Sunday Snippet: Healthy Appetite

Another busy week in the books and I'm gearing up for a chaotic ride for the upcoming one. I have a colonoscopy scheduled for Tuesday and, frankly, I'm not excited. But at least it'll be done and over early in the week.

Ohio is still doing the back and forth weather stuff. At least it's not a wild fluctuation. More like fifties one day, high thirties the next. I'm not complaining because it's time for the cool down and I like chillier weather.

I have a slow start to my work week because of the colonoscopy, but I have a full of projects. A copy edit and a design proofread are underway and I should have another copy edit sliding in by midweek. I also have an author Zoom session either Tuesday or Wednesday. I very much enjoy the variety of projects I'm working on. I'm also looking forward to a possible collaboration on a fun idea with a few colleagues sometime soon.

Had an okay viewing week. I had time to hit the back burner shows but found I needed a break. My focus slipped by the weekend and I ended up keeping them on simmer for now.

Started the week with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. Season three is kind of a wild ride and I waffle between enjoying having Phryne's dad causing problems and wishing we had more episodes without him.

Caught another episode of Foyle's War and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's one I remember from my first run through of the series. The acting is top notch throughout from beginning to end.

Enjoyed another episode of Beyond Paradise. I love Martha and Humphrey with their foster daughter. Kind of bummed Esther decided to break things off with Archie. Hopefully, that's a red herring.

Watched another episode of Poirot and enjoyed it. I don't have any memories of watching this one before and I always love how terrible Hastings is at Miss Lemon's filing system.

Elementary ended up being excellent. I like Joan trying to navigate having a half-sister. The case also proved interesting. And definitely a little scary.

Caught the season three opener of Batman Beyond. Always fun to see the Royal Flush gang. I'd forgotten how this one ended and I enjoyed it.

Also watched an episode of Lower Decks. I'm very much enjoying how many easter eggs are in this show. Lots of fun!

And that's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Healthy Appetite, a novella that brings a couple together when each is at a crossroad.

Here's the miniblurb:

Thad Nightingale meets Kailey Dent during a weeklong getaway and finds her approach to life refreshing. Not only does she eat with gusto, she has a thirst for adventure that leaves Thad hungry for more.

And a snippety peek…

While Kailey hiked on the range, Thad tracked Talon down in his room.

Talon's eyes widened then narrowed when he opened the door. "My sister's not here, man."

Thad's lips quirked. "I know. She's trying out a new line of snowshoes." He lifted his chin. "You got a minute?"

Talon opened the space a little wider, letting Thad enter the room. Talon took a seat on the sofa lining the wall. He kicked his feet out and crossed his arms over his chest.

Thad resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He wanted the conversation to go well.

He sat on the side chair. "Has Kailey mentioned the business proposition I talked to her about?" She said she had, but he needed an opener.

Talon jerked his head back. "Yep." One word … nothing else.

Thad bit back a sigh. "Look, I know you don't like me, but I really want this to work out with your sister." He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. "You asked me what my intentions were? Well, I wouldn't mind having a future with her." He let the words sit for a moment, studying Talon's nonexpressive face. "I know, right? We've known each other less than a minute, and I'm talking about tomorrow and the day after that and a month after that. You get the picture." He straightened. "That said, I don't blame her for being cautious. Once burned, lesson learned." Which made him want to prove she could rely on him.

Talon snorted. "You know her better than you think. Took you less than a week to figure everything out. That dick, Frank, hasn't got a clue well over two years later. All he does is trash my sister to anyone who'll listen. And his lame-ass cousin is no better." He kicked back. "And I've got no problem with you. I gave you shit because Kailey asked me to not let her do anything stupid. Because of the Riches." He rolled a shoulder. "She succeeds in spite of them. And believe me, it pisses them off to no end that she's built a huge following and pretty much ignores both of them because she doesn't need or want their influence." His mouth twisted in a wry grin. "I actually think you're all right."

Thad huffed out a breath. "Good to know. I seriously didn't want to tangle with you over Kailey." At least one hurdle no longer existed.

Talon smirked. "But you would have, wouldn't you?"

Thad jerked his chin. "Damn straight." Because, for one in his life, he didn't need to know exactly what his next step would be.

Talon folded his arms over his chest again. "Then I think I have an answer to your challenge. Start small. Add layers as needed." He flung an arm out. "Go adventuring, see if the relationship works. Then launch the business."

Thad latched on to the line of thinking and liked the possible solution. "Right. It'll take time for development, market testing, and feedback on the experience. By the time the sites are ready to launch—"

Talon nodded. "You two should know if you'll work or not." He got up and spread his arms. "And the mountain will never be the same."

Thad stood. "For better or worse." He huffed out breath.

Talon flashed a smile. "My guess is better. You've got a solid idea." He thrust his hand forward.

Thad clasped Talon's palm. "Thank. I hope so." He went to pull away.

But Talon grasped Thad's hand tighter. "Keep this in mind. Because of my sister, I know every inch of this mountain. If you hurt her, I'll bury you on the range and they'll never find you. Just saying." His eyebrows arched to take some of the heat out of the warning.

Thad's lips twitched. "Duly noted." But he had zero plans to ever do anything but make Kailey happy.

I have a lot of love for this story. Kailey and Thad are a fun couple to write.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Healthy Appetite

Welcome 2023! Here's hoping everyone has a great year filled with everything good and terrific!

The final week of the year ended up being crazy busy. The weather started out pretty frigid but by the final day, we had temperatures in the fifties. I'm taking extra precautions because rapid changes in the weather wreak havoc on my sinuses.

I got a few more episodes of Batman: The Animated Series viewed. "Harley's Holiday" is one of my favorites. There's a lot of good stuff in that episode.

"Make 'Em Laugh" is also a fun episode. Very interesting to see the Joker as a regular Joe … until he's not anymore.

Batgirl returned and became pals with Catwoman, which ended up being a lot of fun to watch. I do have some questions on how Selena knew to post her message on the campus message board. Just saying.

"Lock-Up" is one I'd forgotten about, but I enjoyed it. I loved the ending where he pretty much gets exactly what he wanted in a weird, twisted way.

I also got to watch "Deep Freeze" and enjoyed having Victor back for a bit. Also nice to see another familiar face, which if memory serves, we might see again.

I'll be continuing the rewatch and hopefully get through the rest of season two and all of three before they're removed from the streaming service. I'm very annoyed over losing great shows for someone else's bottom line. Grrr.

That's pretty much it for the life update. Tonight's post is from Healthy Appetite, a novella where the characters are extremely different but find common ground during a vacation.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Thad Nightingale meets Kailey Dent during a weeklong getaway and finds her approach to life refreshing. Not only does she eat with gusto, she has a thirst for adventure that leaves Thad hungry for more.

And a snippety peek…

Kailey grinned when Thad closed the takeout box and set it aside before tucking into the noodles again. He closed his eyes and nodded, giving her a moment to ogle him unchecked. The man's face should be on a billboard somewhere.

She swirled more food onto her fork. "Definitely going to have to sing the praises of this place to anyone and everyone. It's excellent." Her social media post wouldn't have a picture of the food, but her descriptions should suffice.

Thad asked her about Talon and whether she had money on the outcome.

She shook her head. "Never on anything I'm currently associated with and coaching my brother keeps me in that category. My friendly wagers are only with people on the mountain."

They talked a little more about Talon's chances at a win and Thad's interest in the area. He had a good outlook and loved the laidback vibe of the location. Kailey added a plus to the pro column.

Halfway through the bowl of pasta and enjoying the moment of sharing her meal with Thad, Kailey spotted Talon entering with his friends. Ugh. Why did he have to come when I haven't quite made up my mind about Thad yet? If he saw them eating from the same bowl, he'd make assumptions—which she asked him to do, but, damn.

Maybe if she killed some time in the restroom, he and his buddies would get a spot in the back somewhere and never be the wiser?

Putting her fork down, she blew out a breath. "Whew." She scooted her chair out. "I'll be right back. I'm gonna hit the ladies'." She rose and glanced around until she figured out which direction she needed to go.

Thad lifted his chin and scooped up more noodles. Thankfully, his back faced the main bar where Talon currently stood surrounded by his group. She'd take five minutes to take care of business and hopefully her brother would be none the wiser.

She could always look him up on the way out…

I love this story. Kailey counts on Talon to have her back but she also wants to test the waters with Thad.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Healthy Appetite

Ugh. I love fireworks but my dog… not so much. Seriously, July is a rough month because various places around where I live have events and they're within hearing distance. The poor dog just shakes, trembles, and pants like it's the end of the world. Oddly enough, thunderstorms don't tend to bother her much. When they're really severe she gets a little antsy and won't settle down, but she doesn't tremble and shake. Here's to getting through the midway point of the month when the last show is scheduled. Whew.

Had a decent viewing week for television shows. Caught Endeavor and Midsomer Murders. The mystery shows are always a treat.

Caught the second part of Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Started season five The Batman and it's terrific.

Watched my military shows, Band of Brothers and Strike Back. I'd forgotten how crazy Strike Back gets about midway through season four. I'm looking forward to seeing if season five keeps the frantic pace alive.

I'm almost finished with season one of Sense8. I love the interactions of the group and how the fallout from those is super awkward sometimes. I'd love to have a little more information about the whole conspiracy angle but I'm truly thrilled with how the first season unfolds.

Got another two episodes of The Sarah Conner Chronicles in and, seriously, that was some awesome television. I miss the show a lot.

I only got to episode four of Mutant X before the app pulled the show. Now I'll have to find it somewhere else. Pensacola Wings of Gold had a good episode but I'm not glued to it the way I thought I'd be. I'm almost finished with Constantine. It's a bit of a struggle to stay attached to the episodes but I want the backstory when John joins the Legends lineup.

Last but not least, Canal Road is such a great show. I'm totally invested in Spence's mystery and I want to smack Olivia for telling him to not watch the video on his wife's laptop. I'm certain he'd have the proof his wife and son's death was murder. GAH!

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Healthy Appetite, a novella that started with a writing community prompt of creating a story built around one character discovering the other's healthy appetite and wondering what else they crave.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Thad Nightingale meets Kailey Dent during a weeklong getaway and finds her approach to life refreshing. Not only does she eat with gusto, she has a thirst for adventure that leaves Thad hungry for more.

And a snippety peek…

Thad Nightingale. The man who works hard and plays life safe. That should be his motto. Thad kept his head down, nose to the grindstone, and didn't make a lot of waves. But he had built a considerable fortune. "According to my physician, my motto will end up being my epitaph if I don't learn balance." Between work and life. It's been so long since I had a life I'm not sure what one looks like.

 Hence the reason he'd come to the mountain. He had a meeting with a realtor to look at three investment properties and hoped to get a feel for the snowboarding opportunities. Yeah, yeah, work. But he planned to get some skiing in and spend some downtime enjoying the ambiance of the competition. "No one gets this whole balance thing down in one try."

At least he didn't. Pulling up under the canopy of the lodge, he checked his reservation time. Within fifteen minutes. He'd go in and see if they were ready for him yet.

An SUV pulled in behind him and two people got out. They familial resemblance clocked them as brother and sister or maybe cousins. The duo laughed and headed inside the building, giving Thad a good look at the woman. Average height with a knit hat covering dark hair streaked with a bold magenta. Her eyes were a dark shade, brown or maybe green. The joy on her face sucked him in. Here's a woman who enjoys life. Probably with a healthy appetite for fun.

Getting out of his vehicle, he lost sight of the two after they entered the building. A large group followed behind them and crowded through the main doors. Thad grabbed his suitcase and rolled it along behind him up to the line now formed in the lobby.

The seasoned staff moved through the groups in a quick fashion and Thad didn't have long to wait for his turn. He got his keycard and headed for the bank of elevators. The throng waiting for rides had him staying back a little. He didn't mind hanging around until the cars were less crowded.

Propped against the wall, he caught sight of the woman again. She had her suitcase and an overnight bag and laughed at something the guy said. He had a snowboard tucked under his arm and sent a smirk in her direction.

"I told you. I'm not going anywhere without this while we're here."

She responded with a tart reply. "You're gonna look pretty stupid with a snowboard for a constant companion." Her eye roll added effect.

The guy quirked an eyebrow. "You saying you're not gonna hang around with me?"

She snorted. "No way, dude. Family obligation only goes so far." The doors opened and she shouldered her way into the enclosure.

Her brother followed and wedged in behind her. When the doors slid shut, Thad made a moment of eye contact with the woman. She flashed a twisted half-grin.

Thad blew out a breath. "Damn. Nice." The spark of interest surprised him and he liked it.

"Watch out for that one."

Thad flicked his gaze to the side. "You know her?"

A short, balding guy shook his head. "Used to. She competed here about five years ago." He lowered his voice. "Couldn't cut it and walked away, leaving her trainer high and dry in the middle of the season." A snort of derision followed. "Kailey Dent, that's her name. Her brother is an up and comer now. She must be here to watch him compete."

Thad lifted his chin in a nod but didn't say anything. The next set of doors opened and the little man elbowed his way up through the crowd to get inside. He gave Thad a pointed look and shook his head, almost like a warning.

Instead of taking heed, Thad listened to his gut. Kailey Dent intrigued him. The little spark of interest flamed into something hot and bright.

"Maybe that whole work and life balance thing won't be as hard as I thought."

He definitely wanted to be on the lookout for Ms. Dent.

I've been watching some snowboarding to get a good vibe for writing this one. I'd love to check out some cross-country skiing, too.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Healthy Appetite

Well, it's the first day of spring and we're getting snow in Ohio. LOL I'm also down with the flu, so not a fun week.

Another light week in television. The Walking Dead had a terrific Carol / Maggie episode that ended up being one of the best ever.

Gotham's episode took an interesting turn. I'm excited to see what happens with Cobblepot back on the loose. Nygma is sliding into total crazytown and I'm loving it. I have a feeling Hugo is lining up a bunch of pieces and I'm very interesting in where all that goes. My other Monday night shows provided excellent viewing. The Magicians went in a direction I didn't really see coming. Lost Girl amped everything up for the finale and Bitten made me cry. LOL

Agents of SHIELD surprised me and that makes me happy. Looking forward to more and seeing where things go. Murdoch Mysteries had a great episode and the finale looks terrific. Fingers crossed there's not a huge cliffhanger.

My shows should be back this week and I'm ready and waiting.

That's it for TV this week.

Tonight's post is from Healthy Appetite, a novella based around a prompt about showing a character's healthy appetite and having the other character wondering what else they craved.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Thad Nightingale meets Kailey Dent during a weeklong getaway and finds her approach to life refreshing. Not only does she eat with gusto, she has a thirst for adventure that leaves Thad hungry for more.

And a snippety peek…

Kailey Dent tossed her clothes in a suitcase, ready for her weeklong sojourn to the mountain. A pile of stuff had already shipped to the lodge and she'd get to experiment and play for seven straight days. She couldn't wait.

Her brother, Talon, poked his head around the doorjamb. "Kails, you about ready? I've got the SUV warmed up." He had hat hair and looked like a crazed axe-murderer.

Kailey bit back a grin. "Yeah, yeah. Just gotta zip up and grab my overnight bag from the bathroom." She shut the case and put it on the floor.

Talon strode into her room, his snowy boots leaving puddles of slush on the carpet. Kailey opened her mouth to blast him, but he grabbed her suitcase and pulled it along behind when he exited her room. She took five extra minutes to dab at the icy mess then snagged her overnight bag and met Talon by the front door.

Slipping into her ski jacket, she added a scarf and toboggan. "Let's head out." Talon led the way and she followed, her boots crunching on the crystalized path to the SUV.

Talon loaded her cases then slid behind the wheel. "I'll bet you're dying to get up on the mountain." He flashed her a trademark smile.

The guy could sell snow to polar bears with that mug of his.

Kailey cracked a wide grin. "Are you kidding? I've been amping up the hype on my blog all week. I'm not the only one excited for me to get up there." Her blog gained new followers every day.

And she worked hard to get them, keep them interested, and give the truth according to her about each and every product she tried and put through its paces. She reviewed everything from clothes and equipment to local hot spots and quiet getaway locations. With the ski season getting underway, the web traffic increased daily and her commenters appreciated her no bullshit style. She rarely held back when a product didn't meet her standards or when she found something she loved and recommended with five star ratings.

Her job with a local outfitting company paid well and she got to play with new lines on her days off. Talon tinkered around with design when he didn't have competitions and she often field-tested his ideas. If she got hurt, she wouldn't lose a spot on roster.

Been there, done that. Talon had his shot now and she'd back him one hundred percent.

Talon made the turn out of their drive and onto the highway. "You get any flack for changing your mind about the goggles?" He eased along the road, the slick surface demanding slower speeds.

Kailey laughed. "Not really. You know I always explain why and the manufacturer made improvements to the seal. My biggest bitch about those goggles was getting water underneath the shield. Hard to ski or snowboard when your vision is impaired."

Her commenters often asked her to try products again, usually after they'd been on the market for a while. She'd happily put equipment through a second and change her review if warranted. If a manufacturer made improvements, she'd be the first to say so.

Talon shook his head. "I hope you never trash any of my sponsors. I'd be hard-pressed to defend them if you do."

Kailey rolled her eyes. "As if I'd ever let anyone unworthy of your talent be your sponsor."

Talon chuckled. "Right. How could I forget?" His lips curved in a brotherly smirk. "My big sis always has my back."

Kailey scrunched down and propped her head on the back of the seat. "Damn straight. Don't forget it."

I'm having a good time with this one. Not quite sure where it's headed, but it's a fun trip getting there.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Healthy Appetite

April 13, 2014

Whew. It's been a long week filled with a few bumps and bruises. First up, two of my published titles, Merry and Bright and Busted in Bubbles, are temporarily off the shelf. I'm hoping I found a new home for Merry and Bright, but I'm waiting for confirmation. Busted in Bubbles will be back shortly. I'm working on new cover art. I'll keep everyone posted when I know anything for certain.

TV fare ended up being light this week, but S.H.I.E.L.D. totally delivered an awesome episode. I won't discuss because seeing Captain America: Winter Soldier is a true bonus before getting into any details. J

Tonight's post is from, Healthy Appetite, a novella where my female character is very in tune with her nature and my male character totally falls for her.

Here's the tagline:

Thad Nightingale meets Kailey Dent during a weeklong get away and finds her approach to life refreshing. Not only does she eat with gusto, she has a thirst for adventure that leaves Thad hungry for more.

And a snippety peek…

Kailey had picked a casual spot not far from the slopes. Thad dutifully asked about Talon, verifying that he had indeed gone out with friends celebrating a birthday. When Kailey confirmed, Thad thanked whatever ruled the universe for that small favor.

She made an interesting dinner partner, insisting they sit at the bar instead of a corner table. If Thad didn't know better, he'd swear she did it to keep him at arm's length. But she couldn't suspect anything… he hadn't been that overt in his pursuit of her.

As soon as they seated themselves at the bar, Kailey asked the barman to flip the channel to the snowboard competition and ordered a shot. After she downed it, she promptly ignored Thad becoming engrossed in the pyramid match. Thad decided he didn't appreciate being ignored and made it impossible for her to continue.

"You used to compete, didn't you?"

Kailey turned toward him, brow raised. "Been checking up on me?" Her face had an almost angry look on it.

Not the time to bring up his earful from the sponsor. "What? No." Thad signaled the bartender for a shot of his own. "It's not a big secret, is it?" He implied he'd heard it around the mountain.

Kailey shrugged. "Guess not. And yeah, I almost went pro."

Thad tossed back the drink and let it burn past his throat. "It doesn't bother you to watch? You don't miss it?" He tapped the counter, wanting another.

Kailey gave a quick shake of her head. "I like doing my own thing more. And I've got money on this heat, so no, doesn't bother me to watch."

Thad let her finish viewing in peace. When the competition ended, Kailey ended up fifty buck to the better.

She grinned and danced around on her stool. "Let's grab a table now. Just wanted to see the end before ordering food." She slid off her seat and jerked her head toward the semi-crowded eating area.

Thad stood up and followed her. "Perfect timing."

They got a decent table along a wall and placed their orders. While waiting, they argued back and forth over who had the best chance at the upcoming downhill championships. It didn't surprise Thad they disagreed over which skier would come out on top.

The food arrived and Thad's steak with chips and some kind of vegetable medley landed on the table first. Kailey requested the house pasta dish and flipped when they brought it out.

"Shit. I'll never eat all that."

The huge entrée spilled out over the top of what looked more like a family-sized serving bowl than a regular one.

Kailey shot Thad a flabbergasted look. "Glad I didn't order the salad, too." She chuckled and picked up her fork.

Thad watched her twirl a huge mound out of the bowl. She leaned forward, opened wide and shoved the squiggly noodles into her mouth, slurping a stray one through pursed lips.

Anyone else would've looked ridiculous, but somehow Kailey made it seem sexy. Thad cleared his throat, glanced away and shifted in his seat. No one should get a hard on watching someone else eat.

No one but him, apparently.

He looked back to see Kailey chewing slowly, eyes closed in bliss.

Mouth still half full she uttered. "Oh my holy snowboard. You have to try this." She spun her fork around again and lifted it, holding the pasta over her hand and guiding it to him.

Reflex had him opening to accept her offering before he even thought about it. The pasta slid in and his eyes met hers. He pulled the food from the fork but Kailey stayed half-risen, waiting to gauge his reaction.

Which ended up being intense.

The explosion of flavor something incredible. He chewed slowly, savoring the blend of spices and oils. When he finally swallowed, he sat silent for a moment.

"Fuck me."

Kailey laughed. "I know, right?" She settled back down in her chair. "Makes your steak seem like nothing more than dead cow." She swirled another forkful and popped it into her mouth. "You should have the server bring you a box and share this with me." She chewed and swallowed, chasing it down with a quick gulp of water. "Seriously. I can't eat this whole bowl."

Thad flashed a grin and couldn't think of a reason not to do as she suggested.

Honestly, I didn't know if this scene would work, but I ended up loving it. J

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin