Jamie DeBree's Blog, page 16
November 13, 2013
Talkin' Books: Restless Reading
Books Finished: None
Books In Progress: Beers in Heaven by Ford Forkum
Two Graves by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
Tatterdemon by Steve Vernon
Short Fiction: None
Comics Read:None
Do
you ever get into those moods where you start reading a bunch of
different things, but nothing's quite "right", so you end up with a pile
of started books lying about that just couldn't hold your interest for
more than a few pages?
That's been me lately. Although I do grab a chapter of Tatterdemon
here and there (it's a long book...I tend to get bogged down in those,
because my mind craves variety), and I really need to just grab the
digital copy of Two Graves , I think, if I ever want to actually finish it (which I do!).
But
there's been a lot of "boxed sets" available for cheap lately, which
annoys me as an author (because duh, why *wouldn't* people buy those
instead of my single titles at full price, but that's just sour grapes
on my part), but naturally I still pick them up as a reader
because...who doesn't love cheap books?!
Sadly,
it would seem that with a lot of these boxed sets, I've either already
read and forgot (until I start reading again) the stories (mostly with
bigger named authors), or one story grabs my interest, and the rest
don't. So I flit around through the sets, get lost, forget what I'm
reading or have already read, or get bored and flip to another
file...honestly, I kind of annoy myself when I get in this sort of
reading "funk". Part of my brain is screaming "just pick something
already!" and the other part is yelling back, "it has to be the right
something!"
Yeah. I know. Scary, right?
In
any case, the other night I was cruisin' through my kindle files, tired
of trying and failing at reading romance, but wanting something kind of
light, but not "airhead" light, if you know what I mean. I stumbled
over Beers in Heaven , which I bought when it first came out and intended to read then, but never quite got to it.
Opened
it up and read the prologue, not really sure if it was going to grab me
any better than anything else had, and then I hit Chapter 1.
And
now I'm finally hooked on a story, and raring to get back to it as soon
as possible. Whew! It's hard not to be entertained by Ford Forkum's
personal brand of humor/satire, really...thank you Ford, for saving me
from myself! *raises mug*
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Books In Progress: Beers in Heaven by Ford Forkum
Two Graves by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
Tatterdemon by Steve Vernon
Short Fiction: None
Comics Read:None
Do
you ever get into those moods where you start reading a bunch of
different things, but nothing's quite "right", so you end up with a pile
of started books lying about that just couldn't hold your interest for
more than a few pages?
That's been me lately. Although I do grab a chapter of Tatterdemon
here and there (it's a long book...I tend to get bogged down in those,
because my mind craves variety), and I really need to just grab the
digital copy of Two Graves , I think, if I ever want to actually finish it (which I do!).
But
there's been a lot of "boxed sets" available for cheap lately, which
annoys me as an author (because duh, why *wouldn't* people buy those
instead of my single titles at full price, but that's just sour grapes
on my part), but naturally I still pick them up as a reader
because...who doesn't love cheap books?!
Sadly,
it would seem that with a lot of these boxed sets, I've either already
read and forgot (until I start reading again) the stories (mostly with
bigger named authors), or one story grabs my interest, and the rest
don't. So I flit around through the sets, get lost, forget what I'm
reading or have already read, or get bored and flip to another
file...honestly, I kind of annoy myself when I get in this sort of
reading "funk". Part of my brain is screaming "just pick something
already!" and the other part is yelling back, "it has to be the right
something!"
Yeah. I know. Scary, right?
In
any case, the other night I was cruisin' through my kindle files, tired
of trying and failing at reading romance, but wanting something kind of
light, but not "airhead" light, if you know what I mean. I stumbled
over Beers in Heaven , which I bought when it first came out and intended to read then, but never quite got to it.
Opened
it up and read the prologue, not really sure if it was going to grab me
any better than anything else had, and then I hit Chapter 1.
And
now I'm finally hooked on a story, and raring to get back to it as soon
as possible. Whew! It's hard not to be entertained by Ford Forkum's
personal brand of humor/satire, really...thank you Ford, for saving me
from myself! *raises mug*
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Romantic Suspense
| Erotic Romance | Contemporary Romance |
Horror | Flash Fiction | Non-Fiction
**Please
note - If this is your first time posting, your comment
will be moderated. Once you have been approved, future comments will post automatically.
November 11, 2013
On Militia, Word Shortages & The Creative Mind...
It's Veteran's Day here in the states, and a federal holiday at that (which means I'm at home, rather than at work). Of course I'm still starting this shortly after midnight, because I have a lot to get done today as soon as I get up. More on that later...
While I've never been in the military, and I've personally never had any desire to join up (luckily we have a choice), it's only natural to be thinking about the men and women who wear that uniform (no matter what "form" it takes) today in the US. You may or may not know that I have a history degree...and my main area of study/interest in college was the American Revolutionary War period, which actually probably reveals a lot about my personal feelings regarding militia and governmental rights/power (or maybe I just think it does...).
Incidentally, I was also fascinated with the rise and fall of countries in ancient times. And I was one class short of a degree in philosophy. Which probably just tells you what a muddled mess my brain was (and still is)...but I digress. As usual.
Anyways, my point is, I think very highly of those who serve/have served in our military. They are often asked to do things the average person either can't or won't do, and they do it, regardless of their personal views on the matter. That takes a lot of strength and courage, even if they're the person behind a desk rather than on the front lines. So to all of our veterans and active duty military...I'd salute you, but I'd screw it up, so thank you. I appreciate both the physical and mental sacrifices you make every day.
On a completely different and less-mushy note, my NaNo draft is coming along nicely, but not nearly as quickly as it should be. Part of that, of course, is a scheduling issue. And a big part of that is a discipline/motivation issue. Those two things are distracting enough that I haven't even hit 10k words just yet. I should do that today though, if all goes well. Unfortunately, I also still have my two serial stories to write this week's scenes for, and I normally do that on Monday/Tues so they're done well in advance of when they need to be.
Yes, I could have spent more time writing this past weekend. Of course I could have. I normally don't write at all on the weekends, and I put in a good hour or two each day, so I still call that a success. I'm not anywhere near where I need to be, but according to my husband, if I don't get 2k words written on it *today*, he's going to come home and do the "NaNo Nasties" to me, whatever that means.
But it sounds like it might be fun...
In any case, it's now 9:30am (yes, I slept for awhile in there), and I'm up and at'em and ready to go. It's snowing big, fluffy flakes out my window, a rather beautiful winter scene - I don't think mother nature got the memo about fall this year, but she's kind of missed a lot of seasonal memos lately. In any case, I have no where to go and a lot of words to write, so I don't mind a bit, personally.
My brain is on serious creative overdrive this month - I think it's because of NaNo. Or maybe it's just because last week my mind was so busy with "real life" stuff that the release valve finally just sort of blew open. The result is that I've got all sorts of fantasies swirling about in my head...and no, not necessarily *that* kind either (well, maybe a few). Romance, tragedy, murder mysteries, thrilling chases and daring rescues...I've even been remembering my dreams for the past week or so, at least long enough to wake up and think about them. It's pretty crazy, honestly, but it can get in the way of actual productive writing at times too, because I really have to force myself to focus on the story at hand, rather than whichever one is currently on "autoplay" in my head when I sit down to write. Horrible problem to have, isn't it?
So then...what's on the list for today, and the week? Not as much as you might think, actually...
Today's To-Do's:
- Write two serial scenes for Friday (non-NaNo ongoing serials)- Housework I shrugged off yesterday (vacuuming, take the garbage out)- Write, write, write on my NaNo novel- Crochet another square for the afghan I'm working on
This Week:
- Get a couple work projects caught up- Write as much on the NaNo draft as possible- Knit or crochet every evening- Low-level book promo here and there
Yeah, there should be some Halloween organizing in there somewhere, but if it happens, it happens. It's November. Noveling month. Certain things can just wait a bit.
Here's to a lovely, productive-but-relaxed week ahead!
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
While I've never been in the military, and I've personally never had any desire to join up (luckily we have a choice), it's only natural to be thinking about the men and women who wear that uniform (no matter what "form" it takes) today in the US. You may or may not know that I have a history degree...and my main area of study/interest in college was the American Revolutionary War period, which actually probably reveals a lot about my personal feelings regarding militia and governmental rights/power (or maybe I just think it does...).
Incidentally, I was also fascinated with the rise and fall of countries in ancient times. And I was one class short of a degree in philosophy. Which probably just tells you what a muddled mess my brain was (and still is)...but I digress. As usual.
Anyways, my point is, I think very highly of those who serve/have served in our military. They are often asked to do things the average person either can't or won't do, and they do it, regardless of their personal views on the matter. That takes a lot of strength and courage, even if they're the person behind a desk rather than on the front lines. So to all of our veterans and active duty military...I'd salute you, but I'd screw it up, so thank you. I appreciate both the physical and mental sacrifices you make every day.
On a completely different and less-mushy note, my NaNo draft is coming along nicely, but not nearly as quickly as it should be. Part of that, of course, is a scheduling issue. And a big part of that is a discipline/motivation issue. Those two things are distracting enough that I haven't even hit 10k words just yet. I should do that today though, if all goes well. Unfortunately, I also still have my two serial stories to write this week's scenes for, and I normally do that on Monday/Tues so they're done well in advance of when they need to be.
