Is the weekend gone already? I had planned to get this out on Sunday, but here it is Monday… And the Winter Olympics are underway! Yes, I went down the rabbit hole all weekend! So here’s what else has been happening in the past two months.
New Cat in the House
In early December, I lost Jelickle, my 15-year-old black cat. She had developed a bowel condition that the vet couldn’t identify and she fought it for over a year. I suspect it was a form of cancer. The poor baby kept losing weight no matter how much she ate. On December 3rd, we called an end to her struggle and helped her to the Rainbow Bridge. She was a sweet loving feline and left a big hole in my heart.
While I usually wait a year or so to get another pet, I found the need to add a new cat to the household. I checked my local Humane Society website for potential cats and picked out one, but he was adopted before I could get there. Then a six-month old female kitten showed up and I connected with her immediately. I brought her home the next day and named her Vala, which means Chosen in Welsh. Or she could be that character on “Stargate.”
She is a calico girl with bunny-soft fur, a tiny meow, and a huge purr. She also seems to have the ragdoll trait of going limp when you pick her up. She was considered a feral kitty as her mama was a barn cat, so she has one clipped ear. But she’s a sweetheart, although I have a feeling she’s going to be a big girl.
As to getting along with my other two cats, it’s coming along. Emma is a short-haired calico and at nine isn’t too keen on having a youngster chasing her. My old man,seventeen-year-old Timmy tries his best to ignore her. He doesn’t have the patience for any shananigans.
We’ll see how it goes after a few more months.
Writing Status
One effect of cats who love attention is they want to be in your lap ALL the time. In turn, that cripples your writing time. I’m actually holding my keyboard over Timmy’s head and typing with one hand to write this. Despite the challenges, I am making headway on a new suspense romance book, so read on.
Cat Whisperer
He’s got a whopper of a secret that he’s kept from the whole town, but he’s much smarter than people think. Still, his parents’ bad reputation isn’t helping his case.
She’s training to be a veterinarian and is working with the local pet doc during the summer.
When she gives him a lift into town, her curiosity is piqued. He finds her attractive, but considers her off limits when he realizes who she is. Will the tiny spark between them grow to a flame or will his past block their future?
I just finished a semi-final edit on this exciting novel, and I’m sending it to beta readers now. My planned release date is April 15,2022. Want to be a beta reader? Contact me at RionaKelly.author@gmail.com
Here’s a partial cover reveal to tease you a bit. Look for the full reveal in March.
Cat Whisperer will be releasing on April 15, 2022. Full cover reveal coming next month.
Next Up is a Cozy
So, what am I working on now? Tainted Truffles, my first book of what I plan to be a series of cozy mysteries, is up. Book one is written, and I’m starting the first edits on it. With book two about one-third done, I will be writing more on it over the next three months.
Here’s a introduction to my lead character .
Isla Frost is bright, talented, and the owner of a performance theatre she inherited from her great aunt, a once-famous actress. As the focal point for her small California town, the theater is a social hub, so Isla knows practically everyone. And, oh yeah, she’s a magnet for trouble.
Romance Anthology Exclusive to Amazon
And the last thing I have to cover is the romance anthology, Love Yesterday, Today, and Forever, which was released in November. I have a novelette in this collection that may turn into a series of novellas under the banner of Modern Muses. In fact, you’ll find a link in the book for a download of another short story for the series.
We’ve gone exclusive with Amazon until the book leaves the market at the end of June. From now until February 15th, the e-book is only $0.99 to get eight novelettes by seven authors. The main credited author is GL Robinson. We also have stories by Cathryn Petit and Beth Fuller. And, if you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, you can read it for free there.Check it out.
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Love Yesterday, Today, and Forever has been launched and is on Amazon, Apple, Kobo, and Barnes and Noble. BUT, there is a glitch. While the book was scheduled to be FREE from Dec. 1 to Dec. 5, it hasn’t quite made it on Amazon. The request is in for them to set the price to free for these days, but so far, they haven’t done it. This is up to Amazon’s discretion so all I can do now is wait and hope they will get it done soon.
In the meantime, if you can download on Apple, Kobo or B&N, it is ready to go now. The links are here:
Here’s a little teaser from the story Magnolia Sweets by Catheryn Petit:
March 1
Mariclaire
She charged the pier, white knuckles clutching the wobbly wheeled suitcase whizzing behind her. Designer heels clapped the weather-warped boards. Not that she could afford designer heels now or a suitcase with squared-up wheels. They represented the remains of a fool-hearted woman with her feet planted in a dream life—a perceived life full of abundance and love, not a life where husbands shoved documents in front of their wives to sign, documents that granted control over all finances, and certainly not a life where big-eyed, ruby-lipped personal assistants snuck past doorways raising the “personal” in their title to a major-league level.
With a brick of dread wedged in the middle of her chest, Mariclaire raced toward her destination.
“Wait. Wait for me.”
A warm breeze brushed her cheeks, caught the edge of her pale blue floppy hat, and set it sailing. She pressed on.
“Where’s the fire?”
Mariclaire halted, turning to see a man whose ramshackled body and time-chiseled face made him look like a fixture of this pier, like a statue or a tribute to all the men of the sea. He stood wielding her runaway hat.
“Keep it. I need to get on that ferry before it pulls out.” She pointed to the freshly painted two-story paddler in its fiery reds and bright whites showing like a riverboat from Old Hollywood.
“Yep, ain’t she a beaut? I’m her captain.”
“Then, I’m not too late?”
“Too late?”
“To board.”
“No ma’am. I’d say you’re about a month too early.”
“What! My agent said…grr…just wait until I get…” Mariclaire rummaged through her purse, fishing for her cell phone.
“You that writer?”
“Mariclaire Ross,” she answered, distracted by her search. “I’m subjected—I mean, scheduled for a stay on an island. I’m sup—”
“Know all about it. Magnolia Isle. You’re on here with me. Soon as we’re done loading the cargo.”
“The what?”
The man used a sun-beaten hand to spotlight the boat docked next to him where two bare-chested men, with enough bronze to have stepped off of one of her romance covers, packed boxes onto the service-looking vessel.
“That? I’m not riding in that.”
“Suit yourself.”
“Isn’t there another way out there?”
“Nope. Not till next month. That’s when the action starts.” His outstretched arm offered her stray hat.
That’s it for today! When the Amazon copy is up for free, I’ll add a new note!
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Remember the Anthology? Love,Yesterday, Today and Forever. Just to let you know the paperback will be available on November 15 on Amazon and the ebook on November 26 at most online sellers. I thought you might like a taste of what I contributed, so I’m attaching the first chapter of my novelette, Chance and Choice. I hope you like it!
Stay tuned for more information about this great Anthology arriving just in time for Christmas!
Chance and Choice
A Modern Muses Story
“Get that piece of garbage, poor excuse for a costume out of here. Now!”
Elise Carpenter jumped at the director’s scream, running to pick up the offending dress he’d tossed across the floor with as much force as he could muster. “Yes, sir. I’m sorry. I didn’t—”
“Don’t give me your excuses. The garment is poorly done and doesn’t fit Lana properly. I want a new one in the morning. Do you think you can manage?” Howard Paint, the award-winning Hollywood director, glared at her as he pounded his right hand into his left palm in a crushing gesture appearing to indicate he’d flatten her if she couldn’t do it.
“Yes, sir. Yes, of course. N-new dress in the morning. G-g-got it.” She crushed the dress to her chest and scurried off the set like a retreating rat. Mortified, she shrank into herself while the crew and the aforementioned Lana Graves, who wore only her undergarments and a thin robe, stared after her in condemnation.
Except for the apprentice cameraman, Tony Ferretti, she noticed. He was the only friend she’d made on this movie set. When she glanced his way, she saw sympathy in his sad expression, followed by a flash of anger in his gaze toward Paint. Great… The sole support for her came from someone as far down the ladder as she was.
She’d landed this assistant wardrobe mistress gig, her first paying job in the industry, only a few weeks after graduating from UCLA. She hadn’t been at the top of the class, but she’d done well and had apprenticed on a non-paying student job for an indie film in conjunction with her studies. Granted, that job hadn’t been like this one, a big production with period costumes and an expansive wardrobe.
And the director! She growled in her throat as she made her way wardrobe. The man hadn’t even let her tell him she didn’t make the costume. Nonetheless, she’d make sure to have a replacement for him. Now she had to tell Rita, the head of her department, the director wanted a new one.
“The dress ripped out when Lana Graves was in the middle of the scene. I mean, really split open and not just at the seam. It must have caught on something, then Paint helped it along.” Elise held up the badly torn dress for Rita to see.
“Tut-tut, kid,” Rita responded and frowned at the non-repairable shreds of the once beautiful dress with a fitted waistline. “It’s not the gown’s fault. Lana’s been hitting the craft services table a little too frequently since production began. Her figure isn’t as svelte as it was when she was young, nor as elastic. A little Spanx might solve the problem, but we’ll need to make a new dress.”
“Maybe we could build a stretch panel into the sides of the dress, so it has more give.” Elise took the dress from Rita’s hands to see if anything from it was salvageable. “It would allow for Ms. Graves to put on an inch or so in the waist.”
“No, it won’t work. Any kind of stretch fabric wouldn’t look good on camera. We’ll just need to fit it to Lana in the morning before she does the scene. You’d better get started on it. You can use the dress to make a pattern.” Rita motioned to her to get to work.
“Me? You want me to make it?” Elise didn’t think her job included actually crafting the dress.
“You do know how to construct a costume, don’t you?” Rita shot back.
“Of course. I’ve made—”
“Then get to it. I’ll send a page with a message for Lana to come here in the morning for a fitting. Make sure the waist is large enough.”
Nodding, Elise went into the workroom area, where a six-foot square table dominated the space. She started looking through the various bolts of material to match the light blue fabric she held. She could save a little of the dress if she could find it.
No luck there, though. She ended up with a close but not exact color, got Rita’s approval, and began taking the dress apart to build a pattern. While she worked, she fumed over the director’s arrogance, which had added to the damage in his fit of rage. If he hadn’t been such a jackass, she could have repaired the damage instead of having to make a new dress. How do these people end up in charge of production?
Lunchtime came and went while Elise cut out the new dress, put it on the body form, adjusted it to Lana’s measurements, then pinned it. Hunger gnawed at her, and she wanted a decent cup of coffee, but she wouldn’t feel comfortable until the basting stitches were in.
“I’m done with the basting, Rita,” she told her boss almost an hour later. “Do you want to check it?”
Rita came into the room in a huff as if Elise had interrupted something important, but she gave the dress and the stitching a quick appraisal. “It’s good. Go ahead and stitch the seams except for the upper hip and waist. We’ll do the rest after Lana has tried it on.”
“All right. If you don’t mind, I’m going to grab a quick cup of coffee. I missed lunch,” Elise said.
“Go ahead, but get right back and finish this up, okay?” Rita didn’t wait for an answer before turning to her own work.
* * *
As Elise fumbled to reach her wallet to pay the cashier, she nearly dropped her tray with coffee and a sweet roll on it.
“Whoa, I got it,” the man behind her said and grabbed the end of the tray. He set his own coffee on it and took it from her to free up her hands.
“Thanks,” she said automatically, handing over her money, and wondered why there wasn’t a place to set a tray down at checkout. Then she pivoted to face her rescuer, and her eyes grew wide.
Tall, dark wavy hair, and the most amazing emerald eyes in a golden-olive complexion. He smiled, and her heart kicked up a few beats. The man must be an actor with those extraordinarily handsome features.
Unfazed, he took her tray to a table near the windows and set it down. “May I join you?”
“Yes, of course. Are you working on a movie here?” Stupid question, she thought as soon as she said it. What else would he be doing on a movie lot?
“Yes, a comedy on stage C. I’m the best boy. I’m Cory, by the way.”
“Elise,” she replied. Nice name, sexy guy, and even polite. You certainly are thebest boy, she agreed mentally, but said, “Oh. I thought you were an actor.”
He grinned, perfect white teeth in a killer smile. “No. Not my thing, although I’ve been an extra a few times. What about you?”
She sipped her coffee and tried not to stare at him. “I’m in wardrobe. In fact, I’m rebuilding a ruined gown today. No spare on it.”
“What happened to it?”
His intent gaze held her captive for a few heartbeats before she found her voice. “It ripped out, but then the director lost his temper and shredded it. Totally uncalled for. So, now we need a new dress. And I have to do it rather than my supervisor or someone in costume construction, and I’m just the assistant on the film.” She caught her breath when she realized she’d just burst out with all her woes on this poor man who’d only stopped to help her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to dump on you.”
“No, no. It’s okay. So, the director just added to your workload, right?”
“Yeah. I’m just nervous, you know. I mean, this is my first actual job in the industry since I graduated, and I’m concerned about messing things up. My boss is okay, but she’s not too supportive. And she should be the one doing this dress, not me. I don’t think she likes me.” She rolled her eyes. “And I know the director doesn’t. He thinks I’m an idiot.”
Cory nodded while she talked. “Maybe your supervisor has more faith in you than you think if she has you making the new dress. You must be good, or she would have done it herself.”
“I doubt she thinks so, but thanks anyway.” She glanced at the clock. “Oh, I’ve got to go. Hope to see you around again.” She wrapped her roll in a napkin and picked up her coffee.
He flashed another stunning grin at her and said, “How about getting dinner with me tonight? After filming wraps, about eight?”
She hesitated a moment. “Sure, why not? Meet you out front?”
He nodded, and she scurried toward the door. Halfway to the shop, she wondered why on earth she’d agreed to meet a stranger for dinner. They had only talked a few minutes, and she’d accepted in a heartbeat. Sure, he was gorgeous, but Richard Chase and a half dozen or more serial killers had also been stunners.
Thinking of dire events, she sent a text to Sandy, her best friend, to tell her in case something happened to her. On the other hand, all she had was the guy’s first name, and that he was a best boy. The information wouldn’t help a lot if he murdered her.
* * *
Corybantes Zervos watched the pretty blonde girl leave and pondered her situation. Being a muse, his assignment was straightforward. Set the young lady on the correct course, encourage her, and generally assist in making it happen. Thalia, his mother and one of the original muses, passed the assignment on to him and emphatically stated he was not to get involved with Elise Carpenter in any other capacity. Translated, she meant he shouldn’t use his obvious assets, but he had other talents to tap.
He knew Elise had the drive and skill to succeed, but she lacked the confidence in herself. All she needed was a taste of success, and she would open up like a blossom. So, he just had to nudge her the right way and convince her to take a chance on her talent. Piece of cake—not! He chewed at his lower lip and considered his options.
His biggest problem might be those deep, soulful brown eyes of hers. He could read them like a book, and he’d seen her attraction to him in them. He bit down on his lower lip. He’d need to carefully play this scenario to not get entangled in a situation that could hurt her. Yet, he knew she was deserving of a solid opportunity. He would see she got it.
Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed the start of this story and will look forward to the book’s release as I much as I am. It’s got eight great novelette’s in it by some very talented writers.
I’d also like to tell you about this recent release by one of the other authors in the anthology, GL Robinson. This is a charming novel with strong, unique characters. They’ll make you laugh, smile, weepy-eyed. and root for them.
The Lord and the Bluestocking
Everyone thinks the Marquess of Hastings is odd. Elisabeth likes books more than men. A marriage of convenience. What can possibly go wrong?
Nowadays the Marquess would probably be described as being on the Asperger’s Spectrum. He’s good looking and rich but his lack of social skills make it hard for him to find a much-needed wife. He scandalizes the ton by putting an advertisement in the newspaper describing the type of spouse he requires and the marriage of convenience he envisages. Amazingly, he finds a suitable candidate. Elisabeth is an impoverished gentlewoman with literary aspirations. But can this oddly-assorted pair possibly co-exist, let alone find happiness? This novel is a gently amusing look at an unusual but endearing Regency couple.
See you in a couple of weeks with more another tease for the Anthology.
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I am excited to officially announce an anthology book that I have a novelette in will be releasing soon!
Back in the spring, while we were all under house arrest (!), I participated in an on-line seminar for independent authors. It went on for three days and I won’t pretend I didn’t nod off a few times. BUT the best thing was, I hooked up with a group of other writers, and we decided to publish a joint venture. We all write Romance, but of different sorts, from historical to contemporary and fantasy, like mine. We all contributed and tada!! We have a 400+ page volume containing eight brand new stories titled: Love Yesterday, Today and Forever. I am so happy to show you our beautiful and romantic cover.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be telling you a little more about this release and the fabulous stories in it. The book will release right after Thanksgiving and we might have a few surprises for you.
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Can you believe it’s mid-September already? Summer is fleeing and the days are growing shorter. Soon the equinox will be upon us and we’ll be into my favorite season, Fall. I love the change to the light and the colors of the trees.
Fall also brings the start of NaNoWriMo planning. I’ve been participating in this event for several years now and enjoy the madness of writing a novel in a month. I am planning my next novel but it will be for my other pen name, Lillian I. Wolfe. I write fantasy under that name. But never fear, I will be crafting a short story for this name before I dig into the novel.
Meanwhile, allow me to tell you about this great promotion that is going on right now!
From now until October 13, my suspense romance novel Bitter Vintage is included in a Book Funnel giveaway offering over 30 danger-filled and thrilling novels for FREE! I encourage you to take a look at all the great books offered in this month-long promotion.
Bitter Vintage brings the suspense of treachery, greed and ambition along with romance and betrayal as the story unfolds against the California vineyards of the Napa-Sonoma region and the migrant workers’ struggle for fair wages in 1964. This retro-styled story of intrigue is comparable to Mary Stewart’s suspense romance novels.
When the heir to the family vineyards in Northern California is killed in an accident, his sister, a journalist in San Francisco, returns in shock and grief to find her father reclusive, her estranged half-sister in residence, and a mysterious person skulking around the property. Learning more about her brother’s death, she grows suspicious of the accident, convinced there is more to the story.
Besides the exciting promotion above, I am also included in a project with six other romance writers to release an anthology, which will be releasing toward the end of November. I’m excited about this project and my novelette in it. I’ll be telling your more about it next month. Until then, enjoy the cooling days, fall colors, and the spices of this warm season to come.
Riona
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