cornerofmadness

So I get up for the 8-12 time slot. Not unsurprising, the tech never shows nor never calls. I go to work, no news on the sabbatical front but my chair said what I thought we're shocked that they're even doing it given our financial situation. I get home and another damn hour conversation with Frontier to be told 'they're too busy' and can't get out here. Sigh

And in doing something on Goodreads I see that my publisher had sent out ARCs of my Christmas short story which has a nice 4.0 rating right now. BUT then I see Blood Red Roulette has an awful one. I didn't read them. The reviews aren't meant for me but man that is hard. It feels SO bad when a story that took me forever to write falls flat but even worse when something you pulled out of your ass in literally 3 weeks will probably end up my highest rating. Sigh. Of course I had a bad feeling about Blood Red from the beginning. I mean when you can't even get people to take ARCs for reviews you realize no one really wants to read what you're writing and why are you bothering?

So it was hard to pull the muse out from under the bed and get anything done. Speaking of the muse and anyone bothering, I'm trying to do a spicy advent story so what do you think I should try? Naughty spicy or sweet spicy (it'll be Buffy verse since they won't leave me alone suddenly)

Tonight's snippet So, will you have a partner, Zvon?"

He nodded. "Marin's still in the field. I'm going to be with him."

"Which means there will be those who'll want us both to fail." Marin sighed, slicing into his Coutts's steak.

"I'm used to that. When I started with the department three years ago there were several who didn't want to look beyond my past." Zvon stabbed his steak violently. He was able to hold the fork to keep the steak in place with his prosthetic but the force nearly tore it from his tenuous grasp.

Arria glanced at Marin, trying to read his face. She knew Zvon's past was an open secret in the department and most didn't hold it against him but there were always jerks everywhere. She remembered how he had wept until she thought he'd break within days of arriving at her mother's home as he confessed the things his father had made him do. He felt unworthy of them, of his new home and he confessed as fast as he'd hope his suspects would do.

"I do not understand blaming a child for the things his parent forced him into," Marin sniffed, kicking him up a notch in Arria's estimation.

"Neither do I but there's always one, isn't there? I face similar nonsense on occasion because of who my mother is, as if the only reason I'm in the cadre is because Tanyth is so good and guardian to the queen. As if I have no talent of my own."

"That certainly can't be true from what little Zvon's told me of you while we were waiting."

"Not true but that doesn’t' stop it from being said." She flattened her palms against the table, trying to draw strength. "But enough of that. This is a happy day after all."

40509 / 50000 words. 81% done!