Bastian Bucco, ghost hunter. Charged with gathering the souls of those chosen to fill the Black Zodiac. A nexus that holds the ultimate power. The souls must be of those who died suddenly. Those whose lives embodied the essence of the Black Zodiac.
The things that motivate people in life, carries over into death. Sex, revenge, power- these are the stories of the chosen ones. The ones to fulfill his duty. But why were they chosen? What, or who has selected these beings?
Find out in the Black Zodiac. Things will never be the same…
Zizi Cole, a born and bred native of Missouri, resides in a small town with her two boys and cat. When she isn’t writing, she likes to spend time with her children and do some reading.
She is a writer of horror, and more recently, has branched out into the realm of fantasy. She’s been an active member in the Indie community- making the best-seller list in her categories, she has also been nominated for several awards including “Best Horror Author”. Zizi’s co-authored fantasy, Afflicted, won second place for “Best Retelling” with Enchanted Anthologies in 2017. Her DAMNED series also took third place for “Best Horror” with Wild Dreams Publishing. She looks forward to meeting her fans at events and connecting with them on social media.
Would you like a chance to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
Can you, for those who don’t know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?
I’m Zizi Cole. I have been published for almost three years now. My first book Sweet Nightmares came out April 29, 2017. I started writing my first novel because I was bored and laid off from my muggle job. I wrote Sweet Nightmares in a month. Once it was done, I knew I had to publish it. It was a compulsion.
I think realistically I have always been a writer, just haven’t always put pen to paper. I would journal my feelings and thoughts when I was younger and still do when things become too much, but it was something I’ve always done. I would tell stories to my cousins. We would do a round robin type of storytelling.
What is something unique/quirky about you?
I’m shy. People tend to think that I am loud and outgoing, which I am once I get to know you, but I’m innately shy and takes me a while to open up. I was never good at making friends, but the friends I have are ones that I will have for the rest of my life.
Where were you born/grew up at?
I was born and raised in Missouri. I still live in the town I went to high school in. It was only the second town I have ever lived in my entire life. It is a small town, quaint town.
If you knew you’d die tomorrow, how would you spend your last day?
I’d spend it with my kids.
What do you do to unwind and relax?
I watch the Golden Girls or Gilmore Girls. I like the comedy and repetition. I also read or listen to audiobooks.
How to find time to write as a parent?
I find time to write as a parent after work, usually after the boys go to bed. Now that they are older, they give me time to write after I get off work, but I have a hard time concentrating on my books when I can hear them in the other room.
My best time to write is in the morning before everyone gets up. It is calm and peaceful, giving me time to think and let my imagination go wild.
Do you have a favorite movie?
I am a fan of the Hunger Games movies. I’m not sure what it is about them that pull me to them, but I absolutely love it.
Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?
I would love all of them to become a move, but I would like to see The DAMNED series to be made into a movie trilogy or Black Zodiac to be made into a Netflix original series. I would also love to see The Missing in a movie. Can I go back to my answer of all of them? 😊
Beverly Ovalle dabbled with writing on and off for years when her best friend finally dared her to submit a story to a writing contest. Beverly decided she had nothing to lose and since she’d always wanted to be an author sent it in and agonized for months waiting to hear back. Contract in hand she has never looked back.
Beverly has been obsessed with dragons and romance since she was a young girl, collecting dragon books and reading everything she could find on them even down to the care of real life dragons. She’s always been slightly panicked that the world as we know it will end, so has prepped for it, haunting survivalist pages and prepper projects she felt she needed in the event SHTF.
An avid fan of all romance, Beverly’s goal is to share her love of the written word and write the hot and erotic romances that she enjoys. She writes what she loves to read and it was only a matter of time before her obsessions crept into her writing for her to share. She hopes you enjoy her tales as much as she loves writing them.
Stealing Hope (A Dragon’s Fated Heart Book 1) by Beverly Ovalle Genre: Paranormal Romance
The apocalypse has come and gone. Those who survived learned to adapt. Dragons awaken to once again reign over the skies.
Upon eruption of a volcano, Ari awakens to a changed world, and a knowing that his dragon’s mate is near. He saves her twice—once as a dragon, and again as a man—and wins her confidence.
Hope cried out, moaning, “just change me with pleasure?”
Hope is restless and unfulfilled until she meets Ari, the man of her fantasies. The sensual tension between them heightens with every touch. When their passion explodes, Hope gets pulled into the dragon’s mating ritual…and into a world of erotic sensation she never dreamed existed but now cannot live without. The dragon binds his mate to him with a ritual that shows Hope her true nature in this humorous erotic romance.
Finding Faith (A Dragon’s Fated Heart Book 2) by Beverly Ovalle Genre: Paranormal Romance
The apocalypse had been and gone. Those left banded together for survival, creating safety from the chaos. They succeeded.
Faith wanted more, she wanted to live, to love, fly free. More than survival, Faith craved adventure. Leaving home, seeking a new life, all that ceased when she witnessed her sister being abducted-by dragons, creatures shrouded in myth. Determined to rescue her, Faith begins an adventure she never wants to end.
Dragon shifter Crag follows his heart, hunting for his fated mate. Once he finds her, Crag is determined to keep her safe, from all threats. Admitting he is a dragon shifter and involved in her sister’s kidnapping may be the end of them.
Until the interference of a race of dragons desperate for survival grasps their only chance, stealing Faith and drawing Crag along to save her.
Saving Grace (A Dragon’s Fated Heart Book 3) by Beverly Ovalle Genre: Paranormal Romance
The apocalypse had come and gone. Secrets lie buried waiting to be found. Dragons are not the only ones awakening to a new world.
Grace has always felt a bit like an outsider, even in her own family. She preferred to do things on her own, ignoring her loneliness. That all changes when Rog barrels into her life, opening her eyes to so much more.
Dragon shifter Rog has seen what problems hiding your inner dragon from your mate brings. Saving his mate from a precarious situation, he changes in front of her. Her awe and hesitant acceptance have him wrapped around her finger in a heartbeat.
Together they find a hidden, cryogenic facility. Do they awaken the lost souls hidden in the depth of the mountain? Dare they take the chance of possibly bringing back the diseases to once again ravage their world?
Those are easy questions, but how can Rog explain the mating ritual to change Grace into a dragon involving himself and other dragons giving her more pleasure in a once in a lifetime experience?
Are you interested in a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
Read on as Author Beverly Ovalle shares a little about the world of A Dragon’s Fated Heart and reveals a glimpse into the next book in the series!
I’m a bit of a prepper so writing about a post-apocalyptic world isn’t a surprise to anyone that really knows me. In my kitchen I have my go to bag and necessities ready to go. Better yet, we bought an RV and I was dancing around excited that I have my own vehicle that I prep every year, lol.
Naturally I wanted to write about what would happen, but not during. We all know that will be death, destruction and lawlessness. For Pete’s sake most cities have riots when their sports teams win! Or if there is a natural disaster. Looting is the first thing that happens.
No, I wanted to show what would happen when people realize they need to survive. Stealing from others will only do you good for so long-if you don’t die when someone else defends themselves. So, back to an agricultural society. It will be the only way to eat. Hunting, growing and working together. But every community that survives will probably be different. What would you do?
I’m of the firm belief the Amish will be the ones to survive in America. Gasoline will run out eventually. Electricity will be gone unless you’ve got solar or wind power. They already have that going on.
But then I take it to a fantasy world. Dragons wake up, hidden in the recesses of the world.
Because? Obsessed! So much that at one point I had dragons as pets until they passed away.
Saving Grace is my fourth dip into this world. My dragons started out in Colorado and roam the United States, with Rog and Hark checking out Kentucky. An absolutely beautiful state. What I had planned to be stories about six siblings is expanding a bit. One of the dragons in Saving Grace, Indra, is practically begging for his own story. I’ve already bought the cover! You will also meet the future mate of one of Rog’s sisters. Not that any of them realize that. Not yet at any rate.
