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Fresh Starts


The first couple months of this new year have kicked my butt, mostly because of day-job changes. January started off great, and I got writing done, looked at revisions on something else...and then we got news about big shifts coming at us at work. For the next month, there was mostly uncertainty about job security. Now the uncertainty is about how we can pull off the changes about to happen while managing work loads and training in new processes for a whole lot of people. None of that is good for my creativity.


I try to remind myself (and others in my personal circle) that each new day can be a fresh start, and it's been hard to hold that idea lately, so I'm taking today to clear my head and just take a break from stressing about the day-job to think about the writing part of my life instead. I just ordered a couple new things to wear at the booksigning in May (as long as Mother Nature cooperates this year; last year it had been lovely warm spring weather until the week of the signing, and I wound up wearing warm clothes instead of spring attire, haha). I got a really nice pen sample in the mail last week, so I'm looking at those for putting on my signing table, and ordering more books and bookmarks. It's nice to think about meeting readers and hanging out with other authors for a whole weekend. Next weekend will be our monthly family dinner, so I already have that break to look forward to from other stresses. Now I just have to remember to take a step back regularly again and remind myself there are good things, too.


Before I go back to my booksigning prep, I have a snippet for you today from Hunting Medusa.

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It was one of those days when having the Medusa's fabled power to turn people to stone would really come in handy.


Andrea Rosakis did not, however, have that ability, not this week, anyway. Even though she was the reigning Medusa.


She glared at the man on her back porch, wondering if he could ever understand how lucky he was she wasn't sufferin from PMS this week. And why wouldn't he stop talking? Her fingers itched to slam the door.


"...if you just have five minutes, ma'am," he concluded.


She narrowed her gaze on the vacuum beside him. "No, thank you." And how the hell had he found her all the way out here? No one ever bothered to follow her rough, muddy driveway all the way to the top, even if they did ignore the "No Trespassing" signs posted at the foot of it. Not to mention the protective warding she had set at the boundaries of the entire property. Sure, it wasn't the heavy artillery of protection spells, but no one else had ever gotten past it. This man, however, had not only ignore the signs and the subtle "go away" protections, but managed the entire bumpy, muddy track into the woods and halfway up the mountain. Just to hear her say, "No."


And he didn't look discouraged. At all.


Andi almost wished she were PMSing this week, though it would be a real pain in the ass to have to get rid of a life-sized statue of a vacuum salesman.


Or maybe she could keep it. He was very pretty, even if he annoyed her. He was tall and broad, his inky black hair was a tad too long, and his bright green eyes held her attention. At least as stone, he'd be silent and still pretty. She gave herself a mental shake. "I'm sorry, but I don't have time for this--"


"When would be a better time?"


"Never."


He did blink at that, but his smile never disappeared. "I'll have to check my calendar."


She snorted, then clapped her free hand over her mouth. Laughing would not discourage the man. "Look, I'm sure it's a great vacuum, but I don't need it. I don't want to see how it works, and I'd like you to get off my property."


His smile did fade a little bit. "Well, I suppose, if that's what you really want."


She quirked an eyebrow, trying not to smile again. He had the faintest hint of an accent, but she couldn't place it. Not without hearing him talk some more, and she didn't want to encourage that either, or he'd just keep trying to sell her an expensive vacuum she didn't need.


"Maybe I could talk you into meeting me for coffee sometime then," he said.


Her jaw dropped. The cute salesman was hitting on her. For half a second, she indulged the fantasy of a date with the hunk. A real date, maybe ending with a real kiss. Her pulse quickened. Then she remembered one good date led to more, and eventually, it led to guys running away from her, gibbering like idiots when PMS struck. She shut her mouth and ignored the regret burning in her middle. "Sorry, but no."


"You're a hard woman," he said lightly, his bright gaze sliding down to her mouth. "I'll leave my card in case you change your mind. About the coffee, that is." He forced a small card into her hand and picked up his vacuum.


Andi stared after him as he strode off her porch. The bulky vacuum look like it weighed nothing in his hand, swinging at his side on his way to the shiny, new truck parked behind her car.


When he took one hand from the steering wheel to wave at her, she stopped herself from lifting her hand in response. He turned the truck around and vanished down the drive into the trees. Frowning, she went back inside and shut the door, then locked it and re-armed the alarm. He'd tossed the vacuum into the bed of the truck. A very strong salesman.


Who didn't seem to care the impending rain was going to damage his expensive vacuum.


She turned back to the door and stared out the narrow window beside it, her heart beating faster now with alarm. Maybe he didn't realize. Or maybe he really hadn't come to sell her a vacuum.


She swallowed hard.


Aunt Celosia had always told the cousins stories of the Harvesters, the men who still hunted for the Medusa. Somehow, Andi had always thought they'd be more frightening. More obvious. Ugly men intent on murder.


If this vacuum salesman was a Harvester, he was sneaky. Of course, if he was a Harvester, he would be sneaky, as Perseus had been when he killed the first Medusa.


She was in a lot of trouble.

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If you click on the graphic below, it will take you to the booksiging website to find out more. I hope if you're in driving distance, you'll come out to see us. This was so much fun last year, I can't wait to do it again!



Before I get back to my writing and booksigning afternoon, I'd love to hear how you take a step back when stress is getting to you. And I'll 'see' you here next week!

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