Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Should your hero be flawed?

Is your hero a man? Then duh! He is flawed.

It is fun to fantasize about ‘Mr. Perfect’, but when reality meets fantasy let’s face it, perfection is a pain in the butt.

As women we come pretty dang close to perfect so we should know. To compete against Mr. Perfect would truly put a crimp in our lives.

So yes, your hero should be flawed.

How is he flawed? Does he have a scar on his cheek or his chest?

No, that’s not a flaw. That just adds interest or character to your otherwise rugged and/or good looking physique.

Is your hero flawed because he drives a non-descript beige sedan instead of a Mercedes convertible, a bright red sports car, or ride up on his black stallion he raised from a colt?

This is not a flaw. It just means your hero has terrible taste in transportation.

What is a flaw?

A character flaw is a limitation, imperfection, perhaps a phobia, or some kind of deficiency in your fictional (and real) character’s personality. A flaw may be a fear of commitment, a jealous temper, arrogance, or a gambling addiction.

Why is a flaw good?

Well, as I stated above who wants to compete with Mr. Perfect. Other than that, the reason for a flaw is that a flaw adds depth to your character, makes the character seem more human and someone the readers can relate to.

Let’s revisit our hero with the scar on his face or chest. Perhaps he is ex-military and while overseas he got into a fight with a man who was physically abusing a woman and saved her from a fate worse than death. The scar is a badge of honor so to speak. But, underneath that badge he is a man who cares for all women and whenever he sees a woman in distress he is compelled to go to her aid.

Now this is not necessarily a bad thing…except he forgets that women can also take care of themselves and has a tendency to step in where he is not wanted. Not a good thing when the heroine is an independent woman who has taken self-defense and can verbally out maneuver any man within fifty feet of her.

At some point this hero has to learn self-discipline and let loose of his over-protective attitude. He’ll have to wait to be asked for his help.

This could prove to be a long and interesting journey for our hero and heroine.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Chocolate Lover's Cookie

If you read romance, if you write romance, heck if you just plain like romance then this cookie recipe is for you.

Guys, the next time you wat to demonstrate to your woman your kitchen prowess then try surprising her with one of these delicious cookies.



Chocolate Lover's Cookie Recipe

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.


Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter (unsalted butter)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 granulated white sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla

10 oz. package NESTLE Dark Chocolate Morsels (I used the chunks) - divide (2/3 Cup and 1 Cup)


Directions:

MELT 2/3 cup dark chocolate morsels in microwave-safe bowl on MEDIUM-HIGH power for 30 seconds; STIR.
Microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until all morsels are melted. Set aside.

SIFT flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt into medium bowl.

BEAT butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add melted chocolate and mix well. Add egg and vanilla extract, mixing until well blended.

ADD flour mixture, mixing just until blended.

STIR in remaining 1 cup morsels.


Ready to bake:

DROP tablespoon dough 3 inches apart onto prepared baking sheets. (I use an ice cream scoop to get an even and round cookie.)

BAKE for 16 to 18 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs and the tops have a cracked appearance. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool completely.

Ready to eat:

These cookies are like chocolate heaven. Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate!

For a special dessert, place one cookie on a plate, add a large scoop of ice cream on top then cover the ice cream with another chocolate cookie. Add to that a sprinkling of chocolate sauce (just like the chef's do). Voila! You have Chocolate Lover's Decadence and a romantic dessert made by your own hands.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Little things like this make me glad I'm a writer

It is always nice to hear from a reader, get their feedback on a book that they've read. It's especially nice when you receive a quick email from a new reader.

Check out what I found in my email yesterday.

I recently won some of your books in a contest. I finally read all of them and really liked the books.

I especially liked the story in Killer Bunny Hill. I like the way you wrirte and how the characters relate to each other. Thanks for sharing them with me.

A new fan,
Joy


Thank you, Joy and all the other readers out there who take the time to write your author. It is always a pleasant surprise and very much appreciated.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Writing Prompt Wednesday

It's Wednesday and you know what that means...Writing Prompt!!

Every now and again we all need a little creativity boost. It doesn't matter that you aren't a writer. We all need that extra incentive now and again and a writing prompt is a good way to get your mind to open up and have some fun.

