Skye Turner's Blog, page 3

Hip- Hop- Happenings… What’s Up With Me

Hello beautiful people! Good (what day is it)… Good Tuesday! It’s Tuesday according to my hellions.

Some exciting (well, I think it’s exciting) stuff is happening with me.

First off, I escaped the Louisiana Icepocolypse 2021/Eternal Plandemic last week and my family and I headed down to Orlando for eight days. We had a Disney trip planned and it was absolutely flipping fantastic! High 70’s/ Low 80’s every day and beautiful warm sun… Heaven.

Here we are… living our best life.

Anyways, we did Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Magic Kingdom and it was fabulous. We refuse to live in fear. But hey, that’s us.

Star Wars in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is AMAZING!

Now, back to the happenings. If you aren’t following me as Sloane Nicole on Facebook (I freaking despise Facebook), you missed the announcement…

I’m WRITING again! Well, Sloane Nicole, which is my Adult PNR (Paranormal/Fantasy) Romance pen name is writing again!

Another L’Amour Bayou book is coming.

Since my car accident in January of 2019, where I was slammed into at over 50mph while at a complete stop by a distracted driver, resulting in a massive concussion that left me with a continuous, unrelenting migraine every single day and nerve damage causing half of my left hand to be absolutely useless, I’ve thought my career was over.

The one book I was able to get out since that day took me over ten months to complete and it was a much shorter novel for me. It was excruciating to write and I was so depressed from it all… I lost my passion.

To go from writing one full length novel every three to four months, plus numerous short stories, to one short novel in ten months while struggling with a crippling migraine and relearning to type without using two fingers… well, it’s a lot.

As someone who already had mental health issues, anxiety, crippling panic attacks, and depression, being put in this condition by someone’s carelessness devastated me. I guess in some ways it broke me.

So, I exited the “book world.” I still promoted the sixty-five books I’d put out as Skye Turner and Sloane Nicole, but I had zero drive or passion to produce more.

Then came the shit show that was 2020, the Plandemic, and the farce of an election. After seeing the way people I’d once befriended, respected, and supported were acting… it reinforced my decision to leave that world.

After all, I am absolutely nothing like 90% of the authors in the romance genre. I’m a staunch Conservative and not at all ashamed of that fact. I don’t degrade, insult, and attack people who believe differently than I do. And, the ugly is abundant with most authors I once considered peers/friends.

In fact… hell, I’m basically a unicorn.

Back on track… the past few months, I’ve done something I’d never done before. I reread MY BOOKS as a reader. I started with Bayou Stix; and then, it was on to Unwanted Desire. I just finished James Black and I’m now on Becoming James Black. I’ve remembered how GOOD I was and it’s reawakened the creative/author part of myself.

Suddenly, I wanted to write, to create, to explore the ideas in my head again. It felt like a door that had been locked, hidden, and covered with cobwebs and dust was not only unlocked, but flung wide open.

I went straight to my laptop and the words just came. Sure, they come more slowly now because my hands don’t type as fast and my brain needs frequent breaks, but, they’re COMING.

I get frustrated and overwhelmed almost daily because I’m slower than I previously was and often when I want to keep going, my brain screams, “ENOUGH” and I have to stop to give it a break.

But… I’m WRITING!

I have almost five chapters of the L’Amour Bayou book done. I have an absolutely stunning cover, that is exactly what I wanted, from the brilliant Tracie Douglas of Dark Water Covers.

I cannot wait to share the cover and blurb with y’all! And then, the book!

In fact, I just decided, right this second, to share the title with you. It’s…

Fate Awakened, A L’Amour Bayou Novel by Skye Turner writing as Sloane Nicole. Coming SOON!

Sloane Nicole (me) writes Bewitching Bayou Romance filled with fantasy, magic, and my usual heat.

I absolutely cannot wait to bring you this book, as well as whatever else I decide to work on. Though, Sloane Nicole works appear to be what my brain is pushing right now.

Make certain you’re following both this blog AND Sloane Nicole’s Facebook page to stay up to date with anything and everything.

Skye Turner’s Facebook page is also republished for the time being. Though, I haven’t decided what to do with it yet.

As always, thank you for being here, reading my stuff, conversing and interacting with me, and being awesome! I’ve missed y’all! But, for now… I’m BACK!

Skye Turner / Sloane Nicole

Review of The Alien Mate Series by Evangeline Anderson- or rather, the author’s politics

I “was” a new reader of Evangeline Anderson. I was recently introduced to her through the first book in the Alien Mate Series, Abducted.

I very much enjoyed Abducted and was eager to dive into the next book… this book, Protected.

However…

Rating: 1 Star

Talent Is Irrelevant When Prejudice and Hate Is So Relevant

Unfortunately, the author can’t leave politics out of her writing.

After reading Abducted, I bought ALL of the author’s books.

This book and the author’s blatant disrespect, bullying, and downright hate for President Trump spewed throughout the pages of Protected has disgusted me and I will be returning all of the books besides this one and Abducted… since I read those two.

It’s a real shame that she, like the majority of other authors in this genre, are so prejudiced.

Her talent is absolutely irrelevant when her prejudice and politics are all that jumps out.

As a fellow author, and a Conservative, this behavior disgusts me.

A real shame!

Her sex scenes in both books also seem to follow a “script” of sorts and seem redundant.

I never write one star reviews. Ever. But, this was one review I couldn’t not write!

I won’t be finishing the series or reading any future books by this author.

Many people, myself included, read to escape reality. So, for someone to literally use their politics in such a way in a book, knowing people have different politics, appalls me.

The Channie Series by Charlotte Abel- My Review

I just finished The Channie Series by Charlotte Abel. YA FANTASY/Paranormal is actually my favorite genre of books to read.

Books: Enchantment, Taken, and Finding Valor

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy/Paranormal

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Review:
I went into this series not knowing what to expect. One thing I know from reading so much YA Fantasy is that the books are either very good… or they’re very bad. (I’ve stopped with two YA Fantasy/Paranormal I started within the past couple of weeks because they were just horrible. Errors, plot holes, reading like it was written by a teen instead of for teens, etc…)

Enchantment is the first book and it lays an amazing foundation for the series. The characters are exceptionally well-developed and it’s very easy to get wrapped up in them as if they’re personal friends.

Channie/Enchantment/Chastity is a very likable character. For the fact that she’s a teen throughout the series, I really felt for her character and related to a good bit of her antics. Both as someone who was a teenage girl once and even as a woman. She’s very mature throughout most of the book and her choices are not choices you’d expect a sixteen year old girl with crazy parents to make.

Josh is also very likable and pretty grounded for a teenaged boy. He’s an aspiring Olympic biker who has a plan and a life goal… until fate, or love, intervenes. Channie throws his world into a tail-spin and it’s insane.

The trilogy follows the love story of Channie and Josh as they navigate fate, heartbreak, love, magic, their respective families and their drama, war, and coming into their own. And, if you think a series about two teenagers’ love story is cliche and boring… you have another thing coming.

Both Enchantment and Taken do end in cliffhangers; so, I recommend reading the series consecutively. The next book picks up at the moment the previous book ended.

The supporting characters are also very well rounded and easy to relate to.

Channie’s family hurt my heart on several occasions. As did Josh’s. But, the love and various relationships and dynamics were very realistic. All of the characters are very engaging no matter if you love them or hate them.

Hunter, Channie’s first crush, childhood friend, and fellow mage (witch) is probably my second favorite character in the entire series. He is charming, witty, soft hearted, and genuine. He’s the kind of friend everyone needs in their life. I found myself rooting for him and wanting to hug him the entire book.

Finding Valor, the conclusion to the series, did feel a little rushed at the culmination. But, that could be because as a fellow writer, I just wanted more… more detail, more words on the pages, more complexity.

I don’t want to give too much away about the books, but, if you like magic, love, some teenage angst, and a series you can’t stop reading… read The Channie Series.

I recommend it and will be reading more from Charlotte Abel!

Exciting Announcement…

After quite a bit of time… almost two years to be exact, I have an Exciting Announcement!

I’ve decided to re-edit, re-format, and revamp/expand on the Dear Diary Series.

The books received beautiful, colorful new covers about eighteen months ago, thanks to EmCat Designs.

But now, I’ve decided to break my hiatus/retirement caused by my car accident over two years ago and slowly re-edit, expand (yes, I’ll be adding content to the books), and revamp the Dear Diary Erotic Romance Short Story Series!

It’ll probably be slow going with my permanent nerve damage in my left hand which has caused me to relearn to type without utilizing half of the hand (it makes me much slower which is very frustrating since my brain is much faster than my hands can keep up) and I still have constant, unrelenting migraines. But, I’m able to somewhat function by ignoring the pain for short periods of time. That is major progress!

My hope, and plan, is to begin working on them very soon!

Don’t fret if you’ve already purchased the eversions of them for Amazon, iBook, KOBO, or Nook, you’ll just have to update your purchase once the new books are uploaded!

I also hope to do the same with the Gemstone Burlesque Erotic Short Stories Series… and they’ll be getting a new look, too! New covers are planned along with the re-editing, expanding, and revamping.

After a long twenty-five months, it looks like I’m back to writing again… in some capacity.

Seeing how it goes… there’s no telling what will happen with Skye Turner and Sloane Nicole now!

Another quick note: I am no longer on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. But, I do have a reader group on GAB. I’m also on MeWe. Mostly Conservative, as am I, platforms.

And, as always, all of my books can be purchased here!

Amazon
B&N
iBooks
KOBO

This is so hard to say…

I have sat down to write this multiple times and just gotten up before the first word was typed. I thought about making a video, but, I’m too emotional.

I’ve thought about it all long and hard and I just feel like it’s time to vocalize it.

So, here we go.

This is going to be a long post, but, I have a lot to say.

Since late 2014, I’ve written and published sixty-five books. Sixty-four of those have been as Skye Turner and one has been by me writing as Sloane Nicole.

When I started writing with the intent to publish, back in July 2014, I was filled with passion and fire and I couldn’t wait to get my next book out. My fingers just flew and my books were abundant.

For about four years, my “schedule” was one novel every 3-4 months and one short story every 2-3 weeks. I had so many words and so many people were so eager to get their hands on them.

I hit “International Bestseller” with seven of my novels within the first two years of publishing. Hell, my very first release, Alluring Turmoil, was a bestselling book in five countries by the end of the first week.

I was blown away and it only fueled my passion and desire to produce more and give people more of my words and share these stories I created with the world.

By 2016, the book world was a vastly different place. More and more people were self-publishing and book releases were 20+ every single day. Every day.

Authors began to get lost in the shuffle.

I got lost in the shuffle.

Which is ok. I’m not complaining, just explaining.

People began to form “cliques,” much like in middle and high school.

Again, I’m not knocking it. Some people are into cliques. I’m not one of them. I never have been.

Since I was in elementary school, I’ve always been friends, or at least friendly acquaintances, with most people.

I like people. I’m a social person when I’m in a social setting, but, I’m not the type of person who has to talk to all of my friends every single day. I don’t spend hours online in private groups or on social media just talking to people. I don’t have the time or energy for all of that.

Suddenly “friends” of mine, or rather, those I thought were friends, stopped talking to me altogether. These authors that I started publishing with, and had formed what I believed to be genuine friendships with, suddenly stopped sharing my releases.

Though, I still shared theirs every time I saw them.

Again, ok. Some people are like that.

Others who had flocked to befriend me when I was hitting International Bestseller after International Bestseller every three, or so months, whom I had befriended and supported, suddenly hit a “major” list and I was no longer “cool” because the books I was still releasing on my self-imposed schedule weren’t hitting these same lists.

I don’t do fifteen author events a year. I don’t spend hours and hours on social media every day posting and talking to others. I don’t travel with models, date models, marry models, etc. I wasn’t a blogger, or designer, or photographer, or model with mass followings before I released my first book. I’m not a male author (or supposed male author). I don’t post every aspect of my personal life on social media through photos and videos. I don’t belong to a private group where everyone in it sponsors posts for everyone else in the group with every cover reveal/release/sale. I don’t sell my brand new novels, or even novellas, for .99 and I don’t do sales.

Again, I’m not knocking any of these things. They work for those who do them. And, that’s fantastic. I just don’t.

Everyone has a method. And, some people are wildly successful because of the above mentioned things. That’s awesome for them. I’m happy for them. I really am. But, that’s not how I operate.

EVERY book I release has rave reviews, from those who actually buy and read them. But, that’s another issue… Sales aren’t so great now.

I have an author page with over 245K people on it and I guarantee you that not even 4/5ths of them read my books.

Again, that’s fine. Not everyone reads adult romance. I completely understand that. However, to see a page with that many people on it and then to see my sales numbers… it’s extremely frustrating and just downright depressing.

“Book life” has slacked off for me since late last year. My personal life is taking a toll and I only released my first book in over ten months two days ago. Reviews are phenomenal… sales not so much.

I put so much into that book. I pushed through so many things because I wanted to release this book, that I worked so hard on, and just needed to share it with the world.

But, this post isn’t based on Heat Stroke…

Most of you know I was in an accident and that I suffered pretty severe nerve damage in my left hand from the accident as well as a very significant concussion. I pretty much have constant headaches now, with most being migraines.

Well, I’m an author. My hands and head are needed for my job. They are my tools. My head is where my words come from and my hands type them out.

Only now, I can’t do that. I can’t do what I need to do to produce the way I’m used to producing.

Unfortunately, the way I write is that I don’t outline. I don’t strategize. I literally have no idea what my characters will do or what I’ll write until my fingers are on the keys. Once I feel the keys under my fingers, it clicks. The words come. They come fast. But, luckily, I type fast.

Or, I did…

Before my accident, it was “normal” for me to write between 5K and 10K words a day. Every day I wrote.

Now, it’s a struggle to get even 1K. I’ve been trying to learn to re-type without using my pinkie and ring finger. It’s not going well.

I’ve been in Occupational Therapy and I get so incredibly upset and frustrated because things I WANT to do, easy things, like pinching a close pin or picking up a penny, I just can’t. It’s like my brain and hand aren’t connecting. And, it’s taken a toll. A big one.

I have no drive. No passion. No fire.

It’s gone.

I also have other things in my life that I don’t publicize happening and I try so hard to balance, to get everything done, to set things aside, so, I can write, but, I simply can’t.

I have about sixteen books started. I have over thirty covers bought that need books to go with them. I have the ideas for the books in my book journal. Yet, I have no desire to write them.

So, it is with a very heavy heart and a lot of pain that I tell you, I’m not certain that I can do this anymore.

I have several commitments, anthologies and such, that I will honor. I will be writing those books. I will not back out of them.

But, as far as anything else, I’m not sure when, or if, I’ll find my passion again.

I will always write. It’s part of me, but, I will have to see about publishing.

Something may happen and a fire might be lit in my soul again and I’ll not only WANT to, but, I’ll HAVE to get out the words.

That’s not now though.

It may be a few months. It may be a year. It may be ten years, but, until I regain my passion, anything I put out would be shit anyway.

I respect myself and those of you who have read, reviewed, recommended, and loved my words too much to give you a book with no heart.

I may try to focus more on Sloane Nicole over Skye Turner and see if that sparks something.

It’s literally breaking my heart to type these words and I am freely crying as I chicken peck them out.

I sincerely want to thank all of you who have supported me and let me know that my books and words have touched you. I appreciate it so much and I am so grateful for the past few years. I cannot even express how much I love all of you for allowing me to live my DREAM.

I will not be unpublishing ANY of my books, so, there’s that. They will continue to be for sale everywhere they are now. And, there are a lot of them.

I hope and pray that there’s some light at the end of this tunnel for me and I can find the love, joy, and passion I once had for writing and provide you with more books.

Thank you for everything,

Much love and gratitude,

Skye Turner/ Sloane Nicole

Cover Re-Reveal for Sleeper and Awakened by Amy Brock McNew

Sleeper – Once the beast is awakened, she can’t be chained.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CQY7QL5 
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A throne with no ruler.

A beast stretching awake.

A goddess unleashed.

Makenna is a self-proclaimed freak with abilities she can’t control. She’s clawed her way through life, fighting to maintain her sanity. Her lonely existence has only fed the vicious animal within her, one she barely contains and doesn’t understand.

Rhys has prepared since birth to be alpha and king of an ancient race of wolves. Instead, he leads half a fractured clan against a depraved madman. But victory begins to slip through Rhys’s fingers. Only one thing can save them. A single requirement for him to claim the throne:

Bonding with his mate, the one warrior queen born to each generation, the incarnation of a primal warrior goddess who holds more power than any of them can imagine.

When Rhys finds Makenna, he believes the battle has shifted in his favor. He never imagined his heart would want her as much as his body. While Makenna is drawn to Rhys with terrifying intensity, his arrival triggers an acceleration in her abilities, the beast within her rising to the surface. 

Will discovering the truth give Makenna the peace she craves, or will it ignite a savage escalation in the war, drenching their lives in blood? 

Awakened –  A goddess enraged leaves only ashes in her wake.   https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GJXRBK7 
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Sometimes, being queen royally sucks.

Makenna has embraced her true self and taken her rightful place as Alpha at Rhys’s side. But learning how to live as mates in the midst of a raging war proves more difficult than anything she’s faced. That is, until the goddess stretches fully awake, taking control and burning everyone in her path.

But that fiery power may come in handy to battle Kylian’s diabolical plans. Using dark magic that shouldn’t be possible, he’s torn a hole in the fabric of reality and put their kingdom in more danger than ever.

As Makenna fights the rising power within, her entire world crashes down around her. Secrets are revealed and hearts broken when an unlikely ally presents them with an impossible choice to end the war. When the truth comes to light, it will challenge everything they believe. Leaving them to face an agony they could never have imagined.

The bonds of family and pack are tested to their limits. Nothing is what it seems, and loyalty is strained to the breaking point. Can Rhys and Makenna hold on to each other and solidify their bond while reclaiming their throne? Or will the truth be more devastating than lies, tearing them apart forever?   

Both are available in KINDLE UNLIMITED!

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Heat Stroke Cover & Blurb Reveal

How about an impromptu Cover Reveal today?!

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Cover and Blurb Reveal for Heat Stroke.

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RELEASE DATE: August 5, 2019

Beautiful cover by: Megan J Parker-Squiers/ Emcat Designs

Heat Stroke Blurb:

heat·stroke

/ˈhētˌstrōk/

noun

a condition marked by fever and often by unconsciousness, caused by failure of the body’s temperature-regulating mechanism when exposed to excessively high temperatures

For too many years Blaze Carrington riled me up. Just the sight of his smug, perfect face made my blood boil. And, he knew it.

He’d goad me… taunt me… push my buttons.

I knew that he knew and that only annoyed me further. As kids, and then teenagers, he’d torment me relentlessly.

The angrier I’d get, the smugger he’d become.

Everyone loved him, but not me.

I just wanted to punch him in the face girls fawned over.

Then, he left for college. My life calmed. I was able to breathe and live my life without the chaos known as Blaze.

I was happy…

Only now, he’s back. My blood is once again heating at the mere thought of Blaze Carrington.

But this time, I feel feverish and it’s not with anxiety or ire…

This time, it’s desire…

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**No Preorder

**Will be available on Amazon, B&N, iBooks, and KOBO.

Behind My Charade & Rookie Love Cover RE-Reveal

I’m revamping my covers here lately and I cannot wait to show you the NEW covers for two more of my books.

These are reader favorites and I know y’all will love their new looks.

Than you to Megan Parkers / EmCat Designs for the updated looks.

Without further adieu, here we go:

Behind My Charade, A Legacy Falls Romance

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Bayou Stix Box Set Available for a LIMITED time!

BAYOU STIX Box Set

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Grab your copy of the Internationally Bestselling Rocker Romance Series Bayou Stix!

Bayou Stix is the hottest band in history. Their onstage presence, chemistry with fans, and God-given talent have made this rock band, based out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a household name, but the real stories are the way into their hearts.

Meet the band/entourage:

Alluring Turmoil, Book 1- Jude Delecroix, Lead Singer, and Alexia Sloane.

Alluring Seduction, Book 2- Jessie Adams, Lead Guitarist, and Blue Delaney.

Alluring Ties, A Bayou Stix Novella. Book 2.5 Bayou Stix- Erik Jensen, Bradi St. James, and Micah Stevens.

Alluring Temptation, Book 3- Liam Christianson, Rhythm Guitarist, and Clove Rodrigue.

Alluring Infatuation, Book 4- Dade Rodrigue, Bass Guitarist, and Melonie Bird.

Alluring Surrender, Book 5- Cruz Edwards, Drummer, and Tifanie Jeffries- Bellaforte.

The band made them famous, but the love of those who captured their hearts is what makes them unforgettable.

The Internationally Bestselling Bayou Stix Series… Not your typical rockers…

I am THRILLED to share these beauties.

Tracie Douglas​ of Dark Water Covers​ completely nailed my vision.

Only $5.99 for all six books!

The Box Set will ONLY be live until June 30th!

Links to GRAB the Bayou Stix Box Set:

Amazon

B&N

Google Play

iBooks

KOBO

Grab your copy before it’s gone!

Review of Sands of Time by Heather D’Agostino

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Sands of Time Blurb:

Kaitlyn Hughes always wanted to run her own bakery. After attending culinary school in Paris, she began working under one of the best chefs in the business and fell in love. Life was perfect, or so she thought. When her parents ask her to come home for the holidays, she decides to take a much-deserved vacation with support and encouragement of her boss. Five years away does something to you. It messes with your memory and makes you believe that you don’t miss the things that you do. You don’t realize it until its too late. When Kaitlyn unexpectedly runs into Eli Baker, the one she left behind, all bets are off. Promises are forgotten. What ifs roar to life, and what seemed like a dream soon becomes a nightmare. Does absence really make the heart grow fonder? How much are you willing to give up for true love? This book contains profanity and graphic sexual encounters. It is intended for adult readers.

My Review:

I loved Sands of Time by Heather D’Agostino.

This is the perfect summer read.

Kaitlyn and Eli are both relatable characters and Heather writes in a way that involves the reader and makes us feel las if we’re friends with the characters and a part of the story.

This is a second chance (or third) romance. It’s a destined-to-be together love story, but, it’s not typical.

Kaitlin is a strong female who has dreams and fully intends to bring them to fruition, even at the sake of losing love.

Eli is guarded with good reason though he cannot deny his feelings.

The emotion was heartfelt. The romance was swoon worthy. And, the sex was well written.

If you’re looking for a lighthearted, quick summer read, grab Sands of Time. You won’t be disappointed.

It’s a page turner.

One of Heather’s best books!

Easily a 5 star read for me.

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Sands of Time is enrolled in Kindle Unlimited.

Purchase HERE AMAZON