M.L. Skye's Blog, page 24

Sunday Snippet: No Loss of Life

I hope everyone who has a long weekend gets to enjoy the time off. We're continuing to be low-key and not really doing much more than our usual food fest of pizza, burgers, brats, and sides. I've been trying to balance cleaning and sorting with writing and editing work.

Had a really solid week of television viewing. I started out with Peak Practice. I had to skip an episode because it's not available for streaming.

Caught another Master Class lesson about graphic design. This one featured using photography in design. Got a few great ideas to maybe use for covers and marketing material.

Ended up watching a full episode of Blue Heelers and started another. The tension and conflict seems to be amping up and I'm not sure I really like it. It's gone a little into soap territory, which isn't necessarily a bad thing but it's not what I expected.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina pulled a fast one and made me shift my opinion a little on Zelda. This is a good thing. I really didn't like her at all until she chose Sabrina and Hilda over the high priest. I kind of hope he dies in a fire. I'm also not loving the teacher. Again, it might be residual Doctor Who dislike bleeding over.

Caught an episode of the Ready Room. I like Wil's enthusiasm and he asks some great questions. Looking forward to the recap of episode three.

Watched a couple of Passionflix originals. A holiday Quickie, The Merry Mistake, entertained with a mistaken identity vibe. That finished up the holiday fare from this past year. I also got to watch the premiere of Wicked and thoroughly enjoyed! I'm looking forward to more paranormal romance adaptations.

Got another episode of Chicago Med in. This one ended up being a good viewing with lots going on but fairly equal storylines.

Caught the opener of the third season of No Offence. Man. A gut-wrenching episode. I love, love, love Dinah and Spike's friendship. I have a sneaky suspicion he'll be moving up and forming the third point of the trio now. I'm okay with that.

Finished up the tenth season of Silent Witness and should start series eleven this week. This is an episode I remembered watching but I'd forgotten how it played out. Ended up really loving it.

Started the sixteenth season of Classic Who. New companion, new K-9, new multiple arcs with a single thread. I think I'll like through line with four-part arcs.

Last but not least, I caught another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This one had a focus on police files. Pretty interesting.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from No Loss of Life, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Brigit Hardy is an anti-government revolutionary who kicks the system in the teeth to incite change. Vlad Octavius is the government agent who has to bring her to heel. There's only one problem—Vlad hates what she does, but can't disagree with her reasons.

And a sneaky peek…

Brigit Hardy skimmed through the latest reports from her main man on the ground. "Are these numbers accurate, Augie?" If so, twelve hundred families were being made homeless.

Augie Buchanan gave a nod. "Based on residency in the Greenwall Arms, yes." He sank down into the chair across from her.

She tossed his reports across the room. "Dammit! That's an increase of ten percent over the last six months." They were all being displaced from a block of tenant general housing.

Augie grunted. "You know development is the priority. Over the good of the people and the will of the people." He kicked his feet out and dropped his head to the back of the cushion.

White hot rage filled her. "We're not going to take this anymore. Not quietly." She paced in front of Augie. "Put the word out. Assembly meeting tonight." She paused a moment. "I'm going to make a speech to launch a new initiative." And make plans to ram the needs and wants of the people down the throats of the government.

Augie sat up and put his forearms on his knees. "Had a feeling might want to have a gathering." He met her gaze. "Probably not the best time to have you meet a newbie to the underground then, is it?" His shoulders slumped.

Brigit cocked her head. This is important to him. She didn't have siblings and Augie filled the role of a brother not to mention best friend. He'd never failed her and she didn't want to let him down.

She moved to sit across from him. "Why do want me to meet him?" She could take five minutes before her speech.

Augie shrugged. "He's got some good ideas." His lips quirked. "But he's green. Like I was when you took me under your wing."

Brigit chuckle-snorted. More like he stuck to her side so she didn't trip over him. And she wouldn't change a thing.

Now he had someone to bring along for the ride.

She grinned. "And you're picking up the torch? That's awesome, Augie. I'm proud of you." She fist-bumped his knee. "Bring him tonight and introduce me." Their movement could always use good ideas.

Not sure Brigit is going to be so thrilled once she actually meets the guy Augie wants to introduce but that's what makes the story fun!

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: No Escape

Had a family wedding this weekend and it ended up being terrific weather, kind of warm but the venue had air conditioning and it cooled off in the evening and the mosquitoes weren't awful.

Had another weird mix of a week. Got a lot of writing done and several new projects on the horizon I prepped for. Not a bad week for television either.

Started out with a new episode of Blue Heelers. Didn't quite finish it up yet, but I'm over halfway through.

Watched another episode of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. I'm still enjoying this one. I'm a little on the fence with Zelda but I'm kind of invested in finding out what happened to Sabrina's parents. And Harvey's dad is a total ass.

Caught the second class on graphic design in the Master Class series I started. This one focused on typography and ended up being pretty interesting and I'm looking forward to the next one.

Started the Ready Room episodes for Picard. I enjoyed Wil Wheaton's mix of insider knowledge and uber-fan vibe. Looking forward to more of these.

Watched another Passionflix holiday Quickie. The Package ended up being another fun elevator setting. I'm a fan of being trapped with nowhere to go and having to deal with a bad day.

Caught another episode of Chicago Med. I'm really happy I'm finally able to watch this series from the beginning. A heartbreaker of an episode but happy at the end.

Watched the series two finale of No Offence. This ended up being a really terrific season. I'll look forward to starting series three this week.

Also started the first part of a Silent Witnesstwo-parter. I vaguely remember this one and the next episode marks the end of series ten. We'll be getting into the seasons I've watched before.

Caught the final episode arc for season fifteen of Classic Who. Leela stayed behind on Gallifrey so I'm assuming there'll be a new companion when I start sixteen this week.

Started the second season of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. The first episode opened with a deep dive into Nazi secrets surrounding unidentified flying objects. I've seen quite a few of those clips on another program but it's interesting to see how different experts interpret things.

Watched two more episodes of The Muppet Show with Milton Berle and Rich Little as the guest stars. Lots of fun to have the comedians interact with the muppets.

Also started a new episode of The Hardy Boys. I had a long conversation with my brother about the show, which he recommended. I enjoy the intrigue and clues and I love how the brothers interact with each other and their friends.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from No Escape, a follow up to Viable Options.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Lissa Albrecht, an unwitting enemy agent, questions everything she believes when she's faced with the reality of what war really looks like. Caught in the heart of enemy territory, she won't give up her secrets … not until she speaks with Matt Kandigan, a former substance addict and the only person who cares if she lives or dies. At least she hopes so.

And a sneaky peek…

Lissa Albrecht paced the confines of the holding room. "If I don't see Matt, I don't talk." After four times of the same routine why didn't they take her seriously?

Matt Kandigan would hear what she had to say even if he still hated her afterward.

The door opened and Lissa's heart rate jumped. Finally. The rapid staccato plummeted when Karlin Hex entered the room.

Lissa held up a hand. "Stop. I'm not talking to you. I want Matt or I go back to my cell." She turned away to hide the sting of tears threatening to escape.

Karlin ignored her and dragged a chair from the table to spin it around. "Yeah, I got that part." She settled on the seat, her arms on the backrest. "So, you can just listen then I'll leave and you can go back to the lovely gray box you've been calling home." Her tone held no rancor but the sarcasm edged through.

Lissa shook her head and continued to face away from Karlin. She could talk until the world ended—again—and Lissa wouldn't care.

Karlin sighed. "Look, I get it. You and Matt had to rely on each other to escape the hellhole your side turned our planetary system into. You two formed a bond." Her fingers drummed on the table. "But you broke and betrayed that. Betrayed him." The drumming stopped abruptly on Karlin's last words.

Lissa's eyes closed. Karlin spoke the truth. Betrayal should be my middle name. Except the full reality of what her side had planned devastated Lissa. She had no idea they'd blow everything to shit and render the planet and moons unlivable—at least on the surface.

Karlin spoke again. "Anyway, Matt enlisted. And when he did, he swore he wouldn't collaborate with an enemy agent—that would be you—or offer aid and comfort, which includes talking to you, and that presents quite the dilemma, since it's apparently the only thing you want…" She trailed off a moment and Lissa almost turned to see why, but Karlin started speaking again. "So, here's your deal. In the spirit of cooperation and to hopefully spur you to work with us, Matt agreed to see you. Once. That's it." She got up and scooted the chair around again. "If you want to see him, you'd better know exactly what you want to say, because this is a one-time thing and basically your only shot." She pushed the chair back under the table. "What should I tell the admiralty when I go back?"

Lissa's mind raced. She had to see Matt. Had to explain how everything went so wrong in her life she got sucked into the movement. Then how her whole world changed when she met him. When she fell for him, she lost everything but she also gained a vision of the future she wanted. And it included him.

Lissa clenched her hands into fists. He wouldn't believe her and she didn't blame him. But she had to try.

Straightening her fingers, she turned to face Karlin. "Tell them I want to see him." When her gaze met the other woman's, she didn't find the judgment she expected. Instead … she found a glimmer of understanding.

Hope unfurled in her heart.

"After that, whatever I know, and it's not much, I'll share. But I see Matt first or they get nothing."

Karlin gave a curt nod. "Done. For what it's worth, none of this is easy on any of us. But you came through when we needed it and I haven't forgotten that." With a dip of her chin, she turned and exited the holding room.

Lissa pulled a chair out and sat down, resting her elbows on the table and dropping her head into her hands. There had to be a way to make Matt understand. To prove she loved him and regretted getting caught up in the vicious plot that destroyed their home world.

I only have a good idea of where this one is going but only a vague sense of how it's going to get there. I love putting the pieces together to stitch up a good story.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Night Watch

Geez, half of May is gone and I have no idea where it went. At least the weather has somewhat improved and feels more like spring heading into summer.

Had a fairly decent week of work and television viewing. Finished up a project and completed another one.

I started a new episode of Blue Heelers and got about halfway through. So far, it's an interesting one.

I caught the penultimate episode of No Offence. I have a feeling the finale is going to be a doozy. I'm looking forward to starting the third series.

I finished up the second part of Silent Witness. I should be ready to move on to season eleven in the near future. I think I have one more two-parter to watch.

Watched another arc of Classic Who. Once again, I got a little annoyed with Four. There's something about his arrogance that rubs me wrong. Pretty decent four-part series of episodes leading up to the six-part finale, which I'm looking forward to.

Caught another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This one focused on pilots and astronauts that had experiences seeing unidentified flying objects.

Watched a couple of The Muppet Show episodes. Don Knotts and Zero Mostel were the guests. I'd forgotten they had a new opening for the second season. I'm kind of partial to the first season's opener.

Caught another episode of The Hardy Boys. I like this show. For me, there's a lot of nostalgia because it harkens back to phones with cords, unorganized or unstructured days, eight-bit video games, and hanging out with friends. The mystery and dangerous stuff is icing on the cake.

Also started another episode of Peak Practice. Jack's in Africa and Beth and Will are trying to manage the practice while they wait on a replacement doctor. I have a feeling this episode might end up being a sad one.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Night Watch, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Aisley Diehl and Thad Saunders pull a shift of night watch on the hangar deck. They're tasked with keeping their junior pilots from being drunk and disorderly when they'd much rather be spending the evening doing something more enjoyable—under the covers.

And a sneaky peek…

Aisley Diehl wiped the sweat from her face. "Great workout, Callie." The other woman put Aisley through a difficult series of maneuvers.

Callie grinned. "You're fun to spar with. You give me a run for my money." The engineer took a long swallow of water.

A petty officer popped his head into the gym. "Lieutenant Diehl, the CO wants to see you in his quarters. ASAP." He ducked back out, probably to avoid getting grilled for information.

