Roxy Mews's Blog, page 13

Failing On Purpose #UFYBConfidenceChallenge

So this is the third day of the confidence challenge, and I'm supposed to do something scary that I'm pretty sure I'm going to fail at. In fact, failing is the goal. So if I accidentally succeed, I have to do something else scary.

One of the suggested items on the list is to "Ask for a Date". I snorted. Because hubby might object to that one. But a lot of these involve other people. And I'm not going to express how much I DON'T want to people on my day off of my evil day job in retail. I have to be nice and happy and approachable. Even when I have to tell people, "No, I don't know which of the 50 yellow bags of food you bought last time."

Want to know something about me? I hate to fail. As in, if I couldn't do something the first time I tried it...I quit. I played basketball for one year in middle school. I was benched more than I played and I flat out quit because I couldn't stand sucking. The whole running around and sweating thing wasn't my bag either, but that's not why I quit. I tried knitting. I was able to get to almost-a-hat level before I realized I needed to figure out how to work my gauge if I ever wanted to do it right. Since I couldn't do it easily, I stopped knitting.

Why do something if you're going to fail? Right?

Then I became an author, and the whole name of the game is failure. Seriously. If you want to get into a pub house, you're going to accumulate rejection letters like really lackluster Pokemon cards. Not to mention trying to get into signings, and conferences, and speaking events, and panels, etc. You have to get really comfortable asking for things you're going to hear "No" to far more often than "Yes."

I could send out queries or work requests or presentation submissions for this task to fail, but I definitely wouldn't hear back on it today. I could sign up for a contest, but honestly, there aren't too many that provide any value for the fee. And again...there isn't an instant result in that either. 

*8 hours later*So...I guess technically I've failed to do a lot of things today. I've failed at working out. 

I've failed at actually moving that load of laundry from the washer to the dryer and now I have to rewash it.

I've failed at making myself a real meal for lunch and made a pot pie in the microwave because it was already 1pm.

I failed at avoiding those delicious chocolate graham crackers in my pantry. Why did I buy those? I'm going to eat the whole damn box.

But I haven't actively tried to do anything and failed at it. So...let's attempt my nemesis. The "Cat Eye" makeup with liquid liner. I have no makeup on currently and I have been watching YouTubers slay a killer cat eye for as long as I've been enviously watching makeup tutorials. 

So let's watch one I haven't seen before and give it a shot. This video has 12 million views. So it must be pretty good. I'm going to use the second technique where she makes a little triangle on the end of her eye. 

This is the point where I realize I'm about to post pics of myself without makeup. Because I'm not going to attempt this for the first time with a full face to wash off after. Oh boy. My eye is naked and ready for liner. Let's get this over with. 

Wait...she's not pulling her eye taught? That's how I've always lined mine. Um...I'm not twenty anymore. I'm not feeling as hopeful about trying to make a straight line over the crows feet. Pray for me.
Aaaannnnd. I'm a raccoon.

Let's try it on the other side and see if I can manage a line that's straight without holding the skin taught.
That would be a NO.

​Just for fun...check out how her eye looks vs. mine. Um...yeah. 
Welp. There it is. In public form. A fresh out of the makeup bag fail. 

Time to change that part about failing to do laundry. Because the funk is real. I swear. I'm going to make it to the dryer this time.

Have you done this challenge? If so, tell me what you failed at today. And although I failed at doing makeup I could actually wear out of the house, I did successfully find a technique that doesn't work for me. LOL!

See you for tomorrow's task!

~Roxy

Feeling Accomplished #UFYBCONFIDENCECHALLENGE

This is the second task in the confidence challenge, and I think I'm starting to realize I'm a lot more confident than I thought I was. But I'm also doing this online and as "Roxy". 

I'll tell you what...having a pen name is perhaps the best thing I've ever done for myself. I was able to create the person I'd always wanted to be and craft her from scratch. Roxy doesn't have a lot of the baggage that the "Real" me does. And there's something about putting on a different name like a kick ass coat and walking into the room knowing you don't have to worry about who you used to be.

Basically, I highly recommend pen names and suggest everyone get one when they are feeling a little less than confident in themselves. 

So as an aside from what this blog is really about, I dare you to pick a persona for a night and rock it. Take cash so you don't have to worry about your name matching your credit card. Pick who you want to be and go out as that person. I have so much more fun as Roxy than as the regular me. Maybe I should go out as one of my characters...hmm. Now that's a blog idea...

Anyway. I'm doing a challenge. Yeah. That's what this is about. And my homework for today is another list. This is a list of my accomplishments without any qualifiers. No diminishing them with "but" excuses for why they aren't awesome. Time to list some straight up facts. Some of these might get a tad personal, so I'm making one for "Roxy" and one for me. 

Roxy's Accomplishments List

1. Submitted and contracted my first published book through Samhain Publishing.
2. Had a book reviewed in Romantic Times.
3. Featured Author in Love Letter Magazine in Germany.
4. Coordinated April Fools For Love collection of stories with some seriously awesome authors (Returning in 2020!)
5. Self-Published my own books. With all the edits, formatting, and cover art coordination. 
6. Created my own website.
7. Led a winning team in the RWA Word War for NaNoWriMo in 2016. (We came in 2nd in 2017, but watch out for this year!)
8. Made PAN in RWA with my first published book. 
9. Got my 5 book milestone pin from RWA.
10. Was a Night Owl Reviews Top Pick.

Roxy's got it going on! 

Now if only her alter ego could get her shit together.  

Part of me wants to comment on the fact that this was all some time ago, and my recent accomplishments aren't as exciting, but the big point here was to not qualify the accomplishments. So I'm not going to try and come up with a more recent list. I'm just going to enjoy what I got to do so far in my author journey.

Honestly, listing it out makes me super excited to find out what's next.

If you want to play along with me, make a list of your ten accomplishments. But don't compare them to mine or anyone else's. Did you graduate college? That's an accomplishment. If you have made even a small dent in your student loan bills, holy hell you are so damn far ahead of me.  

If you play along let me know how it's going. If you want to sign up for the challenge yourself head HERE. And if you want to start at the beginning of my 5 day challenge, go HERE. I'll see you tomorrow for Day 3.

~Roxy

Self-Like List? #UFYBconfidencechallenge

I told you I've been listening to some new podcasts, and one of them is by Kara Loewentheil, and she had on her social media a 5 day challenge.

Since I'm always looking for new podcasts to make household chores more tolerable, I jumped on her "Unf*ck Your Brain" podcast with gusto. And you actually do have to leave the "u" out of Fuck to find it on the podcast lists. But don't worry, she doesn't sensor herself during the actual show. 

Anyway, since the all seeing eye of Facebook noticed my searches, I started getting her ads for a free 5-day challenge. So I thought I'd play along with you guys. 

If it gets super personal and deep I might back out of sharing everything, but for a free 5-day challenge, I think we'll have some fun with it.

You do need to sign up yourself to get access to a free workbook and FB group, but for our purposes...let's get started!

First of all...this woman's demeanor speaks to me on such a personal level. Her humor, her strength, and her attitude...damn. I want to hang out with this woman over a shot of tequila.

Back to the challenge. 

The first task is to write down ten things I like about myself. I have to be honest. If I'd been asked to do this ahead of a few other classes I've taken and books I've read, this would have been super deep and difficult. So if it's hard for you, don't worry. You'll get there.

Self-Like List

1. I'm super productive in the morning.

2. I'm a kickass NaNoWriMo cheerleader. (Make sure you buddy up with me if you haven't yet!)

3. I can do a mad good writing sprint.

4. I'm a great critique partner. As long as my buddy can handle honesty with a bit of snark.

5. I have killer hair. Thanks, Joico color!

6. I'm a great planner.

7. I'm a diligent task manager, and I delegate like it's my job.

8. I'm great at my Evil Day Job. People come in and ask for me specifically.

9. I can find the hidden gems in any GoodWill or thrift store. Seriously. I'm like a lucky charm.

10. I'm an excellent brainstorming partner. Although my ideas aren't always million-dollar ones, I've got plenty more ideas ready to come up to bat.


