What’s Up
First of all! Congratulations to Shirley and Kathy who won the Crime, Curses, and Cheap Thrills competition! I’ve emailed you both so keep an eye out!
I just realized that this is the first weekend in a few months were I don’t have anything scheduled this weekend! Sweet, sweet freedom. I mean, I won’t get a lie-in because of the pooch and I’ll not go anywhere because still wary of pandemics…still! I’ve no assigned time to be somewhere.
Maybe I’ll go and get some coffee in a dog-friendly cafe!
Book Cover Reveal next week! This is an urban fantasy novella - in which I promise no cliffhangers :D - that definitely isn’t the book I was meant to be working out. But no one could stop me!
Pupdate of the Week
On Sunday I went kayaking with Jax! It was fun, although I’m now covered in bruises and Jax drank a lot of sheep-poop water (it was at Shaws Bridge, not the sea!). I think the team took some pictures but they aren’t up yet, and I was too determined not to capsize as I veered under trees :D. So instead have a pic of Jax at the Tide Bank this morning, looking moody.
And now an action shot!
Free Audio Chapter of the Week
‘Tailor Made’ by TA Moore and narrated by Garrett Kiesel is a Prodigium short story and a prequel to Cash in Hand. Find out more about the hidden world of ghouls, ghosties, and long-leggedly beasties — although Grandmother thinks that’s just rude!
Listen to the first chapter now! If you scroll down you can also download the ebook! :D
Jax is like this! He found a discarded sausage roll in the grass once and he checks every day to see if it’s come back (I chucked it into the field!).
Shout Out of the Week
It was Andi Lee’s birthday last week! The 12th! She is the youngest of the Five and the most picky (no wet ham! no coconut!). Andi’s a bed hog, taller than me even though I always describe her as wee, and a great writer!
So check out her book!
An Animal Lark Novel
What to expect when your pet rat is expecting, or how to fall in love at a pet show.
Jamie Hewett rescues and breeds prize-winning fancy rats. While he’s surrounded by supportive, animal-loving friends, his ex-boyfriend has never been one of them. One embarrassing breakup later, he definitely isn’t looking for love again, but perhaps a rebound relationship might ease his broken heart.
Liam Donnelly’s quirky dating life is the subject of a popular vlog, and his viewers have interesting ideas on where he might find romance. When they suggest he take Mabel, his new rat, to a pet show, he’s up for the adventure.
Although they can’t deny their growing interest in each other, neither Jamie nor Liam believes in love at first sight. They’ve both had bad luck with men, and Jamie isn’t pleased that Liam makes a living as a serial dater. On top of that, others are conspiring to keep them apart, and Jamie is left holding the baby—or twenty-plus babies—when their fur children have no trouble making a connection. Will a YouTube ukulele serenade convince Liam that Jamie’s love for him—and their unborn rat children—is for real?
Must Read of the Week
This is a really interesting article about stereotypes and the hierarchial nature of them…but mostly I just love the author’s ‘voice’. It’s really evocative, and of a subset of sports that I have never EVER EVER expressed any interest in (Northern Ireland rarely gets much snow, I live on the coast so we get less, and while I love the snow when it does happen? I like to come in out of it more!)
What the Men Who Love My Boyfriend Taught Me About Social Hierarchy
The Alberta chair at Wolf Creek ski area is not a high-speed lift, and it moves particularly slowly when you are sandwiched between two men who are talking over your face. I know this, unfortunately, because I found myself in this very position on what was otherwise a glorious 19-inch powder day this past February.
It started innocently enough, when a trim, stubbly, 40-something man got on the lift with us. “Where you guys from?” he asked.
“I live in Golden,” I said.
“I live in Silverton,” said Dan, the guy I’d recently begun dating.
Our companion’s eyes lit up with sudden interest, like those of a dog that’s been dozing off and catches a flash of squirrelly movement. “Silverton!” he exclaimed
Look at all the ways that Sean Bean has died! This isn’t even up to date. At this point if you’re watching something with T’Bean in it, it’s more of a shock if he doesn’t die in the first quarter.