Tag: Author

“Echoes of the Criminal Mind” – a Thought-Provoking Read for Any Writer Wanting to Fine Tune Character Development – Especially Their Villains!

This book, “Echoes of the Criminal Mind” by Merle Davenport, scared me so much that not only did I decide staying home most of the time sounded like a mighty fine idea, but also, it is so effectively shocking that I am incorporating it into the curriculum for the Novel Writing class I teach at Tulsa Community College. Students and writers of all genres need to write authentic characters—especially villains. And who better to teach about the mind of a criminal, outside of an actual criminal, than Merle Davenport, who holds a Master’s degree in Education, done extensive research into Criminal Behavior, and has taught GED and reentry classes behind prison walls for 25 years. He is also the president of the Tulsa Night Writers – a community of writers in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with over 180 members.

“Echoes of the Criminal Mind” is organized not only around personal experiences (he tells many stories with dialogue that is unbelievably true) from Merle’s many years teaching prisoners, but also around explanations of fundamental (and shocking) characteristics of criminals and how to incorporate them into villains authentically. The last two chapters have charts for writers to use in building and assessing their villains, with examples of what that looks like. This book is brilliant. Merle’s magnum opus. I’m grateful that he wrote it, that I can use it to inspire writers to plumb the depths of character development, and even grateful that the words in it have me paying more attention in public as I go about my everyday life.

Thank you to Merle for his willingness to help us write our characters and villains, drawing on his wealth of experience and knowledge. Now, let’s get to writing our villains, folks … especially the anti-hero … because we do discover that some of them want to be good, but life happens. Ahhhh. You’ve got to read this book!

The Edutainer in Heaven

If money didn’t matter, I would still do precisely what I do now for a living. That is my first response to the ‘daily prompt,’ and it is sincere. I love what I do. Being a professor who facilitates student engagement and learning of communication skills through writing techniques, exploring creativity, and promoting critical thinking is a dream come true. I’m one blessed girl, and for as long as God has me doing this thing, I will do it to the utmost of my ability.

Now, while I do love being a professor, I confess that I have daydreams of living in the mountains – in a cabin tucked away in the woods. There must be a cedar wraparound deck that overlooks a clear mountain lake, lined with pine trees and surrounded by snow-capped mountains. The occasional fish should burst through the water and send ripples through still, quiet waters. The birds will soar overhead and tuck themselves into trees, where they nurture their young and sing their sweet songs, and I’ll guess at their conversations as they sing back and forth to one another across treetops. On my deck, I will sit in a comfy reclined chair, taking deep breaths, and allowing the fresh air, the scenery, the songs to fill every one of my senses. A table will be on my right, and there will sit a hot cup of peppermint mocha latte. My MacBook will be nestled in my lap, and I will write. I will write novels. I will write short stories. I will write poems. I will write how-to books. I will write songs. My dog will recline happily near the base of my chair, and we will pass the day away with no spoken words, only the stories in my soul making their way through my fingers and onto the page. The sound of a drill will break the silence from time to time, and I will smile, knowing my husband is nearby and doing what he loves as well. Building, creating, living every moment. We two, in the mountains, doing what we love. Ahhhh.

The daily prompt wants three possibilities – and I can do that. I also want to be a motivational speaker. What fun would that be?!?! For me? A lot of fun. To get to travel and do what I already do in the classroom, but for companies and organizations? Wow, are you kidding me? Heck yeah. And then, I could write a book or five about those subjects on which I love to motivate people! Like career education and the fact that everyone can be a writer! I could travel and do speaking engagements on the subjects I love, but also about the books that I’ve written … and I could also have that mountain cabin because this girl needs some downtime here and there. On personality tests, I’m 53% extroverted and, well, 47% introverted, so I’m middle of the road, and some days, I need quiet to recharge. Other days, I need a crowd of people to talk to. A microphone and a crowd and a lot of space because I am active in front of a group of people. That sounds like a heck ton of fun. Yes, please. Something happens to me when I’m in front of a crowd. I get funny, and my brain clears. It’s wild. One-on-one, I tend to fumble and cannot get my words out, but put me in front of a roomful of people, and I come alive. Absolutely alive. An ‘edutainer’ is what I like to call myself and what I do.

I love being a professor.

I love writing.

I love talking about what I’m passionate about.

Combining all of those things sounds like heaven.

Writer Interview: Me, Interviewed by a Former Student. Q&A.

  1. What got you interested in writing?

My earliest memory of enjoying writing is Ms. Campbell’s English class in 6th grade. One particular assignment was that she gave us a list of random words, and we had to write a short story that included each word. It has been 41 years, and I still smile when I remember that assignment. It was a challenge, and it inspired me. She is also the teacher who stirred my interest in reading. During 7th grade, under her tutelage, I ventured into “Wuthering Heights,” and the rest is history. Ms. Campbell was my English teacher in 6th, 7th, and 10th grades. She encouraged me. She pushed me. She challenged me.

  1. Was there a specific moment when you realized you wanted to become a writer, and when was that?

Although I dabbled in writing a never-seen-the-light-of-day book during high school, it wasn’t until I was deep into my Master’s in Creative Writing that I submitted a memoir piece about something that scared me as a child, which I did. When the teacher, Craig Schneider, handed it back, he said, “You should get this published in a horror magazine.” THAT is a moment I will never forget. Who? Me? Horror? Oh my. It turned out to be my first published piece.

  1. What have you done in your career as a writer?

In addition to teaching creative writing courses (Novel Writing, Introduction to Creative Writing, Poetry) and Composition courses, I enjoy writing on my blog. I have four published short stories (“The Devil’s Promenade,” “Full Moon,” “The Echo of Alone,” and “Mom in the Middle”), three novels, two of which are in current publication (“A Kiss in the Rain” and “The American Queen” – the third is “For Love of Words”), and two children’s books (“Not Real and Never Will Be” and “Giraffes are People, Too” with my daughter, Kennedy). This past year, I headed up the creation of a Writer’s Series that is housed in the TCC Library, in which I am blessed to interview authors, poets, publishers, and editors for TCC’s students. https://guides.library.tulsacc.edu/TCCwritersseries.

  1. What do you do currently in your writing career?

Teach creative writing. Write on my blog when I can. https://lenazyslife.home.blog/. I have been making notes for a memoir on recovery and survival, which I will accomplish with Stonebrook Publishing (hopefully) sometime in the next two to three years. I also challenge students to improve their creative writing, so I talk about writing daily! I stay affiliated with the Tulsa Nightwriters, though I don’t attend as regularly as I should.

  1. What is your favorite thing about writing?

Expressing my thoughts and feelings, they flow more smoothly through my fingers than they do my mouth. Unless I’m in front of a group of people, one-on-one talking ties my tongue; I’d rather have a keyboard and my fingers. I can write for others, and I can write for myself. It is an expression of what is deep inside me, either way.

  1. What are the things you don’t like about writing?

That my fingers move faster than my mind sometimes because I get excited, and my fingers fly, and the squiggle lines occur in abundance on the screen! But I’m okay with letting them sit there. I’ve learned to let go and let the fingers fly. However, there’s a part of me that wants to slow down and beat the timed typing test every time.

  1. What has been a challenge as a writer?

Initially, negative self-talk. Not thinking I had anything to say or to offer. Once I began my Master’s courses, peer review tested me and almost knocked me out of the game. I stuck it out, though, and I came to love peer review and workshopping. Understanding the vital necessity of critique to make the writing better. Through workshopping and peer review, I learned how to set my feelings aside and focus on making the writing its best.

  1. What surprised you most about this career?

I don’t write for a career, so I cannot necessarily speak to that, but as for teaching creative writing, it brings me joy! That doesn’t surprise me, though. What surprises me is that 17 years ago, I was a stay-at-home mom and had been for the 12 years before that. I’d forgotten that I had a mind and how to use it. Now, to see myself as an Assistant Professor, Career Faculty Fellow, and President-Elect of the Faculty Association at my school is a dream. Something completely unexpected.

  1. Any advice for someone considering a career in writing?

It’s not a quick way to wealth. That’s for sure. This is something we do for the love of writing and expression. This is something you do because you are passionate about it. You write whether you make money at it or not. In “On Writing,” Stephen King says he would write even if he didn’t make a dime at it because he is compelled to. I get that. I often feel compelled to write – like I have to write, or I will lose my mind. So … write … write so you don’t lose your mind. 

  1. What does a typical day as a writer look like?

This one does not apply to me as much; I write when and where I can.

  1. What does your writing process look like?

Before writing a larger work, I take notes on paper, getting to know my characters, giving them quirks, and dreaming up scenarios that might take them where I want them to go, although they’ll ultimately decide where they go on their own. When writing fiction, it is me and my laptop. I play instrumental music to match the mood of what needs to be written. When writing nonfiction, such as my blog, I write the piece in Word first, freewriting and then editing. Once completed, I copy and paste the piece into my blog. If I were to write a research paper, there is a whole other process that includes outlines and notecards, rough drafts, and peer reviews. So, the writing process is situation-dependent for me. Kind of hypocritical because I teach students one method for the writing process. But shhhhh.

  1. How do you think AI will affect the writing field, and what are your thoughts on AI?

AI “hallucinates,” is what my friend Adam the Librarian told me, and I’ve seen it in essays “written” by students. AI is easy to spot. It fabricates quotes and attributes them to sources that they are not from.  AI cannot write creatively. It cannot write conflict.  It steals your voice if you allow it to edit your writing; it words things how you, the writer, would never dream of wording your pieces. It’s not you. It cannot be you. What you, the writer, have to offer is far better, more creative, and imaginative. I allow AI to help me with grammar and punctuation from time to time, especially when I’m doing the flying fingers thing, though I keep my own voice and style; I give the AI suggestions the boot. How will it affect the writing field … sadly, it can take the place of artistic writing voices and replace them with lack of imagination and dullsville writing. I hope more writers will avoid AI than will choose to use it. I will continue to do my own writing – good and bad.

  1. Overall, do you think the internet has improved or worsened the writing field?

It has greatly improved opportunities for sharing your voice and publication; however, the field is oversaturated, which means that voices, if they get heard, don’t get much more than their 15 seconds of fame. It’s the same in music and art. We are oversaturated, and because of that, it isn’t easy to stand out. Push, though, don’t stop. Keep going because you love it. Write because you’re compelled to. I am not fully answering the question, so back on track … in the sense that there are more opportunities, this is a vast improvement. However, those same opportunities have saturated the writing field with overwhelming amounts of poor writing.

  1. Does location (the state you live in) matter when looking for jobs in writing?

I’m a college professor, not a full-time writer, so I’m making an educated guess, but I would think that states with large cities would offer more opportunities.

  1. Is writing a fairly flexible job, as far as having an independently made schedule, juggling a family, and other things in life?

It depends on what variation of writing you’re involved with. Are you a freelancer? Are you a blogger? Are you a reporter? The answer to this is also dependent on the person. Go-getter? Get-by-er? Personally, as a college professor, I have time for writing when it isn’t a day of nose-to-the-grindstone essay grading. My schedule is fairly flexible, allowing me to find moments here and there to pour out my thoughts on a keyboard. But speaking to writing as a job, again, that’s not something I can fully speak to.

  1. What is something most people don’t know about careers in writing?

That not everyone can be Stephen King. Each semester that I teach Novel Writing, students come with high expectations of publication and living that writer life, and then I give them writing assignments that have about half of them second-guessing their life choices. In my world, these are not challenging assignments, but for those who underestimate the amount of thought and planning that goes into even beginning the work, it can be daunting. Writing takes thought, planning, and determination. It takes the ability to push through, have thick skin, and care less. It takes understanding that editing is the magic and the work, and you cannot expect to write anything well right out of the gate. There is work involved. Also, people have no idea how much work a writer like Stephen King puts into the novels that decorate our shelves. He has a strict process, thick skin, and determination. He also has an author, who King says, will not let him be Stephen King.

  1. What are good skills to have as a writer?

Beyond skills, having an open mind, a creative and curious spirit, a love of language and communicating ideas, and determination are essential. As far as skills, at minimum a decent command of vocabulary and grammar/punctuation, plus the ability to use tools such as Hemingway Editor without letting it change your voice. Computer skills are imperative. The ability to use Word or Google Docs, or a desire to learn how to do it, and the stubbornness to figure it out for yourself. I had a ‘learn it or else’ attitude with myself, and it paid off when it came to formatting a manuscript, which I had had no prior knowledge of how to do. I am self-taught – that stubborn determination got me there. Also, and this is essential, the skill to participate in peer review—to accept feedback from others and be willing to edit your work, putting the benefit of the work above your feelings. My husband frequently says, “F*&^ your feelings,” and he’s not wrong.

  1. Can you describe writer’s block and how you deal with it?

Writer’s block, schmiter’s block. You have writer’s block? Write about it. Write about how it feels. Write about the frustration. Be raw in your description … let the anguish out. Say it all. Say things no one else will. We all have these pent-up irritations like “writer’s block,” so write it all out. Write about what it feels like to be blocked, to be stunted, to be held back, even by yourself … and then, once the “writer’s block” loosens, which it will, give all of that emotional gunk to one of your characters! Because, hey, characters need to get stuck in their thoughts, too. Use your “writer’s block” to push yourself to better descriptions and characters built out of authenticity that pours out of your own negative experience. Heck yeah. No more excuses. No more “writer’s block.”

  1. Are you working on any books or writing projects right now?

Yes. I have a lot of pre-work completed. Somewhere around 50,000 words of pre-work. That writing is a fictionalized account of my life story because, at the time I wrote it, it was too personal, and I needed to separate myself from it. So … fiction. Now, an intense year and a half of growth, open heart surgery, and healing has passed, and I have new eyes with which to view my own story. It has grown and changed in my heart, and it will now be more than a description of surviving abuse; it will now be a focus on recovery and living life to its fullest despite the past. I have notes. I have ideas. I’m constantly mulling it over, and I have a potential path toward publication. Timing is essential, and the day is just not right yet to get fully started on my memoir. I aim to achieve this feat within the next three years. Additionally, I have considered creating a writing textbook for my Comp II courses, which is also on the burner. Not necessarily the back burner, but it is behind the memoir.

Writing on my blog is a fairly regular occurrence, so that doesn’t fall in this answer/category. Every time I hear of a writing contest, my ears perk up, and I think, I could do that! And then, it’s time to grade papers ….

  1. Any advice or resources when narrowing down and deciding career paths?

Find what you’re passionate about and pursue that.

When you do what you love for a living, you never work a day.

Those are cliché sayings, but they’re true. I live them. Every day.

Accept Critique or Decorate Your Refrigerator

Just completed filming a new author interview – with novelist and OU Professor Rilla Askew and TCC Professor Kyle Hays. This one is TCC official, and I am excited about it. One thing Rilla shared that I feel compelled to share with you now is this … She shared something she heard regarding not accepting critique well. This is especially to those among us who believe their work does not stink or is perfect. The words stuck with Rilla, as I am sure they will with me, and now with you …

If you do not want to accept critique as a writer or artist, “go be talented in your room.”

Ouch, right?

It should not be ‘ouch.’ Artistry in its various forms is communal. Sure, as writers, you write the first draft alone, but every stage beyond that should be with peer eyes on your work. They will invariably see mistakes you cannot, do not, and will not. As writers and artists, we must develop thick skin. We must be willing to be laid bare, vulnerable, and open to growth. We must lay our work out as a sacrifice to the opinions of others in our field. Listen to them. Be willing to consider their ideas. Admit you cannot see your own errors much of the time …

Or … don’t, and “go put it on the fridge with the other macaroni art” (Kyle Hays).

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sidenote: Professor Hays and I will film 6 author interviews for TCC (Tulsa Community College) this school year, which will be housed in the TCC Archives and made available to TCC students and the public later this year. The 2024-2025 school year interviews are:

  • Josh Wann – Poet, Short Story/Play/Comedy Writer, TCC Adjunct Professor
  • John Andrews – OSU Honors and Creative Writing Professor, Author, Poet
  • Dinah Cox – OSU Creative Writing Professor, Poet
  • Joshua Danker-Dake – Editor, Science-Fiction Author
  • Nancy Erickson – Owner of Stonebrook Publishing – St. Louis, Owner of “The Book Professor,” – Focus on Non-Fiction writing
  • Rilla Askew – OU Creative Writing Professor, Author – Historical Fiction, Short Story Writer

“A Kiss in the Rain” Lives On?

In prepping my “Novel Writing” course, I came across a discussion prompt where my students must share 3 possible story ideas, and they must give a synopsis of each story. My mind leaped back to a phone conversation I’d had with my cousin, Linda, yesterday evening. Linda read my novel, “A Kiss in the Rain,” and she said there were several characters she wanted to know more about. I laughed – not at her – but because she is not the first person to request stories about some of the other characters in that novel! I’m taking that to mean that they were written well. Pretty cool, really. And as I, in the present moment, read through the discussion prompt for my students, three different storylines came to me as potential storylines for other characters from “A Kiss in the Rain.” Nice! I’m excited!

I’d love your thoughts. Which might you like to read?

1. . John and Victoria Clark’s life together began like a fairytale, rubbing elbows with high society in their town, living vicariously through their daughter Daphne and her accomplishments, and their names on the top lists of charities across the state. They’re proud people. Wealthy people. Until Daphne’s teenage impulsive actions bring ‘shame’ upon the family – at this, the family unravels, the facade of their lives crumbles, and John finds himself in prison – with Victoria on the edge of filing for divorce. When a once-so-perfect life crashes to the ground, is there hope, or are they destined to live in the murky shadow of scandal?

A title might be … “The Judge’s Choice.”

2. She graced the cover of magazines from coast to coast. Journalists clamored to interview her. Senators and politicians wooed her. Adeline was the doll of the stage – a hit on Broadway and in the hearts of men.  One, a wealthy bank owner, asked her to be his wife and offered her everything she could ever desire … except George, the man her heart loved.  He was poor, a stagehand. He could offer her nothing more than his heart … and she chose wealth. Life for Adeline would never be the same – whisked away from the man she loved – she tried to fit into her new role as a socialite wife … and mother.  Until everything fell apart – and she was left with no one … and no forgiveness for herself.  Throughout the remainder of her life, she tried to stay off the radar, doing for others as she could but not for herself. And George never left her heart or her side – the stagehand with nothing but love to give – but could it ever be right to hope to right all over her wrongs to him? To her husband? To her child?

This would be titled (possibly) … “The Lady in Red.”

3. Jacqueline’s twin sister Victoria had it all. She was beautiful, vivacious, outgoing, and smart. She could roll out of bed and look like Barbie on parade. From an early age, Jacqueline resented Victoria. Jacqueline’s own hair hung straight as a board, her make-up – when she tried to apply it – ran and made her look goth – no matter what she tried. Her shoulders slumped, and she preferred books over people. Where Victoria shined, Jacqueline stayed in her shadow – invisible … until she ran out of gas one night after work at the Piggly Wiggly. Mad at her luck, she was kicking her front passenger tire when a 63′ Chevy pickup pulled up alongside her, and the driver said, “Tire piss you off?” Then, he laughed – and the music of his laugh entranced Jacqueline. Before she knew it, she married that man named Carl and found herself living with him, a man who would do anything for her, in a rundown old farmhouse while her sister when off to college and married a man who would become a Judge. She envied Victoria, hated Victoria, and she obsessed over everything Victoria had and did. Nothing ever seemed to go right for Jacqueline … and then, her mother died, leaving her to care for her niece and her niece’s child because they lived in her mother’s house. When she saw Daphne, she saw Victoria … and Carl gave her an ultimatum. Jacqueline finds herself at a crossroads of choice. Will she run off the only person who has ever given a damn about her, or will she, in her 50s, find a way to let go of the past. Carl has one foot out the door …

A title for this could be … “A Life Not Lived”

Now that I’ve written these out … I’m really excited about them all! I’d love your thoughts, especially if you’ve read “A Kiss in the Rain.”

If you have additional ideas or characters you want more about, let me know! Like Alice, perhaps. Or Brian? Definitely Robert and Lynne … so many characters! LOL.

Help!

The Devil’s Promenade

This afternoon I found myself seated among other English professors, student writers and artists, and other staff and faculty from Tulsa Community College. We collected together in an auditorium space for the Tulsa Review Launch Party – TCC’s online Literary Magazine/Journal. Student readers and a colleague of mine read selections from this year’s edition located at http://www.tulsaccreview.com. The majority of the read-aloud pieces were all student submissions to the journal, and it was a thrill to hear their works read out loud and see the visual arts submissions flashing across a screen above where the readings took place.

One young lady sat next to me – and with pride, she pointed to her painting when it was displayed on the screen. It was lovely, and I asked her if it were a self-portrait. She said that she’d seen the photo and wanted to duplicate it as a painting because she’d found it so lovely. This is her piece which is in this years’ Tulsa Review edition:

Chidera Nwachukwu | Lady with a White Scarf
(The woman/student I sat next to)

As I sat there listening once the “party” started – and the introductions were made by my colleague Josh Parish, also an English Professor at TCC, I realized that I had accomplished something big here! Yes, there were student submissions, but the Tulsa Review also accepts and publishes general submissions worldwide. This year, I anonymously submitted – I’d thought about submitting a piece the two previous years, but I second-guessed myself and did not do it. Why? It’s been a “minute” since I submitted a written piece and was published by a magazine or an anthology – the past few years of my life stunted me and kept me from creativity. No longer! My piece, “The Devil’s Promenade,” was chosen for publication by the review board of TCC student editors. How exciting! I am excited and honored to have been chosen – and I’m planning what I might submit for the next edition! For now, though …

“The Devil’s Promenade” is a ghost story mash-up of Joplin Spooklight legends and my own experience visiting Spooklight Road in Seneca, Missouri, with my cousin and two of our friends. After reading the legends surrounding the Spooklight, I had to write a ghost story. Had to. This is one of my favorite pieces that I’ve written – and I’m excited to point you to it.

The visual art accompanying my short story is by a TCC student – James/Jaime Cunningham. Not related that I know of … and neither are our works; they are not connected beyond being linked together in the lit magazine. James’ picture is made of small pieces of paper collected to form the larger “painting” of Cain’s Ballroom. Lovely.

I hope you enjoy “The Devil’s Promenade.”

The Devil’s Promenade

Author Conversations Collection!

It occurred to me a few weeks ago that my novel writing course could benefit from insights other than my own and the assigned textbooks – which are “On Writing” by Stephen King, “Structuring Your Novel” by K.M. Weiland, and “No Plot No Problem” by Chris Baty. We have reached the point in the semester where my voice is no longer the new professor’s voice but more akin to the nagging mom who gets half-listened to … I say this tongue-in-cheek, but at the same time, I know it’s true. They get comfortable, and life distracts them from focusing on the course when things become routine. Now, I’m not much for routine, and I was thinking – how do I keep this class moving and spice it up, make it enticing and challenging both … tap your resources, came the reply inside my head.

My thoughts turned to my colleagues and author friends in St. Louis, and I got excited. I reached out to several and scheduled a couple of author interviews, which I am calling “author conversations” because once talk of writing begins between writers, the ‘interviews’ become fluid, unstructured, and wonderful. I have three more St. Louis-based author interviews in the works, but I also decided to see who I could drum up in Tulsa – and I reached out to the Tulsa Nightwriters writing group. The response has been incredible! Thus far, I have collected 7 “author conversations” and have 2 more scheduled to be posted to my Novel Writing course shell and Youtube. There looks to be a total of 10 of these author conversations collected by the end of the semester! How exciting!

Author conversations posted to Youtube thus far include:

Each of these conversations is informative and entertaining. Topics cover a broad range of writing topics from the writing process to publishing ins and outs. Lots of talk about editing and character development, writing groups, and the necessity of critique. Some are Pantsers, and some are Plotters. And all love the craft of writing – all have passion for their stories and for their readers … It is about influencing and engaging the reader and fulfilling a driving need that we, as writers, have to create.

We invite you to give each author’s conversation a listen – there are nuggets of advice for every writer at all stages of writing. I cannot just keep these for my students – writing is for everyone!

Let Me Display Myself Between The Covers of a Book – I Wrote That

Written on May 15, 2015

Did I seriously write this most amazing quote yesterday evening? Blown away,

Lying here in my bed, I read back through last evenings post, The Hardest Part of Being an Author is …

And I found this:

Oh, let me write and speak less. Let me display myself between the covers of a book and hide therein where you may know me, but not enough.

Amen. And … Wow.

The Souls of a Woman and a Man Bound Forever Beyond Explanation

Written on June 3, 2015
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement on the couch. A tall figure stood and straightened in the semi-darkness; she lost the ability to speak. Fear, immediate in coming, had control of her rationality—she did not reach for the light. She stood still, paralyzed in fright, almost willing an end to the chaos of her spinning life. 
The man walked across the room toward her. Each step sounded with a beat of her heart. She had no means of defending herself. They locked eyes; an eternity passed in mere seconds of time. Eyes adjusted in the dark. Recognition then, disbelief—he opened his arms and she collapsed into his chest, wrapping her arms tight around his torso. Hardened muscles flexed under her cheek. She smelled his skin; no one else smelled like him – hard work, the musk of earthy cologne. Her head swam in the ocean of it, too much time had passed—still she remembered; still, she knew him. He pulled her back just enough that they could look at one other for a moment more, never breaking eye contact. His eyes consumed hers. She trembled, longing to remain pressed against him for eternity.

​A tear rolled down his cheek and she loosened her hand from around him to wipe the tear from his face. The feel of day-old stubble under her fingers thrilled her; her body molded to him—hips touching hips, toes touching toes, her breasts firmly pressed against him. Piercing blue eyes held her tight. She had seen those eyes so many times in her dreams; she moved her hand up to almost touch them, double-checking that they were real. He let her, curving his lips into a smile, while he watched her and a rhythm sounded between them, their bodies playing into the hypnotic melody of warmth and need. They began to sway, foreheads touching. His left hand grasped her hand that lingered on his face. He kissed her fingertips one at a time, from the pinky finger to her thumb and then back again. A sigh escaped her mouth.

​With a tilt of her head, she welcomed his mouth to find her neck, to travel the line of her jaw, to discover her eager open lips. Sweet touches at first, then she gave herself up to him, to her senses—she reveled in the touch of his full kiss, she melted in the intense scent of his nearness, and she surrendered into the deep sound of his voice speaking her name.
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“A Kiss in the Rain” … romance for all ages … intertwining stories of love and loss and joy and fear … meet Adeline and Danielle. Walk with them as they both discover that what seems lost is not always so, that life has a way of pulling itself back around to where it should be, that love does win in the end … that the truest of love connects in the souls of a woman and a man bound forever … beyond explanation.

“A Kiss in the Rain” on Amazon.
Description: First love, lost love . . . Sent away in disgrace, heartbroken, Danielle struggles to make a new life with her young daughter. When she finally returns to her hometown, she must cope with new challenges while contending with childhood memories. Her fear prevents her from reaching out to those she loves, but a bright new world awaits-if only she can find the courage to accept it. A story of love, faith, and friendship, A Kiss in the Rain will touch your heart and your soul . . .

Review from Amazon:

Great book. It was very captivatiting from the beginning! It has many story lines with lots of surprises. I loved it! I can’t wait for the next one!

Where the Author Hides

There’s something about Elle King’s lyric “What do you want from me? I’m not America’s Sweetheart.” It resonates with me … except for the bad tattoos part. At least yet. I have the tattoos in my mind … dark ones of blackbirds and the silhouettes of Catherine and Heathcliff standing apart from one another – eternally besotted but ever apart … with “Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine they are the same” scrolled across my skin. Gothic tattoos – gargoyles, scrollwork, heart-wrenching. Surprised? Don’t be. My internal self lies hidden in imaginary worlds – it creeps into words scrawled on the pages of my writings.  In those places – I break hearts, swear, dress to kill, and laugh because “you love me anyway.” Not the main character, but the supporting players – the ones to tease the story, push it forward, drive the reader bat-crazy – “oh, no she didn’t” responses. That one. Yes, that one … I know her. I write her because she is me … Jackie. Morrison. Veronica.

The lines between fiction and reality blur for me and I find myself caught, not recognizing myself, spinning and wondering who am I today … what is real? Stories fill my mind. The characters talk to me … we share secrets and they laugh when I tell them what I’d do if I were them … Wait, oh, that’s right.

In “A Kiss in the Rain” I toyed with the character of Jackie. I knit her together to be nasty. Mean. Walking wounded and wearing it on her sleeve. She cuts to the quick with her tongue.  Drives her husband to distraction, though he won’t leave her. He knows what no one else sees – the woman inside.  That she holds the past for security. Afraid to let anyone close. Wants no more pain. He knows her heart holds great capacity for love.

Morrison. Oh, Morrison. In “For Love of Words,” she is my exploration into a freed me – a me allowed by me to be me. Long crazy hair, flowy dresses, poetry written on walls, crazy talking to plants, surrounding herself in beauty – creating a world of fantasy and reveling in it. Loving a man – but kept from him by her own pride and insecurities – carrying that weight with her … using her angst to propel those in her life to beautiful things.  Oh, Morrison.

Tossed Veronica at the reader in “The American Queen.”  Buxom bombshell – outrageous flirt … have no idea where the flirtatious characteristics came from (insert a wink here, along with a raised eyebrow).  She’s ruthless. Takes what she wants – and that’s everything. Ambitious. Determined. Strong. But is she really? I’m leaving it there because her story is not done.

It’s not always in the main character where the author hides.