Linda Mercury's Naughty Notes

My book, Linda Mercury's Naughty Notes, is live, too! You can buy it at these following retailers!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Rakuten Kobo

Apple Books

24 Symbols

Vivlio

What do you get when you combine years of erotic writing? Linda Mercury's Naughty Notes, Volume One. 

 

In this collection of mostly heterosexual short fiction, the stories range from the cold lakes of Minnesota, to young lust, to the obligatory visit to the principal's office. Sit back and enjoy the best in one-handed reading.

A portion of my proceeds from this book will be donated to Black Lives Matter. Because the real world needs to be sexy and joyous, too.

The Dream Factory is live!

Hello, everyone! At last, my super seekrit project sees the light of day. My fellow author, Shea MacLeod, and I have been working on a brand new book series together.

Shea is known for her brilliant and funny cozy mysteries. I am known for sexy political thrillers. Together, we wrote *drum roll* a small town, magical realism, coming of age story.

Check out the teaser:

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Alice Kennedy needs some hope in her life. At the age of twenty-three, she escapes her mama's clutches, looking for change. In the small town of Gold Coast, Illinois, her car dies, leaving her stranded. Just her luck.


Alice doesn't expect to find empowerment in the depressed village, but a mysterious benefactor gifts her with a new start – the ownership of a once-magnificent costume shop called The Dream Factory. The store's potential to create beauty lifts up not only Alice, but Gold Coast itself.


Escape into the magic of The Dream Factory in this heart-warming, feel-good story of a woman called to become fabulous.

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Chapter One

I am the captain of this ship.
Affirmations for Women in Business.

 
Illinois weather sucked and so did Alice Kennedy’s life.

Her wipers slapped back and forth as fast as a sewing machine on high, sluicing the water in wild sprays, but she could barely see. The lashing rain dimmed the streetlights on Interstate 55. She was driving across the flattest part of a flat, flat state, not knowing where she was going. All she knew was she couldn’t stay in St. Louis. Not even the radio singing about being nice and warm could lower her shoulders from her ears.

At twenty-two, she finally left her mother’s house. Nothing new had happened to snap her spine. The thought of endlessly serving at her mother’s capricious whims goaded her into the stormy night. She had no destination, no plans, no job, but anything was better than choking on her dreams and Mama’s dismal mindset. Her throat tightened.

Freedom was beautiful and frightening.
 

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We hope you have as much fun reading this new book as we did writing it.  You can buy the book at:

Amazon
Barnes&Noble 
Apple Books
Scribd
24Symbols
 

Note: I will be donating a portion of my proceeds to Black Lives Matter.  Let's make the real world fabulous, too.

Cover Reveal!

Look at my brilliant cover for my upcoming release, Linda Mercury's Naughty Notes! This collection is oddly mostly heterosexual, but later releases will be more diverse.

I will share the link when it is ready for pre-order.

Mental Health in a time of pandemic; Part IV

The last in a series on dealing with the Covid19 isolation!

Stay Grounded

Pandemics are naturally anxiety-producing. This is something that is going to affect millions of people, and there is no clear message about the future and when things will get back to normal. However, there are some things to consider when thinking the worst and feeling overwhelmed by the circumstances.

-          Unplug from the 24/7 COVID-19 reporting. In order to stay grounded, it’s important to limit exposure to the constant news cycle that discusses this and only this. Be sure to stay on the lookout for important announcements, but check in with the news once a day rather than have it on constantly. This also includes searching for COVID-related stories, reading articles online, and getting caught up in social media.

-          While it feels like there is a lot out of our control, we do have control over our actions and how we view things. Choose to focus on what you CAN control. There is a lot of change and also uncertainty occurring right now, which is notoriously scary for us. There are likely a number of worried thoughts running through our minds about having to stay home, not having enough resources, getting sick, and things closing. Remember:

o   You greatly minimize your chance of getting sick if you keep physical distance from others, clean surfaces, and wash your hands thoroughly.

o   You have likely gone to the store or ordered things online in preparation, so you are able to use your items wisely and have everything you truly need for the next week or so.

o   While businesses and leisure activities are shut down, essential places, like grocery stores, hospitals, and pharmacies are open and provide necessary resources – you will be able to access them.

-          Psychologists know how anxiety-producing this time can be, so some have produced podcasts about ways to manage stress and anxiety during this time. Yale psychologist, Dr. Laurie Santos has a podcast, “The Happiness Lab,” where she has two COVID-19 specific podcasts about things we can do to decrease stress and anxiety. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/id1474245040?fbclid=IwAR3qG8CC6H8CLLJrsHr4wgA8fYQGkLzR0IwmzEr_0HReDc1zXuYMzLBjGR0

-          Seek out professional resources, such as therapy for additional support. A lot of therapists are transitioning to telehealth services. If you have insurance, most likely, there is an in-network provider currently accepting new clients via telehealth (phone or video chat sessions). For those without insurance, there are also resources that are sliding scale, ranging from $20-$60 per session.

o   Open Path https://openpathcollective.org/client/

o   Clear water Counseling http://clearwatercounselingchicago.com/

o   Better Help https://www.betterhelp.com/

 

Mental Health in a time of pandemic: Part III

From the Rice Museum near Portland, OR

This instillation on caring for our well-being during the pandemic focuses on curiosity and connectivity!

Stay curious

Since everyone is in this together, many places that would have required in-person attendance are now providing virtual resources. Take advantage of this free opportunity to enjoy sights and sounds that would have cost money to enjoy before!

-          Take a virtual tour of an art museum. Many museums, including Chicago's own Art Institute, are allowing for virtual tours of exhibits. https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours

-          Watch a professional performance. Since live performances are not possible, watch a Broadway show or popular artist streamed right through your computer! https://www.vulture.com/2020/03/all-musicians-streaming-live-concerts.html

-          Read a new book. Here is a list of some great books you can download to an e-reader https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Kindle-Store-eBooks/zgbs/digital-text/154606011

-          Try a new recipe. There is no better time to try out some new meals than when you have plenty of time at home! Here are some simple ingredient recipes that don’t take too much time and have household ingredients. https://ifoodreal.com/clean-eating-recipes-dinners/

-          Watch a new series, movie, or documentary. Most of us have some type of streaming services (e.g., Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, etc.) and if we don’t, we have a friend or family member’s login information J. There are even some new movies in theatres that are currently streaming on these services. Plus, there is a wide array of new series and documentaries to watch. Here is a list of some recommended series: https://www.digitaltrends.com/movies/best-shows-on-netflix/.

Stay connected

Human beings are not meant to exist in isolation. Studies from solitary confinement in prisons demonstrate the damage that social isolation has on our emotional health. The good news is that we can still stay connected even if we can’t be physically with others.

-          Video conferencing platforms, such as Zoom, WebEx, and Microsoft Groups offer free accounts and allow you to talk with multiple people at once. Set up a family Zoom call and see everyone’s face at once! https://zoom.us/

-          Schedule individual FaceTime or Skype dates with friends and loved ones. Have a meal together, watch a show together, do a workout together, or just chat. This can be a way to connect and still feel like you are engaged with others.

-          Start a book club. Perhaps you have a text thread with a group that you don’t get to spend a whole lot of time with anymore. Pick a book, read it, and discuss all together!

-          Write a letter. Snail mail might be making a comeback! Take time to write a personal note and send it to a family members (perhaps one who is less technologically inclined).

-          Join or start a group meditation or group prayer. Many congregations are streaming services and engaging in prayer virtually – if a place of worship is important to you, join!

-          Start or join a virtual dance party. There are DJs hosting sets, where multiple people are tuning in and having a living room dance party at night – this is also a chance to get active! https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9340211/dj-d-nices-virtual-social-distancing-dance-party-drew-vips-like-michelle-obama-missy-elliott-more

Mental Health in a time of pandemic: Part II

As a continuation of my last blog post on dealing with Covid19, here is the second part of the University of Illinois-Chicago's recommendations.

Stay Active

Another thing we know from research is that physical activity releases chemicals in your brain that improve your mood. Staying active can also help you feel healthy and accomplished, and it is another way to help bring structure to your day.

-          Schedule a time of day, a duration, and physical space for your workout that has a high likelihood of happening. For example, if you’re not a morning person, it wouldn’t be wise to go for a 6am 2-hour workout. Similarly, if you typically eat at 6pm, a 6:30 workout also wouldn’t be the best idea. Shoot for a time when you have a break in your schedule, a duration that fits your pre-COVID behaviors, and a space that is conducive to working out.

-          Try one of the dozens of free workout apps or websites! This is a link to 50 (five-zero) of the best free, at-home workout sites/videos/routines. There is every type of workout you could ask for, from yoga to high intensity interval training (HIIT), to Pilates.  https://makeyourbodywork.com/how-to-exercise-at-home/

-          Instead of viewing this as a time where you are unable to be as active as you would like (i.e., go to the gym, commute to work, take walks), use this as a time to explore fitness genres you may never have tried before. Perhaps you have always gravitated toward weightlifting – give kickboxing a try. Maybe you have been a core power person – see what a HIIT workout feels like. This could easily be turned into a specific goal on your daily to-do list.

-          GO OUTSIDE. Quarantined and/or sheltered in place does not mean you can’t still walk/run/bike outside (just maintain 6 feet of distance from your neighbors). People need fresh air, and nothing makes you want to be back at home more than a little Chicago weather fatigue. Luckily it’s not too cold at this point to enjoy being outside, so take a walk on your lunch break, walk the stairs of your local park, take an animal for an extra long walk, or take a nice jog outside.