Happy New Year!
2019 is well underway and yes, I am very late to the party, but I decided to take January off and settle into some new routines. Or try to, anyway. Life always had other ideas, so after a promising start, I quickly pushed myself too hard and took five steps back. Again. Some of you may know what I mean.
Anyway, onward and upward. I refuse to be deterred. However, it did help me decide to cut back a few things and one of those was the monthly author interviews. While I still plan to do them, I am not committing to numbers or times. With that said, please let me know if there’s an author you’d like to hear from and I’ll see what I can do. I’m focusing the little free time I have to my stories and screenplays. My plan is to get two books out this year and maybe put together a second screenplay. Lofty goals for me.
I do like goal setting, though, so besides rehabbing my back and working on growing in all aspects of my life (tedious and tiresome, but hopefully, worthwhile), my big focus is figuring out how to market my first screenplay. Should be a wonderful adventure…and I do love a good adventure. Never hurts to try, right? Who knows what can happen.
Oh, I had planned to post the answers to reader questions, but I will do that next month. In the spirit of Valentines’ Day, I am treating you to the first look at my next planned release, a modern day romance about love after loss titled, “The Love Doctor.” So, if anyone else wants to send in questions, I’ll add them to the list.
In other news, if you haven’t already read it, I kicked off the year with a guest blog on Woman and Words. The topic? Being yourself in this crazy world. Yes, I went with deep and meaningful. I blame the holidays and the ridiculous pressures of social media. Give it a look and should you feel so moved, leave a comment. By the way, their website has tons of fantastic content by women who have lots of words to share.
Many heartfelt thanks for all the lovely reviews for This Time. It truly means alot to me. That story holds a special place in my heart.
If you’re in the Tampa/St.Pete, Fla area this weekend stop by the Gulfport ReadOut and meet some amazing authors of lesbian fiction. See details below.
COMING EVENTS: February 15-17, 2019 I will be joining a host of other authors at the second annual Gulfport ReadOut at the Gulfport Library. Join us for this FREE event to meet the writers, hear readings from their works, and ask those burning questions.
Attending authors include:
SJ SINDU, (Marriage of a Thousand Lies, winner: Publishing Triangle Award, American Library Association Stonewall Honor Book), Ann Aptaker, Fay Jacobs, Lucy Madison, Stefani Deoul, S.W. Andersen, JB Marsden, Catherine Maiorisi, Lucy Madison, Amy Lauren, Josette Murray, Stefani Deoul, Cheryl Head, Sonja Franeta, Erin Zak, Addison M. Conley, Becky Bohan, Fay Jacobs, Alison R. Solomon. The complete schedule is listed here.
Stay tuned for more news and events. And now, here’s the first, unedited look at my next romance, “The Love Doctor.” If things go well it will be out before summer. Fingers crossed.
An Excerpt From “The Love Doctor”
Low tide waves rolled gently upon the shore, ending just inches from bare feet. For nearly a quarter mile, the pair walked, exchanging only soft smiles and stolen glances until Sofia’s curiosity finally won out. “You were looking for me, huh?”
“Yeah.” Allie kicked at the sand. “I may or may not have spent my evenings at O’Malley’s hoping you would come back in.”
Sofia grinned wide, feeling a sensation of ease wash over her that was uncanny. “If we’re doing confessions, then I have one too.”
Allie’s eyes grew wide, her smile following suit. “Ohhhh, do tell.”
Hypnotized by the smile directed at her, a momentary pause led her admission. “That wasn’t the first time I’d seen you.”
“No?”
“Nope.” Sofia shook her head and chewed the inside of her cheek. A sudden irrational fear of following through on her reveal swept through her, but it was too late to go back. Besides, Allie’s smile was already worth it. “It was a week or two before that, at Rafael’s.”
“Really?” If it were possible for Allie’s smile to get any bigger, Sofia had just accomplished the feat. Happiness spilled over to her eyes and, despite the darkness, twinkled like the stars above. “I wish you would have come over.”
The fragile organ in her chest tripped over itself, skipping a few beats upon hearing the words. “You were with someone. Besides, by the time I’d caught my breath, you were gone.”
“It’s like…destinies intertwined or something.”
“Could be.” They stared at one another for a beat and then Sofia asked, “So Allie, what do you do when you’re not stalking women at O’Malley’s or walking the beach?”
Allie’s laugh was a melodious one, a sound Sofia found made her heart sing like a spring bird.
“Well, Sofia,” she began in her best game show voice, “aside from long walks on the beach, I enjoy picnics, sappy romantic movies, hair bands, and dancing in the rain.”
It was Sofia’s turn to laugh. With her bottom lip pinched between her teeth, she tipped toward Allie, peered up through a sideways glance, and hummed in amusement. “Do you now?”
Allie’s gaze fell to her feet, her lips fighting a losing battle against a shy smile. The child-like vulnerability was endearing and adorable, a stark contrast to the confident woman at the bar that had oozed sex appeal. “Maybe. Maybe not.” With a smirk, her eyes rejoined Sofia’s. “You’ll have to get to know me to find out.” Just like that, Allie was back to sexy and confident. “What about you?”
Sofia cleared her throat and played along. “I enjoy candlelit dinners, everything about the ocean, slow dancing, a good book, and watching the sunset.” A toothy smile perched upon her lips as the pair came to a stop and faced one another.
Allie hesitated before she took a deep breath and asked, “Might I persuade you to join me for one of those candlelit dinners? I would really love it if you would say yes.”
Sofia stiffened. It had all been fun and games up to that second, but now, Allie was asking her out. The wistful thinkings had suddenly become very real. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to say no. Everything about being around the woman screamed “yes” all the way to the depths of her soul. Seemed she had no real control over her decisions around Allie. She was at her mercy. “I would like that.”
Allie released a breath of relief. “Great. That’s great. Whew!” She chuckled.
Sofia laughed, once again baffled by the woman’s ability to go from sexy to adorable and back again in the blink of an eye.
“Is tomorrow too soon?” Caution laced Allie’s words, as if trying not to be too pushy, but obviously anxious to spend more time together.
“Tomorrow would be fine, Allie.” Sofia’s body was abuzz at the prospect of a date with this woman who seemed to have fallen from the sky and landed in her lap. “How about six o’clock?”
“Six is perfect. Should I pick you up or would you prefer to meet somewhere?”
“Let’s meet, if that’s all right with you?”
“Whatever you’re comfortable with. Where would you like to go?”
“I’ll let you choose, but it doesn’t have to be candlelight. Anything is fine, as long as there is good food and we can talk without yelling.”
“No yelling. Got it. One more question, sushi or Italian?”
“I love both. Hmm…I haven’t had sushi in forever. Let’s do that.”
“Great. You and me tomorrow at six. Dinner at Yo Mi’s. Sound good?”
“Definitely.”
“Great. It’s a date.”
Every time Sofia thought Allie couldn’t possibly be any more radiant, she turned it up a notch. Now, she was luminous. Like the sun as it broke the horizon at dawn, sending the others stars scampering away with its dominance, Allie’s effervescent presence had served notice to the darkness within Sofia—if given the chance, it would no longer have a home.
The sight of Allie under the pale moonlight with a smile that combined innocence and temptation so smoothly it knocked the breath from Sofia. She was a living work of art bathed in soft white and the black of night. Helpless to withstand the force between them, Sofia gravitated closer until Allie’s lips were pressing against her own.
I know, I know. Why couldn’t I have given you a little bit more? Well, I can’t give it all away…yet. But I hope you enjoyed the little sneak peek into my WIP. I’d love to hear your thoughts on it, so feel free to drop a line either here or on social media. I’m going to get back at it stat, so I wish you all a wonderful February. Happy reading!
All the best,
S.W.