Sunday Snippet: Rapier's Edge

I should not have made a joke about having snow before Halloween in my last post. Apparently, there's a chance we might have some in the early part of the week. If it happens, it'll probably be a dusting and won't last long, but, geez, I'm not quite ready to drag out my cold-weather clothes yet.

Had a good week with my work projects and made a tiny bit of progress on my future endeavor. I also got some writing time in, which makes me happy. I have some home projects that need attention this week so I might not have as much time to write as I'd like.

Had a decent viewing week and made a full circuit through my usual programs. Caught the first season finale of Ted Lasso and I'm excited to start season two this week.

Watched the second episode of Suspects and enjoyed the twists this one took. I like the cast and characters and the pacing is excellent. Definitely going to continue watching this one.

Finished up series five of Endeavor and loved where things ended up. I'm looking forward to starting series six this week.

Caught the second part of Silent Witness and, whew, what a ride. I loved how twisted up everything got before the final act. Considering I'm in season twenty, it's nice to still love this show.

Watched the final part of Classic Who's arc with Leftbridge-Stewart. Thoroughly enjoyed for the most part. Should be starting a new multi-part arc this week.

Started Sci-Fi Science and liked the first episode. I've seen bits and pieces of this show and I'm excited to watch it through from start to finish.

Loved the second episode of Ms. Marvel. I have a feeling this will end up being one of my favorite Marvel shows. The characters are a lot of fun.

Caught the penultimate episode of Only Murders in the Building and, wow, it blew my mind in the best possible way. I can't wait to see the finale this week.

The Umbrella Academy had a great episode. Things are coming together and I'm looking forward to seeing how things play out in the next episode. I did not think Klaus would end up being one of my favorite characters but he totally is. I love him in all his screwed up glory.

Watched the second episode of Star Trek: Discovery in season three. I'm glad to have everyone back together, but it's always nice to see the crew shine under Saru's leadership.

Also caught another episode of Batman: The Animated Series. This one featured the Joker again and it might be sacrilegious but he's my favorite Mark Hamill character of all time.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Rapier's Edge, a novella that starts with the main characters thinking the other one killed their mentor.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Wen Buxton, a fae agent, finds Jacob Franklin standing over a dead body. He resists her siren call and refuses to answer questions during her interrogation. Wen has a sneaking suspicion all isn't what it seems with the covert mercenary.

And a preview snippet…

Bury my friend…

Jacob barely contained his anger and disbelief. She had to be playing him. Havish would never support her method of striking first. He always taught to seek and understand both sides of a conflict before taking action.

His captor tried a different tactic. "Dammit, I don't want to play hardball with you." She straightened and ran a hand through her stick-straight hair. "I don't like using my call to cause harm. But it's that or I take you in and let the docs do their thing." Her shoulders twitched with a shudder.

A piece of the mystery clicked into place.

She either worked for the Council of Fae Affairs or some kind of sinister organization that liked to exploit the fae. He'd have to push to find out which.

Moving his gaze back to the wall, he snorted. "Do your worst, sweetheart." He hoped his brain and body could handle it.

She growled low in her throat then let loose with a wailing cry. Her pull carried strength but Jacob doubled down—just as his grandmother taught him—and managed to suffer through the sound waves.

She finally ended the song and almost collapsed, sinking to her knees on the concrete floor.

Dragging in air, she glanced up. "Who the hell are you?" Her eyes were narrowed in frustration and maybe a little awe.

Jacob smirked. "No one you want to know." To keep her off guard, he began a shift, choosing the form of a bird.

Free from her restraints—and his clothes—he soared up into the rafters of the warehouse. Her startled gasp rose up to join him and a perverse pleasure filled his mind. He flew back down to land in front of her and changed back, reaching for his fatigues.

She didn't look away from him when he jammed his feet into the pants and tugged them up.

Her gaze drifted upward when she stood. "Are you zeta or gamma?" Referring to his status as a shifter.

Zetas had packs. Gammas didn't.

Not inclined to answer, he yanked his shirt over his head. "I've had enough of this. I suggest you take me to whoever you work for." The faster he discovered who wrote her paychecks the sooner he could mourn his friend.

 She tilted her head to one side. "And if I don't?" Her brow rose in a challenge.

Jacob shrugged. "I tie you up and leave you here. Doesn't matter to me." It did, but she didn't need to know how much. "I'm going to find out who killed Havish and you better hope it's not you." He didn't see the uppercut coming when it landed under his chin to snap his head back.

Damn. His teeth gnashed together.

She set her jaw and snarled. "I didn't kill him, asshole. That man raised me from the age of four." Pain laced her voice and she whirled past him, stalking to the metal door leading outside. "You coming or what?" She exited the building without waiting for a reply.

Jacob learned two more things.

She loved Havish as much as he did … and she packed a hell of a punch.

I have a lot of love for this story and I'm so close to having it complete! I'm hoping to have it ready to release early next year.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Ramona for the Win

Had a truly fall-weather week … to the point we had to turn the heat on. We'll probably get another brief spell of warmer temperatures before things settle down into actual fall. Or, we could have snow before Halloween. It's Ohio.