How does this work?

I post the beginning of a sentence and you finish it. You can write one sentence, a paragraph, or even a page if you like. Just let your mind go and write whatever comes into it. You'd be amazed at the results.

Today's writing prompt - She tore down the alley. . .

Now all you have to do is write. Finish the sentence and if you feel like sharing we would love to see what you come up with. It's amazing to see how we all go in different directions.

Most of all Have fun!

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Writing Prompt Wednesday

It's Wednesday and you know what that means...Writing Prompt!!

Every now and again we all need a little creativity boost. It doesn't matter that you aren't a writer. We all need that extra incentive now and again and a writing prompt is a good way to get your mind to open up and have some fun.

How does this work?

I post the beginning of a sentence and you finish it. You can write one sentence, a paragraph, or even a page if you like. Just let your mind go and write whatever comes into it. You'd be amazed at the results.

Today's writing prompt - The building shook. . .

Now all you have to do is write. Finish the sentence and if you feel like sharing we would love to see what you come up with. It's amazing to see how we all go in different directions.

Most of all Have fun!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

While Mondays are for work, Sundays are for...


lazing about and grilling out.

I spent Sunday afternoon lazing about on my hammock in the backyard and smoking my first pork babyback ribs.

I told you I would share my homemade BBQ sauce with you so here you go.


The Sauce:
1 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil
1 teaspoon minced garlic
3/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup cider vinegar (vinegar is the best part of the recipe and key to a good bbq sauce)
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
3 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
1-1/2 tablespoons yellow mustard (I actually used dry yellow mustard and the kind you put on a hot dog)
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon chili powder (use Mexican chili powder if you want more heat to your sauce)
Tabasco sauce to taste (I use habanero Tabasco sauce)

To make the sauce:
In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, warm the vegetable oil. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the remaining sauce ingredients, including Tabasco sauce to taste, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 15 minutes. Set aside. Pour some of the sauce in a small bowl to use for basting the ribs. (I don't actually baste. I leave sauce ro everyone's taste.)

The Ribs:
2 to 3 slabs baby back pork ribs

I went ahead and soaked the ribs the night before in a brine, the same brine I used on pulled pork. You don't have to do this but what the heck.

Make sure to remove the membrane from the back of the baby back ribs. It's totally disgusting but definitely the right thing to do. Then use the rub from the recipe I shared last week. Click here for rub recipe.


Cook the ribs for at least 4 hours at 200 to 220 degrees. The longer you cook the more tender and the more smokey flavor you get.

Friday, July 8, 2011

I like my rub the same way I like my men. . .

Hot and Spicy!

The 4th of July holiday weekend I decided to try my hand at smoking meat. Pork butt to be specific, AKA pulled pork.

Let me start at the beginning. First, I had to get a smoker. I did.
Then I had to put it together. That took two days! Note to self: Don't try following directions and pictures after drinking a margarita or three. (Click here Perfect Margarita Recipe.

Sunday morning I managed to take the smoker apart and put it back together again so by late Sunday morning I was ready to cook some meat.

First step in smoking pulled pork is soaking the meat in a brine.

Brine Recipe:

1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sea salt
4 cups water

Soak meat in brine for 4 hours upto overnight.

Then you have to rub the meat. Now be careful here. If you rub the meat right, uh, wrong, this could cause excitements and giggles. Oh! And it will definitely be messy.

Pork Rub Recipe:

1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup paprika (half regular paprika/half smoked paprika)
3 tablespoons sea salt
2 tablespoons black pepper
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons dry mustard
2 tablespoons Mexican chili powder
1 teaspoon white pepper

Once you have throuroughly rubbed your meat, you then are ready to smoke it.

To smoke the meat you heat up the grill to 220 to 230 degrees. The charcoal (which is the only thing I use...no gas for this girl) is heated up to the side of where the meat will be placed to cook. This is indirect heat. No flames are allowed to kiss this butt.

Depending on the size or weight of you meat you will be slow cooking AKA smoking the pork for at least 4 to six hours. The key to making this fun is to invite a few friends over to keep you company. That and bring out the beer.

About the time you finish one beer you will want to go back and check the heat, more than likely add some more charcoal to the fire. Sometimes my heat got a little too hot, well, duh, we are talking about me. Of course the meat got overheated.

Not to worry, just walk away slowly, no swish in your hips, have another beer and the next time you visit the meat its temperature will be back down to warm and not smokin' hot.

The pork is ready when it's meat thermometer says 160 degrees or when you can pull the meat apart with your bare fingers or a fork, whichever you prefer.


When the meat is done, Pull it apart and chop it up and serve it with homemade BBQ sauce and coleslaw. Something I had to teach a few friends this weekend. You cannot have southern style pulled pork without having coleslaw. It's a MUST!

Stay tuned and I will share the BBQ sauce recipe on Saturday.

This weekend I will be trying my hand at pork ribs. Going to use the same rub and sauce, so I'm all set except for cooking the meat and making some fresh coleslaw.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

She watched his. . .

Yesterday was Writing Prompt Wednesday. I could have gone so many ways with this prompt and this is certainly the cleaner of all versions that popped into my creative little head.

How did you do?

Here is my clean yet creative shot at yesterday's writing prompt.

Writing prompt: She watched his. . .


She watched his lips slide into a sly grin as he tilted his head closer, within an inch of her own lips. Then his mouth parted ever so slightly and she felt his warm, sweet breath breeze across her lips.

The tug to lean into him, close here eyes and let her self be taken by this man was so strong that for a moment she felt as if a tidal wave engulfed her and she would soon sink in. At the last minute, she shook herself back to reality. She shoved at his chest and stepped out of his reach.

In slow motion, she watched his arms windmill, his feet give way, and then. . .SPLASH!

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Writing Prompt Wednesday

It's Wednesday and you know what that means...Writing Prompt!!

Every now and again we all need a little creativity boost. It doesn't matter that you aren't a writer. We all need that extra incentive now and again and a writing prompt is a good way to get your mind to open up and have some fun.

How does this work?

I post the beginning of a sentence and you finish it. You can write one sentence, a paragraph, or even a page if you like. Just let your mind go and write whatever comes into it. You'd be amazed at the results.

Today's writing prompt - She watched his. . .

Now all you have to do is write. Finish the sentence and if you feel like sharing we would love to see what you come up with. It's amazing to see how we all go in different directions.

Most of all Have fun!

Monday, July 4, 2011

Brief 4th of July poem

Wearing my red, white, and blue
Thinking of you,
On this sunny 4th of July afternoon.

Happy 4th of July!

Saturday, July 2, 2011

A recipe for the Firework Weekend

For this 4th of July holiday weekend, I thought I would share with you my favorite drink recipe that will add a few more sparks to all those fireworks.

This recipe is for "The Perfect Margarita". It's the smae recipe that had me winning the margarita contest last year at this time.

Hope you enjoy!


The Perfect Margarita

2 oz. Gold Tequila (I use Patron Gold)

1/2 oz. Cointreau (I use Patron Citronage - Orange Liquor)

1/2 oz Grand Marnier

1/2 oz Orange Juice (no pulp) and this is the secret to the “perfect” recipe

1 oz. Rose’s Sweetened Lime Juice

4 oz. Lemate’s Sweet & Sour Mix

Put in pitcher and add some ice. This will only fill pitcher about 1/4 of the way so quadruple this recipe if you want enough to have some friends drinking with you. [GRIN]

Happy fourth of July!

Friday, July 1, 2011

Sometimes you just have to grab the bull by the horns

What is it with men?

It’s okay for them to always want to “fix” it when all we want is for them to listen. But when the tables are turned they don’t want to hear us tell them what to do.

So what? I am just supposed to let a friend tell me his woes and frustrations and then nod my head. Let him give every excuse not to chase his dream even if the excuses are the investors’ excuses. If you want it, don’t let some jackass holding the purse strings stand in the way. Man up and go find another investor with a wad of cash!

Oh! And then when I throw all these ideas at him that he could do or show the investors that what he said made sense, what do I get in return? I get the “Investors aren’t emotional” crap.

