Sunday Snippet: Storm Down the Drain

Had a fun time at my high school reunion on Saturday … even though it was very hot and super humid. Got to see people I haven't seen in absolute ages. So nice to catch up with everyone.

Weather has been a little wild. Big temperature swings again. We've also had some rumbling thunderstorms with interesting lightning. We're supposed to have a very rainy week with more storms rolling through so that should be fun.

Had a busy work week with a few projects coming in for final touches and should be getting close to the finish line. Made more progress on the developmental edit I've been working on and might be close to finishing that one up also. Finished up a proofread and started a new copy edit. Not a bad week.

Made it through my usual slate of shows so had a good viewing week also. I even got to finish up one of my backburner shows. I'll be starting a new series this week and I'm looking forward to picking one out. I also did another Death in Paradise binge on Sunday.

Caught an episode of Marple and rather enjoyed the twists and turns. It was kind of fun to have the show set during the holiday season but not be overtly holidayish.

Finished up Ireland Coast and Country. Enjoyed the dip into some of the country's locations and remarkable scenery.

Started season four of Beyond Paradise. Fun episode setting up a big quandary for Humphrey. I'm kind of excited to see what hijinks Humph and Martha get into with renovating their new house. Very happy to be revisiting Shipton Abbot.

Caught another episode of Poirot and actually enjoyed seeing him in a very different setting. The mystery had some interesting twists and I liked that.

Elementary ended on a concerning note and I'm glad I can drop right into the next season without a long wait. Happy to have the Shinwell murder resolved, and I'm truly thrilled that Moriarty isn't the mystery woman, even though her identity makes me sad.

Watched another episode of Young Justice and enjoyed watching the team come together even when they were on the outs.

Finished up season four of Star Trek Lower Decks and, seriously, I'm going to miss this show so much. I loved everything about this finale … except one thing. Losing a team member sucked but at least there's a chance she'll return.

Also finished up an episode of Peak Practice. It ended up being a pretty good one but had a lot going on. So happy Tom finally owned his feelings!

That's the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Storm Down the Drain, a novella with a bit of suspense with the romance.

Here's the miniblurb:

On a dark and stormy night, Brooks Algonquin knocks on Velvet Strong's door and asks her to help him find the Burmesian Raven, an antiquity with magical qualities. Velvet takes his case, but quickly learns Brooks has ulterior motives for acquiring the artifact stolen from his family.

And a preview snippet…

Velvet's appearance bowled Brooks over when she entered the bistro.

Brooks bit back a groan of raw need. "She's absolutely perfect." And she dressed to draw attention.

Just shy of tartish without going over the top, her makeup showed a woman who didn't mind getting noticed. Nothing demure or sweet, but oh so elegant. She made a statement in the lilac dress that stopped just shy of her knees and the purple heels that made her hips sway when she walked. She'd piled half of her blonde tresses on top of her head, and his fingers itched to remove the pins and plunge through the silky strands. And the white stole and silver clutch added a bit of airy shine to the whole package. Yeah … she created a bombshell vision.

Velvet sauntered to the bar and ordered a drink. The bartender took his time backing up to get the ingredients. He placed the small tumbler on a napkin in front of Velvet.

Brooks placed a large bill on the counter. "The lady's drinks are on me." He enjoyed this role-playing thing.

Velvet gave him a sultry smile. "Why should I let you pick up my tab?" She added just a touch of huskiness to her tone.

Brooks held her gaze. "Because you're a beautiful slice of heaven I needed to see after a hellish day." He turned to face her at the bar.

Her mouth twisted in a coquettish curve, and she ducked her head a little. "In that case, happy to be of service." Her lips wrapped around the short straw and drew the amber liquid up through the opening. "And thank you."

Brooks reached forward, tracing a random pattern on the back of her hands. "Would you have dinner with me?" He nodded toward a smoky corner of the bistro.

Her eyes widened a little. He'd gone off script with the invitation to dine with him. But the moment called for something secluded where they could converse.

Velvet leaned in close, placing her palm on his thigh. "I think I'd like that very much." She slid off the barstool and snagged her drink.

Brooks led the way to a table for two tucked in a corner surrounded by leafy potted plants. He held her chair out until she got settled then found his own seat across from her. They didn't have a moment to converse before a server arrived.

Brooks ordered an intimate meal, which they made banal small talk over. By the time they finished, the trio of musicians had arrived and started their first set. Brooks asked if she'd like to dance.

Velvet gave a nod and he stood, holding his hand out. She clasped his fingers and smoothly followed him to the center of the small squared-off area close to the dais. She played her part as a woman on the brink of falling for him so well.

The night took on a magical quality. Brooks couldn't remember the last time he'd enjoyed himself as much. They might be creating a fiction where Velvet would become his mistress, but Brooks almost wished it were a fact. He could easily envision swaying with her on a nightly basis.

Her body molded to his as they traversed the floor to the beat of the music. Her alluring curves sent his imagination into overdrive. He could picture her naked, writhing underneath him while he drove into over and over. His cock throbbed and she noticed, giving her hips a twist against his groin.

Brooks put his mouth close to her ear. "Before things get out of hand, we should probably make our exit…" His hand moved lower on her back. "You're playing with fire, Ms. Strong."

He got a kick of gratification when she shuddered in his arms before they left the bistro.

I love writing with a flair of noir and this one is a lot of fun. Brooks and Velvet will definitely heat things up.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Still of the Night

August is starting out with a weird vibe. The temperatures have been very mild and I'm wondering how much we'll pay for that in the fall months or the winter. Thrilled for the kiddos going back to school in a week or so because they might not roast during the first few weeks like they normally do.

I'm still trying to get some things that I've been putting off in the checked boxes. I did manage to fix the leak in my bathtub, which was way overdue. Should help with my water bill. I got the part needed to fix the washing machine and that's a project for this week. I hope.

Work projects are going somewhat smoothly. I did have the book that won't go away come back one more time. The developmental edit I've got on the back burner is heating up again. I'm also working on a coaching project that's part pull the manuscript together and part help the author get it ready for a copy edit. Had a solid week with copy edits and proofreads also.

Had another good week for viewing. Nothing extra but made it through my usual slate of shows. Also did another Death in Paradise binge of older seasons.

Started with another episode of Marple. I kind of like the actress playing Jane. She's kind of snappy and a little punchy (not physically) with her dialog and I love it.

Also watched another episode of Ireland Coast and Country. I'm really enjoying this series. I now want to make vermouth. Just saying.

Caught an episode of Death in Paradise and finished up season fifteen. I ended up kind of liking the niece. Looking forward to the holiday episode if there is one this year. And also kind of excited about the next season. I really love this show.

Enjoyed an episode of Poirot. The mystery ended up being kind of twisty and I loved seeing Poirot's author friend again. She's a hoot.

Elementary ended up being really good. The whole thing with the woman who leads meetings and Sherlock kind of came from left field, but I'll hold out to see what happens with that. I'll be disappointed if she ends up being Moriarty. The whole take down of the gang is really interesting. Can't wait to see what happens there.

Watched another episode of Young Justice and pieces are falling in place. Nearing the end of the first season and I'm interested in seeing what happens to the team.

Also caught another episode of Star Trek Lower Decks and love how the season-arc mystery is coming together. Also enjoyed the Cerritos team pulling off a ruse to get what they needed. And the name drops from other shows always make me happy.

That wraps up the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Still of the Night, an Academy of Light novella.

Here's the miniblurb:

Salem Rhys has the perfect recipe for brewing dark lager, a potent alcohol that will go over huge at the mage academy … but doesn’t have the know-how or equipment to create the concoction. Jared Meyer, a tech genius, can definitely help her out. Salem falls hard for her business partner but considers him out of her league until Jared proposes more than a money-making venture.

And a preview snippet…

With smoke starting to creep out along the window frames, Jared dashed into the warehouse to find his grandpa frantically trying to extinguish four fireballs to no avail. The spells he used increased the flames with each incantation. Jared didn't need a hard guess to know his granddad fucked up on an epic level.

He skidded to a stop not far from the old man. "Grandfather, what did you do?" He crossed his arms over his chest.

Jarvis threw him a look. "Don't just stand there, boy, help me. That stupid girl hexed her orbs, but combined, we should be able to overcome the magick and douse the flames." He went back to muttering spells.

Jared snorted. "Looks to me like that very brilliant woman bested you." He stood his ground even though the heat from fire grew with each breath. "What. Did. You. Do?" Something horrible no doubt.

His grandfather paused. "Thought you were up to your old tricks and came to see for myself what you'd gotten into with my money." His gaze lowered to take in the floor.

Jared huffed out a breath. "And you took one look at Salem and decided she was just another gold-digger slut after the family riches." Anger filled him at the thought.

Jarvis's face flushed a darker shade of red. "Actually, I assumed she was another piece of ass and said as much." He raised his gaze to meet his grandson's

Pissed off, Jared shook his head. "Then this place can burn to the ground." He started for the exit.

His grandfather exploded. "What?" He chased after Jared. "No. No, you don't want that. She set me straight. Called me on my bullshit, she did. And she defended you." He grasped Jared's bicep. "Now, help me, Jared." A frantic note entered his voice.

Jared gave it two heartbeats before he tossed out a word. "Hierarchy." He had to give Salem kudos for thinking that one up on the spot.

The orbs extinguished their flames, four piles of ash falling to the floor. Pride filled Jared along with another emotion he didn't recognize until this very moment.

Love.

He loved Salem with everything in him.

Jared walked over to the wall and propped open a window. "You know what? You're a pitiful old geezer… and … you were right to cut me off." He faced Jarvis. "But here's the deal. I'm serious about this venture." And serious about Salem, but dear old granddad didn't need to know that part. "You're going to back off, pay up, and repair the damage … and stay the hell away from Salem." Hell, Jared might not be welcome anywhere near her after his grandfather's stupid stunt.

Jarvis gave a nod. "Fine. I'll cover the damages and leave you two alone."

Jared lifted his chin. "That's a good start." He poked a finger in his grandfather's chest. "And you better hope I can smooth things over with Salem … or flaming fireballs won't be the worst thing you experience from her, old man." His threat delivered, Jared left the building and went to find his business partner … and hopefully a little more.

I'm so happy with this story and how it's coming together. Jared and Salem are a fun couple.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Stay the Course (Warlock's Curse book one)

Another week in the books and it ended up not being terrible. Had several errands that needed to be handled and got through those without issue for the most part. I always appreciate being able to check things off the list.

We had very mild weather for July. Our high was in the low seventies a couple of days and that's unusual. But it makes doing my great clear out easier and more comfortable.

Work is staying steady and I'm getting through several projects, which makes me happy. I have one that keeps popping back and that can be frustrating. The good news is the reason it keeps coming back isn't due to anything I've done. It's all author related requests.

Had a fairly decent viewing week. I made it through my usual list of shows and had another Death in Paradise binge watch of previous seasons.

Started the week with the new to me series Marple. I've seen a previous version of Miss Marple and it's kind of fun to see how the episodes change with new incarnations.

Also started the docuseries Ireland Coast and Country. I'm on an emerald isle kick at the moment because I truly enjoyed the series about Ireland's castles. The first episode makes me want to visit the country at some point.

Watched another episode of the current season of Death in Paradise. I'm enjoying the dynamic between Mervin and Naomi. Also really happy the fallout of Mervin's kidnapping is being explored. Really not sure what to make of the niece showing up. We'll see if that ends up being a good thing.

Caught another episode of Poirot and finished off season ten. Have to admit this one had more than one mystery twisting through it and I enjoyed that. Looking forward to seeing what season eleven has in store.

Elementary entertained again. The case ended up being very twisty. And the appearance of Shinwell made me kind of happy … even though it might not have ended well.

Enjoyed an episode of Young Justice. I'm kind of interested in where things are going to go with the whole the Light thing. Exciting developments between Connor and Magan though.

Also watched another episode of Star Trek Lower Decks. Very cool to see the original four on an away mission. Also loved how they addressed the different dynamic since they've all been bumped up in rank.

That's it for the life update. Tonight's post is from Stay the Course, the first book in the Warlock's Curse series.

Here's the miniblurb:

Nadia Iris is at a crossroads and has to choose whether to find her path to fulfillment as an adept or stay stagnant in her current position. She decides to go on a journey quest but has to leave Falk Ridenour behind. Falk isn't happy, but supports her choice, even knowing the hardship she'll face.

And a preview snippet…

Falk barely got a breath in before literally being transported back to the moment of Nadia's conception.

He fought the pull. "Something's off. It's not right." His usual brief glimpse spun out, and he couldn't seem to look away. "I'm trapped."

But lingering made one thing clear. "Warlock magick. And it's strong." So intense, Falk felt like a voyeur.

Nadia's mother and the man in the picture were in coitus. The intimate dance has an unearthly cast over it. A powerfully strong energy emanated from the bed.

The man pumped his hips. "I own you, Miranda. You're mine. Mine, forever." Every thrust became a mantra.

Is he spell-weaving? During sex? Bile rose in Falk's throat at the vile action. The magick made his skin crawl and made him feel almost physically ill.

And … he couldn't get away. Panic coursed through his veins because he couldn't escape the vision—something he'd never experienced before. Instead of a quick peek, the door hung wide open, but Falk couldn't exit the way he came in. His vision swam and dizzying waves crashed over his mind.

"Falk! What's happening. What's going on? Falk? Falk!"

He finally heard Nadia shouting his name and sought her magick pull. A tiny tendril curled in a corner of his brain. He reached for the shimmering thread and crashed back to the present, his mind spinning and his gut roiling.

Disoriented, he slapped a hand over his mouth and dashed for the bathroom to expel his stomach contents. His head hung low, the woozy sensation receding but not gone. A cool washcloth appeared at his side. He took the fabric and wiped his face then got up and rinsed his mouth in the sink.

When the room finally stopped spinning, he glanced in the mirror, Nadia's concerned gaze reflected behind him. Pieces fell into place and his heart kicked hard against his ribs. Nadia's very existence shouldn't be possible. But while the freakish vision answered some questions, it also spawned a great many more.

Gripping the sides of the sink, he dragged in a deep breath then turned to face her. "I know why you can't control your magick." And he hated what he had to tell her.

I'm very excited about this series. Nadia won't be happy with the news Falk has to deliver but big things will happen after he breaks the information.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheer!

Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Standing Out

Whew. What a week. Ohio got a lot of the smoke from the Canadian wildfires, and it was kind of eerie seeing the hazy gray skies for most of the week. Good time to stay inside due to the high danger air quality alerts.

The weather at least stayed just under sweltering. My garage cleanout went much smoother since the temperatures weren't as high as they have been. Going out very late at night and only staying there for under an hour also helped.

Work projects moved along. I finished up a few odds and ends and started a new copy edit. I also touched base on a few back burner projects. I got to review some back cover copy and book blurbs, which is always a fun change of pace.

Had an okay viewing week. Didn't quite make it through all of my usual shows but made a decent stab at them. Between the cleanup and a lengthy run with my own writing, my watching took a back seat.

Started with another bonus episode of Foyle's War behind the scenes. An interview about the details of the final episode with the writer and the show historian. Very much enjoyed it.

Also finished up Tales of Irish Castles. Really liked this series and its deep dive into the seriously large number of castles in Ireland.

Caught an episode of Silent Witness and made it about halfway through. I'm going to take a break, I think. This season is kind of dark, which I enjoy most of the time but, in all honesty, I kind of need something lighter right now.

Watched another episode of Poirot and really enjoyed it. It's always fun when familiar people pop up in these movies. And this one was very twisty, which I enjoy.

Elementary ended up being really good. I really like getting backstory and even though Marcus's is full of strife and pain, it tied into the current happenings really well. Also loved Sherlock being there for Marcus at the end.

That's all for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Standing Out, a follow up novella to Blending In.

Here's the miniblurb:

Wren Bingman and Ethan Scott stop a planned attack on their fae city and take down some key members of the group responsible. But when Ethan is kidnapped the following week, Wren suspects retaliation and vows to bring him back. To do so, she'll have to dig deep into the hierarchy of the ruling council, because she's convinced there's a mole in the organization.

And preview snippet…

Wren got up and went to the window to watch Ethan leave, feeling pretty happy about being with him. When he went to cross the road, a dark van drove up, and three masked guys jumped out and dragged him inside.

Wren stared in open-mouthed disbelief. "Fuck. What the hell just happened?" Stupid question.

She knew exactly what happened. Someone kidnapped Ethan.

Her heart jumped. "Someone kidnapped Ethan."

Fuck.

Wren's brain spun with rapid-fire questions. Do I call this in? Why Ethan? What the hell is going on? But the biggest, scariest, deepest, darkest question flared like a beacon in her mind.

"Who the hell can I trust?"

Right now? Not one single person. And as much as she hated the idea of doing nothing … she couldn't risk his life … and maybe hers … by raising the alarm.

Unless she planned carefully before she did.

She paced back and forth. "Something smells rank." Did anyone know Ethan would be with her?

If so … how?

She decided to play the situation like her day should have started … as if she hadn't spent the night with Ethan. Her phone alarm chirped, and she turned to grab it from the nightstand beside the bed. Heading for the bathroom, she grabbed a quick shower and dressed for a normal day. Even if her skin itched with inactivity. She waited another fifteen minutes before she sent a text to Ethan's superior officer, Zeb Marconi. "What's up with Ethan? He was supposed to pick me up this morning." Her knee bounced up and down with impatience.

Her device vibrated with an incoming call.

She swiped to answer with raised eyebrows. "Hey, Zeb. What's going on?" She tried to make sure she sounded curious instead of catty.

Marconi gave a surprised response. "Ethan's not with you?" Something in his voice sounded off.

Wren frowned, a small gleam of unease. "I wouldn't have sent the text if he was." She added a layer of truth. "He was supposed to bring coffee with him." She stalked toward the window and glanced outside.

Zeb huffed out a breath. "Huh. That's strange. I sent him out really early this morning to a drop site and he should've been back by now." His chair creaked loud enough for her to hear it. "Let me make some calls."

Wren's gaze narrowed. "Yeah, fine. I'll head out alone then." She waited to see what he'd say.

Marconi sputtered. "Wait 'til I get back with you. I don't want Ethan to have to go looking for you when I track him down." The sound of papers rustling followed his statement.

Wren feigned agreement. "Right. Okay. I'll stand by for now." She ended the call without signing off.

Yeah, no way would she stick around at this location. "Something's hinky." She stashed her phone under the pillow then grabbed the burner and exited the room.

She'd stop by the studio apartment, grab some extra weapons—and coffee—then head back to the room above the diner.

She would also hold off on updating Sutcliffe until she had more information. If Ethan didn't turn up or if Marconi sent up a flag for a missing undercover operative, her captain might pull the surveillance on the SoO. And she'd lay odds they were the ones who took Ethan.

She headed out into the chilly morning. "And I will get him back … no matter what."

Kind of happy with where this story is going. Wren and Ethan have to dive deep to figure out who they can trust.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: A Spellbound Yule (a Holiday Spirit short)

Another long week and part of it has been spent wondering exactly how many US senators are still with us. One passed last night and another appears to be not recovering. I've been alive long enough to acknowledge how bananapants it is that we don't know for sure. I mean, when an elected official can take four months off and still get paid by taxpayers, not explain what's going on, or be seen in public, there's something wrong. The FMLA allows for twelve weeks without a threat to employment. Sixteen weeks is not cool. Just saying.

Weather cooled down enough to not be miserable. I have to make space in my garage for some things my daughter needs to have stored, and it's been cool enough at night that I can make headway. We were supposed to have rain most of the week and didn't get as much as predicted.

Work continued to be steady. I'm moving along on two ongoing projects, and I finished up a proofread and started a new copy edit. Also touched a back burner project and hope to dive in a little more this week. Writing is also going well right now and I'm happy about that.

Had a fairly decent viewing week. I made it through my usual list of shows and also did a binge marathon of Death in Paradise on Ovation.

Started out with a bonus episode of Foyle's War with the writer and creator along with the show's historian. Very interesting conversation.

Caught another episode of Tales of Irish Castles and moved into a more modern age. I think I have one episode left and have to say I've enjoyed this series.

Watched a new episode of Death in Paradise. Gotta say, I thoroughly enjoyed watching Mervin interact with his brother and loved how everyone, including Catherine, came together to find Mervin. Seeing the punk-ass faux commissioner again kind of put the icing on the cake, even if he's still a punk-ass policeman now.

Enjoyed another episode of Poirot. The later movies are fun to watch but I do miss Hastings and Miss Lemon. And, of course, Japp. But it's also entertaining to dive into mysteries that have an intriguing premise.

Elementary had a great episode. Loved seeing Marcus put everything together with his girlfriend's ex. Really hated the ending though. I have a feeling all will not be as it seems.

Watched an episode of Young Justice and kind of liked seeing Connor and Megan in their regular joe roles. Also rather enjoyed Red Arrow asking Aqua Lad for help. And it looks like the overall mystery is starting to fall into place, with the behind the scenes machinations being revealed.

Also caught another episode of Star Trek Lower Decks. Really loved seeing a different vibe with Rutherford and Mariner teaming up and Boimler and Tendi being together.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Spellbound Yule, a holiday spirit sexy short featuring a witch and a warlock.

Here's the miniblurb:

Holiday spirit, Bertram Goldwreath, has to bring Oakley Oliver, a witch and Calder Conrad, a warlock together over the Yule holiday so they can settle a territorial dispute. Oakley is looking forward to a quiet getaway at a bed and breakfast … until Calder invades her interlude and sparks fly.

And a preview snippet…

Calder woke up alone, but Oakley's side of the bed showed the signs of their night.

He sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the mattress. "Wonder if I can talk her into more?" Heading for the bath, he cast a spell for his toothbrush and quickly cleaned his teeth then put a pair of loose pajama bottoms on.

Calder went down the stairs to find Oakley in the kitchen, wearing a long T-shirt, pensive and withdrawn. The sight kicked him hard. He didn't want her to be under strain any more than he wanted to be there either. After meeting her and being with her, the whole land dispute paled to what he wanted from the future now.

He put his arms around her. "I must've failed on epic levels if you're not happy and sated this morning." He hadn't been this relaxed in a very long time.

She turned and met his gaze. "Trust me when I say you didn't fail. My mood has nothing to do with your skill in bed." Her lips curved slightly and she gave a little shiver.

He dropped a kiss on her nose. "The land dispute?" What else could she be thinking about.

She nodded.

He led her into the sitting room. "Come on, let's talk about it." He settled on the couch and pulled her down onto his lap.

She raked a hand through her hair and explained. "We've cultivated the acreage and have a good supply of herbs and other plants we use for our craft and income generation. Many of the coven members rely on what we grow."

He nodded. "I see the dilemma." He ran a hand over her thigh. "Now, here's ours. We have a distillery and it's finally in the black. But … we've run out of storage to keep the casks. We need to build a new warehouse, but if we want to keep making a profit, we have to put up a temporary facility to house the product until our new structure can be built." He shrugged. "The land would be the obvious solution." One the warden needed if they hoped to stay debt free.

Oakley reacted with a groan. "This is crazy. We're both going to lose big parts of our livelihoods because of this stupid clause." She got up and paced back and forth. "There has to be a way to come up with a solution." She turned and faced him.

Calder expressed his doubts. "It's been fifty years. Don't you think it's been attempted?"

Oakley snorted. "No. Because the previous coven leaders, including my grandmother, let the bitterness fester and weren't open to the possibility of renegotiation." She made a disgusted sound.

Calder couldn't let her take all the blame. "The warden wasn't either and I didn't do anything to help. Especially after making so many attempts to contact you." And, yeah, nastygrams kind of hit the nail on the head.

Oakley met his gaze. "And now?" She moved to sit on the edge of the ottoman, her hands lightly resting on his knees.

Calder settled back against the cushions. "Now, I'm open to the idea of finding a mutual solution." He wanted to do whatever he could to make life good for the coven and the warden.

I love writing the holiday spirit shorts and pulling a couple together after they overcome an obstacle.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: The Souvenir (an Academy of Light novella)

Well, July is off to a banging start. Heat wave, the holiday weekend, and a lot of things converging at once. I've been a little off also. Not sure if it's menopause hormones or just general fatigue, but it's been a long week.

We should get a bit of relief from the extreme temperatures when some rain moves through over the next few days. I'll welcome the lower heat indexes.

Work is staying busy. I had a couple of great calls with potential author clients, and I'm excited to see where those go. I have project that shifted to the back burner that needs attention this week, hopefully tomorrow. I also had a project that might be coming back … again. It's the one that won't die, but thankfully, the revisions are all author requests and nothing concerning the edits. Whew. Moved a few smaller things in and out, which is always fun to break up the week. Almost finished with a manuscript proofread of a thriller that has a lot of twists and turns. I need to finish a written assessment on a read through of the opening book to a five-book series sometime this week also.

Had an okay viewing week. Didn't quite make it all the way through my usual shows but didn't do terrible either. I think the heat makes it hard to focus on more than one thing so the entertainment took a back seat to my work projects.

Started the week with another behind-the-scenes bonus episode of Foyle's War. This one focused on the historical recreations for the final episode and I thoroughly enjoyed the interviews.

Caught another episode of Tales of Irish Castles. We're into the seventeenth century, which apparently saw a lot of upheaval.

Finished up the second half of Silent Witness. Again, very interesting how closely related to reality this season has been. I also think I'm liking how there seems to be an overarching thread that's following through all the episodes. That's not really standard or hasn't been for this series.

Watched another episode of Poirot and enjoyed the twists and turns. I love it when Poirot questions what he sees with his own eyes to solve the mystery.

Elementary had a great episode. Seeing the fallout from Shinwell's actions is interesting and I kind of hope there's some redemption there. The case itself ended up being really twisty and wildly bizarre as well.

That's all I had time for this week and that's it for the life update. Tonight's post is from The Souvenir, a fun novella about mages who are finding their way to each other.

Here's the miniblurb:

Melick Traynor and Ramona Peartry, childhood friends and top students in the Academy of Light, compete for prominence in their respective classes. But when Melick throws out a challenge, Ramona takes an insane risk to prove him wrong and winds up tangling with the dragon plaguing campus grounds.

And a preview snippet…

Melick raked a hand through his hair. "I can't be her precept anymore." Okay … he could be, if she didn't feel the same way he felt about her.

But … her parting shot before they took her to the healing chamber made him wonder. What if she felt the same way about him? That could get tricky. And Melick didn't want to damage her progression through the levels of illumination. If word got out that the heir apparent and the mage's ward were involved, others would scream favoritism. Not that they didn't already but hooking up with Ramona while being her guide would cause major problems.

The whole situation tonight showed Melick something profound. He had to get a grip on how he felt, make sure Ramona had the same inclination toward him, and find a way to make sure nothing blew up in their faces.

The timing would have to be pitch perfect. "And I'll have it even worse being that my grandfather is the Mage Superior." Master Sawitch would have a field day and try every play in the book to remove Melick from the higher adept position if Sawitch even caught a whiff of Melick's plans.

Melick stared down the corridor where they'd taken Ramona. Thinking she'd been gone for good had definitely affected him greatly. But how did the experience affect her?

He only had one option. "I'm done wondering what if." He grinned to himself.

Having a solid idea of how to possibly test the waters, he made a quick stop or two to gather a few things he'd need. For once, he took a page out of Ramona's playbook and didn't think too far in advance. He'd worry about the fallout later.

With purposeful strides, Melick walked toward the infirmary, rewinding his last conversation with Ramona in his head. She'd be very surprised when she saw what he had planned for her. And he'd know for sure what step he had to take next…

This is such a fun story to write. Melick and Ramona are kind of destined but they have to get out of their own way first.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Slip of the Tongue

The end of June came a lot quicker than I expected. This month flew by, and I'm not sure I got as much accomplished as I hoped to.

The weather is still fairly mild for June but the heat index for the upcoming week makes me want to weep. It's going to be so, so hot.

Continued to have a busy work week. Several new potential projects are waiting in the wings and I'm excited about them. One is a fiction project with a really intriguing concept. Two others are memoir life-story projects. I've been working on quite a few of those and they're a nice change of pace. I continued working on the developmental edit, pulling a few more files into the master document. Also finished up a copy edit and started a new one.

Had a less than stellar viewing week. I felt a little bit off all week and couldn't focus on viewing new stuff. I did several binge marathons of early seasons of Death in Paradise for background noise. I also got a considerable amount of writing done because the sages were banging on the door in my brain.

I did watch another behind the scenes bonus episode of Foyle's War. This one showed a day in the life of an episode. Some great interviews with the cast and crew.

Also caught another episode of Tales from Irish Castles. This one explored tower houses and it seems like there are a bunch of them dotting the landscape. Really love getting an inside look at some of these castles.

Started an episode of Silent Witness and made it about halfway through. The subject matter is really tough to view and, honestly, hits a little hard. I don't know who is writing the show at the moment but, man, they're dead-on with the stuff that makes people flinch.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Slip of the Tongue, a novella where the main characters have to work through a betrayal to find their way to romance.

Here's the miniblurb:

Sylvie Brown and Holden Baker are word alchemists, creating the strongest, most intricate spells in their realm. One slip of the tongue can bring catastrophic destruction … or it can garner surprising results. Sylvie learns two little words can hold a wealth of meaning.

And a preview snippet…

Holden grabbed Sylvie, hauling her up. "I didn't do this." He had no idea who the hell did.

The premier nodded. "No, dear boy, I did." He glanced over his shoulder. "A simple summoning spell worked nicely." His lips twitched a little.

Boone glared. "Depends on who you ask. I don't take kindly to being yanked out of my district."

Sylvie stiffened. "But why? Why bring him here when we've worked so hard to keep him out." Her voice went hoarse on the word.

The premier squared his shoulders. "To settle this once and for all. If he wants a war, he'll be sorely disappointed. If I can pull him to me at my will, he can't hope to keep his power … not when word gets out."

Boone snarled. "I won't stop, old man. You caught me off guard once, it won't happen again." An angry glare accompanied the threat.

The premiere tsked. "I figured as much. And you're wrong…" He snapped his fingers and Boone changed into a large, gleaming crystal. "I caught you a second time, too." He reached down and picked up the purple facet.

Holden blinked then laughed. "I'll be damned. We should've thought of that." A rather genius solution to the Boone problem.

The premier glanced in Holden's direction. "Sometimes, the old ways are the best."

Holden flushed under the scrutiny. "About that, I can explain." Or he'd at least try.

The premier waved off the idea. "No need. But you do owe us recompense. I think finishing the job you began will do to start. Mr. Thargren won't be the last to try force, but we will be opening a dialog to find a peaceful solution." He turned his attention to Sylvie. "I'll be relying on you for assistance, my girl."

Her head bowed. "Yes, sir."

Holden stepped up. "If I can be of help, please count on me." He'd do whatever he could to move things toward a good outcome.

The premier held Holden's gaze for several long moments. "Won't be up to me." He glanced toward Sylvie then back to Holden. "Prove your worth, son." He stepped back inside his chambers and closed the door.

Holden's respect for the man grew by more than one notch. No wonder his grandpa liked Angus so much.

He turned and faced Sylvie. "I'll be ready, bright and early, to start on the reinforcements."

She nodded and started to walk away, her movements stiff and weary.

She got to the end of the corridor before she paused, looking back over her shoulder. "Thank you. For tonight." She didn't wait for a response, continuing away from him.

Holden watched her with a heavy heart. "I have a lot of ground to make up. And it's not gonna be easy."

I love how this story is coming together. Holden has his work cut out and he'll rise to the challenge.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye