I have just two words for you: duct tape. Don’t leave home without it! Okay, that was actually seven words but whatever. Have a great weekend and a few laughs from the fine folks at It’s a Southern Thing!
Would y’all believe that I’m not really a romantic at heart? I’m not, despite being a Pisces and despite writing it for a living. I didn’t really start reading romance until I was out of college. I grew up reading Louis L’Amour and Zane Grey westerns, Andre Norton’s fantasy and SciFi, along with Robert Heinlein and Isaac Asimov. I read the classics. I read historical fiction. I read Leon Uris. Mary Stewart and Phyllis A. Whitney were also checked out from the library. Oh! And one summer in college, while on vacation with my parents in Colorado, I discovered the Mac Bolan series by Don Pendleton. I inhaled those suckers. LOL I don’t really remember the first romance I read–not an actual, true romance that would be shelved that way. I was lucky. My dad signed me onto his library card when I was ten because I’d read all the books in the children’s section of the local library. He told the head librarian that I could check out any book I wanted. The first two I checked out were Mary Stewart’s THE MOONSPINNERS and Ian Flemings THE SPY WHO LOVED ME. Which I contend to this day was a romance, or at least had romantic elements. Anyway, I wrote a teen fanfic in the 9th grade that might have been considered a romance. And I wrote a “bodice ripper” right after college on a dare. It was truly awful. I started a women’s fiction. I started a couple of mysteries. I wrote a female-centric semi-Bolanesque military thriller and then a romantic suspense. After several rejections, I stopped writing. And then I truly discovered “romance.” It’s all about the love, as the Universe explains:
Never regret love, Silver.
No matter how blind, it improved your vision.
No matter how foolish, it made you wiser.
And no matter how generous, it made you more.
Hubba, hubba,
The Universe
©www.tut.comP.S. And while we’re at it, Silver, never regret the second scoop—that one’s always mine.
I’ve never looked back. I’ve written straight contemporary romance. I’ve written paranormal romance (all within several sub-genre), and urban fantasy–with romance. The Universe is right. And for y’all who DON’T write romance, consider looking at this from a career viewpoint. Because, dudes and dudettes, ya gotta love what you’re writing or it ain’t gonna be worth it. So yeah, writing AND life both pretty much comes down to one word: LOVE. Now get out there and love what you do. And out of curiousity, what flaver is that second scoop you’re going to enjoy? Mine will probably mint chocolate chip.
It’s time for words once more because it’s Wednesday and Wednesday means new words. The Irish Wolves are still chattering at me and when I saw the prompt for last week’s #ThursdayThreads prompt, I knew exactly where **”We have to get out.”** belonged in the story. These were an easy 250 words and they were good enough to win me the honorable mention in the 11th anniversary of the flash fiction challenge. I haven’t added any words nor have I edited it beyond a quick spellcheck before I posted it on Thursday. As I said, there’s a scene where it fits and it needs to be edited into that and if I stop to do that then I’ll get sucked in. LOL So, here’s a short bit that’s pretty self-explanatory.
****
The message ghosted from the answering machine. “You need to be careful.” Click.
Goosebumps pebbled Maura’s skin as a shiver spiraled around her backbone. A stranger’s voice. She had been careful. She’d avoided Ronan O’Connor like the plague, yet he still appeared, a devil she couldn’t ignore.
Heir apparent, she reminded herself. Irish mob. A dangerous man with dangerous pursuits and dangerous friends. Nothing but danger and trouble. Yet there was something…there. Between them. He’d brush against her in a crowd and she’d suddenly feel safe. And desired. Like he’d always protect her even if he was busy kissing her. No! That way lay dragons.
Her cell phone rang and she jumped. Heart pounding, she stared at the screen. ALEX CALLING. Her boss. And the man she was investigating. She ignored it. Her house phone rang. The caller clicked off halfway through the voice mail instructions. Someone hammered on the front door then rattled the doorknob.
A shadow slipped through her back door and she choked back a scream. The man held his index finger to his lips. She recognized him as one of Ronan’s. He beckoned and she scuttled to him, grabbing only the clutch holding her keys, ID, and credit cards. No cell. Phones could be traced.
“We have to get out,” he told her. She nodded. Into the phone held at his ear, he whispered, “Yeah, the goons’re at the door but she’s safe.”
Maura heard Ronan’s relieved voice. “Get to the footbridge.”
“On our way.”
****
Yes, I know who the bad guys are and yes, it’s not exactly a spoiler that Maura’s rescuer gets her out safely and into Ronan’s waiting arms. 😉 Writers, this is a great prompt to run with. Readers, what do want to get out of?
I have friends who like/want/need gluten-free good stuff so when I caught this on my local newscast and thought, mmm-mmm good! I’ll admit I haven’t made them yet nor have I tried to find tapioca flour. I should probably add it to my grocery list so I’ll remember, huh? Also, it’s still too hot to spent much time with the oven on in the kitchen. Anyway, here’s the recipe.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups tapioca flour
1/2 cup grated white cheddar, Parmesan or Romano cheese
2/3 cup milk
1/3 cup olive oil
1 egg
Instructions:
For more Sassy Mama recipes, visit @carynsassymamaross on Instagram. You can watch the video HERE. It comes out puffy and light and oh-so-cheesy! According to Sassy Mama. LOL Also, the weather guru and anchors and if you can’t trust them, who can you trust? Just watch the video. And since it is winter in the southern hemisphere, folks down there are likely baking. And since I have not one but TWO books set in Brazil, I figured we’d go for a twofer! I suspect the couples from ASSASSIN’S MOON and UNDER THE ASSASIN’S MOON had this local staple often during their stays down there. If you haven’t, you’ll want to read both books. Just click on the titles or the covers to head over to Books2Read to find a link to your favorite on-line retailer. No link attached to the recipe pic because…two books! LOL Though I suppose I could have put the link to my author landing page. Naw, it’s too hot and I’m too lazy. Anyway, something new and different on a hot summer day up here in the northern half of the world. Out of curiosity, how do y’all feel about gluten-free stuffs?
A month with five Mondays should be a license to drink. Just sayin’. That said, today is the last day of July. August starts tomorrow. Lots of stuff happens in August. LG and I will celebrate 40 years together. He has a birthday. And it’s back to school for Stormy and Baseball Boy. And it’s hot. Probably the hottest it’s been all summer–and that’s saying something.
In other news, we’re done with soccer until fall. This was Stormy’s last season with this team and league. He’s moving up to an “academy” league that will be more instructive and competitive. That’s a very good thing. The kid is easy-going and a team player but he was also one of the most focused and best players on his team. Losing frustrates him. He comes by it honestly as competition is built into our DNA. Anyway, he had a good game and managed to keep the score tied while he was playing goalie. As this was a “final” game, there was a kick-off and Stormy’s team ended up winning. They placed 3rd in the league.
Sadly, I’m starting to really hate CROSSFIRE. Well–the edits AND Real Life for interferring. Getting focused and sticking with the edits has been a balancing act. Along with on-going vision stuff. I can only stare at the screen for defined periods of time before they start to water and vision gets blurry. And there are parts of the book that I just want to rip apart. I haven’t because it’s just the frustration showing. I walk away and when I come back later, I realize that “Hey, that’s not bad at all. In fact, it makes sense and it’s a nifty bit of plot/character/setting. Still, time is rushing by and the editing process is progressing at a snail’s pace. Still, it’ll be live eventually.
Let’s see.What else happened last week or this weekend that y’all might be intereted in… No new adventures in cooking. It’s too hot. Jake goes in for a follow-up with the vet this afteroon, hence my trip yesterday to Wallyworld to stock up on groceries. We didn’t win Power Ball or MegaMillions. I have come to the conclusion that I do NOT want to live in a Barbie world.
On that cheery-pink thought, time to get to work. I’m not a fan of AI but if someone comes up with an editor that mimics my own brain? I’d be tenpted. The only thing worse than edits is writing the blurb. 🙄 What do y’all think about AI? What would you use it for?
This has become one of my favorite TV/movie themes. I’ll admit that I’ve only watched the premier of the series and one or two episodes more of the first season. I went all, “Damn and whoah!” And life happened. Streaming is not that easy for me. But I totally loved the music! So here. Take about 3 minutes out of your day and go westward ho! Have a great weekend!
There are times, as a writer–and probably as a “normal” person too–when your get up and go got up and went. The words don’t want to come. The deadline don’t mean nuthin’. And you really can’t conjure up a plot, character arc, or setting to save your story. Been there, done that, and sadly I still pull out the T-shirt and wear it sometimes. I told a friend once that something the only writing I managed in a week was a 250-word flash fiction challenge based on a writing prompt. Sometimes, those initial 250 words turned into more. Sometimes they didn’t. But I did what I could. And then the Universe tapped me on the shoulder with this message:
Always, Silver, do what you can.
Because once you at least do what you can, no matter how seemingly insignificant, everything changes.
Ready for some changes?
The Universe
©www.tut.comP.S. Silver, let’s get it started, uh-huh.
Start your engines, folks. Make a fist and show your biceps like the Rosie the Riverter poster. Can Do! We got this. Even if it’s only a few words at a time. The current WIP took me way longer than it should have. But it’s nearing completion and publication. As I go forward, I’m going to do what the Big U suggests. I’ll do what I can. And I will see the changes in the word count, the exploration of characters traits, of settings and plot arcs and the strides the story makes from Chapter 1 to The End. Because that’s what we do, right? As writers and as people. So go out there today and do what you can. It’ll change things and with that change comes a sense of accomplishment. If you let it.
With CROSSFIRE in the revision and editing stage (or so close as to be the same thing) last week, I got to play with the Boston Wolves for the #ThursdayThread prompt of **”You’re going to need that.” The best part of this–besides new words for the Moonstruck Mafia book–the the fact that I wrote a scene that I wasn’t aware of even needing. Until I wrote it. And then I knew exactly where it needed to go in the story, and how I’d skipped over this lead in. I might have figured it out when I got around to editing but now it’s done. A big ol’ pat on the back to my subconscious (aka Iffy the Muse) for putting this together. The scene is pretty much self-explanatory.
****
The morning had been a complete waste of his time. First it was the mix-up in the liquor order for the bar. Then there’d been a dust up on the docks and he’d made too many phone calls. Brian Boru called needing information on some possible business the partners. While the old man left most of the work that came with running the organization to Ronan, the old man still kept his hand in the pot—usually the illegal stuff. Brian knew Ronan was working to take the mob legit—at least as much as possible. There’d always been lines that not even Brian would cross—human trafficking the biggest. The information he’d gathered meant he’d have to deal with the gang that had made this new business proposal. And that meant doing it the old way.
Ronan looked up as his brother entered the office. Without a word, Mick strode to the built-in bar, snagged an Irish crystal highball glass and poured a generous splash of Irish whiskey into it. Still silent, he approached the desk and set the drink in front of Ronan.
“What’s this then?” he asked.
“Drink it.”
“And why should I be drinkin’ in the middle of the day?”
“You’re going to need that.”
He didn’t touch the glass but he leaned forward, his entire attention focused on Mick. “What’s happened?”
“Nothing. Yet.”
“Just a guess here, but I’m thinkin’ yet must be the operative word.”
“Aye, Ronan.”
“Who died?”
“No one. Yet.”
“And there’s that word again. Fine. Who needs killing then?”
Mick snorted out a laugh. “Now that ’twould be a long list, yeah?”
Ronan leveled an alpha stare on his brother. “I’ve got actual work t’be doin’, Mick. Spill it or get on with yer day and leave me in peace.”
Mick returned to the bar and poured whiskey into a second glass. He tossed it back before he faced Ronan. “It’s the Brannigan woman.”
Ronan went very still. Under his icy stare, Mick grabbed the first glass he’d filled off the desk and drained it too. Sadly, as a Wolf, the alcohol was more for show and taste than any sort of actual palliative effect. He briefly met his brother’s gaze then lowered his eyes.
“What about Maura?” Ronan’s voice was all teeth and claws.
“Someone wants her dead.”
****
And there you have it. I’m really looking forward to getting back to this book. It has the capability of being a LONG book. I mean, like 100K words. So a question to readers today. Do you prefer shorter books or long ones? And writers, what “that” are you going to need today? (Feel free to riff on the prompt!)
I’m all up in my business of editing CROSSFIRE with an eye of maybe getting it released by the end of the month. My editor/proofreader is on standby and I’m hoping my cover designer can fit me in for a quick turnaround. And frankly? Between serious editing, revising, and Jake’s vet appoint yesterday, I forgot that today is Tuesday and that I needed a recipe and a book. Oops. I got nuttin’, honey so here’s the deal. Y’all pick your current stuff and tell us. What are you reading? And what are you having for dinner tonight? I’ll go first. I’m listening to CARESSED BY ICE (Psy-Changeling #3) by Nalini Singh. And I’m fixing chicken pasta salad for dinner. Next?
It’s Monday once again. Sadly, July has one more Monday on the calendar. Ya know, it’s a bad cosmic joke when there are five Mondays in a month. Not fair. If I thought it would do any good, I’d grab a cane, shake it, and yell, “Monday, get offa my lawn!” Still, if it weren’t for Monday, we’d be giving Tuesday a bad name. That said, there’s a lot to celebrate today. What you ask? Well, here’s the list: of some of the things.
Amelia Earhart Day
Cousins Day
National Drive-Thru Day
National Tequila Day
Tell an Old Joke Day
Amelia Earhart was all kinds of awesome but I have no desire to go fly a plane to celebrate her. 😉 I have a few cousins who are pretty cool. We don’t see each other often but I know where to find them. I vote for hitting the drive-thru to celebrate today. And I have several characters who are cheering for National Tequila Day. Can’t blame them. It’s gonna be a hot one and a cold margarita would taste pretty darn good. Sadly, I can’t remember new jokes must less old ones, but feel free to share if you know one. LOL
On to more serious–in a way–things. I typed THE END Saturday night. I took yesterday off but today, since I’m not going to Wallyworld, I’ll begin the editing process. My cover designer has the photo and mock-up. I hope to have a final cover to reveal soon. In other good writing news, I actually have a decent start to the blurb. Y’all know how much I despise writing the dreaded blurb. *shudder* Anyway, not guaranteeing CROSSFIRE will be ready by the end of the month, depending on my editor, designer, and the stupid blurb but I’m hopeful. The book is just under 70K words. No telling what will happen to the word count during revisions. Still, I’m ever so much closer to release date! So that’s my big YAY news for the week.
In other random news, anyone know how to catch parakeets in the wild? And could they survive an Oklahoma winter? In the past two weeks, I’ve had two different birds show up at the Loki-vision feeder outside my office window. The first one looked white until I got a closer look. Turned to to be a blend of white, pale yellow, and pale spring green. The one who popped by yesterday was blue. Not sure how they ended up in the wild.
New addition to the Psy-Changling world arrive August 15 (audio version). As is my habit, I’m doing a marathon listen to the entire series, including a few of the novellas that can on be read because they haven’t been turned into audio yet. That’s cool. I can read for a bit long than I could before my eye surgery. Anyway, it’s a fun series, despite the number of times read/listened to. Nalini Singh is an amazing worldbuilder.
Jake has a vet appointment this afternoon. He has an ear infection and I hope it’s something mostly simply to treat. We’ll see. We’re going to a new vet so it’ll be interesting.
I thought Saturday was the last Stormy soccer match of the summer. I was wrong. There’s one more–their “bowl game” match. Stormy’s team won 3-2 and he made the go-ahead score so yay. It was getting really warm by the time the game was over. This coming Saturday we’re supposed to be back in hear alert temps so I’m not sure how well the kids will play.
We tried something new for dinner the other night–a “Cajun boil” but down in the microwave and oven. New potatoes, corn on the cob, shrimp, and beef sausage all coated in butter and Cajun spice. The potatoes and corn were partially cooked in the microwave first and then put into the oven to finish while the sausage and shrimp cooked. It was pretty darn tasty. I’ll make it again but will probably wait until it gets a bit cooler this fall. Summer heat is one reason for precooking parts because the oven heats up the kitchen.
Not much else going on in my world. I’m happy the book’s first draft is done. I’m looking forward to getting something new on the market. I’m worried about Jake but that should be relieved later today. I’m enjoying what I’m “reading” and this week is gonna be really hot so staying under the AC and editing seems like a good idea. Not many distractions when it’s too hot to go outside. LOL What’s going on in your world?
NEW RELEASE
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Silver James 