Author Archives: Author, Kim Knight

Writing Prompt: Write a Short Story Using Four L Words- Lipstick, Lust, Loss and Locked…

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Lipstick story TO GET YOU IN THE MOOD FOR MINE AND DID’S CHALLENGE RE-BLOGGING MY OLD FAV WRITING PROMPT.

Writing Prompt: Write a short story using four L words Lipstick, Lust, Loss and Locked.

I came across this writing prompt in the same book I did my Private investigator  writing prompt from.This short story continues on from the  private investigator, now we hear from Mr X’s other women she kept a diary. If you’ve not read the private investigator short story you can here so you know the back story. Just for fun I decided to link up these 2 writing challenges.

Dear Diary,

 I never should have  went there, I know but it’s too late now we’ve been caught. Mr X’s wife tagged him with a private investigator can you believe that?  We were so careful where we met, what time we met and how often we left the office together.

We  started out as just a bit of fun, every boss messes around with their secretary right? No harm done, as long as no one finds out. Just our secret we kept locked away.  Looking back, at times I’ve felt bad for his wife, the poor thing stuck at home with the two small boys all day, unaware that her husband has a fetish for lipstick , high heels and lingerie-  on girls 10 years younger than him.

“Come to daddy” he’d say, his eyes lusting for me as soon as I step out of my  figure hugging dress, revealing just my Victoria Secret’s lace lingerie set, stockings and four inch Louboutian heels. The red soles of my four inch heels  always turned him on, just like my lipstick. Red is  his favourite shade. He likes the full on glamorous and  made up look.

 Everyday for the past 6 months I’d catch him eyeing me from head to toe through his glass window from behind his desk. His eyes were always full of lust as  I threw back  my head of blonde curls and licked my blood red lips.

 He’d wink at me, I’d blow him a kiss while no one was looking, we both knew the code that meant it was on! By lunch time he’d be so hot under the collar he’d call me into his office and make sure the door was locked. It was our little  secret, his wife’s loss   was my gain totally, Mr X was wild behind closed doors. He loved  the thrill of getting caught bending his secretary over his office desk, it excited him. That man was  like a dog on heat.

Silly me, I was the other women and now his wife knows, some private investigator called Kim  something or another managed to gather all the evidence she needed and served us up on a plate  to his wife- the b*ch I could kill her with my bare hands, talk about spoil a girl’s fun! Still it was fun while it lasted. My secret I’ll keep locked away.

 

Cheat
Mistake

Crime Writing Prompt Short Story: The Stick up

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W One of my favourite movies of all time female bank robbers!

Bank

 

 

 

 

 

TO GET YOU IN THE MOOD FOR MINE AND DID’S  CHALLENGE I’M RE-BLOGGING A FEW OF MY FAV WRITING PROMPTS 🙂

You’re a customer laying face down on the floor during a bank robbery. Describe the robbery from this view point.

 

 

 

 

“All right, nobody move everyone down on the floor.”

I’m standing in line almost next to be served at the local bank on the high street, I  turn around at the sound of male voices yelling and commotion at the door, did I just hear right? My God. Yes I did it’s Monday morning I came in  to pay an overdue bill now I’m in the middle of a stick up, three masked men waving  guns at me …. and my baby boy! Are behind me. I watch everyone behind me in the line drop like flies, and customers start to scream and plead for their lives

 ” That includes you lady, get down you and the boy!” ”OK, cool I heard you just don’t shoot all right I have my son with me.” The words fly out my mouth before I have a chance to think what I’m doing, I’m arguing with a man with a gun! Kim, be cool.  ”Mama, ha ha!” I hear my baby boy start to laugh as he thinks it’s a game, in slow motion I watch him run toward the three  men at the door waving their guns. ”Get back here”  I grab my baby boy’s hand  and cover his eyes, he starts to cry and yell we get down on the floor slowly. I hold on to him  tight and try to calm him down he’s shouting and screaming. ”Keep the kid calm, and nobody gets hurt.”  I bite my lip and  cut my eye  at this ass hole, and in my mind start to pray they get the money and get the hell out.

Laying here on the dirty grey carpet of the bank , I turn to the left and right slowly and calmly I watch everyone around me freeze, I make eye contact with an elderly lady in her 60s and I think of my own mama. I want to reach out to her and bring her close to my baby boy and me,  I can see the terror in her eyes.

” Hey, lady I said get down, don’t look up and don’t move the old girl’s fine.”  Me like  a fool I look straight up at the masked man pointing a gun at me and back at the elderly lady and offer her a nervous smile. I cuddle my baby boy closer and cut my eye again at the masked man. Lord, I know I’m not the most religious person out there and I know I don’t go to church and I hope you don’t think I only turn to you when I’m in trouble, but please keep us safe. In my mind I pray… hard.

From the corner of my eye to the left I see one of the three men run up to the counter and put his gun in the young pretty cashier’s face, she throws her hands up higher and screams. I look to the right  while the other two walk around the customers lying on the floor making sure no one moves a muscle. Waving their guns around trying to breathe fear into everyone- it’s working. I hear sobbing, small cries, coming from a lady behind me. I glance around she looks about my age in a smart suit and an engagement ring on her left hand. The poor thing, she’s probably thinking she’ll never make it to the alter.

” Hey, lady you wanna get outta here alive today or what?”

I turn around quickly facing the front and put my head on the floor.

“Mama, I wanna go now” ” Ok, son, we be gone soon it’s just a short game it be over soon and-” ” But mama!”

“Shut the kid up!”

“Sorry he’s only two what do you expect!” There I go again, that smart mouth with no filter my own mama said would get me into trouble. In slow motion I watch one of the masked men walk up to me, he comes close I tighten my grip on my son and meet his eye trying to show no fear I need to show my boy it’s OK. He leans down close to my face , lifts me by the scuff of my dress and shouts at me.

“Keep the kid calm, no one gets hurt.” He drops me like a hot cake and   walks back over to the counter.

“Mama-” “Shhh baby.”

” Fill up the bag, quick, c’mon c’mon b*tch what’s taking so long and don’t even think about pressing any alarms or you’re toast you hear me?”

”All right, OK OK just please don’t hurt me.” I watch the cashier’s face turn bright pink and she breaks out in a visible sweat as she slowly opens her draw, and starts to fill up the masked man’s black bag with money.

” Hurry up!” ” We aint got all day!” 

I turn to my right and follow the voice demanding the cashier hurry up, it’s one of the two watchmen he’s nervous, I can tell  by the way he is hopping from foot to foot bouncing around looking left and right, like a startled rabbit caught in a head light.

“B*tch I said move, get that money and fill up the bag hurry!”

” Hey, hey I said don’t move!”

Bang

 I wrap my baby boy up tighter in my arms and watch one of the two watchmen move closer to the counter from my left, as he shoots at the screen at the man behind, the man ducks. It’s bullet  proof and the stray bullet hit the glass and fires back at him- dumb ass does he not realise that this is not the movies, glass in a real bank is toughened ready for jerks like him. I watch the bullet backfire and hit him in the left shoulder.

”C’mon we gatta go, Sean’s been hit let’s go let’s go!” ” I turn back to my left raising my head slightly, and watch the nervous second watchmen bounce around and wave his gun in the air gesturing to his accomplice at the counter to hurry up.

”Wait, one more bag- b*tch move, get the money!”

The pretty cashier starts to cry and sob.

“The masked man at the counter turns his attention to the male cashier his accomplice fired at. “And you, get out here and on the floor did you press the button? Did you call the poe-poe on us?”  

Bang

Another shot this time from the masked man at the counter, aiming for the male cashier accused of raising the alarm, he misses thank God. The cashier ducked again and ran out the back. 

“I’m bleeding man we got to go! This is DNA everywhere we’ll get caught for sure!”

“Ah s*it, let’s go man, he’s right.”

I turn back around to my left and watch as both watchmen start to worry and panic, waving their guns and looking over their shoulders in a worried state. In the background I hear sirens coming.

“What, What no way man ahh no way.” The masked man at the counter grabs the two black bags of money and heads towards the door, I watch him pass me, he trips and falls he never saw my son’s toy car lying on the floor.

“Ha ha mama- car look.”  I cover my baby boy’s mouth and look up at the masked man scrambling to his feet, his two accomplices are already half way to the door and the sirens are near. Too late the poe- poe are here!  I’m too scared to turn around toward the exit but I do I risk it, and I see  two London Metropolitan police cars and a van pull up outside the bank. More than 10 police officers jump out. 

” Hands up, don’t move put your guns on the floor” I hear one of the male officers shout in a deep booming voice. I pray there’s not a shoot between the poe-poe and the villains, I want them caught but I don’t agree with police bearing arms and shooting- no matter the race of the villains or what they’ve done.

“What we ganna do now! Man?”  Masked man one looks around at the other two.

“I’m bleeding like crazy, we got to get out of here!” Masked man two I watch clutch his left arm trying to stem the bleeding. It is not working, blood is all over the dirty grey carpet where he was stood keeping watch.

“Head out the back.” The third masked man and clear ring leader instructed.

All three masked men U-turn and run pass me and all the bank customers still lying face down on the floor. I raise my head and watch them  jump over the counter- black bags in hand of course. One of them even has the cheek to stop and grab some more money. The officers run in waving their way around the bodies on the floor and head out the back. Guns to the ready and I pray some more.

“Hands up, there’s no where to run boys, this is it game over! ” The deep male voice boomed again.

I hear the sound of guns  drop on the floor and hand cuffs firmly being placed on. I raise my head slightly and watch the three masked men being led out by the police and into the awaiting police van.

“All right, everyone up please, is anyone injured do we need an ambulance?” 

So much for a quiet start to the week for me.

Cheat
Witness

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Surprise* The Suspenseful Collection… Are You Ready?

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I was thrilled to cross paths with another suspense author on the other side of the water, Didi  As  fellow suspense authors we read each other’s suspense novels. It became clear there’s a mutual author love and respect between us! I got about sixty pages into Aggravated Momentum and thought hold on, strong female lead?- check, fast paced writing style? – check, writing in first person so the reader is in the same room as the characters?-check. This reminds me of someone, I wonder who?  lols.

 

Is it a surprise we spoke about being writing buddies, to entertain you and sharpen our craft as writers within our beloved genre? Each author will have no idea at all what the other author has wrote, until it lands in her inbox! No pre- planning, no discussion, just one prompt and off we go starting or leading the tale.As well as suspense we may  turn our hand to genres that  we have never dabbled in before,and have a lot of fun along the way.

This interactive writing challenge is simple and insanely creative. It’s a group effort and we are so glad to have you join in the writing fun!!  I hope you’re ready to challenge Didi and I by choosing which prompts we can transform into stellar suspense!  Give us your best shot!  You vote on our weekly prompt, and we provide the entertainment. It’s that simple!  The super easy steps are as follows:

STEP ONE: Every Wednesday well post a voting pole with a few prompts to choose from.
STEP TWO: With the click of a button, you cast your vote on a prompt. (voting will stay open for three days.)
STEP THREE: READ AND ENJOY!  Every week on the following Tuesday we will post the short story that transformed from the very winning prompt you chose!
 
All comments on the story posts will be open. We love feedback, and I’m willing to bet you will never guess who wrote what!!   Therein a challenge of your own! (Yes, one of us writes in British English, and one of us in American. We are well aware, and ready for some trickery. Trust me, we are brilliant at adapting styles.)

Calling All Authors! #author #amwriting #newrelease

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THIS IS A RE-BLOG… MTA HAS BEEN POPULAR! I’LL FEATURE TWO AUTHORS PER MONTH. LOOKING FOR AUTHORS FROM JULY ONWARD. SEND ME A MESSAGE IF YOU’D LIKE A FEATURE.

Calling all authors who would like a spotlight feature. I’m preparing my first feature for April ! I am excited to feature this author in particular. Stay tuned on Tuesday 25th. If you’d like a feature contact me here

Features can be

  • Interviews.
  • promotions/ offers/discounts/free download days
  • New release info.
  • Read and review of your book.
  • Anything you can think of…meet-the-author

Book Review: The Homecoming 5 Stars by Tammy Tate.

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This book is like some kind of wave. For me personally, just when I thought the dust settled some drama came knocking! For a paranormal romance there are parts that are really thrilling and suspenseful, and I never saw the ending coming. I could not predict what might happen.

Sydney is half human and half shifter, she moves over to her aunt’s  from Oklahoma to prepare for her first shift, in hope that she does not die during the experience as the force is powerful with the change.  She’s  only half shifter as her father is human,  her late mother was a full shifter. Before she arrived she had a few dreams about a certain man who she could not place. She drew a picture of him to remember him, for some reason she is drawn to him.

Once she arrives  at her aunt’s in the shifter community off the main land, almost instantly she crosses the mystery man’s path. Enter Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome himself – Kyle. Kyle knew she was on her way, as a full shifter he could sense it and smell her. He imprinted her ( bonded with her) , so in a way they were bonded before they even met and destined to be mates, hence the dreams Sydney had.

Mr. Tall Dark and handsome has a lot on his hands when his potential mate Sydney arrives. Seems like women in the shifter community are swooning. He has a mate pre -organised for him, Emily, and another female on his case Mona.  *conflict alert* I won’t spoil it and say why Mona has an interest.

Sydney survives her shift, and now she’s public enemy #1 for Emily, Kyle’s mate organised by “the elders” and Mona we’ll call her “the bunny boiler” after Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome. Sydney survives three attempts to kill her, * conflict alert* I won’t spoil it.  This drama leads Sydney, Kyle, Kyle’s best friend Beau, and Emily Kyle’s organised mate  to Canada, across the boarder to find Justin Kyle’s twin brother. *I won’t spoil it * Once they arrive that’s when the wave picks up again and the pace is fast. What I liked about this part of the story was, the element of real life the author crafted cleverly. They are shifters leaving their off land home to enter “our” human world, driving cars, getting on planes etc. To see all this play out as a non- human was great. It really worked well in the story.

The sex scenes and heat levels are pretty steamy too!

The Homecoming is a trilogy I think, but there is certainly part #2. I hear on the grapevine it will land in June. Lap up The Homecoming and sit tight for part #2. When it’s on pre-order I’ll grab mine!

Overall, what I will say is The Homecoming for me was an enjoyable experience to read, and I liked the story line. The turns and anticipation did have me up late at night. It was a book I found hard to put down. The romance was there with a complex love triangle – a modern one too, I could see the drama happening in real life within humans. The swooning over Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome was there, he fought for his woman. And he was not the arrogant alpha- male type that needs a woman to calm him. Our main man is really cool, with a fun side but takes charge. His best friend made me smile a real likeable character. The world created in this shifter and vampire paranormal romance really pulled me in.

I have read other stories by this author before, what I will say is her style is fast paced, modern not dated, and very engaging. Her stories do tend to highlight diversity, I have read stories in other settings non paranormal where native people would  normally be found, she did not ignore that she wrote from the native’s POV, with accents and all.

I will for sure be reading The Homecoming part #2. Thank you Tammy Tate for creating this wonderful world to escape to! Five well deserved stars.

 

Top Tips For Marketing…Random Guest Post.

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I was really please when feedback  I gave to a  UK business, that provides advice to new business start ups, used some of the feedback I gave them. On marketing tips, and the top things you should do when you start up your own business. Who would have thought a lil’ old romance author would have something to say they liked? Well, turns out it was helpful, they featured my feedback  in their online article along side other business owners.  I’m top tip #9 in 12 Things to Do in the First 3 Months of Starting a Business

Hmm, not bad! Thanks for the feature.

Diversity Within Fiction, Are We There Yet? #amwriting #MFRW #diversity

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When I first started to write it did cross my mind that being a British author, not everyone may connect.  It never bothered me and it still doesn’t  now.  I feel this way as there is a reader out there for every writer, no matter what you write be it dark stuff or light comedy. I’ve come to feel really strongly that writers should not, and can not write to people please. Why? You’ll lose yourself , who you are and what you want to write. I write it how I like it end of.

Over the last twenty four hours I’ve really been thinking about diversity within fiction, this is mainly due to the writing prompt I did on the Ideal  Romance Hero, and  the  guest author post I done with Author Jane Ridson. I was asked ( in the guest post)  how I go about using diverse characters, and what advice I would give to those that shy away from it. To me, diversity is a given, where I’m from in London it’s a melting pot of different cultures  we love diversity this side of the water pretty much, well in London anyway. So it comes natural that I write reflecting what’s around me, and my diverse friends I have. It would be really hard not to.

Last night, I reflected on this point about diversity a little further, when I woke up this morning and read a few  other writer’s POV on the Ideal Romance Hero it occurred to me that my take on Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome  and the ideal romance hero is quite different, which is fine. I don’t mind standing out! One  ( supportive) comment led me to feel that diversity really does need to be embraced, I also had a response to my Beta Reader call from someone who is keen  to be a Beta Reader for me as I’m a different race and gender to them and I’m on  the other side of the world. This is cool really cool. 🙂  But … are we there yet? Do we still have a little work to do with diversity in fiction? There’s a blogger I love his name is Jason Cushman or Opinionated Man to you and I. I’ve said it before he is rather funny, frank, and to the point. He is also rather raw in his take on diversity.  Jason is of Asian descent and embraces it from what I read,  but he does highlight ” the struggle” he’s over in the USA.I thought about Jason, some of his posts I’ve read and his struggles. You should check him out.

I then went to Facebook in search of marketing groups or companies who actually work with writers who feature diverse characters.  I’d like to put my Romance Set in Paradise series in front of some readers who may love and seek a bit of diversity. Also my future work also, as you know I’ll never quit creating diverse characters. Do you know I found none, not one, like not even a choice! I am really surprised. This led me to set up my own group called Black, Asian and Minority Readers and Writers   this is not about segregation it’s more about celebration! Of authors who feature diverse character line ups, and can maybe help support other authors branch into this ( if they want to) without the fear of stereotypes, or stereotyping those they feature,  find readers who want to find  diversity in their fiction, a chance for all writers  regardless of their own race who love, support and read diverse fiction to come together. This includes the gay community also. I have nothing against same sex relationships at all, live and let live is my motto.  I feel like I want to do something from this side of the Atlantic as there are so many in the USA ( FB groups) with this focus on African American writers /fiction, but I see little with a welcome for all minority groups for anyone who would say they are a minority or of some mixed background.  Or am I just not looking hard enough?

So, if you’re an author of an ethnic background, or an author who writes with diversity regardless of your background, or you’d like to try it! Join the group, the link is above. I hope to build a community of support. And readers, marketers and lovers of our diverse work. Because variety is the spice of life.

Tell me, what’s your views on diversity in general?

Kim

 

Poem: Is She You? #amwriting #poem

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Maze
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She, who is she? Is she me or you? If not you then she is who? All I know is she always says whatever it is I need to do …. trust me I’ll do. No matter the weather, no matter the stress her attitude is always “can do.”

Times get tough, troubled and unsettled waters maybe ahead, but does that make her see red?  Let me ask you a question, if you could do it all again in life would you? What would you seek to go back and re-do? You have a long list! Wow, my point, you have missed. Each experience is either a lesson, or blessing in disguise. Wrapped up in drama,  or feeling like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel.  But  If you never travelled that road of drama, would you be able to hold your head this high?

Read between the lines you’re much better, you’re like titanium, and much more refined after all that drama you left behind. You’re now one of a kind, so leave those bitter memories behind.

Each day, look in the mirror and figure out what it is you must do, or what you want to do? What’s your next move?

Never be bitter or never be so unkind to yourself, so that you can’t read between the lines.

Gather your strength, keep your goals in mind, never look behind. I promise you with this wind under your wings you’ll fly. Now you must reach for the sky. Some days will be hard, you have the kids, work, school,  dinner to make, cleaning, the list never ends and the worst bit – everyone has their demands of you! You’ll want to scream hold up! What more do you want me to fucking do? Huh?  But remember it’s your strength,

That will see you through. So let me ask you again who is she? Is she me? Is she you? Oh she is you! Then get out there and do what you need to do. Remember Proverbs 31:25 now who is she?? Is she you?… Yeah, that’s what I thought, I knew you had it in you.

High five, keep going and do what you need to do.

 I just felt like writing. Salute to all the mothers, carers, breadwinners, goal makers and hard workers out there!

Kim.

Release Day! Yeah! #newrelease #amreading #romance

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Like you did not know already! I’ve banged on about it all week *smiles.* The first book of my Romance Set in Paradise series has arrived. The Smashwords discount is valid until the 14th May, the free four chapter download can be accessed at anytime. Enjoy, thank you for your support.

 

Master-Paperback-Havana-Heat-

Book Blurb:

Havana Heat is book one of the Romance Set in Paradise Series of modern, steamy, suspenseful and romantic stories, set in exotic locations around the world. In Havana Heat readers are transported to the paradise of Cuba’s capital Havana, following the romantic heat build between Spaniard Detective Sebastian Garcia, and London born and bred wedding planner Melinda Jones. Melinda’s path crosses with the handsome and charming detective at Casa De Amor Hotel as a guest at her client’s exotic location wedding. Both characters are in search of a slice of paradise, away from their own troubled love life back home.

Once their paths cross the romance and sizzle begins.When all hell breaks out at Casa De Amor Hotel, and conflict builds over their past, both characters are faced with a decision to take a risk and see out their romance, or walk away. Forever asking themselves what could have been. Romance, thrills and excitement await in book one of this modern romance series set in paradise.

Download links:

Amazon

Smashwords

Guest Author Over @ Author Jane Risdon’s Blog. #author #writerslife #writingtips

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I had a lovely time as Author Jane Risdon’s guest  this week.  She made me feel very welcome. She asked me a lot about my experience with traditional and self-publishing, and what tips I’d give to writers who shy away from using a multi-cultural line up for the characters.

Check it out here:

Guest author with Jane Risdon