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 Lady Dauphine illustrated by Cynthia Hlady This image, by far was the favorite by you guys of Cynthia's illustrations for THE KING'S THIEF. And while I thought about using it for the cover, I feel this story needs something comparable to the market in its genre. So... I have THREE favorites that I'm trying to choose from. But there's an issue... We have a time limit! I'll post the winner here when the poll is complete, but I need for you to give me your votes ASAP! We have until the end of SATURDAY FEBRUARY 2nd, 2019. YES! I KNOW! It's not a lot of time. That's why this call to arms is so urgent! Get me your input NOW! It will take no more than three minutes, tops. Then, if you want to review the story (unedited) then click "The King's Thief" in the categories on the right → → → → → → OR scroll down below for the first chapter as I've revised it. Take a look at the covers below then scroll down to VOTE VOTE VOTE!!! Click on the cover for a larger image.
Thank you so much for your participation! Below is the revised first chapter. I still haven't gotten it to a copy editor so you might find spelling, grammar, punctuation errors, but let me know in the comments and I'll fix it in the final manuscript. THANK YOU! Happy reading! ~ Stephy Seducing a man is harder than one might think. Especially if that man is Chartan LeBeau.
I don’t know why the King of Thieves returned to Xaxyia after twenty years, but I recognized him the moment his doe-skin, silver-tipped boots stepped into my hall. Already he was gathering attention from my girls. Being the good courtesans that they were, each woman tried to attend him. A small sense of satisfaction rippled up my chest when he rebuffed them all and headed straight for me. I wondered if he remembered the night he whisked me away, by my uncle’s command, saving me from death. It was the last time I ever saw the King of Quenarre, my uncle. Chartan was one of two people who knew my true origins. Still, Chartan was dangerous. I stayed in my chair, frozen by the beauty of him. Long legs, a perfect bulge below his V-shaped torso, hidden behind a rogue’s cape and hood. If you looked carefully, you’d find his riches within his tailor. Clothing of soft fineness but not audacious gold. The King of Thieves flaunted nothing. Though not born from nobility, Chartan knew how to command royalty through his walk, subdue arguments with the language of silent intimidation, and keep my affections, though I hadn’t seen him for two decades. Wooing a master seducer such as myself was not easy. He should have been a military commander, but for one reason or another he chose to remain a thief. A thief that caught the eye of a king…and me, a former Quenarre noblewoman. I smiled to calm the flutter in my heart and stood to greet him. Perhaps he would not know me after all this time, but even if he suspected, I would not give my identity away easily. I knew the art of pretense now. “Dear Sir, thank you for coming to Courtesan’s guild. How can we pleasure you?” His eyes were hidden but his lips curved down slightly at my informal greeting. Coming to a full halt he bowed. Then his smooth accent had my thighs clench together. “Lady Dauphine, may we speak in private?” My stomach detached from my belly and came rushing to my throat. But my smile grew wider, hard as it was to keep it. “I’m sorry my dear, but I don’t entertain new customers.” Chartan scanned the room. “I have something of import to discuss with you, I’m not interested in your services.” I laughed. “That’s the tactic you wish to take. I assure you we are all discreet here. Perhaps you would like to speak to Lady Glen?” He’d better not. Straining to keep from shaking I pointed to Lady Glen as she passed by. Hearing her name she immediately came over. Chartan waved her away. “No, this is for you only.” “Oh, I bet it is.” I sat, showing I was not some pithy girl to shove around. He stepped closer to me, leaned down to my ear and whispered. “I know who you are Lady Dauphine of Quenarre, noble princess of the house Rouelle. I escorted you to safety here before the overtaking of our King. Do not chuff me off.” It was not the first time I’d been threatened, nor would it be the last. But I was the ultimate impendent. He would not get away with blackmail. Nor would he see me panic. I kept my heart slow and retorted, “Then you will expose yourself.” He stood and chuckled. My nose flared and I looked up at him. His waist was at the perfect height to unbutton his pants and bring him to his knees, the way a woman who knows what she’s doing can. Our eyes locked and damn if I was going to give in to him. That infuriating half quirk of a smile. That arrogance. His scent beating at my control. A pouch appeared in his hand and he let the contents clink before he