Finished “The End of the World as We Know It” and “In My Dreams I Hold a Knife” and a Successful Retreat

Ooh this post is a bit lengthy (because I have two books to report).

I was in Delhi, NY June 2-9 for a writers’ retreat. I consider it a GREAT SUCCESS! Not only did I figure out the end of The Alien’s Change of Heart, I’m almost to it. Of course, I’m home now and just finding the time to write while getting caught up in other stuff (like this blog, doing the COFW treasurer report, and sending out my monthly newsletter) is becoming impossible.

But I’m really glad I went. And that the ending finally came to me. Well… sort of. I still have to resolve one teeny-tiny plot point that only encompasses the whole story. Yeah, that’s all. But I will get there. I can see the end of this book!!!

And the best part? I do NOT need a book 3 if I don’t want one. Because I doubt I’ll write another in this series. I want to get back to my vampires (or ghosts). Something that actually sells. Usually.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 10

Dates read: March 19 – June 1, 2026
Title: The End of the World as We Know It
Year of publication: 2025
Author: Various
Genre: Horror short stories
Series: N/A
# of Pages: 757
Paper or plastic: Hardcover
How obtained: Purchased at B&N
Blurb from book cover Since its initial publication in 1978, The Stand has been considered #1 New York Times bestselling author and master storyteller Stephen King’s seminal masterpiece of apocalyptic fiction, with millions of copies sold and adapted twice for television. Although there are other extraordinary works exploring the unraveling of human society, none have been as influential as this iconic novel—with generations of writers impacted by its dark yet ultimately hopeful vision of the end and new beginning of civilization and its stunning array of unforgettable characters.
    Now for the first time, Stephen King has fully authorized a return to the harrowing world of The Stand through this original short story anthology as presented by award-winning authors and editors Christopher Golden and Brian Keene. Bringing together some of today’s greatest and most visionary writers, The End of the World as We Know It features remarkable, all-new stories set during and after the events of The Stand—brilliant, terrifying, and painfully human tales that will resonate with readers everywhere as an essential companion to the classic bestselling novel.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: I bought this book because Meg Gardiner has a story in it, although, I may have gotten it anyway because…The Stand. So I used this book to give me a reason to re-read The Stand first. There were a lot of good short stories in this and I really enjoyed seeing what others interpreted would happen after (or what also happened during). So if you love The Stand, you’ll enjoy this companion to it, too. But beware, it IS lengthy!!

Book 11

Dates read: June 2-9, 2026
Title: In My Dreams I Hold a Knife
Year of publication: 2021
Author: Ashley Winstead
Genre: Thriller? Mystery?
Series: N/A
# of Pages: 305
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Possibly free from B&N
Blurb from Goodreads Six friends. One college reunion. One unsolved murder.
    A college reunion turns dark and deadly in this chilling and propulsive suspense novel about six friends, one unsolved murder, and the dark secrets they’ve been hiding from each other—and themselves—for a decade.
    Ten years after graduation, Jessica Miller has planned her triumphant return to southern, elite Duquette University, down to the envious whispers that are sure to follow in her wake. Everyone is going to see the girl she wants them to see—confident, beautiful, indifferent—not the girl she was when she left campus, back when Heather’s murder fractured everything, including the tight bond linking the six friends she’d been closest to since freshman year. Ten years ago, everything fell apart, including the dreams she worked for her whole life—and her relationship with the one person she wasn’t supposed to love.
    But not everyone is ready to move on. Not everyone left Duquette ten years ago, and not everyone can let Heather’s murder go unsolved. Someone is determined to trap the real killer, to make the guilty pay. When the six friends are reunited, they will be forced to confront what happened that night—and the years’ worth of secrets each of them would do anything to keep hidden.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: I think I got this book free from B&N when they were offering monthly free reads to members because otherwise, I don’t know how I would have come across this title. Right off, I didn’t like the narrator (it’s in first person for most of it), which made it hard to stick with it, but I did stick with it. Still didn’t like her at the end, either, but it’s not my generation, so what do I know? But the mystery is what kept me reading. So if you’re not into a character who makes decisions for all the wrong reasons, you might not like this book so much, either. But if you are, have at it.

I’m really behind in my reading this year, but surprisingly I’m okay with it. Got some lengthy cruises coming up, I’m sure I’ll get caught up in my reading then. But I am so happy to be back into writing almost daily. And once I finish the first draft, my present to me is to watch the mini-series The Stand (the one with Gary Sinese). I mean, why not??

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Haven’t Finished Reading Yet and Why That Is

I just realized how long it’s been since my last blog.

Why does it take me longer to read a book of short stories than an actual novel? Of course, I’m currently on page six hundred ninety something and have over a hundred pages left to read. But I do read them slower because I stop at the end of each short story (or after two, if I’m in the mood to not want to do anything else). Whereas I don’t necessarily end my novel-reading session at the end of a chapter (yes, I’m one of those weird ones). Chapter ends tend to end on some kind of cliffhanger. Usually. The slow parts are usually in the MIDDLE of the chapter. That’s when I feel safer to put the book down and will be able to get back into the story quicker that way.

But short stories aren’t like that. They’re short to begin with, so stopping in the middle (unless I’m forced to) is like stopping on a cliffhanger. I mean, they’re short for a reason. Not a lot of quiet stuff in there.

So why blog about all that? Probably because I don’t see me finishing a book for at least another week and on Tuesday I leave for a writers’ retreat (in NY, near Albany). So I doubt I get a lot of reading done. But then again, who knows? I WILL bring a book. And my crochet. It’s a long car ride (over 9 hours of JUST driving). But I will not bring the book of short stories. It’s just toooooo big to carry around. So I guess I better charge up my Nook and see what I have on there to read.

In the meantime, my writing has been going GREAT! I finally figured out how the book should end and what kind of conflict I can use (that actually makes sense!!!). And I might not need a book 3 (yay!). You don’t know how relieved I am that it finally all clicked together.

I knew it would eventually come to me. It has in all my other books. But just when I was writing all those other books, I wondered WHEN it would come to me. Thought I was losing my touch. Nope. Just a slow-ass brain, wanting to take its ever-loving time to get in gear.

So I do see me finishing The Alien’s Change of Heart during this writers’ retreat. Then I can start working on the blurb/story description. Then I can see if the book designer I had for Alien Desires can do the cover for this book too (and make it look like they belong together). Lots of thens there, isn’t there?

Anyway, that’s what’s been going on with me for the past few weeks. I am reading (although not so fast) and I am writing (which is picking up steam). I am also crocheting. I will be at a book signing in Bluffton, SC on August 29, 2026, and figure I might be able to sell some hot pads/pot holders along with my books. It certainly can’t hurt. Plus, I like making hot pads/pot holders. They’re quick and I feel like I accomplished SOMETHING!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “Hold on Tight” and Getting Back to Normal

Not used to posting two days in a row. But I finished reading the last book in the series which meant…posting about it.

I think I’ve gotten caught up in my non-writing work (I’m treasurer for the writers group I’m in). So I’m all set to actually WRITE tomorrow. I also think I’ve gotten rid of the jet lag I had. I didn’t get up quite as early today as I did yesterday, so that’s good. Right?

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 9

Dates read: May 7-11, 2026
Title: Hold on Tight
Year of publication: 2018
Author: Cynthia Eden
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series: Lazarus Rising #6
# of Pages: 205
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased at B&N
Blurb from Goodreads: He isn’t just a man.
    Lazarus super soldier Jett is the perfect predator. He’s faster, stronger, and far deadlier than a normal man—because he isn’t normal. Brought back from the dead, Jett is supposed to be little more than a machine. His heart should be ice cold, but it’s not. His heart beats fast and hard for the one woman he should never be able to possess, Savannah Jacobs.
    He’s the hero she didn’t expect.
    When Savannah is kidnapped, she doesn’t think she’ll escape her captors. Then mysterious Jett breaks in and takes out all of the men in the room—the masked men who’d yanked her right off a busy public street—and Jett barely breaks a sweat in the fight. Jett is tall, dark, and as sexy as every sin that Savannah can imagine. When he takes her to safety, desire explodes between them. Savannah falls fast and hard for Jett…then he walks away.
    But he broke her heart.
    Jett knows he can’t have Savannah. A woman as perfect and sweet as Savannah can’t possibly stay in the nightmare that is his world. He gives her up—the hardest thing he’s ever had to do—and disappears from her life. But then Jett learns that he’s been set-up. Savannah was kidnapped as part of a dark plan to throw her and Jett together, and, now, Savannah is in more danger than ever before. She’s pregnant with his child—the first woman to conceive the child of a Lazarus test subject—and Jett’s enemies will stop at nothing to get her and the baby she carries.
    And she can’t ever forgive him.
    Jett has to protect Savannah—and the baby. His problem? Savannah hates him, and she knows nothing about the secrets he carries. He has to earn back her trust, he has to fight for the woman who owns his heart…and he also has to reveal the painful truth about himself to her.
    Jett is a dead man walking. A soldier without a soul.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: Kind of sad to see no more books in this series. I liked them a lot. Had just the right amount of suspense and paranormal stuff going on. Along with the romance. Can’t forget the romance!

Next trip isn’t until middle of July, so I’m home for a while. Well, I am going to a writer’s retreat (in NY) June 2-9 with some writer friends, but I’ll have access to my laptop and wifi, so I won’t really be away from the internet. I’ll just be away from my bed. I sure hope I don’t regret going. I hate hard beds!

But hey, maybe I’ll finally get The Alien’s Change of Heart FINISHED! Here’s hoping!!!!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “Run to Me” & “Lie Close to Me” and Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there! Tonight I’m going to see Mrs. Doubtfire (the musical) at the Schuster Center in Dayton. Should be a fun night.

And yes… I’m home! Came home last night and went to bed early (although I had been up for 21 hours—that 6-hour time difference is a killer!), which meant I woke up early. Oh well, just meant I got a head start on the laundry!

Our trip consisted of staying in the following cities: Berlin, Munich, Rothenberg, Stuttgart (all in Germany), and Paris, France. We also visited Salzburg, Austria. I liked the smaller cities better and I really enjoyed visiting Zugspitze (highest point in Germany). You could see the Alps from there!

But man, did we do a lot of walking! At least 10K steps a day (one day I hit 20K). I actually lost weight from this vacation. I need to keep up the work. I just hope I can. But today… I’m taking a break. I mean, it is Mother’s Day!!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 7

Dates read: April 22-May 4, 2026
Title: Run to Me
Year of publication: 2018
Author: Cynthia Eden
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series: Lazarus Rising #4
# of Pages: 174
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased at B&N
Blurb from Goodreads: He’s used to getting what he wants…
    Jennings “Jay” Maverick is a tech billionaire. He has the world at his feet, and he thinks he can buy anything…but he can’t buy her. One look at the mysterious Willow, and Jay knows that he is a goner. He wants to give her anything and everything she desires, but he’s the man responsible for the pain in Willow’s life, and getting close to her—well, that’s not going to be easy.
Her life is a nightmare that she can’t escape.
     Willow woke up in one of the “Lazarus” research facilities. She now has increased strength, incredible speed, and some scary psychic bonuses. Because of the danger associated with her new gifts, she’s afraid to touch anyone. One touch from her, and a man’s darkest fears will seemingly turn into reality. But Jay isn’t afraid of her touch. Instead, he seems to…crave it. To crave her.
She can’t trust him, and he won’t let her go.
     Willow knows that Jay has been involved with Lazarus in the past, but he swears he only wants to help her. She never expects the white-hot desire that burns between them, a desire that grows more with every moment that passes. Thrust together as allies, Willow finds herself wanting to put her faith in Jay, wanting to find someone she can rely on, but Jay may still be keeping secrets from her. Secrets that could get them both killed.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: While the books are shorter than I usually like to read, it’s still a good read. Great for traveling, too!

Book 8

Dates read: May 4-7, 2026
Title: Lie Close to Me
Year of publication: 2018
Author: Cynthia Eden
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series: Lazarus Rising #5
# of Pages: 197
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased at B&N
Blurb from Goodreads: He’s Lazarus, and so is she. What happens when their worlds collide?
    He’s hunting her. Maddox Kane has one goal—track Luna Ashton. He’s the best hunter on his team, finely honed and designed by Uncle Sam to be an unstoppable killing machine. He’s a super solider—faster, stronger, and deadlier than anyone else. Maddox keeps his emotions under careful lock and key because he can’t afford to feel. Feeling is too dangerous, and the attraction Maddox feels for Luna is positively lethal.
    Luna has no memory of being in the labs with Maddox. She doesn’t remember the connection they shared when they were trapped in hell. She doesn’t remember escaping the facility. She doesn’t remember him. So when Maddox hunts her down, she’s terrified of him…and of the strange psychic and sensual connection they seem to share. Surely she shouldn’t want him so much?
    Luna is different from the other Lazarus subjects, and Maddox isn’t the only one hunting her. She’s a dangerous threat to Project Lazarus, and Luna isn’t going to be allowed to just slip away from the U.S. government…or from the other super soldiers who are also desperate to find her.
    Every Lazarus subject has incredible psychic gifts. Some Lazarus subjects can make people see their worst fears, some can control minds…but Luna’s gift—she can show people their memories. Luna has the ability to restore memories to all of the other Lazarus subjects, yet she can’t see her own past.
    And if you can’t see your past…then you never know what danger is coming, what killer is standing right next to you, touching you, lying to you…not until it is too late.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: Still enjoying the series. Which is good, since I bought all the books (and I’m reading the last one). If you’re looking for a short series to read, and you love paranormal stuff, you’ll enjoy this.

I didn’t get any writing done on this trip (not that I would have had time if I had brought my laptop), but I did write some notes in my notebook to help me get back into my story. Which will probably be tomorrow. I can’t think about writing right now, although I am surprised I was able to get this blog post written! So glad I’m retired. I can recover from traveling without worrying about going into work!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “Stay With Me” and I’m Going Quiet for a Bit

This Friday I leave on a trip to Germany and France. When we took a trip to Italy in October 2024, I took my laptop. And never really used it. So I’m not bothering to take it with me this time. I don’t need to have my websites taken over in German or French and I really don’t see time to write. But… I will take a notebook. Just in case.

Because I’m really starting to get into the end of The Alien’s Change of Heart. I kind of know what’s gonna happen; what the dark moment is. So I will try and write it out long hand. It’s been AGES since I did that (back in the 2010s, before publication and while writing during my lunch hour, when I had an actual job). I’d like to get the first draft of this thing done so I can concentrate on editing it and getting a cover. I still have so much to do to get this thing published.

All that to say that I will not be posting anything for a while (not that I have been posting all that frequently as it is, huh?). And I’m sure I’ll return from that trip exhausted. In a good way, I hope, though. I got sick during that Italy trip. Sure hope that doesn’t happen again. Fingers crossed!!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 6

Dates read: April 13-21, 2026
Title: Stay With Me
Year of publication: 2017
Author: Cynthia Eden
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series: Lazarus Rising #3
# of Pages: 131
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased at B&N
Blurb from Book: Shelly Hampton intends to spend the holidays alone in her family’s mountain cabin, but when a snow-covered stranger appears on her door-step, her plans are shot straight to hell. The man before her seems oddly familiar, and he stirs a dark need within her.
    It’s soon apparent that John Smith is far more than a normal man—he’s too strong, too fast, and she could swear that he seems to read her thoughts…and know her most secret desires.
    But is John a man that she could love…or is he someone she should fear? Because even as the snow fall deepens, a deadly threat is closing in on her little cabin. And soon, Shelly will be trapped on the mountain with a dangerous man…a man who swears that he has come back from the dead, just to be with her.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: This series is really good. Nice suspense. Nice romance. Nice paranormal stuff. I would have finished this book sooner (it is shorter than the others), except stuff happened (as it usually does). But I got the rest of the series to read during the travel days of our upcoming trip. Wouldn’t have bothered if I didn’t like it, right?

So, yeah, I was reading a book of short stories set in the world of The Stand, but our trip was coming up and I was NOT going to carry that tome with me. Plus, I went somewhere recently where I wanted a book to read, so I just started reading this book, thinking it would last me until at least the flight to Germany. Nope. It’s short. But it was still good. Guess I’ll go start on the next one.

Happy Reading!

Stacy