A to Z II - N is for Niche

Yet another day is upon us, my friends! Which means that we are another day deeper into my personal A to Z challenge. Today's letter is n, which is for niche.

In this case, we are talking about a niche - a special talent for something. Joe's niche for being a sniper.

Joe was destined for his job. His father was a sniper. He was in the Army. Joe inherited his father's patience and keen eye.

In the Marines, Joe proved his skills as a marksman.

In the Detroit PD, he honed and perfected those skills.

It may seem odd or even horrible to call sniping a niche, but it is. It's Joe's  niche. It's his talent. He has patience that very few people have. How many people do you know can lay motionless for days on end, watching people, and not sleep? It's a skill. How many people can shoot with pin-point accuracy? Indeed, sniping is Joe's niche.

Everyone has a niche in this world. Joe's is being a sniper. Claudette's is painting. Mine is writing. What's yours?

A to Z II - L is for Loneliness

Welcome to yet another day in my own personal A to Z Challenge. Today's letter is the letter l. L stands for loneliness.

Joe is an incredibly lonely person. Despite his relationships with Claudette and Pete, Joe still feels very much alone in the world.

Alone because he and Claudette can't truly have it all.

Alone because Pete has a life and family all his own.

Alone because he has one of the most difficult jobs in the world, works insane hours, and is rarely home. Thus he really doesn't have time for much of a social life.

Alone because his father died when he was a kid.

Alone because his mother is gone now, too.

Alone because his sister is a junkie, and can't get her life in order.

Alone because he basically has no family left.

Alone because he keeps to himself. It's safer and easier that way.

Joe is lonely. Partially due to his circumstances. Partially due to his choices. L is for loneliness.

A to Z Challenge - L is for Love

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

It's time for another A to Z Challenge! This year, I want to tell you about a story that is currently a WIP (work in progress). It's the story I'm writing in honor of my baby lovebird, Robert. It's a fantasy story, but it's really a story about emotional healing. So let's examine it by going through the alphabet!

L is for Love, our word of the day.

Love doesn't just mean romance. You can have a love story without being a romance novel.

I am writing this story out of my love for Robert.

Robert loves Emmalee, and Emmalee loves Robert.

Robert loves all of his crew mates, and even the other captives of Tyler, the bad guy.

Robert even loves Tyler in a way (the only way to understand this will be to read it. So stay tuned. I'll let you know when it hits the presses. ;)  ).

Love is a wonderful emotional and connection that we share with family and friends. That kind of love is translated throughout the story of The Good Pirate, Robert.

Check back tomorrow for the letter m!

Loving Her Valentines: Maria and Stephania

Happy February, gang!

For this month, what I am doing is going to be discussing romances from the Loving Her series on my usual Thursday posts, and then treating you to a romantic excerpt from the story.

Who doesn't love love?

This week's couple is Maria and Stephania!

This is a rather unusual pair. If not for Stephania's persistence, they never would have gotten together.

They met at Linda's Super Bowl party, as Steph was friends with Linda, and Maria knew Liz and Jen, who invited her along with them.

Stephania was immediately taken with Maria. She was a writer. She was older. She was calm, serene, and wise. She was everything Stephania wasn't, and everything she needed. During the party Stephania hounded Maria. In order to gain some peace, Maria finally acquiesced, and they set up their first date.

Maria felt that she would just be playing along. She went out on the date because she had given Steph her word, but she didn't see anything coming of it. After a brief monologue by Stephania at the beginning of the first date, Maria's mind had changed. There was more to this young woman than she had given her credit for. Thus, the relationship blossomed.

There was one problem, though. Maria's first wife: Addy. Addy had passed away some years before, but Maria hadn't really moved on. She was still very much in love with her. As her relationship with Stephania developed, Maria found herself very confused. She loved Addy, but she was also falling in love with Stephania. Maria struggled greatly in finding a balance between her past and her present. Interestingly enough, Steph embraces Maria's past, and that all becomes a part of their present life.

Not everyone was happy for Maria's new found love. Her sister, Marisol, brought her the bad news that her family did not approve of their relationship. Maria was told that until she and Steph broke up and Maria was no longer gay, she needed to stay away from the family. That was until Maria's mother passed away.

While out in California spending time with her family during her mother's services, it comes to light that the only family member who had a problem with Stephania was Marisol. A heated confrontation arose, and Maria was welcomed back into the family, along with Steph.

Despite their age difference and personality differences, Maria and Stephania really make a wonderful pair. They loved and supported each other both through good times and bad. They remind us that love knows no boundaries with age, personality, background, etc. Love truly is blind, an that is a wonderful thing.

Changes

Hiya troops!

I apologize for the brief hiatus. Life just does that some times, doesn't it?

We're at the end of October, nearing the end of the year, and we've gone through all the characters from all of my books. Where do we go from here?

Well, that's a darn good question. As of right now, I have a few WIPs, but one is getting significantly more attention.

If you're friends with me on Facebook, I'm sure you've been inundated with pictures and videos of our baby Lovebirds. One of them was a special little guy named Robert.

