Delilah Devlin's Blog, page 2

A Health Update

I didn’t post yesterday. My day started early because my infusion was scheduled for 9 AM, and after my appointment with my oncologist, where he canceled the infusion, I didn’t feel much like posting. Instead, I went straight to work, editing a story.

Not that I was depressed. I’m really not. I don’t do depression. That sounds weird, I know, but for me, it’s just not natural to let emotions pound me into the ground. And it wasn’t like I wasn’t expecting some news that might not be pleasant.

Last Thursday, I had some bloodwork done in preparation for yesterday’s appointment. It’s a big old panel of tests they run. Most were completely normal—including my liver stats, which haven’t been normal in a long while. That was good news. The one test that always has me edgy is my cancer marker test, the CA-125, because when it goes up from normal range (the top of normal range is 38), it means my cancer is likely back, roaming around my body, looking for somewhere to cause some problems.

Well, last Thursday’s result was 525. Very, very not good.

My daughter and I met with my doctor. We decided that my remaining immunotherapy medicine, Keytruda (I had already gone off Lenvima), wasn’t doing diddly to keep the cancer at bay. So the infusion was cancelled. I wasn’t sorry. I hate sitting in a chair with an IV in my arm. It’s boring as hell. We talked about what’s next.

First, he wants another PET scan to see where the cancer might be lurking. What he sees will determine whether I go back on chemotherapy, or we try a more targeted approach, something called HER2. I’ve been reading up on it. He seemed to think that the genetic testing they’ve done on my cancer indicated that HER2 might work for me. He said it’s easier to tolerate than the heavy-duty chemo I did last year.

So now, they have to get approval for the scan. As soon as they do, I’ll head to their office in Hot Springs. The following Monday, I’ll meet with him to go over the results of the scan, and we’ll talk about a game plan.

I’m feeling good. Well, other than some back pain, some stomach bloating, some vertigo, and nausea… Guess that’s enough complaining, right? My daughter and I did not walk out of that office yesterday feeling devastated. We headed home to have coffee and do some Googling to learn about this new therapy. That’s what we do.

I have a nurse who checks in with me monthly, reviewing my meds, my symptoms, asking me questions about my moods. She called today. I asked for a renewal of an old nausea med then asked her whether they have a dietician available for me to get serious about how to improve my odds through diet. I’m hoping I don’t have to cut out pasta or rice dishes. Or spicy foods. Or hot sauce, chili flakes, wasabi… Now, I’m hungry, so I’m stopping here.

I love you all. Take care of yourselves. Hug your friends and families. I’ll be back with something fun tomorrow!

The post A Health Update first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

Report Card & Open Contests

Report Card

Last week…

I worked on one author’s edits!I worked with the Burn Authors to write loglines for their stories.I had a blood draw on Thursday, and all I can say is that what we (I and my oncology team) are doing now ain’t working.

This next week…

I’ll participate in my local art guild’s annual potluck dinner!I’ll finish edits on one author’s book.I’ll find art for  Burn  and request the cover.I’ll begin editing  Burn  stories.I hope to write new pages, either on my Burn short story, Ignition ,  Overwhelming Ophelia , or  Built Like Mack . Just a few pages…I’ll meet with my oncologist to discuss next steps and may or may not stick around for an infusion treatment…Open Contests

Be sure to check out these posts and enter to win the prizes that are still up for grabs:

Flashback: Silver Soldiers–A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology (Contest — 2 Winners!) — Last day to enter! Win a FREE book! TWO winners!Sliding Puzzle: The Wedding Couple (Contest) — This ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!Clear My Bookshelf Giveaway! — This ends soon! Win a SIGNED book and a hand-painted bookmark!Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Fall Flavors — This ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!Memory Game: Fantastic Fantasies (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!I Saw a Red Aurora Borealis! (Contest) — Win a hand painted bookmark!Gabbi Grey: My Unexpected Journey (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!Word Search: Favorite Pickles (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Passenger Train on a Dreary Night — Win an Amazon gift card!The post Report Card & Open Contests first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Passenger Train on a Dreary Night

While I was searching for a fun image for today’s puzzle, I came across this photo of a passenger train. I realized that I haven’t ridden a train since I was last in Europe in 1992. I rode them regularly, especially toward the end of my tour in Germany when my unit moved 80 miles away and my family didn’t want to leave the small town we were living in, where the kids attended a really nice German school. So, I either drove the 80 miles, often sleeping on a friend’s couch that night if work ended too late for me to head home safely, or I rode the train between those two towns, which was a total blast. On the way to work, it was quiet and I napped. On the way back, I hung out in the dining car, drank beer with the other commuters, and arrived back home still feeling fresh. It made for long days, but my family was happy, and I got a daily chance to work on German language skills.

