Why aren't I skinny?

Dragoncon was a blast! I met the best people and made new friends, something that always surprised me. I got to hang with Katie Cross (Network Series), met John Scalzi, JN Chaney, Jay Boyce, and Jennifer Blackstream. To say I had fun would be an understatement. I also walked 33 miles over 4 days. I should be skinny, right? Note that I am refusing to step on the scale. I don't want to know.

I must admit my KEEN sandals proved to be worth every penny. The sad part, I was so busy I didn't get to eat any of the evil things I normally do. Heck I didn't even visit Yami Yami for sushi because I was that busy. I was on nine panels and met so many people. The panels were a blast too and all I can do is hope that some of the people there thought what I said was interesting enough to go take a look at my books.

I need to get to writing full time and then I can go to more cons and meet more people. I need fan days I swear. Otherwise the big news is that I have Drafted Luck back from the editor, so guess what I'll be spending the next few days doing. Cries - editing. But then formatting and getting it ready to publish. I see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I will edit fast as I can, but one of my friends has something awesome going on. If you were a fan of Heinlein Juveniles he has a Kickstarter about them. And really if you've never read them, they are worth the read even today. And he has some great options if you are homeschooling kids. Check it out.

Here is your microstory for the week. I need to clean the kitchen from smoked pork, fresh bread, and tomato soup from scratch. It was yummy. Hint - the secret to garden fresh tomato soup is roux. Trust me.

Cherish

The compound burned around her. Akiho watched the butterflies of embers floating, flaring in the cold night air then turning to ash.

"Why did you do this?"

Akiho turned to look at the man glaring at her.

"He was my favorite. You were my gift to him. He would have changed the world!"

Her perfect white face with painted rosebud lips didn't change. Not a flicker of emotion could be seen outside the flames reflecting in her eyes.

"Well?" His arms were crossed and smoke wreathed his head, though from the fire or something else she didn't know. She didn't care.

"I was his reward, yes? Something to cherish? Something his patron granted him?"

"Exactly!" The roar of anger, frustration, and barely checked sorrow rippled the embers floating down around them.

Akiho blinked at him, her face showing only a perfect mask of makeup. She reached for her obi and untied it, then began the laborious unwinding process. The yards of fabric fell to the ground, soot staining the brilliant yellow silk. Her eyes locked on his, she undid her kimono. It fell to the ground like shedding a too tight skin. Layer after layer fell, and she stood naked before him.

"Is this how you treat something precious?" She turned and presented the formerly flawless pearly skin of her back and rear. Instead bruises, redness, and cuts marred the perfection.

A sharp intake of breath. "Oh."

Naked she turned to watch the compound burn. Her father stood with her.

These stories always amuse me as I literally have no idea what they will be, before I start typing. I have one or two that started out so dark I stopped and changed it because I didn't want to write that level of horror. This one implies and interesting world. So many stories, so little time.

Mel

Remaining schedule for 2021:

20Booksto50kVegas - November

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