Protopia - Dystopian Thriller - and a Giveaway #Dystopian #Thriller #DystopianThriller #Giveaway

John Calia is here to tell us about Protopia, his dystopian thriller.

There's also a great giveaway.

____________________

A dystopian thriller set in the very near future.

Which side are YOU on?

Protopia

by John Calia

Genre: Dystopian Thriller

In a world ravaged by ideological war,  can two lifelong friends, torn apart, find their way back to each other, or will conflicting visions of a perfect society destroy their relationship or, worse yet, prove fatal?

 

Olivia and Alexandra, inseparable since childhood, stumble into the brutal conflict between Cygnus, a bastion of ultra-libertarian ideals, and Elyria, a socialist commune that promises equality and justice. As tensions escalate, the women are forced to make a choice: which community to join.

 

Olivia, haunted by anxiety and self-doubt, is drawn to the promise of security and equality in Elyria. Alexandra, ever the adventurer, chooses the independence and freedom of Cygnus. As they settle into their respective communities, Olivia and Alexandra encounter rigid ideologies and corruption at the highest levels of government. They challenge the leaders of their respective communities and realize their lives are under threat.

 

Olivia must confront her own demons and the limitations they've imposed on her life. Growing in confidence and self-awareness, she starts to envision a different future—one that balances individual freedom with collective well-being. As the conflict between Cygnus and Elyria reaches a boiling point, Olivia and Alexandra must navigate the treacherous landscape of their own divided loyalties. Can they turn the obstacles into opportunities, or will the divide between them prove insurmountable—even deadly?

 

Protopia is a heart-pumping, thought-provoking tale of politics, adventure, and loyalty set in a dystopian world that eerily echoes our own.

 

Fans of Emily St. John Mandel and Matt Haig will love this new adventure from the author of Parallel Lies and the best-seller The Awakening of Artemis.

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

John Calia is a multifaceted author, born in Brooklyn and formerly a naval officer, banker, entrepreneur, and consultant. His debut business fable, The Reluctant CEO: Succeeding Without Losing Your Soul, earned a five-star rating and sparked a passion for writing. Calia's fascination with artificial intelligence and its societal implications led him to craft The Awakening of Artemis, a near-future speculative fiction novel that soared to #6 on the Amazon Science Fiction Adventure bestseller list. His latest release, Parallel Lies (2023), is the highly anticipated sequel to his bestseller.

  

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bluesky * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

 

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $10 giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks so much for reading today's post. Hope you enjoyed it!

Follow me on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tina-donahue

Please feel free to share the post via FB, Bluesky, Linked In, and more...share buttons at the bottom of this post :)

Subscribe

Email Address

The Atrocities of Hope - Political Nonfiction - and a Giveaway #NonFiction #PoliticalNonFiction #Giveaway

Michael Olukayode is here to tell us about his political nonfiction book The Atrocities of Hope.

There's also a great giveaway.

__________________

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Michael Olukayode will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Nigeria is dealing with a level of disorderliness that is neither compatible with functionality nor with long life. Our problems did not start today; they have been with us for as long as we have existed as a country. But just like a disorder left untreated, our problem has incapacitated us, and the rate of deterioration is currently becoming alarming.

The long-term survival of our country is no longer as assured as it used to be. We are on a slippery slope with nothing to hold on to.

This book attempts to answer the 'what', 'why', 'who', and 'what is next' of our problems. As is always the case when truths are discussed, be ready to be offended.

But if you are open-minded enough to be offended and not switch off and open-minded enough to be offended and keep reading – you might learn one or two things at the end of this book.

Read an Excerpt

I was standing on a walkway on my university campus on one sunny day in 2003 with a group of classmates, and the issue of Nigeria and patriotism came up. I can remember one of my classmates telling the other about patriotism and how we are not as patriotic as the Americans are about their country. The other one felt offended and told the first to ‘Speak for yourself; I am a patriot. I love Nigeria!’ I have always been a realist with a touch of cynicism, and I already had an excellent grasp of patriotism as seen abroad—a clear contrast to what I saw in my compatriots—so I chuckled as these two classmates of mine went at each other. They paused and focused on me; they asked what amused me. I responded that our friend’s claim on patriotism was amusing. I told him that he was not patriotic to Nigeria and that he was only patriotic to what he was personally gaining from the system. He was from a state where medical students were getting a level fourteen officer’s salary as monthly allowances and were also on the petroleum companies’ scholarships—some of them on two scholarships at the same time—while the other classmate was from another state where citizens rarely get a yearly bursary of 5,000 naira from their government, and they do not have access to scholarships either. I told my ‘patriotic’ classmate that Nigeria is an orphan state and that nobody bothers about an orphan if there is nothing to gain from him. He said I sounded like an ass, then walked away from us. The other classmate laughed and asked, ‘Where are you getting all this from?’ ‘It was just a thought,’ I told him. I added that I was just about to get to the good part.

