Category Archives: Writing Word Prompt Response

MiracleChallenge Week 4: #1 – Dark Side

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TO GET YOU IN THE MOOD FOR MINE AND DID’S CHALLENGE RE-BLOGGING SOME OF MY OLD FAV WRITING PROMPTS.

                                  #MiracleChallenge writing prompt for this week! 

                                  Write a short story using the below sentence prompt

”Everyone has a dark side which he never shows to anybody”: short story

Everyone has a dark side so they say, we met some years back, it was the spring of 2009 back in my  first year of college.  I thought meeting him would be the start of something new, just like spring when flowers bloom. We got to know each other slowly,  he was  like a breath of fresh air at first just want I needed, dinner, movies, concerts we had a great time. By the  summer of 2009 I was convinced it was love! By October as the season turned  to autumn so did he, he turned, his dark side came out no more Mr Nice Guy.

It was just little things at first I noticed were weird about him, his fascination with death and dying, being immortal which he somehow thought he was. ” What a joker” I’d say to him ” you’re weird mate, no one is immortal, no one lives forever.”  

He’d  always want to go to the cemetery just ” for a walk” he’d say, who the hell goes to the cemetery ” just for a walk” ?  Ropes,  chains and duck tape started to appear around his home, when I’d go over on a weekend and ask him what they were for, he’d laugh it off and say he was just doing some DIY around the house. I thought nothing of it, bought the story after all he’s a man they do DIY all the time don’t they…  Is that normal ropes, duck tape, chains and all sorts? I wouldn’t  have  minded at all  if it was some kind of kinky sex game he wanted to try out with the ropes and tape, hey, I read 50 Shades of Grey- Mr Grey is H.O.T, he could tie me up anytime if that was is thang.  I’d tease him, ask him when he was ganna  tie me up and make love to me? He’d just look at me with a sinister look in his eye and a smirk on his face- not  a look that said he’d tie me up and show me a good time. Still, I brushed it off as nothing, he was perfect we were in love … remember.

 As October progressed Halloween rolled around  we were at a friend’s party we dressed up as vampires with matching teeth and fake blood. I must admit he looked pretty hot, think of Eric from True Blood, my spine tingles at the thought of how good he looked, slick hair, pale skinned, dark eyes, black suit and tie,  sinister. Me I went all out with my stockings and suspenders, 4 inch heals  and corset  under a cape fake bite marks all up my thighs  I made a very sexy vampire, we were the centre of attention when it came to costumes.

Something strange happened, at midnight we went outside for some fresh air  and a smoke, as I lit my cigarette   he looked up at the sky and said in low tones ” it’s a full moon” he let out some kind of growl too.  I said to myself this guy he has a dark side. My mind went back to the ropes, chains and duck tape, now he was growling  at the fucking moon? What was this??

He grabbed me, bit me  hard on my  left breast, hard enough to draw blood I screamed out loud ” what the hell are you doing you werido?”   I pushed him off and took a step back. The night air was so cold I could see his breath in the air and the heavy rise and fall of his chest.  He looked me dead in the eye and said

” The freaks come out at night” he laughed as he licked my blood from his lips. I looked down at my breast and the mark that remained from his bite.

That’s when I said to myself this guy’s weird everyone has a dark side, (which) he doesn’t show to anyone.

“MiracleChallenge Week – 4” dated 5th July, 2016

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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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.

Romance Writer’s Challenge Week #19: My Kinda Guy! The Ideal Hero #MFRW #romance

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It’s week nineteen of the Romance Writer’s Blogging Challenge, what a great week.  I’ve  had many book boyfriends over the years, I’ve been a romance lover for well over ten years of my life, that’s a lot of men. As a reader I like my men just how I write ’em, stylish, strong, smelling good and powerful in more ways than with just their wallet *haha*. Make of that last part what you will!

And no, they don’t always have to be the stereotypical Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome. They can be Mr. Tall, Blond and Handsome for all I care…  Christen Grey sure did it for me. For me it’s more about the man he is when I’m reading romance stories. Good looks is a given, but it’s nice when I read the work of another romance author or any author for that matter, and I’m swooning and giggling that high pitched girly giggle I get over their main man –because of who he is.

I’ve had readers feedback that my character I created in A Stranger in France is “Every woman’s dream”  I’ve heard this more than once. This makes me feel GOOD, I created a nice swoon worthy man. Here’s the secret when I created Nicholas I kinda created my own ideal dream man in real life. Nicholas is handsome, check, financially stable, check, but as a man he is hardworking, respectful to women, down to earth and a modern man. He is relevant to today in terms of his dress sense, views etc he’s not dated. With dated views or expectations of women. Blah! I’ll bin those types of men.

I think the ideal romance hero should have all the boxes ticked visually regardless of his race, but that extra emphasis on his personality I think, as a writer helps  us to not re-write the same type of hero. When I wrote both of my detectives, Jerome Samuels for Not Just For Christmas , my main man in One Night in London the short story collaboration with twelve other authors for Code Red: A Serial Novel and the most recent Sebastian Garcia for Havana Heat I maintained  all the basics for my Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome. But they are very different men to Nicholas D’Coix. Age for one, Jerome is a man of a mature age over ten years older than me, with that sexy “mature man’s” persona about him umm humm. Believe it or not he actually starts off as a complete ass LOL my heroine really dislikes him, due to his arrogance regardless of how visually appealing he is. Sebastian is my hot blooded Spaniard with a good heart, but he has “issues” as a man not related to arrogance. My main man in Code Red: A Serial Novel is your average everyday accountant in his thirties.

So in a nutshell I think in my humble opinion, and  based on my own writing style and how I like my men my ideal romance hero is :

  • Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome/ Mr Tall Blond and Handsome- visually he is a knock out regardless of his race.
  • Dare I say it- GOOD IN BED this is a must. I need to read those pages and be like fwwaaaah wow!  This author did a good job setting the bar.
  • Powerful in some way, it could be due to his profession or something about him. There needs to be something about him that draws the female in big time.
  • Stylish (this is just my personal preference as that’s how I write ’em). I like stylish men.
  • He can be arrogant, or a  bad boy they don’t always have to be angles. But he has to grow as a man in the story, so that we readers swoon toward the end  when the dust settles. Personally as a writer this is my style  and I love it as a reader.
  • Not afraid to fight for his woman, this is the major for me. That’s how I write ’em that’s how I like to read ’em. As arrogant as  they are as a man ( maybe), at the end of the day when all the suspense and heat is built in the story- does he fight? … yes please let’s all swoon over this scene.
  • Not, I repeate not dated in anyway shape or form. I really dislike this. That said I am in my mid thirties, and I guess the men I’d swoon over probably would not be dated in my age bracket. It’s helpful if the men are relevant and current. Same with the females. Regardless of their ages. Unless it’s a historical romance of course, that’s another story, different or more time relevant ways of “courting” are to be expected. In a modern day romance keep it current.

I ‘ll never get bored of creating romance heroes, I can’t wait to see who is the most popular with readers from all  the heroes I create. I plan to keep them all different but the basics in tact. All ages, races, professions there is no discrimination here. Deep down I have a feeling it will always be my very own ideal man, one of Paris’ top three entrepreneurs Mr. Nicholas D’Coix.  He makes me smile. I’d love to look back on this post in say maybe three to five years and see if I still feel the same. Who knows?

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Romance Writer’s Challenge Week #18: Boy You’re Just Too Funny! – What Makes Me Laugh Out loud#MFRW

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It’s week eighteen, well it was last week. Forgive my lateness. I am as always fashionably late with the Romance Writer’s fifty two week writing challenges. Anyway, week eighteen all about what makes you laugh out loud. This writing prompt response is dedicated to a special person, the most handsome boy in the world! My three year old son…. He makes me laugh so  much here’s just a few examples of why.

Bath time:

What is it with little boys and their willies? Fast forward twenty years and I guess nothing changes, as  a grown man for him there will always be a  fascination with his willy! Every night, I ask my son when I undress him for bath time ” do you need to go wee wee?” He shakes his head “no mama ” jumping up and down eager to get in the tub. “Okay son, let’s get in the tub.” I place him in and he stands there  as soon as he gets in, hips thrust with his you know what thrust forward  and pees in the bath! Swirling his hips around for the perfect aim :). Then he has the cheek to say ” ta-dah!”  Look at me and laugh.  I do chuckle, no matter what I do he saves that bath-time pee especially for his ta-dah moment.

High Heels:

I have a pair of gold gladiator heels, I also have them in black too. They have a good say four and a bit inch heel. ( I’m only five foot five). I love them, so does Blake my son. My son is obsessed with walking in these heels, but only the gold pair for some reason. And to my surprise he can walk well, he trots around heels clicking on the wood floor happy as Larry. ” Mummy shoes, mummy shoes.” Every time I hear this I know he’s on about my gold heels he wants to wear them. I’ve tried to  put them away out of sight. Hoping he will mess around with a pair of my flats…. nope! He wants these gold heels. It makes me chuckle.

 

Learning to talk:

I think as a mother you learn to understand your child’s words even when to others they sound like baby babble. Some of my son’s words are so unclear. Fifished = finished. founded-it= found it. vashin’mach-in= washing machine and  mata-toes= tomatoes. It’s so cute when toddlers talk and learn to express themselves. His words often make me chuckle. Especially when he says tomatoes lols 🙂 .

Learning & imagining my future son:

Bless him, he is well house trained already. I watch him pull the hoover out and try to plug it in, try to sweep the floors, unload the washing machine when he hears the click of the end of a load of laundry. To see him do as I do is so heartwarming. The way toddlers learn is entertaining. I do catch him trying to fold himself into the washing machine now and then, the first time it was funny. Now I’ve learned to keep it closed!

Recognising who and what his mama is:

I encourage my son to read a lot, well look at the pictures in books he’s only three. We read together every night. He makes me laugh when he pulls a novel off my bookcase and opens it , then pretends he’s reading. My heart melts…. the best bit, is when he recognises the covers of my books on the case. He’ll pull them down and say “mama book.”  Or he will pick up my notepads I use for creative writing ideas ” mama book” he’ll scream. He’s so cute. He may have little words but he is very aware emotionally.

Kids…. you’ve gatta love ’em 🙂 They’ll always put a smile on your face.

 

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Book Excerpt: Manners Cost Nothing! Release date 9.6.17 #amwriting #romance

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None

Today’s WordPress writing prompt is the word none. Don’t you just hate people with no manners? Rude, dismissive, up their own backside kinda people. When it comes to manners they have none. *Pouts* yeah me too, I’m not a fan.

Let’s take a look at how it makes Yasmin feel, the main female character in book #2  Lover’s Retreat of my Romance Set in Paradise series. Remember that luke warm first encounter  she has with my hero Michael …. which by the end of the story turns red hot. Here ‘s their first encounter, it gets worse. Poor Yasmin! She’s only just arrived in Sri Lanka. Micheal as no manners, none what so ever. But I promise you by the end he will be your hero. I hope I’ve added another potential book boyfriend to my characters…

 

John’s muffled but cheerful voice vibrates around the minibus over the radio.

“Okay everyone this is it! We’re on our way to Hirkiketiya Bay beach where our retreat is located. We have a nice meal and some drinks lined up to break the ice. In the morning you’ll be greeted with the beautiful beach we’re based on for the next five days, just south of the main town. It’s clean, quiet and has some friendly waves for all you surfers. In the meantime sit back and enjoy the ride.”

A round of claps echo around the minibus as Yasmin’s fellow retreat goers express their excitement about Hirkiketiya Bay. Lowering her gaze to her lap she internally gives herself a high five. She’s done it, she broke loose to take the first steps toward moving forward with her life. Now all she has to do is try to integrate with her new found community of soul seekers, at the retreat over the next five days. She takes a deep breath as she turns her attention to the man sitting next to her. She takes in his scruffy looking appearance once more, as she decides if he’s approachable. He is in desperate need of a haircut. His jet black curly hair has out grown its tapered cut. He sports a tiny afro. His beard boarders his square jawline which could also do with a shave. His features are sharp. Behind his scruffiness his smooth full lips and almond shape eyes peek out. From his dress sense Yasmin guesses he’s around her age. He wears dark denim jeans and a black T-shirt with the iconic Nike swoosh icon on the front. Around his left wrist is a beaded brown ethic style bracelet.

“Hi, my name’s Yasmin.”

Yasmin offers her hand to the stranger. He looks up from his paperback and slowly looks her up and down. His expression appears to be one of surprise that she introduced herself.

“Hi.” Is all he says. He doesn’t accept Yasmin’s handshake and lowers his eyes back to his paperback. Yasmin’s breath catches in her throat as she sighs, he shrugged her off in a rather unfriendly way. She tries again to make friends.

“What’s your name?”

He turns back to her and licks his lips, this time he fixes Yasmin with a more friendly stare.

“Michael.”

“Nice to meet you Michael.”

He nods again and reverts his eyes to his paperback. He does a double side glance as he notices Yasmin still watching him and  then shakes his head.

“What are you reading? Anything interesting?”

“Stephen King… If you must know.”

“Oh wow, I love his books which––”

Michael cuts her off before she can finish her sentence.

“Jasmin, I don’t mean to be––”

Yasmin cuts in and meets his gaze.

“It’s Yasmin.”

There’s a moment’s silence between them as they lock eyes with annoyed expressions on their faces. Yasmin is surprised at his harsh tone of voice and how dismissive he is. Michael is impatient with Yasmin’s attempts to make small talk that he’d rather not have.

“Sorry, Yasmin. I don’t mean to be rude but I’d rather be left alone, if that’s okay with you.”

Michael’s response comes out more as a statement rather matter of fact, than a question or polite request. Yasmin pouts, nods her head and then lowers her lashes. She clears her throat.

“No problem.”

Is all she can say with slight embarrassment. She pulls out her phone and then places her earphones in each of her ears. She selects a complication of classical music by Beethoven and Mozart. As the minibus whizzes along the bumpy roads of Dickwella, Yasmin tries her best not to take offence from Michael’s rudeness. She stares out the window at the fast- moving scenery with a scowl on her face. The navy blue sky is alight with bright stars, the tall palm trees stand still in the humid night air. As John guides the minibus through the rural areas of Dickwella in the still of the night, Yasmin hopes her fellow retreat goers are more friendly than Michael. His unapproachable persona sends her into a state of panic. Has she made the right choice booking this retreat? Will she be welcomed? Plays on her mind.

Oh dear, how do these two actually figure out their differences?? More excerpts to follow!

Book Blurb

Lover’s Retreat Book #2

Lover’s Retreat is book two of the Romance Set in Paradise Series of modern, steamy, suspenseful and romantic stories, set in exotic locations around the world.

For thirty seven year old recluse Yasmin O’Neil, life feels like one crisis after another. Her husband left her five years ago, she starts to suspect she’s losing her hearing and then her mother is diagnosed with cancer. When her mother passes away her fortune changes, Yasmin is fifty thousand pounds richer from her mother’s estate. She takes her fate into her own hands after years of being a recluse, she rediscovers herself at a spiritual self development retreat in Sri Lanka south Asia, before she plans to spend the next six months travelling around the world.  In Sri Lanka, Yasmin’s path crosses with Michael Thomas, an army soldier on his own path of self discovery. After a luke warm initial encounter, these two strangers don’t hit it off straight away. After some push and pull the two are finally on the same page. Their encounter turns from luke warm to sizzling hot.

In Lover’s Retreat two very different characters originally on different paths, embrace the need for change and companionship. Set within the back drop of paradise, palm trees and the untouched nature of Sri Lanka, these two lonely souls gain more than just self discovery, they gain a soul mate

Release Date: 9th June 2017 on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords and ibooks.

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Released June 2017

Romance Writer’s Blogging Challenge Week #16: My Biggest Dream? #MFRW

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Hmmm ask an author this question and they’ll all say the same thing… New York Times Bestseller, Bestselling Author. These are all the recognition awards and titles we’re after right? Wrong, okay maybe, but not always in this order. 🙂

For me personally living the dream would mean  a  HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE catalogue of novels and novellas in both the romantic suspense and thriller genres. When I think of this dream, the one author that comes to mind is Stephen King. On my last check he has over fifty published novels. And my all time inspiration Jackie Collins the author I salute, as it was her who introduced me to romantic suspense when I was hardly in my mid twenties. I stumbled across  her novel Deadly Embrace , I then read everything by Jackie I could get my hands, on before I became an author. Surprise surprise I sleep and breathe this genre! Creating my own spin on romance and suspense. Jackie had upon her death something like thirty two novels  published I think off memory.  I was so upset when she died, I feel like some part of life is now missing. I’m one of her fans who would wait impatiently for the next hit, I’d check her site regularly to see what’s coming next and curse when I could not see my next hit coming. My other inspiration the great British crime author, Martina Cole has about twenty odd crime novels from memory. A lot of them I have also read.  When Martina publishes a book, a wicked grin comes over my face! I’m excited.  This is the level I’m talking about in terms of books I’d love to write and the kind of buzz I’d love to create in my genre one day as an author. Considering I’m only thirty four if I get a wiggle on and stay focused,  just maybe it could happen! I could knock out plenty of work.

I’m not focused so much on all the awards or labels authors can get, as nice as they are, it’s more about productivity. I’m also not that focused on becoming rich, this is the last thing I’m writing for.  I had an author mention this who will feature in my Meet The Author – I won’t say who it is look out for them on the 25th.  I’d personally like to give up the part time day job, write more full time, pay the bills by doing what I love and feel my talent really is and not worry. That’s the dream. I’d also love an endless supply of M.A.C and Kat Von D make-up, to create a line of clothing, a house with a pool and large garden for my little boy and to live in the sun…. pretty please if God’s listening LOL.

What’s your dream?? What are you doing to make it happen? If you’re an author reading this is it all about the label, money or the volume of work you put out?

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Romance Writer’s Blogging Challenge Week #15: My Love Hate Relationship With Social Media #MFRW

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Okay it’s now just after nine London time. I’ve made myself yet another large mug of coffee and  sat down to work on Lover’s Retreat, novella #2 of my series. I’ve been distracted by the fifty two week Romance Writer’s Blogging Challenge. I’ve missed a few weeks, I do have a good excuse I’ve been writing. So here I am catching up with Jazz FM playing nicely in the background. Week fifteen is all about social media hang-ups  we may have as writers… well what can I say, believe it or not I have a rather love hate relationship with social media.  Which is probably not the best thing to say as an author! As it does so much to reach out to readers and showcase our work.

Here’s the deal, before I was a publish author, when I just messed around writing and journaling with no real intention to publish anything  or write novels I NEVER used social media personally. I hated it. My view was (and I say was as I use it for a different purpose now) I don’t need a Facebook account to keep in touch with friends and loved ones. If I know you you’ll be in my phone book  or contacts and I’ll call, text or whatsup message you. I don’t need to email you, or put an update on the internet to tell you what I’m up to, you’ll  know via phone or in person.What the fuck is Facebook all about? What’s the point in that.. huh?  That was me before this whole new direction in life kicked off.

I also thought that social media was the cause of many relationship problems, your other half spending too much time on it, sending messages to random people, keeping in touch with ex- partners that kind of a thing.  Anyone here ever watched Jeremy Kyle the day time talk show… umm you know what I mean now? Why are all the people on that show obsessed with Facebook? Or have some kind of problem that started with ” I saw this on Facebook and so I ….” So I just ignored social media.

My hang up with it (social media)  was as I thought it could be  used to just paint a picture of your life, that may not even be true. You may not be as happy as Larry, enjoying all the updates you post. I thought Facebook was full of smoke and mirrors. As for Twitter… who? I’m a rather talkative person, I could not imagine squeezing all I have to  say into 140 characters LOL.

Now, of course I see the benefit of social media, and it has done wonders for me to grow as an author and continue to grow. My feelings now are that social media can be a positive thing, you can connect with people you’d never have a chance to meet in real life. Take for example my new monthly feature Meet The Author, this has been sooooooooooo popular! I’ve had so many authors contact me for a feature, which I am over the moon about. I would never have  the chance to  connect with them, or read their wonderful work if it were not for social media. That’s because I put out a call for authors over Facebook and Twitter, authors from the other side of the world as well as the UK have connected with me. I can’t wait to share all their interviews with you. Meeting a lot of you out there who are reading this, has all been down to social media. Which is great. I now see that social media does have a place in the world with some kind of use and meaning.

So I guess, my hang-ups on social media have changed  (a bit),as I can now see how it can be used to my personal advantage as a writer.  In my personal life I still think just call me don’t FB me and ask me how I’m doing!  I doubt I’ll ever entertain it for personal use, as an author yes and that’s as far as it will ever go.

Do you have a hang up with social media? Do you love it or hate it?

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Writing Prompt: Apprentice- Learning On the Job. 18+ reading! #amreading #romance #newrelease

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via Daily Prompt: Apprentice

Apprentice

Today’s WordPress writing prompt word is apprentice. I like this word it could apply to  Detective Sebastian Garcia, the hero in book #1 on my Romance Set in Paradise series. He’s learning something new, having a new experience and a total apprentice learning “on the job.” Here’s an excerpt from Havana Heat. Over 18 only!!

Sebastian has experienced a variety women of all races and cultures sexually, but never a woman of Caribbean descent. Not because he was against it, quite the opposite. The opportunity just never presented itself until today. To Sebastian, Melinda is a picture of pure beauty, he admires her soft petite features as she relaxes with her eyes closed.

Leaning slightly more forward on his knees, he takes the plunge into a new experience as he bends his head between Melinda’s legs and tastes her intimately.  She tastes just as delightful as he imagines, he makes quick work of bringing her to a spine tingling climax.

Melinda’s body shudders against the hot sand, she grasps a rock to steady her climax. Melinda breathes deeply.

“Sebastian oh, wow.”

Sebastian giggles at the mention of his name, said in a deep breathy voice.

“Shhh, someone will hear you.”

He playfully teases Melinda and intensifies the touch between her legs, Melinda’s response is to simply close her eyes and enjoy the waves of pleasure running through her body.

Satisfied with a good job done Sebastian removes his wet boxer shorts filled with grainy sand, he then manoeuvres himself between Melinda’s legs.

On his knees with Melinda on her back in front of him he raises both of her legs, he then places both of them onto his shoulders, bent at the knees. Slowly he teases Melinda by running the tip of his fully erect penis up and down the entrance of her intimate area. He moans in a low tone and throws his head back, Sebastian continues to rock backward and forward stimulating her entrance with the tip of his penis. The pleasure for them both is intense, he can feel Melinda’s entrance become slick with her wetness in response to his stimulation….. TO BE CONTINUED.

Now, I could continue this scene  and post more of the chapter… but I won’t spoil the fun! Don’t worry it’s not all sex there is actually a very enjoyable story also. Just eleven days to go until release day. Havana Heat is on pre-sale now on Amazon, Smashwords, ibooks and Barnes and Noble. On Smashwords pre-sale copies have a 15% discount off the  £2.99 cover price for the ebook.

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Book Blurb:

Havana Heat is book one of the Romance Set in Paradises 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 romance and 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 Amour 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 Amour 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 a Caribbean paradise.

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