This Week’s Writing Playlist

Sometimes I write to music, like this song by SVRCINA called Meet Me On The Battlefield.

Something about these lyrics, in this particular arrangement, pulls at my heartstrings. It’s a song about Gen X, I think. But it also makes me think of Phoenix Rising from Tough Break.

Haven’t read this Shakedown book yet? It’s probably one of my most angsty, deep feel-y books I’d written since Invincible. I cried SO MUCH writing this book. My husband even came into my office one time and said “what are you writing?” My answer? Redemption. Justice. Absolution. Love. (He did what he always did. Simply said “Well, be careful.” Then left. LOL)

The picture above was one of my strongest inspiration images during the writing of Tough Break. To me, this picture speaks to being both tough and vulnerable, like Phoenix.

Want to read the entire Shakedown series at a discount? Check out the Shakedown Boxed Set here.

Conversation With Characters

He’s the first character to show up in 2023. #overachiever

Him: Welcome back, slave.
Me: Wow, someone returned from the holidays with vim and vinegar.
Him: It’s vim and vigor.
Me: Starting out calling me slave isn’t the way to my heart, ya know.
Him: I thought we agreed to be honest with each other.
Me: Then, let me start out by saying this is a collaboration.
Him: Of one.
Me: Now who is making up their own definitions?
Him: Let’s get to it. I want a red-head next time. A master gardener who is allergic to the sun. I get to run heavy machinery. Flex my manly muscles while she sits under a shade tree and directs.
Me: Boring.
Him: How about she’s a modern day pirate with a crisis of conscious when she boards my yacht used to transport rescue puppies–
Me: Too far fetched.
Him: I’ll make them Westies. Wearing little life jackets.
Me: Not even then.
Him: She’s a cruise ship tantric yoga instructor on a single cruise and I get to fend off sixteen over zealous male passengers, only the boat starts to sink and she most definitely makes room for me on her door.
Me: There’s always room on the door.
Him: Of course we have to test the balance by having sex.
Me: Of course.
Him: Except she’s allergic to the sun and —
Me: We’re back to that redhead? Why don’t you go swim back to the boat and get her sunscreen. Flex those manly muscles.
Him: On it. <splash>
Me: <<Snaps laptop shut>> Let’s see how long he can swim, shall we? <<Goes to get wine>>

Was that mean?

The HEA Collective

You know how I love to share with you good stuff I come across. Here’s a fantastic bookish opportunity for you!

Every month, if you’re an HEA Collective Patreon subscriber, you can download up to four novellas with a particular theme.

(Pssst, I’ll have a novella available through the HEA Collective!)

Join the Patreon to access the novellas HERE. 

RELEASES AUGUST 16!

𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙣t𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙨𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙞𝙩.

NOT WELL BEHAVED WOMEN is a romance anthology with 18 steamy romance stories ranging from steamy to downright scorching! Each story features heroines who embrace their sexuality and aren’t afraid to take what they want.

So you know what that meant, right? The three O’Malley sisters from the Shakedown series fought to get into this collection. Midnight Starr from Tough Luck won! You will find Tough Luck in this collection. If you haven’t dived into the Shakedown series, you can start here — for 99 pennies!
 

Only 99 Cents during the preorder period!
Get your copy here!
(Price increase on release day, August 16, 2022)

Deliciously dark, heart-pounding romantic suspense, swoon-worthy sports romance, unpredictable alpha shifters, mysteriously dark vampire lovers, or ghost encounters. Whatever you’re in the mood to read, you’ll find your next steamy romance in this collection, put together to support reproductive rights and women’s healthcare.

All funds raised will go directly to the Global Center for Reproductive Rights.

Authors include:
Fans of A.C. James, Ann Gimpel, Bianca Sommerland, Blair Babylon, Raine Miller writing as Brit DeMille, Candice Gilmer, Cathryn Fox, Carrie Lomax, Demelza Carlton, Elizabeth SaFleur, Lauren Hawkeye writing as Jessa Kates, Monique DuBois, Kate Richards, Kate Rudolph, Kris Jayne, Reina Torres, Tami Lund, Zoey Indiana

Learn more about the anthology here

Grab this LIMITED EDITION anthology while you can! 

Conversations With Characters

My characters are usually so bossy, but this one?
Me: Come out, come out wherever you are!
Her: No.
Me: But why not? You had such a good idea.
Her: {{peeks head out}} You think?
Me: Oh, I do, I do! Look. I have chocolate. and wine {{lifts wine bottle}}
Her: I’m allergic to chocolate.
Me: Who’s allergic to chocolate?
Her: Me. See? You don’t want to hear from me at all. {{shrinks back into closet}}
Me: What? Are you, like, five years old?
Her: {{Gasps!}} I am a grown woman. And, I cannot be lured with your frivolous gifts.
Me: You sound regency. We don’t do regency.
Her: You will if I say.
Him: Come out, come out, little one.
Her: {{Shoots out of closet like a cheeta}}
Me: Who the heck are you?
Her: Shhh, you might scare him away.
Him: I brought toys. The adult kind. {{looks at me}}
Her: She’s not invited.
Me: Um, I’m the writer? I am not wasting 40,000 words on a suddenly shy heroine.
Her: I shall consider your participation, minion.