What about you? Can you rattle off 10 things you like about you? If you can't, I'd suggest asking a friend. You're probably a lot more awesome than you realize. I'm ready for the next day's challenge. See you all tomorrow!


~Roxy

Do Something Scary

I don't know about you, but I've been seeing Halloween stuff all over the place and I couldn't be more freaking excited. I'm not in a financial place to buy any and everything I want, but come Halloween time, you best believe I'll have a new costume for the year, some new dramatic makeup to play with, and something fun and spooky for the house. My dog already has two costumes and she will have a third this year.

With all the different craft stores and department stores packing their shelves with "scary" decor, I've realized two things. First, I'd rock ninety percent of this shit as my everyday home decor. Like, as in, I still haven't decorated my office, and I'm damn tempted to make it Halloween themed. Then I could have my decorations up year round without people looking at me weird. Well, they'd still look at me weird, but I'd at least have a happy place to write.

The second thing I've realized is that I don't do enough things that scare me. One of my favorite quotes is from Eleanor Roosevelt. "Do one thing everyday that scares you." 
​
And in my everyday life I've been working so damn hard to find my routine and feel comfortable and get all the things on my To Do lists done, that I've forgotten how wonderful it is to do something scary. 

​No, it doesn't always pan out the way I'd like, but not trying at all is way way worse. There are so many things that are scary. Having a heart-to-heart with someone when a tough conversation needs to happen...plunking down cash on supplies for a project you don't know if you'll sell...putting out a new format...or even opening that edits document that has been sitting on your computer for the better part of a year, and oh my god, has it really been that long?!?!?

I read a book a while back called "Eat That Frog" (which now that I look has multiple newer additions, so I might grab that. Damn you, Amazon!) 

Anyway, in the book the main premise is that you should do the thing you're dreading the most, first. So whatever is on your To Do list that makes you want to cover it up and put it off to tomorrow, that's the thing you should start with. Because, according to the author, if you have to "eat a frog", after that everything else will seem easy. Obviously this author is not a fan of frog legs, but you get the idea.

I've been noticing my book work keeps getting shoved down on my list because I've been out of the game so long, I've built it up in my head to a huge task. Because it's been so long, unless I am exceptionally productive for hours upon hours, it's not good enough. 

Remember yesterday's post, where I realized I need to start calling myself on my bullshit? Yup. This falls right in line.

I can't edit a blank page. I can't fix a document while hiding from the edit letter. And I can't get a publishing deal if I don't query. 

This whole author gig is hard, but perhaps the biggest challenge is crafting a career and how you want it to look. Do I want to query? Or do I want to self-publish? Or do I want to try KU? (Hint, I don't. But I know lots of people who do very well with the platform, so power to you!)

You get the point. Sometimes the hardest thing is picking a direction in which to take the first step. I'm off to do something that terrifies me. I'm going to plot out the rest of a story I'm working on. Not a huge uber detailed plot. Just a direction. My main goal for today? Make it to the writing. Because this story has me so damn excited.

Plotting terrifies this pantser. So that's what I'm heading toward next. What are you going to do that scares you today? Let's turn some dreams into plans and take baby steps together. We've totally got this.

​~Roxy

Rescheduled

I've been binge listening to a podcast recommended to me called "UnF*ck Your Brain". With multiple episodes under my belt, I've thoroughly enjoyed a different view point from others I've encountered. And despite the fact that I don't agree with everything the coach is preaching, all of it makes me think.

And I have a feeling that's why an Instagram story posted by Anne Samoilov hit me right in the brain today. I was letting the IG feed play while I did my chores and she talked about asking ourselves "Why am I rescheduling?" Because unless someone is in the hospital, or a kid is missing, or you're being evicted, or some other literal life and death situation is in the process, most of the time, we "reschedule" for reasons we can totally avoid, correct, or alter.

My last project was "rescheduled" because I didn't "have time". Which, looking back, is complete and utter bullshit. And it's time I start calling myself on it.