Aisley frowned. "Pretty sure I haven't done anything to piss him off this week. Wonder why he wants to see me." She grabbed her shirt and yanked it over her head.

Callie rolled a shoulder. "No clue. But I suggest a shower before you meet with him. I can smell you from over here." She cackled before turning toward the heavy bag.

Aisley smirked. "Ha-ha. But, yeah, think I'll make myself presentable before heading to his quarters." She draped the towel around her neck and started for the head next to the gym.

Callie tossed off a wave then went back to punching the bag.

Aisley stripped quickly and stepped under the misty spray even though the water hadn't warmed up yet. "ASAP gives me a little leeway, but don't want to keep him waiting." If the petty officer had said RFN—right fucking now—she'd have skipped the shower altogether.

Ten minutes later, she had a uniform on and strolled down the corridor to the commanding officer's quarters. Her hair still dripped a little, but he wouldn't care. At least she didn't think he would.

Drawing closer to the CO's space, she found Thad Saunders waiting outside and her curiosity kicked up a notch. Surely the CO hadn't heard anything about her clandestine relationship with Thad? They didn't speak of it for a reason.

Nah. That would have warranted an RFN summons.

Thad lifted his chin when he noticed her. "You too?" He jerked his head toward the hatch.

She nodded. "Yep. Ordered to report ASAP. How long have you been here?" And why hadn't he gone in already?

Thad shrugged. "Just got here. Took a moment to run through everything I've done this week to figure out why he wants to see me. Didn't know I'd have company." His lips twitched.

She grinned and lowered her voice. "Speaking of company … plans for later?" She didn't get specific—they could decide the where and when after the meeting.

Thad gave her a heated look. "Definitely." He raised his hand and knocked on the hatch.

This is a fun little story that should be angst-free. Thad and Aisley pulled the short straw with their extra duty but they'll find a way to make it interesting.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Napalm at Night

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. We're having some unseasonably chilly and rainy weather but it's nice to have my youngest home for the weekend.

Had a weird mix of editing work and a bunch of stuff I needed to catch up on this week. I did manage to get some solid writing time in also, which makes me very happy. I finished up a manuscript I've been working on for a long time and got it ready for some beta readers! I also finished a sexy short and have it ready for some critique as well.

Not a bad week for television. I started a new to me show on Hulu with The Hardy Boys. The first episode had a lot going on but I enjoyed it. My brother highly recommended the series because he liked it a lot. We remember the original Hardy Boys from way back in the day so I'll go with his recommendation.

I started a Master Class series on graphic design. I'm not going to win any awards, but I have an interest in the topic and I like to know what goes into making things like book covers and media for marketing purposes. I have several more classes to watch and I'm looking forward to them.

Caught the second episode of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. So far, I'm still in. I like looking at the world through Sabrina's eyes and watching how everyone reacts with her. I'm split down the middle with the aunts and I love her cousin. Harvey and Sabrina's friends are fun also. The jury is out on the teacher. I have a bit of a hang up about the actress because she played a character I really didn't like on Doctor Who. That's not her fault, it's part of the Moffet era that I didn't enjoy.

Watched another episode of Peak Practice and it was a tough one, but I enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to seeing the next one even though Beth and Jack are kind of going through the wringer right now.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers. It's interesting to see how witness protection works in another country. I also love to see how the small-town heelers have a better grasp on how things work than the big city guys.

I finished the first season of Picard and, wow, I did not expect to be a sobbing mess. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the show. It took me some time to really get into the series, but I ended up getting pretty invested in the core group. I am left with a couple of questions, which isn't a bad thing. I'll look forward to seeing if those get answered in the second season.

Caught another episode of Chicago Med and it's part of a crossover event I remember watching. I'm ready for the next episode, hopefully this week.

Last but not least, I caught another Passionflix holiday Quickie with Just Say When. It was on the shorter side but didn't suffer for it. A nice little bit of angsty merriment.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Napalm at Night, a novella that's actually one of my favorite stories to write.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Napalm at night is dangerous stuff. Jensen Wallis, an extraordinary helicopter pilot, makes her fair share of early dawn rescues after enemy forces unleash the potent explosives on her fellow soldiers. She comes to the aid of Rip Rafferty's squadron and gets them to safety, but not before the enigmatic man sets her curious nature on fire.

And a sneaky peek…

Jensen smoothly landed the helicopter at the mobile hospital and shut everything down. The hospital staff came and offloaded the three soldiers she'd brought in. Two wounded, one dead. He'd died during the flight because she hadn't been fast enough to get him here. The loss settled on her shoulders.

Her head slumped forward. "At least I have forty-eight hours downtime." Two days and then back out to death and carnage and mysterious soldiers that somehow defied the odds and managed to get under her skin.

She couldn't stop thinking about the gunnery sergeant. Rip Rafferty. He'd taken up residence in her head for the past two weeks.

Sliding out of the bird, she grabbed her maintenance log. "Maybe I'll ask about him … and his men." She hoped they'd all recovered or were on their way to doing so.

Dropping off the log, she gave a brief rundown of several repairs she'd like to get while on leave. The mechanic on duty assured her they'd get to her helicopter before she left. Jensen thanked him and headed for the command center to check in with the quartermaster or the clerk, Marie Bider.

The much cooler interior had goose bumps rising on her skin. "Wow, it's so much cooler in here." She sent a smile in the clerk's direction.

Her lips curved in return. "I know. The guys in the motor pool devised what they're calling swamp coolers." Her finger crooked and she gestured for Jensen to come around the desk.

She eyed a bucket with a fan on top and holes cut in the sides under the brim. The fan blew over water soaked pads and the air expelled blew cool and breezy out of the vents. Jensen glanced up and found one in each corner of the squared space.

She chuckled. "Ingenious. And it really makes a difference." Going back around the desk, she handed the clerk her papers. "I've got forty-eight hours of downtime. Do you have any quarters?" If they didn't, she'd have to hop a ride to the next mobile unit.

