Sexist Attitudes and a New Name by Heather Redmond #historical #mystery

Please welcome Heather Redmond...or is it Heather Hiestrand? You tell us, Heather. OH! And don't forget to comment for the chance at a free book!

A Tale of Two Murders by Heather Redmond Releases Today

Hello from my new writer identity, Heather Redmond. I’ve been romance novelist Heather Hiestand for a long time, but my publisher gave me the opportunity to take my Victorian research into the historical mystery realm and I’m having so much fun twisting my fiction into a new genre.

Of course, I have to include a romance in my novel A Tale of Two Murders, which features the young reporter Charles Dickens before he was the famous novelist. I start my novel the day he met his future wife, Kate Hogarth. But unlike in his real life, they hear a scream across the fields next to the Hogarth home outside of London, and are soon on the track of a dastardly murderer…

I set the story in January 1835 and the first three books in the “A Dickens of a Crime” series are all set in this year, before Charles and Kate married in the spring of 1836. My romance subplot is a slow burn, since in those days people were careful not to marry until they could afford to do so. At the start of the series, Charles, as was true in real life, was newly employed by the Chronicle newspapers and couldn’t even afford new shoes. His fortunes changed quickly, with his first book coming out in February 1836, and all of his success enabled him to rent a bigger suite of rooms, buy furniture, and marry Kate.

I’ve had fun taking the details of the Dickens and Hogarth households as they were historically and building them into a rich fictional world. One of the biggest hurdles I’ve had to overcome was the character of Kate Hogarth herself, and her relationship with Charles.

Those of you who love historical romance know that traditionally, the relationship between the sexes was rarely equal. That was absolutely true with Charles and Kate in real life. However, I see signs of spunk in Kate in her extant letters before her marriage and have built up a picture of her that was far different from what Charles said about her much later in life when their marriage broke down.

It is fascinating to read my advanced reviews. My publisher wants me to keep the main characters likeable, which means removing some of the natural sexism of the era. But there are those readers who are “scholars” of Dickens who expect something else from the story…

What do you think? When you are reading Victorian romance and mystery, are you comfortable with the sexist attitudes of men at the time? Or do you want to see a more equal partnership?

Comment below for a chance to win my e-exclusive Victorian novella, The Kidnapped Bride by Heather Hiestand!

Blurb

On the eve of the Victorian era, London has a new sleuth . . .

In the winter of 1835, young Charles Dickens is a journalist at the Evening Chronicle. Invited to dinner at his editor’s estate, Charles is smitten with his boss's daughter, vivacious Kate Hogarth. They are having the best of times when a scream shatters the evening. Charles and Kate rush to the neighbors' home, where Christiana Lugoson lies dying on the floor. With a twist or two in this most peculiar case, he and Kate may be in for the worst of times . . .

Excerpt

Charles’s lips twisted. “I have rivals for your affection?”

Miss Hogarth tilted her head. “I am saying that you will not be my only choice. If you let me down, there will be others.”

“How could I let you down?” he asked.

“By talking only of lovemaking, and never of anything else,” she said. “I want to know what happened to Miss Lugoson and Miss Rueff. Give me a mystery, Mr. Dickens, and a solution, and I will follow you into places I should not.” She gestured around the room, with a significant nod at the door.

The hair on the backs of Charles’s forearms had risen during her speech. Here was not just a girl who could make a sweet home, and who would enjoy it, but an inquiring mind. Utterly fascinated, he managed to hold back everything he wanted to say, everything that smacked of romantical banter, and only said, “I hear you, Miss Hogarth. I hear and obey.” 

Buy links:  http://heatherredmond.com/books/a-tale-of-two-murders/

The Value of Networking by Diane Burton

Writers attend writing conferences for various reasons. Education, industry news, promotion (learning and doing), and networking. Catching up with old friends and making new ones is the most pleasurable experience at a conference. Meeting editors and/or agents can be a highlight, too.

Not everyone can afford the major conferences, like RT (Romantic Times) or RWA (Romance Writers of America). Some choose not to spend the money. Flying (or driving) to the location, paying for meals, and the conference fee itself can strain anyone’s budget.

