Raising a Teenager is Like Nailing Jello to the Wall

I know it's a cliche saying, but what is it with kids today?  My 12-year-old daughter is not even a teen yet, and ... well, I'll let you read the conversation from about a month ago ...

Driving her home from school, she is chattering away on her cell phone.  Not an uncommon occurrence, in fact it's fairly typical.  The nice thing is she doesn't (yet) feel the need to hide what she is talking about.

"You want to walk down the hall with him, right?  Well then, run into him on the way to class, and then ask him a question that it will take him some time to answer.  Boom, you are walking to class with him."

This perks my interest.  Now I'm focused on what she is saying.

"No.  No, you absolutely do not hug him first.  You let HIM hug YOU first."

Just now I'm pulling into the driveway.  I hear, "Ok, I gotta go.  See ya later."

I park the car and just sit there for a moment, trying to figure out how to ask about this overheard conversation.  I decide to be casual, and refer to a movie we had seen together recently.

"Do you have any idea how much you sounded like Hitch just then?"  She laughs.  Then I ask the question I'm sort of dreading.  "How do you know so much about dating anyway?"

She shrugs.  "I know a lot of people who date.  And I watch a lot of romantic comedies."  She gets out of the car to head into the house, and I am left counting the days until I am doomed as a father.

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A few weeks later I hear her talking to the friend to whom she had given the advice.  I know they are talking about some guy.  After the friend leaves, she tells me it's the guy her friend is "going with".

"Well, is it the same guy you gave her the advice about?"

"Oh, of course it is."  She smiles and bends over her laptop to finish her homework.

When did she get so grown up?

Sisterhood of the Traveling Blog II Week 4: L. S. Broomfield

Better late than never, this week in the final installment of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Blog II, I'm very happy to be hosting L. S. Broomfield, who is sharing one of her favorite excerpts from her current work in progress ...

I’ve chosen this specific excerpt and this specific work in progress because it evokes a strong emotion in myself and hopefully to those who read it. It’s a topic that’s rarely broached in our daily lives but it is very real subject that plagued many people. The title Behind the Mask speaks for itself because no matter who we are, we all have things hidden.

“Are you listening to what I’m telling you Ella?” The soft voice of Dr. Peyton questioned.

Immediately her eyes shifted from the bookcase to him and then downcast to the file in his hands, a soft blush heated against her cheeks, “I-I-um, well, sorry. I didn’t quite hear what you said.”

“Must we do this each visit, Ella? You sit there and look around my office and pretend you’re listening when we both know you are not. Don’t you think we could try, just this once, you listening and even sharing what is bothering you?” He hoped.

Her lips scrunched together as she pursed them left to right. She shrugged, looking away and towards the window.

“What do you want me to say?” Suddenly, her chest felt tight, throat felt dry. “Do you want me to sit here and whine about all that was wrong in my life? I don’t want to be one of those people that seek pity and attention...I just want to be normal.” Her jaw clenched, eyes blinked rapidly though no tears pooled. She had mastered these emotions years ago and learned quickly that no one wanted to see a young girl cry. Tears made adults uncomfortable, especially the ones that wanted to fix everything or pretend everything was okay when everything was wrong.

In the corner of her eye, his leg crossed over the other and she froze for a second. Slowly, her breath blew from between her barely parted lips as the ice in her body began to thaw.

“I want you to tell me what’s in your heart. Be honest with me but do you know what I want more than anything to happen during these sessions? Do you?” Ella shrugged slowly, her eyes drifting back to him, “I want you to feel safe. I want you to be honest with you.”

“I don’t think I know how to be honest with myself anymore. I don’t know if I can be honest with you, either. I don’t even know why I’m here. I should go.”

She rose from the couch, the brown, stiff leather beneath her groaning in protest at the movement. Ella fully intended to leave, her fingers ghosting over the cool leather as she walked behind the couch and towards the door.

“Stop Ella.” Dr. Peyton dropped the file to the coffee table and leaned forward, “That’s good you’ve told me that. Please...stay. Just for a little while longer. No one is forcing you to be here. You are doing this on your own and that in itself is commendable.” He noticed she made no movement towards the door. They were making progress today. Slow baby steps he reminded himself. “Why do you believe you cannot be honest with yourself?”

Ella nibbled her lip, sucking the soft flesh between her teeth. Her voice grew quiet, soft. “I’ve lied for so long about so much that a lie feels better than the reality.” The feeling of tears burned hot in her nose. “No one, doc, wants to hear my honesty. Not even my mom.” She made her way back to the couch, sitting to the edge.

“Hiding something that hurts us can be far more detrimental than releasing a truth that will hurt. It isn’t healthy to squelch your pain.”

She remembered the look of disappointment in her mother’s eyes the day she found out her dirty secret. The stone cold words of her mother that forever taunted her. She promised herself that very day she would never tell her brother Jason; she just couldn’t bear to see disgust or tolerated pity in his eyes.

Find L.S Broomfield here:

Blog: http://www.lsbroomfield.blogspot.ca/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/L.S.Broomfield

Twitter: @LBroomfield1977

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Available in Kindle format on Amazon.com or direct from XOXO Publishing in electronic format ... Evernight: Romance in a World of Darkness VOLUME 2 from Allison Cassatta ...

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Evernight-Vol-2-ebook/dp/B009LLZHX4/

XOXO Publishing: http://tinyurl.com/8dgmdbz

All Romance E-books: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-evernightvol2-968577-144.html

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The rest of the Sisterhood is:

Amy Kessler

Ashley Nemer

Johanna Marie Rae

L. S. Broomfield

Sherrie Henry

Stacy Moran

Torie N. James

Tracey Steinbach

Click the names to visit their blogs!

Sisterhood of the Traveling Blog II Week 3: Sherrie Henry

This week's guest is the most awesome Sherrie Henry, who is spending this week talking about her goals for 2013 ... please enjoy her musings ... 

Question for Week 3:

What is one of your goals for the 2013 writing year that you have and why is it important to you? Is this goal a new one or one you are carrying over from 2012 or a previous year?

My major writing goal for 2013 is to gain larger exposure and increase my fan base. I had never thought about becoming a professional writer before, but after the success of my first three short stories and the overwhelming feedback I’ve gotten from my first novel (hopefully to be published soon), I’m actually thinking I might have a talent that can, if not support me, at least help pay the bills while being extremely enjoyable to do.

I had never thought about becoming an author until encouraged by Allison Cassatta, who, unknown to me, showed one of my short stories to a publisher who wanted it. That was about eighteen months ago and since then I have found myself immersed in the writing world. Three short stories published, my first novella in the editing process, my first novel out for submission and yet another novella out for submission as well. My goal is to continue to write, cultivate my fan base, tell my stories that have for too long been trapped in my mind. Two thousand thirteen is going to be my year, my year to shine. This will be my first year I focus almost entirely on writing as time and the real world permit.

I know I have great stories within me; some are guilty pleasures, some come with a message, but all are (I hope) entertaining and page-turning. I would like to top myself; increasing the complexities of my stories, adding intricate sub-plots to the main storyline. I want to perfect my craft, become the author I know I can be. Maybe I have the next great American novel in me.

Follow Sherrie on Facebook at:  http://www.facebook.com/AuthorSherrieHenry

The rest of the Sisterhood is:

Amy Kessler

Ashley Nemer

Johanna Marie Rae

L. S. Broomfield

Sherrie Henry

Stacy Moran

Torie N. James

Tracey Steinbach

Click the names to visit their blogs!

Sisterhood of the Traveling Blog II Week 2: Torie N. James

This week I am very happy to be hosting my friend and fellow writer Torie N. James, as she is going to talk about some of the most challenging things about her current work in progress.  Take it away Torie!!

Sisterhood of the Traveling Blog, part Deux, Week Two!

Hmmm. The question this week is “In your upcoming works in progress or new releases, what did you find most challenging to write, or what gave you the most enjoyment accomplishing, aside from finishing the writing?”

