Another Honor for “Rose in Bloom”

My contemporary romance short, Rose in Bloom, was just named Best Novelette in the 2024 American Legacy Book Awards! The press release and full winners’ list is here.

I really did fall in love with Gareth and Rose’s story, and it makes me feel very good indeed that others have, too!

Bonus Track: “The Band Played Waltzing Matilda”

Today marks the anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign. This is a beautiful ballad about the battle; have tissues ready.

Music Monday: “Ghost of the Scrimshaw Carver”

In honor of Earth Day, here is the late Denny Laine performing an original number from a musical he wrote about climate change, Arctic Song.

Weekend Reads: “The Temps”

The Temps by Andrew DeYoung
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A clever look at modern office life in the tech world, as seen through the eyes of temporary employees facing awful circumstances.

If you’ve ever been a temp or a contractor, you know that your work is vital to the function of the organization … but you’re also an outsider. Events, all-hands, and the like? You can’t go. And that’s how this book starts. The temps are excluded from an outdoor all-hands … and then there’s a chemical weapons attack that has horrific effects on those outside.

The only survivors are the temps. One guy, Jacob, hasn’t even been through an orientation, so he’s not sure what Delphi does, but he’s determined to find out. Brent, who was a manager in one of the food courts, sets himself up as leader overseeing the supplies. Swati just wants to keep teaching yoga. And pretty soon, there are conflicts all over the place.

There are some seriously unexpected turns in this post-apocalyptic tale. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

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Music Monday: “Paint it Black” Like You’ve Never Heard it Before

Friends, I literally just discovered the Harp Twins. This is stunning.