placed the money bag between my cleavage. “That should be sufficient to avoid unpleasant speculation.” He stepped back and motioned his hand to indicate he would follow. I was not a horse to lead. Nor a slave to his whims. But, the side of me that wanted him in my bed snuck reason and excuses to take him to my chambers. Really, what choice did I have with what he threatened? If I refused he’d call attention to my Roullean heritage. It wouldn’t take too much time for the rumors to fly across the land to The Randish pope. My fate would be sealed. I’d probably be dead in a matter of weeks. Painting on my nonchalant smile, I played demure host and did as he bade. Passing my guards, I gave them the signal to interrupt us in two minutes. Luca nodded. My personal guard was more than a brute. He understood. Down the corridor, Chartan’s smooth voice resumed battering against the stronghold of my heart. “How much time do I have before your guards crash it?” I turned up the spiral stairs and said nothing. “I’m guessing a few minutes,” he said. “No matter. You’ll hear what I have to say.” I wanted to grit my teeth. Damn thief. We crossed the hallway where several of my girls were hard at work pleasuring their clients. You couldn’t pass a door without hearing the particulars of a client’s needs. The sound of a slap on flesh halted my motion. I listened at the door where it came from. If a man was being too harsh with any of my women I wouldn’t have him back. Another slap. My hand rested on the door knob. “You like that, hun? You like being ruffed up?” The woman’s muffled voice belonged to Lady Andrea. “Yes.” Responded a breathy male voice. “Please, again.” Slap. Apparently, Duke Undore found his pleasure from women giving him pain. Good to know. I smiled, backed away and continued down the corridor. Chartan waited for me with piercing eyes. Taking the stairs to the second floor, I turned into the hallway and reached under my sleeve. “Stop.” Chartan halted me. “You’ve been a larcenist too long, LeBeau.” I continued to door number twelve. This was where I played with clients and teased secrets from their souls. I pulled out the iron key to my door and showed him. “I hope you hold no dangerous value in a chunk of metal.” “Chucks of metal, as you say, have killed men before.” Chartan took the key and inserted it into the lock. He opened the door and stepped back. Trying to go forward Chartan threw his arm out and waggled a finger at me. His touch was my exquisite pleasure. A genuine smile parted my lips. He took me seriously. I crossed my arms and pursed my lips in defiance. Chartan took the key and inserted it into the lock. He opened the door and stepped back. “Not yet my courtesan.” The smile didn’t reach his eyes. Heart tearing itself apart knowing what I had to do, my inner most desire pleaded with me to take him to my bosom and show him he did not need all these precautions, not with me. But it would be a lie. I would go to any length to protect my identity. If I was pointed out as a Rouellean it wouldn’t be long before the Theocracy of the Randish would spill my blood. Chartan freed a dagger from inside his cape and pushed the door wide open with the tip. He looked inside, up then down and finally through the crack of the door. I sighed in feigned disgust but he had every right to be suspicious. “Have a lot of enemies?” I said. He went inside, quiet as a stalking cat, and swept the room. While he was preoccupied with his security check I closed the door—slowly. Reaching under my sleeves, I grabbed my throwing sticks, one for each hand. Thin, with three edges, shaped almost like a dowel I positioned to turn and deploy. My movement swift, my aim true I lopped the weapons at Chartan’s heart. The thief deflected one and caught the other. Then slammed me against the wall. The point of my own dagger scrapping against my chin. Despite my attempt to kill him, Chartan’s smile was hearty and his eyes sparkled to life. “My King was right.” “About what?” “You are truly the right choice.” “For what?” “To regain the crown and return Quenarre to it’s glory.” His words stung. Quenarre. My beloved home. The land that stole my life. “I’ll never return to that place.” “You will return and you will rule.” My guards pounded the door open and rushed in. Chartan flew backwards, hopped in the air, and folded himself forward while sailing through the open window—backward. His flight took a blink of an eye and then he was gone before the guards were down the hall. My personal security, Luca, eyed me up and down, checking for any harm that may have come to me. “My Lady?” “I’m fine.” “We’ll chase after him.” Luca peered out the window. “Don’t contemplate jumping after LeBeau.” If Luca did catch up to Chartan I’d lose a guard. “Besides, he paid for my time.” I reached for the bag of coin Chartan lusciously shoved down my corset. It wasn’t there. I reached further in. Nothing. The money was gone. My blood boiled. “Chartan!” I slammed the window. LeBeau was a mile away by now but his chuckle rang in my ears. He would not win. I would never go back to Quenarre. As for his blackmail threat… if he wanted to fight in the game of espionage, he’d found a formidable opponent. Word Count: 37K Mimi illustrated by Cynthia Hlady Meet MimiMimi does not have her own character sheet. That's not because dogs don't have personalities─they do. It's because Mimi is modeled after my own Korean Jindo. While Mimi is adorable, the real thing is much more so. Hence, I don't need to discover Mimi, she's already part of the family and I know her well. BUT... I have news! Isn't every blog news, though? Let's try this again. I have... a new and wonderful thing that I want to share! Are you waiting on pins and needles? Or is that just my wishful thinking? Wishful thinking. Got it. Okay, here is my wonderful awesome news... Cynthia has agreed to work with me to make a webtoon out of The Silent Road! The Silent Road will become a comic! Art has always been a large influence for me. I've worked with many illustrators. I've had an illustrator do my first M/M/M romance book. Countless scenes of my books have been illustrated so this next step only makes sense. Even in my real life, many of my pets get their own water color, oil or professional photography portrait. Stay posted on where it will "air". It may be at Line Webtoon, Tapas, or on a new website. I'm still not sure. But you got to see the character creations first here! SO, I'm nearly done with writing THE SILENT ROAD and what's next for it is... sitting on my hard drive. Nothing exciting, but I need to walk away from this story, edit another and come back to this once before I send it to anyone. Of course I'll be keeping you updated on it and Cynthia will be working on it so don't think it's just going away. I'll be taking a break and editing this next week. Until then... enjoy the except below! Excerpt Time!Please note: This is a Contemporary M/M Romance Which means this relationship is between two men. Here's the premise: Heterosexual truck driving trainee must complete his training in time to send his daughter to college and finds love with his homosexual truck driving instructor. © S.N.McKibbenNo part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted, with the exception of a reviewer who may quote passages in a review, without written prior permission from the publisher. *PLEASE NOTE, THIS IS A ROUGH DRAFT. SPELLING, PUNCTUATION AND GRAMMAR ERRORS WILL BE CORRECTED BY A PROFESSIONAL EDITOR WHEN THE FINAL VERSION IS PUBLISHED.*  The Silent RoadI regretted my stubbornness three hours in. Muscles I never knew I had in my shoulders started complaining—despite the nice bed I’d slept in last night. My head was fuzzy and damn road signs, the kind that flashed a jumble of words, did not help me navigate through traffic. I stayed in the right lane until absolutely necessary, but I kept my speed up. Good thing we were up high and I could see the lane ahead. One moron kept time with me in his Toyota Tercel. Letting up on the accelerator would mean losing momentum. Once I let up an inch, Tabasco would slow to a crawl. New Mexico might look flat, but it had a slight uphill grade going East. It would take another fifteen minutes to get back up to speed if I let up on the accelerator. We had to move over, now. But the moron wasn’t concerned about me or his own self-preservation. Guess he didn’t pay attention to the traffic arrows pointing left. Everyone’s got to move over into one lane genius, and your next to a semi. I put on my blinker and started drifting to the other lane to say hey buddy, slow down or speed up. The Toyota Tercel’s engine whined higher, sounding as though it would explode if any more pressure were applied. Great. Moron decided he was going to surpass us in his four-banger. This was going to be close. Jake seemed oblivious to my plight. Mimi was up in his lap, giving his face a wash down with her exuberant tongue. The mutt was sweet when she wanted to be. Finally, Moron was ahead of me enough to pull in behind him. I failed to hit the traffic cones by the span of a trailer. “If you’d moved over when the signs told you to, we wouldn’t be having such a white-knuckle ride.” Not as oblivious as I perceived. “The law states that a truck should only move to the left lane when necessary.” “Reciting standard procedure is my territory. You’re not going to win if that’s your strategy. Necessary does not mean last minute. You are well within your right to move to the left if you have reason to be in that lane.” I kept my jaw clamped. Father taught me long ago never to reveal my condition. As far as he was concerned, men had no weakness. I learned too late and too set in my stubbornness to realize men were not infallible. “Hey, take the next exit.” Jake pointed ahead. “We’ll switch.” “We’re not due for another two hours.” “You’re exhausted, Mimi needs a potty break and we really should fuel up.” I looked over at the gauges. We had a left and right tank. The right was empty when I started driving. But we still had half a tank on the left. “We can go for another five-hundred miles.” “Um…” Jake tapped the glass. “That isn’t exactly true.” The needle dropped all the way until it hoovered just before “E”. “What the hell.” “It’s a quirk.” “Why didn’t we fill up at Love’s?” I made a hasty right off an exit claiming to have an Exxon station and food two miles ahead. His cheeks pinked a pretty as a Gala Apple. “Ummm… hmmm…I decline to answer.” “What fucked-up-ness is that?” I mimicked Jake adding a high nasal pitch. “I decline to answer.” But he squinted ahead. I set my eyes to the road and saw what looked like tumbling leaves crossing over the pavement. Tabasco was considered aero dynamic for its’ time and she did well, but if we were in as much of a wind-storm the brick side of our cargo would toss us from lane to lane. As it was, the drive was smooth sailing. Not even a breeze. “What is that?” I threw my chin in the direction of the weird leaves. “Dan, stop.” “Why?” “Just stop.” “We don’t have time.” Then I got a closer look at this column of leaves. Black blotches spanned terrain from the left as far as I could see, over the road, then to the right beyond the raised ditch in an unbroken line. Those weren’t leaves. It wasn’t two sides of fallen foliage spilling over the road. They were hairy spiders. What shimmered as if brown tumbled over yellow were their eight little legs. Millions of them. Hell, billions. “Dan!” Too late. Tires and crunchy insects intersected. Law of physics proved once again, the greater the mass, the greater chances of not being squished. Tabasco rolled right over the spiders and through their ranks. “Oh come on!” Jake held his head in his palms. “Those were migrating tarantulas.” “Your truck is fine.” “Of course my truck is fine. But those tarantulas. I love tarantulas.” “Ewww.” “What? They’re awesome hunters.” “Except when they are crossing the road.” I chuckled, but a part of me did feel bad.  Silent Road will be coming out in 2019. Watch for details on the blog OR Join my Very Important Readers (VIR) Group for updates!
 Destination PassionBeach Reads Romance series (Book 2) Toya Richardson BlurbShe’s ready for change. He’s reluctant to trust. But passion is in the heart of the beholder… and love awaits. Leah Stevens can’t wait to leave her awful UK dating experiences behind. After a traumatic relationship, she’s not sure she can trust again—not even the handsome, happy-go-lucky guy she’s been talking with over Skype. When she travels across the globe to New Zealand, Leah doesn’t expect her online friend to give her a very real and passionate kiss. Being the life and soul of the party has gotten Neil Sykes in trouble before. After his last relationship ended with an embarrassing public video, he wants to take things slow with the beautiful Leah. But he can barely contain his exuberant emotions, which range from passion to jealousy… As they feel the pull of perfect chemistry, Leah and Neil’s emotional baggage starts to force them apart. Surrounded by South Pacific paradise, the wary couple must overcome their painful pasts for a chance at true love. Destination Passion is the second standalone book in The Beach Reads Romance Series of light-hearted contemporary tales. If you like endearing characters, exotic coastal settings, and slow-burning affairs, then you’ll love Toya Richardson’s sweet beach read.  Inside Scoop
 My ReviewIt's winter now, but you can warm up your feet by the fire while Toya heats up your night! Oh my! Graphic scenes, a strong woman and another Qiwi guy (as with the first book) will be available for your viewing pleasure January 11th, 2019. (I got a super advanced copy) Destinatin Passion is the story of Faith & Dean's best friends, Leah & Neil. Skype is no longer enough. Leah sets on a plane for Waikiki. The rest you'll have to read. I found Leah a stronger personality than Faith from the first book and Neil is the adorable goofball with heart. In the same vein as Destination Love, Destination Passion is a light read with deeper moments. You'll wish you were there with them, enjoying the beach.  I Would Recommend to Fans of:Contemporary Romance Beach Reads English (UK) Authors Easy Reads Fun Heroines & Goofball Heroes  ExcerptLeah’s kiss was heaven. It was surreal, as though it was a fantastic daydream, and he’d wake up to find he was with Mike and still grousing about the awful week he’d had. He could still taste her sweetness in his mouth and hear her gentle sigh when their kiss became more intense. They were supposed to be just friends… When they came apart, he sensed all kinds of odd and alien emotions around her. His head still reeled about the fact she really had arrived. He’d always thought she was beautiful when he spoke to her on Skype. Now, as he looked at her in the flesh, she was even lovelier than he’d initially imagined. Her cheeks were flushed. Her blue eyes bright. Her lips were swollen, and her long blonde hair shone like gold. She wore a pair of tight, faded blue jeans and a black gypsy-style top which was covered in big red roses. When Mike went off to get a drink, he was still in shock. He kept hold of her hand as if he was scared she’d disappear if he let go. When she shivered while he stroked her wrist, he had the burning desire to hold her close again and cover her face in kisses. “Are you okay, Big Fella?” Leah’s voice brought him out of his reverie. “Sorry, Leah. I think you’ve done something that no one else has ever done before.” “Are you telling me you’re a virgin and never been kissed before?” She cocked her head to one side and smiled. Neil spluttered and laughed loudly. “Nah, I lost my V-card a long time ago. You’ve rendered me speechless.” They both laughed out loud, and the tension, both sexual and nervousness, dissipated. “That’s good to know. Something else to put on my CV then.” She became thoughtful and worried at her lower lip. “Is something wrong?” Leah shrugged her shoulders. “I had this meeting all planned out. We’d hug, laugh, and maybe have a peck on the cheek. Then we’d sit down, have a couple of drinks, something to eat, and afterwards, you’d catch a ferry home, and that would be it.” She paused for a moment as though trying to think of the right thing to say. His heart was in his mouth. Maybe she regretted their passionate kiss. “Hmm, we may only have spoken on Skype before, but I know that expression so well now, Neil.” “Which expression is that?” “You’re guessing I’m thinking, why did we kiss like that? Is she regretting it now? Well, the answer is no, I don’t regret it. It was a spontaneous gesture on both our parts, and neither of us pushed the other one away. I’ll admit I love the friendship we have, but it scares me on so many levels.” “What exactly scared you, Leah?” “How we found it so easy to kiss like we just did. In front of an audience, too.” “That’s exactly what I was thinking. I’m certain it’s because I didn’t expect to see you here either. I thought we’d still have more time until we met.” He groaned when Mike emerged from the bar, still smiling. “Now what?” “Mike will go home and tell Lindy. Then Lindy will get in touch with Faith. Mike will get in touch with Dean…” She rolled her eyes. “Ah, I see what you mean. So, when I arrive on Monday with Faith, will the paparazzi be waiting for me as I get off the ferry?” He laughed, and the tension was broken once more. “I’ll make sure you’re not hounded by the press, but I think I might be given the third degree when I get back.” “Don’t worry,” she said patting his hand. “I’ll deny all knowledge in true Hollywood style. I’ll call Faith a little later and give her the heads-up.” “It will probably be far too late by then.” “Why?” “Well.” He leaned closer to her. “I’m going to ensure Mike is on the next ferry to Waiheke, so he’ll be home well before me.” “Oh, why is that?” Her pupils had dilated. He had to resist the urge to haul her onto his lap and kiss her passionately all over again. “Because I want us to eat dinner together and have a good old chat. Then I’ll walk you back to your hotel, kiss you goodnight, and catch the last ferry home.” Maybe they'll kiss again... or more. You'll only get to find out if you grab your copy of DESTINATION PASSION.  Author BioA very important moment for Toya was giving closure to a reader who survived domestic abuse. But Toya’s books aren’t about self-help. Romance & Fantasy Entwine with Love, Danger & Magic in her relatable characters are stories readers can’t wait to get invested in. When not writing, Toya spends her mornings gardening, or reading about gardening, before jumping in her Formula One race car to watch her favorite theatre group performing Phantom of the Opera. She’s known to get on stage to jam with live bands that need a back-up singer or toss some darts with friends. She lives in Suffolk with her husband, grown up son and Masai the cat who can never decide if he’s coming or going.  Buy LinksFollow Toya Richardson on Social Media Word Count: 29K Jake Rocco character development illustration by Cynthia Hlady Meet Jake RoccoWhen Cynthia's emails arrive in my inbox, I'm always excited to see what she's created! Her work is marvelous and she's helped concrete the look and feel of Jake & Dan from THE SILENT ROAD. Jake was easy. I had a firm idea of what I wanted him to look like and Cynthia created him exactly how I see him. In one pose (not this one) she shows how absolutely gorgeous he is─I mean breathtaking to the point that I started to blush and couldn't look anymore because he's staring right at me. You'll just have to wait till next update to see it for yourself. I have to dole these images out because there won't be time to make many. Unless I'm driven off the story road map I've got, I'm on track to wrap this story up the end of January. If you're interested in Jake's stats, I've got them below! 1. Name: Jake Rocco 2. Name Meaning: Rocco - Germanic name derived from the element hrok meaning "rest". This was the name of a 14th-century French saint who nursed victims of the plague but eventually contracted the disease himself. He is the patron saint of the sick. 3. Age: 32, Jake has a swimmer’s body or a runner’s body. He’s lean but has a lot of muscle. The best physical attribute are his arms. They are the perfect svelte to muscle combination. But he’s very nice to look at from any angle. 4. General physical description: Height: 6’1” Weight: 150 lbs. Hair Color: Blond Eye Color: Sky blue Ethnicity: Caucasian (Germanic) 5. Dress style: Jeans & t-shirt (no logo), the more casual the better but he’s always clean, his shirts are pressed, his jeans are not wrinkled and he looks like a construction hand before he gets to work. 6. What animal does this character resemble? Salmon Relationships: 7. Hometown: Mid-west 8. Type of home/ neighborhood (How does it affect the character?): He’s had it rough sometimes but hasn’t let it get him down. 9. Relationship status: Single, no prospects 10. Current family (How does family affect the character?): He loves his sister and she doesn’t care that he’s gay. 11. Family background (parents, previous marriages, or relevant people, etc.): Tried the married thing a decade ago (to a woman). The marriage got annulled. 12. Friends (What would friends say about this person?): Friendly, smiles a lot, would give a friend the shirt off his back even if were the last thing he owned, but hard to really get to know. 13. How other people (besides friends) see him/her: What is their first impression? Handsome, friendly, confident, the type you feel comfortable with. You hardly ever see him without a smile on his face. 14. Opinion of him/herself: Confident. He’s accepted who he is and what he likes. 15. Other close relationships: Mimi, his dog. He is devoted to her comfort and care as she is to him. 16. Relationship with men: Jake doesn’t flaunt his homosexuality, but he’s not ashamed of it either. It’s something on the down low—but when girls come up to him asking for a date, he tells them it’s not you, it’s me. He makes sure they understand he’s not rejecting them for their looks or attitude but they simply don’t have the right “equipment”. He genuinely does not feel attracted to women. 17. Relationship with women: They are a bit of a bother. Women tend to come up to him and want his attention or want to date him or have a one-night-stand but he turns them all down. He wishes he could be “normal” but that ship has sailed and now he’s just looking for the right guy. Personal Self: 18. Job: Trucker, hauler, truck driving instructor 19. What vehicle do they have? He was left a beautiful Peterbilt 379, 1989 semi truck rig by his deceased grandfather that he uses to haul for hire. 20. What is their fear/hope? Being lonely and not having someone to share his life with. 21. Hobbies/past times: Scuba diving, Cooking, Taking care of Mimi, his dog 22. Favorite sports: Hockey 23. Favorite foods: Bratwurst/hot dogs 24. Strongest positive personality trait: Friendliness, dedication 25. Strongest negative personality trait: Lack of self-preservation 26. What type of humor do they have? He jokes all the time. Dry humor, witty humor, he likes to smile as often as he can—this is also a shield to his loneliness. 27. What is their temperament like? Happy, up-beat, easy-going, jokester 28. What nervous traits give them away? Fidgeting 29. What do they like in themselves/others? Jake wouldn’t admit it—but he’s proud of his teeth. They are bright white even without bleaching. 30. What do they Dislike in themselves/others? Jake would love to be “normal” but just can’t find women attractive. He’s just drawn to men. He’s accepted this and has moved on to look for the perfect partner. Important Story Line Info: 31. What does this character want more than anything? A person to love. Someone who is his and can be theirs. 32. What prevents this character from attaining their goal? He’s not into hooks-ups and doesn’t date a lot due to wanting a relationship. 33. Likeable traits: His beautiful character, upbeat attitude, he’s a positive force in anyone’s life. 34. Ambitions: To find the right guy. 35. Philosophy of life: When you can’t find the sunshine, be the sunshine. 