UPDATE: The winners are…commenters 1-8! Congrats, all!
*~*~*

Yes, I’ve said it before—I am a word nerd, a true logophile, a “lover of words.”

When I was a kid, I loved finishing my reading assignments because then I could go to the front of the class and read through the very large dictionary my teacher kept open on a podium. I loved learning new words and finding out their etymology (their origins). I studied Latin for four years during junior high and high school and loved it because I learned even more about the origin of everyday words. So, yes. I’m a complete nerd, and I was meant to be a writer and editor—it just took forty years for me to discover that!

Today is an unofficial holiday: Dictionary Day. It’s a celebration of Noah Webster, born on October 16, 1758, who is best known for publishing An American Dictionary of the English Language. It’s the great-grandfather of today’s The Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

If you’re a word nerd like me, check out the Merriam-Webster website! There, you have access to their on-line dictionary and thesaurus, plus you can play word games and pick out gifts for the word nerds you love! You can even subscribe to “Word a Day” and MW will send you a new word to love every day. There’s also a phone app you can download!

So, do you love words and dictionaries? Do you have a favorite word? For a chance to win a downloadable book on my backlist, comment below!

Also, don’t forget…

Releasing tonight after midnight…

Pre-order the eBook now!
Or order your print copy now!

This is the card I pulled when Hard Knox was about to come out. And this week, I have Gunn’s Mission releasing on Tuesday. What I thought the card meant the last time was exactly how my week went. Of all the cards to pull! 🙁

The card isn’t “The Devil.” It’s Pan, the half-goat/half-man, playing his reed flute while holding the chains of two humans (with horns, why?) who are dancing to his music. It also appears that they are inside a deep dark cave, which, to me, indicates Pan is trying to hide something—or maybe that he’s playing for them while he draws them into the deep abyss. When I look at this card, I think it’s telling me I’ll be captured by a mood or temptations that will keep me doing things I shouldn’t.

And yes, the last time, I was tempted to F-around. Temptations came from everywhere—and I allowed myself to follow the many things (family, pleasure) pulling me away from what I needed to accomplish. Can I fight destiny this time around? Do I even want to try? Hmm…

Open Contests

1. Gabbi Grey: Rock Star Books — Axe to Grind (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
2. Saturday Puzzle Contest — Cuddly Stuffie on a Rock — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. Word Search: Types of Handbags for Handbag Day (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
4. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: It’s beginning to look a lot like…Halloween! — Win an Amazon gift card!

UPDATE: The winner is…Mary Ann Dean!
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I’ll be at the Arts Festival again today, all day, but once this weekend is over, my family and I will be gearing up for Halloween! We try to make every holiday an event! For Halloween, we start watching spooky movies on the weekends (Family Movie Night includes, fun snacks, a darkened room, and the big TV), and of course, we have to nail down the kids’ costumes.

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle, then tell me what you do to get ready or in the mood for Halloween!

UPDATE: The winner is…Roxie Jones!
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I would love to have a closet full of pretty shoes but, as a woman of a certain age, comfort rules my choices, so it’s sneakers, slip-ons, Uggs (OMG–they’re like wearing the softest glove on your feet!), cushioned sandals. So, I instead tend to splurge when I can on handbags. I love all the styles, but I do have a couple of favorites. When I’m traveling, I wear a crossbody bag of some sort because I want my hands free, and I tend not to lose the purse when it’s worn on my body like an accessory. When I’m close to home, I love the look and roominess of a satchel bag. I spend money on bags because I keep them for years and hate it when wear on a seam or a handle doom an otherwise usable bag, so I have Coach, Dooney & Burke, Michael Kors, and Kate Spade bags. A splurge (on a well-timed sales event) every couple of years means the top shelf of my closet has a nice, neat row of bags to choose from.

Well, for those who love purses, too, there’s a holiday just for us! Handbag Day! It’s a thing, I promise! I put together a puzzle for you to enjoy. The theme is Types of Handbags. Excercise that gray matter—it’s good for you!

Solve the puzzle then share with us what your favorite handbag styles are for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

So, keeping in mind that I have a book to complete THIS WEEK, and I have an art festival to get ready for this coming weekend, I asked the cards how my week would go and got this!

Oh, boy! Just looking at the card, I know it’s going to be rough. There are twin warriors with their swords raised riding on the back of a horse that looks ready to charge into battle against a very stormy sky. Whew. Yes, I have two obstacles to overcome, so it makes sense I’d draw Queen Leda’s twin sons, readying for battle. Funny how that works. I think the card means I have a fighting chance to get to where I need to be, if I remain focused on the battle to come.

Queen Leda’s twins are an interesting story. She was Queen Leda, Queen of Sparta. Zeus saw her and being the horny bastard that he was, he pursued her, but she refused his advances. Miffed, he turned her into a swan and then raped her. Yeah, Zeus did a lot of raping. And apparently had no qualms about raping a bird. She was already pregnant by her husband, but gave birth to two eggs. One with two human children by her husband, and one with two demi-gods by Zeus. The twins were born out of both eggs, so one son, Castor was his father’s son; the other, Polydeuces, was the immortal son of Zeus. The were called Dioscuri, the Warrior Twins.

