Discover. . .: Ages and Stages and Being Fearless by Dee S. Knight #FearlessFriday

FEARLESS FRIDAY

One of my favorite guests, Dee S. Knight, has a great take on being fearless. And I'm with her on this one. Read and enjoy.

Taking off into the unknown...

I've been thinking this year—the year of the plague—about how life turns first one way and then another. Last year at this time did most of us worry if we ran a low-grade fever or had the sniffles or cough? Probably not. Now our thoughts would turn to COVID. What a difference a year makes, huh? But I've been thinking specifically of how age changes our perspective in so many ways.

When I was just 18 years old, my parents put me on a train in Orlando, FL and sent me alone, off to school in Fredericksburg, VA—a more than 24-hour trip. I had only been on a train once before, with my mom, and neither I nor my parents had ever been to Fredericksburg or had visited the college I would make my home for the next 3.5 years. I'd devoured the college catalogue, of course, but we'd not gone up for a college visit nor driven through the town at any point. There was no Internet, so all I had to go on as to what to expect was the catalogue itself. I didn't know anyone who was attending, either—it was a totally blank slate. Yet, I had no fear. The train trip was an adventure. Seeing my school for the first time was exciting. The thought of starting off life away from home was thrilling. I felt I had everything to gain and nothing to lose. Selfishly, I of course missed my parents but gave little thought to what their lives were like, with their only child gone so far from home.

Jump forward a few years. Jack and I were married and had "normal" jobs (that is, no longer driving a truck). I was teaching high school and he was into consulting work. Suddenly, with Jack as a consultant, I saw a lot to lose, and frankly, it made me fearful. When he changed contracts, I didn't like the accompanying change in income, the thoughts of having a hard time paying the mortgage, worry that he might not find another consulting position close to where we lived, worry about renewing my teaching contract, too, with cuts at school. Can you identify?

Fortunately, at the stage of life I am now, I'm pretty much back to being fearless. It doesn't matter much what people think or say. Jack and I still have each other to hang onto and take joy in. We have a modest but comfortable home and in a place we enjoy living. We've adopted the attitude that what happens, happens. Worry does no good and fear paralyzes. So best to be fearless, much as I was when I stepped on that train. Regardless of what goes on around us, life is still good and fearless is a great way to live it!

My heroine in The Cinderella Curse shows her own courage when she goes after her Prince Charming with great determination. Here's a taste. The book is coming soon to Kindle Unlimited!

Blurb:

One evening, in a land far away, a wife spins a fairy tale for the amusement of her husband. It's not your typical child's tale, of course, but an adult, erotic version of the classic, Cinderella.

All of the principals are present. Charlotte Gambrell immediately recognizes Prince Charming when she meets her boss, James Clarkson. Unfortunately, the worldly Clarkson barely knows she's alive. Charlotte's two hateful supervisors make her professional life miserable by piling on the work and never letting her forget that she has employment only at their pleasure.

Everything changes when Charlotte becomes part of a magazine shoot. The photographer, Cooper Hunt, agrees to perform duties as her fairy godfather. By day, he transforms her life by revealing to the world what he already knows, that Charlotte is an exquisite beauty. By night, he transforms her universe by teaching her about passion so she can attract her Prince. The “real” Cinderella never had it so good!

By the time Charlotte arrives at the ball, she has James on her mind and Cooper in her heart. Which man will she make her Prince?

Excerpt:

Katherine walked into her daughter’s bedroom with a warm smile for the little girl. “And who do I find here?” she asked. “Is it a rock star, a fashion model or an award winning actress?”

“Oh, mommy, you know who I am,” the girl said with a giggle. For just a moment Katherine’s breath caught and her heart overflowed with love for this four year old person. She and Cole had made this child, had conceived her in love, trust and respect, but it still seemed incomprehensible that she was as beautiful as she was, as sweet and wonderful as she was. Katherine could so clearly see Cole’s eyes and her mouth reflected in their daughter’s face, but there was more there that was a combination of them both, and therefore all Alyssa’s. Katherine had to remind herself that probably all parents felt their children were perfect and wonderful, but with their little Alyssa, she knew it was true beyond any doubt.

“Yes, I know who you are, my little love. You are queen of my heart, princess of my mind, ruler–”

“–of all I hold dear.” Alyssa finished the oft heard phrase in triumph. She had bouncy curls of brown hair that hung down to her chin, gleaming blue eyes and a pert nose. Her mouth was most often formed around a smile.

“You’re getting too smart for me, Munchkin. What story would you like to hear?” Katherine settled her daughter under the covers, and positioned herself at the head of the bed next to Alyssa’s pillow, so that the child could see the pictures in the book and also be in place to fall asleep.

“Cinderella!”

“Okay, Cinderella it is.” Katherine reached for the book from the stack of those on the bedside table and opened it to the first page. “Once upon a–”

“No, mommy. You’ve got to start with the title.”

With a small smile Katherine turned to the title page and started over. “Cinderella.” She flipped back to the story. “Once upon a time…”

Meet Dee/Anne/Jenna:

A few years ago, Dee S. Knight began writing, making getting up in the morning fun. During the day,

her characters killed people, fell in love, became drunk with power, or sober with responsibility. And they had sex, lots of sex.

After a while, Dee split her personality into thirds. She writes as Anne Krist for sweeter romances, and Jenna Stewart for ménage and shifter stories. All three of her personas are found on the Nomad Authors website. And all three offer some of the best romance you can find! Also, once a month, look for Dee’s Charity Sunday blog posts, where your comment can support a selected charity.

Where to find her (them):