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Ben Jeapes

@benjeapes.bsky.social

Husband, stepfather, ghostwriter and author whose work spans two millennia.

282 Posts184 Follower 241 Folgt

Juliet E McKenna @julietemckenna.bsky.social · 19h ago

Book Quote Wednesday's word is 'pass' #BookQW #BookSky This is Dan Mackmain's first visit to Ireland. So many things look familiar, it would be easy to assume it isn't really any different to home. Dan knows better. He's been reading up on Irish folklore. The Green Man's Debt - 10th September 2026.

Cover art by Ben Baldwin for The Green Man's Debt by Juliet E McKenna. A grey wolf with pale eyes stands in the shadows of a derelict building with a black and white tiled floor. The wolf is looking straight at you. Its snarl reveals blood on its teeth and jaw.

Book extract reads: We were coming up to the bridge he had mentioned. It was as wide as the road through the town and built from the same grey stone. The ornamental balustrades reminded me of the fountain in the marketplace. I guessed the same mason had done the work.
The Defender’s high driving seat meant I could see over the balustrades as we crossed the bridge. The river wasn’t overly wide, but it was flowing fast. The water was too dark for me to guess at its depth. Rain running off those distant hills must pass through peat bogs before it joined the flow.
Back home, I’d have reckoned there was a decent chance of finding a naiad in there. The ones I’d met would love a river like this. I wondered who or what might have claimed these waters. I realised I hadn’t asked Eimer or Máirtín who or what would accuse a dryad and a sylph of trespassing. I decided to talk to Conn about that first. He’d know the best time to raise it. If we needed to raise it.

Thomas Wrightson (he/him)@thomaswrightson.bsky.social · 17h ago

Book Quote Wednesday's word is 'pass' #BookQW The crew of the Benbow reach their destination, and find signs of abandonment. And an unpleasant smell. #scifi #horror #spaceopera #writingcommunity #BookSky💙📚

All the ships were docked within three minutes, and they became a part of the great rotating spinning top above its dark landlord. Preparations to get aboard were made swiftly, and soon Syndac was in the docking area with her chosen party. Sinestra and Dexter were with her, along with Livesey, Lenore, and Alkmeney. The latter two looked uncomfortable. Solet and Faarax remained in the makeshift cell “until they were needed.” In truth, Syndac still did not trust them enough to let them out.
“Better they stay locked up until their spirits are willing.” Her words to Sinestra, and Sinestra’s silent agreement, were more than enough confirmation of her choice. “You know what to do.”
The first door opened. The party passed inside. The second door opened. A draft of cool air, tinged with the taste of ancient metal and oxygen recycling processes, blew in their faces. They walked out into the large docking bay. It was around the same size as the Benbow’s warp drive, massive in every sense for something so out of the way. Lenore whistled, the note echoing up until it was lost.
Dexter whistled. “They knew how to build places. We’ll make a killin’ just from the stuff in this hanger.”
“Sure, but….” Sinestra wrinkled her nose. “Why does it smell so bad. Like an old filter.”
“Old-fashioned oxygen recycling.” Livesey replied automatically. “And it hasn’t been in use for some time.”

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · 16h ago

It's Book Quote Wednesday and the word is PASS. The Clayton Paul Blues Band is poised for stardom - a tour of Germany, a recording session on their return. But then Clay makes an announcement... #BookQW #BookSky #LGBTQreads

“That’s just it, Kai. This is a huge project. It’s a fantastic opportunity. I’ll be in right at the ground floor. I need to be there. I’ve promised them I’ll be there.”
Ah. This is goodbye, then.
“So what happens to the Clayton Paul Blues Band? What happens to the tour? Köln, Aachen, Berlin? All those German punters waiting to see us two weeks from now?”
Clay wouldn’t meet my eye.
“I can’t pass this up, Kai. It’s a dream opportunity for me.”
“And you can’t wait?”
“They won’t wait. I aced that interview, but there’s a bunch of guys almost as good, ready to start tomorrow. White guys.”

