Annette Mori's Blog, page 3
May 30, 2025
Everyone Is Welcome Here…
Well…apparently that isn’t true in the United States…not even if you’re referring to children who are United States citizens. Currently, I am attending a Leisure Travel Van rally by the Icicle River in Leavenworth, Washington. There is a perfectly lovely man and his wife who are always super helpful. The man took a lot of time looking up items and helping me figure out a way to hook my propane grill directly to the propane line attached to the RV. But, here’s the thing…he is a devout member of the MAGA cult. He knows we’re lesbians and they love us. The even seek us out to hang with. I knew he was conservative, but I had no idea he was that invested in Trump. At least he had enough awareness to state that he didn’t bring his MAGA cap, fearing he’d be tarred and feathered. I asked him if he still supports Trump after the Tariff fiasco, and without taking a breath, he said he’s working on it and successfully got a deal with the UK. I, of course, corrected him and said, “No, he didn’t.” After spouting a few facts, I got crickets. Then, some other friends decided we should not go down this road and stopped any conversation about politics at dinner. What I really wanted to ask is how he can possibly support a teacher being told she has to take down a sign in her classroom that says, “Everyone is welcome here.”
For those of you who haven’t been following the story. A middle school teacher had the tits to stand up to the Idaho School District after being told to take down two posters declaring everyone was welcome in her classroom and also important, accepted, respected, encouraged, valued and equal. Now what the f$%k could possibly be wrong with that? Apparently, the poster violates Policy 401.20, which states, “content-neutral and conducive to a positive learning environment.” At first, she took down the poster, but after reflecting on this, she decided she did not agree with the reason for taking it down, because, duh, how were the posters not conducive to a positive learning environment? After meeting with the district and submitting a letter explaining why she believed her posters did not violate the policy, the district maintained its stance and gave her until the end of the school year to remove the posters. She is refusing to do so and will lose her job if she does not comply. She’s willing to lose her job because the message is too important. Good for her. What is fascinating about this is that it seems a poster simply stating ‘everyone is welcome here’ without the hands representing various skin tones would have been acceptable. How is this not racist?
When will more of us stand up? A few years back, I was warned not to be too political because it might offend people and subsequently cause me to lose sales. Why couldn’t I just write nice, fluffy, contemporary romances? Those are the books that sell. Well, I promptly ignored that for a while and continued with my thriller series generously littered with political messages. Like the teacher, I backed down a smidgeon and did write two lovely contemporary romances, but not because I cared about those who will not buy my books because of my clear politics, I simply wanted to shake things up a bit and demonstrate that I was capable of writing those fluffy, cozy books that sometimes we all crave to escape from reality. Of course, I am now back to writing a book with a definite political subtext. The current working title is A Moment in Time. If you need an escape, you can’t get any warmer and fuzzier than with my latest release that goes live tomorrow…The Kitten Trap. I get it, sometimes we need to crawl into a cozy corner and read something fun and light.
The Kitten Trap
Goes live June 1stThe Love Demand is now in Audible!Click the cover for purchase links!
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May 23, 2025
Trump Derangement Syndrome…
Yup! I have it. You’d think this was a joke, but we’re living in an altered reality. As per usual, I scan the news feed looking for a good topic to discuss in my weekly blog, and I came across this article. The headline definitely caught my eye: “Hate Trump? According to a Proposed NIH Investigation, You Have a Mental-Health Disorder.” So…if they don’t commit me for being a lesbian, I suppose they can fall back on my Trump Derangement Syndrome. Now, before you all start rolling around on the floor laughing, consider a few horrifying facts taken from this article, as well as some additional research.
Psikhushkas were psychiatric hospitals that were, in reality, prisons used to hold and torture political dissidents. Anyone who was a political opponent was determined to have a mental disease, often referred to as “sluggish schizophrenia.” Starting sometime in the 1940’s and really gaining traction when the KGB took over in 1969, even Russia abandoned this practice during Mikhail Gorbachev’s regime (1985-1991).Enter stage left…Representative Warren Davidson of Ohio and Representative Barry Moore of Alabama. These two yahoos cosponsored a call for a National Institute of Health (NIH) investigation into the mental health disease “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”This is no joke. Here is the official release from Davidson’s office: “The TDS Research Act addresses a critical issue: the instinctual negative and often violent reaction to any supportive statement or event related to President Trump. By leveraging NIH’s existing programs at the National Institute of Mental Health, the bill will…” It goes on to list what the investigation will do, including exploring “intervention to mitigate extreme behaviors.” Yup, if you aren’t paying attention, those interventions will surely include influencing the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). In 1973 Homosexuality was removed from the DSM-5. However, since we’ve overturned Roe vs Wade, next up might be to add that back in, along with Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS).If you think this is simply the brainstorm of two fringe MAGAs, think again. In Minnesota, a bill introduced by five state republicans would classify TDS in the state’s definition as a form of mental illness. In their mind, “verbal expressions of intense hostility” would be an indicator of TDS.
I’m all for writing about mental health because, quite frankly, it’s a topic that many people shy away from, and they shouldn’t. We need to be a lot more informed and develop a hell of a lot of empathy for individuals who struggle and endure additional pain with the stigma attached to mental health issues. However, I am horrified by even the notion that hating Trump is now attributed to this derogatory, made-up syndrome. I’ve written many different books about topics that are widely misunderstood, Down Syndrome, Autism, Locked Inside Syndrome, OCD, Bi-Polar Disorder, but you can be damn sure I won’t ever write about this made-up syndrome, not even in one of my dystopian or political thrillers! Want to check out my books…feel free to click the links below!
The Love Demand is now in Audible!Click the cover for purchase links!
Purchase AudibleThe Kitten Trap ……………………The Love DemandClick on Covers for purchase links and description
On Pre-order goes live June 1st
Purchase EbookUnconventional Lovers Now in audio
Purchase AudiblePleasure Workers in Audio
Purchase AudibleLove Sins Available – The Final chapter in The Organization UniverseClick on Cover for purchase links and description
Purchase eBook
Purchase AudibleThe Final Chapter in the original Organization series is now in Audible
Purchase AudibleCatch up with Books 1 and 2 in The Next Generation Series
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Purchase Audible
Purchase EBook
Purchase AudibleWhere it all began….Click on Covers for purchase links and descriptions
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May 16, 2025
The AI Revolution
Last year I wrote a blog highlighting the negative impact of AI on the environment. Then I attended a conference and listened to a presentation on the potential benefits of AI and how many of us use it without even knowing we do (grammar and spellcheck built into Word or use of programs such as Grammarly and ProWriting Aide). Even research, with the popular Google or other search engines rely heavily on AI. Now it’s popping up in our Facebook spaces. Sigh. This is a train traveling down the tracks with no possibility of slowing down. Two final nails in the coffin happened as I watched with horror when Jae listed all the AI books published using legitimate books that our beloved sapphic authors put their blood, sweat and tears into. Then I read an article about the wide-spread use in college and was absolutely horrified by what I learned.
Being a former professor (a secondary job) who taught Human Resource courses at the local university, I wasn’t sure how I felt about what I learned in the article. I’d had a very unique view of how I taught the classes, allowing students to use every available resource when taking my tests, including working in groups, scouring the internet, and jokingly I said they could even call a friend. My perspective included a real life view of the world. When professionals come across a particularly difficult problem in HR, we often call upon our colleagues, do significant internet research, etc, so why shouldn’t the students be able to call upon whatever resources were available to solve those issues in my essay exams? Apparently, the current professors are faced with the same dilemma. Here are a few astounding things I learned from the article:
In 2023, a survey of 1,000 college students found that nearly 90 percent of them had used the chatbot to help with homework assignments.“College is just how well I can use ChatGPT at this point,” a student in Utah posted.At this point about half of all undergrads have never experienced college without easy access to generative AI. This means that an entire generation of students won’t experience college without easy access to AI.More and more professors have given up and state their position that use of AI is acceptable on their syllabus as long as the student cites the use like they would any other source. Honestly, I wonder if this position is much different from the one I took when teaching? No doubt in the working world, we are going to see memos and correspondence from professionals generated through the use of AI. The train has left the tracks and there is no stopping it now.A study published in June 2024 found that the professors failed to flag 97 percent of the AI generated essays. AI is getting so good it’s hard to separate AI from original work.I thought this was truly eye-opening and something for all of us to really consider. One professor noted that, “If you’re handing in AI work, you’re not actually anything different than a human assistant to an artificial-intelligence engine, and that makes you very easily replaceable. Why would anyone keep you around?” Of course this is not a future question, because it is already happening. Tech research firms are asking why programmers are needed. I’m quite sure that isn’t the only business posing this question.Ironically, even professors are replaceable by AI…many AI platforms now offer tools to leave AI-generated feedback on students’ essays. AI is evaluating AI!Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University published a study that found a person’s confidence in generative AI correlates with reduced critical-thinking. We are raising a generation of young adults who will lack critical thinking skills and that should scare the crap out of all of us.
Obviously, I haven’t even touched upon the impact to those of us in the creative arts. I honestly wonder if the speeding train will replace writers, artists, etc? Is that the inevitable future? Unfortunately, if nothing else has been proven over the last twenty years, it’s that people want cheap regardless of the impact. AI works are cheap, often free, and for many individuals, the consequences to writers and artists doesn’t matter. I suppose until AI completely takes over, I’ll continue to write and hope that my original work is worth something to enough people that it makes sense to pursue my passion. If it matters to you and you’d like to check my books out, feel free to click the links below!
The Love Demand is now in Audible!Click the cover for purchase links!
Purchase AudibleThe Kitten Trap ……………………The Love DemandClick on Covers for purchase links and description
On Pre-order goes live June 1st
Purchase EbookUnconventional Lovers Now in audio
Purchase AudiblePleasure Workers in Audio
Purchase AudibleLove Sins Available – The Final chapter in The Organization UniverseClick on Cover for purchase links and description
Purchase eBook
Purchase AudibleThe Final Chapter in the original Organization series is now in Audible
Purchase AudibleCatch up with Books 1 and 2 in The Next Generation Series
Purchase EBook
Purchase Audible
Purchase EBook
Purchase AudibleWhere it all began….Click on Covers for purchase links and descriptions
Purchase Audible
Purchase EBookClick on Covers for purchase links and descriptions
Purchase EBook
Purchase AudibleBooks in Audible
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May 9, 2025
Controversial words to bring out the Grammar Police!
This past week, I responded to a question on Facebook about the use of irregardless and wow…based on the number of comments, I think this has to be the most controversial word in the English language. I decided this would be such a great blog topic and something to research. I wanted to know what other words are grammatically correct, but nonstandard, yet have the same effect on the Grammar Police (who get their panties in quite a wad when someone uses the word). I was “schooled” quite vociferously on this because I inaccurately put forth that regardless, and not irregardless, was the grammatically correct word. I based this on my experience with past English teachers and professors who quickly brought out the red pen whenever I used the word irregardless. I came to find out that, while regardless may be preferable (and the standard use) by English teachers because of that pesky double negative issue with irregardless, irregardless violates zero grammar rules and has been recognized by the Merriam-Webster dictionary since 1934. That’s a long time to piss off English teachers! So what other words bring the Grammar Police but are not actually incorrect by violating a grammar rule?
Preventive versus preventative. According to Merriam-Webster, the words are interchangeable because they mean the same thing. While preventive is the older word, preventative is no spring chicken and can be traced back as far as 1651 in The Strange and Wonderful Predictions of Mr. Christopher Love. Interestingly enough, both words have been used for over 200 years without complaint. I couldn’t find when exactly someone started complaining about preventative, but the grammar police began weighing in on this at the end of the 18th century. By the middle of the 19th century the idea that the extra syllable in preventative was unseemly had made it into dictionaries and usage guides.All right versus alright. People will often say that alright is only acceptable with informal writing, but if Mark Twain who most consider the father of alright can use the word…who are we to argue? He first used the word in his short story “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” published in 1865. Bottom line is that this is another word that US writing standards consider technically alright…LOL.Incentivize or the British spelling Incentivise is a legitimate word recognized in the dictionary and has been around since the 1940s. Although it tends to bring out the Grammar Police, it is a perfectly acceptable word to use and has found its way into well-written and well edited texts. It’s also being used more frequently than ever before.Supposably and supposedly. Both are legitimate words but have different meanings. The rub comes into play when supposably is used when supposedly is the more standard meaning. In most early uses supposably had a meaning different from supposedly. Supposably means something is conceviable or possible. Supposedly means a claim or belief that cannot be substantiated or implies doubt, another word might be allegedly. However, it seems as though many used supposably as an interchangeable word to supposedly.Undoubtably versus undoubtedly. This is also an example of two words that have slightly different meanings, but are often used interchangeably. The distinction between them can be subtle; something that is undoubted is not doubted, while something that is undoubtable is not capable of being doubted. For example, one might claim that in his or her opinion Aretha Franklin was undoubtably the most influential female singer in history, yet we probably couldn’t say they are undoubtedly so, because, even someone who believes that Aretha was the most influential female singer must acknowledge that there are critics who doubt this.
I have undoubtedly used words in such a way that has editors and English teachers grabbing for their red pens, and I’ve always accepted that I was wrong, but was I? The English language is ever-evolving…so being the colloquial style writer that I am, you can expect me to push the envelope in the future and do my research to arm myself with data that supports using the less formal and evolving word that drives the Grammar Police crazy! If you enjoy a colloquial style of writing, feel free to check out my books by clicking the links below!
The Love Demand is now in Audible!Click the cover for purchase links!
Purchase AudibleThe Kitten Trap ……………………The Love DemandClick on Covers for purchase links and description
On Pre-order goes live June 1st
Purchase EbookUnconventional Lovers Now in audio
Purchase AudibleClick on Cover for purchase links and descriptionPleasure Workers in Audio
Purchase AudibleClick on Cover for purchase links and descriptionLove Sins Available – The Final chapter in The Organization UniverseClick on Cover for purchase links and description
Purchase eBook
Purchase AudibleClick on Covers for purchase Links and DescriptionsThe Final Chapter in the original Organization series is now in Audible
Purchase AudibleCatch up with Books 1 and 2 in The Next Generation Series
Purchase EBook
Purchase AudibleClick on Covers for purchase Links and Descriptions
Purchase EBook
Purchase AudibleClick on Covers for purchase Links and DescriptionsWhere it all began….Click on Covers for purchase links and descriptions
Purchase Audible
Purchase EBookClick on Covers for purchase links and descriptions
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May 2, 2025
Do you really mean that?
In a world where rudeness is ever more present and almost encouraged as a result of the terrible role model in the White House, I came across this article with a quick phrase to use when someone is being rude. That got me to thinking of ways to respectfully address individuals who are mean, rude or toxic. It’s so easy to think of acerbic responses to assholes, but what if we challenged people in a manner that completely takes the wind from their mean sails? One thing I had learned over the years and something the article also highlighted was the effectiveness of holding a mirror up to an individual excercising bad behavior. It requires subtle skill to basically shame them into behaving more respectfully. Now, of course this does not always work because once again, some individuals have no shame (like Trump). But, I did want to look at ways to take the high road and make an impact on those who are still redeemable. So…of course I did a little research. Here are some additional suggestions.
Apparently the subtle challenge with the five words, “Did you really mean that?” or it’s cousin, “Did I hear you correctly?” works if you say it sarcastically, with a raised eyebrow or dead calm. It’s a perfect tool for disarming the person.”I don’t think you meant it that way, but it sounded a bit harsh.””Perhaps there is a better way to say that?””I’m sure I must have misheard you, can you repeat what you just said?””I’m here to have a conversation, not an argument.””I guess I see the situation different than you.””Perhaps you could explain what you just said.”
In this world we are now in, I think it is increasingly important to try to be civil, even though every single bone in my body sometimes wants to respond like some of my more badass characters in my books. Everyone who has read any of my books in the universe of The Organization knows that those characters aren’t used to being nice and respectful when dealing with assholes. As cathartic as it is for me to write those characters, and maybe even act a little like them in real life, I’m pretty sure it isn’t effective in changing hearts and minds. Of course that does not stop me from loving books with characters that can effectively shred the assholes with a few choice words. I have books with characters who are tactful and others who are not…click the links below to check out my books with a wide variety or responses to assholes!
The Love Demand is now in Audible!Click the cover for purchase links!
The Kitten Trap The Love DemandClick on Covers for purchase links and description
On Pre-order Live June 1st
Unconventional Lovers Now in audio
Purchase AudibleClick on Cover for purchase links and descriptionPleasure Workers in Audio
Purchase AudibleClick on Cover for purchase links and descriptionLove Sins Available – The Final chapter in The Organization UniverseClick on Cover for purchase links and description
Purchase eBook
Purchase AudibleClick on Covers for purchase Links and DescriptionsThe Final Chapter in the original Organization series is now in Audible
Purchase AudibleCatch up with Books 1 and 2 in The Next Generation Series
Purchase EBook
Purchase AudibleClick on Covers for purchase Links and Descriptions
Purchase EBook
Purchase AudibleClick on Covers for purchase Links and DescriptionsWhere it all began….Click on Covers for purchase links and descriptions
Purchase Audible
Purchase EBookClick on Covers for purchase links and descriptions
Purchase EBook
Purchase AudibleBooks in Audible:
Books In Kindle Unlimited (KU)
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
April 25, 2025
Multiple Orgasms
This past week, a reader/friend contacted me wondering if I’d ever written about women’s advantages of having multiple orgasms. I’m pretty sure I haven’t. That got me thinking about a conversation I had with a close friend many years ago, where she insisted that all women are capable of multiple orgasms. I argued that I didn’t believe that was actually true. As the week progressed and I continued to revisit my two conversations, I decided that I needed to conduct further research on this topic. My first question was: How do people define multiple orgasms? How does the refractory period come into play? Are there ways to up the odds of having multiple orgasms? Some of the answers were a little disappointing, but here’s what I learned….
The definition was a little loosey-goosey for me: “Multiple orgasms occur when a person climaxes more than once during a period of sexual activity.” See, for me, the “period of sexual activity” was kind of vague because we all know that could be ten minutes or ten hours. The article went on to clarify that there were varying definitions of multiple orgasms. “Some experts believe that multiple orgasms occur one right after the other, with little ‘down time’ in between.” The thought is that women remain in a state of arousal between each orgasm. But other individuals believe that “Multiple orgasms can occur with more time in between. With this definition, a woman might climax once, rest a bit, then climax again minutes later.” It’s that time between that’s the mystery for me. “The refractory period refers to the time after having an orgasm during which a person is not sexually responsive.” For some, it may mean the person is too sensitive after orgasm. For others, it might mean that the arousal evaporates like the air completely released from a balloon. It can last anywhere from a few minutes to a day. For this reason, most individuals acknowledge that multiple orgasms are more common in women because, on average, men have longer refractory periods. However, some men can have a very short refractory period, which is why they claim they can have multiple orgasms.Of course, most studies on multiple orgasms are on men, so the data is very scant on this topic for women. Go figure! Much of the information on multiple orgasms in women is anecdotal evidence, where there are claims that women can have as many as twenty orgasms, one right after the other.There is also something slightly different from multiple orgasms called stacked orgasms, where the aim is to prevent a person from fully climaxing so they experience a wave of orgasms, remaining in an orgasmic state for much longer.Now…here is the fun stuff that I learned. There are a number of suggestions on how to increase your chance of experiencing multiple orgasms: Focus on clitoral stimulations because according to research, most women require that to achieve orgasm; Slow down and have sex longer because it helps to accommodate different refractory periods (a 2016 study suggested that sex lasting longer than 15 minutes increased the chances of multiple orgasms); Incorporate different types of sexual stimulation (of course we all know that intercourse is not the only way to have sex!); Maturbate and learn what works for you; Slow or change the kind of stimulation; Use sex toys (another study found that about half the women who incorporated toys in their sexy time had multiple orgasms.
Well, there you have it. One thing I will say is that I believe it’s the quality, not the quantity, that matters. So, if you have a longer refractory period and don’t believe you are capable of multiple orgasms, don’t sweat it. I know I’ve read a lot of sapphic romance that incorporates multiple orgasms in their sex scenes. I can’t remember specifically if I’ve ever gone into detail with sex scenes where my characters both had multiple orgasms, but feel free to click the links below to check it out! Also, don’t forget to check out the I Heart Sapphic sale…loads of books available for 99 cents! https://iheartsapphfic.com/books-on-sale/
The Kitten Trap The Love DemandClick on Covers for purchase links and description
On Pre-order Live June 1st
Coming soon to AudibleUnconventional Lovers Now in audio
Purchase AudibleClick on Cover for purchase links and descriptionPleasure Workers in Audio
Purchase AudibleClick on Cover for purchase links and descriptionLove Sins Available – The Final chapter in The Organization UniverseClick on Cover for purchase links and description
Purchase eBook
Purchase AudibleClick on Covers for purchase Links and DescriptionsThe Final Chapter in the original Organization series is now in Audible
Purchase AudibleCatch up with Books 1 and 2 in The Next Generation Series
Purchase EBook
Purchase AudibleClick on Covers for purchase Links and Descriptions
Purchase EBook
Purchase AudibleClick on Covers for purchase Links and DescriptionsWhere it all began….Click on Covers for purchase links and descriptions
Purchase Audible
Purchase EBookClick on Covers for purchase links and descriptions
Purchase EBook
Purchase AudibleBooks in Audible:
Books In Kindle Unlimited (KU)
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
April 18, 2025
Options to Profanity
Last week, I wrote about the health benefits of throwing out the F-bomb. In my blog, I made note of how liberally tossing out the F-bomb tended to diminish its impact. Thus, it was quite timely that I came across an article offering options to saying, “F&*k You!” Some of these made me roll with laughter, and I also tried to come up with a few of my own…
The tried and true Southern saying that is often said with a smile, but we all know it’s code for f&%k you…”Bless your heart.” And if you really want to stick the knife in, “Well, you’re just special, aren’t you?”The polite and very irritating alternate gesture to those assholes who cut you off, blow them a kiss or give a thumbs up. Apparently, this tends to piss them off more than flipping the bird.Tell someone to, “Have the day you deserve.”When someone rants at you, simply say, “Noted.” I think this is probably my generation’s “whatever.”In the corporate or work world, starting an email with, “As per my last email,” and then copying as many people who are up the chain of command, is the ultimate screw you. Then, if you really want to piss them off, throw in an occasional, “Please advise.” Which basically calls them out as a twat.For the Star Trek fans out there, an oldie, but a goodie, “Beam me up, Scotty.” For those who aren’t Trekkies, that means you are not in the presence of intelligent life. Or a Picard saying, “You may test that assumption at your own convenience.”I rolled over laughing at this one…and since I always have gum with me, I just might use it…Pull out a piece of gum, plug your nose and offer it to the twat you want to swear at, then quietly walk away.The adolescent in me loved this one…Tell them they have a booger in their nose or something stuck in their teeth, then walk away.Using fancy terms for f*&k you, like, “You’re a prime candidate for self-copulation.” Or simply, “Why don’t you just self-copulate?” And one more, “Fornicate yourself.”Those in the UK know this one. Apparently, the Queen would say, “How amusing for you.”Especially fun with pro-lifers: “You’re an inspiration for birth control.”Not to be one-sided, but for all the devout Christians, I’m pretty sure, “I’ll pray for you,” means f*&k you in Christian speak. As opposed to sticking your head in the sand, with “Our hearts and prayers go out to the survivors of that awful tragedy.”Apparently, television shows will edit with, “Forget You!”I think this one is twenty-something snark…”Good luck with that.”Ouch… this one is a doozy: “I am jealous of everyone who has never met you.”“Wisdom has been chasing you, but you’re too quick.”“Silence is golden in your presence.”“Have you considered the advantages of being somewhere else?”For those who care about the environment, “There’s a tree that wastes its time and energy making oxygen for you. You should apologize to it.”Last, but not least, one of my favorites, “Have the day you voted for!”
Some of these were truly creative, while others I had certainly heard versions of. I really need to incorporate these gems into some of my books. I know I’ve thought of other creative alternatives to swear words in books like The Book Addict and Love Forever, Live Forever, but they were mostly made-up words. If you’d like to explore my books, where characters prefer not to use profanity, simply click the links below. Or, feel free to check out my latest releases. The Love Demand comes out in Audible soon. I promise, they’re fun reads. What sayings have you heard that do the trick?
The Kitten Trap The Love DemandClick on Covers for purchase links and description
On Pre-order Live June 1st
Coming soon to AudibleUnconventional Lovers Now in audio
Purchase AudibleClick on Cover for purchase links and descriptionPleasure Workers in Audio
Purchase AudibleClick on Cover for purchase links and descriptionLove Sins Available – The Final chapter in The Organization UniverseClick on Cover for purchase links and description
Purchase eBook
Purchase AudibleClick on Covers for purchase Links and DescriptionsThe Final Chapter in the original Organization series is now in Audible
Purchase AudibleCatch up with Books 1 and 2 in The Next Generation Series
Purchase EBook
Purchase AudibleClick on Covers for purchase Links and Descriptions
Purchase EBook
Purchase AudibleClick on Covers for purchase Links and DescriptionsWhere it all began….Click on Covers for purchase links and descriptions
Purchase Audible
Purchase EBookClick on Covers for purchase links and descriptions
Purchase EBook
Purchase AudibleBooks in Audible:
Books In Kindle Unlimited (KU)
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
April 11, 2025
F$%k Yes!
Several years ago, after a lively discussion at GCLS about the use of profanity, I wrote a blog arguing that I vehemently disagreed with the perspective, insisting that the use of profanity in sapphic fiction, specifically the F-bomb, was not lazy or intelligent writing. Obviously, there are circumstances where it does not fit. I don’t believe that women in the 1800s were big fans of profanity. However, some characters, especially modern-day women, let the F-bomb fly freely and often. Personally, I find it very freeing at times to let that F-bomb out to play. No other word will fit. Now, there is scientific evidence of how the use of profanity is actually healthy. No shit….Research suggests that the occasional use of the F-bomb can have a beneficial effect on our stress, anxiety, and depression. Here’s what I found after reading an article on this:
In 2009, researchers found that subjects had a higher tolerance for pain when uttering a curse word versus a neutral word, specifically, the ability to keep their hand in ice water for longer periods.Individuals who rarely swear get more benefits from the use of profanity than those that let the F-bomb fly more freely and often. Well, damn…guess I need to be more judicious with my use of profanity. Apparently, the more a person swears, the greater the loss of potency for the effect it provides.For those who are obsessed with working out…guilty…a study conducted in 2022 in the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology discovered that when people repeated a swear word while doing chair push-ups, they reported feeling more self-confidence. Researchers also found that swearing aloud was associated with improvements in exercise performance, such as cycling power and hand-grip strength.In the European Journal of Social Psychology, they discovered that when people wrote about a time they felt socially excluded and then repeated a swear word for two minutes, their hurt feelings and social distress were significantly less than for people who used a neutral word. Another study about impolite drivers (refusing to give the right of way) and traffic jams found that cursing helped people tamp down their anger and return to a more balanced state. I know I fel better after I flip the bird to some asshole driver. Apparently, cursing is a perfectly acceptable way to express frustration.Swearing can make people feel closer. It’s one tool in the toolbox in social situations. For example, it can turn an awkward social situation into something less formal by using profanity to break social taboos in a non-harmful way. It also can suggest that the person is honest by saying what they really believe. A bunch of studies in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science found a positive relationship between the use of profanity and honesty, depending on how and when people swore in their everyday lives. In those studies, the researchers found that “profanity was associated with less lying and deception” as well as a greater sense of integrity. Other studies in the journal Psychology, Crime & Law, found that the use of swear words in (fictitious) legal testimony made the testimony seem more credible than when the same testimony was free of profanity. Well, damn, this is how the orange turd gets people to believe he is honest, but I would argue that his rhetoric is far from non-harmful.A study in New Zealand found that workers in a soap factory had a more communal atmosphere as a result of the generous use of the F-bomb when expressing complaints or objections.One caution that I really should pay attention to is that overuse of profanity can lead to perceptions of the person being angry, hostile, or aggressive. Not a good thing! Also, a person needs to read the situation or audience and pay attention to power dynamics. For example, just because your boss swears does not mean it’s okay for you to follow suit in the workplace. Plus, some workplaces are more appropriate than others. Read the room!
Obviously, I have books with characters that swear a lot, and other times, I make a point of writing characters that frown at the use or overuse of profanity. My debut novel had two such characters, and it was a thing that one often chastised the other for their frequent use of profanity. I don’t have a problem including both types of characters, and the amount of profanity in my books will depend on the setting and characters. If you want to check out my books, you know the drill…just click the covers or links below! I’d especially love you to check out my two most recent contemporary romances, The Love Demand and The Kitten Trap. Both were fun to write.
The Kitten Trap The Love DemandClick on Covers for purchase links and description
Unconventional Lovers Now in audio
Purchase AudibleClick on Cover for purchase links and descriptionPleasure Workers in Audio
Purchase AudibleClick on Cover for purchase links and descriptionLove Sins Available – The Final chapter in The Organization UniverseClick on Cover for purchase links and description
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Purchase AudibleClick on Covers for purchase Links and DescriptionsThe Final Chapter in the original Organization series is now in Audible
Purchase AudibleCatch up with Books 1 and 2 in The Next Generation Series
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Purchase AudibleClick on Covers for purchase Links and DescriptionsWhere it all began….Click on Covers for purchase links and descriptions
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April 4, 2025
Sleep Farts
Before I get into my quirky topic for the week, I wanted to remind everyone about Jae’s Sapphic Speculative Event that started today. With 75 Speculative Fiction books available for giveaway, this is a massive event you shouldn’t miss. Of course, one of my books will be available on one of the days. Day 1: Paranormal romance, monster romance & paranormal fiction. Day 2: Fantasy (including urban fantasy, fantasy romance, and romantasy). Day 3: All other subgenres, including science fiction, sci-fi romance, and dystopian. Because I’m old, I can’t remember which book I submitted, so you’ll have to check out all three days! Here’s the link for more details: https://jae-fiction.com/sapphic-speculative-fiction-event/
Are you really surprised I would go there? Of course I would, especially after what happened to me last weekend. So…here’s the very personal, embarassing story about sleep farts. Anyone who knows anything about me realizes I have no problem making fun of myself. Here’s what happened. In the middle of the night, I woke to the most noxious odor. Now, I was very grumpy about waking up, not necessarily due to the odor, but the fact that I have terrible insomnia and wake often as a result of an overactive bladder, cats crawling on my head, and night sweats. And when I wake up, it takes me a long time to get back to sleep. Add a noxious odor I believed I needed to do something about, and yeah, I was grumpy. I also erroneously blamed my cats. Crawling from the bed, I was convinced I needed to clean out the box. But I was wrong. Nothing in the box remotely resembled that horrible odor. I know you think that I’m the kind of person to blame my wife, but honestly, I didn’t. I was aghast to realize it was me. I was the culprit after eating far too many chocolate-covered dried cherries. Apparently, they cause terrible gas of the very stinky kind. So, of course, I had to do a bit of research on this. Because that’s what I do…research the most unusual topics. Side note: My mother not only hated the word fart but thought it was equivalent to the worst swear word, and my father loved it. He even had a plaque made that said, “The family that farts together, stays together.” So Dad and Mom, I hope that wherever you are, you’re reading this and getting a kick out of it! Back to the topic…Here’s what I learned.
Passing gas is actually quite common, and most people do this between 13 and 21 times per day!Since the anal sphincter muscle is more relaxed during sleep, gas tends to occur more during the night or in the morning after a night of sleep. So that’s why I often pass gas in the middle of the night when I get up to pee or in the morning! Mystery solved.Most people don’t even realize they are passing gas in the middle of the night. Unless you’re me and it’s so stinky it wakes you the hell up!The origin of gas is from these sources: air being swallowed, stomach acid becoming neutralized, and bacteria in the intestines creating hydrogen and methane. The last one obviously is the one that causes stinky farts.The amount of gas one passes is mainly attributed to diet. Here is a list of foods associated with more gas: artificial sweeteners; carbonated drinks (yup that includes beer); beans, soy beans, corn, and peas; breads, cereals, and pastries; cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and cauliflower; onions, leeks, and garlic; and prunes and figs (I’m thinking those chocolate covered dried cherries fell into this last category). However, this is not a universal list, and other things, like dairy, affect those who are lactose intolerant. Also, foods with high fiber like fruits and vegetables, especially if your body is not used to eating more of these healthy foods, can cause more gas, particularly as your body adjusts to a diet that is higher in fruits and vegetables.In addition to diet, there are a few lifestyle factors that might add to higher instances of gas such as, taking antibiotics; chewing gum, especially with artificial sweeteners (per previous confessions, I often chew Trident at night-who knew this would increase my nightly farts); eating quickly; smoking cigarettes; and wearing loose dentures.There are also numerous medical conditions that can factor into excessive gas. These include: irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO); Crohns Disease, Ulcerative Colitis; Celiac Disease; and the really scary shit like Stomach or Colectoral Cancer.If you want to reduce your farts, try these things: avoid talking while eating and drinking as it can prompt you to swallow air; stop chewing gum and eating hard candy (nope not going to do because I like a better smelling breath); avoid drinking carbonated drinks (not going to do this either because I really like my Mike’s Hard Lemonade and Mojitos); don’t drink beverages through a straw; sit down to eat and chew slowly; quit smoking; eat small, frequent meals; and consider a side sleeping position.
So, there you have it…everything you probably never needed to know about farts and farting in your sleep. I am quite sure I’ve never written anything about farts in my books, because normal bathroom behavior is decidely very unsexy. However, I’ll bet a talented author could include some very funny scenes in a rom-com that might work. I do remember writing a funny scene in Out of This World where Mabel is camping and literally gets caught with her pants down after getting spooky while doing her business in a bush. I think I could probably get away with writing a funny scene based on that embarrassing personal experience I shared with y’all. Maybe I will write one if I write another book! In the meantime, I have a new book on pre-order with adorable kittens at the center, called The Kitten Trap. And don’t forget about The Love Demand. Both are contemporary romances that I think you’d enjoy reading.
The Kitten Trap – Available for Pre-Order Now!
Purchase E-bookClick on Cover for purchase links and descriptionThe Love Demand
Purchase eBookClick on Cover for purchase links and description – Audible Coming SoonUnconventional Lovers Now in audio
Purchase AudibleClick on Cover for purchase links and descriptionPleasure Workers in Audio
Purchase AudibleClick on Cover for purchase links and descriptionLove Sins Available – The Final chapter in The Organization UniverseClick on Cover for purchase links and description
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Purchase AudibleClick on Covers for purchase Links and DescriptionsThe Final Chapter in the original Organization series is now in Audible
Purchase AudibleCatch up with Books 1 and 2 in The Next Generation Series
Purchase EBook
Purchase AudibleClick on Covers for purchase Links and Descriptions
Purchase EBook
Purchase AudibleClick on Covers for purchase Links and DescriptionsWhere it all began….Click on Covers for purchase links and descriptions
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March 28, 2025
What the heck is Substack?
Groan…another form of social media that is gaining traction, especially now that Sapphic Authors are feeling the pinch. The reality is that sales have drastically dropped off after the call for boycotts against Amazon. Piracy is running rampant. Finally, to add insult to injury, there is an increased use of AI after Meta has stolen all of our hard work on books that we spent many hours writing. So, I’ll admit, I knew very little about this and figured some of you may also not know what this new rage is. I’ve done a bit of research for you! So, what is Substack, and why should authors consider developing their own Substack account? But more importantly, why would readers want to subscribe to any author?
From Substack directly: “We started Substack because we believe that what you read matters and that good writing is valuable – and as the platform has evolved, we’ve come to expand that view to include all forms of cultural work. On Substack, writers and creators can publish their work and make money from paid subscriptions while supporters can directly sustain the work they deeply value.”Again, from the Substack website: “Some of the world’s most celebrated writers and creators are here—Margaret Atwood, George Saunders, Elizabeth Gilbert, Mehdi Hasan, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, to name a few.” Recently, I saw a post by Nancy Ann Healy announcing her intent to move to Substack, so I’ve just subscribed to her Substack. I’m sure there are many others in our community.Substack wants to create a “new economic engine for culture.” Well Halleluiah! Because, right now, Amazon and many other social media giants have swung way too far to the right. While I could not find Substack’s stance on DEI or other important issues, what I do know is that many of the individuals I respect who have experienced Trump’s wrath are now on Substack. It does look to be an avenue for journalists and other prominent people to express their views without censorship.Substack’s guiding principles include: a hands-off approach to content moderation; publishers or authors should have a way to make a living off of work they believe in; publishers or authors own their own content and relationships with readers and have complete editorial control; and Substack helps subscribers take back their own mind.Want to start your own Substack…here’s the link: https://substack.com/aboutIt seems as though Substack is a little like Patreon, but for some reason, I sense there are greater possibilities. Now, the downside is that if an author or publisher chooses to court paid subscribers, they will have to do some work to keep content fresh and worth it for people to pay to subscribe to their content. That probably means frequent freebies, videos, updates, etc.
At this point, I created a Substack account, mostly because I wanted to understand the process. I’ve been super reluctant to court paid subscribers, which is why I have never considered Patreon. However, I do believe it might be something for my Publisher to consider. If readers want to support Sapphic voices, I can think of no better way than to become a paid subscriber to the small publishers who support our Sapphic voices, lest they go away! I’ll be sure to talk with Affinity about this. In the meantime, I might have to find a way to create frequent content that all my loyal readers can benefit from without them having to spend a dime! So I encourage people to click the free option on my Substack. In the meantime, feel free to support me and Affinity by clicking the links below to purchase one or more of my books!
The Love Demand
Purchase eBookClick on Cover for purchase links and description – Audible Coming SoonUnconventional Lovers Now in audio
Purchase AudibleClick on Cover for purchase links and descriptionPleasure Workers in Audio
Purchase AudibleClick on Cover for purchase links and descriptionLove Sins Available – The Final chapter in The Organization UniverseClick on Cover for purchase links and description
Purchase eBook
Purchase AudibleClick on Covers for purchase Links and DescriptionsThe Final Chapter in the original Organization series is now in Audible
Purchase AudibleCatch up with Books 1 and 2 in The Next Generation Series
Purchase EBook
Purchase AudibleClick on Covers for purchase Links and Descriptions
Purchase EBook
Purchase AudibleClick on Covers for purchase Links and DescriptionsWhere it all began….Click on Covers for purchase links and descriptions
Purchase Audible
Purchase EBookClick on Covers for purchase links and descriptions
Purchase EBook
Purchase AudibleBooks in Audible:
Books In Kindle Unlimited (KU)
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
