It takes a real woman to manage brass balls

Years ago, I was fascinated with pawn shops. I’ve never been in one, but I love the idea of them. So much history, so much personal angst. Or happiness waiting to be passed on to someone new. Either way, I always thought they would be fun places to explore. However, I gave little thought to they’re also being a business. This is something Evelyn Collins isn’t able to forget.

Blurb:
As family wage earner and pawn shop manager, Evelyn Collins thinks she's kept a good watch on everything in her corner of the world. That is, until Harve Liddell, son of a local crime family, and Detective Joshua Rosen step up to show her just how much she's missed.

Evelyn Collins inherits the family pawn shop and thinks things are starting to change for the better. Now, if she could keep her younger brother out of trouble, and handle two surprising suitors, things would be great.

Harve Liddell suffers from the reputation of his family's involvement in organized crime, but Evvie Collins has always treated him as a friend. Far from friendship, he wants to set her blood afire with passion. When Harve's ready to move, he finds Detective Joshua Rosen is, too.

For years Josh Rosen has wanted Evelyn in his bed, but stayed away because Jews were second class citizens in Minneapolis. He's no longer willing to wait. The only thing blocking him is Harve Liddell, and the trouble Josh is sure he's embroiled Evelyn's brother in. He must find a way to trap Liddell without causing Evelyn pain before he can claim her.

Buy link:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Unlikely-Bedfellows-Publishing-Menage-Everlasting-ebook/dp/B009HA6D9Q/

Excerpt:

Nudging her to her back, he slipped between her legs as though he’d always belonged there. Maybe he had. God knew, he’d dreamed about being there long enough. Lacing his fingers with hers, he positioned their hands beside her head. No need to use his hand to lead his cock to her pussy. It found the sweet spot like an arrow aimed by an expert archer.

“This might hurt,” he said.

 “It won’t,” she said back, with such conviction he had a moment’s doubt that she was a virgin. But then, he knew his Evvie, and she was as pure as an angel.

 “Spread your legs as far as you can. And try to relax.”

 “Harve Liddell, you’re inspiring a lot of things right now, but relaxation isn’t one of them.”

 He laughed—a first for him, buck naked and between a woman’s thighs. He took her mouth at the same time his cock sunk into the heat and tightness of her pussy.

 He had to push, because her muscles resisted the necessary stretching to accommodate him. She wasn’t kidding—she was anxious.

 He swept kisses up her jaw to her ear. He nibbled the lobe and then whispered, “Relax, sweetheart. Let my cock in.” He flexed his hips, trying like hell not to hurt her any more than need be yet feeling the strain himself as each moment passed. It was all he could do not to drive inside and relieve his own urges.

 “Feel my dick, sliding inside you?”

“Yes,” she murmured.

 “It wants you. I want you. Your cunt wants my dick, too. God designed us that way.” Her breath hitched enough for him to feel it, and she squeezed his hands.

 “You’re so sexy. Your tits pressing my chest are driving me crazy.”

 The sex talk worked. She raised her hips to push against him and accepted him an inch more. With the next probe, her hymen blocked his way.

 “There’s no easy way to do this,” he whispered and thrust hard.

 “Oh, my God!”

 He was there, deep inside, surrounded by heat and her natural moisture. He took a needed deep breath, letting her adjust to his size. “It’ll be better in just a minute. I’m sorry I hurt you.”

 Remarkably, she wrapped her legs around his butt and pushed up. “No, I meant, ‘Oh, my God’ that feels incredible. You’re inside me so far, it’s like we’re one person.”

 His Evvie was one in a million. “It’ll feel even better, starting right now.” He pulled out to the entrance to her channel and slid back in.

Out and in. Out and in.

Then he took her mouth again, a conqueror, sliding his tongue in and out, reveling in her response. She sucked at him at the same time she met his cock’s thrusts. Her moans urged him on, harder, faster. He wouldn’t hold out much longer at this rate, but he had to, for her.

 Then she shattered beneath him. Her pussy grabbed his dick and contracted, all along his length. He drove in a final time, coming with surprising force.

 Harve broke their kiss in order to suck in air. He let go of her hands so he could push his weight a little off her, and she readily wrapped her arms around his neck and stroked his neck and shoulders while her spasms continued rippling over his cock. Her breathing was deep, her eyes closed.

 “My God,” she muttered. “My God.”

 He had spent his load but remained where he was to let her finish. Her pussy wouldn’t stop, providing an incredible ride inside the world’s sexiest woman. He dipped his head to lick her nipple. She arched her back to feed it to him.

 Finally, she calmed completely. His dick, spent but happy, slid out of her pussy. When he removed the rubber to dump in the trash basket beside the bed, it was slippery with her cream.

 “I didn’t hurt you?”

 “There was a tiny bit of pain, but no. It felt…like nothing I could ever describe to anyone.”

 “Good?”

 “Fantastic. Remarkable. A miracle. I should have done this years ago.”

 “No!” He sat up, propped on one hand, and stared down at her. “No, Evvie. You were keeping yourself for me.”

 She smiled sweetly and reached up to cup his cheek. “You’re probably right. It wouldn’t have been the same with anyone else.”

 He covered her hand with his own. “It’ll always be good between us.” He turned his head to kiss her palm, teasing her with the tip of his tongue. “I love you, Evvie.”

 “I must love you, too, or else how could I feel this good?”

 “Oh, the body lies all the time. Yours is meant to respond to a man’s dick, a man’s touch. I want you to love me with your heart and mind.”

 “I think maybe I do, Harve. But this has all happened so fast.”

 He hesitated, wondering how to approach his question. “Did Rosen kiss you when he took you home the other night?”

 She looked away and bit her bottom lip. “Yes. Why do you ask?”

“Did you enjoy it? Did he give you tongue?”

 “Harve, those are personal questions.”

 “My sweet siren, I’m not the only man who wants you in his bed. Josh Rosen does, too.”

 “How do you know?”

 “He told me. If I had to guess, I’d say he’s in love with you, too.”

 “Oh, no.” She bit her lip again, the sparkle in her eyes dimming. “I have feelings for him, too. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Since my dad died, everything seems different.”

 “It’s okay, honey. We want you to think about something. If one of us can make you feel as good as you just did, how much better might it be with two of us?”

 A little about me:
A few years ago, Dee S. Knight began writing, making getting up in the morning fun. During the day, her characters killed people, fell in love, became drunk with power, or sober with responsibility. And they had sex, lots of sex.

 After a while, Dee split her personality into thirds. She writes as Anne Krist for sweeter romances, and Jenna Stewart for ménage and shifter stories. All three of her personas are found on the Nomad Authors website. And all three offer some of the best romance you can find! Also, once a month, look for Dee’s Charity Sunday blog posts, where your comment can support a selected charity.

 Author links:

Website: https://nomadauthors.com

Blog: http://nomadauthors.com/blog

Twitter: http://twitter.com/DeeSKnight

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeeSKnight2018

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/265222.Dee_S_Knight

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B079BGZNDN

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/dee-s-knight-0500749

Sweet ‘n Sassy Divas: http://bit.ly/1ChWN3K

 

Taken by the Maine Coon by @meganslayer #romance #monsterromance #paranormal

 

Taken By the Maine Coon (Taken 9) A Paranormal Women’s Fiction Novel by Megan Slayer

Sale Price: $4.24

A big cat and a woman without magic could just be the right combination.

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Copyright ©2025 Megan Slayer

She hit SEND, then darkened the phone and tossed it onto the side table. If Norm Slone had time for her, he’d let her know in the morning. Besides, she didn’t want to give her ex any extra space in her mind. He owned too much as it was. Some days, he lived there rent free. Those were the days she second-guessed divorcing him. She’d loved the troll once, hadn’t she? Thought they could make a future together, right? A woman with no magic and a troll could make things work, in theory. The more she considered her past, the faster she remembered the reason she’d left Tiernan. He’d only married her under the assumption she’d inherit money from her parents.

Wrong.

After the wedding, when he found out she was penniless, he’d walked out. He claimed he wasn’t interested in her any longer. He had to work late. He’d made friends with other people. Their lives were going in different directions. Other days, he simply didn’t speak to her.

He’d packed his belongings up in the middle of the night and walked out.

Her head ached. She’d lost a dozen years of her life to him. Years she could’ve been happy. Could’ve been single but making the best of her situation. Instead, she’d tried her damnedest to keep the marriage together. Tried to make herself loveable to him again.

What a waste. He wasn’t going to love her then or now… or ever. She had to stop living in the past and thinking about what wasn’t going to happen in order to focus on the future -- whatever future she had.

She switched off the light and snuggled in her blankets. She might not be living with anyone, but then again, she didn’t have to share the bed. Didn’t have to argue with anyone. Didn’t have to explain herself. But the loneliness overwhelmed her at times.

She closed her eyes and allowed herself to forget the day, forget her situation for a little while. Forget her Ex. Time to dream. She loved her dreams. Her mysterious stranger showed up when she closed her eyes.

Authors are the Best Teachers

It’s back to school time in my neck of the woods. The kids are running around to get the bus, the smell of freshly sharpen pencils and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches is in the air. The temperature is getting cooler. As I watched all the kids around me get excited for a new school year, I can’t help but reflect back on how many great teachers have made me the person I am today. And many great authors have made me the author I am by sharing their knowledge and experience and helping me to grow.

Here are a few of the authors that have proven to be fantastic writing teachers to me over the years and have turned me into the author I am today.

Stephen King’s On Writing is my favorite writing book ever. When I first read it, back in my high school days, it was transformative. Not only was it the first book that I’d read written an author I loved (before that all the writing books I’d ever read were more informational and written by people I’d never heard of before), but it also had such a different take on writing.

Just like the rest of Stephen King’s work, his writing advice was grounded in reality, realism, and wasn’t always rosy or optimistic. But I loved that. He made writing sound difficult but doable. He was the first author I heard make a word goal for the day and talk about grinding out the work instead of waiting for inspiration. It may sound obvious today, but at the time I’d never heard anyone detail how to become a writer in as plain terms as he did.

I haven’t read the book in quite a few years, I don’t know how well its held up over time. Especially when it comes to writing style, which is always evolving. But the advice on achieving your goals and improving your art are timeless.

I took Becca Syme’s Write Better Faster Class when I was going through a low point in my career. I’d completely burnt myself out trying to write fulltime after an unexpected job loss, and it was doing a number on my head. She’s the first person who I ever described my writing style to and didn’t think I was insane. She looked at the tests I’d taken for her class, and said my style made sense according to what my tests revealed. That was a vindication I never realized I needed but has helped me accept my style more than I can express.

Also, her advice to write like yourself is something I use every day. Whenever I start to get down on myself that my style isn’t like someone else’s that I love, or I can’t write like some author that is amazing, I always remember her advice that readers don’t come to your work for a copycat of someone else, or for perfect grammar and prose. They come to you for what makes you different. What is special about you. And you can’t do anything better for your writing than embracing who you are. That always encourages me to continue when writing is tough. Or more often, I’m tough on myself.

I don’t remember how I found Sarra Cannon’s Heart Breathing channel on YouTube. I must have watched enough other author vlogs that the algorithm sent her to me, but I am grateful. In the last few years, writing has become a lot for me to handle. All the millions of things you have to do on top of the writing. Maintain a website, create an online presence, promote on social media, self-publish books, liaison with vendors….it can be overwhelming. But her 90-day planning system, called HB90, has been a godsend. It helps me focus on what’s important and move projects forward instead of running around trying to do everything at once and getting nowhere. And her writing advice on plotting, and characterization is fantastic.

One of her recent videos on reverse outlining, or grid outlining as I’ve seen some others call it, might have changed my writing process for good. It combines the writing part of my brain, with the analytical data part of my brain, so perfectly I can’t believe I’ve never thought of it before. It’s been so helpful, especially with my frazzled mom brain, to have a way to focus my whole story displayed on one sheet, instead of trying to keep it all in my head.

Back when I had a commute, I loved podcasts. Music is great, but podcasts really help me make a long commute fun. The time flies by when I’m learning something new. Stephenie Holmes podcast was one of my favorites. She has such great tips on writing and marketing, that I couldn’t wait for her podcast to drop each week. I love how clear she is in her own goals. Unlike other authors that give advice, she’s very clear in what works for her and doesn’t hedge. She’s a high production author—meaning she writes a lot, and feels that’s the best way to make enough money to write full-time. And she gives advice in that vein.

I loved to hear how her different marketing projects went. From Kickstarts, to merchandise and special editions, to exploring new genres, she detailed every turn she took with her writing. What was successful, what wasn’t, how she might do things differently to avoid pitfalls in the future.

While she hasn’t offered a new podcast in some time, the old ones still have a lot to offer. From marketing tips and tricks, to mindset resets. If you haven’t checked them out, they are definitely worth a listen.

These are the authors that have been great teachers to me. They have all taught me so much, and I take their wisdom with me everywhere I go. If you have any other authors you have learned a ton from, drop them in the comments below. I can’t wait to find others that will open my mind and expand my insight, just as these fantastic authors have.

The magic and mystery of autumn #ParanormalRomance #autumn #AmWriting

 

As far as I’m concerned, autumn begins in September. I always love how, as the new month begins, the temperature drops and the air shifts into something… indescribable. The sunlit haze of summer’s seemingly endless possibilities gives way to smoky bonfires, cozy sweatshirts, and an intangible but ever-present sense of mystery. What will the early darkness bring?

My autumn seasonal deco theme is earth tones with more than a hint of macabre added to the mix. I am fascinated by the possibility of things being more than what they seem. Growing up, I read a lot of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. A few years ago, I started reading romance and absolutely fell in love with the genre. Writing paranormal romance allows me to create worlds and possibilities beyond the everyday, beyond the mundane. Even though a character may be able to shape shift into a wolf or a bear, they still want the same things most of us want— love, acceptance, and of course, sometimes justice or revenge.

Lately, I’ve been working on steamy, paranormal romance, Hawk’s Heart. This will be Jordan and Luke’s story, and the very last book in my Stranger Creatures series. Each book in the series features a different couple in their fight for a happily-ever-after.

Here’s a look at the first four Stranger Creatures book if you want to get caught up before Hawk’s Heart (book 5) is released.

 

Wolf’s Challenge (book 1)

When Sydney left Seattle two years ago, she was scared, traumatized, and done with men for good. Now, she has a good job, a hobby that's fast becoming a second career, and best of all, she's adopted a little girl named Angel. Life is good and Sydney's not about to let charming lawyer Derrick mess that up, no matter how sexy he is, or how sweet he seems. 

Can wolf shifter Derrick convince Sydney to give him a chance, something more than her elusive maybe? More importantly, should he? He's still trying to forgive himself for being at the wheel during the accident that killed his son.

A troubled woman running from her guilty conscience has Sydney and Derrick in her crosshairs, and she’ll do whatever it takes to win her game. Will the unhinged stalker destroy Derrick’s chance at happiness?

Bear’s Edge (book 2)

A boss can’t date her employee—simple as that. No matter how much Shayla wants to unravel a few of Grant’s mysteries and take her friendship with the shy, sarcastic man to the next level, she’s determined to keep her fantasies of him to herself. 

After bear shifter Grant lost his girlfriend and three best friends in a fire, he did his best to shut himself off from everyone around him. Falling for Shayla wasn’t part of his plan, but after a kiss that leaves them both speechless and hungry for more, Grant can’t keep his desire for his boss under wraps any longer. 

When things between the two of them get hotter than he could have imagined, Grant wonders if some of his darker desires will be too much for Shayla or will she embrace the needs he’s kept hidden for so long?

An obnoxious reporter and Shayla’s bitter ex have teamed up to chase down conspiracy theories that could destroy Shayla’s business and worse, put her life in danger. To find their happily ever after, Shayla and Grant will have to trust in each other and find a way to crush all the obstacles standing in their way.

Tiger’s Last Chance (book 3)

While working a case, Sean Whitman is tortured for information, drugged, and bitten against his will by a shape shifter. The fallout ruins his career. Needing a fresh start, he leaves town and opens a private investigation business. Learning to live life sober isn’t easy, but he makes it to the two-year mark.

When Detective Nikki Jackson with the Great Oaks Police Department calls to ask him to be a consultant on a case, he's captivated by her sweet, slightly Southern voice. In person, she's unlike any other woman he's encountered, and nearly impossible to resist. But could the beautiful detective ever want a man like him?

After Nikki’s last dating disaster, the mountain lion shifter has sworn off men. Then she meets Sean, and with every second she spends around the tall, dark-eyed man, her resolve crumbles. Despite the undeniable attraction between them, Sean seems determined to push her away.

An investigation into missing refugees leads Nikki to the discovery of a radical political group’s horrifying plot for dominance. Traitors are embedded within the very organizations meant to keep shifters safe. As the list of people she can trust dwindles, she calls on Sean to help her unravel a web of deceit.

As Nikki and Sean fight for survival, his fear of losing her could become a reality. Will he get one last chance to show her he loves her?

Coyote’s Vow (book 4)

A brutal experiment left Kylie Claremont with telekinetic abilities and she wants answers. The position she’s offered as a liaison between Shifters United and the Psy Guild will give her the chance to find the elusive research company that disappeared after experimenting on her. The only thing standing in her way is an arrogant coyote shifter who is convinced that Kylie is a threat to shifters. She never expected to fall for the gruff, mistrusting man.

Coyote shifter Trevor Ryland will never trust the psy. Still, he knows the time has come to strengthen the tentative alliance between shifters and psy. He fully intends to ignore his attraction to Kylie, but he’d never forgive himself if something happened to her. His plan to protect her from afar is wrecked when they’re forced to work together. She could be his mate but Trevor can’t let that happen. The struggle to deny his need for the one woman with the power to destroy him gets harder every day.

Trevor and Kylie uncover a web of greed and deceit during their search for a travelling research group. They’ll have to work fast and fight hard to stop the CEO’s latest plans or shifters and psy everywhere will suffer.

Haven Forest Resort Series:

I ended up creating the Haven Forest Resort series because I had two characters from the Stranger Creatures series, brothers AJ and Greg Shepherd, who needed their own stories. Each book in both of my series features a different couple in their fight for a happily-ever-after.

In Bear’s Dream, (Haven Forest Resort book 1), AJ and Greg are pursuing their dream of opening up a shifter resort. Ellie Ortiz wants nothing to do with AJ until a chance encounter on New Years Eve reveals he's not the heartless man she once thought. After a new job puts her in contact with him every day, the sparks between them threaten to catch fire. When Ellie ends up in danger, she and AJ must work together to survive.

 

You can visit my amazon author page for buy links and to learn more about the books in my Stranger Creatures series and my Haven Forest Resort series (also available at other e-book sellers like Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, iBooks, Google Books, and Kobo).

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Christina-Lynn-Lambert/e/B01MCYK0K7

 

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

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/christina-lynn-lambert

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christinalynnlambert

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15900423.Christina_Lynn_Lambert

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinalynnlambert

Wordpress: https://christinalynnlambertwordpress.com

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

 

Read These at Your Own Risk

 

Any book worth banning is a book worth reading — Isaac Asimov

 

Writers of erotic romance must deal with the possibility of their work being banned or restricted at some point. Some of what we write isn’t appropriate for certain age groups, or our material may rub religious readers the wrong way (no pun intended). I make the content of my books clear to customers when I’m appearing at author signings, in case adult content bothers them. Better to lose one sale than ten potential readers because someone got offended and trashed me on social media.   

 

I recently ran across a magazine from 1984, and it contained an article titled “The Dirty Thirty.” It listed 30 books that were the most frequently censored titles in high school libraries at the time. Most of the objections focused on adult language and situations, but some of the philosophical and political ideas being presented were also considered unpopular. When I attended high school and college a few years prior to this list, most of these so-called inappropriate books were required reading.   

 

John Steinbeck is regarded as one of America’s pre-eminent authors, but two of his novels—“The Grapes of Wrath” and “Of Mice and Men”—consistently get banned for racial slurs, stereotypes, and obscene language. Mark Twain made the ’84 list with “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” along with Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse Five,” J.D. Salinger’s “Catcher in the Rye,” Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” and Hemingway’s “A Farewell to Arms.” I once had to write a book report on “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, and Dalton Trumbo’s “Johnny Got His Gun” was recommended by my civics teacher for its anti-war theme. Yet there they both were, on the naughty list.

 

What books currently have the Puritan’s panties in a twist? Here’s a recent list, as compiled by the American Library Association, along with the reasons why they were banned. I was surprised to discover that some of the same books were still included. As you scan the list, you’ll see some themes emerging.  

 

 "George" by Alex Gino (LGBTQ content and a transgender character).

 

 "All American Boys" by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely (profanity, drug use, alcoholism, and promoting anti-police views.)

 

"Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson (contains a political viewpoint that is biased against male students, and includes rape and profanity)

 

"Something Happened in Our Town: A Child's Story About Racial Injustice" by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard (divisive language and promoting anti-police views)

 

"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee (perennially cited for "racial slurs and their negative effect on students, featuring a 'white savior' character, and its perception of the Black experience.")

 

"The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison (considered to be sexually explicit and depicts child sexual abuse)

 

"The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas (profanity, and promoting an anti-police message)

 

"Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out" by Susan Kuklin (LGBTQ content, the effect on any young people who would read it, and being sexually explicit)

 

“A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo” by Jill Twiss. This one and the next title, “Sex is a Funny Word: A Book about Bodies, Feelings, and You” by Cory Silverberg, shared the banning distinctions of "LGBTQ content, political viewpoints, themes that are designed to pollute the morals of its readers, not including a content warning, and discussing gender identity and sex education." Makes you wonder if the authors did anything right.

 

"Prince & Knight" by Daniel Haack (for "Featuring a gay marriage, LGBTQ content, and being a deliberate attempt to indoctrinate young children with the potential to cause confusion, curiosity, and gender dysphoria." Wow!)

 

"I Am Jazz" by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings (LGBTQ content, a transgender character, and confronting a topic that is 'sensitive, controversial, and politically charged.')

 

"The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood (profanity, vulgarity, and sexual overtones)

 

The "Harry Potter" series by J.K. Rowling ("For referring to magic and witchcraft, containing actual curses and spells, and for characters that use nefarious means to attain goals.")

 

The "Captain Underpants" series, written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey ("The series was challenged because it was perceived as encouraging disruptive behavior, while 'Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot' includes a same-sex couple.")

 

"Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asheri (for addressing teen suicide)

 

Full disclosure: I’m not in favor of censorship, but I realize there are situations where limiting a young person’s access to certain content is advisable. However, the reason given for compiling this list in the first place really confused me: “Because schools and libraries should not put books in a child's hands that require discussion.”

 

Isn’t that the point of getting an education in the first place?

 

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

 

 

Books I Keep Meaning to Read Classic Edition

 

Free use image by Jose Antonio Alba on Pixabay

Upon checking the 100 Books to Read Before You Die website, I found a list of classics I need to read before I kick the bucket. How many have you read?

Yes, Grammarly, I meant to say kick the bucket. I'm not saying pass away. I shall not go gently into that good night. I will rage against the dying of the light. 

https://100booksbeforeyoudie.com/

Here are the ones I've read.

1984

Anna Karenina

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Brave New World

The Catcher in the Rye

Cloud Atlas

The Color Purple

Dune

Ender's Game

The Giver

Gone Girl

The Great Gatsby

The Diary of Anne Frank

The Grapes of Wrath

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

The Hobbit

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

The Kite Runner

The Little Prince

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

The Lovely Bones

To Kill a Mockingbird

That's 23 out of 100. I read some of these books decades ago and can't remember much about them. It certainly wouldn't hurt me to get my Austen on this fall. I think I'll save the Dickens for the winter months.

https://www.longandshortreviews.com/wednesday-weekly-blogging-challenge/

https://bit.ly/orneryliteraryservices

Interview with Author January Bain!

 

Good Morning to you! 

I trust you are having a grand summer and are looking forward to the fall season. My favorite time of year is when the leaves change to the beautiful golds, oranges, and reds of autumn.

As per my usual MO, I have been writing up a storm! I'm working hard on a new book series that begins releasing after my current one. I'm going to include a video about it and also repost an author interview about my book, City of Lies, I think you might enjoy! Wishing you a fine day! Hugs, January

• What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write City of Lies?

I’ve always been fascinated with history, especially moments when events converge and create revolutions. The 1960s were one of those volatile periods sparked by social and political unrest. Combine this with a love of hard, gritty crime novels fueled by characters unafraid to go the distance, to seek the truth no matter what it took, and voila, City of Lies was born from gritty realism.

• If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be?

 

For Claire: Blowin’ in the Wind by Bob Dylan.

                    Eve of Destruction by P.F. Sloan and sung by Barry McQuire.

                    Turn! Turn! Turn! (Or To Everything There Is A Season)

                    By Bob Seeger and sung by The Byrds.

For Jake: Just about any Bob Dylan protest songs of the 60s.

 

• What books are on your to-be-read pile right now?

 LOL Too many to mention! I’ve always got a lot of books stacked up to read. I have a voracious appetite for the written word ever since I taught myself to read very early on. I believe it comes from a deep-seated curiosity about everything in this world.

I also believe its as important to familiarize yourself what has come before as much as to read what’s being written in present day. We are only an infinitesimal part of the big picture. You just have to walk outside your front door and look at the moon and the stars to experience where one single person stands in the vastness of the universe.

 

• What scene in City Of Lies was your favorite to write?

 Honest answer: It’s always the one I’m writing. I find people fascinating with their different viewpoints, so add two people at odds with each other, and you can expect things to become conflicted. The more conflict, the better, yes? Though the scene where Claire and Jake first meet was a lot of fun to write, if I had to pick a favorite. Sparks flew that day!

 

• Do you have any quirky writing habits?

 Yes, I do indeed! I wake up, grab a cup of coffee, and write for the next few hours in bed, seven days a week. Works for me.

 

• Can you describe your writing process?

 First, a glimpse of something from an image I see, a few words I hear or read, then a character arrives that speaks to me and pushes me forward. Oft times I’m in the shower when an idea strikes and I’m scrambling to find pen and paper. I’ve learned to keep it close by when inspiration strikes.

 

• What's next for you? 

 I have more ideas than time permits to write all the stories that come to me. Right now, I’m writing about the journey of a private investigator, Anna Hale. She’s always on the case, incensed by injustice (same as me), driven to get at the truth and make the bad guys pay, even at great cost to herself. That’s what most intrigues me: How far one person is willing to go to right a wrong or correct an injustice.

 

• Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

Throw me to the wolves, and I’ll return leading the pack.

Live each day as if it were your last.

Be kind.

 

• If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

 LOL Well, I’d love them to remember my name, of course! But hopefully, they come away having gone on a journey that satisfies them in some way, that helped them escape the bonds of earth for a short while and gave them a sense of fellow humanity. And if they discover a character or moment that truly speaks them on an elementary level, helps them to see things in a different light or perspective, maybe even changing their minds about some aspect of life, then I will have struck a home run. A teary moment or a laugh wouldn’t go astray either! A book’s characters should feel as real as your friends and neighbors.

 

• Are there specific types of scenes you struggle with?

 Not so much that as finding the correct order of events to best show the story I burn to tell to keep the reader turning the pages frantically to discover what happens next. That’s what I yearn for as a writer.

 

• Where did you get your inspiration for your characters?

 Fascinating people are everywhere. Bits and pieces come to me, sometimes in dreams, sometimes in a flash of inspiration, and then together we go on an awesome journey together to find out their truth. What wounds have they suffered? What makes them who they are? It’s simple, then a plot evolves that spins around them, showing their strengths, weaknesses and beliefs. It’s simple, but also complex, the bringing together of the pieces in the best way I can.

 

• What drew you to this genre in the first place?

 The Thriller/Mystery genre excites me like no other. It embraces universal truths—morality, justice, freedom—and ultimately brings satisfaction in the form of taking of responsibility for them when the story draws to its inevitable conclusion.

 

• An author or authors who inspire you and you look up to?

 Good question. Simple answer is there are too many to mention all of them, from the Anatomy of Genre by John Truby to Stephen King’s Salems Lot. There are so many incredible authors out there, and we could not live in a better time in history than now with such a wonderous infinite library of choices at our very fingertips. The world may have shrunk, but our choices have expanded. For a little girl who taught herself to read, to present day when my books are gaining readers, I could not have seen it coming and I feel blessed for the journey. Happy reading everyone!