I just have to say this because at this point I did want to get emotional and scream. Just because women are usually more passionate than men does NOT make us more emotional. Only a jackass of a man will say such an idiotic statement when he is losing the argument.

I wanted to say to him, “Look, pull your head out and screw it back on. You can sell yourself to anyone even someone who has no money and they will give you their last dollar.” He is that good.

I also wanted to tell him, “At least you have a business idea to invest in. Something tangible that an investor would want to spend money on. I don’t have that. My dream is not a tangible thing that I can say, ‘Please, Mr. Investor, can you give me some money while I write this book or these twenty books or as many books as I can until I die. Please, Mr. Investor, I want to quit my day job so I can pursue my passion of writing.’”

But I didn’t say that, because hello, I was focusing on him.

Now that I have ranted and gotten this out of my system let me tell you men and women. If you want something, then “man up” and go for it. Stop coming up with excuses or listening to someone else’s excuses and chase that dang dream all the way to the end goal.

Take the bull by the horns and make that dream a reality. Listen to the family and friends who push you and ignore the others who would hold you back. Cuz why are they holding you back? Not for your sake but for their own. If people volunteer help, don’t be a man and try to do it on your own, take the help because it might just get you to that end goal that much sooner.

In this life, we make it what we will. If you settle for something less then you get what you deserve. If you strive for something more, then guess what, you WILL get more.

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Tell us what you're reading

I don't know if it's the warm weather or the bum knee, but I have been a reading fool.

Last weekend I read two books while propping my knee up in the hopes that my knee doctor gives me the okay to go back to running. Yes, that was a good plan because he gave me the okay to work up to it.


Now I'm reading The Warrior Elite: The Forging of Seal Class 228 by Dick Couch.

After reading Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 by Marcus Luttrell and Patrick Robinson I wanted to learn more about these Navy SEALS and what they go through to become one. Marcus had mentioned Dick Couch's book so here I am.

Overview: With a postscript describing SEAL efforts in Afghanistan, The Warrior Elite takes you into the toughest, longest, and most relentless military training in the world.

What does it take to become a Navy SEAL? What makes talented, intelligent young men volunteer for physical punishment, cold water, and days without sleep? In The Warrior Elite, former Navy SEAL Dick Couch documents the process that transforms young men into warriors. SEAL training is the distillation of the human spirit, a tradition-bound ordeal that seeks to find men with character, courage, and the burning desire to win at all costs, men who would rather die than quit.

I have to say I am loving this book! The writer makes you feel as if you were right there, feeling every cold jolt, every muscle aches, and every ounce of determination that these men experience.


I'm also reading Night Watch by Suzanne Brockmann and another story about a Navy SEAL, albeit a fiction story.

I'm a hige Suzanne Brockmann fan and love every one of her books. Night Watch is no exception. I got home last night after a long day at work and then a haircut appointment. By the time I arrived home it was 9:30 at night and all I wanted to do was relax. I put up my feet, opened up the book and read the first 50 pages in 30 minutes. Nice!

Overview: When U.S. Navy SEAL chief Wes Skelly was sent to L.A. on assignment, he agreed to go on a blind date with beautiful single mother Brittany Evans, sister-in-law of a fellow SEAL. After all, he had been secretly in love for years, albeit with a woman who belonged to another man. So what did he have to lose?

Plenty, it turned out. Because suddenly the woman he'd thought he could never have was available. However, so was Brittany—and not only that, she was in danger. Because of him. He knew he could keep her safe. But why was he increasingly certain that he was the one in danger?


In the car, on my long commute to and from work I've been listening to Captivated by Nora Roberts.

Can you tell I am a rather eclectic reader? I like everything! Well, maybe not everything. I will try books the same way I will try food. I will try anything once and twice if I like it.

Overview: His interest in her was purely professional . . . Or so he told himself. Nash Kirkland had sought out the alluring Morgana Donovan to help him research his latest screenplay, though the hardheaded skeptic didn't believe for a minute she was what she professed to be. But, as Morgana revealed herself to him, Nash found himself falling under her bewitching spell. Nash had never trusted his feelings and always kept them in check. So how could he be sure the irresistible passion he felt for Morgana was real and not just some conjurer's trick?

Okay, every girl needs a little romance in her reading so this is mine this week. And besides, the heroine is a witch of long-standing Irish tradition. How can I not like this story?

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Writing Prompt Wednesday

It's Wednesday and you know what that means...Writing Prompt!!

Every now and again we all need a little creativity boost. It doesn't matter that you aren't a writer. We all need that extra incentive now and again and a writing prompt is a good way to get your mind to open up and have some fun.

How does this work?

I post the beginning of a sentence and you finish it. You can write one sentence, a paragraph, or even a page if you like. Just let your mind go and write whatever comes into it. You'd be amazed at the results.

Today's writing prompt - She ducked as. . .

Now all you have to do is write. Finish the sentence and if you feel like sharing we would love to see what you come up with. It's amazing to see how we all go in different directions.

Most of all Have fun!

Monday, June 27, 2011

Funny thing happened while playing in my yard

I don't know about the weather where you are, but the weather here in New England this past Saturday was a tad wet. It rained most of the day and night.

When Sunday rolled around and the sun decided to show it's brilliant self, I immediately went outside...after doing some early morning writing.

And here is where my story begins. With me dressed in shorts and tank top, sandals, hair pulled back in some thingy that makes me look like I'm about twelve years old, and work gloves. I do make quite the picture for 'Farming USA'.

Anyway, I'm out there pulling weeds and planting plants, radio blaring my one and only Zac Brown Band CD when I look up to see my neighbor walking across the street and in my direction. Mike has been in the neighborhood for not quite two years and we speak at least once a week, share a beer between mowing our yards, and the occasional ice cream cone when the ice cream truck guy drives by and I happen to catch him. I mean who wouldn't want an ice cream on a hot summer day.

At first I asked Mike if the radio was too loud. He responded with, "Huh?" and held up his hand to his ear.

Ha ha. Very funny. Actually it was loud so I asked him If he wanted me to turn it down. "He said he liked music."

Great. So I let it keep playing.

Then Mike turns to me and asks if it is a secret.

"What is a secret?"

"That you're an author?"

Then he proceeds to tell me how his girlfriend looked me up on Facebook, found my website and that I was an author. She called Mike and told him, "You have to go check out this website."

He, being the good boyfriend did and to his amazement he was staring at my website. Apparently, it was quite the shocker. So much so that he then called his mother and told her the story of his author neighbor and while they were on the phone speaking, she ordered a copy of IT HAPPENS IN THREES for her Nook. How cool is that?!

After that Mike decided to spread the word and tell a few of his friends and work colleagues. Maybe I should hire Mike as my publicist.

A week later, Mike is in my yard giving me grief for never having mentioned it and telling me he wants to read CONNECT THE DOTS, which of course, I will give him a copy.

[SHRUG] I guess that by this time I assumed everyone knew I was a writer. Oops!

Note to self: Put a sign in yard that says, "Author lives here." Or perhaps, rather than wearing my Ireland or Boston Red Sox cap while playing in my garden I should wear a hat that says, "Have you read one of my books yet?" Hm...that would make a great T-shirt.

Thanks Mike for making my day.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Writing Prompt Wednesday

It's Wednesday and you know what that means...Writing Prompt!!

Every now and again we all need a little creativity boost. It doesn't matter that you aren't a writer. We all need that extra incentive now and again and a writing prompt is a good way to get your mind to open up and have some fun.

How does this work?

I post the beginning of a sentence and you finish it. You can write one sentence, a paragraph, or even a page if you like. Just let your mind go and write whatever comes into it. You'd be amazed at the results.

Today's writing prompt - She stared at the credit card. . .

Now all you have to do is write. Finish the sentence and if you feel like sharing we would love to see what you come up with. It's amazing to see how we all go in different directions.

Most of all Have fun!

Friday, June 17, 2011

Books received in Afghanistan

I received a note from my friend overseas this week. The books that you all donated in my give-a-book, get-a-book giveaway were shipped and are now in the hands of some military folks over in Afghanistan.

Here is the email I received.

Hey Girl,

Just a short note to Thank you and the rest of your crew for the books. We received them yesterday and there were already 5 taken within the first few minutes of me opening the box.

Okay, gotta get back to it.

Thanks again!

Dewd


I want to personally thank each and every person who donated to this giveaway. Thanks to you all, a few more military people are enjoying a good book and a little bit of home.

More importantly, thank you to the men and women serving in the military and keeping us safe and protecting our freedom. May you come home soon.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Who would you like to meet?

If you could meet anyone or even several people in this world, who would you most like to meet?

I recently read the book, Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 by Marcus Luttrell and Patrick Robinson. After reading that book I would definitely like to meet Marcus Luttrell and his brother Morgan. Of course, I wouldn’t mind meeting Billy Shelton to see if he can whip my hiney into shape. Not that I want to be a Navy SEAL. Although, I do love to scuba dive.

The technology side of me would like to meet Bill Gates. I mean here’s a man who started a business when he was practically a kid and it’s still around today doing well and an organization that companies strive to compete with. Not to mention the fact that the man is a humanitarian and always looking to donate money and/or resources for various organizations and people and he is a true believer in education. Education is a passion with me.

The truly geeky side of me and the side of me that reads an article or a book and then has to learn more would love to meet Bryant Linares, President and CEO of Apollo Diamond, Inc. Yes, ladies, part of what his company does is create diamonds. When I say create, I mean manmade “real” diamonds. But he doesn’t create them for us to wear, although that has been a byproduct of his work. Through the use of nanotechnology, Apollo Diamond, Inc creates diamonds to be used in technology like the replacement for silicon computer chips. Diamonds are better heat conductors than silicon. In his garage, Mr. Linares built a machine that “makes” REAL diamonds. Today, he runs his business out of a secret location. Cool, huh!

While I am not a political person. . .actually, I deplore politics. I do however have a great deal of respect for one politician out of Oklahoma, Thomas Coburn. He’s a politician second and a practicing doctor first. He believes in term-limits and calls things like they are. While I may not agree with all of his views, I respect any man that steps up to the podium and tells people what he thinks and why, without regard for his party line. He actually reads things as black and white and foregoes the gray matter in the middle that most politicians thrive on.

Since I’m talking about men I respect, I would like to meet a guy who works for me. Yeah, that sounds kind of funny, right? But it’s true. I’ve worked with a man by the name of Mike Finn for over two years now, but have yet to meet him in person. I have a picture of him taped to my phone so whenever the team does con-calls we all can put a face to a name, it is not the same as meeting someone and getting to know them. Mike is a terrific engineer, probably one of the best I have ever had the opportunity to work with, but beyond that, he is a man that realizes there is more to life than work. He enjoys his family and revels in his free time to do things like play music with his band and make home brewed beer. By the way, I’ve tasted some of the beer…very good!
Of course there are many authors that I would love to meet, to sit and just have lunch with and pick their brains. To hear from them the trials and tribulations they went through to get to where they are today.

One more that will probably surprise you all is an artist by the name of Dale Chihuly. Mr. Chihuly is a famous blown glass artist. Ever since I read a book by Nora Roberts years ago, I have been fascinated by glass blowing. Well, this man is the epitome of art in he glass world. Look him and his work up. Beautiful doesn’t come close to describing his work or his talent.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Writing prompt spurs creativity

There are days when a simple writing prompt will spark the creativity and spur that writing desire. Today was one of those days!

I took this morning's writing prompt and went with it, let it go to wherever it took me and here is where I landed.



Writing prompt: He slammed. . .


He slammed his fist into the other man’s face.

“Shit!” It was like hitting a brick wall.

Sucking in air, he cocked his arm back to launch another blow and hope this time he didn’t break another knuckle when a woman strolled right between him and the Neanderthal and stopped. Was she out of her bloody mind?

“What the hell do you think you are doing, lady?” he asked as he picked her up, one hand firmly clamped on either of her arms and lifted her out of harms way. “Do you have a death wish?” He tugged a tumbled chair from its perch beneath a table, righted it, and brushed the seat with his bloodied and bruised hand.

She sat like a real lady, he thought, as she tucked her brief skirt beneath her derriere and crossed her legs at the ankles.

“I’m going to kick your ass!” yelled his opponent.

Diego glanced over to see the bigger man coming at him, meaty fist drawn back ready to take his head off.

“Excuse me for a second,” he told the fair-haired woman with glittering green eyes.

He turned just in time that the man barreling in his direction missed his head and landed a solid punch in his chest. The blow knocked him back a step, but he righted himself quick enough and was ready when the drunk charged him again.

This time, instead of trying to knock the guy out with his fist to the man’s steel jaw, he waited. When the guy raised his fist to take a swing, he kicked him in the gut, knocking the air out of the other man. When the man bent over gasping for air, he slammed his elbow against the back of the man’s thick neck and sent him sprawling to the wood floor covered in alcohol and peanut shells. He paused to see if the man would get up. He didn’t. The man was out cold.

Wiping his hands on his jean-clad legs, Diego straightened his shirt and walked over to the table, to the lady still sitting there sipping her ale. Cool as a cucumber, he mused as he tied back his thick mane of black hair with a leather strap. There had to be something completely wrong with a woman who could sit in the middle of a bar fight and drink her ale without any screaming. He was used to women screaming. Especially in his bed chamber as they writhed beneath him in pleasure.

But this woman. . .this woman. . . He eyed her up and down, took in the sight of her sitting there with bright pink painted nails, black, slim-fitting leather skirt, 3-inch spike heels, and briefcase was completely out of place.

With his hands shoved into the front pockets of his jeans, he approached the beautiful woman. “Are you lost?”

“No,” she said and grinned up at him. His heart skipped a beat when her green gaze glittered up at him as if she had found her quarry and he was it. Maybe this was his lucky day after all.

“Want a drink?” She handed him a pint. He drank half the glass and set it down, shoving his hands back into his pockets.

“I was looking for you, Mr. Elias Black. I found you.”

As if the woman had sucker punched him, he took a step in retreat. He eyed her now, wary of those sparkling eyes and intoxicating smile.

“You have the wrong man. My name is Diego. Diego Jones.”

The lady’s red lips kicked up at one corner and she stood. Long legs met snug black leather that hugged all the right curves. She leaned in and his nostrils flared as her perfume wafted over him. She smelled like spring and sophistication.

“I don’t have the wrong man,” she whispered. “Your name is Elias Black. You grew up in Houston, Texas and are now living in a shack in Guadalajara. You live there because you had a fight with your father and you walked away.”

His heart started beating in his chest and the palms of his hands were sweating. He took them out of his pockets and wiped them against the front of his jeans.

“I know you’re Elias Black.”

One of his dark brows winged upward.

“I know because of the birthmark on your buttocks. It’s in the shape of a crescent moon.”

He stiffened, felt his spine almost snap in half at the mention of his birthmark. How did she. . . It didn’t matter, he told himself, shaking his head.

“As beautiful as you might be and as much as I’d like to see you naked and writhing beneath me, I am not going to bare ass so you can prove or disprove my identity.”

His vision started to blur and his head started to feel heavy as if swimming through a muddy river.

“You. . .You. . .”

His speech slurred before he hit the wooden floor face down and everything went black.

The woman grinned, stepped over her prey, and ignoring everyone staring at the fallen man, she squatted next to him. With gentle fingers, she tugged down his jeans just enough to make her identification. Yes, at the top of his left hip before hip meets butt cheek, she saw the crescent moon.

Writing Prompt Wednesday

It's Wednesday and you know what that means...Writing Prompt!!

Every now and again we all need a little creativity boost. It doesn't matter that you aren't a writer. We all need that extra incentive now and again and a writing prompt is a good way to get your mind to open up and have some fun.

How does this work?

I post the beginning of a sentence and you finish it. You can write one sentence, a paragraph, or even a page if you like. Just let your mind go and write whatever comes into it. You'd be amazed at the results. My 5th novel, Phish NET Stalkings came from a writing prompt.

Today's writing prompt - He slammed. . .

Now all you have to do is write. Finish the sentence and if you feel like sharing we would love to see what you come up with. It's amazing to see how we all go in different directions.

Most of all Have fun!

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