Welcome back to Tuesday Tales. This is picture prompt week. I continue with The White Dahlia, but since I’m working on the book more consistently, the story is moving ahead more quickly. To put this scene in context, Beth and Al are now working with the FBI on this case. They’ve confirmed that Al’s missing wife, Sylvia, was indeed one of the victims. Now, they’ve received another piece of critical information. Here’s the picture I chose.

Enjoy!

“The x-rays arrived from Kansas. The bone remodeling matches the injuries Rachel sustained six years ago, confirming the identification. Dr. Smith says they tapped her for bone marrow—there were a few small bone scars—and Rachel has given birth. She found a series of shotgun pellet-sized marks along the inside of the pelvic bone. They’re caused by tearing ligaments during childbirth and are a permanent record of the delivery. The doctor can’t tell me when she gave birth or even how many times, but she hopes to have more soon. It may have been to collect stem cells found in the placenta which would be worth a small fortune. God alone knows what may have happened to the child.”

Beth paled so completely that Al thought she would pass out.

“What’s wrong, Beth?”

She licked her lips, and he knew she was going to lie to him.

“I was just thinking he could sell the baby on the black market,” she whispered. “Before we realized that the child who’d been taken in Baltimore was actually one of the Harvester children, we suspected she might’ve been taken by a black market human trafficking organization.”

“Bullshit! There’s something else, something you aren’t telling me.”

She stood and walked over to the coffee machine, her hand trembling so much she could barely pour the hot liquid into her mug.

“Talk to me, Beth. What’s going on here?” He took the mug out of her quivering hands, undone by the tears brimming her eyes.

“This may be my worst nightmare,” she whispered. “I have to be certain we’re not making the evidence fit the theory rather than the other way around. If Rachel was drawn into the sex trade as you suspected, she wouldn’t be the first one to get pregnant.”

That’s it. Stay safe and don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.

Thank you for stopping by this morning to read my IWSG post. As Alex C. said, this past year was a tough one for all of us. For many, natural disasters ran hand in hand with political, economic, and medical ones. As I was getting ready to write this post, I was watching the movie, 2012. Remember that year 2012? According to the Mayans, it was the year the world was supposed to end. Fascinating idea. What if someone transposed the numbers, and it was really 2021? Just something else to worry about as we enter the second year of the pandemic!

January 6 question – Being a writer, when you’re reading someone else’s work, what stops you from finishing a book/throws you out of the story/frustrates you the most about other people’s books?

Even before I became a writer, there were a few things that would turn me off when I was reading someone else’s work. The greatest of these was a weak plot or one that fell apart midway through the story. Timelines were inconsistent, and there were a number of plot points left unresolved–not intentionally by the author, since we all do that when we’re working on a series, but just set aside and forgotten. If they are minor points, it’s irritating, but if they are significant enough to impact the story, it’s frustrating.

I like to equate such things to a scene in Vacation, when Chevy Chase ties the dog to the bumper of the car. No one pays any more attention to the animal until they stop again and all that’s left is the dog’s collar at the end of the leash. I realize it was meant to be funny, but to animal lovers it was even more horrifying than tying the dead aunt’s body in her rocking chair on the roof of the car.

Dangling plot elements left unresolved will actually stop me from reading another book by the same author.

The second thing that will turn me off very quickly is the overuse of sex in a novel. I get it. People like a little spice, but when there is so much spice that it obliterates the plot, well, that’s it for me. If sex is needed to move the story along, to show growth in a relationship, then by all means, but I far prefer to leave the actual act to my imagination. I don’t need a vivid description of her wahoo. There are very few books I haven’t managed to finish, but those that I haven’t all had this flaw. I suffered through a trilogy a few years back because everyone was raving about it. I didn’t find the plot until the third book. First time in my life that I’ve ever read three books in less than four hours, but easy to do when I was skipping pages of same old, same old.

A third thing that will affect my enjoyment of a book is poorly developed or one-dimensional characters, another flaw found in the trilogy. If I can’t identify with the hero or heroine, it’s impossible to get into a story–if i can find it..

Finally, in addition to writing, I am an editor, a natural evolution from thirty plus years as an English teacher. While spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors may be annoying, they don’t define a book if the plot is sound and the characters well developed. Let’s face it. A few typos always manage to survive even the most rigorous editing, and those few won’t make or break a book for me. What will ruin one is if it’s riddled with errors. poor sentence, unnecessary repetition, in addition to needless foul language and the overuse of slang. I get it. Sometimes those words are necessary to develop a specific character and flesh out a situation, but there shouldn’t be more foul language on a page than proper English.

