“Darling it’s better, down where it’s wetter, take it from me.”
–Sebastian the Crab, “The Little Mermaid”

Those innocuous words from an animated children’s movie were the inspiration for my newest release: A 16K-word mermaid short story entitled (wait for it) Better Where it’s Wetter.

(It’s safe to say I went there: it’s definitely sexy under the sea, and you’ll no longer wonder what’s a fire and why does it—what’s the word?—burn. 🙂

My story doesn’t have an Ariel, but it does have an Alana who has dreamed of being a mermaid.

It has a Prince Eric, but he doesn’t hesitate to kiss the girl.

There’s no sea witch, but there is an impressive sea snake.

Sorry, no impromptu song & dance numbers, just my interpretation of mer-sex.

Basically, I had fun with it and hope you’ll also enjoy my quick little roll in the seaweed. It was originally published as part of a now-defunct anthology, so I added several thousand words and a love scene to it and have an awesome new cover to show here (made by Fiona Jayde Media… LOVE her work!).

And, because Delilah let me announce my new release on her blog today, I’m going to offer a FREE Kindle version of it to anyone who comments below between now and Friday, October 5^th!

Better Where it’s Wetter

Alana LaRue assumes the sexy merman pictured on the lake house wall is “just art.” Then a violent storm topples her into his arms and she discovers the ocean isn’t the only thing that gets her wet.

Excerpt:

He flashed me a smile that would have made my knees go weak. If I had knees.

“With legs, perhaps. But this takes a different skill-set. Trust me.” He pulled me forward. I tried to kick, to undulate in an amateurish butterfly stroke. I only succeeded in convulsing and rolling to the side. His hand on my waist stopped my efforts. I gulped at how his warm hands practically spanned my width. “You don’t have hip or knee joints anymore. Our lower skeleton is strongest in a side-to-side motion. Pretend you’re parading through a crowded bar trying to catch someone’s eye.”

“You want me to walk through a bar? With no legs?”

“Yeah. You know. Strut your stuff. Swing your hips.” He leaned close enough to whisper in my ear. “Make every man want you.”

The mental image of his words and the warmth of his breath against my neck washed another shiver of need over me. My nipples puckered, and I couldn’t blame the room’s ambient temperature this time. My merman—the one whose image had inspired all manner of fantasies these past weeks—was now within arms’ reach, urging me to make him want me.

Hell yeah, I could do this.

*~*~*~*

My release is so fresh, I don’t even have buy links yet! But check out my webpage for links when I get them (https://avacuvay.com/books/) or look me up on your favorite purchasing site. E-book now available, and print version coming very soon! “Thanks!!” to Delilah and all of you for letting me announce my new release here today!

Note: As of today, there is at least one link—on Amazon. Click the pretty cover to see!

I’m still recovering from my night with Joan Jett and Heart! Recovering, I say, because my poor feet and back are aching! Between having to stand to see anything and traversing up and down a million stairs for beer and bathroom breaks, I’m a little sore!

Oh, to be twenty again! But hey! Another two great bands scratched off my bucket list!

Joan Jett was exactly what you’d expect—basic rock ‘n’ roll, totally fun! Heart was a mixed bag. Ann Wilson sang some very strange songs among her greatest hits, but just to hear that voice live… I nearly cried when she took the stage I was sooooo happy. Damn, that woman can still sing!!

Anyways, I’m a day late posting this, or anything, really. Catching up today. Here’s a photo from Joan Jett’s “Crimson & Clover.” It’s not a great quality shot, but have fun with the puzzle!

Okay, so the picture gave it all away. I can barely contain a really loud squee!

I’m seeing HEART! And JOAN-Badass-JETT! Here it is…SQUEE!!!!!

I’ve been a fan since the late 70s when I was in college! Yes, I’m THAT old. But Heart is part of what has kept me young at heart all these decades. Seeing them is a long-held ambition. I have a few more on my bucket list…Robert Plant, with or without Led Zeppelin, Disturbed, and John Fogarty (of CCR!). I’m not overly ambitious. It’s hard getting to places where I can see great acts, living as I do in Central Arkansas. When I saw the tickets go on sale for Heart in Little Rock, I jumped on them!! The cost kept it down to just TWO tickets, but my sister-in-crime, my dear daughter, will be at my side. She’s torn between buying a Joan Jett tee or a Heart one, but if I have to buy only one, it’s going to be HEART! God, I love Ann Wilson!

Okay, so I need to calm down. I have hours to go, and I need to conserve strength in my elderly body (pffft!) so I don’t fall asleep by the time they make it on stage. What am I saying? As if!

It’s been a few years since I’ve been to a rock concert. I think the last was Aerosmith or Marilyn Manson when I lived in San Antonio. Over my many years, I’ve seen bands like: Uriah Heep, ZZ Top (2 times), Doobie Brothers (3 times), John Denver, Fleetwood Mack (on their Rumors tour!), Lynyrd Skynyrd (before the plane crash), Queens of the Stone Age, Stone Temple Pilots, Audioslave, Incubus, Wet Willie (that was at a weekend concert in a farmer’s field a la Woodstock), Bachman Turner Overdrive (I worked the lights), Blood, Sweat, and Tears, U2 (2 times), Metallica, Simply Red, Tears for Fears… Mostly rock, except for John Denver. Oh, and I somehow got roped into seeing Tim McGraw with Lady Antebellum—sorry, most boring concert ever… Oh, and the very first concert I ever went to (I was 12 years old) was…The Carpenters. Yeah, it was the ONLY concert my parents would approve of me going to see. And I know there were more artists I’ve seen, but my mind goes blank… Remember, I’m old.

One note, at the Marilyn Manson concert, I ended up on the mosh pit with the teenagers. I was bruised, but oh so happy! My dd, who was a teen at the time, was mortified. She realized that the clove cigarette I was given by some guy had marijuana in it, and I was lit up! LOL. Love that I can still embarrass her.

Anyways, I’m just sharing my joy today. I’ll be dragging my tail tomorrow, but today, I’m riding high!