Monday Motivation – After a Holiday Weekend

Great Horned Owl taking flight from Prickly Pear cactus pads. Text: Monday Motivation: Jumpstart your week! https://siobhanmuir.com

Good morning! Got your coffee or tea? I totally understand if you need it today. The first day back to the usual routine after a long holiday weekend is always rough at best. But it’s the last day of #NaNoWriMo and I know you got this. But here’s the best part. Tomorrow is December, and that’s when the lights and decorations come out. That’s when the trees go up and the holiday cards go out. That’s when magic happens, both in life and in writing. Yes, I’m choosing to find the good parts, but sometimes that’s all it comes down to – a choice to see the good parts. Glory knows, this year has been a trial from one end to the other. I grew up with the Transformers cartoons and Swoop was my favorite Dinobot, but “tell Swoop good part” was my favorite line from the movie. But Swoop wasn’t wrong. Focusing on the “good parts” actually brings about more “good parts” and reminds you of your own experienced good parts. The best thing to do is take some time to think about all the things you learned about yourself during this year. How has your writing changed? How have your routines changed? What strengths did you discover? What new skills did you develop? What have you learned about yourself that you want to cultivated and nurture? Tell Siobhan the good parts! And remember: you’ve survived this year and have found new ways to move forward despite the many hardships. That’s the best part. So what are your “good parts”?

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Snippet Sunday – Did You Call The Cops?

It’s time for Snippet Sunday. How was your Thanksgiving holiday? Hopefully it was good even when you stayed in and kept your community safe. We had a feast despite only the Muir family eating it and made Cinnamon Almond Star Bread and my MIL’s Apple Pie Bars. So good. Today I’m showcasing THE CONCRETE ANGEL, a cocky bikers holiday tale. This was supposed to be a short holiday novella, but as with most things in the MC, it gets complex fast. The full novel is now available! In this snippet, we’re in Rochelle’s POV (all in first person) and her best friend shows up after her interesting night. ~~~~~~ “Good morning, sunshine!” My best friend Joslyn didn’t do anything quiet, particularly mornings. I cracked my eyes open to find the clock and tried to make sense of the digital numbers. Was it really ten thirty? I never slept that late. I scrubbed my face with my hands and sat up, belatedly remembering I was naked as the covers fell to my waist. I hastily grabbed them as my nipples beaded in the cool air and I immediately looked around for Flint. My badass biker lover had disappeared, but a folded note with my name written in an elegant cursive scrawl sat beside my phone on the side table. Before I had time to grab it, Joslyn strode into my room. “Why are you still in bed? We have to go over the big holiday promo drive and wildlife benefit auction stuff.” She frowned and narrowed her dark brown eyes. “You look different. Your aura is all over the place. Shitty night last night?” I nodded with a grimace. “You could say that. A bunch of goons tried to throw me off a cliff.” She gasped and sat down on the bed. “Holy fuck! Did you call the cops?” “No. They had me hooded and gagged so I couldn’t see them.” “Shit. Do you have any clue who sent them after you?” She looked me over carefully as if checking for injuries. “Not much. They kept saying ‘boss-man hates witches.’” “Which could be any number of rich assholes in the United States.” “Exactly. So I’ll just have to focus on my goal.” “Which is?” “Shield Fort Collins from those kinds of mudfuckers.” “Oh, something simple then.” Joslyn grimaced. “I thought you went out with the Triple C ladies.” “I did. They found the hunky Santa on the train and the goons found me.” ~~~~~~~ At least her night ended well. 😉 There are several great authors on the Weekend Writer Warriors list, the Snippet Sunday Facebook group, and the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. A few of my favorites are, P.T. Wyant, Karen Michelle Nutt, Veronica Scott, Jessica Subject, Karysa Faire, and Iris Blobel. Here’s the blurb for THE CONCRETE ANGEL: Coming Soon! The weather outside is frightful, and so are the goons trying to toss me off a snowy cliff… Rochelle Stone, Earth Witch Speaking out against a local bigwig who’s terrified of witches when you actually are a witch attracts trouble. Only the timely intervention of a big, hot biker dude saves me from a modern-day execution. He says he’s security for the Concrete Angels Motorcycle Club, but I know he’s more than that. I’ve always had an affinity for stones, and my affinity for Flint is through the roof. He’s hard as a rock and my hands tingle when I touch him. He doesn’t speak aloud, but his talented hands tell me plenty… Now if I can just get the jackass trying to kill me off my back, it’ll be a golden holiday for sure. Humans. They’re either gloriously happy or dismally miserable. Flint, Concrete Angels’ Security With the holidays just around the corner, I’ve been looking for a quiet place to collect my thoughts. But that’s when Earl Creighton’s goons try to throw a woman off my local cliff. I normally don’t get involved with human troubles, but something about this woman captivates me beyond reason. We share a one-night stand and I know she’s meant to be mine. But Rochelle is no one’s property and she might not sign Loki’s contract. If she refuses, I’ll have to let her go and that will crack the foundation of my soul. No pressure, right? Havoc, hexes, and holidays: It’s the most wonderful time of year…

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Tattoo & Teddy Bear Tuesday: Brandon Schlaegel

Good morning! It’s a couple days to Thanksgiving in the U.S. and I’m giving thanks for hot men to make my weeks go so much better. This week, the hot Tattooed Hero is all intense teddy bear, and he’s here to warm you up and grant your fantasies all in one go. And those eyes? Sweet glory! Only 2 more days before Thanksgiving and it’s going to be a very different kind of celebration this year. But it’s a great time to reflect on what you’re grateful for this year, as hard as it’s been. I’m definitely grateful for my online friends and the romance books I’ve been able to read to stave off the challenges and setbacks. Meet Brandon Schlaegel. He’s on of the models for FURIOUS FOTOG and he makes a great shifter hero.  Brandon is available for romance cover images, and he’s not just a brooding bad boy. You can get this hot teddy bear man in all sorts of settings. Check him out. Can’t you just see him as a dragon, a werewolf, or saber-toothed cat shifter? *shiver* Thanks to Golden Czermak of Furious Fotog for the permission to share this image with all y’all. Happy Tattoo & Teddy Bear Tuesday!

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Annual Hot Teddy Bear Hero Giveaway Basket – 2020

It’s that time of year again, and what a year it’s been. The Annual Hot Teddy Bear Hero Giveaway Basket is ready to go and it’s all about healing and relaxing this year. Glory knows we all need it. So, what’s in the basket? Hot Teddy Bear Hero cuddly spa attendant Cloudburst Coffee & Spa paperback, signed Pink pottery travel mug Snowy Elk Vedauwoo Moon Coffee Aromatherapy LED Diffuser with essential oils Lavender silk scarf from India Peppermint Kiss Body Lotion, Bath Salts, and Shower Gel + Puff Hand crocheted Lavender Wash Cloth Siobhan Muir Stickers and Mask Here’s what you have to do to win the basket giveaway: Buy or Wishlist for MY FOREVER COCKY BIKER ENCOUNTER, Concrete Angels MC #1 on Amazon or Goodreads. Buy or Wishlist DUDE WITH A COOL CAR, Concrete Angels MC #2. Buy or Wishlist ANGEL INK, Concrete Angels MC #3. Tweet about the giveaway with this sample tweet: “It’s time for the Annual Hot Teddy Bear Hero Giveaway Basket! Drop by @SiobhanMuir’s blog and sign up for her #HotTeddyBearHero #Giveaway. Give yourself the gift of healing, and a #bookboyfriend to get you through. Stop by and RT today! https://siobhanmuir.com/?p=3325” Promote THE CONCRETE ANGEL on Twitter with this sample Tweet: “Everyone needs a guardian angel, but Rochelle gets THE CONCRETE ANGEL, the newest book in the #ConcreteAngelsMC series by @SiobhanMuir. Grab a copy today! #PNR #romance #holiday https://siobhanmuir.com/the-concrete-angel” Promote THE CONCRETE ANGEL on FB and MeWe with this sample post: “Everyone needs a guardian angel, even if it comes in the form of a badass biker in The Concrete Angel, the 4th book of the Concrete Angels MC from Siobhan Muir. Grab a copy and enjoy a hot gargoyle hero stoned by his Earth Witch. Paranormal romance and holiday cheer await your ereader! Grab a copy today. #PNR #holiday #ConcreteAngelsMC https://siobhanmuir.com/the-concrete-angel” Join Siobhan Muir’s newsletter: newsletter Leave a comment on this blog with where and how you promoted THE CONCRETE ANGEL and how you’re going to relax this holiday. Now the Nitty Gritty: The giveaway will go from Monday November 23 2020 to Thursday December 24 2020, 11:59 PM Mountain Time US. You must be 18 years or older to participate. Please void where prohibited. You will have 48 hours from the winner’s announcement to claim your prize. If not claimed, a new winner will be chosen. Don’t forget to leave your comment here on the blog of where and how you promoted, and how you’re planning to relax. Good luck!

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Snippet Sunday – Someone New Ghosted Upstairs

It’s time for Snippet Sunday and we’re decorating for the winter holidays by putting up lights before the snow comes. Do you decorate for the holidays? So today I’m showcasing THE CONCRETE ANGEL, a cocky bikers holiday tale. This was supposed to be a short holiday novella, but as with most things in the MC, it gets complex fast. So you get a full novel for this holiday season. THE CONCRETE ANGEL is available now. In this snippet, we’re in Flint’s POV (all in first person) and he’s come to work after leaving a note for Rochelle. He has the ability to see the past through energies and he’s looking for intruders at the Concrete Angels warehouse. ~~~~~~ The images condensed in front of my mind’s eye like smoky ghosts wandering around me. Mostly, the loft remained undisturbed with only the dust motes for company. But then Scott and his old lady Numbers had come up for a hot tryst against some old crates in the back corner. They moved around to another spot near one of the small windows the size of a 40-inch TV screen. They humped like rabbits for about twenty minutes before making out and returning downstairs with goofy smiles. I’d have to give him shit for that. Next Loki and Attila had come up and rearranged some of the crates, taking a few away and adding others with the help of some Scooters. Most of the crates looked like supplies to make the trust fund babies’ care packages. All pretty standard stuff. But about a week ago, someone new ghosted upstairs. The person wasn’t large, but they wore dark clothing to mask their appearance. Loose jeans covered the legs and a hoodie with the hood up finished the outfit. The person checked every box and crate upstairs, taking photos with their phone before creeping to the next pallet. Someone must have come in downstairs because the hooded figure ducked behind some unused pallets for a short time. I couldn’t sense what spooked them, but they hid for about an hour before tiptoeing to the railing and peering over just to the right of where I now stood. They affixed something to the underside of the railing overlooking the floor below before they skittered down the stairs. I waited to see if any more energy ghosts appeared in the loft, but nothing showed up until I arrived twenty minutes ago. I pulled myself out of the ley lines and turned to the railing. Everything appeared normal until I crouched to look at the underside. Bingo! ~~~~~~~ Oh ho, Attila wasn’t wrong and there was someone there. 😉 There are several great authors on the Weekend Writer Warriors list, the Snippet Sunday Facebook group, and the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. A few of my favorites are, P.T. Wyant, Karen Michelle Nutt, Veronica Scott, Jessica Subject, Karysa Faire, and Iris Blobel. Here’s the blurb for THE CONCRETE ANGEL: Coming Soon! The weather outside is frightful, and so are the goons trying to toss me off a snowy cliff… Rochelle Stone, Earth Witch Speaking out against a local bigwig who’s terrified of witches when you actually are a witch attracts trouble. Only the timely intervention of a big, hot biker dude saves me from a modern-day execution. He says he’s security for the Concrete Angels Motorcycle Club, but I know he’s more than that. I’ve always had an affinity for stones, and my affinity for Flint is through the roof. He’s hard as a rock and my hands tingle when I touch him. He doesn’t speak aloud, but his talented hands tell me plenty… Now if I can just get the jackass trying to kill me off my back, it’ll be a golden holiday for sure. Humans. They’re either gloriously happy or dismally miserable. Flint, Concrete Angels’ Security With the holidays just around the corner, I’ve been looking for a quiet place to collect my thoughts. But that’s when Earl Creighton’s goons try to throw a woman off my local cliff. I normally don’t get involved with human troubles, but something about this woman captivates me beyond reason. We share a one-night stand and I know she’s meant to be mine. But Rochelle is no one’s property and she might not sign Loki’s contract. If she refuses, I’ll have to let her go and that will crack the foundation of my soul. No pressure, right? Havoc, hexes, and holidays: It’s the most wonderful time of year…

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#ThursThreads – Week 440 – Winners

Week 440 of #ThursThreads had many fantastic tales. I’m honored to see all the writers come to tie a tale as we start our ninth year. If you’ve been doing it a while, thank you for sticking with us. If you’ve just found us, welcome! May you come back again and write more great flash. Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc. Entries: Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea Silver James | @SilverJames_ Teresa Eccles | @TeresaMEccles Mark A. Morris David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil Kelly Heinen | @Aightball Catherine Ducourau | @cathducourau Katheryn J. Avila | @katheryn_avila M.T. Decker | @mishmhem Honorable Mentions Katheryn J. Avila | @katheryn_avila Siobhan says: I’ve been in the position of not wanting to show anyone my work before it’s finished, so I get her hesitance. But the twist at the end, that the music is volatile and could “backfire” really grabbed me. Nicely done in so few words. David Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Siobhan says: Reading these tales I often expect the story to work out for the characters, but this one took a dark turn with a littler reminder that sometimes the “bad guy” wins. The question is, who is the “bad guy” here? Great story. winner announcement Week 440 Winner M.T. Decker | @mishmhem Siobhan says: I’m usually not a fan of poetry. As a person who reads and writes prose, poetry often makes me roll my eyes. But the rare exceptions are the poems that make me think, that hint at more than they say, and whisper about truths hidden just beyond their face-value. This tale was like that and led me to introspection and contemplation. Well done. Not What I Expected You keep your little secrets, In a jar by the door, They litter your life So you tried to round them up But you can never keep them straight. The big secrets, those have a way of getting out And then life is never the same. Your little secrets make you feel safe Make you feel kind But the real secrets, Those are the ones that could kill So you keep your little secrets, Where everyone can see While you go on safari To hunt the big ones down. They lie in weight Too massive to ignore They lie in time Fading in and out of sight. The little secrets won’t kill you But they can hurt you just the same It’s the big ones that shatter It’s the big ones that break So you hunt them in the dark Knowing you can’t outrun the truth. ~~~~~~~ Congratulations Fourteen Time Winner M.T., and Honorable Mentions Katheryn and David! Don’t forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it! Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, MeWe, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 🙂

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#ThursThreads – Tying Tales Together – Week 440

Welcome back to the home of Weird, Wild, & Wicked Tales. Today is Thursday and that means it’s time to start flashing. We’re at the beginning of our ninth year of weekly prompts. It’s amazing we’ve gone this long! This is Week 440 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Want to keep up each week? Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook and the Group on MeWe. Just a quick note: There will be no #ThursThreads next week due to the Thanksgiving Holiday. Need the rules? Read on. Here’s how it works: The prompt is a line from the previous week’s winning tale. The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count. The prompt must be used as is. It can be split, but no intervening words can be inserted or tenses changed. Rules to the Game: This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250. The story must be new writing, not a snippet from something published elsewhere with the prompt added. Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count). Post your story in the comments section of this post Include your word count in the post (or be excluded from judging) Include your Twitter handle or email in the post (so we don’t have to look for you) The challenge is open 7 AM to 8 PM Mountain Time The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up. How it benefits you: You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we’re all about promotion – you know you are!) You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog! Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Twitter, MeWe, and Google Plus, etc. Our Judge for Week 440: Scottish Word Slinger, Dauntless romance author, and #ThursThreads host, Siobhan Muir. Facebook | Twitter | Patreon | EdenBooks | And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together. The Prompt: “Keep your little secrets.” All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Comments do not represent the views of the host and the host reserves the right to remove any content. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

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Tattoo & Teddy Bear Tuesday: Will T.

Good morning! It’s Tuesday again and life just wouldn’t be complete without a hot man to enjoy. You need a boost to your week after all. This week, the hot man is all teddy bear, and he has a beard and long hair, too! *happy sigh* He makes my week better. The year is getting closer to the end and I’m ready for the calendar to shift over to the new year. Why? Because it’s a chance to let go of the astounding fiasco that was 2020 and put our best foot forward for 2021. This has been a learning year, full of struggles and setbacks, but that means the next year will be an improvement even by a little bit. Here’s hoping. Meet Will T. He’s one of PAUL HENRY SERRES PHOTOGRAPHY‘s models (and one of my favorites) and he makes a great bad boy hero, a boudoir lover, or a fantastic billionaire hero. Will is available for romance cover images, and he will be appearing on one of my Concrete Angels MC covers. Have you a hero in mind for Will? Thanks to Paul Henry Serres Photography for the permission to share this image with all y’all. Happy Tattoo & Teddy Bear Tuesday!

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Monday Motivation – Halfway There!

Great Horned Owl taking flight from Prickly Pear cactus pads. Text: Monday Motivation: Jumpstart your week! https://siobhanmuir.com

Good morning! Got your coffee? Got your word count started? How is #NaNoWriMo going? I know two of those questions are tricky and I totally feel you. But you’re halfway there! When your mind is shot, your fingers are tired, and your characters are milling around like people waiting for the main event, you’re halfway to the finish line. I know that doesn’t sound great as there’s still as much ahead as there is behind, but you’re closer to the finish line and that’s a lot. But it’s 2020 and that makes everything harder. Believe me, I know. I had to figure out a way to get my word count goals that wouldn’t totally burn me out. Because I want to keep this up when there’s no #NaNoWriMo energy out there egging me on. I’m a big fan of flash fiction. Not only is it a way to practice writing short, it also tightens up my writing. In flash fiction, there’s a limited amount of words to get the story across and no space to waste them on filler words like “just”, “was”, and “that”. Each entry is often anywhere from 100 words to 500, but it’s not a lot of story. I figured if I can write a flash fiction piece (about 200 words) I’d only need 8 of those to hit the minimum word count for #NaNoWriMo, and I could count them down by checking my word count. It made it a lot easier to hit my goal. What tricks have you figured out to get to your goal and keep writing?

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Snippet Sunday – Where Are You?

It’s time for Snippet Sunday. And it seems like forever since I had a book threatening to come out. But I do! Woohoo!! Have you gotten your copy yet? So today I’m showcasing THE CONCRETE ANGEL, a cocky bikers holiday tale. And it’s available now! In this snippet, we’re in Flint’s POV (all in first person) after his night with Rochelle and it’s time to go to work. ~~~~~~ Something buzzed incessantly in the room and I wondered if Rochelle had set an alarm to get up. I opened my eyes and looked around her bedroom with the fairy lights still glowing in the early morning darkness. Nothing moved. Not even Rochelle. She lay curled up on her side and just the curve of her hip made my cock stand up with enthusiasm. But the buzzing started again and I rolled out of the bed to find my phone. I fished it out from under her sweater and read the notification. Loki. I wasn’t surprised he’d texted. I usually didn’t stay away from the compound longer than a couple of hours, being security. He must’ve been shitting purple bricks by the time he got around to texting. I unlocked the phone and read his message, snorting with amusement. Where the fuck are you? I tapped out a response with the same love and care he’d shown. Getting laid. Why? I didn’t expect him to respond right away so I set about getting dressed. While I didn’t feel the cold, most humans had an issue with a rock hard, ripped naked man wandering around. They were too uptight in my opinion, but I’d lived around them long enough to realize they weren’t going to change. I’d brought my cut into Rochelle’s home, but my extra shirt remained in the paniers on my bike. I shoved my feet into my boots just as my phone chirped with another text. Det er bra. I hope it was good because I need you down at the southside shop. Scott and Attila are packing up some product for distribution and I want extra security. I nodded. Since Backlog started using us as scapegoats for their illegal shit we’d stepped up our vigilance. ~~~~~~~ Oh, they only take credit for their own bad actions. 😉 There are several great authors on the Weekend Writer Warriors list, the Snippet Sunday Facebook group, and the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. A few of my favorites are, P.T. Wyant, Karen Michelle Nutt, Veronica Scott, Jessica Subject, Karysa Faire, and Iris Blobel. Here’s the blurb for THE CONCRETE ANGEL: Coming Soon! The weather outside is frightful, and so are the goons trying to toss me off a snowy cliff… Rochelle Stone, Earth Witch Speaking out against a local bigwig who’s terrified of witches when you actually are a witch attracts trouble. Only the timely intervention of a big, hot biker dude saves me from a modern-day execution. He says he’s security for the Concrete Angels Motorcycle Club, but I know he’s more than that. I’ve always had an affinity for stones, and my affinity for Flint is through the roof. He’s hard as a rock and my hands tingle when I touch him. He doesn’t speak aloud, but his talented hands tell me plenty… Now if I can just get the jackass trying to kill me off my back, it’ll be a golden holiday for sure. Humans. They’re either gloriously happy or dismally miserable. Flint, Concrete Angels’ Security With the holidays just around the corner, I’ve been looking for a quiet place to collect my thoughts. But that’s when Earl Creighton’s goons try to throw a woman off my local cliff. I normally don’t get involved with human troubles, but something about this woman captivates me beyond reason. We share a one-night stand and I know she’s meant to be mine. But Rochelle is no one’s property and she might not sign Loki’s contract. If she refuses, I’ll have to let her go and that will crack the foundation of my soul. No pressure, right? Havoc, hexes, and holidays: It’s the most wonderful time of year…

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