Muse was originally the title for a very different story, but that story wasn’t working within my time (and energy) deadlines. I found myself staring at a blank page wondering how to get the theme of this story in my head, while keeping to the spirit of renewal.

Sometimes, I get in my own way a bit.

When I was younger, I worked in the music industry for a while, in my “care and feeding of rock stars” phase. I did everything from working as a production assistant for a major outdoor summer venue, to being a personal assistant to talent, and everything in between.

I’m very drawn to rock star romance, but I tend to like to read about older heroes (30 plus, and yes, that makes me wince too!) and there aren’t as many books about older rock stars out there. Since I’ve always believed in the principle of writing what I’d want to read, I was pretty certain this would be a rock star romance, but I had no idea who, what, or how.

Looking over last year’s NaNoWriMo story (as yet unfinished—so many stories, so little time!) inspired me, and I closed my eyes, imagining what would happen if the very worst thing imaginable happened at a rock concert.
And Muse was transformed.

I’m very lucky to have been able to attend several shows from my favorite band in the last few years, and have been blessed with excellent seats. This weekend, I attended a show and was seated in the front row. Right in front of me was a bank of speakers, about three feet high. The stage was probably four feet in height. Great for leaning on at the end of the show, but I digress.

During the change up between songs the full band played, and several solo spots from the various uber-talented vocalists, a keyboard was brought to the front and several roadies had to work hard and fast to get the keyboard and mic set up. Trust me, these guys work hard and efficiently, and it is usually less than three minutes to do this.

One of the roadies, while setting up the mic stand, took a step backward. He was right at the very edge of the stage, tumbled off headfirst, hit the speakers on his way down, and landed on his back and head. Within a few feet of me. He lay there stunned for a minute or two amidst cries of “don’t move” while several of us rushed over.

It was a very surreal moment. As the roadie shook off the help, I glanced up at the stage and the band members were there, very concerned. Fortunately—very fortunately—roadie Pete was okay and returned to the stage amidst cheers and applause. Thank god he’s okay. If the stage had been only a foot or two higher, or he’d fallen just a little bit differently, I might be typing a much sadder blog post.

It was very surreal and strange when, after a post-concert nosh at a restaurant, a friend brought up Muse, and how strange it was that the book was so close to release. As roadie Pete was just fine, we got into a long discussion about how I’d wondered how I would react when writing Muse, and how I’d reacted more like Blayze than I’d expected.
The opening scene to Muse came to me one evening. I could see it playing out in my head, as if in a movie, where the surreality of the situation. I frantically started writing, hoping to get the scene down before it faded away.

And Muse was born.

Slate isn’t your average rock star, and Blayze isn’t your average fan. The concert incident propels them on the run together, with Slate needing Blayze’s protection. I had no idea what would transpire when I started that first scene, but I absolutely love the finished product.

I hope you do too!

Muse can be found in the Enchanted Eternally box set, which is only 99 cents! Check out stories from some of your (and my!) favorite authors. Fantastic authors in this set are Ann Jacobs, Jan Springer, Charlotte Boyett-Compo, Anh Leod, Flo Fitzpatrick, Belle Scarlett, and J.L. Miller.

Buy it here! Enchanted Eternally on Amazon.

One morning, I may be working on a Steampunk m/m, one afternoon a contemporary m/f, and then in the evening, a para menage.

They all want to come out and visit with you, too

Stay tuned, it’ll be a wild ride

Twelve Naughty Little Flings including BBW, Contemporary, FemDomme, M/M, Mythological, Paranormal, Regency, Shape-shifter & Vampire from Amazon bestselling authors.

STAY THE NIGHT by Alexa Silver
When Tod finds out his favorite bookseller is a fan of his work, sparks fly, but the much younger Mel may only be looking for a fling. Can Tod convince her to stay the night—or forever?

BLOOD MATES: HOW TO BLACKMAIL A VAMPIRE by Belle Scarlett
In the spring, a vampire’s fancy turns to the blood lust mating hunt. A pretty, human blackmailer becomes the object of his thirst, but she’s not into vampires. Yet.

THE LOCH NESS MONSTER, ROMEO, AND JULIO by Berengaria Brown
Fraser Campbell and Cameron MacDonald are sent to Glasgow on business. Cam’s determined to see the Loch Ness monster. Fraser just wants Cam.

THE SHADOWLORD’S ARRIVAL by Charlotte Boyett-Compo
Sometimes when you try to run from fate, you trip and fall into the arms of destiny.

TEACH ME TO DANCE by Francesca Hawley
Lady Lexa shares an evening of suggestive flirtation with the Duke of Kendrick. He wants to take her home, but they have unfinished business.

PHANTOM AFFAIR by Katherine Kingston
Robert is the best lover Kelly’s ever had, even though he’s a ghost. If he could return, could reality live up to the fantasy?

STICKY & SWEET by Lainey-Jo Charles
Spring time. Parks. Baseball. Ice cream trucks. Ah, the sweet memories of youth. Ten years later, create new sweet and sticky memories as an adult.

BUYING ADAM by Marianne Stephens
Under false pretenses, Jessica wins Adam at a Charity Bachelor auction. Secret desires for each other ignite into passionate lovemaking. Will the truth divide them?

MY KIND OF LOVER by Nicole Austin
Badass biker girl, accountant, lioness shifter—I’m all that and more. And this hybrid wolf thinks he can take me on? Bring it, you sexy beast! I’ve got this.

HOT AS HADES by Regina Kammer
After living in Hell for four months, Persephone returns home to the mortal realm. But can home truly be home without the man she loves?

SPRING TRAINING by Suz deMello
A hot pitcher finds his secret desires fulfilled by a striking new trainer, who disciplines him in ways he’s only dreamed about .

BLUE PLATE SPECIAL by Terry Rissen
William’s life is shrouded in secrets. Things start looking up when he meets a vivacious girl at a diner; a girl with almost as many secrets as he has.

The package is up for pre-order here I’ll have my individual story link after it releases.

When winged paranormal Dante is injured in a demon attack, he faces certain death unless he can reach a healing spring just off the Pacific coast. With his strength waning and the demon poison infesting his system, the spring is his only hope. He never expects to find salvation in the arms of the property’s caretaker, a much younger man. Bren is fascinated by the beautiful winged man who arrives at his family’s sanctuary. He’s determined to save Dante’s life, but he’ll have to find a way to help Dante heal without infecting himself with the demonic poison, and time is running out.

Yes, I said free. FREE! Thirteen hot and steamy erotic romances featuring some of our favorites and mine!

Find it here.

My story Love Potion #69 is a friends to lovers light paranormal.

When Keith and Jenna accidentally fall under the spell of one of her Valentine’s Day love potions, lust is in the air!

I hope you’ll check the anthology out! As a freebie, what do you have to lose?

Naughty Flings by the Naughty Literati comes out on Friday 5/15! My story Stay the Night is a m/f, BBW, older man/younger woman contemporary.

You can find it here, for .99, or FREE to read if you have Kindle Unlimited.

When Tod finds out his favorite bookseller is a fan of his work, sparks fly, but the much younger Mel may only be looking for a fling. Can Tod convince her to stay the night—or forever?

I love Tod and Mel so much! This was a story that grew on me in time. I loved the characters but was a bit unsure of the direction. At the end of the story, I wanted to know more about these wonderful characters. In fact, I may revisit them, if there is interest.

I’ll post it here on the blog in a couple of days

And the fantastic book trailer by Charlotte Boyett Compo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fswtl-5u90

My story, Stay the Night, is a contemporary male/female, older man younger woman, friends to lovers tale. Here is the cover and blurb, because we can never get enough of that gorgeous cover!

I’ve been lucky enough to have read the entire anthology and need you to know that you will absolutely LOVE this collection, and at .99 do you really have much to lose?

Or he could have a secret life. Maybe that mild mannered guy is really a MMA fighter on the weekends. That quiet IT dude in line behind you at the convenience store? Maybe he’s an actor in community theater planning for a production.

There’s something about that intellectual mixed with something else that really intrigues me, especially if it is unexpected.

I also have a complete weakness for musicians and actors. Sure, give me a sexy rock star–goodness knows, I’ve seen a great many in my day. But what about that classical guy putting a modern flair on classical pieces. What about that actor known for his actions roles who actually has awesome Shakesperean chops.

I guess I’m drawn to the different, the unexpected.

What about you?

I’ve written forever. I cannot remember a time when I wasn’t creating something. My grandmother was a reading teacher who taught me to love the written word in preschool, and I remember wanting to know more about the minor characters in Winnie the Pooh, and creating my own story.

In school, I was constantly writing and in middle school I found a great group who wrote what is now called “bandom.” They inspired me and we’d swap chapters at recess or lunch. I wrote through high school, in to college, and all around my work life. I had a couple of serious attempts to publish, but it never quite worked out and I settled into other aspects of the publishing industry.

My husband is a great oral storyteller, and  one day, when I had little work on my plate, we just started kicking around an idea for a story, a “what if” based upon a hellish Thanksgiving travel day we’d experienced. That story was blindly submitted to the publisher I worked for, and lo and behold, it was accepted for publication. We were over the moon. We wrote three more short stories, contracted several others and then things just…stopped. The well went dry.

It took seven long years to get the one book done, and in the meantime, a lot of life had changed. My husband didn’t really want to write any more–he much prefers to play with plots and leave the physical writing to me. So, while we’ll have several jointly written books out over the next year or so, they’re older projects.

A change in job helped to boost my creativity greatly, and I’m producing more words than I ever thought possible. Please check the WIPs page for more information on upcoming projects.

Happy reading!