by Tiana Laveen
I’ve got so many emails. I need to delete old ones and clear all of this out…
File these away…
This one can stay…
He looked through the correspondences then paused when he happened upon one specific email in his saved folder that had remained unread. On a sigh, he clicked on the thing, suddenly recalling Katie telling him at his wedding to read it. He’d honestly forgotten; time had gotten ahead of him and raced far, far away. That woman was the farthest thing from his mind, but now was as good of a time as any to delve into whatever she had to say. He began to read it as the music lulled him into a state of relaxation…
Sloan,
I sit here at home drinking one of the first wines you ever bought for me. Do you remember what that was? Here’s a hint: it was a pinot noir you picked up from Maine. Before we met, I knew nothing about fine wine, French beers, rare cigars, Insignia cigarettes, the art inside science fiction, classic jazz musicians, how to make my own sushi, how to tell designer clothing from a knock-off, antique radios, having great sex in a car because we couldn’t screw at my parents’ house, the plight of the tropical rain forests, the rigging of presidential elections, elephant ivory, classic cars of the 1950s, and how a writer writes a damn book… So, I guess you could say, before we met, I didn’t know YOU. Because you are all of those things, Sloan, and then some.
You are complicated, yet simple, just like good wine. I know that unless it is one of your novels, you’re not really into a lot of words, so let me get right to the reason why I wrote you. It’s to tell you that I’m sorry. You probably don’t believe me, but I would like to formally apologize for my part in the destruction of our marriage. It took two of us to build it, and two of us to destroy it, but yes, my part in it was unfortunately much larger than yours.
You probably won’t believe this either, but I loved you with all my heart. The affairs meant nothing to me, but they meant something to you, and that’s why I did it, Sloan. I felt so angry, betrayed and alone. Nothing seemed to work in order for me to regain your full attention, so I sought out to hurt you. Yet I hurt myself more in the long run, I believe, because now, we can’t seem to even be friends. We both changed. Or maybe we didn’t. Perhaps this is who we were all along. I believe we were so enamored with one another, we attempted to conform to what the other person wanted, but then, our true selves emerged and we could no longer play the game. So, I cheated. I’d never seen you so hurt, and at first, your reaction made me happy.
I know it sounds sick, and you already think ill of me, but I wanted you to feel the pain I’d been feeling…when you’d pull back from me, not share yourself. I couldn’t take it anymore. You always said you were afraid you’d end up just like your father… heartless… and you almost did. I’m not certain what triggered it—it was probably a culmination of things – but I was so upset, I was losing my husband and my teacher all at once. Once you began writing again, I lost even more of you.
I became jealous of your love for writing. You treated her like a lover. Look, I called your writing a ‘her’ because to me, she was. You’d sneak off to do her in the middle of the night after you tucked the kids in bed. You’d get up in the wee hours of the morning to jump her bones at the crack of dawn. When you’d finish, you’d light a cigarette and bask in the smoke. You’d whisper and write things down, little love letters to the bitch so you could recall what you wanted to say to her once you two hooked up again.
You respected her and took her advice. You found her sexy and irresistible and the children you two created, your books, you coveted so much. I hated her. I hated you for loving her, when I felt no love from you towards me, none at all. I wanted my husband back. I wanted my Sloan Kenneth Steele.
Like I said, you opened a whole new world to me. I couldn’t listen to Miles Davis anymore without becoming angry at you for months on end. You had become a part of me, no matter how much I hated you. We’d been together too long to not be so connected. Sloan, I’m not convinced anything would have kept us afloat, but the way it ended, after all was said and done, wasn’t right; it wasn’t respectful, and that’s what I’m apologizing for. You deserved better than that. I can say this now with pride aside, and anger, too. Because that’s what friends do.
That’s what you were to me, Sloan: my best friend. I heard you’re getting remarried. I never thought you’d even consider it… that’s what you told me time and time again. You said women were evil. I laugh at that now because I knew you didn’t mean it. You loved women in general way too much, but you were heartbroken, so you said what felt right at the time. Michelle and Joel have told me about your fiancée. She has a beautiful name by the way… Emerald, how different, yet, I’m certain, fitting. Joel said she’s a dental nurse. Michelle said she refurbishes old furniture and is really good at it, too. It sounds like she has creative leanings, just like yourself. I believe, in retrospect, that’s what you always needed.
I wasn’t creative. My mind is more black and white, business, dollars. This email isn’t really about me though, believe it or not. It’s about you. Sloan, I will always love you, and that means I genuinely want you to be happy. You’ve been a great father; I can never take that away from you, regardless of the goings on between the two of us, or lack thereof. You’re a great grandfather, too. Michelle says you spoil Jacob to death and love spending time with him. You’re an excellent writer. I’ve read every single one of your books, Sloan…and I’m so very proud of you…
One day, I hope we can be friends again. If we ever get to the point where we can speak without arguing, I’d like to take you out on the town.
Drinks on me.
Love,
Katie
Sloan looked at the computer screen until his eyes blurred. Never, in his entire time knowing that woman, had he ever heard her apologize to him. Technically, he still hadn’t, but he smiled, and then burst out laughing, because he knew this was the closest he’d ever get to it. He was a tad bit remorseful he hadn’t read the email when he’d first received it; it would have been a nice present to obtain… but of course, he now staunchly believed timing was not his to control, and everything was revealed the way it should be, when it was most needed.
On a sigh, he turned off his MacBook and the jade green lamp, and extinguished his cigarette in the golden ashtray. Taking a final sip from his glass of Staglin Cabernet Sauvignon, he rose to his feet. As he took a few steps towards the door, he could hear a low murmur. Sloan paused and looked about the darkened office, but nothing seemed out of place. He turned to take a few more steps, and then, his blood ran cold. The muted music, the sound seeming to radiate from the deepest parts of the ocean floor, was unmistakable.
He spun around and flipped on the light, catching the wispy, smoky image of Peter Jones removing a dark top hat from his head in slow motion. Strands of black hair tumbled forward before he looked back up into his eyes, a rascally grin on his face. Right beside him was a feminine form, a distinct smile on her face as she cradled a baby in her arms. White rose petals fell all around the three like glistening diamonds from the sky. The apparitions quickly faded, almost within the blink of an eye, but the petals remained right there, on the ground…
Sloan stood still as time halted. ‘Earth Angel’ by the Penguins could be heard ever so faintly in the distance, the source unknown until it, too, was no longer audible. The scent of sweet cigars, though, lingered in the air. Sloan swallowed hard, his fists at his sides as he nervously chewed on his inner jaw. He’d never actually seen Peter before… only smelled him, heard him, felt him…
Gathering his composure, Sloan let his mind piece together the smoky puzzle and accepted the strange, surreal event as true…and then, he burst out laughing. A hearty, body-rocking laugh, the kind that emanated straight from his gut after years of anguish, anger, and sorrow. His eyes blurred with tears of mirth and he nodded his head in understanding. He bowed at the waist, as if he’d done a performance on some grand stage, then stood, perfectly erec
t.
“Thank you for the proper farewell, Peter Jones.
Through the pages of books, yours and mine, may you live and love once again…”
Greetings, Earth Angel…
DID YOU ENJOY THIS STORY?
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Thank You!
THANK YOU FROM THE AUTHOR
Dear Reader,
I want to thank each and every person who purchased this book and read it.
The Raven Maxim series has been a long time coming, and I’m enjoying the journey and hope you are, as well.
I value each and every one of you for giving me a platform from which to share
my thoughts and express my art.
Thank you so much!
Love,
Tiana
Bookclub Questions
1. Sloan Steele is a man’s man with a heart of gold. With that said, why do you think he was attracted to writing as a career?
2. Emerald St. Claire was raised through the majority of her childhood life by her father. How do you think this played into her romantic relationships with men?
3. Aunt Sugar is a character who adds comedic layers to this novel, but also offers interesting insight and food for thought. What is something Aunt Sugar said that stuck with you?
4. This novel is best described as a mixed genre, but is, first and foremost, a romance. How do you think the elements of horror and suspense affected the dynamics of the story?
5. The character of Nikki and Emerald’s father, James, have some commonalities. Sloan and his son, Joel, share some common traits as well. What other characters in the book share similar personalities or outlooks on life?
6. Sloan had a difficult marriage that left him jaded, emotionally bankrupt, and angry. How do you think the mysterious absence of his mother, his challenging childhood, and his divorce changed him when it came to love and romantic relationships?
7. Though this book is spoken from various characters’ POV (points of view), it is mainly in Sloan’s. How do you think this influenced/changed the dynamic of this romance novel being in the Hero’s voice?
8. Sloan realized fairly early on that he was falling in love with Emerald. Why do you think he was willing to take this chance with her, even after everything he’d been through?
9. Peter Jones is a complicated character that ties directly into the horror elements of this book, but is also inextricably linked to the romantic plotline. What do you think of the ‘love story within the love story’ in this novel?
10. What commonalties did Sloan and Peter share that made the former a prime candidate for the position of “ghost writer”?
11. One of the main messages in this novel is the importance of adults being able to love freely and without barriers. If not, it can have destructive consequences. What is one of the lessons you have taken from this book in regard to love?
12. What was one of your favorite scenes in this novel, and why?
Music Directory for “Ghost Writer”
Anyone who is familiar with my work knows that I love music! I was raised listening to all sorts of music as a child, from classic jazz to funk, rap, hip hop, and gospel. It is literally the soundtrack to my life and I include it in the scenes that I write, to aid in transporting you, the reader, further into the scenes, to put you right there with the characters for a more intimate look into their lives. I encourage each and every one of you to re-read your favorite scenes, while listening to the music that was mentioned. This adds an entirely new layer to the experience. If there is a song you enjoy, please support the artist/band by purchasing a legal copy of the song for your enjoyment. The songs listed here are not necessarily in the exact order as they appear in the novel. Thank you.
1. “Hang On Sloopy” – McCoys
2. “Here” – Alessia Cara
3. “Woman” – John Lennon
4. “Africa” – Toto
5. “If You Leave Me Now” – Chicago
6. “November Rain” – Guns N Roses
7. “Gigolos Get Lonely Too” – The Time
8. “Girl You Know It’s True” – Milli Vanilli
9. “A Fifth of Beethoven” – Walter Murphy
10. “Love to Love You” – Donna Summer
11. “Mack the Knife” – Louis Armstrong
12. “Ice Cream Castles” – The Time
13. “Let’s Stay Together” – Al Green
14. “Happy Feelings” – Maze
15. “That’s What I Say” – Ray Charles
16. “Pusherman” – Curtis Mayfield
17. “Lowdown” – Boz Scaggs
18. “Dancing in the Moonlight” – King Harvest
19. “Brandi, You’re a Fine Girl” – Looking Glass
20. “Only You” – The Platters
21. “Put Your Head On My Shoulder” – Paul Anka
22. “You’re the Only Woman” – Ambrosia
23. “Silly Ho” – TLC
24. “Sleepwalk” by Santo and Johnny Farina
25. “Starship” – Sara
26. “No Such Thing” – John Mayers
27. “Fool If You Think It’s Over” – Chris Rea
28. “Can’t Stop the Feeling” – Justin Timberlake
29. “Dani California” – Red Hot Chili Peppers
30. “Sledgehammer” – Peter Gabriel
31. “Life” – J. Dilla
32. “I Got A Woman” – Ray Charles
33. “Come Away With Me” – Norah Jones
34. “Happy’ – Pharrell
35. “Red Red Wine” – UB40s
36. “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” – Tears For Fears
37. “Happy Feelings” – Maze
38. “Take Five” – Dave Brubeck
39. “Earth Angel” – The Penguins
40. “Float On” – The Floaters
41. “I Want To Be Free” – Ohio Players
42. “Slipping Into Darkness” – WAR
43. “It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me” – Billy Joel
About the Author
Tiana Laveen was born in Cincinnati, Ohio though her soul resides in New York. She lives inside of her mind, but her heart is occupied with her family and twisted imagination. She enjoys a fulfilling and enriching life that includes writing books, public speaking, drawing, painting, listening to music, cooking, and spending time with loved ones.
Tiana Laveen is a creative and innovative author whose romance fiction is geared towards those who not only want to temporarily escape from the daily routines of life, but also become pleasantly caught up in the twisted, well-developed journeys of her unique characters. Tiana creates a painting with words as she guides her reader into the lives of each and every main character. Her dedication to detail and staying true to her characters is evident in each novel she writes.
Her works include “Cross Climax I,” “Cross Climax II,” “The Slave Master’s Son,” “The Naughty Sins of a Saint,” “I Want Candy,” “When Saint Goes Marching In,” “Swirled Satin Sheets I,” “In My Sister’s Shadow,” “Swirled Satin Sheets II,” “Saved and SAINTified,” “Addicted In Cold Blood,” “Forgive Me Father For I Have Loved,” “Saint’s Sacrament – Sins of the Father,” “The Tale of the Blood Diamond,” “The Unearthing of Blackstone,” “Every Breath You Take” (free read on the website), “Saint and Sinners – The King Angel Child of New York,” “Smoke and Mirrors,” “The Fight Within,” “Tattooed Moon”, “In the Nick of Time,” “The ‘N’ Word,” “Word of Honor,” “Grind,” “Grit”, “The REM Reaper”, “Kiss of the Scythe”, “Cruz Control – In Bad Company” and “Ghost Writer” – (Book 1 of the Raven Maxim Series.)
Tiana Laveen’s books can be purchased in eBook and paperback format from most retail stores/online.
If you wish to communicate with Tiana Laveen, please contact her on Facebook or DM her on Instagram.
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