Edward Hoornaert's Blog, page 2
July 3, 2021
Effing Feline’s amazing date #wewriwa
I, Effing Feline, told you last week that I had a hot date with a flexible pussycat. Well, the date was life-changing, even though we didn’t even rub noses. Or yowl at the moon together. I’ll tell you why after this word from my sponsor, The Triple Wedding.
When he finished explaining, Teegan stared at him incredulously.
“Are you out of your brain? Mercedes, your brother has gone insane.” She lowered her voice. They were in public and she didn’t want to draw embarrassing attention. “Do you even have a brain, Sterling? I can’t believe you want me to pick a guy out of a crowd and ask him to be my wedding date. Just how desperate do you think I am?”
He exchanged a look with Mercedes then raised his eyebrows and shoulders at the same time.
Wow. He apparently thought she was really desperate.
And a few more:
But she was a successful businesswoman who could go to the double wedding without a man tagging along beside her like a pet fubsy, all legs and tail, galumphing on a diamond-studded leash. “No. Just no.” She stomped away, leaving the angel-beet casserole on her plate.
Mercedes followed. “Tee, slow down.”
With each step on the pavement-grass, a faint aroma of vanilla and hay graced the air, and when the scent grew a lot stronger, she knew Sterling had joined his sister in the chase. He ran past and stopped in front of her, making her stop, too.
“These are factory buildings,” he said. “The work crews will be getting off any minute and there’ll be twenty or thirty guys for you to choose from.”
Effing Feline here again. Why was my date so amazing while Teegan’s had such a rough start?
No, it’s not what you think. Sheesh, get your mind out of the gutter. It’s because I recognized her scent immediately and she recognized me an instant later. It turns out she’s my long-long sister, Effie Feline!
We hadn’t seen each other since the Pet Shop. We spent the night talking and reminiscing and laughing. She’s great. A worthy sibling for the great Effing Feline!
Be sure to check out the other great writers in Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday.
Teegan Dayle is a businesswoman who’s determined to maintain her image as the family’s most successful sibling. To do this, she needs a gorgeous date for her sisters’ wedding — even if he’s just a fake boyfriend..
Sterling, her roommate’s brother, is a handsome biologist. When a desperate Teegan asks him to be her date, he refuses — until he realizes the wedding is his only chance to meet the creatures who fulfill his professional dreams.
Booker is a naïve young Cupid whose job is to make a match for Teegan — but not with Sterling. Can he break up matches as well as he makes them?
How far are Teegan and Sterling willing to take their pretense? All the way?
Triple Wedding is available for pre-order in the three-book set, The Passion Island Trilogy, which goes live July 12. Order your copy today.
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June 26, 2021
Effing Feline has a hot date #wewriwa
I, Effing Feline, like to be seen with a gorgeous pussycat at my side. Doesn’t everyone? Like this flexible beauty at right. Merrrow!!!
Anyway, I can understand how Teegan Dayle, the heroine of the third and final book in the Passion Island trilogy, Triple Wedding feels. You see, she needs a stunning date for her sister’s wedding to maintain her self-image as the most successful sibling.
Sterling, her roommate’s handsome brother, suggests she hire someone. She says no, of course, but does agree to go with him and his sister, Mercedes, on a picnic. Teegan speaks first.
“I still don’t understand why we’re picnicking here,” she said as she filled her wineglass. “Hernandez Park is half as far, and since it’s atop the Wall, it’s quieter and has a better view. I’m not complaining, but this spot isn’t worth taking an afternoon off work.”
“That sounds to me like a complaint,” he said. “Mercy, doesn’t that sound like a complaint?”
His sister grimaced. “If you think that’s a complaint, wait until she hears the real reason we’re here.”
Sterling spoke quickly, before Mercy could give an explanation that would make him look bad. “I’m just trying to help. I know you didn’t ask for my help, but I thought of another way you might be able to find a wedding date.”
And a quartet more, because you’re enjoying reading this so very, very much: (Aren’t you?)
Teegan raised her eyebrows. “Am I going to like your suggestion?”
“Yes,” Sterling said.
“No,” Mercy said at the same time.
“Butt out, Sis. Let me explain my idea while we eat.”
Effing Feline here again. At this point in the book, Sterling doesn’t like Teegan, and she’s guaranteed not to like this idea, which you’ll find out about next week.
Now, though, I gotta go. I have a hot date with a pussycat!
Be sure to check out the other great writers in Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday.
Teegan Dayle is a businesswoman who’s determined to maintain her image as the family’s most successful sibling. To do this, she needs a gorgeous date for her sisters’ wedding — even if he’s just a fake boyfriend..
Sterling, her roommate’s brother, is a handsome biologist. When a desperate Teegan asks him to be her date, he refuses — until he realizes the wedding is his only chance to meet the creatures who fulfill his professional dreams.
Booker is a naïve young Cupid whose job is to make a match for Teegan — but not with Sterling. Can he break up matches as well as he makes them?
How far are Teegan and Sterling willing to take their pretense? All the way?
Triple Wedding is available for pre-order in the three-book set, The Passion Island Trilogy, which goes live July 12. Order your copy today.
AmazonSmashwordsJune 22, 2021
Then hire somebody to date you #mfrwhooks
I’m continuing with a hook from the third and final book in the Passion Island trilogy, Triple Wedding.
Teegan has learned that her oldest and youngest sisters will be getting married the same day, and old rivalries flash through her mind. She’s afraid of being poor Teegan, who doesn’t have a man. Her roommate’s brother, Sterling, makes a sarcastic suggestion.
“So take a guy with you,” Sterling said with his tongue firmly in his cheek. “A big, beautiful guy who’ll make your sisters drool—even the ones who’re getting married. Pretend you’re a couple, or maybe even engaged. Make out in front of them and act as though you’re crazy about the guy. Make them jealous of you.”
“Are you volunteering?” Teegan said with her eyebrows raised.
As soon as she said it, mental images of kissing and embracing her flooded his mind. Startled by the vibrancy of the images, he tried to dispel them by chuckling. “Me? You think I’m drool-worthy?”
Her arched eyebrows told him no.
“Then hire somebody. Isn’t that how you do things in this fancy neighborhood?” Chuckling, he added, “An old friend of mine, a professional athlete, would be perfect for the job. You’re his type, classy and willowy. One look at you and I’m sure he’ll agree to be your wedding date.”
“Oh?” She didn’t say this scornfully, as he expected, but as though she wanted to hear more. She was taking his suggestion seriously? Amazing.
Be sure to visit the other great writers in the Book Hooks blog hop.
The final book in the trilogy, The Triple Wedding is available for pre-order in the 3-book collection of the entire trilogy. It will go live June 23, so get your copy now.
Teegan Dayle is a businesswoman who’s determined to maintain her image as her family’s most successful sibling. For that, she needs a spectacular date for her sisters’ wedding—even if he’s a fake boyfriend.
Sterling, her roommate’s brother, is a handsome loner. When a desperate Teegan asks him to be her date, he refuses—until he realizes the wedding is his only chance to meet the people who can fulfill his dream.
Booker is a naïve young Apprentice Cupid whose job is to make a match for Teegan—but not with Sterling. Can he break up matches as well as he makes them?
How far will Teegan and Sterling have to take their pretense? All the way?
June 19, 2021
Effing Feline dreams big #WEWRIWA
I’m continuing with a hook from the third and final book in the Passion Island trilogy, Triple Wedding.
Several people expressed interest in the idea of growing houses, so I’m skipping ahead to a passage with more information about it.
Before she (Teegan) could leave to meet Sterling, though, she had to get rid of a customer, Villiams, who’d insisted on a personal tour of her facilities before he made the down payment on his house. She led him along a narrow aisle between stacks of completed building blocks. Most of them were four feet long and one-and-a-half feet high, yet even she could pick them up with ease.
Villiams made a production of covering his mouth and nose with his sleeve to block the earthy smells of sawdust and fungi that dominated her warehouse, Vaguely insulted, she stopped at the end of the aisle and swept her arm toward the end of her warehouse. It was piled to the ceiling with building blocks behind a glasteel wall. Sterling, she was sure, wouldn’t be bothered by the mild smell of her warehouse. His elks undoubtedly smelled much worse.
“How long will it take to make my house’s blocks?” Villiams asked.
“After I make the molds, a week is usually enough, but unlike some of my competitors, I leave the molds an extra three days, in case the mycelium missed some spots. The extra time also provides superior bonding. Channels for wiring and plumbing are, of course, grown right into the blocks.”
Effing Feline here again. Why does the idea of growing house make my daydreams explode in size? Well, just imagine — a whole house made of scratching posts!
Be sure to check out the other great writers in Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday.
Triple Wedding – All three of Teegan Dayle’s sisters are getting married at the same time. On top of that, one sister just had a baby and two have gotten medals for bravery. To maintain her image as the most successful sister, Teegan simply must have a great date for the triple wedding — someone who’s loving, gorgeous, rich…and a good actor. Anyone, in other words, but the man Cupid has picked out for her.
June 15, 2021
I’m successful even without a man in my life #mfrwhooks
I’m continuing with a hook from the third and final book in the Passion Island trilogy, Triple Wedding.
Teegan has met Sterling, her roommate Mercedes’ brother who’ll be staying at her house for a while. That’s one of the book’s inciting incident. Now here’s the other. She’s learned that her oldest and youngest sisters will be getting married the same day — and she worry hits her.
“My sister Ember and I have always had this competition going, but there’s no way I can compete with her getting married and having a child. If I go to this double wedding –”
“If?” Mercy shook her head vehemently. “No, no, Tee, you have to go. If you don’t, you could drive Rayna away, and she’s the only sister who can stand you.”
Sterling tensed for an explosion. Harsh talk like that might get Mercy — and him — kicked out. He was used to living rough, so he’d be fine even sleeping under the stars, but he had to protect Mercy. He took a deep breath and stood, preparing to defend his sister long and loud.
But Teegan surprised him. Although her eyes were dulled by defeat, she rose with that glorious grace of hers and calmly walked to the wall of windows overlooking Greer Forest. She folded her arms tightly over her chest. She said nothing.
After several seconds, Teegan went to Mercy’s chair and reached down to give her a hug.
“You’re right,” she said. “Of course you’re right. I have to go to the wedding — but with one condition. You have to agree to do the smoke art.”
“Gee, let me think,” Mercy said. “Should I accept the opportunity to perform at a high-profile wedding with, I’m sure, a correspondingly high fee?”
“Good. If you’re with me, I’ll have a better chance of keeping my happy face stapled in place.” Teegan gave a ladylike sigh as she nodded toward the wall of windows. “I just wish I could take this view with me so they could see that I’m successful, even if I don’t have a man in my life.”
Be sure to visit the other great writers in the Book Hooks blog hop.
The final book in the trilogy, The Triple Wedding is available for pre-order in the 3-book collection of the entire trilogy. It will go live June 23, so get your copy now.
AmazonSmashwordsAbout Book three:
Teegan Dayle is a driven businesswoman whose company grows houses. When her three estranged sisters plan a triple wedding, she’s determined to show them her life is perfect — so she needs a gorgeous wedding date to wow them.
Sterling, her roommate’s brother, is a handsome loner. When Teegan asks him to be her fake date, he refuses — until he learns that amazing new creatures will be at the wedding. He’s determined to be the first to study them, even if it means pretending to love a woman he doesn’t get along with.
How far will they have to take the pretense?
All the way?
Booker is a naïve young Apprentice Cupid whose job is to make a match for Teegan — but not with Sterling. Can he break up matches as well as he makes them?
June 12, 2021
The trilogy’s book cover #wewriwa
I, Effing Feline, miss my litter mates. I haven’t thought about my four sisters in ages .. . . until I started reading Ed’s WIP, Triple Wedding. After reading about Teegan Dayle’s efforts to get back into her estranged family’s good graces, I’m all teary. Darn you, Ed!
In today’s snippet, we see the first baby step toward the title’s triple wedding, Teegan is invited to wedding #1, and we get a glimpse of a potential storm cloud on the horizon.
Teegan’s vision of her bouncy sister blurred as her eyes filled with tears of happiness.
“I want you to come to the wedding,” Rayna said. “You’ve got to come, so tell me you’ll come.”
“Of course I’ll come.” But then reality waved a cautious hand, seeking her attention. “If work allows.”
Rayna growled then hissed, sounding like a hungry chasm cat defending its dinner. “Teegan, behave yourself and say you’ll come no matter what.”
She lived just forty miles away, in the southern reaches of the sprawling Eastcott settlement. An hour to get there, four or five hours for the ceremony and reception, and an hour back — it would barely interrupt Teegan’s work schedule. “A black hole opening under my feet couldn’t keep me away.”
And a few more for good luck:
“The wedding will be on the eighteenth of next month because…” Rayna clapped her hands and squealed. “Because Ember’ll have had her baby by then, so we can see our little nephew. Isn’t that wonderful?”
“Fantastic,” Teegan said in a neutral voice at odds with her sister’s glee. Mercedes reached over and squeezed her hand. She knew how explosive Ember and Teegan’s relationship was.
Teegan returned the squeeze. She could get along with her oldest sister for a few hours … probably. But could Ember get along with her?
Effing Feline here again. I was feeling so teary about my litter mates that I dug out one of my baby videos. Can you tell which kitten is me?
Be sure to check out the other great writers in Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday.
Due to issues of interest to no one but myself, Triple Wedding will first see the light of day in a compilation of the entire trilogy. It’s been submitted to Amazon but hasn’t yet been made available for sale.
Here’s the trilogy’s book cover =>
And here’s the blurb for book three:
Teegan Dayle is a driven businesswoman whose company grows houses. When her three estranged sisters plan a triple wedding, she’s determined to show them her life is perfect — so she needs a gorgeous wedding date to wow them.
Sterling, her roommate’s brother, is a handsome loner. When Teegan asks him to be her fake date, he refuses — until he learns that amazing new creatures will be at the wedding. He’s determined to be the first to study them, even if it means pretending to love a woman he doesn’t get along with.
How far will they have to take the pretense? All the way?
Booker is a naïve young Apprentice Cupid whose job is to make a match for Teegan — but not with Sterling. Can he break up matches as well as he makes them?
June 8, 2021
You MUST go to your sister’s wedding #mfrwhooks
I’m continuing with a hook from the third and final book in the Passion Island trilogy, Triple Wedding.
Teegan was surprised to meet Sterling, her roommate Mercedes’ brother, wearing only a towel. He’ll be staying at her house for a while. That’s one of the book’s main incidents.
The other main event — the inciting event — is that she learns her oldest and youngest sisters will be getting married the same day, which makes her more worried than happy.
“My sister Ember and I have always had this competition going, but there’s no way I can compete with getting married and having a child. If I go to this double wedding—”
“If?” Mercy shook her head vehemently. “No, no, Tee, you have to go. If you don’t, you could drive Rayna away, and she’s the only sister who can stand you.”
Sterling tensed for an explosion. Harsh talk like that might get Mercy—and him—kicked out. He was used to living rough, so he’d be fine even sleeping under the stars, but he had to protect Mercy. He took a deep breath and stood, preparing to defend his sister long and loud.
But Teegan surprised him. Although her eyes were dulled by defeat, she rose with that glorious grace of hers and calmly walked to the wall of windows overlooking Greer Forest. She folded her arms tightly over her chest. She said nothing.
After several seconds, Teegan went to Mercy’s chair and reached down to give her a hug.
“You’re right,” she said. “Of course you’re right. I have to go to the wedding—but with one condition. You have to agree to do the smoke art for the wedding.”
“Gee, let me think,” Mercy said. “Should I accept the opportunity to perform at a high-profile double wedding with, I’m sure, a correspondingly high fee?”
“Good. If you’re with me, I’ll have a better chance of keeping my happy face stapled in place.” Teegan gave a ladylike sigh as she nodded toward the wall of windows. “I just wish I could take this view with me so they could see that I’m successful, even if I don’t have a man in my life.”
If you’re interested, I alsoBe sure to visit the other great writers in the Book Hooks blog hop.
Teegan Dayle is a driven businesswoman whose company grows houses. When her three estranged sisters plan a triple wedding, she’s determined to show them her life is perfect — so she needs a gorgeous wedding date to wow them.
Sterling, her roommate’s brother, is a handsome loner. When Teegan asks him to be her fake date, he refuses — until he learns that amazing new creatures will be at the wedding. He’s determined to be the first to study them, even if it means pretending to love a woman he doesn’t get along with.
How far will they have to take the pretense?
All the way?
Booker is a naïve young Apprentice Cupid whose job is to make a match for Teegan — but not with Sterling. Can he break up matches as well as he makes them?
June 5, 2021
Effing Feline has lots of goodies #wewriwa
I, Effing Feline, have lots of goodies for you today. Because I’m such a wonderful, generous cat, I have not only a snippet for you but also:
The snippet is from the several times delayed third book in the Passion Island trilogy
These are the opening lines of the book
The cover
The blurb
Without further ado, here’s the opening of The Triple Wedding!
Panting, Teegan Dayle paused halfway up the stairs to her house atop Pillar Rock. She leaned heavily against the moss-covered monolith.
“Why,” Teegan muttered to herself, “did I buy a house with so many stairs?”
She knew the answer, of course: for the prestigious address and the bird’s-eye view. From up here, she could look down on hundreds of homes in this wealthy corner of Eastcott.
Most of her neighbors on the Pillar were snobs who wanted little to do with her. Unlike her, they were descended from the elite crews of the spaceships that had carried thousands of colonists on the one-way trip to Addoray. For her, though, the point wasn’t to pretend she was better than everyone else, but to proclaim to the world that she’d dragged herself to the top of her profession.
Now if she could just drag herself to the top of the Pillar . . .
And a few more for good luck.
Even though she’d left work early, after only twelve hours, it was dark and she was tired. So tired. That was okay, though. Exhaustion was the cost of running her own business—namely, growing houses. As for overwork, it was a measure of success, right?
Be sure to check out the other great writers in Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday.
The Triple Wedding
Teegan Dayle is a driven businesswoman whose company grows houses. When her three estranged sisters plan a triple wedding, she’s determined to show them her life is perfect — so she needs a gorgeously handsome wedding date to wow them.
Sterling, her roommate’s brother, is a handsome loner. When Teegan asks him to be her fake date, he refuses — until he learns that amazing new creatures will be at the wedding. He’s determined to be the first to study them, even if it means pretending to love a woman he doesn’t get along with.
How far will they have to take the pretense? All the way?
Booker is a naïve young Apprentice Cupid whose job is to make a match for Teegan — but not with Sterling. Can he break up matches as well as he makes them?
June 1, 2021
Of course you proposed to him #mfrwhooks
June is busting out all over! My wife and I had a June wedding, though that was a looong time ago, back in the mesozoic era. My best man was a triceratops. True story!
If you had a June wedding, jot the date in the comments. Double points if you had dinosaurs in the wedding party.
I’m continuing with a sneak peek at the opening of my WIP — the third and final book in the Passion Island trilogy, Triple Wedding. In today’s snippet, Teegan learns that her youngest sister is getting married — wedding #1 of the triple wedding of the title.
When Teegan’s comm unit pinged, she picked it up. Like her other possessions, the comm was top-of-the-line. A high-definition holograph appeared in the air above it, with colors more vivid than on cheaper comms.
It was her baby sister, Rayna, the only one of her three sisters she was in contact with. That was sad. Childhood rivalries shouldn’t swell to poison the rest of their lives. Her sisters were jealous of her success, of course, but some of the blame was probably hers.
Maybe most of it, which was something she couldn’t have admitted a few years ago.
Mercedes rose from the couch to give her some privacy, but before she’d taken more than a couple steps, Rayna’s bubbly voice soared through the air. She didn’t bother saying hello. “I’m getting married, Teegan!”
