Welcome to the Bijou Bugle Newsletter!
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I'm glad to be able to say Elemental Exposure pre-order is now live on Amazon! Release set for Dec 27th.
This one has been a long time in coming. I'd hoped it would be out mid-year but we had a crappy year this year (like many) and I don't push things when I'm not feeling them. I got some stuff done this year, but not all on Elemental Exposure and not all I wanted, but we've finally arrived nonetheless.
Elemental Exposure is still with two beta readers but I heard from them both and I should hear back soon. Other than final edits and tweaking of the last chapter - it's ready for you all. I'm excited for it to be out there.
After it's released, I plan on working on one of my non-erotic titles, probably my mystery. If that's your cup of tea, watch this newsletter when I mention that, because I'll likely only mention it once as it'll be a new pen name. We'll see what happens with it.
And, if you haven't yet read any of my books, my first, Natural Exposure, will be on SALE Dec 26 - 30th for $0.99! If you don't have Kindle Unlimited - it'll be the perfect time to snatch it and give it a try.
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If you read any of my books, I would be grateful for some reviews as they have stalled out a bit for me. Reviews are everything for an author, even if it's simply a star rating.
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Don't forget about Natural Exposure being FREE on Kindle Unlimited. Will only remain on Kindle Unlimited through February.
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Reading -
- Valkyrie by Craig Alanson
Recently completed -
- Armageddon by Craig Alanson
Watching -
- Steelers Football
- Campaign 3 of Critical Role
- Masked Singer
- Prodigy / Lower Decks
- Alice in Borderlands
Playing -
- Jurassic World Evolution (again)
- Hearthstone
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Elemental Exposure Chapter 1 Sneak Peek
“What’s wrong, Ripley? You’ve been quiet the entire evening.” I pause the movie, shifting positions on the couch until I face her. She won’t meet my gaze, so I brush a strand that’s fallen from her braid over her ear and tug on her chin until her bright green eyes settle on mine.
It’s our regular Sunday get-together. When she arrived, I noticed something was off, but I asked, and she assured me all was well, so I dropped it. As the night continued, Jarrett and I could tell her mind wasn’t on the movie, remaining elsewhere. We watched half of The Secret Life of Pets 2, but when another funny part didn’t elicit a giggle from her — I knew I couldn’t bite my tongue any longer. She hasn’t been engaging as usual, wholly unlike her.
“It’s… it’s nothing,” she says.
He and I exchange glances. She’s leaning against him but not cuddling, free arm resting limply in her lap. Something is wrong, and it’s time to resort to old tactics.
“Do you want to stop seeing us?”
“What?” Her head whips my way. “No, of course not.” She stares at me, aghast, which makes me laugh, and she cracks the slightest hint of a smile. “Stop that, Kenzie. You only do that when you want to get a reaction out of me.”
“Well, yeah,” I admit without shame. “At least now you’re looking at me, and I saw that grin.” She tries resisting, but laughs.
“You can tell us anything. Surely you know that,” Jarrett says.
“I do. It’s…” She huffs in apparent agitation, sitting up and away from him, fixing her gaze on her hands, twisting in her lap. “Neither of you have brought it up, so I wasn’t sure what to do. I don’t want to be the stupid, terrified northerner.”
“Terrified northerner? What… Oh…” A light bulb goes off. “Are you worried about the hurricane, Ripley?” She responds with a jerky head nod, biting her lip. “Damn, I’m sorry. I didn’t think.” I take her hands in mine and rub out the tension that seizes them. “You should have said something.”
“I… Well, I assumed one of you might, but it’s been business as usual. You hadn’t mentioned it. So I thought I was being ridiculous and hesitated bringing it up, in case I worried about nothing, even though I’ve been freaking out. But now…”
Now the track tightens for Hurricane Esel, and the latest projections show the storm coming across the state. In the prior days, the path was erratic, but as it nears the shore, the cone shrinks and solidifies. We’re inland, but we could still experience serious weather, as we have during past storms.
I didn’t realize she might be fearful, and it makes me feel terrible. I should have been more sensitive concerning her shifting moods.
“It is business as usual for us,” Jarrett says, “since hurricane forecasts are notoriously all over the place. That doesn’t imply we haven’t kept an eye on it. We’re used to it, and won’t prepare until if, and when, the path remains steady. Even if it’s projected to hit here head on, the coast slows it and could divert it completely, so we’ll have ample warning.”
“And if it does, reach the town? I mean, what will you do? What do I need to do? Why aren’t you more wigged out?” Ripley’s voice starts as a whisper and rises in pitch; she’s freaked.
“Hey, hey,” I croon. “Come here.” She hesitates, but shifts and lays against me, still rigid, but closer. “Do you know of the 2004 storms?” At the shake of her head, I continue, “That year, three hurricanes came through the center of the state, with each intersecting in Polk, the county below us. The eyes of each were less than fifty miles from here.”
“And that was a bunch?”
“A damn bunch. It was a crazy season, and they did major damage everywhere.”
“Here? Did you have any problems?”
“We weren’t here yet, moved here in 2009,” Jarrett says, “but the house was here, minus the additions we made, and there was no studio. We’re told that there was a hole in the spare bedroom’s ceiling, so the roof needed replacing, and there were downed trees, but that was the extent of the damage. Minor, considering.”
“Where did you live then? Was your place damaged?”
“We were in Minneola. We had a screened-in pool, which sloshed water everywhere like crazy,” I say with a chuckle, recalling the insanity of a year. “The screen was in shambles from a tree limb that fell, tearing through it. We replaced it, but the house itself held up well.”
Ripley’s eyes widen as I relay the destruction. “And… you weren’t frightened?”
“I was during the first one, Charley. It came the closest, caused the most damage, and barreled through during the night. When they hit overnight, I get… apprehensive. I dislike not knowing what’s happening. If it’s daylight, and I’m able to watch the effects of the wind and rain, I’m not too scared.”
“Were you?” Ripley asks Jarrett, peering at him. I can virtually see the wheels of his mind turning as he considers his answer.
“Nah,” he says. “I grew up here, in Polk County; they’re second nature to me. Been through many, though I’ve always lived inland, so there never have been huge issues. Saw our fair share of damage, sure, but not the magnitude that they receive on the coast.”
A good response, as she’s spooked. In truth, he loves them. Extreme weather never bothers him and he enjoys the gamut: hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms; they fascinate him. He’ll watch for hours as mother nature throws a tantrum.
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