The Mythic Tarot book says when I see this card, I should be “prepared for sudden changes which break apart the ordinary patterns of life.” The battle will be internal. So, that’s vague as hell, but falls in line pretty much with what I read in the card. It’s going to be rough ride this week.

Open Contests

1. Puzzle-Contest–Let’s Celebrate National Coffee Day! — Last day to enter! — Win an Amazon gift card!
2. September into October (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. Word Search: Celebrate Taco Day! (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
4. Gabbi Grey: Rock Star Books — Axe to Grind (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
5. Saturday Puzzle Contest — Cuddly Stuffie on a Rock — Win an Amazon gift card!

UPDATE: The winner is…Courtney Kinder!
*~*~*

I had no clue, no theme for today’s puzzle. I’m bored with Fall already. I miss my pool, but pictures of green pools aren’t pleasing. So, I went to my favorite stock photo site and typed in the word “Cuddly.” I don’t know why. It was the first word to pop into my mind. The picture in the puzzle below was on the top line and tickled my funny bone. The expression and where it is… Enjoy!

Solve the puzzle then comment about anything, doesn’t matter what. Tell me you just plucked your eyebrows. Doesn’t matter! Comment for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

Hello Delilah!  Thank you for inviting me to visit today!  I’m publishing a book in the multi-author, shared-world series The Road to Rocktoberfest 2023 today called Axe to Grind, and I wanted to give you a quick sneak peek.

When I heard about this series last year (R2R 2022), I was intrigued.  My friend, Kaje Harper wrote the first book in the series, and I happily read it, sinking into a band that was headed to a rock festival in Black Rock, Nevada (where The Burning Man takes place).

Then a little birdie told me Rocktoberfest was coming back for a third season, I found the courage to contact the organizer, and they informed me I grabbed the last spot.  While I was exchanging those messages, the idea for my story came to me, nearly fully formed.

This is the point where I say again that writing a book takes a village.  Kaje stepped up to volunteer to beta read for me since she was also in the 2023 season and, of course, had written in that world before.  My friend Laurel, who’s husband’s best friend is in a rock band, volunteered to read my manuscript as well.  Finally, Wendy, another amazing friend, offered to look at it as well since she had music industry experience in her background as well.

Then…I just had to write the book.  I tapped a good friend, whom I call the plot whisperer.  I’d hoped she might give me a band name.  She did: Grindstone.  Then I gave her my idea. She said “Okay, but where’s the conflict?” A question writers often dread.  At that point, she teased more from me and, eventually, with her dogged determination, we had plotted my story.  A good story.  Writing it was a challenge, but I’m always up for a challenge.  I wrote an interracial rock star romance with some neat twists. Oh, and of course my band are Canadian.  Finally, Kaje helped me find the perfect Ed and Natasha Snow made me the perfect cover.

That’s it. Nine months from conception to delivery.  I hope you grab a copy of the book and read it.  Then I hope you nab all the other books in the series.

As a thank you, I’m happy to give out a $5 Amazon Gift Card to one commentator.  Let me know – what’s your favorite trope?  I have so many faves, I can’t list them all, but forced proximity, single parent, rivals-to-lovers, and friends-to-lovers are some of my faves.  Tell me which do you love to read?  Winner chosen at random.

Thanks Delilah, for having me visit.

Axe to Grind

Ed

For ten challenging years, I’ve been the lead guitarist for the band I formed with my best friend Axel. Grindstone is on the verge of making it big. Which is why I’m livid when our manager brings in some snooping, scandal-chasing documentary producer to film our trip to Rocktoberfest. We’re about to hit the biggest stage of our career, and I’m worried this rich jerk, who has destroyed other celebrities, might uncover the secret I’ve kept hidden for years. I want to just ignore him, but as attraction sizzles, I start letting down my guard. Giving in to these urges might mean distracting him from his mission and getting him on my side. That’s the point. Right?

Thornton

I want to bring Ed and Axel down for what they did to my sister. I’ve managed to insinuate myself into their inner circle as a documentarian, and I’m this close to pay dirt. Using seduction to uncover the last of Ed’s secrets might be tacky, but what red-blooded man would turn down what the bisexual rock god is offering? But as we find stolen moments to try to slake the need, I’m having second thoughts. If I don’t avenge the wrong done to my family, I won’t be able to live with myself. The promise of sex shouldn’t be enough to stop me. But as I sink deeper into a relationship with Ed, I must decide if my need for revenge is worth destroying any hope of a future together.

Axe to Grind is a book in the multi-author Road to Rocktoberfest 2023 series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but why not read them all and see who hits the stage next? Hot rock stars and the men who love them, what more could you ask for? Kick back, load up your Kindle, and enjoy the men of Rocktoberfest!

Links:
Amazon US:  https://www.amazon.com/Axe-Grind-Road-Rocktoberfest-2023-ebook/dp/B0CCLRHSQJ
Universal Book Link:  https://books2read.com/axetogrind

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.

Personal links:

Website: https://gabbigrey.com/
Newsletter sign-up:  https://sendfox.com/gabbigrey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbigrey/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15456297.Gabbi_Grey
Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/Gabbi-Grey/e/B07SJVFX1M
Audible Profile:  https://www.audible.com/author/Gabbi-Grey/B07SJVFX1M
Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGabbiGrey
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GabbiGrey