Living the Dream

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!

Welcome to this week’s Tuesday Tales. This week, the ladies and i are writing to a picture prompt. As such, our posts are limited to 300 words. Here’s the picture I’ve chosen.

I’m continuing with The White Dahlia.

Al Foster. The guy was a little rough around the edges, but she liked him. He reminded her of Danny on Blue Bloods, one of her favorite television shows. It wasn’t realistic—crimes rarely got solved in an hour—but the stories weren’t as out of the realm of possibility as some others were.

Would Al ever know how lucky he’d been to escape being partnered with her? After the fiasco with Jack, she’d sworn-off men and hadn’t dated in months. Just as well. She was poison when it came to the men in her life, especially those she worked with.

“Hey, Sarge. Aren’t you going home?” Fisk asked, poking his head into the office. He was always the first one in for the day shift. “You look like you’ve had a hell of a night.”

“It wasn’t the best,” she admitted, realizing the bullpen was filling up while she’d been in la-la land. “You’ll probably hear about it at briefing. Hope you have a better day.”

The young detective saluted with his coffee cup. “Get some sleep. You’re off until Monday, right? They’re calling for rain Sunday. Hope the heat breaks before then.”

“So do I. There’s supposed to be a full moon that night. Isn’t that the first day of autumn, too? Maybe we’ll all get lucky.”

But Rachel Livingston and the nameless, faceless three before her hadn’t been lucky, and Rebecca Winston probably wouldn’t be either.

She grabbed her purse and the bag with her clothes, shut down her laptop, and headed to the elevator. The doors opened and Lieutenant Harris stepped off, his face beet-red, his jaw clenched. Who the hell had pissed in his corn flakes this morning?

“Reynolds, my office, now,” he barked.

Oh shit! I did. Here it comes. How did he find out so quickly?

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

I didn’t write it, but I wanted to share it with you.

T’was 3 weeks before Christmas,

And all through the town,

People wore masks,

That covered their frown.

The frown had begun

Way back in the Spring,

When a global pandemic

Changed everything.

They called it corona,

But unlike the beer,

It didn’t bring good times,

It didn’t bring cheer.

Airplanes were grounded,

Travel was banned.

Borders were closed

Across air, sea, and land.

As the world entered lockdown

To flatten the curve,

The economy halted,

And folks lost their nerve.

From March to July

We rode the first wave,

People stayed home,

They tried to behave.

When summer emerged

The lockdown was lifted.

But away from caution,

Many folks drifted.

Now it’s December

And cases are spiking,

Wave two has arrived,

Much to our disliking.

It’s true that this year

Has had sadness a plenty,

We’ll never forget

The year 2020.

And just ‘round the corner

The holiday season,

But why be merry?

Is there even one reason?

To decorate the house

And put up the tree,

Who will see it,

No one but me.

But outside my window

The snow gently falls,

And I think to myself,

Let’s deck the halls!

So, I gather the ribbon,

The garland and bows,

As I play those old carols,

My happiness grows.

Christmas isn’t cancelled

And neither is hope.

If we lean on each other,

I know we can cope.

I hope you can find the magic of Christmas in you, especially during these difficult times.

To help you into the mood, check out these Christmas stories. https://authorsbillboard.com/book-bites/

Well, it’s Friday December 4, 2020, and I have to face the reality that nothing will be the same this year, no matter how much I wish it could be. At the moment, the cases of Covid 19 in my region are more or less stable, placing us in code yellow, the protect mode, where we have to follow standard hygiene procedures of hand washing, masking, and maintaining social distancing. Our stores, restaurants, and bars are open, with reduced capacity and shorter hours, and out indoor gatherings are limited to ten people in our so-called bubbles. For me, it means I’ll be able to celebrate Christmas with part of my family–the ones I’ve been close to since this started. It also means that I’ll be having a COVID test on the 17th, so that I can visit my mother in her long-term care facility on Christmas Eve. Sadly, it also means that I won’t attend the Christmas Eve service at church in person, although I will watch it on You Tube. It’s not the same, but this year so much isn’t.

Today is Ugly Christmas Sweater and Hat Day at school. Here’s my eleven-year-old grandson all set to enjoy the day. What stands out is the matching face mask. Who would’ve believed it would become an essential part of the Christmas or any outfit?

But what I see most is the twinkle in his hazel eyes. It’s been a rough year for kids. They were out of school from March to September–the longest school break on record. This missed out on team sports, summer camp, vacations, sleepovers, playdates and so much more. They struggled with online curriculum and weeks stuck inside, and yet, that little guy is happy and raring to go.

This will be a different Christmas. No school concerts, no Christmas fairs, no cookie sales, but they’ll manage with the resilience I admire.

