The Trouble with Cupid
Page 25
“Well, I mean, things between us were left kind of in a bad place.” He was looking down at the floor. “I’ve always regretted leaving it that way, you know. I’ve thought about you a lot.”
“I…” I didn’t know what to say. Trouble started hitting my chest with his right paw, like he was saying come on! “I was very sorry to see you go, Jeff. I didn’t have any bad feelings, just regrets, if anything.”
He looked back up at me, a shy smile on his face. “So…would you be up to maybe like going out on a date or something? Dinner?”
“I’d like that. I’d like that a lot.”
Trouble jumped out of my lap and walked over to the door, tail twitching. He looked back at me, and let out a meow of expectation. I got up and opened the door and he darted out.
When I turned back around Jeff was standing there.
As he took me into his arms, I smiled and said a mental thank you to Trouble.
Second chances don’t come along every day.
It was going to be a great Carnival.
About the Author
Greg Herren is the award-winning author of thirty-five novels, including the Chanse MacLeod mysteries and the Scott Bradley adventures. He was won two Lambda Literary Awards, the Anthony Award, and two Moonbeam Children's Book Award medals for Outstanding Young Adult Mystery/Horror. He has also been short-listed for the Macavity Award, the Shirley Jackson Award, and twelve more Lambda Literary Awards. He lives in New Orleans with his partner of twenty-one years, and is currently working on the eighth Scotty Bradley novel. He blogs at www.gregwritesblog.com.
www.gregherren.com
Acknowledgments
No project of this scope can be completed without the help of many hands. If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to assemble an anthology. I’d like to thank the following people for their contributions:
I’d be remiss if I didn’t start with Carolyn Haines, author of the Familiar series and the first Trouble book. The “Trouble Collective” was Carolyn’s brainchild, and it’s thanks to her tireless efforts and unflagging support that the Trouble Writers as a group exist. Thanks, Carolyn, for the encouragement and no small amount of hand-holding.
Assistant Editors Claire Matturro (who also contributed a story) and Michelle Ladner were also invaluable in completing this project. I appreciate their insights, their willingness to read incoming manuscripts on short notice, and their easy-going yet professional attitudes.
Of course, without the authors, there would be no anthology. In addition to Carolyn and Claire, I’d like to give a huge shout-out to contributors Laura Benedict, Greg Herren, Michelle Broussard Honick, Eve Osborne, Fran Driscoll Roberts, Nancy Sartor, Maggie Toussaint, and Lisa Wysocky for working so hard to bring this project to fruition.
To call Priya Bhakta our formatter would be to recognize only a sliver of what she does for this series. From handling the nuts and bolts of publication to organizing beta reads to, yes, formatting both the beta reader copies and the final e-book, Priya has devoted a ridiculous (and much-appreciated) number of hours to keeping this project on track and getting it off the ground.
For the beautiful cover, we have Cissy Hartley to thank. Everyone knows that, despite the old adage, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” most people do. We all appreciate Cissy’s commitment to creating a cover that will give our readers a positive first impression.
A huge thank you to our Beta Readers and to everyone whose encouragement and support helped bring this book into the world. And finally, of course, we’d like to thank all of you reading this book. You’re what this is all about.
—Jaden
About the Editor
The voice of Trouble in this anthology is provided by Jaden Terrell, a Shamus Award finalist and the internationally published author of the Nashville-based Jared McKean mysteries. She is a contributor to the Killer Nashville Noir: Coldblooded anthology and to Now Write! Mysteries, a collection of writing exercises published by Tarcher/Penguin for writers of crime fiction. A recipient of the 2016 Killer Nashville Builder Award and the 2009 Magnolia Award for service to the Southeastern Chapter of Mystery Writers of America, Jaden is a former special education teacher with thirty years of experience as a teacher and trainer. She is a writing coach, workshop leader, developmental/content editor, and ghostwriter.
www.jadenterrell.com
Associate Editors
Claire Matturro is an author with a background in journalism and law. You can find her full biography and links to her social media and website after her contribution to this anthology, “The Madonna in the Garden.”
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Michelle Ladner studied English Literature (with a focus on Creative Writing) at the University of South Alabama. She loves speculative fiction but is an eclectic reader and an unabashed cat lover. She’s an amateur quilter, devoted mom, and proud member of the Trouble Writers.
www.clairematturo.com
www.michelleladner.com
Trouble Cat Mysteries
Please join our Trouble Cat Mysteries page on Facebook:
fb.me/TroubleCatMysteries
www.troublecatmysteries.com
Familiar Trouble | Carolyn Haines
Trouble in Dixie | Rebecca Barrett
Trouble in Tallahassee | Claire Matturro
Trouble in Summer Valley | Susan Y. Tanner
Small Town Trouble | Laura Benedict
Trouble in Paradise | Rebecca Barrett
Turning for Trouble | Susan Y. Tanner
Trouble’s Wedding Caper | Jen Talty
Bone-a-fied Trouble | Carolyn Haines
Trouble in Action | Susan Y. Tanner
Trouble Most Faire | Jaden Terrell
A Whisper of Trouble | Susan Y. Tanner
The Trouble with Cupid: 10 Short Mysteries Spiced with Romance | Multiple Authors
Trouble Under the Mistletoe | e-novella | Rebecca Barrett
A Trouble’d Christmas | e-novella | Susan Y. Tanner
Year-Round Trouble: 14 Original Cozy Holiday Mysteries | Multiple Authors