On October 25^th of this year, I went in for total knee replacement surgery. It’s been a long time coming. In fact, the surgeon told me I probably should have had it done ten years ago. While I don’t think he’s wrong, precisely, I didn’t want to rush into anything. I was doing “all the things:” physical therapy, working out three times a week with a trainer, twice a week yoga, mindfulness meditation, pain management training, and I have lost about forty pounds in the last year. In September, my husband and I went on a work trip to San Francisco, and it became glaringly obvious that the status quo could not continue. So, I called the surgeon, and we scheduled it as soon as possible.

You’d think that would be it, right? I mean, major surgery is, well, major surgery. I met with my Human Resources team and my department head to schedule my time out of the office. Would I need medical leave? No, I would just take two weeks off, so it was done on “PTO,” or “paid time off.” I’d scheduled the week of American Thanksgiving as vacation for my family, and I “gave” that back – since I’d be out from October 25^th ’til November 8^th. And then I settled down to prepare.

What I didn’t realize, is that I was, in fact, embarking on a roller coaster.

Our annual Founders Retreat for Writer Zen Garden is the last full weekend in September. This year, we met in picturesque Park City, Utah, at a ski resort. It was, in a word, amazing. The condo we rented was enormous, with a full kitchen and huge living/dining room with a large table to seat all of us. We cooked, we wrote, and something magical happened: Dear Reader, I got my writing mojo back. I wrote more in the month of September than I’ve written in the last eight years combined. It’s felt like one long, dark slog through the Mines of Moria: first the 2016 election debacle, then the publishing world imploded (which, to be fair, had already started by then), the pandemic, the riots, the wildfires, (one of which, the Bolt Creek Fire, was within fifteen miles of our home), and the rise of fascism around the world. All of it meant that my well was bone dry. Sure, I’d try to write, and I kept up my avid journaling practice. But Story?

Nothing.

It’s immensely painful beyond words for a writer to go dry. I’ve met people who will airily assure me they don’t “believe” in writer’s block. My friend, I wish you the peace of your naivete. It happens, and it happens to the best of us. And it’s like bleeding to death with nothing coming out.

So to say I was ecstatic would be an understatement. It’s as though a part of me that had been amputated, suddenly grew back. Things started to heat up: I met some new friends through the NaNoWriMo Seattle Discord server and started writing “word sprints” with them (a word sprint is where you show up and do timed writing for, say, fifteen minutes).

When I settled in to prepare for my knee surgery, Dear Reader, I thought everything was going to be easy-peasy: I was writing again, I could take two weeks off to recover, what could go wrong?

I did not schedule any time to prepare. I worked until October 24^th, and surgery was October 25^th. That was my first mistake.

Then, the week before surgery on October 16^th, my beloved eleven-year-old cat Nadya had a stroke at 07:30 while I was on a video call with my therapist. She told me, “don’t catastrophize,” which is good advice but I knew what I knew. My husband was out with the dogs and our housemate, his brother and a retired emergency veterinary technician, was asleep. I waited for my husband to get back and my appointment to be done (which was the longest fifteen minutes of my life, let me tell you). My husband woke up his brother, and he examined Nadya, and gave us his advice.

Get her to the vet immediately and tell them it’s a thrombus. It’s not a saddle thrombus, which affects both hind legs; he said in his opinion it was a thrombus (i.e. a blood clot) that lodged in her right front leg, cutting off sensation and nerve impulses to her right leg. We got in the car and raced to the vet. I told my husband to call them first, to make sure they were open and that we were coming, and they told us the bad news: take her to the emergency hospital in Lynnwood, an hour’s drive, because they have the scanning equipment we’d need.

We got there and got her seen by the emergency techs right away. We came back home, and I naively thought I’d be able to pick her up again.

The cardiologist said that she was in early-stage heart failure. My brother-in-law and his partner, also an emergency vet tech, said they’ve seen exactly one cat survive this scenario and that cat died within three months, because once they throw one clot, it’s inevitable they’ll throw another. The treatment is unpleasant and consists of either subcutaneous medication (i.e. stabbing my cat with a needle) or oral meds (shoving a pill or, more likely, multiple pills down her throat on a daily basis), or both.

We made the decision to let her go and drove over that night after work.

Afterward, we came home and I went back to preparing for surgery, and trying to relax because relaxation is critical to good outcomes.

At 0430 the morning of surgery, my old man cat Boria fell down behind the dryer and got hung up in the wires for the dryer and the septic tank alarm. We’re not sure if he fell asleep on the dryer and fell off, or if he just got confused and climbed back there, or what. We got him out and my brother-in-law and his partner tended to him for the next two days. Meanwhile, I went in for surgery on Wednesday as planned.

Boria died in my husband’s arms on Friday, October 27^th.

Dear Reader, may you never go through back-to-back events like this.

I had planned to give you the news that Six Geese Laid, our holiday story set in the universe of the Chicagoland Shifters, is available at your favorite eBook seller. I even have it halfway uploaded onto Amazon but didn’t quite get it finished in time to get my guest post over to Delilah. I will, and my goal is to get it done by this weekend for you so you have something new to read before the holidays (our longtime fans will know this is the audio story that the talented Vance Bastien read for us on the WROTE podcast, and this is the long-awaited eBook version). And I also can tell you that Rachel Wilder and I are hard at work on our newest book series, the first of which is called, for right now at least, As the Crow Flies and is about crow and raven shifters and the trouble they get into.

I’m still doing all that, but I’m moving a bit slower than I planned. But the good news out of all of this is that I AM moving, at long last. Nadya and Boria are with me in spirit, keeping me company as I get back onto the page. And like Peggy Carter in the Marvel series, we’ve decided that I will be the bionic battle granny to my newest grandchild, who we will get to meet in June of 2024.

Talk about ups and downs, Dear Reader. My heart is sad, and glad, and grateful.

Best wishes,

Noony

Resources

• National Novel Writing Month, NaNoWriMo: https://nanowrimo.org/
• My NaNo: https://nanowrimo.org/participants/a-catherine-noon
• Park City, Utah: Then Best Ski Resorts: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g57097-zff8-Park_City_Utah-Hotels.html
• Knee Replacement Surgery: https://www.prolianceorthopedicassociates.com/services/knee-replacement

“My own experience has taught me this: if you wait for the perfect moment when all is safe and assured it may never arrive.”
~ Maurice Chevalier

acatherinenoon.com | noonandwilder.com | writerzengarden.com | knoontimeknitting.com

UPDATE: The winner is…Sara D!
*~*~*

Hello Delilah!  Thank you for inviting me to visit you.  I’m happy to share my new erotic BDSM book, Backing Down. I have to say, this was one of the most fun books I’ve written in a while. Normally, my books are on the darker side, especially my In Their Eyes trilogy.  For this one, though, I aimed for humor.

The genesis of the book was fun.  It’s a long story, but I needed to write a rivals-to-lovers story.  I’d never done that before, having only ventured into enemies-to-lovers a couple of times and under different pen names.  Even as I agreed to write the story, the image of Master Dante came to my mind.  He’s a secondary character in my trilogy and I’ve known for a while that I wanted him to have his own story.  When I saw the word rival, I also saw a strong Domme.  Also, in the back of my mind, I knew Dante was bisexual and, eventually, would have Evan as his permanent submissive.

Okay, so I had a clear picture of my two guys in my MMF.  I just needed to figure out the woman.  I approached another friend who helps me sort plots, and she helped me create Mistress Kate.  My triad was complete.

From that point, the writing came easily.  Perhaps also because I was under a super tight deadline, and the words had to flow. Sometimes, I write best under pressure.

I hope readers enjoy my novella and bratty Evan’s antics as he tries to get what he wants more than anything in the world – two Dominants.

Thanks for hosting me today! I would love to give a $5 Amazon gift card to a commenter. Do you enjoy humor in the books you read or are you all about the angst?  Let me know and one randomly selected commenter will win!

Backing Down

Master Dante

As the manager of Club Kink, Vancouver’s premier BDSM club, I have access to all the submissives I could desire. I never switch, but two years ago, a hot encounter with Mistress Kate blurred some of my boundaries, and left me rethinking my true desires. Now, Kate’s back, and I don’t think the heat between us is just competitiveness between two Doms. I have other ideas, and I’m willing to pull out all the stops to make them a reality.

Kate

Two years ago, I had the best night of my life. And the worst. I’ve recovered my self-esteem and my reputation, but I haven’t been able to forget Master Dante. Now we both have our sights set on the same submissive. May the best Dominant win, right? Well, I intend to come out on top this time—no matter the consequences.

Evan

I’ve been a happy submissive for five years. Lately, I’ve watched Master Dante and Mistress Kate around the club, and noticed how aware they are of each other. I admit it, I’m greedy. I want both. I want them together. And I’m willing to do whatever it takes to have them—in the bedroom and in the dungeon. With Christmas just around the corner, and with me being a very good boy, maybe I’ll get what I want.

Links:
Universal link:  https://books2read.com/BackingDown
Amazon US:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLL395M4

About the Author

Even though Gabbi Black is a firm believer in happy endings, she makes her characters work for it in every romance she writes, no matter what the genre. From contemporary to BDSM, they are penned early in the morning in her home in beautiful British Columbia while her trusty ChinPoo dog keeps her company. She also writes gay romances as Gabbi Grey.

Personal links:
Website:   http://gabbiblack.com/
Newsletter sign-up:  https://sendfox.com/gabbi
Bookbub:  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/2763198834
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbiblack/
Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/Author-Gabbi-Black-106666354460589/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/GabbiAuthor

The winner is…Diane Sallens!
*~*~*

Hello Delilah!  Thank you for letting me visit today to discuss a fantastic project I’m involved in.

I write all different kinds of queer fiction, and when this contest entered my radar screen a few years ago, it caught my attention.  This is the third year I submitted a 300-word short story, and I was thrilled my story was chosen with 119 others to put together this wonderful collection.  My story is a lesbian shifter romance—not something I’d written before.  I love the speculative nature of Sci-Fi and paranormal. This isn’t our world and yet how does it relate to us? Which elements are the same and which are different?  I invite readers to sink into stories that pack a hell of a punch, even with the short word count.  I know I used every single one to craft a story I hope readers will love.

As a bonus, today, I’d love to give away a $5 Amazon Gift Card.  To enter, just drop a note in the comments.  Let me know—do you read paranormal or Science Fiction?  Is there a particular subgenre you like?  Good luck!

Rise

Every year, Queer Sci Fi runs a one-word theme contest for 300-word flash fiction stories, and then we choose 120 of the best for our annual anthology.

RISE
(Noun, Verb)

Eight definitions to inspire writers around the world, and an unlimited number of possible stories to tell:

1) An upward slope or movement
2) A beginning or origin
3) An increase in amount or number
4) An angry reaction
5) To take up arms
6) To return from death
7) To become heartened or elated
8) To exert oneself to meet a challenge

Universal Buy Link: https://www.otherworldsink.com/book/rise/
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJQM596P

Rise features 300-word speculative flash fiction stories from across the rainbow spectrum, from the minds of the writers of Queer Sci Fi.

Pairings (if a romance): MM, FF, MF, NB, etc.
Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction
LGBTQ+ Identities (if applicable): Ace, Bi, Demi, Gay, Intersex, Lesbian, Poly, Trans

Series Title: Queer Sci Fi’s Annual Flash Fiction Contest

Authors: This year, 554 authors entered the Rise contest. 120 of them were chosen, and their stories are included in this anthology.

Queer Sci Fi Website: https://www.queerscifi.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/qsfdiscussions
Mastodon: https://mastodon.otherworldsink.com/@queerscifi

The days are getting shorter, and the air has a distinct bite to it. The trees are losing their leaves as the wind whistles through their branches. Pumpkins are appearing on porch steps and children of all ages are getting excited about the upcoming holiday.

We’re days away from Halloween, the time of year where creatures of the night such as vampires, demons and ghosts, but most especially werewolves seem a little more real to us all. Why do I say most especially werewolves? It’s simple really. I’m celebrating the fact I have a new werewolf book.

But seriously, what makes these shapeshifters so appealing to readers of all genres, especially romance readers? Personally, I think it’s the fact that they’re stripped down to the basics. They rely on their animal instincts when dealing with others—human or those of their own kind. They are strong and can be brutal, when necessary, yet nurturing and caring to those they consider family or pack. They live by their own set of rules, and these differ from those which humans live under. They change, transforming themselves, sometimes at will and other times needing the light of the full moon to do so—depending on the writer penning the story.

Elemental best describes them. They are powerful creatures, in tune with the earth. We can all easily picture a lone wolf on a hillside howling at the moon. It makes us shiver in dread at the same time it makes us wish we could be closer to the wolf. The wolf calls to us on a primal level. We admire it even as we fear it.

What happens when that wolf is a true lone wolf, one who answers to no alpha or pack, whose destiny is to be both judge and executioner for rogue werewolves? Find out in Taming the White Wolf.

Taming the White Wolf
Lone Wolf Legacy, Book 1

White wolf Devlin Moore has spent nearly the last century following his destiny: hunting rogue werewolves. His fate is to be the only one of his kind—hardened, feared, and brutally ruthless. Only now, Devlin’s not alone. There are two others. And if that wasn’t unsettling enough, Devlin is drawn to New York City for what appears to be a human…

As far as Devlin can tell, vibrant artist Zoe Galvani is no threat. But there’s something about her— from her unusual eyes that look similar to the same shocking hue as his own, to his growing need to mark her as his that suggests magical forces may be at play.

Now there’s no escaping each other, or the attraction that grows stronger by the second. But no one, especially a human woman, should have this effect on a lone wolf. And just when he’s sure that having her could be his undoing…the truth steps out of the shadows.

If you want to read more, you can find Taming the White Wolf here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7NTXG92/
Entangled Publishing: https://entangledpublishing.com/books/taming-the-white-wolf
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/taming-the-white-wolf-n-j-walters/1143634327
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/taming-the-white-wolf
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/taming-the-white-wolf/id6450183902

About the Author

N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, assassins, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.

Visit her at:
Website: http://www.njwalters.com
Blog: http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com
Newsletter Sign Up: http://eepurl.com/gdblg5
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/njwaltersauthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/NJWalters
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/njwalters
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/n-j-walters

For those who are unfamiliar with NaNoWriMo (or NaNo), it is short for National Novel Writing Month which is a nonprofit organization and an annual writing event that happens in November. From the name alone, NaNo sounds as if it is exclusively for writers. However, it’s not. But before I get into the benefits for readers, let’s take a brief look at the organization.

NaNoWriMo was created in 1999 by Chris Baty as a writing society. The purpose was to offer and provide community, encouragement, structure, and tools to assist individuals in attaining their creative voices and succeeding at fulfilling their creative (not just writing) goals.

As writing event, NaNo is a challenge to complete writing a 50,000-word novel between November 1 to November 30. However, this description is a little deceiving. NaNo allows for much flexibility, and writers set their own goals. Not every writer wants (or needs) to write 50,000 words. Goals may be set higher or lower. In fact, it may not even include writing. Some authors use NaNo as a time to edit a completed manuscript or screenplay. Others may decide to work on blurbs, back matter, and other writing details associated with novels. The point is to set a writing goal and accomplish that goal in thirty days. During the first NaNo event, twenty-one writers participated. Last year, that number was over 400,000.

So, how is NaNo a benefit for readers? For starters, it means that many of your favorite authors have their next novel or project in progress. It also means, some authors will be looking for beta readers. As a result, readers can get sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes looks at what authors are working on. Other authors may ask for story ideas or suggestions. Is there a side character in a story that you’d like to see have his/her own book? During NaNo would be a perfect time to suggest it.

Some authors use NaNo as a writing exercise in creative expression and not necessarily to complete a novel. They just want to write and expand their craft. For example, an author who usually writes epic novels may want to write a series of short stories with the background and history of established characters. Or a writer who typically writes contemporary romance may try his/her hand at a regency romance as a tester. In turn, they may offer these shorts as freebies.

Many authors document their NaNo journey on social media, giving readers a lot of extra content to enjoy. Readers will be able to see the writing process (which is different for each author) and writing struggles. It allows readers to get to know authors on a different level.

Although Camp NaNoWriMo occurs in April and July, October is generally the month writers begin kicking into gear for NaNo. This is why October is frequently referred to as Preptober. Preparing for NaNo is as different as the writing process itself. For some writers, it means gathering research. Maybe, now is the time for readers to join an author’s research squad. For other writers, outlining as prep is their journey. Yet, others may use the time to make arrangements for reserving writing locations or scheduling writing times. Readers can check in and see how writers are getting ready.

In short, NaNo is just as much for readers as it is for writers.

So, that’s a wrap on today’s topic. Now, it’s your turn to sound off. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Future Goals

Get ready. It’s time to hit the ice again. Future Goals has arrived and is available.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Order your copy at:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9
Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) retakes the ice. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or X (formerly tweet) me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search for me on Goodreads, Amazon Authors, BookBub, Bluesky, Threads, or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and sign up today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

About the Author

Genevive Chamblee resides in the Bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting lost anywhere beyond her front yard (the back is pushing it as she’s very geographically challenged), falling in love with shelter animals (and she adopts them), asking off-the-beaten-path questions that make one go “hmm,” and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well.

For those of you who’ve been waiting for this book to be released, it’s out now!

Too Good for Words

Ride hard or stay home…

A phony friendship between an ex-con biker haunted by his past and a suburban mom with an uncertain future shifts gears with startling consequences.

After more than two decades as a stay-at-home mom, Penta Potter’s life is at a crossroads, her future stretching emptily ahead. When her youngest son vandalizes a local motorcycle mechanic’s garage, confronting the forbidding yet compelling owner sparks deliciously wicked longings.

Since his release from prison twelve years ago, Cash Rylance keeps his head down and his nose clean. He has no business aching for a fiercely protective, sweet-lipped, divorced mother of four. If he promises to keep his hands to himself, maybe she will help him be the dad his estranged daughter deserves.

A fake relationship between these two restless hearts seems the perfect route to take…until their improbable plan detours toward a totally different destination.

Order your copy now!

About the Author

Brenda Margriet writes savvy, slow-burn, contemporary romances with ordinarily amazing characters. Readers call her stories “poignant,” “explicit and steamy,” “interesting, intriguing and entertaining,” and “unlike any romance you’ve read before.” She lives in northern British Columbia with her husband, various finny and furry pets, and has three grown children.

I have a new young adult contemporary book series called Stars in the City, coming out about teen celebrities looking to find both their path in the world and true love while in the big city. This is a spinoff of my funny and romantic young adult contemporary pop star/soap star Cecily Taylor Series. In this book we see Cecily’s TV co-star, Valeria Joseph, navigate the world of teen stardom and trying to find real love in a celebrity world in the city. Valeria has dated a popular heartthrob character on the show who broke her heart and her hometown ex winds up in the city and they find they still have feelings for each other. Cecily and pop star, Andrew Holiday, are also featured in this book as well, so you get to see a continuation of the relationship. Check out the blurb to learn more!

Stars in the City

These actresses seem to have it all…

Valeria Joseph and Cecily Taylor seem to have it all: careers as actresses on the soap opera, Charmed Lives, and everyone wants to be them. Then Cecily fixes Valeria up with a rising pop star named Dex Doyle and sparks start to fly. Suddenly Valeria has a bigger spotlight on her and she’s overwhelmed by the drama that follows Dex. It’s one thing being on a daytime drama, but another thing to live in one. Then Valeria’s hometown ex-boyfriend reaches out to her as he’s overwhelmed by his college basketball career. He’s always wanted a quieter life than her, but she soon she realizes she still has feelings for him even though she thought she left that life behind her. Can Valeria find true love in the big city?

Pre-order the book here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Stars-City-Krysten-Lindsay-Hager-ebook/dp/B0C19THWX3
Universal link: https://books2read.com/u/mB8K9D
Read the Cecily Taylor Series here (Free in Kindle Unlimited): https://books2read.com/u/3nBLoB

About the Author

Krysten Lindsay Hager is a bestselling author of young adult, middle grade, and contemporary romance. Krysten writes because she loves bringing people swoony moments & hope-filled happily ever afters. Her books are known for making you feel all the feels.

Website: https://www.krystenlindsay.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krystenlindsay/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/krystenlindsay/