Hey everyone, 

I literally stayed up until 2:30AM the other morning writing a new story idea.

It's going to be about a woman who falls in love with a powerful man - what is it with me and powerful men?

Like old-er powerful men...EKKKKKKK - I don't know why I like envisioning those kinds of stories - or maybe it's because of a movie I had watched the previous night that got me stuck on it.

Movie or not the truth is so many of my stories revolve around them. There's just something there. Something that draws you in. It intrigues you and begs you to ask for more.

I just like the thought of how it looks in my mind - alas your expectations in regards to reality would not be the same - it would be a let down. Better just to leave these types of things to the mind. It looks better that way. More appealing. 

So there's about fourteen chapters laid out so far pointing towards the direction I want them to head but I only wrote 3 chapters so far about 5500 words in.

Either way it felt really good - no matter the subject. I can't tell you the last time I had a story idea or the last time inspiration hit me. But it's not like I needed yet another story line - my folder already has so many in various stages ready to be written.

I am still working heavily on Unforeseen's sequel and did I mention The Queen of Hearts will eventually have a sequel - don't ask when because it'll be quite some time but I want to write one more pertaining to that story. I already have it laid out too. It won't be as savage as the original but if we are heading into the world of fantasy that we all love then there shouldn't be as much of that (to that extent) at least.

Stay safe out there && as always, I appreciate ya!

Hey everyone,

I apologize again - that it has been a while. I had a blog written about five days ago it wasn't finished at the time, so I decided to save it and finish it a different day even though I knew right then exactly what I wanted to say.

But when I opened it today those things didn't seem as important to me anymore to recap...so here, I am starting from scratch - really unsure of what to say today. It's been a while since I've been at a loss for words. Maybe it's because I'm drained just mentally and physically drained, honestly. Maybe it's because I'm doing better or maybe it's because I'm doing worse.

The PJ's I put on last night read, "Is it the weekend yet?" damn well knowing it's almost over. But even they seemed to think it just began. 

I made chicken noodle soup since I wasn't feeling the greatest - and it always amazes me how eating that kind of soup actually does feel good for the soul. There's just something about it even though I hate celery and am not very fond of carrots. I only put one carrot in LOL and a half cup of diced celery LOL. I thought it was awesome even still.



Brief Interlude...



Shall we do another diary entry of Betsey Sue Ellen McGregor? I think it's about that time...now let's see just where we left off...

Alright I got it now - 



Entry 3

"Grandmother! I'm back! And I found help!" Rahead shouted in her accent.

I could hear moaning coming from a room in the far back of the cottage. "I'm still here...dear..." a fragile sounding woman called out.

"Where is this Axle hero you speak of?" I asked unsure of why I was here helping her if someone like him was around.

Rahead spun and clasped her hand tightly over my mouth so that my lips were able to even twitch. "SHH! Don't let grandmother hear you! You'll just get her upset again!"

I snorted quietly while rolling my eyes at the behavior of her. It was just like a child to give a vague explanation that you had to live with. "But what happened to him?"

"If you must know," she whispered, already completely irritated with me. "He went off into one of the far lands to build some of their people cottages. We begged him not to go as that side of our world is very dangerous. And that's where the leader of the wolf pack lives. They call him Sabe, he's nothing like the other wolves, he's...unstopped. Their people have been having problems for centuries with the wolves hunting down the villagers and taking them away forever! Their paws are so powerful that with one swipe they can slash a cottage to pieces leaving their homes with an open slice and no protection. But Axle being hard-headed as he is, told us he had to go and help our people...about a week ago we received word from Peggy Pig that a rumor had begun circulating that Sabe had devoured Axle. grandma will hear nothing about it and I don't believe it either! Once grandma gets better my quest is to set out in search of Axle and bring him home."

"Are you nuts?" I shouted. "You could be killed!" I shook her shoulders hard until her head began to bounce around in different directions.

"It is the duty of a Hoode to protect our families from the dangers lurking in the far lands. Axle is my family. You wouldn't understand...outsider."

"Wait...a Hoode? As in Robine Hoode?" I asked excited.

"Kinda-sorta. That's my dad." My jaw dropped to the floor once she told me that.

Rahead stopped off infuriated with my observation, but she was right I was an outsider. My job was to only help her with her grandma and leave this place. So, with that, I followed her quietly into the bedroom. Her grandmother lay on the floor in the fetal position but her back appeared to be arched in a non-human way almost like something had been popped out of place.

"Put your hands her on her spine," Rahead commanded. "Apply pressure and keep perfectly still. Even the slightest movement from you will cause more damage to her." I shakily applied my hands where Rahead instructed and without warning she came crashing down hard with her fist onto her grandmother's spine. Miraculously the spine popped back into place. "Don't look so concerned this happens often with her age, I'm used to it by now but it's easier with two people."

I remained silent in complete disbelief of what I just saw.

"We have to do this together! One, two, THREE!" Rahead shouted as we hoisted her grandma back into the bed. I watched as Rahead ran circles around me straightening her nightgown and covering her with sheets.

"My br-" she croaked breathlessly.

"I know, I know - I'll get it grandma. Shh...you'll overexert yourself." Rahead went to the nightstand and picked up a hairbrush made of thick yellow strands. She softly brushed it through her grandmother's hair, removing those pieces that clung to the front of her face. "There...now you're all better!"

Catching a glimpse of her grandmother's face I couldn't help but look twice. She had a large scar across her face. It ran from the top of the hairline above her forehead all the way down to her chin in a diagonal line. One of her eyes were completely cloudy and blue leaving me to assume she was blind in that eye. She touched her scar, running her hand down it once she realized I was staring at it. I quickly looked down feeling terrible for doing so.

"We'll leave you to rest now grandma," Rahead whispered softly kissing her on the top of the forehead before pushing me out the door. "I should have told you not to stare at her, she doesn't like it and it's rude. I don't know where exactly you come from but here, we have manners!"

"I'm sorry Rahead. I didn't expect that...and you're right I should not have stared." I pulled sheepishly at my shirt while looking down at the floor.  

"I'm not going to say it's alright because it's not...but everyone does it once or twice when they first meet my grandma. You can't help it I guess."

"HEY! I thought you said-"

"Yeah, yeah - I'm a kid, I lie - that's what kids do, duh! So where are you off to now?" she said clapping her hands together in a more of a chipper mood.

"I'd like to do some exploring before I go back," I said confidently once we reached the outside of the cottage.

"Sounds like an adventure to me! I can smell it in the air!" she said holding a small axe to the sky.

"Woah, woah - easy with that thing! Someone could get hur-" I threw my hands in the air to grab her hands and pull it down to our level.

"LOOK! If you're going to treat me like a child this is NEVER going to work!" I could see Rahead's temper flair up again. She did not like the child reference at all.

"Well, I can't exactly help it you are a ch...wait what's never going to work?" I asked hesitant of what the answer might be.

"I would like to offer you a tour of the place BUT if you're going to treat me like this, I'm calling it off! I'll leave you stranded wherever we are, I know my way around this place." Rahead pounded her foot into the dirt to make a cloud of dust form in the air.

"Ok, ok - I'll try! Is that good enough for you?"

"Sounds fair..." she said picking her nails in triumph. I watched as she slung a bow around her body along with a quiver that had been leaning outside the cottage walls, before sliding the axe into a holder on her hip.

"Did your dad teach you how to use that?" I asked pointing to the bow.

"Yeah...he's the expert around here..." she said sheepishly blushing with the pride of who her father is. "And axle taught me how to use this guy." She tapped lightly on the holster holding the mini axe.

"What about saving Axle?" I asked a little concerned she may have forgotten.

"Oh yeah, he can wait - I'll get there!" she said laughing. "Let's start by heading..." Rahead used her hands to form a pair of fake binoculars as if to look off into the far distances. "This way!"

I remember waking up this morning – too early for human life – the only difference is that my mother was up.

We exchanged a few sleepy words like I love you and be careful and who could forget the usual reminder to watch for deer.

The other difference was when my alarm initially went off – I automatically knew something bad was going to happen today. I told my mother this on my way out the door and to that she asked me if I had an idea of what it could be. Probably deer I told her. Many times, when I have this feeling it’s because I almost hit one of them.
 
One day my almost will run out.
 
“Have you called anyone about your accident ma’am?” the polite officer who had stopped to check on me asked.

“No, I haven’t,” I said looking off into the distance. Usually, I liked the dark but this morning it made me feel alone and vulnerable more than anything.

“Is there someone that I may call for you ma’am?” he asked gently.

“No there isn’t officer…my parents are asleep and although they’d want me to call and wake them at a time like this, I can’t bring myself to do it. The thought of waking them up when they get such little sleep saddens me.”

“Is there no one else ma’am?” he asked once more. "Boyfriend, fiancé, husband?"

“My husband wants a divorce…” I told him – barely loud enough to hear myself speak the words. “And although we are still technically married…I know he doesn’t care enough about me anymore for me to bother him with such foolishness. Alas – there is no one else. I am alone.”

“For your safety I’d suggest you get back in your car and I’ll wait next to you in mine until the tow truck arrives.” There was a sadness in his eyes that I would’ve missed if I had blinked. He – who I could add to the list of names who felt bad for me - pitied me and looked at me with that “look.” I appreciated his kindness, but I was in no state to acknowledge it.
 
There was a Tesla in the slow lane – swaying side to side on the road and leaving off the gas as much as they put the pressure on it.

The inconsistency scared me, especially since I had been following them since home. I finally decided I was patient enough and I would pass them…not knowing then that would be my biggest mistake.
 
Just as I passed the car and switched my turn signal on to let them know I would be merging in front of them – I looked to my side mirror then straight ahead once more and there it was.

A massive deer that took up the entire fast lane. A fresh hit who was completely untouched.

Just like that I was instantly transported to another car. Here I was sitting passenger side again with no time to react. The only thing that I did was tried to keep the car as straight as possible to hit it dead center and gasp as my hand flew off the wheel and onto my mouth.
 
I was at the mercy of whatever would happen next…would my check engine light come on? Would my car now start smoking? Would the temperature begin to rise? Would my tire pressure drop? Would I hear screeching against the pavement as the parts underneath my car hung lower than an old man's sack...do excuse me that was probably crude but nevertheless not untrue, I'm sure. 
 
I’ll never forget that day…today was almost the spitting image of it.
 
Our first car ride together since mentioning the divorce. Us hitting a deer. And you telling everyone the story as if you were the only person in the car. Because you didn’t want to cause any issues being that I was in the vehicle with you…whatever that meant…I still don’t know, and I’ll never know. Nor do I care to.
 
The only thing that was obvious – that most of us women have felt at one point in time or another, was that in that moment I had gone from wife to non-existent. I was no one. I wasn’t a person. I wasn’t even a person riding in a car. It was as if you had gone through the trauma all by yourself. How quickly someone who was once the biggest part of your life dissolves away entirely like the spirit of a ghost. 
 
I don’t even think you asked me if I was okay that day after it happened…but that’s ok…I probably wouldn’t have admitted it anyway.
 
And who was the one who came to get us?
 
Because they hated the idea of leaving you on the side of the road in the pitch dark – early hours of the morning – in the cold – with no running car?
 
Need I say more?
 
They drove the forty-five minutes to pick us and up and bring us home…even after you had broken their heart and mine…
 
However, that didn’t happen this time…I called no one…and no one was with me.
 
I was alone – in the dark – in the night – in the cold.
 
If I could tell you a couple things folks – it would be...keep your eyes on the lookout for deer, watch your bends, and your hills – slow down before you get to them. What happened if there would’ve been a person there instead of a deer? Did you ever think of that?
 
What if I would’ve merged my car over as far off the road as I could and had gotten out for some unknown reason and someone came flying up over the hill – without a moment to react – striking me. It takes a split second for an accident to occur.

Just remember that.

In that half a second that you take your off of the road – you’re taking a risk.
 
Stay safe out there && as always, I appreciate ya!

Hey readers,

I'm sorry it's been a while, one day I will tell you why, but that day is not today...however I do have some exciting news for you...

I am pleased to announce Unforeseen's sequel is really getting somewhere. I am satisfied with it thus far and I hope you all will be too!

So far it looks to be a little longer of a book than Unforeseen which is good. I do enjoy when the following book(s) are larger than the last.

I can still remember the excitement of the Twilight Saga and how each book was larger than the other. You get an excited feeling just knowing there's even more than before.

God, I lived for that book in seventh grade. Late school nights just to stay up and read until exhaustion. Nothing could beat actually reading the love story in a book. It's so amazing to think that the author brings it to life more through the pages of a book than some of the movies do.

26, 571 words - 12 chapters and counting :)

I sat Unforeseen and The Queen of Hearts on a shelf near me and I can't believe the difference from my first book to my second. It's nice to see the progress along the way in every aspect of a novel and although each book may continuously improve than the last - my first one will always hold a special place in my heart.

Stay safe out there && as always, I appreciate ya!