Deadlines are only as effective for us as we make them. Looking back a couple years ago, I had a new release, edits, and was prepping for a vacation all in the same week. Was my schedule any different then than it is now? Nope. The only difference was me. That I didn't allow any of it to be rescheduled. Would I recommend working at that pace for more than a short term period of time? Fuck no. That week was exhausting. But I did it. And I felt awesome afterward and enjoyed the shit out of my vacation. Sure I spent a few hours the first couple days working, but I had the time of my life knowing all that shit was done when I wrapped it in a pretty bow and sent the book off to my editor.

I found the time. I didn't reschedule. 

It's time to take a hard look at my calendar and realize I'm worth writing in non-negotiable time blocks for. Because there are a few common lies I tell myself over and over again. It took me 5 minutes to turn those lies around. Some of my lies might sound suspiciously familiar to you...


LIE: I'm not in a creative headspace. What I write/plot/edit wouldn't be good anyway. 

TRUTH: I'm dragging my feet because I'm in a bad mood. True, it's easier to put this off until tomorrow instead of dealing with my own bullshit now, but I know once I get started, I'll find my way.


LIE: I'm too tired.

TRUTH: I'm always tired. The only way to get myself untired is to get moving. Mentally and physically I need to get my ass up and working. All I need to do is turn on some music and talk to myself out loud. The energy will come.


LIE: My kids/spouse/pets/parents interrupted me during my scheduled time. It's all over and I should just give up for the day because I'm out of time.

TRUTH: Reworking my schedule isn't ideal, and makes me feel off kilter, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. My top 3 things need to get accomplished, and the rest can wait. My time is important.



What about you? Where are you penciled in on your calendar? What time is yours? And how are you fighting to make sure there is no rescheduling? 

Not to sound too much like L'Oreal commercial, but you're totally worth it.

Just some food for thought on a busy day. I'm off to work on a book plot, and a schedule revamp. What are you going to change today?

​~Roxy

My Current Bribe List

I'm busy climbing out of the hole I've buried myself in thanks to the back to school plague that swept through my house. There is so damn much to do and I'm resorting to bribing myself again. So here is my current list of bribes.

1. Podcast Episode

Thanks to Shyla Colt's Facebook post I have a TON of new podcasts I'm itching to dive into. Particularly one called "Lore" which is very different from the publishing industry and self-help podcasts I usually lean toward. I'm completely intrigued.

2. New Planner Supply Shopping

I'm anxiously waiting for the new Happy Planners to hit stores. I'm in need of a new purse planner for 2019, and I'm switching to the MAMBI line because they came out with mini planners that aren't horizontal. And I AM STOKED. Yes. I get excited about planners. It's an excuse to buy more stationary. I won't apologize for it.

3. Makeup Play Time

I have a coupon for Wet N Wild makeup, which is some of my favorite. So after I make the rounds at the grocery store and get the stuff I need, I'm heading into the makeup section and getting something fun to play with. Any new Wet N Wild items you love? 

4. Extended Meditation Time

One of my favorite short meditation channels on YouTube recently released a new video incorporating Yoga into their meditation. I've been looking for a good excuse to roll out my Yoga mat and get back into the practice. This seems like the perfect link. So I'm going to spend more time with a few sun salutations too.5. A New Paranormal Romance!

A friend of mine is releasing a new PNR book TODAY! (Happy Release Day, Melanie Jayne!) Now, you all know how much I love paranormal romance. And this one sounds right up my alley.

I have been missing my PNR reads something fierce and this one is calling to me. Or howling at me. I mean...look at the cover. ---------->

If you are intrigued by this bribe too, blurb and buy links are below.

​SEE ME - The Novus Pack Book 1
 
Throughout history, The Lady, Goddess of the Lycan world, has gifted werewolf packs with humans who carry her mark. Theodora Morrissey’s plans to return to college for her graduate degree are ended when she is awakened by an otherworldly voice on a rarely used airstrip in Nebraska. Injured and disoriented, she has no idea the discoloration on her back has marked her as a Seer, and that she is now a possession—and the prisoner—of the Novus Pack of Lycans.  
 
