I had a lot of fun writing conversations between my FMC, Aubrey, her adult daughter Zoe and Zoe's girlfriend Brittney.

The girls live in BC and Aubrey lives in Ontario, so there are a couple facetime conversations in the book and the girls love to give Aubrey a hard time.

~~

“So, do you have a picture of him?” Brittney appeared over her daughter’s shoulder.

“No, I don’t. I’m showing my age I guess because we haven’t taken any selfies.”

Both women laughed and Zoe rolled her eyes. “Come on mom. This isn’t hard. What’s his full name and we’ll find him somewhere.”

“John Mahone, he’s a cameraman for MinouNews.”

Aubrey watched as Brittney typed away on her phone next to Zoe. “Got him!” she crooned a moment later.

“Seriously?” She was amazed. “Have your considered becoming a detective when you grow up?”

Brittney laughed, “No thank you. Talking to people all the time? Yuck, I like my job at the morgue thank you very much. The love of my life here chatters enough for the both of us.”

Zoe grinned and gave Brittney a kiss against her temple. “That’s why we’re so good together. You don’t want to talk much and I like to talk for the both of us.”

Aubrey sipped at her tea and smiled at her girls. Brittney was right, they were perfect for each other. A true opposite attract situation they’d made work.

“Wow, he’s really good looking in a daddy kind of way.” Brittney commented.

“Don’t say that about my future step-father.” Zoe made a face and then tugged at Brittney’s arm so she could see the picture. “Holy shit. Okay mom, promise me you never call him Daddy. We want to.”

Aubrey laughed and tiled her face back, “I promise to never do that. It’s not that kind of vibe.”

“Oh, he calls you Mommy.” She teased, “okay that’s cool. No judgement from us.”

Brittney nodded in agreement with Zoe.

“Shut it!” Aubrey rubbed at her face trying to hide the blush from her cheeks. “It’s not that kind of vibe either. He’s a really nice guy and I like him.”

Zoe’s grin faded slightly, “Jokes aside mom. I’m glad. I really want you to find someone and if this guy works for you then don’t wait around forever. Have some fun in your life. You deserve it.”

 That's a hyena.....and the extent of how I can explain my organizational skills with writing. Laughable

I'm incredible organized in my day job, but for some reason when I flip and start using the right side of my brain , I couldn't organize my way out of a paper bag!
If this is something you have figured out, or have suggestions, please share!!

It's Winter and this is the stack of books sitting on my nightstand. I read so much on my phone and on my Kobo that I don't touch paperbacks often. But we're going away at the end of the month and all of these will be going into my suitcase, along with my Kobo. :)

 

What are the perks of being an author you might wonder?? And there are a few. :)
* I have multiple personalities in my head and no one makes me go on medication.
* I buy books guilt free and call it research
* If I spend the entire day in my PJs drinking coffee, in front of my computer. I can say I was writing and everyone tells me I'm doing a good job.
* "I'm researching it for a book." is the best excuse to get out of everything.
* "I'm on a deadline." Get's me out of all sorts of social engagements I want to avoid.
What other perks did I forget?

#AuthorLife
#CanadianRomanceAuthor
#RomanceAuthorsofAtlanticCanada
#WriterFriendsChallenge

 

 Overwhelm is definitely something the heroine of Power Surge has to deal with.

If it's not the jerk manager at her job, pickup trucks with "truck nuts" driving like an asshat during rush hour is enough. She's also dealing with menopause and the crazy symptoms that includes.

What she didn't expect was the added stress of the superpower she's developed and trying to learn to manage her emotions before she literally explodes and flattens everything around her.

 Story Aesthetic is a hard thing to put into pictures, especially as I get too caught up in details sometimes. :)

I think this is a good representation of Power Surge.
It's a romance, with a powerful, mature, heroine who faces some dark places but has the support of her silly, fur baby and a man who might be her complete opposite but is perfect for her.

Writer's do need to rest and step away from their work, at times. Personally, I need time to refill my creative well and I do that by curling up with a coffee, a book ,or knitting while listening to an audiobook.

My current project is a pair of mitts for my good friend @roxymews . She introduced me to the darker monster romances and I'm obsessed. LoL We read Kidnapped by the Krampus together last month.

When I saw this pattern, I knew I had to make her a pair! :) Originally I wanted them competed as a present for Yule, but typically I didn't have them completed as quickly as I originally planned.

 

 A Bookish Bucket List sounds to me like a TBR Pile...mine is100+ at the moment.

