Black Love & Vampires

This is my first read by Nikki Clarke and I was pleasantly surprised. Not only did the steam deliver, but the plot was meaningful. Now, keep in mind, I don’t read dark romance (much) I’m not sure if this counts, but tonally? It is an off-black. With past traumas and hell-on-earth flashbacks of their time as slaves, I thought it was dark and heavy. Which, is fine. I often write about the same subjects when talking about vampires. If, I am writing urban fantasy.

Though the topic may be hard to read for some, don’t let that stop you. This is a story of BLACK LOVE and I for one, loved the moments between Noah and Li were cute and sooooo spicy. They served the latter up quick and in a hurry. Coming in at sixty-ish pages, Taste is a shorty but packed with life and love. I adored it and would categorize it as Erotic Romance. Though my knowledge of the subgenre is loose, I read HELLA erotica shorts. I enjoyed the story of everlasting love and vampires. That is my shit! It’s my bread, butter, jam (i hate jelly), and peanut butter! These two gave me fangs and blood in equal doses!

But again, read them Content Warnings! Pleeeeease. There is on- page, blood, memories of murder, and attempted murder. Also, I’m on the fence about the consent. I think Taste is a solid dubcon. I don’t read books with that trope much but I’m sure it fits.

Horror and Heartstrings

I had a great time this month! And as you can see it’s a mishmash of romance and horror. Two genres I hold dear. I will say, the horror reads were fairly light, nothing too creepy or bleak.

Though, hold up, How to Sell a Haunted House?
Pupkin was a fucking menace and a horrible twisted thing. I know what he truly was but STILL, come onnnn, he was a maniac. He moved mean and did it because he wanted to, because the lil shit thought it was funny.
I woulda tossed his rabid and ratty ass in a WOODCHIPPER! Time to play! Fuck you! And don’t even get me started on the Juggernaut puppet. Holy hellscape, this book was more funny than scary. A bit unnerving if you hate dolls, puppets, and the like. Folks terrified of Slappy from Goosebumps might throw this book across the room and flee in terror.
As for me? It takes something more to rattle my bones. Eg. The Ritual, War of the Worlds, The Willows, and Kane Pixels Backrooms made my guts bubble. I didn’t wanna go to sleep after reading/watching that shit. I don’t want it on my brain, feeding sleep demons or whatever.
Because, you know, like a normal person, I love consuming horror media right before bed.
What a dimwitted badass!
Anyway, liminal space, alien invasion and folk horror give me absolute chills. Creature features, cursed/haunted objects and such, are a good time, I love reading them.
With that said, I rec most of the books here. If you love vampires and monsterfuckery then PLEASE, I implore you to devour Velvet Steel. And if you enjoy lighthearted alien romances, Contagion is delightful. Oh! And if mm is more your jam, The Stallion Ridge series is a fantasy western with spurs, saddles and heart. Give it a shot.

Himbos Have Nerve

One thing I love most about himbo characters besides their blissful, confident ignorance is their wisdom during heated moments. They transform into arrogant intellectuals who have the answers to all your more personal problems.
Scrap may not know the difference between temperature and temperamental, but he knows enough, honey.
After forty years of never getting there, Zion is about to learn what, ‘reach the mountain top’ truly means.

Shifter Cotton Candy

I’m not taking this book seriously at all. It’s cute, fun and sexy. Just a little 25k novella. Nothing too much. It’s a release, a cleanser, a break, and freedom. Low plot, cozy, and warm. Letting other ideas flow and float while writing a series saves my sanity.
This one doesn’t even have a title yet. A himbo lamia (MMC/35), and a chameleon shifter nerd (FMC/40) have crossed paths thanks to the FMC escaping death. I have no idea where they’re going, but I know the FMC has to stay alive long enough for me to find out. Two idiots falling in love. My favorite trope.
Zion and Scrap! Sitting in a tree, K.I.S.S my ass to everyone who tries to gatekeep when it comes to older FMCs and romantasy!

Fat Women Belong In Every Genre

I don’t care what y’all say. We belong in every trope and genre. We should have space in the fictional world. I hate how folks tend to erase our existence. I started reading a certain paranormal series and all the FMCs HAD to be fit and thin to become a mate. This turned me off. Because women come in ALLL shapes and sizes. And they should be represented. As an author, I understand, we are free to write what we want.

I know that.

And as readers, we are free to read (or not) whatever we want.

My issue here is not with the author, it’s with how thin and fat bodies are portrayed. Good vs Evil. It’s absolutely INFURIATING. Please, give me a good reason why. Beyond what others perceive as beautiful and what society has told you is an acceptable physique, why must a character be thin? Why?

This is why we write and are so vocal about body-positive representation. They want us to sit in a corner and be friends who never get the guy/girl/them. They’d rather we stay the funny fat friend and nothing more. I love how self-publishing has given us the freedom to be loud and happy.

Trad pubs hate footing the bill for us. Nowadays, since the movement is over and done (money-wise). They’re back to sneering at fat main characters. Well, I say fuck them and anyone else who thinks we don’t belong in certain genres.

FAT FMCs ARE ALLOWED TO EXIST IN A MIDDLE EARTH-DYSTOPIAN-WESTERN-RGENECY ROMANCE-SEASIDE-SCIFI ALIEN-HORROR BOOKS DAMN IT!

To Be Grown and Queer

In my youth, I was so worried about what my bible carrying father would do to me if he found out I was bi. I played the straight role for more than half my life. Though, my choice in attire had folks assuming I was a lesbian.
Because you know, keeping shit androgynous instantly makes someone queer.
[INSERT EYEROLL]
When I was ten years old, I watched as a family member was shunned and condemned by relatives after coming out. Their cruelty made a lasting impression. My own father stopped talking to this person and had nothing but terrible things to say about them.
Can you imagine how scared I was? His reaction caused me to withdraw and cower. I pushed my queerness down and forced myself into a box I never fit in.
It was rough for many years. I am proud to say I have gotten over and grown out of that hellish religious trauma.
Three immediate family members still don’t know I’m bisexual. Yes, one being my father. The other two, I just don’t care enough to tell them. I know how they’d take it and I don’t need that, type of negativity in my life.
Fuck that, I don’t want a lecture, I don’t need to be read scriptures that gave me nightmares as a child. I don’t need their opinions or upturned noses.
We’re not obligated to disclose our sexuality. You don’t have to tell a soul. I live in my truth daily. I don’t need their validation or support, because I have learned to love and accept myself.
Those of y’all who know, KNOW. Growing up in a Baptist environment will have you hating yourself and projecting. This is a struggle! I don’t withhold this information due to shame, no.
I JUST DON’T CARE ANYMORE.
I’ve reached a certain age where I truly don’t give damn. I look at my reflection and smile. I love her. I love this woman. I love who she is and what she has done and will do.
I’ll be damned to let anybody badmouth me for extending myself grace and love. You cannot let them steal your joy!

Daily writing prompt

What was the last live performance you saw?

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The Backstreet Boys! It was a dream come true. They kicked off their world tour in Vegas. My sister bought the first few tickets and surprised me. I cried. I’ve loved that boy band for nearly years.

Killing the Art of Sexual Intimacy

Puritan culture is going to kill the arts. Sterility is what they seek and I loathe it. To say this generation is more sexual than the last is not only ignorant but false. To speak on sex in novels without having any knowledge of old works of fiction is absurd. I can understand if you’ve read every book on planet earth and have facts to back your claims. Then I’d say good day, sir, ma’am, ENBY you have stunned and stumped me.

But nah! Hell nah.
Most who recite these points on intimacy in literature and film haven’t read enough. They haven’t researched enough or cared to. They have a ‘me’ mentality about it. ‘I don’t like this so I don’t think it’s called for’. SAD! Please, go sit down and open a book which has what you crave within those pages.
There are too many novels and movies out there w/out sex for them to complain and gripe. If you wanna nitpick about the resurgence of sexuality, genitalia and nudity then fine! Has if ever occurred to them, some may be squeezing in these sex scenes out of spite?!
I have written my fair share of sex scenes because of this. I have made certain in my recent works to make those characters fuck! I can’t take a world filled with this evangelical approach to all things linked to passion and carnality.
Sex will sell! Nothing you can do will stop it. Even if these bible thumping Neanderthals ban erotica and ‘displays of intercourse’ it won’t put an end to this.
Sex and art have ALWAYS been and will always BE one!

New Shorts

Once a week, I will post a new short story. Each short will come in at around 5-10k. A good portion will be romance. Sub-genre? Who knows. I don’t. As a panster, I have no clue what will come from the prompts I use until I start writing. Even then, it’s still up in the air. Typically, a character will expose themselves within minut4es, but that’s all I have to go on. What the story will be about strongly depends on the season. Yes, a large portion will be romance, but not all. I enjoy horror, fantasy, domestic thrillers, westerns and sci-fi. This will be my way of branching out, so bear with me as I explore genres I love, but have never dared to write.

CW: I write dark stories. Expect violence, explicit language, sex, gore, monster fucking, alcoholism, death, grief, murder and certain depictions of abuse. I WILL NEVER SHOW SA ON PAGE! That’s a hard boundary for me as a reader and a writer.

PSA: I WILL NEVER USE AI. I HAVE BEEN WRITING SINCE I WAS NINE YEARS OLD AND WILL NEVER, EVER, SUPPORT THE USE OF AI IN LITERATURE.

Daily writing prompt

What could you do more of?

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Watch Movies

For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved film. I recall watching movies with everyone. It was something my entire family loved to do. My grandmother, grandfather, mom, dad, siblings, and uncles. That was our thing during holidays and birthdays. As I grew older, film became more than a form of entertainment, they transformed into a lifeline and an escape during times of peril. During the height of my depression as a young adult and a DV victim.

I’ve found movies comforting for so long and I still love them, but I don’t watch them as much as I used to. Writing has taken most of my time. I’m not complaining about that, it’s my second passion. However, I wanna get back to the good old days. Laying up, eating snacks and cramming three/four films into my day.

Movies have brought me joy, peace and an escape during the darkest seasons of my life. The same can be said about books, Fiction draws my attention like nothing else. And even if the film is based on a true story, I am still immersed in another world that’s not, reality. I love film so much and I have fallen behind. Which is why I have reserved weekends for film/tv.

No writing whatsoever on weekends.