Archive for the ‘Guest Post’ Category

The Corpse Whisperer Series by H.R. Boldwood ~ Guest Post And Giveaway

Posted: February 6, 2024 in giveaways, Guest Post, Mystery, urban fantasy
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Welcome to the world of Allie Nighthawk, corpse whisperer and bad ass zombie hunter.

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The Corpse Whisperer

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An Allie Nighthawk Mystery Book 1

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by H.R. Boldwood

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Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Mystery

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Zombie hunting just got wicked fun!

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Welcome to the world of Allie Nighthawk, corpse whisperer and bad ass zombie hunter.

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“If you raise deadheads, you’d better be able to put ‘em down. Nobody said it was pretty. But in this day, when vampires aren’t just for breakfast anymore, and the dead are disposable pawns for necromancers, someone has to ante up. Looks like I won the lotto. Imagine my delight. You should thank me, really, because the world is batshit crazy.”

When the zombie population spikes and no one knows why, it’s up to Allie to solve the mystery. But there’s a hitch. She’s stuck babysitting Leo Abruzzi, a zombie-bitten gangster who’s turning state’s evidence. But the mob and a powerful necromancer will stop at nothing to take Leo and Allie down.

Allie Nighthawk is Anita Blake on steroids, with a fondness for leather and Jack on the rocks. She has a healthy dose of Stephanie Plum and Rachel Morgan in her, too, though she’d never admit it. The battle between good and evil just got wicked fun.

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo * Bookbub * Goodreads

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What advice would you give new authors? What are common traps for aspiring authors?

 

From a technical perspective, I encourage new authors to tighten their writing, tighten it again, and then tighten more. Readers want a page-turning pace, but be careful to not edit the voice out of your characters or your narrator.

 

It’s common for new writers to “info dump,” which means plopping too much exposition or backstory upfront. Use a deft hand when splicing those all-important facts into your story. Too much exposition slows the pace of the narrative.

 

Find an online or in-person writing group where the participants have at least your level of experience (preferably more experience than you.) Check your ego at the door. Listen and learn. If one reader has an issue with a specific area of your story, it may or may not be a matter of personal preference. If multiple people give you similar feedback, they are probably on to something. Keep in mind that the story you wrote belongs to you. You can choose which feedback suits you and which doesn’t.

 

Don’t get attached to your words. Sometimes, I have a passage I love, but it doesn’t work where I’ve placed it. Rather than discard the passage, I move it to a “keep file” where I can access it again at another point in time.

 

There is a world of online writing information at your fingertips. Educate yourself, whether it’s learning how to format a manuscript, create compelling three-dimensional characters, pace your story, or outline a novel. There are also excellent online and in-person seminars on every writing-related topic imaginable. The more you know and the more professional your manuscript appears, the better your chances of seeing your work professionally published.

 

Find an experienced mentor to help guide you through the writing process if you can. Let them read your work and provide feedback. Soak up their words of wisdom!

 

Use an editor. There are millions of authors out there, all seeking publication. Don’t let punctuation errors, wonky sentence structure, or plot holes kick you to the curb before an agent or publisher gets to the meat of your story.

 

Once you think your manuscript is polished, forward it to experienced beta readers, not just your mom or Aunt Sally. Good beta readers help you spot logic errors, inadvertent name/time frame changes, and typos that have magically survived your own editing process.

 

Once you send your manuscript out into the world, be aware that the publishing industry moves at the speed of molasses. Have patience when it comes to expecting responses. Expect a ton of rejections before you receive an acceptance. And when you do get an acceptance, read the publisher’s contract very carefully. Have a professional look it over before you sign. You don’t want to be locked into an agreement that isn’t mutually satisfying.

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Corpse Whisperer Sworn

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An Allie Nighthawk Mystery Book 2

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Zombies, Voodoo, and Hoodoo-what would you do?

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Follow Allie Nighthawk to exciting New Orleans where she raises the dead, puts down rotters, and dabbles in the mystical world of hoodoo. She’s on the trail of an evil necromancer who will stop at nothing to rule the world with his army of deadheads. Is her magick strong enough to save the day? Or will this necromancer from her past kill her before she gets the chance? She figures she’s got a fifty-fifty shot. Make that forty-sixty.

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Life Among the Tombstones

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An Allie Nighthawk Mystery Prequel

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Freelance zombie hunter seeking full-time employment-benefits required.

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In this prequel to The Corpse Whisperer series, financially challenged zombie hunter, Allie Nighthawk, returns to her hometown of Cincinnati and finds herself knee-deep in murder, mayhem, and zombies. Can she solve not one but two murders, and get away unscathed — when the good guys might not be so good, and a presence from her past returns for revenge?

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**Get it FREE!**

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Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo * Bookbub * Goodreads

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Corpse Whisperer Torn

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An Allie Nighthawk Mystery Book 3

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Zombie hunting 101: Never tell your neighbors what you do for a living.

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“Just after sunrise, I jumped on my Harley and hurtled toward Templeman’s Funeral Home, packing Hawk, my custom 9mm, a backup Glock, and a seven-inch Ka-Bar knife—the standard-issue zombie-hunter’s tool kit. Not that I’m standard-issue, by any stretch. I was born with the ability to raise the dead. It’s a genetic thing. Don’t ask me how it works. I didn’t write the playbook. I’m just living the dream.”

Allie Nighthawk faces a ghost from her past as she explores the fascinating and historic world of Cincinnati’s underground. When the Z-virus threatens world-wide contamination, it’s up to Allie to save the day. Is her magick strong enough to turn the tide? Or will doubt and inner demons stand in her way? And will those she loves survive?

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H.R. Boldwood, author of the Corpse Whisperer series, countless short stories, and Imadjinn Award finalist, is a writer of horror and speculative fiction. In another incarnation, Boldwood is a Pushcart Prize nominee and winner of the 2009 Bilbo Award for creative writing by Thomas More College. Boldwood’s characters are often disreputable and not to be trusted. They are kicked to the curb at every conceivable opportunity when some poor unsuspecting publisher welcomes them with open arms. No responsibility is taken by this author for the dastardly and sometimes criminal acts committed by this ragtag group of miscreants.

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Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Guest Post And Giveaway ~ Standing Room Only by Josh Liccardi

Posted: January 31, 2024 in fiction, giveaways, Guest Post
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One man’s journey through the sick and twisted world of heroin addiction.

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Standing Room Only

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by Josh Liccardi

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Genre: Fictional Biography

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One man’s journey through the sick and twisted world of heroin addiction. Listen to his every thought as he tries to reexamine life, or what it has become. See each struggle unfold as things get more and more complicated. Learn how to curve the pain, and ultimately how to simply just give up.

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*Please note – due to an Amazon error, the ebook connected to the Amazon paperback is incorrect and NOT by this author!*

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151 Productions ebook * B&N * Paperback Amazon *Goodreads

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It hits me hard. Then it pulls through me like a freight train that is stuck on its rails, but set to full throttle at its fastest speed. The pause button has been pushed. Time is slowed to an almost stop. All the energy in the world enters me through the invisible lines that are attached to every square inch of my body. For a second, I have entirely disappeared. Absorbed into everything else that is….and isn’t. This feeling can only be described as indescribable. Without experiencing it yourself, there is no possible way that one could ever even imagine its magnitude and significance. Soon time will begin again and catch up in a strange and ambiguous way. I can see around things that normally seem so benign and unimportant. A new way of thinking takes over as I try to grasp all the differences between what I’ve been told, and what I am currently actually seeing. Things that normally aren’t this clear are suddenly lit up and almost transparent. Like the answers were always just sitting there right in front of me waiting to be found. This is how I want to feel all the time. I can’t imagine dying without ever having felt this way – I now finally feel as though there was a point to living. A glimpse into the soul this deep should not be passed over. Never again will I see things the way that I used to – through a murky filtered lens. Never again will I feel hopelessly trapped inside of someone else’s great idea that I simply do not agree with or accept. Never again will I fear that there is nothing else to be found. Never again will I search for a way to fill the voids that so profoundly populate my chest. I know that in the physical sense I am sitting on the floor against Dave’s beat up brown couch, but I can’t feel it. A numbness has engulfed my body which pulsates at irregular time intervals as a reminder of its presence. A cyclone of thoughts swirl through my head like watercolors being brushed lazily onto a canvas. There is no pain in this place. No worries. No cares. Just the forever stillness of my physical self that has relaxed to the consistency of putty. This is the high. This is what we all crave and spend all of our energy constantly seeking. It has become irreplaceable. It has become everything.

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Can you, for those who don’t know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?  

 

As far back as I can recall I would write little snippets of thoughts or even short story type excerpts instead of paying attention in school, to pass the monotony of it all.  Writing was always a passion that would eat away at me in the back of my mind until I had no choice but to put my thoughts down on paper.  Even if these thoughts didn’t formulate into anything more, the act of writing them out and working through the words left me with a cathartic feeling.

 

What is something unique/quirky about you? 

 

I drink more coffee than water throughout the day and am running out of free skin to tattoo.

 

I was also recently informed by a close friend that I have a knack for coming up with analogies to describe things, and that I “do this all the time” –  after giving it some thought, I don’t think he’s wrong.

 

Tell us something really interesting that’s happened to you! 

 

Once on a business trip to San Diego I was shocked to run into an old co-worker there who had moved to the area without my knowledge.  I live in MA, so to randomly run into someone you actually know literally on the other side of the country seemed extremely odd, and of course, interesting!

 

What are some of your pet peeves? 

 

I don’t have many that I can think of, however the biggest thing that comes to mind is “giving up”.  I personally exhaust every route possible before doing so, and I have come to expect the same from others.  The younger people in my life who I’ve had the pleasure of mentoring over the years always get this advice from me – do you best to never give up, you might end up surprising yourself.

 

Where were you born/grew up at? 

 

I was born in Great Barrington MA and grew up in a nearby town called Hinsdale.  It was a rural area with not much to do but to make your own fun, mostly outside either alone or with neighborhood friends.

 

If you knew you’d die tomorrow, how would you spend your last day? 

 

I would spend the day at the ocean surrounded by loved ones (hopefully), specifically my daughter.  Knowing that I was going to die would create immense anxiety, and being at the edge of the water could help with calming my nerves.  My daughter would be the last person that I’d want to see before making the final descent into nothingness.

 

Who is your hero and why? 

 

I can’t really think of anyone (fictional or real) that I would call my “hero”, but if I had to choose, I suppose it would be two people.  My Grandfather is one, and the other would by my Father.  My Grandfather was an extremely kind person and was someone that I observed for years.  I was able to learn a lot from him while I was growing up, and he inadvertently showed me how to deal with most situations in life.  My Father is also one of the nicest people you’d ever have the pleasure of meeting.  He’s an extremely hard worker and has always chosen to do the right thing in life.  Both provided me with many social skills and abilities to navigate life in a respectful manner.

 

What kind of world ruler would you be? 

 

A peaceful one (if that is at all possible).  I have always felt as though we should all help each other as human beings and do what we can to lift those up around us.  The world we live in today does not have that mentality, and the people who hold power are generally only concerned with acquiring more of it.  As a world leader I would desperately try to push humanity toward hitting a reset button, and changing archaic ways that end up doing more harm than good.

 

What are you passionate about these days? 

 

I am mostly passionate about my current writing projects, one of which is a comic book series called “Tribes of Erutan” who my closest friend and I have created together.  We are close to publishing the second issue and will then immediately be moving on to the third.  It’s been a tremendously rewarding project and we hope to create many more in the future.  When I’m not working on that specifically, I’ve been writing another novel as well, so that is also at the top of my list lately.

 

What do you do to unwind and relax? 

 

I rarely have “relaxing” time, however when I do, I usually end up either playing some video games, enjoying a sessions of D&D with some friends, or spending time near the ocean.  Every year I travel down to coast of Virginia and just get away from everything around me.  Staring into the vastness of the ocean fills me with inspiration while simultaneously having an overall calming effect.

 

How to find time to write as a parent? 

 

Finding time to do anything as a parent is difficult!  When my daughter was still very young the opportunity to write was almost non-existent.  There were times where I would have a sudden thought and I would quickly type it out on my phone to not lose the idea etc.  Now that she has grown into a teenager, finding time has become a bit easier.  I end up writing a lot at night, or simply in between obligations such as work and family activities.

 

When did you first consider yourself a writer? 

 

Once I published my first novel I began to feel somewhat ok with the title, however I’m not a fan of titles in general.  I feel that stamping a title or name on someone/something immediately provides preconceived notions and tends to make people overlook the qualities behind the veil.  Anyone can be a “writer”, whether you can invoke feeling in a reader is another thing entirely.  My goal is always to make someone feel something.

 

Do you have a favorite movie? 

 

Too many to list, however a few that come to mind are “Fight Club”, “Trainspotting”, “Donnie Darko”, “The Godfather”,

 

Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?

 

Definitely Standing Room Only.  There is plenty of drama, with some elements of action as well.   While some scenes would certainly have some grittiness, I feel like the emotion would come across well on screen.

 

As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?

 

An English Bulldog – hands down.  I’m only slightly biased due to having my own 12 year old English Bulldog, but seriously I think they’re amazing dogs despite their physical challenges.  They are incredibly stubborn yet extremely loyal and dedicated.  I cannot help but smile every time I see one.

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Josh Liccardi is an American author who grew up in the Berkshires located in Western Massachusetts. He was born in 1981 to a small family and grew up in a rural area 15 miles away from a small centralized city. With not much to do he spent his time creating scenarios for himself and other neighborhood kids near him in order to pass the time outside of school. At an early age Josh became interested in computers and started learning their ways from the inside out, which ended up turning into a career choice as he aged. School was never of much interest, but Josh did attend some college, before dropping out and focusing solely on his first IT job. The years went by and he bounced around between a few different companies, but still to this day is working in IT. When not engrossed in work he was able to find time to write various things, which did get put on hold after the birth of his daughter. Josh is able to focus more on writing now however and recently created 151 Productions with his dear friend and artist Shawn. Through this endeavor Shawn and Josh will continue to create and publish various works such as a comic book series as well as upcoming novels that are already in process. They are both very grateful to get their creations out into the world and hope to share their art for years to come.

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Website * Facebook * Instagram * Goodreads

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Undomesticated Women by Anna Blake ~ Guest Post, Giveaway & Review ~

Posted: January 30, 2024 in giveaways, Guest Post, reviews
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Book Details:

​ Undomesticated Women, Anecdotal Evidence from the Road by Anna Blake
Category:  Adult Non-Fiction (18+),  325 pages
Genre: Travel Memoir
Publisher:  Prairie Moon Press
Release date:  Oct  2023
Content Rating:  PG. oblique mention of dysfunctional family, no sex, drugs, etc

Book Description:

Welcome to our year of living compactly. My dog, Mister, and I took to the road pulling our A-frame trailer, the Rollin’ Rancho. I’m a traveling horse trainer/clinician, who became a non-essential worker during the COVID-19 lockdown. Then, in 2022, we bounced back. We were nomads looking for horse training adventure and liver treats. Work paid for the trip; it was part clinic tour, part travelogue, part squirrel hunt. But mostly an unapologetic celebration of sunsets, horses, RV parks, roadkill, diverse landscapes, and undomesticated women.

It’s a book made of made of adjectives and nouns, blue skies and tornado watches, resorts and reservations, open roads to the horizon, and one-lane dead-ends. We emerge from the truck in a cloud of dog hair and sunflower shells, like disoriented and scruffy rock stars in a GPS haze, not entirely lost or found.

This book isn’t about training, although there are horses in it. It’s a follow-up of Stable Relation, my first book, but my life changed in ways I would never have guessed, so don’t expect the usual sequel. Undomesticated Women is a travel memoir, a peek behind the curtains of what my job is like. I wanted to see this beautiful country, do some time travel, and explore thoughts and memories now that I’ve become a gray mare.

​Mister would tell you it’s his memoir about being tasked with the unreasonable job of guarding me against a wild range of dangers. Like eating dinner late.

BUY THE BOOK:
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add to goodreads
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MY REVIEW

I’ve recently read some memoirs and enjoyed them and was curious about Undomesticated Women. The title intrigued me and the idea of a woman of my age traveling the country with only her dog as a companion sure had me curious how it went. And a horse whisperer to boot. I’m sure she probably doesn’t tag herself as one, but that’s what came to mind when I read about some of her experiences with the noble animals.

I was hooked right off the bat. From how the germ of an idea blossomed into a possibility and then to reality, right down to what kind of travel camper to choose, I didn’t want to miss a thing. The details of doing some practice camping on different places on her farm to see how Mister, her canine companion, would deal with the cramped quarters and being separated from the other dogs and The Dude Rancher, her husband, to how she’d cram everything she need for the long trip into the nooks and crannies, all of it was interesting… and entertaining.

I’m a horse lover. Was one of those young girls that had the statues on all my shelves, along with all those great books like The Black Stallion, Black Beauty and Little Black, A Pony, and posters hung in every available place. The author had me laughing and crying as she related her journey of cross country clinics with owners and trainers and their horses. Kind of reminded me of the show Heartland, which I love.

Anna Blake is such a great storyteller. Yes, a storyteller. This may not be a work of fiction, but all great storytellers leave you hanging on each sentence, wanting more and more. And that’s how it was with her book. If she can entertain me this much with her memoir, it makes me wonder where her imagination could take me in a work of fiction. I’d read it!

5 STARS

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Guest Post
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My Dog, The Author

After the COVID lockdown was over, I was eager to get back on the road and do my job live again. I’m a horse trainer who’d been sitting in an office chair, giving lessons in Zoom meetings. Now I wanted to see the country again. My dog, Mister, and I took to the road pulling our A-frame trailer, the Rollin’ Rancho. We were nomads traveling 14,000 miles, across 30 states, and seeing both oceans.

Driving days were long and to stay awake, I listened to audiobooks, nibbled sunflower seeds, and took my dog’s advice on when to stop for a walk. Mister was my self-care specialist. He walked me to keep my hips loose. He called me to dinner after a long workday. And he was an emotional anchor for me because no matter what other people think about me, Mister always thinks my only job is to be with him. He makes things that simple.

Writing is part of every day for me. I’ve been blogging since 2010, along with publishing books, writing poetry, and even screenplays. It’s my habit to use words to sort out my thoughts. At home, I usually write early in the morning before the chaos begins. When traveling, I’m oddly comfortable writing in an airport bar.

When I was training locally, I always kept a notebook with me to scribble down thoughts as I drove from farm to farm. In preparing for this long-distance road trip, I added some technology to keep us safer, including a cell phone holder on the dash and a voice-to-text app. At first, it was just for notes and ideas that I wanted to remember. One day, I dictated part of an essay and then felt guilty. I had already betrayed my paper tablet. Was I betraying my laptop now?

The app didn’t work that well, not speaking horse like I do. It would have to become bilingual. Once I downloaded the file, the number of corrections was bewildering. If I hadn’t edited it that night, I wouldn’t be able to recognize what I was talking about a day later. But with technology changing so fast, I’m always afraid if I don’t keep up, I’ll have to hire somebody’s kid to do my banking.

The next day, I tried again. It was a quiet afternoon on the back roads in North Carolina. I wanted to write about the last stop, so I thought out my sentences and slowly enunciated every word. Mister was in the passenger seat, strapped into his safety bed. Like most dogs, he sees me at my worst and keeps my secrets.

I paused in my dictation and thought for a long moment. The microphone was waiting. Mister sat up and let out one bark. The screen added the word “what.” Our eyes met, and he didn’t look away. Was Mister going to write a tell-all book of his own?

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Meet Author Anna Blake:

 



I’m an animal advocate, award-winning author, solo RV traveler, old-school feminist, dog companion, unabashed lover of sunsets, and professional horse trainer/clinician. I’m sixty-nine years old. I’ve done just about everything and done it well. No longer auditioning.

My books include:
Stable Relation, A memoir of one woman’s spirited journey home.
Relaxed & Forward: Relationship advice from your horse.
Barn Dance, Nickers, brays, bleats, howls, and quacks: Tales from the herd.
Horse Prayers, Poems from the prairie.
Going Steady, More relationship advice from your horse.
Horse. Woman. Poems from our lives.
Undomesticated Women: Anecdotal Evidence from the Road

I was born in Cavalier County, North Dakota, in 1954, the youngest daughter in a farm family. Now I live at Infinity Farm, on the flat, windy, treeless prairie of Colorado with a herd of reprobates, raconteurs, and our moral compass, Edgar Rice Burro. Previously, I was a self-employed goldsmith, showing one-of-a-kind artwork in galleries from coast to coast. My Denver studio and gallery was shared with generations of good dogs.

Early writing included a few screenplays, one of which was produced independently, and articles for several periodicals. Every Friday since 2010, I have posted an unconventional and popular blog about life on the farm and horse training. My unique perspective combines Calming Signals and Affirmative Training for a special method of understanding, training, and respecting animals.

connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ facebook ~ instagram ~  goodreads 

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Undomesticated Women, Anecdotal Evidence from the Road Book Tour Giveaway

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Guest Post And Giveaway ~ Recruiting Murder by Frank Lazarus

Posted: January 20, 2024 in giveaways, Guest Post, Mytery/Thriller
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Can two Sleuths put these two puzzles together before college starts in September?

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Recruiting Murder

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A Brown & McNeil Murder Mystery Book 3

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by Frank Lazarus

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Genre: Murder Mystery, Crime Thriller

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The third installment in the Brown and McNeil Mystery Series
Lenny Goldstein and his company, Future Stars, evaluate high school and collegiate basketball talent and sell their rankings to colleges and NBA teams.
From its humble beginnings in 1975, Future Stars had grown into a behemoth; with fifteen NBA teams and seventy-eight colleges paying subscriptions for his rankings.
Lenny is semi-retired these days, with his son and son-in-law running the business until he gets a call from an old buddy in Newport News, who wants him to come look at a high school kid, Lincoln Anderson, in Emporia, Virginia. He believes this Anderson kid has been overlooked by everyone, including Future Stars.
Concurrently, Lenny gets a call from an old buddy, the iconic coach of Duke University, to see what he knows about the college decision of Tyler Longenecker, Future Star’s #5 ranked high school senior from a premier prep school in the tony Boston suburbs.
All seems to be going on script until graduation, when both Lincoln and Tyler are involved in a death and a roofie rape. Suddenly, Lenny’s getting calls about both kids.
Lincoln’s family is related to James McNeil in Philly, and they call him for help. James and his buddy, Detective Vernon Brown of the Philly PD, jump into the car and head South on I-95.
Can the two Sleuths from The Murder Gambit and The Phenom put these two puzzles together before college starts in September?
Once again, Author Frank Lazarus has produced a gripping, suspenseful story that will keep you off Netflix for a day or two.
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Amazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo * Bookbub * Goodreads

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The Graduation Party of the Beaver Country Day School was being held at The Country Club in Brookline,
Massachussetts.
The dance had ended and Tyler Longenecker and Katie Reynolds walked off the floor together. Tyler was a
highly recruited basketball player who had recently committed to Duke University in the Fall.
Tyler asked, “How about going outside for some fresh air and a beer? I’ve got two tickets left.”
“Sure!”
They stopped by the bar and picked up two Samuel Adams, and Tyler led her outside. It was still mild
outside, and on a clear night, the stars and half-moon were shining brightly. “Wow, what a gorgeous night,”
he said; girls love that shit!
The headed to the pool area, and Tyler knew the cabanas were unlocked. They could have some privacy
there, at least for a bit. They entered and sat close to each other on a chaise lounge. Tyler raised his beer
bottle and toasted, “To our futures, Katie.”
Katie returned the toast, “To the Class of 2022!”
Tyler reached in and gave her a peck on the cheek. But he pulled back only an inch or two, waiting for her to
glimpse into his eyes. When she did, he looked into hers and slowly inched closer to her lips. Her mouth
opened invitingly, and he accepted the invitation. Their tongues found each other and explored. Tyler’s
arousal was now in full throttle, and it seemed that Katie was keeping pace. Her hand found its way down to
his zipper, but without opening it, she gently massaged it as it continued its growth. “Oh, Katie, that feels so
good; please don’t stop.”
She couldn’t and wouldn’t! She started unbuckling his belt as he reached around and began unzipping her
dress. By the time he had worked it down to her waist,Katie had slumped, and her body fell out of Tyler’s
arms, collapsing onto the chaise lounge.
Tyler froze for a minute, and then Nathan, Billy, and Sheldon entered the cabana.
“She’s out cold,” Tyler said. “Those roofies are quick-acting. Guys, I’m still hard; I’m going first.”
Lincoln Anderson had just dropped off two work friends and was heading home on West End Boulevard in
Emporia, Virginia. Lincoln had recently gone from an unknown basketball player to a full scholarship recruit
to Richmond Commonwealth University, thanks to the discovery by Future Stars, LLC.
BetweenTaylor and Greene Streets, he saw a bike lying on the road. A strange place for an abandoned bike,
he thought. It was a narrow, one-way street, so Lincoln had to pull off onto the grass. He parked and got out.
He walked towards the bike, and as he got within ten feet, he noticed a young girl lying in the drainage ditch.
He ran over to her, knelt down, and gently pushed her to see if she was awake. There was no movement.
He ran back to his car and dialed 9-1-1 on his cell phone.
“This is 9-1-1; what is your emergency?”
“Yes, I am on West End, and a girl has fallen off her bike, and she’s not moving. I think she needs an
ambulance really bad.”
“Where on West End?”
“Right at Taylor and Greene.”
“And your name, sir?”
“Lincoln Anderson.”
“OK, Mr.Anderson, please wait for the ambulance and police, and do not touch the girl.They should be there
within five minutes.”
She hung up. Lincoln thought he should call home; hopefully, his dad could come over. He dialed his dad’s
cell.
“What’s up, Lincoln?”
“Hi,dad, can you get over to West End? I was driving home and saw a bike lying on the ground. When I went
over to it, there was a girl lying in the ditch next to it. I called 9-1-1, and they are on their way, but I hope you
can get here.”
“I’ll be right there, Lincoln. You did the right thing, but do not answer any questions until I get there. Do you
hear me? Is there anyone else there? Other drivers pulled over?”
“Not yet!”
“I’m on my way.”
Ten minutes later, a police car arrived, and Lincoln could hear the ambulance approaching behind them.
Lincoln got out of the car and walked towards the girl. Two uniformed police officers jumped out of their car;
one pulled his gun and said, “Halt right there, young man; put your hands up in the air?”
The other officer walked to the girl’s body and placed his hand on her throat. Heturned and said, “She’s
gone.”
They both walked towards Lincoln and said, “Keep your hands in the air. We just need to search you; do you
have a weapon?”
“No, I don’t have any weapon; what am I a suspect? I just saw the girl’s bike and stopped to see if I could
help.”
The officer frisked Lincoln and then looked into his pockets. Out of his side pocket, he pulled out a small
pouch that contained a white powdery substance.“What’s this?”
“What do you mean? That’s not mine, whatever it is.”
“Turn around, smart Alec. We are taking you into the station for questioning; turn around; cuff him, Buddy.”
“Wait,what the hell is this? I ain’t done nothing.”
The officer grabbed Lincoln and forcibly turned him around. Lincoln stumbled,falling to the ground. One
officer kicked him in the butt, while the other pulled out a club and hit him several times on the shoulder.
“Now, are you going to get in the car peacefully, or do we need more discipline?”
Just then, Lincoln’s father pulled up and jumped out of his car, “What’s going on here? Why is my son on the
ground?”
“Who are you?”
“I’m Lincoln’s father, Dwight Anderson; who are you?”
“I am Officer Jerome Abbott, and this is Officer Buddy Wilkins with the Emporia Police Department. Your
son stumbled when we were putting the handcuffs on him.We are taking your son in for questioning about
this young woman’s death and this substance we found on him,” showing the white pouch to Anderson.
“Dad, whatever that is, it ain’t mine. This guy just reached into my pocket and pulled it out like it was a
magic trick. And they have been kicking and clubbing me.”
“Is this the way you treat all your suspects or only the Black kids? Lincoln let’s just go down the station and
get this sorted out. Don’t say a word. Officers, I’ll follow you, but do not ask my son any questions until I
arrive.”

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The Phenom

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A Brown & McNeil Murder Mystery Book 2

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Even before he has played his first game in high school, it would seem nothing can stop Bo Campbell’s meteoric rise to stardom in the basketball world. In Philadelphia, people are already comparing him to his Overbrook High School predecessor, Wilt Chamberlain.


But his dreams are suddenly shattered when he is arrested for the murder of his best friend, Sherman Claxton.

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Detective Vernon Brown, and James McNeil, his friend and Bo’s grandfather, search for the truth, but James goes rogue, and soon finds himself in the dangerous underbelly of the Philadelphia drug sub-culture, where the stakes are high and it’s hard to tell who’s friend and who’s foe.

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Amazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo *Bookbub * Goodreads

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The Murder Gambit

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A Brown & McNeil Murder Mystery Book 1

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An unexplained death in a nursing home. A man falls from a balcony. A hit and run in the middle of a city street. An execution in a home. A woman collapses dead after a date.

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Five murders. Five methods. Five police jurisdictions.

What’s the connection?

Philadelphia-area detectives are under pressure to solve the murders, while dealing with their own issues.

Speeding like the lead car at Talladega towards a shocking conclusion, is The Murder Gambit a Shakespearean tragedy or a sinister reality?

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Amazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo * Bookbub * Goodreads

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Can you, for those who don’t know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?

I spent fifty-three years in the Financial Services and Life Insurance industry, never thinking much about writing a book or becoming a published author.

With possibly a couple of exceptions: thirty or forty years ago, I read that “everyone has a novel in them.” I once started one, and every five years or so, I add a sentence to it. Secondly, twenty years ago, I started writing a blog. It was private and only shared with friends and family. I considered it an outlet for my Seinfeldish sense of humor and titled it A BLOG ABOUT NOTHING.

I am working on a book that will be THE BEST OF THE BLOG; we’ll see if or when that comes to fruition.

I retired at the end of 2021 and kept busy with golf and COVID hibernating. Towards the end of 2021, a friend shared with me a novel that he had written but was unpublished. I decided to try it, and THE MURDER GAMBIT was born.

 

What is your favorite part of this book and why?

 

In THE PHENOM, there is a Lesbian seduction scene that I wasn’t certain I could write with any authority or conviction. It was so out of character for me, and I received a lot of questions about it from those who know me.

It may not be the highlight of the book, but it was the one I think of proudly.

 

 

What kind of research do you do before you begin writing a book?

I actually do more research WHILE writing than BEFORE.

For example, in my third novel, I have a potential murder in Emporia, Virginia, part of Greensville County. I needed to research how their court system worked.

And I am constantly on Google Maps, looking at streets, parks, churches, restaurants, etc.

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Frank Lazarus was born and raised in West Philadelphia and attended Overbrook High School, as you may have guessed from his writings.

After graduating high school, Frank spent two years in the U.S. Army during the VietNam War. After his service, he completed his

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration at St. Joseph’s University, in Philadelphia.

He was in the Financial Services and Life Insurance industry for fifty-three years before he retired at the end of 2021.

Frank has three adult children and five grandchildren.

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Website * Facebook * Twitter * Amazon * Goodreads

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Guest Post And Giveaway ~ Outpassage by Janet Morris & Chris Morris

Posted: January 18, 2024 in giveaways, Guest Post, Science Fiction
Tags: , ,
5

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War and Mystery Beyond the Stars

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Outpassage

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by Janet Morris & Chris Morris

Genre: Science Fiction

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WAR AND MYSTERY BEYOND THE STARS

Sgt. “Det” Cox has just spent three years under psych observation on Earth; now that he’s out-system, he isn’t about to tell anyone he’s seeing aliens again. Paige Barnett has lost everything, even her name, because she knows too much about the rebellion spreading through the Earth-Space mining colonies.

Together Cox and Barnett stumble upon the mystery at the revolution’s heart and learn why the rebels are willing to die for it.

Is their discovery humanity’s worst threat or greatest gift? The authorities are willing to destroy whole planets to keep the revolution’s secret from reaching Earth… What’s to stop them from destroying two people

“The Morrises’ blend of fast-paced narrative and meticulous research into near-space technology makes a novel you can’t put down.”
— C.J. Cherryh

“Action sequences that would make any writer proud. OUTPASSAGE is a wonderful book.”
–David Drake

“OUTPASSAGE might just be the perfect science fiction novel.”
— Jack Williamson

Amazon * B&N * Bookbub * Goodreads

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PROLOGUE

Fourth World Nightmare

The sky was thin and the color of dirty motor oil, except where it exploded above their heads. Concussion was delayed in the thin air but the smell of roasting Rangers got to you right away, even through your air filters. The terraformers hadn’t done much of a job on this classified ball of rock before the corporation workforce moved in, the shit hit the fan, and a request for military assistance followed.

The request wasn’t denied, exactly, but it was rerouted to InterSpace Tasking Corporation’s security division, who sent out a deniable reconnaissance team — thirteen US Rangers sheep-dipped for hazardous duty under the command of Colonel “Mad Jack” Reynolds.

It was Reynolds whose charred flesh was sending up the stink that made Cox gag as he dove for cover. Long recon meant long odds, long distances, and long hitches, but nobody ever wanted to think it meant dying a long way from home.

Overhead, even through his flash-and-blast suppressing helmet, Cox could see the enemy coming in for another strafing run. Nobody ever thought the enemy was going to come at you with airpower, either, because there wasn’t supposed to be any hostile force out here that had airpower.

In Cox’s ear, Locke was screaming over the comm set: “… suggest you form up for extraction, sir, at the beacon.”

Cox huddled under an overhang of silicate, his rifle cradled against his chest and his knees pulled up, shifted enough to turn his head. “Reynolds?” he said into his comm-mic, just to be sure.

But there was no way the barbecued officer lying beside him, charred limbs askew, was going to answer. The airpower came over and Cox covered his head: his helmet’s recon pack had sent plenty of pictures already; he didn’t need to risk his life for one more shot of somebody shooting at him.

He needed to risk his life to get to the extraction point, and that was about all he could handle. “Hey Locke,” he yelled into his mic because the airpower was strafing what was left of Reynolds: “Reynolds is past it. I’m here by my lonesome.” Rock exploded near him. Reflexively, he ducked his head in the shelter of his arms, eyes closed, and said as clearly and calmly as he could, “But I’m real ready for an order to get the fuck out of here.”

“Then give it,” came Locke’s voice, laconic over the static and hard to hear because the sniper aircraft was coming back for another pass. “You’re the only friendly voice I’m hearing.”

“Falling back,” Cox heard his own voice say, and his body followed suit. He knew he was calling the roll as he got to his knees, then his feet, crouched under the overhang, listening hard for even a groan or a grunt in response.

But nobody came back to him over his comm-link. Thirteen guys, and of the twelve on his comm-link, Cox couldn’t raise a single one but Locke. He was poised, his thighs cramping, as he waited for what felt like the right moment to sprint across the scree, a mapping display already enabled on his faceplate that gave routing overlays to his target — the extraction site.

But through the electronics, he could see Reynolds. Behind the colored grid with its pulsing points and alphanumeric displays, Reynolds seemed to be moving.

Sliding along the ground, almost. Cox didn’t want to leave anybody behind that had a breath of life ….

He scuttled toward Reynolds, his pack scraping the ceiling of the overhang — scrambled close enough to see that not only Reynolds’ left arm and leg, but the left side of his skull, was burned away.

“Shit.” The shock of it propelled the Ranger out from cover, along the suggested track on his visor-display, as fast as he’d ever moved in his life.

But in the confines of his helmet, he knew what he’d seen: something moving; Reynolds moving. And he knew he was running from that vision as much as from anything else here.

Because there wasn’t anything else here. There wasn’t anything but some deep-space double-cross having to do with mining rights and racial hatreds spread across the stars.

It was the gang bosses against the cheap labor, was what it was. There wasn’t any alien life here, despite the security classification level of the planet designated X-31A, due to artifactual evidence. There wasn’t any alien life anywhere, not above the vegetable level — a century in space had proved that beyond a reasonable doubt.

Everything that seemed artifactual had, eventually, turned out to be natural, not intelligence-made. There wasn’t any reason for these IST honchos to be afraid of the boondocks on X-31A but the way they treated the contract laborers they’d trucked in here.

If Cox said different, he’d be in psych evaluation for the rest of his life — if he got off this shitball to have one.

It hadn’t been anything, not anything, that he’d seen out of the corner of his eye. It sure as hell hadn’t been a white, human-looking, delicate hand pulling Reynolds toward a wall of solid rock — coming out of a wall of solid rock.

It hadn’t. His lungs were burning despite the augmented oxygen-rich mix his recon pack was feeding him as he sprinted; he was sweating like a pig — sweating worse than his cooling system could handle. And, overhead, he heard a subtle change in volume that wouldn’t be subtle for long: the pursuit aircraft, laying down rivers of flame as it did a one-eighty, had sighted him. It was coming back.

With the bogey on his tail and nobody to answer to, Cox hit his jet-assist. It was a one-time-only, emergency move, but there was no way he could outrun that aircraft, not on foot.

The wrench at his shoulders was immediate, the grab in his crotch comforting. And then he was airborne himself, skimming across the ground toward the extraction point where Locke’s bird was already a dark speck lowering out of the filthy clouds.

Need to touch down before the transport does; got to watch his wash; wind-shear could crash him. You weren’t supposed to do this — it was against every rule in the book to jet toward an extraction point: gave heat-tracking to the enemy; gave random bad luck more of a chance to scratch you from the game-card.

He could still see the charred half of Reynolds’ face, the eye like a lamb’s eye that had popped up in his soup once during a Saudi tour. He saw it so clearly that when the enemy screamed overhead, ignoring him and going after Locke in the pickup craft, it didn’t bother him any.

Not even when Locke’s VTOL exploded in a gout of dirty orange flame, because he could still see Reynolds inching along the rock like he was alive, that hand clamped on him.

And then he couldn’t see anything, not for a long time, because something shorted his helmet’s system and the ground hit him, hard, in the face.

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Love Science Fiction?

For readers that are out of this world and can’t wait to find out what the future holds –

All SciFi books at Perseid Press are discounted for the month of January!

Get them now before they’re light years away…..

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https://bit.ly/3RLP2hs

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GUEST POST

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What is something unique/quirky about you?

 

Together we breed Morgan horses. We consult with Morgan breeders to help them choose crosses to their stock to achieve a desired result.

We are also musicians; Janet plays bass guitar, Chris sings and plays guitar. We have an album on MCA records. Look for Christopher Crosby Morris on Soundcloud or N1M.com

 

Can you, for those who don’t know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?

 

Janet wrote her first novel, High Couch of Silistra in 1975; a friend sent it to an agent who chose to represent her; she had already written the second book in the Silistra Quartet and her agent told her not to disclose that until they finalized the contract for the first one. When the publisher learned of the others, Bantam Books bought the succeeding three. When the fourth book was published, the series already had four million copies in print. Suddenly Janet was a novelist specializing in environmental, gender, historical and political subjects. In the process, Chris started as her editor and ultimately a co-writer. Since then, she and Chris have co-authored many books.

 

Who is your hero and why?

 

Heraclitus of Ephesus, a pre-socratic philosopher, whose Cosmic Fragments foreshadow our knowledge of reality and how to perceive it. Among his precepts is the statement that change alone is unchanging. We’ve worked Heraclitus’ fragments in here and there throughout our books.

 

Which of your novels can you imagine being made into a movie?

 

All of them. We write cinematically, our books are vivid adventures we undertake without knowing the destination.  I, the Sun, The Sacred Band, and Outpassage are particularly suited to film. The Threshold Series is a feast of opportunities for today’s special effects creators.

 

What inspired you, to write Outpassage?

 

Outpassage — Many wonder if somehow salvation lies in the stars. In Outpassage pawns of industry are kidnapped to work on a distant mining colony. Waking from their long space voyage, they quickly discover strange properties in the surrounding straits of rock being mined for rare minerals needed for advanced tech production on Earth. Mysteriously, some miners die in questionable circumstances and reappear, coming to life and causing rebellion among their fellow contract laborers. Is this the result of natural conditions or supernatural forces? Outpassage takes you there to see for yourself.

 

Who designed your book covers?

 

The cover of Outpassage was created for Perseid Press by Vincent DiFate.

 

Advice to writers?

 

As for advice to writers, here is all we know: write the story you want to read. Start at the beginning, go to the end, and stop. Seriously. From start to finish you must inhabit the construct in a manner that makes the reader choose to continue; if we as writers can’t feel what it’s like being there, our readers can’t either. Close your eyes, look at your feet where they are standing on the story’s ground; tell us what you see. Tell us what you hear. Ask at the end of each paragraph ‘what happens next?’. If you lose touch with it wait until you’re back inside it. Tell the story that comes to you, and from you, to us.

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Best selling author Janet Morris began writing in 1976 and has since published more than 30 novels, many co-authored with her husband Chris Morris or others. Most of her fiction work has been in the fantasy and science fiction genres, although she has also written historical and other novels. Morris has written, contributed to, or edited several book-length works of non-fiction, as well as papers and articles on nonlethal weapons, developmental military technology and other defense and national security topics.

Christopher Crosby Morris (born 1946) is an American author of fiction and non-fiction, as well as a lyricist, musical composer, and singer-songwriter. He is married to author Janet Morris. He is a defense policy and strategy analyst and a principal in M2 Technologies, Inc. He writes primarily as Chris Morris, but occasionally uses pseudonyms.

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Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Bookbub

Amazon * Amazon * Goodreads * Goodreads

.

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

.

choice of print or ebook copy of Outpassage ,

$10 Amazon giftcard

– 1 winner each!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway
.

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~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Isn’t She Great Edited By Elizabeth Teets ~ Guest Post And Giveaway

Posted: January 17, 2024 in giveaways, Guest Post
Tags: ,
1

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I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the ISN’T SHE GREAT by Elizabeth
Teets Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours.

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Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

 

ISN’T SHE GREAT: Writers on Women Led
Comedies from 9 to 5 to Booksmart

.Author: Elizabeth Teets (Edited By)

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Pub. Date: January 16, 2024

Publisher: Read Furiously

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 142

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Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, Indigo, BAM, Bookshop, Powell’s, Blackwells 

 

A love letter to women-led comedies. 

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Based on Elizabeth Teets’s program series called “Isn’t She Great” at the
Hollywood  Theater, this anthology is a collection of the most beloved
female-centric comedies and the  audiences who adore them. From 9 to 5 to
Romy and Michele to the iconic Elle Woods, the  essays in this
collection build on our devotion to these films and continue the
conversation  around funny women and how these characters have shaped so
many talented writers. 

As Elizabeth Teets reminds us, there is a specific power in a funny
woman. A woman who  dares to laugh at the world and at herself. These
movies made us strong and smart and  sexy (and bend and snap a lot). At
the end of the day, we remind ourselves when the world  only tries to let
us have a little – a little money, a little confidence, a little joy – to go
out and  get the whole enchilada. 

Isn’t She Great is for anyone who loves movies and feels the glamour in pink. Cult
cinema  and film criticism will never be the same. 

 

 

 

 

Guest Post:

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Top 5 favorite books

Weetzie Bat – Francesca Lia Block

My cat is named after this spectacular little novel that changed my life forever. A punk rock fairy tale with all the glitter, magic, and fashion a girl could dream of. The essential Los Angeles novel. Francesca’s prose sticks to my rib cage like toffee. Every year I go back and read it like it’s the first time. It is a literary crème brulée. It just keeps getting better and better.

 

Slow Days, Fast Company: The World, the Flesh, and L.A. – Eve Babitz

Eve Babitz made me a writer, with her honesty and fearless take on the world. Allegedly she wrote this breathtaking collection to impress a guy she wanted but couldn’t pin down. Whoever he was, she was too good for him because this is a masterpiece. But I also love a woman who knows her talent and ambition are tools of seduction.

 

My Life as a Goddess: A Memoir through (Un)Popular Culture – Guy Branum

There are plenty of pop culture essay collections but I truly believe this one is the best. Branum gives his reader so much permission to enjoy life and all its frivolities. It has so much passion and pizzazz and reads like an honest conversation with a friend. I revisit the audiobook often for road trips.

 

Cometbus (Zine) – Aaron Cometbus

Aaron Cometbus is probably the greatest American writer nobody really knows anything about. I collect as many copies of his zine as I can get a hold of and have since I was a teen. I originally started reading for the punk band content and then because of Aaron’s skills as a writer and interviewer, I realized I did want to know about the history of kosher dairy restaurants. A good writer can pull you into any world and make it interesting. I have many copies in my collection but my favorite will always be “The Loneliness of the Electric Menorah.”

 

Valencia – Michelle Tea

Is there anyone better than Michelle Tea? I honestly don’t think so. She may be the most interesting woman alive with the best turn of phrase. Every single sentence on the page stands alone and makes you cry, laugh, or fills you with the desire to set your insides on fire. Valencia has the most powerful prose and is so full of heart. Books should be a moor in the storm and Valencia has gotten me through hurricanes.

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Enjoy this peek inside:

 

“You Must Always Have Faith in Yourself – Legally Blonde, and My Mommy, and Me”

Legally Blonde was the first movie I saw my mother truly love. This was not to say she didn’t love other movies – there were many she did. Growing up, my mother had a small collection of VHS tapes she loved that she would let me watch regularly. But none of them compared for how much she seemed to love Legally Blonde.

Despite her very refined palette for cinema, I don’t think she ever considered film an interest of hers. And although she may not have realized it, my mother had curated in our living room a sophisticated collection of the finest 90s and early aughts cult classics. We had copies of Mermaids, She’s All That, A Very Brady Sequel, and Tommy Boy. But Legally Blonde, oh she loved that movie.

At ten years old, I took notice of how Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods, Legally Blonde’s perky sorority girl, made my mother laugh. I love anything that makes my mother laugh. After seeing my mother latch onto a piece of candy pink cinema filled with outfits, I too became obsessed with the film. As a future comedian, I paid attention to anything that made my favorite person laugh.

I also love Legally Blonde – it is undoubtedly my favorite movie. I know every line, every outfit, and every major decision I have ever made in my life has been while driving in my 2006 Kia Optima while listening to the absolute banger of a soundtrack. Elle Woods is the best character within modern cinema. She is layered, complicated, fabulously styled, unable to be bamboozled and full of grit. I was lucky enough to grow up with my own Elle Woods, my mom..

…At my mother’s beginning, or at least the beginning as it concerns me, her daughter who watched her every move, she was a single mom who had me at nineteen. This meant as a child I got to see her early twenties, her own Elle Woods years. Although she was never a member of a sorority with a tiny dog, I can’t imagine people talked to her that differently. Aren’t all stereotypes we put onto women pretty much the same?

 

“The Whole Enchilada” 

It [Isn’t She Great film series cohosted with Anthony Hudson] has been the project I have been most proud of in my time as an artist. Not only for the opportunity I have been able to give the performers (for many it is the first time they have performed for a sold out theater), but for the connections I have made with the audience. By showing my favorite films, I have been able to connect with them in a new way; I hear the audience howl at a joke I have heard so many times I no longer recognize it and get to laugh again. I often see that the struggles and challenges the women face in the film are the exact same struggles and challenges of the audience. By seeing Elle Woods or Andy Sachs overcome, it feels like we too can carry on, maybe all we just need is to dress a little better and hold our heads up a little higher. Or maybe like Bridget Jones, we are already perfect exactly as we are.

In 2018, prior to the start of my own series I went to the Hollywood Theatre to watch a sold out screening of 9 to 5, the 80s workplace comedy starring Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, and Dolly Parton. In the iconic film, exhausted by their toxic work culture, the women form a plan to get back at their sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot of a boss. Naturally, their original plan goes horribly wrong, and a comedic adventure ensues. Throughout the wacky eighties hijinks, together with their skills, cunningness, gingham blazers, and the power of female friendship, they are able to get back at their boss and make a more pleasant and equitable workplace. And live in corporate capitalism happily ever after.

It is a movie they rarely let women make. Each actress plays a truly unique and fleshed out character, none of them have love interests that are relevant to the main plot, and no one dies or goes to prison or falls in love with someone they originally thought was an asshole. For once women are allowed to go on a journey and this time we can also bring our friends. The movie addresses sexual harassment, the unpaid extra roles women play in the workforce, and the glass ceiling in ways even movies made today shy away from.

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About Elizabeth Teets:

 

 

Elizabeth
Teets is an Oregon born writer, comedian, screenwriter, and  fashionista.
Her work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, New York  Times, Repeller,
Catapult, Reductress, and more. She lives in Los Angeles  where she is
waiting for her group chat to respond.

Subscribe to
Elizabeth’s newsletter! (scroll
to the bottom of the page)

Website | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads

 

 

 

 

Isn’t She Great Contributors 

,

Megan J. Kaleita is an essayist and memoirist living in the PAC Northwest. Her debut essay collection,
This  Book is Brought to You By My Student Loans is available through Clash Books. Her work has appeared in  Ravishly, Hello Horror, Daily Drunk Mag, Luna Station Quarterly, and Lady Spike. Do not ask her for coffee. She  won’t get it for you. 

Samantha Mann is a Brooklyn based essayist. She is the author of Putting Out: Essays on Otherness.
She  edited the anthology, I Feel Love: Notes on Queer Joy.  

Meg Walters is a Canadian-British writer currently living in London. Her writing has appeared in
GQ, The  Daily Beast, Vulture, Cosmopolitan, Glamour and others. She is a great lover of classic films, rom-coms,  period dramas, pop culture, books and style and tries to write about them all as often as possible. Find her  on Twitter @wordsbymeg 

Toju Adelaja is a Nigerian-British writer and chick-flick connoisseur. Her work has appeared in
publications  such as Glamour U.K. and Black Ballad.  

Ella Gale is a writer, director, and comedian in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in
McSweeney’s,  Reductress, and the Hard Times. 

Michele Theil is a journalist focusing on culture, race, LGBT+ issues and investigative pieces.
She has been  published in VICE, Insider, Glamour, and others. She watches all the Bring It On movies at least once a  year. 

Lana Schwartz is a writer who was born and raised in New York City, where she continues to live
today.  Her work has been published on The New Yorker, McSweeney’s, Shondaland, Glamour, InStyle, and more. Her  book “Build Your Own Romantic Comedy” was released by Ulysses Press in March 2020. For more about  Lana – as well as instructions on how to pronounce her name – visit www.lanalikebanana.com. 

Yaël Krinsky is writer and comedian based in Boston, where she works in TV and Film Production.
She  holds a writing and performance degree from Bard College. She currently lives with her dog Midge. 

 .

Giveaway contest ribbon promo label prize. Vector giveaway banner badge design template

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1 winner  will receive a finished copy of ISN’T SHE GREAT, US Only.

Ends January 31st, midnight EST.

.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

.

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

1/15/2024

Two Chicks on Books

Guest Post

1/15/2024

@jaimerockstarbooktours

IG Post

1/16/2024

#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Spotlight/IG Post

1/16/2024

Kountry Girl Bookaholic

Guest Post/IG Post

1/17/2024

Lady Hawkeye

Excerpt/IG Post

1/17/2024

FUONLYKNEW

Guest Post/IG Post

1/18/2024

A Dream Within A Dream

Excerpt

1/18/2024

@fiction._.fuss

Excerpt/IG Post

1/19/2024

Rajiv’s
Reviews

Review/IG Post

1/19/2024

GryffindorBookishnerd

IG Review

Week Two:

1/22/2024

@callistoscalling

IG Review

1/22/2024

Confessions of the Perfect Mom

Review/IG Post

1/23/2024

@anitralovesbooksanddogs

IG Review

1/23/2024

Lisa-Queen of Random

Review/IG Post

1/24/2024

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

1/24/2024

Kim’s Book Reviews and Writing Aha’s

Review/IG Post

1/25/2024

@enjoyingbooksagain

IG Review

1/25/2024

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Spotlight

1/26/2024

Books
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Review/IG Post

1/26/2024

The Momma Spot

Review

 

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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Delaware From Railways To Freeways by Dave Tabler ~ Guest Post And Giveaway

Posted: December 12, 2023 in giveaways, Guest Post, Historical
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Book Details:

Delaware from Railways to Freeways / First State, Second Phase
 by Dave Tabler
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 110 pages
Genre: American History, Colonial
Publisher: Dave Tabler
​Publication Date: Nov 1, 2023
Content Rating: G. None needed. Works for all audiences.
 

“Delaware from Railroads to Freeways by Dave Tabler is a visually stunning book that takes readers on a captivating journey through Delaware’s 19th-century history. With engaging narrative and stunning graphics that seem to leap off the page, this book provides an immersive and enthralling reading experience as Tabler chronicles the rich history of Delaware. This is his second installment of a three-part series on the history of Delaware – the First State…. For Delaware natives and enthusiasts, this is probably one of the best-illustrated background books of Delaware’s 19th-century history as you can find about the First State. It is truly a captivating book.“ — AuthorsReading

“Dave Tabler’s Delaware from Railways to Freeways is a fascinating history text covering important sites and artifacts from the first state. The book includes a wealth of historical and social insights into the production techniques and ultimate significance behind the early Delaware artifacts and events it covers. It makes note of the geographical importance of certain buildings and landscapes as well. Detailed images appear on each page of the book alongside brief, evocative descriptions of their meaning and significance. The result is an involving pictorial history of the evolution of Delaware, complemented by distinguishing coverage of the development of the state’s transportation infrastructure.” — Foreword Reviews

​“Tabler’s second entry in a trilogy covering the history of Delaware rides the rails into the First State’s storied past, covering the tumultuous yet prosperous 19th century and the dawn of the 20th, that era of iron, steam, Civil War, suffragettes, technical marvels, and surprises both fun—like the history of scrapple, or the suspender-and-pants rig known as a “breeches buoy” used to rescue mariners—to the morbid, like public whipping posts or the jolting tale of a child’s corpse being sent through the mail. The stories of trends, people, and material goods that Tabler highlights, in short and inviting bursts of text, are interesting and well buttressed by the copious illustrations.” — Booklife

“The contents are entertaining and varied, offering glimpses of little-known aspects of American history, from Colonial-era enmity between Whigs and Tories to inventions such as the Manby mortar, a cannon-like device used in rescuing people from sinking ships, to a bartending goose.” –– Kirkus Reviews

“Delaware from Railways to Freeways is the second book in a series that began with Delaware Before the Railroads and whose planned conclusion is Delaware from Freeways to e-Ways. In his preface, author Dave Tabler touts the advent of the railroad, saying that it “ushered in a prosperous era for the First State” due to Delaware’s “strategic location” on the Delaware Bay. The book is mostly photographs, all of which are vibrant and compelling and include objects that would not be present in most histories of the state, such as John Jones’s adjustable peach sorter: an 1874 invention that revolutionized peach sorting. Or the crawlspace in the home of Quaker couple Daniel and Mary Corbit, in which they hid a fugitive slave in 1845. Tabler’s captions are bite-sized yet satisfying, offering readers a plethora of history without making them feel overworked. …More a coffee-table book than a proper history, Dave Tabler’s Delaware from Railways to Freeways is a worthy read for any devotee of Delaware’s past.“ — Indie Reader

“Delaware from Railways to Freeways offers readers a captivating journey through Delaware’s lesser-known history. It is an excellent choice for those who relish reading about unusual facts and harbor a passion for history, even if it occasionally leans toward trivia. This book provides a valuable contribution to understanding Delaware’s rich heritage.“ — Literary Titan

Book Description:

Delaware from Railways to Freeways covers eye-opening information about the region and its residents from 1800 to 1907. Laying out a captivating journey through pictures and offering up little-known anecdotes, entertainingly educational stories, and a comprehensive deep dive, Tabler gives insightful commentary on inventions, contributors to society, and transformative technology. History lovers of all ages will immensely enjoy this trove of 19th-century lore.

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ B&N  ~ BAM
Indiebound ~ BookShop ~ BookBub
add to goodreads
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Guest Post From Author David Tabler
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How to speak in public.

When I first entered the workforce, an older colleague mentioned that he was a member of Toastmasters International, a group that trains professionals from different fields how to present a polished speech. He invited me to a meeting, and suggested getting training from the group would help my career tremendously.

He was correct. Learning to organize myself, learning to be comfortable in front of a large group, have indeed proven invaluable.

Speaking before a gathering is a terrifying experience for a large portion of the population. What if I forget my place in my speech? What if people fall asleep while I’m talking? What if they hate what I have to say? There are lots of stressors. But as in so many other areas of life, the more you prepare, the smoother things go.

I’ve been doing the rounds this year presenting a short spiel titled “10 Things You Might Not Know About Delaware.” Each setting, each group brings different energies. I presented before 100 people at the Delaware Agricultural Museum last spring. Very formal, part of a speaker lineup for a traveling Smithsonian Institution exhibit. Little time for Q&A, as there were other speakers on the roster. For that event I was expected to clip right along, make my points and wrap it up.

By contrast, I spoke at a library local to me more recently. Small, intimate group in a conference room, as opposed to a large hall. For that setting I did not use a microphone. I came out from behind the podium and sat in a chair almost as part of the group. There were plenty of pauses in the script as audience members asked questions. Much more conversational.

Toastmasters trains speakers to think on their feet. Glitches often happen, especially in the tech area. Microphones crackle or don’t work at all, presentation clickers do odd things if you stray too far from their range. It’s easy to get flustered, and inexperienced speakers often get thrown off stride.

This is where the preparation idea is crucial. If you know your topic inside and out, and don’t rely on verbatim reading from a script, you simply make a quick joke to the effect of “well, technology is our friend….until it’s not,” and find a workaround. Most audiences are on the side of the speaker and accept that things can go wrong. They soon forget about the hiccup if the speaker is able to gracefully move past it.

In every audience there seems to be that person who wants to show how much they know. Sometimes they are in fact an expert, sometimes they just enjoy tripping the speaker. The first time I encountered this situation I was caught like a deer in the headlights. The audience was going to think I was an idiot for not knowing this factoid brought up by the expert/skeptic. As I’ve spoken over the years I’ve learned not to get into an argument with such people. It’s best to simply stay humble and acknowledge that it’s amazing how much there is to learn still. I’ll often say something to the effect of “that’s a fascinating point you bring up. I’m looking forward to doing some digging on that. It might be a great thing to work into my next presentation!” That flatters both the expert and the skeptic, and allows the speaker to get back to their main focus.

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Meet Author Dave Tabler:

Ten year old Dave Tabler decided he was going to read the ‘R’ volume from the family’s World Book Encyclopedia set over summer vacation. He never made it from beginning to end. He did, however, become interested in Norman Rockwell, rare-earth elements, and Run for the Roses.

Tabler’s father encouraged him to try his hand at taking pictures with the family camera. With visions of Rockwell dancing in his head, Tabler press-ganged his younger brother into wearing a straw hat and sitting next to a stream barefoot with a homemade fishing pole in his hand. The resulting image was terrible.

Dave Tabler went on to earn degrees in art history and photojournalism despite being told he needed a ‘Plan B.’

Fresh out of college, Tabler contributed the photography for The Illustrated History of American Civil War Relics, which taught him how to work with museum curators, collectors, and white cotton gloves. He met a man in the Shenandoah Valley who played the musical saw, a Knoxville fellow who specialized in collecting barbed wire, and Tom Dickey, brother of the man who wrote ‘Deliverance.’

In 2006 Tabler circled back to these earlier encounters with Appalachian culture as an idea for a blog. AppalachianHistory.net today reaches 375,000 readers a year.

Dave Tabler moved to Delaware in 2010 and became smitten with its rich past. He no longer copies Norman Rockwell, but his experience working with curators and collectors came in handy when he got the urge to photograph a love letter to Delaware’s early heritage. This may be the start of something.

connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ pinterest ~ instagram ~ goodreads

 
 
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DELAWARE FROM RAILWAYS TO FREEWAYS Spotlight Book Tour Giveaway

 

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Santa’s Magical Reindeer: Becoming Pen Pals by Michele Monaco ~ Review And Giveaway

Posted: December 6, 2023 in Children's books, giveaways, Guest Post, Holidays, reviews
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Book Details:

Book Title:  Santa’s Magical Reindeer: Becoming Pen Pals by Michele Monaco
Category:  Children’s Fiction (ages 3 to 7), 38 pages
Genre:  Children’s Book
Publisher:  Mascot Kids
Release date:   Nov 7, 2023
Content Rating:  G.  Suitable for everyone.

Book Description:

Right after Thanksgiving is the busiest time of year for Santa and his crew of eight famous reindeer! Every year, the Famous Eight sleigh team from the North Pole eagerly helps Santa by going on a quest to find kids who believe in Christmas magic. In Santa’s Magical Reindeer: Becoming Pen Pals, Prancer, Vixen, and Dasher go on an adventure in search of eager pen pals. On their journey, they find three rambunctious girls who eagerly exchange letters with them and become lifelong friends.

Buy the Book:
Mascot Books
Amazon ~ B&N
add to Goodreads
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MY REVIEW

It’s the busiest time and the happiest time of the year. Santa and his eight reindeer are hard at work to be sure all the boys and girls have a wonderful Christmas. For three lucky young girls this year will be extra special. Prancer, Dasher and Vixen have chosen them to be their Pen Pals. What starts as a magical holiday adventure becomes one that lasts their whole lives.

What could be more fun than having one of Santa’s reindeer as your Pen Pal. I sure would have loved it when I was a young girl. What made this even more fun was reading the letters they exchanged. Kylie, Kenna and Rinnie were delightful young girls and their excitement was contagious. I got a feel for each girl’s personality and the same with each of the reindeer.

The illustrations are so colorful and there is a lot to see. Even the little details offer so much to the story.  As does the last pages which have questions you might want to ask your own special reindeer.

A wonderful, magical story that I highly recommend you add to your holiday reading list. I’m sure it will become a part of your Christmas tradition.

5 STARS

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Guest Post from Author Michele Monaco
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The inspiration for the story stems from my children Corryn, Kylie and McKenna. With my love of Christmas, I wanted to bring a whole different magical component to Christmas. I wanted my girls to be so enveloped in the magic of Christmas.  We lived in an area that had woods behind it and deer would be a common sighting on our lawn. I got the idea of these deer coming and watching my kids and reporting back to Santa. Before I knew it, it evolved into me playing the role of these reindeer and writing letters to my kids. My kids loved it and they were immersed in the idea and they were waiting in anticipation for their next letter so I encouraged them even before they could write to draw letters to their reindeer.  In a flash of an eye, my kids were writing letters back and forth to their reindeer

There are so many family traditions that I have integrated into my own family. One of them is going to cut down our own Christmas tree. This is quite an event that happens after Thanksgiving. Everyone must put on a Santa or elf hat.  It is the mandatory uniform for going out and seeking out a tree. We go out to a tree farm where you get a steaming cup of hot chocolate and we take a wagon ride out to where the Christmas trees are located and get our saws. Then the search begins, and when we find the perfect tree. Everyone takes part in using the saw to cut down this tree, and everyone helps carry the tree back to get wrapped up and loaded on the car!

I have two Christmas trees in my house one is the traditional tree that goes up in the living room and then I also have another tree that usually has a theme for the year one of my favorite trees was when I scoured photo albums Facebook Instagram to get pictures that included everyone in my family. I collected pictures from when people were small kids during their lifespan special moments. I decorated them with ribbon and hung them all over the Christmas tree so that when people came to my home they were immersed and fascinated by walking around the tree and seeing pictures of themselves and extended family and friends throughout their lives. It brought on memories, conversation, laughter, and tears. For me, this tree unified the meaning of Christmas.

Another tradition is that we start off  Christmas Eve morning with a large cup of hot chocolate and we pile into the car with snuggly blankets and we drive through Valley Forge Park where there are a lot of deer in the open lands and people walking on the open trails. My girls and I play Christmas music and we wish the reindeer good luck as they prepare for Christmas. Next year’s book will reveal why we wish the reindeer good luck!

Merry Christmas!

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Meet Author Michele Monaco:

Michele Monaco has a great love for the Christmas season. She embraces the Christmas spirit all year round by remembering to look at life through the eyes of a child. As a mother of three beautiful and exuberant daughters, she believes in the magic that the holiday brings. Michele lives in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and enjoys traveling, reading, running, and enjoying the outdoors.

connect with author: website ~ facebook ~ instagram 

 

 
 
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Santa’s Magical Reindeer: Becoming Pen Pals Book Tour Giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Christmas With A Cowboy by Pam Mantovani ~ Guest Post And Giveaway

Posted: November 28, 2023 in giveaways, Guest Post, Holidays, Romance
Tags: ,
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The holiday spirit has wrapped up a cowboy just for her, but romance isn’t in her plans.

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Christmas With a Cowboy

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Cowboys of Burton Springs Book 7

by Pam Mantovani

Genre: Holiday Romance

She’s all wrapped up in him . . .

Avery McClain is looking forward to her first Christmas in Montana with her little girl. But as soon as she arrives, she’s caught in an unexpected tug of war between two ranchers wanting to buy the land left to her by her favorite uncle. All she wants to do is make the holiday special for daughter. But instead, she’s overwhelmed with attempts to pressure her into selling. And she’s uncomfortably attracted to one of the men competing for her property.

Judson Ford wants Avery McClain’s land to expand his horse breeding operation. He didn’t anticipate his attraction to her, or his admiration for her courage. And her little girl is so damn cute! Before he knows it, he’s been swept up in her Christmas spirit. Suddenly, Avery and her daughter are filling all the empty spaces in his life.

But then, Avery is offered a job opportunity that would mean she’d have to relocate. And Judson realizes that everything in him is pushing him to ask her to stay and make a life—a family—with him.

Unfortunately, someone else has other ideas.

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Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo * Bookbub * Goodreads

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We can’t talk Christmas without discussing trees and lights. The tree below on the left is the only one I recall from my childhood so when The Craftsman and I married and he said, as if it were not an issue, that we would have a ‘real’ Christmas tree I was thrilled. Over the years we’ve transitioned to an artificial tree but the one thing I’ve always done is string popcorn for the tree. Almost every year I consider not doing it, due to the time involved, but when I end up doing it and it’s on the tree, I’m glad I went through the effort.

In Christmas with a Cowboy, the heroine’s little girl is enchanted with Christmas lights. This is always a ‘discussion’ between The Craftsman and I – so we’ve compromised by having white lights on the tree and colored lights in other decorating areas. Which do you prefer?

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An author of passionate, emotional romances with heart, Pam loves crafting stories about independent women and men who discover the thrill and joy of falling in love. After years of moving as both an Army Brat and corporate wife, Pam and her craftsman husband settled in Atlanta, close to family and friends. When not writing, Pam enjoys quilting, planting beautiful flowers, home improvement projects and spending time with her wonderful family.

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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$10 Amazon giftcard – 1 winner,

$5 Amazon giftcard + ebook of Christmas with a Cowboy – 3 winners!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Cookin’ Up Murder by D. J. Adamson ~ Guest Post And Giveaway

Posted: November 8, 2023 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways, Guest Post
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Tuesday Welsh, a witty and tenacious private investigator whose life takes an unexpected turn when she stumbles upon the lifeless body of Eric Kenny, owner of Mr. Yummy’s donut shop. Yet, upon going to the home of Eric Kenny, she finds him standing in the doorway, ready to greet her.

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Cookin’ Up Murder

Davidson & Welsh Investigations Book One

by D.J. Adamson

Genre: Cozy Mystery

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“Cookin’ Up Murder” is a lighthearted and captivating mystery set in Appleton, Oregon. The story revolves around Tuesday Welsh, a witty and a tenacious private investigator whose life takes an unexpected turn when she stumbles upon the lifeless body of Eric Kenny, owner of Mr. Yummy’s donut shop.

Tuesday is thrust into a web of secrets and danger that extends far beyond the sugary confines of the donut shop. As she delves deeper into the investigation, determined to unearth the truth, she finds herself entangled in a sinister plot that will shock her community. And possibly gain Davidson & Welsh a new client.

Filled with a blend of humor and suspense, “Cookin’ Up Murder” is sure to captivate readers who enjoy mysteries. It offers an engaging puzzle that will keep readers guessing until the satisfying reveal of the culprit.

“Neither snow nor hunky cops nor angry cats will keep intrepid P.I. Tuesday Welsh from the (sometimes tardy) commission of her appointed rounds, chiefly trying to figure out why the body she discovered shows up alive and kicking elsewhere. “Cookin’ Up Murder” offers a delightful demonstration of how small towns can cook up big problems, with an ever-resourceful (despite herself) heroine as your guide.” – Michael Mallory.

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Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

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I stepped out of the shower and suffered a chilly assault, sending a body shiver down my spine from my nipples to my toes. I quickly dried myself, swiftly slipping into my undies like a woman whose boyfriend’s wife just got home. Not that I would ever date a married man. A friend of mine discovered dating a married man wasn’t the best way to maintain a non-committed relationship. Especially if the man’s wife owned a gun.

Next. I stepped into a pair of black polyester slacks, grabbed a white, wrinkle-free, stain-resistant cotton blouse, and buttoned it. Unfortunately, I found I’d skipped a button and had to re-button it, this time starting from the bottom. Finally, I rescued my shoes from under the couch, where a gazillion dust bunnies attacked me. I toed on my shoes. When I glimpsed the clock, its hands pointed to eight-fifty-three. This meant I had a mere seven minutes to get to work. The office was at least ten minutes away.

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“Before I leave, I want you to promise that you’ll open the office on time,” demanded Harley Davidson, my business partner, last Wednesday night.

“Why wouldn’t I?” I replied, pretending I didn’t already know the answer.

Harley stands at five-foot-ten, his green eyes framed by well-groomed eyebrows. His eyes hold a mischievous glint as if he harbors something known only to him. He might tower over me with his tousled reddish-brown hair, but he never truly poses a formidable threat. With me, his bark is always worse than his bite.

“Beats me why you’re never on time,” he sniffed. “I bet if you were called to save someone from jumping off a building, you’d arrive after the coroner.”

“Why is it a man jumping and not a woman?” I quipped, my eyes shooting daggers at him.

He scowled, thinking I wasn’t taking his last-minute to-do list seriously.

Harley Davidson and I have been business partners for three years at  Davidson & Welsh Investigations. The decision to partner with him was an easy one. He possessed an unwavering sense of integrity, even when faced with tough choices. He is serious about business but has a  quick wit that can help calm clients down.

But,  I don’t like to-do lists.

So, I added, “And why was I the one called?”  I couldn’t help being flippant because I wasn’t the one getting to go to Los Angeles.

“Ahhhhh,” he screamed, his hands gripping his hair like a man driven to madness.

I can cause that reaction sometimes.

“Okay, okay,” I quickly backed off and backed up, giving him some space. He clearly wasn’t in a joking mood. So, raising my right hand, I solemnly vowed, “I swear that the office will be unlocked, and the lights turned on ten minutes early every day.” I crossed my heart, but without hoping to die. A girl can only go so far.

“Hands,” he demanded.

I extended both of my hands, all fingers uncrossed, as a gesture of goodwill.

“Just be on time. That will be miracle enough,” he stated firmly, staring at me. But there was an upward curve on his lips.  “On time and no Amazon shopping during office hours. I should get back by Saturday night.”

“But…”

“Find new clients.”

“But…” I tried to protest again. No Amazon shopping? Christmas was on Monday!

 

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I meant to be on time.

Only, it was going to be a close call this morning.

 

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I scraped my Toyota Corolla’s windshield.  Some ice, but not bad. I started the engine, and stepped on the gas pedal, causing the front tires to spin a bit before finding traction. If I hurried, I’d be close to keeping my promise.

Feeling good about keeping my promise to Harley, I then spotted the Mr. Yummy’s shop. A caricature of a large-bellied baker placed on the roofline, wearing a tall white hat and holding a tray filled with frosted donuts is hard to miss. On impulse, I turned into the parking lot, thinking, yummy, breakfast. “In and out fast,” I promised myself.

Getting out of the car, my stomach growled, craving a maple bar. I rushed to the front door. Pushed. But the door wouldn’t budge. I checked the neon sign in the upper part of the large front window, OPEN. Cupping my hands to prevent reflection, I peered into the store. The lights were on. Yet, squinting, I realized the display cases were empty of donuts. Sold out? Not likely.

With each passing minute, my lateness became more pressing, so I headed back to the car. Suddenly, I caught a whiff of something. Something’s on fire. Following my nose, I made my way around the shop to the back door, which was slightly ajar. Cautiously, I stuck my head inside and called out, “Anyone here?”

This wasn’t my first time at Mr. Yummy’s. In fact, I was a frequent customer and had gotten to know the owner, Eric Kenny. Upon entering the sweltering bakery, a repugnant stench made my nose itch and overwhelmed the fragrance of swizzling donuts.

Pallets stacked with cans of oil and cartons of Mr. Yummy’s mixes blocked a clear view. Moving further into the room, I saw a work counter with dough mounds covered in flour, rising. Just beyond there, a small collection of racks displaying donuts, waiting to be glazed.

“Hello? The front door is locked even though the sign says open,” I announced, thinking the owner wasn’t aware of the fact.

Then, I saw him. His arms were hugging a large stainless-steel tub, desperately trying to stop it from falling.

“Mr. Kenny?” I shouted, rushing over to him. His head floated on a vat of oil. His one visible eye, scorched yellow, had popped and stared straight at me.

“Eric!” I grabbed his shoulders and pulled back hard, hauling his head out of the vat. I continued pulling, bringing his body almost into a stand, where we both teetered.

“I can’t hold you,” I shouted, as if his injury caused deafness.  For a moment he seemed to know someone was trying to help him. He stood. If I had been thinking clearly, I’d have recognized this was an anomaly, a slight moment when laws of physics hold before gravity takes over. But I wasn’t thinking. I was yelling, “You’re going to be okay,” trying to keep him standing. However, I couldn’t hold him. He was much too heavy. His body toppled to the floor, taking me down with him.

My encouragement changed to, “Help!”

The smell of his charred flesh invaded my nostrils, causing my stomach to churn. I gagged, pushed, and wiggled to free myself from underneath him. Finally, I yelled, innocently, but stupidly, “Get off me.”

Call it pure, straight-up terror.

I struggled to breathe, each breath triggering me to gag.

Holding my breath, I wiggled, scooted, pushed– wriggled, scooted, and pushed some more, desperately trying to escape. But my 110-pound—possibly 120-pound body—couldn’t match his solid 200 pounds. However, somehow, I slid beneath his shoulder and arm, relieving the heavier weight of his chest and stomach. I crawled out from under him. Then I saw his white chef’s hat lying underneath the tub. And something else–donut dough?

I rushed to the sink and vomited.

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PARENTING ON A WRITER’S SCHEDULE

 

I could have said: Finding time to write when parenting. But parenting is a lifelong duty. Just because babies turn into toddlers, who then turn into kiddos and eventually grow up and fly off on their own, doesn’t mean parents finish parenting. Because, then, comes the furry babies. There is nothing better than having a baby in the house.

But where do I find time for myself in all of this? And for me, that means writing. Whether journaling, blogging, writing short stories or novels, finding the time to center yourself and connect to your creative self is important. Just as important as brushing your teeth, cleaning your house, paying the bills, or taking that furry baby out for a walk.

The best way I have found to do this is to get up early. Calculating my house’s wake time, I set my clock for two hours earlier. I then make a list of the “life necessities” I need to get done for the day, and I put this list in my LIFE box for later. Everyone should have a LIFE box. A special box you have created for problems you want to let go of, worries you can’t control, or things that need to be done when there is time. Feel free to be creative with these lists so that when you open your LIFE box, you can pull out the list you want to face for the day. Post-it notes are great for this. Color-code your LIFE. BLUE for Worries. PINK for Do Today, YELLOW for When You Get Extra Time, and don’t forget a Wish post, PURPLE. Once the post goes into the LIFE box, I don’t touch it again until LIFE awakens.

Funny note: Sometimes, I have to clean out my LIFE box, and when I do, I end up throwing away so many notes. Worry I had that became irrelevant or solved itself without my help. Go figure. Finding out I over PINKed my LIFE box. Instead of twenty pink Post-its, my sanity can really only handle ten. I usually ignore the YELLOW, but I always feel good putting this note in my box, thinking I might get to it one day. And PURPLE. Sometimes, I wish for things, and in time, I find taking my furry on a walk is just as good.

 

I would love to hear about your LIFE box or your suggestion on scheduling LIFE for your writing. Contact me here or email me at dj@djadamson.com.

Also, the first five people who do comment on this post will receive a FREE Digital of my newest book, COOKIN’ UP MURDER.

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D. J. Adamson is an accomplished author known for her captivating storytelling and engaging characters. She has established herself as a prominent figure in the world of mystery and suspense fiction. Her work draws inspiration from classic detective novels and contemporary thrillers. Adamson’s literary journey began at a young age, and she continued the journey through her life, recently embarking on her work with novels and her exceptional ability to create immersive worlds and multifaceted characters. She developed her own unique style that combines elements of suspense, intrigue and psychological depth. Beyond her novels, Adamson has contributed to various literary journals and anthologies, sharing her insights and expertise with fellow writers and enthusiasts. Her work has gained a loyal following and her novels praised for their intricate plotting and masterful storytelling. When not immersed in the world of writing, Adamson enjoys the Central CA coast, traveling, and the outdoors. She also engages with her readers through various platforms, fostering a strong connection and appreciation for the support she receives from her dedicated fan base. Readers can connect with her through her website at www.djadamson.com.

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Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

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