Prompt #1 Part 4

Well, this is the long awaited update to my writing challenge. I'm sorry for the delays in everything, life has been really busy for me. I might even come up with a title for this... one day. Anyway, here is the next installment. It's only taken me f*cking forever.

Part 4

She forgot about the envelope as the day progressed. It wasn’t until her shift was over that she even remembered that she had stuffed it in her apron. She pulled it out of her pocket and looked at it. Her name was written on the front in beautiful cursive lettering. She tucked it into her jacket pocket as she left the diner.

A shiver went down her spine as she walked to her car. She felt like someone was watching her but she didn't see anyone. She unlocked her car door and climbed in. She couldn't shake the eerie feeling of being watched. She buckled her seat belt and drove home.

It was only a few minutes but those few minutes felt like an eternity. She ran from her to car into her apartment building. She looked outside and saw someone standing just inches from the glass door that separated them. She froze as fear spread through her. She couldn't see his face but his presence terrified her.

She slowly backed away from the door. She turned on her heel and fled up the stairs, not stopping until she was safely inside her apartment.

Billy watched her curiously from the couch. "Everything ok?"

She slid down the door and started to cry. "No. I've had this feeling of being watched since I left work. When I got inside some guy was standing outside watching me. When I saw him I froze. It was like I was looking at death. I've never been so scared."

Billy picked her up off the floor and took her to the couch. He sat down and tucked her against his chest. "Everything will be alright." He pulled off one of her shoes and threw it at the closet door. "Gladius get your ass out here."

The apartment door flew open and Gladius walked in. "I wasn't in the closet. I actually know how to use a regular door." He looked at them in disgust. "What's wrong with your little pet?"

"Someone followed her home from work and scared her," he said, tucking hair behind her ear. He leaned back and settled her beside him. "Do you think you can go take a look?"

Gladius shook his head. "I just came in from outside. I didn't sense anyone other than humans and the paras that live in this building."

Billy looked at him curiously. Usually Gladius didn't bother with coming in the front door. "You've never used the front door before/ Why now?"

Gladius' perfect cupid's bow mouth turned down. "I was trying to take into consideration your new little pet. I didn't want to walk in and unexpectedly find her naked. It is one thing to find you naked, quite another to find her naked."

"Why would you think you'd find her naked?"

A slender brow arched up. "As if you haven't seen her in all her naked glory. You lived under her bed for how long?"

Billy's face grew warm and he slightly choked as he tried to come up with an answer.

Carly pulled away from Billy her face bright red as she remembered all the things that she had done before knowing she had a roommate. Thoughts of her 'celebratory' night came to mind. Her blush deepened even more but a simmering heat started between her legs.

She watched as he argued with Gladius, noticing small little details that she hadn't noticed before. like how his shirt stretched taut across his shoulders and chest, and how his jeans cupped his ass just so nicely.

She glanced away before she got caught checking him out. She really needed some alone time with her wonderful little rabbit that she had dubbed Fernando. Or she needed to get a boyfriend. She'll go with option one. But where?

She snorted. Obviously not the bed. That was completely and utterly out. She was a lady, at least she tried to be anyway. The shower? Fernando wasn't waterproof but they did have a detachable shower head. She looked up as she noticed the complete silence in the room. "What?"

Gladius smirked and tittered before turning away. Billy just looked at her, nostrils flaring. "I said, do you want take out?"

Gladius started choking and coughing. Billy growled and whacked him on the back bringing Gladius' fit to an end.

"Uh, sure. How about Chinese? There's a place around the corner that has some really good sushi," she answered. There was definitely something going on as Gladius broke out in another coughing fit. Billy smiled but it was forced and he whacked Gladius on the back again.

She stood up and grabbed her favorite set of pajamas. "I think I'm going to take a shower. Just call the place and ask for my usual plus whatever you want."

Billy watched her as she crossed the room, almost groaning as she grabbed the set of pink pants and tank top. She had no clue to the turmoil she was causing him. He knew she only wore that set after she had 'fun'. She was going to be the death of him. Right after he killed his best friend as Gladius started having another coughing fit.

Alice Frost on Writing

First off, to those of you here in the USA, Happy 4th of July! I hope your day is fun and filled with family, fireworks, and parades!  I'm hoping my day will be too. To everyone else, if you aren't celebrating a holiday then I hope you are just having an awesome filled day!

I can tell you that as a single mother with a full time job and a passion to become an established author that it isn't easy. Sometimes there just isn't time to write much less think. But as a new author myself the biggest piece of advice I can give any budding author out there is: Make time. Even if it is just a few minutes while the kid is in the bath and dinner is in the oven cooking. Just jot down the idea you had and slowly expand on this. I have QuickMemo on my phone and Nooote Free on my tablet, which come in handy when I'm at work. Having a voice recorder also works.

Another thing that as a new author that takes time and unfortunately money is finding a cover that fits your story, especially if you are self-publishing. Most readers, myself included, are cover shoppers. If the cover looks good then they will buy it. If you have the money to buy a professional cover then you can move forward a little faster in publishing. If you don't have the money you can save up for the one you have your eye on but you risk the chance of someone else buying before you. Or you can find a temporary cover that kind of fits your story but then you risk the chances of no one buying your book. Now there are several sites where you can get premade covers and I suggest looking through those sites like you were buying a new house. Yes, that one is what you WANT but does it fit the story? Does it have everything you NEED to express? Will it draw your potential buyer it?

Yes yes I know I am a new author myself how do I know what I'm talking about. I do a lot of research. I read a lot of reviews, about writing, and different types of writing. Do I know everything? No. But I know what steps I have taken to get my book self-published. Trial and error is ok. If you make a mistake learn from it and move on. Just don't let that mistake get you down and stop writing, editing, or publishing. Don't let anyone or anything stop you from obtaining your goals. (Unless you are a murderer/serial killer then just don't do it.)

AF out! I'm thinkin' bout doing AAF = Awesome As Fuck

I don't know what do ya'll think?

New Things

Hi everyone! *ducks* Hey! I know you want the next writing prompt but that's no reason to throw things! I'm actually working on it AND my next book. Seeing as how I'm completely and utterly behind schedule I'm sorry. *cries in corner* I've disappointed all of you and myself! But I'll have something for you soon. I swear!

But I came today to tell you that my next prompt is tied in with the first prompt. If I continue writing on this lovely story I might publish it and make it a free book. Fun stuff right?

Update on myself: I dyed my hair a purple pinkish black color. And chopped a ton of hair off. But I forgot about donating my hair! *sobs* I'm also going to start working out. I've gained some weight (a lot) since I had my son. I weigh almost 100 lbs more than I did before I got pregnant. I will not tell you exact numbers but I am a big girl. I'd like to get back down to my pre-baby weight. Especially now that he'll be 7 and he's an extremely active kid.

I'll even document the whole process on here and my other social media sites. I can say I'll be watching Coach Tulin on YouTube and talking to my doctor about an acceptable weight loss plan and diet.

I will be a very busy girl in the coming months. Especially since I plan on rolling out at least two more books in the next five months.

I hope all of you are doing ok and that you are having an awesome summer. In my neck of the woods, school will be starting in about month (oh thank you Jesus). The food bill at my house sky rocketed since school let out.

I also want to shout out to one of my besties who is writing her first book. It's a historical romance and I think it's going to rock! Totally biased I know, but hey who cares? While critiquing her rough draft I realized that I'm pretty good at giving writing advice even though I'm bad at listening to my own advice. I know over on Wordpress I've written a couple of posts on writing but I'm thinking that I either need to start doing that more or offer critiques on Fiverr. Yea, yea more work for me but the more I write the better at it I will become.

I'm also going to plop this down below. I've been quoting The Croods to my son a lot lately. I think all of you can benefit from it too. Reach for your dream and don't ever stop.