About the Author:

Michael, a self-described realist with a touch of cynicism, is a UK-based, Nigerian-trained psychiatrist and the author of The Atrocities of Hope: An Analysis of the 'Nigeria Problem.'

Michael's lived experience in Nigeria, his inquisitive mind, and his ability to pull back and observe despite being involved combine well with his skills as a mental health expert to create this work.

Michael is a fellow of the West African College of Physicians, the Faculty of Psychiatry, and is an affiliate member of the Royal College of Psychiatry. He plies his trade as a psychiatrist in the Northwest of England. He describes himself as a member of a speciality that helps you in the fight against your worst enemy: yourself.

Michael is a husband, a father, a brother, an uncle, a friend, a neighbour, a member of the public, a lover of music, and a lover of movies and books.

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/drkay18
Twitter: http://www.instagram.com/drkay18
Theads: https://www.threads.com/@drkay18

Amazon: https://amazon.com/dp/1779626762
Better World Books: https://www.betterworldbooks.com/product/detail/9781779626769
Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/9781779626769

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks so much for reading today's post. Hope you enjoyed it!

Follow me on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tina-donahue

Please feel free to share the post via FB, Bluesky, Linked In, and more...share buttons at the bottom of this post :)

Subscribe

Email Address

Exiles on Earth - Paranormal Romance - and a Giveaway #Romance #ParanormalRomance #Giveaway

Bea Tama is here to tell us about her paranormal romance Exiles on Earth.

There's also a great giveaway.

_____________________

Exiles on Earth

Bea Tama

Publication date: May 16th 2025

Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Stranded alien. Fierce farmer. One blown-up barn.

Ellen’s barely keeping her family farm afloat, clinging to dreams of what it could be—with a little luck and a lot of hard work. What she doesn’t need is a spaceship crashing onto her land, or the massive scaled alien who steps out of the wreckage. Now the barn she wanted to convert to a bed and breakfast is shattered all over the lawn, and this huge scaly dude is to blame.

Elia is a space-faring clone, bred for loyalty and survival. He fought for the chance to enter the prestigious Mating Games, only to be exiled for a crime he didn’t commit. Now, stranded on an uncharted world, he and his crew are at the mercy of an infuriated human female with fire in her eyes and no warriors of her own to protect her.

She is not fragile. But she is vulnerable. And something deep in Elia wants her. All he has to do is rebuild what he destroyed and guard her land and her dreams as fiercely as if they were his own.

But Ellen isn’t looking for a mate. And Elia is running out of time to prove that she should.

🔥 A sizzling sci-fi romance featuring a caring, exiled alien, a determined human heroine, and slow-burn tension that will leave you breathless. Perfect for fans of aliens on earth, forced proximity, and fierce heroines who refuse to back down. 🔥

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

“I promise we will not harm you. You have my word, our word, whatever assurances you need.” Ilia glances at the manacles, heaped in a pile in front of him. “We would never hurt any female.” His breath catches, scales flashing red, like a ruby. “Not deliberately.”

There’s something there, I know it.

“And yet, you blew up Ellen’s barn,” Laura says sternly.

“My deepest apologies. I steered as well as I could,” Arture, the pilot, explains.

“Nevare told us there was life in the way,” one of the triplets adds. “We avoided all loss of it.”

“And I saved you,” Ilia adds quietly, eyes sparking with challenge as he locks gazes with me, but then dropping his eyes again like he’s not allowed to look at me.

I’m grateful for him saving me from the explosion, same as he’s hopefully thankful I helped him subdue the robot. But looking at the scattered remains of my barn, hot flames burn in my chest.

“I wouldn’t have needed saving if you hadn’t literally dropped into my life and broken what remained of it. You might be happy as Larry once you fix your ship, but what am I going to do? I can’t raise money for a business, let alone repairs! You’ve really ruined everything, you know.”

He weathers my anger, an immoveable rock kneeling in the mud. “We’ll fix it,” he says, a rumble in his voice. “We’ll devote our labor to restoring your building before our ship. In order to do that, I ask you not to turn us in, unless the work isn’t to your satisfaction.”

I barely stop my jaw from dropping, the angry fire inside doused with cold. Wow.

“You’ll rebuild the barn to my specifications,” Arabella chimes in.

“What?” I hiss to her.

Arabella pulls me down close to her, and Laura and Nicole lean in. “Ellen, this is literally the answer to your prayers. Six guys straight from planet hot who will build the bed and breakfast just as you need it to be.” Arabella grins widely. Her smile wavers a little, but she’s always saying to take advantage of what the universe delivers, riding the waves and learning to surf what comes our way.

Is this it?

“They could be dangerous,” Laura whispers, glaring at the men beyond our huddle. “This play-nice attitude could switch at any time.”

I nod, taking that into account. “They could have started aggressively, they didn’t. And Floss likes him. They can’t leave the farm, or they’ll get caught. We can turn them in at any time.”

But my gut lurches at the idea of turning the big guys over to the police or the army. They’d lock them away, or use them for target practice. My gaze strays over to their hopeful faces, all awaiting what I’ll say.

Ilia raises his head. “If I may, I have a suggestion. A hostage, to guarantee our behavior.”

“A hostage?” My mouth goes dry.

“Yes.” He offers up his wrists, holding up the chains he’d been bound with. “Take me prisoner when we’re not working and, if my crew frighten you, kill me.”

“Drok na,” one of the triplets mutters, but while the other men’s nostrils flare, they stay quiet, eyes on the ground.

Author Bio:

Hi! I’m Bea Tama. Well, kind of. This is one of my few pen names; where I write about love falling from the stars, Becky Tama writes romantasy and fae adventures. Our other pen name is a USA Today Bestselling Author, but we don’t let that go to our heads.

I live in the UK not that far from Bristol, where Exiles on Earth is set, and secretly I dream of setting up an agri-business alongside writing about gorgeous aliens coming to help me with it.

Instagram

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

—

Thanks so much for reading today's post. Hope you enjoyed it!

Follow me on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tina-donahue

Please feel free to share the post via FB, Bluesky, Linked In, and more...share buttons at the bottom of this post :)

Subscribe

Email Address

Immortal Heat - BDSM Romance - Gay - Dark Fantasy #Romance #BDSM #BDSMRomance #Gay #DarkFantasy

Kira Stone is here to tell us about Immortal Heat, BDSM romance, gay, dark fantasy.

Read on for details...

_____________________

 

 

BDSM Romance, Gay, Dark Fantasy

Date Published: May 9, 2025

 

 

Three vampires battle the lives they left behind to build a future out of the ashes of their pasts.

 

Immortal Steps: Tain, a renowned Celtic dancer, has bitter memories of his first crush and the trainer who left him without a word. For years he's flung himself from one brief romantic encounter to another, the subject of tabloid gossip and speculation, always insisting he's not gay. When Kyle, Tain's old mentor, comes back into Tain's life, the last thing Tain wants is to give the man, or the vampire, a place in his heart.

Hidden Depths: Pat's devoted his life to locating the wreck of The Pelican's Flight, sunk in 1692, along with forty other ships, when the infamous town of Port Royal slid into the Caribbean. Jamie lost more than his lover when The Pelican went down. Pat offers Jamie hope at finding his ship, along with a chance at rediscovering love. Will the secrets they share bring them together? Or tear them apart?

Vampires In Heat: Humans in Seattle are dying as a result of domestic cat vampires and demonesses working together. The latest victim is Erron's neighbor and best friend. Nolan, the leader of Seattle's Pacifistic Vampire Clan, and Erron, an albino who is commonly mistaken for a vampire, team up with the cat vamp leader to find the rogues who are killing needlessly and trying to discredit vampire-kind. And just maybe, between them, they'll find more than a remedy for this vampire scourge -- like love!

Publisher's Note: Immortal Steps, Vampires In Heat, and Hidden Depths have been previously published as stand alone novellas.

 

 

EXCERPT

Excerpt from Immortal Steps

Alone, Kyle Lohan entered his private balcony at the Grampian Theater in Edinburgh, Scotland. As he sat down, the house lights dimmed briefly to signal a two minute warning before the show began. The box smelled faintly of sex, although he doubted anyone without a vampire's heightened senses could detect the erotic scent. Regardless, it was his own fault for sneaking in to watch rehearsals the previous evening. He'd been unable to resist tugging his cock in time with the heavy beat of the dancers as they practiced.

Okay, not all the performers excited him. Just one.

Tain O'Halloran.

Tonight Kyle had better prepared for the public performance, or so he'd thought. The quick release during his shower should have calmed his libido enough to sit through the performance without a hard-on. But as the first strains of a flute solo poured across the stage, the anticipation proved to be more than his body could resist and his cock rose to an aching fullness.

Tain. On stage. His stage.

How long had he waited for this? Worked for this? Dreamed of this? Sometimes it seemed like forever. And yet, very soon, the moment he'd been preparing for would arrive. One way or another, he would finally end his long pursuit.

He adjusted the fit of his tuxedo pants as the chorus sprinted across the stage. Their shoes hit the wooden floor in rhythmic, staccato beats, flirting with the notes. Kyle couldn't stop his own feet from scuffing against the floor in a pale imitation of the dancers' fancy footwork. Had his heart been prone to beat, it would have been racing as fast as the music.

A few more seconds...

Then, appearing out of a flash of light and smoke, bam! There he was. Tain O'Halloran. The male lead's long, sleek black hair floated behind him as he bounced in perfect synchronization with the little blond at his side. His grey eyes flashed with pure joy and a little arrogance. A smile curved his thin pink lips. And what that black leather did for his ass...

Kyle groaned softly as his cock twitched with longing, but he refused to slake his lust. Privacy wasn't an issue, even during a public performance. No, nothing mattered more than soaking up every moment of this night to tuck away in his memories. If the evening didn't go as planned, this could be all he had left to remember the talented young man come morning.

The first dance ended, and Kyle felt the tightness in his chest ease as Tain exited stage right. He'd reappear several times throughout the performance.

Kyle itched with anticipation for the next time, and the next... and the next... By the second act, Kyle could pick out Tain's unique sweat from the morass of odors permeating the air. The scent teased his cock like nothing else. His whole body tensed as he imagined jumping over the balcony's rail to land on top of the dancer's young bones, then fucking him to within an inch of his life, claiming him on stage for all the world to see.

Well, that's one way to announce that you're back in his life, Kyle thought with a rueful shake of his head. Definitely not one of your brightest ideas though.

If anything, such a bold, stupid move would get him thrown out of Tain's life for good. Kyle's goal was quite the opposite. If he had his way, nothing would separate him from Tain ever again.

The show ended with a roar of applause that pulled the dancers back on stage for a second encore. Vibrant and smiling under the lights, Tain looked like he could hold out for a third reprise if the director let him. However, the rest of the troupe wasn't fairing as well, so when the curtains closed again the house lights came up.

The show was over, but Kyle's performance of a lifetime was about to begin.

About the Author

Kira Stone has been around the block…the writer’s block, that is.

From vamps and witches to historical heroes, from futuristic scientists to paranormal corporate executives, from Canadian werewolves to off-world shifters, Kira has written about them all. Manlove has sparked hot and heavy in many of her plots, but Kira also finds a lucky lady to keep the sexy heroes company from time to time. While Scotland remains her favorite place in the world, Kira is constantly in search of new adventures to add to the creative primordial ooze where her best stories are born.

Author’s Website

Author on Facebook

Author on Goodreads

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

Order Today

Thanks so much for reading today's post. Hope you enjoyed it!

Follow me on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tina-donahue

Please feel free to share the post via FB, Bluesky, Linked In, and more...share buttons at the bottom of this post :)

Subscribe

Email Address

Idle - Sadie Hawkins Mysteries Book 2 - Amateur Sleuth Mystery - and a Giveaway #Mystery #AmateurSleuth #AmateurSleuthMystery #Giveaway

Patricia C. Lee is here to tell us about Idle, Sadie Hawkins Mysteries book 2, an amateur sleuth mystery.

There's also a great giveaway.

_____________________

Some women run from trouble...others out-think it

Idle

Sadie Hawkins Mysteries Book 2

by Patricia C. Lee

Genre: Amateur Sleuth Mystery

Sadie Hawkins thought her toughest challenge was keeping her small freight business afloat—until her best friend, Tanya Woods, is arrested for murder. With the police convinced Tanya is guilty, Sadie attempts to prove her friend's innocence before it’s too late.

As Sadie launches her own investigation with her crew, they use their special skills and step outside the law to uncover dark secrets tied to StreetSmart; Tanya’s workplace that provides a support system for rehabilitated young adult offenders. While her search for the truth intensifies, Sadie and her associates find themselves in a dangerous web of betrayal, lies, hidden motives, and vengeance.

With her business at risk, her trust tested and best friend on the line, Sadie must rely on both her instincts and the loyalty of those around her as she strives to find the killer. However, in a world full of secrets, even friends can become enemies and the truth might be more than she can handle.

 

**On Sale – Get it 50% off!**

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo * Smashwords * Books2Read * Bookbub * Goodreads

First Gear

Sadie Hawkins Mysteries Book 1

In the heart of Texas, Sadie Hawkins' entrepreneurial dreams take flight when a golden opportunity lands in her lap: hauling antiquities. But when calamity strikes she finds herself not just fighting for her business, but for her freedom.

 

Determined to clear her name, Sadie dives into her own investigation, leaning on a motley crew of rehabilitated young adult offenders known as StreetSmart for support. Racing against the clock, confronting both her past and a deadly adversary, Sadie discovers that this mystery holds more than just her future - it holds her life in the balance.

 

Embark on a gripping journey with Sadie as she untangles the web of danger and deceit threatening to consumer her in this suspenseful mystery that will keep you turning pages.

**On Sale – Get it 50% off!**

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo * Smashwords * Books2Read * Bookbub * Goodreads

Pat is an Amazon bestselling author and playwright who has had a love affair with the written word since childhood, many times immersing herself in the stories of Enid Blyton and Carolyn Keene. An active imagination gave inspiration to short stories and her first play as a teen.

Her full-length play, The Truth About Lies, was staged at a regional theatrical competition in 2006.  She was selected as "One of 50 Authors You Should be Reading" in 2012. One of her novels achieved a finalist slot in the 2013 International Book Award Contest - fantasy category. And her Daughters of the Crescent Moon Trilogy garnered second place in the 2016 Paranormal Romance Guild Reviewers Choice for Best Series.  She is also the winner of the 15th Annual Writer's Digest Short Story contest for A Holy Night.

Although still in pursuit of a place truly called home, Pat shares her life with a husband and cats, all of which claim rule over the house at one point or another. Besides dreaming up the next novel, she enjoys traveling, baking, camping, wine, and of course reading – not necessarily in that order. And she believes chocolate should be its own food group.

 

Website * Facebook * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

 

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $10 giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks so much for reading today's post. Hope you enjoyed it!

Follow me on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tina-donahue

Please feel free to share the post via FB, Bluesky, Linked In, and more...share buttons at the bottom of this post :)

Subscribe

Email Address

Ghost - Fire Lake Book 9 - M/M LGBTQ Contemporary Military Romance - and a Giveaway #Romance #M/MRomance #LGBTQ #MilitaryRomance #Giveaway

M. Tasia is here to tell us about Ghost, Fire Lake Book 9, M/M LGBTQ contemporary military romance.

There's also a great giveaway.

________________________

Sometimes you can't see love coming, but that doesn't mean it isn't there.

Ghost

Fire Lake Book 9

by M. Tasia

Genre: M/M LGBTQ Contemporary Military Romance

The Thrilling Last Story in the Fire Lake Series

THE INVISIBLE MAN

A cop down to his bones, Detective Ray Sommers has seen it all, and knows how to trust his instincts.

While visiting an old friend, he finds what he knows with what he sees colliding right in front of his eyes. A man has appeared from out of nowhere. Literally. And in more ways than one, Ray's visit has gotten way more complicated.

Darren, aka Ghost, ran from his traumatic past taking with him some unbelievable secrets. But now he’s found a family where he’s been accepted for the first time in his life.

Ray and Darren’s initial encounter might’ve been a bit unorthodox, but interest sparks and their attraction is undeniable.

Ghost and his Fire Lake family are targeted by a powerful and ruthless man, and they fight back with every weapon they have—of which Ghost is one.

Now that he’s found someone who genuinely sees him, he’s not sure he’ll live long enough to enjoy him.

 

Amazon * Smashwords * Bookbub * Goodreads

**Don’t miss the rest of the Fire Lake series!**

Find out more at the Author’s Website!

M. Tasia is an author who lives in Ontario, Canada. Michelle is a dedicated people watcher, lover of romance novels, 80’s rock, and happily ever afters (once the MCs have been put through their paces of course), who grew up with a love of reading. Mother of three wonderful children, wife to one understanding husband, and servant to two spoiled furry children who don’t seem to realize, that they’re actually cats.

Michelle writes contemporary mm romance and believes love should be shared and celebrated. After all, you deserve to have romance, excitement, intrigue, and passion in your lives.

 

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bluesky * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

 

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $10 giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks so much for reading today's post. Hope you enjoyed it!

Follow me on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tina-donahue

Please feel free to share the post via FB, Bluesky, Linked In, and more...share buttons at the bottom of this post :)

Subscribe

Email Address

Same Place Same Stars - Psychological - and a Giveaway #Psychological #Giveaway

Katey Taylor is here to tell you about Same Place Same Stars, psychological.

There's also a great giveaway.

__________________

Same Place Same Stars

Katey Taylor

Publication date: May 13th 2025

Genres: Adult, Psychological

Twenty-one-year-old Natalia battles a rare parasomnia sleep disorder that propels her to act violently, experience night terrors, and put herself in dangerous situations—all while she’s unconscious.

After waking up covered in unexplained bruises, she lands herself back in a mental facility. Making friends has never been easy, but at Awana, she quickly bonds with her fun-loving roommate Lindsay and falls for Gabriel, a handsome yet severely depressed resident she secretly meets at night.

As Natalia wrestles with the harsh side effects of her medication, her reality unravels, exposing disturbing truths about those she trusts most. Though romantic relationships are strictly forbidden at Awana, Gabriel becomes her lifeline amidst the chaos. To be with him, Natalia must risk everything—including her sanity, and she learns some choices carry devastating consequences.

Filled with shocking twists, Same Place, Same Stars, unpacks the many layers of what happens when you can no longer avoid dark secrets that refuse to be ignored.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

CHAPTER 1:

No sharp objects. Pack light.

My instinct is to run, but I don’t know how far my sore limbs will carry me.

Apathy is my last line of defense.

I reach for a baggy sweatshirt and leggings. This has become my uniform when I go away, not for any fashion statement but its functionality—it can be easily taken off before my body is searched by a nurse’s gloved hands. The pressure from the fabric causes me to hiss in pain. I carefully step each leg in to cover the tender scrapes and deep purple bruises along my pale white shins and thighs. The bruises are a reminder that I’ve messed up again.

I drag my worn leather suitcase that’s on its last leg away from our cottage and into the trunk of Olga’s station wagon. She doesn’t say a word as we head out of our driveway and onto the tree-dense highway. The branches are grayer than normal, though it could be my mood filtering the world in a cloud of indifference.

Olga rolls every window down even though it’s a brisk fifty-two degrees. Long drives make her sweat. I think she would never leave our small town if it were up to her, but I remain her forcing agent.

My eyes wander from the pastures filled with cows and horses to Olga and her wild blowing hair that is unusually more silver than black for someone in their thirties.

“So, what’s this ward like?” I ask, trying to break the tense silence.

“Don’t call it that. That’s not what it’s called. This is a treatment center.”

She turns up her classical piano playlist, the one she plays to calm her nerves, then hands me a folded piece of stock paper filled with smiling faces of young adults—those who, like me, are not teenagers anymore but not quite what I would consider adults either. Much like our mental state, we’re something in between.

The brochure states this center isn’t government funded. By the looks of it, it seems far out of the budget of Olga’s ballet studio salary and my unemployed status, but it claims as part of their philosophy that they take on special cases free of charge. Just my luck, they happened to have room for a last-minute drop-in.

After the stunt I pulled last night, I’m sure Olga would be willing to pay any price.

Author Bio:

Katey Taylor is a San Francisco Bay Area-based author and published poet, with work featured in online magazines such as DarkWinter Lit, SWAAY, and Fauxmoir. She’s recognized for her ability to address complex topics with sensitivity and depth. To find out more about her previous and upcoming novels, visit www.kateytaylor.com

Website / Goodreads / Instagram / TikTok

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

—

Thanks so much for reading today's post. Hope you enjoyed it!

Follow me on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tina-donahue

Please feel free to share the post via FB, Bluesky, Linked In, and more...share buttons at the bottom of this post :)

Subscribe

Email Address