November is a very special month. It’s not Thanksgiving Day—I’m Canadian, we had Thanksgiving last month. My birthday is this month. I tend to make it a month-long celebration. Go big or go home! LOL

I’ll have a small cake or a large cupcake. Something yummy. I admit to having a sweet tooth. I have plans to buy the new Shelly Laurentson book when it is released. Love her shifter romances. I’ll probably take myself out to a movie. I love going to the movies by myself. I can sit wherever I want—three rows from the front. I generally don’t eat at the movies, but I’ll likely buy a drink. There’s a good chance I’ll visit one of my favorite stores and buy myself a small treasure—maybe a crystal. I admit, I’m a crystal junkie.

I’ll also take the time to look back over the past year—the highs and lows—as they’ve all brought me to where I am today. It’s not quite New Year’s Day, but it’s close. I find it’s a good time to take stock and see where I might change some things in my life, maybe make some plans for the coming year. After all, I’m not getting any younger.

One recent milestone in my life was the celebration of my 19^th year as a published author. When I look back, I would never have believed I’d still be making my living as a writer. Yet here I am 119 books and all these years later. Who knows what the future holds in store? All I know is that I’m looking forward to it and feel blessed to still be here.

Taming the White Wolf is my latest book—number 119. Something to celebrate!

Taming the White Wolf
Lone Wolf Legacy, Book 1

White wolf Devlin Moore has spent nearly the last century following his destiny: hunting rogue werewolves. His fate is to be the only one of his kind—hardened, feared, and brutally ruthless. Only now, Devlin’s not alone. There are two others. And if that wasn’t unsettling enough, Devlin is drawn to New York City for what appears to be a human…

As far as Devlin can tell, vibrant artist Zoe Galvani is no threat. But there’s something about her— from her unusual eyes that look similar to the same shocking hue as his own, to his growing need to mark her as his that suggests magical forces may be at play.

Now there’s no escaping each other, or the attraction that grows stronger by the second. But no one, especially a human woman, should have this effect on a lone wolf. And just when he’s sure that having her could be his undoing…the truth steps out of the shadows.

If you want to read more, you can find Taming the White Wolf here:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7NTXG92/
Entangled Publishing: https://entangledpublishing.com/books/taming-the-white-wolf
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/taming-the-white-wolf-n-j-walters/1143634327
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/taming-the-white-wolf
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/taming-the-white-wolf/id6450183902

About the Author

N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, assassins, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.

Visit her at:
Website: https://www.njwalters.com
Blog: https://www.njwalters.blogspot.com
Newsletter Sign Up: https://eepurl.com/gdblg5
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/njwaltersauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/NJWalters
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/njwalters
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/n-j-walters

I write for teens and preteens and parents of girls who are fans of my middle school Landry’s True Colors Series often ask me for recommendations of shows and movies. Here are a few of the preteen/younger teen shows and movies I find very sweet.

Holly Hobbie: This series showcases a lot of the friendship themes you can also find in my Landry’s True Colors Series as well as in my book, Next Door to a Star. For instance, in the show, Holly finds herself feeling left out when her best friend who’s made a new friend. We also see her deal with that in between time of being not a kid, but approaching the teen years. And if you’re nostalgic about the old Holly Hobbie, the show honors that with the cute prints you know from the original Holly’s dress (check out her backpack and the designs in her room), the café being the former general store from the playsets, and Holly even wears the traditional outfit with bonnet in one episode.

Austin and Ally: Austin is a singer who becomes famous on the internet and Ally is the songwriter who jumpstarted his career. I watched a lot of this show for research and fans of my clean and wholesome young adult Cecily Taylor Series (where Cecily dates a pop star) also like this one. I was picturing Vladi in my Landry’s True Colors Series as looking like Austin.

Girl Meets World: Fans of my Star Series and Landry’s True Colors Series tend to enjoy this one with its themes of friendship and first loves. I was picturing Nick in my Star Series as looking like Lucas. I once shared that with a class and the entire room erupted—haha!

Teen Beach 1 and 2: Cute teen musicals that deals with first love and finding yourself with really catchy songs. It’s an opposites attract story with a twist where characters from their favorite beach movie (think Grease set at the beach) end up in our world. The sequel has songs that will stick in your head in the best way.

