If You’re Ever Feeling Sad Or Lonely
Years ago, while the Dear Wonderful Hubby and I were waiting for someone, we watched a man wander along a sidewalk, picking up cigarette butts that might have one or two more puffs in them.
Whenever this man found a good one, a long cigarette butt, one that would give him a half decent smoke, he’d chortle with glee.
My friends, the sound coming out of his mouth was pure unfiltered happiness.
It was a joy to hear.
And now, many, MANY years later, whenever the Dear Wonderful Hubby and I see a half decently long cigarette butt, we think of him.
Recently, someone tossed a half-smoked cigarette on the ground.
The Dear Wonderful Hubby looked at it, looked at me, grinned and said, “He’d really like that one.”
(smiles)
Think of how many small seemingly insignificant interactions we have with people every day.
We hold a door open for a stranger. Someone hears our laugh across a crowded store. A person passes by us on the sidewalk while we’re smiling down at our phones. A writer reads our 5 star review of their book.
We might have touched those people’s lives profoundly, left a lasting positive impression and we didn’t even realize it.
So if you ever feel sad or lonely,
know that someone in this wonderful world is thinking of you at this exact moment.
It likely won’t be someone YOU remember
but they remember you
and they’re smiling as they’re doing so.
(smiles)
Topics: Cyn-Sights | Comments Off on If You’re Ever Feeling Sad Or Lonely
Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein And Monster-Loving Heroines
Spoiler Alert – This post will talk about Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and it WILL contain spoilers. If you haven’t yet watched this beautiful monster movie based on the classic novel by Mary Shelley, you might wish to skip this post.
The Dear Wonderful Hubby and I watched Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and we both really enjoyed it.
It was an absolutely gorgeous movie. The little tweaks to Mary Shelley’s classic story worked for us. GdT did a wonderful job of showing us who was the true monster. And I found the ending sad but not as very, very sad as the endings were in previous Frankenstein movies.
And the love story between the creature and Elizabeth was done very well.
Which is often difficult to do.
Because it takes a special being to love a ‘monster.’
Society has trained us to reject those who are different, especially those who look differently.
And many people never move past first impressions. They can’t see past physical appearances.
The average person would never allow themselves to be attracted to someone who looks like a monster.
Elizabeth isn’t the average person.
She has been raised in a convent and has limited exposure to men. She doesn’t know what is or isn’t normal. They are all strange creatures to her.
Society hasn’t indoctrinated her in that way yet.
And when she’s freed from the convent, she’s…h@rny.
Basically.
Though there are no sex scenes shown.
She has the hots for her future husband. She has the hots for her future husband’s extremely different in all ways brother. I suspect if her future husband had three brothers, she would have had the hots for all three of them.
She doesn’t yet know what she likes in a romantic partner and she has a lot of passion to share.
She also loves insects, the stranger the better. She’s fascinated with wild creatures that aren’t often loved by the average person.
The Creature, as Frankenstein’s creation is often referred to, is simply another strange being she encounters. She doesn’t care that society might reject him and their relationship…because she doesn’t yet know what society likes or what the punishments are for rebelling against society expectations.
The Creature adores her. And he is even more innocent and new to the world than she is, which must be super appealing to her.
I understand completely why she would be attracted to him.
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Throwback Thursday – Warlord Sky
Qulpa loves to fly. He is one of the best Chamele pilots and likely one of the best pilots ANYWHERE in the universe.
Until a tragic crash robs him of his ability to take the controls.
His only hope is Nayan, a brilliant engineer…and his in-deep-denial-of-their-destiny fated mate.
Warlord Sky
No one grounds a barbarian warrior.
Qulpa, a Chamele warrior, lost everyone he loved in the brutal Succession Wars. Flying is the only thing that brings him joy. Serving as his team’s pilot is the sole duty he has left. Then a horrific crash leaves him injured and unable to fly.
The one being who can help him is also his gerel, the female destined to be his. She insists she doesn’t feel their connection. Qulpa is certain his beautiful mate is lying and nothing will stop him from finding out why.
Nayan knows the injured barbarian is her warrior, her one chance at a forever bond. His dominance makes her feel safe. His gentle touch inflames her passion. His kisses scorch her very soul. The tall muscular male tempts her as no one else has.
But she has a deadly secret. If it’s exposed, her injured male will lose more than his ability to fly. Both of them will die. She can’t take that risk, not for him, not for them, not for a lifespan filled with love.
* * *
Warlord Sky is a STANDALONE Alien Barbarian SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, sometimes violent universe.
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L2FQV4R/
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07L2FQV4R/
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B07L2FQV4R/
Amazon Canada:
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07L2FQV4R
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/warlord-sky/id1445375487
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/warlord-sky
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/910481
Topics: Throwback Thursday | Comments Off on Throwback Thursday – Warlord Sky
Gardening – 2026 – The Year Of The Herbs
One area of the garden I plan to really focus on in 2026 is
herbs.
Specifically herbs that overwinter well. I plan to split the 3 containers of oregano (assuming they survive the winter) into 6. I plan to plant more containers of mint, thyme, sage, try rosemary, experiment with other herbs. I’m super interested in growing chocolate mint. I merely have to figure out a way to source those seeds.
Herbs, fresh OR dried, are very expensive in my part of the world right now. And worse than that, they are often hard to find.
And they add such flavor to food. Plus many herbs ward off the bad bugs in our gardens.
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Badge Bunnies And Dog Shifters
Sadie, the heroine of Legal Beagle, the third story in the Badge Bunnies collection, is a dog shifter. Specifically, she’s a beagle shifter.
Dog shifters are NOT wolf shifters (or werewolves). Just as dogs are not wolves.
Dogs are domesticated. They are friendlier. They are often people pleasers. And they tend to love everyone.
Which can be dangerous when some of those people are trying to kill them.
Thankfully, Judge Sadie has Officer Wright to protect her.
(smiles)
Badge Bunnies
C.S. Sax
Enjoy four fun yet sizzling hot paranormal romances set in a future where genetically enhanced supercops keep the peace and mafia rabbits rule the underworld.
The Godrabbit
I am known by many names. My beloved mother called me Flopsy Lapin. Lady Grace Satin jokes that I am the wickedest rabbit in all of the world. Her father, Lord Satan, dares to label me a mobster street rabbit. You, my friend, may call me the Godrabbit.
Lady Grace is the only female I lust after. My bloodstained hands are unworthy of holding her, so when a high-class hooker with Lady Grace’s face, voice, scent, and everything else, wanders into my casino, I make her an offer she can’t refuse. This leads to a night I will never forget.
Note: The Godrabbit is a prequel to Protect And Serve: Badge Bunny
Badge Bunny
My name is Officer Drake. I’m genetically enhanced to be the best damn policeman there is. I can snap a werewolf in two. I can outrun a car. That’s not boasting. Those are the facts.
I’m designed to protect and serve, and when I spot a plush little bunny shifter by the name of Hunny Lapin, that is exactly what I do. I protect her from a strip club owning vampire and serve up her every desire in bed. ‘Course, that lands me in a whole heap of trouble, but it’s nothing I can’t handle. I’m a supercop, remember?
Legal Beagle
My name is Officer Wright. I’m genetically enhanced as one of the city’s finest, and a normal day for me involves plugging liquid sunshine into rogue vamps, tagging and bagging renegade werewolves, and putting the fear of the badge into all criminals.
But these are not normal days. While my partner takes a leave of absence to bang his bunny, I’m stuck on babysitting duty. Yeah, stop laughing. It would be more humorous except the chick I’m tailing is a hot little beagle-shifting judge, and when she takes the bench, believe me, my whole body comes to order.
Speed Demon
My name is Officer Sargent, Sarge to friends and fellow police officers. You might have heard some rumors about me, but they’re all lies. I’m not gay. I’m not. The reason I watch my partner’s back is because that’s what cops do; we watch out for each other. It has nothing to do with his broad shoulders or trim hips or shapely butt.
My partner Nero is a demon, and he has a sick sense of humor, tricking me into thinking things no straight man should ever think. I’m a genetically enhanced supercop, and I can handle his devilish magic.
That is until the unthinkable happens.
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/Badge-Bunnies-Futuristic-Paranormal-Romance-ebook/dp/B0FTP8VCTW/
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Badge-Bunnies-Futuristic-Paranormal-Romance-ebook/dp/B0FTP8VCTW/
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Badge-Bunnies-Futuristic-Paranormal-Romance-ebook/dp/B0FTP8VCTW/
Amazon Canada:
https://www.amazon.ca/Badge-Bunnies-Futuristic-Paranormal-Romance-ebook/dp/B0FTP8VCTW/
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/badge-bunnies/id6753577320
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/badge-bunnies-1
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1870066
Topics: C.S. Sax | Comments Off on Badge Bunnies And Dog Shifters
Muse Food – Ray’s Story And Writing Crowd Scenes
The worlds our characters live in are often HUGE. There might be a gazillion beings in it.
And it is rare that our main characters are alone.
Sometimes they’re in crowds.
We, writers, still want the focus to be on our main characters. It is their story. We don’t want our readers to be distracted from it.
But we also want our readers to live in the scene, to be able to picture it, to feel like they are there.
What I do is I choose a few background characters in the scene and I describe them and what they’re doing.
In this photo, I might write “Behind Ray, a shark pursues a silver fish. Another ray glides by. Other fish churn the waters.” And that’s it.
It sets the scene but it doesn’t distract from Ray’s story.
Topics: Muse Food | Comments Off on Muse Food – Ray’s Story And Writing Crowd Scenes
Cynthia Sax Weekly Update – January 25
I continue to have fun with the Super Secret Project. I should finish the first draft of the fourth installment this week. It is SUCH a joy. I wish for you all to experience happiness like this, my friends. I’m reveling in the sheer thrill of creating and having a blast while doing so.
(smiles)
Have a wonderful week, my friends. (big hugs) Sip on a delicious hot beverage. Wear a favorite scent…just because. Snuggle into a soft fluffy towel. Listen to a bird sing. Surround yourself with happiness. You deserve it!
Can love redeem a monster?
The Refuge is home to some of the most violent beings in the universe. Kralj, its leader, reigns over the remote outpost with terrifying ease, ruthlessly squashing any rumors of rebellion, killing anyone who breaks his rules. Primitive, deadly, powerful, he’s a monster, scarred both on his face and his soul. He has never met a being he couldn’t control.
Until he meets her.
Dita has one mission—to kill the three targets claiming sanctuary within the Refuge. Or so she claims. For the first time in his long lifespan, Kralj isn’t certain of another being’s intentions. The tiny assassin is immune to his powers, her thoughts unreadable. He can’t predict her movements, can’t control her, can’t stop wanting her.
Dita is rare, as unique as he is, and, to keep the residents of the Refuge safe, Kralj will have to kill her. But first, he’ll touch her, taste her, show her how passionate the beast inside him can be.
Dark Thoughts is a STAND-ALONE SciFi Romance.
The hero might be tall, dark, and scarred but don’t be fooled by his appearance.
He’s truly a monster.
This story is not for readers with delicate sensibilities.
Read Now For FREE:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Thoughts-Refuge-Book-1-ebook/dp/B01MRAABGC/
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Thoughts-Refuge-Book-1-ebook/dp/B01MRAABGC/
Amazon AUS: https://www.amazon.com.au/Dark-Thoughts-Refuge-Book-1-ebook/dp/B01MRAABGC/
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/dark-thoughts/id1200022597
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/dark-thoughts-3
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/699393
Topics: Cynthia Sax Weekly Update | Comments Off on Cynthia Sax Weekly Update – January 25
Send Short Notes
In the past, I thought I had to send long letters or emails to loved ones.
I didn’t have time for that. So I’d put it off. And letters and emails would never be sent.
Now, I know that a short letter or email is MUCH better than no letter or email at all.
I have a collection of pretty little notecards I send via snail mail.
These short notes say, ‘I’m thinking of you.’ and ‘I care about you.’
And that is truly the goal of the communication.
I want the loved one to know they are loved. They aren’t alone. I’m there for them whenever they need me.
Send that short note or email.
Topics: Cyn-Sights | Comments Off on Send Short Notes
2022’s Persuasion And Believing The Happy Ever After
Spoiler Alert – This post will talk about the 2022 Dakota Johnson movie version of Persuasion and it WILL contain spoilers. If you haven’t yet watched this romance based on the book by Jane Austen, you might wish to skip this post.
I enjoyed the 2022 Dakota Johnson version of Persuasion very much. I thought it was fun and witty and entertaining.
(Although I cringed as always during the ‘My brother-in-law proposed to me first’ scene. I think of Anne as a mean girl and as disloyal due to that scene.)
But I didn’t believe the Romantic Happy Ever After. At all.
I didn’t believe it in the book and I didn’t believe it in this movie version of it.
Anne Elliott was persuaded years ago to break off her engagement to Wentworth. He was poor and her family didn’t like that.
Anne didn’t fight for Wentworth or their relationship.
And I got the impression he didn’t fight for her. He, instead, went off to sea.
In the book and in the movie, we NEVER see Anne fight for Wentworth and their relationship.
When all seems hopeless, she, a person whom we’re told takes action in disastrous situations, says and does nothing.
We also NEVER see Wentworth fight for Anne and their relationship.
When all seems hopeless, he decides to go off to sea again.
Thankfully, he left her a letter this time.
And that is the ONLY reason they end up together at the end.
The Dear Wonderful Hubby and I have been happily in love for over three decades.
If there is one thing I know about love and relationships, it is that we have to fight to make them last. We can’t give up. We have to do the hard things, perhaps make others displeased, battle for the other person to make it work.
I don’t think Anne and Wentworth are willing to do that.
Topics: Movie Reviews | Comments Off on 2022’s Persuasion And Believing The Happy Ever After
Throwback Thursday – Chasing Mayhem
If you like your heroes wild, wild, wild, Mayhem is the hero for you. This cyborg warrior is up for anything and he doesn’t let a little thing like possibly dying stop him.
(grins)
Imee, a human female bounty hunter of sorts, isn’t scared of dying either. She plans to capture Mayhem and reap those rewards.
Kralj, the all knowing, all powerful Ruler of the Refuge and hero of Dark Thoughts, makes an appearance in this story also.
It is action-packed!
Wild. Free. Hers.
Mayhem has spent his lengthy lifespan obeying the Humanoid Alliance’s rules. Finally free from their cruel control, the cyborg warrior plans to cause chaos. He infiltrates a remote settlement, provokes the savage locals until they want him dead, and allows himself to be captured by the sexiest little Retriever he has ever laid his mechanically-enhanced eyes on.
Imee’s sole mission in life is to keep her family alive. To do this, she must hunt rebels, returning them to the Humanoid Alliance’s evil clutches where they will be executed. She doesn’t allow herself to feel anything for her targets…until she meets a tall, muscular cyborg with wild hair and even wilder eyes.
With his sure hands, laughing lips and erotic holds, Mayhem makes Imee’s body sizzle and her resistance melt. Their love is doomed. She must deliver the warrior to his death or she’ll place her family’s safety at risk. But she can’t resist him.
Imee soon discovers that Mayhem, life, and love are never predictable.
Chasing Mayhem is Book 5 in the Cyborg Sizzle series and is a STANDALONE story.
It is also a BBW Cyborg SciFi Romance.
Buy Now:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Mayhem-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B01IRPO9WY
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chasing-Mayhem-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B01IRPO9WY/
Amazon AUS: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B01IRPO9WY
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/chasing-mayhem/id1136333685
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/chasing-mayhem
Topics: Throwback Thursday | Comments Off on Throwback Thursday – Chasing Mayhem
