MONDAY MAGIC - Keziah Hill

Right now it’s February which is traditionally the hottest month of the year in Australia. Like August in the Northern Hemisphere, the last month of summer seems to go on forever, particularly if you live on the east coast where the humidity is a killer. I’m lucky because I live 100ks or so west of Sydney in the Blue Mountains so humidity isn’t so much of an issue for me.

Most of Australia suffered through a ten year long drought which broke with a vengeance in 2010-11.  Unfortunately the rains have come again this summer, so much of south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales is under flood waters as I write this.

But the big issue for me is that lack of summer we’ve had this year. The Blue Mountains is a cold climate part of Australia so I expect it will always be colder than Sydney, but I don’t expect to have the heater on consistently since Christmas. And rain, rain, rain. Days of it. Weeks of it.

I hadn’t realised how much the weather effects my mood. I can’t get out into the garden and I can’t go for walks. Don’t get me wrong, I love cold weather, that’s why I live here, but the the unrelenting gloomy grey is getting on my nerves.

Today the sun is out. Yay! But that’s end of it until the end of February. Then it’s on to autumn. The upside is autumn is my favorite time of year so I’m hoping for sunny days, crisp air and glorious colour from the turning trees.

One of the benefits of so much rain is that I’ve been doing a lot of writing. My crime novel is on a home stretch, and I’ve finished an erotic fantasy novella that I’m in the process of tidying up and submitting. I’ve also written two shorts for a couple of anthologies.

Maybe I should be thanking all this rain!


Excerpt

Readers seem to be more interested in lesbian erotic romance lately. It's always been popular with erotica readers but less so with erotic romance readers. I like writing lesbian romance, so here's an excerpt from “Ghostly Desires” a story in Friends and Lovers: Two Erotic Tales which is available from Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords. Links here. http://www.keziahhill.com/books/

The rain cleared the next day and Thea wandered through the grounds peering into sheds and picking some bedraggled flowers. It was much better than she remembered. When the sun was out, it was spectacular. Her mind ticked over with possibilities. The idea of a bed and breakfast specializing in eco tours through Wild Rivers National Park looked more and more attractive. She’d get the place fixed up and a marketing plan written. First though, she’d figure out why Judith wanted to get rid of her.

Thea spent an amusing if sleepless night listening to the laughter and creepy howls of what she assumed was an attempt at a resident ghost. It made her think that an occasional murder mystery weekend or a ghost theme might be quite an attraction for the place. The people who didn’t want to go off trekking in the wilderness could play games and be warm while consuming fabulous food and wine.

She’d have to ask Judith for some suggestions after she worked out what to do about her. An environmental scientist who could cook like an angel was a definite asset. The fact that Thea wanted to spend a large amount of time picking her brain while wrapped around her, was neither here nor there.  Not that she really wanted to do much talking. Her mouth would be much better employed trying to taste every inch of Miss Judith’s glorious skin.

She made her way back to the kitchen, found a vase for the flowers and planned her next move. She didn’t have to wait long. Judith staggered in the kitchen with a pile of wood in her arms looking frazzled and tired. She’d ditched the grey serge for a worn pair of jeans that molded her every curve and a snug black sweater. It was still cold and Thea’s mouth watered at the sight of Judith’s nipples, tight and distinct under the wool.

“Morning. How did you sleep?”

“Fine,” Judith snapped. “What about you?”

“Perfect. There were a few noises in the night, but I just assumed they were the resident ghost and went back to sleep. I think that’s the best thing to do with ghosts, don’t you? Just ignore them and they either give up and disappear or settle in to become one of the family. I hope this one settles in. Has it been around for long?”

Judith glared at her and piled the wood into the wood box. “I didn’t hear anything.”

“No? I must be sensitive to ghosts then.” She smiled at Judith who gasped and dropped the wood, peering at her hand with a curse.

“Shit! I’ve got a splinter.”

“Let me see.” Thea pulled Judith’s hand into hers and saw a sharp fragment of wood embedded in the base of her thumb. “Stand still, I’ll get it out.”

Blood welled out of Judith’s skin as Thea eased out the wood. She lifted Judith’s hand and sucked on it, swirling her tongue around the broken skin. She tasted of copper and salt mixed with panic. Thea moved closer, sliding her arm around Judith’s waist, while still licking her hand. When she moved her tongue to the inside of her wrist and felt her frantic pulse, Judith’s sharp indrawn breath sent a tingle of delight through her. She lifted her head from Judith’s hand and pulled her closer, her mouth almost touching Judith’s slightly parted lips.

“Is that better?”

“Yes,” Judith whispered, her eyes wide and round.

“Good.” She dropped her gaze to Judith’s breasts and smiled. “Very good. You should put something on it.” Stepping away from her, she picked up an apple from the fruit bowl and bit into it. “I’m going into town to talk to a few trades people. I want to get this place fixed up as soon as possible. Need anything?”

Judith shook her head. She seemed to be having trouble breathing.

“Okay. I’ll see you later. Look after that hand.”



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Thanks so much for being my guest today Keziah! Congratulations on getting so much writing done lately! I wish I could catch some of that...I need to finish our "Secret Writing Project"!  (Keziah and I are in the same writers group in Sydney. She's finished her bit and I'm lagging behind!)