Instead of leaving, Mercedes stepped close to listen in on the call. Teegan slid over to make room for her. “What? When? To whom?”
“To Giraffe.
“Who’s Giraffe?” Teegan asked.
“Faraj. His name spelled backwards is giraffe, sort of. I proposed to him and he said yes.”
“Of course you proposed to him.” That was the kind of person Rayna was. And of course Faraj, aka Giraffe, had said yes. That also was the kind of person Rayna was.
Be sure to visit the other great writers in the Book Hooks blog hop.
Here’s a first try at a blurb:
The Triple Wedding
Teegan Dayle is a driven businesswoman whose company grows houses. When her three estranged sisters plan a triple wedding, she’s determined to show them her life is perfect—so she needs a gorgeously handsome wedding date to wow them.
Sterling, her roommate’s brother, is a handsome loner. When Teegan asks him to be her fake date, he refuses—until he learns amazing new creatures will be at the wedding. He’s determined to be the first to study them, even if it means pretending to love a woman he doesn’t get along with.
How far will they have to take the pretense? All the way?
Booker is a naïve young Apprentice Cupid whose job is to make a match for Teegan—but not with Sterling. Can he break up matches as well as he makes them?
May 29, 2021
Effing Feline wears the flags #wewriwa
I, Effing Feline, learned that this is a holiday weekend in North America. In the States, it’s Memorial Day. and in Canada, Victoria Day.
Victoria Day is traditionally the time to plant your garden, so Canadians celebrate by mucking about in the dirt.One of the ways Americans celebrate Memorial Day is by decorating with flags.In Ed’s most recent release, Pandora Uncaged, Pandora has taking Aidan to see the mysterious mobeave, She’s been charged with keeping its unusual capabilities secret, but she shows off the creature to her old friend Aidan. (He has official business there, so she figures it’s safe to tell him.
She went to a small fridge in the room’s far corner and returned with an ice bucket. After showing its sweetly redolent contents to Aidan, she held it close to the mobeave’s cage.
Moby sat back and clapped his front paws. “Ffffd,” the mobeave muttered. She palmed a reading plate that opened a slot at the top of the cage and threw in a single finger fish.
Aidan chuckled. “It almost sounded like it was asking to be fed.”
She grinned and shifted from foot to foot—danced, almost—abandoning all attempts not to gloat. This next part was all her doing. Well, hers and the mobeave’s. She mimed putting a fish in her mouth then held the bucket high with one hand.
And a few more lines. Not too many, though, because I know you have lots of other snippets to get to.
“Come on, Moby,” she said, “do your thing.”
The mobeave ducked his head up and down then clapped his paws again. “Ffffd plssss, Ponnnn tyarra.”
Effing Feline here again. I can’t very well plant a garden in a blog post, but I can decorate with flags. Here are the flags of the countries that are part of my pet human’s heritage. Do you know what they all are?
Be sure to check out the other great writers in Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday.
Book Two in the Passion Island Trilogy — A friends-to-lovers future romance
Pandora Dayle is her family’s disgraced black sheep. Ten years after running away from home, she’s rebuilt her self-respect at an isolated facility for saving animals native to the colony’s planet. Her redemption feels as fragile as a dream, but she’ll be okay if nothing traumatic happens.
But when the best friend from her innocent youth arrives, her insecurities mushroom.
Aidan used to be Pandora’s best friend. Since his teen years, he’s held heroic jobs—police officer and now Search and Rescue leader. He adored innocent young Pandora so much he compares every woman to her idealized memory, and finds them wanting.
But when he rediscovers the real thing, she’s not at all what he expected.
Booker, a naïve Apprentice Cupid for a secret organization, receives his second assignment: get Pandora and Aidan to mate. They’d been close friends, so his strategy is simple: He flies Aidan to her island and tells him to impregnate Pandora.
What could possibly go wrong?
Pandora Uncaged is available at these fine sites. Order yours today.AmazonSmashwordsAppleBarnes and NobleKobo BooksScribd
