Sunday Lists

List, category, record, register, to be recorded on paper, notebook, computer, napkin, palm of hand... Any way you write them, or where, lists are a part of life and part of my Sunday routine. What did I get done and what do I need to accomplish and in what order?

Having a full time job, three kids and lots of creative endeavors, lists are the only thing to keep me on track and in line with my world, my goals and the path forward. From grocery lists, to lists of people to call, lists of what needs to be accomplished first, list of what needs more or less. One of the most important aspect of list writing for me, besides the whole ‘remembering’ thing is they give me perspective. When you can get all of the chaos loosely contained in a list of some fashion I am able to break it down, categorize, organize, and figure out how to get it done. Sometimes there is so much it is literally impossible and something needs to get bumped, delayed or cancelled.

This is not a lecture on listing. This is to say YOU are not crazy! Make your endless lists. Create a list of lists if you have too, just make sure you are checking things off, moving forward and LIVING your Best life!

Here's a tip, while we have all kinds of lists for things we have to do! Why not start a list of things we want to do. Just one or two will work.

Things I WANT to do this Week

Walk 6,000 steps every day this week

Watch Suicide Squad

I will check in next week to let you know what happens!

Happy Sunday!

Come Find Me!

Holiday Excerpt - A Snowflake's Chance in Hell

Two hearts drawn by hope, linked by love.

All Quinn Lawson wanted was to find her brother. Separated after their parents perished in a drunk-driving accident, Quinn has been searching for him since she became eighteen. She is closer now than ever, but it is her last lead.

Gunnery Sergeant Kevin McCaluson has a choice to make, stay in the military or step away and try life as a civilian. With no family and no prospect of one, Kevin wonders if he can leave the only family he has ever known for the life he’s always dreamed.

Excerpt

 

Gunnery Sergeant Kevin McCaluson reread the letter a dozen times. For some reason he thought by reading it over and over it would spark an answer to his problem. It was his commission letter promoting him to Master Sergeant, stipulating his decision to go career military. He had spent the past eighteen years in the Marines, and truth be told, he wasn’t sure where his hesitation was coming from. Maybe because it was all he knew and that felt suffocating. It wasn’t as if he had anywhere to go outside the word he knew. He enlisted as soon he was legally able and kissed the world goodbye. The Marines challenged him, made him a man, and gave him a sense of honor. He felt it a privilege to defend his country, so why would he ever want to walk away.

That was the question preventing him from accepting the commission as soon as it landed on his desk.

A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. He looked up to see a wisp of brown hair peeking through the door. A tanned, heeled foot followed by a navy suit followed.

“Excuse me?”

The voice was sweet but did not waver, and he rose from his seat. “Can I help you?”

She stepped fully into the room, holding out her hand. “My name is Quinn Lawson. I am looking for Sergeant McCaluson?”

Her deep eyes swirled in a pool of color and a touch of sadness. “What is this in regards to?”

“It’s private matter.” Her expression tightened, her voice sharpening in tone.

He really wasn’t in the mood for this. “Well you can leave him a message if you like, concerning your private matter.” He hoped that the excuse would shut her down until he was better prepared to deal with her private matter.

“Do you have a copier?”

The question threw him off. “Pardon me?”

“Do you have a copy machine?”

She is certainly tenacious. “Yes.”

“May I use it?”

“Of course, follow me.” He led her to an adjoining mailroom. He held the door open for her and she moved past him. The soft scent of cotton candy filled the air surrounding where she passed. He watched her pull a letter out of her purse. She made a copy, wrote on it and folded it neatly. She silently handed it to him before moving past him and out of the office. He tossed the letter on the desk, his mind lingering on the woman who decided to invite herself into his office. Absently looking back, he became curious about the copy she so carefully folded and laid in his hand.

“Gunney!”

He groaned, knowing his best friends voice anywhere. “Clarkson.”

“So where are we going to celebrate?”

“What are we celebrating?”

“It is not every day my best friend becomes a Master Sergeant.”

“Yeah well, hasn’t happened yet.”

Turning the chair across from his desk and sitting down. “Oh please it is as good as done.”

“Not sure I want it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Exactly what I said, I don’t know if I want the promotion.”

“It’s a career. It’s what you’ve been working for.”

“Yeah I know, it is just a big decision.”

“What’s so big about it? It is a steady job for the rest of your life.”

“Exactly, what if I don’t want all this for the rest of my life?”

“What else would you do, if not this?”

“I don’t know, travel, work TSA or the Fed, buy a house, have a few kids and a dog. Not live on a military base for once in my life.”

“Sounds great in theory. Do you have any idea what it is like out there?”

“No, that is part of the problem.”

“Seems like a good problem to have I guess.” Clarkson snagged the folded copy off his desk. “What’s this?”

“Some woman barged in looking for Sergeant McCaluson. I informed her he was not currently available so she left a note.”

Clarkson opened the note, a grin spreading across his face.

“What?”

“Oh man, you’re dead in the water. She is on to you, dude.”

McCaluson took the note from his hands. “What are you talking about?”

Gunnery Sergeant McCaluson,

Call me when you give a damn.

Quinn Lawson

555-8136

He couldn’t help but chuckle at the directness of the note, “Crap.”

***

Read it NOW

New Release - Little Angels Pre Order for Kindle NOW!

What if saving little angels meant becoming the monster?

When Special Agent Nick McFarlane receives news his partner of eight years is in trouble he doesn’t hesitate. Throwing himself into a deep cover operation to expose and shut down The Micahs, a child trafficking ring, Nick enters unprepared for the reality that awaits. 

Special Agent Meredith Richards took the assignment fully aware of the consequences. Leaving her life behind, she wouldn’t be able to get out with her life until she shut the Micahs down for good.

When Meredith’s informant is murdered and her contact inside the organization starts to lose control, Meredith is forced to make choices she can’t take back. On the edge of sacrificing herself, her principles, and her life, she begins to wonder if she will survive the case or if she even wants too.  

Excerpt

Meredith returned to her apartment for a shower and hopefully a nap. The sun was setting, and the room filled with hues of pink and gold. Meredith closed the door with a sigh and threw her jacket and purse on the couch before moving to the bedroom.

Abruptly, there was a pounding on the door, and Meredith turned with a sigh. She kicked off her shoes and walked to the door. The instant she opened it, it pushed back and Devon burst through, holding a blanket in his arms. It took her a moment to realize what was happening.

"Devon, what are..." she started. He moved to the couch, dropping the blanket upon it. Meredith observed his frantic movements in confusion, and then saw a small hand fall from the folds of the blanket. "Oh my God..."

Devon blocked her movement toward the girl in annoyance, and gripped her arms tightly.

"What are you doing?" she asked him.

"Don't touch her," he growled.

"Let me go—what did you do?" she asked him, her heart racing. She stared into his black eyes and a cold dread raced down her back.

"You have to help me, Tal," he said, the coldness never leaving his eyes.

"Let me go!" she growled back at him, breaking free from his grasp.

She ran to the couch and began unwrapping the small form. Her chest hurt with every revealed layer, and her knees weakened in horror. The blanket slid away, revealing the girl’s small face. Meredith tried to hold back the anger and pain, but couldn't. She reached out, feeling for the girl's pulse. She found one, weak, but it was there.

"She's still alive—Devon," Meredith turned in hope. He stared back at her blankly. "Did you hear me? She's still alive, Devon! We can take her to a hospital..."

"Tal," he said in an icy and controlled tone. She moved to her shoes, pulling them back on.

"My car is just out front, if we take the stairs there's a less likely—" Meredith grabbed her coat. Turning back to the girl, Meredith stopped. She heard a popping sound, and her knees collapsed beneath her.

No, please, no...

Devon looked back to her, a stark rage consuming his face. He rushed her, pulling her off the ground and slamming her against the wall. "You will not tell anyone what happened."

"Devon—"

He put his hand around her neck and began to squeeze. "I..."

"Talia, I need you to understand..." he said, continuing to squeeze the air out of her. "Baby, I need you to—"

Meredith weakly nodded her head and reached out to touch his face gently. His grip loosened and released. She fell forward, gasping, landing in his arms. He held her tightly against him.

"Tal...Tal...it was an accident." He rocked her in his arms. "You have to believe me, baby, you have to understand."

Meredith couldn't move. She stared at the body of the dead child bleeding on her couch. Everything he said was a blur, and eventually she felt him move and leave her. He returned with a black garbage bag and began pushing the child's body into it. She watched the scene unfold, but was powerless to do anything to change it.

The door slammed, and she sat staring at the now blood-soaked cushions.

Time ceased to exist. The scene playing out repeatedly in her mind. There was no movement, no sound, no thought, just the child's face and the blood.

She was cold.

She was empty.

She was dead.

Pre Order Little Angels For Kindle NOW

or Purchase HERE