Sadie Jay

I feel like I've been "buffering" lately. I'm "loading" but not getting where I need to be. It's frustrating, and I keep trying to reboot. I'm beginning to think this is my new normal–a combination of my age and the mental strain we're all under right now. So I'll keep plugging away at my current project, because it's the only thing I can do, since I refuse to give up!  This week's Snippet is from Blind Ante , book one of the Bar Games series. Jordan doesn't normally drink much, but he gets drunk and kisses Reese. Reese drives Jordan home, and they have a brief conversation before Reese heads back to work: Jordan inhaled as he looked up at Reese’s flashing eyes. “Why are you mad at me? Because I kissed you? I’m sorry.”         Reese’s face softened. “No, not because of that. I just… I worry. This isn’t like you.”          “You don’t know that. Maybe this is exactly like me.”           Reese sat on the other cha...

It was a hectic week with lots of baking for a vendor fair. It's so much work that culminates in crossing my fingers and hoping it sells. For an event that I had never attended, and that had over 160 vendors, I did okay. But it also meant a week of limited "author stuff". I got a tiny bit of writing done (it would help if I could figure out some main plot points before I go any farther!) and a little editing on another project. I'm doing the read-aloud round of edits I like to do, but I've found I have a hard time doing it at home. So, I've been taking my notebook to the nature center on nice days, walking for a half hour, and then spending 20 to 30 minutes in the truck, reading and marking. Blind Ante is requiring more marking than I'd hoped. Ah, the fun of being a self-published author!  Bluebells are my favorite spring flower. Something about them just makes me happy.   This week's snippet is from Delicious . Hanson is the carpenter doing a remodel...

Spring has sprung! (Again. I think I said that a couple of weeks ago--before we got more cold weather and snow flurries.) It looks like it might dip again for a couple of nights next week, but I'm going to enjoy this first official weekend of spring. Shoes off and lawn chair ready for some afternoon reading! This week's snippet is from Blind Ante , the first book in my Bar Games series. Jordan is homeless. He makes a living playing poker. It keeps him alive, but he's tired. Jordan is about to leave the game when a guy throws a deed on the table. One more hand, and he leaves with the deed in his pocket. This is the first time we meet Roger, albeit briefly. He'll show up again later—and then get his own book!  “ Illinois ,” [Jordan] said aloud to the purple-flocked cow sitting on his dashboard. He studied the deed to the 5 acres he now owned. At least there was another state between it and Kansas . The man mentioned a trailer on the property–that was the true jackpot , i...

I made it through January and February fairly unscathed. They're usually the worst two months of the year for me, and there have been some ups and downs, but it's more the state of the world and less seasonal depression. Every day there's more bad news. And sadly, I imagine it'll get worse before it gets better. 😪  Books are my escape, and I think a lot of readers, especially Romance readers, are the same. I also find, when my brain is unsettled, like it is now, I have a hard time finding a book I can sink into. It makes for a longer list of DNFs than normal. (I am definitely a mood reader more than a trope reader!)  My snippet this week is from Delicious . It takes place on a quiet evening at Hanson's house, the kind of quiet evening I'm looking forward to. Told from Grady's POV: The evening was unexpectedly pleasant, despite the change in plans. Hanson fixed us steaks and threw a couple of hot dogs on the grill for the kids. Although Gina said she’d fed t...

This last week has been one of extremes. We had temperatures of over 70F–I got my lawn chair out and soaked up some sun, walked at the nature center, and lit up the grill. It was fantastic but short-lived. There was hail and a tornado in my area as the temperature dropped back down into the teens. And I somehow picked up a cold. It's done its own swing all week. Just as I was feeling better, it took another plunge down, oddly following the pattern of the weather.  Could it just be spring already? This week was Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week. To 'celebrate', my book Cinders and Ash is on sale. Lindsey is having an argument with her brother, Cherry, when Brian, the maintenance man, comes out of the bedroom, where he'd been adjusting the closet door. Lindsey takes advantage of the moment. Told from Lindsey's POV: Cherry grabbed onto one of the words I’d just said. “Boyfriend? You? Since when?” His tone irritated me, which made it into a challenge. And I never backe...

Midway through February and the snow from three weeks ago is finally almost melted. Not that we can't get more, but historically, any deep snow happens for my area in the first two months of the year. It doesn't mean we can't get any later, but it's usually less. And that's a good thing! Delicious is live! (link below) Delicious is a low-angst novella, meant to be a fun, afternoon read. So yes, when the guys bring up the word love, it's in a joking manner. And since it's Valentine's day...  (Told from Hanson's POV:) “I really like you, just so you know.”  It was dark enough that I couldn’t see, but I would have bet [Grady's] cheeks were red. “I really like you, too. I mean, I really, really like you.”   Grady chuckled. “We sound like grade schoolers. ‘Do you want to be my boyfriend? Check yes or no.’” “Yes.”  “‘Do you love me? Check yes or no.’” My breath hitched. Was he making a joke, or was he serious? The hesitation was only for a second bec...