Ballet Shoes: Three girls are raised in a home with two caregivers and an eccentric bunch of boarders as they get an unorthodox education and ballet training. The girls each have their own dreams of being a dancer, pilot, and actress and you watch their trials as they pursue them. Perfect for a rainy (or snowy) weekend.

American Girl: Girl of the Year: Meet Kira Bailey: This is for my younger readers. This short series actually has the doll acting out the scenes and the themes are done so well. We see Kira dealing with grief over losing her dad and dealing with a bestie who has found other interests and begun to pull away from her. The Courtney doll episode (which separate from Kira as Courtney is the 1980s doll) is also well done and deals with subjects like divorce, blended families, and dealing with social and cultural issues as Courtney is in class when the Challenger space shuttle disaster happens.

You can find my preteen series on friendship, staying true to yourself, and self-esteem called the Landry’s True Series here. It’s free in Kindle Unlimited and there’s currently a price drop on the ebook and paperback on book one, True Colors: https://www.amazon.com/True-Colors-Landrys-Book-One-ebook/dp/B09W4TJRTD

Whole series here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09W9S664B?binding=kindle_edition

About the Author

Krysten Lindsay Hager is a bestselling author of the award winning middle grade Landry’s True Colors Series as well as writing clean and wholesome young adult novels.

Website: https://www.krystenlindsay.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krystenlindsay/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/krystenlindsay/

UPDATE: The winner is…Debra Guyette!
*~*~*

Where Do You Get Your Ideas?

As an author, I get asked this often.

I’m lucky. Ideas come easily to me.

I’m the person to come to if you want to bounce ideas.

It is also a problem because it never fails when I’m knee-deep into the first draft of a new book. Something pops into my head. It’s hard not to pursue the new and shiny. However, I’ve learned over the years that the good ideas stick.

I’m nosey.

I’m an only child who grew up in a rural area, so when visiting bigger families, I tried to absorb everything that went on. People tend to tell a stranger their secrets. I use what I’ve overheard in my books, You Always and Greyson.

Placement

This past summer, I spent time in airports, and they are a treasure trove of information. I admit to listening to one-sided phone calls and changing seats to overhear a family tiff. My book, Kaydee, was based on a couple’s discussion during dinner at the next table.

TV

I also watch daytime talk shows and judge shows. I am amazed at what people will share with the world. I am an avid fan of The Housewives and other Bravo shows. I know that segments are scripted or exaggerated. The side-eye moments shared in the bottom corner of the frame, or an opinion muttered spark my creativity. My upcoming release, Nothing Permanent, was based on a Steve Wilkos episode.

Magnet

I also attract the crazy and weird. I will attract somebody if you leave me sitting on the sofa in a hotel lobby for five minutes. I’ve heard about cheating exes, an alien abduction, and roommates who haven’t showered for five days. A psychic told me it was because I’m an empath and a Leo—I attract people who need understanding and a protector.

Song lyrics or a line of dialogue

I wrote an entire book based on a song I heard while driving home from a nail appointment. I kept circling the block until I plotted the book You Only.

I’ve also heard a declaration and made up a story. Things click, and off I go. That is how my book- Best came to be.

Dreams

I don’t like being a cliché, but it is true. I have lifelike dreams. I dream in color, can feel textures, and smell scents. I’ll wake up and know that I have a book. Sometimes, I dream several nights about the same subject.

My books, See Me, Better, and the upcoming Me, You & the Moon, came from dreams.

Go With It

I think that you must be open to the new and different. Sticking with what you know and are comfortable with might not spark your creativity. I took the challenge of writing a book with no on-page sex or cussing. It was not easy, but I did it. Check out Cut to the Chase, Here’s the Rub, and the upcoming Nothing Permanent.

I trust that my brain will come up with new ideas or put things together differently. That makes every day a new adventure.

For a $10 Amazon Gift Card, share what sparks your creativity.
The winner will be picked at random and contacted via e-mail.

To learn more about me and my books, visit: https://www.readmelaniejayne.com or https://www.facebook.com/MelanieJayneAuthor/

Yaelle

I am on the verge of losing everything, with nothing left to do… but let go.

Moving to Wolfsbane was a mistake. Being here has opened the world to me and my daughter, Addie. Yet instead of being thrilled that we finally found peace, I expect the worst every day.

My mate is patient and loving. But I know he wants more than I can physically offer. The therapist assures me I am making headway. Still, I am painfully aware of my shortcomings. How strong can our mate bond be if we have never been able to consummate our union? Try as I might, I can’t escape the nightmare of my time in the lab.

On top of that, the Markov brothers want to involve the Witches Council with Addie’s plight. As much as this sets my nerves on edge, I’m overruled. Matters worsen when the arrival of a member of their coven awakens horrors from my past, I’ve spent years trying to bury.

Fearing my very existence is holding back everyone I hold dear; I make the choice to banish myself and give them a chance at true happiness. Heartbroken and alone, I learn the ghosts of my past are closing in fast. Will they finish what they started in the lab? Or will the family I pushed away save me from myself?

Get your copy here!

UPDATE: The winner is…Tara Leavitt!
*~*~*

I have a lot of people to thank for their service on this day, starting with my late father who received recognition at his graveside. I thank my sister, Elle James, my brother and my nephew, who all served. Service is in my DNA. I had uncles who served in WWII, luckily all returned. I’m sure your families have their own heroes as well. So, a shout out to all who served! If you get a chance today, thank a veteran for their service.

Saturday Puzzle-Contest

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me whether you have a family or friend you’ll celebrate today.

UPDATE: The winner is…Debra Guyette!
*~*~*

Typically, November sparks the season of gratitude and being thankful. Social media is blasted with daily posts of gratitude and giving. While there is nothing wrong with doing this, often, this is presented the same, and this can become disingenuous. It also may become a struggle for persons experiencing difficult times. It’s no secret that this type of year can be hard for many people for many reasons. Therefore, this post will attempt to give some alternative ways of expressing and demonstrating thanks.

1. This one is simple; although, it may not seem apparent. Say a person is thankful for his/her family. Yes, by all means, express that. However, the person shouldn’t only post it only social media. He/she should tell his/her family how thankful he/she is for them. Do something special for them. Additionally, tell someone else how wonderful their family is (e.g., you have great kids, your wife is a phenomenal cook, your father-in-law is exceptional at his job, etc.) Extend what you’re grateful for to others. Not only will it make them feel good, it will remind them to be grateful as well.
2. When I was in high school, many of the clubs/organizations had community service goals. Actually, it was a requirement by the school, but that’s beside the point. While this was an excellent component to have embedded in organization bylaws, it was flawed. See, many of the community service events served the same persons/program. For example, one of the organizations I was involved in had adopted a meal program. Each day, students would take a meal to a man who lived close to the school. I cannot remember if the man had been selected because he was elderly, had a disability, or both. What I do remember is that he was receiving meals daily from multiple organizations. Now, it could be argued that he could save the meals for later. But honestly, does one person need nine boxed meals per day? I’m not saying he shouldn’t have been receiving meals. My point is that the love could have been spread to more people. I’m confident in saying there were plenty of other people in need who received nothing from any organizations.
3. Many years ago, a friend applied for WIC. The WIC office informed her that before she could get approved for services, she would need to go to the public health department to verify her pregnancy and be approved for Medicaid. The health department nurse told her she could not be approved for Medicaid until she was approved for a program (she couldn’t remember the name of the program) that would pay for childcare. From there, she was sent to another place to apply for something else. It was a musical slot machine of services. What my friend realized was that if she had been approved for one service, she would have been approved for multiple services. However, since she was denied by one, she was denied for all. The irony was, she hadn’t wanted all the services. All that she had wanted was help paying for baby formula. She wasn’t asking for insurance or childcare or any of the other stuff. And she wasn’t asking for any other items from the WIC program other than formula so that she wouldn’t have to struggle to feed her child. A pack of diapers would have been a bonus but not necessary.

For many people, being thankful includes sharing their good fortune with others. Why not attempt to make that sharing reach as many as possible? Instead of focusing so much on a few, why not adjust to include more people?

4. Considering small things. When in a rut or a dark place, sometimes it is hard to see the light. For example, a person who has recently lost his/her home may find it challenging to see the world as a positive place. Should they be thankful for being unhoused and experiencing such a loss? Should they be happy that someone has profited off of their misery? Here’s the thing. When something negative has occurred in one’s life and the negative cannot be undone, it is futile to focus on it. The results will remain the same. So, the person may need to cling to the things that are preventing the situation from being worse. For example, the person may be thankful to have friends who are allowing him/her to reside in their home until he/she finds another location. Or he/she may be thankful that they are in a safe shelter. Or he/she may see this as an opportunity to move and start fresh in another city.
5. Non-comparison. Keeping up with the Joneses is a thing even for people who think it isn’t. For example, looking at photos on Instagram may cause a person to feel less thrilled about his/her life. First, many of those photographs are photoshopped and/or fake. For the ones that aren’t, many are misleading. That great makeup look one is admiring may have been created by a professional makeup artist using gifted products and professional lighting and prompts. Envious because you can’t afford a month’s vacation in the Mediterranean? That person on IG may not have been able to afford it either and is now $10,000 in debt and fired from his/her job. Everything is not always what it seems. In this scenario, a weekend staycation would be far better than a month’s vacation.

***CONTEST & GIVEAWAY***

November 10 celebrates the anniversary of the publication of Defending the Net. I want to commemorate this day by celebrating it with readers of romance. Would you like a FREE copy of Defending the Net, the second book in my Locker Room Love hockey romance series? It’s simple. Leave a comment telling me what you like about sports romance or your favorite sports in general. It’s that easy. A winner will be selected at random. Please be sure to check spam mail in case the notification email is routed there by the server. (NOTE: For an additional entry, you can also comment on the post on my Instagram page (genevivechambleeauthor).

So, that’s a wrap on today’s topic. Now, it’s your turn to sound off. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s time to hit the ice again. Future Goals has arrived and is available.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Order your copy at:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Did you missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at https://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit https://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) retakes the ice. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or X (formerly tweet) me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search for me on Goodreads, Amazon Authors, BookBub, Bluesky, Threads, or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and sign up today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

About the Author

Genevive Chamblee resides in the Bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting lost anywhere beyond her front yard (the back is pushing it as she’s very geographically challenged), falling in love with shelter animals (and she adopts them), asking off-the-beaten-path questions that make one go “hmm,” and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well.

On October 25^th of this year, I went in for total knee replacement surgery. It’s been a long time coming. In fact, the surgeon told me I probably should have had it done ten years ago. While I don’t think he’s wrong, precisely, I didn’t want to rush into anything. I was doing “all the things:” physical therapy, working out three times a week with a trainer, twice a week yoga, mindfulness meditation, pain management training, and I have lost about forty pounds in the last year. In September, my husband and I went on a work trip to San Francisco, and it became glaringly obvious that the status quo could not continue. So, I called the surgeon, and we scheduled it as soon as possible.

You’d think that would be it, right? I mean, major surgery is, well, major surgery. I met with my Human Resources team and my department head to schedule my time out of the office. Would I need medical leave? No, I would just take two weeks off, so it was done on “PTO,” or “paid time off.” I’d scheduled the week of American Thanksgiving as vacation for my family, and I “gave” that back – since I’d be out from October 25^th ’til November 8^th. And then I settled down to prepare.

What I didn’t realize, is that I was, in fact, embarking on a roller coaster.

Our annual Founders Retreat for Writer Zen Garden is the last full weekend in September. This year, we met in picturesque Park City, Utah, at a ski resort. It was, in a word, amazing. The condo we rented was enormous, with a full kitchen and huge living/dining room with a large table to seat all of us. We cooked, we wrote, and something magical happened: Dear Reader, I got my writing mojo back. I wrote more in the month of September than I’ve written in the last eight years combined. It’s felt like one long, dark slog through the Mines of Moria: first the 2016 election debacle, then the publishing world imploded (which, to be fair, had already started by then), the pandemic, the riots, the wildfires, (one of which, the Bolt Creek Fire, was within fifteen miles of our home), and the rise of fascism around the world. All of it meant that my well was bone dry. Sure, I’d try to write, and I kept up my avid journaling practice. But Story?

Nothing.

It’s immensely painful beyond words for a writer to go dry. I’ve met people who will airily assure me they don’t “believe” in writer’s block. My friend, I wish you the peace of your naivete. It happens, and it happens to the best of us. And it’s like bleeding to death with nothing coming out.

So to say I was ecstatic would be an understatement. It’s as though a part of me that had been amputated, suddenly grew back. Things started to heat up: I met some new friends through the NaNoWriMo Seattle Discord server and started writing “word sprints” with them (a word sprint is where you show up and do timed writing for, say, fifteen minutes).

When I settled in to prepare for my knee surgery, Dear Reader, I thought everything was going to be easy-peasy: I was writing again, I could take two weeks off to recover, what could go wrong?

I did not schedule any time to prepare. I worked until October 24^th, and surgery was October 25^th. That was my first mistake.

Then, the week before surgery on October 16^th, my beloved eleven-year-old cat Nadya had a stroke at 07:30 while I was on a video call with my therapist. She told me, “don’t catastrophize,” which is good advice but I knew what I knew. My husband was out with the dogs and our housemate, his brother and a retired emergency veterinary technician, was asleep. I waited for my husband to get back and my appointment to be done (which was the longest fifteen minutes of my life, let me tell you). My husband woke up his brother, and he examined Nadya, and gave us his advice.

Get her to the vet immediately and tell them it’s a thrombus. It’s not a saddle thrombus, which affects both hind legs; he said in his opinion it was a thrombus (i.e. a blood clot) that lodged in her right front leg, cutting off sensation and nerve impulses to her right leg. We got in the car and raced to the vet. I told my husband to call them first, to make sure they were open and that we were coming, and they told us the bad news: take her to the emergency hospital in Lynnwood, an hour’s drive, because they have the scanning equipment we’d need.

We got there and got her seen by the emergency techs right away. We came back home, and I naively thought I’d be able to pick her up again.

The cardiologist said that she was in early-stage heart failure. My brother-in-law and his partner, also an emergency vet tech, said they’ve seen exactly one cat survive this scenario and that cat died within three months, because once they throw one clot, it’s inevitable they’ll throw another. The treatment is unpleasant and consists of either subcutaneous medication (i.e. stabbing my cat with a needle) or oral meds (shoving a pill or, more likely, multiple pills down her throat on a daily basis), or both.

We made the decision to let her go and drove over that night after work.

Afterward, we came home and I went back to preparing for surgery, and trying to relax because relaxation is critical to good outcomes.

At 0430 the morning of surgery, my old man cat Boria fell down behind the dryer and got hung up in the wires for the dryer and the septic tank alarm. We’re not sure if he fell asleep on the dryer and fell off, or if he just got confused and climbed back there, or what. We got him out and my brother-in-law and his partner tended to him for the next two days. Meanwhile, I went in for surgery on Wednesday as planned.

Boria died in my husband’s arms on Friday, October 27^th.

Dear Reader, may you never go through back-to-back events like this.

I had planned to give you the news that Six Geese Laid, our holiday story set in the universe of the Chicagoland Shifters, is available at your favorite eBook seller. I even have it halfway uploaded onto Amazon but didn’t quite get it finished in time to get my guest post over to Delilah. I will, and my goal is to get it done by this weekend for you so you have something new to read before the holidays (our longtime fans will know this is the audio story that the talented Vance Bastien read for us on the WROTE podcast, and this is the long-awaited eBook version). And I also can tell you that Rachel Wilder and I are hard at work on our newest book series, the first of which is called, for right now at least, As the Crow Flies and is about crow and raven shifters and the trouble they get into.

I’m still doing all that, but I’m moving a bit slower than I planned. But the good news out of all of this is that I AM moving, at long last. Nadya and Boria are with me in spirit, keeping me company as I get back onto the page. And like Peggy Carter in the Marvel series, we’ve decided that I will be the bionic battle granny to my newest grandchild, who we will get to meet in June of 2024.

Talk about ups and downs, Dear Reader. My heart is sad, and glad, and grateful.

Best wishes,

Noony

Resources

• National Novel Writing Month, NaNoWriMo: https://nanowrimo.org/
• My NaNo: https://nanowrimo.org/participants/a-catherine-noon
• Park City, Utah: Then Best Ski Resorts: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g57097-zff8-Park_City_Utah-Hotels.html
• Knee Replacement Surgery: https://www.prolianceorthopedicassociates.com/services/knee-replacement

“My own experience has taught me this: if you wait for the perfect moment when all is safe and assured it may never arrive.”
~ Maurice Chevalier

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