So, prepping, dragons and sexy men swirl in my brain and pour out to entertain. Once I start writing one of my stories, it’s hard to stop. I hope you enjoy my Dragon’s Fated Heart Series as much as I like writing them.
I’m excited to be one of many tour hosts sharing information about A Dragon’s Fated Heart Series. If you’re intrigued, make sure you order your copies today, just CLICK HERE!
Did you participate in last week’s #WritingWednesday post? It was about the little things in life. If you haven’t posted your response, click HEREso you can do that now. Then, make sure you check in here ~ every Wednesday ~ for the latest #WritingWednesday writing prompt! Now, back to today’s regularly scheduled post…
Remember, #WritingWednesday is an EASY, STRESS-FREE, weekly writing challenge.
Read the writing prompt below,
Spend 5 minutes writing (in your own voice or the voice of a character you’re writing) whatever comes to mind,
DON’T EDIT what you write! IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PERFECT!
The goal is 5 minutes of creativity.
Today I am writing in the voice of Tripp, a character in one of my current ‘WIP’ manuscripts.
Today’s writing prompt:
What is something that has required your patience?
That’s easy, teleportation. The power to transport runs in my family, my dad could do it, just like his father, his grandfather, his great-grandfather, and as far back as he knew. It wasn’t surprising when my powers started to develop, despite my mother’s hope that they never would.
Teleportation takes time and patience to learn and if not done right, it could be a death sentence. In all honesty, it is a death sentence either way. With every trip you make, you’re slowly killing yourself. It takes a toll on the body and the mind. I’m twenty-two, but my doctors can’t explain how I have the heart and lungs of a forty-year-old even though I look like I’m in the best physical condition of my life. I exercise daily, I eat right, and I’ve never smoked a day in my life.
When my great grandfather was thirty-nine, he was committed to a mental ward, he died their ten years later. When my grandfather was forty-six, he died of a heart attack while in transport. We lost my father when he was only forty-two. He had had two strokes before he turned forty, the third one killed him.
I don’t expect to live beyond my twenties, no male in my family ever has. I guess that’s why I live the way I do, on the edge. I never say no and I am willing to try just about anything. I can’t lie, it has gotten me in a bit of trouble from time to time. I’ve done things I don’t recommend but wouldn’t take back. That’s probably why the watchmen at Operation Atlas have put out a reward for my arrest. I guess we just have to see who catches me first, Operation Atlas or Death!
Alright, now it’s your turn. I’d love to see what today’s writing prompt [Patience] inspires in you. So, if you are willing, go to the comment section below and start typing. Take 5 minutes and let’s see what you come up with!
What books have made your April 2020 reading list? Comment below and let me know! Then, click on the links below to check out my latest post for the New York Times Top Ten Lists and see which books you’d like to add to your reading list!
Having spent most of her life exploring the jungle with her parents, nothing could prepare Dora for her most dangerous adventure ever: high school. Always the explorer, Dora quickly finds herself leading Boots, Diego, a mysterious jungle inhabitant, and a ragtag group of teens on a live-action adventure to save her parents and solve the impossible mystery behind a lost Inca civilization. Written by Nick Moreau
Now let’s talk about the movie… That’s why we are here, right?
My kids are still young. Young enough that I remember them watching Dora the Explorer over and over when they were really little. Admittedly, because they watched it… so did I. I didn’t love the cartoon, but I didn’t hate it either. The ‘Map’ song got stuck in my head more days than it didn’t, but those were good times and good memories.
When I heard they were making a live action Dora movie, I was not surprised. My kids weren’t all that interested in seeing it in the theatre, nor was I, but free on TV… sure why not. Especially since I was asked by a reader to review it.
The screenplay was written very true to the original cartoon. It definitely felt like they brought the cartoon characters to life. I appreciated their loyalty to the original animation and found that it was surprisingly really fun to watch. I agree with Libby when she says it was refreshingly funny.
Cinematography ★★★★
It was live action… as life action as a kid’s movie can get. The cinematography helped to bring the audience into the action sequences making viewers feel like they’re in the action and running through the jungle right alongside Dora and her friends.
Character(s)/Acting: ★★★★
The kids in this film did a great job. They took on their roles 100% and looked like they were having so much fun during filming.
FUN FACTS:
* Isabela Merced, who plays Dora, had earlier starred as Dora’s friend Kate in Dora and Friends: Into the City! (2014)
* Weeks before the film’s release, a pair of red boots were digitally applied to Boots after it was found he wasn’t wearing any.
* The film was released in 2019 which is one year shy from the 20th Anniversary of the original Dora the Explorer (2000) series.
MY FAVORITE QUOTE:
“This is a golden poison tree frog! Can YOU say ‘extreme neurotoxicity’?” ~ Dora
“Oh look, Dora brought a knife on the field trip everybody!” ~ Sammy
TO SUM IT UP:
Not my favorite movie of the year and I probably wouldn’t watch it again, but I enjoyed it and I’m glad I saw it.
Have you seen Dora and the Lost City of Gold yet? If so, let me know your thoughts in the comments below. If not, I highly recommend seeing it for yourself and forming your own opinion.
The Rite of Wands (The Rite of Wands Book 1) by Mackenzie Flohr Genre: YA Fantasy
One boy…one Rite… And a world of deadly secrets that could change the course of history—forever
And so begins the tale of Mierta McKinnon. When a horrible fate reveals itself during his Rite of Wands ceremony, he must find a way to change not only his destiny but also the land of Iverna’s.
Forbidden from revealing the future he foresees to anyone, he is granted a wand and his magical powers, but still must master the realm of magic in order to save himself and those he loves.
But Mierta is not the only one with secrets…especially when it’s impossible to know who to trust.
When Lochlann becomes nervous about his upcoming Rite of Wands ceremony, his brother Mierta McKinnon reassures him everything will be okay. But when Lochlann staggers out of his ceremony and refuses to use magic, Mierta McKinnon is determined to find out what really happened.
Meanwhile, the kingdom of Vandolay is under attack by a dangerous, unidentified creature, and Mierta’s father, Mortain McKinnon, requests his son’s assistance to help aid the injured.
But the people of Vandolay aren’t the only ones Mierta must save when someone he holds dear comes face-to-face with the creature and their life hangs in the balance.
Now Mierta must draw upon his strength and his newly acquired magic skills to defeat a dangerous foe and save everyone from death.
2019 Author Academy Awards: Top 10 Finalist – Fantasy
2018 Literary Classics Awards Gold Medal Winner: Best Young Adult Fantasy Novel
2018 Imadjinn Award for Best Fantasy Novel
2018 International Book Awards Finalist in the Fiction: Fantasy
2017 Foreword INDIES Book of Year Awards Silver Medal Winner: Fantasy
Mackenzie is the award-winning author of the young adult fantasy series The Rite of Wands. A storyteller at heart, she loves to inspire the imagination. Mackenzie makes her home in Michigan, where she is currently penning her next adventure.
Would you like a chance to win a Swag Pack with a bookmark, Rite of Wands poster, and Rite of Wands character cards? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
I am excited to be one of many hosts sharing information about The Rite of Abnegation by Mackenzie Flohr. If you want to check out the books, you can order your copies HERE!
Back in high school, Jack Cunningham had everything going for him. A basketball phenom, he could have punched his ticket to college or even the pros, but, instead, he chose to walk away from the game, forfeiting his future. Jack’s glory days are long gone…but, as it turns out, not forgotten. Years later, he gets the chance to take back his life when he is asked to coach the struggling basketball team at his alma mater. Jack reluctantly accepts, surprising no one more than himself, and as the boys start to come together as a team and win, he may get his last shot at redemption. Written by Warner Bros
Now let’s talk about the movie… That’s why we are here, right?
This was such a powerful script. If you are looking at this film as a sports film, it holds up. The story surrounding the basketball scenes are really good. It’s an underdog story where the worst team in the league ends up winning it all. I loved that.
If you are looking at this film for the human, emotional aspect… WOW! The dramatic aspects of this script along with the truly heartfelt acting take the movie beyond just good and make it a great film.
Character(s)/Acting: ★★★★★
The Way Back stars Ben Affleck and if I’m being 100% honest, I’ve never been a huge fan of his. I liked him in Good Will Hunting and he was ok in Gone Girl and a few other movies. Although, for the most part, he is just ok. He tends to play the same character in everything he is in. I guess that is why I was so surprised when I watched this movie. Ben Affleck gives us an AMAZING performance. It is the best acting I’ve ever seen him do. The emotion he puts into the role is so beautifully devastating and real. Knowing that he has suffered from addiction in his real life, I can only imagine that some of these scenes had to be extremely hard for him to do.
Cinematography ★★★★★
I have nothing bad or good to say about the cinematography. I think that because the script was so good and the acting was even better, I didn’t notice the cinematography, but that means it was also good enough not to be noticed in any negative ways. So, it gets five stars too.
FUN FACTS:
* The movie's original title was 'The Has-Been'.
* Like Jack, Ben Affleck has also struggled with alcoholism.
MY FAVORITE QUOTE:
“You want to know why they’re leaving you open? It’s because they don’t think you can hit the ocean from the beach.” ~ Jack Cunningham
TO SUM IT UP:
Four little words say it all, “I LOVED THIS FILM!”
Have you seen The Way Back yet? If so, let me know your thoughts in the comments below. If not, I highly recommend seeing it for yourself and forming your own opinion.
When was the last time you found a book that just swept you away? Reading can be a great escape when your stuck at home during the quarantine. Why not read before you stream?
Take a loot at the books below and let me know which ones are the most appealing to you! If you’re daring, you’ll order a copy and read it before streaming it on Netflix, Hulu, or any of your other online streaming accounts.
BOOKS TURNED INTO TV SHOWS
Which of these books have you read? Which of the TV shows have you seen? Share your answers in the comments below and let me know if you would like me to review any of the books and/or shows!
BOOKS TURNED INTO MOVIES
Which of these books have you read? Which of the movies have you seen? Share your answers in the comments below and let me know if you would like me to review any of the books and/or movies!
When you purchase a book using a link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission.All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.
Keeper of Lost Souls (Keeper Witches: Book 1) by Kristy Centeno Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Bryn has survived high school bullies.
She’s fought demons and won.
She’s even learned to coexist with the permanent haunt of one of her arch enemies.
But she’s never had to contend with a boy she was attracted too.
Much less one that was dead.
When Johnny Zhao’s name pops up in her list of charges Bryn doesn’t think much of him. Until their first meeting ends in near disaster.
It doesn’t take long for her to realize Johnny isn’t a conventional soul in need. He’s much more powerful than any she’s seen before. He’s a coveted target, one that has much to offer demons.
Protecting him becomes a priority, one she takes very seriously.
Now if only she could convince him that he needs her help before his adversaries return to claim what they failed to collect the first time around.
Would you like a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card? See the reveal HERE for special content and a giveaway!
Kristy Centeno loves to spin tales of creatures that go bump in the night, with a sprinkle of romance to top them off. Her passion for writing stems from a lifelong enjoyment of reading and the pleasure derived from the magical worlds created by authors like her. She prefers her female leads strong, independent, and stubborn who will stop at nothing to save their loved ones and protect those they care for.
Kristy currently resides in Pennsylvania with her five kids, a quartet of noisy parakeets, and a spoiled puppy. When she’s not working or writing, she juggles her free time between raising a handful of minions and pursuing other career goals.
I am excited to be one of the many tour hosts sharing information about Kristy Centeno’s Keeper of Lost Souls. If you’d like to order a copy for yourself, or a friend, CLICK HERE!
Chelsea Falin is the 25 year old independent author of well over ten titles. She began writing with the intent to publish in 2006, at age 16, and finally published in 2009, at age 19. Chelsea writes in a variety of genres, including but not limited to: romance, young adult, comedy, cooking, poetry, and dramatic fiction. Professionally, Chelsea is also a freelance blog/article writer, web designer, and book blogger.
In her personal life, Chelsea is the mother of a six year old daughter. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, fishing, hiking, biking, traveling, and spending time with her friends or family.
Willie and Babette have long, long been shielded from their own culture and heritage by their mother. When circumstances change, the girls are thrown into what they were once shielded from – only to find it is nothing like they once believed.
While Babette adjusts easily, Willie finds herself much more hesitant. While she struggles to find her true self, Willie is forced to learn she is not the only one suffering from “Less Than Humble Beginnings.”
“Try to remember everyone here has their demons, but we put those demons to good use. Make ourselves better, stronger, wiser.” – Jack
Willie, despite a rough start, has become immersed in the culture she should have been born into. As she grows in her own knowledge of her ancestral roots, she also grows in who she is as a person. All things are now within her reach, and all she must do is put forth a little effort. With all of this in mind, Willie has decided to dedicate herself towards her own ‘Personal Growth.’
“Our heritage might be bloody, but that’s no reason not to be proud!” -Spike
‘Personal Growth’ is the second installment in the fairly popular indie series, Growing Roots. It is the sequel to ‘Less Than Humble Beginnings.’ Here is what people have said about the series:
“The characters are believable and realistic.”
“Chelsea used concise descriptions of her characters which made it very easy to imagine their interactions.”
“Chelsea Falin is a great story-teller. With her clear descriptions of the characters, settings and dialogue, it was not difficult for me to imagine the characters and to picture every scene. With her excellent weaving of words, the world of Willie came alive as if I’m watching a movie.”
“Being a teenager is never easy, and Willie’s internal struggles were easy to relate to.”
Great Strides (Growing Roots Book 3) by Chelsea Falin
Willie has finally found her father, and he’s welcomed her with open arms. Now she must forge a relationship with the man she never even knew was alive. It isn’t just him, however, Willie must also find out how she fits in with her step-mother and half-siblings. Left in Alabama with no close-in-age peers, Willie makes great strides in finding out who she is as an individual without a group of close friends to rely on.
Alabama offers many firsts for Willie. The most notable in her own mind is her first relationship. There are other firsts in store, however, and a whole new cast of characters to get to know. How will Willie handle this newest experience? Will she handle it in the mature the way she has always handled change? Or will this be the point in which Willie loses herself?
“Genetics are a tricky business at times, and you just never know what you’re going to get when you throw two ancestry’s together.” -Willie’s Mamaw
Living a “normal” life doesn’t always mean that things will always be good. Bad things happen to even the best of people, and this is a life lesson Willie must now learn when tragedy strikes her close-knit group of friends.
As she continues to grow and change, Willie knows that she is far from the girl who arrived in Oklahoma little over a year ago. She’s growing, changing, and working on putting the pieces together in her life – just as her friends struggle to do the same.
“You never know, Willie. Death doesn’t discriminate by age or gender or social status. It’s one of the few things that doesn’t care. When it comes for you, it comes. It could be today, tomorrow, or a hundred years from now, but when your time is up, it’s up. There’s nothing you can do to change that.”-Dakota
Praise for the ‘Growing Roots Series’:
“a great lesson in the way life can change at any time”
“an eye-opener for teenagers and older adults alike”
“Chelsea Falin is a great story-teller. With her clear descriptions of the characters, settings and dialogue, it was not difficult for me to imagine the characters and to picture every scene.”
Would you like a chance to win a free $10 Amazon Gift Card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
My arrival home two days before hadn’t been everything I’d hoped. Oh, everyone was excited to see me, but I felt the void of Jack and Spike tremendously. They hadn’t made it back for my homecoming because they’d had to work. I idly wondered whether they’d always have to work now. With their tech school starting up soon, there wouldn’t be any time for a silly sixteen-year-old girl like me.
I couldn’t let myself drown in self-pity. I knew that statement was wrong. Jack, Spike, and Dakota had purposefully waited for me to arrive home before they threw their big house party. Johnny had told me earlier the party would be this Saturday night, and we (along with Lee) would crash at Jack’s new place. Aunt Janie was okay with that because it meant we wouldn’t drive home drunk. I was certain she trusted the older guys to make sure nothing happened to us.
Buck and Takoda had gotten their own place, which was where I headed now. The new place was only a twenty-minute walk, according to my cousins.
I hadn’t called to tell Buck or Takoda I was coming but was eager to get out of the house for a bit. Tiny baby Levi, while adorable, was what Aunt Janie called a “colicky” baby. All I knew was that he screamed for hours on end, and when he slept, the whole house tiptoed around him. I’d asked Johnny and Lee if they wanted to go, but they’d been working on a car project. They were trying to keep up the shade tree business Jack had started while he was gone at school.
When I reached the right area, filled with small homes on small plots, I began to worry I wouldn’t know which house was the right one. I hadn’t had the forethought to ask Johnny or Lee if they knew the house number. I didn’t have to worry long, however, because I soon saw a long, lean form waving from two houses down. As I walked closer, Takoda hollered “Hey, little one!”
I began walking up a short, cracked walkway leading to the front of the house. “Hi, Takoda.”
“I didn’t know you were back yet.”
I smiled, nodding. “Yeah, I got back two days ago. Things have been kind of crazy at the house since I returned, so I came hunting for your new house.” I paused and looked around. “Is Buck here?”
Takoda shook his head. “No. He’s usually off today, too, but he called in to cover a shift. It’s just me.” He grinned lopsidedly. “You’re not still afraid of being alone with me, are you?”
I laughed and shook my head. “No. I think I’m over that.”
Takoda smiled broadly. “Good, then come up here and have a seat.” He patted beside him. As I moved up the steps I saw it was a cheap metal glider meant to seat two. I sat a little hesitantly, but Takoda didn’t seem to notice. “So, tell me about your summer. How did you get along with your dad and other family, little one?”
I sighed. “Do you have to call me little one? I’m not that little.”
Takoda gave a half-smile. “I think we’ve gone over this before.” I didn’t say anything but noticed his eyes flickered up and down my frame. I felt a little self-conscious, and the feeling increased when he added, “No. I guess you’re not so little anymore. You’ve changed this summer.”
“How so?” I regretted the question almost immediately as I looked at the uncomfortable look on Takoda’s broad, friendly face.
“Ah… well, I couldn’t help notice you’re leaner and curvier. Your hair is a little different, too, and I think you may have grown half an inch.” Takoda sighed. “You’re growing up fast, little one.”
“Please, stop calling me that.” I decided to not remark on how he said I was leaner and curvier. Takoda was always very perceptive, and the statement was made more as an observation than anything harmful. Still, I couldn’t help feeling a little awkward he’d noticed.
Takoda shook his head and chuckled. “Tell me about your summer, Willie.” He stressed my name to make certain I noticed he’d used my real name instead of his nickname for me.
“Well… I got along well with my family. I have a grandma and everything, which I didn’t know until I got there. Oh, and I went running with my brother every morning while I was out there.” I started.
“That explains some things,” Takoda interrupted.
I decided to ignore his comment and continued. “Oh, and…” I paused, blushing. “I also had my first boyfriend.”
Takoda’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh?” He paused. “Does your dear love interest know this?” I couldn’t tell if Takoda was teasing or serious. Sometimes it was hard to tell with him.
“Love interest?” I questioned, confused.
“Spike?” Takoda prompted.
“Oh… uh, no. I guess he doesn’t. But he won’t care. It’s a long story and I don’t want to get into it right now.”
Takoda nodded. “So, are you still dating this mystery guy? Or was it a summer thing?”
“A summer thing,” I answered. “We knew it was from the start. But he was nice.”
“He’d better be.” Takoda’s voice was half-joking and half-serious. “There would be a lot of angry men to face if he weren’t, after all.”
I laughed. “Yeah, that’s true. I feel bad for any guy who thinks about dating me, here.”
Something flickered across Takoda’s face. It was a strange look I didn’t understand, and it was gone so quickly I might have imagined it. “Well, tell me about this boyfriend. What was his name, how old was he, the usual stuff.”
“You’re interested in all that? Isn’t that something guys don’t usually care about?” I teased.
Takoda snorted as he grinned. “Well, I don’t have anything else to do today, and I’m certain you want to spill the details to everyone who will listen.”
I grinned. Without responding to his comment, I began to tell him about Nash. “He’s eighteen. No, wait, he’s nineteen now.”
Takoda raised an eyebrow at me. “Isn’t that a little old for you?”
“You hang out with sixteen-year-old girls, don’t you? And you’re even older.”
Takoda shook his head. “I’m not dating one, though.”
I snorted. “Bet you wish you were.” My eyes grew wide when I realized my mouth had spoken before my brain told it not to. I clasped a hand over my mouth in shock. That was something I wouldn’t have normally said. Maybe Alabama had changed me in some ways.
Takoda arched an eyebrow and stared for a moment before answering. Slowly nodding, he said, “You know, you might be right.” I stopped breathing. Takoda shrugged his shoulders heavily and said, “Then again, maybe you’re not. We’ll never know, will we?” He spread his hands wide to punctuate his statement and then he laughed, his typical grin returning to his face.
I assumed Takoda had been joking, although I was never really certain, and I laughed with him. His eyes twinkled in the sunlight for a moment and caught my attention. They were the most beautiful shade of light brown. Not that I was crushing on Takoda, but I’d learned to pay attention to the beauty around me in all things. Even strange guys who left me constantly confused and feeling I’d been left out of an inside joke.
If you enjoyed that short excerpt, you’ll want to CLICK HERE and order the whole series!!!
I’m excited to be one of many tour hosts sharing information about The Growing Roots Series by Chelsea Falin. Be sure to check out her books on Amazon and order your copies today!
Did you participate in last week’s #WritingWednesday post? It was about something you’ve inherited. If you haven’t posted your response, click HEREso you can do that now. Then, make sure you check in here ~ every Wednesday ~ for the latest #WritingWednesday writing prompt! Now, back to today’s regularly scheduled post…
Remember, #WritingWednesday is an EASY, STRESS-FREE, weekly writing challenge.
Read the writing prompt below,
Spend 5 minutes writing (in your own voice or the voice of a character you’re writing) whatever comes to mind,
DON’T EDIT what you write! IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PERFECT!
The goal is 5 minutes of creativity.
Today I am writing in the voice of Embry, a character in one of my current ‘WIP’ manuscripts.
Today’s writing prompt:
They say it is the little things in life that make life worth living. Describe one of those ‘little things’
My life, if nothing else, is unexpected. I’ve been on my own since I was sixteen. When my powers first started developing, my parents acted like they didn’t notice. Then, shortly after my sixteenth birthday, during an argument with my mom, I accidently made her walk through the sliding glass door at the back of our house. I hadn’t meant to hurt her, but she ended up spending three weeks in the hospital and has permanent scars across her face to reminder her every day of what I did. I hadn’t meant for anything to happen. Honestly, at the time, I had no idea how it happened.
I’m what is called a Possessor. I have the power to take control of, or possession of if you like that better, someone else’s body. Yes, even yours.
I used to have to be in contact with the other person, but not anymore. Now, I just have to be in visual contact. They don’t have to see me, and its often better if they don’t, I just have to be able to see them.
So for me, the little things that make my life worth living are more about the little moments I steal from others. I don’t have a family that looks after me, cares for me, or even thinks about me. In order to feel that kinds of closeness to other people, I steal those moments. You might think that’s wrong, and maybe it is, but it’s a natural base emotion to need to feel loved. That’s all I want. I try not to hurt people in the process, but I can’t say it never happens.
Alright, now it’s your turn. I’d love to see what today’s writing prompt [The Little Things.] inspires in you. So, if you are willing, go to the comment section below and start typing. Take 5 minutes and let’s see what you come up with!
What books have made your April 2020 reading list? Comment below and let me know! Then, click on the links below to check out my latest post for the New York Times Top Ten Lists and see which books you’d like to add to your reading list!
Nina Soden 