Annette Mori's Blog, page 35

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Published on November 03, 2017 06:12

October 27, 2017

Routines and Habits

Change is hard sometimes but necessary. Whenever I’ve made changes in my life, the change prompts a completely new routine. When I lost my job, I didn’t know how to behave. I didn’t have to get up at 4:30a anymore and soon got into the habit of sleeping in until 6:30a or 7:00. I’d toss on some sweats, reheat or make coffee, and jump on Facebook. After perusing the internet for cute kitten pictures, funny or interesting FB posts that I simply had to respond to, I’d eventually get around to writing.

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Sometimes I had a honey-do list and so I’d have to take a shower and make myself presentable to the outside world. I should have spent some time cleaning or organizing the condo (I didn’t too often). I think I’ve already admitted to being a crappy domestic goddess. It was summer so I’d often make my way out to the pool and do some editing with voice dream (an app on my iPad) or read a Kindle book. Keeping my tan and irritating my wife with a richer tan than hers was my goal.

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On October 16th, I started my new job and my new routine. I’m back to getting up early and now I’m in the office by 6:30. Unfortunately, I don’t have my exercise bike yet, but when I bring that from the Condo, I’ll have to adjust my routine again and get up one hour earlier (same time as when I had my previous job). My head is now spinning with the constant change to my routine.

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Humans are creatures of habit and my habits have been screwed with four times in the last 7 months. I had one week of living in a hotel which created a completely different set of routines, including watching CNN when I got home. I don’t have a TV, cable, or internet anymore so when I leave the office usually later in the evening, I don’t have much to occupy my time. I can link my iPad to my phone, but that’s so frickin’ slow, I often give up. I’m sure I will revert back to a similar routine…the one I had when I was employed in Moses Lake. That means back to writing about a 1,000 word each night. I haven’t been writing lately but that will change as soon as my routine is established again and I’m not working a shitload of hours.

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All I can say is a change in routine plays absolute havoc on people with OCD. Speaking of OCD, Affinity Rainbow Publications is doing a holiday anthology and guess who is coming back…Juliet from Captivated in a brand new short story. I love the holidays which are definitely a time for habit, tradition, and routine. Another story that is just around the corner is The Thanksgiving Baby Caper (due out on November 1st). Since readers begged me for another installment of the bad ass women in Asset Management and The Organization, I delivered with this inbetweenquel, Thanksgiving story. Here’s a quick scene to wet your whistle:

Toni peeled out of the gravel road leading away from the complex where she and the other agents lived, including Char and her younger sister, Dani. She grinned as she zipped in and out of the heavy traffic on their way to her parent’s house. Char grabbed the oh shit bar as if her life depended on it.

Toni thought that was particularly ironic and burst out laughing. “Don’t tell me you’re scared of my driving? I seem to recall your less than cautious maneuvering the very first time we were in a car together. I think I may have tinkled a little in my drawers when you managed to evade that nasty little mobster glued to your bumper. I don’t get how a slight bit of aggressive driving has you clutching the oh crap strap but you can face a 457-magnum pointed in your face without breaking a sweat?” Toni inquired.

“I’m trained to handle guns. I’m not trained to handle an amateur version of Danica Patrick. Your driving skills suck.”

“Paybacks are a bitch, huh?” Toni quipped.

“And for the record, I am not scared. I just don’t want to get tossed around like a rag doll,” Char insisted.

“Remember, the first time you took me for a ride in your Tesla was a definite recipe for unwanted bruises. Granted, the black SUV that seemed to want to make babies with your Tesla was a bit of an incentive to drive like a maniac. If you knew anything about my mom, you would know that my excessive speed is warranted.”

“I’ll take my chances. Since there aren’t goons shooting at us right now, we have time to travel safely to your mom and dad’s place. I’d like to make sure we arrive at our destination in one piece—preferably with all parts intact,” Char emphasized.

“Maybe you’re starting to get a little too old for the excitement of going out into the field. I guess it’s time Maggie assigned you to the geek squad with Dani and me.”

“Ha, ha, very funny. Maybe not today, but when we have kids, I might consider that a viable option.”

Toni gulped. “Um…kids.” She knew that when she looked over at Char her expression probably resembled a deer caught in someone’s headlights.

“Oh, relax. I’m not talking about popping out a little bambino today, or even tomorrow, but someday, yes. Now can you turn your head back to the road? I think that truck in the other lane is not too crazy about an impromptu game of chicken.”

Toni jerked the wheel and returned to her lane, narrowly missing the truck.

“Can you please not talk about this in front of my mom? She’s like a shark and when she smells blood—it’s all over,” Toni lamented. “She already loves you more than me, no need to top that gas tank off.”

“I like your mom and we’ve had some very nice discussions about this.”

“Aw, shit. Now I’ll never get that horse back in the barn. You used explosives on the damn door. I might not survive Thanksgiving,” Toni groaned.

“You are such a weeny,” Char teased.

“Yes, but I’m your weeny.”

“Yes, yes, you are. Is it so awful to want a mini weeny to bless our home?” Char asked.

“Home. We don’t have a home. We have subterranean lodging in a super-secret location. Can’t we drop this for now? I’m getting a stomachache and I want to enjoy my mom’s cooking. If I have to listen to her not so subtle push for grandkids, I ought to get compensated with a good home cooked meal.”

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Wanna be prepared for the Thanksgiving story by knowing the characters, then you may want to check out Asset Management and The Organization – both are reader favorites. All you have to do is click on one of the links below!

Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!

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Published on October 27, 2017 16:14

October 20, 2017

Vampire Land

If you follow my blog and various Facebook posts, you probably already know I took a brand new position in Forks, Washington which is the rainiest place in the United States. Forks is also where the Twilight series was set. I asked the locals about this because I must admit, I saw all the movies. Apparently, the movies were not filmed in Forks, but somewhere in Oregon, even though Bella, Edward, and Jacob (the wolf dude) all live in Forks. This did not stop the town from totally capitalizing on the Twilight craze. They still have a large celebration every September for Bella’s birthday. Will you think less of me if I admit to looking forward to that next year?

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The day I arrived in Forks it was sunny and beautiful. I had false hopes that it doesn’t actually rain more than 200 days a year here. My hopes were soon dashed. Since Sunday, it has indeed rained every day! Poured in fact. Apparently, Forks loses power all the time as well. I began to hyperventilate about the possibility that I won’t be able to run my hair dryer without power. I’ve decided to purchase a generator. Having a good hair day is so important. Don’t you agree?

I’ve been asked if I’m going to write about vampires now that I live in Forks…because, you know, I’ll have access plenty of research now that I live here. You do know that the Twilight series is fiction? And now that you know the movies weren’t even filmed here,…Besides, everyone knows I don’t like to write sequels or return to a previous similar storyline. I’ve already written about vampires and shapeshifters. I like to write new and different stories versus going back to the same old, same old! For those who haven’t read all my books, can you guess which book has vampires and shapeshifters?

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So…how was my first week at work? In one word…busy. I joked with the CEO about them saving all their complicated employee relations issues for months and years until my arrival. He didn’t disagree. The days went quickly. By the end of the week, most of the issues were successfully resolved. I felt needed, but more importantly, I felt respected. This was a grand feeling. I love my new job because I feel like I can make a huge difference to the organization and that was missing before.

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If there are vampires in Forks, maybe one will bite me and give me super strength and endurance. I think I’ll need it over the next few months as I methodically work through all the complicated issues!

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If you want to read about sexy vampires, badass women, librarians, aliens, quirky women or any of my other fun characters…you know the drill…click on one of the links below!

Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!

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Published on October 20, 2017 18:34

October 13, 2017

Annette mori

Annette Mori Weekly Blog

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Published on October 13, 2017 08:49

Bring Back The Hoarder

Well, crap…all that time spent on ridding myself of the hoarder gene by getting rid of absolutely everything so we could fit into the 1,000-foot condo is now biting me in the ass. Yup, I could really use one of those three couches we gave away or one the two queen-sized beds. A coffee table might also have come in handy. I’m now dreaming about that ultra-suede recliner…the one that got away. Don’t even get me started on the cabinets that I could load with books or the extra stereo that I gave away. Of course, the cherry on the top was my high end elliptical and exercise bike. I sold them both, but the recipient got more than a good deal and the rowing machine…yup…given away.

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I never thought I would have to take up residence…again…in another part of the state while maintaining a second home. We planned on retiring in Moses Lake, but that didn’t work out the way we wanted. This weekend I’ll be moving up to Forks and it’s downright pathetic what I plan on taking with me…a single blow up bed, a camping chair, bedding, towels, my clothes, toiletries, a few kitchen supplies (very few like a couple of bowels, plates, cups, etc.) and cleaning supplies. Now don’t raise your eyebrows, even though I’m not a domestic goddess, I’m not a pig either. Everything fits in my Prius if that gives any indication of how little I will have at my new place.

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Three plus years will be a long time to go without furniture but gosh darn it, I hate the fact that we’ll be right back at that same place as before when we were shedding ourselves of all those worldly possessions. The most painful part of this whole move will be not having my work out equipment right there for me to roll out of bed and start my day with a healthy workout. Can you guess what will be the first thing I look for? I don’t give a rip about having to give it away again three plus years from now, exercise is my drug and I simply cannot do without it!

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So…here’s the question, what should I collect over the next three years? Because…you know that little hoarder gene is just begging to come out and play again. The one consolation to all of this is the room I will now have to purchase more print books. So…for anyone looking for great deals, just hang on and in three years, I’ll be giving away all my shit again.

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If you’re like me and love collecting books, well you know the drill, click on any of the links below for print or e-books to add to your collection!

Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!

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Published on October 13, 2017 07:46

October 6, 2017

LCLC Midcap

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It’s Friday, so I am compelled to do something similar to GCLS and write an update after only one day of the conference because some people (not naming names here) will ask where’s the Friday blog? This time writing the blog way before the conference ends makes sense because we arrived last Saturday.

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Unbeknownst to us, there are a lot of the LCLC crowd who arrive early. We believed we’d have the whole place to ourselves and enjoy the sun several days before the event started but much to our delight, that was not true. I saw delight because before the official conference started we were able to have multiple discussions and a few rousing parties before the first official day.

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So…without further adieu, I’m going to tell you my top five highlights so far. I get to write five instead of 3-4 after only the first day because of those pre-conference activities.

I may or may not have volunteered to take an official drunk test one night and there may or may not be a video of it. The attendees who are former police and currently still working as police officers are extremely nice and good sports and they really add a certain amount of fun to the event. I never laughed so hard at myself, which is a tremendous feat because I do goofy things all the time that prompt me to laugh or make fun of myself.
The new official name of the conference is Lick Lick…enough said!
The intelligent conversations about books. I had a brand new discussion that was incredible about what constitutes science fiction versus fantasy or speculative. Anyone who knows me can attest to the fact that sometimes I love a good debate and after this conversation, we both came away with new perspectives on a few things.
Even though I’ve yet to take advantage of this accommodation, the sound system is set up to enable the conference participants to listen while lounging in the pool. How cool is that? Literally, it helps some people remain cool as they float on their back and soak up not only the sun but brilliant tidbits from the speakers and panels.
Last, but certainly not least, was the police procedures session. I was fortunate enough to participate again in some of the demonstrations. This time, I got to hold the gun and shoot at the “bad guys”. For someone like me who could never be labeled a “bad ass”, playing the police officer was fun. Of course, I may or may not have run away when someone was holding a pipe bomb as my answer to the tense situation….

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The names of both writers and readers attending this conference who are so fun to hang with are far too many to call out and because I am old, I am bound to forget some, but I would be remiss not to at least mention that my Affinity pal, Renee is here and we are representing Affinity Rainbow Publications as proud authors from that awesome publishing company. See….that’s the thing, authors from any publishing company and self-published authors are welcome to this event that is co-sponsored by Sapphire and Desert Palm Press. Chris and Schileen are such wonderful hosts and do a great job of making sure everyone is taken care of and feels welcome.

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There are two more days to the conference and I participate in both a panel and an author reading today, so I’ll need to avoid imbibing in adult beverages until the evening. Since I didn’t bring that many books with me, I’ve already run out of a few, but you know you can always find them online, so for all of you who haven’t read my stuff, but want to…you know the drill…click on one of the links below!

Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!

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Published on October 06, 2017 08:17

September 29, 2017

The Pronoun Game

Several months ago I wrote about going back into the closet and how painful that decision was to make. Now I am about to go to an interview for a position that I believe might be a great fit for me and I’ll be playing the Pronoun Game.

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I’m sure those of you who are older know this game. Yeah, it’s the one where you don’t exactly share the gender of your partner, lover, spouse, etc. We do things like say, “my spouse works from home so won’t be a problem for us to move.” Or, “we love this area.” The pronoun game never reveals that my spouse is a “she”.

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After so many years of casually introducing my wife and never sputtering or thinking a second thought about it, this is particularly painful for me. I suppose folks who don’t understand why it’s such a big deal (the straight world) are probably muttering, “Why are you making such an issue of this?” Or maybe, “They can’t ask you if you’re married, so why offer any details of your personal life?” Finally, the one I really love is, “You don’t look like a lesbian so why should you tell them you are, just let them assume you’re straight.” Arghhhh….shaking my head on that last one, but damned if I’m not contemplating doing exactly that.

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You see, the gut-wrenching part of this is that I want to introduce my wife to the people I may start to work for. I’m proud of her. If I play the pronoun game I might get the job, but will I lose myself in the process? Lose who I am? Does this suggest in any way that I’m embarrassed about being married to a woman? Perhaps I should adopt the old military stance. They won’t ask so I won’t tell.

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As I write this I am evaluating this conundrum I am in and it’s a really hard decision to make. I’d like to think it won’t make a difference, but I’m a realist. I love rural communities because I can make such a difference to the small hospitals. And yet, rural communities can either be completely welcoming or brutal. Typically they are brutal until they get to know you and then the new person is taken into the fold, like family, regardless of their sexual identity. Late breaking update: I did not share that I’m married to a woman and I was offered the job and took it. I guess I’ll be introducing my wife after I pass the probation period.

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The current times are forcing me into decisions I never thought I would have to face again. I suppose this will inspire a whole new crop of coming out stories, even for those of us who came out thirty years ago. There is that…..

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Most of my stories to date don’t have a lot of angst about a person’s sexual identity because that wasn’t really my truth until recently. I suspect that might change in the future but until then I hope you decide to check out my pre-Trump stories. You know the drill, just click the links below….

Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!

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Published on September 29, 2017 21:24

September 22, 2017

But I AM a Lesbian

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The other day I was talking to a friend of my wife’s and educating her on the economics of being a full-time writer. She was under the erroneous assumption that I was making a good living as a full-time writer ever since my early retirement. My wife corrected her and because she had more questions, they called. She asked some interesting questions.

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She wondered why I had to focus on the lesbian thing. She believed that might turn off some straight readers and if I had a broader readership, then maybe I could make a living. I replied, but I am a lesbian and that’s what I write about. Truth in marketing and all that. I also said that while my books do have lesbian romance in them, they also have stories that would appeal to non-lesbians. Or at least I think they would. I also said I do have straight readers, both male and female. Finally, I said, “You know, love is love and that has broad appeal.” She was honestly looking for ways to help me out and increase my sales.

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This whole discussion got me to thinking and I decided to go live to get other comments but in my excitement to talk about the topic, I did not consider the time of day…not too many takers in entering into a lively discussion. I wanted to know if lesfic authors should categorize their works as other than lesbian. For example, Asset Management and The Organization are clearly action thrillers. Should I put them in that category? There is a major part of me that says, nah…because if everyone did that, how would I find all the lesbian fiction?

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Nearly 99% of what I currently read is lesbian fiction in all its varieties and if I have to comb through the straight fiction to find it because blending in and being mainstream is more lucrative, that would be sad. I think I’d rather keep my lesbian tag.

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Of course, the other thing lesbian authors could do is write straight fiction or m/m fiction, but my answer again is, “But I am a lesbian.” Why would I do that? I would have absolutely no idea how to create a sex scene that feels authentic. Nope, not gonna do that either.

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Here’s a thought. What if lesbian authors did mash-ups? No…not the kind of mash-up I’ve talked about before, but rather a tag mash-up. Amazon has three possible tags to put a book into, so maybe one tag is lesbian romance, another is action-thriller and the third lesbian fiction? Or some other combination. Perhaps I will float that idea to my publisher and see what they think? What do you think?

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If you want to read my lesbian-themed books, you know the drill…

Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!

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Published on September 22, 2017 07:27

September 15, 2017

Forbidden Territory

Ha! Got your attention, didn’t I? Why is it that we crave venturing into the forbidden? Like moths to a flame. Or maybe that’s just me. I recently completed the first draft of…gasp…a historical novella. I’d always maintained there were certain sub-genres I would never attempt and historical fiction was one of them.

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Oh, who was I kidding? I cannot resist a challenge, which is why I wrote a BDSM/Erotica short story which was another forbidden sub-genre for me. Now, I’ve gone to the last forbidden place…historical fiction. Ironically, the working title is Forbidden Love.

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The reason I’d never wanted to travel down the path of historical fiction was that honestly, it was too damn much work. What I found fascinating, as I wove my story fact with fiction, was that I really enjoyed the research. Might I be so bold as to say, I became obsessed with ferreting out every little nuance of the culture and times in 1790 in Antigua.

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I’m not sure if I was successful creating a story with authenticity or not…time will tell if it is published and the reaction is kind, but I can honestly say it was not without a great deal of research.

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Several resources proved invaluable to me, I found a book on the history of Antigua with a collection of letters written during the exact time of my novella. That was the biggest treasure trove for me. Other sources were harder to find, such as the language and sayings of the time. I did my best and am not sure if the dialogue is too formal, thus making it hard to read, or not. Generally, I have a very colloquial style of writing, so when I say this was really way outside my wheelhouse, I mean it.

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There isn’t any quirkiness or other twists in this novella that I’ve generally been known for, but I hope the beauty of the love story and some of the underlying message will still resonate with readers. I can now honestly say I’ve written in every sub-genre out there. Of course, it is still a romash, because that is one signature trait I’ll never lose. Always included in my works is a healthy dose of romance with my: fantasy, sci-fi, paranormal, historical, comedy (yes someone called one of my books a romantic comedy), mystery, dystopian, urban, thriller, drama, young adult, BDSM, erotica, medical and now historical. Granted, I do dance the edges of all of these sub-genres and my works can all have a “light” attached to the end of my claim to write in the sub-genre.

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Well, sh&*, I just realized, after searching for fiction sub-genres, I’ve never written a western and this new novella is only tangentially connected to a pirate story. Also, I am not a poet, that would truly be forbidden territory because if I try to pen a poem, the readers will surely forbid me to do another. I suspect that would be the same for a western. Oh well, I’ll just have to accept there are some forbidden lines I’ll never be able to cross!

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If you want to read any of my variety of genre-hopping novels, feel free to click on the links below.

Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!

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Published on September 15, 2017 08:28

September 8, 2017

That’s Entertainment…

The other day I was reminded of why I always passed on the TV show, America’s Funniest Home Videos. In one of the groups, someone posted a typical video that would usually win on that show…something that highlighted an epic fail with a dose of pain. You know the ones, the line drive softball to someone’s face or their private parts.

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I responded with my typical honest question of why people find that funny. I wasn’t trying to suggest that whoever posted it was cruel or laughing at the expense of someone’s else’s pain. I do understand all of these videos are submitted by those very people who were injured in the film. I also understand the underlying premise because I readily laugh at my own goofiness. Self-deprecating humor is my favorite thing to write about. I can easily put a spotlight on my own failings, accidents, and awkwardness, but I cringe when I have a front row seat to others and don’t find it the least bit humorous.

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I honestly wanted to understand the origin of that kind of humor. So…y’all know where I’m going with this, I had to do some research to dissect the phenomenon. What I found was sobering. One article featured an explanation from Diana Mahony, a psychologist and humor researcher with Brigham Young University. She noted that we laugh “in triumph and superiority at the foibles and stupidity of other people.” Another explanation provided was the detachment that people feel from those highlighted in the video. That was truly scary for me because if we as human beings become more detached to the pain of others, that paves the path for atrocities.That got me to thinking about why violence is entertaining.

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I began to think about violence in general and why that is so entertaining: Boxing, World Wrestling Entertainment, Bull Fighting, Gladiators in ancient Rome, public beheadings or lynchings and so many other examples that haven’t been listed here. I had to dig deep into my own reasons for writing violent scenes in some of my books. Granted, every time I’ve written those scenes the heroine always prevails in the end and justice is served, but did I need to make any of them as graphic as I did with the fight scenes drawn in detail?

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I realized something about myself. I have a lot of tolerance for watching or reading about violence as long as the “good guys and gals” prevail. Here’s the thing about righteousness, we all believe we are on the side of right. I am reminded of comments that Abraham Lincoln made in his inaugural address on March 5th, 1865, after citing Mark Twain’s, War Prayer, a short story that was a scathing indictment of war: “Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God’s assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men’s faces, but let us judge not that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered; that of neither has been answered fully. ”

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I know that I will probably still relish in the pain that rains down on those I consider evildoers, but the first step toward becoming a better person is understanding my fallibility and continuing to challenge my moral compass. I need to at least refrain from ever reveling in someone’s else’s pain no matter who is the recipient.

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Of course, I am not suggesting that you avoid my novels that have the heroine kicking butt and causing pain, because…well…that’s entertainment and who am I to judge! If you want to read any of my very entertaining novels feel free to click on the links below.

Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!