To the Novus pack, the word of their leader, their Laird, is the law. With compelling gray eyes and long dark hair, Raider Black rules his pack with intelligence and ruthlessness. To cement the security of his pack, Black has committed to mate another Packleader's daughter. But he’s finding it impossible to fight his attraction to the pack’s alluring new Seer, claiming her as his own.
 
Sweet, fearless, and unintentionally funny, Theo upends Black’s world and pushes the boundaries of his rules. How far is Raider willing to go, and what will he sacrifice, to save both his pack and the human Seer who’s found a way not only into his bed, but his heart?

KINDLE                      NOOK                          iBooks                      Kobo


What are you bribing yourself with today? Are there any new books that you can't wait to read? Or any new stationary you're excited for? Drop me some links! I love online window shopping. :D

~Roxy

There is no "right" way to deal with a sad day

Today is 9-11, and for pretty much everyone in my generation, and those in older generations, today marks a distinct moment in time. My 9-11 was spent in Indiana. In college. I was driving to class and the local DJ with the crazy antics was talking about a building blowing up and taking calls about it.

I thought it was a bit. I didn't think it was real, but I couldn't quite grasp the joke either. 

I went to class, and there wasn't a teacher in it. Instead a television was on in the corner of the room. Because we didn't have the flat screens back then, this big cubic monster with a convex screen was showing the twin towers in New York with smoke pouring out of them. Then we all watched as a plane hit the other building on repeat.

All of us stood around talking, but we didn't look at each other. We had full conversations standing in a classroom full of chairs staring at the screen.

"Classes are cancelled."

"Did you hear? She's gone because her uncle works in the building."

"No one knows what's happening."

"I'd stay away from Indianapolis if it were me. Thank goodness we're not in a major city right now."

"He was just crying. I didn't know what to do, so I drove him back to the apartment."

Some people were in tears. Some people were in shock. No one knew what the "right" thing to do was in that moment. And maybe that's because there is no one way that's better than another for every person.

I don't remember a lot more than the moments before and inside that classroom on 9-11. I do remember the pain felt across the country, and the people holding signs and flags over the overpass for months afterward. The whole country was holding their loved ones and each other tight. 

One thing I vividly remember is the first time Saturday Night Live came back on after the twin towers fell. I remember the wash of men and women in uniform who had fought to save lives and continued to clean up ground zero. I remember Lorne Michaels looking to then Mayor Giuliani and asking "Can we be funny?"

The mayor replied, "Why start now?"

And I laughed.

Amid all the news coverage, with the overwhelmingly somber tone on every radio show and television personality, I laughed that night. I hadn't realized how much I needed to laugh until it was out of me. And I think in that moment I realized the beauty of humor. I realized how much I needed laughter in my life.

Comedy, in all forms, is worth more to me than "a good cry" will ever be to me. Because the two most vivid memories for me about this time of year are the moment I felt the pain, and the moment I was able to laugh again.

Every year around this time since the first "9-11" people are all over social media telling us to never forget. And while I was isolated in my little college town, I still felt the impact left by that moment. So I can only imagine the pain and heartache others who lost loved ones deal with. I don't know how they cope, or claim to understand how they would want the world to treat the tragedy. 

But as someone who has dealt with other issues in her life, I can say that for me...I need the laughter. I need the happily ever after of a good book. I need something like a killer Kevin Smith movie that gives me boner jokes and stink palm humor. 

So if you see someone not talking about this tragedy today, or about any other tragedy, don't knock them down. Those people who are bringing out the bright spots...those people who are putting humor into the world...they are giving something that directly combats the darkness. Laughter is a light that is damn hard to diminish, and someone might just need that laugh or that smile today more than any other day.

I don't usually talk about things that make me sad, because I want to do for others what some authors and directors have done for me. I want to be the place they come to smile. 

Does it mean I'm insensitive, or don't have the capacity to feel the sad parts of life? No. It means I want you to come my way if you're looking for some smartass characters, or a cheap wine review.

There won't be any television watching today for me. I'm going to watch Dogma and Mall Rats, with a possible showing of the new DeadPool 2 Blu-Ray hubby brought home. 

Hug your loved ones, tell them how special they are to you. Then laugh with them. That's what I plan to do today.

~Roxy

Top 5 Tricks When you have to be in public while sick

It's IRWA day! My local RWA chapter is meeting today. Yes, I'm still not at 100% health-wise. This damn cold is hanging on with claws. But the meeting I'm supposed to have before our chapter meeting is with a buddy who is also sick. So we can share our tissues and hand sanitizer.

Writing and publishing doesn't have sick days, so I'm sucking it up, loading myself with cold meds and skipping the traditional after meeting margarita. Our world is not one that rewards us for sitting at home. Stuffy nose be damned.

So here are a few tricks I've learned through my years of retail work that keep me from infecting others, and from picking up all the nasty germs around us.

1. Don't touch your face

This is not as easy as it sounds. We all tend to itch our nose, rub our eyes, and cough into a fist. Not to mention eating and drinking. But avoiding touching my face is the first tactic I practice when I'm sick to avoid spreading the cold germs. It's also super important in avoiding getting germs from others who aren't as careful. And if I do touch my face, I go onto the next tactic...

2. Use hand sanitizer

Any time I touch my face, use a communal phone, wipe my mouth after eating, etc, I use hand sanitizer. I know this isn't as good as washing your hands, but if I washed my hands after every time I touched something, they would shrivel and crack like fossilized raisins. In the absence of sanitizing spray for surfaces, I've also been known to rub hand sanitizer on surfaces I've touched. It works in a pinch.

3. Cough and sneeze into your elbow

Yes. I know dabbing is dead. But by blocking your sneezes and coughs with your elbow, you not only block the spray, but you prevent your hands from getting dirty. I tend to wear at least a light weight jacket when I'm sick. That way I don't have to sneeze on my bare arm. I don't know about you, but the crook of my elbow is way more sensitive than my hand. So giving that area a little buffer helps.

4. Wear ALL the makeup

If I'm going to the grocery store, running non-professional errands, or working at my EDJ where they keep the temperature a smidge below hell, I don't bother with makeup. But on days where I have to appear like I'm a functioning human and not a walking zombie, I layer on that full coverage glory and add some highlighter to disguise the sweat. It gives the illusion of me not an inch from death. 

5. Very hot or very cold beverages

Any time I get a cold, there is almost always a sore throat associated with it. Whether from a cough, or drainage, or just snoring all night because I couldn't breathe. (Sorry again, hubs!) So I make sure I constantly have something on hand. Preferably with a straw so I don't have to touch a screw on cap, or accidentally rub where my mouth was on a mug. The liquids are good for the colds, and make me go to the bathroom more so I have more opportunities to wash my hands. 


I'm sure there are some good ones I'm missing. Tell me what your tricks are to being a functioning human while feeling under the weather. How do you get shit done when your body isn't keeping up? 
​

~Roxy​

The First Pages of My First Book...

I've been hemming and hawing about what the hell to do with my Hart Clan Hybrids books. And to be honest, I still don't know.

But I did download my books to my kindle and am prepping a read through. 

Did you know that going back to the first book you ever wrote is fucking terrifying? Because...DAMN. It is. This book made me a published author. This book got me PAN status in RWA, and it was published on my fucking birthday. There's so many happy memories associated with this story. So I thought I'd share how Roxy Mews began...

A Love Worth Biting For

Chapter One

I wasn't prepared for it. That's what everybody says when they meet the love of their lives. But I'm not everybody. Hell, most of the time I'm nobody, or at least I try to be. I was given the name Amber Paulson for crying out loud. A name like that does not a rock career make. Daddy always told me that the urge to mate is something you can't control. That you would just find yourself smacked upside the head one day. If you were lucky.

I didn't know anyone in my Pack who was mated. That's not to say we are virgins. Hell no. Everybody that uses the expression "Fuck like bunnies?" Well, those people obviously haven't met a werewolf. Me and the rest of my Pack get furry on occassion, but for the rest of the time we rocked a decidedly human form. Those forms just have libidos of epic proportions.

Anyway, I was walking through the latest campus we had moved to. It was some little rinky-dink town in Indiana of all places. Land-locked, but lots of places just outside the city for a wolf to run. Big enough to get lost in, small enough to get away from everybody when you needed to. The campus was walkable, and I took my time, because if I hurried, I could outrun an Olympic medalist. And I still had plenty of time until my next class.

Mary called and reminded me not to be late. Mary Fields was my best friend these days. I liked humans, but I loved Mary most. I met her on my first day of orientation, and somehow she puts up with me. I threw her a quick text to let her know I'd see her in class. 

Did you know the average werewolf lives for four hundred years after turning? I've been around for fifty as my wolfy self, so the American History class was one I have repeated often. From the complete lack of effort needed this time through, either I was radically expanding my brainpower, or society was expecting less and less intelligence from the general student body. Which brings me back to me not being prepared. I was walking slowly to class, when one student body in particular caught my attention. 

There always seems to be an impromptu game of football being played on the practice field outside the cafeteria that involves guys taking their shirts off and trying to impress the co-eds in hopes of getting the chicks' shirts off later. Personally, unless you're taking down a twelve-point buck with your shirt off -- while covered in hair -- I am not usually impressed.

That day was different. For some reason, my feet stopped moving when they hit the spray-painted white line on the field. Guys and girls chased the pigskin in the sunshine. The temperature was a degree below fried eggs, and not a cloud was in the sky. I heard a bottle pop open, and what should have been a glance turned into a full-on ogling. He still had his shirt on, but had begun pouring the open bottle of water across his chest in an effort to cool off. 

My increased hearing picked up on the sighs and elevated heart rates from the women around me as the thin fabric of his shirt clung to his body and drops of water cascaded down. Deep tan skin began to peek through. His chocolate-brown nipples puckered. The water must have been cold. Thank you Jesus for whoever had those puppies in a cooler. 

I could see a slight smattering of chest hair sandwiched between his skin and tee. Then he pulled up the shirt to wring it out, and I caught the brief glimpse of his six-pack and a trail of body hair that drew my attention down to his black shorts. I swear it was like an arrow directing me where to go. Boy, did I want to follow it.

The healthy dose of yum shook the water from his head and hands. The shirt fell, and I pulled my jaw up off the ground just in time to not have my tongue loll out the side like a freaking German Shepherd.

He looked up and waved. My hand waved back on instinct. When his eyebrows drew together and he began jogging back toward the game, I looked around to see a petite blonde behind me with her hand also up in greeting. I gave her the "I'm an idiot, never mind me" salute and started off toward campus. What the hell was wrong with me? He wasn't even Pack. Why was I ogling him like I was headed into my first heat?

"Hey! Wait up!" A feminine voice called from behind me.

I slowed my pace to about half my pulse rate. I had learned that to step below my pulse rate was a great way to appear more human. The fact that I was still speeding through campus told me my pulse was hammering like a hippie playing bongos. 

"Sorry, I...oh. Were you talking to me?"

The blonde from the practice field jogged to catch up with me. Her little perky boobs bobbed with her ponytail, but nothing else on her jiggled. I hated her instantly.

"Yeah. Damn you're fast." A smile broke her face, and not even a drop of perspiration dotted her brow. I really hated her. "Do you know Jake?"

"Who?"

"Jake's my brother. You know, the guy who put on a water show at the practice field." She knocked her elbow into me.

Little tip from a werewolf -- don't touch us. It's considered a confrontational act. Lucky for this chick, it was pretty obvious to my wolf that her little five-foot-nothing frame was no match for my five-feet-ten-inches of overgrowth. When my instincts settled, I noticed she smelled different. She wasn't from this area. For some reason, everyone here smelled faintly of earth and plants. Okay, they smelled like corn, but I don't want to sound prejudiced. This little waif smelled empty. Like, clay or wood. You know that smell you get when you open a really old box or jar? Not moldy or musty, just...empty.

"So I saw you looking at my brother."

"What? No I wasn't. I was watching the game."

"They were taking a break." Her voice shifted from upbeat to dead serious in a second.

"Yup. I noticed that. Why I left. Have a good one." I turned and tried to pace my steps. Then an image of Jake filtered into my brain, and I found my steps increasing their tempo. I tried to slow them, with the old standby of listening to the closest pulse. My feet stopped midstride when I realized the closest pulse wasn't inside my little cling-on. I couldn't hear the small blonde chick's pulse. She didn't have one. Fuck. Vampires.



