Sadie Jay

I like to read books in a series, both the kind that follow the same couple and the kind that follow a group of friends and family. I also like to write them. I've found that as I write the first book, the side characters develop their own backstories, and it's fun to explore that.  Sadly, I'm a chaotic writer. I'm horrible at sticking to a plot. Often, as I write, something emerges that I hadn't planned, but it's better. That's fine if it's the first book, not so good if it's the last, especially if it changes a detail in one that came before. Book 1 not published yet? Great! I can go back and make any changes I need to. Unfortunately, it means I have several books sitting in the queue, waiting for that last book.  Happy Memorial Day to those in the US.  Blind Ante is the first book in my Bar Games series.  It was a NaNoWriMo project pre-Covid. The second book, Cut Shot , came a few years later. And now I'm working on the third book, Slam Tilt ...

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...

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've starting to feel like Blind Ante and Cut Shot are never getting published. Always, there is something else that has a higher priority. I'm working on a novella at the moment for a project at the end of the year. Since it's a group project, it's front and center. And since I'm a slow writer, it'll probably take me all summer to finish the first draft. I need life to slow down! In this snippet from Blind Ante , Jordan has come into the bar where Reese works. He's not usually much of a drinker, but on this one night, there is something obviously bothering him. After a couple of shots and a beer, he starts singing. The little ditty has significance later in the story. Do you recognize it? Reese went back to work, tossing bottles and flirting, but he kept an eye on Jordan as he sat with his jaw resting on his palm. He was staring off into space, his mind floating somewhere far away.  Jordan began to sing, so low Reese could barely hear. “Pete and Repeat, si...

It was a rough winter for me, but spring is just around the corner.  Writing has been an uphill battle, and losing Vella hurt more than I thought it would. Hopefully,  open windows and bird song will help me get my mojo back.  This weeks's snippet comes from my WIP, Blind Ante . MC Jordan has a flocked, bobble headed cow in his car that he talks to at different times in the book. She's based on a similar toy my dad bought for me at the county fair when I was a kid, except mine was blue, not purple. And yes, my cow rode in the window when I bought my first car!      Instead of going inside and facing whoever had come to visit, Jordan sat in his car like a total dipshit and stared at the unknown vehicle, afraid there was a woman inside those metal walls trying to make time with Reese. Cow looked at him with her soulful eyes and her plastic rose clasped tightly in her mouth. If an inanimate object could truly have a soul, he believed at that moment she ...

 I'm looking for beta readers for the first book of my Bar Games series.  Blind Ante —53K, gay/bi, relationships with other people on page before the MCs get together, which happens later in the book. Some light BDSM, mentions of parental abuse.  Jordan Hatfill grins as he lays his cards on the table. Full house against a trio of Aces. The deed he wins may be worthless, but Jordan’s tired of living in his car, moving from town to town in search of the next poker table. The trailer is old and rusty, but the plumbing works and the roof doesn’t leak. For the first time ever, he feels like he’s found a home.  ​ All Reece Daniels wants after a day of traveling is a quick shower and a good night’s sleep. Instead, he’s fighting off the advances of an old girlfriend while he verbally spars with the man he’s found in his bed. He doubts the legality of the deed his brother wagered and lost, but takes pity on the too thin, very lost young man, and offers to rent him the ex...

This whole year has been unsettled (probably because of my day job situation) and I feel like I'm slogging through water on autopilot. It's definitely been one thing after another, with this last week being filled with hospital stays and doctors' appointments for my mom. Sadly, it has left little time to devote to my writing. I had every intention of publishing Blind Ante and Cut Shot months ago and then hit Delicious hard, but life said no. Hopefully, I'll be looking for beta readers for the first two very soon. Deep breath, right? Things will get better.  The last chapter of Blind Ante , before the epilogue, takes place on Thanksgiving day. (And since it's Thanksgiving week in the USA...) Jordan and Reese have just survived a fire. Reese's sister, Raven, takes over—as she is wont to do!  It was Thanksgiving day. Somehow, in all the chaos, both Jordan and Reese had forgotten. Raven bundled them into her car, the rest of the family having left after being as...

Yesterday was the last day of this year's Farmers Market. It's been a challenge this year, more so than the last two summers. I've simply had too much to deal with. It's felt like I've been on autopilot for the last two months. Maybe I'll get my groove back, now! I imagine at this point I won't get Blind Ante out before the end of the year, but miracles have happened, I suppose. The inspiration for Blind Ante was my aunt and uncle's (and now my cousin's) trailer, surrounded by a few acres of woods. It's a place the extended family gathers. It's one of my happy places, to be honest. So, even though the trailer is old and shabby, it's more than a backdrop for the story. Like The House in the Headphones trilogy, the trailer in this story is a character in its own way.   Staying quiet wasn’t easy. Reese’d never noticed how noise traveled through the trailer, even though it’d been his home for ten years, and he’d spent large chunks of his ...

I read a lot of fantasy series in my teens and twenties. You know, where things unfold throughout the various books and something that happens in book one is explained in book two, to five, or eight? And I've just realized that I do that in my books, even though each has a different set of main characters. Actually, I knew it—it just hadn't given it much thought. Headphones is a true trilogy with the story starting in book one and ending in book three. Even the Campfire Stories series does this. Vaughn's "motivation" is explained in book two, and Lindsey's weird relationship with Vaughn is explained in book three. They build on each other, which isn't the best strategy for Contemporary Romance. So why am I bringing this up? I got notes back from a beta reader on the first book in the Bar Games Series. And I've done it again—big time. In the first book, Blind Ante , Jed is a bad guy. Or, at least, a total jerk. And he gets a lot of "screen time...

The last few weeks have been mad-busy, and I don't see an end any time soon. (Maybe in January!) My plan had been to have Blind Ante ready for beta readers two weeks ago, but instead, I'm still finishing up the epilogue. (And I haven't even looked for beta readers yet!) But I'm close—I can feel it. Cicada shell. One of many! For the last few years, Jordan has lived out of his car, a Crown Victoria he calls Vicky. When he wins a beat-up old trailer in a poker game, he thinks he's got it made. Until the other owner shows up:  Jordan ’s hands were shaking when he finally slid into his car. “Shit, Cow, I am so screwed.” He dug around for a cigarette but all he found was a half-dozen empty packs. He really needed to give Vicky a good clean. “Fuck it. I don’t want to smell like an ashtray anyway. After. Then I’ll buy a new pack and smoke them all.” ‘After’ being the job interview waitress Miranda had arranged with diner owner Tammy. But he paused and wondered if there w...

I'm half-way through this first round of edits on Blind Ante . I need to line up some beta readers, but at my turtle pace, I still have a couple of weeks! Especially since I'll be working extra hours until the middle of May. I need more hours and energy in my day! My first poppy of the year! Continuing from last week. Jed has just walked back into Jordan's life. Things are uncomfortable, to say the least:  “No reason to be so formal.” The man stuck his hand out. “Everyone calls me Jed.”  Reese returned the handshake reluctantly, and as expected, Jed gave an extra alpha-male squeeze, a subliminal attempt at intimidation. “How do you two know each other?” Reese asked, turning his attention back to Jordan,who sat with his head down and his posture sunken.  Not that Jed was going to give him a chance to answer. “Oh, me and Jordy go back a few years. He used to follow me from job to job like a little mutt in heat. Couldn’t get enough of his Big Jed. Could you, baby?” Jordan ...

For those familar with the GRL Retreat, I'm screwing up my courage and going as an author this year. My goal is to have Blind Ante published by then. And possibly even  Cut Shot . But that will be pushing it. I tend to be flashy and over the top, or just the opposite—quiet and trying to not be noticed. And I seem to have little control of which I am at any given time. Let's hope for flashy! A morning walk on a nice day. It's amazing how it goes from brown to color seemingly overnight.  This week's snippet continues from last week's, taken from Blind Ante . Someone Jordan never expected to see again has just walked back into his life. Needless to say, things are about to get complicated!      “You don’t call, you don’t text. Why, I’m beginning to think you don’t want to see me anymore.” The teasing tone grew harder and lower. “Give us a kiss, Jordy. I’ve missed you.” Reese interrupted. “Can I get you anything?”  Jordan ’s eyes widened and his chest hea...

I can't believe it's the middle of April already. Mainly because I can't believe it's April already. I'm so glad Spring seems to be here for real. I just hope I'll have time to enjoy it. And for those who were in the path of the eclipse Monday, I hope you got to experience it. So weird and cool at the same time! I took this picture of the totality with my glasses over the camera lense, so it gives it that darkness. It got dark enough that the street lights came on, but not as dark as the picture looks. Everything got quiet and still, like a storm was coming in. We won't have another total eclipse here for another 20 years. This old lady probably won't be around by then. From Blind Ante -- I wrote this book several years ago and am just now getting around to editing it, so as I read, I'm finding things I'd forgotten. I think this scene, when Jed comes back into Jordan's life, (and causes trouble between him and Reese,) is one of my favorites. ...

I finally settled on a project! I wrote the first two books of the Bar Games series several years ago, so I've pulled them out and I'm giving them a fresh look. The first is Blind Ante and the second is Cut Shot . Who knows if a third will ever get written? The planned book was F/F, but I learned with the Campfire Series that switching pairings doesn't sell well. I guess I'll rethink that one.  In my current WIP, Jordan is homeless, living in his car, until he wins an old trailer in a poker game. Today's snippet is his first look at the property. He's not very impressed but by the end, there will be more to the place than he ever imagined:  It was two in the afternoon before Jordan found his destination. A pit stop at a rest area for coffee and a restroom had turned into an unintended three-hour nap. He almost missed the dilapidated trailer even though it was only a half mile off the main road. There wasn’t a driveway as much as an opening in the trees. If the ...