While we all look forward to a vaccine in the new year, few people may realize that there won’t be one available for children. They can’t be given any of the ones developed for adults, and most companies won’t even start looking at a vaccine for children until next summer which means that cute little mask may decorate his face again next year. You can check it for yourself here.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/next-up-in-hunt-for-covid-19-vaccine-testing-shots-in-kids-1.5184740

But, despite COVID 19, life moves on.

This week, I took an older book and revised it. Yesterday marked the rerelease of Secrets and Lies as part of my Vengeance is Mine Series. The fist four deal with a killer out for revenge. This year, it’s the heroine looking for a little payback.

DEA agent, Emily Shepherd, is after the Chef, a crystal meth cook, who sets up labs for the Mexican cartel and walks away—the same man responsible for the deaths of her husband and unborn child. Her search leads her to Braden, Iowa, a small town just right for the Chef’s specialty. But identifying her quarry won’t be easy when she’s up against a woman who sees her as a threat, a male chauvinistic deputy sheriff, and an attractive school principal who might just be at the center of it all.
Jackson Harris has sworn off women. Life is satisfactory, if lonely, until he meets a hazel-eyed damsel in distress who gets under his skin, and triggers that protective instinct of his. There’s a killer in town, one who may or may not be a notorious drug lord. Finding him, and keeping his town, his students, and Emily safe, may be harder than he thinks.

The book was originally published as a standalone in a series called Hearts of Braden. I’m hoping that with its nice new cover and joining the Vengeance Is Mine Series, it will attract readers who missed it the first time around.

So, whether you like a book in your hand, e-books on your devices or read in Kindle Unlimited, I hope you’ll give Secrets and Lies a second chance.

If you’ve been following my writing these past seven years, then you know I tend to write long books, full of detail and intrigue. Whether it’s a contemporary, historical, fantasy, mild paranormal, or suspense novel, my books are generally written in the third person, giving you, the reader, a look inside the motivation and point of view of each of the story’s main characters.

Last summer, a very good friend persuaded me to try something new. She challenged me to write a short romantic comedy, the kind often referred to as chick-lit. These books are often written in the first person, something I’d attempted before in Same Time Next Year, when I wrote Twyla’s story within the book that way. As well, these books usually have comedic scenes, something else I was familiar with and used in both Just for the Weekend, Wedding Bell Blues, and His Christmas Family.

At the time she suggested I try my hand at this new genre, I’d just returned from a vacation in Los Cabos, Mexico. There were rumors of a vicious virus over in China, but like most North Americans, I had no idea how bad this virus was, nor that it would launch a pandemic unseen in over 100 years.

Still sated in vacation bliss, I decided to try my hand at a first person story. Since no one really wants to read about a seventy-year-old’s vacation, I decided to show it through the eyes of a much younger heroine. Since the story had to be a romance, I fell back on my favorite ‘second chance at love’ trope.

The events in the story are all based on my vacation. Some things like the flight delay actually happened. Other things are the product of my imagination and stories I was told. The places mentioned are all real, and I invite you to visit the area when the pandemic is over. I certainly hope to go again.

Tequila Sunrise was originally published as part of the Author’s Billboard Summer Shorts Box Set and its cover was made against the background of one of the photographs I took one morning at sunrise.

The colours were breathtaking and as I watched, the sky grew lighter and even more beautiful. My cover artist knew the cover didn’t suit the style of the story, but she humored me and created this.

It’s easy to see that she was right. Now, I’ve released Tequila Sunrise with a fantastic Melinda De Ross cover befitting the story. It’s the first book in a series known as Cocktails for You. Each novel in the story will feature a signature drink that plays a part in the story itself. The stories will be short and easy to read.

Here’s the blurb for the first book in Cocktails for You, Tequila Sunrise.

Sun, sand, and mind-blowing kisses!

Kelly Winters, an up and coming recreational facilities designer for Dreamscapes, is thrilled to be part of a Think Tank Conway Enterprises is putting together—so thrilled in fact that she agrees, despite the fact she hates flying.
Liam Conway, the heir apparent to Conway Enterprises, can’t believe his luck when he spots his Kellyanne in the airport and discovers she’ll be his seatmate on the flight to Mexico City. He was sure they’d connected that day ten years ago, and not just because she’d literally left him in stitches. He searched for her for weeks afterwards, but it was as if she’d vanished into thin air.
Kelly is stunned to see Liam after all these years. Discovering that not only is he participating in the same Think Tank she is, but he’s also her boss leads to more than she bargained for. Can a ten-year-old attraction blossom again, or will their positions keep them apart?

Tequila Sunrise is available from Amazon for only 99 cents or free through your KU membership. It’s also available in paperback for those of you who commute or simply love the feel of a book in your hands.