Stephanie Burgis @stephanieburgis.bsky.social · 15h ago

It's Book Quote Wednesday! This week's word is pass, and in Snowspelled, in the aftermath of escaping a troll attack with her ex-fiancé, Cassandra Harwood is having some very intense & unhelpful feelings that she'd hoped would have passed by now... books2read.com/snowspelled #bookqw #romancelandia

The cover of Snowspelled, by Stephanie Burgis, shows a young woman in Regency-style clothing under a long and gorgeous coat holding a lantern amidst swirling, magical snow. The snippet of text beside it reads: “Hmm.” It might be reasonable to grant even the most accomplished magician the benefit of the doubt when he’d been forced to cast a spell at a moment’s notice, in the midst of deadly peril. And yet…
I gave my ex-fiancé a suspicious look. Now that the immediate peril had passed, I could finally take note of our position … and with his arms braced on either side of my head, he covered me entirely, radiating warmth through his greatcoat in the most distracting manner.
I had thought, once upon a time, that we fitted together perfectly. But I had never before had the chance to test that theory quite so literally.
What nonsense. I shifted beneath him, trying to ease the disconcerting tingling sensations that were suddenly running through me.
Unfortunately, that movement only made them more intense.

L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 15h ago

It's Book Quote Wednesday and the word is PASS THE WALLED CITY has battles and the aftermath of battles. And for some characters there's a first battle... #bookqw #WritingCommunity

Left side of image is the cover of THE WALLED CITY, fifth book of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. Cover is silver gray and white and shows a man facing a distant, fantastic city.

Right side of image is a text excerpt from THE WALLED CITY:

Hans darted to the nearest structure of any size, the high grand steps of a nearby building. A bronze bull, life-size and imposing, stood guard upon an impressive stone plinth. Good. Dropping to his knees behind the plinth, he heaved over and vomited onto the flagstones. Wet and hot, bile splashed onto his trousers.
The stain mingled with the blood of men he had killed.
A shadow fell upon Hans. “Well aren’t you a pretty sight! A damn king who can’t stand battle gore.”
From his knees, Hans glanced up at Nalf. Battered and blood-streaked, the Thegnard wore a frown like a condemning judge. Hans’s stomach rebelled again and he bent over, heaving, then catching back his breath. To his surprise, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Firm. Reassuring.
“First battle?”
Hans nodded. His sickness seemed to have passed. He hoped it had passed. Maybe it would if he could just close his mind to the gore. Tentatively, he wiped his sleeve across his mouth. Blood... and now vomit. The blood was someone else’s; he had taken no wounds.
“So you’re alive and they’re not. You could look happier about it.” Nalf gave Hans’s shoulder a final squeeze. “Pull yourself together, lad. Say you’ve seen all seven hells and be done with that. But find your balls and get on your feet!”

C M Debell @cmdebell.bsky.social · 15h ago

It's Book Quote Wednesday and the word is 'pass'. Here's a snippet from Silver Dawn, the second book in my epic fantasy duology The Long Dream. #writingcommunity #writesky #bookqw #indiefantasy 💙📚🪐

Front cover of Silver Dawn by CM Debell and snippet for Book Quote Wednesday prompt 'pass'.

Through a break in the cloud, he saw it, a sleek, dark shape passing silently overhead.
Men around him muttered prayers; some were weeping. No one ran. There was nowhere to run.
Beside him, Aarin was gripping the parapet with his free hand, eyes tracking that deadly shadow from a face that still bore the fading scars of its fire.
The moments stretched, unbearable.
Somewhere in the city, someone was screaming, a strident wail that cut through the eerie silence. Aarin flinched, his fingers curling tighter around the parapet. But his eyes never blinked, his attention never wavered.
This time, the dragon flew low enough that Kallis could feel the pulse of its wings and see the scars on its scaled underbelly. It rolled as it passed, regarding them from one unblinking black eye. Such a tempting target. He reached out and placed a restraining hand on the tip of the bow nearest him.