Yes, I could have spent more time writing this past weekend. Of course I could have. I normally don't write at all on the weekends, and I put in a good hour or two each day, so I still call that a success. I'm not anywhere near where I need to be, but according to my husband, if I don't get 2k words written on it *today*, he's going to come home and do the "NaNo Nasties" to me, whatever that means.
But it sounds like it might be fun...
In any case, it's now 9:30am (yes, I slept for awhile in there), and I'm up and at'em and ready to go. It's snowing big, fluffy flakes out my window, a rather beautiful winter scene - I don't think mother nature got the memo about fall this year, but she's kind of missed a lot of seasonal memos lately. In any case, I have no where to go and a lot of words to write, so I don't mind a bit, personally.
My brain is on serious creative overdrive this month - I think it's because of NaNo. Or maybe it's just because last week my mind was so busy with "real life" stuff that the release valve finally just sort of blew open. The result is that I've got all sorts of fantasies swirling about in my head...and no, not necessarily *that* kind either (well, maybe a few). Romance, tragedy, murder mysteries, thrilling chases and daring rescues...I've even been remembering my dreams for the past week or so, at least long enough to wake up and think about them. It's pretty crazy, honestly, but it can get in the way of actual productive writing at times too, because I really have to force myself to focus on the story at hand, rather than whichever one is currently on "autoplay" in my head when I sit down to write. Horrible problem to have, isn't it?
So then...what's on the list for today, and the week? Not as much as you might think, actually...
Today's To-Do's:
- Write two serial scenes for Friday (non-NaNo ongoing serials)- Housework I shrugged off yesterday (vacuuming, take the garbage out)- Write, write, write on my NaNo novel- Crochet another square for the afghan I'm working on
This Week:
- Get a couple work projects caught up- Write as much on the NaNo draft as possible- Knit or crochet every evening- Low-level book promo here and there
Yeah, there should be some Halloween organizing in there somewhere, but if it happens, it happens. It's November. Noveling month. Certain things can just wait a bit.
Here's to a lovely, productive-but-relaxed week ahead!
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Romantic Suspense
| Erotic Romance | Contemporary Romance |
Horror | Flash Fiction | Non-Fiction
**Please
note - If this is your first time posting, your comment
will be moderated. Once you have been approved, future comments will post automatically.
November 8, 2013
Serial Story: Jasmine Betrayal, Part 14
This story is presented weekly in draft (that means unedited)
format every Friday right here on the blog for free. When the story is
done, it will be edited, polished and available for sale at all your
favorite online retailers.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 |
Jasmine Betrayal
Part 14
Genevieve didn’t struggle when they pulled her off the bed behind Max and out to a large cargo van waiting outside. It wasn’t her first choice of transportation, but she needed to get to those files, and regardless of the fact that these men obviously intended to kill her, they’d get her where she needed to go.
She just needed to stay alive long enough to get to those files.
The ride was quick and quiet, with men on either side of her and Max in the seat behind her with two more men on either side. She tried to look over her shoulder at him, but was cuffed in the head for her troubles, causing a scuffle in the back that sounded painful. Deciding it was best to just wait it out, she faced forward, picking out what few possible landmarks she could out the front window from her vantage point between the two front seats.
When they arrived, she followed her captors meekly into a large, concrete building, her eyes taking a few moments to adjust to the dim light within. She was tied to a chair with Max beside her, and as she looked around the nearly empty shell of the building, to her left she saw stacks of boxes piled up just inside a large garage-style door.
Nudging Max with her shoulder, she met his gaze, and then looked at the boxes. He shook his head, giving her a stern look.
“Maybe we can--” she whispered, stopping short when his eyes narrowed more.
“No,” he said, keeping his voice low. “Just stay quiet. I’ll think of something.”
“It doesn’t matter. Nothing she says will save either of you. You killed my brother, and for that, you will die.”
“Jenkins didn’t have a brother,” Max said, his voice calm. “You must have us mistaken with someone else.”
The man laughed. “Jenkins was a piece of shit, and I’ve been trying to take over his cartel for years. I’m glad he’s dead - you did me a favor there. But you killed my brother at the diner, and for that, you’ll pay.”
Genevieve spoke up. “Even if I can tell you what Jenkins was looking for in the files?”
She pointedly avoided looking at Max, and the growl emanating from his throat would have been amusing in any other situation. As for scar-face, his eyes were hungry and he bent forward, leaning in close to her face.
Too close.
“We already know he was looking for the deed to the diner, little girl. It doesn’t matter - we’ll just file for a new deed once you’re gone. There won’t be anyone left to contest it now, will there?”
“You might as well just tell them where it is,” Max said, surprising her. She turned to meet his angry gaze, but there was something else behind the irritation. Like he knew something she didn’t.
“Still not a good idea,” she said, shaking her head. “If he knew what was on it...”
Turning back to scar-face, she met his gaze and saw the definite interest there. Fighting to hold back a grin, she tried to look scared and whipped back to Max.
“I probably shouldn’t have said that,” she murmured, earning an exasperated growl from Max, and a chuckle from thier captor.
“I like her,” scar-face said. “Maybe we’ll find a use for you after all, little girl. If you tell me what you know about that title, that is.”
She bit her lip, not having to try hard to look nervous. “What about Max? I mean, he’s a pain in the ass sometimes, but I don’t want to see him die...”
The man shook his head. “I’m afraid I can’t promise anything for him. He’s too dangerous to keep around. In fact, we should take care of that right now, don’t you think?” He gestured to one of his men, who pulled a gun and held it to the side of Max’s head.
“Wait!” Genevieve’s heart was in her throat as she blinked back real tears. “I won’t tell you anything if you hurt him. You’ll get nothing. That’s a promise.”
The man hesitated, and then gave a slight nod to his henchman, who lowered the gun.
“Tell me what you’ve got, and we’ll let him live for a little while longer.”
“There’s a number,” Genevieve said, keeping an eye on the henchman’s gun. “On the back of the title. I think it matches a number in the files.”
Scar-face raised an eyebrow. “What’s the number?”
She shook her head. “I don’t remember it, but it’s on the title. Back at the hotel room. I think it got knocked off the table when you guys broke into our room.”
He turned and motioned to several of his men. “Go get it, and bring it back here. Hurry.”
Looking back at Genevieve, he tapped his chin with a forefinger. “When they get back, you’ll find this file in your father’s things, and give it to me. In return, I’ll spare your life, and make your boyfriend’s death a speedy one. Agreed?”
She blinked back more tears, and then slowly nodded. “Just...one other thing,” she said, lowering her eyes and trying to look shy. The man squatted down in front of her, his expression one of amused attraction. It figured she’d attract the criminal mastermind of the bunch. Hopefully that wouldn’t get in the way of her plan.
“I know it’s a lot to ask, but before, at the hotel, you...well, we...” She turned her head away coyly. “Before you shoot him, I’d like...um...a chance to finish what we started, if you know what I mean.”
The man stared at her for a long moment, and then burst out laughing. Standing up, he shook his head and laughed some more. Her face was red-hot, and she knew that would help her, but she didn’t think she’d ever been so embarrassed in her life.
Finally, Scar-face pointed to a door several feet away.
“Take them in there and untie them. They have until the others get back to...enjoy one last conjugal visit. Then he dies, and she helps us find that file. Agreed?”
She nodded, refusing to look at Max as the men took them to the room and cut their bonds, closing the door behind them and snapping the lock shut.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t know what else to do, but we needed to get free, and--”
“Don’t you ever do anything like that again,” Max growled, grabbing her arm and spinning her to face him.
Then his lips came crashing down on hers, hot, hard and needy.
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
format every Friday right here on the blog for free. When the story is
done, it will be edited, polished and available for sale at all your
favorite online retailers.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 |
Jasmine Betrayal
Part 14
Genevieve didn’t struggle when they pulled her off the bed behind Max and out to a large cargo van waiting outside. It wasn’t her first choice of transportation, but she needed to get to those files, and regardless of the fact that these men obviously intended to kill her, they’d get her where she needed to go.
She just needed to stay alive long enough to get to those files.
The ride was quick and quiet, with men on either side of her and Max in the seat behind her with two more men on either side. She tried to look over her shoulder at him, but was cuffed in the head for her troubles, causing a scuffle in the back that sounded painful. Deciding it was best to just wait it out, she faced forward, picking out what few possible landmarks she could out the front window from her vantage point between the two front seats.
When they arrived, she followed her captors meekly into a large, concrete building, her eyes taking a few moments to adjust to the dim light within. She was tied to a chair with Max beside her, and as she looked around the nearly empty shell of the building, to her left she saw stacks of boxes piled up just inside a large garage-style door.
Nudging Max with her shoulder, she met his gaze, and then looked at the boxes. He shook his head, giving her a stern look.
“Maybe we can--” she whispered, stopping short when his eyes narrowed more.
“No,” he said, keeping his voice low. “Just stay quiet. I’ll think of something.”
“It doesn’t matter. Nothing she says will save either of you. You killed my brother, and for that, you will die.”
“Jenkins didn’t have a brother,” Max said, his voice calm. “You must have us mistaken with someone else.”
The man laughed. “Jenkins was a piece of shit, and I’ve been trying to take over his cartel for years. I’m glad he’s dead - you did me a favor there. But you killed my brother at the diner, and for that, you’ll pay.”
Genevieve spoke up. “Even if I can tell you what Jenkins was looking for in the files?”
She pointedly avoided looking at Max, and the growl emanating from his throat would have been amusing in any other situation. As for scar-face, his eyes were hungry and he bent forward, leaning in close to her face.
Too close.
“We already know he was looking for the deed to the diner, little girl. It doesn’t matter - we’ll just file for a new deed once you’re gone. There won’t be anyone left to contest it now, will there?”
“You might as well just tell them where it is,” Max said, surprising her. She turned to meet his angry gaze, but there was something else behind the irritation. Like he knew something she didn’t.
“Still not a good idea,” she said, shaking her head. “If he knew what was on it...”
Turning back to scar-face, she met his gaze and saw the definite interest there. Fighting to hold back a grin, she tried to look scared and whipped back to Max.
“I probably shouldn’t have said that,” she murmured, earning an exasperated growl from Max, and a chuckle from thier captor.
“I like her,” scar-face said. “Maybe we’ll find a use for you after all, little girl. If you tell me what you know about that title, that is.”
She bit her lip, not having to try hard to look nervous. “What about Max? I mean, he’s a pain in the ass sometimes, but I don’t want to see him die...”
The man shook his head. “I’m afraid I can’t promise anything for him. He’s too dangerous to keep around. In fact, we should take care of that right now, don’t you think?” He gestured to one of his men, who pulled a gun and held it to the side of Max’s head.
“Wait!” Genevieve’s heart was in her throat as she blinked back real tears. “I won’t tell you anything if you hurt him. You’ll get nothing. That’s a promise.”
The man hesitated, and then gave a slight nod to his henchman, who lowered the gun.
“Tell me what you’ve got, and we’ll let him live for a little while longer.”
“There’s a number,” Genevieve said, keeping an eye on the henchman’s gun. “On the back of the title. I think it matches a number in the files.”
Scar-face raised an eyebrow. “What’s the number?”
She shook her head. “I don’t remember it, but it’s on the title. Back at the hotel room. I think it got knocked off the table when you guys broke into our room.”
He turned and motioned to several of his men. “Go get it, and bring it back here. Hurry.”
Looking back at Genevieve, he tapped his chin with a forefinger. “When they get back, you’ll find this file in your father’s things, and give it to me. In return, I’ll spare your life, and make your boyfriend’s death a speedy one. Agreed?”
She blinked back more tears, and then slowly nodded. “Just...one other thing,” she said, lowering her eyes and trying to look shy. The man squatted down in front of her, his expression one of amused attraction. It figured she’d attract the criminal mastermind of the bunch. Hopefully that wouldn’t get in the way of her plan.
“I know it’s a lot to ask, but before, at the hotel, you...well, we...” She turned her head away coyly. “Before you shoot him, I’d like...um...a chance to finish what we started, if you know what I mean.”
The man stared at her for a long moment, and then burst out laughing. Standing up, he shook his head and laughed some more. Her face was red-hot, and she knew that would help her, but she didn’t think she’d ever been so embarrassed in her life.
Finally, Scar-face pointed to a door several feet away.
“Take them in there and untie them. They have until the others get back to...enjoy one last conjugal visit. Then he dies, and she helps us find that file. Agreed?”
She nodded, refusing to look at Max as the men took them to the room and cut their bonds, closing the door behind them and snapping the lock shut.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t know what else to do, but we needed to get free, and--”
“Don’t you ever do anything like that again,” Max growled, grabbing her arm and spinning her to face him.
Then his lips came crashing down on hers, hot, hard and needy.
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Romantic Suspense
| Erotic Romance | Contemporary Romance |
Horror | Flash Fiction | Non-Fiction
**Please
note - If this is your first time posting, your comment
will be moderated. Once you have been approved, future comments will post automatically.
November 6, 2013
Talkin' Books: I got nuthin' this week...
Books Finished: None
Books In Progress: Two Graves by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
Tatterdemon by Steve Vernon
Short Fiction: None
Comics Read:None
What
with the whole Halloween thing last week, a weekend full of writing,
housework and more writing, and chronically dry eyes that are not
cooperating with my efforts to actually use them for any length of time
due to my abusing them last week in the wind...yeah. Honestly, it would
be less strain if I were reading rather than writing, due to the e-ink
screen on the kindle and paper, of course, for the Preston & Child
book. But NaNoWriMo is in full swing, and I've been frantically trying
to get as many words in as possible so as not to fall any further behind
than necessary. Unfortunately, I think that strategy may need to flip
around the other way for awhile, to let my poor eyes recuperate. At this
point, even staring at the screen for the day job is pretty
excruciating for at least part of the day.
And
my lunch hours this week have been short, sweet, and spent chatting
with my hubby. Which isn't a bad way to spend a lunch hour, though I
think I did get another chapter of Tatterdemon done during one of them.
In
any case, little to no reading, which is sad and a major bummer. Here's
hoping my eyes recover and my schedule evens out in the next week or
so, eh?
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Books In Progress: Two Graves by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
Tatterdemon by Steve Vernon
Short Fiction: None
Comics Read:None
What
with the whole Halloween thing last week, a weekend full of writing,
housework and more writing, and chronically dry eyes that are not
cooperating with my efforts to actually use them for any length of time
due to my abusing them last week in the wind...yeah. Honestly, it would
be less strain if I were reading rather than writing, due to the e-ink
screen on the kindle and paper, of course, for the Preston & Child
book. But NaNoWriMo is in full swing, and I've been frantically trying
to get as many words in as possible so as not to fall any further behind
than necessary. Unfortunately, I think that strategy may need to flip
around the other way for awhile, to let my poor eyes recuperate. At this
point, even staring at the screen for the day job is pretty
excruciating for at least part of the day.
And
my lunch hours this week have been short, sweet, and spent chatting
with my hubby. Which isn't a bad way to spend a lunch hour, though I
think I did get another chapter of Tatterdemon done during one of them.
In
any case, little to no reading, which is sad and a major bummer. Here's
hoping my eyes recover and my schedule evens out in the next week or
so, eh?
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Romantic Suspense
| Erotic Romance | Contemporary Romance |
Horror | Flash Fiction | Non-Fiction
**Please
note - If this is your first time posting, your comment
will be moderated. Once you have been approved, future comments will post automatically.
November 4, 2013
On Working Vacations, Dreaming Big, & Falling Short...
I'll admit it - my vacation from the day job wasn't really a vacation at all. I didn't even sleep in much due to my husband not being able to take any time off with me. He had to get up for work, and there was little point in my going back to bed after he left...by then, it was nearly 9am.
It was Halloween week, so part of the reason I was off in the first place was to get our yard all decked out for Halloween night. I spent a good part of the week doing that. And when I wasn't working on Halloween stuff? I was frantically writing, trying to finish up as many of the drafts I have going before November 1st and NaNoWriMo as possible. I was only partially successful with that, sadly.
Now I'm writing this on Sunday night with sore, tired eyes that have had way too much wind and screen-time this week, a NaNo draft that's already behind, and a basement still exploded with the after-effects of our Halloween night. I accomplished a lot last week, but I find myself wishing I'd gotten just a little bit more done. Especially since taking a week off comes with the inevitable catch-up days at work, and I already have a full calendar there this month too.
Incidentally, if you want to follow along with my NaNo draft as I write it this year, you can read each scene as it's finished at ComicShopRomance.com.
Sick, I know. See, I had this fantasy that by the end of my vacation, I'd be all caught up with everything for once, and could start this week in a really great, all-caught-up place for once. Instead, I'm still behind, and my eyes are still recovering from my neglect of them this week (it'll be a few more days of eye gel 2x per day before they're back to normal, sadly).
The inherent trouble with fantasies, of course, is that they aren't real. Which is excellent for day-dreaming and fiction, not so great for real life.
In any case, it's time to get my feet (and my head) planted firmly back in reality. So I'm keeping this list to just to the bare essentials for this week. Anything extra will be...just that.
- Serial installments for three ongoing stories by this Friday- BSB newsletter (that I forgot last week)- As many words for the NaNo draft as possible- Cover art & formatting for the book due out this Friday- Cover art redesign for another book, plus the audio cover for the same- Another square or two for the afghan I'm crocheting- Knit for an hour each night
And that's it. I know it may seem like a lot, but it's all totally doable working a little bit each evening. The covers are both already designed - I just need to purchase the artwork and finalize them, so that isn't as much work as it sounds either.
Here's to a productive week grounded in reality, eh?
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
It was Halloween week, so part of the reason I was off in the first place was to get our yard all decked out for Halloween night. I spent a good part of the week doing that. And when I wasn't working on Halloween stuff? I was frantically writing, trying to finish up as many of the drafts I have going before November 1st and NaNoWriMo as possible. I was only partially successful with that, sadly.
Now I'm writing this on Sunday night with sore, tired eyes that have had way too much wind and screen-time this week, a NaNo draft that's already behind, and a basement still exploded with the after-effects of our Halloween night. I accomplished a lot last week, but I find myself wishing I'd gotten just a little bit more done. Especially since taking a week off comes with the inevitable catch-up days at work, and I already have a full calendar there this month too.
Incidentally, if you want to follow along with my NaNo draft as I write it this year, you can read each scene as it's finished at ComicShopRomance.com.
