Tag Archives: weekend writing warriors

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ Snarl

by

9

Hello and welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the blog hop where writers from a wide variety of genres share from their work in excerpts of ten sentences or fewer.

Hallelujah! The rains have come (to Oregon) and the air quality has gone from hazardous to moderate. In the night the air is good, and I can’t tell you what a relief it is to be able to open the doors and windows and breathe. Being a writer and a hermit, I’ve always loved the rain, but now it feels like an extra special blessing.

Unfortunately, our friend Jacqui is not feeling the love.  On the contrary, his world is about to be upended.  He thought the stray cat he’d met the night before had snuck into his place, but who is this intruder, really? I’m sharing from the first chapter of my new release, Wild: Jacqui the Cat Mysteries #4.

***

Every muscle tightened, and the air rippled slightly as his body prepared to shift once again. To flee or fight as required. He forced himself to keep his shape, and seized up a pair of scissors from the workbench.

The bathroom door opened and a man stepped out.

A nude, grinning man. “Hello,” he said. “Hope you don’t mind that I used your shower.”

Prepared only to snarl, Jacqui managed to choke out, “Mind? Of course I mind. Who the hell are you?”

***

***

I’m doing the book tour thing, featuring the entire Jacqui the Cat Mysteries line up. You can click here to read up on all the books and enter a giveaway for an Amazon gift card!

Wild: Jacqui the Cat Mysteries #4 ~ Available Now!

Cat Shifter Jacqui Corleone has finally met his fated mate, but unlike in a romance novel, reality has other plans. For one thing, Wyatt doesn’t know Jacqui is a shifter. For another thing, the dog men are back, and along with their slobber and their bad breath they bring a new level of danger to Jacqui’s life, and to Wyatt’s. When Jacqui meets other cat shifters for the first time, he’s tantalized by a glimpse into their strange new world, but cats aren’t much nicer than dogs, and soon Jacqui must decide if he’s going to run again, or stand and fight against an enemy more powerful than he ever imagined.

Click Here to buy on Amazon.

 

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ Here, Kitty, Kitty

by

11

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the blog hop where writers from a wide variety of genres share from their work in excerpts of ten sentences or fewer. I’m extra glad to be here this week because a few days ago, I thought I might have to evacuate due to a wildfire about ten miles from where I live here in Oregon. Although it was unlikely to come to that, I made of list of what to grab first: Six cats, water, wine, passport, backup drive of everything I’ve ever written, change of underwear and socks. Yup, those are my priorities and I’m sticking to it.

On to the snippet! I’m sharing from my new release, Wild: Jacqui the Cat Mysteries #4. Last week, Jacqui discovered the suspicious cat he’d encountered earlier that morning had sneaked into his apartment.

***

Jacqui’s territory, his inner sanctum, violated by a mangy stray.

What did I tell you about establishing a defensive perimeter?

Dogs can’t climb trees. How was I to know I’d have to worry about cats?

He padded silently to his worktable in the middle of the room and turned a slow circle. He didn’t see any damage, or the cat. Gone already? But, no, the smell was too intense, even for a stinky tom.

“Here, Kitty, Kitty”, he said without much enthusiasm, “where are you hiding?”

A rustling came from the bathroom and before Jacqui’s disbelieving eyes, the doorknob began to turn.

***

I’m doing the book tour thing, featuring the entire Jacqui the Cat Mysteries line up. You can click here to read up on all the books and enter a giveaway for an Amazon gift card!

Wild: Jacqui the Cat Mysteries #4 ~ Available Now!

Cat Shifter Jacqui Corleone has finally met his fated mate, but unlike in a romance novel, reality has other plans. For one thing, Wyatt doesn’t know Jacqui is a shifter. For another thing, the dog men are back, and along with their slobber and their bad breath they bring a new level of danger to Jacqui’s life, and to Wyatt’s. When Jacqui meets other cat shifters for the first time, he’s tantalized by a glimpse into their strange new world, but cats aren’t much nicer than dogs, and soon Jacqui must choose if he’s going to run again, or stand and fight against an enemy more powerful than he ever imagined.

Click Here to buy on Amazon.

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ Just a Cat

by

9

Hello and welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the blog hop where writers from a wide variety of genres share from their work in ten sentences or fewer.

Maybe you fellow writers out there can help me with this: Wild received a four-star rating on Amazon, and the accompanying review was “Gaaaaaaahhhh!”  I’m thinking that must mean the reader was so engrossed in the book they hated for it to end. Yeah, I think that’s the interpretation I’m going with. Do you concur?

And on to the snippet. I’m sharing from my new release, Wild: Jacqui the Cat Mysteries #4. I’ve skipped ahead a little bit from last week. Jacqui shifted back to human form, threw on some clothes and . . . .

***

He dashed down the narrow spiral staircase from his loft to the living area. It was a small studio with an open floor plan, which made it hard to miss anything out of place.

Like that smell.

Jacqui forced himself to stop moving and pay attention. Once he did, his scalp prickled and his nostrils flared. He sniffed and detected the sharp aroma of a stranger.

A cat!

It’s just a cat.

Just a cat?

That stray—he snuck in here last night and peed on our stuff!

That’s ten. Here’s a tidbit more.

No, human, focus. He’s still here.

Jacqui focused. Took a deeper breath. Cat was correct.

As usual.

***

Wild: Jacqui the Cat Mysteries #4 ~ Available Now!

Cat Shifter Jacqui Corleone has finally met his fated mate, but unlike in a romance novel, reality has other plans. For one thing, Wyatt doesn’t know Jacqui is a shifter. For another thing, the dog men are back, and along with their slobber and their bad breath they bring a new level of danger to Jacqui’s life, and to Wyatt’s. When Jacqui meets other cat shifters for the first time, he’s tantalized by a glimpse into their strange new world, but cats aren’t much nicer than dogs, and soon Jacqui must choose if he’s going to run again, or stand and fight against an enemy more powerful than he ever imagined.

Click Here to buy on Amazon.

 

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ On Fire

by

11

Hello and welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the blog hop where writers from a wide variety of genres share from their work in excerpts of ten sentences or fewer.

Okay, now I’m suffering from empty nest syndrome. I’ve been working on Wild for two years, and releasing my baby into the…well, wild…makes for a strange mix of relief and anxiety. Other than obsessively track sales, what’s a writer to do? Oh, yes, write.  The first draft of Snow is nearly done, and there’s a back log of projects that could keep me busy for a decade or so. But for now, I’ll take a few days to stare wistfully into the middle distance and wonder what people do who don’t have a cast of characters constantly chattering away in their heads, demanding to be brought to life.

Last week, Jacqui (in his cat form) got caught napping in Wyatt’s laundry basket. Now he has to figure out how to explain to Wyatt why he snuck out in the night…without his clothes.

***

Jacqui raced home as if his tail were on fire.

Not so bad. Had to happen.

Left my phone, my clothes, everything behind. How will I explain it?

Oh.

Jacqui tore up his street, cut through the gap between two buildings, and scrambled up the madrone tree behind his apartment. He was in the habit of leaving his bedroom window open, just in case, and now, the in case had occurred.

He squeezed in, jumped on the bed, shook himself.

What’s that smell?

That’s ten.  Here’s a bit more to follow up on Cat’s observation:

Gotta be fast. Wyatt’s gonna call or come over. He’s wondering where we are right now. He’ll see the phone on the kitchen counter. Shit, he’ll come over, make sure I’m alive.

Wait. Something’s off.

No time. Shift. Now.

***

Wild: Jacqui the Cat Mysteries #4 ~ Available Now!

Cat Shifter Jacqui Corleone has finally met his fated mate, but unlike in a romance novel, reality has other plans. For one thing, Wyatt doesn’t know Jacqui is a shifter. For another thing, the dog men are back, and along with their slobber and their bad breath they bring a new level of danger to Jacqui’s life, and to Wyatt’s. When Jacqui meets other cat shifters for the first time, he’s tantalized by a glimpse into their strange new world, but cats aren’t much nicer than dogs, and soon Jacqui must choose if he’s going to run again, or stand and fight against an enemy more powerful than he ever imagined.

Click Here to buy on Amazon.

Prowl, Book #1 in the series, is available for free until Midnight Saturday (8/29). Click here to dive into Jacqui!

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ A Threat

by

11

Hello and welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the blog hop where writers from a wide variety of genres share from their work in ten sentences or fewer.

I’m sharing from Wild: Jacqui the Cat Mysteries #4, to be released August 27th! I’ve jumped ahead to Chapter 2. After his encounter with the strange stray, Jacqui allowed himself to accidentally on purpose fall asleep as Cat in Wyatt’s laundry basket. Wyatt’s relationship with Jacqui in his cat form is rather fraught. You can probably guess by the fact that Wyatt calls him Satan. A few people have told me Wyatt seems a little mean, but you have to remember, Jacqui is half-Caracal, so he’s big, as well as being a typical stray cat with attitude to spare.

***

A click woke him up. Bright lights flooded his hidey-hole. Jacqui lifted his head from beneath a towel, ears spiked and on full rotation.

“Holy fucking—?” Wyatt said. He stood in the doorway, hand still on the light switch, looking rumpled in baggy pajama pants, brown hair sideways, delicious chest exposed, adorable.

But also over six feet tall, looming, angry, a threat.

Jacqui sprang out of the basket and jumped to the top of the dryer. His claws skittered on the slick surface and he nearly slid off the far edge.

“Satan! Where the hell did you come from?” Wyatt demanded.

That’s ten. Here’s a few more to “complete” the thought.

Jacqui did not reply. He shot out of the gap in the window and landed in the shrub with paws desperately grasping for purchase. He half-fell, half-climbed to the ground and took off in a shot.

“And stay out!” Wyatt shouted after him, and slammed the window shut.

***

***

Wild: Jacqui the Cat Mysteries #4 ~ Available for pre-order Now! Release date August 27th.

Cat Shifter Jacqui Corleone has finally met his fated mate, but unlike in a romance novel, reality has other plans. For one thing, Wyatt doesn’t know Jacqui is a shifter. For another thing, the dog men are back, and along with their slobber and their bad breath they bring a new level of danger to Jacqui’s life, and to Wyatt’s. When Jacqui meets other cat shifters for the first time, he’s tantalized by a glimpse into their strange new world, but cats aren’t much nicer than dogs, and soon Jacqui must choose if he’s going to run again, or stand and fight against an enemy more powerful than he ever imagined.

Clicker Here to pre-order on Amazon.

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ Cat Stalker

by

12

Hello and welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the blog hop where writers from a wide variety of genres share from their work in excerpts of ten sentences or fewer.

I’m so excited! The stars have finally aligned, the curse has lifted, and I have a release date for Wild: Jacqui the Cat Mysteries #4! Jacqui will once again prowl the virtual bookshelves on August 27th! To celebrate, I’ve posted the awesome cover below.

I’ve been sharing from the first chapter of Wild, in which Jacqui encounters a strange cat who isn’t like the normal domestics he’s used to. Last week, Jacqui thought the cat talked to him via telepathy, but surely he just imagined it? I’ve skipped ahead a bit to round out the scene. This is after Jacqui ran off the interloper, or tried to, anyway. Next week I’ll share from a different scene, to give a little taste of what Jacqui’s up against.

***

The encounter left Jacqui feeling oddly disturbed. He sniffed here and there, scratched the trunk of a maple tree, knocked over some glass bottles left out beside a trash can, but he couldn’t get into it. His human mind buzzed too loudly and he decided to head for home, or Wyatt’s, that is, for some soothing skin-to-skin contact.

But we’ve only just begun to prowl!

Creepy vibes, gotta get back, shift, think.

One little thing goes weird and you get all human on me.

Jacqui overrode Cat’s protests, which wasn’t easy when he was in cat form, and slinked through the shadows and shrubbery back to Wyatt’s condo. When he reached the overgrown rhododendron, he glanced back, and spotted the mangy tom lurking on the corner. It had followed him.

Creepy cat stalker—Great.

***

Cover by Robin Ludwig Design

***

Wild: Jacqui the Cat Mysteries #4 ~ Available for pre-order Now! Release date August 27th.

Jacqui Corleone has finally met his fated mate (Newsflash: it’s Wyatt), but unlike a romance novel, reality has other plans. The dog men are back, and along with their slobber and bad manners they bring a new level of danger to Jacqui’s life, and to Wyatt’s.  Jacqui meets other cat shifters for the first time and is tantalized by a glimpse into their strange new world.  Only cats aren’t much nicer than dogs, and soon Jacqui must choose if he’s going to run again, or stand and fight against an enemy more powerful than he ever imagined. And that’s saying a lot.

Clicker Here to pre-order on Amazon.