Of course, this is all personal preference. To find out how other writers/ readers feel, check out some of the other posts here. https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

See you next month.

Welcome to the first Tuesday Tales post of 2021. We are back in COVID 19 lockdown here, so thus far, 2021 isn’t much different from 2020. This week’s word prompt is CLOCK. I’m continuing with The White Dahlia.

“You aren’t clinically agoraphobic—if you were, you wouldn’t step outside—but you’re wary of crowds. A lot of people are and for a number of reasons. My mother avoids them, especially during flu season. As far as sleeping goes, you may never sleep well—even if you invest in the world’s best mattress—not after everything you’ve been through. Most people don’t see even 1 percent of the ugliness you have these last eight years. I can’t change what you’ve seen, what you may yet see. All I can do is make you face your humanity, make you understand that nothing that has happened is your fault. You have an incredible ability to soldier on through anything. It’s an admirable quality. I just want you to remember that you’re human, too. Being scared is the basis of our survival skill as a species. If we ignore our concerns, we’ll all end up in more trouble than any of us can handle. You’re allowed to rant and rave, scream and shout, cry and wail, and smile and laugh. Make friends, fall in love. What you aren’t allowed to do is bottle everything up inside the way you have for years. I’m giving you the all-clear to go back to work. If we have werewolves in Brooklyn, then the NYPD is going to need its best soldiers to track the beasts down.”

“It isn’t a werewolf,” Beth said, her voice low and troubled. “It’s far worse than that, maybe even worse than Boston.” The Brass wasn’t commenting yet on what they’d found. “I can’t be more specific. The Commissioner will brief the Press when he has something concrete to tell them.” She glanced at the clock. Her time was up. “Thanks, Maggie. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. Letting me go back to work is what I need most. I have to stay busy. We both know it. And, if tracking down this latest monster is on my agenda, so be it.” “Sometimes the only way to deal with demons is to confront them. Like many in Trinidad, my grandmother claimed to have the sight. She maintained that in life, we were where we were meant to be. If you’re the one who is destined to do this, you will. But you need to get a life outside of work. Join a gym. I’m not saying you have to start shopping at Macy’s.”

That’s it. Stay safe and don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.

UNFORGETTABLE REVENGE, another fantastic box set in the Unforgettables series.

A collection chock full of Romantic Suspense stories to set your heart fluttering and your veins thrumming!
Eight New York Times, USA Today, and International Bestselling Authors have joined forces to bring you fast-paced love stories so filled with passion and danger, you won’t want to put it down.
Discover mystery where you least expect it in this romance set brimming with heroes and heroines who are everything from cops and common folks to the supernatural as they battle despicable villains in intense situations, finding love despite unseen peril lurking in the shadows.

Regardless of where you are right now, life is complicated. In the Northern Hemisphere, winter is starting and for many of us that means the next three months will be cold with plenty of snow. If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, then perhaps it’s time to head to the beach for sun and fun. The pandemic has made life more complicated, but humans are resilient and we’ve learned to cope. With a vaccine available now, soon we’ll be able to put the worst of 2020 behind us, but until then, we’ll wear our masks, socially distance, wash our hands, and hunker down with good books.

This new suspense romance box set from the Author’s Billboards promises plenty of thrills and chills. Here’s a peak at what you’ll find.

Mimi Barbour – Special Agent Hunter: The killer’s back, needling Agent Hunter to try his luck again. New York Times, USA Today Bestselling Author.

Rebecca York – Terror Mansion: He thinks she’s in danger. She thinks he’s scamming her. New York Times, USA Today Bestselling Author.

Angela Stevens – The Devil’s Own: Bowker Street: It’s not every day that a Priest finds a sexy devil in his confessional. International Bestselling Authors

Taylor Lee – Topaz: Ladies of the Night: A hideous incident in Topaz’s teenaged past gives her a dangerous connection to the international Cartel leader at the top of the DEA’s most wanted list. USA Today Bestselling Author.

Susanne Matthews – Fire Angel: the past and the present collide in the hunt for a serial killer. International Bestselling Author

Callie Bardot – Looks Like Trouble to Me (Uncut: Book 1 in the Bad Boys Need Love, Too Series): He’s trying to escape trouble. But she’s just the kind of trouble he needs. New York Times, USA Today Bestselling Author.

Jennifer St. Giles – Kaylee’s Justice: She knows what you did…you will be exposed. USA Today Bestselling Author.

Susan Jean Ricci – Turning Up the Heat: Mark and Malibu are happily headed towards matrimony… until an old adversary sabotages their plans with a devious scheme. USA Today Bestselling Author.

So, reserve your copy of Unforgettable Revenge today. The box set releases January 15, 2021. Start your reading year off with this incredible collection. https://books2read.com/URevenge

Welcome to the last Tuesday Tales posting of 2020. It has been an incredibly long year, so I, for one, am wishing and praying for a better 2021 May the new year bring an end to the pandemic for everyone, a rise in economics, and a general lightening of the stress of the past year.

This week’s word prompt is YEAR! I’m continuing with The White Dahlia. Enjoy.

She shook her head. “It wasn’t until it was all over that day in the park that I realized a lot of the blood around me was mine. The woman he assaulted survived, the men who came to her defense didn’t.” She licked her lips. “I’ve thought long and hard about this. The yelling, the goading, it was as if he had a death wish. The department claims I’m a hero, that I saved lives that day, but I was acting on something I couldn’t control, and I know it may cost me my right to go back to work, but Maggie, faced with the same situation, I would react the same way.”

“And you think that’s wrong?” The doctor twirled the pen she held, her brow furrowed.

“God, no! He had to be stopped—just like whoever is responsible for that has to be taken down.” She indicated the newspaper. “But I’m scared, damn it! There are too many of them, and I feel alone, powerless to make a difference. Back in Boston, we cut the head off the snake, but we were too late. He’d already given birth to others. Every time I hear about a mass shooting or a bombing, I have to force myself to wait to find out whether or not the one involved was part of the New Horizon Cult, or just some other crazed white supremacist with a racist, misogynistic agenda. There are too damn many of those at large.”

“What if I told you, you aren’t alone?”

“I wouldn’t believe you, and my life would go on just as it is. I avoid the subway at rush hour and crowded bars and restaurants. I do walk in the park near my home, but I pick my times, and I go to mass at Our Lady of Pompeii Church each Sunday. I may be antsy, but Maggie, there are a lot of scared people in this country, people choosing to homeschool their kids, avoid crowds, and arm themselves. When you have more mass shootings than you’ve had days in a year, it’s expected. It doesn’t make me crazy.” “When did I ever say you were crazy?” Maggie asked, her eyes narrowed. “You most certainly are not. The truth of the matter is, you’re right. There’s nothing wrong with healthy concern. This isn’t the country I grew up in; it certainly isn’t the one I want my grandson to.

That’s it. Stay safe and don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.

Merry Christmas and welcome to the holiday week posting of Tuesday Tales. While celebrations will be different this year, may those of you who celebrate find joy, peace, and safety during this 2020 Christmas season.

There’s no doubt 2020 has been a challenging year and a difficult one. So many people have died and been sickened by the coronavirus. We may have a vaccine now, but it will take months to distribute it, and unless at least 70% of thew world’s population is vaccinated, COVID 19 will continue to destroy and devastate lives.

This week is one for thinking back on Christmases past, the ones we took for granted. The parties we attended, the meals we shared with family and friends, the game nights we enjoyed, all things lacking from this year’s celebration. But we must be optimistic, and in the new reality, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Covid test negative New Year.

This week’s word prompt is HOLIDAY. I’m continuing with The White Dahlia, but have skipped ahead to Beth’s visit to the doctor to be recertified for full duty. Enjoy!

“Well, no, but I did have my vest and there were two armed officers on the scene when I got there. I’m not suicidal or homicidal, or whatever other ‘cidal’ you want to label me. I calculated the odds. If the body was beside the dumpster and there were people at the scene, then there couldn’t be an active shooter in play. Dispatch misunderstood the word ‘dolly’ as did I. If that had been a child…” She didn’t finish the sentence; she couldn’t.

“Relax, Beth, I’m not criticizing. You did what had to be done. If you considered all the things you said you did, then I’m satisfied you made an informed rather than an emotional decision. Had you gone in guns blazing again, with no regard to your personal safety, that would’ve been another matter. How are you sleeping?”

“A little better,” she prevaricated. “I’m still not used to sleeping during the day. It goes against the grain. I want to get up and do things like laundry and housework. The nightmares aren’t as bad.” She chuckled. “Cuddling with Luke helps, I think.”

Maggie laughed. “At your age, you should be cuddling with someone other than a cat. Are you dating again?” She indicated the newspaper.

“Him?” Beth squeaked. “God, no. I’ve gone out for coffee a couple of times with friends of Marissa’s, and I went out to dinner last weekend when I was in Boston visiting my parents. I just haven’t found the right person, and working the night shift like I do doesn’t help.” Now, if Al Foster asked her to go out for coffee, she just might accept.

“What about crowds? Still doing all of your shopping online?”

“It’s the modern thing to do.” Beth shrugged. “I get some great deals.” She stuck out her foot, displaying the sandal. “I picked up these beauties for a song.”

“Nice, but that’s not the answer I’m looking for,” the doctor parried.

Standing, Beth paced the office, rubbing her hands together, her perseveration a sign of the stress tearing at her once more.

“If what you really want to know is if I’m ready to attend a rock concert or the tree lighting at Rockefeller Center come the holidays, then the answer is no. I may never be able to do those, not as long as a single person who was part of the Prophet’s entourage remains at large.”

That’s it. Have aa wonderful a Christmas as you can. Stay safe and don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.

Looking for something to read? Look no farther! Check out the All That Glitters Box set from the Author’s Billboard.

Rich people need love, too!
Is it the gold and jewels, family name, title or social status that attract us to another? Is it possible to see the person inside without all the glitz and glam?

Slip into the lives of billionaires and those they attract in this box set of SEVEN contemporary romances by New York Times & USA Today Bestselling and award-winning authors.

…Drop in on the socialite as she fraternizes with her bodyguard

…Join the kindergarten teacher as she dances for a prince

…Rub elbows and more with sexy billionaires

…Discover what happens with cosplay mistaken identity

…Fall in love with a Hollywood heartthrob

…and so much more!

Something Wild (new): Michele Hauf, USA Today bestselling author: A wild child socialite’s fantasies about her sexy bodyguard become reality, but will their affair compromise his ability to protect her?

A Dance For Prince Eric (new): Mona Risk, USA Today bestselling author: A ballerina with a promising career on the run for her brother’s sake. A charismatic prince who saved them both, but never speaks of commitment.

Diamonds Aren’t For Everyone (new): Dani Haviland, USA Today Bestselling author: Money, jewels, and good looks don’t mean anything to the lonely beauty who just wants a companion. Will she spurn him just because he does ‘have it all’?

Billionaire Extraordinaire: Leanne Banks, NY Times & USA Today Bestselling author: Billionaire Damien Medici plans to avenge his family by seducing privileged information from his new assistant Emma Weatherfield. But can he romance Emma without falling for her himself?

Color Me Yours: Jen Talty, USA Today Bestselling author: Hawk Jefferson never anticipated he’d fall in love, much less want to settle down and give his parents the grandchild they’ve always wanted. Only, getting Kennedy Monroe on board with that plan seems to be harder than anticipated.

Celebrity: Melinda De Ross, USA Today Bestselling author: The Journey of a young writer who trades her simple existence in Chicago for the glamorous Hollywood life, full of luxury and scandal.

Just For The Weekend: Susanne Matthews, Amazon Bestselling Author: When a Kindergarten teacher decides to play dress-up in Vegas, she gets far more than she bargained for.

Have you ever wanted to just forget who you are and be someone else, if only for a few hours?

For Cleo, the last few years since her mother’s death have been hard and looking after her dad seems to be getting more difficult each day. When the opportunity arrives to have a free weekend in Vegas, what’s to say no to? Okay, so she’ll have to dress up as a sci-fi character for a few hours, but no one knows her. So what can possibly go wrong?

Find great billionaire love stories here! https://books2read.com/atGlitters

Welcome to this week’s Tuesday tales, the blog where writers share their work in progress with you.

So, Christmas is 10 days away. Things will be different this year, but it we all play our part, they’ll improve in 2021.

Today’ post in based on the word prompt BRAZEN. I’m continuing with The White Dahlia.

Retracing her steps, Beth followed her superior into the office they shared and sat in front of the desk instead of behind it, waiting for the dressing down she probably deserved.

“Whatever you’ve got to say to me, save it for Monday, please?” Beth begged, exhaling heavily. “I’m exhausted and have to meet with Dr. Mitchell this afternoon. Looking like I do now, she’ll never let me get back to active duty.”

“Maybe she shouldn’t. What the hell were you thinking? Did you know someone was filming you while you talked to Ogden? I didn’t see Holmes. Where was she? Effing werewolves in Brownsville?”

Beth bristled. “Erica wasn’t there,” she confessed brazenly. How much worse could things get? “I let her leave early since she wasn’t feeling well. For the record, I didn’t give Jack a story if that’s what you’re implying. I’m not his source. I would sooner rot in hell than give that bastard even the time of day. He overheard one of the trashmen and then embroidered from there.”

Ned Harris examined her closely and then nodded. “I should suspend you for going to a crime scene alone, especially without a weapon since yours are still in the armory. I repeat. What the hell were you thinking?”