Marie smiled. "You're in luck. Had a group of entertainers ship out last night. Their quarters are available." She snagged a clipboard and jotted Jensen's name on the page. "Sign here and you're set. You can get your gear and head over."

Jensen scribbled her name on the line. "How far are the showers from where I'm staying?" She couldn't wait to wash the grit from her skin.

Marie laughed. "About two units down on the opposite side." She grabbed a shower kit and handed it to Jensen. "Got these from those entertainers. A group of singers and, man, they had a butt load of supplies. The soap is to die for."

Jensen tucked the kit under her arm. "Terrific. Thank you." Might be nice to not smell like military issue blandness.

Marie nodded. "You're welcome. I'm happy to share." She settled back down in her seat.

Before Jensen headed for the door, she paused. "Hey, I brought a group of five marines in a couple of weeks ago. The commanding officer is Rip Rafferty. How are they doing?"

Marie's face fell a little. "They're all right, but it was a close call for Gunnery Sergeant Rafferty." She huffed out a breath.

Jensen's eyes went wide. "But he didn't seem badly injured. What happened?"

Marie shook her head. "He demanded that his men get triaged first. By the time the med team got to the gunny, infection had set in. What should've been a simple procedure turned into a race to get him pumped full of antibiotics and keep his fever down." She tsked. "He's lucky. Really lucky."

Jensen didn't have to make much of a leap to imagine how things played out. "So, he's going to be okay?"

Marie got up and came around the front of her desk. "He will be, yes. He's still in limited quarantine because the doctors don't want him back out in the battle yet. He's still too weak for extended action."

Jensen had doubts about that. He'd proven to be almost superhuman.

She lifted her chin. "So, he's still here then."

Marie's lips quirked. "He is. Right now, he's probably in the canteen, the one that serves alcohol. He gets up to six hours a day of light exercise before he has to go back to quarters." She leaned in. "From what I hear, he's stir-crazy and pushing to be released so he can meet up with his men."

Jensen snorted. "Not surprising. From my brief experience with him, he wouldn't want them out there without him." But at least she'd have a chance to maybe see him again.

The man intrigued her a lot.

Marie jerked her head toward the door. "You're not wrong. And you have about an hour before he's back in mandatory confinement." Her lips twitched.

Jensen laughed. "Better get that shower in pretty quick, huh." She waved and headed out to do exactly that.

I'm hoping I can work on this a little more in the near future. I'm excited about Jensen and Rip's journey.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: My Best Friend is a Cyborg

Hello, May! I'll be honest, I had a momentary freak out when I realized we're a month away from being halfway done with the year. It's so weird how time seems to fly by so fast but it also drags on for what seems like decades. Geez.

Had an okay week of television. I started a new to me show The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which I enjoyed. It's pretty creepy and I'm intrigued enough to keep watching.

Watched the penultimate episode of Picard. It went in a direction I didn't expect and I'm not quite sure how I feel about where things are at the moment. I'm looking forward to the finale.

Caught another Passionflix holiday Quickie. Sexy Scroogeended up being pretty good. I liked the couple's chemistry and the Uber driver was fun.

Started another new episode of Blue Heelers. I'm almost finished with this one and I'm interested to see where things go. They're starting something of a serialized continuation and I'm down with that.

Watched Chicago Med and enjoyed it. I'm four episodes in and I'm getting a better feel for who the cast is. It's helpful to have some experience with the Chicago crossovers.

Caught another episode of No Offence. Things are moving along at a good clip and I'm pretty interested in seeing where the new boss lands where Viv is concerned. I kind of love the feud between Nora and Viv.

Started the first part of Silent Witness. This one is very twisty and I can't wait to see if I'm right about who the killers are.

Watched another arc of Classic Who. I'm kind of amazed at how a show from thirty years ago manages to kind of hit on things that are happening right now.

Ended up getting in another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This one featured segments on death-bed confessions from government officials and military people.

Also managed to finish the first season of The Muppet Show and I'm getting ready to start the second. First guest star is Don Knotts, which should make for a fun show.

That's it for the weekly update. Tonight's post is from My Best Friend is a Cyborg, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Ibby Stoke finds out her best friend is a dreaded and reviled cyborg and it sends her into a tailspin, making her wonder if the man she loves is a mecha-human. Phil McNulty is everything she's ever wanted, but if he's not all man, Ibby isn't sure she can deal with the reality.

And a sneaky peek…

The ramifications blasted through Phil. If Art could be believed—and why would he lie—more mecha-humans were within their ranks. That meant anyonecould be part cyborg. Fuck.

Phil met Art's gaze. "So, that means…" He couldn't say the words.

Art lifted his chin. "Yeah, get used to it, because this"—he swept his arm from his head toward his toes—"is going to be SOP. Mark my words." He got up and delivered a parting shot. "Welcome to the new reality of this war." He strode across the room and exited without another word.

Phil leaned back, shock and dread warring for prominence. He didn't doubt Art—why would he lie? His version of events had the awful clang of truth when it came to the military brass making sweeping decisions without regard to the consequences. Who cared if being a mecha-human carried an inescapable stigma? If it helped win a war, so be it. The personal lives of the recipients could be damned as long as the tide turned.

Phil's shoulders slumped. "Geez, what are they thinking?" Putting mecha-tech in wounded soldiers who couldn't consent and then expecting them to live with the consequences smacked of short-sided thinking.

Follow that questionable action by covering it up and not letting said recipients inform their closest friends and allies? Yeah, someone's head would roll eventually. But probably not the right person. And the secret would get out. Art more or less opened the door there. In a big way.

Phil heaved a sigh. "A shit storm waiting to happen." He had no idea if or when official word would come down about the military adding mecha-tech to their arsenal. But he did know one certain thing—

Ibby would lose her mind when she found out their convening authority gave full authorization.

Phil shook his head. "I wouldn't want to be on that board right now. Hell is coming for them."

I'm still in the planning stages for this story but I like how it's coming together. There's going to be some humor mixed in the moral quandary of what the military hierarchy is attempting to do. Fun stuff.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Morning Sickness

Weird weather week with sun followed by a huge middle finger FU from Mother Nature with snow and rain. At least I got a lot of stuff done around the house and had time to get a good bit of writing in also.

Decent week for television. I caught another episode of Picard and thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved getting some additional background on Chris. I'm honestly not completely sure how I feel about the Romulans but I love the intrigue of everything that's going on.

Watched another episode of Chicago Med and also loved getting more background about Rhodes. I'm a fan of the actor and I'm a total sucker for characters who have dad issues.

Since it snowed this week, I watched a Passionflix holiday Quickie. A Holiday Lift ended up being pretty fun. I love the whole stuck in an elevator trope.

Ended up watching a complete episode of Blue Heelers and started another one. I love stumbling across actors who got their start on this show. A favorite from City Homicideguest starred in one of the episodes.

Finished up the second part of Silent Witness and it went in a direction I didn't expect. I love it when shows do that.

Caught another episode of No Offence. Again, the show went in a direction I completely didn't expect it to go in. Excellent stuff!

Watched a full arc of Classic Who. I ended up getting annoyed with Four again. Sometimes he's just a bit too full of himself.

Enjoyed another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This one focused on possible earth landings and linked several ancient cultures to the mythology. Very fun episode.

Caught two more episodes of The Muppet Show. I'm almost finished with the first season and really enjoyed Ethel Merman's stint as a guest star.

Last, but not least, I watched another episode of Peak Practice. I'm not quite finished with it yet but it's going to have a sad ending so I'm putting it off. LOL

That's it for life and television updates this week. Tonight's post is from Morning Sickness, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Dava Whales has all the classic signs of pregnancy, except she can't possibly be with child—she's a solider in the middle of a war and religiously takes her mandatory birth control shots. When Warren Carter suggests Dava get checked out, the pricklier than usual officer goes ballistic—especially since Warren is the other half of the parental equation.

And a sneaky peek…

Dava's fingers gripped and released the side of the gurney. "What the hell is taking so long?" Koffman had drawn blood over an hour ago.

At least she'd made it past the queasy stage, which meant she'd be fine the rest of the day. If everything played out the way it had the past few days. She'd throw up in the morning, get something to eat then spend the rest of the day like normal.

With one exception. "I never used to have the urge to bone Warren all the time." Occasionally, yes. That's how friends with benefits works. Or is supposed to.

"Whales, do you ever do anything the normal way?" Dr. Koffman ducked into the alcove brandishing her chart.

Dava's stomach dropped. "Um, is that rhetorical? Depends on the day, I guess." How could she be joking when her entire life depended on what Koffman told her?

He flipped through several pages. "Today's not your day." He snapped the pen off the top holder and withdrew a sheet of paper.

Her mouth went dry. "Does that mean—" She broke off, unable to actually voice the question.

Koffman's gaze flashed to hers. "What? Oh, no. You're not pregnant." He scribbled several things and checked a bunch of boxes.

Dava almost fell over with relief. "Then what the hell is wrong with me?" If she didn't have a kid on the way, why did she have so many symptoms?

Abe sent her a raised-eyebrow look. "Apart from the usual?" He crossed his arms over his chest, tucking the chart under his shoulder. "You, Dava, are one of the three percent of the entire population that has a very specific reaction to the updated birth control shots." His mouth twisted in a wry smirk. "Your body thinks it's pregnant and is exhibiting all the symptoms for that reason."

Dava gripped the gurney again. "For how long? I mean, this isn't gonna be a permanent thing, is it?" She couldn't imagine heaving her guts up every single day.

Koffman tilted his head back and forth. "Well, I'm not sure how long it'll take but we'll start you on the previous version as soon as we can get some sent out." He flipped to another page in the chart. "In about three months." He grimaced.

Dava jumped off the cot. "Three months? I'll be throwing up every day for three months?" She didn't miss the irony of the time span, which equaled a trimester.

Didn't mean she liked the situation one bit.

Dr. Koffman waved a hand. "No, we'll give you something for the nausea. Should stop any mad dashes to the head." He handed her a bottle of tablets. "Everything else though? Mood swings, sensitivity, whatever else you've been experiencing, you'll have to tough those out." He grasped her shoulder. "I'd do more if I could, but I don't have a lot of information to share with you. I'll consult with some colleagues and see if I can narrow the window on how long to expect your hormones to balance out."

Dava exhaled slowly. "Appreciate it." She shook the container of pills. "And thanks for this. I didn't know what I was going to do when I started first watch rotation next week." She started to head out of the alcove. "Am I clear for duty?"

Koffman gave a nod. "Yeah." He handed her a half sheet of paper. "Take this to the CAG and I'll file my copy with the commanding officer."

Dava lifted her chin and left the curtained-off space. "At least I've got an excuse to see Warren." Not that she needed one, but the clearance would give her something to break the ice with while she tried to filter through the words to tell him he wouldn't be a dad anytime soon.

That's a good thing, right?

Right.

So why did a ripple of disappointment roll through her?

I gotta say, this story is so much fun to write. Dava and Warren are in the clear as far as being parents, but they're definitely not out of the woods where their feelings are concerned. So much fun!

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Missing You

Not a bad week overall. I had time to get some solid organizing completed and I'm happy to make progress on that project. Also got in a good bit of writing, which always makes me happy.

Pretty good week for television viewing. I caught another episode of Picard and, wow, I didn't see one of the deaths coming. Nice to catch up with old friends.

Watched another episode of Chicago Med. It's good to fill in some blanks from previous seasons of the other Chicago shows.

Got another episode of No Offence viewed and, seriously, thoroughly enjoyed it. Viv, Dinah, and Joy are terrific characters.

Started another two-part Silent Witness. This ended being an interesting episode. I'm looking forward to watching the second part.

