Sadie Jay

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...

In writing news, I finished the first draft of Fangs for the Memories this week, so now it's time to give it a good edit and get it to beta readers. In non-writing news, the Farmers Market is going well and it's finally going to be warm enough to get in the swimming. It's turning out to be a busy summer.  Wildflowers on a morning walk.  I'm snipping from Cinders and Ash again this week. In this scene, Lindsey and Brian are taking a midnight stroll through the campground and Brian is comparing the Illinois sky to the Wyoming sky, when there is a flash of light. And Lindsey has a thought about her "fake" relationship. Told from Lindsey's POV: We stood silently until there was a flash and I gasped. “Falling star! Quick, make a wish!” Making a wish isn’t as easy as it sounds. Blow out birthday candles, throw a coin in a well, tug on a wishbone, blow a fallen eyelash off the tip of your finger. But what does one wish for? Something frivolous or something se...

The final book of my Campfire Stories series released this week. Now all I have to do is some occasional promo and focus on my next WIP! Lindsey locked herself out of her apartment and ran through the rain to Brian's apartment to get the spare key. It goes as usual for her:  I should have knocked, but lightning lit up the sky just as I got to the door and with a strangled scream, I turned the knob and tripped over a rug in my hurry to get inside.  More inventive curses liberated themselves to echo in the otherwise empty room. All the noise I was making must have filtered through the apartment because when I looked up, Brian was standing there, wearing nothing but a towel and soap bubbles. And, oh my, the front of him was as equally nice as the back. But I only had a second to admire him before a scowl closed his previously gaping mouth.  “What the–?” He stepped closer and looked down at where I was still splayed out on his floor.  “It’s raining,” I said, as if that w...

My snippet this week again comes from Cinders and Ash , the third book on the Campfire Stories series, which releases this week. I know I'm taking a risk following two M/M books with a M/F, but Lindsey is such a part of the first two books, I wanted her to have her own happy ending, even if she is aromantic.  On pre-order now! This snippet takes place during a camping weekend with the couples from the first two books. Brian is pretending to be Lindsey's boyfriend (for reasons), simply because he enjoys camping and needed a break. It surprises them both how much they enjoy each other's company as they get to know each other. (And there might be a little foreshadowing for farther in the book...) Told from Lindsey's POV: “Does it bother you?” I asked. “Does what bother me?” Instead of hedging around the question, as I’d expected, there was honest confusion in Brian's voice.  “Cherry and Ben. Together. And Vaughn and Daryl.” I glanced over at my brother and our friends ...

Lindsey is finally getting her story! Cinders and Ash is the third book of the Campfire Stories series. It's M/F with an aromantic lead. Business-wise, it's probably a poor decision, following two M/M romances with an M/F, but I got so attached to Lindsey in the first two books, I really wanted to give her a happy ending, too.  Releases May 26. Available on Pre-Order now! Chapter 1, page 1. Told from Lindsey's POV: “It’s about time!” I muttered as I flung the door open. “Mr. Healy, that stupid valve–” Well, that wasn’t the balding, pudgy old man I’d expected. “You’re not Mr. Healy,” I informed the guy standing in the hall, as if he didn’t know. He shifted before I got a good look at him, and an ax in his hand, hidden behind his leg, swung out. I shrieked and slammed the door shut, stepping back. Oh, shit, he was going to “Here’s Johnny” me. I just knew it. He knocked again, softer than before, and I could hear his voice, muffled by the wood. “Um, Miss? I, uh, had a call abo...

Is April really over? That month flew by quickly! I've spent so much time this month on formatting, publishing, and promo, I've lost track of time. I can honestly say, I never get bored! But I've still managed to fit in a few walks to enjoy the Bluebells! The three books in the Campfire Stories series all have camping scenes in them where the romances take their first big steps. In Smoke and Sparks , Daryl and Vaughn are sharing a tent with Lindsey. It puts a bit of a damper on things, as you can imagine. Told from Vaughn's POV: “‘Morning,” Daryl whispered, doing his best to not wake Lindsey.  “Sleep okay?” I whispered back. I wiggled to the edge of the mattress as I attempted to see him better. He mirrored my movements, bringing us only inches apart. “Better than I thought I would.”  Unthinking , I reached out and pushed his hair behind his ear. His eyes widened and he tensed but didn’t pull away. Encouraged, I trailed my fingertip over his cheekbone and then traced th...

The January doldrums have hit. It's cold and gloomy and I'm dreaming of warm beaches. I haven't seen the ocean since January of 2019, but one of these days... There may come a day yet when I get to move south, but today isn't that day, sadly. But it's nice to daydream.   This week's snippet comes from the third Campfire Storie s book, Cinders and Ash . The group is sitting around the campfire, telling stories, but Lindsey and Brian's attention is less on the stories and more on each other:  Brian didn’t tell any tall-tales of his own, although he laughed along with everyone else. I caught him watching me, little side glances, only because I was doing the same thing. We were too far apart for those small accidental touches, but his fingers lingered over mine as we shared a beer, passing it back and forth. I hadn’t done that, shared a drink, since I’d been in high school, but a strange thrill passed through me with each touch. I grabbed a stick and cooked som...

This week has been all about squirrels. Or, more to the point, one particular squirrel. He's young and I suspect he tried to jump from one garage roof to the other and didn't quite make it. His back legs aren't working right. Hopefully, it's a broken leg that will heal and we can release him, but if he doesn't regain full function in a couple of weeks, I guess we'll be looking at hutch designs.  Introducing Peanut. Another snippet from Cinders and Ash , the third book in the Campfire Stories series. This snip is told from Lindsey's POV. Lindsey is aromantic and being with Brian is challenging everything she's always believed about herself:       My heart did a triple beat as I stepped around Brian. He was partially blocking the doorway and I brushed against him. The smell of shampoo and soap enveloped me, and underlying that was, well, not a scent as much as his essence—heat and skin and vitality. I was confused. I was drawn to Brian in a way I’d never ...

Snow last week, rain this week. At least the frogs are happy! I dug up most of the flower beds a few years ago and replaced the ornamentals with edibles. But there are still plenty of flowers to attract the bees and the hummingbirds! Last week snow, this week rain. But the flowers are blooming, so it's all good.  This week's snippet again comes from Cinders and Ash . Lindsey fell asleep on the couch while she and Brian were watching a ball game, and she wakes to find she's used him as a pillow. From Lindsey's POV: It had grown dark outside, but I blinked up at him as my eyes adjusted to the lamplight. “Sorry.” I moved to sit up, but his hand on my shoulder held me down.              “Don’t be,” he said and leaned over to kiss me. It was soft, nothing more than a slip of his lips against mine, almost as if he feared I’d shove him away. Reaching up, I wrapped my hand around the back of his neck, holding him there, and returned the kiss. The televis...

It was an up-and-down week. It started with warm weather, dropped enough to snow (and require the heat to be turned back on), and now it's cool and rainy, but feeling much more like spring. At least the snow didn't hurt the early flowers! This week's snippet continues from last week . Brian and Lindsey are camping with a group of her friends and family, and Brian is posing as her boyfriend for a variety of reasons. Except, the "pretend" lines are getting blurred. Told from Brian's point of view: … I tried to move away without her noticing.  Of course, she noticed. “Do I scare you? Or are you that repulsed by me?” Lindsey asked. “Um, the first?” I confessed.  “Why?” “I don’t really know you, but you’re…” How was I supposed to say she was pushy without insulting her? “You’re very straightforward. Don’t get me wrong—I like that. But we haven’t really spent much time together.”  She rolled onto her back. “Huh. I don’t think I’ve ever met a man who wanted...

It's been a nutty couple of weeks. The boss is on vacation (again) which means more (unwanted) hours for me.  To make it worse, my back was starting to bother me and I got my second Covid shot last week. Everything "settles" in my back and for about three days, I could barely move. Which meant all I did once I made it home from work was spend quality time with my heating pad. He should be back by Tuesday, and the pain has let up, so maybe I can get back to my normal routine. On the up side, Spring is showing her colors! The little writing work I've accomplished this week has been mainly editing. I'm doing a final pass on Cinders and Ash before looking for beta readers. This week's snippet is part one of two. Brian and Lindsey are camping with a group of her friends and family, and Brian is posing as her boyfriend for a variety of reasons. Except, the lines are getting blurred. Told from Brian's point of view: Lindsey shifted and when she spoke, her whispe...

We're at that time of year I like to call March Madness, when it's warm one day and then cold and rainy the next. Which means planning my days accordingly and not more than a day ahead. I did manage to get some editing done, but that was pretty well the extent of this week's work. I'm trying to not be too hard on myself, but I think we all tell ourselves we could be doing more. I guess things will get done when they get done.        Silver and another of our younger cats, LB (Little Black).  She had the lap first and wasn't thrilled to share.    This week's snippet is from Cinders and Ash , the third book in my Campfire Stories series. Although the main characters are M/F, many of the side characters are from the previous books and are gay or bi. In this scene, Lindsey and Brian are on a camping trip with (you guessed it) the characters from the previous books. Brian is Lindsey's "fake" boyfriend. Told from Brian's POV:  “Cherry’s watching,” Li...

   I'm looking for beta readers for two books, both from the same series. The first is m/m, the second is m/f with an aromatic lead. I'm wanting general feedback-- if there are sluggish spots, if I haven't described something well enough. Specifically, I want to know how they work as stand-alones. Contact me through FB Messenger or email (ransan82@gmail.com) if you are interested. Thanks-- Sadie  Smoke and Sparks (m/m, contemporary romance) Couch-surfing is fine for the short term, but what Vaughn really needs is a roommate.   Vaughn’s future was mapped out: Attend college in St. Louis. Become a Physical Therapist. Come out to his ultra-religious family after he’s financially stable--and 40-years-old. Getting caught with the pool-boy, however, has put a kink in his plans. A small-town mechanic from Indiana, Daryl has never met anyone like Vaughn. He’s instantly fascinated by the tall college student in the skinny jeans and open-backed shirt. Vaughn is funny, inte...

In writing news, I finally finished the first draft of Cinders and Ash , the third book in my Campfire Stories series and then I went right into the first rough edits. Soon I'll need to find beta readers, both for this story and for Smoke and Sparks . I'm so far behind on the goals I'd set for myself this year, but I guess we all need to give ourselves a little slack- there was no way any of us could have predicted this year! In  Smoke and Sparks , Vaughn is a fan of  Attack on Titan  and ships Erwin and Levi. Daryl, his roommate (and love interest), originally caught his eye because, to Vaughn, he looked like Levi. So come Halloween, Vaughn and his friends are dressing up as the various characters from the anime, and he wants Daryl to join them. This segment is from Daryl's POV.   Part two of four (or maybe five...). Part one here.                He was nervous about asking me, as if he feared I’d say no. “Are you asking...

I'm finally making progress on my current WIP, Cinders and Ash . I hit the 40k mark, which feels like I'm in the home stretch. The first two books in the series are 60k and that was my goal for this one, but at this point, I'm going to be happy to hit 50k on the first draft, mainly because I feel like the beta readers are going to give me the kind of feedback that says "You need to add this and this and this." Plus, this book has been such a struggle, I simply want it done! Flowers from my morning walk.  This week's snippet is the first of three parts, taken from Headphones: In From the Cold . Because the series has such a large cast, I chose to build my characters' backgrounds using flashbacks instead of dialogue or introspection, which would have created too much narrative, I feared. This is part of Jay's story:          Scoey relaxed and stood up to get himself a mug of coffee. Their talk turned to chatter, but Jay’s mind wasn’t really on ...

The weather here feels more like September than it does August. It's good for my electric bill, but also means no swimming, which is usually the highlight of my summer days. 2020 is proving to be not simply an episode of The Twilight Zone, but a whole entire season.  My current WIP is the third book in my Campfires series. I'm finally making some progress and I'm just hoping it's not a complete mess when I get done with this first draft. The first two books, Embers and Flame and Smoke and Sparks , are M/M, while Cinders and Ash is M/F, although the MCs from the first two books are side characters in this one, just like Lindsey was in theirs.   This week's snippet, from Cinders and Ash,  is from Lindsey's POV and she is speaking with Brian. She's having a bit of a panic attack: “I’m not girlfriend material,” I stated matter-of-factly. “I know. You told me that already.” “But you are.” “I’m girlfriend material?” “No, you doofus. Yo...

The project I'm working on now, Cinders and Ash , is proving difficult. I had considered doing Camp NaNo with the idea of finishing it (I'm barely over 20k at the moment) but with the way my brain's working lately, I knew I was setting myself up to fail. So no Camp for me. I'll just do what I can do. Instead, I've been formatting my Headphones series for paperback. Which has meant learning new skills, which is frustrating but also rewarding. Cats on a shelf. That's Momma Cat, Peppercorn's grandma, and one of the kits from her latest litter.  This week's snippet comes from Sunshine Smile: Headphones book 2 . Scoey and Jay have gotten trapped in the bar's walk-in freezer. Richard should be back any moment, but in the meantime... (told over the next few weeks.)           Jay was shaking harder and it worried Scoey. He’d be okay, he knew, but Jay didn’t have an ounce of fat on his frame and his clothes were basically useless–great on a hot A...