Delilah Devlin's Blog

Hello! Thank you, Delilah, for inviting me here today to talk about my new project. Anderson’s Reinvention is a new novella in my Love in Mission City world.

As you know, I love my Mission City world. When I wrote my first novel, Ginger Snapping All the Way, I had no concept of what this world would become or how Mission City would expand. I also didn’t expect to pick up readers along the way who let me know how excited they are when they hear another book in the series is coming out.

Now, I write other books. I have a loose Vancouver Film World series, and I write in multiple shared worlds with other authors. What I almost never do is write a standalone book. One that isn’t connected to others. That’s just not how my mind works. So I connect books. Anyone new to my worlds can start at any point. You don’t need to have read prior books. All books have satisfactory (I hope) endings. Happily Ever Afters guaranteed!

So here’s where I’m going to draw back the curtain. For most authors, the best way to communicate with readers is through an email. Yep, that simple.

Algorithms hide our new release posts. Readers might miss a note about a sale. If someone else is talking about my book, that might also get buried. The preferred social media site might become toxic. Or, most scarily, another site might ban you altogether for some unclear reason and not allow you to petition to get back on.

No one can take away my mailing list. Now, no reader is obliged to open the newsletters I send. Of course, I hope they do. I’ve always got a short anecdote about my life (sometimes exciting, sometimes a little mundane). I try to offer news about new releases, sales, promotions, and other people’s books I can recommend. Finally, guaranteed pictures of my pooches. If you scroll to the bottom, you are rewarded!

Most authors understand the value of someone agreeing to accept a newsletter. They treasure the readers who open it and are buoyed by the readers who hit replay and shoot a message to me. I always invite people to write back. To let me know how they’re doing. To share pet pictures. Some emails are inspiring. Some are heartbreaking.

I released Yorkie to My Heart on Christmas Day in 2024 and sent out an email announcement. I could see how many people opened that email in just a few hours. I felt like I connected with people who might not have someone to be with that day (I didn’t). Or people who needed a break. Or just people who were happy to hear from me.

One gentleman wrote back that his beloved Yorkie had died the day before, but that he was going to buy my book and likely open his heart to getting another dog.

My heart sang. After I shed a tear.

I’m careful with my newsletters because I never know what someone is going through when they open it. The world isn’t always a gentle place—but I try to be a safe space.

So now I’m going to circle back to why I have a free story. Anderson’s Reinvention is a 20k novella. It took me more than a week to write. I had to pay for a cover, editing, and I had to format it myself to prepare for the release. Honestly, that’s a lot of work. Yet I’m giving it away for free. In return, I’m asking for a chance to send new readers an email. At that point they can either decide cute pooch pictures are their thing and stick with me, or they can decide one free book was enough and they’re going to go away. Either way, I am grateful they gave me a chance. So yes, all that work was worth it.

Eventually I will release the novella for sale—first in Kindle Unlimited and eventually with wide distribution. Not everyone will see that I’m giving away something for free. Not everyone wants to read their book through BookFunnel. Some readers will buy it to support me. To let me know they want me to continue writing.

Regardless of how they find my novella, I am grateful to them. Readers keep me going. I’ve had a rough go of it lately and the kind messages and lovely reviews have really helped. I’ll keep writing.

Okay, so that’s the gist of it. I’ve joined together with six other MM authors, and we’ve created a promo. One stop shopping for readers looking for new stories. Some authors request you sign up for their mailing list while others are happy to give away their book without that request. Regardless, we’re all hoping you read our books and see the love and care we’ve put into them.

For me, Anderson’s Reinvention is yet another single dad story. I love telling them. The promo is also Second Chance, so if that’s your favorite trope, we’ve got you covered.

Thank you for inviting me here, Delilah. I love pulling back the curtain and explaining why I do what I do. Why my readers are so valued. Why I keep writing every day.

Contest: As a thank you, I would love to give away either an e-book or an audiobook from my Love in Mission City series. The winner can choose. Just tell me, are you tempted by a free story? Do you worry it might not be as good as something you pay for? Let me know! Random will pick a winner. Good luck!

Anderson’s Reinvention 

Anderson

I will never regret giving up my dreams of acting to become a parent to my orphaned niece seventeen years ago. She’s the light of my life, and my executive-assistant job paid for a comfortable home for us both. But now she’s heading to university, and I’m facing an empty nest. Suddenly, I can focus back on who I am and what I need. And at this crossroads, who do I run into at Mission City’s Christmas market but my college sweetheart. I’ve never forgotten Jarrod, and reconnecting brings those memories crashing back. Could there be a chance…?

Jarrod

I finished a degree in computer science, but my family needed my help back in Chilliwack. It’s been a hardworking life, preserving the goat farm that was my legacy, but I kept their dream alive. After my parents passed, I threw myself into adding products like goat-milk soap, and it’s been a good move. What I don’t expect while working my sales booth at the Christmas market is to see Anderson wandering the aisles. He dumped me without a word seventeen years ago, and the hurt still lingers, but I admit I’m curious. Why did he run? Is he single? Within a few minutes, I realize there’s a spark between us that never went out. But do I want to take any kind of chance with this man again?

Anderson’s Reinvention is a second chance, interracial, opposites attract gay romance with a button-down hardworking executive assistant and the goat farmer he never forgot.

Links:
Bookfunnel link: https://books.bookfunnel.com/secondchancemm/34wvf30kps

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.

Personal links:
Website: https://gabbigrey.com/
Newsletter sign-up: https://sendfox.com/gabbigrey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbigrey/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15456297.Gabbi_Grey
Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/Gabbi-Grey/e/B07SJVFX1M
Audible Profile: https://www.audible.com/author/Gabbi-Grey/B07SJVFX1M
Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGabbiGrey

The post Gabbi Grey: Why I Give Things Away for Free (Contest + FREE Read!) first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

Weekend Puzzle-Contest

The kids spent a full week out of school due to the thick layer of sleety-snow we still have on the ground. They didn’t mind one bit. It was like another vacation. All our critters are doing fine as well. The goats are fat, the chickens stick to their coop for warmth, and the geese…? Well, they’re their usual honking selves—as the puzzle will show. Yes, those are our three pasture menaces. Enjoy!

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle and then tell me what you’re doing this weekend! I’m thinking about watching a movie, Wrecking Crew, with the family if I can nail them down to the couches.

Quick Report Card

Last week…

No edits. A new set arrived yesterday, so my break is over!My chemo session for Monday was cancelled for the second week in a row, this time due to the winter weather. I feel great this far away from chemo treatment (two weeks late), and I’m not letting myself worry about the consequences. I’ll take the vacation.I watched a LOT of Asian reels set in ancient, feudal China. Don’t think that’s an accomplishment? Huh. My new favorite Chinese word I’ve picked up is xiè xiè, pronounced “see-syea,” sort of. Every now and then I’ll burst out with a “Shi-mah!” (What?!), and my family will just shake their heads.I placed orders for precut watercolor paper in inchie, bookmark, and trading card sizes, so I’ll be stocked up for the #100dayproject challenge.

This next week…

No chemo session is scheduled. I’m sure the clinic is working like crazy to try to get people in who missed appointments, but they only come once a week to my town, and I didn’t get an appointment for Monday. They will likely schedule me for a blood draw this week though.I’ll begin editing the Burn stories.I’ll continue work on Ignition .I’ll still be puttering and cleaning more of my art room, getting ready for the #100dayproject starting February 22d!Open Contests

Be sure to check out these posts and enter to win the prizes that are still up for grabs:

Wordsearch Puzzle & Contest, Plus — We’re in for a rough weekend — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card! — Win a FREE book!Clear My Bookshelf Giveaway! (Contest: Two winners!) — Win a SIGNED book, with a hand-painted bookmark!Word Puzzle: Fun at Work Day! (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!Tell me a story… (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!January into February (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!The post Weekend Puzzle Contest, a Quick Report Card, Plus Open Contests! first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

January

 

Work-related:

I completed two sets of edits for other authors.I worked on some administrative things for the Burn anthology.I revised and added words to Ignition . I didn’t get as far as I wanted, but progress is progress.