Robert suffered some brain damage from an accidental encounter with one of our dogs. He survived, but the effects were obvious. He was slower to develop than his siblings. He was smaller than his siblings. He was slower to develop feathers, and he was behind in his coordination. But he was so cute, and so much fun. I couldn't resist sharing my pictures and videos of him.

He gained quite an audience. So much so, in fact, that he even has his own blog! Please check it out at http://robertsbirdbrain.blogspot.com/




Robert captured the heart of many, so when he unexpectedly passed away, many hearts were saddened.

In his very short life, Robert created a world of good. In his passing, I needed to share that goodness with the world. So, for the first time since I began writing fiction almost a decade ago, I am writing a fantasy. Robert is the hero of this latest novel. I have never done anything like this, but boy is it fun to just let my imagination run wild! I am trying to somewhat emulate J. K. Rowling in writing what is both a children's story, as well as a novel for adults - a story that can reach all audiences. I do hope that you will join me in this endeavor.

So this is where we stand at the present moment. Where we go from here has yet to be determined, but since Robert was so awesome, I have no doubt that this will be awesome as well!

Happy reading!

More autumnal delight from The Shelter Director

It's WeWriWa time!

Click www.wewriwa.com for more information and to see other 8 Sentence Sunday posts.

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight sentences from a published work or even a WIP (work in progress). Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! It's a great way to meet readers, writers, and your next favorite book!  :)


For the month of September, we will be reading excerpts from The Shelter Director, Jen's story in the Loving Her series.

Shy, quiet, humble – Jen is the kind of person that would give you the shirt off her back and then ask you what else you need. She may not be a movie star, but she’ll treat you like one. She works diligently to help save cats. She sacrifices her life and stability to accommodate her partner. She gives until it hurts, and her reward is a devastating diagnosis. What will her life become?


Background on the snippet: Jen is on the phone with her father. He just told her that her mother was dying of stomach cancer. This snippet has been edited to fit 8 sentences.

     “Yes, we just found out today. She’s been in the hospital for days, now - she isn’t getting any better.” Gary stopped as he choked on his words; “How soon can you get here, Jenny?” Never before had Jen heard such desperation in her father’s voice.
     “I don’t know, but I’ll go now.”
     The other end of the phone was silent.
     “Dad?”
     “Please get here, Jenny,” Gary hung up.

I hope you liked it!

Happy reading!

Character of the Week: Linda from The Mechanic/the Loving Her series

Linda Scott wears her heart on her sleeve, and gives you the shirt off her back. She is an amazing character.

Linda comes from a "traditional" family with her parents, Chuck and Melanie, and her brother Jerry.

Linda was always a tomboy, following very closely in her older brother's footsteps. Her parents - Melanie, especially - had hoped for a more "typical" little girl, but they loved Linda nonetheless.

As Linda was growing up, it didn't take her long to realize that she was gay. Scared and confused, she confided in her older brother. Jerry was a good, supportive brother. As time wore on, he felt that she needed to be brave enough to come out to their parents. He'd tease and encourage her day in and day out. Finally, unable to withstand the pressure of the secret, he finally tells the family at dinner. This is where Linda's story begins.

The pain and disappointment of what follows eats Linda at her core. Her relationship with her parents is strained at best. She lives a quiet life, maintaining a good relationship with Jerry.

Throughout the story, we see how much Linda loves '80s music, '80s television shows, etc. Her obsession with all things '80s comes from her childhood. The music and shows remind her of a time when her family loved and accepted her.

For as much as she has been hurt, she is not one to take things lying down. When she is teased in school by the biggest bully, she knocks him down to size. When she is rear ended by a bigot, life gives her the opportunity to retaliate later on. She refuses to be victimized.



Linda maintains a tough exterior. It's the only way she can protect herself from the pain that resides deep in her heart.

When she meets a gal named Donna, she has no idea that she has met a kindred spirit. Later on, Donna approaches Linda, looking for any kind of camaraderie. What ensues is an incredible friendship.



Linda and Donna truly are two peas in a pod. They're both tough and stoic on the outside, but incredibly tender underneath. They share an understanding and respect that run incredibly deep. When either is in trouble, they know the other is there. They become each other's family. Through thick and thin, they are always there for each other.

When Linda sees Katie for the first time, she sees more than a cute little blonde. She sees someone who exudes compassion and understanding. Without even speaking to her, Linda knew that Katie was like no one else she had ever met before.

The more she learned about Katie, the more she realized that true love did exist. That people could fully love and accept her for who she is. Katie brings her a reassurance and a self-confidence Linda never had.


It is that commitment and that confidence that gives Linda the bravery needed to open the door to having a real relationship with her parents yet again.

Linda is strong, solid, fun, gentle, generous, caring, and sensitive. She is a woman of many layers and many emotions. She is real. Her story came from deep within my heart, and it is sure to touch you deeply as well.

Favorite quote from Linda: "What the hell are you? A sasquatch that you need an hour to shave your hairy legs?!"

Happy reading!
http://www.amazon.com/Mechanic-Loving-Her-Book-ebook/dp/B00GMPBKS8/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1426901979&sr=8-14&keywords=lauren+shiro