I’ve found I’m absolutely horrible at writing fight scenes, so the three separate ones in “Timeless Night” has been mega challenging. I’m a pretty non violent individual (unless chocolate is involved) and so it’s hard for me to get into that mind set. In order to get into them, I’ve come up with this insane mix of listening to death metal, re reading some Dark Hunter novels (SK has some intense fight scenes and it’s always a pleasure to go over them for tips), and this may sound crazy, but not drinking any caffeine at all on those days. Lack of caffeine makes me grumpy. Grumpy makes me angry. Anger puts me in a place that I can easily imagine kicking someone’s ass. Hey, I’m a writer…we’re supposed to be a different breed of cat!

Conversely, the scenes I enjoy working on the most is the dynamic between both my male and female protagonist. I love the build up, the anticipation, the flaws and imperfection in them both. They are polar opposites with a shared past, and it’s interesting to see one who’s literally walked the corridors of time for almost a thousand years versus a modern day woman with no recollection of what they used to be to one another. His world is almost alien to her and she’s NOTHING like her first incarnation…except for the stubbornness. She gives it new meaning.

Follow me on Facebook at:

http://www.facebook.com/TorieNJames

Also, I have the major honor of working with two amazing ladies, Stacy Moran and Ashley Nemer, on a soon to published poetry book courtesy of XoXo Publishing. Check us out at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Three-Whispers-in-the-Dark/143225509087560

Sisterhood of the Traveling Blog II Week 1: Stacy Moran

Without further ado, I'd like to introduce you to Stacy Moran, fellow author ... check out her character Tanerk Rau from the upcoming "Blood Myth" series ...

Introducing Tanerk Rau- Blood Myth Series by Stacy Moran

One of my favorite characters in my upcoming series Blood Myth is Tanerk Rau. He is not your stereotypical “bad guy” the usual guy you hate in a series. He is nothing like those soft-edged villains. No, Tanerk is absolutely someone you would not want to meet on the street at night, hell or any time of day.

Tanerk is an evil warlock who killed his own father to obtain leadership in the Rau Coven. Malevolent, Tanerk is sadistic with his rituals, breeding, and sacrifices. The self-proclaimed king of the Rau has an agenda and a one track mind, create more Rau and wipe out the Misr Witches.

Creating and writing for Tanerk is both fun and frustrating. He doesn’t care about anyone and is purely evil. So making him likeable enough that readers will want to keep him around was a challenge. The difficulty comes from the fact that, the further you take him into bad/scary/evil, the less likely the reader is to identify with him. If no one can relate to him, it’s harder to make the Tanerk or any evil character sympathetic or likeable.

The less than pleasant character isn’t always an easy one to sell but they have an enormous amount of creativity. More research went into writing for Tanerk than any of my other characters. He is not bound by social acceptance his methods are different. But that difference is why I love Tanerk. His path is not mapped out or bound by rules making him extremely dangerous and exciting.

 The Creation of the Rau Warlocks

The Rau were created by Angra in the year 1000 A.D. The god of darkness and evil created the Rau because of his wife Baset. The two thrived on playing games and competing with one another. Baset believed all Angra’s descendants birthed from her would be stronger than anything Angra could create.

According to an ancient prophecy, the Rau are a line of evil warlocks destined to destroy the Misr and eventually gain the power to take over the world, handing it to their creator Angra. 

The Rau Warlocks are known for their sacrificing of women after force breeding them in attempts to create more male Rau to help fulfill the prophecy. They are also known for their ability to morph into demonic forms, enhancing their powers dramatically.

Tanerk Rau the self-proclaimed King of the all that is evil in the world has his own goals. He is determined to create heirs from the Misr women. The power from the joining of a Rau and a Misr is believed to be enough to destroy world.

Blood Myth Excerpt

“She is a bit tied up right now but you will see her soon, my pet.” Tanerk smirked and started to move closer. He lifted his head taking in a deep breath. 

“My son hasn’t fucked you yet.” He lifted his hand to touch her skin.

“Don’t.” It was a sharp command even though she did not move.

The room filled with dark malevolent power. Tanerk’s hand gripped her neck, lifting her from the ground as he squeezed tight around her throat. “Don’t?” He smiled revealing perfect white teeth before he leaned into her ear. “I love taking it the hard way.”  His tongue licked the sensitive place behind her ear. 

“Are you a screamer like your sister?” He hissed in her ear.

Sorina knew he wanted to play with her, torment her. “Fuck you.” She spat out.

Tanerk chuckled. “Oh I will fuck you, beauty.” One hand he used to tightened his grip around her throat. His talon like nails bit into her flesh. His other hand skirted beneath her dress. Tanerk’s large hand cupped her full right breast before fingertips found her nipple. He plucked the hard nub. “Are you wet, witch?” His sharp nails ripped into the material at the same moment the door burst open.

The Rau Chant

We were unleashed to rein evil, everywhere we go hell is left in our wake. We were awakened to bring evil, chaos, and take over the world. Death follows with no mercy, bloody and brutally. A creation with evil flowing through our veins, we care about nothing. Except for the blood we shed… We are stronger the death for death it is our minion.

Upcoming Projects by Stacy Moran

Whispers in the Dark – XoXo Publishing release date TBD

Blood Myth- in progress

 http://www.facebook.com/StacyMoranAuthor

 http://stacymoran.blogspot.com/

 http://www.stacyamoran.com/

 https://twitter.com/StacyMoranAutho

The rest of the Sisterhood is:

Amy Kessler

Ashley Nemer

Johanna Marie Rae

L. S. Broomfield

Sherrie Henry

Stacy Moran

Torie N. James

Tracey Steinbach

Click the links to visit their blogs!

The Sisterhood is Coming ... back ...

*I walk in, running my finger across the dusty bookshelf and sitting in the oversized chair testing it out.*  Hello there!  I'm sorry I haven't been around in a while, but as with many of us, December and January are incredibly busy times.  I still don't feel like I've fully recovered from the holidays.

So what's been going on with my partner Patricia Laffoon and I?  Well, we are now over 11,000 words into the second draft of our first novel!  It features our main characters from our two short stories, "Tears of the Mermaid" and "Heart of the Mermaid".  I can also tell you that we've finally settled on a title for the series of which this book will, hopefully, be the first.  The title is "The Realmwalker Prophecy".  What in the world does that title have to do with mermaids and pirates in the 18th century?  Hm ... an interesting question.  You will need to read the book to find out.  But, I can tell you, this book will not be what you might expect.  Of course there will be adventure and romance in abundance, but there will also be twists and turns and hints to the bigger story of which these characters, as they exist here in this first book, are only a small part.

My personal goal is for us to be finished with this book in time to get in published by August, assuming someone will want to publish it.  I'm hoping to go to the Romance Novel Convention that month and it would be awesome to be able to say we have a published novel and aren't just working on one.

And so now for the announcement - Patricia and I are joining once again with several other writers for the Sisterhood of the Traveling Blog Tour II.  Starting on Wednesday, we will have guests blogging here and we will be guest blogging elsewhere!  Our first guest is Stacy Moran, and the first week's topic will be, what characters from our works do we most want you, the readers, to meet and why?  So please stop by and see what all of these great writers have to say, and join these other blogs which will be part of the tour starting Wednesday, January 23, and running every Wednesday through four weeks.


Amy Kessler
Ashley Nemer
Johanna Marie Rae
L. S. Broomfield
Sherrie Henry
Stacy Moran
Torie N. James
Tracey Steinbach

Hot Winter Nights Blog Hop -- Rudy and Trish's First Winter

The Junkanoo celebration was winding down, the hour was late and she was full and relaxed. She could see far off in the distance the outline of the home that Rudy had built for her, and she smiled at their life together as he stood taking her hand in his.

The waves brushed against their bare feet as they walked along. "Did you have a good time my love? You seemed quite taken with one of the dancers, Kimi I think is her name." Trish hip bumped him in jest. "Maybe I should learn the finer points of the Kumina."

He smiled as they strolled slowly along the beach. Trish wrapped her arms around the crook of his and leaned her head into his shoulder. It was December here in the southern Caribbean, but of course it was still balmy with a warm breeze coming off the water. Life had calmed down greatly in the weeks since they had gotten back from their adventures in the ruins of Atlantis. Now they were married, and bonded, and he had never experienced anything like this in his life. Just a few short months ago, he had no idea that mermaids even existed ... now he had one in his life that he could not live without.

"You know, love, there will never be anyone in my life but you. My life started the day we met." She squeezed him tighter, and then lifted her head.

"What's that?" she asked, looking at some flickering in the distance. As they crested the dune, they saw a roaring bonfire with a blanket laid out near it. Rudy had decided to surprise her while they were at the celebration, having a couple of friends set up this scene just for them.

It’s just like him to think of something like this, she mused.  She was about to tell him that hers began also when she met him, a smile playing across her relaxed features. She slid her fingers down his muscled arm intertwining her slender fingers with his. "What have you been up to?" She cried in excitement instead, all the long pulling him with a gentle plea across the sugar white sands of their beach. It had become so when Rudy had built them a home from the beginnings of her shack. Trish long ago had made a sort of unwritten law; unless invited this side of the island was off limits. This provided them the privacy the newly mated couple needed.

The sparks from the driftwood looked like so many thousands of fireflies floating on the breeze.  A burst of laughter left her lips as he scooped her up in a cradle carry swinging her around his lips sealing and trapping her giggles. Giggles that quickly turned to soft moans. Her feet magically found their way to the ground again, his hands gently cupping her upturned face.

Rudy lowered her slowly to the ground, lost in her embrace. His hands slid down her back and he laid her gently onto the large blanket that had been placed near the bonfire. The two men he had trusted to set this up for him had done exactly as he asked. Her hair fell around her as she sighed and he hovered over her, his eyes tracing her body as his hand slid up her thigh under her sarong. "I love you, Trish. I will always love you and come for you, til the stars burn no more." Her arms went around his neck and she pulled him down, her leg wrapping around his waist.

Her fingers threaded through the silky strands of his hair lifting her lips to his, she whispered in a near prayer, "You, my light, my touchstone my other half, without you there is no me." Her lips sealed over his, tilting his head just so. Tongues slowly stroked over each other testing, teasing, pleasing till they broke apart needing sweet oxygen, but that didn't stop the exploration of seeking hands. She kept her gaze locked with his while her hands caressed every available inch of exposed skin she could reach. She had untucked his natural cotton shirt in her haste to feel the smooth texture of his sun-bronzed skin. She raked her nails in a light caress up and down his washboard abdomen raising a host of tiny goosebumps in her wake. His lips nipped at her collarbone then trailed a heated path lower. She arched her throat with a soft yet meaningful groan giving him better access. With one hand his fingers nimbly untied the bandeau knot at the center of her breast and the same style knot at her hip that held her sarong …

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I’m afraid we will have to leave the rest to your imagination, dear reader … but if you want to meet Rudy and Trish in the stories that started it all … you can pick them up here ….

“Tears of the Mermaid” by Aaron Speca and Patricia Laffoon … in the anthology “Evernight Volume 1” from Allison Cassatta …

http://www.amazon.com/Evernight_-ebook/dp/B005NWT9LQ/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

http://www.xoxopublishing.com/Products/index.php?route=product/product&filter_name=evernight&product_id=63

“Heart of the Mermaid” by Aaron Speca and Patricia Laffoon … in the anthology “Evernight Volume 2” from Allison Cassatta …

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Evernight-Vol-2-ebook/dp/B009LLZHX4/

XOXO Publishing: http://tinyurl.com/8dgmdbz

All Romance E-books: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-evernightvol2-968577-144.html

“The Realmwalker Prophecy Book 1: Heart of the Mermaid” by Aaron Speca and Patricia Laffoon (working title; work in progress)

You can also follow me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Aaron-Speca-Author/216515161730857

Or on Twitter:  @AaronSpeca

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One lucky visitor to this post will win a free copy of “Evernight Volume 1” … just leave a comment here and someone will be selected at random on December 5^th!

One lucky visitor to ANY of the Hot Winter Nights Blog Hop posts (see the Link List below) will win a prize package valued at $100!!!!  This consists of a $50 Amazon gift card, $10 in Bookstrand Bucks, and an e-book package including 11 e-books!  You MUST include a valid e-mail address in the comment to be eligible for the grand prize.