing until color of dough is uniform. Form 36 equal balls (about 1 inch). Roll each ball in the matching sugar color. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Gently press thumb into ball forming indentation.
4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool slightly; remove from pan to wire rack. Press thumb again into each indentation if needed. Cool completely.
5. Divide and tint 1/3 cup vanilla frosting to match cookie colors. Place about 1/2 teaspoon vanilla frosting in each indentation. Press 1 HERSHEY’S KISSES Milk Chocolate onto each cookie.
Tip: Frosting alternative: Instead of matching frosting color with cookie colors, try mixing things up like yellow frosting on purple cookie, pink on green, purple on blue, etc.
Here’s the LINK to the Hershey website in case you want more info about the recipe. In looking for a character and a book to share, I realized that I don’t have Easter festivities in any of my books. I came up with Annie, Sean/Boomer’s mate from WOLF’S MOON. She’s like the “neighborhood mom”–always baking cookies for the kids. And teaching Hannah how to cook. Well, attempting to teach Hannah, anyway. If you haven’t read WOLF MOON, why not? And if you haven’t, I’d suggest skipping straight to MOONSTRUCK: LIES. If you grab the compendium books, you get more bang for your buck–ie. more books plus bonus material that is only published in the compendiums and at a lower cost that buying each book individually. All you have to do is click on either pic or any of the titles and you’ll zip over to Books2Read where you can find your favorite on-line book seller. What about y’all? Anyone have a favorite Easter/Spring cookie?
Posted in Books, Writing Life
Tagged books, characters, food, fun stuff, good stuff, holiday, links, Moonsatruck, reading, recipe, Tuesday Titles, Tuesday Treats
9 Comments
Monday Madness in March
Keep reminding me that it is March and the fact that the weather is more like July. It’s crazy. And no, I do not believe in climate change. The records that are being broken date back to the early 1900s. I mean, like 1907 statehood dates.
Last week wasn’t exactly chaotic but it was busy. Sticking with the weather, we went from winter to summer which came me the excuse to use one of my favorite memes on X. It’s a simple one, just words on a white background. The message:
Oklahoma: Mother Nature, you cannot fit all seasons into one week.
Mother Nature: Here, old my beer!
It’s both funny and true. Also, our heater went out again on Sunday night. Luckily, our HVAC dude was available first thing on Monday. Turns out that the fan motor was not the only motor that needed replacing. The good news is, the heater should now be good to go for a good long time.
Anyway. In other news, I made it to Wallyworld without too much hassle. Thanks to PITA Pup demanding that there was something awful and threatening in the backyard at 5:30 a.m., I was up and out early. Oh, the backyard intruder? A branch that fell from the pine tree. He “killed” it and then tried to bury it. And speaking of PITA Pup, I’ve decided he’s seen too many cat memes and videos. You know the ones where cats duke it out with rolls of toilet paper? I’ve never had a cat that played with TP. And I’ve had a LOT of cats in my life. Toby is making up for that, I guess.
Thursday, Jake and I went to Ace to get birdseed with a detour to Starbucks. We’d just gotten home and offloaded when I got a text from the optomitrist. My new glasses came in early. Jake and I jumped back into the car and headed out to pick them up. It’s nice to sit back in my desk chair and be able to read the monitor.
Saturday, we were up and out early again. Stormy had the early soccer game. He played well and his team won. Yay. Sunday was laundry. Sadly, there wasn’t much writing done but there was a little. Now that I can work more comfortably, I’m hoping that Iffy will finally focus andhelp me finish Ariel’s Dang Book.
In book stuff, I’m apparently doing a marathon relisten to Larissa Ione’s Demonica series. I snagged two of her newest releases in a spin-off on sale and it’s been quite awhile since I read/listened to the originals. They’re sexy fun and Larissa has a touch when it comes to making demons into good guys.
No real plans for this coming week. Yeah, the usual run to Wallyworld but no appointments so I don’t have to really adult. That means, if I can get focused, I should get some serious writing done. The operative world is should. Every time I make such plans, Real Life throws curve balls. So, no plans, just hopes. Anybody got fun stuff going on? Read any good books? How’s your weather? I’m nosey.
Friday Sinema: Irish Dance Off
To finish off this week of thing both Irish and magical, I bring you the “birth” of Irish dancing. Oh, it had been around for ages and was popular both as a social event and as a contest–at least in Ireland. But with this first performance of RIVERDANCE, it became an international phenomenon. RIVERDANCE hit Broadway and stages all over the world for years. Michael Flatley eventually moved on and created LORD OF THE DANCE. The tour came here one year and Only and I went, thanks to a pair of tickets LG bought me for my birthday. That show was even more magical than RIVERDANCE. But I wanted y’all to share in that magical first moment…on a stage in Dublin, as an interval act of the Eurovision contest. They weren’t even competing but they stole the show. I hope you enjoy…
Posted in Writing Life
Tagged family, Friday, fun stuff, history, inspiration, music, sinema, video
2 Comments
Thursday Thoughts: Universal Magic
I’m not sure why but I’ve always considered St. Patrick’s Day to be magical. Okay, to be honest, I’ve always thought everything Irish holds magic. That’s one reason my first book, FAERIE FATE was set there. It’s the reason so many of my Wolves have Irish ancestry. Needless to say, I’m celebrating Paddy’s Day all week. This message from the Univere is most apropos and it’s something we should all remember.
Oh yes, Silver, yes indeed!
Today you’re going to be enveloped by the magic.
It will be in the air you breathe, the sounds you hear, and the sights you see.
Play off the moments in-between the moments, look into the unseen, and hear your angels.
Feel it, enjoy it, but most important, use it!
It’s already begun,
The Universe
©www.tut.comP.S. Silver, inhale it. Close your eyes, count to three. Exhale… and notice how the magic stays with you.
Okay, everyone. Inhale and hold it. Close your eyes. Count to three. Exhale. Open your eyes and see the magic around you. Fun, right?
Posted in Writing Life
Tagged good stuff, inspiration, musing, quote, Thursday Thoughts, Universe
4 Comments
Wednesday Words: Take Care of Business
Happy Day After St. Paddy’s Day. Sticking with the Irish theme, I introduced a new character…well, sort of. I’ll explain later. In the meantime, I was awarded an honorable mention in last week’s Thursday Threads flash fiction challenge. The “Let me take care of [it/you/them/that].”prompt is sort of fun this week becuase it’s multiple choice. Here’s the prompt: *“Let me take care of [it/you/them/that].”* I chose the “it” entry. Also, today’s snippet has more than the alloted 250 words in the challenge. I cut some for the contest, put them back for this. Once again, I’m not quite sure where in the timeline this scene falls though it is a bit after Aisline and Ariel have met and spent some time together.
****
The orange cat lay still, a touch of blood staining its muzzle. Aisling stood over it, eyes filled with tears. “I didn’t mean to scare it.” Her voice quavered over the words. “Then that car… It just…out of nowhere…”
Ariel touched her shoulder. “Come away, love.”
“No, I can’t just…leave—” A sob swallowed the rest of her words.
“Let me take care of it.”
“You didn’t even like it!” There was heat in her voice now.
How did he explain about the cat? Carla edged up beside them. Did the witch know? He couldn’t decide. She put her arm around Aisling’s waist and eased her back from the street.
“Come with me, Aisling. He’s right. Let him take care of it.” She gave him a telling look behind Aisling’s back. She knew.
“But…”
Ariel whipped out a silken handkerchief, sank to one knee and covered the cat with the soft material. “I’ll be gentle, Aisling. I promise.”
Carla, speaking in hushed tones, ushered Aisling back to the big house. Ariel watched the place warily. He didn’t believe in sentient dwellings but this place might convince him that he was wrong. Once the two women disappeared inside, he sat back on his heels.
“And just what are you up to, you big faker?”
One green eye peeked out from underneath the handkerchief. “You couldn’t let her weep over my broken body?” The cat sat up.
“Why are you spying on her?”
“I’m a pooka. I don’t need a reason.” The fae twitched its tail, uncomfortable beneath the Seelie fae’s gaze. “Fine. She’s special. We need to keep her safe.”
“From who?”
“Everyone.”
Ariel agreed. “We will.”
****
Okay, now I can reveal the new character, who isn’t totally new–just in a new form. I didn’t want to spill the little surprise as to who…or what…the character is. And that’s also where the Irish comes in–pookas are Irish critters. Those of you familiar with the series might remember the pooka who appeared in Caleb’s book, THE DEVIL’S CUT. This is the same critter, though in a different form. See, I used Loki as a “model” for the cat Sade bumps into in GHOSTS AND THE ANCIENT STONES. I’d planned on using Pete as a model in another book. Then he unexpectedly crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Still grieving–and yes, I still miss him terribly–I put the idea in a mental drawer. I doodled around with different ideas for last week’s snippet and then, I just knew where Pete belonged. Anyway, he’ll pop up again in this book. Maybe this was the missing piece I needed to get the story put together. We’ll see.
Anyway, If you are interested, I’ve linked the two books mentioned. Just click on the titles. In the meantime, I’m hoping for more new words this.
Posted in Books, Writing Life
Tagged #ThursdayThreads, books, characters, inspiration, links, Penumbra Papers, quotes, reading, snippet, Wednesday Words, WIPs, writing
4 Comments
Tuesday Treats & Titles: Frozen Irish Moonlight
Look! Something cold and refreshing! And an actual treat to go with an actual title. Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Half the country probably wants something hot, like real, regular Irish coffee. It’s getting warm here (because Mother Nature needs an intervention!) so I thought I’d bring out this recipe. Yes, I’ve previously shared it but it’s been a couple of years and…Irish!
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Total time: 10 minutes
Yield: 2 drinks
Ingredients
1 cup of vanilla ice cream
1 cup of cold brew coffee
2 cups of ice
1/2 cup of brandy*
1/2 cup of coffee liqueur
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon of vanilla
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend well. You can serve with some fresh coffee grounds on top should you choose.
For those of you who’ve read MOONSTRUCK MAFIA: BOSTON, you’ll understand why Fiona wants this drink added to the menu at Clancy’s Pub. Of course, Finn (the bartender) abhors “umbrella drinks.” He’ll begrudgingly make regular Irish coffee but anytime something frou-frou comes up, he’s like, “That’s a big negatory!” But Fiona has her ways, as her mate Bowie will attest. And being “straight off the boat” from Ireland, she’s all about discovering new drinks here in the USA. As she’s fond of declaring, “This is my new favorite drink!” Hopefully, y’all will click the pic, the cover, title or this Books2Read link and go forth to purchace the book so you, too, can partake in the excitement.
What about y’all? Does the addition of ice cream tempt you? It does me. Also, I substitute cinnamon for the coffee grounds. I mean, I LOVE the flavor of coffee but the texture of grounds? Yeah…not so much.
Posted in Books, Writing Life
Tagged books, characters, food, good stuff, links, Moonstruck Mafia, reading, recipe, Tuesday Titles, Tuesday Treats
5 Comments
Beware the Ides of Monday
I discovered that the Ides of March are not the only Ides. In Roman times, the word “ides” referred to the day in the missle of the month, usually the 14th, 15th., or 16th. That’s your fun fact for the day. Also, tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day. I love St. Patrick’s Day. Yes, I do have Irish ancesters but on Paddy’s Day, everyone is a little bit Irish. Am I right?
So. There was a week and a weekend. I did very little writing though I did so some and there will be new words on Wednesday.
I also peopled. I had an appointment on Wednesday with a new optomitrist. Hopefully my new glasses will be in this week. I can barely wait. See, when I had my cataract surgery, I wasz supposed to get great far vision–something I’ve never had because I’ve been nearsighted my whole life and have worn glasses/contacts since the 3rd grade. Far vision sounded great! Except now I can’t see anything close up, even with bifocals. Oh, if I get a book or label or the computer monitor at just the rest distance, I can read fine. But doing sstuff up close? Nope. Can’t see. And to see what’s on the computer monitor, I have turn into a contortionist. Anyway, the new optomitrist totally gets the whole “I need to see both up really close and at arms length more than I need to see far away.” I’m really hoping the literal pain in my neck/back relief will help my new word production. 🤞🏼
In reading news, I finished off my marathon relisten to the books in the Kate Daniels world. No new ones coming out there anytime soon but they are comfort books. Ilona Adrews does have a new series coming out soom and I’ve reordered it. I also grabbed 2 new Larissa Ione books in der Demonica world. They were on sale and a 3rd one releases soon. These are “2nd Generation” characters so I’m going back and listening to the originals–or at least a few of them–to remind me of who’s who. There are a LOT of characters in that world. If you aren’t familiar and you like really smexy books in the paranormal realm, you might gibe tthe series a try. The 1st book is PLEASURE UNBOUND. The premise is that demons, werewolves, vampires, and angels live among us. There are humans hunting them. Not all demons are evil. The first set of books is centered around Underworld General Hospital.
The weekend was pretty much a wash. I did nada. DST is still kiccking my arse and the dang Cold from Hell™️continues to linger though it is better–just in time for the weather to change from warm to cold again. High of 43 predicted today but promises of the 90s by week’s end. Go home Mother Nature, you’re drunk!
On that note, I absolutely have to hit Wallyworld this morning and I need to get gone before the rest of the world realizes I’m out and about. I go early because there is less peoling to do that way. Anybody do something fun this weekend? Anybody have interesting plans for the week?
Posted in Writing Life
Tagged books, follow up, health, history, Monday, reading, writing
9 Comments
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