Caught another arc of Classic Who. I gotta be honest, this season Four is kind of annoying me. He's not quite as fun as the previous seasons.

Watched another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This one focused on past and present possible visitations. Interesting stuff.

Got two more episodes of The Muppet Show. I'd completely forgotten they let one of the old guys backstage for a while. He's not nearly as fun when he's not with his partner.

Caught an episode of Peak Practice and it had a lot going on but ended up being really good. I'm thinking there will be a sad good-bye in the near future.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers. I'm hoping to get a little more about Rose. I'm still trying to make a connection with that character.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Missing You, a sexy short that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Clara Small, the best undercover operative in military intelligence, tends to burn bridges instead of building them. But when she destroys the one she needs the most, she has to find a way to make amends, which won't be easy because Wes Elliot rarely gives second chances.

And a sneaky peek…

Her choices lately, left a lot to be desired. And the fact Wes called her on them didn't help. He'd been particularly brutal this time around … not that she didn't warrant the treatment.

Heaving a sigh, she closed her eyes, going back two days in her head. Wes found out about her plan to get the intel they needed the same day word got out about who she picked for her pre-op sex romp.

Gaynor Bartleby, Vice Regent.

God, it gave Wes all the more reason to think less of her. No one liked Gaynor. He hadn't been elected to his post. Instead, he slid in as an appointee when the former VR stepped down for health reasons. The guy considered arrogance an art form and used a brush liberally whenever possible.

But Clara could give a hang about asshole behavior. Especially when half the unit got pulled out for a mission. Throw in waaaayyy too much alcohol and Clara stumbled into bed with Gaynor.

Warm body to scratch an itch. Too bad Bartleby hadn't been the body she wanted.

Which led her to Wes.

What the hell? How he figured out she slept with Bartleby, she’d never know. Didn't matter how … his reaction to it did.

He’d been so pissed and judgmental. "Gaynor Bartleby? Geez, Clara. He's low … even for you."

Clara flinched and hoped it stayed internal. Bartleby didscrape the bottom of the barrel, vice regent or not. Not at all the type she normally hooked up with. Wes pegged that one right.

She wouldn't admit it, though. "Hey, you told me to strike your name from the list." She smirked. "And you know how I am before an op. Had to take what I could find."

She realized her mistake as soon as the words left her lips. She'd given Wes the opening he wanted.

Rocking back on his heels, he fired off his first volley. "Speaking of said op." He took aim with both barrels. "You take your lame ass, stupid plan to the XO? A guy, and I quote, 'who sucks up oxygen he doesn't deserve'. Someone you, and I quote again, 'despise with the heat of a thousand suns' and get him to give the okay?" Warmed up, he bluntly asked. "What the hell, Clara?" He turned away. "Do you have any respect for the chain of command?" Angling his head back, he shot one more barb. "Or is it just me you find unworthy?"

Well, shit. She hadn't meant for her bold move to be insulting, but it would come across that way. And Wes had a point. She had a reason for going over his head … because she'd known Wes would say no. They'd lost too many souls recently and her plan had risk written all over it. She did deep cover missions, not down and dirty in and outs. But regardless of what Wes thought, Clara had the right skill set to pull off her plan.

And he knew it. Deep down where he didn't like to own things. She'd been lucky. Only had to deal with Wes two or three times in the year since he'd taken over as the unit commander. A year and two months since the night they'd spent together.

He snorted. "No response? Guess that answers that, then." He started toward the door.

Shit. Stupid lapses down memory lane.

Clara couldn't let him leave. "I'm sorry." She didn't want to head out for a dangerous op with him thinking the absolute worst of her.

Okay, he already thought the worst, but she did respect him. He should know it.

Wes paused and turned slowly, his face working hard to stay neutral. Clara appreciated the effort.

I'm pretty pleased with how this story is coming along. It's at about the halfway mark and I'm hoping to finish it up by the end of the year.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Midsummer Mayhem (a Capital City Seasons novella)

A lovely week with warmer temperatures and some rain. Excited to see some spring weather rolling in. It's supposed to be in the high fifties and sixties this week and I'm totally down with that, even if it gets chilly at night.

Not a bad week for writing either. I played catch-up on a few more manuscripts and fleshed out some plot bunnies. The sages are on a roll right now and I'm not sure what prompted their creativity. I won't complain though.

Good week of television also. I watched a couple of movies starting with Enola Holmes, which I ended up really enjoying. Glad to hear there will be another one at some point. I also watched a total favorite of mine, Grease 2. This is one of those cases where I loved the sequel more than the original. Seriously.

I restarted my watch of Picard, picking up with episode six. Wow, a lot to unpack in that episode. I'm excited to see what happens next.

I finally started Chicago Med. I've been waiting to see the first season and ended up getting access. Enjoyed the first episode.

Caught two episodes of Peak Practice. I ended the second season and started the third. Both were good episodes.

Watched another episode of No Offence. I like the overarching storyline for the new season and the wrap-up of the previous season's fallout. I'll be honest and admit I'm not keen on the new supervisor but I'll reserve judgment for now.

Finished up the second part of Silent Witness and it was as twisty as I thought it would be. Enjoyed the two-parter.

Started season fifteen of Classic Who. Pretty decent opening arc the lighthouse setting. Interestingly, it ties into one of those unsolved mysteries of the unexplained and I love it when the show does that kind of thing.

Caught another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This one focused on Area 52 and what might or might not be going on there.

Two more episodes of The Muppet Show are complete. I'd forgotten about Harry the mad bomber. He made an appearance and blew some stuff up.

That's about it for television and this week's wrap-up. Tonight's post is from Midsummer Mayhem, a Capital City Seasons novella.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Chris Renfer, alpha team leader for the Strategic Tactical Unit, falls for Melanie Pramble at first sight, but she's new to the city wants to get her bearings. But when Renfer's team is stuck in a bad situation, Melanie is the go-to person for negotiation and Chris can only hope their beginning doesn't end before it makes headway.

And a sneaky peek…

Melanie Pramble sat across from Ben Murphy. "Have to admit, I was surprised by the job offer." He'd reached out to thank her and let her know he'd worked things out with his significant other and they'd stayed in touch.

Not awkward until now.

Ben's lips curved. "You mean after an aborted hookup attempt and a subsequent reunion with Jess?" He shook his head. "You've been invaluable as a freelance consultant. Why wouldn't I bring you on board in a permanent role?" He leaned back, leaving the question open.

Melanie raised a brow. "Aside from the potential uncomfortable fallout? It'll mean a big move for me." She didn't call Capital City home, instead residing in the southern hemisphere in New Boniface, named after the man who discovered and founded the planet.

Ben rolled a shoulder. "Your body language shows nervousness and maybe some trepidation." He leaned forward. "Jess isn't going to be an issue. You'll like her and she'll love you. The trepidation comes from not liking change?" His voice made it a query.

Melanie chuckled. "You did pay attention during my presentation. Very good." She crossed her legs at the ankles. "And you're right. I am wary of meeting Jess, but that's on the lower end of the scale. I rarely do well with change because I like order and structure. A move will mean chaos and settling in a new location." But … she needed something different to mix things up a little.

Ben laughed. "You're a mass of contradictions. You travel all the time. And the last time we spoke you mentioned getting restless easily. So … are you sure this doesn't come down to Jess?"

A valid question, but not easy to answer. "You're right about me being restless. But I've always called New Boniface home. That's really the sticking point. The weird thing with Jess is bigger in my head than it will be once I actually meet her." She paused. "I'm really not sure if I want to make a permanent move to Capital City." Although, the job did appeal to her.

Murph gave a nod. "I get it. When I avoided coming back to Capital City, it was like a part of me had disappeared. Obviously, accommodating your wanderlust with travel won't be an issue since I'm sticking close to home for the most part. That being said, I'm not opposed to starting on a trial basis? You can decide what to do with your place in New Boniface after you make a final decision. Would that work?" He pulled out a file and slid it her way. "Here's the package I have in mind for you."

Melanie opened the folder and her eyes widened. "This is more than generous." Hell, she'd probably be able to keep her house in New Boniface and afford something nice in Capital City.

She probably wouldn't have to bring in a renter either.

Murph shrugged. "I'm building for the future and top-notch employees deserve to be well compensated." He pushed away from the desk and stood. "Will you consider the offer?"

She'd been stupid not to. "Absolutely." She got up also. "Give me a week or so to get back to you?"

Murph agreed. "Sounds great. Why don't I give you a bit of a tour? We can see some of the city and I can introduce you to Jess. Get that out of the way so you can make an informed choice."

Melanie tucked the folder under her arm. "I'd like that. My transport doesn't leave for another two hours." She followed him out of the office, excited about the possibilities but dreading the upheaval they'd cause.

Ben leaned down when they reached the elevator. "Don't overthink this. Change is hard, but it's also stimulating. I never thought I'd be able to build a team of great negotiators and transition into a behind the scenes role but I love it." He pressed the button and the doors slid open.

Melanie did a quick gut check. She'd take his advice and soak up the atmosphere and leave the thinking for her transport flight back to New Boniface.

Melanie is tougher to write for than I thought she would be. She's a little withdrawn but the sages haven't told me why yet. I'll look forward to figuring that out while I write more for her.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Mia's Choice

Happy Easter to those who celebrate. We're having a low-key day without a lot of fanfare. That's exactly the way I like to celebrate holidays and my middle kiddo had his gallbladder removed earlier this week so being kind of quiet is a good thing.

Had a decent week of television viewing. My work schedule is still sporadic and I've been able to catch up on a few more writing projects. I'm also taking some time to organize my works in progress and then I hope to plan out a tentative schedule to finish up the ones that are close to being done.

I started a new episode of Blue Heelers and, so far, it's pretty good. I'm a little confused about the new character being in uniform but hopefully that will resolve itself by the end of the episode.

Watched the first episode of No Offence's second season. Really nice setup for the overarching storyline. I really love Viv and Dinah's dynamic. This show is so excellent.

Caught the opening episodes of the tenth season of Silent Witness. Really liked the first two-parter. I've started the third episode and I think it's going to be a twisty one.

Watched the final arc of Doctor Who's fourteenth season. Pretty solid storyline and I'm starting to like the dynamic between Four and Leela. I like her.

I ended up with a free six-month trial of Discovery+ so I started a show called UFOs: The Lost Evidence. I love diving into theories of visitors from outer space.

Watched two more episodes of The Muppet Show. Both were very funny. I've discovered I really enjoy the ballroom dance segments. Considering I'm not a huge comedy fan, this is high praise.

And that's pretty much it for this week's update. Tonight's post is from Mia's Choice, a novella that is pretty much complete. At least the first draft is. Edits are next and I'm eyeing a release sometime this summer.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Mia Sinclair finally got her doctorate and embarks on a work trade assignment to a new space station. But when she runs smack into Hal Manning, and her past, she has to face her demons, which isn't easy because she promised she'd never be under any man's control again.

And a sneaky peek…

"Doctor Sinclair." Stepping back, he indicated she should enter. "Thank you for coming."

Mia gave a terse nod. "I assume this is about my report."

She entered his quarters and glanced around. He had a large space, broken into sections. A desk, littered with paperwork, sat in one corner, a lamp shone brightly over a stack of files.

A sleeping area, tucked into another corner had a partition separating it from the living space. And as the captain, he had a small bath area with a toilet and sink. Very efficient, even if tiny.

Moving further into the room, Mia glanced at the desk with comfortable looking chairs facing opposite. She hoped Hal would go in that direction.

He didn't.

Instead, he chose to sit on the somewhat rugged couch, covered in brown leather, and left room for her. She opted to sit in the chair positioned at its arm so she'd be close, but not too close. She crossed her legs at the ankles and smoothed down the front of her lab coat. His gaze settled on her and nervous tension kicked in her veins. She ruthlessly tamped it down. No more cowering under a male gaze.

"You have concerns about the water?" Of course he did. He wouldn't be the leader of the crew if he didn't. Stupid question.

But it served to break the ice and draw his attention away from her.

"Yes. You need to find out how it happened."

Mia bristled, but showed no outward sign of it. "What do you mean?" What difference did it make how the contamination occurred? And why did shehave to figure it out?

Hal turned to face her. "I mean, I want you to run some tests to see how and when our supply became tainted. You can do that, right?"

His sarcastic tone irritated her. "Um … I suppose." She had zero time to add anything to her workload right now.

Hal quirked an eyebrow, probably because she didn't sound certain.

Mia shook her head then nodded. "Of course, but why?" Again, he had her at a loss.

Hal considered her a moment, probably unused to having his orders questioned. "Why? Because I need to know if this was a general fuck up before the water was loaded onto the ship or if it happened right here." His voice had risen and he made a controlled effort to bring it under control. "If it happened here, was it a mistake, or are we looking at sabotage?"

Mia snorted at the thought. "You can't be serious?" She couldn't believe Hal or the paranoid track his mind latched onto.

Hal didn't blink. "I'm very serious."

Mia shook her head. "It figures the military would jump to the conclusion that someone would taint the water supply on purpose. Let me guess … you think it's one of the civilians on board."

Hal took offense at her words. "I don't think anything yet. I know my crew, but you can bet your ass I'll be looking at them just as hard as I look at everyone else." He leaned forward. "And by the way … what the hell is your problem? This isn't a small, trifling issue. Why are you so damned obstinate and stubborn when asked to do something?"

"Because I don't respond well to orders and you don't ask. For too long, I had choices made for me. What school I'd attend, who I'd marry, how long I'd have to put my profession on hold—" She bit her tongue to keep from saying more than she wanted.

Hal quirked an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue.

Dragging in a deep breath, she finished. "I didn't even chooseto be on your ship. And I'm done. Done having no say in my life. If you can't deal with that … too bad. I have a will of my own and it's about damn time I use it. You want something. You can make a request."

Ugh, she sounded stupid. Of course he wouldn't make a request. The man held rank in the military. He issued orders. Sinking down, Mia put her head in her hands and blew out a calming breath.

I'm so excited this story is finished!! Hal and Mia are dear to my heart and have a couple of bonus sexy shorts they'll feature in. Looking forward to polishing this one up and getting it out there.

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Matchmaker's Men

It's been a weird week but also a productive one. I can't quite believe March is almost over. My middle kid has gallbladder surgery on Tuesday and my youngest kid has a long weekend coming up and I'm kind of excited to have everyone home.

Very slow work week so I got to focus on writing again. Made a lot of progress on the back end with a good bit or organizing and updating files. I got some new projects launched and made a big dent in some older ones that have been on the back burner. It's always nice to feel productive.

Also got some cleaning done, which is terrific and long overdue. I've been setting a timer and sticking with one area for that timeframe. Seems to be working well so far. I pick a room, set the limit, and get busy. Makes the job seem less daunting.

On the television front, I got three arcs of Classic Whowatched this week. I'm almost finished with season fourteen and I miss Sarah Jane but Leela is pretty fun. I don't think I've seen any Leela episodes so it's kind of fun to see new fare.

I also watched several more episodes of The Muppet Show. I'm about halfway through the first season and other than remembering how annoying Miss Piggy's karate chops are I'm having great memories.

Caught the second part of Silent Witness and finished out the ninth season. I'll be starting ten this week.

Got another episode of Peak Practice in and should have one more for the second season then ready to start the third. I'm not sure how long Jack and Beth will be sticking around but I'm really enjoying this show.

I also got to catch an episode of Murdoch Mysteries. I'm behind on the new season, but I like to binge this show so I'll get caught up soon.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Matchmaker's Men, a sexy short that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Nova Anell and Matz Yarmacher belong together, but neither wants to be the first to admit it. But when their crew mates start working behind the scenes to put Nova and Matz together, they have no choice but to face what they feel and decide what to do next.  

And a sneaky peek…

Dammit, he's right. She hadn't thought to ask if he wanted any of the crap she'd been doing. "Why didn't you say something?" She propped her butt on the table.

Matz shrugged and sat next to her. "Good for morale. Everyone was having so much fun … I didn't have the heart to stop it." He nudged her shoulder with his own. "Sorry about that."

Nova snorted. "Yeah, well, they were enjoying themselves." At her expense, too. How often did that actually happen?

Matz turned toward her. "You don't have to do this, you know." He glanced at his watch. "Your forty-eight hours ended about fifteen minutes ago."

Nova opened her mouth to correct him when it hit her. "You were late on purpose." He didn't deny it and Nova didn't know how she felt about that. Kinda pissed actually, especially after working herself into a damn frenzy over the whole thing. "Why?" An unpleasant thought hit her. "Wait … you don't want the whole shower thing, do you?" As much as Nova hated to admit it, the idea disappointed her.

Matz answered honestly. "No." He frowned and realized that must've come out wrong. "Wait, I mean yes." He winced and his mouth worked, opening and closing. "Geez … what I mean is having you as my personal shower assistant wouldn't be a bad thing." His lips quirked up in a half smile. "As if." Rising, he turned toward his locker and yanked his tanks over his head. "But if you're gonna play that role, I'd rather it not be a payoff for a debt." Lowering his shorts, he stepped out then turned back around.

She'd quickly made a decision about how to proceed but needed to see his reaction to see if she'd made the right one.

His head cocked sideways and he blinked … probably wondering if he might be seeing things.

Nope. He's definitely not.

I like this story and it's a lot of fun to write Nova and Matz. And their crowd of friends sticking their noses in where they don't belong.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye