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Sunday, June 7, 2026

Summer of Science Fiction #ScienceFiction #AmWriting #SummerReading


Approximately every ten years, I have an existential crisis. I will turn half a century old soon, and the current catastrophic philosophical questions on my mind are about whether humanity in general is hopeless or if, perhaps, there enough decent people to turn the sad state of things around to build a better system. What would that system look like? Would we build something that we thought was the perfect solution, only for it to be a true dystopian nightmare where choice is taken away and callousness is ingrained into every single aspect of the society, like in Lois Lowry’s The Giver?

As I get older, I don’t have as much faith in progress or in humanity in general, but I can never seem to give up hope for, not only progress, but hope that people can continue to find ways to find joy. A few years ago, I started writing horror and science fiction short flash fiction stories. I turned some of my major questions into “what if” scenarios. Like, how would greedy people try to seize power after a disaster hit? How would people fight back? What would the aftermath look like and how would life and the possibility of love, begin to flourish again?

This summer, while I write, and procrastinate, and take on the daunting task of moving house, I am also going to read as many science fiction stories as possible.

Here’s a few summer reading suggestions:

For a speculative look at how the environment and social structure can be affected by scarcity and disaster, check out-

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

The Word for World is Forest by Ursula K. Le Guin

For a look at people finding love in the midst of the fight to just survive another day after zombie-style viruses wreak havoc on the world, check out-

Say You’ll Stay (Flowers from Ashes series) by Anna Calloway

Caitlyn Can’t Die (Serial Survivors series Collection) by Liz Hambleton

For a gentle, magical YA story with lovely imagery, read-

The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst features a teenager who discovers her inner strength and career passion while working for the summer at her great aunt’s supernatural Inn

 

If you’d like to follow me on social media for my latest book updates and recommendations, poems, contest info, and other fun stuff, you can find me at:

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Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cllambauthor.bsky.social

 

Friday, June 5, 2026

A Matter of Taste

 

I keep running across interesting quotes that make me think. I suppose that’s the idea behind them, to get your brain working and provoke meaningful discussions. Our local newspaper publishes these under the heading Thought for Today. Here’s a recent one, credited to Dame Edith Sitwell, English poet (1887-1964).

“Good taste is the worst vice ever invented.”

I read this in the morning and was distracted for the rest of the day, because I wasn’t sure what she meant by it. I always thought good taste was a preferred quality in a person. It’s certainly better than bad taste, which we seem to be experiencing in abundance these days. If you doubt this, check out social media and cable news networks.

A weekly column I follow touched on a subject I’ve blogged about before. The columnist had seen some recent films, and penned an open letter to Hollywood screenwriters, suggesting that they could effectively tell a story (especially a romantic story) without dropping so many “F” bombs. I could relate to what he said, because I’ve made the same observation about literary works, and I’m not a fan of some stand-up comics for that reason. Using coarse language sparingly to make a point is one thing, but a lot of entertainers and writers overdo it.      

Is peppering your daily discourse with four-letter words an example of bad taste? I was raised to think it is. So is telling off-color jokes in mixed company, unless you’re with friends who won’t be offended. I once had a job as a newspaper editor, working for a publisher who felt it was his daily duty to berate the office staff, using every variation of the “F” word imaginable. He even came up with some new uses for it. When my birthday rolled around, it was the first time I had ever gotten “Happy f-ing birthday!” as a greeting. I shudder to think what he said during the holidays.   

To be clear, I’m no prude. I know the bad words, but I exercise caution when I use them. The same with adult jokes. As the late Milton Berle once said, “I’ve got a million of ‘em.” I’m not sure if I know that many, but when I tell them, I check the crowd first. I’ve also found it wise to read the room before joining a conversation about anything topical, thanks to the current political climate. I wish more people would follow that guideline.     

I’ve known people who were obsessed with showing what good taste they thought they had, whether they actually possessed it or not. This includes friends and some family members who couldn’t resist bragging. In every instance, it boiled down to how many material things they possessed, and how they could let everyone know about it. Cars, clothes, jewelry, homes, luxury vacations—it was all for show, something to make up for a basic insecurity. It was a spotlight they shone on themselves, a sort of “Hey, look at me! Like the flashy bracelet I’m wearing? Want to know how much it cost? I’ll tell you anyway.” 

You know, I think I’ve figured out what Dame Sitwell meant by that quote. Perhaps if you’re fabricating good taste to cover up your inherent bad taste, it really is the worst vice ever invented. 

Your thoughts?

 

Tim Smith is a bestselling award-winning author of romantic mystery/thrillers and contemporary rom-coms. He is also a freelance writer, editor, and blogger. His author site is AllAuthor/Tim Smith


 


 

Thursday, June 4, 2026

Perfectionism vs. Progress

 

Free use image from Pixabay

I wrote this piece during an Eating Disorders Anonymous writing meeting. I felt it was appropriate to share it here because perfectionism and imposter syndrome are something many writers struggle with. I am including the writing prompt used.

https://eatingdisordersanonymous.com 

Prompt #2
page 2
On Emotional Eating Pamphlet


More on Recovery
Changing our thinking makes it possible to change our feelings and behavior, but developing
willingness and learning new skills is a process, not an event.

I have never been a patient person. My impatience combined with my perfectionism tend to prevent me from making progress. If I am not able to do something perfectly, I tend to give up on it. 

I always wanted to be a prodigy of some kind. When I was younger, I wanted to be a musical prodigy. Alas, no such luck. I plonked away on several instruments, never really taking the time to learn any of them. Eventually, I gave up on playing music entirely. It has been around 35 years since I last touched a musical instrument.

I've always had some skill with words, but again, I am no prodigy. There are times when this has disappointed me to the point where I have considered quitting writing entirely. However, when I have tried this, I become emotionally dysregulated.

Writing allows me to make sense of the constant ADHD chatter in my dumb dome. I suppose music also did that, but not in quite the same way that writing does. 

I can write nonfiction all day long. It helps, but there is a part of my psyche that only fiction can soothe. Since my mother died, I have been struggling to complete fiction projects. I seem to be emerging from the fog a little. However, the voice that tells me I'm not a good writer is always there.


https://bit.ly.com/OrneryOwlsRoost

 

Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Race the Sun: Book One, World Gone Dark series by January Bain coming soon!

Good Morning to you! Today is a big day for this writer. I'm finally able, after a full year of writing seven days a week, to share my latest big project: Book One of a nine book series: Race the Sun



What is it about you ask? So happy you asked!😃

It's about survival when the world goes dark. It's about what to do when suddenly you are forced into an unforgiving landscape. But mostly, it's about the struggle for a family to reunite with loved ones.

Race the Sun, coming June 30th.

*If anyone would like an ARC of this book, please feel free to contact me on Facebook by private message. I check in once a day. Until we meet again, Happy Day to you!

Hugs, January Bain/storyteller. 



Sunday, May 31, 2026

Sharing our blessings – #CharitySunday #FreeBook

Master's Mark Banner

By Lisabet Sarai

My date here at Sweet N’ Sexy Divas is the 31st, which means I don’t post every month. As it happens, today, the 31st of May, happens to be the last Sunday of the month, which is the day when I usually host my Charity Sunday event at my own blog Beyond Romance.

Charity Sunday is my modest attempt to share my blessings and bring a bit more light into the world. For these events, I choose a worthwhile organization to support, then pledge to make a donation for each comment I receive on the post. My goals are to educate my readers a bit, to get them involved and to give them a chance to do something positive, however small.

I also include an excerpt from one of my books, hoping to entertain as well as edify!

Today I’m supporting Doctors Without Borders, otherwise known as Médecins Sans Frontières, one of my favorite charitable organizations. They need special help right now, because they are on the front lines dealing with the Ebola epidemic in Central Africa. You can read more over at Beyond Romance (https://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com/2026/05/charity-sunday-where-help-is-needed-msf.html). For each comment you leave there, I’ll donate two dollars to MSF

MSF Logo
The same deal applies here. Leave a comment and I’ll make another donation. You can double your impact for a very small additional effort.

In addition, I am giving away an ebook copy of The Master’s Mark to one person comments, across this blog and Beyond Romance. Here’s an excerpt, to entice you!

Excerpt (Adult)

Silk whispered across her skin as she rose to turn down the gas sconces, then paused before the looking glass on the dressing table. She’d lost some weight during her illness. The woman who returned her gaze appeared willowy and fragile, almost ethereal. The lingerie draped gracefully over her curves, aside from where her swollen nipples made prominent peaks in the fine material. Her colour was high, almost as if her fever had returned. Breath flowed fast and shallow through her slightly parted lips.

There was a soft knock. She started, then giggled. Was she, Gillian Smith of the Toymakers Guild, really so nervous at the prospect of sex?

Barefoot, she padded across the floor to open the door. Jeremiah and Rafe stood side by side in the corridor. Rafe clutched one hand with the other in front of his trousers, white knuckles testifying to his anxiety. The Jamaican had his hands in his pockets, but his apprehensive expression didn’t match his casual pose.

As she recognised their tension, her own nervousness abated. The last thing she wanted was to cause them distress. She summoned the warmest smile she could manage.

Good evening, gentlemen. Please, come in.”

There was an awkward moment in which each of the young men held back to allow the other to enter. Finally, Gillian took hold of their hands and drew them into her chamber. Rafe’s grip was icy; Jeremiah’s palm was damp with sweat. The brief contacts jacked up her heartbeat and sent blood rushing to her clit and nipples.

She shut the door, then faced them. Rafe’s eyes grew wide as he took in her state of dishabille. Jeremiah’s nostrils flared while his lips pulled back from his teeth like a cat scenting its prey.

The pale journeyman’s fists were clenched by his thighs, as if he were afraid of what he might do. “Jill, you look – absolutely beautiful!”

Beyond beautiful,” Jeremiah agreed, licking his full lips. “Exquisite. Stunning.”

She felt a blush warming her cheeks, though of course she’d hoped to impress them. Obviously she’d succeeded. “Thank you. For your compliments, and for joining me tonight.”

Nothing on earth could have kept me away,” said Rafe. “Have you any idea how much I’ve missed you?”

I’ve some idea. I’ve missed you, too. Both of you.”

She swept her eyes from one to the other and back. How was she going to manage this? How could she share herself with these two men she cared for so much, without one or the other feeling short-changed?

Far less relaxed than she probably appeared, she stepped between them and strolled across the room toward the bed. She felt heat of their gaze on her bare shoulders and silk-clad backside. A few feet from the bedstead, she turned. “As you have undoubtedly noticed, I’m not wearing much. I suggest you also remove your clothes.”

The two men looked at one another in consternation.

Remembering the test of the artificial vagina, when both had bared their cocks, she found their hesitance surprising. The context apparently made a difference. In the lab, they’d been surrounded by a group of randy Toymakers. Now they were being asked to expose their endowments to her alone. Despite their apparent truce, the two men were likely worried about her comparative evaluation. Neither one wanted to fall short in her eyes.

She tried to reassure them. “Come now! There’s no reason to be shy.” Her sigh was deliberately exaggerated. “Unless, of course, you’re so uncomfortable that you want to leave. Which I would find most regrettable...”

No, no,” Jeremiah blurted out. “Don’t dismiss us, please!” He shrugged off his waistcoat, tossed it onto a chair, then began unbuttoning his shirt.

Catalysed by his companion’s activity, Rafe followed suit. In minutes both stood bare-chested before her. She drank in the glorious sight of their semi-nakedness.

 

TG Series Banner

If you’re interested in reading more, go to https://www.lisabetsarai.com/mastersmarkbook.html

The novel is available in audio form (the whole trilogy is) as well as in ebook.

Leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway and to trigger a donation. Be sure to include enough information that I can locate you if you’re my winner!



Saturday, May 30, 2026

Read Passageway by Steven A Coulter #SciFi #Fantasy #LGBTQ #Romance

  

Passageway 

Book 1

Key Words: 

Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Time Travel, Literary Fiction, Romance, LGBTQ, Gay Romance

Synopsis:

Chosen by mystical warriors to protect a parallel Earth from a catastrophic future, a young man must push his mental and physical abilities to the limits if he is to help save mankind.

As seventeen-year-old Darwin McQuaid flees high-school bullies, he is saved by an enigmatic stranger; an indigenous teenage warrior who was born 500 years in the past.

Strong and powerful, Daruk possesses an intelligence that exceeds his rugged youthful appearance, and Darwin is drawn to learn more about him. Surprisingly, the high-school junior discovers that the mysterious warrior has a connection to an old family friend—an elderly indigenous shaman called Uncle His.

As the physical attraction intensifies between Darwin and Daruk, the warrior reveals a secret—that he and Uncle His are Guardians of the Passageway and are destined to protect the crossroads of three parallel universes, three Earths, each 500 years apart.

Discovering worlds he never knew existed, along with an untapped power within himself, can the young man become the warrior needed to defend this ancient world from corrupt invaders? Or will the death and danger of a more primitive time prove to be too much for this 21st century teen?

Get It Now:

Universal

Free Sample

Excerpt:

 

He can’t stop grinning when he comes here. As he stands on the precipice, the ocean wind whips his long black hair, pelts his bare chest with sand and brings salt to his lips. He feels energized and alive on this hilltop, watching the roiling waters of the Pacific Ocean pound the half dozen islands, all that is left of San Francisco. He is not melancholy over what was lost, knowing the land is still vibrant in his own world.

There are lessons in tragedy if you care to learn and change. Ignorance or indifference do not avert disaster. Myth makers and politicians will convince survivors that no one was at fault, it was inevitable and for the best. Human memory is short and truth always fungible. Who cares about history or blame? What is the point?

The 26th century is not his favorite time to visit.

The warrior pulls off his beaded headband and eagle feather, carefully slipping them into the leather pouch at his hip, remembering his pride when an Arapaho chief on the Great Plains gave them to him in recognition for rescuing a girl, not much younger than himself, from a group of renegades.


Throwing his head back, he coyote howls into the wind. He pounds the end of his wooden staff on the stone path and a door opens in the hillside.

Moving into the darkness, he drops down three hundred feet, through a blue shimmering icy flame thirty feet high, ten feet across, undulating in slow motion. Enveloped in a white gauzy mist and intense cold, he travels back in time. He is anxious to see his adopted father, continue his training and once again be near the object of his destiny.

Maybe this time he will be brave enough.


-----
More in the Series


Book 2

In the ancient forests of northern California, a mother’s final act to protect her child sets off a chain of events that draws Guardians of the Passageway, Darwin McQuaid and Daruk, into a deadly mystery.

The pair, bound by love and destiny, are alerted by the specters of violence only to stumble upon a horrifying scene—a murdered family and an extraordinary infant survivor. With the aid of Uncle His, the wise indigenous shaman, the Guardians discover startling truths about the victims and the perpetrators, uncovering secrets that challenge their understanding of humanity.

As they delve deeper into the mystery, Darwin and Daruk encounter the only other survivor, Haldir, a young man with feline features and remarkable abilities. Joining their cause, and seeking sanctuary in the 21st century with the orphaned infant, Haldir must adapt to a new world where being different isn’t easy. Preparing for high school alongside Darwin, the remarkable young man must walk a fine line between fitting in and exposing his otherness, bringing fear of who and what he is.

In a world where the past, present, and future intertwine, can these young warriors protect their newfound allies and prevent further chaos from consuming their worlds? And, as they face new adversaries and unforeseen challenges, can they overcome the corruption and violence that threatens all they hold dear?


Universal

Free Sample


Book 3

When love transcends time and danger lurks in every shadow, can a young warrior protect those he loves while navigating the chaos of multiple worlds?

Darwin McQuaid finds himself caught between dueling realities: the ordinary life of a high school student and the extraordinary responsibilities of a Guardian-in-training. After a courageous act thrusts him into the public eye, Darwin becomes the focus of a media frenzy, just as an alien ship hurtles toward Earth. With his enigmatic lover, Daruk, and the gifted Fae, Haldir, by his side, Darwin must navigate the perils of newfound fame while also preparing for the looming threat of invasion.

And, when an assassination attempt at a high-profile fundraiser endangers the President's life, Haldir's timely intervention reveals a tangled conspiracy that puts them all at risk. As the trio races to uncover the truth, they must harness their unique abilities to shield their loved ones from the escalating dangers that surround them.

As the countdown to the alien ship’s arrival accelerates, will Darwin and his friends be prepared to confront the dual threats—both extraterrestrial and domestic? Or will they fall victim to the forces that endanger everything and everyone they hold dear?

-----



Who am I?

Steve writes speculative fiction. He explores issues of consequence embedded in fast-paced adventure, exotic settings, nasty bad guys, reluctant heroes, and the audacity of love. His work is enriched by his varied careers – soldier, teacher, journalist, state legislator, corporate executive, and library commissioner. He has a BA and MA in Journalism and was a Lambda Literary Fellow in 2008 and 2013, later spending two years on the Board. He lives in San Francisco with his husband, Greg. They favor bittersweet chocolate.

Stalk Me


Friday, May 29, 2026

READING THE VISCOUNT by Lexi Post available for PreOrder for 99¢ for a few days only!

 

Reading the Viscount (Courting a Curious Lady: Book 5) by Lexi Post

Available for Preorder for a few days only at 99¢  

Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon CA 

Painfully shy Lady Sophie is happy to blend in among the other shepherdesses at her friend’s Twelfth Night ball, at least until she gets lost in the corridors and a laughing stranger sweeps her into his arms and kisses her. Horrified, she runs away, enticed back to the ball only by a change of costume. But there’s something in her new costume that has her feeling as confident as the heroine of her favorite play, giving her the bravery to experience yet another kiss from the full-of-life Lord Tamworth. Unfortunately, the next morning, she must hide from him and return to her life at school.

Lord Tamworth has vowed not to wed until after he turns thirty, as he has secret plans that must be in place before he can settle on a wife. So, when he kisses an innocent shepherdess, he’s driven to apologize only to end up committing yet another faux pas. Determined to start his new life free of encumbrances, and to once again see the lady with the softest lips and keenest intelligence, he takes extraordinary measures.

It doesn’t take long for Christopher to discover teaching at the Belinda School for Curious Ladies is filled with many pitfalls, the deepest being the intriguing Lady Sophie. As his personal plans come to fruition, he’s torn over his growing feelings for her and ponders the unthinkable―breaking his vow. But he soon realizes his own plans are the least of the impediments to keeping Lady Sophie in his life. If he plays the villain in her story, will she ever see him as the hero?

Catch up on the Courting a Curious Lady Series



About Lexi:

Lexi Post is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of romance inspired by the classics. She spent years in higher education taking and teaching courses about the classical literature she loved. From Edgar Allan Poe's short story “The Masque of the Red Death” to Tolstoy’s War and Peace, she's read, studied, and taught wonderful classics.

But Lexi's first love is romance novels so she married her two first loves, romance and the classics. Whether it’s sizzling cowboys, dashing dukes, hot immortals, or hunks from out of this world, Lexi provides a sensuous experience with a “whole lotta story.”

Lexi is living her own happily ever after with her husband and her two cats in Florida. She makes her own ice cream every weekend, loves bright colors, and you’ll never see her without a hat.

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