So what do you think? Should I bring them back?

I can already tell I want to get my hands back in this book and edit it. There is also a chapter from the hero's POV that never made it into the final cut before. So I'm tempted to bring it back and give him his chapter. 

Let me know if you're intrigued. Let me know if I should let the hybrids loose. 

~Roxy

Roxy Reviews Flip Flop Fizzy Sangria #CHEAPDATE

Sooo…I’m sick. The summer cold has come to roost and I’m not having a good time. All the sore throats and sneezes are inhabiting my head right now.
 
I’m holding off on the cold meds tonight to bring you this sick cheap date. I found these Flip Flop Fizzy Sangria cans on sale at my local Kroger down ten bucks from $14.99 to just $4.99. It was like the cheap date gods wanted me to have these on hand.
 
Fizzy drinks always feel good on a sore throat to me. So I figured this was the perfect night to try them. And alcohol kills germs, right? Sure. We’ll go with that.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
 
The graphic art on these is adorable. They are the size of a small Redbull and could be mistaken for a kids drink with all the cartoon drawings.
 
The nice thing about these is they actually include nutrition information on the box and can, so anyone who is counting calories or sugars can keep track.
 
If you happen to be on the diet wagon, you probably won’t want this though. 8.5 oz has 160 calories and 15 grams of sugar. But since most wine doesn’t have this info on the bottles, I’m not sure how that stacks up.
 
Obviously this is a can, so there’s no cork to pop, but like the box says, this could be a good wine to take camping or tailgating. For my non-beer drinking sisters out there, this might be nice for you.
 
FIRST SNIFF
 
I’m sick. Refer to the beginning of this blog. I can’t smell much.
 
But it does possess the alcohol-like burn in the back of my sinuses, and it’s a bright magenta color. Make sure you’re not getting drunk on these in white clothes. You’re gonna stain your shirt. THE POUR
 
Normally, I’d leave this in a can, but for the purpose of this blog, I’ll pour it into a glass too.
 
Obviously, this is carbonated. So there’s lots of bubbles. It slightly coats the glass when I swirl it, but the layer of wine falls right back to the bottom of the glass and there is no drag.
 
There’s a faint hint of artificial flavor when I stick my face in the glass, but again…sick, so this part of the review is kind of a wash.
 
FIRST SIP
 
It tastes like spiked carbonated Kool-aid. I’m not saying it’s bad, but that fruit punch flavor is definitely there. No…wait. (takes another sip) Not Kool-aid…Hawaiian Punch. Definitely tastes reminiscent of the red Hawaiian Punch.
 
Considering it contains 0% juice…it’s pretty obvious the flavor profile is pretty similar to the artificial powder mixes of my child hood.
 
Let’s try it out of a can and see if it’s any different. It does. I like it better out of the glass. The syrupy taste seems stronger from the can. It’s got a taste similar to that fake champagne we used to get on New Year’s Eve as kids.
 
Here’s the thing. I don’t hate it. Not even a little. It’s a super sweet treat, but has enough wine notes that I’m not completely overwhelmed by the sugar. Although the flavor isn’t one I’d wind down with at the end of the night, I can see sipping on one of these babies while the surrounding kids are enjoying a popsicle at a BBQ.
 
It’s 6.5% alcohol, so it’s not a super heavy buzz either, but if you like fruit punch style drinks this would go down easy, and you’d be likely to consume more than you think because the grape juice concentrate in it makes it pretty darn refreshing.
 
FINAL VERDICT
 
I’d buy this again if I was in the mood for a syrupy sweet dessert-style drink. It reminds me of soda, and so occasions where I’d drink soda are the same one’s I’d probably consume this drink in.
 
For a nightcap, I wouldn’t grab this, but I wouldn’t turn one away at a party. As for a sore throat helper, this felt awesome. I would recommend this for sick consumption. Just not with cold meds.
 
Would buy again, just wouldn’t stock the wine fridge with it.

​~Roxy