Sunday Snippet: Future in Play

Had a truly fall-weather week … to the point we had to turn the heat on. We'll probably get another brief spell of warmer temperatures before things settle down into actual fall. Or, we could have snow before Halloween. It's Ohio.

Busy work week with several projects going at the same time. I did get through a round of my usual viewing schedule.

Ted Lasso didn't disappoint with Rebecca's reveal and the catalyst for her finally making it happen ended up being so good. I rather hope Rupert dies in a fire or maybe gets hit by a double-decker bus in the near future. What a twat. Keeley continues to make me laugh out loud and I have so much love for her.

Caught another episode of The Agatha Christie Hour, which ended up being quite a fun episode even if the whole point was to gaslight one poor guy into handing over something that didn't even belong to him.

I picked up where I left of with Endeavor in season five and caught back up with the characters. I'm looking forward to more and seeing where things go.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness and thoroughly enjoyed the twists in the episode. I'm not quite sure who the culprit is and that's always fun for me.

Enjoyed another episode of Classic Who. Loved seeing Three's car pulled out of mothballs and the interactions between the brigadier and the Doctor. So much fun.

Finished up the first season of Strangest Things and I'm looking forward to the second. I love seeing how they try to figure out what the relics are and how they were used.

Started Ms. Marvel and loved the first episode. I'm very excited to dive into this series. Kamala and Bruno are awesome!

Only Murders in the Building had an awesome episode with the Superfans. Seriously, I loved so much about how everything played out. Okay, except at the end. Now I can't wait to find out what happened to the bassoonist. I have so many theories, but two stand out and I'll share if either one of those is correct.

Finished up season three of Blue Heelers and said good-bye to Wayne. I'm actually kind of glad it was indeed a random act as the episode title suggested. I'm kind of bummed out that I'll only be able to watch one more season in order then I'll have to skip to the later seasons. Streaming sucks sometimes.

Watched another MasterClass lesson with Roxane Gay. She discussed being a good literary citizen in this one and I enjoyed what she had to say. Kindness doesn't cost a red cent and being considerate of others is sometimes a lost gesture that should be the norm instead of the exception.

The Umbrella Academy had another terrific episode. I love how much chaos there is and also how the characters end up being there for each other even when they'd rather be anywhere else.

Caught an episode of Classic Rugrats and laughed out loud more than once and remembered doing the same when watching with the kiddos.

Finished off the week with Batman: The Animated Series and the introduction of the Clock King. I loved this episode when it originally aired and enjoyed it again this time around.

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

Here's the mini-blurb:

Nellie Finch is a little bored with her family's annual fall money-maker, the Apple Butter Festival. But when the village council decides to add a competitor to the yearly event, Nellie faces off against Mace Bigelow to see who makes the best mouth-watering spread and find out which challenger will win bragging rights and maybe the other competitor's heart.

And a snippety peek…

A little after eight a.m., Mane Bigelow stepped out of the SUV in the casual-dining restaurant parking lot. "Thanks, Dave. Safe trip to Pennsylvania." He lifted a hand in farewell when his shipmate reversed out of the parking space and drove toward the road.

He hoisted his rucksack over his shoulder and got his first look at home in over five years. The three-rivers bridge had recently been renovated and looked pretty amazing, all things considered.

Dave had been nice enough to drop Mane off in Ohio and not ask a bunch of questions Mane couldn't answer yet. He had thirty days. More than enough time to decide if he'd reup for another stint or not.

A lot depended on how his visit went.

The door to the restaurant pushed open and a group of women exited, carrying takeout boxes with them. One in particular caught Mane's eye. Nellie Finch. Her laughter rang out and waved to the group heading to their vehicles.

The sound transported Mane back to high school. He'd had it bad for Nellie. But she'd been taken all four years by Jace Stewart. Hell, she might still be…

Mane didn't want to think too much about her status. "Nellie? Hey, how are you?"

She turned and stopped short. "Mane? When did you—" She shook her head. "Stupid question. Obviously, you just got back." Her gaze went to his rucksack.

His lips twisted. "Uh, yeah. Like five minutes ago." He moved toward her, crossing the short distance to the row of cars lined up. "It's great to see you."

Her head bobbed a little. "Yeah, good to see you, too." Her chin lifted and her brows arched. "Are you waiting on someone? Your grandma?" She popped her back door open and set the takeout box on the seat.

He shook his head. "Not yet. I literally just got dropped off. Haven't had time to call her." He'd decided to wait until he got into town before letting her know he got leave.

Nellie blinked. "She doesn't know you're here?" She shut the door and leaned against the car.

He rolled a shoulder. "Didn't know if I'd get leave or when I'd be coming through. Thought I'd wait until I got here to check-in with her." He also didn't want to call too early.

Nellie tilted her head. "Were you thinking of surprising her? Because I can give you a lift out to her place if you were."

Mane smiled. "Didn't think that far ahead, but that would be great." He started around the vehicle. "If you don't mind. Do you have to get to work or anything?" He had no idea what she did or where she worked.

Nellie huffed out a breath. "I'm finished for the day." She slid behind the wheel. "Just finished a planning breakfast for the Apple Butter Festival. I'm usually off on Wednesdays." Starting the engine, she waited for Mane to get his rucksack in the back and then for him to get settled in the front. "I work part-time at the chamber of commerce." She backed out of the parking space and drove out of the lot. "So, what's it been? Five years?" Her teeth worried her lower lip.

Mane gave a nod. "There about. You went to OU, didn't you?" On a scholarship if he remembered correctly.

She lifted her chin. "Yeah. Graduated two years ago and I'm almost finished with a master's degree." She made the turn onto the county road heading toward his grandmother's place. "Not sure what I'll do with it, but my mom insisted that I keep going." She rolled her eyes. "If I moved to Columbus, Cleveland, or Cincinnati, it would make sense. But here—" She broke off, not completing her thought.

Mane soaked up the scenery. The fields were pretty much the same as they'd always been. The trees weren't as dense. Probably some harvesting of hardwood.

Mane focused on the driver again. "You plan on sticking around then?"

Nellie shrugged. "Kind of have to. Mom and Dad decided to pull up stakes and move to North Carolina. Both brothers live there with their families." She turned onto the township road his grandma lived on.

Mane frowned. "Is your grandmother doing all right?" He remembered her as a go-getter.

Nellie laughed. "Gram's fine. But she can't manage the orchard by herself and since I'm not planning to get married or have a family any time soon, it's logical that I shoulder some of the workload." Turning into the drive, she pulled up close to the house.

Mane angled around. "Logical? Maybe. But is it what you want to do?" Something in her voice suggested differently.

Nellie cut the engine. "Honestly? I have no idea." She pasted on a bright smile. "But, right now, it's what I'm doing." Her attention when to the front porch when his grandma came out. "Looks like Hannah is definitely going to be surprised." She waved.

Mane wanted to keep talking to Nellie but his grandma already started toward them.

He popped the door. "Hang on one second." Exiting the car, he crossed the short distance and met his grandma, sweeping her up into a big hug.

When he set her down, she had tears in her eyes. "Oh, Mane. Why didn't you tell me you were coming home?" She patted his cheek.

Mane gave her a quick smile. "Wanted to surprise you. Caught a ride out with Nellie." They walked to the car together.

Nellie leaned across the seat. "Hi, Hannah. Found your grandson and thought I'd better return him to you."

Mane chuckled and grabbed his rucksack from the back. "She makes me sound like a lost puppy instead of a sailor on leave." He ducked into the front of the vehicle. "Can I reach you at your grandma's?" He wanted to take her to lunch or dinner as a thank you.

Nellie's eyes widened. "Uh, sure. Or, better yet, call me directly." She riffled around in her bag and handed him a card. "Number's on the back."

He tucked the contact information into his shirt pocket. "Thank you for the ride. It was great catching up. If you're up for it, I'd like to take you and my grandma to dinner. Or lunch, whichever you prefer."

Nellie blinked, clearly surprised. "Um, depends on when. But I'd enjoy that. Give me a call." She started the car again.

Mane shut the door and lifted a hand in farewell.

His grandma waved and waited until Nellie got turned around and headed back down the drive before she spoke. "I'm so glad you're home, Mane. I've missed you." She wrapped an arm around him. "And a ride from Nellie Finch. Bet you didn't see that one coming, did you?"

Mane laughed. "Grandma! It's been five years and she didn't know I was even alive in high school." He grabbed his bag and walked up to the house with Hannah.

Hannah chuckled. "She knows you're alive now. And she's very single at the moment." With a sly look, she ushered Mane inside the house and bustled directly to the kitchen.

Mane shook his head. Damn, he'd missed his grandmother and her keen perception.

This one is going to be fun to write. There's a bit of a rivalry that's going to come into play and the characters will have fun with that.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Fuel for the Fire

Welcome to spooky month! October is one of my favorite months, even if it means holiday season is hiding around the corner. So far, we've had some fall-like weather and that's making me very joyful right now.

Had a semi-decent viewing week. Work projects are ongoing and I needed some quiet time to focus on those. But I made a full circuit of my standard streaming schedule.

Once again, Ted Lasso delivered a full-on episode. I'm nervously awaiting the moment when Rebecca reveals why she really hired Ted and dying to see the fallout. Keeley rules at being a mess but not staying that way. I love how she's absolutely not afraid of Rebecca because it never occurred to her to be so. This show. It's so good.

I tried to watch the behind the scenes feature for Brokenwood Mysteries but couldn't seem to get it to play. I'll try again this week.

Started a new show and watched the first episode of Suspects. So far, I'm hooked. I enjoyed the characters and watching the case unfold.

Finished up the second half of Silent Witness and liked the twist the episode took. I kind of thought I had the right killer but the history part I didn't quite see coming.

Caught another episode of Classic Who. I'm ready for the Doctor's reunion with Leftbridge-Stewart. I'll be disappointed if it doesn't happen in the next installment.

Watched another episode of Strangest Things. This one featured the enigma machine and delved into the history of how the encryption finally got cracked.

Finished the first season of The Book of Boba Fett and I have to say, I ended up loving this show! I hope there's another season.

Enjoyed another episode of Only Murders in the Building. What a mess Oliver and Mabel got into. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Started season nine of Peak Practice. Gotta say Andrew kind of annoys me when he darts off to figure himself out. I guess it's something of a character trait with him. Loved how Joanna and Sam held the line and got through the ordeal of having their patients down with an unknown virus.

Caught another MasterClass lesson with Roxane Gay. She focused on getting published and what to expect from the traditional side of publishing and also delved a little into the small, independent presses and self-publishing. Good information.

The Umbrella Academy had a stellar episode. Pieces are falling into place and plots mixed with subplots are popping up. Allison's concern about Leonard is definitely warranted and I'm very interested in what Vanya's power is. I loved the interactions with Five and Luthor and Klaus and Diego and, of course, the standoff with ChiChi and Hazel ended up being terrific. This show is amazing.

Started season three of Star Trek: Discovery. Gotta say I'm kind of blown away. Can't wait to have Michael back with her crew and hopefully with the addition of a few more members. Excellent premiere!

Finished off the week with Batman: The Animated Series and got another episode without a feature rogue's gallery villain. I really enjoy the slice of life ones.

I'm also in the midst of watching more Resisting Roots, a Passionflix original. I might have it finished up this week, but I won't make any promises.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Fuel for the Fire, a novella featuring a couple brought together under harrowing circumstances.

Here's the mini-blurb:

A fire bug wants arson investigator Sadie Kyle's attention and burns the home and business Greg DeSoto to get it. When Sadie shows up to investigate, she hits it off with Greg, which only adds fuel to the fire for her pyromaniac. When Greg gets hit a second time, Sadie digs in and calls the burner out.

And a snippety peek…

Sadie's gut churned. A new sprinkler system. Greg Desoto's bar made the third fire in six months to have a similar set of circumstances.

She gave him a semi-straight answer. "To answer your question, yes, we're investigating as a possible arson. They call me in when a sprinkler system doesn't function." Especially when a total loss occurred.

An aid-worker walked by with a carrier of coffee and Sadie snagged two. She needed a moment to get her head wrapped around the possibility of a serial arsonist before she sat down with Desoto to get some answers.

Handing one of the cups to Greg, she angled around and perched her butt on the floor of the unit, leaning back against the open door. Her bulky bunker pants would make maneuvering around inside a huge pain in the ass. She placed her coffee on the floor under the cot and reached into her interior pocket for her small notebook and a pen.

She flipped to the first empty page then glanced in Greg's direction. "Mr Desoto, Greg, do you have any enemies who'd want to see you or your business harmed?"

Greg snorted. "Not likely. I've worked hard to establish good relationships with the other business owners around here. I picked this neighborhood because the majority of the owners live within a few blocks of their shops." His mouth twisted. "We pull together and sponsor block parties in the summer and a big holiday stroll on the weekends between Thanksgiving and New Year's. This doesn't only hurt me, it hurts them."

Sadie nodded and jotted down a few notes. She'd look into the other business owners as a precaution, but she had a strong feeling they'd all be cleared.

She stopped writing. "You mentioned a new sprinkler system. Who installed it?" She crossed her fingers, hoping her instincts were off base.

Greg answered. "Five Alarm Sprinkler Systems."

Shit. Shit, shit, shit.

Sadie closed her notebook, fighting the urge to snap her pen into pieces. "Thank you, Greg. I've got enough to get started and I still need to investigate the interior of the building." She needed to get the hell out of the ambulance and do her job. "Can I contact you through your insurance company?"

Greg nodded, his eyes narrowing a little. "I use a local agent—"

Sadie jumped in. "Kyle Addy?"

Greg's eyes widened. "Yeah, how did you…"

She cracked a brief smile. "I grew up in this neighborhood. Kyle's the best there is."

Greg's lips quirked. "He's a good man. He's actually on his way down. He wanted to make arrangements for a place for me to stay."

Sadie reached out, placing her hand on Greg's forearm. "We'll find whoever did this. I'm sorry for the loss of your business."

Greg gave her a twisted half-smile. "Not your fault, but thank you."

Sadie eased out of the unit, tucking her notebook back inside her pocket. Greg had it so wrong. The destruction and devastation of his livelihood might not be her fault, but she'd bet her pension part of the blame would land at her doorstep.

Sadie had a damned good idea who the culprit would turn out to be … and who he really had it in for.

Her.

I love this one! Sadie and Greg are meeting under terrible circumstances but it gets better … then worse.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Fits and Starts

I'm not quite sure where the month of September went but it's almost over. The weather in Ohio is currently fall-like. Not sure how long that will last. I could actually get behind having it stick around for a while.

Pretty decent week of viewing. I'm back on my usual schedule for the most part. I'll be starting a new show on one of my streamers, but I'm not sure if I'll stick with it or give up that slot for now.

Watched another episode of Ted Lasso. Gotta say, I definitely see the appeal and how so many people have utter undying love for the show. I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

Caught another episode of the Agatha Christie Hour. I loved the twists and turns in this one. Good intrigue without being a full-blown mystery.

Enjoyed the first part of Silent Witness. There's a good mysterious vibe in this two-parter and I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out this week.

Started season twenty-six of Classic Who and loved seeing the colonel back again. I'm looking forward to the next episode.

Watched another Strangest Things episode and learned about desert glass. Well worth the view for that alone.

Caught an episode of The Book of Boba Fett. Geez, a lot happened and I'm still trying to process everything. Definitely need to catch up on season two of The Mandalorian to fill in the missing blanks. Looking forward to doing that.

Only Murders in the Building is such a terrific show. The pacing is excellent and the reveals are pretty much perfect. Hat tip to all involved in the writing and acting.

Enjoyed another episode of Blue Heelers and it actually ended up breaking my heart a little. One of the scenes hit a little too close for comfort involving a pet that had to be put to sleep.

Caught another MasterClass lesson with Roxane Gay. She discussed finding an agent and what to pay attention to when dealing with contracts.

Watched another Umbrella Academy episode. I'm definitely getting hooked on this one. I love the characters and how they interact with each other and outsiders. Klaus is a wicked-fun gem. Also nice to see Luther before his transformation. Felt horrible for Diego and my heart really goes out to Vanya. Loved the scene with Allison, though. Great stuff.

Enjoyed two more episodes of Classic Rugrats. Two of my favorites were in this bunch. Anytime Angelica is foiled by Susie is worth the watch.

Also caught another episode of Batman: The Animated Series. This ended up being a good one. I like the episodes when there isn't a major villain from the rogue gallery for Batman to deal with.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Fits and Starts, a novella puts the characters on opposites of a dilemma.

Here's the mini-blurb:

After escaping from a madman's clutches, Pru Stark can't quite find her footing again. She pushes her man, Dane Callaway, away and refuses to see the little girl she saved. Dane can give her space, but he won't stay on the sidelines, not when Pru needs him the most, even if she can't quite admit it.

And a snippety peek…

A loud blast woke Pru up and sent her sprawling from the bed. She rose and a second explosion had her crashing into the wall, her head cracking on the hard surface. The hard jolt had reality becoming a sharp focus but meshed with her dreamlike existence of the last six months.

Everything jumbled in her mind, but danger came through with crystal clarity.

Pru rubbed her temple. "Minnie!" Tearing out of the room, Pru sprinted across the hall into the girl's room. "Minnie! Honey, where are you?" She had to find her daughter.

"Over here." The voice trembled.

Pru found Minnie huddled under her vanity. "Okay, sweetie, come here. We need to get out, okay?" She reached out a hand.

Minnie shook her head. "I'm scared." The words squeaked out and she shuddered.

Pru got down and scooted close. "I know, Minnie. Me, too. But we'll make it. I'm your avenging angel, remember? I won't let anything happen to you." The adrenaline rush kicked her into instinct mode.

The world crashed back with resounding simplicity. Her past—the real one—poked through the haze of dreamy make-believe. She didn't belong here. She never had.

She almost sank under the emotional overload, but her training kicked in. She'd get them out. Snatching Minnie up in her arms, Pru dashed through the apartment and into the corridor. Debris rained down and another boom shook the building. A brief flash of memory ripped through her brain and Pru crouched low, keeping Minnie pressed against her chest. Heavy footfalls sounded around a corner and Pru risked taking cover against the wall. The ceiling collapsed and caught three armed guards under its weight.

Pru stripped a gun off a fallen henchman. She checked the chamber with Minnie clinging on, her little legs wrapped around Pru's waist. Pru had a full clip of ammo and an exit to find. She made her way through the debris and rubble. Making a break for the open main hub, she encountered an armed force of three. Enemies. No doubt in her mind now.

She braced her hand on Minnie's back. "Put your head on my shoulder and don't look up." She picked the first one off, then the second. She went for the third, but he got taken out from the side. She swung her arm toward the assailant ready to fire.

"Pru! Don't shoot. It's me. It's Dane."

Her arm slowly lowered, fingers trembling, the emotional barrage too much. She recognized the name and the voice. And she broke, clasping Minnie close.

Dane enveloped her in his embrace and she finally caved and collapsed. Too many conflicting details filled her mind. She didn't know up from down or fact from fiction, but she did know him.

Dane swept her up, along with Minnie. "It's okay, Pru. We're going home." He clutched them close and headed out of the building.

Home. Pru didn't know what the word meant anymore.

This story took me on a few twisty roads but I love how it's coming together. Pru is going to have to redefine what home is in the near future.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Fair Play

Not a bad week. I made excellent headway on the two projects I'm editing and got some writing of my own done. The weather has been so nice and comfortable. Not quite chilly enough to be considered fall but also not the sweltering yuck we often have this time of year.

I'm finally more or less back on my regular viewing schedule. I might be dropping one of my streamers because they're going to paid only and, frankly, I'm not that interested in the content to pay five bucks a month for it. We'll see how it goes.

Caught several episodes of Classic Rugrats. I'm into season four and trawling through the memory banks. I love reminiscing about sitting with the kids and watching this when they were wee little ones.

Watched maybe the last episode of Chicago Med for me. This is the streamer that's going to paid only and I'm not that interested in continuing to watch. I'll see what happens in a few weeks.

Enjoyed two episodes of Batman: The Animated Series. I have so much love for this series and tend to rewatch on a semi-frequent basis. There's a very good stable of villains and the animation is great.

Caught another episode of Ted Lasso. Gotta say I thoroughly enjoyed Ted losing his shit with Rebecca. I also loved the whole method of breaking the curse. This is a great show.

Watched the season eight finale of The Brokenwood Mysteries. I have a behind the scenes episode to watch then another wait for new episodes. Looking forward to seeing what Mike had to say to the proposal at the end.

Enjoyed the second part of Silent Witness. Looking forward to seeing what season twenty has to offer. I'm loving the dynamic between the characters.

Finished up season twenty-five of Classic Who. Not a bad way to end the season. I also discovered there's at least one more so I'll start it this week.

Caught another episode of Strangest Things. I liked the segments in this episode. A hoax and a spectacular way-before-its-time device caught my attention.

Loved the episode of The Book of Boba Fett. It featured the return of the Mandalorian and I'm a little spoiled for season two of The Mandalorian because of this, but I'm totally okay with that.

Enjoyed another episode of Only Murders in the Building. This show. I have a lot of love for it and can't wait to jump in to season two.

Watched the season eight finale of Peak Practice. A lot of moving pieces and setting things up for next season. I'll be starting nine in the near future.

Caught another MasterClass lesson with Roxane Gay. She focused on the business of writing and I ended up getting some good information from this lesson.

Umbrella Academy ended up being great. I'm really loving this show. I very much enjoy finding out little bits and pieces about the characters and the pacing is excellent.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Fair Play, a sexy short follow-up to Imagination.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Rand Allerdyce takes Holland Dukes by surprise, bringing their sexy games to her office when she's working late one evening. Rand plans to engage Holland's voyeuristic side and give her the thrill of possibly being caught. Holland loves the idea as much as she loves Rand.

And a snippety peek…

Hollace glanced up from her laptop. "Janie, did you get the email about the seven p.m. call with the Seattle office?" Why did they want to push the four o'clock phone meeting back today of all days?

Janie popped her head inside Hollace's office. "I did and Jones Lawrence just pinged me on our instant messenger to apologize. Apparently one of their partners is getting in late due to a delayed flight." She shook her head. "They don't want to reschedule to a different day because they need your input for a client meeting tomorrow." Janie hesitated a moment. "Do you need me to stay? Or come back?" Her gaze went to the clock, ticking toward three p.m.

Hollace waved her off. "No. I'll have them send the summary of the meeting to you via email. It'll be the least they can do for notifying us at the last moment." She grabbed her phone from her desk. "I'll stick around. By the time I get home, I'd have to turn around to come back in for the call." Her dinner plans with Rand would have to happen on another night.

Janie arched her brows. "Are you sure? I'll call the daycare center if you need me."

Hollace shook her head. "Uh-uh. Tim's working nights this week, right?" When Janie nodded, Hollace continued. "No way then. Head out at your normal time. No sense racking up additional fees." Especially when Janie hoped to become a homeowner soon.

Janie flashed a smile. "All right. But if they change the call to an earlier time, I can stay until six before I'm charged extra." She ducked back out and settled behind her desk.

Hollace swiped to her contacts and hit Rand's number.

He answered on the second ring. "Hello, beautiful. What do I owe for this midday call?"

Hollace pictured him behind his desk, jacket off and sleeves rolled up. "A rain check on dinner tonight. I have to stick around for late call from our Seattle location."

Rand tsked. "Rain check it is. We'll shoot for Thursday. I've got a light week."

She smiled. "Thursday should work. I'll grab some takeout on the way home. The Asian place around the corner has the best dumplings."

Rand hummed. "Mmm. Sounds great. I'll see you later." He signed off. "I love you."

Hollace returned the sentiment. "Love you, too." She ended the call and sat back in her chair.

Maybe she and Rand could have their cuisine in bed and dine naked.

I have an idea for a couple more stories with Rand and Hollace so this might end up as a small series. Yay!

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Elective Campaign

Had a fairly busy week between work and the new venture I'm putting together. The play I'm editing is so much fun. It's deep and twisty and bonkers in the best possible way. I hope I have another chance to edit more plays.

Had a pretty good week trying to catch up to my regular viewing schedule. I'm not quite there yet because other things have been pulling my attention away from screen time. Also, my sleep schedule is all messed up at the moment. Not sure why, but probably hormone-related. Fun.

I watched an episode of Peak Practice and should finish up season eight this week. From what I've reviewed, seasons nine through twelve go a little off the normal path and dive deeper into soap opera territory. I'm okay with that.

Caught two more MasterClass lessons with Roxane Gay. I truly love listening to her speak. The first one focused on engaging with you readers and I ended up getting a lot out of that one. The second lesson noted the importance of having a day job for stability and I also appreciated what she had to say about that topic.

Started The Umbrella Academy and, so far, I love it. I'm two episodes in and I like the dynamic between the characters and I'm excited to see what comes next. Looking forward to diving deep on this one.

Enjoyed the season finale of The Ready Room. Pretty sure Wil takes over for the next one and I'll look forward to his take on Discovery.

Watched another episode of Chicago Med and I have a weird feeling I know where things will end up going with Will and Asher. Fairly sure this might end up being my last season. I do love anything with Dr. Charles, Maggie, and Miss Goodwin. I also love Ethan. We'll see what happens by the end of the season.

Caught another Batman: The Animated Series. I loved Poison Ivy's introduction in this series and also seeing more of Harvey Dent before things happen with him.

Enjoyed a little more of Resisting Roots but didn't get to finish the movie yet.

Watched another Ted Lasso. I'm definitely a fan. Keeley cracks me up and I love where things are going with her. Ted kind of broke my heart yet made me so happy when he benched Jamie. I truly hope there's some kind of redeeming arc for him because I literally loath him at the moment.

Caught another Agatha Christie Hour and thoroughly enjoyed it. I like the non-mystery aspect of this show because there's still a lot of suspense, which I love.

Started season twenty of Silent Witness and quite enjoyed the opening first part. Looking forward to finishing this one up next week.

Almost finished with season twenty-five of Classic Who. The greatest show in the galaxy will hopefully end on a great note for the season. I'm pretty sure that brings me close to the end of the classic episodes. Not sure if I'll jump to New Who or switch to a different genre for a while.

Watched another episode of Strangest Things. I like diving into the mysterious objects they feature and learning new information. The cast of experts is very diverse and I love that.

Caught another episode of The Book of Boba Fett. Loved the pickup from when Fennic went down in The Mandalorian. I seriously love this show.

Enjoyed another episode of Only Murders in the Building. There's so much awkwardness that is played to perfection by the three main cast members. I'm excited to see what happens in the next episode.

Watched an episode of Blue Heelers and ended up enjoying it a lot. Wayne actually ended up being a fairly decent guy in this one and that's not always the case.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Elective Campaign, a novella that follows the characters as they navigate a new job and campaign for mayor with a blossoming relationship.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Mac is running for reelection and needs a logistical planner on his roster to win. Yancy has the training and background but she presents a problem … Mac is very attracted to her. They fight the pull but give in, and once it's discovered, he might lose more than the election.

And a snippety peek…

Yancy pulled into the hotel parking lot. "Well, I'm glad they had a room available. Nice view of the rivers." The three-story building sat on the side where one river formed from two merging together.

Viv got out and turned around in a circle. "I like it. So many trees. Can you imagine what this'll look like in the fall?" She popped the back door open. "Just an overnight bag? Or full suitcase?"

Yancy pondered a moment. "For now, let's go with overnight bags. We'll have to dig for suitcases." They entered the lobby and quickly got checked in.

Once they were in the room, Yancy settled on one of the beds. "So, you're really interested in staying?" She had to admit a bit of a good vibe if they did.

Viv plopped down close to the headboard. "I'm all for it. I love the area and the town." She tucked her feet under her legs. "I mean, it's big enough to not know every little thing about everyone else, but yet it's small enough for everyone to matter." Reaching into her tote bag, she withdrew a stack of pamphlets. "And look at all the stuff there is to do. This area has wineries, a brewery, a historic village. All this stuff is right up your alley, Mom." She handed a tri-folded leaflet over that featured a downtown revitalization schedule of events.

Yancy browsed through the information and met her daughter's gaze. "Okay, we'll see how it goes." She dug the card Mac gave her out and then retrieved her laptop. "Why don't you see what's available on the job boards? I'll give Shari Campbell a call and ask if she can recommend houses or apartments."

Viv grinned. "This is awesome, Mom. I think we're going to love it here." She whipped out her phone and started scrolling.

Yancy got up and stepped to the window looking out over the river. A good feeling settled over her and she savored it. A new place to call home and start over sounded perfect.

She typed in the number on the card and smiled when Shari answered. "Hello, this might sound strange, but I received your card from Mac Davison and he suggested I call…"

This is a fun story to write. I love having a mother-daughter relationship mixed with the dynamic of finding a new romance.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin 

Sunday Snippet: Drowning Pull

Greetings to the month of September. I'm kind of not ready for it yet, mainly because once the calendar changes to the ninth month, it seems like October, November, and December zoom by super fast.

Had a great work week and made some progress on my new venture. I'm crossing my fingers I'll be able to launch sometime between October and December. Another reason I'm not quite ready for the new month.

Decent viewing week. I'm not quite caught up on everything, but I'm getting there. I did make a full rotation of my usual shows but I'm off schedule, which confuses my weird brain.

Got two episodes of Only Murders in the Building watched and I'm kind of loving this show. Had a great conversation with my daughter, who also loves it.

Caught an episode of Blue Heelers and kind of thought a couple of the characters were acting unlike themselves. But I did like the mystery.

Enjoyed another MasterClass lesson with Roxane Gay. She did another workshop and talked about finding your voice as a writer. Very good stuff.

Finished up The Babysitters Club and I'm so bummed there aren't any more episodes left. I'll be starting a new show this week but haven't decided which one yet.

Watched two episodes of Classic Rugrats. The Chanukah episode is one of my favorites and I always enjoyed watching it with the kiddos. The Mother's Day episode is also up there even if it's a little bit of a downer.

Started Resisting Roots, a Passionflix original. So far, I'm enjoying it. Looking forward to finishing up this movie.

Caught another episode of Chicago Med and struggled to stay interested. I liked two of the storylines and didn't really have much invested in the other two. Season five might be my last one.

Enjoyed another episode of Batman: The Animated Series. This one introduced the Joker and my major appreciation for Mark Hamill's portrayal of the iconic bad guy started all over again.

Watched the Christmas episode of Ted Lasso and thoroughly enjoyed it. Ted having Rupert's number made me happy. Also loved Roy in this one. And I'm finding a deep appreciation for Keeley. I really love the dynamic she has with Rebecca. Jamie … I absolutely dislike with an intense passion. Just saying. Coach Beard is awesome. And so is Nate.

Caught another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. I'm kind of bummed I only have one more left of the season. This show makes me happy.

Finished up the second part and final episode of Silent Witness's season nineteen. Looking forward to starting the new one next week.

Watched another episode of Classic Who. I'm a little lost with what's supposed to be going on but I had a few distractions while I was watching this episode. Looking forward to the final two for this season.

Enjoyed another Strangest Things. This one had several fun artifacts. One happened to feature in a middle grade book I edited a few years ago. Very fun to see a breakdown of the item the author wrote about in his book.

Caught another episode of The Book of Boba Fett. I actually love this show a lot. It's right up there with The Mandalorian. I'm hoping there will be another season of this one.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Drowning Pull, a novella that explores one way grief brings a couple together.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Lane Addison drowns his grief over losing his brother in alcohol, until a blonde distraction sits down beside him. Injured and off the circuit, Weslee decides to have a pity party for one until she sees someone deeper in the well than she is. A hot hookup later, Lane thinks he's found the perfect woman in Weslee, until she mentions her fiancé.

And a snippety peek…

Shit. What the hell am I doing?

Weslee dashed back into the apartment, hastily donned shorts and a tank top then went to greet Brad. "Okay, totally obvious what happened last night. But—"

Brad waved a hand. "Whatever, Wes. One-time thing, right?" He dumped his bag by the door then moved into the kitchen to start making some coffee.

Weslee blinked. He's shrugging off the indiscretion? Wow. His lack of giving a shit spoke volumes about what he'd probably been up to on the road.

She glanced at the door. Watching Lane leave hurt more than it should, especially after one night. And it broke her heart a little to see his eyes go flat and dead again—like they'd been when she met him in the bar.

The difference from the night before when they'd shared her bed almost took her breath away. When he asked if he could see her again, she had a moment of indecision, wanting to possibly pursue something with him … but she had to be honest—a little late, but necessary. And Lane had rightfully shut her down. Her own stupid fault for being depressed and moody and taking one night to do whatever she wanted, no holds barred. She honestly didn't want to examine the reasoning too closely right now, because she wouldn't like what it said about her state of mind.

Entering the kitchen, she grabbed a mug.

Brad leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. "How did your appointment go?"

Surprised he even remembered, she didn't mince words. "After this week, I'm cleared to do PT on my own and I can compete, but..." She paused a moment, the decision sitting heavy on her shoulders. "I run the risk of doing further damage that I won't come back from." She met his gaze. "So, I'm done professionally. I'll do exhibitions and hopefully stay on as an ambassador for the sport." She stirred some creamer into the coffee.

Brad pushed away from the wall. "You know, Wes … that doesn't really work for me. We're supposed to be a golden couple, one on the ice, one on the snow. If you're out, maybe we should end things now." He shrugged, almost like ending an engagement ranked with ordering a pizza.

Angry, Weslee called him on the bullshit. "Right. Let me get this straight. You're fine with me sleeping with someone else, but you'll break our engagement because I'm no longer going to be pro?" How did that make sense?

And she might have let a potentially great thing walk away because she couldn't end things with Brad herself.

He rolled a shoulder again. "Look, mistakes happen. You hooking up with someone else, especially when I'm on the road, well, it would've happened sooner or later."

He told on himself with every word, pretty confirming her suspicions about what he got up to when the team traveled. She could kick herself for not confronting him about it. And she hated herself for being no better than him.

Brad propped a shoulder on the door jamb. "Your professional days ending changes the dynamic a little too much. Won't be mutually beneficial anymore and I have to think of my career, especially when it's still going strong."

And if that didn't lay everything on the line, and distill Brad's priorities down to their essence, nothing else did.

She nodded toward the door. "In that case, I'm keeping the apartment. Get whatever you need for a few days and go crash with one of your teammates." She dumped the coffee into the sink. "I'm getting a shower. Be gone when I'm done. You can arrange a time when I'm not here to get the rest of your stuff." She left the kitchen without looking back.

And wondered why her heart felt more bruised over the lost chance with Lane Addison than it did for a broken engagement.

This story deviates a little from the regular path but I'm kind of happy with where it's going. I like to challenge myself and getting Weslee and Lane to their happy end is stretching me to see things from a different perspective.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Down the Middle

Whew. Finally recovered from our vacation and I'm back to work with multiple projects and a possible new venture in the near future. I'm super excited about it but still need to nail down some details and make some decisions on the setup.

As mentioned, I'm doing two weeks of catch-up on the life update and television viewing. While gone, I didn't watch a lot but I did get some screen time in.

I caught two more episodes of Strangest Things. I quite enjoy the approach the show takes in trying to solve the mystery of odd artifacts.

Started The Book of Boba Fett and watched two episodes. So far, I like what I'm seeing. It's a little hoppy with the back and forth of the timeline, but I'm following that without too much trouble.

I also started Only Murders in the Building and loved the first episode. I'm excited to see where the show goes.

Watched another MasterClass lesson with Roxane Gay. She did a writer's workshop and discussed finding common ground. Very interesting stuff with this lesson and I enjoyed.

Sobbed during the Babysitter's Club episode. I think I only have one left and I'm very sad there aren't going to be more. This is such a good show.

Finally had a chance to watch the Frankie Drake Mysteries special, "Music at Midnight" and I'm so glad I got to see it. This is another show I'm sad won't be coming back.

Caught another episode of The Ready Room. This one featured Michelle Paradise and recapped the penultimate episode of season two. Really fun interview.

I finished season three of Driven and loved the finale. I'm so glad Passionflix is starting a new series. They've done a great job so far.

Watched another episode of Chicago Med. I'm not sure but this might be my last season of the show. I enjoy it, but I might take a bit of a break.

Enjoyed another episode of Batman: The Animated Series. I love how the first season kind of explored a lot of different villains and they weren't always the big bads we've come to know and love.

Caught another episode of Ted Lasso. I'm three episodes in and I'm enjoying the show. It's a tiny bit campy and I like that aspect.

Watched another episode of The Agatha Christie Hour. Very interesting conflict in this one and fun to see an uber-young John Nettles as one of the stars.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness. I actually have no idea where this one is going and I kind of like that. I do suspect the old and new cases will converge in a nasty way. Per usual.

Began a new Classic Who arc. For some reason the Psychic Circus is sticking out in my mind but I don't think I've actually seen these episodes. I'll know more next week.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Down the Middle, a sexy romance with two bounty hunters that have to work together.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Bounty hunter Ursa Goode always gets her man … if Jake Weatherwax doesn't beat her to him. But when a target escapes and comes after her, Ursa has to take Jake up on his offer to work together and split the reward right down the middle. The need for a partner rubs her wrong, but Jake definitely doesn't.

And a snippety peek…

Around five a.m., Ursa almost gave up with her plan. The bartender made last call and the DJ announced the final song. Cavil had his victim picked out but had yet to make a move.

Ursa dug her nails into her palms. "Dammit, why is he deviating now?" Usually, he wanted to be clear of the place before people started leaving to find their cars.

Twenty minutes later—the final club song still playing—Llewellyn finally led a petite blonde out the back exit. Blood thrummed through Ursa's veins but she checked the urge to bolt after them. Waiting a discreet few moments, she followed them into the alley behind the club.

The first smudges of light were noticeable overhead, but the shadows remained dark and gloomy in the street. She barely got outside before a jolt went through her system and she stood paralyzed and unable to move. When the hell did he start using a low-voltage taser?

A zip-tie tethered her wrists and she went to kick out, but quickly found herself backed into the brick façade of the building with Cavil holding on to her leg. With her hands bound, her shoulders slapped the hard surface.

Struggling to keep her balance, her head cracked against the rough-hewn concrete windowsill. "Shit. That hurt." Stars swirled behind her eyelids.

Llewellyn grasped her other leg and she went down, landing on her ass hard enough to knock the wind from her lungs. Cavil used the time to wind several rows of duct tape from her feet to mid-calf.

Ursa growled. "Son of a bitch." Her gaze scanned the alleyway. "Where's the cute blonde?" Not like him to let one get away.

Except her.

Cavil gave her a smug look. "You mean the sweet child I escorted out of the club? She's on her way home." He stooped down and leaned in close. "I ordered an Uber for her." His smirk stretched across his face.

Ursa blinked. "I'm surprised you know what an Uber is." He prided himself on being a traditionalist.

Llewellyn got to his feet. "Oh, I keep up on the latest. And I knew you'd be coming for me. I laid out a careful trail of breadcrumbs for you to follow." An expansive smile curved his lips. "After all, you're the one I'm really here for."

She realized he'd picked her as his prey and wanted to kick herself for being so stupid.

Llewellyn dusted off his hands. "As much as I'd love to stick around and play, I have someplace to be." He shoved her into the space between the building and a dumpster.

Landing on her side, she had almost zero room to move.

Cavil tore off another piece of tape and slapped it over her mouth. "Can't have you raising the alarm too soon, but we'll see you again in the near future, my lovely Ursa. Our fun and games are only beginning." Tucking the roll underneath his arm, he strolled away, whistling a peppy tune.

Ursa inhaled and exhaled deeply through her nose and wriggled around until she had enough room to yank the tape off. "You're damn right we'll meet again. And next time I'll be ready."

Like she should've been this time.

I'm very happy with how this story is coming together. Ursa is a fun character to write and when I throw Jake in, things get really interesting.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin