Sunday, January 20, 2019

Learn, live, learn more

January 20, 2019


The new year is off to a...

The new year has officially begun. Yippe-ki-ay. I've yet to have any fun in 2019, and I'm not very happy about that. Between work and doing the caregiver act, I've not had time. To top it off, I settled down to do some reading one chilly night, and finding nothing new that struck my fancy, I reread one of my own works. Big mistake. Huge. 

Apparently, I'm a lot pickier now than I used to be. Or maybe it's that I've learned a lot. I suppose it doesn't matter. After finding a glaring mistake, I knew I had to rework the manuscript and upload a corrected version. It looks like 2019 will be the year of Grammarly.  

I've used the free version for some time. An email came offering a substantially reduced rate for one year, and I took the Pro version. The first manuscript I ran through was Double Deuce. I paid sixty percent of the sales to a publisher to have that book "professionally" edited. Grammarly Pro found one hundred fifty-six critical issues. That's 156 for those of you who love numerals. 

I didn't love it at all. I gave up several thousand dollars to the humans, and artificial intelligence outdid them all. It doesn't make me happy to think about that.

What does make me happy is the chance to go through the old stories and update them. I'm not sure it matters to anyone else, but it matters to me. It'll be especially nice to have the current WIP be neat and tidy from the start. 

That's the thing about writing. It's a constant learning experience. It's a profession where the writer continually strives for improvement. My motto, if I have one, is "learn something new every day."

In the Year of our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen, it may be "improve something every day." I can live with that.  

KC Kendricks
Life through the eyes of Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com


Wednesday, January 16, 2019

A Friendly Neighbor for the Midweek Tease


January 16, 2019
**Updated 4/2/21 - the MidWeek Tease blog hop has been discontinued**

Welcome to another MidWeek Tease blog hop! Does it feel like 2019 is off to a slow start? It does for me. My goal is to pick up some steam and get a wee bit of momentum going. The spousal unit's recovery following neck surgery is progressing ahead of schedule, so I might actually get some words on the page within the next few days. 

Be sure to check out all the participating MidWeek Tease blogs at midweektease.blogspot.com,

This week, I've got an excerpt from an older story that has languished on the hard drive. It has been made a pretty thanks to a nifty little program (and a few dollars), and it's ready to go back out into the world. 

Soooooo - coming soon - A Friendly Neighbor. 

3/14/19 Update: 
Amazon

iTunes


Enjoy!

*_*_*_*_*_*

“Thanks for asking me over, Jackson. I’ve, um, noticed you before.”

Jackson met his gaze. “I’m happy to provide good service to my neighbors whenever I can.”

Kyle’s cheeks grew pink. “I’m done with spying on the neighbors.”

“Shucks. I mean, why, since you obviously enjoyed watching me?”

“That wasn’t the real me. I’m a more ‘hands-on’ sort of guy.”

Jackson’s skin prickled. To be honest, he’d hoped the conversation would take a personal turn, but how fast should he cruise Kyle? If he listened to his dick, he was already going too slow, but he’d never let his penis rule him again. Besides, he’d yet to confirm Kyle was gay. Ninety-percent sure still left room for error.

“Yeah, I noticed that about you. I shouldn’t tease you like that. You could have company some night, and they might not like it.”

Kyle snorted. “They’d like you, Jackson.” He lifted his glass and downed the contents. 
“Thanks for asking me over, but I need to get to bed. Tomorrow’s a work day.”

“For me too.” He had to bite the bullet and ask Kyle or risk not getting the chance again. 
“Would you like to come for dinner some night? Maybe this Saturday?”

“Sure. What can I bring?”

Jackson stammered. He’d not expected Kyle to say yes to dinner without even thinking about it. “W-whatever you like to drink if you don’t like rum.”

“Ah, you’re a rummy. I’ll bring a rum cake too.”

“Excuse me. I need a moment. You bake?”

Kyle laughed as he got to his feet. “No. I’ll go to the bakery around the corner and order one.”

Before Jackson had time to respond, Kyle leaned over and kissed him. Jackson sucked in a deep breath, and the man’s spicy scent exploded in his brain. Those full lips moved over his with skill and promise. Jackson opened his mouth to deepen the kiss, to get a better taste, and Kyle pulled away.

“I’d better go. Goodnight Jackson. I’ll let myself out.”

He wanted to leave? Jackson grabbed Kyle’s hand.

“Whoa. You can’t kiss me like that and then walk out the door.”

“Rushing into bed isn’t the smartest thing two people who just met can do, Jackson.” 
Kyle squeezed his hand. “I’m really sorry about that because I got a bad case of stupid happening.”

Jackson stood and backed Kyle against the side of the balcony. He wanted to show Kyle just how easy it would be to get stupid together. He pressed against Kyle, thigh-to-thigh and belly-to-belly, making sure Kyle felt how hard he was. Kyle wrapped his arms around him.

“Maybe I need to reconsider saying goodnight.”

“Damn right you do.” Jackson didn’t wait for a reply as he slanted his lips over Kyle’s. This time Kyle opened and let him in, meeting him boldly. It was Jackson who pulled away.

“I gotta catch my breath.”

“I bet you’ll breathe better in your bedroom.”

Jackson held out his hand as he backed away. “Follow me and we’ll see.”

Kyle grinned and took a step. “So you’re going to lead me astray.”

Jackson put his index finger up to his lips. “Shhh. We don’t say s-t-r-a-y in front of the c-a-t.”

“I’ll be more careful in the future.” Kyle closed the balcony door behind them as Max darted inside. Jackson let go of his hand and pointed toward the dark hall.

“Stay right here until I turn the lights on.” Jackson reached inside the first doorway, and a dim light came on. “Bathroom.”

Kyle took a step closer. Jackson backed up another step and flipped another light switch to turn on a small bedside lamp. “And bedroom.”

“Your place has all the amenities. Booze, mood lighting, a big bed and you.”

_*_*_*_*_*_

ABOUT A FRIENDLY NEIGHBOR

Kyle isn’t a voyeur, but when his sexy neighbor forgets to close his curtains, he finds it difficult to look away. And why should he? It’s just a little harmless fun, and maybe an erotic bit of self-pleasure to balance out the long hours he’s put in on the job lately. Next time, he’ll exercise some self-control and turn away from the too-hot for words spectacle, but just this once he’s determined to let himself enjoy the show.

Jackson might have been offended by his neighbor’s voyeuristic evening had he not taken advantage of the delicious show he unwittingly inspired. Unwilling to let the opportunity to turn a smoldering fantasy into a scorching hot sex life, Jackson invites Kyle over for a drink and is pleasantly surprised to find Kyle is smart, sexy, and someone Jackson wants to get to know—in bed and out.

_*_*_*_*_


A Friendly Neighbor is an enjoyable, light-hearted read that is both humorous and sexy. I would love another glimpse into the world of these two and see how they’re fairing in the future. – Long and Short Reviews

Look for A Friendly Neighbor to be available within the next few days!



Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Midweek Tease - Tango in the Night


January 2, 2019
**Updated 4/2/21 - the MidWeek Tease blog hop has been discontinued.**

Welcome to 2019! A new year. A new cycle of seasons. It's a bit bemusing to see both sides of that "new year" coin. Has it become boring after so many years, or is a new adventure beginning? Stick around and we can find out together. 

I wasn't sure where to begin 2019 in the MidWeek Tease Blog Hop. Then the batteries in my mouse quit (as they are wont to do). The cursor was on Tango in the Night. It's kismet! 

Be sure to check out other Midweek Tease blogs here. Keep in mind, we just made it through the holidays. Not everyone is up to speed yet. 

Here's an excerpt from Tango in the Night. Enjoy!
_*_*_*_

Ellis sat behind his desk, chin anchored in his left palm while his right index finger idly tapped the page in front of him. Lucky for me, a member of the janitorial staff busily washed the windows in my new office and I had an excuse not to go in there yet. 

I had two choices. I could hide my interest in him, be the gruff senior agent, or I could let him know how strongly he had things stirring inside me. If I chose the latter, we needed to hash a few things out, namely how not to allow a mutual sexual curiosity to affect the job. 

Standing in the doorway, looking at him, I didn’t know which would win today. Ellis glanced up and saw me. He straightened, his chest expanding as he drew in a deep breath. I nodded and stepped into the squad room. 

“Ellis. Are you on call, or just catching up?”

“I’m puzzled, mostly.”

I snorted and let the southern drawl creep into my speech. “Ain’t we all, most days?”

He almost smiled, the corner of his mouth twitching, and mimicked my accent. “I heard you hailed from Ken-tuck.”

“Yep. With a name like ‘Jubal’, where the hell did you think I was from?” I snagged the nearest chair and rolled it a bit closer to him. “What are you puzzled about?”

His gaze drilled into mine, his warm blue eyes eloquently saying he meant me. I smiled to let him know I appreciated his interest but was careful not to show encouragement. He must have gotten the message. He flipped a folder at me. “There’s a few missing pieces here.”

I opened the folder and kept my surprise out of my voice. “This is an old case. I worked it for a while, but it went cold.”

“It ties into a new one, I just know it.”

A cold fist seized my heart. This case was potentially dangerous. I looked up at him. Ellis was running on instinct and that gut feeling that settled over you when you know what you can’t yet prove. His earnest expression begged me to believe him. I did, and I wished to heaven I could warn him off this one, but it would tip my hand.

“Keep digging, then. Trust your gut.”

“Should I trust what my gut says about you, Agent Graham?”

I closed the file and laid it back on his desk, my gaze flicking to the window washer. He was finished, putting all his supplies back in his cart. I waited until he exited to reply. 

“Ellis, you and I need to get a few things straight.”

He tapped the signet ring. “That’s not your initial. The guy you were with last night?”

“No. I was with a friend last night. You were on a date.”

“So, maybe I should take you out on a date.”

“Ellis…” I froze as his fingers closed around mine, a delighted little quiver pulsing through my penis. I was intensely curious about the man, but we were in too public a place for this to continue. I pulled away. “Don’t do that here.”

“Will you go out with me, Jubal?”

Persistence was a good thing for a drug enforcement agent to have, but I wasn’t sure I liked his directed at me. I wasn’t sure I didn’t like it, either. It was certainly different to be on this side of the pursuit. 

“Why did you come to my house last night?”

Ellis looked away as a flush crept up his neck. “I needed to know if your boyfriend lived with you.”

I clamped down on my temper. He was out of line, and his eyes said he knew how far. I counted to five before I responded. “He’s not my boyfriend. Don’t do it again. If he sees you dogging me, it’ll scare him.”

“Like I’m scaring you, Jubal?”

“You’re not scaring me.”

“Oh, the hell I’m not.” Ellis leaned back in his chair. “Okay. We’ll do it the old southern way. Even straights say a year is enough to mourn. You can play the reluctant widower for another two months. I’ll let you. Then you go out with me.”

“Boy, you don’t know anything about me.”

“Wrong. You were all anyone talked about when I transferred in. I took notes.”

“You’re an arrogant fucker, aren’t you?”

Ellis grinned as he stood and stretched, treating me to an eye level display of the full, rounded bump at the base of his zipper. He looked down at me, his expression pure insolence. 

“Takes one to know one, Agent Graham.”

_*_*_*_

About TANGO IN THE NIGHT:

Jubal Graham is back on the job after a shooter took the life of his long-time partner, and sent him into a coma followed by months of rehab. Determined to have justice, Jubal is focused on finding a killer, not a new romantic entanglement. Ellis Banks, with his smoldering blue eyes and denim-clad swagger, is a distraction Jubal can’t afford – or ignore.

Ellis Banks came to Philadelphia to bust a drug operation; one that connects to the same case agency legend Kentuckian Jubal Graham is working. Ellis finds himself drawn to Jubal, but Jubal holds him off. Sure that Jubal is interested, even though he wears his slain lover’s ring, Ellis mounts a determined siege. 

Jubal’s surprise at having a suitor develops into a growing affection for Ellis, one clouded with old fears. Fate ripped one lover from his arms, and now Ellis is in the line of fire. Jubal’s courage can protect Ellis, but is it powerful enough to love him?


Tango in the Night is available at: