Annette Mori's Blog, page 36

Patience

They say that patience is a virtue. So, I looked that up because honestly what dipshit said that? I wanted to know why is it a virtue. What’s wrong with being anxious as you wait to hear back from a job interview, or whether you passed your certification exam, or whether your loved one is okay after surgery or some natural disaster. In those cases, I don’t really believe that patience is a virtue.

[image error]

The saying, Patience is a virtue, was first recorded in Piers Plowman, a narrative poem believed to have been written by William Langland between 1360 and 1387. It is similar to the Latin expression, maxima enim, patientia virtus (patience is the greatest virtue).

Apparently, Chaucer had a similar notion in his Canterbury Tales and wrote that “Patience is a high virtue… but virtue can hurt you.”  Christians were then quick to adopt this saying because they believed that the poem was a theological allegory of what it means to be a true Christian.

[image error]

I used to believe I was a very patient person, but as I get older, I find that I am adopting my father’s not so patient personality. He used to be very patient, especially with children. I guess that’s to be expected since he was a child psychologist. Maybe everyone loses their patience as they get older or maybe I’m just a heathen who pushes against the Christian virtue of patience.

[image error]

I’m still patient with my furbabies. Perhaps too patient as they rule the roost. I can’t even count how many times I tell them to get down off the counters and never raise my voice. Sometimes to the chagrin of my wife I pretend I don’t see them and ignore their bad behavior.

[image error]

Here’s what I am finding hard to be patient about:

Doing something about 45 after too many egregious things to name

[image error]

Erroneous claims of fake news from the biggest spin doctor of all who loves to perpetuate false news

[image error]

How it is possible that a large group continues to believe that Obama is a Muslim and not born in this country despite factual evidence to dispute this…not to mention the other outrageous claims

[image error]

Helping family/friends understand just how dangerous 45 is to me and my wife and our basic human rights and how a vote for him was so destructive to us. I do not doubt for a second that the entire LBGTQ community is in his scope.

[image error]

How in times of disaster human beings can work shoulder to shoulder and forget religion, sexual orientation, the color of their skin, but once the disaster is over humanity takes a decidedly evil turn down the road of hate.

[image error]

Finding a new place to land that I can make a difference (new job)

[image error]

Feedback on every new book I put out

[image error]

Because I am a person who has been on this planet for many years, I feel like I’ve earned the right to this vice. I’m not interested in being virtuous anymore. I am owning my impatience. I am also owning my obsession to continually check Amazon and see how my books land on readers.

If you want to help me with my impatience feel free to not only pick up a book but leave a review and here’s how you can do that…you know the drill…check out the links below!

Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!

Sign-Up for the Annette Mori Author E-Mail List

Affinity Author Page         Amazon Author Page

[image error]

Instafacetweet

Okay…so there is no such thing as Instafacetweet, it’s my made up word for a mash-up of the what I believe is the three major social media vehicles that businesses use to market their brand. I haven’t included Pinterest because, really, I mean do you really want me to try to weave that in?

[image error]

I had some time to kill the other day and the bug up my rear end made its presence known, so I started to play around with Instagram. Nearly a year ago, I created an account but posted a whopping three pictures in that whole span of time. Clearly, I did not believe that Instagram was worthy of my time and attention.

[image error]

The other day my wife was listening to a training video about what to post and what not to post on Facebook lest employees negatively impact the company’s reputation and brand. She mentioned that she doesn’t post anything on Facebook, but does post pictures on Instagram. My ears perked up as I vaguely remembered the account I established many moons ago.

[image error]

I woke up the other morning to this amazing sunrise and captured it on my iPad. The stars seemed to align and I felt an acute need to share that same pic on Instagram. I’d already posted to Facebook and might have even felt accomplished enough to tweet the pic (not sure about that since Twitter is still relatively foreign to me). My wife was out of town. I’d finished and sent off my latest manuscript to betas. Basically…I had some extra time to devote to researching a new (to me) social media vehicle.

[image error]

After struggling with my iPad and my computer to try to post the picture, I became frustrated enough to post on my Facebook page asking for help. I’d taken the picture on my iPad versus my iPhone. Several hours later I hadn’t gotten too far. I could not remember how I had posted the prior three pictures. So…I went to my best pal, Google. Here’s what I learned:

The official Instagram App is available for iPhone, but not for iPad. For iPad there is a clunky App called InstantRepost and a not so complicated workaround to put the official Instagram on iPad and here is a link to that article if you are interested: http://appamatix.com/get-instagram-app-for-ipad/ This worked really well for me.

[image error]

Instagram has more than 700 million active users on a monthly basis and 400 million daily, 80% of these are outside of the US so this vehicle has a massive global reach.

[image error]

Instagram users are highly engaged and post 95 million photos a day with 4.2 billion likes, that engagement beats out every other social media vehicle by a country mile.

[image error]

There are more female users on Instagram and Instagram tends to have a younger audience.

[image error]

Instagram is clean and easy to navigate (once you get beyond my initial hurdle with trying to find the official iPad app).

In conclusion, I think I just might have to get a bit more involved in Instagram because I think it’s only fair that I share my cute kitten pictures with a whole new audience…oh and of course make sure everyone also knows about all my book launches and new covers! See…you can teach an old cat new tricks (sorry dog lovers, my clear preference is kitties).

If you want to support this Instafacetweet author…you know the drill…check out the links below!

Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!

Sign-Up for the Annette Mori Author E-Mail List

Affinity Author Page         Amazon Author Page

[image error]

Racism, Sexism & Homophobia

In light of the horrific events last Saturday and the absolutely appalling response from 45, I had to write this week’s blog on this important topic. Don’t let Heather’s death fall into the annals of historical obscurity. I’ve said this before and I will say it again, what we permit, we promote. Staying quiet and hoping things will get better is really not an option.

[image error]

I am going to admit something that I’m not proud of, but I believe is illustrative of what is possible. In my youth, as I was trying to come to terms with my sexuality, I attended a lecture that the Gay Alliance (that’s what it was called way back then) sponsored. I attended the lecture to get credit for a class, and I suspect because I was curious. Although I wouldn’t ever have admitted that at the time. Instead, I fell into the trap of self-loathing and spouted along with my friends a bunch of truly hateful slurs. I was only eighteen, but I should have known better. My parents did not teach me that hatred. Unbelievably, I think I may have vaguely alluded to carrying some type of defensive weapon, you know just in case one of those evil lesbians tried to convert me to win that toaster oven. I will tie this in later, I promise.

I remember when my sister said to me that she’d rather I die than hurt my mother and my mother saying, she’d rather I be a whore on the streets than gay. I didn’t say a word.

[image error]

When I attended my grandmother’s funeral, all of my aunts, uncles and cousins were talking about the disgusting way that Ellen Degenerous was parading her sexuality in front of everyone. I kept quiet.

[image error]

When my father who was the ultimate liberal in our family expressed his opinion that the military should keep gays out because it was a distraction, I finally found my voice. This was at a time when both parents had, I thought, come to accept me and my partner at the time. I was flabbergasted by his statement. I was equally flummoxed that both my parents believed in “civil unions” but not same sex marriages. I found my voice again.

[image error]

A few years before I married my wife, I was at lunch with my sister and she kindly informed me that, she wasn’t judging me because everyone sins. Homosexuality is a sin in her eyes, but she loves me anyway. That was the bone she tossed out. I found my voice again and told her that I would never consider loving another a sin and any higher power that espouses that dribble is not worthy of anyone’s devotion.

[image error]

Recently when I lost my job and was in another debate with my sister over 45, I broke my silence again. Normally, I would refuse to debate with my younger sister over politics because it always gets out of hand. Initially she thought it was against the law to discriminate on sexual orientation. After I provided some much needed education, she texted, I was great at what I do and it was the company’s loss for not hiring me. At that point I lost it, my voice was loud.

[image error]

My sister cannot truly understand homophobia and I cannot truly understand racism, but that does not mean I should remain quietly on the sidelines when I know in my heart the moral integrity of the nation is at stake. I listened to a former neo-nazi talk about his transformation and it gave me hope.

[image error]

I provide all the above examples because in each circumstance, something has made a difference to those antiquated views. Let me provide the updates:

I no longer hate myself for being a lesbian. I embrace it.
My younger sister not only came to my wedding, but supports same sex marriage and was a huge help when I married my wife. I don’t know if she still considers my love for my wife a sin or not. I haven’t asked.
Before my mother passed she had made a complete turnaround on her views and understood that my happiness would only ever be with a woman and not a man.
When my cousins and uncle came to Florida to honor my mother’s passing, they embraced my wife and did not blink an eye at my choice for a life partner.
My father changed his views on gays in the military and on same sex marriage.

We must persist and continue the fight to hold our ground and move forward because changing views are possible, but it won’t happen in a vacuum of silence. Let our peaceful voices of love and moral right be heard above the din of hatred. Don’t let 45 take us down that horrid path to any kind of hatred, including self hatred.

[image error]

What we permit, we promote. Please don’t stand idly by and promote hatred, racism, sexism or homophobia. Authors, use your pens. It can be a very influential way to educate when done with love and compassion. I believe it is possible to change, there is proof of that all around us. The neo-nazi who no longer has those hateful views is a beacon of hope. I will continue to use my pen in the hopes that something will shake loose for a person on the edge of enlightenment

Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!

Sign-Up for the Annette Mori Author E-Mail List

Affinity Author Page         Amazon Author Page

[image error]

 

 

Review of ‘Refraction Series’ by Angela Koenig

I know this is such a brilliant little known gem!

Kitty Kat's Book Review Blog

This trilogy is utterly brilliant!  Angela Koenig has written a gripping series of novels following Jeri O’Donnell from the troubles in Ulster, to the Himalayas and onto Yugoslavia when the Balkan war was in full force.  Her life is one of violence, tragedy and keeping hidden from those out to capture her.  When she meets Kelly Corcoran, an American tourist seeking peace, she finds a love that changes her.  Their connection was intense, beautiful and at times frantic and joyful.  Can they survive the dangerous life they lead? Is love enough?  

The writing was intelligent and poetic and managed to convey a sense of history that pulled me into the story and made me feel as if I was right in the midst of it all.  Jeri is a very complex character and her journey is one that I am so glad I followed.  The love story woven throughout…

View original post 39 more words

#HashtagThis #HashtagThat

[image error]

You’ve probably noticed all the hashtags recently on my posts and wondered why all of a sudden Annette is hashtagging everything she touches. Like a good student, when someone more intelligent than myself says I should do it, I listen. Unfortunately, I also have an innate need to know the whys behind everything. I’ve never been good at learning from instructors who say click here, then click there, now push that button… I crave the knowledge behind the mechanics. What does that click do or what would happen if I tried this?

[image error]

So…I went aGoogling (I’m just making up words right and left now) to find out the rationale behind hashtags and what they really do. Here’s what I discovered.

The reason I never understood the power of hashtags is because I’m old and have never done a search on Twitter or Facebook for a particular topic via a hashtag.

Just because someone puts out a hashtag, doesn’t mean your post will suddenly show up on someone’s page or catch someone’s eye.

[image error]

Social media users have to click on your hashtag to find your post and all the similar posts with that tag. Side note: I checked out several of my hashtags and they worked perfectly with the exception of one. I was very disappointed to click on the BDSM hashtag in my post and got nothing…sheesh I thought tons of people were chatting about that hot topic! However when I went into the search bar instead of simply clicking on my hashtag, voila…found multiple posts!If anyone knows the reason for this, I’m all ears.

[image error]

I’ve discovered a whole new way to research topics. All I need to do is click on a hashtag and the posts are endless. What a great way to join interesting conversations.

[image error]

#Hashtagiodiot does not bring forward helpful information on hashtags…just saying. I had to do a normal Google search to obtain the above helpful information on hashtags.

[image error]

I was like a kid in a candy store when I finally understood this whole nebulous (to me) concept of hashtags. I was clicking on every single hashtag I saw. Dangit…a brand new addiction. Why Goddess why do you tempt me so?

[image error]

You are all probably saying right now, “Well Annette, duh, we knew all that.” But for those of you who didn’t…you’re welcome.

[image error]

Now I just need to come up with a clever hashtag that will encourage everyone to purchase my books, but somehow I think #buyAnnetteMoribooks isn’t likely a tag that will get a whole lot of action, How about #romash. I’ve decided both a new word and a new hash tag are in order. A “Romash” is a novel that has equal parts romance and something else (paranormal, sci-fi, dystopian, intrigue, mystery, thriller, fantasy, etc)  It’s a special kind of mash up…but if that new hashtag doesn’t do it, and you feel the need to go out right now and purchase my books, you know the drill, click the links below….

Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!

Sign-Up for the Annette Mori Author E-Mail List

Affinity Author Page         Amazon Author Page

[image error]

Interauthor Relations

I was struggling with what to write about for my weekly blog. A fellow author suggested, Exploits of a 90’s Lesbian. I kindly reminded her that I was older than dirt and for me, it would be Exploits of a 80’s Lesbian. I am shuddering right now just thinking about going back in time and trying to remember the stupid s#@t (I’m trying to be less profane) I did in my youth, fueled by too much alcohol. Then I remembered that the too much alcohol part made it physically impossible for me to have an accurate recollection of my time as a brand new lesbian. In case you don’t know what I mean—I killed a lot of brain cells back then.

[image error]

My wife suggested I talk about how bloody (I know this is profanity in Britain, but I think it’s on the line here in America) hot it was and give a kitten update. I posted our conversation today on Facebook. Nope, that topic was readily discarded as well. I really didn’t want to talk about the poor kittens that were panting and meowing pitifully in the heat, even if my wife found a clever way to tie it into my books—don’t ask.

Then that same fellow author suggested I talk about interauthor (newly made up word – thanks, L. Hill) relations. That peaked my interest. Before your dirty little minds go down the bad road, let me remind you that I am happily married, so the relations are not that kind. What we’re talking about is the ways that lesfic authors support one another and we do.

[image error]

Amazingly, we don’t just support our fellow authors within our publishing company, but we support other lesfic authors not within our own publishing families. I don’t know if this happens in mainstream fiction or not, but it is rampant in the lesfic world.

I’ve found that lesfic authors are also avid lesfic readers, so it makes sense that we would read and promote each other’s work. But, I think it goes deeper than that. I think we crave lesfic and are afraid that if we don’t shine the light on our fellow sister authors, the outpouring of lesbian works will stop and then we’ll be back to the days before Naid press came on the scene.

[image error]

I am blessed to be a part of several groups that support lesfic authors. Initially, I was going to cite them all, but there are just too many to list. Suffice to say there is a lesbian fiction coopetition (also a new word) versus competition group, a marketing group, a review group, and tons of reading groups that welcome authors into their fold.

[image error]

Affinity Rainbow Publications does a lot to encourage interauthor relations. The owners have been around a long time and at my first GCLS conference, Erin took me around to meet everyone. They are also huge financial supporters of that and other events. I feel blessed to be part of such a supportive publishing house. Additionally, I think a special call-out to Isabella who organizes LCLC and the Literary cruise is in order. There were independent authors and authors from other publishing houses invited to the event and we could not have been more welcomed than if we were with her publishing house.

Of course, the other festivals I’ve been a part of that encourage these interauthor relations is GCLS and Lonestar. One day I will get to Provincetown for Women’s Week so that I can objectively comment on that experience, but since I’ve never been, I can’t evaluate this event for its impact on interauthor relations.

[image error] [image error]

There are a number of authors I send my manuscript drafts to and visa versa. It helps me to bounce ideas off of my fellow authors and they can help me unstick like no-one else. I hope I provide the same support to them when needed. I know I try to offer up my time and perspective whenever I’m asked (much to the chagrin of my wife who feels like she gets the short end of the stick when I do that). I will continue my active participation in these groups as much as time permits (right now that is a lot because of my employment situation) because I believe that cooperation lifts all of us up and competition in lesfic has no place.

[image error]

Viva la lesfic! If you want to support this wacky author and start an interauthor or any kind of reading relationship with me…you know the drill…check out the links below!

Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!

Sign-Up for the Annette Mori Author E-Mail List

Affinity Author Page         Amazon Author Page

[image error]

My Top 10 Bad Ass Women in History

I can’t quite let go of this badass woman theme, so I’ve decided to extend it to one more blog. This week’s blog will be simple with my top 10 list of badass women in history. Several names popped right to the surface for me, but I wanted to be open to hearing about other women that readers thought were deserving of making my list. Remember, my definition of bad ass includes intellectual prowess and something I don’t think I mentioned before, but consider equally important…compassion and kindness. I’ve included a few compassionate bad asses. Drum roll…okay, here is my list in no particular order:

Marie Curie – A list would not be complete without this brilliant scientist and I love women scientists. Marie was the first women to win a Nobel prize (she won two actually and the only woman to win two). Despite personal risk which later claimed her life, she developed the theory of radioactivity, sparked the first studies into the treatment of neoplasms using radioactive isotopes and developed the first mobile radiography units for X-rays in World War I.

[image error]
Harriet Tubman – I’ve been fascinated with this amazing woman since grade school when I chose to do a book report on her. You probably know that she was an escaped slave who ran 13 missions to save over 70 people in the underground railroad, but did you know she also was the first woman to lead an armed expedition that resulted in freeing 700 slaves. Yeah, she was a bad ass all right.

[image error]
Katherine Johnson – The mathematician highlighted in the movie Hidden Figures. Without her, the US would not have been the first country to put a man on the moon. Enough said.

[image error]
Annie Oakley – Who doesn’t think a gun toting woman who can outshoot the men isn’t worthy of making the list. In a time when women were definitely not recognized as equals, Annie Oakley shined bright. Take that Frank E Butler who was a famous sharpshooter himself. Annie kicked your ass in that contest.

[image error]
Rosa Parks – While Rosa was not the first person to refuse to give up her seat, she did become the beacon for Civil Rights and continued the fight throughout her life bringing notoriety and much-needed attention to important issues of the times.

[image error]
Ellen Degeneres – While Ellen was not the first openly gay entertainer, she was the first openly lesbian actress to play an openly lesbian character on TV. After an initial backlash, she persisted and became one of the most successful openly lesbian icons of our generation.

[image error]
Katherine Forrest – For me personally, she is a bad ass because she wrote the very first lesbian novel I read with a truly happy ending. After reading that book, I had a spark of hope for my own life and she has done that for many other lesbians. She is the ultimate bad ass of literature in my mind for writing the ground breaking Curious Wine that gave us all the happily ever after we all deserve.

[image error]
Susan B Anthony – Susan makes my list because she played a pivotal role in the Women’s Suffrage movement. Women owe our right to vote to her efforts.

[image error]
Joan of Arc – A life ended way too soon at the age of nineteen. Maybe she was bat shit crazy, but she is the only known person to have commanded an entire army of any nation at the age of seventeen.

[image error]
Elizabeth I – Considered by many to be the greatest monarch in English history. She lived in a precarious time and even spent some time as a prisoner in the infamous Tower of London.

[image error]

As I did research for this I could have easily come up with a list of 100, 1,000, or yes 1,000,000,000 bad ass women because each of us in our own right is a bad ass woman who contributes our own unique badassery. Whether it be in the kindness we offer to others, the children we give life to, the small acts of rebellion against what is wrong in the world, or simply a smile or laugh to our fellow friends, family, and neighbors, women are the fabric of every community.

[image error]

If you want to read about my badass characters who range from vampires,librarians, aliens, nerds, warriors, cops, covert agents, writers, or ordinary women who do extraordinary things, including finding love again or giving love freely to those in need, feel free to check out my books through Affinity Rainbow Publications by clicking one of the links below. If you want to know more about Affinity Rainbow Publications click the page link at the top.

Also feel free to check out a brand new place to find lesbian romance books…check out The Niche Retreat …The Organization and Locked Inside will be featured next week!

Sign-Up for the Annette Mori Author E-Mail List

Affinity Author Page         Amazon Author Page

[image error]

Back In the Closet

Warning: I was in a mood and this blog is serious…no humor at all.

I never ever, ever, ever, thought I would utter these words again or feel the need to take this drastic measure, but it is back to the closet for me after vowing I would never go to that dark place again. Unfortunately, reality has come into sharp focus for me and it will be the sacrifice I need to make until I can safely make it to retirement.

[image error]

It is ironic that when I have talked with employees represented by a union there is a perception that management is treated much more favorably than non-management. I beg to differ. States like Washington are considered “employment at will” states, which essentially means a person can be fired for any reason, doesn’t have to be a good one. Of course in every single union contract, I have ever dealt with there is a concept called “just cause” which basically makes the “at will” provision null and void. In other words, management cannot terminate someone for any reason, they must have just cause.

Washington has laws to protect discrimination, but try proving that, thus back into that dark, scary place because eventually there is a beautiful light at the end of the tunnel.

[image error]

Although I get a really good vibe from the place I hope to get an employment offer from, I’ve talked with my wife and we aren’t going to take the chance. I won’t bring her to the company events. I’ll continue to play the pronoun game and I won’t proudly display our wedding picture on my desk.

[image error]

Instead, I will relish the freedom I have as an out lesbian author and let my alter ego feel the wind and sunlight dance across my face. As Annette Mori I will be free. The groups I belong to will be my safe place, my go to escape to be who I truly am, an out and proud lesbian. I’ve already taken down my other Facebook page under my real name because there were too many connections to my Annette Mori page.

[image error]

In some ways, I feel like I am letting my lesbian sisters down. I feel we are in a strange place in our history and I hope I won’t be judged too harshly for the decision that my wife and I have made. Will I ever lie about being married to a woman…emphatically no. That would cross a boundary that I am not willing to take, no matter what those consequences are. I guess I’ll just have to cross that bridge if it jumps in my path.

[image error]

This was a heart-wrenching decision for me to make and I truly hope that someday, no-one will ever feel the need to follow in my footsteps and go back in the closet. I have hope that we will return to a brighter future and history will right itself again.

I am positive it is not possible for others to beat me up any more than I am currently doing to myself for my cowardice and unwillingness to be a bad ass woman. It has caused deep sadness and shame. I am proud of the one time in my life that I was able to work the system from the inside when negotiating a contract before sexual orientation or gender identity was part of Washington’s nondiscrimination laws. Arguing to add nondiscrimination language to a collective bargaining agreement that included sexual orientation was a tricky affair at the time, especially to a devout Morman CEO.  Luckily Registered Nurses were in short supply and a business case was made, but it was an uphill battle. My normal tendency to swim against the current will temporarily wither on the vine. I applaud those proud sisters who hold the rainbow flag high without regard to dramatic consequences, I will seek my voice in prose because I still have my writing to allow that small amount of rebellion.

[image error]

For all the lesbian authors out there, I believe there will be a whole new set of stories to write as the United States takes two steps back before we progress forward. Let’s write those stories to mark this dark time in our history so that we never forget it.

If you want to check out my books, especially The Termination, which is shockingly predictive of where we could be heading (okay maybe a tad exaggerated), just click the links below.

Sign-Up for the Annette Mori Author E-Mail List

Affinity Author Page         Amazon Author Page

[image error]

 

Bad Ass Women

[image error]

I’m still coming down off my high from GCLS, but I’m not going to do a re-cap like everyone else because: 1) I’m the definition of unconventional and I never swim in the same direction as everyone else and; 2) I’m inspired to talk about something a whole lot more fun.

[image error]

I mentioned before that I participated in a panel called, Bass Ass women with a Heart of Gold. This got me to thinking about what constitutes a bass ass woman? No doubt, y’all went to the same place I did… a gun toting, martial arts quadruple black belt (is there such a thing), 6-pack for abs, butt kicking Amazonian Goddess. Those thoughts ambled along to what really gets my engine running…and it’s intelligence, wit, and humor. So…why do I first think of a bad ass with the above physical traits and not a bad ass intellectual? Because I am influenced as much as everyone else by the images of perfection that surround us. It’s about time we ventured out and recognized all types of badasses.

My older sister who turns 59 today and does not look a day over 40, is the biggest, baddest, bad ass I know when it comes to intelligence and wit. She can zing an insult faster and more effective than anyone I know. She uses her words and people sit up and listen. There isn’t a teacher, lawyer, doctor, politician or anyone else that would dare to take her on in a verbal battle of wits.

[image error]

In the book that Erin O’Reilly and I birthed today from Affinity Rainbow Publications, titled, The Organization, there are both kinds of badasses, those with the physical prowess and those with the intellectual and strategic adroitness (ooh look at me getting all intellectually bad ass…not…I went straight to the thesaurus so I wouldn’t use the word prowess again). Maggie is a brilliant strategist. Toni and Dani are the genius twin eggheads, and Char is an all around bad ass both in her fighting skills and strategic dexterity. Val, Sophie, and Ronda are the kind of women you want next to you when a bar brawl erupts. Here are a few clips, just to give you a flavor for the wonderful variety of badasses in, The Organization. The only type of bad ass missing is a corporate bad ass, for that you’ll have to read, The Ultimate Betrayal and meet Lara! The first scene is the one I read for the GCLS panel and the others are small snippets to give a feel for the various characters.

Val squirmed in the backseat of the SUV. “Jesus Christ, my grandma drove faster than you.”

“Shut the fuck up, Val. You don’t have a grandma,” Sophie responded.

Val crossed her arms across her chest. “How the hell do you know anything about my family? I could have a grandma.”

“Maggie pulled your punk ass off the streets. No grandma hanging around. We’ll get there in plenty of time to collect your girlfriend.” Sophie flipped the visor down after careening around a bend only to find the bright sunlight blinding her. She gripped the wheel tighter.

“She’s not my girlfriend,” Val grumbled.

“You sure act like she is. Ya know…since you’re all hell-bent on rescuing her even though she’s not one of us,” Ronda interjected.

“Leave her alone.” Char turned her head to first glare at Sophie, then at Ronda for a disapproving look.

Mark chuckled. “You guys sound a lot like my squad, but I’ll bet you always have each other’s backs.”

“Who told you it was time to contribute to the conversation?” Ronda made a fist and pounded his leg.

“Ouch. What did ya do that for?”

Ronda grinned. “Just felt like it.”

“Shit. Probably some dumbass looking at his cell phone again and everyone else has to rubberneck to try to find the gore.” Sophie pushed the visor up. The car decelerated to a creeping speed as the line of cars ahead slowed.

“I told you to take the back roads. You know the highway is always a crapshoot, especially at this time of day,” Ronda interjected.

“Shut up, Ronda. Just what I don’t need, stereo backseat drivers.” Sophie smacked the steering wheel. “God damn it. We’re going to be caught in this for hours.”

“Good thing I’m prepared.” Char leaned forward, rifled through her bag, and pulled out what looked like a portable police siren. “Toni rigged this up for me a few weeks ago. She knows how much I hate waiting in traffic. We won’t be flying down the highway, but at least we’ll be able to navigate through this little cluster on the shoulder and be on our way.”

“Okay, the little shit gets a free pass next time she raids my freezer,” Val said. “Now slap that device on the roof and let’s get a move on. I wouldn’t put it past Leonid to send an army to Antonio’s place. He won’t take this lying down.” She leaned forward and whispered, “Thanks, Char.”

[image error]

Okay, stop distracting me. I need to concentrate on the final adjustments to the code,” Toni told Char before looking in Dani’s direction. “Do you think we’ll be done with this today?”

Dani nodded. “You just opened the floodgates with your modification. That was the key. I’m confident we can finish today. We’ll need to do some final testing, of course, but this will be so sweet. All Val will have to do is activate it and the new audio stream will match their gestures and sync enough to fool Leonid. They should be able to talk freely whenever she uses the device.”

“I don’t understand how you’re able to sync the audio and video.” Char leaned over the computer screen.

“Just think of this like a really advanced foreign movie. Hollywood hasn’t come nearly as far with dubbing technology as we have. Granted, they’ve come a long way, but our technology is almost seamless. Leonid won’t be able to detect any anomalies. We’re almost done, but no offense, hon, you’re getting in the way of our making history here,” Toni answered

Char slapped her hand to her chest. “I am so wounded. I guess the honeymoon’s over. I’m just a distraction now.” She chuckled.

Dani nodded and began to enter code into the program. “I got it. Take a look, Toni.”

Toni glanced at the screen. “Yeah, that looks about right. Let’s do a little test right now. Char, will you please sit in my lap and tell me that you want to rip off my clothes and fuck me ’til I scream?”

“You’re kidding, right?” Char asked.

Toni grinned. “Nope, we need to test how the code works and what it will do to sync the video and audio of the live demonstration.”

“I swear you two have the oddest ways to test your inventions.”

“We might be geeks, but we know how to make our work interesting,” Toni remarked.

“Fine.” Char sat on Toni’s lap and deadpanned, “I want to rip your clothes off and fuck you until you scream.”

“Waiter, check please,” Toni quipped.

“Listen, it’s working.”

[image error]

Toni was breathing heavily when she burst into the conference room. “They got her out and Leonid sent people over to Antonio’s to invade his place. I’m assuming Gina is on her way there.”

“Yes, Antonio just called with an update and so did Char,” Maggie answered. “Everyone will converge on Antonio’s compound. I’m waiting for additional news. You can either sit here with me or go back to the lab and continue to monitor Leonid with Dani.”

“You know, Maggie, I don’t know whether to applaud you or fear you. There’s not a hair out of place on your head and you delivered that response as if you’d just informed me that we were having turkey for dinner.”

Maggie raised her brow. “Do not ever misunderstand my absence of hysteria for apathy. Nothing could be further from the truth. Excess worry and emotion never adds to the strength of an operation.”

[image error]

**Note no actual virgin ears were harmed by the number of badasses in this blog, but I did get to take a fireball shot for every single one….

I sincerely hope you will check out, The Organization, after all, it was the readers who convinced me to connect with the talents of Erin O’Reilly to write the only sequel I will ever do to Asset Management. Your begging and pleading apparently paid off with this fast paced adventure.

Sign-Up for the Annette Mori Author E-Mail List

Affinity Author Page         Amazon Author Page

[image error]

 

GCLS Update

[image error]

Well crap…I was sitting fat and happy after lunch at a table talking with Sue, Renee, Ali and Angie and realized it was Friday…blog day. Coincidentally the night before I started a list of the top 10 Educational/Interesting items talked about at the conference and decided that’s what my blog will be about.

[image error]

Drum roll…without further adieu, here are my top ten items decided in collaboration with others that we are now naming the goober patrol. We could only come up with five…but stay tuned because there are two more days to the conference!

[image error]

 Requirements for packing in and packing out on a five-day backtracking trip only include the toilet paper when uh…pooping in the woods. Against any better judgement, I asked how do you pack out the toilet paper after use? The answer appalled me as they said it’s just like picking up doggy poop in a little plastic bag. Of course, then I asked with a horrified expression on my face, “Do you have to pack out the poop too?”
Cricket Krap is the best fertilizer because it has a higher nitrogen content. Don’t ask.  If you need more information get Renee Mackenzie’s book, Nesting .
It is very disconcerting according to Sue when there is growling between your legs. I, of course, challenged that…there is nothing sexier than a woman growling between your legs.
Not everyone knows about the A-spot or U-spot.  I took the time to educate people using the Vagina Couch picture as a visual display for The A-spot and gave a simple explanation for the U-spot. Find the g-spot and go a little further down the road and you’ll find the U-spot.
When someone calls out Open Wide Make it Big …it doesn’t have anything to do with sex much to our disappointment.  We needed to make a space for wheelchair access.

[image error]

Hopefully, everyone is catching our periodic Facebook Live posts and tonight we plan on doing our readings on the Vagina Couch!

[image error]

I don’t even know how to tie in checking out my books, other than saying…stop by the table or click the links below….

Sign-Up for the Annette Mori Author E-Mail List

Affinity Author Page         Amazon Author Page

[image error]