by Kat Quinn
A familiar trill sounds, breaking through my frantic thoughts; happy and high-pitched. My heart skips a beat.
“Aria?” I ask, hoping I haven’t just finally gone crazy and imagined a sound I desperately long to hear. My bottom lip trembles, hope a dangerous game to play, especially when you’re scared and lost and barely hanging on by the most frayed of threads.
At the sight of a furry black body soaring over the wall of thorns, it’s like a breath I was holding is finally released, sore arms going up instinctively to catch her and hold on tightly. I breathe in deeply her soft, wild smell, heart filling at the comfort of her presence. She purrs tiny, happy rumbles, nuzzling under my chin.
The scrabbling continues, joined by high-pitched whines and anxious yips.
“….Stubbs?” No, it can’t be... But I feel my heart patter, stomach bees buzzing just a tiny bit less with the vaguest hint of possibility.
“Let him in!” I tell the vines, amazed when I see Colonel Stubbs’ tiny, pudgy, white body when they shrink back. The little white Frenchie immediately hops and waddles over to Monty, laying down, tapping a stumpy paw against the unconscious man’s chest. “How did you… both of you?” I start to ask, but immediately go on the defensive when two unfamiliar men come into view.
Clutching Aria protectively to my chest with one hand, I hold the other palm out as steady as I can, not sure what I’m threatening to do but gosh darned threatening it all the same. “Stay back!” I shout, putting on my best ‘I’m a badass scary bitch who means business’ face.
The one dressed in all black puts both his hands up defensively, “Not really up for the wheel of misfortune,” he says, stepping back.
Completely against my instructions though, the middle-aged dude with brown skin and pastel purple hair takes a step forward, like he thinks I’m bluffing.
“I’m not bluffing! I’ll do it!” I say. Again, not really sure what ‘it’ is right now, but at least hoping it’s as scary a threat as a sewer clown. Frantically, I search around our small little thorny alcove, kicking myself that there’s no way to escape.
“It’s okay, baby girl. I’m here. Daddy’s got you.”
Want to stay up to date?
Need more? Join my Facebook group, Kat Quinn’s Quinners not Quitters! ( http://facebook.com/groups/quinners ) Come hang out, chat about the books, debate about utter nonsense, and share pictures of your pets! (Yes, really. By LAW, if you are in possession of a cute animal you MUST share pics of it with the group.) We even do giveaways and contests when the mood strikes! Pop on in and give a holla, I’m so excited to meet you! And hear all your theories, as well as see which characters you call dibs on. :D
Please, if you can, consider leaving a review!
I want to make these books the best they can be, and your feedback will not only help me keep going, but help me improve! (Or help me keep doing the things you love the most.)
As a small, self-made author, your encouragement is unbelievably welcomed and I am grateful for every single second you spend sharing it with me. <3
Afterword
Afterwords are so weird. I just wrote a bazillion other words, now I’m adding even more AFTER that?! Wild. Most of the time while I’m reading someone else’s book, I skip over the afterword and go straight towards “more books by this author” and “join my facebook group!” Bad form, I know, but I get so ding dang dong excited for MORE that I chomp at any bit put in front of my mouth!
Which means I completely and thoroughly appreciate the patience and love so many of you have given while book two of the Disaster Zone Jones series was being written. As you can see from the copyright page, I’m a one woman show, meaning it takes a lot of time to get things not just done, but done as right as I can muster. The enthusiasm all of you have had for Dizzy and her herd of hunks has been reassuring on days when I thought I was too tired to keep fighting on. To those who got excited when I shared a new character portrait, or left reviews, or just argued about stupid food things on Taco Bout it Tuesdays in the group, thank you. I promise, all of it matters and all of it makes a difference. I promise, you matter, and I promise, you make a difference.
While I may be the person doing the bulk of the heavy lifting in Dizzy’s life, I’m not the only one. To my betas, Mary, Jennifer, Tory, Sandi, and Kelly—every little and large bit of feedback you wonderful and kind and silly people gave helped shape this book into what it became. Thanks for not yelling at me too hard about that ending, and also, HOO BOY THAT TREE SCENE. I think we all had ~words~ to say about that. You guys make me laugh, but you also helped keep me in line. My brain is a wild place, and having some people around to tame it seems almost impossible, but you managed.
Speaking of that ending… I’m SO SORRY. I know, I know, it was kind of mean… Especially after book one ended all nice and happy. I promise, PROMISE, I’m already working on book three. The problem is, if I didn’t end it there… it never would have ended at all. There’s plenty more left in Dizzy’s story that needs to be told.
There are also plenty of other people you’ve met or have been mentioned who have stories begging to be written. Monty’s parents, unexpectedly, have been begging me to write their meet-cute from back in the day, and I’m tempted but DETERMINED to stay on-task. I’ll finish Dizzy’s storyline before writing for anyone else in this world, and yes, it is an expanded universe with overlap between tales. We’ve already met and fallen in love with Lilly, after all, and I’m sure a few of you want to know where those twins ended up. Don’t worry, I have plans for them.
This is also where I’d like to take the time to thank every single other Awkward Noodle out there that’s helped any author, myself and others alike, navigate their way in this weird and wild book world. People like Avery Thorn (Author of The Nameless Syren series and my self-proclaimed word wife), whose spent a lot of time giving me random tips and tricks, and is literally the reason I felt empowered enough to start writing. You’re proud of me, I know, but I’m even more proud of you, my love. Look at how much you’ve grown! Towards the end of this book, I’ll leave a list of authors and books that I love, and hope you all give a chance to, if you haven’t already. I may not have a big voice yet, but I plan to use it to hold others up as often as I can.
Lastly, if you feel so inclined, please review this book! Write it up on Amazon or Goodreads or a blog, or tell a friend, or put a message in a bottle, or train carrier pigeons to fly notes about it to strangers. Just by telling even ONE person about this, you’re helping, and I would appreciate it so incredibly much. <3
About the Author
Kat Quinn is a creature sent from the Spoop Dimension to save your planet through words laced with love, lust, and magic. On her way towards writing, she got distracted and took a detour down Doodle Lane, Crazy Cat Lady Avenue, and Cookin’ Up a Storm Circle. It’s okay, though, now she’s settling down ‘round abouts Philadelphia in the US, bringing you the best and most ridiculous smut her twirly-wirly brain can provide. She aspires to some day definitively answer the age-old question of exactly how centaurs would wear pants, should they ever, and why. A lofty goal, to be certain, but a worthy one.
More Books by More Authors
If you want to pay tribute to Avery Thorn, the author that is directly responsible for my own writing because her AMAZING Nameless Syren series made me completely rethink how romance novels could be. Plus, did I mention it’s chock full of mermaids, conspiracies, and one of the most emotionally diverse casts out there? https://amzn.to/2LjOkXW
If you love Dizzy because you love to laugh at her utter bizarreness, then you’ll love Zahra, her secret soul sister. No, not really, but kind of really. Check out The Afflicted Zodiac series by M.J. Marstens to start, but literally everything she writes is a barrel of fun. https://amzn.to/2N80SUk
If you want to know what the first ever Reverse Harem book I read (By complete accident, mind you!) was, it was The Kintolf: New Alien Species by TC Adams. It’s a sy-fy RH with a chick who gets droppe
d on an alien planet, drugged out of her mind, and then saves three science experiment captives from continued torture. For my first ever RH, it was a WILD ride, but I’ve never looked back and am sooooooo grateful for the happy accident. Can you believe I actually thought I HATED romance in media before this?! Just turns out I needed more than one love interest. Go figure! https://amzn.to/33pZkJr
If your interest is piqued by sy-fy reverse harem, AND you love comedy, then Eva Delaney FOR SURE has what you’re looking for. Her Star Pilot’s Heart series is SO good, and the dildo queen herself, Eva, is one of the greatest comedic geniuses of our time. Imagine a blender filled with Star Wars, Firefly/Serenity, and a pair of golden, glittering man-panties all served up as a smoothie, and you’ll get Star Pilot’s Heart. https://amzn.to/2NWX4on
Lastly, if you’re looking for some cozy murder mysteries with some hot hot smutiness, as well as beloved literary characters… You’re gonna want to join Steffanie Green for her tales of The Nevermore Bookshop, which is a beautiful and fun series that I got completely hooked on despite not actually knowing who most of those beloved literary characters were. Go figure. https://amzn.to/2HuAgYZ
I’d also like to mention Lana Kole and Kathryn Moon, both of whom write absolutely BEAUTIFUL and immersive worlds, with characters that will rip your heart to pieces, gently reshape it into something new, and tenderly sew you back up. Between the two of them, they’ve written an unthinkable number of books, but have also spent an unthinkable amount of time encouraging others. Kathryn has a sharp, hilarious wit, and Lana has a giddy, giving heart. I mention them together because once you know of one, you already know of the other. Together, they’ve made a huge impact on this community and I’m grateful for all the love they’ve put out there in the world.
More by Kat Quinn
Well, this is awkward. Given that this is my second ever book, and you probably already read the first… there is no “more”… Yet! Head on over to the Facebook group, that’s where you’ll see this lack of more proven wrong! (The backs of these books won’t necessarily get updated after every release.)
facebook.com/groups/quinners
