I did something different for my release day this time… I went camping, LOL. It was a little strange not being glued to my PC obsessing over promo and rankings, but it was definitely a much-needed and super fun way to spend a few days. Thanks to those of you who have left ratings and reviews already, I’m thrilled to see people are loving their story as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you missed it, I’ll leave a link at the bottom of the blog for you.
But for now, please welcome Miski Harris!
(P.S. Apologies that the blog is going out a little later than usual and a huge thank you to Miski for your understanding and fabulous advice- the wine worked wonders :))
Author Bio
Miski Harris is a stubborn native New Yorker and a veteran who raised five sons while traveling the world. When she sets her mind to achieve something, she’s unstoppable.
Her two lifelong constants have been her faith and love of books. Reading and writing are her mainstays, and she is rarely seen without her Nook which holds over 2,000 books or a notebook where she jots ideas.
She loves to give the characters who reside in her imagination life and is now fulfilling a lifelong desire to publish books of her own.
She published her first M/M romance novel after a close friend challenged her to join the National Novel Writing Month initiative. The result was the first draft of her book and several edits later, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell: book1 made its debut on Amazon bookshelves. It has since been joined by book 2: Collateral Damage, book 3: Damage Controlled, Cruise, Boy Overboard, Gingerbread, and multiple anthology stories.
When asked to describe her in one word and friends say fierce. A past commander defined her as a “tender warrior”. Friends, patients, and strangers can always find a strong advocate in this woman who’s not afraid to forge ahead or speak her mind.
Miski believes challenge defines worlds to conquer and lines to cross; love & faith are the most powerful forces in the universe, and the only thing hindering success is to fail to try.
Today Miski resides in Prince Georges County, Maryland with her two precocious cats: Freddie and Marshall. She invites you to join her in a world where love is second to nothing and life is the greatest adventure of all.
Miski’s Quirky Questions
Holly: If you were stuck on a desert island all alone with only three things, what would they be?
Miski: My Nook/iPad for reading, My Lap top for writing, Wine for sanity
Holly: If you could change your name to anything what would it be and why?
Miski: Actually I would go through life as Miski Harris full time. I’ve actually considered doing the legal name change but the cost is prohibitive.
Holly: Do you have any morning rituals? What are they?
Miski: Every morning, I thank God that at my age I’m still here then, I get the coffee going and change the water in the cat fountain.
Holly: When did you first call yourself a writer?
Miski: I always called myself a writer as far back as I can remember because I began writing stories at a young age. I began calling myself an author when I published my first book in 2018.
Holly: Tell me something from your bucket list.
Miski: I want to go to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower and Venice to ride a gondola
Holly: What secondary character would you like to explore more? Tell me about them.
Miski: My secondary characters all have loud voices so I do that all the time. Right now I’m working on Bishop from Collateral Damage in my wip Coming In Hot.
Holly: Who has been your favorite character to write and why?
Miski: My favorite character was Teddy, who has been a constant in my Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell series. I finally gave them their own story and a relationship with Gregory from Collateral Damage. I enjoyed writing that dynamic so much I gave them a short story for an upcoming anthology.
Holly: What do you do if you get a brilliant idea at a bad time?
Miski: I jot it down either in a little notebook I try to keep handy or I type it into notes on my phone.
Holly: How long have you been writing?
Miski: I began keeping story journals at around age ten. I stopped when my mother died and the journals were destroyed. I began seriously writing my first story ideas in 2015.
Holly: Are you a full-time or part-time writer? How does that affect your writing?
Miski: I write part time for two reasons. First, I need a job to afford my writing life. (SWAG, giveaways, signings and cons all cost big bucks.) Secondly, I take my stories seriously and invest much needed time for research and character development. This means I put out far less completed works than other authors.
My Flagship Series: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL (Book 1)
Staff Sergeant Elijah Jackson, EJ to his friends, joined the air force hoping for refuge from the mess his life had become. For almost 10 years he enjoyed new life, success, and love, in spite of the closet he was forced to hide in by the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell military policy. One day it all comes crashing down around him. Now he’s back home with serious decisions to make and a very short time to decide how to salvage his life while healing his heart.
Betrayed by his lover and partner, Dr. Dale Chenault left California and his fledgling practice behind. In Sayville, he’s found a home for his counseling service, and on the surface, seems to have his life in order. The truth is some of the decisions Dale made have become a stumbling block in his ability to rebuild the breach in his heart and, by extension, his life.
When Dale and EJ, meet, the chemistry between them is hot, but the pain of past betrayals is strong, and trust seems impossible to build. Will they be able to move past what has been to create a future together?
Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is a story of love, trust, betrayal and second chances with an HEA.
COLLATERAL DAMAGE (Book 2)
Life has a way of turning your world upside down. Just when you think you’re away from the eye of the storm you find you were never really the central target but instead, the aftermath of the physical and emotional destruction.
Jordan’s life was full of losses. He lost his friend EJ when he disappeared during a Don’t Ask Don’t Tell debacle. He lost his livelihood after career ending injuries during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He returned home to find he’s also lost his life partner Michael, and while traveling to receive intense treatment of his PTSD, he suffered yet another catastrophic loss. He’s angry and depressed. What else could life take from him?
Ron has led a solitary life in the Rocky Mountain foothills of Colorado. He trains service dogs to meet the needs of clients suffering extreme anxiety driven illnesses. For this reason, he has a stellar reputation and relationship with the military serving war torn veterans. He knows there is something missing and he’s sure it’s not love because, well, been there, done that….
As life brings Ron and Jordan together, will they each have what the other needs to weather the storms of life? Or, will each man continue to wander through the detritus of fate, nothing more than collateral damage.
DAMAGE CONTROLLED (Book 3)
What do you do when you find yourself stuck:
East of the Rock…
As Phoenix, Teddy is the reigning Queen of Drag Star, bringing the spark that sets the competition ablaze. However, Teddy’s tired of hiding behind his drag corsets. He’s ready to live his truth and build a committed relationship like his parents and best friends have. Revealing his secret could make it all happen or destroy everything he’s worked so hard for.
West of the Hard Place…
The VA dealt Gregory a crappy hand. All he wants is what he deserves so his life can gain some semblance of normal: a service dog to keep him safe from seizures and fair compensation for his service-connected brain injuries. Maybe then he’ll finally be able to find the one thing he desires most…Love.
Trauma brings Gregory and Teddy together. Catastrophe binds them in a fight for survival. The struggle is real and the possibilities are endless but only if each has what it takes to help the other heal.
Is their fast and fragile relationship strong enough to bring all the damage under control?
Buy Links
This series is available in eBook, Audio and Paperback at: Amazon.com
Autographed paperback copies of all my books can be purchased here.
ALSO BY MISKI
You can also find stories by Miski in the following Anthologies:
Leopards Lair appears in Virgin Shifters, When Shifting for the First time
Junipers Tree appears in Something Grimm
Evidence Not Seen appears in Suit Porn
Ride With the Wraith appears in Midnight in The Renaissance Elevator
Hearts and Stones appears in Love and Hope (buy on amazon.com)
Now Serving appears in Love, Lattes and Holiday Tales (preorder on Amazon.com)
The Base of the Totem appears in Forgotten Lore (pre-order on amazon.com)
NEW FROM ME (Holly Oliver)
When a plan for revenge goes wrong, the Array find themselves ill-equipped and underprepared for the monsters on their doorstep.
Kerry, a hedgehog shifter, finds himself facing the demons of his past and is filled with a rage that won’t quit. His loyalty to the Array is put to the test, and an unexpected mate turns his world upside down.
Dayton, a fennec fox shifter, had one job, but from the moment he arrived at Helena’s, he felt forces moving him in another direction. Torn between his duty to the Array and his heart, Dayton attempts to honor both, but at what cost?
Kerry and Dayton is a story featuring magic, shifters, and death. It also mentions the deaths of parents and gruesome monsters, but if all goes well, there will be a happily ever after for the unlikely couple by the time we reach the end.
I hope you enjoyed this week’s episode of Holly’s Quirky Questions.
A huge thank you to Miski.
Next week we have Ellis Colton.
Until then: Find a Spark of Magic Every Day.