Sick, I know. See, I had this fantasy that by the end of my vacation, I'd be all caught up with everything for once, and could start this week in a really great, all-caught-up place for once. Instead, I'm still behind, and my eyes are still recovering from my neglect of them this week (it'll be a few more days of eye gel 2x per day before they're back to normal, sadly).
The inherent trouble with fantasies, of course, is that they aren't real. Which is excellent for day-dreaming and fiction, not so great for real life.
In any case, it's time to get my feet (and my head) planted firmly back in reality. So I'm keeping this list to just to the bare essentials for this week. Anything extra will be...just that.
- Serial installments for three ongoing stories by this Friday- BSB newsletter (that I forgot last week)- As many words for the NaNo draft as possible- Cover art & formatting for the book due out this Friday- Cover art redesign for another book, plus the audio cover for the same- Another square or two for the afghan I'm crocheting- Knit for an hour each night
And that's it. I know it may seem like a lot, but it's all totally doable working a little bit each evening. The covers are both already designed - I just need to purchase the artwork and finalize them, so that isn't as much work as it sounds either.
Here's to a productive week grounded in reality, eh?
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Romantic Suspense
| Erotic Romance | Contemporary Romance |
Horror | Flash Fiction | Non-Fiction
**Please
note - If this is your first time posting, your comment
will be moderated. Once you have been approved, future comments will post automatically.
November 1, 2013
Serial Story: Jasmine Betrayal, Part 13
This story is presented weekly in draft (that means unedited)
format every Friday right here on the blog for free. When the story is
done, it will be edited, polished and available for sale at all your
favorite online retailers.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 |
Jasmine Betrayal
Part 13
When Max opened his eyes again, Genevieve was pacing the floor at the end of the bed, the title clutched in one hand, her lips moving silently every so often. She appeared to be arguing with herself, which was both adorable and amusing.
“So who’s winning?” he asked, pushing up to sit against the headboard. She stopped, a questioning look on her face when she turned to him.
He shrugged. “Looked like you were having a good argument there. I was just curious who was winning the debate.”
She rolled her eyes. “I was trying to decide whether to leave you here, or wait until you woke up to leave. I think this number is on one of the folders in a file box, but I need to get back to the diner to confirm it. I was pretty sure you wouldn’t like the idea--”
“Damn straight I don’t.” He swung his legs off the bed, wincing at the pull in his side. “We have no idea where Jenkins’ men are, who’s leading them now, or whether your dad’s stuff is even still there anymore. It’s too risky. What happened with the lawyer?”
She shook her head. “The lawyer’s dead, which you would know if you hadn’t passed out so fast. You’re not being logical. There are literally boxes of papers there - too much to just pack up and haul away in one day. It would make more sense for them to go through it right there, and leave everything except the title. Besides, Jenkins knew the title was at my place. He probably called his dogs off ages ago. The last thing they know about us is that we drove out of town, so the diner’s actually the one place they won’t expect us to be. So it’s the safest place for us to be.”
“No, you’re being too logical.” He shook his head back at her. “These guys don’t run on logic, they run on instinct. Instinct says people return to what they know, especially when they’re in trouble, so they’ll be waiting for us to show up at the diner. And one large truck and some motivated labor - both of which Jenkins has - are all they’d need to haul all those papers away. We won’t find them there, Gen. They’re probably at one of Jenkins’ warehouses by now.”
She cocked her head and put her hands on her hips, stepping closer. “Where are they? Do you know which one he’d use?”
Max got to his feet, holding up a hand. “No. We are not going there. It’s too dangerous.”
Raising her eyebrows, she stepped closer, pushing a rigid finger into the center of his chest.
“Either help me, or I’ll figure it out on my own. I want this over with, Max. As soon as possible, and I’ll do whatever I need to to make that happen. Understand?”
He had to work to keep from smiling at the sight of her all riled up, eyes blazing with fire and her whole body vibrating with energy. She was beautiful, gorgeous, even and he itched to haul her up against him and cover those delectable lips with his own.
Grabbing her hips, he pulled her closer, loving the small, surprised gasp that escaped her lips, and the way she instinctively grabbed his shoulders for balance.
“I will help you, I promise,” he said, placing a gentle kiss at her temple. “But we need to be smart about it. There has to be another way.” He kissed her again, and her hands slipped a little higher around his neck.
“Like what,” she murmured when he let her up for air. “I need a plan, Max. I can’t just sit here and do nothing...”
This time, she kissed him, and he held her tighter, ignoring the pain in his side. Her personal scent was so sweet, so intoxicating he felt like he’d never get enough. Stepping backward, he pulled her with him, another step and then another until he felt the edge of the bed behind his leg.
“Let’s think about it some more,” he said, pulling her down with him to the mattress. He kissed her jaw, her neck, her shoulder as he pushed her shirt collar aside. “I’m sure we can think of something, if we try hard enough.”
“We shouldn’t...” she breathed, her fingers clenching in his hair to bring his lips back to hers. He happily obliged her, his tongue dancing with her as he settled more solidly against her.
Loud voices shouted outside, and before he could process the warning, the door to their room exploded open, banging loudly against the wall. Two seconds later, there was enough firepower to protect a small country pointing at the bed, and not a badge in sight. A man he didn’t recognize stepped forward, a long, jagged scar running down one side of his face.
“Bring them to the warehouse. We’ll finish this there.”
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
format every Friday right here on the blog for free. When the story is
done, it will be edited, polished and available for sale at all your
favorite online retailers.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 |
Jasmine Betrayal
Part 13
When Max opened his eyes again, Genevieve was pacing the floor at the end of the bed, the title clutched in one hand, her lips moving silently every so often. She appeared to be arguing with herself, which was both adorable and amusing.
“So who’s winning?” he asked, pushing up to sit against the headboard. She stopped, a questioning look on her face when she turned to him.
He shrugged. “Looked like you were having a good argument there. I was just curious who was winning the debate.”
She rolled her eyes. “I was trying to decide whether to leave you here, or wait until you woke up to leave. I think this number is on one of the folders in a file box, but I need to get back to the diner to confirm it. I was pretty sure you wouldn’t like the idea--”
“Damn straight I don’t.” He swung his legs off the bed, wincing at the pull in his side. “We have no idea where Jenkins’ men are, who’s leading them now, or whether your dad’s stuff is even still there anymore. It’s too risky. What happened with the lawyer?”
She shook her head. “The lawyer’s dead, which you would know if you hadn’t passed out so fast. You’re not being logical. There are literally boxes of papers there - too much to just pack up and haul away in one day. It would make more sense for them to go through it right there, and leave everything except the title. Besides, Jenkins knew the title was at my place. He probably called his dogs off ages ago. The last thing they know about us is that we drove out of town, so the diner’s actually the one place they won’t expect us to be. So it’s the safest place for us to be.”
“No, you’re being too logical.” He shook his head back at her. “These guys don’t run on logic, they run on instinct. Instinct says people return to what they know, especially when they’re in trouble, so they’ll be waiting for us to show up at the diner. And one large truck and some motivated labor - both of which Jenkins has - are all they’d need to haul all those papers away. We won’t find them there, Gen. They’re probably at one of Jenkins’ warehouses by now.”
She cocked her head and put her hands on her hips, stepping closer. “Where are they? Do you know which one he’d use?”
Max got to his feet, holding up a hand. “No. We are not going there. It’s too dangerous.”
Raising her eyebrows, she stepped closer, pushing a rigid finger into the center of his chest.
“Either help me, or I’ll figure it out on my own. I want this over with, Max. As soon as possible, and I’ll do whatever I need to to make that happen. Understand?”
He had to work to keep from smiling at the sight of her all riled up, eyes blazing with fire and her whole body vibrating with energy. She was beautiful, gorgeous, even and he itched to haul her up against him and cover those delectable lips with his own.
Grabbing her hips, he pulled her closer, loving the small, surprised gasp that escaped her lips, and the way she instinctively grabbed his shoulders for balance.
“I will help you, I promise,” he said, placing a gentle kiss at her temple. “But we need to be smart about it. There has to be another way.” He kissed her again, and her hands slipped a little higher around his neck.
“Like what,” she murmured when he let her up for air. “I need a plan, Max. I can’t just sit here and do nothing...”
This time, she kissed him, and he held her tighter, ignoring the pain in his side. Her personal scent was so sweet, so intoxicating he felt like he’d never get enough. Stepping backward, he pulled her with him, another step and then another until he felt the edge of the bed behind his leg.
“Let’s think about it some more,” he said, pulling her down with him to the mattress. He kissed her jaw, her neck, her shoulder as he pushed her shirt collar aside. “I’m sure we can think of something, if we try hard enough.”
“We shouldn’t...” she breathed, her fingers clenching in his hair to bring his lips back to hers. He happily obliged her, his tongue dancing with her as he settled more solidly against her.
Loud voices shouted outside, and before he could process the warning, the door to their room exploded open, banging loudly against the wall. Two seconds later, there was enough firepower to protect a small country pointing at the bed, and not a badge in sight. A man he didn’t recognize stepped forward, a long, jagged scar running down one side of his face.
“Bring them to the warehouse. We’ll finish this there.”
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Romantic Suspense
| Erotic Romance | Contemporary Romance |
Horror | Flash Fiction | Non-Fiction
**Please
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will be moderated. Once you have been approved, future comments will post automatically.
October 31, 2013
Serial Holiday Installment: Mr. Mysterious - Halloween
Mr.
Mysterious is one branch of a three-pronged holiday short series by
myself and two of my alter-egos. We follow three women through the year,
each with a different goal that may be achieved in ways they can't even
fathom just yet. This is Laura's story. You can read the first part here. All stories are posted in draft form. The combined, edited version will be released in December 2013.
Valentine's Day | St. Patrick's Day | Easter | Memorial Day | Independence Day | Labor Day |
Finding David
Laura slid into her car with a sigh, locking the doors before she pulled out her phone to check her messages. Before starting her training with the FBI, she wouldn’t have thought twice about checking as she walked across the dark parking lot from the building she now worked in, but even the basic safety classes had given her a few sleepless nights over the past two months.
That, and not knowing what had happened to David the last time she’d seen him.
She’d reported the incident immediately, of course, calling her new supervisor as soon as she’d come to and remembered what happened. They’d sent a team to her house and put her through all sorts of questioning, including a polygraph. They’d even declined her application, and then a week later, told her to report for duty.
All that time, all the effort and questions and searching had turned up nothing. It was as if David had just disappeared off the face of the earth.
She hadn’t heard much from Melanie or Jodi either, which wasn’t particularly surprising especially given their fight on Labor Day.
Just before David had been knocked out on her front lawn and disappeared.
Tonight was Halloween though, and both had sent her texts with the name of a bar on the other side of town and a time. Apparently they’d been talking to each other, at least. She was surprised that they still wanted to meet, and wasn’t sure whether she wanted to go or not. She’d been stuck doing paperwork again, and the crazies would be out in droves. Did she really want to deal with all that, or just go home and curl up by herself?
A small part of her wanted to be where David could find her, though she knew he was likely dead by now. Or didn’t want to be found.
Either way, she couldn’t wait for him forever.
Tucking her phone back into her purse, she started the car and pulled out of the lot. She’d stop by the bar long enough to say hi, since both of her friends probably had dates lined up anyway. Then she could go home and hide from the world for awhile.
It took twenty minutes to find the bar, and another five to find a parking spot. When she got inside, the place was already hopping, and she had to shove her way through all sorts of costumes before she finally spotted her friends. Jodi - or someone in a white Cinderella costume who looked like Jodi - waved, and Laura gave a small smile as she reached the table.
“We thought you were standing us up,” Jodi said as Laura slid into the seat next to her.
Laura shook her head. “Had to work late, is all. Grunt work is paperwork, just like everywhere else. But hopefully I’ll be done with my classes and on to better things soon.” She took took in the details of Jodi’s costume, from the faux tiara in her piled-high hair to the glass-look slippers on her feet, and grinned. “Nice costume, by the way. Never would have guessed you’d wear something like that. Things must be serious with Ty?”
“You could say that.” Jodi lifted her beer again, clearly not wanting to discuss it further. Maybe if she called tomorrow, Laura could get her to talk. It had been too long since the two of them had a real conversation. Why hadn’t she realized that before?
She waited for the censure and smart-ass remarks about her job, but her friends were quiet. Across the table, Melanie was watching her with an odd, tired expression - a look Laura wasn’t sure she’d ever seen before. When the other woman made eye contact, there was a flash of regret, and maybe resignation before her usual hard, unflappable shield fell back into place.
“So you’re really going through with this, then?” Melanie asked. The same resignation Laura had glimpsed in her expression came through in her tone, and Laura simply nodded.
“I told you - I needed a change, and this is it. This is what I want to do with my life.”
Melanie nodded, looking down at her hands. “Okay then.” When she looked up again, her lips curved up in a slight, sad smile.
“I’m going away for awhile,” she said, leaning back in her chair. “This year is about change, and I’ve been changing. I met someone, actually. We’re going to do some traveling, and I probably won’t make it back for Thanksgiving. Christmas is iffy.”
Jodi shook her head, setting her bottle of beer down with a heavy thump.
“Oh no,” she said, wagging a finger at thier friend. “You are not just going to disappear with some guy we’ve never met off to who knows where. You wouldn’t put up with that shit from either of us, and we’re dammed well not letting you get away with it either, right Laura?”
Laura hesitated. If she was completely honest, she wasn’t sure she cared what Melanie did anymore. The woman seemed intent on passing judgment on their lives without opening up any of her own, and Laura was over it.
Finally, she shrugged. “Do what you have to do, Melanie. It’s not like you’ve been all that supportive of us this year, and you’re just going to ignore us anyways, so go. Find yourself. Maybe when you get back, you’ll be more appreciative of what’s important.”
Looking away from Jodi’s hurt expression and ignoring Melanie’s angry glare, Laura got up. “I have to go. Jodi, good luck with your date tonight - I assume you’re meeting Ty?” Jodi nodded, avoiding eye contact.
Laura turned to Melanie, but the woman held up a hand before she could speak.
“You’re mad, I get it,” Melanie said. “And I probably deserve that, more than you know. But before you go, there’s a present for you in the back room over there. I even wrapped it, something I rarely do.” She got up and pointed to a door in the corner, dim yellow light shining through the opening.
“I hope you both find what you’re looking for. I’m sorry it had to end like this.”
Melanie slipped off through the crowd, her normal exit pattern, and Laura frowned at Jodi.
“That was weird - even for her. What do you think she left me?”
Jodi shrugged and got to her feet just as Ty approached the table.
“Only one way to find out.” She turned to Ty. “Melanie left something for Laura in the back room - mind if we go check it out with her?”
He shook his head. “Not at all. Let’s go.”
Laura led the way through the colorful crowd and stepped through the narrow doorway, not seeing anything of note as she scanned the closet-sized space. Then something near the couch moved, and she started toward it, but Ty held her back.
“Let me,” he said, and for once, she was happy to let someone else take the lead. Jodi held her hand as they watched Ty bend down to look at something on the floor. He paused for a long moment, reaching out with one hand, and rubbing the side of his face with the other. Finally he turned, holding a square envelope out to Laura.
“We’re gonna need an ambulance,” he said to Jodi, who pulled out her phone and started to dial. He looked at Laura.
“Your guy’s been missing for quite awhile, right?” She nodded, moving forward as her stomach turned. It couldn’t be...and if it was, that meant...
Oh God.
She covered the rest of the space in two steps, kneeling down by a pile of black fabric. Ty had pulled back enough to reveal the face of a man clearly in pain, and unaware of his surroundings, but she would have recognized it anywhere.
David.
She could already hear the sirens over the roar of the crowd as she pulled back more of the fabric. He was dressed in the same clothes he’d had on last time she saw him, and didn’t appear to be bleeding anywhere, but he moved restlessly, turning toward her when she ran a hand along the side of his face.
“Ma’am, you’ll have to move now. We’ve got him.”
Someone pulled her away as paramedics took her place, and she stared in shock as they took his vitals and strapped him to a gurney.
“Melanie,” she whispered as the rolled him out of the club. She looked at Jodi, who nodded.
“Go with him. I already called the cops, and I’ll tell them what we know.”
Laura started to follow David, then turned back, her heart racing. “Be careful,” she said. “She...we don’t know...”
Ty stood behind Jodi, his hands on her shoulders. “I’ll keep her safe,” he said, in a voice that didn’t quite sound like him, but reassured her all the same. Nodding her thanks, she turned and ran for the ambulance, determined not to let him out of her sight again.
* * * * *
Several hours later, she woke to a bad kink in her neck from the hard hospital chair and David staring at her with an unreadable expression on his face.
“You’re awake,” she said, moving close and taking his hand in hers. “The doctor said you’d be okay, but I wasn’t sure. We’ll find her. She won’t get away with it, David. I’ve already called the agency, and they’ve got people searching.”
He looked up at the ceiling, avoiding her gaze. “So you know then? Who it was, I mean? And what happened?” His voice cracked on the last part.
Laura nodded. “Melanie left you at the bar for me to find tonight - some sort of sick present.” She remembered the card then, and frowned. “There was a note too, but I didn’t read it. I think it’s in my purse...”
Squeezing his hand again, she got the envelope, pulling the card out to read.
“No - wait Laura. Please.”
She looked at him, curious. “Why? We need to know what it says - it might help us catch her. Just give me a minute.” She turned away from his pleading look and began to read. Her knees buckled as she processed the words, thier meaning, the details of David’s time as Melanie’s captive.
When she was done, she let the card slip through her fingers, clicking as it hit the floor and slid under a cabinet.
“She...you...wow.” Laura could barely breathe and moisture gathered in her eyes as unbidden images ran through her head.
David moved restlessly on his bed. “I understand if you need to leave,” he said quietly. “I had no choice, but still...it’s more than I’d expect you to deal with.”
Closing her eyes, Laura took a couple of deep, cleansing breaths. When she opened them again, she went to David, sitting on the edge of his bed and looking him in the eye.
Wiping a stray tear from his cheek even as he did the same for her.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she said, resisting the urge to kiss him, but just barely. He’d been forced enough in that respect. “But she is going to pay for this, no matter what happens between you and me. I promise.”
He nodded, holding her stare. “There’s more you need to know, Laura. Did she say anything about being with a guy?”
Laura nodded. “She said she was going to run off with him for awhile. That they were going to travel and she probably wouldn’t be back for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Did you see him? Talk to him? Who is he?”
He nodded. “I’m surprised he let her release me, actually. He and I recognized each other that first week.”
“So you know him?”
“His name is Aaron Davies. I don’t know what he told your friend, but he’s a serial killer I’ve been chasing for quite awhile now. Almost got him a few times, but he slipped away at the last minute. He’s very smart, and tricky too.”
Laura tried to make sense of it all, coming up short.
“So what are you saying, exactly? That Melanie is working with a serial killer somehow, but doesn’t know it? Do you think he made her do...those things to you? Or is she--”
He pulled her closer, shaking his head. “I don’t know, Laura. Honestly it didn’t seem like she was being coherced in any way. But let’s just wait to make any rash judgments. You said there’s a team after them already - once they search both houses, we’ll know more.”
He looked into her eyes for a long moment, the weary sadness making Laura’s heart hurt. He nudged her closer still, his lips brushing hers in the barest of kisses again and again.
“I missed you,” she whispered in between kisses. “I missed you so much.”
He nodded, nuzzling her nose before leaning his forehead against hers. “You got me through,” he murmured. “Every damn day.”
Someone knocked at the door, and Laura reluctantly sat back as the doctor came in.
“We’ll finish this later,” David said as she moved off the bed and reluctantly stepped away. Giving him a nod and a smile, she went out in the hall to call Jodi while she waited.
###
Join us for the next installment of Laura's story right here on Thanksgiving - November 28, 2013.
Curious about what Melanie and Jodi were up to while Laura was reconciling with
Mysterious? Check in on Melanie at AlexWesthaven.com (horror), and Jodi at TrinityMarlow.com (erotic romance) - both installments will be posted late this afternoon. Thanks for reading! Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Mysterious is one branch of a three-pronged holiday short series by
myself and two of my alter-egos. We follow three women through the year,
each with a different goal that may be achieved in ways they can't even
fathom just yet. This is Laura's story. You can read the first part here. All stories are posted in draft form. The combined, edited version will be released in December 2013.
Valentine's Day | St. Patrick's Day | Easter | Memorial Day | Independence Day | Labor Day |
Finding David
Laura slid into her car with a sigh, locking the doors before she pulled out her phone to check her messages. Before starting her training with the FBI, she wouldn’t have thought twice about checking as she walked across the dark parking lot from the building she now worked in, but even the basic safety classes had given her a few sleepless nights over the past two months.
That, and not knowing what had happened to David the last time she’d seen him.
She’d reported the incident immediately, of course, calling her new supervisor as soon as she’d come to and remembered what happened. They’d sent a team to her house and put her through all sorts of questioning, including a polygraph. They’d even declined her application, and then a week later, told her to report for duty.
All that time, all the effort and questions and searching had turned up nothing. It was as if David had just disappeared off the face of the earth.
She hadn’t heard much from Melanie or Jodi either, which wasn’t particularly surprising especially given their fight on Labor Day.
Just before David had been knocked out on her front lawn and disappeared.
Tonight was Halloween though, and both had sent her texts with the name of a bar on the other side of town and a time. Apparently they’d been talking to each other, at least. She was surprised that they still wanted to meet, and wasn’t sure whether she wanted to go or not. She’d been stuck doing paperwork again, and the crazies would be out in droves. Did she really want to deal with all that, or just go home and curl up by herself?
A small part of her wanted to be where David could find her, though she knew he was likely dead by now. Or didn’t want to be found.
Either way, she couldn’t wait for him forever.
Tucking her phone back into her purse, she started the car and pulled out of the lot. She’d stop by the bar long enough to say hi, since both of her friends probably had dates lined up anyway. Then she could go home and hide from the world for awhile.
It took twenty minutes to find the bar, and another five to find a parking spot. When she got inside, the place was already hopping, and she had to shove her way through all sorts of costumes before she finally spotted her friends. Jodi - or someone in a white Cinderella costume who looked like Jodi - waved, and Laura gave a small smile as she reached the table.
“We thought you were standing us up,” Jodi said as Laura slid into the seat next to her.
Laura shook her head. “Had to work late, is all. Grunt work is paperwork, just like everywhere else. But hopefully I’ll be done with my classes and on to better things soon.” She took took in the details of Jodi’s costume, from the faux tiara in her piled-high hair to the glass-look slippers on her feet, and grinned. “Nice costume, by the way. Never would have guessed you’d wear something like that. Things must be serious with Ty?”
“You could say that.” Jodi lifted her beer again, clearly not wanting to discuss it further. Maybe if she called tomorrow, Laura could get her to talk. It had been too long since the two of them had a real conversation. Why hadn’t she realized that before?
She waited for the censure and smart-ass remarks about her job, but her friends were quiet. Across the table, Melanie was watching her with an odd, tired expression - a look Laura wasn’t sure she’d ever seen before. When the other woman made eye contact, there was a flash of regret, and maybe resignation before her usual hard, unflappable shield fell back into place.
“So you’re really going through with this, then?” Melanie asked. The same resignation Laura had glimpsed in her expression came through in her tone, and Laura simply nodded.
“I told you - I needed a change, and this is it. This is what I want to do with my life.”
Melanie nodded, looking down at her hands. “Okay then.” When she looked up again, her lips curved up in a slight, sad smile.
“I’m going away for awhile,” she said, leaning back in her chair. “This year is about change, and I’ve been changing. I met someone, actually. We’re going to do some traveling, and I probably won’t make it back for Thanksgiving. Christmas is iffy.”
Jodi shook her head, setting her bottle of beer down with a heavy thump.
“Oh no,” she said, wagging a finger at thier friend. “You are not just going to disappear with some guy we’ve never met off to who knows where. You wouldn’t put up with that shit from either of us, and we’re dammed well not letting you get away with it either, right Laura?”
Laura hesitated. If she was completely honest, she wasn’t sure she cared what Melanie did anymore. The woman seemed intent on passing judgment on their lives without opening up any of her own, and Laura was over it.
Finally, she shrugged. “Do what you have to do, Melanie. It’s not like you’ve been all that supportive of us this year, and you’re just going to ignore us anyways, so go. Find yourself. Maybe when you get back, you’ll be more appreciative of what’s important.”
Looking away from Jodi’s hurt expression and ignoring Melanie’s angry glare, Laura got up. “I have to go. Jodi, good luck with your date tonight - I assume you’re meeting Ty?” Jodi nodded, avoiding eye contact.
Laura turned to Melanie, but the woman held up a hand before she could speak.
“You’re mad, I get it,” Melanie said. “And I probably deserve that, more than you know. But before you go, there’s a present for you in the back room over there. I even wrapped it, something I rarely do.” She got up and pointed to a door in the corner, dim yellow light shining through the opening.
“I hope you both find what you’re looking for. I’m sorry it had to end like this.”
Melanie slipped off through the crowd, her normal exit pattern, and Laura frowned at Jodi.
“That was weird - even for her. What do you think she left me?”
Jodi shrugged and got to her feet just as Ty approached the table.
“Only one way to find out.” She turned to Ty. “Melanie left something for Laura in the back room - mind if we go check it out with her?”
He shook his head. “Not at all. Let’s go.”
Laura led the way through the colorful crowd and stepped through the narrow doorway, not seeing anything of note as she scanned the closet-sized space. Then something near the couch moved, and she started toward it, but Ty held her back.
“Let me,” he said, and for once, she was happy to let someone else take the lead. Jodi held her hand as they watched Ty bend down to look at something on the floor. He paused for a long moment, reaching out with one hand, and rubbing the side of his face with the other. Finally he turned, holding a square envelope out to Laura.
“We’re gonna need an ambulance,” he said to Jodi, who pulled out her phone and started to dial. He looked at Laura.
“Your guy’s been missing for quite awhile, right?” She nodded, moving forward as her stomach turned. It couldn’t be...and if it was, that meant...
Oh God.
She covered the rest of the space in two steps, kneeling down by a pile of black fabric. Ty had pulled back enough to reveal the face of a man clearly in pain, and unaware of his surroundings, but she would have recognized it anywhere.
David.
She could already hear the sirens over the roar of the crowd as she pulled back more of the fabric. He was dressed in the same clothes he’d had on last time she saw him, and didn’t appear to be bleeding anywhere, but he moved restlessly, turning toward her when she ran a hand along the side of his face.
“Ma’am, you’ll have to move now. We’ve got him.”
Someone pulled her away as paramedics took her place, and she stared in shock as they took his vitals and strapped him to a gurney.
“Melanie,” she whispered as the rolled him out of the club. She looked at Jodi, who nodded.
“Go with him. I already called the cops, and I’ll tell them what we know.”
Laura started to follow David, then turned back, her heart racing. “Be careful,” she said. “She...we don’t know...”
Ty stood behind Jodi, his hands on her shoulders. “I’ll keep her safe,” he said, in a voice that didn’t quite sound like him, but reassured her all the same. Nodding her thanks, she turned and ran for the ambulance, determined not to let him out of her sight again.
* * * * *
Several hours later, she woke to a bad kink in her neck from the hard hospital chair and David staring at her with an unreadable expression on his face.
“You’re awake,” she said, moving close and taking his hand in hers. “The doctor said you’d be okay, but I wasn’t sure. We’ll find her. She won’t get away with it, David. I’ve already called the agency, and they’ve got people searching.”
He looked up at the ceiling, avoiding her gaze. “So you know then? Who it was, I mean? And what happened?” His voice cracked on the last part.
Laura nodded. “Melanie left you at the bar for me to find tonight - some sort of sick present.” She remembered the card then, and frowned. “There was a note too, but I didn’t read it. I think it’s in my purse...”
Squeezing his hand again, she got the envelope, pulling the card out to read.
“No - wait Laura. Please.”
She looked at him, curious. “Why? We need to know what it says - it might help us catch her. Just give me a minute.” She turned away from his pleading look and began to read. Her knees buckled as she processed the words, thier meaning, the details of David’s time as Melanie’s captive.
When she was done, she let the card slip through her fingers, clicking as it hit the floor and slid under a cabinet.
“She...you...wow.” Laura could barely breathe and moisture gathered in her eyes as unbidden images ran through her head.
David moved restlessly on his bed. “I understand if you need to leave,” he said quietly. “I had no choice, but still...it’s more than I’d expect you to deal with.”
Closing her eyes, Laura took a couple of deep, cleansing breaths. When she opened them again, she went to David, sitting on the edge of his bed and looking him in the eye.
Wiping a stray tear from his cheek even as he did the same for her.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she said, resisting the urge to kiss him, but just barely. He’d been forced enough in that respect. “But she is going to pay for this, no matter what happens between you and me. I promise.”
He nodded, holding her stare. “There’s more you need to know, Laura. Did she say anything about being with a guy?”
Laura nodded. “She said she was going to run off with him for awhile. That they were going to travel and she probably wouldn’t be back for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Did you see him? Talk to him? Who is he?”
He nodded. “I’m surprised he let her release me, actually. He and I recognized each other that first week.”
“So you know him?”
“His name is Aaron Davies. I don’t know what he told your friend, but he’s a serial killer I’ve been chasing for quite awhile now. Almost got him a few times, but he slipped away at the last minute. He’s very smart, and tricky too.”
Laura tried to make sense of it all, coming up short.
“So what are you saying, exactly? That Melanie is working with a serial killer somehow, but doesn’t know it? Do you think he made her do...those things to you? Or is she--”
He pulled her closer, shaking his head. “I don’t know, Laura. Honestly it didn’t seem like she was being coherced in any way. But let’s just wait to make any rash judgments. You said there’s a team after them already - once they search both houses, we’ll know more.”
He looked into her eyes for a long moment, the weary sadness making Laura’s heart hurt. He nudged her closer still, his lips brushing hers in the barest of kisses again and again.
“I missed you,” she whispered in between kisses. “I missed you so much.”
He nodded, nuzzling her nose before leaning his forehead against hers. “You got me through,” he murmured. “Every damn day.”
Someone knocked at the door, and Laura reluctantly sat back as the doctor came in.
“We’ll finish this later,” David said as she moved off the bed and reluctantly stepped away. Giving him a nod and a smile, she went out in the hall to call Jodi while she waited.
###
Join us for the next installment of Laura's story right here on Thanksgiving - November 28, 2013.
Curious about what Melanie and Jodi were up to while Laura was reconciling with
Mysterious? Check in on Melanie at AlexWesthaven.com (horror), and Jodi at TrinityMarlow.com (erotic romance) - both installments will be posted late this afternoon. Thanks for reading! Enjoy
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October 30, 2013
Talkin' Books: Dark fare this week, dearies...
Books Finished: None
Books In Progress: Two Graves by Douglas Preston & Lincoln ChildTatterdemon by Steve Vernon
Short Fiction: None
Comics Read: Superior Spider-man #19 Batman #22
I'm actually on vacation from the day job this week, not that you could tell by my reading list, eh? There's always an excuse, isn't there? This week, mine is that the two novels I currently have going are insanely huge (well, Two Graves is a good 2 inches thick - Tatterdemon is digital, but 55 chapters long). By comparison, average romance & romantic suspense are generally quite a bit shorter, and I really like novella length as well so I read a lot in the 20-40k word range.
Add that to the fact that despite being home, I'm working on both Halloween prep and trying to finish writing several drafts before National Novel Month starts on Friday, and yeah. No more reading time than last week, really. Funny how that works (or doesn't)...
I did work my way through a couple more comic books last night, which was fun, in a dark sort of way. Superior Spider-man was really interesting, what with the space/time continuum issue and Ock's secret finally on the verge of being discovered.
And in Batman , poor Bruce Wayne is forced into the spotlight again, though he's still fighting it with everything he's got. This Year Zero arc is fascinating, really...a much deeper exploration of how his emotional growth is leading him to the man we already know.
Why is it that Spider-man is hyphenated, and Batman isn't? It's annoying. Editor wars?
Anyways, that's my list for this week, and considering my progress on both of those novels is a bit slow, I have no idea whether I'll finish them up or not. Maybe if I get my drafts done, I can reward myself this weekend...
Anyone out there reading anything fun & spooky for Halloween? If not, I'll highly recommend you check out books by Steve Vernon, Saul Tanpepper or Ryan Casey...
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Books In Progress: Two Graves by Douglas Preston & Lincoln ChildTatterdemon by Steve Vernon
Short Fiction: None
Comics Read: Superior Spider-man #19 Batman #22
I'm actually on vacation from the day job this week, not that you could tell by my reading list, eh? There's always an excuse, isn't there? This week, mine is that the two novels I currently have going are insanely huge (well, Two Graves is a good 2 inches thick - Tatterdemon is digital, but 55 chapters long). By comparison, average romance & romantic suspense are generally quite a bit shorter, and I really like novella length as well so I read a lot in the 20-40k word range.
Add that to the fact that despite being home, I'm working on both Halloween prep and trying to finish writing several drafts before National Novel Month starts on Friday, and yeah. No more reading time than last week, really. Funny how that works (or doesn't)...
I did work my way through a couple more comic books last night, which was fun, in a dark sort of way. Superior Spider-man was really interesting, what with the space/time continuum issue and Ock's secret finally on the verge of being discovered.
And in Batman , poor Bruce Wayne is forced into the spotlight again, though he's still fighting it with everything he's got. This Year Zero arc is fascinating, really...a much deeper exploration of how his emotional growth is leading him to the man we already know.
Why is it that Spider-man is hyphenated, and Batman isn't? It's annoying. Editor wars?
Anyways, that's my list for this week, and considering my progress on both of those novels is a bit slow, I have no idea whether I'll finish them up or not. Maybe if I get my drafts done, I can reward myself this weekend...
Anyone out there reading anything fun & spooky for Halloween? If not, I'll highly recommend you check out books by Steve Vernon, Saul Tanpepper or Ryan Casey...
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Romantic Suspense
| Erotic Romance | Contemporary Romance |
Horror | Flash Fiction | Non-Fiction
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will be moderated. Once you have been approved, future comments will post automatically.
October 29, 2013
Tips for the NaNoWriMo Newbie
For the past month I've watched the online writing community pretty much explode with advice, tips and all sorts of "helpful tools" for writers planning to participate in this year's National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo, or "NaNo" for short, and to drive iPod NaNo owners nuts on Twitter). It's easy to get caught up in all the hype and planning and spreadsheets and new software and outlining and plotting, and whatever else people are touting as the "best way to win NaNo and end up with a novel that doesn't suck."
And watching it all, trying to decide whether I want to make time to do it again this year (yes, I'm going to), all I can think is, "Dang, we humans really are good at making simple things complex."
I can understand if you've already completed a novel (or several), the pull of wanting to write faster...better. Which is where all those bells and whistles everyone's talking about come in. Writers who already have a good idea of how they work best will want to leverage NaNo to their own advantage, using the tricks and tools they've learned and developed for themselves over the years. And there's nothing wrong with that. You'll be doing that too someday. I'll be doing a little more set-up this year than normal as well (still not nearly as much as a lot of people), simply because of the type of project I want to produce for publication. But this is my ninth year.
But for those of you who are just embarking on your first NaNo noveling adventure, or who may have started some stories, but never quite finished, here's my advice for you:
- Ignore all the advice on advanced planning, plotting, and tools outside the NaNoWriMo site itself. Writer's are horrible when it comes to being perfectionists and wanting everything "just so" the first time out. I get it, I do. But NaNo is not the time for perfection. It's the time for playing in the mud and getting dirty - especially if you're just starting out.
- Come up with a title, names for two characters, and a simple setting. That's all you need to start. You don't need to know your characters - you'll get to know them as you write. You don't need details on your setting, you'll explore it as you write. Don't bog yourself down right from the start - just dive in, headfirst, and "discover" your story as you write it. There are *no rules* in NaNo land. Embrace that!
- Create your account at NaNoWriMo.org, and browse around the forums a bit. Connect with your local forums and writing community there.
- On November 1st, open a new document and start typing. Put one of your characters in the setting you chose, and then have the other character enter and do something that makes the first character mad, sad, excited or scared. Once you've done that, just write one word that goes after the word before. One sentence that goes after the one you just wrote. Rinse, repeat. It doesn't have to make sense, it doesn't have be good, or even written well. Just keep writing, no matter what comes out.
- Dare to be bad. Dare to write the worst thing anyone's ever written in the history of writing. I bet you can't do it, but you can certainly try - and should, for this particular exercise. Do not restrict yourself or your ideas, for any reason. *That* will kill your momentum faster than anything.
- Write 1,667 words per day, or 2,000 words per weekday (to take weekends off). When you're on a roll, keep writing. Stockpile as many words in the beginning of the month as possible, because by the end, I guarantee you'll be burning out. The only 3k and 5k days I've ever done have been during the last days of a NaNoWriMo draft.
- Really, really stuck? Go to the Plot Doctoring or Adoption Society forums on the NaNo site, steal an idea, and stick it in your novel. Blow something up. Kill someone off. When you don't know what happens next, ask yourself what the absolute worst thing that could happen is, and then write that. Even if it's the cheesiest, stupidest thing you can possibly think of. Just write it. This is your time to play - play with words, play with stories, play with characters, play with plots. Nothing is taboo, nothing is "bad"...the best way to learn how to do anything is to play with it, break it, and put it back together again. So play.
- Every day or every few days, update your total word count on the site (note: the site tends to get bogged down the first week. Wait a few days before entering that first count). The NaNo site will auto-generate charts and daily word count lists for you based on your updated word count. No need for a separate special spreadsheet or software. Don't get bogged down in the bookkeeping. Focus on the writing.
- Do not neglect your life. Eat. Do laundry. Take showers. Kiss your spouse/significant other and hug your children/pets. Trust me, your mind will work better when you sit down to write if you aren't worried about dirty socks or neglected loved ones. And more to the point, if you're going to be a writer past this November, you'll need to know how to stay sane and keep writing even as "life" pulls you in all different directions. That's the whole point of this exercise - to really learn that you *can* fit writing into your daily life, even after the month is over.
- At the end of the month, if you're behind, you'll have two choices - sprint, or fail. If you can see the 50k light at the end of the tunnel and you have a few days to devote to your story, sprint. Otherwise, fail, and do so with the knowledge that you have more words written at that point that you probably ever have in your life, and that "failure" in this case is far, far better than never having tried at all. Next year, you'll have more experience. You'll probably have finished this particular book and moved on to the next, whether you edited/rewrote this one or just scrapped it and started something new. You'll have methods and strategies to employ, some of which you may have even developed during this year's NaNo exercise.
You'll be that much more experienced as a writer. And really, that's what NaNo is all about.
That's my advice, for whatever it's worth. Go forth! Write words! Have fun! Many writers (myself included) have finished their first full novel during NaNoWriMo. Here's to you - join the club!
Enjoy
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October 28, 2013
Vacation, Snow, & Much To Do...
Welcome to winter! It's snowing outside, and I'm on vacation, so I don't care one bit. Actually, I think it looks rather nice outside...from my cozy warm vantage point in the house, anyways. I'd really love it if it would warm up/melt off/dry out by Weds (or Thurs morning at the latest), so we can have a nice Halloween, and according to the forecasts, it should. But for today, I'm content to watch it snow.
Of course the weekend was gorgeous, and yesterday I had the back door propped open for awhile. Today, the two flies that snuck in are intent on driving me (and the dogs) insane by buzzing our heads and randomly opening the electric garbage can in the kitchen...
Last week, the Monday post was late because I was tired and overwhelmed. This week it's late because I'm on vacation and simply being lazy. Funny how that happens...
Incidentally, this week will be a bit different here on the blog. Since I'm doing NaNo this year, I've got a "NaNo Tips for Newbies" post that I'll put up tomorrow. And Halloween is Thursday, which means another installment of Mr. Mysterious. And I'll be starting a new blog specifically for the NaNo draft this year, for those who want to read along as I write. I'll post the link to that on Friday night. So this week's schedule looks like this:
Monday: this post
Tuesday: NaNoWriMo Tips for Newbies
Weds: Talkin' Books
Thursday: Halloween installment of Mr. Mysterious
Friday: Serial installments of Jasmine Betrayal *and* MacKenzie Saves the World
I had no list last week, which is weird, but I still managed to get quite a lot done - huzzah! And this week should be very productive too, with no day job to worry about with everything else going on. And yes, there is a lot to do this week! My alter-ego's blog party is still running for this one last week, so I have that to administrate & a prize package to ship out on Friday.
I also have three main lists to take care of - one for Halloween, one for writing and one for publishing stuff. The Halloween list has to be completed by Friday, and the more I can get done on the other two lists by then, the easier the next couple months will be all around.
Yeah. *Working* vacation. But I don't have to get up at 6am, and a big hooray for *that*!!
You wanna see the lists for this week? Are you sure? Okay, but remember - you asked (sort of...you're still reading, right?)...
Halloween
- Clean off the dining room table to use as a staging area for props- Set up a bug-infested black light aquarium- Test projector & ghost images on front window (tonight)- Package candy into treat bags (helps us keep count)
- Update the Halloween blog
- Move creepy lullaby music onto MP3 player for the yard- Pull out all the props we need plus accessories and stage them upstairs (DR)- Check & replace batteries, run extension cords where needed- Set up fog machines & timers- Weds, put all hardscape non/stealable stuff out in the graveyard/haunted mansion- Thursday, set up all props, electrical, lighting & music, run the "show"- Friday, tear down all props & yard items to put away
Writing
- Write two serial installments due Friday - Try to finish one of the serial drafts currently in progress- Edits/revisions to a short story due out in two weeks
- Work as much as possible to finish six remaining holiday serial installments- Start my NaNo draft on Friday - write as much as possible over the weekend to get a head start
Publishing
- Finish two covers currently in progress (designed, but have to wait for payday from retailers to buy the artwork)- Newsletter due on Friday- Update publishing schedule for the next two months- Start designing covers for the holiday serials and two boxed set collections.
When I'm not working on all that? I have a scarf I'd like to finish knitting this week, and an afghan I'd like to get several more squares crocheted for. I'll do those in the evenings while watching TV.
Busy busy...but a good, fun kind of busy.
And now I'd better scare up some lunch, as the hubby should be home soon to eat with me. After that...on to the lists!
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Of course the weekend was gorgeous, and yesterday I had the back door propped open for awhile. Today, the two flies that snuck in are intent on driving me (and the dogs) insane by buzzing our heads and randomly opening the electric garbage can in the kitchen...
Last week, the Monday post was late because I was tired and overwhelmed. This week it's late because I'm on vacation and simply being lazy. Funny how that happens...
Incidentally, this week will be a bit different here on the blog. Since I'm doing NaNo this year, I've got a "NaNo Tips for Newbies" post that I'll put up tomorrow. And Halloween is Thursday, which means another installment of Mr. Mysterious. And I'll be starting a new blog specifically for the NaNo draft this year, for those who want to read along as I write. I'll post the link to that on Friday night. So this week's schedule looks like this:
Monday: this post
Tuesday: NaNoWriMo Tips for Newbies
Weds: Talkin' Books
Thursday: Halloween installment of Mr. Mysterious
Friday: Serial installments of Jasmine Betrayal *and* MacKenzie Saves the World
I had no list last week, which is weird, but I still managed to get quite a lot done - huzzah! And this week should be very productive too, with no day job to worry about with everything else going on. And yes, there is a lot to do this week! My alter-ego's blog party is still running for this one last week, so I have that to administrate & a prize package to ship out on Friday.
I also have three main lists to take care of - one for Halloween, one for writing and one for publishing stuff. The Halloween list has to be completed by Friday, and the more I can get done on the other two lists by then, the easier the next couple months will be all around.
Yeah. *Working* vacation. But I don't have to get up at 6am, and a big hooray for *that*!!
You wanna see the lists for this week? Are you sure? Okay, but remember - you asked (sort of...you're still reading, right?)...
Halloween
- Clean off the dining room table to use as a staging area for props- Set up a bug-infested black light aquarium- Test projector & ghost images on front window (tonight)- Package candy into treat bags (helps us keep count)
- Update the Halloween blog
- Move creepy lullaby music onto MP3 player for the yard- Pull out all the props we need plus accessories and stage them upstairs (DR)- Check & replace batteries, run extension cords where needed- Set up fog machines & timers- Weds, put all hardscape non/stealable stuff out in the graveyard/haunted mansion- Thursday, set up all props, electrical, lighting & music, run the "show"- Friday, tear down all props & yard items to put away
Writing
- Write two serial installments due Friday - Try to finish one of the serial drafts currently in progress- Edits/revisions to a short story due out in two weeks
- Work as much as possible to finish six remaining holiday serial installments- Start my NaNo draft on Friday - write as much as possible over the weekend to get a head start
Publishing
- Finish two covers currently in progress (designed, but have to wait for payday from retailers to buy the artwork)- Newsletter due on Friday- Update publishing schedule for the next two months- Start designing covers for the holiday serials and two boxed set collections.
When I'm not working on all that? I have a scarf I'd like to finish knitting this week, and an afghan I'd like to get several more squares crocheted for. I'll do those in the evenings while watching TV.
Busy busy...but a good, fun kind of busy.
And now I'd better scare up some lunch, as the hubby should be home soon to eat with me. After that...on to the lists! Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Romantic Suspense
| Erotic Romance | Contemporary Romance |
Horror | Flash Fiction | Non-Fiction
**Please
note - If this is your first time posting, your comment
will be moderated. Once you have been approved, future comments will post automatically.
