Hello all! I am permanently moving to WordPress at the following address:
https://sldanielsoncom.wordpress.com/
Thank you!
Sunday, May 6, 2018
Tuesday, May 1, 2018
4 Easy But Effective Habits To Help Get You Unstuck
4 Easy But Effective Habits To Help Get You Unstuck: Do you feel like you are reaching a fraction of your potential in life? Or maybe you feel stuck and don’t know what to change to make a difference. I was right there for years.
Friday, April 20, 2018
Tuesday, April 10, 2018
Reviews! 4 stars each for the Ice Fairy books :)
I'm very excited to share two reviews I received for Ice Fairy 1 and 2:
Sunday, April 8, 2018
Coming Soon! Ice Fairy 3: Coming Together
The story continues!
In a nutshell,, Sam and Brett are having issues; mainly Brett is (with Sam's new fame). There are cracks exposed in their relationship, which turn into chasms. Can they come together after dealing with not only Sam loving the fame, but an embezzlement scheme revealed? Maybe their best friends can offer some comfort too. It's all coming together.
Long Weekend
My husband had bad back pain and therefore became my patient. Subject to all of my chattering and ideas bouncing off the walls! Poor guy. We were in pain together though; my wrist (splinted now for over a month) is making progress so I knit (some) but did very little else beyond chores or scrolling on FB.
How is all of this relaxing so draining? Does that make sense to anyone else?
I finally caved and started up a rousing march to get me on my feet! Only....to be sucked...back down into my chair...and watch the video after it, which was a very cool documentary! Point was, my resolve only lasted a mere two minutes. Sigh.
Hopefully things will shift. I'll get some sleep, some willpower, some story idea (have NONE at the moment and haven't written a word since finishing my last story 10 days ago). There's just too much in my head.
How do you cope when you're drained? What helps or hurts? I'm open to suggestions.
Cheers!
Monday, April 2, 2018
Fortune Favours the Romantic: Complications by S.L. Danielson
Fortune Favours the Romantic: Complications by S.L. Danielson: Complications by S.L. Danielson Buylink: Amazon Josh is a family man, a good doctor and a man in love… with his best friend. All is we...
Monday, March 26, 2018
Coming March 30....Upstaged: Opening Act
Wannabe singer and band front man Erik Von Nordgren hates snarky brit Asher Berkley with a passion. From the moment he turns up at practice with his twin sister Daisy, who is one of the band the two have hated each other.
Through a series of 'tit for tat' incidents they annoy, frustrate and exasperated each other. The die hard goth with purple eyes and the hard core rocker with dreams of the big time have nothing in common and no need to cross paths. Except to wind each other up.
Until the day that Erik throws Asher in the school pool, when everything begins to change. Erik is so far in closet he's in Narnia and Asher has a dark past and trust issues that stand in the way of any relationship, let alone one with the brash American who hurts him every time they try to get together.
A relationship doomed from the start, or so you'd think.
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Monday, March 12, 2018
Meditation...my personal story
I downloaded an app called Headspace a couple of weeks ago on the idea that meditation is not sitting in a ghastly uncomfortable pose or chanting mantras to a statue; but to help calm the mind down. That's all I was after anyway, right?
Well, I love the little animations that these guys use (and their accents btw) to help us analyze how our brains work if relaxed or how to de-stress or just thinking differently.
I am a huge skeptic, but I gave it a fair shot...the first three nights I did great. I pulled up the app and did the guided section (which can be as short as three minutes, which is great for ADD folks like myself). Everytime it guided me into (mostly blissful sleep) or at least relaxed me just by breathing deeply.
The 4th night, I forgot and went back on day 5, ha ha. I skipped over the animation (told you I was ADD) I just wanted to get to the good part. The breathing and chillaxing.
A bonus to me is that they recommend tall posture while sitting or similar; I did this every night propped against three pillows (don't judge, LOL) and still was able to fill the lungs pretty well.
Long story short, I enjoyed my trial with them :) I just wish I could continue...to do so is $30 a month :( I am unemployed and starving artist/author so very tough to raise those greenbacks, but when/if I do, I would definitely return to Headspace.
Have you tried meditation? Which method? What did it do for you?
Cheers! Steph
Well, I love the little animations that these guys use (and their accents btw) to help us analyze how our brains work if relaxed or how to de-stress or just thinking differently.
