Monday's Scoop ~ The Art of the Con ~ @oddlynn3 #LynnCrain #WontBeFooled

As many of you know, I recently returned from Austria where I had lived for five long years. It was a beautiful place that apparently has taken the time to learn from the past. Maybe it was because they were right in the middle of the fighting, maybe it was because they had birthed the evil that took over Europe, maybe it was because they are smarter than we in America are.

This column is called the Monday Scoop because I used to write all about Austria but today, I’m going to write about the US. Normally, I don’t try to be political here nor do I try to influence those around me. I have a live and let live policy because I believe that’s what people need to do. I shouldn’t ever tell you how to live. Ever.

But I can give people my opinion. See, I believe that every day Americans are conned. We’re conned into believing all politicians are bad, we’re conned into believing the lies that the media feeds us and we’re conned into believing exactly what the media says. We’re conned into believing religion in ways we were never taught. No matter what it is or who it’s about. And what’s even worse, we as a society and nation allow this to happen.

WTF?!?! Sorry to be so blunt there but just when did we become a nation or society of lemmings? It used to be that all of us had opinions…our own opinions…and while we might have sided occasionally with what the media said, we very rarely bought the whole kit-n-caboodle because we understood that the main criteria of being in the media was sensationalism. Just how many of us live a life where everything is sensationalized?

Very few of us walk the red carpet. Very few of us can go and get whatever car or house or furniture we want because of finances. Very few of us can walk into somewhere and say ‘Hey, I’m so and so’ then people start catering to our every need. But we have allowed that to happen to tons of people who don’t deserve the accolades. To people who are basically divas or assholes. Or those who degrade men, women and children for who they are or what they believe while they themselves will lie to keep out of trouble.

We need to go back to where we’re putting the everyday hero back on the front page. Where we’re helping out our neighbors without a thought to ourselves. Where we make America great because we are a great people. No one person can ever do that. Not one.  

That’s where we’re allowing ourselves to be conned. This is a team effort everyone. It’s a top-d0wn decision that won’t ever happen if a billionaire is in the lead. Especially when that billionaire really only cares about his own bottom line. He doesn’t pay taxes, he’s been married three times, he doesn’t pay the little guy what he’s owed and he doesn’t manage his money well even though it appears that he does. He just spends, spends, spends and bulldozes everything in his path. Including us.

Actually, me and others like me, should already be in his class but we’re not. I mean, I’ve managed my money and done well but I will never consider myself in his class even when I do have millions. Why you may ask…because I know that greatness comes from within…not outside myself. Instead of making this country great, let’s first tackle the people. Let’s make them value their selves and it will make this country great because we all will have a can-do attitude again. When a person believes that they can succeed at whatever they want, it shows and it happens.

Then there is the fact that I would never willingly take advantage of another person. I would never take your sorrow and make you feel worse, I would never take your disadvantage and use it against you. I wasn’t taught that way and I would always remember this is one world. It has a limited life just like me and I need to live my life to the fullest, the best way I can.

And I try to live by the golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I personally want the best for every human being on this planet. I don’t care if you’re rich, poor, black, white, Hispanic, Native American, LGBT or any other acronym that may pop up in the universe. I believe in the fundamental right of every one to live their life in liberty, in the pursuit of happiness with justice for all. I mean every man, woman and child regardless.

I feel this way because I feel good about me. Yeah, to look at me, you might wonder why this middle-aged, overweight, woman feels that way. Because it’s always been my opinion that if you don’t like yourself, you’ll never like the world around you. You need to first like yourself, pursue some goals and achieve those goals before you truly can be happy with the world around you.

I like me. I love the life I have. Sure, I’m not above complaining and lamenting things but when push comes to shove, I am happy. I have what I need and I don’t mind sharing. I believe in everyone’s fundamental rights and I always try to see the big picture.  

I would love to tell you to vote for Hillary but that isn’t my style. I hope you do because for once we truly have a qualified candidate if you look at the resumes only. No one has ever had the practical experience and the education like that woman does. She would make each and every one of us proud if all could just get over being conned by the media.

But to truly get to the heart of the problem, look at the person in the mirror and make it right for you. Let’s not repeat a history none of us want. Let’s not be lemmings. Let’s not be fooled again just like the Who song states.

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again
No, no!

From the album “Who’s Next” ~ We Won’t Be Fooled Again ~ 1971

Let’s make this about us and not about them.

See you all next week!

Lynn

Winner! ~ @oddlynn3 #LynnCrain #$25AmazonGC #amawarding #amgivingaway

And now for the moment you’ve all be waiting for…

Dina

Come on down!

Please email me asap at lynncrain@cox.net for confirmation of your email.

Congrats to all who entered…hope to see more of you enter next time…see you on February 23^rd with the next $25 Amazon gift certificate.

Thanks everyone…you’re the best!

Lynn 

My So-Called Writing Life ~ @oddlynn3 #LynnCrain #amwriting #amediting #NCIS

Well, I finally did it. Between the packing and insomnia and just general blahs, I’ve hurt my back. When I twist it funny, I usually turn introspective and think about what I should be, could be and want to be doing. Anything other than the pain.

But writing can be a painful experience not unlike a back ache and it makes me wonder why so many people continue if it is that painful. Sure, getting the voices out of your head and on screen or paper is the best way to come to grips with the writer in you but if it’s downright painful…nah…I don’t get it.

Yeah, I get the part that the plot needs to be just so and that the grammar Nazis might be out to get you. Yes, you want everything perfect but at what price? Yes, writing is my life but my life is rich and full and so much more than I ever expected when I was twelve and started on this journey. I’ve also learned nothing is perfect as perfection is an illusion slung by those who feel they are perfect. Pity them as they miss out on so much with their search and illusion of perfection. I repeat, nothing is perfect. Right now, the height of perfection to me is getting the words down on that screen during this chaotic period in my life. Editing will come later. Submission will come later as will publication.

So no, I don’t see these down times as bad per se but more enlightening. If I’m not writing or sitting in my chair every waking moment, I’m studying through a variety of online classes, movies and TV series. With my current back ache, I can’t stand to be in bed too long as it makes my back hurt more but I can’t walk much either. There are some times when I can’t sit up for long periods and all I can do is be in bed. I’m happy that this time I’m up more than I’m down.

The one thing I can’t control however is my wandering mind. Pain does that to me and the main thing it hurts is my focus. And in writing, focus is everything. One must focus on their story in order to get it down and as correct as possible. One must love their story and nurture it from cradle to grave and beyond. It is why writers’ write.

When focus is just beyond my reach, I don’t let my mind flounder and figure out ways to make me miserable, yes writers have that wonderful knack for doing just that. I find ways to expand my mind. And like many writers, I binge on TV series. For the last few months, whenever I’ve had insomnia, I watched NCIS from the start to the current season.

And all I can say is wow. Wow because I can’t believe I missed an awesome series all these years but watching those character arcs as well as the storylines themselves is a chance to learn about characterization. The setting is pretty much the same and there are very few episodes when it comes into play. When it does, it changes the whole schematic of the series but I digress.

Watching the characters’ grow is something I can’t always get from a writing craft book as I’m a visual person. See things on the screen and suddenly, I get some portion of character building that I didn’t get before. It helps me on so many different levels as my books are all about the characters. Sure setting and plot are there too but they all enhance the characters. Having character driven plots is brought home in a weekly series. Alas, now I have to find another series I can learn something from to watch.

I forgot my love of TV being here in Europe for the past 5 years. My husband could never understand why I liked to watch TV and while here, I got why he didn’t so even though we have cable, it’s rarely watched and just part of my internet package. However, over here, I realized that by not watching TV, I’m not as creative as I once was and that bums me out horribly. I think I’ve always known that as I love to go to the movies, have a DVR night at home with my youngest who’s an actor and all those things that stimulated me.

I’ve always said that you can find an idea anywhere and it’s so very true. I still can take a walk, come back and write down at least three to five ideas for a story. Years ago, I would have taken at least half of them to develop. Now, I’m lucky if I find one that makes me see the story when it takes me. And it’s all because I haven’t been poked and prodded through outside stimuli as before.

If nothing else, that is what I’m looking forward to…a rousing time with my writer friends, family and more…as well as being back fully on the writer’s train. Imperfections and all. And I’ll remember this year, it will be all about me and my writing. See you all next week. Until then…

Lynn 

Monday’s Austria Scoop ~ @oddlynn3 #LynnCrain #AWriterInVienna

Hi Everyone!

Sorry that I’m again late for this column. The trouble is all I’ve been doing is organizing, packing and disposing of things we’ve declared to be trash. That’s a full time job in itself. And it’s sad really as I haven’t done too much in Austria this past week at all.

The weather was wonderful and that has made me cringe at the fact that I’m tied up indoors packing. Which is both necessary and needs to be done before the movers get here for a variety of reasons. One is we’re going to have company next weekend and it’s good to finally getting a few more family members here to this wonderful city. Second, I just need more organization as this chaos is driving me crazy.

It’s the type of chaos that occurs when nothing is set. I mean, there are some things I can set like when the movers will arrive. At least I hope they’ll arrive since the contract hasn’t been awarded yet but that’s another story. Another item I can set is everything with Pup Harry, who is the subject of this week’s pictures. He got his haircut and the only other thing he needs is his vet visit, some papers signed then he’s good to go for his trips.

Wish I could say the same for us. My husband has to work right up until a day before we leave. He did get two moving days off and hopefully, next Monday and Tuesday off for the family visit. Otherwise, we are here in Vienna for the duration. No side trips, nothing to except to pack and get ready to go back to the States.

Never mind that I’ve hurt my back somehow packing things. And it’s the one thing that will keep me down, not exercising, not moving much and totally in pain. I was down today but will hopefully back tomorrow.

So I leave you with some great pictures of Pup Harry around the flat. His hair cut is wonderful and all can once again see the lightning bolt on his head. It’s the reason he was named Harry Potter and a bunch more things I can't remember. Yes, pedigreed dogs have names as long as royals. Frankly, I think it’s a trend that we need to do for all pups as well as getting them a pet passport. More on that one later!

Pup Harry's Downward Dog as he helps with the packing of the office

Pup Harry thinking about leaving the office saying 'I'm done packing'

Pup Harry begging me to give up writing and packing to play

Pup Harry on the bathroom rug looking cute!

Hope you enjoyed this little look into Austria and beyond. See you all next week!

Lynn 

My So-Called Writing Life ~ @oddlynn3 #LynnCrain #amwriting #amediting

I had a migraine yesterday and my head felt like it was going to explode. It’s been years since I’ve had my last one but since I’ve been extra stressed these last few weeks, I guess it all caught up with me. Add to that a whole slew of hot flashes, which I haven’t had in a long time either, and my body was just done.

So I decided right in the middle of all my head throbbing that I needed to concentrate on all the good things going on. Yes, there are stressful things happening in my life but none of them are bad. I’ve been stressed for coordinating a cross-country trip from Washington DC to home. Now, this is something that I’ve been waiting for a long time and it shouldn’t stress me out at all.

No, it should make me happy that I’m going to see relatives that I haven’t seen in years. We need those times to bond with family and that is nothing to stress about. Sure, it’s hard to pin down my husband and get him to make decisions. But I can try to make some preliminary decisions and present the package to him. And while I don’t like to be in charge of everything, I can handle it for a little while before I throw in the towel. If nothing else, I will know that things have been done correctly and not haphazardly thrown together just to get them done.

I see my writing like that. I write fast and sometimes, I wish I wrote slow, really slow. I’ll be honest, I have slowed down from what I used to do. I try to put it down on the screen correctly just once. But sometimes my head and my hands get ahead of what I have planned and it is more like a data dump yet better formed. On my very best day ever, I wrote over 13k words and then I couldn’t do much for a while.

Yeah, I used to be the data dump queen, at least in my mind, and I couldn’t understand why things weren’t flowing like they should. So I do know that I’ve become better over the years. And to be honest, I love writing fast. I mean if I didn’t, I would not have completed 50k in January and that’s what I did. Sure, like I’ve said before, I know that a whole lot of editing will be going on but at least it’s down and on the page.

I really am a big believer of the Nora Roberts’ philosophy of ‘I can’t fix a blank page.’ It is the one motto that every writer needs to take to heart. None of us can fix it if it isn’t down to fix. None of us can get better if we don’t try again and again and again. And it doesn’t matter what you are trying. It could be life, it could be baseball or rugby or it can be writing. Doing makes perfect and putting it on the page is doing.

I guess my thought for this week is that one needs to do, no matter in what, in order to accomplish what one wants. And believe me, I’ve waited a long, long time for my writing career to take off.

This year, it will be all about me and my writing. See you all next week. Until then…

Lynn 

Monday’s Austria Scoop ~ @oddlynn3 #LynnCrain #AWriterInVienna

Hi Everyone!

Sorry that I haven’t been keeping up with this column since basically Spain. There are a lot of things going on in my life and unfortunately, something had to give and it was the Monday/Tuesday columns of my blog. I did post one for January 25^th, so don’t forget to comment on that one as I will be giving away that $25 Amazon gift certificate tomorrow or Wednesday as I want to give people some time to comment.

As some of you may know, this column will soon be turning into a reflection on my time here in Austria as opposed to first-hand knowledge. I’ll be moving permanently back to the US on March 6. But we’ll be doing some vacation first in the east then travel across country to visit aging relatives and to see the country we’ve been away from.

But we still have a few weeks in Austria and I need to give you a few more columns regarding my time here…so here goes!

All I can say is, poor trees and other vegetation. This is not normal for here and since the trees didn’t shed their leaves until late October, I’m sure they are not happy at all. Last week, it was going between hot and cold. This week it has been nothing but warm. Like in the 40s-50s and 60s. Today was a scorcher at 65 degrees. No coat necessary here.

Frankly, from what I’ve been hearing, it’s been warmer here than at home. Matter of fact, it snowed there today. So much so that all the mountains around the Vegas area had snow on them. Imagine that. They’ve had lots of snow there during my time here in Austria.

I realize that I didn’t show you much from December this year and all the pictures today are from then. In front of the Rathuas this year, one of the trees was colored red-white-blue in honor of France once again. We are still feeling the terrible effects of horrible day now. Another bunch shows something very interesting that happened to us while we were at the Karlskirche Adventmarkt one day. It seems they were celebrating Carnival or something as a lot of the Buskers came out to show us their stuff. Last shows the Christkindlemarkt at Schonbrunn Palace. Sorry about the quality but I was taking them as fast as I could.

Salute to France

Looking toward Rathaus from the corner

The beginning of the Busker Parade

The Busker Parade

The Buskers move on

Christkindlemarkt at Schonbrunn

 Hope you enjoyed this little look into Austria and beyond. See you all next week!

Lynn 

My So-Called Writing Life ~ @oddlynn3 #LynnCrain #amwriting #amediting #amstressed

I have been in writer’s hell. And no, it isn’t about the writing either.

We finally get to go home and while it’s sad for my husband, I’m in heaven in so many ways. Now don’t get me wrong as I am sad to be leaving my fabulous flat with the horrid location and the many friends I’ve finally made here. For me, it means that I can finally concentrate on my career with my goals.

See, when I’m in the States, I can do that easily as there is very little time I have to spend on my husband’s things. Here, it’s been all about him and while he doesn’t see it that way, it’s just the way it is. I’ve had to deal with things over here that I would have never had to deal about at home.

I mean, I don’t have to file health insurance claims because those are all done automatically in the US. Here, because we have private insurance, it has been my job to get all those things together and file them. Here, I have to remind the husband to not forget our train tickets so we can get around. At home, if I use his car, I fill it up with gas and we’re good.

There are so many no-brainer things that must be done here that it’s driven me crazy the whole time we’ve lived here. I’m constantly sending the DH lists on what to get at the commissary. Or remind him that we need things from the pharmacy. At home, I can just go pick them up myself. Here there is a total reliance on each other to do what the other asks that it can be…well…disconcerting. I hate being separated by the language thing and though many would say that it’s my fault, I was already learning a language when I arrived and didn’t want to add to that confusion.

So, we’re finally getting ready to go home and I have deadlines I need to meet before we leave. I am also the coordinator of all things travel, this includes coming up with the ways to get between places as well as lodging that can include a pet and other considerations. Again, not that it’s rocket science or anything but I already had my own deadlines and now I have our deadlines. And our deadlines have put me into a writer’s hell.

Why you may ask. Well…first, it makes me stressed and I’m not sleeping…then I’m thinking too much of all the things that can go wrong. Yes, yes, I know I can do it all but it has just hyped my stress level out of this world.

However, that being said, I am also finding my solace in writing. Meaning, I’m producing a lot and some of it isn’t as good as I want it to be. I guess I’ll be editing lots more.

But that’s okay…at least I’m writing.

See you all next week. Until then…

Lynn 

Monday’s Austria Scoop ~ @oddlynn3 #LynnCrain #AWriterInVienna

Hi Everyone!

Sorry I’m so terribly late on everything. With deadlines and my moving home, my time is no longer my own as I try to just keep my head above water. But I did promise you all that I would put something up this week.

The weather here has been odd to say the least and I hear it’s that way worldwide. This last weekend, we went from a blizzard on a Saturday, to a melt with rain on Sunday, to full blown rain on Monday and by Tuesday it was nearing 60 degrees. This made for a very interesting time.

But Austria desperately needs snow as it’s what keeps the springs going and the ski tourism is great for the economy here. It’s only been recently that we’ve felt the recession even dig it’s claws in. However, that does not pull away from the overall beauty of the country.

This place is normally gorgeous in the winter and this one has been no different overall. At least for the times we’ve had snow. The pictures are from that wild weekend and I still can’t believe it only lasted for a day. I mean, the flakes were so big and pretty and I so wanted to have one more snow day while I was here.

It was too hard to get pictures during the day, so I decided to try and get some at night. They are all from the evening walk with Pup Harry.

Snowing in front of French Embassy

Pup Harry in his snow boots

Snowing behind Karlskirche

 

Pup Harry's shadow

Hope you enjoyed this little look into Austria and beyond. See you all next week!

Lynn 

Our Sexy New Year ~ @oddlynn3 #LynnCrain #MySexySaturday #MySexyAuthors #MSS123

Welcome to week 123^rd week of My Sexy Saturday. This week’s theme is Our Sexy New Year. This theme can mean a lot to a person. It can mean a year full of resolutions and goals. It could mean a year full of love with that special someone. And for some, it could be not so good but they are hopeful as the first month rolls in.  
While I don’t have a story specifically about the New Year, I do have a series that’s all about hope and love and new beginnings. The series is my Santa’s Elves series and I can’t wait to finish it out this year. But for this week, I’ll be posting something from the fifth story in the series, An Elf’s Magic. This is definitely one of my favorite series and I can’t wait to get back into it.

There will be a Monday’s Austria Scoop and Tuesday’s My So-Called Writing Life this week as I’m back from taking a total vacation because of the holidays. It’s good to be back but I am super busy and you’ll get the whole scoop on it this week.

The $25 Amazon Gift Certificate is still up for grabs. I will give it out on Sunday, January 31, 2016. So comment often for a chance that at wonderful gift.

This week’s story is An Elf’s Magic. It’s the 5^th book in the series about a special elf family that runs Santa’s workshop. Here’s the setup:

Lacey Sinclair wants to be a doctor but life and circumstance has made that path impossible.  Given the chance at the job of a lifetime and the promise of enough money to see her through med school, she is hesitant. Something draws her to one certain man that she can’t put her finger on. Her body is alive and her mind sharp, focused when she’s near him. So before she can live the life of her dreams, she must discover just who Cuinn Lochlin is to her and her future. 

Here’s my seven paragraphs from An Elf’s Magic:

“Ah, hell—” Cuinn swooped down on her and captured her lips with his. He couldn’t help himself. From the moment she walked into the conference room that morning, all he could think about was having her in his arms. He should have told his father at the wedding last year about his desire for her, but her place hadn’t cemented in his heart yet. Now there would be no stopping their bonding.

Gently, he pulled back and gazed at her. “I’ll stop if you want me to.”

Lacey quickly shook her head. “No. I’ve never felt something so right.” She pulled his head back to her and his lips captured hers with no tenderness this time, just a hard, raw need.

Still, he knew she needed tender after what had happened to her this past year. Changing the tone of his onslaught, Cuinn gently sucked her bottom lip and ran his hands softly down her arms. Rewarded with a slight shiver, his body tightened in response to her body’s signals as his caress slipped around to her soft buttocks.

The rapid beat of her heart drummed against him, showing how aroused she truly was. She would be the core of his world and he wanted everything to be right for their first time, so trying hard to remember all the lessons on sex from his father. First, he put up his shields knowing some people in the city would feel the energy. Then, he snapped the glamour spell more firmly around himself because there were some things she couldn’t know until they had reached the North Pole. Cuinn only hoped she would forgive him once all had been revealed.

Breaking off the kiss, he breathed hard as he gently cupped her face in his hands. “Tell me to stop right now and I will because you have to be very, very sure you want this to happen.”

“I am…believe me…I am,” she whispered.

This story is currently available at my traditional ePublisher, eXtasy Books. Here’s a full list of Santa’s Elves series of books:

The View From Santa’s Sleigh

The Thing About Elves

An Elf’s Desire

A Love for Eggther

An Elf’s Magic

Giselle’s Elf

An Elf’s Love

Fluke

While you’re there check out the sale they are still having on a few more of my books. And yes, some of the books from my Santa’s Elves series are on sale. Don’t forget to pick up your copies today!

The Thing About Elves ~ Book 2 in the Santa’s Elves series

The Haunting of Maggie Grey ~ Award-winning Scottish Historical about a woman doctor

Captive Illusions: Iain and Kelsey ~ Story about a woman’s darkest fantasy

Fluke ~ Book 1 of the Orchid series, sci-fi romance

An Elf’s Desire ~ Book 3 in the Santa’s Elves series

A Love for Eggther ~ Book 3.5 in the Santa’s Elves series

Shopping Spree ~ Story about a very special dress shop

Please visit all the great authors at the My Sexy Saturday weekly blog hop listed below. Their sexy snippets will keep you back for more. If you do, please share via Facebook or Twitter. It helps out a lot and every author appreciates it each and every time. If you’d like to do them all at once, search for the #hashtag #MySexySaturday or #MySexyAuthors to get all tweets of the day then retweet them to your heart’s content. You can even search by the #hashtags on Facebook and share the posts there as well. Remember, we love each and every one of you!

See you all next week with more My Sexy Saturday!

Lynn 

Her Sexy Fantasy ~ @oddlynn3 #LynnCrain #MySexySaturday #MySexyAuthors #MSS121

Welcome to week 121^st week of My Sexy Saturday. This week’s theme is Her Sexy Fantasy and I just love this theme though I don’t use it very often. Not that I haven’t thought about that as it’s a wonderful trope but just not one that’s easy for me to write about.

So, I had to really dig deep to find story where I’d used it well. The only story I really found was the very first story of mine that was published. This story is one where I walk the fine line between erotic romance and erotica.

Still I’ve not got the Monday’s Austria Scoop and Tuesday’s My So-Called Writing Life columns up recently and there’s no excuse. Unless you want to call starting a resistance and excuse. Yeah, the presidential race in America has me thinking that a resistance needs to be started. If you’re wondering just what all I’m talking about, just go check out my Facebook page and you’ll see it in all its glory. I really do plan to be more consistent. Sigh.

Between now and Christmas I do plan to give out a $25 Amazon Gift Certificate. Now remember, I’m just choosing a random day to give out this Amazon GC. Only had one comment last week and that name will be put in the hat for the $25 AGC. So comment often for a chance that at wonderful gift.

This week’s novella is Captive Illusions: Iain and Kelsy. Here’s the setup:

Every woman holds deep inside her a dark fantasy.  Some dream of forced sex, some dream of being tied up, others dream of being swept away to a place from which she can’t escape, some dream of places and times in the past and others still dream about the forgotten realms where vampires, werewolves, elves and more exist…no woman knows how she’s going to react until it happens.  And sometimes that fear and anger at being controlled turns into a wanton desire that even the most frigid ice queen can not deny. 

Here’s my seven paragraphs from Captive Illusions: Iain and Kelsy:

“I’ll tell you if we can talk about...our fantasies.”

Kelsey lifted her head and arched her eyebrow. “Fantasies...where did that come from?” They had gotten quite friendly in the last few months, but she didn’t know if she was ready for this.

“You do remember our last conversation?”

Kelsey frowned, trying to remember the last time she had seen him. Queuing in on the specific moment, she closed her eyes and sighed. She had only promised because he said he would tell her about his life, if she told him all about her fantasies the next time they saw each other. “I remember.”

He smiled at her then, and she knew he wasn’t going to let her out of this. It had taken him weeks to maneuver her into this position. He wanted to know about her fantasies...her sexual fantasies...and he was going to push until he got what he wanted from her.

“Did I tell you that you look beautiful tonight?” He placed his hand in the small of her back and led her outside to a table on the far side of the pool.

Kelsey didn’t know whether he was bluffing or telling the truth. She dressed simply tonight because it was a hot desert night. She wore a sage green sundress, sandals and no makeup. Underneath her dress a lacy thong touched her skin, something her roommates had talked her into, and nothing else. She almost regretted wearing it, but the way it moved against her body when she walked made her glad she had taken the risk. 

This story is currently available at my traditional ePublisher, eXtasy Books, and is on sale. While you’re there check out the sale they are still having on a few more of my books. Don’t forget to pick up your copies today!

The Thing About Elves ~ Book 2 in the Santa’s Elves series

The Haunting of Maggie Grey ~ Award-winning Scottish Historical about a woman doctor

Captive Illusions: Iain and Kelsey ~ Story about a woman’s darkest fantasy

Fluke ~ Book 1 of the Orchid series, sci-fi romance

An Elf’s Desire ~ Book 3 in the Santa’s Elves series

A Love for Eggther ~ Book 3.5 in the Santa’s Elves series

Shopping Spree ~ Story about a very special dress shop

Please visit all the great authors at the My Sexy Saturday weekly blog hop listed below. Their sexy snippets will keep you back for more. If you do, please share via Facebook or Twitter. It helps out a lot and every author appreciates it each and every time. If you’d like to do them all at once, search for the #hashtag #MySexySaturday or #MySexyAuthors to get all tweets of the day then retweet them to your heart’s content. You can even search by the #hashtags on Facebook and share the posts there as well. Remember, we love each and every one of you!

See you all next week!

Lynn 

A Sexy Galaxy ~ @oddlynn3 #LynnCrain #MySexySaturday #MySexyAuthors #MSS120

Welcome to week 120^th week of My Sexy Saturday. This week’s theme is A Sexy Galaxy and this has to be one of my favorite themes. I love writing sci-fi romance. Think Star Wars or Star Trek and throw in a little Galaxy Quest then you’ll have my idea of favorite sci-fi movies. Add a little Battlestar Galatica, Deep Space Nine or even Dark Matter and you’ll get more of a hint of what I like. I guess you could say that I’m a sci-fi kinda girl.

Still, writing science fiction romance isn’t as easy as it seems. See the technology needs to have some basis in reality then once the author gets hold of that knowledge, all they need to do is to twist it just a little and make it our own. That’s what I did in my story More Than Robotics. In that book I used nanites to help the good guys achieve their goals. This technology is just now coming into its own and I love using them.

I apologize for not doing Monday’s Austria Scoop and Tuesday’s My So-Called Writing Life columns this week. I’m still reeling from the recent events in Europe then the events in California just made things look even more surreal. While I didn’t know any of the victims, there was always a chance that I could have since we have friends in the area. Let’s just say the whole thing isn’t good as I don’t understand what is going on in the world. It’s a sad time and hopefully, we can get back to not having to look over our shoulder soon. I do plan to put up the columns this week and other than the holidays, I promise to be better.

I did have someone comment this week and Rayne Forrest is the winner of last week’s $5 Amazon Gift Certificate. Now remember, I’m just choosing a random day to give these $5 Amazon GCs. This week, it can be a choice of that or one of my stories if you’d like that. Just let me know. And yes, I did say I’d be letting everyone know on Thursday the winner but last Thursday was Thanksgiving and I don’t even think I was online that day. Sorry but I can guarantee that the winner will be posted here next Saturday at the very least.  

Here’s the setup of my novella, More Than Robotics:

There were only three things in life that Captain Bekka Taylor wanted in life: 1) Command of a Warrior Class Star Marauder, 2) To grow old gracefully and 3) A lover who understood her fiery nature. She was accomplishing two out of her three objectives very nicely when an internal IUA conflict begins to encompass the whole world as she knows it. Then Lieutenant Javed Malik comes aboard, clearly younger than she, with dreamy eyes and a secret meant only for her. But letting him in means getting rid of years of frustration and anguish and maybe her career. Can she survive another war or the smoldering looks from her junior officer sent to protect her 24/7?

Here’s my seven paragraphs from More Than Robotics:

“That’s all for now and it’s most of what I know. But we all share the same concerns as I’m sure you have. Javed has the specifics on our next contact. And please don’t get mad at me for the unconventional way I have instructed him to give those orders to you. It was necessary.”

I turned to look at him suspiciously. “What is she talking about?”

In less than the blink of an eye, he was again by my side, pulling me up from my chair, his hands taking my face to gaze in my eyes. “Don’t struggle,” he whispered close to my ear. “I think we have prying eyes.” His lips came down fiercely on mine, his tongue snaking in to dominate me and I wanted to do the very thing he asked that I not do. Instead I tried to let myself enjoy the moment as it had been quite some time since I had had this type of human contact.

My hands gripped his waist and pulled him even closer to me. I could feel his legs press harder into me as his arms went completely around me. Within moments, I could feel the hard bulge of his body and mine responded in kind. There was nothing more I wanted to do except rip his clothes off that luscious male form.

He pulled away from me and shuddered, resting his forehead against mine. “We should really stop right now.” His brown eyes looked deep into mine and I nearly passed out as his next words flashed across my consciousness. You are an amazing woman and rest assured, we will finish this.

The last bit had exploded across my brain and I raised a shaky hand to rub my forehead. It was as if he were right inside me, whispering his thoughts.

Don’t fight it. Let it happen. The clonedroids helped us to perfect one of their technologies for our use. This is the major way they communicate between each other. You are now the proud owner of some audiobotic nanotechnology. They attach to your nerves for hearing and other pertinent areas of your brain associated with the function. From now on, we’ll be able to communication this way as we are attuned only to each other. No one else is on this frequency.

This story is currently available at my traditional ePublisher, eXtasy Books. While you’re there check out the sale they are still having on some of my books. Also, on December 10^th, More Than Robotics will be the Book of the Day and offered at a great discount. Don’t forget to pick up your copies today!

The Thing About Elves ~ Book 2 in the Santa’s Elves series

The Haunting of Maggie Grey ~ Award-winning Scottish Historical about a woman doctor

Captive Illusions: Iain and Kelsey ~ Story about a woman’s darkest fantasy

Fluke ~ Book 1 of the Orchid series, sci-fi romance

An Elf’s Desire ~ Book 3 in the Santa’s Elves series

A Love for Eggther ~ Book 3.5 in the Santa’s Elves series

Shopping Spree ~ Story about a very special dress shop

Please visit all the great authors at the My Sexy Saturday weekly blog hop listed below. Their sexy snippets will keep you back for more. If you do, please share via Facebook or Twitter. It helps out a lot and every author appreciates it each and every time. If you’d like to do them all at once, search for the #hashtag #MySexySaturday or #MySexyAuthors to get all tweets of the day then retweet them to your heart’s content. You can even search by the #hashtags on Facebook and share the posts there as well. Remember, we love each and every one of you!

See you all next week!

Lynn