Sunday Snippet: Hot As Hades

August is being very mercurial. Instead of sweltering hot temps, which we did have last week, we've got—I'm not kidding—almost fall-like weather. I had to put a jacket on last night to take the dogs out. Granted, it was still sixty degrees, but we had a strong breeze blowing and it was chilly. Please note, I'm not complaining. But … does this mean Ohio will have blazing hot temperatures in October? Probably.

Super-busy work week again. Finished up the mystery manuscript copy edit. Started a proofread of a memoir on a prominent thoroughbred racing family. I still have two other memoirs in the wings, one of which should start this week. I also have a romance to copy edit. I love being busy!

But … that means I didn't have a lot of time for viewing television. I did, however, find out one of my favorite actors has a new movie coming out in September and might have watched the trailer two or three (okay, more like twelve) times. I'm excited because this movie will totally be my shit and I now have something to look forward to in a month or so.

I finished up the My Life Is Murder episode I started last week. Again, a fun episode where Madison got to shine. I love this cast so much.

I also started the new series of Signora Volpe. This is another series I thoroughly enjoy. Emilia Fox is iconic for her role in Silent Witness and it's so lovely to see her doing something new and fresh and very unlike Nikki.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Hot As Hades, a novella that features the god of the underworld in a role he's not comfortable with at first.

Here's the miniblurb:

Roxie St. Clair, an up-and-coming artist, wants to live and work on her own terms. But when the god of the underworld informs her of the underhanded tactics of her former employer, she decides to turn the tables and fight back with a little help from Aleks Callas.

And a preview snippet…

Hades raked a hand through his hair. His feet carried him from one end of his private chamber to the other. Hera help anyone who attempted to speak to him right now. He didn't like strife between his mate and himself.

Persephone would stay away if he didn't try to make amends. She only had a few days left before she'd head back to the land of the living. And she always took a piece of him, the best part, with her.

Hades scowled. Didn't she realize he always became an ass when the time approached for her to leave him?

After several lifetimes together, she should anticipate his moody sullenness.

Striding through the underworld, no one disturbed him. As master, he would let it be known if he wanted something. But he'd be damned if he'd ask anyone where his mate had gone.

He finally found her in a little sanctuary she'd created in a far corner of his realm. It reeked of mortality, and he didn't like it. In fact, he almost summoned her to him so he could avoid entering her domain.

Instead, he strode boldly inside and bellowed for her. "Seph! Come, I wish to speak with you."

Persephone poked her head around a canvas, propped up on an easel. "Go ahead and talk. I'm busy." She dipped a brush in some blood red paint and made heavy, slashing strokes across the picture.

Hades wandered over but didn't deign to look at her work. "Shall I assume you're painting me in a puddle of blood?"

She snorted. "You may assume whatever you want." A few more hefty strokes and Seph tossed the brush aside. "You always do." With that she rose and walked away with exaggerated dignity.

Hades sighed. "Seph, you will return at once so we can settle this." He dropped down on her impossibly small settee and waited.

Even in a huff, she couldn't deny him for long.

This story is so much fun. I love having gods interacting with mortals.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Smokin' Hot—First Encounter: Cupid's Curse

Welcome to the Hot for Friday blog hop!

Readers: Enjoy posts from authors with fun weekly tasks or a cool question.

Authors: Get in on the fun and join here.

For this week's entry, we were asked to post our hero and heroine's first encounter?

FUN!!!

I love writing that first meeting, or sometimes, the first time characters see each other after a long time or maybe even a break-up, because they just can't stay apart. Or sometimes, it's when they've been interested and are just now acting on their attraction. And occasionally, the encounter is hostile because of a different kind of break-up.

I'd love to share Bree Daniels and Archer Stewart's first encounter after a nasty split. It's been almost two years and Arch carries something of a grudge, especially since he's been cursed by the god of love, Eros. Cupid's Curse is coming in January from Ellipses press and is part of the Meddlesome Gods brand.

Book Tagline: Cursed by the god of love, Archer Stewart, a Cupid of the First Order, knows exactly who to blame—his fellow cupid, Bree Daniels.

So… without further ado…

The push-pull-whoosh feeling weighed on Bree and she shoved everything else aside and readied herself to pop in on Arch.

She blipped, shimmered, and landed with a flourish—something she'd perfected by lots of practice—to find Arch comfortably sprawled on the overstuffed couch, chatting it up with Merry Deerfield.

Stupid cow.

And Arch didn't seem the least bit uncomfortable having Miss Merry practically sitting in his lap.

Stupid man.

But worse, neither one paid her any attention.

Not part of the plan. But she could adjust.

Tilting her head sideways, she cleared her throat. "I'm so sorry… I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

Arch flicked a glance toward the hour glass by the viewing pool. "Would it matter if you were?" His tone clearly indicated it wouldn't have bothered him.

Bree didn't like to be on the defensive as soon as she arrived. It made her off kilter. Her bravado saved her.

She tossed her head and sent a bored look in Arch's direction. "Not to me, but I imagine it would to you." Her gazed shifted to Merry. "And your friend, of course." Bree waited a beat. "No one likes to be caught with their pants down."

Arch snorted. "Except you."

Okay, totally not fair. And it only happened one time, dammit.

Bree hid her embarrassment behind an audacious front. "Well, yes…" She flicked her gaze toward Merry again. "But I'm not standard fare around here."

To Merry's credit, she only rolled her eyes in response to the insult.

Arch didn't hold back. "Bree, you're not standard fare anywhere." He got up and gave Merry a hand. "You're more like an overused trend… not worth the price."

Bree flinched. That one hurt. But she couldn't blame him for lashing out.

Arch's voice went flat. "You're also late."

Bree recovered quickly. "For which I'll happily apologize." She remembered her conversation with Aphrodite and grinned. "It really couldn't be helped."

Arch shook his head. "Let me guess… you were tied to a bedpost and lost track of time?"

~*~

(Cover Art Not Final)

Coming in January!!

~*~

Series Blurb: Welcome to a world where gods and goddesses of various pantheons mix and mingle with mere earthly mortals—often with unexpected results. Deities can't seem to help themselves and have to meddle with their human counterparts. Sometimes the godly being offers much needed assistance, but occasionally they lash out and cause harm.

Book Blurb: Archer Stewart, a Cupid of the First Order, suffers the wrath of Eros when he nips the wrong woman with an arrow. Cursed by the god of love, Arch spends his days making perfect matches or he had to deal with some unpleasant consequences.

Bree Daniels is indirectly responsible for Arch's predicament and seeks advice from Aphrodite, hoping to find a way to make amends. After almost two years apart, Bree finally realizes Arch is the man she wants and she's willing to risk her immortality to set him free.

~*~

Thank you for stopping by.

Please feel free to drop by my website

And don't forget to enjoy the other Hot for Friday posts!

Banner Thursday—Meddlesome Gods

Today, I'm featuring the banner for an Ellipses Press branded anthology, Meddlesome Gods. My upcoming release, Cupid's Curse, is part of this line.

                                 

For this piece, I want to convey a pantheon, but nothing too specific. And I wanted something of a neutral color since these stories can either be dark and mysterious or filled with humor and fun.

I hope I succeeded.

Take a look…

Tagline: When gods and mortals play together… the result is often unexpected.

Blurb: Welcome to a world where gods and goddesses of various pantheons mix and mingle with mere earthly mortals—often with unexpected results. Deities can't seem to help themselves and have to meddle with their human counterparts. Sometimes the godly being offers much needed assistance, but occasionally they lash out and cause harm.

But mostly, the amalgamation of deified power and human nature combines to be highly entertaining.

Thanks for reading!

Please visit my website

http://www.skyewrites.com