Annette Mori's Blog, page 10
September 8, 2023
Lesbian/Sapphic Bars
I’ve read a lot of Sapphic Novels (probably close to 2,000 by now) and very few of them either feature or even mention Lesbian/Sapphic bars. Not even the ones set back in the eighties when there were a hell of a lot more of them. I remember reading an article a few years back about The Lesbian Bar Project that celebrates the remaining few lesbian bars that still remain (less than thirty). This documentary came out in 2021, thus after the pandemic, I fear several more have closed and according to an article I just read in the Advocate titled, Ladies’ Night, by Krista Burton, only a few dozen remain. Krista Burton wrote a book about her journey across the US to visit those remaining bars called Moby Dyke. I might have to buy this book! So hopefully not that many have closed since the documentary mentioned twenty-nine that were still open. Back in the eighties, there were around two hundred and that probably doesn’t count the ones that were considered gay bars where both men and women frequently them.
Back in the day, nearly every city I lived in, large or small had a place to go. Of course, large cities like Seattle had several to choose from: a dancing rowdy bar popular with the younger crowd, a classic bar catering more to professional women, and a small cafe-like bar called The WildRose. Even Bellingham, a college town, with around fifty thousand people had a gay bar where the women occupied one side and the men, the other. There was an actual wall separating us, but when the drag show or Halloween celebration happened, we happily mingled with one another. I am happy to state that one bar I used to go to, The WildRose in Seattle, still exists. It claims to be the oldest lesbian bar in the US. I believe what they really mean is that it is the oldest lesbian bar still open in the US. Another bar in NYC claims that title, but after researching this, The WildRose opened five years earlier in 1986. The actual oldest lesbian bar, which is no longer open was the San Francisco’s Mona’s 440 Club, which opened in 1936. The history of lesbian bars cites that these women-only bars started popping up in the 1950s, serving predominantly, working-class lesbians, white and black. Sadly, I believe that men’s bars have survived much better than women’s bars. The theory is that gay men have more money and women just don’t support their bars to the same extent as men. Another theory is that women tend to partner up quickly and stop going to bars after they get all domestic with their partners. Although, I remember going to the bars when I had a girlfriend, and my wife and I still go to bars to have a drink, so I’m not sure that theory flies. It was just nice to have a space to go where I felt safe and knew that these were my peeps. With the increased attacks on our community, I wonder if these safe, comfortable spaces will become more popular now, at least with older lesbians, like myself, who would probably love a place to get a drink where you’re surrounded by other lesbians and women loving women.
As I try to remember all the books I’ve written, it’s no surprise that there are only a few where I can remember mentioning a lesbian bar. One is my debut novel, Live Forever, Love Forever. I pulled from my experience going to The Wildrose when I was younger and accompanied my ex who used to perform there. In this novel, it highlights when the main character meets the love of her life. The others are in The Trophy Wives Club series I co-wrote with Ali Spooner. My main character in Pleasure Workers gets a job at the one remaining bar in Atlanta (Sisters-based on an actual bar that still exists). Because I loved the character, Chancy, who is the charming bartender at Sisters, Ali and I decided to continue the series with Heart Strings Attached, an age gap featuring Chancy and Remy, who is the mature high society woman and best friend of the owner of The Trophy Wives Club, an adult playground for the Atlanta elite women who are not getting their needs met by their stuffy husbands. Just click the links below to check out my books, including my recent trilogy that sadly does not feature a lesbian bar.
Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Now in Audio ! Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Recent double Award-Winning novel….
Amazon Germany Book 4 in the Trophy Wives Club Series
Links to the Books in Audible:
Undercover Love Politics of Love Love Bonds Sculpting Her Heart Disconnected Artist Free Zone Locked Inside
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
September 1, 2023
Batshit?
Setting aside the insensitivity of slang terminology such as batshit crazy, cray-cray, nuts, insane, bonkers, etc., for a person struggling with a mental illness, I wanted to explore where this particular slang originated. Although I’ll admit to using the term in my books in the past, ever since someone pointed out the error of my ways, I’ve dropped the second word in this slang term. I’m still looking for a way to describe the Marjorie Taylor Green’s of the world without being offensive to anyone. I’d like to think that our capacity to learn and grow as we age helps me avoid being an insensitive slob. It’s a work in progress, and I invite anyone to school me if I don’t recognize when I’ve crossed a line.
Anyhoo…it’s still a question I wanted to explore after I read a short post on Facebook questioning how in the world batshit emerged as the type of excrement to be attached to a person like Marjorie Taylor Green. Several competing theories emerged.
Back in the early 1300s, large quantities of bat guano were fed to patients in mental institutions because doctors felt it would calm their nerves due to the high concentrations of vitamin K. Unfortunately it had the opposite effect often driving the patients to the brink of insanity. They were known to go crazy. Hense the term, “bat shit crazy”. This is the first known reference I could find.The fungus Histoplasma capsulatum resides in bat guano, and, since the fungus infects the brain of the host, it makes them behave in a chaotic manner.In 1950 from M. Shedd “I felt the minute hand of that bat shit of a Judas clock stand up to me.”In 1964 from G. H. Johnston’s, My Brother Jack “He would describe somebody as being ‘as silly as a two-bob watch’ or ‘dreary as bat-shit’.” The phrase bat shit crazy may have originated in the era of the Vietnam War because the GIs encountered bat schi in nearby Thailand. Batshit was used in the June 1983 movie, “Trading Places” starring Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy. A 1983 cartoon by P. S. Mueller contained the caption “Full blown batshit crazy and still holding down a productive job” In 1993 Toronto Life “His mug is emblazoned with the words: full-blown bat shit crazy.”Possibility originated from the term batty which has been known to be synonymous with crazy, originating itself from an earlier phrase to have bats in one’s belfry which comes from the tendency of bats to fly around erratically. Possibly influenced by or derived from apeshit, particularly the phrase go apeshit, which is probably because of the well-known behavior of Chimps that throw their own shit. FYI primates fall into two categories: Great Apes and Monkeys; the former do not have tails.On a completely random note: Bat guano (shit) is an excellent fertilizer – we used it on our blueberry bushes.
If you want to see the evolution of my slang when describing people like Marjorie Taylor Green, you know the drill, just click the links below. I am always looking for acceptable terminology because compassion and understanding is always the goal. At the same time, a realistic portrayal of common dialogue, slang, and language ensures my books don’t fall into the trap of being too stiff. LOL…like that would ever happen with my colloquial style of writing! So shoot me your best slang and maybe I’ll incorporate that into my next book. Also, you might want to pick up Ali Spooner’s latest story, From the Cradle to the Stone for the very low price of .99. It’s a delightful little love story.
Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Now in Audio ! Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Recent double Award-Winning novel….
Amazon Germany Book 4 in the Trophy Wives Club Series
Links to the Books in Audible:
Undercover Love Politics of Love Love Bonds Sculpting Her Heart Disconnected Artist Free Zone Locked Inside
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
August 25, 2023
Ben Wa Balls
In all my exploration of Sapphic literature, I don’t believe I’ve ever come across the use of Ben Wa Balls in a sex scene or even a passing mention of them, which I find very interesting since they’ve been around since 500 AD in Japan. They are quite arguably the world’s oldest sex toy. Of course, as with most things, they were originally developed by men, for men’s sexual pleasure, but women quickly came to discover that, when inserted into the vagina, the small balls floating freely inside created a pleasurable experience as they moved around inside the walls of the vagina, and when inserted properly could continuously massage that elusive G-spot.
I first learned about Ben Wa Balls in my early thirties from an ex-girlfriend, and haven’t heard anyone speak of them since. So why am I talking about this now? Well, because in an effort to create new and interesting sex scenes in my books, especially after feeling like I’ve written pretty much everything before and was sorely tempted to never write a doors-wide-open scene, I included a scene in my latest WIP with the ancient sex toy. I’ve written about favorite lesbian sex toys, comparisons of vibrators, and so many other possibly taboo topics, but never about this particular sex toy, despite the fact that it goes back centuries. So…I thought, what the hell, might as well provide some education on Ben Wa Balls. Here are the salient points based on my research:
Ben Wa Balls are small, marble-sized, balls, normally hollow that contain a small amount of weight, intended for internal use, that roll around inside the vagina.The balls are not intended for use inside the anus.Some have strings and others do not. The strings can be helpful for easy removal, kind of like a tampon.Originally they were metal with a mercury center, and as the mercury moved around, it caused tiny sensations that led to orgasm.Modern-day Ben Wa Balls are made of different types of materials — metal, plastic, latex, glass, and jade. The mercury isn’t legal anymore, probably because it’s a super dangerous material to have inside.Hollow balls are preferred because they move around more freely.Materials that don’t easily collect bacteria are preferred since some women choose to keep them in all day, while others may only use them for a few hours.One of the side benefits of Ben Wa Balls is their ability to strengthen the pelvic floor which is why they are sometimes called Kegel Balls because they’re used for pelvic floor exercises to strengthen those important muscles.As these ancient sex toys evolved, they were no longer intended to elicit an orgasm on their own but instead were an enhancement to create a tease while used with other stimulation. Although, inserting them and sitting in a rocking chair has been known to, well, you know, get a person there!If you choose the balls without a string, there’s no need to dig up in your vagina to remove them, simply push down, cough, or move suddenly and the balls pop out easily.
So…there you have it. Look for my novel Love Sins, out next year where I incorporate Ben Wa Balls into a short sex scene. Love Sins will be the third book in the spin-off series. If you want to get to know the characters that show up in the series, feel free to click the links below and read the San Diego Trilogy: Undercover Love, Politics of Love, and Love Bonds. Don’t forget to hop on over to Sapphic Book Lovers Discord server to ask any questions and the Facebook site to watch the video…my last day as a spotlight author is today and for anyone who asks a question or leaves a comment…you’ll be entered to win.
Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Now in Audio ! Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Recent double Award-Winning novel….
Amazon Germany Book 4 in the Trophy Wives Club Series
Links to the Books in Audible:
Undercover Love Politics of Love Love Bonds Sculpting Her Heart Disconnected Artist Free Zone Locked Inside
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
August 18, 2023
Romantic Thrillers
The struggle is real. I’m not talking about the action or thriller component in a Romantic Thriller. I’m referring to the right balance of action to romance. I’m not sure if there’s a formula out there to follow. And even if there was, I’m not the kind of writer to adhere to those rules, anyway. After searching for tips on the internet, one that stuck out was the notion of balance, with many stating it should be a 50/50 split. Other tips include starting with a good plot that has interesting and relatable main characters with just enough complexity to keep the reader interested and invested. No one cares about one-dimensional characters.
Romance thrillers aren’t terribly realistic. The heroines tend to be superhuman fighters who prevail despite the odds. So, I suppose the reader can expect to come across love scenes smack dab in the middle of a life-and-death situation. Ugh…who wants to make love to someone when the prospect of getting your ass shot off is weighing heavily on your mind? Apparently, every protagonist out there!
So…what would happen if the author broke that rule of balance? Would the readers forgive him or her? That’s a question I keep asking myself as I struggle with the final chapter of my Next Generation Trilogy. I’ve been having so much fun with the action plot, the romance has definitely taken a back seat. It’s hinted at and eventually fleshed out a bit more as the story progresses, but so far hasn’t met that epic proportion of love where the two simply cannot exist without the other. Clearly, I could have done a better job as I round the corner to the 3/4s mark of the book. So…what’s an author to do? Blow up the whole book and start anew, add more scenes early on? Or…just accept this is more thriller than romance? I honestly don’t know the answer. Fortunately, I have time to figure it out since book one and book two don’t come out until March and June of next year. In the meantime, maybe you’ll want to check out my San Diego trilogy that exist in the same universe twenty years earlier. For this trilogy, romance definitely plays a prominent role in all three books. I’d like to think I adhered to the 50/50 split as strongly suggested for the genre. Look for a reading and giveaway at the Sapphic Book Lovers Facebook Page…I’ll be the spotlight author from August 22nd to the 25th! See you there!
Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Now in Audio ! Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Recent double Award-Winning novel….
