Sunday Snippet: Indecision

I'm happy to say I managed to pull off a surprise birthday celebration for my husband with the help of our daughter and a few other very good and awesome friends. I held it at the elementary school where he works as a custodian and surprisingly got everything and everyone in to the cafeteria without him finding out. I'm so happy we surprised him!

That party capped off a very busy week between trying to figure out what the weather is going to do from one moment to the next and work projects dropping from the sky to not feeling the greatest because of said weather. We're gearing up for some additional snow so that should be fun.

As mentioned, work projects are piling up and I'm happy to be busy. I have a good mix of genres at the moment and I enjoy the variety. I should have two finished up this week and two more starting. I'm excited and hope this trend continues!

Had an okay week of viewing. I managed to get through my usual schedule of shows and caught a little more of the Olympics. I'm not a rabid fan, but I do enjoy amazing athletes compete for their countries.

Started the week with Midsomer Murders and finished up season 25. I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this season. The writing kind of blew me away and the humorous moments made me happy. More of this please!

Caught the premiere episode of Foyle's War season seven and it's one I remembered. I do miss the sergeant and kind of hope he ends up showing up again.

Finished season twenty-eight of Silent Witness and I love ending on the wedding on Jack and Nikki with the hint of where they'll be going in the next season. The new team is amazing, and I'm thrilled they'll be sticking around.

Enjoyed another episode of Poirot and loved how Hastings and Poirot were concerned about Miss Lemon but ended up not having to be because of a cat.

Elementary had another great episode. Kind of fun to see Sherlock wake Joan up with a violin. I also think Sherlock nudging Gregson to get married actually made sense. Sherlock's awkwardness always makes me smile.

Watched another episode of Batman Beyond and it isn't the last one of the series. I have several more to watch before having to decide which show to pick up next.

Caught another episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks and rather enjoyed the new vibe between the characters. I have to admit, I'm kind of meh about the Ransom character. We'll see if he grows on me the way Beckett did.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Indecision, a new adult novella that explores making new friends and potentially more in college.

Here's the miniblurb:

Shandi Rhobles meets Forrest Cox during her first semester of college. By their second week in, they're flirty friends but Shandi shies away from a relationship. When their semester ends, Forrest is tired of waiting in the wings and Shandi realizes her indecision comes with a price.

And a snippety peek…

Forrest ended up in Finney and found his room without too much trouble. "Number 209." He pushed the door open and discovered it empty. "Wonder if I'll have a roommate?" He'd checked no preference when he'd filled out the living accommodation form.

The two beds and desks along with two dressers suggested he would be sharing.

Dumping his backpack on one of the beds, he nodded. He liked the space. Finney hall had a recent renovation, and the dorm rooms didn't completely look like prison cells. With five stories, he appreciated being on the second level. Based on the welcome packet, this coed hall had single-sex bathrooms with showers on alternating floors … with the exception of the third that had the student lounge equipped with televisions, game tables, and microwave stations.

Glancing at the door, his gaze narrowed. Two index-card sized nameplates were attached to the inside. One had Forrest's name and the other had Benji Sutton.

He nodded. "Guess I do have a roommate." Should he wait until the guy showed up or just pick a side and start unpacking?

He opted to at least get all his stuff and drag it up and into the space.

Of course, everyone else had to do the same thing, which meant utter chaos in the hallways. At least most of his fellow dormmates were in good spirits and cooperating with each other. He made his way down the stairs and jogged out to his car to start on the first load.

An hour later, after three treks up and down the steps, he had the last of his car unloaded and pondered whether he should make one or two trips.

He huffed out a breath. "Ugh. Gonna do it in one. Can't deal with fighting my way up the steps two more times." He thought about taking the elevator, but the line put that idea out of his head.

He grabbed the set of plastic drawers that would fit under his bed and balanced the laundry basket filled with towels and bedding on top. He had two bags filled with toiletries in one and a six pack of soda with snacks in the other. He put the bags over his wrists then picked up the other two items. The basket listed a little to the left and he adjusted his grip and started forward. A horn beeped and he stopped short, the basket sliding precariously close to the edge.

He quickly backed up. "Shit." He moved too fast and started to lose his hold on the drawers.

"Whoa! I got you." Two hands snagged the laundry bin and removed it before it fell. "Oh! Hi again."

Forrest blinked in surprise, happy to see the girl he'd collided with earlier. "Hey … Shandi, right?" He got a better handle on the drawers. "Thanks for the assist. Are you in Finney also?" He fell into step beside her and they crossed the parking lot.

She nodded. "Yeah, fourth floor. Which is a haul today, but the view is actually pretty great. I can see most of the campus from my window." Holding the door open, she waited for him to walk through before following him up the steps.

He gave a low whistle. "Glad to say I'm on the next level up. Did you wait in line for the elevators?" He nudged past another student on their way down the stairs.

Shandi laughed. "No way. I brought the bare essentials up for now. I plan to wait until it's almost dark before I start dragging the rest of my stuff up." Her eyebrows arched. "Which room are you in?"

He tilted his chin toward the left. "Two oh nine. Door should be unlocked." He'd brought his tech stuff—television, laptop, charging station, and minifridge—up on the first trip.

Shandi twisted the knob but paused. "Should I knock? Do you have a roommate?"

Forrest shook his head. "I'm supposed to, but they haven't arrived yet." He guessed Benji could've come while he'd been out, but kind of doubted it.

Shandi pushed the heavy wood slab open and held it for Forrest. He ducked inside the room and quickly set the drawers down and got rid of the bags. He reached for the basket. Shandi handed it over and glanced around the space.

One side looked like a bomb went off and the other still had the pristine shine of being unoccupied.

Shandi's lips curved. "Looks a lot like mine … except I have a single." She met his gaze. "I'm not sure if that means I'm lucky or not."

Forrest shrugged. "I didn't really have a preference. I have siblings so I'm used to sharing space." He wouldn't mind having the solitude but figured anyone aside from his brothers could be fun to have around.

Shandi laughed. "Same. Not sure I'll know what to do with all the quiet time I'll have."

Forrest liked her sense of humor and hoped to get to know her better. She had striking features, something his mom always said when classic beauty didn't fit but the attractiveness level pinged hard. And it wailed like a siren for him right now.

Scrambling around for something to say, an idea popped into his head. "Can you use some help bringing your stuff in later?"

Her eyes widened. "Oh, you don't have to do that."

He grinned. "I know. But stop by if you can use some … or if you just want some company while trekking back and forth."

She tilted her head to one side. "I just might do that." Turning, she headed for the door. "No worries if you're not here, though." Stepping out into the hallway, she gave him a quick wave.

He lifted his chin. "Okay."

He would definitely be around for sure.

This one is in the beginning stages and I'm excited to see where it goes. I love these characters.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Gone Fishing

Hello October and welcome spooky season! I love this month for a lot of reasons. The spooky vibe being close to the top of the list, but it's quickly followed by cooler weather—usually—and that means it's soup weather! I love making soup on a cool day and savoring it with crusty breads, grilled cheese, and other creative toppings.

I'm through the worst of the yuck and back to almost normal. Of course, that means something else went sideways. In my case, our older doggo ended up with an emergency trip to the vet because her congestion got so bad her eye swelled up. She's on a steroid and broad-spectrum antibiotic and already seems to be much better already.

I'm slowly getting caught up on my work projects. I need to review the details of two new ones now that my brain isn't in sludge mode. I'm pretty excited about my last quarter of work projects for 2025.

Had an okay viewing week. I didn't quite make it through the whole slate of shows. Lower Decks and Reacher didn't make this week's window.

I did watch another episode of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. I'm working my way through season two and I'm enjoying the conflict and tension because it's a real-life quandary. I love Mac for being a voice of reason.

Caught another Foyle's War episode and this is one I'd forgotten. It's so weird how a lot of the themes of this show, which is twenty-some odd years old, are so very prevalent today. Humans are slow learners sometimes.

Death in Paradise ended up being very enjoyable. I'm really not sure about this new police commissioner other than he's way too smarmy and utter unlikable.

Poirot entertained with a way back episode showing how Hastings and Poirot kind of got their start together. Very much enjoyed this one.

Watched another episode of Elementary and quite enjoyed the twisty turns it took. Also loved Joan solving the neighbor issue. Love to see that kind of stuff.

Caught another Batman Beyond and it's one I didn't really remember either. Quite enjoyed the rewatch.

That's it for the life update. Tonight's post is from Gone Fishing, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the miniblurb:

A year after college graduation, Quaille Ramsey and Franz Herman get together with a group of their friends for a summer vacation at a state park. Quaille recently broke up with a long-time boyfriend and Franz is ready to make a move, something he never took a chance on during school. Quaille isn't quite ready for something serious but she definitely sees possibilities for the future with Franz.

And a snippety peek…

Franz walked out to the dock and dove into the clear water of the lake. With a lazy crawl, he swam to the floating pier and pulled himself up onto the boarded surface. Swiping a hand over his eyes, he gazed back toward the cabins.

"I can't believe Quaille decided to come this year." About damn time.

Having her here made him happy. She needed to find her groove again, and hopefully he'd get to make his move. Finally.

After too many years of waiting and wondering from afar.

Their friend group had been doing the state park summer vacation thing for all four years of undergrad. Quaille missed the first year due to a job commitment and the last three because her boyfriend didn't see the appeal of bonding with anyone but Quaille.

Franz snorted. "His loss." Franz couldn't ask for a better group of friends.

Especially Caitlyn Mitchell, who came through by talking Quaille into—okay, more like insisting—joining them for a fun-filled extravaganza before heading off for after-grad careers. So far, none of their group of eight had anything set in stone. Franz had two interviews scheduled with local news organizations. Caitlyn had a trial offer with a hospital. Quaille would be headed for a local theater before deciding if she wanted to pursue a master's. Trey and Wayne were going to try their luck in a neighboring state for news radio. Jazz and Miranda had contracts for costuming three plays through the end of the year. Last but not least, Chet decided to go the per diem route with a family practice until he decided what he wanted to get into.

All in all, eight people on the cusp of the next step of life.

Leaning back on his elbows, Franz chuckled. "And we're all equal parts confident and clueless." Not the best combination … but having friends to keep each other honest helped.

Trey and Caitlyn were the ringleaders—or instigators, depending on one's point of view. They organized group events, set up study sessions for finals, and always had two teams for quiz nights on campus. Supposedly, they had some kind of camp games planned for their two-week vacation at the state park.

Franz gently kicked his feet in the water. "Should be interesting if we include water battles." Fishing, swimming, and maybe kayaking … a mix of all three would keep all of them on their toes.

Did Quaille do any of the trio? Franz honestly didn't know. She could end up being a secret weapon. He could build on her fish go comment earlier. Find out if she could hold her own with a rod and reel.

He nodded. "If she's terrible at fishing, I can bolster the team." He grinned. "But if she's good … we'll trounce the competition."

Either way, it would be fun to find out.

I only have two scenes written for this one, but I'm excited to see where things go with Franz and Quaille.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Academic Challenge

Well, had a better week than the last one. Still not completely tip-top but feeling way better with the worst of the cold finally over. We got more snow this week, but warmer temperatures are around the corner. At least for a few days.

I got caught up on my work projects and lined up a potential new one. I'll be starting a new copy edit on one of my favorite mystery series and continuing my read through on the nonfiction project.

I'm setting up a storefront for Tip Jar Shorts. I'm kind of doing things a bit backward, but the more I thought about it, the more I figured a storefront would lend legitimacy to this endeavor. I wanted to keep things super simple and offer various methods of payment and I might still be able to do that, but I also thought it would be best to have immediate access to a downloadable file instead of waiting on a delivery to an inbox. We'll see which version works out the best.

Had an okay week of viewing. I didn't make a full cycle through of my shows, but I did get the back half watched. And I might be adding one additional show to the roster. I'll let everyone know if that happens.

Watched another episode of Elementary and rather enjoyed this one. Sherlock's dynamic with Joan is different and getting more settled. And Kitty is fitting in with both in ways I didn't expect.

Also caught an episode of Batman Beyond. I remembered this one and enjoyed it. I did forget the interaction with Terry and his brother so that was a nice reminder.

Enjoyed another new-to-me episode of Classic Rugrats. I sometimes wish Nickelodeon had continued with the plans for the pre-school show and added more of All Grown Up. The nostalgia is strong with this franchise. Instead, Spongebob and other weird stuff took off.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Academic Challenge, a novella where the characters probably shouldn't try to date but end up doing so.

Here's the miniblurb:

Holly Patz, the newest TA for Professor Sam Ingali, wants to enjoy the experience. But when rumors start swirling about her relationship with the handsome instructor, she has to decide whether to stick around and become his latest conquest or turn the odds in her favor.

And a snippety peek…

Sam spied Holly enter the auditorium toward the end of his lecture.

He didn't break his speech even when his ire sparked. She had his laptop tucked under her arm while she hurried to the front row, taking a seat at the far end. He barely spared her a glance and continued speaking to finish his final point.

He ended with a nod toward the class. "That's it for today. Finish up your assignments and have them uploaded for grading before our next session." He waited until the students started for the exit then pinned Holly with a hard glare. "My office. Now." Not waiting for a response, he left the podium and left through the side door leading to the corridor.

He gave full rein to his anger. And let disappointment crowd in also. He couldn't believe she strolled into class during the last ten minutes.

Unlocking his door, he left it cracked then crossed to his desk.

Holly entered and set his laptop on the desk. "What's your problem?" Her eyes were narrowed and her head tilted to one side.

Sam snarled. "You wander in late—with my notes—and you're asking me what my problem is?" He flung a hand out. "Just because we're having sex and you're not a morning person, you can't just skip the class, especially when you're supposed to have everything ready to go for me."

Holly arched her brows. "Just because we're having sex?" She glanced toward the desk and reached out, snagging his phone from the right side. "If you bothered to check your voice mail and your texts, you'd know why I couldn't be here to have everything ready to go." She unlocked his phone, found the voice mail icon, and played the message she left about the accident she got stuck behind.

Then she showed him the string of texts she'd sent.

Sam closed his eyes. "Damn."

Holly shoved the phone at him. "Why you think I'd pick now to start pulling the sex card, I have no idea. But … if your opinion of me is really that low, last night can be the final time we ever hook up." She shook her head. "I won't put up with that kind of bullshit. I'm a TA, Sam, not a slave." With a last look in his direction, she exited his office, slamming the door behind her.

Sam's shoulders slumped. "Fuck. I'm an asshole." He definitely owed her an apology.

And an explanation. Except … he couldn't say exactly why he'd got so pissed off at her.

Okay, not completely true. He'd come to rely on her, and she fit so well with him, understanding his quirks and idiosyncrasies. Almost too much so and sometimes he wondered if they were too good together to be true.

Snorting, he ran a hand through his hair. "And now I've gotta figure out how to fix this." Starting with not acting like a dickhead anymore.

Pulling his chair out, he settled behind the desk and opened his laptop. She had an art history class for the next two hours. Time enough for him to get his shit together and hope like hell she'd let him apologize and explain his asinine behavior.

Which meant hitting pause for a moment to examine why he jumped to a stupid conclusion. The answer didn't take long to find. His past mistakes mixing professional and personal with colleagues manifested in a big way and he took the easy road and blamed Holly.

He closed his eyes. "Shit. This is a me problem." One he needed to resolve if he wanted a chance with her. "And I do."

He also had the beginnings of an idea how he wanted to make amends…

I like how this story is coming together. Sam is tricky to get a handle on sometimes, but he's fun to write.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: We Shouldn't

It's been a wild week. Between work and other commitments, I've been frazzled. My sleep schedule is all over the map and I'm not enjoying the fits and starts of trying to get rest. But … I'll adjust. Hopefully soon.

Our weather has been all over the place. We had a sixty-degree day followed by snow and thirty-four degrees. The day after Thanksgiving is supposed to be in the upper teens for the high. I'm side-eyeing Mother Nature right now.

Work projects are coming in and I think I'm booked through the end of the year. I'm pleased because December can be a sketchy month sometimes. I don't mind downtime, but I'm definitely not prepared to have limited income this year.

Had a terrible week of viewing. Too many distractions and said lack of sleep kept me from getting much watched.

I did catch an episode of Mr. and Mrs. Murder and kind of enjoyed it. Some familiar faces as guest stars this week. The mystery was a little lackluster but a good episode nonetheless.

I also caught some marathons of Midsomer Murders. I kind of love the streaming twenty-four hours of one show channels. It's fun to set a favorite and have a go-to comfort watch whenever I want.

I'm also looking at a few new shows but haven't decided which ones I want to pick up. I'm also hoping to get back to my rewatch of Battlestar Galactica. My viewing partner will help determine if that's going to happen. So much more fun to watch with someone else who loves the show as much as I do.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from We Shouldn't, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the miniblurb:

Sutton Perry and Lyle McCormack collide during an off-campus party, overindulge with too much partying, and end up back at Sutton's dorm. When they wake up the next day, Sutton swears off alcohol and the weird but promising start with Lyle ends pretty much before it begins … but a series of misadventures keeps them in orbit around each other and Lyle soon pulls out all the stops to win Sutton over.

And a snippety peek…

Sutton Perry let her roommate drag her up the steps to the Library Rave. "I can't believe I let you talk me into this." She didn't really do the rave scene.

But two years of college and zero parties made her feel like she missed out on something important.

Haley Jacobs turned and gave Sutton a smirk. "Trust me, Sutts, you're going to have a good time." She shimmied her hips and pranced into the building.

Sutton rolled her eyes. "You're calling me Sutts again? I'm not down with that nickname." Then again, Haley shortened everyone's name.

Or she came up with something cutesie if the name couldn't be chopped down.

Sutton entered the dark foyer of the old library. Neon-bright lights flickered and flashed, lighting the path to the main room. Thumping bass lines and electronic beats burst out in loud volume when Haley opened the double doors. She put her arms over her head and waved them back and forth, found the beat, and literally danced over to a table surrounded by a bunch of guys.

Sutton followed, her chin bobbing along to the beat of the music. She didn't sashay around the floor, mainly because it took her eyes a few moments to adjust to the strobe effect of the lights. Except they didn't really get used to the rapid pulse…

Evidenced by Sutton falling up against one of the guys at the high-top. Mortified, she opened her mouth to apologize, but the words died in her throat. The guy took her breath away. Dreamy dark eyes, tousled hair that could use a trim, and at least a day of scruff on his face.

He wrapped an arm around her and hauled her closer to the table. "Hey. Here. Hold on to the edge. The strobes are sick on this song." Snagging a shot glass and filling it with flavored vodka, he put the drink in front of her. "Name's Lyle. Nice to meet you." He lifted his chin toward Haley. "You're with Haley?" He poured a shot for himself.

Sutton gave a nod. "I'm Sutton. Yeah, I came with Haley." Did her roommate know everyone on campus?

Lyle clinked his glass to hers. "Not sure if I should congratulate you or offer my condolences. Haley's a force to reckon with." He tilted the glass and downed the alcohol.

Sutton laughed. "She's my roommate. Better go with congratulations." She picked the shot up and quickly drank it down.

Lyle flashed a grin. "Welcome to the Tuesday night shenanigans, Sutton. You're in for a fun time." He topped her glass up again.

Sutton lifted her shot. "Cheers!" She caught Haley's eye, and her roommate gave Sutton a wide smile and a thumbs-up.

Sutton's lips quirked and she chugged the vodka. The smooth burn traveled down her throat and warm heat spread outward, relaxing the tension from her shoulders. Squinting a little, she read the label of the bottle. Whipped cream. No wonder it tasted so good.

She might have found her new favorite drink along with a very hot new friend.

Exactly what she'd been looking for.

I have no idea where this one is going but I do have a rough outline. My main characters are kind of rolling their eyes right now so who knows if they'll stick to the planned itinerary.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Transference

Man. Whatever alignment the planets are in has been wrecking things in my house lately. After the washing machine saga, our coffeemaker took a crap. It's less than a year old. Seriously … not the norm. But the good news is a new washer and coffeemaker should arrive sometime this week barring any other global server outages.

Had a super busy work week. Finished the holiday manuscript and received a mystery and a romance for copy edit. Picked back up with a novella I've been working on with an author for a while now and enjoying getting back into the groove of the book. Also had an author reach out about a new twist on a previous project. Really fun week!

I didn't get a lot of screentime this week, but I watched a few shows. I'm in a weird place with viewing. I want to watch stuff, but my brain isn't settled on exactly what. Kind of want to binge something with a lot of seasons for a while to see if that will reset the needle.

I loved the episode of My Life Is Murder. Actually really twisty with an interesting outcome. Once again, Madison shined. I love that character.

Caught another Best in Paradise. This one featured the farewell to Martha, which ended up being so funny and sad at the same time. Excellent episode.

Watched another Death in Paradise with the introduction of the new DS. Not completely sure if I like her or not. Stay tuned.

Started an episode of Elementary but struggled to stay focused so I'll finish it up this week.

And that's pretty much it for the life update. Tonight's post is from Transference, a novella that explores what might have been in a different way.

Here's the miniblurb:

Leslie Karr is packing her meager belongings to move out of her college apartment and finds a letter from Granger Unger explaining why their night of shared grief over the loss of his brother can't go anywhere. After three years, Leslie still wonders if he may have been wrong and decides to test the waters by looking him up before she leaves town.

And a snippety peek…

Leslie tamped down on the burst of nervous energy coursing through her. "This is a cute cape cod." She loved the house and she definitely loved Granger inviting her.

Granger angled his head toward her. "It's obviously a work in progress. Haven't had the time I need to really make any big changes." He held up the mayonnaise and arched his brows.

She gave a nod. "Yep. Still the only thing I like on sandwiches." Thad used to tease her because he'd been a mustard man all the way.

The thought tugged a little hard. The entire reason she'd wanted to see Granger … to address the past and possible start over for the future. At least as friends if nothing more.

Granger carried two plates to the table and went back to grab two glasses of water then sat perpendicular to her. "Mayo on both sides, right?" He picked his sandwich up and took a large bite.

 Leslie grinned, touched he'd remembered. "Absolutely." She bit into the roast beef and cheddar and had a flashback to the kiss they shared after her fight with Thad.

Granger had been eating roast beef when she'd stopped at his apartment off campus, wrecked after the nasty fight with Thad. Granger took one look at her tear-streaked face and dragged her inside. Over sandwiches, she unloaded. About the issues between her and his brother. About loving him but wondering if that would be enough to see them through the rough patches. As usual, Granger listened until she stopped talking then offered to drive her back to the dorm. He'd always been easy to confide in and she appreciated how he didn't judge or take sides even when it involved his brother.

Probably why she initiated the kiss before they left Granger's apartment. A wild, crazy impulse. A safe play because she trusted Granger. And even then … even though she loved Thad with her whole heart, she'd been drawn to Granger.

And the embrace rocked her foundation. So different from Thad. By the end of the lip-lock, Granger's hands had threaded through her hair and hers found their way to cup his cheeks. But they didn't want this. To become a cliché by hurting the one person they each cared so much for.

By silent agreement, they left the apartment and Granger drove her home. Thankfully, he didn't make small talk or become awkward when they saw each other again. But something had shifted between them. An awareness of what they could have been.

And when Thad died? Her instinct had her turning to Granger. He'd been a rock during the month that followed … and she had hope they might … well, become more.

Then he wrote the letter and left.

Granger set his sandwich aside. "You're thinking about the letter, aren't you?" He let out a long sigh. "I'm sorry. I should've had the guts to talk face-to-face with you." He met and held her gaze.

Leslie shook her head. "Actually, I was remembering the kiss, then losing Thad, and then the letter." Her lips quirked. "Might as well roll all the way back to the beginning of when things got weird." A flurry of relief hit her because she needed to hash this out with Granger.

He settled back in his chair and put his palms on the table. "If we're going down memory lane, I have to stroll a little further." His eyes closed. "I started falling for you way before you kissed me. That's why I didn't bring it up or mention it afterward." He blinked and focused on her. "Then Thad died and my feelings for you got really tangled up with my grief over him." His fingers flexed on the smooth surface of the table. "Would've been easy to take advantage of losing him and I didn't want to be that guy. Not with my brother's girl." He looked away then back to her again. "The letter was a dick move and I really am sorry."

Leslie swallowed her shock over Granger's admission of falling for her, needing to both savor the idea and sit with it for a moment.

But she quickly absolved him over leaving the letter. "It's okay. Time and distance gave me a lot of perspective. And you're not wrong about how easy it would've been to shift what I felt for Thad over to you." Now she had a confession to make. "But it wouldn't have just been a transference. Things changed for me a little after I kissed you." When his eyes widened, she quickly continued. "I didn't love Thad less, but you took up space in my head. And I sometimes wondered, you know, what if?" A weight lifted from her heart. "I had no idea you were wondering the same thing. But you made the right call by leaving. It made me put my head down and focus on finishing my degree. And I'm not sure I would have done as well as I did if you were there as a reminder of Thad." She truly understood that now. "But … finding your letter? Hit a little sideways and I really wanted to at least see you and maybe … I don't know…" She trailed off because she sounded completely off the rails.

Granger's lips twisted in a wry grin. "Start fresh? I mean we can't forget our history or our connection to Thad, but we can forge ahead, right?" His voice turned hopeful.

Leslie nodded. "I'd like that."

I'm happy with how this one is going. Sibling rivalry is a favorite of mine, even if the sibling is no longer in the picture.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Suspect Elimination

Ugh. Still feeling terrible and under the weather. The respiratory yuck that's going around in my area is awful. I think I'm through the worst. Fingers crossed!

Had a whole slew of new projects land in my inbox this week. I'm so thankful for the work and truly hope I can get back to a normal schedule where I don't crash several times a day and need to rest.

Slow viewing week, mainly due to the aforementioned rest periods. When I only got about two to three hours of sleep at a stretch, those nap sessions were super important.

I started the fifth and final season of Suspects. Wow, brutal opening episode and kind of a heartbreaker. I have a feeling Jack is going to go completely off the rails. And Charlie needs to have a moment to grieve and wrap her head around everything.

I finished the tenth season of Brokenwood Mysteries. I love this show so much. I'll look forward to the next season with lots of anticipation.

Caught another episode of Best in Paradise. I rather liked meeting Humphrey's dad and rewatching this episode ended up being a great reminder of how fierce Florence could be.

Enjoyed an episode of Death in Paradise. I'd watched a little of this one and I'm glad I got to see it from beginning to end. Very twisty plot threads in this one.

Watched another episode of Elementary. Nice to see Mycroft again. Loved the new dynamic between the brothers. Gotta say I'm on the fence with the whole Watson sleeping with Mycroft deal, but we'll see if I come down on one side or the other later.

Caught an episode of The Batman and it's one I remember from my original watch. I liked seeing Dick in school and the double-cross by the Riddler ended up being fun. The ending, though, topped everything.

Enjoyed a Classic Rugrats episode that departed from the normal two to three vignettes. "Finsterella" was such a fun episode of the show.

And that's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Suspect Elimination, a novella where a couple is brought together by solving a mystery.

Here's the miniblurb:

On a college campus, someone is pulling some not-so-nice pranks that escalate to a dangerous level on a group of friends. Elena Houghton and Oscar Scanlon aren't going to put up with the nastiness anymore and take it upon themselves to eliminate the suspects to find the culprit. Along the way they discover a mutual attraction for each other.

And a snippety peek…

Elena Houghton unlocked the doors to Caldwell Hall. "Nothing like covering the six a.m. slot." Being the program director for both the college radio and television stations meant filling in when she couldn't delegate the responsibility to someone else.

She snorted and rolled her eyes. Caller ID sucks sometimes. Especially when no one wants to come in at the ass crack of yuck o'clock. When Suz Heslip texted to say she couldn't make it due to illness, Elena tried four different people and none of them responded to her calls or texts.

Pocketing her keys, she started toward the corridor leading to the radio studio. "That leaves me." She'd get the news recorded and review the announcements.

At least the early show only lasted sixty minutes. She could probably catch a nap before her class at eleven. If nobody else called in sick.

She passed the media classrooms and made the turn to get to the studio. She'd grown used to the tomblike atmosphere of the lower level of Caldwell and the maze of academic offices, lecture rooms, along with the studios. The building also housed the Thompson Theater—her other home away from home at the university—and quite possibly where she'd catch some additional shut eye.

Almost to the studio, her steps slowed. "What the hell?" The door stood open, which should not be the case.

The first thing she learned as a freshman two years ago? Never, ever leave the studio unlocked or let the door stay open. Had one of their incoming crop of students missed that memo? Who knew? But the responsibility of making that message heard landed at her feet.

A skitter of apprehension slid down her spine but she shook her head. "Stop it. You've been in this building alone more times than you can count." Then again, her recent film study of classic horror movies had creeptastic images running through her head.

She made a tsking sound. "Dammit, just go in already." Nothing lurked in the darkness.

Ignoring how stupid she felt, she crossed the threshold into the inky blackness … and let out a startled shout when a heavy figure dropped down from above glancing off her shoulder. She swung wildly and pushed hard against … something.

Biting back a terrorizing scream, she fumbled along the wall until her fingers found the light panel. Flipping every switch on, she spun around, blinking against the suddenly bright room but ready to do battle…

With an effigy?

"What the actual fuck?"

Someone had gone to a buttload of trouble. A large, stuffed form dangled from the ceiling braces surrounding the tiles. Dressed in a pair of jeans and a flannel with a set of headphones over the head, the macabre thing swiveled back and forth.

Pissed off and heart still pounding, Elena dragged her phone out and fired off a group text. "Mandatory meeting at Caldwell. 7am. Don't even think about not showing up." She sent the message then headed over to record the news, glad to have anything else to focus on.

During a break, she'd contact the professors and, shit, probably the campus police … because even if Mr. Creepy had been meant as a joke, someone still broke in. At the very least, the culprit created a dangerous situation.

Heaving a sigh, Elena dragged a hand through her hair. "There's goes my nap…"

I'm just starting this one and I'm excited to see where things go. Elena is so much fun to write with her focused and ordered personality. Oscar will have a slacker energy that drives her bonkers but also offers unexpected insight.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Seize the Day

April is starting off with a bang. We've had seven days of volatile weather. Thunderstorms, tornadoes, flooding, and another big drop in temperature with snow flurries. I thought for a while we might end up with a blizzardnado—complete with sharks. If you know you know. It's that time of year where keeping warm-weather clothes beside arctic gear isn't a bad idea.

 

Due to the crazy weather, I didn't get a lot of viewing in this week. I also had a full plate plus dessert of work projects. I'm very happy to have multiple things to occupy my time!

 

I did get another episode of My Life Is Murder in and loved getting to see Madison strut her stuff undercover. I'm going to miss this show when I'm finished watching.

 

Caught Midsomer Murder's final episode for this season. Enjoyed the mystery. I'm a little disappointed that it feels like the characters don't know much about each other. Winter has been with Barnaby for quite some time now and it seems like the interactions they've had in the past are quickly forgotten. Really the only thing that kind of irritates me about British mystery shows.

 

Finished up the second half of Silent Witness. I think I'm going to like the new guys. I really enjoy Jack and Nikki together. The case was very confusing, but I ended up liking how things turned out.

 

Watched another episode of Death in Paradise. It's almost the end of Humphrey's run and I'm kind of excited to finish up and start Jack's journey. And also pick up with Humphrey and Martha back in England.

 

Enjoyed an episode of Elementary. Kind of fun to see some of Joan's old life collide with her new one. Not super thrilled that her friends thought she needed an intervention, but at least they came around by the end.

 

That's it for the life update this week. I'm hoping to get back on track this week, barring any weird and wild weather.

 

Tonight's post is from Seize the Day, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

 

Here's the miniblurb:

 

When Pixie Ross almost dies after a hit-and-run accident, she wakes up with two prevailing thoughts. Life is short and she's done playing the field. The man of her dreams has been standing at her side for ages—her best friend Kemp MacGuiness. Now she has to convince him she's serious after years of keeping him at arm's length.

 

And a snippety peek…

 

Pixie Ross ran out of the library and trip-walked down the steps. "I gotta stop losing track of time." She wouldn't have a moment to spare to get to her shift at the tearoom unless she cut across campus.

She stepped off the curb and started to cross the road, juggling her backpack and tote bag. The squeal of tires didn't register. Neither did the impact. Not until she landed several feet away on the street. Her head hit the rough surface with significant force.

She blinked and tried to get up. "Damn. I've been hit." Her vision swam, going gray about the edges.

Slumping to her side, she fought to stay conscious. "Gonna be late for work." The roar in her ears drowned everything else out.

She didn't hear a car screech to a halt. Or the running footsteps. Couldn't make out the words when someone grasped her shoulder and stopped her from trying to sit up. Garbled sounds accompanied concerned looks from the person in front of her. She blinked again, which actually hurt. Closing her eyes shouldn't be painful. The person holding her arm had their phone to their ear. Were they calling CampPo—the campus police? The gray got fuzzier and darker and the people surrounding her started swirling in a circle. Pixie tried to focus, to assess where she hurt the most.

But everything ached and burned and stung and throbbed. With a whoosh, pain hit hard, and the underwater echoing sounds suddenly took on a clearness that made her head pound from the commotion going on around her.

"Yes, we need an ambulance. No, she's not unconscious, but she's not responding to the questions you said to ask her."

Pixie wondered who wouldn't respond. Wait. Did they mean she didn't respond. What questions? No one asked her any questions.

Her head tilted to one side and a sharp stabbing zing shot through her. Her vision blurred to black, and everything went blessedly quiet for a moment.

Until the wail of sirens cut through the silence. After that, Pixie couldn't stay alert long enough to understand anything going on around her. She sank deep into the inky darkness of unconsciousness.

 

This one is barely started but I'm excited to see where the story goes. I love writing friends to lovers.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

 

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Right Feels Wrong

Man. What a crazy-busy week. Our weather is still being contrary. Warm and spring-like a couple of days followed by another blast of winter. My sinuses are not thrilled.

I didn't get through a full round of television this week. I had way too many irons in the fire and needed to focus. My brain doesn't want to cooperate at all. Thankfully, I have three current projects, which lets me bounce around when I can't concentrate on one specific thing.

I did get a holiday episode of My Life Is Murder watched and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's interesting to see how the southern hemisphere celebrates the holiday in the middle of their summer.

I tried to watch the behind-the-scenes Agatha Raisin, but it wouldn't play. That's two seasons now that I can't access the specials. I'm kind of bummed about that.

I started the new season of Midsomer Murders and loved the episode. I'm excited to dive back into this series. It's fun to see an older Betty.

Silent Witness continues to be very intriguing. I really want to know who's behind the curtain pulling the strings.

Caught another Death in Paradise and remembered some of this one. Mainly the beginning and the end. Not sure what happened to the middle part and why I missed it the first time around but it's nice to finally see the whole episode.

Enjoyed an episode of Elementary. I like the slow progression of trust being built with Sherlock and Watson. I have a sneaking suspicion that Sherlock now knows Joan isn't being paid by his father anymore. I'll be interested to see how that plays out.

That's as far as I made it for viewing this week and that's it for the life update. Tonight's post is from Right Feels Wrong, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the miniblurb:

A college RA, Clover Miller, busts an underage drinker who ends up on academic probation and in danger of losing his scholarship. When the student's brother, Lennox Bailey, comes to visit, he's caught between being a loyal sibling and an instant attraction to the RA that reported on his brother.

And a snippety peek…

Clover Miller carried her coffee in one hand and her laptop in the other. "I gotta crash or I'll be shit for my first class." Taking the shortcut through the lobby of Finney Hall, she bit back a yawn.

Halfway through the expansive space, a commotion by the main door drew Clover's attention. Instead of turning toward the elevator to the fourth floor, she weaved around the brick pillar and stopped short. A freshman kicked at the glass doors, cursing at them.

Clover narrowed her gaze, trying to remember his name. Something Bailey. Why the hell would he be rattling the doors? She moved closer and caught the ID badge between his teeth and the way he swayed back and forth on his feet.

Shit. Drunk lower classman. And, as a resident advisor, she couldn't ignore him.

Heaving a sigh, she set her coffee on a table and put the laptop beside it. Goodbye sleep. Hello responsibility.

Clover approached the beefy student with caution. "Hey, uh, what's going on? Pretty sure the doors didn't do anything to warrant the abuse you're dishing out." She did a quick assessment, hoping the Bailey kid—Wyatt, she finally remembered—would be a happy drunk instead of a mean one.

Wyatt angled his head around. "I can't get into the dorm. The stupid scan thing isn't on the wall where it should be." He talked with the card still between his teeth and his words slurred around the plastic.

Clover shook her head. "My dude, you're already in the dorm." She gently pried his hand from the door handle and slowly turned him away from the glass. "What floor are you on?" She didn't have the roster memorized yet.

Wyatt blinked and tugged away from her. "Not your dude and I…" He stopped, turned a little green, and swallowed hard. "I can find my way. Don't need no help." Putting one foot forward, he swayed again.

Clover needed to get him out of the lobby. Technically, she should report any underage drinking, but the unwritten rule of keeping alcohol consumption out of sight and under control usually worked for everyone. At least they had the empty lobby to their advantage. But if she couldn't get him to his room quickly, someone would no doubt see him, and she'd have to turn him in.

She put her hand on his bicep. "Wyatt, we gotta get you to your room. And you need to stop acting like you're drunk."

He gave a rude snort. "Not acting, Miss … whoever you are. Am totally drunk right now." He swayed close to her. "Shhhh. Don't tell the RAs. They're a buncha bitch-ass narcs." Pressing his forefinger to his lips he made an exaggerated shushing sound.

Clover huffed out a breath. "Yeah, bro, I know. I'm one of 'em." She started steering him toward the elevator. "Here's the thing, though. I'm actually trying to keep your ass out of trouble, so maybe less with the broadcasting and more with the shutting the fuck up." She scooped her laptop off the table and kept directing Wyatt toward the elevator.

He blinked and squinted. "You're one of the babysitters?" Jerking hard away from her, he tried to make an about face.

But he'd one or a dozen too many and instead of turning in the opposite direction, he spun a full three-sixty, wobbled back and forth, then went crashing to the ground…

And he took Clover with him, smacking his head into hers on the way down.

Her laptop dug into her ribs and a searing pain jolted from her wrist to her collarbone. "Shit. That hurt." Hoping like hell she could get him semi-upright, she tucked her sore arm against her side and hooked her good arm under his shoulder. She'd almost managed to get him to his feet when the elevator pinged, the doors slipped open, and three people stood gaping at the spectacle.

Clover swallowed a sigh. She'd have to file a report. There would be no keeping Wyatt Bailey's drunkfest quiet now … not with a trio of witnesses.

Well, fuck.

I'm having fun with this one. This scene alone was sheer joy to write.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Indecision

It's been an eventful weekend. On Friday night at my daughter's university campus, an individual fired multiple shots at a baseball game. Thankfully—and it pains me to say this at all because it shouldn't be anyone—only one person, a player for the opposing team, and the alleged target of the shooter, sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect is already in custody and has already been charged by the county prosecutor for attempted murder and felonious assault, both charges have firearm specifications. I'm very happy no one else was physically injured and I'm terribly sorry for the opposing team's player and their family. It's a lot to endure.

It's a lot to endure for everyone. The university staff, baseball team, students, the local community, and the opposing college, their staff, team, and students now have a shared experience with, unfortunately, too many others. I'm so happy my daughter wasn't anywhere near the baseball field when this occurred and I'm very happy the other players are okay. Like I said, an eventful weekend.

On top of that, I had a full week of work projects and made good progress on all of them.

I also got some television in. I didn't have a chance to do my rewatch of Battlestar Galactica, but we're on the schedule for next week.

I did finish up The Mandalorian. Ended up enjoying the episode a lot.

Also watched Only Murders in the Building. I have a working theory on who the killer will be and I can't wait to see if I'm right.

Caught another episode of Pennyworth and I like how this show is coming together. Looking forward to finishing out the season.

Started Wednesday, based on recommendations from a bunch of my viewing friends. Loved the first episode and look forward to more.

Enjoyed another episode of Classic Rugrats and I think I actually watched on I missed during the thousands of times we watched this when the kids were growing up. Kind of happy to have that happen.

Caught another episode of Midsomer Murders. Loved this one and laughed out loud a couple of times. I guess one more episode to finish out the season.

Watched another episode of Peak Practice and enjoyed it. I'm at the midway point for season nine and getting more familiar with the new faces.

Started a new episode of Classic Who and should finish it up later tonight.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Indecision, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Shandi Rhobles meets Forrest Cox during her first semester of college. By their second week in, they're flirty friends but Shandi shies away from a relationship. When their semester ends, Forrest is tired of waiting in the wings and Shandi realizes her indecision comes with a price.

And a snippety peek…

Shandi Rhobles ducked under the awning and made her way to registration table. "Hi, I'm here to pick up my packet." She adjusted her tote bag, lifting it higher on her shoulder.

The student volunteer manning the M through Z section, glanced up with a smile. "Name?"

Shandi spelled it out. "R-h-o-b-l-e-s. First name Shandi." She waited for the volunteer to find the card and hand over the welcome package.

The student gave Shandi another wide smile. "Welcome to Brandywine University. You're in Finney. Do you know how to get there?"

Shandi nodded. "I do. I've been here for summer music programs, and we stayed in Patterson right across the road." Tucking the packet into her tote, she started backing out of the way. "Thanks!"

Hoping to make a quick exit, she didn't pay attention and turned directly into another incoming freshman.

"Oof. Sorry." His hands grasped her elbows. "Wasn't paying attention."

Shandi glanced up and blinked. Wow. Hot and handsome. But he shouldn't be taking the blame.

She shook her head. "Nope. That was all me." She backed away a little and introduced herself. "Shandi Rhobles. I'm usually not a total wreck." Geez, she loved the way his eyes stayed right on her.

He lifted his chin. "Forrest Cox. I think I'm in Patterson or maybe Finney. Not sure yet." He nodded toward the table. "Guess I'll find out in a minute."

She kind of hoped for Finney. Be nice to show him she could actually act like a normal person. Then again, Brandywine being a private university meant she'd definitely see him around campus.

She stepped back again. "I'll let you find out. Nice meeting you."

Forrest shuffled ahead. "Yeah, feel free to bump into me anytime."

She laughed, ducked out from under the awning, and headed for her car. "Not a graceful beginning to university life, but definitely interesting."

I have no idea where this story is going to go but it's a lot of fun to write.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin