Friday Five for April 18, 2014

1. How are you A-to-Zers doing? Having a lot of fun? I've been loving visiting your blogs, and I'm having a blast with fantastical creatures at Untethered Realms. Today I'll be there with the letter P. Come find out what strange being I've been working on with my latest WIP.

2. I had a great visit with my mom this week. She spoiled us all. Am I old because I'm excited she bought me a shoe rack so I could have shoes organized and out of the way by the front door?

3. No writing or revising was done this past week. I still haven't heard from the editors about the majority of my short story submissions nor about my geeky novella. At least I'm not checking my email every fifteen minutes anymore!

4 & 5. Big weekend coming up. There's Easter, of course, but also my little guy is turning four! I can hardly believe it. He's so smart and his feet are nearing my size! We'll be having a party at the park for him. He invited all his friends from his class at school. We'll have about seven kids with their families there. Lots of fun! And sugar. Wish me luck!

Happy 4th birthday, to my favorite guy!

A to Z Challenge 2013 - P is for Pie

I'm posting snippets from a story for this year's Challenge.

If you'd like to read the whole tale, please start with A.

P IS FOR PIE

"Have you ever thought of not watching the news?" Danielle gazed at him from across the small kitchen island. Even with the dark circles under his eyes, he still managed to be the most gorgeous man she'd ever seen.

"What?" Erik blinked, cocking his head to the side as if he truly didn't understand her question.

"Let's turn off the TV. We can sit and talk. Maybe play some cards, or if you really want to watch something, let's find a movie. Something funny. You look like you need a good belly laugh." She fingered the rim of her bottle, not sure of how he'd react.

Erik stared at her for a moment and then breathed out, smiling. "I haven't watch a comedy in ages."

Her shoulders relaxed as he walked to the TV and grabbed the remote. Erik flipped through the channels and found one that made him grin. He came back to lean on the island next to her. "Here's a good one."

"American Pie? I do love to watch teenage boys taking advantage of baked goods." Danielle bumped her hip lightly against his as she turned to rest against the island as well. Erik laughed, low and sweet. A hopeful tingle went from her smile down to her quivering stomach and a little lower.

In other news: My short story, "No One Believed Me" was accepted by Every Day Fiction. Yay! I'll let you know when it will be available on their site. I needed a boost this week, because I'm behind schedule with my writing and I'm making some major changes with no extra time to make them.

A to Z Challenge - P is for Plan

This is part of one story covering the entire Challenge.

If you're just joining me now, please start with A is for Abby.

P IS FOR PLAN

The moment the door of the restroom opened, the remains of the monster vanished. The college-aged goth who entered only saw Abby sprawled out on the floor. "Uh, are you all right?"

"I'm fine," Abby replied, picking herself up with the aid of the sink. "I hurt my ankle recently and there was a bit of water on the floor and I slipped."

"Oh. Okay." The goth shrugged and locked herself in one of the stalls.

Her wrist and ankle throbbed in unison. Abby limped out of the restroom and paused to stare out the windows to reassure herself of a certain fact: it was daytime. A monster attacked her while the sun was up. It wasn't possible. Okay, well, it obviously was possible, but it shouldn't be.

Abby exited the cafe and breathed in the cool air. People walked by her, and she got a few strange looks. She wanted to tell them stranger things were going on in town than seeing a tussled woman without her jacket outside in November. And whatever strange thing was going on knew she was there to stop it. It underestimated her by sending one monster after her, but it wouldn't do so again.

"Abby." Demetrius called as he came outside. When she didn't turn, he put her jacket over her shoulders and nudged her chin with his fingers to turn her head his way. "Abby. What's going on?" His eyes narrowed. "What happened?"

"I was attacked in the restroom." She slipped her arms through her jacket sleeves and pulled it tighter around her. "By a monster."

"What?" Demetrius' face hardened and his hands clenched into fists.

"It's dead. It's gone." Abby waved it off. The monster was no more. There was something bigger ahead of them. Something the writer was involved with. "Have you learned anything from Burrows? She has to know something."

"No, nothing useful. I can't manage to steer the conversation in the direction I want to go." He grunted with the admission, and Abby couldn't help but smirk a little. "All she wants to talk about is me, and how she enjoys chocolate truffles and long massages."

"Maybe if you give her a massage, she might talk what you want to talk about."

Demetrius made a small choking sound. Abby had to muffled a snicker.

"Okay. Here's the new plan." Abby hugged herself tighter. "Go back inside and tell Burrows that I'm not feeling well. You're going to take me back to our hotel room so I can rest. Invite her to dinner, but say you want to have a private dinner. Since I'm at the hotel, the other logical option is her house. I bet she'll suggest it on her own, but if she doesn't, do it yourself. She won't say no to you. Then we'll both show up tonight and have a chat with her."

"Done." Demetrius turned and went back inside. Two minutes later, he was back and handed her the backpack. "Dinner at her house at seven o'clock."

"Good. This has to end tonight." Abby didn't protest as he put an arm around her to lead her away from the cafe. He was warm and strong. She needed that right now, because the night would bring the cold and then she would have to be the strongest one. If she wasn't, she was certain she would die tonight.