I am a huge skeptic, but I gave it a fair shot...the first three nights I did great. I pulled up the app and did the guided section (which can be as short as three minutes, which is great for ADD folks like myself). Everytime it guided me into (mostly blissful sleep) or at least relaxed me just by breathing deeply.
The 4th night, I forgot and went back on day 5, ha ha. I skipped over the animation (told you I was ADD) I just wanted to get to the good part. The breathing and chillaxing.
A bonus to me is that they recommend tall posture while sitting or similar; I did this every night propped against three pillows (don't judge, LOL) and still was able to fill the lungs pretty well.
Long story short, I enjoyed my trial with them :) I just wish I could continue...to do so is $30 a month :( I am unemployed and starving artist/author so very tough to raise those greenbacks, but when/if I do, I would definitely return to Headspace.
Have you tried meditation? Which method? What did it do for you?
Cheers! Steph
Sunday, March 4, 2018
Read an Ebook Week at Smashwords! March 4 - 10
For one week only, my entire list available at Smashwords is 50% off!
Use Coupon Code REA50
Here are the available titles: (click to go to my author page)
Ranch Hands
Ranch Hands 2: Jerry's Season
Ice Fairy
Ice Fairy 2: Decisions
Love by the Numbers
For the Heart of Phillip
Refugees (FTHOP continued)
Bernard; Diary of a 46-yr-old Bellhop
Lust in London
Friday, March 2, 2018
Guest Blogger: Dani Hoots!
Please give a warm welcome to my guest this week: Dani Hoots
Title: Professional Secret
Series: My Broken Heart
Author: Dani Hoots
Blurb:
It was good news to Heinrich when he found out he was getting promoted to assistant manager at his office, but when he found out he would be going on a business trip with his boss Christoph, he knew he had to try his best to not let his true feelings towards his boss show. But after a couple of drinks on the business trip, can he keep those feelings to himself? And what if the impossible happened and Christoph had those same feelings as well?
*All the My Broken Heart short stories are independent and don't need to be read in order.
Excerpt:
“Heinrich, can you come to my office for a second?” Christoph, our boss called from down the hallway. I glanced at Charles and Jonathan. They gave me their ‘uh-oh, what did you do to get called into the boss’ office’ look. Then, as usual, I gave them my ‘I don’t know, should I be worried’ look. I rarely got called into Christoph’s office, and when I did, usually I wasn’t in trouble or any- thing.
Usually.
I finished up my last inputs in the computer and got up from my desk, and took a deep breath. I didn’t want to get yelled at, even though I didn’t think I messed anything up this week. Al- though he wasn’t as bad as the boss upstairs, who laid into Christoph more times than I could count, he still was pretty intimidating. Charles and Jonathan mouthed ‘good luck’ and I headed into Christoph’s office.
The office itself was neat and tidy. Nothing was ever out of place, I swore he was OCD or something. It was a contradiction to everyone else’s office space, which were covered in papers, staples, and clips (even though when you needed one you could never find it and have to borrow someone else’s). While everyone found his tendencies quite annoying, I found them a bit...
Cute.
I would never say that out loud, though. Who knows what people in the office would think if they knew...
Christoph swiveled around to face me, and I always have to keep myself from blushing when he looks directly at me with his emerald eyes. His brown hair was rather on the messy side today, as if he might have pulled an all-nighter at the office. It was always hard to tell since his of- fice clothes all looked the same; white shirt, black tie, black suit, black shoes. Every day. He really did work himself into the ground sometimes, and I always want to tell him to relax, but it’s not my place.
Usually.
I finished up my last inputs in the computer and got up from my desk, and took a deep breath. I didn’t want to get yelled at, even though I didn’t think I messed anything up this week. Al- though he wasn’t as bad as the boss upstairs, who laid into Christoph more times than I could count, he still was pretty intimidating. Charles and Jonathan mouthed ‘good luck’ and I headed into Christoph’s office.
The office itself was neat and tidy. Nothing was ever out of place, I swore he was OCD or something. It was a contradiction to everyone else’s office space, which were covered in papers, staples, and clips (even though when you needed one you could never find it and have to borrow someone else’s). While everyone found his tendencies quite annoying, I found them a bit...
Cute.
I would never say that out loud, though. Who knows what people in the office would think if they knew...
Christoph swiveled around to face me, and I always have to keep myself from blushing when he looks directly at me with his emerald eyes. His brown hair was rather on the messy side today, as if he might have pulled an all-nighter at the office. It was always hard to tell since his of- fice clothes all looked the same; white shirt, black tie, black suit, black shoes. Every day. He really did work himself into the ground sometimes, and I always want to tell him to relax, but it’s not my place.
5
“Heinrich, please sit,” he gestured towards the chair.
My heart started to race. Usually he didn’t make someone sit down unless he was going to chew them out. This week had been going so well, too.
“There’s a meeting next week in Brussels, with all the company managers. Usually the as- sistant managers come as well, and as you know, Frank is retiring in two weeks, so his job is going to be open, and there is no point in bringing him along when he is going to be leaving,” Christoph explained.
I just looked at him a bit confused. “Okay...”
“What I’m saying is, you are up for promotion, so what do you say to an assistant manager position? And coming to the meeting in Brussels?”
“You are giving the promotion to me?”
“Yes, I think you are the most qualified for the job. Your work has improved a lot over the past few months and I think this promotion could help you improve even more. What do you say?”
I didn’t even need to think about it. “Yes, of course.”
“Good. We leave Monday morning for Brussels and should be back early Wednesday. We will be sharing a room, is that okay?”
“Oh, uh, yeah, that’s fine.” Because normally sharing a room is fine. It’s not like I could say ‘no, I would feel uncomfortable since I have had feelings towards you since we first met’. I had to act like everything was fine, it was only for two nights anyway, and it’s not like he would recipro- cate the feelings anyway. It would stay professional, as it always did.
“Well then, I will see you at the train station. Our train leaves at a quarter after seven. I ex- pect you there no later than seven. Should be platform four.”
“I will be there bright and early, you can count on that.”
“Good.” With that, he went back to work, which I took as my cue to leave his office. As I closed his door behind me, Charles and Jonathan gestured to come to their cubicle.
“There’s a meeting next week in Brussels, with all the company managers. Usually the as- sistant managers come as well, and as you know, Frank is retiring in two weeks, so his job is going to be open, and there is no point in bringing him along when he is going to be leaving,” Christoph explained.
I just looked at him a bit confused. “Okay...”
“What I’m saying is, you are up for promotion, so what do you say to an assistant manager position? And coming to the meeting in Brussels?”
“You are giving the promotion to me?”
“Yes, I think you are the most qualified for the job. Your work has improved a lot over the past few months and I think this promotion could help you improve even more. What do you say?”
I didn’t even need to think about it. “Yes, of course.”
“Good. We leave Monday morning for Brussels and should be back early Wednesday. We will be sharing a room, is that okay?”
“Oh, uh, yeah, that’s fine.” Because normally sharing a room is fine. It’s not like I could say ‘no, I would feel uncomfortable since I have had feelings towards you since we first met’. I had to act like everything was fine, it was only for two nights anyway, and it’s not like he would recipro- cate the feelings anyway. It would stay professional, as it always did.
“Well then, I will see you at the train station. Our train leaves at a quarter after seven. I ex- pect you there no later than seven. Should be platform four.”
“I will be there bright and early, you can count on that.”
“Good.” With that, he went back to work, which I took as my cue to leave his office. As I closed his door behind me, Charles and Jonathan gestured to come to their cubicle.
6
“So,” Jonathan looked concerned. “What’s the verdict?”
I simply grinned. “You are looking at the new assistant manager of the company.”
***
We celebrated with drinks that night at the local pub, Jonathan, Charles, and I. We ordered
steins, of course, because that’s what you did when you celebrated a raise, or anything I suppose, according to Jonathan and Charles. I was worried that they would be a little mad at me, since they had been with the company a little longer than I. They seemed okay with it, though, and were gen- uinely happy for me.
I ordered a Haufbrau dunkel, and Charles and Jonathan ordered Paulaners. They usually gave me crap about not supporting our football team by drinking Paulaner. Tonight they didn’t say anything though. Tonight they just wanted to celebrate something.
Our drinks came out and we yelled ‘prost’, and clinked our heavy glasses together and took a drink. Charles, of course, downed the most.
“Well then,” Jonathan set his drink down. “Assistant manager. How did you manage that?” I shrugged. “I really don’t know. Guess Christoph just liked my work.”
“Sure, like we believe that. What, did you hook him up with some girl or something?”
Charles laughed. Jonathan and him clanked drinks again and chugged some more down. I could feel my cheeks redden even more as I took a drink, ignoring the comment. These two were my best of friends, but I couldn’t tell them the truth, that I was gay. I feared how they would view me, that they would stop talking to me. I didn’t want that happen, so I kept my mouth shut when it came to any conversation about a girl. Hopefully I just came off shy or something to them. They were usually drinking, so their attention span was short and I never had to worry. But still.
Jonathan slapped his hand on my back. “We joke, but seriously we are very happy for you.”
I knew that they were, the two of them were my best friends and had been for the past few years. I hoped that we would all be able to work together for years to come, and drink after promo-
I simply grinned. “You are looking at the new assistant manager of the company.”
***
We celebrated with drinks that night at the local pub, Jonathan, Charles, and I. We ordered
steins, of course, because that’s what you did when you celebrated a raise, or anything I suppose, according to Jonathan and Charles. I was worried that they would be a little mad at me, since they had been with the company a little longer than I. They seemed okay with it, though, and were gen- uinely happy for me.
I ordered a Haufbrau dunkel, and Charles and Jonathan ordered Paulaners. They usually gave me crap about not supporting our football team by drinking Paulaner. Tonight they didn’t say anything though. Tonight they just wanted to celebrate something.
Our drinks came out and we yelled ‘prost’, and clinked our heavy glasses together and took a drink. Charles, of course, downed the most.
“Well then,” Jonathan set his drink down. “Assistant manager. How did you manage that?” I shrugged. “I really don’t know. Guess Christoph just liked my work.”
“Sure, like we believe that. What, did you hook him up with some girl or something?”
Charles laughed. Jonathan and him clanked drinks again and chugged some more down. I could feel my cheeks redden even more as I took a drink, ignoring the comment. These two were my best of friends, but I couldn’t tell them the truth, that I was gay. I feared how they would view me, that they would stop talking to me. I didn’t want that happen, so I kept my mouth shut when it came to any conversation about a girl. Hopefully I just came off shy or something to them. They were usually drinking, so their attention span was short and I never had to worry. But still.
Jonathan slapped his hand on my back. “We joke, but seriously we are very happy for you.”
I knew that they were, the two of them were my best friends and had been for the past few years. I hoped that we would all be able to work together for years to come, and drink after promo-
7
tions just like this. I would be getting a new office, I knew, which then I wouldn’t be seeing the two of them as much. But we would meet up at lunch, I was sure, and after work for a beer or two.
Taking another drink, I began to wonder what the trip was going to be like with Christoph. I knew it would be fine, I was more worried about the responsibility than anything else. Much was expected of me in the next week and I just hoped I would succeed in the tasks that would be laid out for me.
***
I woke up on Saturday with a little bit of a headache. I shouldn’t have let Charles and
Jonathan talk me into having schnapps.
Yet, every time we celebrated, I found myself waking up with regret.
It wasn’t anything a little coffee couldn’t handle. I got up and started up the pot to brew.
Meanwhile, I picked up the book I had been reading, and leaned back on the couch for a bit. I swore I had the slowest pot in the history of pots. It always took forever for the coffee maker to finish fill- ing. I needed to get a new one but I always seemed to forget when I was at the store, or make some excuse to put it off another day. I could go get one today, but then again I should work on research- ing about the company in case any one asked questions, and make sure any loose ends are tied be- fore I start my new position.
See? Excuses.
The coffee finally finished and I added a bit of cream and sugar. Taking a sip, I decided that no matter what, it would never taste as good as it would if I bought it at a cafe. Why that was, prob- ably because they add so much caramel and sweetener and I wouldn’t admit how much they really added. So many calories, now I realized.
The headache started to go away thanks to the caffeine and I decided that it would be a good idea to start researching more into the company that I would be representing. Sorry coffee pot, you shall be pushed back to another day yet again.
Taking another drink, I began to wonder what the trip was going to be like with Christoph. I knew it would be fine, I was more worried about the responsibility than anything else. Much was expected of me in the next week and I just hoped I would succeed in the tasks that would be laid out for me.
***
I woke up on Saturday with a little bit of a headache. I shouldn’t have let Charles and
Jonathan talk me into having schnapps.
Yet, every time we celebrated, I found myself waking up with regret.
It wasn’t anything a little coffee couldn’t handle. I got up and started up the pot to brew.
Meanwhile, I picked up the book I had been reading, and leaned back on the couch for a bit. I swore I had the slowest pot in the history of pots. It always took forever for the coffee maker to finish fill- ing. I needed to get a new one but I always seemed to forget when I was at the store, or make some excuse to put it off another day. I could go get one today, but then again I should work on research- ing about the company in case any one asked questions, and make sure any loose ends are tied be- fore I start my new position.
See? Excuses.
The coffee finally finished and I added a bit of cream and sugar. Taking a sip, I decided that no matter what, it would never taste as good as it would if I bought it at a cafe. Why that was, prob- ably because they add so much caramel and sweetener and I wouldn’t admit how much they really added. So many calories, now I realized.
The headache started to go away thanks to the caffeine and I decided that it would be a good idea to start researching more into the company that I would be representing. Sorry coffee pot, you shall be pushed back to another day yet again.
8
There wasn’t much to look up, to be honest, as I had researched much about the company when I first started working there. I did need to finish my work in my old position as soon as I could so that I wouldn’t worry about dumping a project half done on some poor worker who has no idea where it was going. I would be leaving Monday and would be starting the new job soon, as Frank was retiring and finishing up any projects he was already working on. I couldn’t wait to start, I truly couldn’t. This is what I had been working on for years, to get to this position. I wasn’t a slacker, I did everything I could do to be promoted. And now it all had paid off.
And I would be working closely with Christoph. That part of it I liked and didn’t like at the same time. I admitted to myself that I had feelings for him, feelings that I would never share with anyone. Although, discrimination against LGBT in the workplace is illegal in Germany, it doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be looked at the same way, judged and the like. I just wanted to fit in and go on with my life as normal.
The only problem was, I couldn’t stop thinking about Christoph. I wanted to say something, I truly did, but I knew that he didn’t feel the same about me. There was no way. I tried to forget about him, go out and meet other guys, but none of them were Christoph. None of them made me blush or my heart race like he did. So after a while, I gave up on looking for someone else. It just wasn’t going to happen, not right now at least.
So working close with him was going to be a challenge, not that I could stay professional, that wasn’t a problem for me, but I knew the feeling I would get in my stomach and in my heart every time I saw him, which now would be a lot more often than not.
And I would be going on a business trip with him in just a couple of days. Great...
But I would get past it. I never let my feelings get in the way of my work. It was unprofes- sional and I wouldn’t allow myself to ever say anything.
Unless he said something first, of course. I wasn’t getting my hopes up, though.
And I would be working closely with Christoph. That part of it I liked and didn’t like at the same time. I admitted to myself that I had feelings for him, feelings that I would never share with anyone. Although, discrimination against LGBT in the workplace is illegal in Germany, it doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be looked at the same way, judged and the like. I just wanted to fit in and go on with my life as normal.
The only problem was, I couldn’t stop thinking about Christoph. I wanted to say something, I truly did, but I knew that he didn’t feel the same about me. There was no way. I tried to forget about him, go out and meet other guys, but none of them were Christoph. None of them made me blush or my heart race like he did. So after a while, I gave up on looking for someone else. It just wasn’t going to happen, not right now at least.
So working close with him was going to be a challenge, not that I could stay professional, that wasn’t a problem for me, but I knew the feeling I would get in my stomach and in my heart every time I saw him, which now would be a lot more often than not.
And I would be going on a business trip with him in just a couple of days. Great...
But I would get past it. I never let my feelings get in the way of my work. It was unprofes- sional and I wouldn’t allow myself to ever say anything.
Unless he said something first, of course. I wasn’t getting my hopes up, though.
Links:
Kindle:
Author website: https://danihoots.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/
Monday, February 26, 2018
Cats, Yarn, and Words
I've had some time to process the loss of my baby girl, Cali, last Tuesday. Strange what losing a beloved animal will do to you and make you look at your life. I have been reeling for days and finally have narrowed my 'hobbies' down to a top list of three great loves of my world:
Cats, Yarn, and Words
Cats...obviously. Above is my baby boy, Jack, who has been my buddy since he was adopted as a tiny kitten. (yes, he was tiny once). This 19 lb behemoth of a cuddler is the main focus of my life, especially since the tragic loss of his sister.
He is diabetic, but takes his shots like a champ. He is pretty healthy otherwise, thank goodness! He gets pancreatic attacks that make him sick all day and all night at times, but he gets medication and it helps.
Yarn...ha ha seems to go hand-in-hand with cats, right? Don't let them play with it, I implore you. My first cat, Katie, ingested some and it came out the other end...ewwwwwwwwwwwww! It can wrap around their stomach and kill them. Seriously, watch the yarn.
OK, enough PSA...I love to knit and can even crochet (it just always ends up a little 'off'). ha ha. I love regular straight needle patterns (if I even follow one). I usually make up my own and run with it. Nowadays I knit for friends, or donate my creations to cat shelters.
Words...this should be obvious having written 12 books so far (plus 18 more with co-authors). I've been writing since I knew how and hope to never stop. Even if they never sell, even if they're seen as goody-two-shoes or too 'safe' for the horrific world we live in, I don't care. I love my boys, my style, and I will write purely for my love if nobody else's.
This is more of a Monday morning brain dump, if not anything grander....but I wanted to share my loves with you, my followers, fans, and friends.
Have a good Monday if you can!
Steph
Friday, February 23, 2018
Guest Blogger, Sean McKissack
Hello again! This week I host author Sean McKissack and his book To be a Different Someone
Blurb:
James Kane could be summed up in one word: loser. He silently lived as a ghost amongst his parents and he had zero friends at school...unless you count his cousin who had to defend him against the abusive Matt Tracker. When his parents divorce, James moves to Montana and stays with his grandmother, where he makes an extreme adjustment to his life-becoming a different someone named Jennifer. The transition comes with frightening issues Jennifer never thought of. After two years of recovery, she returns to her old high school to start over but she meets up with her past tormentor and gets caught in a web of secrets as she finds herself falling in love. Her conscience gets the best of her as she tries to be truthful to Matt about who she once was, but will he accept her as his girlfriend when she tells him about their past?
Buy Link:
Thursday, February 22, 2018
In Memoriam...
My precious little Cali lost the fight Tuesday morning after a long, touch-n-go weekend that included an ER vet and her regular vet. She had just turned 18.
End stage kidney disease, hyperthyroid (newly discovered) and high glucose was too much for this little angel. She weighed only 6 lbs as it was. When it was the end, she weighed 5.
This little darling meant the world to all of us (both my ex hubby and current) and myself. She was a very vocal, lively, moody, silly, adorable, beautiful girl and she will be missed beyond description.
If you have furbabies, let them know what they mean to you now, in this life. I am wracked with guilt over every time I got frustrated or missed a sign...but she is in the best place possible now and knows how much we loved her.
Rest in Peace, Cali! I await you over the Rainbow Bridge
Friday, February 16, 2018
Guest Blogger: Ki Brightly
Today I welcome a guest blogger! Please give a warm welcome to Ki Brightly!
Hello! This is Ki Brightly here to discuss my newest release
Secret Seth. I was generously invited
to be here today, and would like to say thank you to my hostess. So thanks!
Secret Seth was an
interesting book for me to write because I had this idea of writing a
demisexual character. I’ve explored bits and pieces of demisexuality once
before with Joseph in The Paranaturalist,
but I never quite got what I was looking for out of that book. I wanted to see
what a character would be like who was an extreme demisexual, someone who truly
doesn’t feel sexual attraction unless he is very close to someone.
So, thanks to my fascination, this quirk became an integral
part of Seth’s personality, in some ways. He is very careful and thorough in
all of his life, part of his job in construction is to keep everyone on his
site safe. This feeling of being responsible for everyone around him is
something he never quite shakes. It takes Seth so long, in fact, to realize
what he is feeling towards people—more than friendship or wanting to take care
of them—that frequently they have given up on him and already moved on by the
time he gets around to letting them know about his feelings. But, Seth’s trip
down relationship lane was a while ago for him. He’s been so busy with work he
hasn’t had time to figure himself out, and more importantly determine why,
precisely, he never seems to like someone until it seems like they’re out of
reach.
To research this aspect of Seth’s personality, I talked to
several different people who identify to varying degrees as demisexul, or other
somewhat similar identifications on the sexuality spectrum. One recurring theme
with the people I talked to was that there always seemed to be a great amount
of confusion inside themselves about someone they might actually like in a
romantic sense, and frequently just as much confusion is caused by their
missing cues from other people that other people are interested, because they
simply aren’t looking for them the same way someone else might be.
I attempted to make Seth as true to life as I could, in the
hopes that someone out there might see something of themselves in him and
identify with it. Because after all the road to love is hard, and everyone
should get a satisfying happily ever after, no matter where they fall on the
sexuality spectrum.
Tyler, on the other hand, Seth’s counterpart, has more along
the lines of what we think of, however erroneously, as the average sexual
tendencies of a man. He’s sexual, knows it, and is very interested in flirting
with men, especially attractive men like Seth. You can see where some problems
may arise. Part of this book is a comedy of errors, but I think another, very
real part of Tyler and Seth’s relationship is the gentle, organic growth of a
friendship before a romantic relationship begins. In a lot of ways that isn’t
something we get to see much of in contemporary romance. So many romance novels
are two people tripping into bed with each other (and I’ve written them and
liked plenty of them, so please don’t think I am in any way upset about that),
but Tyler and Seth were a nice change of pace to write.
This is a slow burn love story.
I hope everyone enjoys Tyler and Seth. Happy reading!
Blurb:
Tyler
Faulkner lived for his work, constructing Hollywood sets. His designs were
perfect, and he expected equal perfection from his crew and himself. But,
talented as he was, he felt trapped. A creative clash with a producer left him
out of more than just a job, and Tyler decided that maybe a new beginning was
exactly what he needed.
Seth
Goodwin was reliable. So rock-steady that his father made him a partner in the
family construction business over his older brothers. Seth’s job was simple—he
took a highly skilled crew out on the road to build ridiculously expensive
projects for rich clients. Their success prompted Seth and his dad to hire a
new designer.
Seth
wasn’t so steady around Tyler. Tyler didn’t simply draw art; he forced it into
reality, elbowing his way into Seth’s work crew and life, whether he wanted him
there or not. But Seth had a secret he’s been keeping for a long while, and
Tyler, flamboyant and verbose, wasn’t someone who fit in a closet, unless he was
looking for the perfect shoes to go with his outfit. Would Seth and Tyler be
able to make it work? Or would everyone’s secrets catch up with them?
Excerpt:
His lips were glossy. Like glass over cherries, maybe?
I had trouble swallowing and couldn’t look away, but he was talking, so that
was probably all right. It would be so easy to bend down and…what? I cleared my
throat. My mouth watered. Are you wearing… lipstick? Lip… stuff…? I wanted to
ask so bad, but I could see that he was. My heart hurt at
the thought of him being far away, but Tyler didn’t actually look happy about
the prospect either.
“This is my job. It’s all I have, so I’ll do what I need to do to keep it, but I like doing it with you.”
“That’s not true.”
A confused little crease appeared between his eyebrows. “What’s not?”
“The job’s not all you have.”
His lips were glossy. Like glass over cherries, maybe? I had trouble swallowing and couldn’t look away, but he was talking, so that was probably all right. It would be so easy to bend down and…what? I cleared my throat. My mouth watered. Are you wearing… lipstick? Lip… stuff…? I wanted to ask so bad, but I could see that he was. Tyler’s POV He used his thumbs to wipe at my cheeks. Stupid tears. Still, it was kind. I batted his hands away and leaned closer. He let me burrow against his body, and then wrapped his arms around me tight. It was such a relief.
“This is my job. It’s all I have, so I’ll do what I need to do to keep it, but I like doing it with you.”
“That’s not true.”
A confused little crease appeared between his eyebrows. “What’s not?”
“The job’s not all you have.”
His lips were glossy. Like glass over cherries, maybe? I had trouble swallowing and couldn’t look away, but he was talking, so that was probably all right. It would be so easy to bend down and…what? I cleared my throat. My mouth watered. Are you wearing… lipstick? Lip… stuff…? I wanted to ask so bad, but I could see that he was. Tyler’s POV He used his thumbs to wipe at my cheeks. Stupid tears. Still, it was kind. I batted his hands away and leaned closer. He let me burrow against his body, and then wrapped his arms around me tight. It was such a relief.
Buy Link
Secret
Seth is available for purchase in e-book and paperback, and is also in Kindle
Unlimited.
Amazon
Bio
Ki Brightly
Ki grew up in small town nowhere pretending that
meteor showers were aliens invading, turning wildflowers into magic potions,
and reading more than was probably healthy. Ki had one amazing best friend, one
endlessly out of grasp "true love", and a personal vendetta against
normalcy.
Now, as an adult, living in Erie, Pennsylvania, Ki enjoys the sandy beaches, frigid winters, and a wonderful fancy water addiction. Seriously, fancy waters...who knew there were so many different kinds? It's just water...and yet...
Ki shares this life with a Muse, a Sugar Plum, and two wonderful children.
Now, as an adult, living in Erie, Pennsylvania, Ki enjoys the sandy beaches, frigid winters, and a wonderful fancy water addiction. Seriously, fancy waters...who knew there were so many different kinds? It's just water...and yet...
Ki shares this life with a Muse, a Sugar Plum, and two wonderful children.
You can connect with Ki in many different ways:
Social Media
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/kibrightly/
Blog
www.brightlybooks.wordpress.com
Tumblr
https://www.tumblr.com/search/Ki+Brightly
Twitter
https://twitter.com/KiBrightly
E-mail
kibrightly@gmail.com
Friday, February 2, 2018
Separate Ways; Southern Comfort #5
Sometimes good-bye is a second chance…
Thanksgiving’s harmony turns out to be just the lull before the storm, as relationships begin to fall apart, beginning with Violet and Dylan. The presence of Clay’s mother, Brandi Wine, in New Liberty, is quickly becoming a bone of contention between the four boys. Mark and Todd don’t think she’s so bad, while Clay and Blake want nothing to do with her or her cockamamie reality show.
A family crisis draws Todd and his mother to Atlanta, and when they return, the news isn’t good, and decisions must be made. Blake and Clay face their own crisis when big mouths callously reveal secrets not meant to be shared. Todd’s relationship with Taylor has grown, despite the revelation that she is transgendered. But her psyche is fragile, and unable to bear the weight of Todd’s censure when he decides to withdraw his support. The aftermath of his words will shatter everyone’s world.
Sometimes you have to agree to disagree, and go your separate ways.
A family crisis draws Todd and his mother to Atlanta, and when they return, the news isn’t good, and decisions must be made. Blake and Clay face their own crisis when big mouths callously reveal secrets not meant to be shared. Todd’s relationship with Taylor has grown, despite the revelation that she is transgendered. But her psyche is fragile, and unable to bear the weight of Todd’s censure when he decides to withdraw his support. The aftermath of his words will shatter everyone’s world.
Sometimes you have to agree to disagree, and go your separate ways.
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
2018! New marriage, books, and insights
Happy New Year all! It is the dawning of a brand new year...can you believe it's 2018??? Where has all the time gone?
The older I get, the faster it goes.
So, with the start of a new year, I am drawing up my guidebook for the year; a little hint I got from an organization site on FB. To sketch out what you want to accomplish for this year. So...here goes.
First, new marriage :) We are nearly three months in and still very happy. I lost my job (as is usual in my lines of work) but we remain strong and committed. I toss out ideas and he likes them; but he is highly conventional and thinks sticking with established lines of work will pay the bills.
While I agree, I have my goals and dreams of having my art and creativity pay at least some of it.
Otherwise, we are a crazy happy couple taking care of our elderly cats and parents. :)
Second, my books! In a few days Southern Comfort 5 will be released; the last in the series.
Also, the first volume of Upstaged is on its final round of edits! Looks for that soon :)
A major plus...I came back to Gay Authors site with a book that was written last century (omg) but has been edited and even has a cover; but I wanted feedback first. WOW am I ever getting great comments! I hope the rest hold up and this puppy will go up for sale, hopefully to delight the many who are not on GA.
Lastly; my insights into the new year. As many know, I do not ever post politics or religion; and I won't start. I'll just put out there that things are a hot mess, but they have been for a very long time and it would take more than a mortal man to fix things. Humans are greatly unchanged at their base levels and I pine for the world of Star Trek, where things seem to be much better. (call it a fiction-lovers fantasy).
My goals for this year beyond the books are to: find a day job to pay the bills (in my state), knit (for profit and non alike)...release a coloring book for adults, and to begin to sketch again to my newest love, Voltron.
What are your goals and aspirations?
Good luck and Happy New Year!
Steph
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)