Just a storyteller

My current story will be open door, but I've written both. It all depends on what the story is. Sometimes the door needs to be open because those scenes serve the story in a specific way. Sometimes, it's not necessary and might even detract.

#writinglifemontly #writing

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I have an unhealthy relationship with all things Tim Curry. I must have this. #funko

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Halfway through book 4 of a series, I finally gave up today. I kept hoping I would like the heroine more, but with each passing book, she got worse. Life is too short to commit to reading books that don't bring me some sort of joy. #booksky

#authoraugust25 Day 4: Main Character Monday! Share a fact about your MC.

In my current WIP, "A Man of Value," Joe has a notebook full of floor plans for a family-friendly bookstore that he's never shared with anybody because he sees it as a pipe-dream. #writing

I'm out for today's prompt. Since I only just started my current WIP, I haven't hit this yet. Though I do love it when it's organic to the story. #writinglifemonthly #writing

By JL Merrow? No, I haven't. Knowing it's a gentle giant, I have to correct that. Thank you so much for the rec!

Budding Hopes : JMS Books LLC, a queer small press GENRE: Gay Historical Spicy RomanceLENGTH: 11,887 wordsRATING: For eight months, Dr. Mark Vance has been visiting Sheehan’s Nursery to buy flowers for his mother’s grave, and every week, Hal Sheehan s...

Day 3: Favorite trope to write/read?

I am a huge sucker for gentle giant stories. One of mine that's a favorite is the short, "Budding Hopes," but I'm telling you, if it's in a blurb, I salivate.

If you have any recs, feel free to share! #authoraugust25

www.jms-books.com/vivien-dean-...

This comes a bit after what I posted yesterday. The pair didn't really interact before Joe went to comfort his daughter. He got her calmed down, then came back to talk to the teacher. Both are wrapped up in other emotions, and this is a slow-burn story. #writinglifemonthly #writing

And oh look, I didn't even think that I was screenshotting my doc with all the stupid stuff Word keeps trying to point out. Oh well.

My current WIP is about a lonely widower too afraid to look for love again for fear of hurting his already-hurt 6 y/o daughter. He's come to the school in a panic about an emergency and meets the substitute teacher that his daughter has been gushing about. #writinglifemontly #writing

Trumpets and Turquoise : JMS Books LLC, a queer small press GENRE: Gay Spicy RomanceLENGTH: 75,095 wordsRATING: Musician Sam Poe is having the worst week of his life. On the night he discovers his boyfriend destroyed Sam’s trumpet in the name of art, Sam learn...

Day 2: Tell us about your latest release or WIP.

Latest release: "Trumpets and Turquoise" - a grieving trumpet player, a small-town handyman who's in the closet, and the dog that brings them together.

#authoraugust25 #writing

www.jms-books.com/vivien-dean-...

With my kids grown now, though, my days still have too many empty hours in them, so I've been in the throes of interviewing for a day job. I'm being picky, but there's one that I'm keeping my fingers crossed about. I should know about that one in the next week or so. #authoraugust25 #writingsky

Other than that, I'm big into tabletop gaming, cooking, and live theatre. I managed to get involved with my local community theatre in the past few years, and it's been amazing. I saw a play get produced, directed a few others, and even managed to perform a couple of times.

and my just-graduated-from-college son who got a degree in computer science at the same time the tech industry decided to cut back on hiring. Go figure.

(If I have to live through this American nightmare right now, I'm glad it's in California.)

I spent five years writing with Pepper Espinoza as Jamie Craig, took a few years off to go back to school, and came back to it this past year feeling recharged. I'm living my own romance, married to my British husband now for 26 years, living in California with him, our dog Chico, our cat Lena...

I've been writing as Vivien Dean since 2005, believe it or not. I started with a spicy het vampire romance, but these days, it spans every flavor and genre. I get bored doing the same thing over and over again.

Month of August calendar, for Author August 2025, with each day having a different topic for social media posting.

Because I absolutely suck at social media, I was so grateful my publisher (@jms-books.com) shared something she found with us: Author August '25! I figure hey, it'll keep me busy this month, at the very least.

Day 1: Introduce yourself and what you write.

I finally got to start my next book so my goal is to have another 30k of it done this month. It feels so good to not be editing for a while. #writinglifemonthly #writing

YouTube video by mitchellivers A Chorus Line on Donahue 6

This caught my eye during my morning pass through social media, so I watched because it's my favorite number from A Chorus Line. Still, even though I've seen/heard it so many times, I was in tears by the time Maggie is saying, "Daddy, I would love to dance." #broadway

youtu.be/ZT8yLVl_IjY?...

Went to an axe-throwing bar today for the first time ever, and holy moly, haven't had that much fun in a looooonnnng time. Therapeutic and exhilarating and exactly what I needed.

Cartoon of a stranded island beach with a palm tree, umbrella, and Xmas gifts, announcing a sale at JMS Books for Christmas in July. All ebooks are 40% off today only.

It's Christmas in July over at @jms-books.com! Today only, all ebooks are 40% off! Go treat yourself! #booksky

www.jms-books.com

Love this so much. He makes me think of S.T. from "Hollow Kingdom" by Kira Jane Buxton (one of my favorite books ever).

Guns N’ Roses releases “Appetite for Destruction” 38 years ago today.

It captured “a raw, honest energy,” said Slash. “It wasn’t polished, it wasn’t planned. It just was. And people still feel that — it’s the kind of record that doesn’t age.”

“Sweet Child O’ Mine” 🎸

Universal Pictures’ Wicked: For Good The Wizard Fashion Doll With Movie-Inspired Outfit & Accessory Journey into the beautiful Land of Oz with Universal Pictures’ Wicked: For Good the Wizard fashion doll.

I don't collect dolls, but damn if I don't want this, because Jeff Goldblum! As a doll! And it looks good! The problem is, it's only available at Wal-Mart, and I haven't bought anything from them in over 15 years for a reason. #wicked

shop.mattel.com/products/wic...

TMNT was right… 🐢 🐈‍⬛

Of all the Emmy nominations, the one that makes me the happiest - hands down - is Jeff Hiller for "Somebody Somewhere." One of my absolute fave shows from the past few years and so much of the magic comes from @boomboomhiller.bsky.social. Everybody should have a Joel in their life.

A comparison to Brendan Fraser - an actor I've adored since School Ties - is by far the best reason I've seen so far to see this, thank you for that!

#selfdigest #morningthoughts #growthmindset #poetry
#writingcommunity #writersofbluesky #motivational #reminder #innerstrength #booksky #writesky

Whenever someone—and it’s usually an agèd, agèd man—asks where all the great writers are today, I usually think two things. First, it’s a sign they don’t read much contemporary work: they don’t know who the important writers are now, and they mistake their knowledge gap for a gap in the real world.

Price of a Tattooed Soul : JMS Books LLC, a queer small press GENRE: Paranormal Spicy RomanceLENGTH: 74,002 wordsRATING: Lydia Nicholls lives an ordinary life. She works, she has the occasional date, she struggles with her weight. Only one thing sets her life ap...

"Price of a Tattooed Soul," a time travel romance, is a Daily Deal at JMS Books today, only $0.99! #booksky

www.jms-books.com/vivien-dean-...