But these are a few at the top of my list, in no particular order...
Caught Up - @navessa.allen
Deadly Illusion - @kathy_lockheart
Ransom - @authorjennamyles
Butcher & Blackbird - @brynne_weaver
Her Cyborg Commander - @SusanHayes
The Orc and the Innkeeper - @coracraneauthor
Captured By The Cupid - @emilybshore

 How about another peek into Power Surge for some Chilling Character Behaviour...the moment Aubrey decides to use her new powers to help someone.

Running back toward the alley, Aubrey tugged the balaclava over her head, pulled her hoodie over her head, she yanked on the strings to tighten it a bit over her face and keep it in place.

There wasn’t a single light in the narrow alleyway, only the tiniest sliver of moonshine made it down between the buildings. She slowed as her eyes stared to adjust to the dark and listened. A muffled scream of horror and a scrabbling sound drew her attention and she started running again. Panic and fear grew at a compounding speed in her chest, clawing at her neck. This was crazy, but she couldn’t let that woman get hurt.

On the other side of a dumpster, she caught the man kneeling on the woman’s back, a knife held just in front of his victim’s face. His other hand yanked at her shirt.

Fury blazed through Aubrey. Rushing forward, she grabbed the man by the hair, yanking him to the side so he toppled off the woman.

“What the f***!” He turned and glared at her, bringing the knife up. “You want to take that ****’s place. Fine with me.”

 A quick peak into the beginning of a a cozy, car, coffee date in Power Surge.

He spotted her car as he drove down the street, pulling into the coffee shop lot, he backed into the spot next to her. She lowered her passenger window as he lowered his.
“Hey pretty lady, your car or mine?”

Before she could answer, Eddie’s big face appeared between the seats, moth wide open and panting. The big dog scrabbled into the passenger seat and almost out the window as Aubrey cursed from the driver’s seat.

“Woah, okay Eddie. I’m coming over.” John raised his window and jumped out, locking his jeep before opening the passenger door of her car and sliding into the seat. Aubrey had somehow convinced Eddie to get in to the back again, but as soon as John shut the door, Eddie greeted him with a plethora of doggie kisses.

 I don't use a planner per se for my writing...although I have dozens of little pieces of paper, cardboard, napkins, post-its that I'd scribbled down ideas and outlines on.

But I do sometimes use a Kanban board I made and I have a binder that has page covers I put all my smaller pieces of paper in so I don't loose them.
Taking this picture reminded me it's sitting unfinished from when I started setting it up for Q4 of 2024. I should work on it and get my brain ready for my 2025 goals.

 I have 3 books on the go at the moment...because my TBR pile is massive and I need to work on it.

Three Ways to Mend a Broken Heart by authortrilinapucci on the Kindle app on my phone. It's book 3 in a series and is amazing!

I just started listening to North is the Night by @emilyrathauthor in the van during my commute to and from work. It has me sucked in and I can't wait to go to work in the mornings. lol

I curl up in bed at night with my Kobo and am almost finished The Enchanted Garden Cafe by @abigaildrakeauthor This is a series filled with characters I'm coming to adore and I've already got the second one in the series waiting for when I've completed this one.

 Character resolutions for 2025...I'm channeling Bridget and Arthur from Hot Flash. (Book 2 of my still unnamed series )

Bridget: To have an adventure and experience life in a new way. (Be careful what you wish for)

Arthur: Focus more on diversifying his company's portfolio and spend 1 quiet afternoon a week away from his desk. (What you want isn't always what you need!)

 Staying with my goals of keeping things simple for 2025...I don't think I've clogged up my vision board. I think I may print this one off and hang it up so I can keep reminding myself.

Signing a contract (either for an agent or book contract), finding one of my books on a shelf in a book store, and a big vision is to have one of my books picked up for a series or movie rights.

A new year is always a fresh new start and I typically try to make writing plans that sound reasonable but I almost immediately proceed to procrastinate myself into not meeting them. This year, I'm going to focus on one book series and not jump around all the different novels I have on the go. Staying focused for the next 12 months on a single series will be challenging for me. But, if I'm still in the same position in Dec that I am now, then I'll shift my path for next year.

 

I live by goals...daily, weekly, monthly and annual. Now, normally I make the goals and then break the goals. Usually because I set myself up for failure by creating lofty goals and tight schedules that don't allow room for the hiccups life always throws in the way. So I'm keeping it simple this year. I'd like to have at least 2 books from my new series published or at least contracted before the end of the year.