Anyway, back to trains. I think I’d like to take a ride on an Amtrak train. Not any long journey—maybe just to New Orleans or Memphis, just for the train ride and a quick visit to two cities I really enjoy. Or, and this is a bucket list trip, I’d love to take the train to Salem, Massachusetts.

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle then let me know whether you’ve ever ridden a train. What was your experience? Any recommendations for train trips?

The post Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Passenger Train on a Dreary Night first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

Word Search: Favorite Pickles (Contest)

It’s National Pickle Day, of course! And what better way to celebrate than a puzzle and a contest!

I love all kinds of pickles. A crunchy dill pickle is my favorite cucumber pickle. Pickled hot peppers are a must have. And if I’m looking for something spicier, I love Korean kimchi—all kinds, not just the cabbage kimchi that comes first to mind.

Now, it’s your turn. For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, let me know what kinds of pickles you love most. And if you have an easy recipe for one, please share!

The post Word Search: Favorite Pickles (Contest) first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

Gabbi Grey: My Unexpected Journey (Contest)

Hello, Delilah!  Thank you for inviting me here to share my new anthology release!  Big surprise, right?  Because if there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s writing short stories for anthologies…

Only, this was a project I wasn’t supposed to be involved in.

I’ll explain.

When the list of anthologies planned by The New Romance Café came out almost two years ago, I dove in and signed up for every single one.  Did I have plots for any of them?  Of course not!  But I had Plot Whisperer and a huge worry about FOMO.  I hate missing out, so committing to all of them meant I wouldn’t have to.

Back in January, I started to really panic.  I needed to pull out of some projects.  I’d signed up for one anthology with two spots, and I bailed and gave one of the spots to a friend.  I figured I’d do the same for the fairy tale anthology as well as this one.  Even just the idea of writing 15k words was too much.

Yeah…never did find someone for the fairy tale story.  Naturally, I wrote one.  And I loved it. And it got published.

I found a friend to do Snowed in with You, though, so I was relieved. Until she came back to me and said the “short story” she started had become a novel.

Oops.

So, I took the slot back — unsure if I could write a story and meet the deadline.  Except Plot Whisperer had whispered a plot. AND the story connected to another one I’d written, which meant it had a possible home eventually.

Of course, I wrote the story. One I’m actually pretty happy with.  Finding Kellen is about one man lost (not literally) being found by one lonely man.  Together, stuck in a small cabin with no power, they forge a friendship and, eventually, more.

They have to go back to civilization at some point, and the question is whether or not they can maintain what they’ve found or whether outside pressures will be too much.

It’s a romance – so you can guess the answer.

I banded together with a large group of authors, and we have an anthology!  I really hope readers enjoy it!

Thanks for sticking around to read my tale of the short story I tried to get out of writing and then wound up writing anyway.

Contest: As a thank you to one of your readers, Delilah, I’d like to give away a $5 gift certificate for Amazon.  Just let me know – are you a fan of one bed or forced proximity romances?  They’re amongst my favorites and I’d love to know your thoughts. One commentor will be chosen by Random to win.

Snowed In with You

When the snow falls, sparks fly.

Snowed In With You is a collection of contemporary romance, filled with unexpected love and the magic of winter. When blizzards hit and temperatures drop, strangers, friends, and even enemies are forced into close quarters, discovering that sometimes being snowed in is exactly what they need to find their happily ever after.

From secluded cabins to bustling lodges, each story captures the feeling of being snowed in—where the world slows down and love takes center stage.

Perfect for readers who crave romance with a dose of forced proximity, crackling fireplaces, and cozy winter settings, Snowed In With You will warm your heart even on the coldest of nights.

Authors:
Linda G. Hill
Anna Allen
Cynthia Terelst
Michelle Moncrieff
Gracin Sawyer
Emma Lynn Everly
Toni Denise
Deaia Sanders
Kalli Dean
MacKade
Ebony Snow
Sofia Aves
Chelle Pimblott
Gabbi Grey
Lexi Haven
Clarice Jayne
Chele MacCabe
Bonnie Poirier
Sharon Wray
Laura M. Baird

Note: The anthology will only be available for a limited time.

Links:
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/tnrcsnowedin25
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Snowed-Romance-Caf%C3%A9-Collection-Book-ebook/dp/B0F3FB3GJ5
Add it to Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/230925707-snowed-in-with-you

Finding Kellen by Gabbi Grey

Kellen

I crashed my dad’s Lambo, and now the paparazzi are chasing me around Vancouver. It truly sucks to be a rich man’s only son. So I head to the family fishing cabin in the hopes of escaping the chaos, not to mention the weight of my dad’s ire and disappointment. Only when I get to the snowy hideaway in Northern British Columbia, I get a hell of a shock.

Marco

I’ve been in some fascinating places and in some interesting positions in pursuit of my environmental sciences PhD. None quite as unexpected as finding myself sharing a remote cabin with the irresistible Kellen Parsons. It turns out he’s into guys. So am I—although I’ve never acted on it beyond a bit of fumbling around. Now heat flares every time we look at each other, and keeping our hands to ourselves is tough. As the winter solstice nears, and the snow continues, who knows how far things will go?

Finding Kellen is a 15k word opposites attract gay romance story with an inveterate and unapologetic bad boy and the man who might show him there’s a different way to live.

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.

Personal links:
Website: https://gabbigrey.com/
Newsletter sign-up: https://sendfox.com/gabbigrey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbigrey/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15456297.Gabbi_Grey
Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/Gabbi-Grey/e/B07SJVFX1M
Audible Profile: https://www.audible.com/author/Gabbi-Grey/B07SJVFX1M
Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGabbiGrey

 

The post Gabbi Grey: My Unexpected Journey (Contest) first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

I Saw a Red Aurora Borealis! (Contest)

I live in south-central Arkansas. We rarely see the aurora borealis. When it appears this far south, you can’t see it well with the naked eye, and it’s always the blue-green lights. Last night, we were treated to quite a show. I’m sharing photos taken from my property of a lovely magenta to pink Northern Lights display. This is actually the first time I can recall seeing the lights in my lifetime, so you know I was excited!

This first one was taken with the roof of our house at the bottom of the photo. That bubble of white light is not the moon sitting on my roof; it’s a bubble sky light.

This photo and the one below, were taken from my back porch.

I sat outside in the cold, watching that miracle of “solar particles interacting with oxygen at high altitudes,” thankful for the intense solar activity that produced something I’ve never seen before. The sky was on fire.

Norsemen believed a red aurora borealis was caused by the Valkyries riding to deliver fallen warriors to Valhalla. The Sami people in Finland believed they were caused by fire foxes running across the sky. Some Native Americans believed they were the spirits of the dead coming to tell us about a coming disaster. I rather like the idea of the Valkyries charging across the sky—warrior women bringing the dead to Odin’s hall for a kegger.

For a chance to win a hand painted bookmark from me, let me know whether you’ve seen the Northern Lights and where!

The post I Saw a Red Aurora Borealis! (Contest) first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

Memory Game: Fantastic Fantasies (Contest)

Time to exercise your gray matter, folks!

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle, then tell me what fantasy movie or TV series you’d recommend for bingeing purposes! I’d love some recommendations! Have fun!

The post Memory Game: Fantastic Fantasies (Contest) first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

N.J. Walters: Check out ALEXIARES, Book #2 of the Blackwell Brothers’ Redemption trilogy!

ALEXIARES, the second book in my Blackwell Brothers’ Redemption trilogy, is out today! I’m excited to share this book with you and hope you enjoy it.

Alexiares
Blackwell Brothers’ Redemption, Book 2

 

Some find redemption. Others land in it.

One moment, Alexiares Blackwell was reaping yet another human soul and gunning through New York City on his Harley. The next, he’s dropped into the path of an oncoming car in the small town of Redemption.

It turns out, his dear old dad—the Grim Reaper himself—has decided that Alex needs a crash course in humanity. Literally. Now he’s stuck in a nowhere town with nothing but his motorcycle and some serious parent issues.

But no one messes with Death. Not even his sons.

Stripped of his powers, Alex is trying to figure out what his father wants from him—all while attempting to resist his increasingly complicated attraction to inn owner Cilla Wainwright. Alex can’t risk anything that resembles feelings…not even when she surprises him with a kiss that unravels him in ways he still can’t figure out.

Because Alex has a job to do.

And it’s starting to look a lot like the next soul he’s supposed to reap…is hers.

TEASER:

Maybe he was completely off base and Cilla’s death would be accidental, but he didn’t think so. Her tragic ending was likely a major reason Cilla had been chosen for his father’s test.

A roaring sound in his ears momentarily blocked all outside noise. The thunderous howl never passed his lips, but it echoed in the depths of his soul and reverberated in every cell of his being. The idea that his father wanted him to care about Cilla only to then have him reap her soul splintered something inside him.

Time stopped and everything went silent—both his body and mind shut down. It was impossible for him to walk away. As much as he’d like to tell his father what he could do with his assignment, it wouldn’t change Cilla’s fate. There were no negotiations when it came to death. When your time was up, it was up. No amount of begging or pleading or hoping would change it.

But there was still a chance for him…if he didn’t mess this up.

And as difficult as her death was going to be, he didn’t want to leave Cilla. Come what may, she deserved someone who cared about her by her side at the end. Her brother and ex were trying to get her to buckle under their threats and demands. They didn’t understand her nearly as well as they believed. Cilla Wainwright might temporarily bend, but she’d never break.

And it would be the death of her.

*~*~*

Want to read more? Check out the links below.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FPDM1PQ8/
Entangled Publishing: https://www.entangledpublishing.com/books/alexiares
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alexiares-n-j-walters/1148160829
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/alexiares
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/alexiares/id6751813870

Samael

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out SAMAEL, the first book in the series.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F2SDQMVF/

 

About the Author

N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, assassins, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.

Visit her at:
Website: http://www.njwalters.com
Blog: http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com
Newsletter Sign Up: http://eepurl.com/gdblg5
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersAuthor
Twitter: https://x.com/njwaltersauthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/NJWalters
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/njwalters
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/n-j-walters

The post N.J. Walters: Check out ALEXIARES, Book #2 of the Blackwell Brothers’ Redemption trilogy! first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

Saturday Report Card & Open Contests!

Report Card

Last week…

I completed one authors edits!I revised the opening chapters of a book I started years ago, Overwhelming Ophelia . I forgot how fun that story was!I continued feeling better since I ditched Lenvima. The hormone-blocker hasn’t given me any side effects that I know of. So that’s good! Well, I have one problem on the health front that’s making me crazy. My vision is getting really blurry again. Reading this screen, I have to tilt my head this way and that, take off my computer specs, and lean close to make sure I’m seeing what I type correctly. Such a pain in the ass. I just got a new prescription a few months ago for the same reason.I spent way too much of my free time watching Asian Reels. Why, at this stage of my life, am I finding stories about ancient feudal Chinese warriors so attractive!?My family and I watched that two-hour Wicked special on Peacock. We are so stoked to see the second half of Wicked in the theaters!I completed another water-doodle painting.

This next week…

I’ll find art for  Burn  and request the cover.I’ll start the Burn authors on writing loglines for their stories.I’ll begin editing  Burn  stories.I hope to write new pages, either in Ignition , Overwhelming Ophelia , or Built Like Mack . Just a few pages…I’ll work on another author’s edits—if she gets me her pages!I’ll continue to work on organizing & cleaning up my art room. (This is a forever project!)I’ll work on painting and doodling on more of the smoosh cards I’ve made.I’ll get blood drawn before next week’s infusion…Open Contests

Be sure to check out these posts and enter to win the prizes that are still up for grabs:

Clear My Bookshelf Giveaway! — Last day to enter! Win a SIGNED book and a hand-painted bookmark!Word Search: Favorite Halloween Candy — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!Happy Halloween! Plus, October into November (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!BURN Announcement & Saturday Puzzle Contest! — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!Gabbi Powell: How Hard Can It Possibly Be? (She wails.) — 4 F*R*E*E Books! — Everyone, get your FREE books!Flashback: Silver Soldiers–A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology (Contest — 2 Winners!) — Win a FREE book! TWO winners!Sliding Puzzle: The Wedding Couple (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!Clear My Bookshelf Giveaway! — Win a SIGNED book and a hand-painted bookmark!Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Fall Flavors — Win an Amazon gift card!The post Saturday Report Card & Open Contests! first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Fall Flavors

It’s fall, and all those seasonal drinks are tempting us to indulge. I love breaking out the cocoa this time of year — the darker the chocolate, the better. My daughter breaks out seasonal candles with scents like pumpkin spice or snickerdoodles — oh wait, that’s me. The candles make me want the spiced drinks. So, now, I’m thinking about a pumpkin-spiced coffee, and I live in the boonies, so I’ll shake up a packet of hot chocolate instead.

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle, then tell me what your favorite fall flavor is!

The post Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Fall Flavors first appeared on Delilah Devlin.