UPDATE: The winner is…Jennifer Beyer!
*~*~*

Hannah Bond is believed to have been born in the 1830s in Bertie County, North Carolina. She was owned by a number of families before finally being purchased by John Hill Wheeler of Murfreesboro. Wheeler was a congressman and a writer. Scholars used primary sources like oral histories, public records, diaries and even an almanac to prove Hannah Bond/Crafts’ identity as a slave in Wheeler’s household. Another source of proof used is the fact that Hannah’s novel quotes from books by Charles Dickens, Charlotte Bronte, and Walter Scott found in Wheeler’s library. An excellent article detailing the extensive work done to substantiate the events of Hannah’s life can be found here: https://www.publicradioeast.org/pre-news/2023-12-06/a-quest-to-find-the-nations-first-black-female-novelist.

She escaped from slavery disguised as a white boy in 1857, using men’s clothing given to her by Wheeler’s nephew. She first arrived North and stayed on a farm in upstate New York. Eventually, Hannah moved to New Jersey where she became a schoolteacher. She was found listed in the 1870 and 1880 census married to Thomas Vincent, a minister.

Hannah took the penname Hannah Crafts under which she wrote The Bondwoman’s Narrative, Fugitive Slave from North Carolina. Her novel tells the story of a mixed-race enslaved woman who escapes to the North and gains freedom. While the novel includes many factual events, some autobiographical, unlike Harriet Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Hannah’s story is a work of fiction.

The manuscript is believed to have been written between 1855 and 1869. In 2001, it was purchased at a Black memorabilia auction by historian and Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. for $8500. Gates shared in a CSPAN interview his was the only bid on the unpublished, handwritten manuscript. He explained that obtaining a manuscript from that era is rare even for published works because usually once finished with an author’s manuscript printers threw the originals away. You can view the interview here: Washington Journal interview with Henry Louis Gates on The Bondswoman’s Narrative, April 18, 2002, C-SPAN.

Professor Gregg Hecimovich of Furman University was one of the scholars who worked on confirming the events of Hannah’s life. His biography, The Life and Times of Hannah Crafts, was chosen by the Washington Post as one of the best ten books of 2023. This year it won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Biography.

Today, many authors grumble about how long it takes a book to be traditionally published. Their complaints have nothing on the 150-year journey it took to bring Hannah Bond writing as Hannah Craft’s novel to print. I never ceased to be amazed by the resilience of African American women in the 19^th century determined not only to survive but thrive against a society equally determined to oppress them.

For a chance at a $10 Amazon gift card, share your thoughts in the comments.

“Her Heavenly Phantom” by Michal Scott

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Forced into a marriage of convenience neither wants, a mild-mannered banker with an intriguing secret discovers his reluctant bride has a secret, too.

An excerpt from “Her Heavenly Phantom”

Harold scanned his dressing room table. “Speaking of missing.”

“You won’t find a letter tonight,” Michael said.

A pang throbbed in Harold’s chest. Where was the air in this damned room? “What do you mean?”

“Your lady of the balcony only just arrived at intermission. Maybe she’ll leave you one when you return.” Michael closed the calendar and stood. “I wonder why she lurks behind that Mardi Gras mask of hers.”

“The manager of The Phantom doesn’t understand that his client isn’t the only one who needs to hide his identity from the outside world?”

Harold leapt at the knock on the door. His spirit danced as the boy put the familiar notepaper in his hand. He shoved a coin in the boy’s palm then shooed him and Michael away.

Joy! Rapture! Her latest words would keep this Good Friday wedding night from being cold and lifeless as the tomb in which Jesus had been laid.

He held the paper to his nostrils, inhaled the sweet lilac aroma of her perfume, imagined the fingers penning her latest words in that beautiful Spencerian script. He wouldn’t open it now. No. Gratification delayed would be gratification enhanced. He’d wait until the darkness of his bedroom enveloped him, until the warmth of his hand stroked his cock to hardness, until the seduction of her words made him come and come and come.

Just a quick note before I bore you with my accomplishments and plans… A few folks out there have generously offered to make me “chemo hats.” I appreciate you more than you know. You asked for my head size, so I took some yarn and wrapped it around the biggest part of my melon, then measured it against a yardstick. It’s 22 inches or 56 cm. If you do make me a hat, you can email me at delilah@delilahdevlin.com to request my mailing address. Thank you.

Report Card

Last week…

1. The big thing that happened last week, happened on Monday, and kind of put a shadow over the rest of the week. I finally got my cancer diagnosis, and it took a while for that to sink in. The family was sad. I tried not to be sad. I let that shadow sit for a couple of days, then started in with the bald jokes. We have a plan now. Some hope. We’re marching forward, no more tears.
2. I completed edits for one author.
3. I set up pre-orders for books I’m republishing that first appeared in anthologies no on has read. One’s a western. The other is a medieval fantasy. Both are sexy as hell. I have my sister working on the covers now.
4. I pushed the release of Ignition off by a month. I am going to cancel the release of Built Like Mack because, honestly, I don’t know when I’ll be able to write it. Writing takes stamina.
5. There was no swimming last week. I couldn’t after the incision for the biopsy. Then the family let the pool maintenance slide just a bit (they were a tad distracted with me and the start of school) and we have a touch of algae, so that has to be battled before I can get back into the pool.
6. My daughter and SIL have been awesome. They bought me a lift chair. You know, one of those recliners that has a motor and helps you up and down out of your seat. I never knew I needed one until the first time I used it. They also moved a bunch of furniture to make room for it.

This next week…

1. I begin chemo on Monday. I’ve read tons about the side effects. Seems it hits people differently. I expect fatigue and nausea. I hope it passes quickly. For now, I’m blocking out the week of chemo for any heavy work until I figure out how it hits me. I already have my chemo bag packed: blanket, headphones, chargers, snacks, etc. Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions of what I should bring.
2. I will begin some light editing, meaning not many pages a day, for another author.
3. Hopefully, I’ll get to swim some this week, if I feel well enough.
4. I have no big goals for the week, as you can see, other than get through my first treatment. I’ll let you know how I’m doing. Apparently, there are some folks out there who like reading the details (they’ve told me so). And since I can’t stop my fingers from vomiting my life here, you’re going to know all about it.

Open Contests

On the Delilah’s Collections website!

1. In One Picture: Reina Torres’s “In the Dark” (Contest–Two Winners!) — Last day to enter! Win a FREE book! 2 WINNERS!
2. In One Picture: Brent Archer’s “Masquerade” (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. In One Picture: M. Jayne’s “Baby, Take My Hand” (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
4. In One Picture: Gabbi Grey’s “Thought You Were the One” (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
5. In One Picture: Elle James’s “Sex, Spies, and Subterfuge” (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!

Here, on this site!

1. Gabbi Black: When Opportunity Knocks (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
2. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Another Power Outage — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. Genevive Chamblee: Bookversary — Let’s Celebrate! (Contest) — Win a FREE book!
4. 10 Things to Bring to Chemo (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
5. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Summertime Fun! — Win an Amazon gift card!

UPDATE: The winner is…Laura Bowles!
*~*~*

Because of all the activity surrounding my health issues, it’s been challenging to find the fun here in the Devlin house. Swimming has been curtailed. I just hate getting into a suit that squeezes my middle, but I think I might take the plunge anyway today. I miss the water and sun on my skin, and I think it would be fun for the girls. I didn’t know they’d give up the pool if I wasn’t out there with them, but it seems it’s not as fun without me there. (It makes me feel good and sad at the same time—LOL).

Later, we’re planning on watching a movie together, likely late afternoon, so no one (me) gets too tired to enjoy it. We’ve selected the new Twisters movie.

All my hard deadlines for work on others’ books have been met. I don’t have to stress about anything other than maybe pre-posting some blogs for next week in case I feel like shit and don’t want to post daily, as is my habit.  My dd is an organizer. She’s going to pack my chemo bag for Monday. I could do it myself, but she likes to take care of me, so I’ll let her. Yes, I’m spoiled for attention.

So, today’s a lazy-ish day. Tomorrow, I’ll do a little work prep for the week, but another light duty day. Next week, I’ll be winging it, and see how everything goes. I hope you’re making the most of the last days of summer! It’s my favorite season, so I’ll be damned if I’m cheated of the things I love most—family time and the pool!

Happy Saturday, everyone!

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, suggest some things my family and I can do together that are low-energy, low-stress fun!

UPDATE: The winner is…Tianna Toups!
*~*~*

This is the sky right now (my dd took the picture). The clouds look like a pretty, cottony, baby-blue blanket, although the forecast is for heat and sunny skies today. Thought I’d share since I haven’t seen clouds like that covering the entire sky before. 🙂

Just to catch you up… I start chemo on Monday. I had hoped to get a port installed this week, but it didn’t happen. So, I’ll get my chemo on my arm, which I hope doesn’t interfere too much with me using my hands. I had a call yesterday from the nurse at the cancer center to go over what I should expect to happen during and after my chemo.

• The drugs they give me to help my body tolerate the treatment.
• Side effects.
• How shitty I’ll feel afterward and for how long—basically for 5 or 6 days following treatment.
• How soon my hair will start falling out—perhaps as soon as 2 weeks.
• The blood draws I have to have Thursdays before my Monday treatments to see how my white blood cells are doing.
• Drink tons of water/juice/sprite to keep hydrated because that’s a real concern.
• It looks like chemo will continue into December, once every three weeks, followed by immunotherapy every 42 days after.

Hopefully, I’ll respond well to everything. She didn’t say it, but you all have said that attitude is everything. I’m ready to kick ass. Thanks to everyone for their suggestions of what to pack for my first chemo treatment on Monday. I’ve settled on…

1. 🧦 — socks, fuzzy ones
2. 🛏️ — I couldn’t find a blanket emoji!
3. 🎧 — my dd ordered me a pair to use with my iPhone
4. 📱 — my iPhone
5. 📚 — a paperback book in case the Wi-Fi sucks
6. 📔 — a notebook with good paper that I can write in or draw/paint
7. ✏️ — pencil for sketching
8. 🖊️ — pen for writing (I hate putting thoughts down in something erasable!)
9. 🎨 — a tiny portable paint palette with a water-brush
10. 🥙 — food

Maybe I’ll add one of the 11-year-old’s Squishmallows to use as a pillow. For sure, I’m going to wear a superhero T-shirt.

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, what snacks should I pack?

I’m excited about my final book in my Lone Wolf Legacy series. Tempting the Black Wolf is releasing on September 9^th, and I want to share my new cover.

Excerpt…

Onyx eased over to the wall, putting her back to it. Menace swept across the space to engulf them all. Since his attention was on the other three, she began to inch her way to the entryway.

His head snapped around, dark eyes pinning her in place. “Going somewhere?”

“Thought I’d pop around the corner for a mocha latte while you conducted business.” His lips twitched but he didn’t smile. That would ruin the whole dangerous vibe he had going on. Still, she held her breath and hoped.

He removed his coat and held it out to her. It was automatic for her to take it. “Hold this and be good for five minutes.” Turning back around, he dismissed her.

Be good! Be good! She should kick his ass. And she would if she thought she’d actually succeed. She fisted the leather fabric tighter. It would serve him right if she stomped his coat into the dirt, but that would be an insult to such a gorgeous piece of clothing. The scent of leather and male surrounded her. Desire licked over her skin. The man was insufferable. He was also handsome and smart and the key to her freedom. If she didn’t need him, she’d leave.

Pre-order your copy of Tempting the Black Wolf.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DDJCJJG7/
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tempting-the-black-wolf-n-j-walters/1146192600
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/tempting-the-black-wolf
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/tempting-the-black-wolf/id6642709646

Who are the lone wolves?

Since the rise of the werewolf, there has always existed a single lone wolf—with pure white, gray, or black fur and eyes that match—who answers to no alpha, belongs to no pack. Merciless and deadly, he wanders the world, both judge and executioner of rogue wolves who senselessly kill, endangering all their kind.

When one dies, another takes its place, awakening to his purpose the first time he shifts to his wolf form. Known by the sign of the lone wolf—a sickle over the heart—the short-handled, circular blade remains as a tattoo on the man and as a mark on the wolf. A lethal combination of intelligence, brutal strength, and keen instinct, he walks a lonely path, shunned by pack, always alone.

For the first time, there are three in the world—white, gray, and black—who all bear the mark on their chests. No one knows why, least of all them…

Taming the White Wolf and Protecting the Gray Wolf are available.

Series Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTKCDR77/

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

UPDATE: The winner is…BN!
*~*~*

Today is a special day for me. Penalty Kill, the fourth book in my Locker Room Love series turns three today. It’s hard to believe that it’s been three years already. So, I’m celebrating.

Each book that I write is special to me, but Penalty Kill is extra special because it was written and released during the time the entire world broke—ya know, the height of the pandemic. As a result, I sadly couldn’t give it the usual welcome party. The following year, I was in the middle of writing Future Goals (book #5). This year, I’m preparing for the release of Demon Rodeo, the first book in my Chasing the Buckle series—a spicy, paranormal sports/cowboy (bull riding) romance. Thus, despite how much I love it, Penalty Kill seems to always being getting lost in the shuffle. Well, today, it will shine.

Penalty Kill centers on professional ice hockey veteran Timothée Croneau—one of the best players in the league with a garbage reputation. On the best of days, Timothée is crass and grumpy. And who wouldn’t be seeing how he was unceremoniously and unexpectedly traded to a team ranked dead last? The good part is that the team is located near his hometown of Mandeville, Louisiana. The bad part is that it is near his hometown which places him close enough to be a person of interest in a murder. And not just any murder—his estranged parents.

Sports agent Ryker Kitsch wants to make a name for himself. When he learns that Timothée has recently signed with the firm he works for, Ryker sees it as an opportunity. Since the senior agent representing Timothée has her hands full with other problematic clients, Ryker offers to be her assistant. What Ryker didn’t see was how captivated he would be by the dynamic forward. Timothée is not an ordinary client, and despite his gruff exterior, Ryker has a soft spot for him.

As with most of my novels, Penalty Kill is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. Regardless if a reader is a sports fanatic or novice, the sports scenes and jargon is easy to follow. The characters are multicultural and diverse, and the writing is on the sassy side. And if I didn’t mention, it’s spicy; so, not for the kiddies. It also has an author’s note and trigger warning.

If you would like to win a free copy of Penalty Kill, Penalty Kill, comment your favorite sport. One winner will be chosen at random and notified via email. (Please add genevivechamblee@yahoo.com to your contacts or safe mail list to prevent going to spam.) The contest will close on 8/31/24 at 12:01 AM. The winner will have 48 hours from the time of email notification to claim the prize.

That’s a wrap. Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. If you like this post, please click the like button and share. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read.

Demon Rodeo

If Brokeback Mountain, 8 Seconds, Poltergeist, and Supernatural had an orgy, Demon Rodeo would be the lovechild.

My contemporary M/M paranormal sports romance, Demon Rodeo, is releasing on September 5, 2024, and is available now for preorder on Amazon. For video book trailers, visit my TikTok page. The full blurb is on my Instagram and Amazon.

Demon Rodeo is the first book in the Chasing the Buckle series but can be read as a standalone. It’s a friends-to-lovers romance set in the rodeo world. These are not your typical cowboys. It’s a widely diverse cast of characters and a mashup of genres that aren’t always seen together. If you’re looking for a palate cleanser, this may be a book for you. I’m celebrating its release by posting daily on my blog. There will be giveaways and lots of goodies. You can see the videos and PR boxes on TikTok.

Preorder

⇨ Amazon: https://readerlinks.com/l/4174852

⇨ All Stores: https://books2read.com/u/bP8RG7

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

If you’re not following my blog, Creole Bayou, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click here and sign up today.

Want to chat about writing, mental health, Cajun cuisine, Creole culture, or just spill some tea? If yes, let’s get connected. Follow me on one of my social links. There’s plenty to choose from.

• Facebook: Genevive Chamblee
• X (formerly Twitter): @dolynesaidso
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• Bluesky: Genevive Chamblee
• Threads: Author Genevive Chamblee

LOCKER ROOM LOVE

 Locker Room Love Series

Are you searching for a sexy book boyfriend? You’ve come to the right place.

• Out of the Penalty Box (book #1) One minute in the box or a lifetime out.
• Defending the Net (book #2) Crossing the line could cost the game.
• Ice Gladiators (book #3) When the gloves come off, the games begin.
• Penalty Kill (book #4) Let the pucker begin.
• Future Goals (book #5) The future lies between a puck and a net.

About the Author

Hi, I’m Genevive, and I am a contemporary sports romance author. My home is in South Louisiana. If you like snark and giggles with a touch of steamy Cajun and Creole on the side, I may have your poison in my stash of books. Drop by the bayou and have a look around. The pirogues are always waiting for new visitors.

Why is this so hard to write? I guess it is because I’m trying to find the humor in the situation. That’s just me. I prefer a giggle or a good laugh. I don’t cry over silly shit. In fact, yesterday in the doctor’s office, I was rubbing my daughter’s back as she teared up. I told the doctor, “You don’t know me, but I’m pretty tough. I’m ex-military, and I don’t quit.” Or something close to that because I didn’t exactly record the moment for posterity.

And it’s not like my daughter and I didn’t see this coming.

In May and June, I did those annual checkup/bloodwork/x-ray things you do. EVERYTHING came back glowing. All my labs were trending great, see you next year, nothing to follow up…

Then, four weeks ago, I started having a dull, nagging pain in my right upper abdomen. Naturally, I consulted Google. I thought: Dang, must be my gallbladder. So, I made an appointment. The doctor started thumping my stomach where the pain had been centered, then thumped lower. “Let’s get some scans to make sure it’s not your appendix.”

The scans came back with a healthy gall bladder, healthy appendix, but omental caking, something I’d never heard of. So, back to Google. My daughter and I started getting concerned. Really concerned. 

What followed was a different sort of blood panel, which showed the presence of cancer markers. Then there was the PET scan, followed the next day by a biopsy. These happened last week, and we scoured my online chart every day for new postings, translating the medicalese and arriving at the conclusion that I was in deep, deep trouble.

Before yesterday’s appointment, my daughter already had the diagnosis figured out, including the prognosis.

When the doctor pulled up the PET scan for us to see in his office, the thing we knew we’d see was there. My abdomen was lit up like a fucking Christmas tree.

Metastatic adenocarcinoma of mullerian origin. Sounds pretty, right? Basically, my cancer is all over my uterus and ovaries, and it has spread to the omentum—which I won’t define here. It’s a body part you should never know about because it’s not that significant except when it’s diseased.

He mentioned beginning chemo next week. My daughter asked, “Why wouldn’t we try surgery to get that stuff out of there first?” He responded by saying he didn’t know a surgeon who would be willing to operate with so much cancer there.

Then he said something that centered us. “It’s not curable, but it’s treatable.” Best case, they “debulk” the cancer with chemo then we see whether it’s operable at that point.

My daughter asked, “How much time are we talking?”

He said, “It won’t be months. I think you have years. We can manage this. We will hope for remission, but we can manage this.”

Before the end of this week, I’ll have a chemo port installed, and come Monday morning, I’ll begin chemo. I should have my hair for a few weeks, but I’m already eyeballing chemo hats and scarves. I have a round head. I told my dd we can just paint my head for Halloween in a solid color and add some black round holes so I can go about as a bowling ball. See? I found some humor.

What does that mean for my work? I need a purpose. I may slow down the writing pace, but I’ll continue editing. There will only be a few days a month when I’ll be knocked on my ass from the chemo. I want to “do” normal things—make the 11-year-old’s lunches for school, watch movies with my family (last night I watched Damsel with the 15 and 11-year-olds), swim while the weather holds out and in between little surgeries, like the one to install that port, eat good food. Maybe I’ll paint more.

The thing is…I’m here. I have time. I’m going to fill it with what I love. So, no doom and gloom. It’s not allowed here.

So, question for you. My chemo will last 4-5 hours. What should I pack so I don’t get bored?