Amazon Germany Book 4 in the Trophy Wives Club Series
Links to the Books in Audible:
Undercover Love Politics of Love Love Bonds Sculpting Her Heart Disconnected Artist Free Zone Locked Inside
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
August 11, 2023
Love and Hate
Some say there is a fine line between love and hate. Others insist the two are diametrically opposed. I often wonder about our capacity for such extremes. Yet I see evidence of this every day. I’m a huge fan of those heart-wrenching videos of cats and kittens who are on the verge of death and some kind soul with love in their heart rescues them. Of course, many of these sweet creatures have been left in the streets or sometimes, like the last video I watched, thrown away like nothing more than a piece of trash. Perhaps that is cruelty versus compassion, but where does that cruelty come from?
As I watch the divide in our country, this demonstration of Love and Hate is so much more on display. Political figures seem to bring out more of these opposing feelings. And the hypocrisy of it all is on vivid display. Individuals who profess their devotion to Christianity out of one side of their mouth, spew hateful words out of the other side, conveniently forgetting one of Christ’s greatest teachings to love thy neighbor. Or how about judge not lest you be judged. Finally, if Jesus preaches that the poor will inherit the earth, why is there such a scramble to become rich at the expense of others. I am fascinated by the concept of hate and where it comes from. Because if I can understand it, perhaps I can fight it. There are so many fascinating theories on the origin of hate. Here are a few I learned in my Google research:
Hate is based on issues of power and control. In other words, the idea that certain people can or should have power or control over others. That certainly fits our current political climate.Hate comes from negative assumptions or beliefs about a specific group, and in times of crisis, these stereotypes strengthen and turn into hate.Similar areas of the brain (putamen and insula) light up when experiencing feelings of love and hate. Thus the view there is a fine line between love and hate.Hate may simply be an extreme version of anger, dislike, disgust, or contempt. Although different researchers believe it is most distinct from anger or dislike and closest to disgust.Evolutionary psychology insists that everyone in every culture is born with innate mechanisms to ensure they are capable of hatred and prejudice because nature made us hate our enemy to give us the tools to identify an enemy versus a friend. The whole survival thing.I suppose closely aligned with evolutionary psychology theories on hate, fear plays a huge role in its origin. Fear of the unknown, fear that some outside group or person will take something away from us. If people feel threatened, hate kicks in. This recent upsurge of hate for the LGBTQ+ community baffles me because what could we possibility be taking away from these people?Still, others insist hate is a learned emotion. We are taught to hate a certain group of people.
Needless to say, I find all of this fascinating because secretly one of my favorite tropes is enemies to lovers. Why? Because it gives me hope that the rampant amount of hate out there has the potential to turn into love. Although I haven’t exactly followed this trope completely, because I don’t believe I’ve ever quite had my characters hate one another to start, there have certainly been a few times where the characters had a rocky start to their relationship. Perhaps one day I will write a book where there is deep-seated hate between two characters who come to love one another after discovering there is more to the other person than either what they’ve been taught or what they assumed. Please feel free to check out my books, including those with a mild enemies-to-lovers trope. I say mild because I’m not really known for being a trope writer!
Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Now in Audio ! Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Recent double Award-Winning novel….
Amazon Germany Book 4 in the Trophy Wives Club Series
Links to the Books in Audible:
Undercover Love Politics of Love Love Bonds Sculpting Her Heart Disconnected Artist Free Zone Locked Inside
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
August 4, 2023
Pick A Lane
I don’t feel sorry for Bud Light. Not one bit! Why? Because they thought they’d be successful by continuing to change lanes when all they did was crash and burn. When they first sent Dylan Mulvaney the can with her face on it celebrating her journey, if I was so inclined to drink beer, I might have chosen a bud light just to be supportive of a company that supports trans rights. But after all the backlash, the weaktits tried to course correct and offered zero support to Dylan, who faced the full brunt of the assault from MAGA world. Bud Light thought they’d capitalize on a brand-new market but then ran away like scared little boys. They still haven’t recovered because that’s what a company gets when they try to weave in and out of several lanes without picking one. Alternately, Disney stuck to their guns, picked a lane, and remained there. They continue to fight with Deshitass, and hopefully, they will ultimately prevail. Sure, Disney is a big corporate giant that has probably not been the most supportive company in its entire history, but at least Disney didn’t flip-flop mere weeks after declaring their support for the LGBTQ+ community. Then there’s Barbie, the movie. The movie is unapologetically feminist, features a trans-Barbie, and has basically thumbed its nose at the MAGA extremists. Not only did they pick their lane, but they revved the engine and flew down that highway on their way to probably one of the highest-grossing movies ever made. Good for them!
All these recent made-up controversies got me thinking about writers who choose to pick a lane and stay there versus folks like me who weave in and out like a drunken monkey. The difference is that while I write in many different sub-genres that could be perceived as not picking a lane, my politics and core values are squarely in the left lane. On that, I’ve never wavered. I’ve also stated that I have zero interest in writing a mainstream romance with heterosexual characters. I’m a sapphic writer and will remain a sapphic writer until I die. But am I making a mistake by not creating a brand or picking a lane? Recently, I’ve been writing romantic thrillers based on the characters from my Asset Management series and have been told that’s my lane. Certainly, the relative success with those sales might indicate a certain truth in that statement.
I have three more books coming out next year, allowing me to continue to speed down that lane. Unfortunately, I’m not sure I can stay there. My need for variety, to color outside the lines, and take chances will undoubtedly be my undoing. I can’t help myself. I have a few ideas rolling around in my head, and like Bud Light, when I change lanes again, I’ll probably feel the sting of failure. Just like the advice to keep politics out of your books, advising me to stay in my lane is the good advice I just can’t take! If you’re the kind of reader that enjoys variety or likes surprises, never knowing what kind of novel you’re going to get, you may want to check out my backlist…plenty of books to check out there. If, on the other hand, you like the lane I’ve recently driven in, the third book, Love Bonds, in my romantic thriller series is now out worldwide. I invite you to check it out. I can only hope it does as well as the previous two books in the series. You can make that happen for me and give me the leeway to write those less successful books in the future!
Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Now in Audio ! Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Recent double Award-Winning novel….
Amazon Germany Book 4 in the Trophy Wives Club Series
Links to the Books in Audible:
Undercover Love Politics of Love Love Bonds Sculpting Her Heart Disconnected Artist Free Zone Locked Inside
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
July 28, 2023
Rules for Romance
Sapphic romance is really no different than traditional mainstream heterosexual romance. There’s one rule that rises to the top. You can’t kill off one of the main characters. This rule extends to their furry companions with a few exceptions. The reason for this rule is that it upsets the main romance formula that requires a happily ever after or a happily for now. And this is especially true in the Sapphic community because for too many years we were left with fiction that ended in tragedy like we weren’t really deserving of a happy ending because when you buck society’s norms you have to expect it’ll end in heartbreak. It’s probably the reason why I will personally never read the classic novel, The Well of Loneliness. Even the ending in Rubyfruit Jungle left me screaming, “Okay, really, was that necessary?”
Now, of course, writers can and do break rules all the time. It is our prerogative to do that, because, after all, it’s our book and we can do what we damn well please with it. However, if an author breaks this rule, they need to expect the criticism they will likely get from not just coloring outside the lines, but completely removing those lines. I’ve certainly been known to color outside the lines, but have never completely demolished this rule, but have instead tried to adhere to the exceptions.
So what are the exceptions? If you know from the start that one of the main characters dies and the entire story is a tribute to their love, that’s an acceptable angle for the love story. So how might this work? Well, the story could start when the two women are at the end of their life and they’ve had a long and lovely life with someone telling their story, complete with the requisite manner in which they met and all the challenges between the two that they had to overcome to remain together. Similarly, if the story spans many years, the beloved pet cannot live forever, and as long as the furry companion led a good life and was properly idolized, the author can realistically represent their passing. Another exception is if the author is telling a second chance story. However, this is where it gets a little complicated. Too much about the person who dies and the reader becomes too invested in that character to find satisfaction in the second-chance love story, leaving the reader with conflicting feelings.
As an author, if you’re going to break this rule, ask yourself if there’s a good reason to essentially change your book from romance to general fiction. Why is it necessary to kill off the main character? Is there a point the author is trying to make? I can think of at least one book I read that broke this rule and although I’m definitely a HEA kind of reader, I understood the importance of why the author told the story the way they did. In fact, I’ve often said I believe the book is their best work and I forgave them for breaking the rule. It was, however, a big risk. I’m currently beta-reading a manuscript that breaks this rule spectacularly but is brilliantly written. I haven’t finished yet, so I will wait to provide feedback, just in case an exception rises to the surface. As for my own novels, I’ve never completely broken the rule, but danced on the edge a few times, letting the story fall squarely into one of the exceptions. Interested in checking out my books, you know the drill, just click one of the links below. By the way…Love Bonds is now out in audio!
Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Now in Audio ! Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Recent double Award-Winning novel….
Amazon Germany Book 4 in the Trophy Wives Club Series
Links to the Books in Audible:
Undercover Love Politics of Love Love Bonds Sculpting Her Heart Disconnected Artist Free Zone Locked Inside
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
July 21, 2023
Woke
“Woke” and “Own the Libs” are two recent sound bites that get thrown around by the far right and quite honestly, I can’t really understand their tactics. Let’s take the term “Woke” and break that down. Most individuals, especially those on the far right, don’t even know how to define woke as the right muddles through their messaging. It doesn’t even make sense that individuals would prefer to be asleep, maintaining their state of zombiness as they blindly follow the lies they’re told and the world disintegrates around them. I suppose it does make sense that the far right prefers for everyone’s eyes to be closed to accurate history, climate change, hypocrisy, facts, acceptance, the richness of diversity, etc. Just like some in our community eagerly accepted the term “dyke” and wore that as a badge of honor (I am one of those), I suggest we all adopt “Woke” as the supreme badge of honor. I only hope that the individuals who are currently asleep are simply taking a nap. I do love afternoon naps now that I’m retired, but it’s time to wake up before it’s too late. Be “woke” because the alternative is not pretty for an extended period of time.
Now let’s talk about being “owned”. Does the right not understand the connotations behind the term “owned?” Hasn’t everyone agreed that slavery is bad? Fact check…no person will ever “own” me. I’ll keep being my tree-hugging badass liberal self until the day I die. Now, of course, if someone accurately assesses my relationship with my furbabies, they will of course realize that all four of my cats totally “own” my ass. They all have both my wife and me wrapped around their little paws. Every morning at the ass crack of dawn, which happens to be around 4:30a, Zoe has both my wife and I getting up multiple times to let him in or out. I’m sure he’s laughing his furry little ass off with his furbuddies, saying, “Yeah, the humans are absolutely there to serve us, you really ought to push a little harder to have them let you inside and then you can play this game with me too. It’s so much fun. The other day, I started early and got them up six times before they both gave up and started their day for real, then I stopped because it wasn’t fun anymore.”
So…what does this have to do with books? Certainly, not every writer intends to inject politics or current events into their stories in order to make an impact on society, but those who have braved those waters have been some of my favorite authors…Charles Dickens, John Steinbeck, Margaret Atwood…the list goes on. Writers and artists can make a difference. We can use our pens, and I believe we should. Books can be both entertaining and thought-provoking. They don’t have to be one or the other. So…if you want to see what that looks like, you know the drill, just click the links below!
Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Now in Audio ! Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Recent double Award-Winning novel….
Amazon Germany Book 4 in the Trophy Wives Club Series
Links to the Books in Audible:
Undercover Love Sculpting Her Heart Locked Inside Artist Free Zone
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
July 14, 2023
Kids and Family
I’m not really known as a writer who engineers their stories with lesbian couples who have kids. Most of my main characters remain childless with a few exceptions. There’s a good reason for this. People often write what they know, and I’ve never had children of the two-legged variety. All my kids come with fur and walk on all four paws! However, that does not stop me from enjoying stories about children, especially precocious kids. I’m very enamored with those stories. Thus, whenever I’ve included children in any of my stories, they tend to be intelligent, precocious children, who hopefully add some levity to the story.
I’ve typically drawn from my experience with my nephews or friends with small children. Because kids will and do say the damnedest things they tend to crack me up. I’ve even been known to do internet research on those funny things kids have said. Many of those things have found their way into the rare stories where I include children. And when I say rare, I mean almost non-existent. There is a mention of children in two short stories, where Pepper from the Asset Management series makes her debut in a Halloween story. I liked her character and decided to include her in my last book, Love Bonds, in the San Diego series. Then of course I had to write a spin-off of when the kids grew up and take over the family business because I’m more comfortable writing characters that are at least 18+. That doesn’t mean that some of my favorite scenes in Love Bonds include Pepper. Here is one of the scenes ( a combo of something I heard my friends’ little girl say and some internet research):
Gina rolled her eyes. “Precocious doesn’t begin to describe our daughter.”
Mila cracked up. “Well, it doesn’t matter why I got a hug. I’m just glad I did.”
“What’s precosus?” Pepper asked.
“It means you’re way ahead of your time and a little too smart for your own good,” Val answered.
Pepper stamped her foot. “There is no such thing as a little girl being too smart. Mama G taught me that. Girls can do anything boys can, only better. Just because we gots a bagina and they have a penis doesn’t mean we aren’t as good.” Pepper raised her tiny fist in the air and shouted, “Girl Power.”
“Oh, sister,” Val mumbled around her attempt not to react or laugh out loud. “Did you teach her that, too, Mama G?”
Gina shrugged.
Mila wasn’t as reserved and couldn’t help the laughter that erupted from her. Even Bernie couldn’t hide her smile.
“Mama G is right. I was teasing you,” Val added. “Everyone ready? We’ve got the tickets covered, so put away your wallets.”
Pepper retook her mothers’ hands but glanced back at Mila. “My mommies fight the bad guys.”
Mila grinned. “Yeah, I know.”
Pepper tilted her head to look at Val and asked, “Why do the bad guys always try to take over, Mama V?”
“Cause they want to be in charge all the time and make all the rules.”
“They should just become moms, then,” Pepper stated with conviction.
At that point, Val didn’t even try to contain her laugh.
Love Bonds is out now for presale and hopefully, the audiobook will be out not too long after it goes live on August 1st. Like the other two books in the series, Undercover Love and Politics of Love, there’s a lot of action, twists and turns, and banter between the characters. If you want to check out the series, you know the drill, click the links below!
Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Now in Audio ! Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Recent double Award-Winning novel….
Amazon Germany Book 4 in the Trophy Wives Club Series
Links to the Books in Audible:
Undercover Love Sculpting Her Heart Locked Inside Artist Free Zone
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
July 7, 2023
Freedom? Really?
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I had a hard time celebrating the 4th this year. And that’s not because it fell on a Tuesday, making it difficult to stay up late and go to work the next day. I’m retired. Every day is Saturday for me and my wife. Nope, this year was particularly hard because of the one-two punch from the Supreme Court, which I am renaming SCROTUM, instead of SCOTUS.
What does SCROTUM stand for? Well…I’m glad you asked. How about Supreme Court Rips Out The Unpopular Minorities. We are no longer the United States. How can we be when at every turn, decisions are made that divide versus unite us? Freedom only exists for the privileged. Not for women. Not for minorities, and certainly not for LGBTQ+. Of course, now the log cabin Republicans are screaming after Deshitass’s deplorable homophobic ad because he expanded his hate to the L and the G. Well, duh, I could have told you the far-right would not stop at trampling all over the T and Q. Not that it would ever be right if they left the L and G alone. Come on people…it’s fascism 101. But anyone who ever pays attention to history knows it was only a matter of time before they started coming after you…
Every once in a while I get advice about being a bit more passive about my political views because Goddess forbid I turn off potential readers. “It’s the good advice, I just can’t take.” Thank you Alanis Morrisette for that great line. I’ll never stop using my voice, small as it might be, to rail against injustice and the methodical trampling of our freedoms. I sincerely hope in my lifetime that enough voices join the fight and say, enough is enough. I pray that it doesn’t take until those laws and judicial opinions affect those previously unaffected because by that time it will be too late. But honestly, it shouldn’t have to come to that, when so many of us are affected right now! I’ve said this before and I will say it again…what we permit we promote and evil flourishes when good men and women do nothing.
No one who has read my books would ever be confused about where I stand. I often sneak in political commentary, and I probably won’t stop. If you’re interested in checking out what I have to say, you know the drill, click the links below (definitely evident in my latest book Politics of Love). My third book in the San Diego Trilogy, Love Bonds is currently out in Paperback only, but will soon be out in ebook and audio! There may even be a pre-order option coming soon!
Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Now in Audio ! Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Recent double Award-Winning novel….
Amazon Germany Book 4 in the Trophy Wives Club Series
Links to the Books in Audible:
Undercover Love Sculpting Her Heart Locked Inside Artist Free Zone
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
