Month: September 2022

#ThursThreads – Tying Tales Together – Week 530

Posted on by Siobhan Muir

Welcome back to the home of Paranormal & Dauntless Romance. Wow. Year 10. A whole decade. I’m astounded. Today is Thursday and that means it’s time to start flashing, like we have for 10 whole years. It’s amazing we’ve gone this long! This is Week 530 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. 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 530: Fantasy Author, and Holder of Several Stories, David Ludwig. Facebook | Twitter And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together. The Prompt: “It’s a long way down.” 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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Snippet Sunday – Hi, Can I Help?

Posted on by Siobhan Muir

It’s time for Snippet Sunday and I’m celebrating a new release! The next Flip the Trope anthology is here. Featuring authors Virginia Nelson, Celia Breslin, Megan Slayer, Louise McGinnis, Briana Ellis, Ben Bisbee, David von Schlichten, and of course, me. My story is MR. FIXIT’S BILLIONAIRE, a billionaire contemporary romance where the blue collar character is the hero and the billionaire who rescues him, the heroine. In this snippet, Mike Everslee, single dad, is dealing with classist bureaucracy. We’ve all been here. ~~~~~~ “I’m real sorry, Mrs. Gale. I only have twenty dollars I can spare right now. But I can get the rest to you on Monday. Best I can do.” “Mr. Everslee, I’m sure I don’t have to remind you that you’re here under scholarship conditions, which means—” “That means I’m on a budget, Mrs. Gale, a budget that requires I only pay twenty now and the rest on Monday.” He hoped his voice remained calm and steady, despite the mounting anger and embarrassment rising in his chest. “No, that won’t do. All the other parents chipped in, and you can’t just—” “Hi, can I help?” A new voice cut off Mrs. Gale’s tirade mid-sentence. “What seems to be the problem?” Mike turned his head to find an elegant woman who stood almost his height in a purple hoodie, matching purple chucks, faded jeans, and light makeup. She had sharp hazel eyes with the brown more gold and the green close to spring green, and an athletic body that made him take notice. This woman is strong in more than just personality. “Oh, Ms. Pendleton, there’s nothing really wrong. Just a misunderstanding about the theatre fees.” Mrs. Gale’s voice softened, and she suddenly became helpful and solicitous. It’s not a misunderstanding so much as a lack of understanding. But he kept his mouth shut. “What kind of misunderstanding?” Ms. Pendleton kept looking at Mrs. Gale with her clear and determined gaze. “It’s nothing to worry yourself about. I’m sure it’ll just take a moment to rectify.” “I’m sure. What’s the problem?” The younger woman wasn’t giving an inch. “I’m sure you know our policy on theatre fees for costumes. All parents must pay a forty-five dollar fee per semester to help with the costumes before the first production. I’m sure it’s just an oversight on Mr. Everslee’s part.” Mrs. Gale gave an ingratiating smirk. If she says ‘I’m sure’ one more time, I’m gonna puke. ~~~~~~~ I’m with him on that one. 😉 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, Karysa Faire, and Iris Blobel. Here’s the blurb for MR. FIXIT’S BILLIONAIRE in the FLIP THE TROPE: ENDLESS SUMMER Anthology: Available Now LEARN MORE Amanda Pendleton is more than just a pretty face. She’s the president of a wildly successful office supply company, a doting single mom, and a billionaire. All great qualities. Too bad they weren’t enough to keep her deceased father from making stipulations in his will. If she wants to retain ownership of her company, she must find a husband before the next board meeting. Easy peasy, right? Mike Everslee is a single dad, the manager at Mr. Fixit’s Hardware, and a hard-working guy just trying to make ends meet. But none of it affords him the discretionary income to pay the fees at his daughter’s preparatory school. When his daughter’s friend’s mom offers to pay the theatre fees and take them out to dinner, he’s just glad for a rare night out. But Amanda shows up with an astounding proposal—marry her in the next five weeks and stay with her for a year so she can save her company. If he does, she’ll set him up with a new house, a new truck, and pay his daughter’s fees and tuition until high school. Get a ready-made family, a sister for his daughter, and a beautiful successful wife, all for the price of a year-long marriage. What could go wrong?

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#ThursThreads – Week 529 – Winners

Posted on by Siobhan Muir

Week 529 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’re in Year 10 and that’s an accomplishment in itself! Thank you to all y’all for coming back to write for all these years. I couldn’t have done it without you. If you’ve just found us, welcome to the crew! You’re in good company. May you come back again and write more great flash. A thousand thanks to Bill Engleson for judging this week. Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc. Entries: Nicola M. Cameron | @YesItsNicolaC Richard Gibney | @ragtaggiggagon Mark A. Morris Joseph P. Garland | @JPGarlandAuthor Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir Silver James | @SilverJames_ Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Bill says: It’s late September and, in my neck of the woods, it is still reasonably warm. We have had very few rainy days in the past two months. The earth is as dry as a word-parched writer. However, we are known as the “wet” coast of Canada, and the rain is a regular feature. It will come. I had hoped that there would be an epidemic of noirish contributions for me to judge. That would have kept me smack dab in my literary comfort zone.  Alas, that was not to be. There were however a plethora of relatively unfamiliar world views that I was happy to enter and visualise. So many thanks for that. Onward to my decisions… Honorable Mentions David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Bill says: Love in universes I am unversed in are challenging. In David’s snapshot of love and risk, I found that while I didn’t need to fully understand the turf, whether it was fantasy or real, the emotions of the two ‘lovers,’ Mukuro and Karasu, were lovingly depicted. “She looked away bashfully but didn’t let go. Her heart raced. His matched hers. Unlike Karasu, Mukuro didn’t have a pseudodragon to let her know what he was feeling.“   I am still working on the notion of pseudodragon…just can’t picture it. Silver James | @SilverJames_ Bill says: Silver is a skilled writer who creates complex emotional scenes with a few deft strokes of the pen. In the aftermath of a SEAL Team Atlantis operation, the survivors reflect on fallen comrades. She incorporates the prompt as a vessel to take us to memory. And a promise to protect as she wraps up her entry: “I can’t let you fall alone.” The words came back to haunt him. He’d let his brother down. He’d let him fall. Alone. Warm lips touched the skin of his face. He blinked. Focused. All eyes watched him. He shifted, put his arm across Meg’s shoulders. “A brother,” he said. “Who fell into darkness.” “I’ll never let you fall,” Meg promised. I figure this is something a hard-boiled Sam Spade could easily get behind. winner announcement Week 529 Winner Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears Bill says: I like humour. I easily ‘fell” for Mark’s jaunty tale of Donna’s ‘fall from grace’ on Miranda. Mostly though I felt that he used the prompt, a quite unwieldly phrase, with slightly more ease than the other contributors…“Damn-it, woman! You know damn well I can’t let you fall alone! It’s a long damn walk back!” I will acknowledge, however, that Siobhan handled it quite adeptly. I do have to wonder why Miranda sounds like the old Canadian Mining company, Noranda? I don’t know, just as I didn’t know Miranda was one of the moons of Uranus. Uranus is always hilarious though…in the right sort of company. As are Uranus moonings! When we were growing up, we’d always wanted to be astronauts, exploring the planets and their moons. That’s how we wound up walking on Miranda, working on a detailed mineral inventory for one of SpaceX’s mining companies. “It’s a pretty view, isn’t it?” Donna paused and looked over the edge of the Verona Rupes. “Yep. 20 kilometers. It’s a long way down.” She laughed. “I want a better view.” I watched as she walked right along the edge of the cliff. “Not a great idea, you know. There could be loose rock.” “I’ll be careful.” She continued walking along the edge. Until she found the loose rock, which gave way under her foot, and I watched as she pitched forward, over the edge of the cliff. “Well, damn…” That’s all I could say. If she’d fallen on any Earth, or Mars, I’d have waved bye to her, and called for a team to come fetch her remains. But this was Miranda. I walked off the cliff after her. “Damn-it, woman! You know damn well I can’t let you fall alone! It’s a long damn walk back!” I wondered how long it would take to reach the bottom. I’d never fallen in such weak gravity before. All Donna could say was, “Oops. Sorry. Good thing the suits recycle the air.” “Maybe we can try to catch something on the cliff, and stop our falls?” Donna laughed. “Where’s the fun in that?” ~~~~~~~ Congratulations Fourteen Time Winner Mark, and Honorable Mentions David, and Silver! 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 529

Posted on by Siobhan Muir

Welcome back to the home of Paranormal & Dauntless Romance. Wow. Year 10. A whole decade. I’m astounded. Today is Thursday and that means it’s time to start flashing, like we have for 10 whole years. It’s amazing we’ve gone this long! This is Week 529 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. 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 529: Slightly past-it Canuck and word chucker, Bill Engleson. Facebook | Twitter And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together. The Prompt: “I can’t let you fall alone.” 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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600+ Free Books for One Day Only!

Posted on by Siobhan Muir

Yup, you read that right. 600+ free ebooks to fill up your ereaders. I know the cowboy pic says only 500+ but hey, even 500+ is a damn good deal! And what’s a 100 books between friends? So head on over to RomanceBookworms and grab your 600+ books – including STAR LIGHT STAR BRIGHT – from your favorite retailer. This is a great way to get to know new-to-you authors and fill up your ereaders without spending a dime. I found some great tales by Genevieve Turner, Kate Pearce, and Zoe York the last time I checked this out. Now I’m part of the crew doing it and you get to benefit from it as well. Fill your ereader, get your books, and happy reading!

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Snippet Sunday – Aw Do I Have To?

Posted on by Siobhan Muir

It’s time for Snippet Sunday and I’m celebrating a new release! The next Flip the Trope anthology is here. Featuring authors Virginia Nelson, Celia Breslin, Megan Slayer, Louise McGinnis, Briana Ellis, Ben Bisbee, David von Schlichten, and of course, me. My story is MR. FIXIT’S BILLIONAIRE, a billionaire contemporary romance where the blue collar character is the hero and the billionaire who rescues him, the heroine. In this snippet, Mike Everslee is a single dad with all the worries of raising a kid on his own. ~~~~~~Mike Everslee stared at the bills in front of him and sighed. They were never-ending and he just barely made enough to cover the important ones. Like his truck payment, the insurance, the electricity for his rental house, and his cellphone/internet. Thank goodness both he and Sierra were healthy. Goddess only knew what would happen if emergency medical bills dropped on top of everything else. Orthodontia for Sierra would be bad enough. “Aren’t you gonna eat, Daddy? I don’t wanna be late.” Sierra swallowed her mac and cheese, from the box as per her insistence, and fixed him with a gimlet eye. “I’m not hungry, but you eat up. I’ll be ready to go when you finish.” He set the bills aside and waved at her plate. “Aww, do I have to?” Her lips pulled into a pout. “Yup, and you’ll have to wash your hands and your face afterwards. Are you wearing your mac and cheese or eating it?” He wrinkled his nose at the cascade of orange cheese goop everywhere. “I’m eating it, Daddy.” She picked up her fork. “Hmm, coulda fooled me. Here.” He helped her use a napkin to wipe the worst of it off her hands. “Finish up and we’ll go.” “Okay.” Sierra tucked into her food again and he smiled. It didn’t matter how hard things got, Sierra was worth every effort and worry. He rose and grabbed himself a protein bar from the pantry. It wasn’t supper, not really, but it would hold him until Sierra was in bed. When I can start worrying about the bills again.~~~~~~~ Oh, man, we’ve all been 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, Karysa Faire, and Iris Blobel. Here’s the blurb for MR. FIXIT’S BILLIONAIRE in the FLIP THE TROPE: ENDLESS SUMMER Anthology: Available Sept 12 2022 LEARN MORE Amanda Pendleton is more than just a pretty face. She’s the president of a wildly successful office supply company, a doting single mom, and a billionaire. All great qualities. Too bad they weren’t enough to keep her deceased father from making stipulations in his will. If she wants to retain ownership of her company, she must find a husband before the next board meeting. Easy peasy, right? Mike Everslee is a single dad, the manager at Mr. Fixit’s Hardware, and a hard-working guy just trying to make ends meet. But none of it affords him the discretionary income to pay the fees at his daughter’s preparatory school. When his daughter’s friend’s mom offers to pay the theatre fees and take them out to dinner, he’s just glad for a rare night out. But Amanda shows up with an astounding proposal—marry her in the next five weeks and stay with her for a year so she can save her company. If he does, she’ll set him up with a new house, a new truck, and pay his daughter’s fees and tuition until high school. Get a ready-made family, a sister for his daughter, and a beautiful successful wife, all for the price of a year-long marriage. What could go wrong?

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#ThursThreads – Week 528 – Winners

Posted on by Siobhan Muir

Week 528 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’re in Year 10 and that’s an accomplishment in itself! Thank you to all y’all for coming back to write for all these years. I couldn’t have done it without you. If you’ve just found us, welcome to the crew! You’re in good company. May you come back again and write more great flash. A thousand thanks to Mary Decker for judging this week. Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc. Entries: Miya Kressin | @miya_kressin Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil Mark A. Morris Silver James | @SilverJames_ Joseph P. Garland | @JPGarlandAuthor David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Mary says: Once again, I am delighted and honored to sit here reading your stories. I have learned so much over the years reading and writing flash, seeing so many talented writers’ work week after week- watching it grow— and shrink to fit the confines of Flash. Y’all are inspiring, and you never make my job easy. Thank you!  Honorable Mention Joseph P. Garland | @JPGarlandAuthor Mary says: This story is short, sweet and one— I’m pretty sure each of us have lived at one point in our lives. Well done. winner announcement Week 528 Winner Miya Kressin | @miya_kressin Mary says: This story is amazing – the way it conveys not only the images, but the depths of emotion. Each time I read it – I see something more. Layers are hard enough – but within the constraints of Flash, it means so much more. “Your wing— what is wrong with it?” I unfurl my wings so that I can see them, and even knowing exactly what I’m going to see doesn’t brace me for the mottled appearance. Where pristine white feathers had been, hints of gray and black have begun, and I can feel the fire burning deeper toward the muscles that control them. “I need to pack what I can take with me,” is what I say instead. It’s easier than to say that I’m transitioning… falling. Maybe I was falling for her, but most likely I was falling for me. I could have denied her, could have done anything except put what she needed above my duty. Instead, I gave in to the need she kindled in my flesh. “You’re falling.” I turn away before I can see the tears in my best friend’s eyes. “Are you falling to Earth or deeper?” Given what I’ve done, the work the other angels will have ahead of them… “Definitely deeper. There’s a chance of a Nephilim.” His curse booms off my chamber walls and cracks the plaster. “I’ll help you fly down. I don’t think you can manage it, not with as far as the hellfire has eaten your wings.” “You’ll be punished. They might make you fall.” He reaches out and hesitantly runs a finger over an unblemished feather. “You’re my best friend. I can’t let you fall alone.”~~~~~~~ Congratulations Eight Time Winner Miya, and Honorable Mention Joseph! 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 528

Posted on by Siobhan Muir

Welcome back to the home of Paranormal & Dauntless Romance. Wow. Year 10. A whole decade. I’m astounded. Today is Thursday and that means it’s time to start flashing, like we have for 10 whole years. It’s amazing we’ve gone this long! This is Week 528 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. 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 528: Computer geek, bass player, historical reenactor, and flash fiction writer, Mary Decker. Facebook | Twitter | And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together. The Prompt: “Maybe I was falling for her.” 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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Siobhan Muir’s #ThursThreads Tales from August 2022

Posted on by Siobhan Muir

Welcome to the monthly round up of all my #ThursThreads tales. Well, we’ve made it to September, but it doesn’t feel like it. I live in Wyoming and we’re experiencing a massive heatwave (96 F at 6300 ft elevation in September?!). Something is definitely off and with no AC in the house, it’s not fun for us. I’m ready for Fall! As usual, most of these bits are of upcoming tales, written to prompts from the #ThursThreads #flashfiction challenge I host each Thursday. We’re starting with Week 523 through Week 525 and I’ve collected them in one place. August had four Thursdays, but I went on vacation in the middle and was traveling. So, here are three tales along with their dates and prompts. Happy reading! ~~~~~~~~~~ Week 523, August 4, 2022 Prompt: “All things considered.” “I’ll do better next time.” She looked at Brandon solemnly. “I think you believe that. I think you might try to change yourself. But I don’t think you’ll change if I stay here tonight. I’m pretty sure you’ll believe the matter settled and nothing will be different.” He opened his mouth to protest but she held up a hand. “No, you need time alone to think about this. It’s important to me that I have backup, that someone sees me as a full person, not just a pair of breasts and a pussy. I need someone in my life who has my back, who stands up for me when others tell stories, and who doesn’t doubt me when I bring up problems. You’re just not there yet, Brandon.” Shaking her head, Iliana opened the suite door. “I’ll see you in the morning. Get some sleep. I’m sure tomorrow will be a trying day. Or it won’t. Either way, you need your rest. Good night.” “Please, Iliana, stay.” “No.” She shook her head and strode away from him down the hallway. Her heart ached like someone had stabbed her. Hell, it felt worse than Ahmad’s strike against her side. She took a deep breath to keep the tears from gathering in her eyes and spilling over. Tears might be her release valve, but everyone else would see them as weakness and ‘womanly emotion.’ All things considered, even the tears probably wouldn’t be enough. Misogyny and sexism suck. 247 #IvoryRoad words ~~~~~~~~~~ Week 524, August 11, 2022 Prompt: “How am I doing so far?” Istvan nodded. “Truly. I’d rather be down here with the Necros and the flesh raiders. They tend to leave me alone once I kill a few of them off.” “They come here?” Niklas gaped. “Yeah. About every couple of months until winter gets going, then it’s weekly. They’re looking for shelter and food and shit they can trade, which doesn’t include my books, so they hope to use them for fire fuel.” “Where did you get all the books?” “I scrounged them from the various buildings in the ground cities I passed through and revisited. Once I found an entire library that still had most of its fiction section.” Istvan smirked. “Previous residents had burned most of the reference and textbook sections. Guess they had an issue with learning.” He shook his head. “Fools. Would’ve been nice to have that information now.” He shrugged as he pointed at the book in Niklas’s hands. “That was one of the most recent history books that talked about New Terra. It was truly a marvel of engineering and ingenuity. They had solar cells to help recharge the batteries so if you see it some nights with lights on, that’s why.” Istvan pressed a hand to Niklas’s forehead. “It feels like the fever’s broken. All we need to do now is get your strength up.” “How am I doing?” “So far, I think you’re on the mend. We’ll start solid foods tomorrow. Right now, you need nutrients, water, and rest.” 247 #WIP500 words ~~~~~~~~~~ Week 525, August 18, 2022 Prompt: “No bones broken.” “Right, let’s get to it.” Brandon collected his and Iliana’s plates and rose. “Give me a moment, Rory, and I’ll help you to the library or wherever you’d like to go.” “Thank you, Master Crowe, but I’m sure I can hobble to the library on my own.” Iliana shifted in her chair as she prepared to get up. He nodded. “I know you can, but I’d prefer there are no bones broken in the attempt, and I’d like to make sure you get there without incident.” She wanted to ask if he also wanted to spend a little more time with her, but the rumor mill was already talking about him escorting her to breakfast. No need to add to it. “All right. I’ll wait and finish my coffee.” The other men nodded to her, though Jorden gave her a thoughtful look before everyone left for their respective tasks. Iliana did her best to keep her expression clear of her thoughts. She sipped her coffee as she waited for Brandon to return, feeling a little more relaxed than she had in weeks. “Master Rory?” She glanced up to find Naomi, William, and Esteban waiting beside the table. “Good morning. What can I do for you all?” William cleared his throat but didn’t say anything until Naomi nudged him. “Uh, well, we wanted to be sure you were okay, and…” He blushed. “And to let you know the rumors about you and Master Crowe have returned,” Naomi added. 247 #IvoryRoad words

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**RELEASE DAY** Flip The Trope: Endless Summer

Posted on by Siobhan Muir

It’s Release Day for FLIP THE TROPE: ENDLESS SUMMER anthology. Woohoo! I’m so pleased this anthology is out in time for the sit-bundled-up-and-read season! 😀 I’ve been waiting a long time for this day and so glad it’s finally here. This is the second flipped trope anthology, but it’s the first time I’ve written a contemporary billionaire romance. But it’s not your typical billionaire romance. She’s the billionaire, he’s the blue collar single dad who needs a rescue. Here’s the blurb: Some of us are feeling the fall vibes, but is it too late to enjoy some vacation fun? Never! Let’s go back to the beach with these eight brand-new romances—and each one flips at least one trope. From sweet contemporary romance to spicy paranormals, with LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC representation, this anthology has a little bit of everything. Each story is marked with genre, heat level, and romantic pairing, so settle down to have your expectations twisted and fall in love with unusual heroes. Excerpt of Mr. Fixit’s Billionaire After Michelle left, Amanda settled herself in her chair and straightened her clothes. “Show time.” “Are you sure you want to mention why you need this meeting short? It will just play into Walter’s biases about single mothers and business.” Zoe settled herself into a chair just to Amanda’s right and crossed her legs. Amanda bit her lip. “I suppose I could say I have a prior engagement that can’t be missed.” “Go with that.” Zoe nodded. “Subterfuge might work better in this instance, at least until you know what game you’re playing.” “Got it.” Amanda took a deep breath. “Here we go.” She pressed the intercom button to alert Michelle she was ready. Thirty seconds later, Walter and his bejeweled and be-gelled son Evan sauntered into the office. Walter kept a polite smile on his face, but Evan smirked like he’d just been given a new Ducati for winning a spelling bee. And that’s pretty much all he’s good at these days. Well, that and spending money on drugs and alcohol. “Thank you for seeing us so promptly, Amanda. You ran out so quickly from the lawyer’s office, I didn’t get a chance to talk to you.” The mild rebuke after his underhanded actions grated over her like nails against a chalkboard. “Yes, well, I had arrangements to make, and they couldn’t wait since pertinent information was knowingly withheld from me.” She didn’t even bother to smile. Walter pretended to be contrite. “Ah, yes, sorry about that. The lawyer wasn’t supposed to wait quite this long, but you’re just so busy, it was hard to get a hearing date.” Oh, hell no, you’re not going to pin this on me. “Amazing that we have so many modes of communication in this century, isn’t it? Email, telephone. I understand texting is now a thing. Have you heard of it?” She picked up her phone and waved it. “You can even carry your phone in your pocket or purse. Amazing.” She dropped the false light note in her voice. “What do you want, Walter?” “So direct.” He tsked like she was an errant child. “If I was a man, you wouldn’t be censorious or dismissive, so cut the crap and get to the point. Why are you here?” He settled an earnest expression on his face. “Ah yes, well, given the new parameters of the company remaining in your hands, I thought I’d make it easy for you and suggest an amicable solution for everyone involved.” “An amicable solution? What would that be?” She didn’t move, resisting the urge to hurl her blown glass paperweight at his head. “The company has always been profitable when run by a single family, and given your need for a husband, and Evan’s need for a wife, it would be easiest if you married him.” Walter smiled as if he’d solved all the riddles of the universe. “I’d be honored to have you as a daughter-in-law.” Amanda immediately bit her tongue to keep from barking out a guffaw. Marry Evan Tisdale? Not in a million years, not for all of China’s gold, not if Evan was the last male on the planet. She’d marry Zoe first, and she didn’t even swing that way. “Thank you for the offer, Walter, but as it happens, I already have a boyfriend. He wouldn’t take kindly to me throwing him over for your son.” Amanda shrugged. “So, there’ll be no need for Evan to sacrifice his freedom to be married to me.” “Oh, I won’t be sacrificing anything—” “Evan, please, let me finish this negotiation.” Walter cut his son off and lost some of his warm smile. “Amanda, be reasonable. Five weeks isn’t a lot of time to get a wedding together that befits a woman of your stature.” She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “What are you suggesting?” “Agree to marry Evan and the shares remain in your possession. No harm, no foul.” And Walter gets the company either way. She pretended to consider. “I’ll need some time to think about it. I’ll call you with my answer as soon as I have one.” He narrowed his eyes. “How much time are we talking here? A few days? A week?” She gave him her best winning smile. “As soon as I have an answer for you, I’ll call you. Or email. Maybe even text. Now, you’ll have to excuse me. I have a prior engagement that cannot be missed, and I can’t be late. As you noted, I’m a very busy woman.” She rose and gestured toward the door. “Oh, yes, of course.” Walter rose as well while Evan leisurely climbed to his feet, leering at her. Walter straightened his tie and his shoulders. “Please, take all the time you need to consider all your options. This could be a very lucrative partnership.” Amanda nodded with her smile cemented in place as the two men sauntered out the door. As soon as it closed, she lost her smile…

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