Health-related:

Because my white blood count was low, my appointment for my next chemo infusion was put off. Then the following week, when I should have been sitting in the chair, the center was closed due to winter weather. So, no infusions this month.

Happiness-related: 

I participated in my local art guild’s monthly meeting. We made some watercolor hearts to use for cards or whatever for Valentine’s Day.I created just a couple of pieces of art—trading card sized.

February

   

For work-related, I plan:

To work with the authors whose stories will appear in  Burn  to edit their stories. I’ll work on the cover art and get a pre-order ready for readers to reserve their copies.To finish writing  Ignition .To complete two sets of edits for other authors.

For health-related, I plan:

To undergo another round of chemo.To continue to focus on the things I can control to help myself feel better! I’ll continue to eat healthier, rest when I need to, and get in some light exercise.

For happiness-related, I plan: 

To lead a Gelli mono-printing class for my local art guild.To create more art.To begin the annual #100dayproject challenge on February 22nd!Contest

Comment on anything you’ve read in this post. Tell me what you’re doing to make yourself happier and healthier, or tell me what you plan to read in February …

Like I said, comment on anything for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card! 

The post January into February (Contest) first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, let me know if this was ever you. Also, what story could she be reading? Have fun with it. Answer as succinctly (or not) as you want to!

The post Tell me a story… (Contest) first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

Many people categorize holidays by feelings. Thanksgiving? Family love (and awkward conversations). Christmas? Love for miracles (and cookies). New Year’s? Love for hangover remedies. And Mardi Gras? Well… love of beads, booze, and a little bit of mischief. Okay, fine, maybe my descriptions are a tad exaggerated—but that’s kind of the point. However, when it comes to Valentine’s Day, the default is chocolate and steamy nights (usually involving lingerie). It’s the holiday of lovers—the granddaddy of romance. But let’s be honest: nothing says romance quite like feeding each other spicy Cajun shrimp on Fat Tuesday.

Now, you may be asking why I’m talking about Fat Tuesday and Valentine’s Day hasn’t even happened—kind of the cringe that stores start putting out Christmas décor the week before Halloween. And I get why that is so off-putting. People want to be allowed to celebrate one holiday before being rushed (for commercial reasons) to the next one.

What many people may fail to realize is that the official start of Mardi Gras’ Carnival Season began January 6. Why? Because January 6 is Twelfth Night (also referred to as the Epiphany), and this marking the official end of the Christmas season. Thus, my discussing Fat Tuesday is right on time.

And for anyone rolling their eyes at Valentine’s Day commercialism or feeling left out without a sweetheart, Mardi Gras has your back. It’s not lacking in romance—in fact, it might just be more romantic than V‑Day. I know, I know … that sounds like a tall order. But trust me, it’s true. So, let’s explore.

Picture it (in my best Golden Girls Sophia voice): sharing a steaming bowl of gumbo, its rich, spicy aroma filling the air, as you lean across the table for that perfect bite. Or savoring jambalaya, each mouthful a perfect mix of spice, comfort, and warmth, while laughter and conversation flow between you. And then there’s king cake, with its sweet, colorful layers and hidden surprise, brings a playful twist to romance. Seriously, what is your favorite king cake filling? Let me know in the comments. I can’t get enough of the strawberry cream cheese. But I digress. The fun with king cake is endless. Who will get the slice with the hidden baby? Who will be crowned the king or queen for the evening? A shared bite turns into shared delight—and maybe a little friendly flirtation.

Oh, and if you think king cake has all the fun, just wait until the spicy Cajun dishes hit the table. It’s a seductive joy watching your date handle the heat of some fiery shrimp. Trust me, a little spice goes a long way in setting the mood. It’s the flavors, textures, and shared experience that make these Mardi Gras favorites so intimate. And listen, this is just the food. I haven’t even scratched the surface of the music, balls, and costumes/masks.

So, the next time someone tries to convince you Valentine’s Day is the most romantic, just smile, wink, and say, “keep thinking that.”

Now, it’s your turn to sound off. Do you agree that Mardi Gras is romantic? What do you love most about Mardi Gras? Share in the comments below! Also, if you like to read more about Mardi Gras and Cajun and Creole cultures, hop on over to my blog, Creole Bayou. There’s always room at the bayou.

And if you’re curious about diving deeper into Southern charm and emotional journeys, my books are waiting to welcome you into their worlds.

Demon Rodeo

If Brokeback Mountain, 8 Seconds, Poltergeist, and Supernatural had an orgy, Demon Rodeo would be the lovechild.

Demon Rodeo is a friends-to-lovers, nontraditional cowboys, wildly diverse, and a mashup of genres you didn’t know you needed. Your next guilty pleasure awaits. Available on Amazon. To view video book trailers, visit my TikTok page. The full blurb is on Instagram and Amazon.

Order:
⇨ Amazon: https://readerlinks.com/l/4174852
⇨ All Stores: https://books2read.com/u/bP8RG7

*Note: All of my books can be purchased from brick-and-mortar bookstores (e.g., Barnes & Noble, Book-A-Million, etc.) as well if requested at the checkout counter.)

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

If you’re not following my blog, Creole Bayou, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click here and sign up today.

Want to chat about writing, mental health, Cajun cuisine, Creole culture, or just spill some tea? If yes, let’s get connected. Follow me on one of my social links. There’s plenty to choose from.

Facebook: Genevive ChambleeInstagram: genevivechambleeauthorTikTok: CreolegurlNolaBluesky: Genevive ChambleeThreads: Author Genevive ChambleeBookBub: Genevive ChambleeAmazon Authors: Genevive ChambleeGoodreads: Genevive ChambleeX (formerly Twitter): @dolynesaidsoLocker Room Love

Locker Room Love Series

Are you searching for a sexy book boyfriend? You’ve come to the right place.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1) One minute in the box or a lifetime out.Defending the Net (book #2) Crossing the line could cost the game. Ice Gladiators (book #3) When the gloves come off, the games begin.Penalty Kill (book #4) Let the pucker begin. Future Goals (book #5) The future lies between a puck and a net.About the Author

Hi, I’m Genevive, and I am a contemporary sports romance author. My home is in South Louisiana. If you like snark and giggles with a touch of steamy Cajun and Creole on the side, I may have your poison in my stash of books. Drop by the bayou and have a look around. The pirogues are always waiting for new visitors.

The post Genevive Chamblee: Romantic Mardi Gras Foods first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

This is a holiday, which weirdly doesn’t occur on the same day each year. Fun at Work Day alternates between January 28th and April 1st each year. This year, it falls on today…so, yay! I remember fun activities at work. In the Army, we were always trying to find ways to have fun—like playing aggressors to take over our comm site in the woods. Sneaking up on people who know you’re sneaking up on them is fun. And dirty. Belly crawling through the woods has consequences! When I worked for a corporation, they treated our team to a day at Dave & Busters. Once in five years there. Yeah, it was a very stale job.

Now, I’m retired sort of, but I’m going to have my fun while I try to get some pages written today. I’m going to play my K-Pop Demon Hunters CD and take dance breaks. I’ll be smiling, so it counts! What about you?

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle then tell me how you can make work fun (and housework counts, y’all)!

The post Word Puzzle: Fun at Work Day! (Contest) first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

Here we go again!

As a way to solve my book-hoarding problem and make room on my bookshelves, I’m continuing my Clear My Bookshelf Giveaway! I have a ton of my physical, printed books, collected over my 20+ years of publishing. Rather than consign them to the burn barrel, I’m giving some of them away. I’m happy to offer more opportunities for readers to win a signed copy of one of my books!

Admittedly, I’m behind on getting my mailings out the door, but due to the fact I haven’t had chemo in a while (because of white blood cell count and weather issues), I’m firing on all cylinders, mentally, at the moment. This week, I promise I’ll get back on top of that! So…

For a chance to win a randomly chosen by me (just let me know if you want a western, an erotic, contemporary, or a paranormal) book, which I will of course sign and fill with a bookmark painted by me, (deep breath because that was already a long sentence)…tell me how you’re doing, right now!

The post Clear My Bookshelf Giveaway! (Contest: Two winners!) first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

Hello, Delilah! Thank you for inviting me here today. I want to pull back the curtain today about something almost all writers struggle with—naming characters!

So, I’ll start by sharing the easiest way of doing it. Need a North American name? Pull up the American Social Security register, enter the year of birth, scroll down from most popular to about 200. Some names that appeared in 1980 might be popular today and some have fallen completely out of favor. But back in that year, families thought those were good names. So that’s one method. Now, have I tapped that well a bunch of times? Yes. Will I keep doing it? Sure. Do I scroll down farther and farther for more obscure names? Yes to that as well.   There are similar registries in some countries, and you can often find articles about the most common name in any given year. Lots of options!

Ethnic names can be challenging. I again turn to Google, but I always—always—check with my sensitivity reader. Recently, I chose a last name for my character. My sensitivity reader had never seen it before, and so, not wanting to trip up readers from that group, I changed it to something she suggested. She also corrected things and made brilliant suggestions. I love writing non-Caucasian characters. I live in a world of color—why would I not represent that in my writing?

Another way is to simply pull from your daily life. In my Love in Cedar Valley series, under the penname Gabbi Powell, I have a couple of examples. My childhood friend was Marnie. So The Making of Marnie Jones uses her name. An ode to a friend. One of my mentors early in my career was Loriana Giordan. Adore her. The Luminosity of Loriana Harper. My Loriana doesn’t look anything like her fictional namesake. None of the details from their lives match. But the story is my way to thank her. By the way, the Harper comes from my mentor/friend/cowriter Kaje Harper. I had Loriana Yeardley, but when I decided to put the full names of my heroines in the title, I needed something easier to spell. Something that wouldn’t confuse readers when they’re looking on Amazon, Goodreads,  or any other retail site. Like, I said, what’s in a name?

Warning for those of you with friends who are writers. We can go both ways. I had a boss named Roberta. Horrible woman. Yep, she’s a villain. Same with Carolyn. I used to love that name until a woman by that name treated me badly. Sorry not sorry—she’s nasty in one of my books, and I hope readers loathe her.

I have a painful recent example of having to change a name. Under my penname Gabbi Black, I recently completed a dark erotic BDSM romance. I plotted out the story more than a year ago and I picked the character names as Miss Charlotte and Hudson. I got through 80% of the book when I realized Hudson just wasn’t going to work. To be clear, I LOVE the name. But Heated Rivalry is, uh, a thing. (Okay, I might’ve watched if four times.)

Now, my Hudson is bi, six-foot-three, blond with blue eyes and forty-something years old. Hudson Williams, the actor who plays Shane Hollander the hockey player in the series, is half-Asian, much younger, and with dark eyes and hair. I changed my Hudson’s name for two reasons. First, some readers might think that I was hitching my wagon to a popular cultural phenomenon. Second, my character and the real-life Hudson have completely different appearances.

If readers have the image of the actor, my character might be a disconnect. Plus, Hudson Williams is all over my newsfeed. Aside from both the Hudsons being Canadian, they have nothing in common. Still, I chose to change my character’s name. A friend pointed out that names aren’t copywritten. That’s true. But popular culture is a thing.

I have a friend whose next character is named Connor. Connor Storrie is the actor playing opposite Hudson in Heated Rivalry. But the name Connor is far more common. Gotta love a great Canadian name like Hudson. One other thing. I had to rename Hudson. I tossed around a bunch of names and, with the help of friends, we settled on Caleb. Only Caleb and Charlotte would have names starting with the same letter—something we try to avoid to help readers immediately differentiate. So, a friend suggested Kaleb. I typed it once and my mind revolted. I picked up the book Bring Back Beatrice and found the name Heath. As a friend said, Hudson and Heath have softer sounds while Caleb is stronger. Harsher. So, Heath it is!

I did google Heath Ledger and was stunned to discover he died 18 years ago. I remember I knew where I was when I heard it, and that threw me back into the past. But while some readers might think of the actor who died tragically, I hope most will just see my character. For the record, my first thought was Heathcliff from Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights.

Finally, I want to return to the Charlotte/Caleb dilemma. We want to make the reading experience seamless for readers. The fewer hiccups, the better. I love the name Colin and was blithely writing Blue Sky Boyfriend. Colin and Wyatt under my penname Gabbi Grey. Great! Until Colin grabbed a coffee in Starbucks and had a clash with the police officer Colton.

Crap.

Now, I could’ve picked a different cop. I have several in town. But none are as confrontational as Colton. He’s an established character in town and across all three pennames. So Colin got turfed, and he became Tate. I now see that character entirely as Tate (while I will always see Hudson as Hudson). When I wrote Love Furever, I got to use the name Colin. That worked.

Okay…that’s your peek behind the curtain. I hope you enjoyed it. Just so you know, not all writers approach things this way. I also know, given how prolific I am, that I should keep a list of all my major characters so that I don’t reuse them. Like the name Adam. I have a boy with that name. Then, when I did a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, in the original story, the beast’s name is Adam. I really wanted to stick to that name, so I kept it. Little Adam was already an established character. Two different pennames, and I figured I was safe. Three books later? Adam met Adam. A cute scene. Just the way life works.

Contest: Now, your turn! I have several more books coming soon and I don’t have names! Please give me a few. No restrictions! I have male, female, and enby characters from babies through to great-grandparents. So give me a suggestion or two! There’s a good chance it will get used! As a thank you, I’m giving away a copy of Love in Mission City: The Boyfriends Duet. The boxset includes Blue Sky Boyfriend. I’ll also throw in my other three boxsets. So, four novellas and eleven short stories to enjoy! Random will pick a winner. Good luck!

Love in Mission City: The Boyfriends Duet

Love in Mission City: The Boyfriends Duet includes two novellas

Mission City is tucked in the charming Cedar Valley in southwestern British Columbia. If you love heartwarming, contemporary small-town gay romances, then come home to Mission City and fall in love with the men who live there. Romance blossoms in the unlikeliest places. And trouble has a way of finding them…

Blue Sky Boyfriend

Wyatt and Tate were high school sweethearts. After graduation, Tate left Wyatt for the big city and university while Wyatt took over his family’s farm. Fifteen years later, Tate’s come home in disgrace. Can Wyatt forgive the man who broke his heart?

This is a 24k gay romance second-chance novella with a small-town farm boy, a big-city fancy boy, and a puppy named Winnie. The novella previously appeared in Love is All Volume 6.

Fly Guy Boyfriend

When Tex is tasked with piloting the shy and nervous Davey in his helicopter, he sees an opportunity to bring the younger man out of his shell. With Tex’s friendship, Davey finds the courage to be his true self. But when things go south with his family, Davey turns to Tex. Will the budding friendship turn into more or are rough skies ahead?

This is a 37k gay instalove romance novella with a daredevil pilot, a nerd in search of the answer to the universe, and what happens when those forces collide in a single bed. If you were an HEA Collective Patreon last year, you might already own this novella.

Links:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CJ9P69FL
Universal Book Link: https://books2read.com/Boyfriends
Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199509850-the-boyfriends-duet

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.

Personal links:
Website: https://gabbigrey.com/
Newsletter sign-up: https://sendfox.com/gabbigrey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbigrey/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15456297.Gabbi_Grey
Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/Gabbi-Grey/e/B07SJVFX1M
Audible Profile: https://www.audible.com/author/Gabbi-Grey/B07SJVFX1M
Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGabbiGrey

The post first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

Weekend Puzzle-Contest

So far, we haven’t suffered a single power outage despite the amount of sleet we’ve gotten during this winter storm! I hope that’s true for everyone! And now, I hope I didn’t just jinx the family… Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle and then tell me the title and the author’s name of the book you are reading now or about to read!

Quick Report Card

Last week…

I had no edits waiting in the inbox, so I spent the week getting ready for the storm—copying files to external drives, trimming and sorting my To Do stack, cleaning my office, bedroom, art room, and bathroom.My chemo session for Monday was cancelled due to my low white blood count. So, I got a WBC booster and new appointment for my next chemo session.I watched a LOT of Asian reels set in ancient and Republican-era China (warlords, mostly, in 30s and 40s). Not an accomplishment? Well, it was something I really, really enjoyed! Plus, I’m adding words to my Chinese vocabulary. My favorite word right now is BOOK-in-ah de! (Impossible!) Try it out!I finished two quick pieces of art. Small ATC cards.

This next week…

My next chemo session, scheduled for Monday, was cancelled due to the extreme weather. So, no appointments or pesky blood draws! I’ll finish up some administrative things for Burn anthology and begin editing those stories.I hope I’ll feel like working on Ignition . (Didn’t feel like it last week.)I’ll be puttering and cleaning more of my art room, getting ready for the #100dayproject starting February 22d!I’ll get my desk set up for nightly watercolor sessions so I can get back to what makes me happiest. Open Contests

Be sure to check out these posts and enter to win the prizes that are still up for grabs:

Sliding Puzzle: Bagel and Lox Day (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!Weekend Puzzle Contest, a Quick Catchup, Plus Open Contests! — This contest ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!Anna Taylor Sweringen/Michal Scott: Sisserietta Joyner Jones — Opera Pioneer and Entrepreneur (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!Wordsearch Puzzle & Contest, Plus — We’re in for a rough weekend — Win an Amazon gift card!The post Weekend Puzzle Contest, a Quick Report Card, Plus Open Contests! first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

Thought I’d catch you up on my world while I still can. We have snow and/or ice accumulation forecasted for the next few days. We did our best to prepare—stocking up on groceries, gas for the generator, and feed and bedding for animals. The likelihood of us losing power for a lengthy period of time is high, and it’s conceivable we’ll also lose city water. We’ll just have to wait and see. We don’t have a generator large enough to cover all the electric (not the heat, not lights), but we can keep the freezer from dethawing, we can run a hot plate to heat food or boil a kettle of water, and we can charge our phones so we can stand out in the yard to try to pick up a signal to see what’s going on in the world.

Since last night, we’ve had freezing rain, followed by snow. I imagine the roads are already tricky, and we have a full day of more precipitation ahead of us. The temperature won’t rise above freezing until Tuesday, so the kids likely won’t be going to school on Monday. I know you folks in the northern states are likely shaking your heads over our inability to face something so common for you, but our houses, infrastructure, and services aren’t cut out for prolonged cold weather.

Cancer Journey Catch-up

While I’m catching you up on what’s happening in my life, I thought I’d let you know how my “cancer journey” is going…

If you remember, back in November, I had a Cancer Antigen (CA-125) test, which tells you whether cancer is brewing in your system again. When I finished the hardcore chemo at the end of 2024, I was sitting at a reading of 15. Anything under 38 is considered normal. After the chemo, I was on a couple of different forms of “immunotherapy” to help keep the cancer at bay. I began Lenvima and Keytruda in April but by this past November, I was off both medications because 1) the Lenvima was killing me by inches, and 2) my cancer marker numbers were spiking. So the decision was made to go back on some form of chemo when my count hit 525—very concerning. I had another PET Scan, and yes, cancer nodules were beginning to form in my abdomen again.

The new chemo is a “targeted” drug that’s supposed to only attack cells that have cancer and leave the rest alone. It’s a lot gentler than my original, hardcore chemo I underwent, which knocked the crap out my cancer—so much so that surgery, which hadn’t been an option before because of how much and how big the cancer was in body, was a possibility. I underwent surgery back in April which removed all my diseased girlie parts plus my omentum. Anyway, back to the new chemo and why I got sidetracked.

My latest CA-125 count was 52! It appears the new drug is working, for now. I was supposed to have chemo this last Monday, but my white blood count was low, so they gave me a booster shot and scheduled me for this Monday. Now, that appointment is canceled due to the winter storm. I don’t like missing my chemo, because I don’t want to give cancer an inch, but what can ya do? All caught up? Yeah, I’m sure that was more than you needed to know, but I tend to get gossipy when my fingers are on the keys.

Wordsearch Puzzle and Contest!

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle, then add to my list of things we can do if the power goes out!

The post Wordsearch Puzzle & Contest, Plus — We’re in for a rough weekend first appeared on Delilah Devlin.