V.L. Locey's Blog, page 73
February 25, 2015
Bragging Up My Boys!
Forgive me while I toot Templeton and Mikel`s horn for just a wee bit.
I was extremely excited to get an email from Torquere Press informing me that An Erie Operetta just made the All Romance eBooks Best Sellers List!
The boys of Lake Erie are at #50 at the moment and I am just proud as Punch about seeing them there.
ARe Bestseller List
Thanks to everyone who grabbed a copy of Temp and Mikel`s latest adventure. Rest assured there are more tales planned for everyone`s favorite skunk shifter. If you haven`t got your copy yet, you can find it, and the first book in the series, An Erie Halloween, at the following retailers:
Amazon
Torquere Press Store
All Romance eBooks
Bookstrand
Kobo
February 23, 2015
Tuesday Tales - Arm
Hello! It`s time for Tuesday Tales.
Today we have chapter ten for Wind in White Birch and our word prompt is "Arm". Don`t forget to visit the other talented Tuesday Tales authors. Thanks for stopping by!
Wind in White Birch
How the hell was I supposed to respond to that? I knew he wanted to get into a deep conversation about this. It was obvious by the steady way he held my gaze. I just wasn`t prepared to deal with it now. It was too sudden and too intimate. Why was he laying this out to me as if I were his wife or something? We had gone on one mess of a date. Two if you counted this weekend. We weren`t involved in a long-term relationship or had any kind of commitment to each other. He could stay up here at this lodge for the rest of his life without my input. I had no claims on him or his time. So why did the thought of not seeing him again feel like someone had taken a melon baller to my heart? Rhett gave me the out I needed. He had broken his icicle and appeared at our sides. I swallowed over the lump in my throat then tore my sight from Jonah to look down at my boy when he tugged on my arm. “Can we explore?” Rhett asked his cheeks rosy red and his eyes bright. Again, I was at a loss. “I don`t know, maybe we can walk the property line?” I offered glancing at Jonah. He nodded his mouth a slash. “We can walk down to the river. The property line runs for over fifteen hundred acres,” Jonah said, shoving from the side of the lodge to descend the steps. Rhett seemed happy with that plan and scurried after Jonah. I followed the two intrepid explorers, my mittens shoved into my coat pockets, my scarf covering my face from the bridge of my nose down, and my thoughts scattered like the birds that took to wing when we walked underneath their perches. The river was a glorious sight. It was a rough and tumbling swath of clear water. Ice formed at the edges. The sun reflected off the ice and rumbling water as it ran past us on the bank. “Down there about a mile is a small pool that feeds into a lake. There`s native trout in there as long as your arm,” Jonah was telling Rhett. I shivered deep inside my coat as the man pointed downstream. “We should get going,” I called over the pounding of water over boulders. Rhett complained about not seeing the trout lake, but ran ahead using the path that he and Jonah had made coming down. Keeping my eyes on my son I didn`t see Jonah sliding up beside me. I felt his presence and peeked over my scarf. “I`d really like to get into this with you, Dana.”I shook my head. “Not now, okay? Let`s get back to Andy`s and get some lunch. I need time to figure things out, Jonah.”He studied me for a long moment. Sunbeams slid through the white birch woods, dappling his black hair and gorgeous high cheekbones with golden shapes of light. “Yeah, okay, that`s fine,” he replied stiffly. I wanted to say more, to try to make him understand how confused and scared I was, but six year old boys aren`t known for their sixth sense when it comes to intimate moments. The snowball hit me right in the face. I shrieked in shock and fright. Blinking rapidly to clear the crystals from my eyelashes, I saw my child rolling in the snow, laughing hysterically. I sputtered into my wet scarf and chanced a peek left. Jonah was the very picture of utter composure. Until he dared to look at me again, then he too lost it. “Think that`s funny, huh?” I asked. The battle then began. It was a terribly lopsided fight but I managed to get a few good shots in before we all were soaked through. Once I heard Rhett`s teeth clattering I called a halt. The heater in the truck felt wonderful. Backing away from the lodge and stands of white birch I felt a sniggle of something unpleasant inside. It felt like jealousy. But how foolish would it be to be jealous of a building? “Mom, can we go snowmobiling when we get to Andy`s?” Rhett asked as we left Jonah`s dream behind. “That`s up to Jonah,” I said, peeling my sodden mittens and scarf off. “How about we hit that up tomorrow, buddy?” Jonah said, finding my son in the rearview mirror. “I`ll need to time to tinker with my sled. It hasn`t been out of the garage since last year.”“Okay!” my boy smiled then ran the back of his coat sleeve under his running cherry of a nose. The ride back to Andy`s was pleasant if not slightly stilted conversation wise. I suspected that Jonah would want to find some time to talk as soon as possible. Pulling off the main road into Andy`s graveled driveway and seeing at least six strange vehicles, I got a feeling one-on-one time wasn`t happening this afternoon. “Shit,” Jonah sighed, staring at the cars, trucks, and single Jeep blocking the small drive. He dropped his truck into park and laid his arms over the steering wheel. “Looks like company,” I smiled timidly. He gave me a quick sideways glance. “No, it`s not company, it`s my sister and brothers,” he grumbled. Just then, the front door flew open and six boys were released from the confines of the doublewide like greyhounds freed from the starting gate. “And nieces and nephews,” Jonah tacked on when the rowdy group in thick coats, snow pants, gloves and hats raced over to greet their uncle. “I`m really sorry about this,” Jonah grimaced then jumped when a snowball smacked into the window beside his head. “I was hoping we`d be able to put them off until a later time, like next year or something. I wanted to talk to you about things.”“It`s okay, we`ll talk later,” I said, rather relieved to have some plausible excuse for postponing this discussion. It would give me time to get my mental ducks lined up, or at the very least flipped upright, so that their heads and not their asses were visible above the water. The driver’s side door was opened and a blast of cold air and young male laughter filled the cab. Jonah was unceremoniously pulled from the vehicle and bombarded. Rhett, laughing like a hyena, climbed over the front seat and dove out into the fracas. Somehow, Jonah managed to stay on his feet even with several young boys pummeling him with snow and trying to knock him into the deep powder. Giggling at the shenanigans, I slid down to the driveway. As soon as my feet hit the gravel, I felt someone accessing me. I found a woman standing in the door left open by the rambunctious boys. She was perhaps in her late thirties, rather pudgy, black-haired with onyx eyes the same shape and intensity as Jonah`s. She also had her brother`s wide nose. I shook off the last drops of melted snow from the battle royal at the lodge and walked towards her, hoping the tingle of fear her unwavering dark eyes instilled in me didn`t show.
Copyright 2013 ©by V.L. Locey
*~*~*
Click on the link below to return to the Tuesday Tales main blog for more great reads from the talented authors of Tuesday Tales.
Tuesday Tales
See you next week!
Today we have chapter ten for Wind in White Birch and our word prompt is "Arm". Don`t forget to visit the other talented Tuesday Tales authors. Thanks for stopping by!
Wind in White Birch
How the hell was I supposed to respond to that? I knew he wanted to get into a deep conversation about this. It was obvious by the steady way he held my gaze. I just wasn`t prepared to deal with it now. It was too sudden and too intimate. Why was he laying this out to me as if I were his wife or something? We had gone on one mess of a date. Two if you counted this weekend. We weren`t involved in a long-term relationship or had any kind of commitment to each other. He could stay up here at this lodge for the rest of his life without my input. I had no claims on him or his time. So why did the thought of not seeing him again feel like someone had taken a melon baller to my heart? Rhett gave me the out I needed. He had broken his icicle and appeared at our sides. I swallowed over the lump in my throat then tore my sight from Jonah to look down at my boy when he tugged on my arm. “Can we explore?” Rhett asked his cheeks rosy red and his eyes bright. Again, I was at a loss. “I don`t know, maybe we can walk the property line?” I offered glancing at Jonah. He nodded his mouth a slash. “We can walk down to the river. The property line runs for over fifteen hundred acres,” Jonah said, shoving from the side of the lodge to descend the steps. Rhett seemed happy with that plan and scurried after Jonah. I followed the two intrepid explorers, my mittens shoved into my coat pockets, my scarf covering my face from the bridge of my nose down, and my thoughts scattered like the birds that took to wing when we walked underneath their perches. The river was a glorious sight. It was a rough and tumbling swath of clear water. Ice formed at the edges. The sun reflected off the ice and rumbling water as it ran past us on the bank. “Down there about a mile is a small pool that feeds into a lake. There`s native trout in there as long as your arm,” Jonah was telling Rhett. I shivered deep inside my coat as the man pointed downstream. “We should get going,” I called over the pounding of water over boulders. Rhett complained about not seeing the trout lake, but ran ahead using the path that he and Jonah had made coming down. Keeping my eyes on my son I didn`t see Jonah sliding up beside me. I felt his presence and peeked over my scarf. “I`d really like to get into this with you, Dana.”I shook my head. “Not now, okay? Let`s get back to Andy`s and get some lunch. I need time to figure things out, Jonah.”He studied me for a long moment. Sunbeams slid through the white birch woods, dappling his black hair and gorgeous high cheekbones with golden shapes of light. “Yeah, okay, that`s fine,” he replied stiffly. I wanted to say more, to try to make him understand how confused and scared I was, but six year old boys aren`t known for their sixth sense when it comes to intimate moments. The snowball hit me right in the face. I shrieked in shock and fright. Blinking rapidly to clear the crystals from my eyelashes, I saw my child rolling in the snow, laughing hysterically. I sputtered into my wet scarf and chanced a peek left. Jonah was the very picture of utter composure. Until he dared to look at me again, then he too lost it. “Think that`s funny, huh?” I asked. The battle then began. It was a terribly lopsided fight but I managed to get a few good shots in before we all were soaked through. Once I heard Rhett`s teeth clattering I called a halt. The heater in the truck felt wonderful. Backing away from the lodge and stands of white birch I felt a sniggle of something unpleasant inside. It felt like jealousy. But how foolish would it be to be jealous of a building? “Mom, can we go snowmobiling when we get to Andy`s?” Rhett asked as we left Jonah`s dream behind. “That`s up to Jonah,” I said, peeling my sodden mittens and scarf off. “How about we hit that up tomorrow, buddy?” Jonah said, finding my son in the rearview mirror. “I`ll need to time to tinker with my sled. It hasn`t been out of the garage since last year.”“Okay!” my boy smiled then ran the back of his coat sleeve under his running cherry of a nose. The ride back to Andy`s was pleasant if not slightly stilted conversation wise. I suspected that Jonah would want to find some time to talk as soon as possible. Pulling off the main road into Andy`s graveled driveway and seeing at least six strange vehicles, I got a feeling one-on-one time wasn`t happening this afternoon. “Shit,” Jonah sighed, staring at the cars, trucks, and single Jeep blocking the small drive. He dropped his truck into park and laid his arms over the steering wheel. “Looks like company,” I smiled timidly. He gave me a quick sideways glance. “No, it`s not company, it`s my sister and brothers,” he grumbled. Just then, the front door flew open and six boys were released from the confines of the doublewide like greyhounds freed from the starting gate. “And nieces and nephews,” Jonah tacked on when the rowdy group in thick coats, snow pants, gloves and hats raced over to greet their uncle. “I`m really sorry about this,” Jonah grimaced then jumped when a snowball smacked into the window beside his head. “I was hoping we`d be able to put them off until a later time, like next year or something. I wanted to talk to you about things.”“It`s okay, we`ll talk later,” I said, rather relieved to have some plausible excuse for postponing this discussion. It would give me time to get my mental ducks lined up, or at the very least flipped upright, so that their heads and not their asses were visible above the water. The driver’s side door was opened and a blast of cold air and young male laughter filled the cab. Jonah was unceremoniously pulled from the vehicle and bombarded. Rhett, laughing like a hyena, climbed over the front seat and dove out into the fracas. Somehow, Jonah managed to stay on his feet even with several young boys pummeling him with snow and trying to knock him into the deep powder. Giggling at the shenanigans, I slid down to the driveway. As soon as my feet hit the gravel, I felt someone accessing me. I found a woman standing in the door left open by the rambunctious boys. She was perhaps in her late thirties, rather pudgy, black-haired with onyx eyes the same shape and intensity as Jonah`s. She also had her brother`s wide nose. I shook off the last drops of melted snow from the battle royal at the lodge and walked towards her, hoping the tingle of fear her unwavering dark eyes instilled in me didn`t show.
Copyright 2013 ©by V.L. Locey
*~*~*
Click on the link below to return to the Tuesday Tales main blog for more great reads from the talented authors of Tuesday Tales.
Tuesday Tales
See you next week!
February 22, 2015
My Goofy Gaggle
Over the course of the past twelve years, many people, my hubby included, have wondered why I have geese. Geese are loud, pushy, and tend to pinch people on occasion. They muscle the ducks out of the food and the water dish. In general, geese can be real stinkers.
However, for all the bad things that geese can be, they can certainly be lovely additions to the farmyard. They are faithful to their mates, make wonderful parents, are protective of the property they call home, and can be gentle when raised properly. The trick to raising geese, for me, has been to make sure that goslings do notbond to me during the first few days after hatching.
I've found that once geese are bonded to you they consider you part of the gaggle and that is when the trouble starts. Things are all fine and fuzzy when they`re goslings. They follow you around just as they would their parents and by gosh it`s cute! Fast forward to the following year, when the ganders start to feel funny stirrings and you`re viewed as an unwanted trespasser/goose who is getting far too close to their chosen ladylove. A flogging may be in your near future.
Geese are not for everyone. If you have neighbors who dislike noise, don`t get geese. If you`re intimidated by large birds that can get pushy on occasion, don`t get geese. But if you enjoy birds with tons of personality, you just might enjoy having your own goofy gaggle.
February 19, 2015
Throwback Thursday Tune
Oh yeah, this one was trouble! Sexy as heck and with talent to burn. Which of Jerry Lee`s songs is your favorite?
February 17, 2015
An Erie Operetta Release Day!
It`s here! It`s here!
An Erie Operetta is now available for purchase! I hope you enjoy this new book and will pick up a copy today. I truly love this series, the characters, and the world that they move in. I hope that you love it as much as I do.
Amazon
Torquere Press Store
If you enjoy reading Temp`s latest adventure, please consider leaving a review for it on Amazon and/or Goodreads. Nothing inspires an author to keep writing like a few kinds words in a book review.
Thank you so much for all your support. It means the world to me.
V.L.
An Erie Operetta is now available for purchase! I hope you enjoy this new book and will pick up a copy today. I truly love this series, the characters, and the world that they move in. I hope that you love it as much as I do.
Amazon
Torquere Press Store
If you enjoy reading Temp`s latest adventure, please consider leaving a review for it on Amazon and/or Goodreads. Nothing inspires an author to keep writing like a few kinds words in a book review.
Thank you so much for all your support. It means the world to me.
V.L.
February 16, 2015
Tuesday Tales - Great
Hello! It`s time for Tuesday Tales.
Today we have the rest of chapter nine for Wind in White Birch and our word prompt is "Great". Don`t forget to visit the other talented Tuesday Tales authors. Thanks for stopping by!
“I think I know where we`re going,” I announced as we rolled down the bare two lane; a stark black path between two rounded bumpers of white. “I think you don`t know where we`re going,” Jonah responded. I had to concede he was right when we drove past the tiny turn off that led to Mud Puppy Lake. I turned my head to watch it go past, feeling a wash of something very much like longing flow over me. “Soon as the ice is off the lake we`ll come up and do some fishing.”Confused about how he knew what I was yearning for, I looked at him questioningly. “You`re pretty easy to read at times, Dana,” Jonah confided. “I guess I should have said if we`re still seeing each other in April we`ll come fishing, huh?”“Yeah, I suppose so.” I turned my head to catch the last bit of the road to Mud Puppy Lake disappear in the side view mirror. The thought of not being with Jonah in a few months left me feeling very empty inside. “I hope that`s not the case though,” the man whispered, his fingers still resting on my kneecap. “Who would I tease if you stopped seeing me?”“You`d find someone, I`m sure, "I said with a forced smile. There would be women lined up at his door for the chance to date Jonah Big Deer. His eyes rolled to the roof. “How did we get onto this depressing subject? Let`s chuck this crappy topic to the curb and get back to your spit,” he stated, throwing the dour mood out the window with my blessing. The cold air blowing over me was refreshing. It took the sadness of the unknown future away. The window went up after the fake mood tossing was concluded.“Or we could get to where the heck it is we`re going.” I tried to read the road signs we would pass occasionally but they were either gone or buried under the plowed banks of snow. “Have you ever looked at your future?”Jonah asked, the turn signal coming on right before we took a smooth left onto a nicely plowed driveway. “I mean, have you ever seen something and known that no matter what this thing was the thing that was going to change your life?” I nodded when he looked at me fleetingly. Enthusiasm was bubbling from the man. “Yes, I felt that way when they placed Rhett in my arms the day he was born.”The truck slowed. “Beautiful and profound,” he murmured, touched the brake, and then leaned to the right to get a soft kiss from the lady who had spoken so profoundly. Rhett made a gagging sound in the backseat then fell back into singing Sk8r Boi. I was sort of mesmerized by Jonah`s sultry eyes. The engine quieting took a moment to register. I turned from my blatant admiration to gaze out the windshield. A large redwood log home sat before us. Two stories and filled with glass and porches it was surrounded by nothing but white birch trees. “Holy cow,” I whispered. Rhett, sensing the stillness of the vehicle, leaned up between the bucket seats. His face showed his appreciation of the majestic cabin. Jonah was silently watching us. I could feel his steady perusal. The wind gusted and clouds of new snow blew down from the thick canopy of boughs. I followed its decent. One rather large powdery cloud landed on top of a realtor`s sign. My right eyebrow climbed upward. I turned from the beautiful sight to look at Jonah. “Are you thinking of buying this place?” I squeaked although the answer was obvious by the eagerness he was fighting not to show. “Yeah,” he grinned widely. I was stunned. I craned my head back around to study the house. It was huge. I could not comprehend how anyone could afford to purchase such an extravagant log house. My mind simply would not do the necessary math. “I mean, I`m giving it some serious thought. It`s not a house though, it`s a lodge. There are eight bedrooms for clients who come here to hunt. I`d be their guide, you know? Take them out and hopefully hook them up with some big game. Whitetail, bear, thunder chickens in the spring, fishing once the ice is off.” “Thunder chickens?” I asked, pleasantly surprised to see my voice was back to normal. “Big wild turkey gobblers,” he explained. Rhett had peeled off his headphones and was following our conversation closely; his head going left then right then left as if he was at Wimbledon. “The owner died two months ago. The widow can`t run the place by herself and just wants to sell and go to Arizona. I`m a licensed guide, Dana,” he said, leaning back into his seat to stare lovingly at the sprawling lodge. “That`s what I was doing down in Florida when I got those cougar claws, looking for a guide job. I have all the certifications I need here in New York and would much rather work here. If I can get the down payment, I can buy White Birch Lodge and have my own outfitting business.” “Wow,” Rhett said. I echoed his response. Jonah smiled even wider. He was so keyed up he could barely sit still. "That would be great." “I know, right? You guys want to check it out closer?” he asked. We both nodded. To do otherwise would have broken the poor man`s heart. Jonah was humming like a tuning fork. We all piled out of the truck. I landed in snow up to my knees. Jonah slung Rhett up to his shoulders. The boy screamed in joy, his hands high above his head in hopes of slapping more snow free from the birch branches. I let the guys break a path from the plowed drive to the lodge. Rhett slid from Jonah`s wide shoulders when we started to climb the four steps to the long porch.“Can I go explore?” the boy asked. “You stay right here.” I wagged a finger hidden inside a purple mitten at him. His bottom lip slid out but he managed to find an icicle he could use as a sword. A strong hand slid into mine. Jonah led me to a bow window. I cupped my mittens around my eyes and peeked inside. The room was empty. The floors were warm honeyed wood, the walls rich oak logs, a stone hearth large enough for me to stand in was set into one wall, and hanging from the ceiling was a chandelier crafted from horns. “Lifestyles of the rich and famous,” I muttered in awe.“More like lifestyles of those in debt for the rest of their life,” Jonah muttered, leaning against a stout log then folding his arms over his chest. “This is like a dream come true for me if I can pull off the down payment. There`s only one problem, Dana,” he said, his face reflecting his worry.“What`s that?” I asked, my son racing past with a frosty light saber.“If I do this,” he jerked his head at the lodge, “it will mean I`m here at the lodge all the time. Like, every day all the time. I`ll have very few weekends off. This lodge will be the other woman. ”Well shit.
Copyright 2013 ©by V.L. Locey
*~*~*
Click on the link below to return to the Tuesday Tales main blog for more great reads from the talented authors of Tuesday Tales.
Tuesday Tales
See you next week!
Today we have the rest of chapter nine for Wind in White Birch and our word prompt is "Great". Don`t forget to visit the other talented Tuesday Tales authors. Thanks for stopping by!
“I think I know where we`re going,” I announced as we rolled down the bare two lane; a stark black path between two rounded bumpers of white. “I think you don`t know where we`re going,” Jonah responded. I had to concede he was right when we drove past the tiny turn off that led to Mud Puppy Lake. I turned my head to watch it go past, feeling a wash of something very much like longing flow over me. “Soon as the ice is off the lake we`ll come up and do some fishing.”Confused about how he knew what I was yearning for, I looked at him questioningly. “You`re pretty easy to read at times, Dana,” Jonah confided. “I guess I should have said if we`re still seeing each other in April we`ll come fishing, huh?”“Yeah, I suppose so.” I turned my head to catch the last bit of the road to Mud Puppy Lake disappear in the side view mirror. The thought of not being with Jonah in a few months left me feeling very empty inside. “I hope that`s not the case though,” the man whispered, his fingers still resting on my kneecap. “Who would I tease if you stopped seeing me?”“You`d find someone, I`m sure, "I said with a forced smile. There would be women lined up at his door for the chance to date Jonah Big Deer. His eyes rolled to the roof. “How did we get onto this depressing subject? Let`s chuck this crappy topic to the curb and get back to your spit,” he stated, throwing the dour mood out the window with my blessing. The cold air blowing over me was refreshing. It took the sadness of the unknown future away. The window went up after the fake mood tossing was concluded.“Or we could get to where the heck it is we`re going.” I tried to read the road signs we would pass occasionally but they were either gone or buried under the plowed banks of snow. “Have you ever looked at your future?”Jonah asked, the turn signal coming on right before we took a smooth left onto a nicely plowed driveway. “I mean, have you ever seen something and known that no matter what this thing was the thing that was going to change your life?” I nodded when he looked at me fleetingly. Enthusiasm was bubbling from the man. “Yes, I felt that way when they placed Rhett in my arms the day he was born.”The truck slowed. “Beautiful and profound,” he murmured, touched the brake, and then leaned to the right to get a soft kiss from the lady who had spoken so profoundly. Rhett made a gagging sound in the backseat then fell back into singing Sk8r Boi. I was sort of mesmerized by Jonah`s sultry eyes. The engine quieting took a moment to register. I turned from my blatant admiration to gaze out the windshield. A large redwood log home sat before us. Two stories and filled with glass and porches it was surrounded by nothing but white birch trees. “Holy cow,” I whispered. Rhett, sensing the stillness of the vehicle, leaned up between the bucket seats. His face showed his appreciation of the majestic cabin. Jonah was silently watching us. I could feel his steady perusal. The wind gusted and clouds of new snow blew down from the thick canopy of boughs. I followed its decent. One rather large powdery cloud landed on top of a realtor`s sign. My right eyebrow climbed upward. I turned from the beautiful sight to look at Jonah. “Are you thinking of buying this place?” I squeaked although the answer was obvious by the eagerness he was fighting not to show. “Yeah,” he grinned widely. I was stunned. I craned my head back around to study the house. It was huge. I could not comprehend how anyone could afford to purchase such an extravagant log house. My mind simply would not do the necessary math. “I mean, I`m giving it some serious thought. It`s not a house though, it`s a lodge. There are eight bedrooms for clients who come here to hunt. I`d be their guide, you know? Take them out and hopefully hook them up with some big game. Whitetail, bear, thunder chickens in the spring, fishing once the ice is off.” “Thunder chickens?” I asked, pleasantly surprised to see my voice was back to normal. “Big wild turkey gobblers,” he explained. Rhett had peeled off his headphones and was following our conversation closely; his head going left then right then left as if he was at Wimbledon. “The owner died two months ago. The widow can`t run the place by herself and just wants to sell and go to Arizona. I`m a licensed guide, Dana,” he said, leaning back into his seat to stare lovingly at the sprawling lodge. “That`s what I was doing down in Florida when I got those cougar claws, looking for a guide job. I have all the certifications I need here in New York and would much rather work here. If I can get the down payment, I can buy White Birch Lodge and have my own outfitting business.” “Wow,” Rhett said. I echoed his response. Jonah smiled even wider. He was so keyed up he could barely sit still. "That would be great." “I know, right? You guys want to check it out closer?” he asked. We both nodded. To do otherwise would have broken the poor man`s heart. Jonah was humming like a tuning fork. We all piled out of the truck. I landed in snow up to my knees. Jonah slung Rhett up to his shoulders. The boy screamed in joy, his hands high above his head in hopes of slapping more snow free from the birch branches. I let the guys break a path from the plowed drive to the lodge. Rhett slid from Jonah`s wide shoulders when we started to climb the four steps to the long porch.“Can I go explore?” the boy asked. “You stay right here.” I wagged a finger hidden inside a purple mitten at him. His bottom lip slid out but he managed to find an icicle he could use as a sword. A strong hand slid into mine. Jonah led me to a bow window. I cupped my mittens around my eyes and peeked inside. The room was empty. The floors were warm honeyed wood, the walls rich oak logs, a stone hearth large enough for me to stand in was set into one wall, and hanging from the ceiling was a chandelier crafted from horns. “Lifestyles of the rich and famous,” I muttered in awe.“More like lifestyles of those in debt for the rest of their life,” Jonah muttered, leaning against a stout log then folding his arms over his chest. “This is like a dream come true for me if I can pull off the down payment. There`s only one problem, Dana,” he said, his face reflecting his worry.“What`s that?” I asked, my son racing past with a frosty light saber.“If I do this,” he jerked his head at the lodge, “it will mean I`m here at the lodge all the time. Like, every day all the time. I`ll have very few weekends off. This lodge will be the other woman. ”Well shit.
Copyright 2013 ©by V.L. Locey
*~*~*
Click on the link below to return to the Tuesday Tales main blog for more great reads from the talented authors of Tuesday Tales.
Tuesday Tales
See you next week!
An Erie Exclusive!
Only two more days until Templeton and Mikel`s novella hits the world! To help celebrate I thought I`d share a snippet from An Erie Operetta. I hope you enjoy this look into the new book and will pick up a copy on Wednesday, or you can preorder a copy now from Amazon or the Torquere Press Store. You can find buy links after the excerpt.
If you enjoy reading Temp`s latest adventure, please consider leaving a review for it on Amazon and/or Goodreads. Nothing inspires an author to keep writing like a few kinds words in a book review.
Enjoy the excerpt!
Yes, I am well aware of what shouting "FIRE!" in a crowded theater will do. I admit I acted in fear. Truly, the panic that erupted after I shouted "ROGUE KILL!" wasn't even in my realm of belief. The opera house became a testament to unholy terror. You could smell the horror on the air. Magical folk freaked the hell out. Granted, with all the murders of late, freaking out was a justifiable response. But was hauling me down to the ground floor by my neck really needed? I gave Mikel a sour glower when I was finally released within ten feet of the corpse. I covered my nose quickly, but oddly enough, the husk of a body gave off no odor.
"Have you lost all common sense, Templeton?" Mikel growled at me. Thank goodness a large portion of the orchestra chipped in to help with crowd control. Now the only people who remained inside the opera house were the cast, musicians, and the Lake Erie pack. And one skunk shifter, of course. "If you ever do such a foolish thing again I will place you over my knee and paddle you soundly."
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask him if he thought that would really be a punishment, but there were others nearby, so I just tried to look as contrite as a meager office worker could look.
"Edward, take my cell phone. See if you can find a signal. I don't care if you have to go to the roof, just find a bar then call the head of the elder counsel to inform them that... what is it now, Templeton?!"
I lowered my poking finger. Gracious, someone was a putrid puppy all of a sudden.
"The body doesn't stink," I pointed out. Mikel looked at me as if I had spoken Martian. I folded my arms over my chest. "The dead body. It doesn't smell bad. Isn't that abnormal?"
Mikel looked around me to the body then pinned Edward with blistering golden eyes. "Edward, stop ogling the soprano and do as I told you."
"Yeah, sure, right away," Eddie replied. He went, but it was not without countless looks of longing over his wide shoulder at Ms. Panagakos as she hummed an aria while fanning herself. I stepped to the side to allow the senior agent of the OTTER tracking department to do his thing. Mikel kneeled down beside the cadaver and rolled it over. I grimaced at the dried up shell of a being.
"It has no smell," Mikel said. I rolled my eyes to the domed ceiling. "It's a fresh kill, not even cold yet."
I stopped being a wiseass. My gaze flew to Mikel. He had his hand shoved into the shirt of the dead man.
"That can't be right," I said. "I mean, surely a rogue killed him weeks ago. Look at how sunken in he is."
"He's been drained," Mikel announced as he stood up. Dave padded back and forth anxiously, casting bizarre looks at the cast waiting on stage. That announcement made us all inhale in alarm. "No, not drained of blood. . . at least, I don't think that's the case. I saw or smelled no vampiric signs."
A collective exhalation of relief escaped us all. If there is one group that is feared above even the lycans, it is the vampires. Yes, wolves can rip out your innards then use them for streamers but they cannot control your mind. That is one of the greatest fears all mystical folk have, and none more so than the werewolves. The history of vampire and lycan is a terribly bloody one. Werewolves cannot abide being made into pets. Vampires take great joy in making lycans jump through hoops and fetch sticks. The two races are notorious for the steeping hatred they carry for each other.
So imagine the look on Mikel's handsome face when one of those most hated of creatures arrived on a cold blast of winter air. The sleek bat soared over our heads, then transformed into one of the most bewitching men I had ever seen. Tall, elegant, raven hair cut rather modernly -- "emo" as the kids would say -- with eyes as blue as a mountain stream, the undead one looked us all over as if we were nothing more than slugs and he a shaker of salt. The vampire reached up to lift a shock of silken black hair from his brow. There, resting on his forehead, was a glowing gem of pure light set in a platinum band pressing tightly against his high brow.
"As you can see, I am a prisoner of the elder counsel, given to wearing a band of illumination." His voice was seduction and smoke. "My name is Vincente Elysian, and I am a member of the Nosferarti."
*~*
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February 15, 2015
Top Five Favorite Harry Potter Characters
I have been on a real Harry Potter binge of late. I've been watching the movies over just for the sheer enjoyment of it and also have plans to reread the series this year, again, simply because I adore the characters and world that Ms. Rowling brilliantly brought to life. I thought that it would be fun to see who we all liked the most so here we go, my top five favorite wizards and/or witches from Harry Potter! These are in no particular order.
Molly Weasley
Perhaps it`s because I'm a mother as well, but I just adore Mrs. Weasley. She is a loving but firm mother, and a supportive wife. We all know she finds Mr. Weasley`s fascination with Muggles charming even if she mumbles about it. Molly may threaten her kids with their father`s wrath but it will be her with the heavy hand. Molly Weasley is also ferocious when it comes to defending those she loves, just ask Bellatrix Lestrange. Oh that`s right, you can't. Because Molly killed her wicked butt for threatening Ginny. And if you need any more proof of her amazingly huge heart, just recall how openly and lovingly she took in Harry.
Severus Snape
Now I know a few folks may disagree with me, but I will stand by my choice. There are lots of reasons that I put Snape on my top five list. One is that Alan Rickman can do no wrong in my eyes. The man stole every scene he was in. Also, Snape is amazingly complex with multiple layers. The man is also loyal. And finally, he is the ultimate romantic. Severus loved Lilly so much that he willingly took on the burden of keeping her son alive, despite how much he hated James Potter. If that isn`t a romantic soul then I do not know what is.
Sirius Black
In the absence of a father, Sirius was the one to stand-in for James, and what a flawed but loving stand-in Sirius was! How can you not admire a man who escaped a Dementor-guarded prison after twelve years of incarceration with his sanity intact? I know there are many who dislike Sirius, and I can see why. As I said he is flawed. He has a tendency to be rather reckless and a certain aura of elitism that might put some off. But Sirius also has an incredible capacity for affection and he was not afraid to shower Harry with that affection. His scenes with Harry are some of the most touching, I think.
Hermione Granger
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When the books came out, my daughter was quite small, but I read them to her until she could read them herself. One of the reasons that I did so, aside from loving the books to bits, was to expose her to Hermione Granger. Hermione is a fantastic role model for young girls. She is smart, obviously, but also clever, loyal, fair, and incredibly strong. When Ron said that they wouldn`t have lasted two days without Hermione, he was right. And all of this from a young woman born in the Muggle world. She is a testament to what can be accomplished if one works hard and never gives up in the face of adversity.
The Weasley Twins
Last but certainly not least are the Weasley twins, Fred and George. Throughout the series these two ginger pranksters made us laugh. They kept the teachers on their toes, managed mischief amazingly well, and were loyal friends. Even in the darkest of moments Fred and George did their best to make things a little lighter. They had a wonderfully positive outlook on their future. Do you know any other guys who dropped out of school and became successful entrepreneurs? They also taught us that anything is possible if you have enough nerve.
Well there are my fave Witches and Wizards! Who are yours? I'd love to hear your picks.
February 14, 2015
February 12, 2015
Throwback Thursday Tune
This song. Oh my, this song is so delightful! Sing it, Dean!
Happy Valentine`s Day.
