Welcome back to this week’s installment.

In writing news, from the 10th of July for the remainder of the month, I’ve committed to daily writing. I have several reasons for this self-imposed challenge, and I’m excited to show myself that I am capable of a daily writing practice. So as part of my accountability, I’ll be updating you each week. Wish me luck!

I hit 30k on Charlie and Randolph this week too, and am excited to see where these characters are taking me and each other.

I also have an intriguing plot bunny LOL, so watch this space! But for now, I’m so thrilled to introduce this weeks authors, Kayleigh Sky and Jamie Lynn Miller.

Grab a cup of something delicious and get comfortable.

Books are fueled by coffee

Kayleigh's Amazon Home Page

Author Bio

Kayleigh Sky. Writing stories about characters who fight their way to happiness. Contemporary romance, romance with mystery or suspense elements, stories with a central romance, sci-fi, dystopian, fantasy, and paranormal. Tangled, twisted, triumphant. And always with a happily ever after. Love matters and everyone counts.

Kayleigh’s Quirky Questions

Holly: If you could be an animal for a day, what would it be?

KAYLEIGH SKY: A crow. I love them. Bold but jittery. Loud, quirky, and mysterious. I wrote a book with a crow named Crow who collected people for his own family. It’s called Trinkets. I wrote it a long time ago, but I still think about it sometimes. It was a sweet book, I think.

Holly: If you had to write yourself a warning label what would it say?

KAYLEIGH SKY: Buckle up and hang on.

Lol. My brain goes a mile a minute when something triggers it. Ideas, ideas, ideas…

Holly: Does writing exhaust you or energize you?

KAYLEIGH SKY: Both. It depends. Ideas energizes me. Brainstorming and that kind of thing. The writing itself can be exhausting. I don’t get writer’s block, but somedays the words don’t flow as readily as other days.

Holly: What’s your writing process like?

KAYLEIGH SKY: Um… Chaotic. Lol. It changes up from book to book, so I can’t really say there’s a particular process. In general terms, I start with a mental picture of a character, ask myself what I know about them and the situation that I see them in, ask what I want to know or need to know, and the story starts to form. For some books I don’t know very much, and I pants it. Other books fall into place, and I have an outline I start out with, though I usually end up pantsing it at some point. I write as fast as I can. When I’m done, I send it to my kindle and read it through. I note where it’s not working, things I want to foreshadow, rough spots, stuff like that, and make the big changes. Then I read it again. If it’s good to go, I send it to my beta reader. After that, I’ll made any changes I think I should and do a copy/line edit before sending it to my editor to do the same. I go through her edits when I get it back and then I listen to it to catch any last errors. Done.

Holly: What’s your most annoying habit?

KAYLEIGH SKY: Annoying habits? What are you talking about? Me? Annoying? Never! Well… Okay. I might be a little time challenged. I won’t be terribly late, but I will be late, you will be waiting. Some of that is because my directional sense sucks. Meaning I have no directional sense. I will get lost. It’s an absolute given as sure as the sun will rise. With the sun’s regularity too. There’s no GPS system that’s been made for the likes of me lol.

Holly: What’s on top of your fridge?

KAYLEIGH SKY: Cat hair.

Holly: What’s your favorite thing to do to relax?

KAYLEIGH SKY: I watch ASMR on YouTube. I discovered this English girl named Sophie Michelle, and the minute I saw one of her videos, I was obsessed! ASMR is more like a drug to me than mere relaxation. The calming effect of certain sounds—pencil on paper is my favorite—will put me to sleep, so I only watch at the end of the day. Sketching sounds, measuring with old-fashioned cloth measuring tapes, jars opening and closing, and other sounds keep me coming back. Plus, the videos are often role-playing and just fun to watch. If you’d like to check ASMR out, I highly recommend Sophie Michelle. That’s also her channel’s name. It’s not for everybody, but if you haven’t had exposure to it yet, it’s worth checking out.

Holly: Explain your book terribly in a few words.

KAYLEIGH SKY: A demon hunter chases a lousy fairy prince into a haunted hotel and bad things happen, and they can’t figure out anything and screw it all up. It’s called Sorcery’s Kiss by the way.

Holly: Where did your inspiration come from for your MCs?

KAYLEIGH SKY: No idea. I never know. I had an idea for the general idea of the story, and I just kind of wait, I guess? As soon as I get a glimpse of somebody, I start to ask questions about them.

Holly: Tell me three reasons I should buy this book today!

KAYLEIGH SKY: A grumpy but protective demon hunter. The fate of the world hinging on a wacky pinball convention. A three-legged cat who’s as grumpy as the demon hunter he attaches himself to.

Holly: Was there anything lost in the story in the editing process that you wish you’d been able to keep?

KAYLEIGH SKY: Nope. If I want it, it stays.

Sorcery’s Kiss

Welcome to the Fillery Hotel, home to the Bells and Balls Convention, and last stop for a runaway fairy prince and the grumpy demon hunter who loves him.

Dick Slumber is a growly demon hunter with a three-legged cat he doesn’t want and a secret he must keep at all costs. But Dick has a problem—he’s not who he says he is, and he’s running out of ways to hide it.

Gin Lark is a feisty fairy prince whose job is to help his sister keep demons out of the human realm. But Gin has a problem—he doesn’t possess an ounce of magic, and somebody wants him dead.

When Gin goes into hiding as a hotel housekeeper, and Dick is hired to find him, they discover themselves in the center of a cursed hotel, a resurrected pinball convention with its own secrets, and a tear in the sky called the rift, which is about to let loose a horde of demons.

Falling in love should be the last thing on Dick and Gin’s to-do list—unless love is the only thing that can save them.

Sorcery’s Kiss is book one of an exciting new MM paranormal fantasy series called Demon Tales and Fairy Games, where demons, fairies, and trolls live with unsuspecting humans. Sometimes light, sometimes dark, always sweet, magical, and romantic. Happily ever after guaranteed. Each book is linked but tells a complete story. No cheating, no unkindness.

Teaser from Sorcery’s Kiss

Maybe it was better this way. Better that he disappear. He couldn’t help Poppy and had somehow become a danger magnet. She was on her own, but every time he’d flubbed his magic and the strain of panic flashed in her eyes, he’d hidden in his room and practiced over and over. And gotten nowhere.

Maybe…

Maybe this was as good as it would get.

He stole another peek at Dick. And as good as it got, at least for the moment, wasn’t too shabby.

“Not everybody likes cats.”

The comment bounced around in Gin’s head before settling into something sensible. Gin loved cats, but it was a strange thing to say.

“I do. What’s its name?”

Dick looked startled. He tightened his lips, slowed at a cross-street, and shrugged. “Three-legged Cat.”

Gin opened his mouth. Shut it. Dick turned the corner into an older neighborhood with big trees hunkered over the sidewalk. “Is it?”

Dick glanced at him. “What? Three-legged? Yeah. My girlfriend gave him to me.”

Shit.

“Ex-girlfriend,” he added.

Better.

“That was nice of her.”

“I’m not sure she was being nice. I’m just warning you.”

Okay, this was getting strange. Did he need armor? He bit back a snicker, swept by a giddy sensation. The whirr of things moving too fast. No, not too fast. On the streets and now off for at least two hours.

He chewed his lip, fixating on Dick’s profile, the sweep of light and shadow as they drove under the street lamps. It was still early, and most of the windows were lit. A car cut in front of them and pulled into a driveway. Dick slowed and went around another corner. A few houses down, he pointed. “That’s mine.”

Gin couldn’t tell the color in the dark, except that it was light. The architecture was a particular design that he recognized but couldn’t name. A center walkway led up to a porch supported by wood and stone pillars. It was a cute house. When Dick pulled into the driveway, Gin caught the gleam of a light inside.

“Do you live with somebody?”

Dick cut off the engine. “No.”

“I thought I saw a light.”

“Oh…” He cleared his throat, and his voice came out sounding embarrassed. “I leave it on for the cat.”

Buy Here

Kayleigh’s Follow Me Links:

Website: http://www.kayleighsky.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kayleigh.sky.writer

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/skyboundlove

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kayleighsky/

Kayleigh’s Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/v8b0v4

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/kayleigh.sky.writer

Kayleigh’s Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/KayleighsSkybirds

Bookbub: http://www.bookbub.com/author/kayleigh-sky

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/kayleighsky

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/kayleighsky/766385570110391

Jamie Lynn's Amazon Home Page

Author Bio

Jamie has been writing fiction since childhood and decided to take the plunge and go pro in 2008, finding to her amazement that people truly enjoyed her love stories. She’s a romantic at heart, and her tales reflect the desire we all have to find “the one,” persevering through trials and heartache for that happy ending.

Jamie has a degree in fine arts and has spent the last thirty years working as a graphic designer, though she’d much rather be writing. Jamie was born in Chicago and still lives there today with her husband and their furry, four-footed children, er… cats.

If Jamie’s not brainstorming story ideas, you can find her at a sci-fi convention, in front of a furnace doing glass blowing, or on a mat twisted into a yoga pose.

Jamie Lynn’s Quirky Questions

Holly: If you could be any animal what would it be and why?

Jamie Lynn: A flamingo! I got the nickname “flamingo legs” from my father at an early age. I was tall and slim with skinny little legs and I happened to love the color pink. J I’ve embraced my love of flamingos ever since! They’re beautiful birds and I have quite a collection of flamingo-related items. My hair is even pink now!

~*~*~*~*~

Holly: What did you plan on being when you grew up?

Jamie Lynn: I knew from the age of seven I was going to be an artist of some sort. I was admonished by a teacher for coloring the leaves of a tree every color of the rainbow. I told her that I was being artistic. Ha! I went on to go to art school after high school and I’ve been a graphic designer for 30 years now. Best part is that I get to combine my love of art and writing by creating my own book covers.

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Holly: Were you a reader as a child? What was your favorite book/author?

Jamie Lynn: Oh my goodness, yes! I was a voracious reader at a very young age. I credit that to my mother reading to me every night. My favorite books were The Hardy Boys by Franklin W. Dixon. I have over 150 of them in my collection. I wrote my very first original short stories as a teenager, based on Frank and Joe Hardy.

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Holly: What pets are currently on your keyboard, and what are their names? Pictures?

Jamie Lynn: Currently laying all over my keyboard is my 11-yeard-old cat, Bean. She’s such a furry little fart, but I love her to pieces!

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Holly: What is the most meaningful thing a reader has said to you?

Jamie Lynn: I had a man write me last year that really hit me right in the heart. He told me that it was the first time he’s ever written an author, but felt compelled to do so after reading Stronger Together and Out of the Shadows.

He told me he loved that my characters were not stereotypical gay men, but had true depth to them, and their relationships. And that he cries when he reads my books.

He also said he’s over 60 years old and my books make him feel like he’s in his 20’s again.

This was my favorite part – he wondered how a straight, married woman could write the best love sequences with complete knowledge of the mechanics and believability.

To know that I’ve touched just ONE person fills me with boundless joy.

~*~*~*~*~

Holly: What’s your favorite book that you’ve written and why?

Jamie Lynn: My favorite book is Burnin’ for You, my fireman/paramedic romance. I spent 14 days with my local fire department, doing research. I was fitted for my own turnout gear and went on a ride-along, where I sat in the jump seat in the engine. I was inside a live burn tower where I got to experience a “backdraft” firsthand and help use the hose to put it out. I learned how to find my way blind in the dark in a smoke-filled room wearing an oxygen tank and mask and full turnout gear. I went 60 feet up in the air in the snorkel. I learned how the paramedics operate and looked at all their gear. I saw how the apparatus and equipment rooms were set up. I learned how to roll hose and attach it to a hydrant and the crucial role the engineer plays in getting that water to the fire. I used the Jaws of Life to pry a door off of a car and used an axe to break out a windshield. Like I said – most amazing experience of my life, and I put what I learned into writing Burnin’ for You.

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Stronger Together (Partners: Book 1)

Holly: Let’s talk to your characters for a minute – what’s it like to work for such a demanding writer?

LIAM BANCROFT: Oh, Jamie’s the Queen of Angst, she is! Delights in putting us through the emotional wringer as often as possible. It’s exhausting, mate!

COLIN MASON: But it’s all worth it in the end, sunshine! Or are you forgetting what happens after all that emotional purging that leaves us utterly exhausted in a much more pleasant way, eh?

LIAM BANCROFT: [blushing] Did I say Jamie is a brilliant writer?

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Holly: Which scene in this book was the most fun to write?

Jamie Lynn: I don’t know if I’d call it “fun”, more like “emotionally satisfying” – when Colin comes out to Liam, admitting he’s gay and has been keeping it a secret from everyone in his life for nearly 15 years. It was such a powerful scene to write, which becomes the springboard for the entire book and their romance.

~*~*~*~*~

Holly: If you’re planning a sequel, can you share a tiny bit about your plans for it?

Jamie Lynn: I’ve already written one sequel with Colin and Liam, Christmas Together, which is available now. I’m currently working on Book 3, called Figuring It Out Together, which will feature Reese and Jordan, who I introduced in Book 2. Theirs is a slow burn, second chance romance that will pull at your heartstrings, rooting for the two of them to get together.

Stronger Together

Partners: Book 1

★ BLURB: One unexpected kiss. Two lives turned upside down.

Working for British Intelligence, agents Liam Bancroft and Colin Mason live a life of danger, on the razor’s edge. They’ve seen it all, done it all, trusting one another unequivocally with their very lives. Partners. Best mates. Their bond unbreakable.

Until one assignment changes everything…

It should’ve been nothing more than a simple, innocent kiss to save their cover and their mission. But instead, it sends Colin fleeing on a difficult journey of self-discovery and Liam fearing he’s irrevocably destroyed their friendship beyond repair.

Against the backdrop of a quaint cottage in the sleepy English countryside, painful secrets are revealed, long-buried feelings rise to the surface and two men learn for the first time in their lives what it truly means to be in love.

★ Stronger Together Buy Links:

AMAZON (US): https://amzn.to/3rKBPtl

APPLE: https://apple.co/3xq8qYY

KOBO:

B&N:

SCRIBD:

SMASHWORDS:

AMAZON (UK): https://amzn.to/3KKVl01

Christmas Together

Partners: Book 2

★ BLURB: Snowflakes and spies and mistletoe, oh my!

It’s been five months since British Intelligence agents Liam Bancroft and Colin Mason found the courage to weather the emotional storm of painful, long-buried secrets and confess their love for one another.

As their first Christmas together approaches, they want nothing more than to return to the idyllic English countryside and the cottage that has come to mean so much to them.

But the road there is fraught with obstacles. They must navigate the aftermath of finally revealing their relationship to family and the intelligence service, and an undercover operation that puts Liam’s life in jeopardy.

Will it take a Christmas miracle to bring Colin and Liam together for the holiday?

★ Christmas Together Buy Links:

AMAZON (US):

APPLE:

KOBO:

B&N:

SCRIBD: http://bit.ly/3OrPr6B

SMASHWORDS: https://bit.ly/3XXu01P

AMAZON (UK): http://bit.ly/3tOZEAu

Teaser

STRONGER TOGETHER

The nearly three-hour drive to the cottage the following day gave Liam nothing to do but think in the silence of the Triumph. And one word repeated itself over and over in his head.

Why?

Why had Colin run? Well, the kiss, obviously. The same kiss that had replayed itself on an endless loop in Liam’s brain for the last four days. Unconsciously, he knew why he hadn’t wanted the kiss to end that day. But why hadn’t Colin wanted it to? Why hadn’t he pushed Liam back after a few seconds? Why had his arms come round Liam instead? Why had it taken the blare of a car horn to separate them?

He’d half expected his partner to take the piss with him, make a crack about his kissing technique. It wouldn’t have been the first time they’d teased one another about their sexual prowess.

But instead he’d gotten that strange, fleeting look from Colin. As if he was startled by his own reaction to the kiss.

And then he’d run.

Maybe…maybe Colin wasn’t as completely heterosexual as Liam thought.

Maybe Colin wasn’t as completely heterosexual as even he himself thought.

Deep down inside Liam a tiny spark of hope flared to life.