In the beginning, there was a waterfall ~ Post by Author Jessica E. Subject

IN THE BEGINNING, THERE WAS A WATERFALL

by Jessica E. Subject

Photo by Jessica E. Subject ~ Duchesnay Falls, North Bay, Ontario, Canada

While celebrating 12 years published last month, I also shared a bit about the story and series I was currently working on. Since then, I have finished revising 4 UNITED, submitted the story, contracted it to Decadent Publishing, finished content edits, and have a cover (to be revealed first in my newsletter). I still have to do line and galley edits. And I don't have a release date yet, but those are coming. I have also started plotting the next book in the Romance Tales from the Quadrants series, 2 FANS. But I've put that story on pause, already having plotted and am now writing a story for a secret group project. It is more paranormal than scifi. I'll share more on that when I can.

But for now, I want to talk about 4 UNITED. I've been working on this story for about a year. A long time to be working on a story for me. But, I had one child go off to college, another child return to in-person learning after 2+ years of online learning, an old, sick dog who we finally had to have put down, and the adoption of a new dog. It was a lot of adjusting for me, especially mentally. And now I can say it's done and I'm moving onto the next story.

In my previous posts, I've talked about pets in sci-fi romance. And I've talked about including water in my stories. Well, 4 UNITED does not have any pets in it. (Though 2 FANS does.) But, 4 UNITED does have water. In fact, the story begins at a waterfall.

Photo by Jessica E. Subject ~ Duchesnay Falls, North Bay, Ontario, Canada

Here's an excerpt from the beginning of 4 UNITED, when two of the main characters are young teens...

It was my last night on Ma’an. Though I didn’t know it at the time. I had climbed up the rocky left bank of Galsana Falls to Pentor Point, the best view of the waterfall and the land below. Nunki sat beside me, both of us with our legs hanging over the edge of the rockface. He was always with me. At thirteen-star cycles, we lived next door to each other, and had spent most of our lives together. I believed that would never change. In a few star cycles, we would marry. And in a few more, we would visit a doctor, and I would be inseminated with Nunki’s sperm plus some from two donors. Because that’s how babies were made on my home planet.

“Do you want an eipa?” Nunki opened a cloth, showing me the sweet and fruity pastry wrapped inside. Probably something his moema had sent along with him.

“No, it’s okay. You can eat it.” As much as I loved eipaes, I didn’t want to eat Nunki’s. Though I was sure he would let me have a bite.

He reached into his sack and pulled out another cloth. “I have two. Moema said to make sure you get one. She made them especially for you, anyway.”

Of course. She always fed me. More so after my poepa died and my moema had been busy planning for his funeral. Maybe she did that so I wouldn’t be sad. The adults I knew on Ma’an were often sad when a relative died. But I couldn’t be sad when it came to my poepa. I barely knew him. He was always at the Official Rotunda for important meetings, whatever that meant. And when he wasn’t there, he traveled off planet to make trade deals with the governments of other worlds within the Quadrants. I guessed communication through the comm system wasn’t good enough, no matter how many times I had sworn I wouldn’t interrupt him if he stayed home. He never used comms to talk to the governments of other planets, or to call home when he traveled. When I did see my poepa, he came for dinner before he took my moema to her sleep pod and closed the curtain. She would giggle and moan his name all night. Then he left the next morning for several more lunar cycles. I knew my l’sida’s poepa better than my own, and he owned a shipping business and made deliveries all across the quadrants. But he still made it home far more often.

My moema grieved with my poepa’s passing, cried a lot when she didn’t think I could see her. So, maybe I grieved, too, but for her. I wanted her to be happy again.

After taking the sweet treat from Nunki, I leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Tell your moema, thank you. She makes the best eipaes.”

Nunki’s cheeks turned red before he took my hand in his. “We’ll be best friends forever, right?”

I nodded. “Of course.” I’d never doubted the idea. Nunki being in my life remained an irrefutable fact, something that would never change.

And here's the blurb for 4 UNITED...

Why would I ever return to Ma’an?

My moema and I escaped from the planet star cycles ago, to avoid her being forced to remarry after my poepa’s passing. I grew up well far away from there, not worrying about being betrothed to some government official just to bear his children. And now I work for the Universal Space Racer Association, traveling all over the quadrants to decide whether new teams meet the qualifications to join.

I never expected to be on a shuttle, heading back to Ma’an. The new chairman of Ma’an and the USRA assured me I’ll be allowed to leave at the end of my evaluation of the planet, but I have my doubts. I can’t even get out of the assignment. Trust me, I’ve tried.

At least I’ll be able to see more of Deyal, my only family member still alive. Plus, my best friend is convinced the three childhood friends I left behind are my fated mates, two of which are on the team, and the other is my shagard. I’m not ready to commit to one person, let alone three. And polyamorous relationships were banned on the planet long before my birth. But the three of them have grown from the cute boys I remember into sexy strangers.

It’s too bad I have a rule to never sleep with the racers I’m inspecting.

4 United is the first book in Jessica E. Subject’s sweet and spicy Kaddim Brothers spinoff series, Romance Tales from the Quadrants. 4 United features Eta, who escaped Ma’an with her moema just as her hair was starting to turn pink, her three childhood friends who grew up to be very sexy men, an unexpected assignment, fated mates, true love, and other family and friends getting involved to make sure the four of them get their happy ever after. If you like MMMF relationships, second chances at love, friends to lovers, and fated mates, read 4 United today.

Learn more about the USRA and space racing here

Learn more about the Kaddim Brothers series and space racing here

Find the writing playlist for 4UNITED here

Happy reading!

Take Me to the Water! Why ponds, rivers, and lakes are in my books lately. Post by Jessica E. Subject

For as long as I can remember, I have always sought out water when I'm feeling stressed or upset, or simply to relax. When I was little, I used to head down the street to the creek and catch tadpoles, or wait for the muskrat to make an appearance. Whenever visiting my grandparents, I'd always go to the lakes near their houses. As a teen, my high school was right next to the river that runs through the city. And as I got older, I'd go to lakes, old gravel pits, wildlife conservation areas, and waterfalls to be near the water. Family vacation spots had to include water, whether for fishing, swimming, or simply relaxing near.

 

Since mid-March of 2020, I haven't left the city due to the pandemic. I go for long walks with my daughter, but only to cross the river rather than to walk the paths around it. I miss the water.

Subconsciously, I've been including water in my stories to make up for what I'm missing in real life.

In VAWN (Kaddim Brothers #1, coming soon from Decadent Publishing,) Vawn sits on the edge of a pond with his feet in the water after an argument with his older brothers.

In MEMORIES OF US (Shifter Towers #6 that will be part of an MPreg anthology,) Envi invites Hayden to spend the day with him up at Traverse Pond in an attempt to rekindle the relationship they once had.

I already told my husband that when he has his vacation time this summer, I want to go to the water, whether a lake, waterfall, or just a pond. It doesn't matter to me. I simply need to go to the water.

Is there a place like that for you?

That’s for the Birds

 

By Maureen Bonatch 

                                                    Hanging out on our deck 

May 4th is Bird Day. Who knew? Not me, but then again, I’ve never considered myself a ‘bird person’. I’m not a bird watcher, even though it’s a popular hobby enjoyed by all ages—or am I? It seems the word is out with the feathered species that they have an uninterested party in the vicinity and they’ve made it their mission to convert me. 

Flew the Coop

As a child my grandmother always had a pet parakeet, and it was always named Babe. That’s right, when one Babe met his or her demise, another Babe would take their place. I have no idea how many Babes there were, it could’ve only been two but since I was young I found the idea of seamlessly replacing a pet a little odd. I was also traumatized by being dive-bombed when she’d let Babe fly around her apartment—and by her story of how Babe liked to perch on her glasses and once fell into her cereal bowl while doing so. 

A Little Bird Told Me

Despite my decision to remain uninterested in the avian species, in the years that I rose as an early bird long before the sun to write I’d crack my window in the spring when the birds welcomed the day with song. The volume at that time of the year, for that brief time in the morning, is nothing like the rest of the year. It made me feel better to know ‘someone’ else was up with me in the wee hours of the morning. 

Eagle Eye 

But, I digress. Back to the bird watching. The birds around our home seem to really want to ensure that I watch them whether I want to or not. 

• They’ve come ‘knocking’ on the window a few times in the last few years to torment Scruff. He’s always been fascinated by birds. When they swoop past him on the deck they are one of the only things that causes him to bark rather than just huff. He desperately wants to be their friend and from this visitor, and others, it seems as from this bird's-eye view that the feeling is mutual. 

                                                                Peering in at Scruff

•  The birds ensure they erect multiple nests crowding so close to our house as if they’re vying for a room inside. We had to remove the wreath from our front door since they always put a nest there and wouldn’t permit anyone to enter or exit without a huge fuss. Last year we were surrounded with had two on the trees near the front porch and one in the back. So far this year, I’ve found there the first one outside our laundry room window. When I peered out this morning I got a beady stink eye right back. 

                                                              Hello from the kitchen!
                                          

• They tend to like to sit in the gutter right outside my office where I work like a sitting duck for them to repeatedly startle me as they swoop in or dangle their tail down from their perch. 

                                                                 Hello from upstairs!

So maybe I am somewhat morphing into a bird watcher as they vie for my attention as I used to do with my Mom by saying, “look at me” while I did cartwheels through the yard. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll change and have a parakeet named Babe? 

Getting My Ducks in a Row 

Speaking of changes, I have some exciting writing stuff coming soon! Stay tuned here, or sign up for my newsletter, to hear more about my new Paranormal Cozy Mysteries coming out in a few months! That, or I can do some cartwheels through your yard—although I think the newsletter would be a little less uncomfortable for me now. 

Author Bio: Maureen Bonatch grew up in small town Pennsylvania and her love of the four seasons—hockey, biking, sweat pants and hibernation—keeps her there. While immersed in writing or reading paranormal romance and fantasy, she survives on caffeine, wine, music, and laughter. A feisty Shih Tzu keeps her in line. Find Maureen on her website, Facebook & Twitter Be the first to know about Maureen’s book sales and new releases by following her on BookBub, Amazon and/or signing up for her newsletter

Writing What You Love with @MeganSlayer #vampires #gayromance #eroticromance #gay #paranormal

I am part of a book club, well 2, and for one of them we have to read the book the group selects. I don't mind. These tend to be books I wouldn't have read otherwise. So I'd finished the book selected for this month and was returning it to the library. I told the librarian that I'd returned it, so when she saw it in the return...that's why. She asked me what I thought about the book. It wasn't my favorite story. It wasn't. I had some issues with the way the author wrote the true crime story. He focused more on his thoughts and his insertion into the story, while trying to claim it was a true crime kind of tale. If he'd said it was a work of fiction, then he was spot on, but by calling it true crime...well, I disagreed.

Here's the thing, the librarian then said to me, well you have to write what you know. He must feel that close to the story.

She's right. He must've felt that close to the story. To be honest, the crime he wrote about hit me hard, too. But I'm not a crime writer. I get too antsy during mystery books and want to disclose whodunit immediately. I guess it's part of my short attention span. But what she said got me to thinking. Write what I know? Or write what my imagination and the characters dictate?

I tend to write what I want based on what the characters tell me to do. Really. I tried to write more than a few times to what I knew. It's only worked when my characters share some of my experiences. Okay, so I don't personally know any vampires and I haven't chatted up a zombie, but that's my imagination. I don't know if I wrote a story that focused just on my personal experience, if it would be a good story. I don't know. I guess it would be more of an autobiography than a work of fiction. Although I suppose the book would be a mix of both. My memories aren't photographic. For all I know, I'd probably embellish--not to make the tale better, but because that's how I'd remembered it.

But I haven't written that story about my experiences. I've written about vampires, zombies, shifters, romance, love and people finding second chances. It's been fantastic. I love it. I've written with my friends and written alone. I can't wait to get my next book out there. I hope you all enjoy them. :-)

Here's a little bit about my upcoming story, Biting Love. It's part of the series I wrote as a crossover to Madison Sevier's Rosie Peaks series. Check it out!!

Biting Love By Megan Slayer A Rosie Peaks Crossover Novella
Megan Slayer Publications
M/M, Anal Sex
Vampires
Contemporary, Paranormal
 Mix one vampire with one human who doesn’t believe in the paranormal and add some sizzle.
Anson wasn’t looking for a partner when he spotted the handsome human, but he’s not about to argue when the mood strikes. He’s got to bring a date to the Halloween bash and Parker fits his bill exactly. Now all he needs to do is convince Parker that vampires truly exist.
Parker is practical, intelligent and a little on the geeky side. He can’t believe his eyes—a handsome man has not only hit on him, but asked him out…to a masquerade ball. He doesn’t believe in vampires, but Anson wears his Dracula costume a bit too well.
Can these two find love and trust after all or will the sparks only last until the dawn?
 Universal Link: https://www.books2read.com/u/3nOWlBAmazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075MHSXYL/Amazon JP: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B075MHSXYL/Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B075MHSXYL/Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B075MHSXYL/Amazon DE: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B075MHSXYL/Amazon FR: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B075MHSXYL/Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B075MHSXYL/

http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm

Megan Slayer - It's Always Fun to Squirm

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#Vampires...Do They Ever Get Old? With @WendiZwaduk

I'm snickering. As I wrote the title to the post, I realized vampires really don't get old. They don't age, but they live forever. 

What I was really referring to was the genre of writing vampires. Does the genre ever get old? Do readers want something fresh? I'm not sure. 

So what did I do? I wrote a vampire series. Well, really, the series features many different paranormal creatures. The Battle Scars series has to do with a war. Supernatural beings versus the forces that want them extinguished. 

Sound intriguing?

The Battle Scars series also features emotionally scarred characters. They dabble in BDSM and have had rough pasts. Oh, and they are also vampires, shifters and more hanging out. 

Are you interested in learning more about the series? Here's book one, You Have Me. :-) Enjoy!

You Have Me by WendI Zwaduk  

Battle Scars Book 1

Turquoise Morning Press

Contemporary, Paranormal

Vampires

Novella

M/F, BDSM, Anal Sex, Spanking, Toys

When the rest of the world crumbles and fails, you have me. 

Kynan Laing gave up his mortal soul to the will of the Sources, the ancient beings in charge of the universe. With the sensual grace and speed in his vampire form, he serves in his role as a Protector for the Supernatural world. But the impending war between the Supers and Hunters is heating up. The woman he’s charged to protect is all grown up and everything he wants. Can he keep his heart under wraps while keeping her safe? 

Alexa Mercury doesn’t know why she’s supposed to trust the vampire, but she does. Even when she pushed him away, Kynan watches over her. She craves him like no other, even if he is a Supernatural creature of the night. When circumstances beyond her control force them together, Lexa will have to decide whether to offer her heart to the vampire or risk her very soul. 

Available Here:

On Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/You-Have-Battle-Scars-Book-ebook/dp/B00OMAX7TK/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1414264562&sr=8-10&keywords=wendi+zwaduk

For Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/you-have-me-wendi-zwaduk/1120200633?ean=2940046115468

EXCERPT:

©Wendi Zwaduk, 2014, all rights reserved

He tipped his head, listening to Alexa’s thoughts. Her boyfriend was coming over. He growled. The jackass she dated deserved a fate worse than death. He treated Lexa like garbage, but until she called Kynan, he had no right to step in. Christ, he wanted to free her from the asshole’s grip. No woman deserved to be hit.

Still, she hadn’t called for him to save her.

Kynan sniffed the air. Her perfume twisted on the wind. Screw it. He’d waited ten years for the woman he loved. No more standing by. He assumed invisibility once more and made his way across town to her apartment. Light glowed in her bedroom window and her voice drifted to where he hid in the tree.

Each day he spent away from her, he died a tiny death. Sure, he was one of the undead, but he still craved her. If he didn’t fulfill the will of the Sources, he’d meet his final death.

Alexa crossed her bedroom once more, a huge dildo in hand. Kynan bit back a curse. He knew her so well and wished it were him using the toys on her. She waved the dong at her roommate.

“Have you ever realized you’re in a bad situation, but you don’t know how to get out?” Lexa plopped on her bed and held the toy in both hands. “V, I don’t love him.”

Vanessa leaned on the doorframe. “I think he’s dirt. What about your high school sweetheart? Isn’t he still around? In a band or something?”

Kynan gripped the branch of the tree. Her high school sweetheart? He knew who she dated in school and none of them were first love status.

“I can’t.” Lexa shook her head. “I’m ashamed. He’d see what I’ve become and...it wouldn’t work.”

“Why?” Vanessa strode into the bedroom. She picked up the dildo. “You do what you want with this, but this sucker is freaking huge.” She giggled then sobered when Lexa didn’t laugh with her. “Hey, I’ve got a kinky side, too.  I know how you feel about the bondage. It’s freeing, even if you’re all tied up. But this jerk parades you around. He doesn’t respect you. Dump him already. Being alone has got to be better than being treated like dirt.”

“Or call my name,” Kynan whispered. He knew what she did with her boyfriend, Dante. Nothing turned him on more than seeing Lexa’s naked body on display, but the moment the boyfriend walked into the frame, Kynan’s desire turned to rage. He recognized the man she’d taken up with. Dante, otherwise known as Brad Bowman, vampire hunter.

“Fuck,” Kynan grunted. Brad, or Dante as she knew him, didn’t date anyone. The bastard picked his partners based on what they could give him.

Did Lexa know the truth about the socialite-slash-hunter? Probably not. She didn’t strike Kynan as the blissfully ignorant type. Despite his better judgment, he peered into her mind. The more Brad touched her, the more she visualized…Kynan?

Holy shit.

Kynan gripped the tree branch tighter. He shouldn’t play the role of a voyeur, but he’d been charged with protecting her. His heart—his emotional one, not the true one he’d lost years before—ached for her. He wanted to the be the one holding and caressing her, the one who tied her up and made her scream his name. He’d bide his time for now. Once Alexa called to him, he’d step out of the shadows and take what he wanted.

Her.

* * * * *

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Wendi Zwaduk - White Hot Second Chance Romance