Joanne Guidoccio @joanneguidoccio.bsky.social · 14h ago

It's Book Quote Wednesday! Today's word: PASS. #Excerpt is from HIPPIE MERMAID, a coming-of-age #fantasy. #bookqw #mermaidtransformation

Julie E. Czerneda @julieczerneda.bsky.social · 14h ago

It's #bookqw and how could I #pass up a chance to show #esen and her best friend in action? #sf #aliens #notalwaysmonsters @dawbooks.bsky.social

cover of Changing vision, ants in background, text is a quote

Gabby HC @scriblit.bsky.social · 14h ago

It's Book Quote Wednesday & the word is PASS. In Cursed Under London, Fang is trying to pass on, and at least leave runt dragon Amber with a decent meal of fresh carrion. It isn't working. #BookSky #BookQW buying links: farragobooks.com/book-series/...

Quote from Cursed Under London. Quote reads: The man groaned a groan that he hoped conveyed an emphatic ‘just let me die in peace’.
The dragon sat down again, and they both waited – the dragon exhibiting rather more anxiety than the dying man. The dragon kept looking around, nervously. Clearly, the rules of Baggsie didn’t count for much in a city full of crime and hungry dragons, vampires, zombies and so on. The man had no doubt that this dragon was starving and that she stood no chance of winning a fight if any bigger creatures came to steal her meal before he was dead.
He tried dying faster, for her. It didn’t work.
‘Is there anything else I can do for you?’ asked the dragon. ‘Any last words you want me to pass on to a loved one?’
The man snorted, derisively. The dragon shifted anxiously again.
‘Would you mind if maybe I took you down to the Deepside?’ she asked after a while. ‘The tube’s not far at all, and once we’re in Deep London, I can make it instant and painless for you… oh, hang on, actually…’

Susan Murray @pulpthorn.bsky.social · 14h ago

It's Book Quote Wednesday and today's #BookQW word is 'pass'. In this extract from Waterborne Exile the freemerchant Marten's leaving Scarrow's Deep, with all his plans in ruin.

Cover of Waterborne Exile by Susan Murray. A woman in a blood-spattered white gown moves past the viewer, holding a bowl of blood in both hands. A bloodstained dagger is tucked in her belt. Cover art by Paul Young.

#BookQW – pass – Extract from Waterborne Exile by Susan Murray:
“I can delay no longer. I shall achieve nothing while I remain here.”

The same could be said of all of them. A wave of weariness swept over her. The moment of peace was gone beyond recall.

“We must follow different paths this time, Marten. They will like as not lead to the same place in the end, anyway.”

“Do you dabble in prophecy now?”

“I can think of few things more futile – I shall not make a habit of it.”
“You will be careful, when I am gone?”

She pressed a hand to her bulging stomach. “Right now I have very little option.”

“Even so – you are uneasy, my lady. Promise me you will do nothing rash.”

Alwenna shook her head. “Such a promise would have seen you dead on the floor of the summer palace months ago. I will do whatever’s necessary.”

Marten pushed himself to his feet. “Then I must go without reassurance from you.”

“You’re a grown man, and you’ve managed well enough these past years.”

“Indeed I have. Behold the proof of my success: destitute and cast out by my own people.”

Alwenna smiled. “Free and unfettered. I wish you well, Marten, truly. You will find the courage to do what is right in the end.”

He hesitated. “What do you know? Will you not tell me?”

“I know a thousand things, none of which may come to pass. Ask me what I don’t know, that would be easier to answer.”

“Then tell me what you do not know, my lady.”

No need to lie this time. “We are stepping out into darkness, Marten. I do not know where our feet will land.”

Jana Richards, Romance Author @janarichards.bsky.social · 13h ago

#BookQW He missed his mother every day. His father’s PASSing had been a relief. The old man had been a hard person to love. LIES AND SOLACE https://books2read.com/LiesAndSolace #smalltownromance #hiddenidentityromance #secondchancelove #FamilySecrets #Booksky #romancelandia

Tanya Huff @tanyahuff.bsky.social · 11h ago

Today's word is PASS. Today's #BookQW from INTO THE BROKEN LANDS (DAW Books, Inc. 2022) a created world fantasy that is, like all of my books at heart, about self awareness. Who am I? How do other people see me? Can that body part be reattached? Do we stop to bury him, or do we go on?

DAW cover with crows and a ruined tower lower left. Digital cover with tentacles and a ruined tower lower right. Tentacles have escaped into the lower centre. It's not a squid.

Lyelee shifted forward on her seat as they passed beneath the gate, readying herself for the first glimpse of the city her ancestors had fled.
When the wagon emerged back into the sunlight, she stood, braced herself against the curved frame supporting the wagon's painted canvas top, took a deep breath, and looked around.
There were no ruins

Linda Griffin @lindagriffinauthor.bsky.social · 11h ago

"Historically sound and warmly told, Cherry Creek is a gently romantic story about what it means to be truly free." ~ Indies Today lindagriffinauthor.com/cherry_creek... #BookQW #HistoricalRomance #GoldRush

Red Concord coach with golden yellow wheels. "The driver held out his hand to me, and I mounted the iron coach step and ducked my head to #pass through the door. My first impression of the interior was that it was roomy and comfortable."

Maxine Douglas Author ✍️📝💻📚@maxinedouglasathr.bsky.social · 11h ago

#BookQW is from LEANNA’S LIGHT (an #AlphabetBride book) Sometimes the brightest light comes from the people who once felt forgotten. I have high hopes that there are other children in this area of Indian Territory in need of …. #ContinueReading: bit.ly/4hfNrPx #readersky #americanhistorical

BookQW = PASS

LEANNA’S LIGHT (an Alphabet Bride book Sometimes the brightest light comes from the people who once felt forgotten. My Dearest Mia, By t...

bit.ly

TL Morganfield @stitchingfiend.bsky.social · 10h ago

#BookQW from The Bone Flower Throne, book 1 of The Bone Flower Trilogy. Having lost both her parents, young Quetzalpetlatl finds herself in the custody of the High Priestess of Quetzalcoatl in Xochicalco. #BookSky #romantasy #epicfantasy #mythology #KU Amazon: a.co/d/00hAZ4UD

The cover of the novel The Bone Flower Throne, Book 1 of The Bone Flower Trilogy by T. L. Morganfield against a dark red background. Book Quote Wednesday: "Pass ". Excerpt:

Once the fire glowed in the hearth, the room came into focus: a loom stood near the rear window, and jars and baskets lined the shelves above the hearth. A metlatl maize grinding stone sat near the door, next to a basket of shucked maize. Unlike the walls of my father’s palace, these were simple, unpainted plaster. If not for the sturdy stone construction, I would’ve thought it was a peasant’s house.

Nimilitzli came in, now wearing a clean robe. “Inform the king of what’s happened, and tell him I’ll bring the children to the palace at daybreak,” she said, taking Little Reed from the priestess. Once the others left, she sat on the mat next to me. “Do you wish to hold your brother again?”

I said nothing, just lay staring at the fire, wishing Lord Death had taken me as well. Nimilitzli tried to stroke my hair but I flinched away and tucked my head under my arms. From this woman who let Mother die, any touch was vile and unwelcome.

“You think you can’t feel anything but pain ever again, but that too will pass, little one,” she said with a maddeningly understanding voice. “Have faith in the Feathered Serpent to heal your heart’s wounds. Your brother needs you.”

“I don’t want him,” I muttered. “This is his fault.”

“He’s hardly had enough time to have done such evil.”

“He killed Mother.” I squeezed my eyes shut against the suffocating pain in my chest.

“Don’t blame him for another’s fate. Many mothers give their lives capturing a baby from the gods. It’s an unparalleled honor to die trying, especially for your mother; she sacrificed herself bringing forth the son of the god. I assure you she bore no regret for having answered Quetzalcoatl’s call.”

Bottom text: #romantasy #epicfantasy #mythology - Available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook

Ben Jeapes @benjeapes.bsky.social · 18h ago

It's Book Quote Wednesday and the word is PASS. Ted must navigate all the versions of his home town that have ever existed, past, present and future all at once. #bookqw #yafantasy #witches www.benjeapes.com/index.php/th... Hear me read a longer extract at benjeapes.substack.com.

Ben Jeapes @benjeapes.bsky.social · 5d ago

My reading in July: the autobiography of an accidental rock god; being still and knowing the actual God; psychiatric abuse; and showing Galbraith how to do it properly. #bookreviews benjeapes.substack.com/p/read-in-ju...

Read in July: Autobiography of an accidental rock god; being still and knowing God; psychiatric abuse; and showing Galbraith how to do it properly

(R)evolution: The Autobiography, by Gary Numan

benjeapes.substack.com

Ben Jeapes @benjeapes.bsky.social · 7d ago

But not all other people. Some other people can help. #Creativity #WritingTip #WriteTip GHOSTWRITING NOVELS: A GUIDE FOR GHOSTWRITERS AND THE GHOSTWRITTEN. www.ghostwritingnovels.com

William Campbell Powell @willcampowell.bsky.social · last wk.

It's Book Quote Wednesday ad the word is RIDE. Kai and the band have arrived in Berlin, the gig has gone well and the band are relaxing - perhaps a little too much… #BookQW

Andrew Knighton @aknighton.bsky.social · last wk.

Book Quote Wednesday's word is 'ride' #BookQW #BookSky Raul might be a fake chosen one, but he's about to set off on a real adventure in Forged For Destiny... andrewknighton.com/forged-for-d...

The cover for the novel Forged for Destiny by Andrew Knighton. A sword lies across a crescent moon inside a ring, against a background of flames.

Next to the cover is a quote from the book:

His sword. That one thing made all the difference, because it meant that he wasn’t just leaving his life behind—he was setting out on a mission.
At first, he expected to ride out on horses, galloping for the capital like Balbianus in his prime, or to trek across the countryside, seeking shelter with friendly locals like in the story of Merin and Varn. But Prisca had other plans.
“We need to avoid drawing attention,” she explained.
“Everyone pays attention to actors,” Raul pointed out.
“To actors, yes, but not to their stagehands.”

Susan Murray @pulpthorn.bsky.social · last wk.

It's Book Quote Wednesday and today's #BookQW word is 'ride'. In this extract from The Waterborne Blade exiled queen Alwenna can't convince Weaver that she's experiencing visions with real world implications, so things are all going super doubleplus well.

Cover of The Waterborne Blade by Susan Murray. A woman in an ornate gown is moving past the viewer, a long dagger held in her blood-spattered right hand. Cover art by Paul Young.

Extract from The Waterborne Blade by Susan Murray:

“How can you speak so of the dead?”

“My lady, if you’d seen as many men die as I have you’d set less store by their last words.”

It was clear he still thought her a cosseted fool. “Disbelieve me if you will. Vasic’s torturing Wynne to find out where I am. There must be something we can do.”

“Would you have me besiege the citadel single-handed? She’d be beyond help long before I could reach Highkell.”

“We shouldn’t have let her go off alone.”

“She made her own choice.”

“You are so callous.” The man was impossible. “What if it’s a vision of the future? We might be able to save her.”

Weaver took a couple of steps. “You’d have me ride all that way because you had a bad dream? I swore I’d see you safely through this. That comes first.”

“Very fine, I’m sure, to hide behind your duty.”

Weaver planted both hands on the table beside her, leaning face to face with her. “I’m sorry, my lady, if you’re not best pleased by our situation, but right now we must play a waiting game. Goddess knows I’ve no appetite for such work.”

Alwenna resisted the urge to draw back. “Do you imagine I have? None of this is my choosing – trailing all the way out here with you, leaving Highkell, leaving Wynne – none of it. I know what duty is. Even my marriage wasn’t my choice.”

“You don’t seem to have managed the business so ill, my lady.”

“And in your eyes even that is a fault. It’s time you found work more to your liking, Weaver.”

#BookQW – ride

L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · last wk.

Today is Book Quote Wednesday and the word is RIDE. There's a lot of riding, of various kinds, in the Triempery series. Most riding involves horses. This snip follows a violent game on horseback. It's about more than skill. It's about consequences. #bookqw #WritingCommunity

Left side of image is book cover of SORDANEON, first book of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. Cover is gold and brown and shows a young man looking at a fantastic city with a glowing core of power at its heart.

Right side is a text excerpt from SORDANEON:

Dorilian continued to ignore the healer. To Cullen he said, “Your sacrifice was not in vain. Your team won the match.”
“I saw, from the side.” Cullen gave him a weak smile. “Where’d you learn to ride like that?”
“Teremar.”
“Well, you sure made them sorry they hurt me out.”
“They deserve their losses. I hope you wagered on the outcome.”
Cullen’s eyes widened for a moment. “Sure. Didn’t you?”
Dorilian looked out the window. A steady stream of colorfully garbed noblemen and women trekked along the main path back to the Manor. He could still make it back ahead of them, avoiding stares and speculations. “No,” he said. “The last time I gambled, I lost.”

Ben Wright - Queex @queex.bsky.social · last wk.

For #BookQW, the word is 'ride', and what better way to introduce a bad-ass character than with them on their mount? You can read the story so far here: www.patreon.com/collection/1...

“They were with an expedition taking samples looking for ore deposits. The monsters killed the adults but left Ursa alive. I’m not sure why. She managed to survive by herself for quite some time before she was rescued.”
Ursa reappeared. She was riding her animal companion, a brown bear nearly the size of a horse. The girl looked incongruous atop it. The only time Ursa’s scowl seemed to lessen was when she was with her animal. The bear had no saddle or any of the other paraphernalia associated with riding, but there was a sort of harness around its body that held a large backpack. Ursa kept her bedroll and other possessions in it, apart from those she carried with her on her own belt. She wore that pack behind her, and low, so it didn’t interfere with her balance on her mount. No armour would have fit her, but she seemed quite comfortable in a sleeveless, white tabard. She had dark brown leather britches, apparently chosen for their hard-wearing qualities judging from the scratches and scuffs. There was a similar look to her boots, which Essendra thought had to be too large for her.

C M Debell @cmdebell.bsky.social · last wk.

It's Book Quote Wednesday and the word is 'ride'. This is a snippet from my short story Midnight in Flaeres that takes place directly before the start of The Many Shades of Midnight. #writingcommunity #writesky #bookqw #indiefantasy 💙📚🪐

Front cover of In Midnight's Shadow by CM Debell and excerpt for the Book Quote Wednesday prompt 'ride'.

Esar fretted. The creatures were out there still, he was sure of it, hidden behind the houses. If they left, they would be pursued. Stay and they would be trapped, and they couldn’t defend the inn and the stables. Which meant losing the horses. Which meant dying.
“Can you ride?” he asked Alyas. No horse could be asked to bear two adult riders for long, and when they went, they would go hard.
He watched Alyas think about it. Lives depended on an honest answer. “Not for long,” he said at last.
Esar nodded. That was his assessment. “Ride with Della. Take my horse.” Della was the lightest of them, his horse one of the strongest.
“Esar.”
He knew that tone. “What?”
“They’ll come after us.”
“I know.”
“We can’t let them.”
Esar knew he wasn’t going to like what was coming. “What do you want to do?”

Joanne Guidoccio @joanneguidoccio.bsky.social · last wk.

It's Book Quote Wednesday! Today's word: RIDE. #Excerpt is from THE COMING OF ARABELLA. #bookqw #fantasy #mermaidtransformation

Julie E. Czerneda @julieczerneda.bsky.social · last wk.

It's #bookqw and #esen wants to take her new friend for a #ride! What could possibly go wrong? @dawbooks.bsky.social #webshifters #aliens

Stephanie Burgis @stephanieburgis.bsky.social · last wk.

It's Book Quote Wednesday! This week's word is "ride," and in Wooing the Witch Queen, Queen Saskia is only too happy whenever uninvited guests ride away from her castle... ;) stephanieburgis.com/books/wooing-the-witch-queen #romancelandia #bookqw

An image of the front cover of Wooing the Witch Queen shows a sinister witch queen in a spectacular beaded dress embracing her handsome and adoring new librarian (in a black wizard's robe) inside a library of magic filled with crows and masks and flying books. Above and beside it is this snippet from the book: Naturally, Lorelei’s fae portals were every bit as sparkly and excessive as everything else about her. Saskia only just managed to hold onto the shreds of her patience as she watched her unwanted visitors ride their haughty gryphon steeds into the rainbow-colored doorway that Lorelei had summoned for their departure. As the portal finally snapped closed, Saskia drew a deep breath of relief—and inadvertently breathed a dozen shed sparkles into her nostrils.
Ugh! This was why she never invited guests into her home.
Sneezing uncontrollably, Saskia turned away from the final, shimmering remnants of the portal and started for the closed parlor door and the delicious freedom of her waiting laboratory, beyond.

Thomas Wrightson (he/him)@thomaswrightson.bsky.social · last wk.

Book Quote Wednesday's word is 'ride' #BookQW Those who are the loudest in feeling are sometimes the quietest in speech. For Ali, that silence is not by choice. #scifi #spaceopera #drama #spaceopera #sample #BookSky💙📚

“Come. Quickly.”
The human narrowed her eyes. “What game is this?”
“No game. We’re going before the place gets blown to atoms. Ambassador Laffw’s giving us a free ride.”
“Hardly free, I’d guess. But are you serious?”
“Completely. Well?”
Prisoner 74 seemed deep in tortured thought, but it lasted only a moment. Ali almost grimaced at this false display, all for the Feles’s benefit. He must be completely under her thumb. So like a human, using their wiles to get under everyone’s skin in one way or another. Like in the Human-Ekri Conflict’s aftermath, persuading the Synod that they were in the right as the victors.
As Atarex all but dragged Prisoner 74 from the room, the collar round her neck began screeching. The Feles quickly used his control wristband to disable the alarm. It was just two seconds of noise, but that was still two seconds too long. Footsteps sounded behind them. Two guards responding to the call, human by sound of their stride. Before they were round the bend in the corridor, she slipped through and behind them, delivering two swift blows with the small dagger hidden in her tight-wound sleeve. The men fell with a choking cry, their spinal cords severed at the neck.
The Feles was clearly shocked by the swift dispatch. The human merely nodded and spoke directly to Ali.
“Impressive. Your name?”
Ali looked at the woman without even opening her mouth. What was the point? There was no voice to answer. Though she could not blame the human for not knowing. The ring adornments round her neck hid nearly all the scarring from those injuries of long ago. The wounds from a human’s rifle weapon which had torn her voice away. Bapti stepped in and introduced the two of them with a bow.
“Forgive my companion.” She spoke in the same honey-like voice that always grated upon her nerves. “She is mute.”

M.L. Humphrey @mlhumphrey.bsky.social · last wk.

Book Quote Wednesday's word is 'ride' #BookQW #BookSky From book two in my cozy series: books2read.com/caninecrunch... Maggie may be too busy for a relationship, but that doesn't mean she can't have thoughts. (Series available in ebook, regular print, and large print. First four in audio.)

On the left is the cover of A Crazy Cat Lady and Canine Crunchies by Aleksa Baxter that is bright green and has a white cat in the center. On the right is the following text:

"So? You guys were just taking a break on the side of the road?"
(It wasn't unheard of for me to do that. When we still lived in an apartment and Fancy was a puppy she'd want to stay outside forever and so I'd sit on the sidewalk while she sat on the grass and watched the world go by. I'm sure people thought I was nuts, especially in Crystal City. And especially when I threw leaves for her to catch. That's okay. I kind of am.)
I told him about my failed attempts to lead Fancy home. "I'm kind of outta options at this point. So I figured we'd sit here until she calmed down enough to make it the last little bit."
"That might take a while depending on what's spooking her."
"I know. But what other choice do I have?"
"You could let me give you a ride."
I shoved my immediate thought about that little comment aside and nodded. "That could work."

Jana Richards, Romance Author @janarichards.bsky.social · last wk.

#BookQW Her dark, expressive eyes had flashed at him in annoyance and warning. She wasn’t going to let anyone RIDE rough-shod over Carrie. CHRISTMAS AT SOLACE LAKE https://books2read.com/Christmas-at-Solace-Lake #smalltownromance #ContemporaryRomance #InterracialRomance #booksky #onsale @Smashwords