36. Most important thing to know about this character: He hides his sadness behind his smiles and positivity. 37. How will this character evolve through the story? He will realize what he wants in life. That settling down with a partner is really what he wants. He’s been restless and driving no longer helps his wander lust. Yet, he loves driving. He’s at odds with this throughout. 38. Will readers like or dislike this character, and why? Jake is the loveable/relatable character  Dan Perry character development illustration by Cynthia Hlady Meet Dan PerryDan Perry was a bit more complicated for me. I had his mood and I had an idea of him, but Cynthia really was the one to give him a face. And his hair. She felt Dan would have curls and seeing it, I couldn't agree more. Dan is handsome but not intimidating like Jake. The more I look at Dan, the more interesting he becomes. He has this air about him that hides his mystery but when you get past his enmity and give him a closer look, you can see his underlying complexity. Said another way─he's a really interesting character. I have his stats below too: 1. Name: Dan Perry 2. Name Meaning: Perry - Derived from Middle English perrie, Old English pyrige meaning "pear tree". A famous bearer was Matthew Perry (1794-1858), the American naval officer who opened Japan to the West. 3. Age: 37, Dan has a very sinewy type of body. He’s muscular and compact. Overall he’s a nice package to look at, except when he opens his mouth. He’s got a dower expression most the time which chases all but the most determined women away. 4. General physical description: Height: 5’9” Weight: 130 lbs. Hair Color: Dark Eye Color: Brown Ethnicity: Caucasian (tan skin) 5. Dress style: Jeans & button down shirt (sleeves usually rolled up), baseball cap, sunglasses 6. What animal does this character resemble? Badger Relationships: 7. Hometown: Dan literally was born in a semi truck between the Kentucky/West Virginia border. His hometown is all of the United States. 8. Type of home/ neighborhood (How does it affect the character?): Dan grew up in the back of his parents rig. Home schooled. No social skills. 9. Relationship status: Divorced 10. Current family (How does family affect the character?): Anna, his only daughter, is the light of his life. Because he drove 6 to 7 days a week to pay for family bills he missed most of her childhood. He’s trying to make up for that now by being there for her and paying for her college tuition. 11. Family background (parents, previous marriages, or relevant people, etc.): Both parents drove for a living. His mother & father were a driving pair team that hauled all over the U.S. Because of this Dan was home schooled and didn’t have enough social interaction. Which in turn makes him very non-PC. He says his mind, which can be biased and rude. But he was taught with morals and is generally a decent person—if you don’t listen to his spouting off about things he thinks is right or wrong. 12. Friends (What would friends say about this person?): He has one main friend, Troy, who is also his boss. Who was also his parents boss. Troy would tell you he feels sorry for Dan because growing up in the back of a rig—though getting to see all over the US is awesome, doesn’t make for great social skills. 13. How other people (besides friends) see him/her: What is their first impression? Gruff, Abrasive, Typical trucker, Rough around the edges 14. Opinion of him/herself: He knows he isn’t great with people but he also knows he’s a decent guy. 15. Other close relationships: Dan doesn’t stick around in one place to really have close relationships. 16. Relationship with men: Dan is a touch bit homophobic. He’ll verbally spar with anyone, but gets heated over certain topics. 17. Relationship with women: He has a love/hate relationship with his ex-wife due to being involved with their daughter. His ex-wife Wants the best for him, but she’s also not going to take his bullshit. Personal Self: 18. Job: Trucker, hauler, shipper 19. What vehicle do they have? He does not own a car 20. What is their fear/hope? Letting his daughter down. Putting his daughter in a tough situation due to his involvement. 21. Hobbies/past times: His whole life has been about driving but he knows a lot about trucks and rigs. 22. Favorite sports: Football when he can watch it. 23. Favorite foods: Home cooked meals are his favorite. 24. Strongest positive personality trait: Loyal, has a very high moral code. 25. Strongest negative personality trait: Bias, prejudice 26. What type of humor do they have? He doesn’t laugh often he doesn’t have much of a sense of humor 27. What is their temperament like? Serious, Gruff 28. What nervous traits give them away? Darting his eyes around, Acting relaxed, his hands in his pockets and looking down, Staying silent (he’s got opinions on everything) 29. What do they like in themselves/others? His moral code 30. What do they Dislike in themselves/others? He doesn’t like that he’s bias, but his experience is that people suck and he can’t help himself. Important Story Line Info: 31. What does this character want more than anything? He wants his families love and respect. Particularly he wants to mend the relationship he has with his daughter. 32. What prevents this character from attaining their goal? The last $1K he needs to send her to Texas A&M 33. Likeable traits: Loyalty, tells the truth and does not bullshit people 34. Ambitions: If he could—he’d go back in time and do it a bit differently. One day he hopes to own his own rig. 35. Philosophy of life: “The grass is greener where you piss on it.” 36. Most important thing to know about this character: He may seem like someone who isn’t worth getting to know, and while he’s very bias he’s also the type of person that respects other’s opinion—even if he’s right and they’re wrong. He will never let heated debates/arguments get physical. Fighting isn’t even in his vocabulary. He’s effectively a pacifist that will listen to what you have to say, respect your feelings but then tell you why you’re wrong. 37. How will this character evolve through the story? Dan will realize that sometimes he’s wrong. That he’s been suppressing his dual sexual nature because he was taught a certain way. 38. Will readers like or dislike this character, and why? Dan is a relatable, flawed character that will make readers uncomfortable at first but as the story goes on readers will realize that Dan is a strong, no-bullshit person that deserves respect. Excerpt Time!Please note: This is a Contemporary M/M Romance Which means this relationship is between two men. Here's the premise: Heterosexual truck driving trainee must complete his training in time to send his daughter to college and finds love with his homosexual truck driving instructor. © S.N.McKibbenNo part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted, with the exception of a reviewer who may quote passages in a review, without written prior permission from the publisher. *PLEASE NOTE, THIS IS A ROUGH DRAFT. SPELLING, PUNCTUATION AND GRAMMAR ERRORS WILL BE CORRECTED BY A PROFESSIONAL EDITOR WHEN THE FINAL VERSION IS PUBLISHED.*  The Silent RoadHorizontal bands of sunlight crossed over my face. A morning’s sunrise was better than any wake-up alarm. Warmth cocooned my body and the satisfied ache in my groin made me smile. Oh crap. I’d hoped the sex-after-glow would last longer. But morality stabbed its pious spears in my brain. Shame settled on me like dry snow. It wasn’t a burden at first but little by little it compounded until my cocoon felt like a straitjacket. I flung Jake’s covers off me and rose from his bottom bunk. Another reminder of our love-making early this morning. I’d never left his bed and fallen asleep. But it was the last time. Obligation pushed me dress and let Jake know this was the one and only time. Plus it was my shift. Jake drove at the wheel, happy as ever. Maybe a little extra happy, singing along with the radio. “Want coffee?” I offered, yawning. “Sure.” Jake kept his eyes on the road. A tinge of pink colored his cheeks. Gotta love awkward after sex conversations. He might be expecting more and I had to correct him on that. A round of coffee would cure my morning fog and give me a reason to pause. The talk I had ahead shouldn’t be had on a fuzzy mind. I set his mug in his cup holder and sat in the empty passenger seat. “Ready to trade?” “Yeah, you want breakfast?” “I don’t need much.” From looking we were on the ninety-five past Portland but before Brunswick. We’d agreed to pull over in truck stops but I didn’t want our talk in a public setting. “Are you trying to get me to make you breakfast?” Jake mused. “We need to talk.”  Silent Road will be coming out in 2019. Watch for details on the blog OR Join my Very Important Readers (VIR) Group for updates!
 My respect for you is great, so I'm not going to lie to you.
Because of my sick days in bed I had precious little time to construct my blog. My blathering may look like slapped together comments but I assure you─time and effort really do go into each blog. Even this one. But I have to make it short and I don't want to skip a week. So while I determine how I want to proceed with my blog this year and analyze the data, I'm giving you my very Happy New Year gif! Have a wonderful two-thousand-nineteen! |
Thanks for taking a look at my little hodgepodge of a blog. The format and subjects of my blog has changed through the years as it's my log of S.N.McKibben's writing journey. You've now been sufficiently forewarned, happy reading! Categories
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