Smaller conferences might be a better option. Local chapters (of RWA or other writing groups) often put on weekend workshops. Margo Hoornstra and I have talked about our RWA chapter’s Retreat From Harsh Reality. Our founders (Margo was one) decided not to invite editors or agents. We invite one author to present two formal workshops plus more informal Q&As. At first (back in the mid-1980s) our own published authors gave the workshops. We’ve expanded since then. For instance, recent presenters were Jennifer Probst, Christie Craig, and Rita Clay Estrada. The best part of our retreat is the laid-back, relaxed atmosphere. Blue jeans and T-shirts instead of more formal attire. Again, the most pleasurable thing (for me) is getting together with like-minded people. Those who understand what writing is all about.

So what does a writer do who can’t afford a conference (or a retreat)? Or those conferences are too far away, and flying is too expensive? How do they learn writing basics or industry trends or get together with like-minded individuals? How do they network?

Online.

When I started in this business over twenty years ago, the internet wasn’t available. We did have email but not the proliferation of networking opportunities. With YahooGroups, Facebook, Instagram, and other means of social media, writers can get together with other writers and it costs little or nothing. We join groups like Authors Helping Authors, Marketing For Romance Writers, and groups that target writers and readers of specific genres. Sisters in Crime, Savvy Authors, and RWA offer online courses in all aspects of writing—from basics to advanced writing, how to use Scrivener, the business of writing, etc. And the cost is minimal.

I love getting together face-to-face, but when I can’t do that, online is great. I’ve met so many new (to me) writers, made friends, and learned so much from them. This group is a fine example. When I first joined, I only knew a couple of you. Now, I’ve made some great friends and discovered authors whose books are now my one-clicks on Amazon.

We aren’t isolated any longer.

Diane Burton combines her love of mystery, adventure, science fiction, and romance into writing romantic fiction. She blogs here on the 16th and 30th of each month. She shares snippets from her stories every weekend on her blog.  Her latest release is NUMBERS NEVER LIE, a romantic suspense, available at Amazon, free for Kindle Unlimited.

Finisher or Flinger? by Mackenzie Crowne

For a lot of years, I couldn’t bring myself to quit a book I’d started until I’d read the words “The End”. My inability to set an unfinished book aside worked out just fine for the most part, resulting in many hours of satisfying entertainment. There were, of course, those times when the genre wasn’t my favorite, or the story was okay, just not my style. On other occasions, however, I’d find myself gritting my teeth and asking, “How the hell did this book ever get published?”

Trust me when I say I’ve read some really BAD books from cover to cover. I’m talking major stinkers that left me groaning and thinking, surely, I could come up with a more believable plot line and dialog that wouldn’t make readers cringe in embarrassment for the author. The excruciating hours I spent working my way through those books are partially responsible for my decision to finally do something with my writing compulsion.

But, I digress…

The birth of my boys changed me from a finisher to a flinger and I became very selective when choosing my next escape. With my personal entertainment window shrunk to stolen minutes and nap schedules, I no longer had the time to put up with stories that didn’t hold my rapt attention. I knew firsthand that judging a book by its cover is fraught with peril, which left the blurb. The trouble with that selection process is, an interesting blurb doesn’t always translate into a well-written story, nor does it always give an accurate representation of an author’s voice. But hey, I can’t come down hard on an author for a murky blurb. As someone who’s had to produce a number of them, I can honestly say that whittling a 100k story down to 500 words is a real bitch. 

But that’s a whole other story…

Bottom line, the only sure-fire way to know if a story is any good is to dive in and read. Then, if the story isn’t for you, go ahead and fling. Life is short, after all. On the other hand, don’t be too quick to break up with that book. You never know when you’ll stumble onto a little gem that starts out iffy only to end up an all-time favorite.

For me, one of those sparkling jewels is Warrior’s Woman, book 1 of the Ly-San-Ter series by Johanna Lyndsey. The sub-genre was my problem. I’d never read a Space Travel romance and wasn’t sure I wanted to, but I persevered. (Mostly because I was on a beach vacation and only had a couple books with me. I didn’t want to waste one – and I’m SO glad I didn’t.)

This book introduced me to one of my favorite authors. If you haven’t sampled Johanna, I highly recommend her. Years later, many of her titles, including the entire Ly-San-Ter series, hold a treasured place on my re-read shelf.

So, what about you? Are you one of those people who can fling a book to the side midway through the reading because it just isn’t working for you? Or are you the type who must always finish what you’ve started?

When Mac isn’t bashing her head against her keyboard as she struggles to write the blurb for her latest release, she’s busy weaving happily-ever-afters for her characters, like the heroes and heroines of her PLAYERS series available at Kensington Publishing and wherever e-books are sold.

Drumroll, please: New Cover Reveal by Betsy Ashton

My last post talked about how misleading the first cover for Eyes Without A Face was. My book isn't about the Unabomber, Jihadi John, or Trayvon Martin. It is about a female serial killer. And that was what wasn't clear with the first cover.

I needed a completely different look. I couldn't go back to my original designer. He and I loved the face in the hoodie. He wouldn't be able to kill his darling and come up with a new image.

I asked a host of friends for recommendations. Some had students who were looking for a credit, but who had never designed a book cover before. Others offered names of their cover designers. Unfortunately, many were booked solid for months. I reached out to a writer whose covers I loved. Turned out she and her husband have a design firm...

The rest is history. We discussed how to make the central image female. There could be no mistaking the sex of the killer this time. There could be no mistaking that this woman worked in the medical community. We wanted a female, Dexter-like creepy vibe, but not so creepy that readers would be turned off by the cover.

There could be no mistaking the fact that laws were broken, crimes committed. Kristen came back with something completely unexpected. And spot on.

I'll be rolling out the re-release of Eyes over the next few weeks. Let's hope sales explode all over the place. Let's hope readers get the point of the book. Let's hope they continue to root for the serial killer. Yes, most readers find their guilty pleasure when they like her.

Have any of you ever had to redo a cover because it was misleading? What did you do to re-release it?

###

Betsy Ashton is the author of the Mad Max mystery series, Unintended Consequences, Uncharted Territory, and Unsafe Haven. She also wrote a dark psychological suspense novel, Eyes Without A Face, about a female serial killer, who unpacks her life and career in first person.

The more things change ...

... the more they stay the same, right? Except sometimes they don't. I went to the RWA conference recently for the first time in about 10 years.

Some things weren't changed: long lines at the bathroom; NOISE when 2000 people are in one space talking; workshops galore.

But a lot has changed. The first thing I noticed was the lack of Big Name Authors. I remember passing Nora Roberts in the hall or spying Jayne Ann Krentz at the drinking fountain. Nope. A couple of the keynote folks were around, but mostly -- nope.

Pitching for agents and editors: I don't know if there even was pitching. If there was, I didn't see the line of nervous hopefuls, practicing their words.

The vibe: it's completely different. I'm not saying better or worse, but different. It used to be that being published was like a Big Club and there were just a few select members. But now there are a bunch of successful authors who are self-published who I've never heard of or seen their books. They were the ones giving the workshops and they were the ones signing books.

I got some interesting ideas for promotion and for self-publishing, which is why I went (heaven knows, I don't need to attend yet another workshop on craft or goal-motivation-conflict!) So it wasn't a wasted effort by any means, especially since I had a chance to hang out with friends, which is always energizing.

I like to attend one Writing Event every year just for that reason: to get re-energized, to meet with my writing peeps, and to connect with other authors. RWA National was my event for this year. Now to look around and decide what's up for next year ....

J L
(jayellwilson.com)

And the Winner Is...

Our guest for today was a no show, so I thought I'd use this opportunity to update everyone on our Christmas stories. Thanks to our readers and their much appreciated votes last week, we narrowed the first line field to the top 3 choices and created a poll. Our participating authors voted, and the winner is...drum roll, please!

She peered through the snow-spattered windshield at the neon sign and hoped like hell there was room at the inn.

The line we'll all use to start our stories is very clever! I'm hoping the author who came up with it will tell us who she is in comments. It's a little more specific than some of our past choices, so we'll need to be on our toes to write stories that aren't all similar. However,  being a diverse bunch, I'm sure this group is up to the challenge! I'm already thinking outside the box...

I hope everyone will join us for 12 festive holiday stories beginning right after Thanksgiving weekend. The way time is flying this summer, November will be here before we know it! All we have left to do now (other than the actual writing) is come up with a title for this year's collection. Any ideas? Once we have that, I'm sure Alison will make us another spectacular cover. Stay tuned!

Amazing Life by Brenda Whiteside #weddingAnniversary #vacation

Newly weds

Today's topic is the word Amazing...because I've had some Amazing things happen lately. Amazing good and Amazing bad. It was one of those kind of vacations.

You might have heard in one place or another that FDW and I made it to our 50th wedding anniversary. Now, that is Amazing.

50 years of bliss

Only 6% of us make it that far in marital bliss. (hmmm...bliss...yeah, some of that) We chose to take a two week driving vacation which amounted to well over 4,000 miles round trip. Here's a list of some of the Amazing things that happened on our adventure.

*Day one, I tripped and did a face plant on a cement sidewalk three hours into our vacation. I DID NOT break the bottle of wine I carried, but I did turn my upper lip into hamburger and broke a front tooth which had to be pulled. I have a temporary tooth (a flipper) until I get a permanent implant.  It threw us three days late on the start of our trip.
*We left a trail of personal possessions as we went. At one place FDW left a shirt and a hat. At another I left shampoo, conditioner, and face cleanser. At another we left the toothbrush charger.

On the road trip

Colorado

*Even after fifty years, FDW finds me wildly attractive when we're in a hotel (don't ask why, I'm not questioning it)
*Our big, anniversary dinner was paid for by a man at the next table who had the waitress keep it quiet until after he'd left. We never saw his face or have any idea why he did it.

The Eagles

*Friends gifted us an Eagle's concert that takes its place in our concerts seen history as the best.
*We chose to go through the Rockies on the trip home. The Rockies are Amazing.

We had an Amazing time visiting with friends we made and loved during the nearly twenties years we lived in Minnesota. Life is good. Life is Amazing.

One of our stays

Rocky Mountain High

Minnesota

#Amwriting AND Doing My #Research by Margo Hoornstra

Can you believe it? School starts around here in less than a month.

As an empty nester, the approach of that annual event doesn’t affect me quite so much now. No collections of school clothes to buy. (With four children, that was always quite the monumental undertaking.) No before and after child care to line up. (As a working mom, always an end of summer priority.)

Remember that Staples commercial – maybe it will be on again – with the gleeful parent pushing a shopping cart while clicking their heels and singing ‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year…’ I used to love that ad. Sang that song to my own children all the time too.

But, that’s not what I meant to talk about.

On The Make, Book 3 in the Brothers in Blue series is my current work in progress.

She no longer believes in heroes, or happily ever after. He's determined to prove her wrong.

The book features a recently widowed, single mom raising two adolescent boys, one who is in a particularly difficult stage of rebellion. Having raised the aforementioned four kids, I’m calling up memories of some of our more trying times to help get my creative juices flowing.

Not that any of my offspring were necessarily out and out rebellious, but we did have our moments. And thank goodness I wasn’t a single mom, but had a strong, supportive partner to navigate the sometimes choppy child raising waters with me. Such as:

1.       Those first days, weeks, months with a new driver’s license

2.       The friends they coveted who weren’t necessarily the best choice

3.       Those ‘everyone else gets to, why can’t I?’ discussions

4.       The ‘make your bed and clean your room’ requests that seem to be unheard

5.       The ‘there’s nothing to eat’ wails after a mega trip to the grocery store

6.       The eye rolls. For no particular offense, except for simply being…parental

I could go on, but you get the idea.

Again, as an empty nester, there’s a bonus in here too.  While those recollections are helpful, I get to do some real time, here and now research as well. As I watch two of those four I told you about before navigate the same issues with their offspring.

Plus, I have to say…paybacks really are very, very sweet.

How about you? What’s in your research arsenal and how do you use it?

My days to blog here are the 11^th and 23^rd. For more about me and the stories I write, please visit my  WEBSITE

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Ah...Romance (My Favorite Couples) ~ by Leah St. James

Today is a special day in my family. One year ago, my younger son married his high school sweetheart. Those who followed my angst with the dress and the mother-son dance were probably relieved when the big day was over and I could relax (translation: stop obsessing). I just remember feeling exhausted...with sore feet.

Now a year later, I’m thrilled to report they are happy and doing well. As I was looking through all the wedding photos, reminiscing with occasional but happy sniffles, I was struck how lucky my son was to find someone so special at such a young age. I don’t have a doubt that they are both in it for the long haul, and I find myself wishing for a crystal ball to look into their future--ten, twenty years ahead--to see what joyous memories they make.

That got me thinking about my favorite fictional couples, and how much I enjoy following their love stories. So I made a list -- my favorite romance couples from literature and film/TV. Here it is, in no specific order...

1. Cinderella  & Prince Charming

I mean, isn’t Cinderella the most classic romance of all time, recreated over and over.  My favorite modern-day version is “Pretty Woman” (Julie Roberts and Richard Gere). But my favorite version from my childhood is Rodgers & Hammerstein's musical starring Leslie Ann Warren and Stuart Damon as the hero and heroine.

 


2. Jim and Della Dillingham, “The Gift of the Magi,” O. Henry
Another classic story of selfless love.

3. Claire Beauchamp and Jamie Fraser, “Outlander” by Diana Gabaldon

They fell in love under impossible circumstances, and their love endures the ages. (On a side note, how much trouble can one couple take?!)

4. Lieutenant Eve Dallas and Rourke, “In Death” series by J.D. Robb

They are, in a sense, an odd couple – him a suave and worldly recovered thief/con man, her a seemingly hard-nosed city homicide cop who stops at nothing to get justice for the dead—but their love is true and strong, and so romantic.

5. Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler, “Gone with the Wind,” Margaret Mitchell
 
No explanation needed.

6. “Beauty and the Beast,” classic fairy tale first written by French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve (according to Wikipedia anyway!)
 
I  have two favorite renditions of this story:  

• The TV show with Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman. 
• Then of course, the Disney animated version. I love the music in this version, and I especially love that Belle is so into books! 

Do you like singing along, like I do ? Here’s a sing-along link for you.

8. Rachel Green and Ross Geller from "Friends"

I watched this show until the final episode, rooting and rooting for this on-again/off-again couple. The writers kept us waiting until that last episode, but I wasn’t disappointed.

9. Frances “Baby” Houseman and Johnny Castle from “Dirty Dancing”
 
This isn’t a story of enduring love, but one of young love and learning to be selfless. It’s also one of my favorite dance movies so I had to include it. 



On another side note, I love Baby's mom in this scene when she says (about Baby's dancing), "She gets it from me." :-)

10. Buffy the Vampire Slayer  (Sarah Michelle Geller) and Angelus the Vampire (David Boreanez) from the TV show.

Talk about an odd couple, but it worked.

So those are some of my favorite fictional couples. Who are yours?

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A hopeless romantic who, as a child, chose Cinderella for her Halloween costume about five years in a row, Leah writes stories of mystery and romance, good and evil and the power of love. Learn more at her website, or stop by her Facebook page where she occasionally shares tidbits about life and writing.

By Reservation Only, #coverreveal, by Barbara Edwards #amwriting

Celebrate with me! 

I have my book cover for By Reservation Only with the Wild Rose Press. 

The publication date is undecided, but will be soon.

By Reservation Only is Book One in the Deerbourne Inn Series, an ongoing saga about the people who visit or live at the Inn. the stories vary from contemporary romance to historical romance, a ghost story and a mystery. and thats only the start.

I’m looking forward to reading all of them.

The Deerbourne Inn is in Vermont. a small town near all the area attractions. Do you ski? Fish? Hike? Like Fall foliage? Hunt antiques? There is something for everyone. 

Plan on visiting. 

Please follow, friend or like me. I love to hear from my readers.

 blog: http://barbaraedwardscomments.wordpress.com/

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GoodReads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/496095.Barbara_Edwards

Ever have one of those mornings?

                    Stepping into the kitchen this morning, I'm shocked to see I forgot to set up the coffeepot last night. It's an integral part of my 'heading to bed' ritual. It goes hand-in-hand with brushing my teeth. I do it so all I have to do upon rising is push a button. 

Scratching the side of my left knee, I pick up the carafe and step/stumble over the dog as I turn to the sink. I swear he wasn't there a second ago. His normally limpid eyes are filled with reproach. In his mind, I should be feeding him the moment I get up. Having to fix the coffee is a change in routine that is messing with both of us.

I get the pot going and quickly feed the pets.

I scratch the back of my neck.

I decide there should be enough time to start a load of laundry before the pot finishes brewing. I stuff dirty clothes inside, turn the machine on, and add liquid detergent. 

I stand there, squinting down into the tub as it fills with soapy water. Was that something glinting among the clothes? It disappears as the machine begins to agitate. 

I dismiss it as a figment of an under-caffinated mind.

I scratch my hip as the phone rings.

"Hi," I answer. Politely, I might add.

"You haven't had your coffee," My mother says accusingly and then hangs up on me. It's amazing how she can tell, with only one word, if coffee has socialized me for the day or not.

  She refuses to talk to me before I have a caffeine hit. I love (sarcasm here) how she makes it sound like I'm some addict that can't function without a morning cup of joe. Until my eyes have been opened with a coffee bean and water stimulate, she claims, I'm unable to carry on a sensible conversation. She also won't ride in a car with me until I've got at least 2 cups of caffeine flowing through my veins.

I scratch my thigh.

After pouring a steaming cup, I doctor it with a drop of milk and head to the shower. Naked, I find several new, red patches of broken out and bumpy skin. You see, the little slice of Eden I live on is bountiful in poison ivy, shumac, and oak. I find six new six chigger bites in a place I'd rather they not be.

I scratch at them. I sneeze as Queen Anne's Lace is currently blooming and I'm allergic. 

 Once clean, I look in the mirror and try telling myself I look rather fetching painted pink with Calamine lotion. I compound this lie by adding I'm much more Pink Panther and less Pepto Bismal Monster.

 The lotion does not stop the itching.

The tone for the morning has been set. So much so that, later, when putting fresh sheets on the bed, I stub my baby toe on the leg of the bed frame. And it hurts. My luck it's broken. I can see the tissue swelling and know I'll be limping for a few days.

I believe I hear the distant echo of bed frame designers everywhere  laughing sadistically.

I'm scratching and sipping coffee as my morning ends with the outbreak of WWIII.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me explain that these canine and feline hostilities are rooted in the fact I live out in the boonies and bought a new car last March.

 Stay with me here. 

Who knew that somewhere, somehow, someone decided it would be a good idea to use a soy based coating on new engine wires.

That's right. Just like in the Princess Bride, a R.O.U.S. (rodent of unusual size) took it upon itself to have a wire snack. Its gnawing caused over three hundred dollars worth of damage.

 Everyone said I needed a cat. I don't do things halfway.

So, last week, I took in two kittens. 

Here is Kif, the dog, seeing Calico Andie for the first time. As the internet suggested, I let the dog and kittens get to know each other through closed doors. When the dog is inside, the kittens stay in the guest bathroom. They sniff at one another through the space at the bottom of the door.

  As you can see, one swipe of Kif's Gene Simmons-esque tongue could drown a tiny kitty.

I call this one, Marley because, I think, she looks like gray, marled wool. I find I have to repeat this a lot. I guess it was a bad name choice as, evidently, most think her name is a drug reference.
 It is not.

This morning, before I've ingested my normal pot or two of coffee, I discover the kittens have Houdini-it out of the bathroom. 

Canine and feline sleeping peacefully. 

So cute. So precious.

I start singing the Beatles, "All together now."

 

Either my singing or grabbing the camera wakes them up. And, all h...heck breaks loose. At first, Kif frantically wags his tail. He thinks it's playtime and he's been desperately wanting them to play with him.

However, the kittens snub him. Marley rather rudely puts her hind leg over her neck and starts grooming. I tell her that, at the very least, she could have turned her back before washing those bits and pieces.

 Kif's feelings are hurt. He responds by barking and attempts to jump up on the tea cart. 

Backs arching, the kittens hiss and spit with adorable ferocity.  Which, understandably, Kif doesn't take seriously. I didn't either until Andie makes this weird growling sound that causes the hair on the back of my neck to prickle. 

Andie and Marley reward them for picking them up out of canine reach by puncturing my skin with forty tiny but razor sharp claws.

 I yelp. This inspires Kif to repeatedly jump against my side. I'm almost knocked over by the ramming force of fifty, sturdy pounds. 

I'm done trying to referee. I'm tired of scratching.

  Poor Kif is put outside. I tell him that, when the kittens are old enough to look after themselves, they will take their turn at being banished outside for misbehaving.

 Right now, the kitties are too little to be outside where hawks, owls, and turkey vultures patrol the skies looking for tasty little morsels. Yet, Kif is a pampered pooch and it's too hot to leave him out during the heat of the day. It's not like he doesn't have shade trees, a pond, and a spring fed creek to keep him cool. No, he stubbornly stays on the deck. He stares longingly inside and, somehow, manages to make me worry he'll get heatstroke.

I scratch as I reconsider living in the country. 

I reconsider being a 'pet' person.

I think I need a more robust coffee bean.

Oh, and when transferring wet laundry to the dryer, I found my reading glasses. I guess they slipped off my nose when I was loading the washer earlier and that's what I'd seen glinting among the clothes.

 All this and I haven't even been up for three hours.

REMULLINS

author of paranormal romance

Keep up with what I'm working on at

remullins.com 

 

Separate title novella written for Kindle worlds.