Busy work week with several projects going at the same time. I did get through a round of my usual viewing schedule.

Ted Lasso didn't disappoint with Rebecca's reveal and the catalyst for her finally making it happen ended up being so good. I rather hope Rupert dies in a fire or maybe gets hit by a double-decker bus in the near future. What a twat. Keeley continues to make me laugh out loud and I have so much love for her.

Caught another episode of The Agatha Christie Hour, which ended up being quite a fun episode even if the whole point was to gaslight one poor guy into handing over something that didn't even belong to him.

I picked up where I left of with Endeavor in season five and caught back up with the characters. I'm looking forward to more and seeing where things go.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness and thoroughly enjoyed the twists in the episode. I'm not quite sure who the culprit is and that's always fun for me.

Enjoyed another episode of Classic Who. Loved seeing Three's car pulled out of mothballs and the interactions between the brigadier and the Doctor. So much fun.

Finished up the first season of Strangest Things and I'm looking forward to the second. I love seeing how they try to figure out what the relics are and how they were used.

Started Ms. Marvel and loved the first episode. I'm very excited to dive into this series. Kamala and Bruno are awesome!

Only Murders in the Building had an awesome episode with the Superfans. Seriously, I loved so much about how everything played out. Okay, except at the end. Now I can't wait to find out what happened to the bassoonist. I have so many theories, but two stand out and I'll share if either one of those is correct.

Finished up season three of Blue Heelers and said good-bye to Wayne. I'm actually kind of glad it was indeed a random act as the episode title suggested. I'm kind of bummed out that I'll only be able to watch one more season in order then I'll have to skip to the later seasons. Streaming sucks sometimes.

Watched another MasterClass lesson with Roxane Gay. She discussed being a good literary citizen in this one and I enjoyed what she had to say. Kindness doesn't cost a red cent and being considerate of others is sometimes a lost gesture that should be the norm instead of the exception.

The Umbrella Academy had another terrific episode. I love how much chaos there is and also how the characters end up being there for each other even when they'd rather be anywhere else.

Caught an episode of Classic Rugrats and laughed out loud more than once and remembered doing the same when watching with the kiddos.

Finished off the week with Batman: The Animated Series and the introduction of the Clock King. I loved this episode when it originally aired and enjoyed it again this time around.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Ramona for the Win, book three in an as of yet unnamed series.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Ramona and Melick finally have their personal relationship on solid ground, but the timing couldn't be worse. The academy is under attack and it falls to Ramona to save the day by infiltrating the rival's headquarters by using the downed dragon. She's confident she can get inside and stop the assaults—if Melick will get out of her way.

And a preview snippet…

Melick appreciated Ramona's tactics. Get his mind of her impending departure and have fun at the same time. He could always count on her to go hard with sex when she didn't want to think too hard.

He didn't want to either.

Depositing her on the bed, he didn't waste time, muttering a quick incantation to remove their clothes.

Ramona raised her eyebrows. "Not like you to cheat." She waited a beat. "I like it." Scrambling backward, she beckoned to him. "Where were we?"

Melick grinned and crawled up beside her. "Right about here…" His mouth covered her again and her hands went around his neck.

He cupped her ass and angled around so she straddled his thighs. She broke the kiss and planted her palms on his chest. Rising up, she moved her hips forward and sank down slowly, exactly the way he loved.

Grasping her waist, his palms skimmed up her sides. "Great to be on the same page with this." He flexed his hips, going a little deeper.

Ramona made a low purring sound. "MmHmm. The one place we always see eye-to-eye." She rocked back and forth with exquisite slowness.

Melick cupped her breasts, his thumbs brushing over her nipples. Ramona's head lolled back and she shuddered. Her fingers curled into her palms and Melick rose up to pull a taut peak between his lips.

Ramona upped the pace, her breath rasping out in short bursts. She reached back with one hand to fondle his balls. Tingling pleasure spread out drifting down his thighs and up along his spine.

He groaned and thrust upward. "You know that drives me wild." His hips bucked against hers.

Ramona's lips twisted. "I like you wild. Give me more." Her pelvis rotated side to side.

Her inner muscles tightened and added friction around his shaft. Melick dug his feet into the mattress and pumped harder, giving her what she asked for.

Ramona hummed. "Yeah, that's it. I'm so close." Her fingers dug into his chest.

Melick urged her on. "Let it go, Ramona. Come for me." He grasped her thighs, hanging on by a thread.

She shuddered and gasped, rocking her hips back and forth. "Now, Melick. Come with me."

Stars burst behind his eyelids and he let her take him with her. His orgasm thrummed through his veins and his nerve-endings crackled on a blissful wave. No matter what else happened between them, this would never change.

Ramona collapsed atop his chest and nuzzled his throat. "We needed that." She shifted sideways and snuggled up close.

Melick wrapped an arm around her. "We did. Now it's rest and recharge time. We can jump back in to planning how to get your dragon under control later."

Ramona yawned and gave a nod. "Later is good."

With a quick spell, Melick dimmed the lights and let sleep claim him.

This series is so much fun. Ramona and Melick are rarely on the same page but they're always in the same chapter.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Raid at Midnight (an Under the Black Raven Banner novella)

Welcome to spooky month! October is one of my favorite months, even if it means holiday season is hiding around the corner. So far, we've had some fall-like weather and that's making me very joyful right now.

Had a semi-decent viewing week. Work projects are ongoing and I needed some quiet time to focus on those. But I made a full circuit of my standard streaming schedule.

Once again, Ted Lasso delivered a full-on episode. I'm nervously awaiting the moment when Rebecca reveals why she really hired Ted and dying to see the fallout. Keeley rules at being a mess but not staying that way. I love how she's absolutely not afraid of Rebecca because it never occurred to her to be so. This show. It's so good.

I tried to watch the behind the scenes feature for Brokenwood Mysteries but couldn't seem to get it to play. I'll try again this week.

Started a new show and watched the first episode of Suspects. So far, I'm hooked. I enjoyed the characters and watching the case unfold.

Finished up the second half of Silent Witness and liked the twist the episode took. I kind of thought I had the right killer but the history part I didn't quite see coming.

Caught another episode of Classic Who. I'm ready for the Doctor's reunion with Leftbridge-Stewart. I'll be disappointed if it doesn't happen in the next installment.

Watched another episode of Strangest Things. This one featured the enigma machine and delved into the history of how the encryption finally got cracked.

Finished the first season of The Book of Boba Fett and I have to say, I ended up loving this show! I hope there's another season.

Enjoyed another episode of Only Murders in the Building. What a mess Oliver and Mabel got into. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Started season nine of Peak Practice. Gotta say Andrew kind of annoys me when he darts off to figure himself out. I guess it's something of a character trait with him. Loved how Joanna and Sam held the line and got through the ordeal of having their patients down with an unknown virus.

Caught another MasterClass lesson with Roxane Gay. She focused on getting published and what to expect from the traditional side of publishing and also delved a little into the small, independent presses and self-publishing. Good information.

The Umbrella Academy had a stellar episode. Pieces are falling into place and plots mixed with subplots are popping up. Allison's concern about Leonard is definitely warranted and I'm very interested in what Vanya's power is. I loved the interactions with Five and Luthor and Klaus and Diego and, of course, the standoff with ChiChi and Hazel ended up being terrific. This show is amazing.

Started season three of Star Trek: Discovery. Gotta say I'm kind of blown away. Can't wait to have Michael back with her crew and hopefully with the addition of a few more members. Excellent premiere!

Finished off the week with Batman: The Animated Series and got another episode without a feature rogue's gallery villain. I really enjoy the slice of life ones.

I'm also in the midst of watching more Resisting Roots, a Passionflix original. I might have it finished up this week, but I won't make any promises.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Raid at Midnight, an Under the Black Raven Banner novella.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Verity Jones joins an elite group of civilian protectors in a battle-torn land. She's the daughter of an ace fighter pilot who tore up the skies in the first epic war. Emory Cavendish is the lead pilot and his crew pulls off amazing feats, largely thanks to Verity, which drives their commanding officer mad to the point of putting Verity in danger.

And a preview snippet…

The next day, Verity spotted Emory when he entered the hangar and went to the communication room. She wiped her hands and made her way over then knocked on the jamb.

He glanced up. "Verity, what can I do for you?" He dropped a folder on the desk and propped his hip on the side.

Verity moved into the space. "I don't like the sound of one of the birds." Her stomach clenched a little but she soldiered on. "I need to take it up to really get a feel for what's wrong." Probably an impossible request, but she had to try.

Emory's eyes widened. "Wait. You're a pilot?" He straightened and moved away from the desk.

She shrugged. "Since age fourteen. Learned to fly before I learned to build planes." Something her dad said would make her a better mechanic.

Emory didn't take more than a second to ponder her request. "Whitcomb will hate it, but let's go." He moved past her into the hangar.

Thrilled, Verity couldn't believe her luck. She loved flying. And Emory didn't seem fazed when she pointed out which plane sounded off. He opened the big doors and motioned for her to get inside the plane and move it out to the runway strip. She slowly maneuvered the bird out onto the grass landing area and followed Emory's motions until he gave her the all clear to take off.

Once airborne, she made several circular passes of the estate, altering her trajectory and altitude. And she figured out the problem—the throttle needed an adjustment. She landed just as the sun started sinking low in the sky and moved the plane back inside the hangar. Once she had the helmet off, she sucked in a breath. Whitcomb had fire coming out of his ears, shaking his fist at Emory.

By the time she finished a post-flight check, Emory stood waiting at the bottom of the short set of steps with the colonel by his side.

She handed him the helmet. "The throttle needs an adjust—"

Whitcomb cut her off. "You are not authorized to fly my aircraft. I won't have you ever doing it again. Women do not belong in the cockpit." His face all but boiled in a raging shade of red.

Verity stood her ground. "Understood. If I may make one point. I didn't want to put any of your pilots at risk when I couldn't figure out what was wrong. Going up myself only put my life in danger." And, of course, the plane, but Whitcomb would be complete ass to argue that fact.

The colonel opened his mouth then snapped it shut and stormed off.

Emory gave her props. "Took guts to put the CO in his place." His lips curved in a half-smile.

Verity basked in the praise. "Thank you. For letting me take her up." She glanced around.

An empty hangar meant she could show her appreciation. Throwing caution to the wind, she wrapped her arms around him and planted her mouth against his.

Emory surprised her by taking the kiss deeper and cupping her ass in his hands.

She eased away and tempted fate a little more. "Can we maybe move this encounter to my quarters?" She wouldn't do anything to put his position in jeopardy.

Emory grinned. "Are you sure? Because I can't think of anything else I'd rather do."

She gave an emphatic nod and Emory grabbed her hand and headed for the exit.

This series is finally coming together and I'm excited to finish everything up and launch it into the bookosphere.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Rack and Ruin

I'm not quite sure where the month of September went but it's almost over. The weather in Ohio is currently fall-like. Not sure how long that will last. I could actually get behind having it stick around for a while.

Pretty decent week of viewing. I'm back on my usual schedule for the most part. I'll be starting a new show on one of my streamers, but I'm not sure if I'll stick with it or give up that slot for now.

Watched another episode of Ted Lasso. Gotta say, I definitely see the appeal and how so many people have utter undying love for the show. I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

Caught another episode of the Agatha Christie Hour. I loved the twists and turns in this one. Good intrigue without being a full-blown mystery.

Enjoyed the first part of Silent Witness. There's a good mysterious vibe in this two-parter and I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out this week.

Started season twenty-six of Classic Who and loved seeing the colonel back again. I'm looking forward to the next episode.

Watched another Strangest Things episode and learned about desert glass. Well worth the view for that alone.

Caught an episode of The Book of Boba Fett. Geez, a lot happened and I'm still trying to process everything. Definitely need to catch up on season two of The Mandalorian to fill in the missing blanks. Looking forward to doing that.

Only Murders in the Building is such a terrific show. The pacing is excellent and the reveals are pretty much perfect. Hat tip to all involved in the writing and acting.

Enjoyed another episode of Blue Heelers and it actually ended up breaking my heart a little. One of the scenes hit a little too close for comfort involving a pet that had to be put to sleep.

Caught another MasterClass lesson with Roxane Gay. She discussed finding an agent and what to pay attention to when dealing with contracts.

Watched another Umbrella Academy episode. I'm definitely getting hooked on this one. I love the characters and how they interact with each other and outsiders. Klaus is a wicked-fun gem. Also nice to see Luther before his transformation. Felt horrible for Diego and my heart really goes out to Vanya. Loved the scene with Allison, though. Great stuff.

Enjoyed two more episodes of Classic Rugrats. Two of my favorites were in this bunch. Anytime Angelica is foiled by Susie is worth the watch.

Also caught another episode of Batman: The Animated Series. This ended up being a good one. I like the episodes when there isn't a major villain from the rogue gallery for Batman to deal with.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Rack and Ruin, a novella where the characters know a secret about each other and how they come to an understanding about keeping them.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Vespa Thorn, a maintenance adept for the Mage Ministry of Defense, is an addictive gambler—whenever, wherever, she'll go all in. Hale Walterson, a special forces soldier has a problem with sex—he can't get enough of it. Vespa wants Hale, but he's the one thing she won't bet on … until he challenges her to keep up with him.

And a preview snippet…

Hale bent over his stun-winder cleaning the parts, as recommended. Okay, more like threatened. He could hear Vespa's voice in his head, giving him hell for not taking care of her equipment.

His lips quirked. "She'll kick my ass if I bring the gun back to her in crappy shape." Temptation itched to make him do it—just to get a reaction.

Instead, he dabbed more oil on the charging station.

Footsteps paused beside him. "Hale … do my eyes deceive me or are you being a very good boy and cleaning your weapon?" The low purr of Vespa's voice surrounded him.

Wouldn't it be his luck? She came to him instead of the other way around.

Hale shot her a glance. "If you're going to chew my ass, I'd rather it not be over work." Heh, let her dissect that statement.

Her eyes widened. "Exactly what should I chew your ass over?" She waited a beat. "Or where should I chew it?" A thread of humor laced her words.

Hale glanced up. "Off the top of my head I can think of several things, but a bed comes to mind first." With vivid clarity.

Vespa let out a low whistle. "Well, now, that's an interesting proposition." She angled closer and lowered her voice. "Did the two honeyed-up ladies you shared a suite with leave any marks on your ass the other night?" Her finger trailed along the edge of the table.

He dropped the trigger mechanism and nodded for her to take a seat across from him. "How do you know about that?" His discussed ass could get sanctioned if anyone else discovered his arrangement with Tina and Nina.

Vespa reddened and glanced away. "By accident." Squaring her shoulders, she faced him again.

He responded with a quirked eyebrow. He couldn't wait to hear her explanation. How did she accidentally discover his standing appointment with the twins?

She sighed, her shoulders drooping. "Okay, my curiosity got the best of me." She met his gaze. "I followed you." She had the grace to flush a tender shade of pink.

Adding a pretty shade to her cheeks didn't score many points. But, even pissed off, he had to admire she owned following him? That took some stones.

Leaning forward, he pinned her down with a look. "Why the fuck would you do that?" She'd tailed him to the seventh floor, which didn't make any sense.

Vespa shrugged. "I have no idea. You were in civilian clothes." Her tone indicated chagrin.

For good reason. What the hell?

Hale frowned. "When did that become a good motivation to invade someone's privacy?" Okay, he pushed boundaries that didn't exist with that one.

Vespa snorted. "In a hotel lobby? Are you kidding?" She added a dramatic eye roll for effect.

Hale lifted a shoulder. "Doesn't explain how civilian clothes made you follow me." What did one have to do with the other?

Vespa waved a hand. "Look, I've never seen you dressed up—you've always been m-mod gear. Is that a valid reason to tail you? Probably not. And I didn't do it to be nosy or to bust your chops."

Hale tsked. "Then why mention it?" Seriously?

Vespa leaned in a little closer and pitched her voice low again. "Because you weren't exactly discreet. There are security cameras everywhere and you didn't even try to dodge them." The words hissed out between her lips.

Did she consider him stupid? He worked security. He knew the exact location of every camera in the Willow.

Hale frowned. "I always do an invisibility spell."

She gave him a pointed look. If he'd been invisible, she wouldn't have been able to follow him.

His head dropped back. "Shit. You're right. I didn't use one that night." Careless of him, for sure.

Vespa's posture relaxed. "I'm not trying to police your extracurriculars, but being careful might not hurt." She folded her arms on the table.

She had a valid point … but part of the reason he'd forgotten the spell lay at her feet. "While we're bringing up potential problems, you're not exactly Miss Perfection."

She frowned. "You're turning the tables on me?" She pushed away from the table, scooting the chair out.

Hale shook his head. "No. Okay, yes." He reached out to stop her from leaving. "But your concern is valid so I'm sharing mine with you."

Vespa crossed her arms over her chest. "Okay, what did I do?"

Hale nodded to her work suit. "Do you always gamble in your work clothes?"

He scored a point there. Her eyes went wide and her shoulders slumped.

I love how this story is coming together. Vespa and Hale have some vices and they're going to find a way to make sure no one discovers them.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Quiver Full of Arrows

Not a bad week. I made excellent headway on the two projects I'm editing and got some writing of my own done. The weather has been so nice and comfortable. Not quite chilly enough to be considered fall but also not the sweltering yuck we often have this time of year.

I'm finally more or less back on my regular viewing schedule. I might be dropping one of my streamers because they're going to paid only and, frankly, I'm not that interested in the content to pay five bucks a month for it. We'll see how it goes.

Caught several episodes of Classic Rugrats. I'm into season four and trawling through the memory banks. I love reminiscing about sitting with the kids and watching this when they were wee little ones.

Watched maybe the last episode of Chicago Med for me. This is the streamer that's going to paid only and I'm not that interested in continuing to watch. I'll see what happens in a few weeks.

Enjoyed two episodes of Batman: The Animated Series. I have so much love for this series and tend to rewatch on a semi-frequent basis. There's a very good stable of villains and the animation is great.

Caught another episode of Ted Lasso. Gotta say I thoroughly enjoyed Ted losing his shit with Rebecca. I also loved the whole method of breaking the curse. This is a great show.

Watched the season eight finale of The Brokenwood Mysteries. I have a behind the scenes episode to watch then another wait for new episodes. Looking forward to seeing what Mike had to say to the proposal at the end.

Enjoyed the second part of Silent Witness. Looking forward to seeing what season twenty has to offer. I'm loving the dynamic between the characters.

Finished up season twenty-five of Classic Who. Not a bad way to end the season. I also discovered there's at least one more so I'll start it this week.

Caught another episode of Strangest Things. I liked the segments in this episode. A hoax and a spectacular way-before-its-time device caught my attention.

Loved the episode of The Book of Boba Fett. It featured the return of the Mandalorian and I'm a little spoiled for season two of The Mandalorian because of this, but I'm totally okay with that.

Enjoyed another episode of Only Murders in the Building. This show. I have a lot of love for it and can't wait to jump in to season two.

Watched the season eight finale of Peak Practice. A lot of moving pieces and setting things up for next season. I'll be starting nine in the near future.

Caught another MasterClass lesson with Roxane Gay. She focused on the business of writing and I ended up getting some good information from this lesson.

Umbrella Academy ended up being great. I'm really loving this show. I very much enjoy finding out little bits and pieces about the characters and the pacing is excellent.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Quiver Full of Arrows, a novella that pulls the characters into facing their past transgressions while nudging them into finding a future together.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Frey Witter, codename Crossfire, is sent to bring in mercenary for hire, Solaris Polanski, aka Moon Shadow, for a covert mission. He's got one little problem. Solaris answers to no one—and she used to work for the other side.

And a preview snippet…

Frey held out as long as possible after retrieving the diamonds.

Turning on to the long, winding road that would take them to the operation enclave, he slowed down for the twists and turns. "Okay, my curiosity is piqued. What's your history with Coleman?" No doubt it would be nothing good.

Solaris gave him a long look. "Why do you want to know?" Her fingers curled into her palms, the only indication she'd rather talk about anything else.

Frey rolled one shoulder. "If I'm going to the involved in this deal, I gotta know what Norm will throw at me." He shot her a sideways glance. "And he'll fling shit everywhere because you're messing with his plan." The man had control issues with his control issues.

Solaris smiled. "Messing with his shit is my favorite pastime." She straightened in the seat, angling toward Frey. "Okay, Coleman and I go way back. And the first thing you need to know is that I hate him … with a passion." Her lips twisted in disgust.

Frey grunted. "The thousand burning suns kind or something less intense?" Oddly, it mattered because being a buffer meant he could get burned.

Solaris pursed her lips. "Hmm, let's gо with five hundred thousand burning suns for now." She purposefully straightened her fingers and splayed them on her thighs.

Wow, okay. Frey shot her a quick look. "Did he sacrifice you for a mission?"

Solaris narrowed her eyes. "Is that in some dossier about me?" Her hands fisted again.

Frey shook his head. "No. It's SOP for Coleman. He burns through assets at a higher rate than anyone else." A not-so-secret secret among the agency.

Solaris snorted. "There is that." She stared straight ahead. "The second thing you need to know is he'll consider me expendable, so whatever big operation he's got planned, he's not expecting me to make it out alive." Her voice never wavered, her tone matter-of-fact.

Frey didn't the sound of that. But the idea tracked. Coleman didn't earn his hard-assed reputation by not being ruthless.

Frey growled. "We'll see about that." He'd examine why he gave a shit later … somewhere away from the agency.

Solaris raised her eyebrows. "Look, don't go off book on my account. I know the score. I mean, you were supposed to kill me if I didn't agree to come in." She scowled. "Didn't you think to ask why?"

Yeah, he had. And he did make a query. And he'd been handed a thick folder full of her exploits.

But his bullshit meter just blew the limit now that he'd interacted with Moon Shadow—Solaris. Clearly, a lot got left unwritten about her.

Frey slid a quick glance her way. "For the record, I don't always follow orders. I go where they tell me and follow the planned operation, but I make my own calls when shit goes sideways." He put his eyes back on the road. "I read your file—even the redacted material. But, obviously, there's always stuff—good and bad—that doesn't make it in." He slowed and made the turn into the parking lot then cut the engine. "Norm's a dick—but he gets results. That said, my gut says he doesn't want to go up against his target if you're on their side."

Solaris shrugged. "He's not stupid. I'll give him that." She spread her fingers again, flexing them twice.

Frey nodded. "You're right. So, he takes you out, either by getting you to work for him or by killing you." Ruthless and efficient … and beyond fucked up.

Solaris opened her mouth but paused before speaking. "Boiled down to its essence … yes. And since I'm not dead, he'll assume I'm on board with whatever fucked-up plan he has." Her gaze went hard and angry but she didn't curl her hands into fists.

Frey focused on her pause and what she didn't say. Which means there's more to the story. Oddly, he wanted the full scoop. A rarity.

Then again … she'd fascinated him from the first glimpse of her file. He had a major gut check. And he'd formed an initial impression. No one gave her credit … or a chance. Coleman would have exploited her skill set to his own ends. The man didn't stray from his modus operandi. Which put Moon Shadow at a disadvantage—exactly where Norm wanted her.

Frey paused before he popped his door open. "Here's a promise I will keep. As long as you're considered an agency asset, I'll have your back—even if I don't end up as your handler." A real possibility.

Solaris gave him a bland look. "Pretty words and a nice sentiment. And I'm sure you're sincere." Her gaze changed to something harder and more determined. "But I don't trust anyone one hundred percent." She pulled on the door handle and glanced over her shoulder. "And if you're not my handler … I hope you're ready with your quiver full of arrows—because I'm not working under Coleman's direct supervision in any circumstance." She exited the truck and stood at the front, her gaze sweeping the area.

If Coleman pulled the asshole card and refused her stipulation, would Frey be able to notch an arrow? A gut check said no.

He slid out of the vehicle. "Fuck me. This could go balls up in a big way."

I have a ton of love for this story and these characters. Things came together in a terrific way for Frey and Solaris and there could be more from them.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Quilt of Fate

Had a fairly busy week between work and the new venture I'm putting together. The play I'm editing is so much fun. It's deep and twisty and bonkers in the best possible way. I hope I have another chance to edit more plays.

Had a pretty good week trying to catch up to my regular viewing schedule. I'm not quite there yet because other things have been pulling my attention away from screen time. Also, my sleep schedule is all messed up at the moment. Not sure why, but probably hormone-related. Fun.

I watched an episode of Peak Practice and should finish up season eight this week. From what I've reviewed, seasons nine through twelve go a little off the normal path and dive deeper into soap opera territory. I'm okay with that.

Caught two more MasterClass lessons with Roxane Gay. I truly love listening to her speak. The first one focused on engaging with you readers and I ended up getting a lot out of that one. The second lesson noted the importance of having a day job for stability and I also appreciated what she had to say about that topic.

Started The Umbrella Academy and, so far, I love it. I'm two episodes in and I like the dynamic between the characters and I'm excited to see what comes next. Looking forward to diving deep on this one.

Enjoyed the season finale of The Ready Room. Pretty sure Wil takes over for the next one and I'll look forward to his take on Discovery.

Watched another episode of Chicago Med and I have a weird feeling I know where things will end up going with Will and Asher. Fairly sure this might end up being my last season. I do love anything with Dr. Charles, Maggie, and Miss Goodwin. I also love Ethan. We'll see what happens by the end of the season.

Caught another Batman: The Animated Series. I loved Poison Ivy's introduction in this series and also seeing more of Harvey Dent before things happen with him.

Enjoyed a little more of Resisting Roots but didn't get to finish the movie yet.

Watched another Ted Lasso. I'm definitely a fan. Keeley cracks me up and I love where things are going with her. Ted kind of broke my heart yet made me so happy when he benched Jamie. I truly hope there's some kind of redeeming arc for him because I literally loath him at the moment.

Caught another Agatha Christie Hour and thoroughly enjoyed it. I like the non-mystery aspect of this show because there's still a lot of suspense, which I love.

Started season twenty of Silent Witness and quite enjoyed the opening first part. Looking forward to finishing this one up next week.

Almost finished with season twenty-five of Classic Who. The greatest show in the galaxy will hopefully end on a great note for the season. I'm pretty sure that brings me close to the end of the classic episodes. Not sure if I'll jump to New Who or switch to a different genre for a while.

Watched another episode of Strangest Things. I like diving into the mysterious objects they feature and learning new information. The cast of experts is very diverse and I love that.

Caught another episode of The Book of Boba Fett. Loved the pickup from when Fennic went down in The Mandalorian. I seriously love this show.

Enjoyed another episode of Only Murders in the Building. There's so much awkwardness that is played to perfection by the three main cast members. I'm excited to see what happens in the next episode.

Watched an episode of Blue Heelers and ended up enjoying it a lot. Wayne actually ended up being a fairly decent guy in this one and that's not always the case.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Quilt of Fate, a novella that explores what happens with the Fates step in and point a couple in the right direction to save their people.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Nadie Fall and Cable Reilly are transported to an alternate reality by the Moerae. Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos have plans for the fated couple who couldn't save their original universe but can alter the future for their new one.

And a preview snippet…

A trio of women, representing fate personified or the moerae, held a glowing tapestry. The threads pulsed and flickered, weaving together under their guided tutelage. Except for one darkened and stormy area. The women observed the fallout of the ruined planet.

Atropos, the crone, grumbled while she placed her palm over the gray-tinged stain. "Bah! We should let this group end. They're a stain on humanity." Her lips flattened in distaste and she snipped three tangled lines.

Clotho, the maiden, shook her head. "No, no, no. They have so much potential." She spun new spools of glimmering thread while she spoke. "And, yes, they made a mess when they created the wraith, but their lack of foresight in creating the creatures that would be their downfall is a hard lesson learned." She paused her wheel. "They won't make the same mistake twice, right?" Her nimble fingers returned to pulling on the cords.

Lachesis, the motherly matron, twisted two threads together. "If they're provided with the right guidance, the humans will thrive and survive." She picked up another strand and guided it toward a new direction. "They stumble and fall, but get back up and try again. With time, their minds open and they see what needs to be seen."

Atropos rolled her eyes. "And you think these two are the answer?" She pointed to a strong dual threadline.

Clotho nodded with a dreamy expression. "Oh, yes. They're so right for each other." She gave a sappy sigh.

Atropos snorted. "You've got to be kidding. They're a veritable train wreck who can't get their act together to save themselves much less the rest of the population." Disgust oozed from her voice.

Clotho stuck out her tongue. She never liked being scolded by the crone.

Lachesis added her sage wisdom. "It's hard to stay on the tracks when everything is an obstacle. The choice will be theirs. If they want to find what they seek, they will.'' She picked up a needle and merged several threads together.

Atropos shook her head. "If they choose to. My faith isn't strong on that front. Two steps forward and three back." She waved a hand. "It's always the same with them."

Lachesis kept her voice gentle. "But it doesn't have to be. Their threads are strong. And the love is there. If they learn to face conflict together instead of letting it come between them, there's hope." She made a sweeping gesture and pulled the darkened area into stark contrast.

Atropos gave a rude snort. "A tiny minuscule strand of it." She held up a hand and smashed her thumb and forefinger together.

Clotho gave Atropos a hard look. "Sometimes that hope is all they need." She shot to her feet and the tapestry disappeared.

Atropos rose to her full height and moved to stand toe-to-toe with the maiden. "And sometimes it's not enough but you're too moony over those two to see what's in front of you."

Lachesis stepped between the other two, her presence a soothing balm. "It's a good thing we'll soon find out if hope can save them, isn't it?" She turned and headed for her room. "Time will tell as it always does."

With that said, the maiden and the crone gave each other one last narrowed-eyed glance and each retired to their sanctuaries as well.

The moerae had much to prepare for.

I love having fun with making fate step in to alter the course of a couple. Nadie and Cable might not enjoy it as much as I do.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: A Quiet Hell

Greetings to the month of September. I'm kind of not ready for it yet, mainly because once the calendar changes to the ninth month, it seems like October, November, and December zoom by super fast.

Had a great work week and made some progress on my new venture. I'm crossing my fingers I'll be able to launch sometime between October and December. Another reason I'm not quite ready for the new month.

Decent viewing week. I'm not quite caught up on everything, but I'm getting there. I did make a full rotation of my usual shows but I'm off schedule, which confuses my weird brain.

Got two episodes of Only Murders in the Building watched and I'm kind of loving this show. Had a great conversation with my daughter, who also loves it.

Caught an episode of Blue Heelers and kind of thought a couple of the characters were acting unlike themselves. But I did like the mystery.

Enjoyed another MasterClass lesson with Roxane Gay. She did another workshop and talked about finding your voice as a writer. Very good stuff.

Finished up The Babysitters Club and I'm so bummed there aren't any more episodes left. I'll be starting a new show this week but haven't decided which one yet.

Watched two episodes of Classic Rugrats. The Chanukah episode is one of my favorites and I always enjoyed watching it with the kiddos. The Mother's Day episode is also up there even if it's a little bit of a downer.

Started Resisting Roots, a Passionflix original. So far, I'm enjoying it. Looking forward to finishing up this movie.

Caught another episode of Chicago Med and struggled to stay interested. I liked two of the storylines and didn't really have much invested in the other two. Season five might be my last one.

Enjoyed another episode of Batman: The Animated Series. This one introduced the Joker and my major appreciation for Mark Hamill's portrayal of the iconic bad guy started all over again.

Watched the Christmas episode of Ted Lasso and thoroughly enjoyed it. Ted having Rupert's number made me happy. Also loved Roy in this one. And I'm finding a deep appreciation for Keeley. I really love the dynamic she has with Rebecca. Jamie … I absolutely dislike with an intense passion. Just saying. Coach Beard is awesome. And so is Nate.

Caught another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. I'm kind of bummed I only have one more left of the season. This show makes me happy.

Finished up the second part and final episode of Silent Witness's season nineteen. Looking forward to starting the new one next week.

Watched another episode of Classic Who. I'm a little lost with what's supposed to be going on but I had a few distractions while I was watching this episode. Looking forward to the final two for this season.

Enjoyed another Strangest Things. This one had several fun artifacts. One happened to feature in a middle grade book I edited a few years ago. Very fun to see a breakdown of the item the author wrote about in his book.

Caught another episode of The Book of Boba Fett. I actually love this show a lot. It's right up there with The Mandalorian. I'm hoping there will be another season of this one.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from A Quiet Hell, a novella where the characters meet under intense circumstances and then figure out the puzzle of what's going on with one of them.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Mattox Lang lives in a quiet hell, seeing and sensing paranormal activity. Bruce Wendelson has haunting dreams that linger, but he can never recall the details. Mattox understands Bruce's torment and hopes to ease her own by helping him deal with the nightmares.

And a preview snippet…

Mattox Lang sat very still with her gaze straight ahead, carefully watching the clock. A quiet time in hell, she hated being in the therapist's office. With a passionate intensity only a pre-teen could understand.

The kindly woman leaned forward. "Mattox, dear, I really am trying to help you." Her hands were clasped in her lap.

Mattox had no doubt the therapist wanted to get to the root of her problems. But fear of the unknown trumped the known repercussions if everything went sideways. And it would.

It always does.

She learned that hard lesson at the tender age of five—when the beatings started. Her mom discovered Mattox's gift for seeing into peoples thoughts and quickly decided how to handle the burden. I won't have an abnormal child. You will not be a freak.

Each word punctuated by a blow, Mattox never fought back. The images in her mom's mind gave her a glimpse of what Audra Lang wanted to do. The violence in her mother's heart involved being left to raise a child she wanted nothing to do with. Alcohol dulled Audra's pain and helped her cope but it also dulled her control.

Two weeks ago, Mattox came to school with bruises she couldn't hide and the school nurse shook her head. "You need to talk to someone, Mattox. Let them help you."

At twelve, Mattox had a handle on what could happen. She said nothing, even though the nurse suspected Mattox's injuries were from her mom. Unless Mattox named Audra as the culprit, the nurse could only inform child services. Which she did.

Now Mattox remained in the stupid oversized chair, not speaking a word, counting the minutes tick by on the clock.

The nice lady tried to draw Mattox out. "Please answer a few questions and I can take things from there." She reached for her notepad and pen.

Mattox refused to answer. Her mom would find a way to make Mattox pay if she did. And she'd make sure the bruises weren't visible anymore.

The social worker made one final attempt. "Let's try something else then." She set out a sketch pad along with charcoals and pastels. "You can draw how you're feeling if you'd like." She got up and went to her desk, leaving Mattox in the chair.

Tempted, Mattox almost took the offer. Art had become her refuge. She couldn't begin to explain how or why she could read and envision people's thoughts but drawing what she saw helped her function as somewhat normally.

Mattox bit her tongue, hard, to resist the dangling carrot on the table and kept her gaze on the clock.

Five more minutes of this quiet hell.

This story has a place in my heart. The couple and their journey ended up being a lot more than I thought it would be. I love it when that happens.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye