Monthly Archives: January 2021

January 31, 2021 · 12:01 AM

Sunday Snippet, January 31, 2021

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I’m posting from my current writing WiP, Song and Shadow, a prequel to Song and Sword. It’s a rough draft and I still don’t have an actual outline for it so it’s going to be a fun ride.

Picking up from last week’s snippet.

“May I join you, Your Highness?”

The boy looked up, startled. “You – you’re the Bard.”

Pashevel bowed in acknowledgement, a soft smile playing over his lips. “Pashevel,” he said.

“Hierik. But you already knew that.” His eyes narrowed in suspicion. “How did you know that?”

Pashevel shrugged. “As you said, I’m a Bard. Noticing things – reading people – is a large part of what I do. And I heard their comments,” he nodded toward the others in the tavern, and especially the palace guard, who were paying them no mind, “and I noticed that they were pitched – deliberately pitched – so that you could hear them. And I saw your reactions to them. It wasn’t hard to figure out that you were the one they were talking about.”

 

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January 30, 2021 · 12:01 AM

Rainbow Snippet for 1-30-2021

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Rainbow Snippets is a group for LGBTQ+ authors, bloggers, and readers to gather once a week and share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation (no spoilers please!).  Check out all the other awesome snippets by clicking on the picture above.

Skipping ahead a bit. Taliya is meeting with Aelind Osbert, the attorney her mother sent her to about her inheritance.

“Miss Swann. Mr. Osbert is expecting you.”  

The receptionist was efficient, polite to the point of being disrespectful, and Taliya did not even attempt to smile at her; she merely bobbed her head briefly in acknowledgement and opened the door to Aelind Osbert’s office.

Ostentatious was too mild of a word for the décor, but Taliya paid no attention to it; she had long ago learned that the gilded woodwork tended to nauseate her, and the chandeliers induced migraines of epic proportions.

Aelind Osbert rose to meet her as she crossed the red, black, and green hand-woven carpet. He was a short, thin, balding man with a pinched face and a predatory air about him. “Ah, my dear Miss Swann. Please accept my condolences for your loss.”

 

 

 

 

 

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January 29, 2021 · 9:52 PM

Almost Gone

January, that is. But where? I can’t even figure out where today has gone, let alone this whole month. I could have sworn the year just changed a week or two ago.

I’m slowly getting used to my new day job assignment. I don’t seem to be quite so tired at the end of the day, at any rate. (Seriously. Who knew that riding a bus for seven to eight hours a day would be so tiring that all I want to do is sleep?) Of course, there were two days this past week where I didn’t work, so I don’t know if it really counts as getting used to it or not. One day was because the school district closed due to weather, and the other was the student being kept home.

I got my car inspected today, then got my second dose of the Covid vaccine, so those are both out of the way. And outside of a doing a load of laundry and taking a bag of garbage down from my room I haven’t done much of anything else.

Except read.

I’m working my way through re-reading the Academy of the Accord series so I read Book Four today, and so far it’s coming in as one of my favorites, although the ending totally sucks and needs to be completely redone. (Endings are a major weak point in my writing, but this one is especially bad and lazy. I really need to “read as a writer” and note how other writers wrap up their books.)

Yes, I know I’m supposed to be writing the prequel to Song and Sword, and I am still plugging away at it, but it’s not what’s calling to my heart right now.

And I’m also still poking at edits for Onyx Sun, and the rearrangement of my computer hutch is making that project much easier, so there is light at the end of that tunnel, although I’m afraid that my self-imposed deadline for it is going to go swooshing by. (Kind of like my To Do list that I just keep changing the date on.)

The Academy of the Accord, even with the amount of overwhelm and frustration I feel about it sometimes, is truly my heart project. I just sometimes despair of ever getting it finished and edited and free of continuity errors. (Especially that last one!)

Then there’s going to be the issue of finding a beta reader (or readers) for a 13 book series plus a prequel.

And coming up with titles for all of them. (Naming things is hard.)

And blurbs. Fourteen blurbs.

But one thing at a time. I have to finish writing a couple of them, and edit all of them, but I’ll get there. Eventually.

I just need to find a balance between the big picture and a narrow focus, and to a creative mind that frequently goes in several dozen directions at once – and multi-tasks in all of them – that is easier said than done.

 

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January 27, 2021 · 12:01 AM

Wednesday Words #318 (1/27/2021)

Welcome to Wednesday Words!  Every Wednesday I will post some sort of prompt for a flash fiction piece.  The prompt will go live just after midnight Eastern time.

The prompt might be a picture, or it might be a list of things to include in a story, or maybe a phrase or a question or something from a “news of the weird” type thing, or a… who knows?

After that, it’s up to you.  But if you do use the prompt to write a bit of flash fiction (say, 500 words or so) I’d love to see what you came up with, so comment below with a link to where it is on your blog (or on WattPad or wherever).

(And a pingback to the post here where you found the prompt would be appreciated but isn’t necessary.)

Oh, and this isn’t a contest or anything.  It’s just a (hopefully) fun thing for all concerned.

And, hey, if it inspires more than 500 or so words, run with it!

a treasure map that leads to an abandoned and half-collapsed log cabin in the woods

And, as always, I’d love to see what you come up with!

 

 

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January 26, 2021 · 12:01 AM

Code Name Jack Rabbit

Code Name Jack Rabbit by Elizabeth Noble

Where Legend and Myth Meet Science and Technology

Excerpt:

Lucas decided it was his good luck—no, it was a real blessing—neither Declan nor Forge could read his mind. Right now he wanted to kill them both. Lucas could do it too. Ten minutes wolfed out was all he needed. Vampires might be faster, but werewolves were stronger.

Being in a surveillance van with three vampires wasn’t the fun and excitement one might expect it to be. Lucas liked Kai, but he was sure Ori would agree that in this circumstance, Kai would have to die too.

Forge was pacing, at least as well as a man could inside a van with three other decently sized men. Lucas was leaning against one side, gazing at a camera feed, and doing his best to stay out of the way and not strangle Forge.

Declan put both hands on Forge’s shoulders and said, “Jonas, he’ll be fine.”

“He’s never done anything like this.” Forge turned and stared at the monitor. “Damn, I wish I could see him and not just hear him.”

“Jonas, it’s a pizza parlor, and she’s a research scientist. What the hell can she do to him?” Declan asked. Forge and Kai both turned to look at him. Declan heaved a sigh and shoved Forge into the seat beside Kai. “Relax. You can hear every word they say and feel what Blair feels. If anything goes wrong, you’ll know it practically before he does. You and I muddled through information collection with far less support and lived.” Declan rolled his eyes and focused on Lucas.

“I should go out there and back him up. In case.” Forge started to stand, but Lucas helped Declan push him back down.

“In case of what? They run out of pepperoni?” Lucas asked.

“She might recognize you,” Kai said. “You’re the head detective of this town. There is no need to take the risk someone will recognize you and blow everything. Besides, when making contact with someone with the express purpose of entering some sort of relationship with them, having your bond mate hanging around a few feet away is a bad idea.”

“He speaks from experience,” Ori chimed in and chuckled.

“You all do realize I can hear you, right?” Blair’s voice was crisp and clear coming from the speaker.

“Heads up. There she is. She’s about to walk through the door,” Kai said. He pointed to the monitor. “Got to love predictable people.”

Blurb:

Vampires and werewolves live long lives. The Sleepless City saga might have ended but the story continues…

Welcome to The Vampire Guard, where legend and myth meet science and technology.

Vampires make the best spies. Throw a smart-mouthed werewolf in with three vampires, mix well, and The Vampire Guard’s newest team is bound to become one of their greatest assets. Super spies with a full range of skills. Warrior, hacker, thief, and scientist.  They get in, do the job and get out before the bad guys ever know what hit them.

Forge, Blair, Declan, and Lucas are thrust into the world of high-tech spies and top-secret espionage conspiracies. Recruited into the world’s most elite and secret organization with one singular mission. Protect those who can’t defend themselves from ruin.

Life becomes complicated when an impending Presidential visit to their town, Boggslake, throws them headlong into the world of the vampires and werewolves of the Vampire Guard. Very quickly they uncover and confront a werewolf terrorist organization known as the Qiguan.

Together they must thwart an assassination attempt on the open waters of Lake Superior while tracking a previously unknown biological weapon controlled by the Qiguan—a weapon which may very well mean death for one of them.

Series: The Vampire Guard
Book Number: 1
Release Date: January 12, 2021
ASIN: B08MCPGWKR
Pages: 200
Genre: Urban Fantasy/SciFi/Thriller

Buy Links: https://amzn.to/2HV8IzF

Book 2 of The Vampire Guard, Quarry,

will be available for pre-order in 2021

 

Author bio:

Mystery, action, chills, and thrills spiced with romance and desire. ELIZABETH NOBLE lives by the adage “I can’t not write.” She doesn’t remember a time when she didn’t make up stories and eventually she learned how to put words on a page. Those words turned into books and fan fiction that turned into a genuine love of M/M fiction. A part of every day is spent living in worlds she created that are filled with intrigue and espionage. She has a real love for a good mystery complete with murder and twisty plots as well as all things sci-fi, futuristic, and supernatural.

When she’s not chronicling the adventures of her many characters, Elizabeth is a veterinary nurse living in her native Cleveland, Ohio. She has three grown children and now happily shares her little, brick house with a spunky Cardigan Welsh Corgi and his sidekick, tabby cat. Elizabeth is a fan of baseball, basketball (go Cavs and Cleveland Baseball) and gardening. She can often be found working in her ‘outside office’ listening to classic rock and plotter her next novel waiting for it to be dark enough to gaze at the stars.

Elizabeth has received a number of amateur writing awards. Since being published, several of her novels have received Honorable Mentions in the Rainbow Awards. Jewel Cave was a runner-up in the Gay Mystery/Thriller category in the 2015 Rainbow Awards. Ringed Love was a winner in the Gay Fantasy Romance category of the 2016 Rainbow Awards.

Website  http://www.elizabeth-noble.com

E-Mail: elizabeth.noble19@gmail.com

Newsletter sign up: http://eepurl.com/gDB_6P

Circles website:  http://bit.ly/2aryKUQ

Vampire Guard website: http://bit.ly/232TyHH

JMS page: http://bit.ly/2MRnmYC

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2bqjwCc

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1BZ2Doa

Facebook Author page:  http://bit.ly/2yULsIM

Twitter: @elizabethnoble1

Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2yUgVus

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2b8IQdL

QueeRomance Ink: http://bit.ly/2jmzVfk

Liminal Fiction: https://bit.ly/2Y84k4u

Gay Romance Readers Club: http://bit.ly/2S5UNdP

BookBub: http://bit.ly/3m01SHg

Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/onthepatiowithelizabethnoble/

Facebook The Sleepless City Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesleeplesscity

Elizabeth’s direct email is:  elizabeth.noble19@gmail.com

 

Visit The Vampire Guard:
The Vampire Guard website: http://bit.ly/232TyHH
Email members of The Vampire Guard:  jr.vampx@gmail.com

 

 

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January 25, 2021 · 8:22 PM

Over Booked

No, this has nothing to do with the overcrowding on my bookshelves. (Although it would be appropriate…)

It also has nothing to do with my ever-growing list of Works In Progress and Plot Bunnies. (Although it would probably be even more appropriate…)

No, this time it has to do with scheduling.

I know I always give myself a bigger list of things to do than any thirteen people could accomplish, but now I’ve gone and overbooked myself for Friday.

I had made (tentative) plans to go to my mother’s to get help with that damned waffle stitch scarf (that looks more like a lumpy pancake than a waffle), but then I realized that the month is almost over and I have to get my car inspected. No problem. Inspection, trip to my mother’s, done.

But when I was entering the inspection appointment into the calendar on my phone I realized that Friday is also the day of my second Covid vaccine and now I need to be in three places at once.

Meanwhile, as far as writing and such goes, I am making progress. Slow progress, but progress nonetheless. I fixed up the scene that I thought I’d already put into Book One of the Academy of the Accord series and hope to get it inserted before the week is out.

I’ve also come to the conclusion that I make my goals too big sometimes, and then they feel overwhelming and don’t happen. Like “Enter changes to Onyx Sun.” That’s a big project. I think I need to reword it to “Enter changes to one chapter of Onyx Sun every day.” That’s a lot less scary.

I’ve also come to the conclusion that I really need to stop and make an outline of some sort for Song and Shadow. I have no idea what’s going to happen and only a vague idea of who the Big Bad is and even less of an idea about how the reveal is going to go.

And while I’m working on the outline I should start a series bible.

*sigh* Here I go. Overbooking myself again…

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January 24, 2021 · 12:01 AM

Sunday Snippet, January 24, 2021

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I’m posting from my current writing WiP, Song and Shadow, a prequel to Song and Sword. It’s a rough draft and I still don’t have an actual outline for it so it’s going to be a fun ride.

Picking up from last week’s snippet.

But it wasn’t just the words that Pashevel noticed. He also saw their effect on a young man – little more than a boy, actually – who sat alone in a back corner of the tavern. The speakers, he noticed, were making sure that they spoke loudly enough for him to hear, and he was wincing at each statement.

“He won’t be on the throne long,” someone predicted. “He’ll be overthrown because he won’t stop those who talk treason.”

The lone figure flushed and Pashevel returned to the stage, led a couple more songs, then took a break.

 

“May I join you, Your Highness?”

 

Find more great reading
at the Sunday Snippet group.

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January 23, 2021 · 12:01 AM

Rainbow Snippet for 1-23-2021

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Rainbow Snippets is a group for LGBTQ+ authors, bloggers, and readers to gather once a week and share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation (no spoilers please!).  Check out all the other awesome snippets by clicking on the picture above.

Picking up from last week. Taliya has been talked into having dinner with her friend Belyn.

She settled her craft into the lot next to Curtey’s and powered down, closing her eyes for a moment. She really didn’t want to do this. Wearily she opened the door and was immediately grabbed and pulled from the HoverWing.

“Lady, you are just on the brink of losing it,” Belyn said. “I’m thinking we should skip dinner and just go to my place – I have a bottle of white wine chilling for you and your room is all ready and waiting and stocked with tissues.”

She laughed and hugged him, relaxing into the warmth and soft strength of his embrace. “Oh, no. You promised me dinner at Curtey’s. Besides, I know you want to flirt with Robus. Are you making any headway with him?”

Belyn made a face as he took her arm to escort her into the restaurant. “I’m over him. He’s all looks, no substance.”

“Who’s the current heart throb?”

“There isn’t one. I’ve given up.”

Taliya snorted. “Sworn off men?”

“Love.” He flashed her a grin. “But I’ll be over it by next week.”

 

 

 

 

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January 22, 2021 · 7:43 PM

And Tomorrow’s Not Looking Too Good Either

 

Today’s “To-Do” List turned out to be more of a “Not-Gonna-Happen Today” List. I have marked a couple things off of it, so I’ll take what small victories I can find and move the rest to “Probably-Not-Gonna-Happen-Today-Either” list.

I did get a bit of a reprieve in that I only have to work a half day tomorrow so I’ll be able to get some errands run on the way home, at least one of which is writing-related.

While poking around in my files I found a scene that needs to be added to Book One of the Academy of the Accord series. I could have sworn I’d already inserted it but I have no versions at all with it in, so I’m going to put it where it belongs and reprint the draft (it desperately needs gone over again anyhow) and put it on the shelf again for another round. My current goal with the series is to get one book edited/reprinted each month. (One month will have to have two books done because there are more books than there are months now.)  And maybe finish the prequel’s first draft.

And, then, of course, there’s the work on the prequel to Song and Sword, and the edits of Onyx Sun, and… *sigh*

On a brighter note, the computer hutch project is almost finished and I hope to get it cleared out today and start moving stuff into it. I really should work on my CPR recertification for work first, though. I think they’d like that.

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January 20, 2021 · 12:01 AM

Wednesday Words #317 (1/20/2021)

Welcome to Wednesday Words!  Every Wednesday I will post some sort of prompt for a flash fiction piece.  The prompt will go live just after midnight Eastern time.

The prompt might be a picture, or it might be a list of things to include in a story, or maybe a phrase or a question or something from a “news of the weird” type thing, or a… who knows?

After that, it’s up to you.  But if you do use the prompt to write a bit of flash fiction (say, 500 words or so) I’d love to see what you came up with, so comment below with a link to where it is on your blog (or on WattPad or wherever).

(And a pingback to the post here where you found the prompt would be appreciated but isn’t necessary.)

Oh, and this isn’t a contest or anything.  It’s just a (hopefully) fun thing for all concerned.

And, hey, if it inspires more than 500 or so words, run with it!

a piece of scrap paper
waiting for news
a glint of moonlight on broken glass

And, as always, I’d love to see what you come up with!

 

 

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