“That I had no one to send and someone had to go,” she admitted. “As it turned out, I did the right thing. I broke the rules, yes, but Ned, what I saw is way worse than whatever Jack may have printed.”

He frowned. “Just how half-baked are his allegations?

She shrugged. “It depends what you mean by half-baked. Is there a monster on the loose in Brooklyn? Most definitely, but I doubt the son of a bitch is a werewolf or any other supernatural being.”

“Okay. Start at the beginning. Tell me about what you found in Brownsville.”

“It’s all in my report,” she stammered. “I sent it to you a few minutes ago. You should have it by now.”

“I don’t care what you sent me, Beth. I’m sure it’s thorough, but I know it’ll lack the emotional details I need to keep the Chief of Detectives from roasting you alive. I want to know what you saw, and why I was sandbagged by an army of reporters on my way in.”

She nodded slowly, knew what he meant, and wished she didn’t. It had happened every damn day in Boston. Thankfully, she hadn’t been the one to face the Press.

That’s it. Stay safe and don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.

The trouble with writing a book for any of the shorts sets is that your word length is limited, which means you have to be selective. You need to tell a story in its entirety, but you need to constantly watch the length. Those of you who follow my writing know I tend to write longer books. Learning to write short ones has been an experience!

The Cocktails for You Series is my attempt at taking short stories and turning them into novellas for your enjoyment. All of the books in the series will be under 40,000 words, meaning they can usually be read in an evening.

Last week, I released Tequila Sunrise, as Book One of the series, adding about 8,000 words to the original published in Summer Shorts.

This morning, I’m releasing Champagne Cocktail, as Book Two in the Cocktails For You series. This Christmas story is roughly 15,000 words longer than the original version, What Dottie Wants that is part of Dear Santa, A Christmas Wish box set.

It contains more information about Ronnie and Aunt Wynn, as well as some of the neighbors who look out for the single mother. It also adds a little more to the relationship between Ronnie, Wyatt, and Dottie, and gives you a glimpse at the future.

Champagne Cocktail is available for 99 cents, in KU, and in paperback soon, for those who love a book in hand. Grab a copy and enjoy!

Look for the short version of Book Three, Buck’s Fizz, in New Year’s Eve Shorts. https://books2read.com/NYEShorts

This New Year’s Eve is going to be very different from those of the past. For the sake of our lives and those of others, there’ll be no fancy parties, no galas, no kissing strangers at midnight, in fact there will be very little of anything. So, how can you celebrate?

Well, why not ring in the new year with a fantastic collection of TEN short stories from the Author’s Billboard.

NEW YEAR’S EVE SHORTS includes nine NEW romances guaranteed to lift your spirits with tales of second-chances, adventure, overcoming obstacles, celebrating the holidays, and finding love in unimaginable places. Whether our couples are in a barn, a bar, by the ocean, or in quaint Irish towns, join them as they celebrate love and New Year’s Eve with this box set meant to be enjoyed year-round.

Mimi Barbour – You’re the Boss – NEW! Once again, she’s a wallflower at the company dance, a role she plays well.

Susanne Matthews – Buck’s Fizz – NEW! You can run away from some things, but you can’t hide from yourself.

Stacy Eaton – Finding Love with a Champagne Toast – NEW! When the week is over, will they go their separate ways after sharing a champagne toast?

Rebecca York – Out of Time – NEW! Can love bridge time?

Nancy Radke – Changing Horses – NEW! When the love of his life shows up wearing a ring that isn’t his, the young rancher has to look again for a woman he wants to marry.

Rachelle Ayala – Happy Goose Year – NEW! Will Pete’s idea of rekindling his romance with a cooked goose backfire before the countdown drops to zero?

Taylor Lee – Judge: The Justice Brothers Series – Only the indomitable Judge would propose that his four grandsons and their women participate in an outrageous adventure: a four-couple New Year’s Eve wedding.

Susan Jean Ricci – Tumbling into Midnight – NEW! When a stunt double’s sweet on her leading man, remaining casual is almost impossible – until a near-fatal accident reveals many secrets.

Callie Bardot – Rescuing Ebony Blue – NEW! Finding a guy in your barn the day before New Year’s Eve with no ID, dressed in prison orange, should be no big deal, right?

Josie Riviera – A Chocolate-Box Irish Wedding – NEW! A woman who wanted more. A man who wanted her. Can they find love in the seaside town where it all began?

So grab a glass of your favorite New year’s drink and enjoy yourself. Only 99 cents. Pre-order your copy today for delivery on Christmas Eve!