Today we welcome Alex Hughes, author of the MINDSPACE INVESTIGATIONS series. The second novel, Sharp, was one of my favorite reads last year. I’ve just finished the excellent third volume, Marked, which will be released on April 1. In Marked, Adam is investigating a case at the Telepath’s Guild. Adam continues to be one of my favorite urban fantasy heroes because his struggles feel so viscerally real. The emotional agony and practical physical pain he combats as he struggles to maintain his sobriety in the face of difficult life transitions are poetically beautiful.
Here’s your chance to try MINDSPACE INVESTIGATIONS. One commenter will win a copy of either Clean or Sharp (your choice). If you’re in the US, you can choose a print or ebook. If you’re in Canada, UK, South Africa, or Australia, we can send an ebook.
And now, here’s Alex Hughes, talking about being Half in Love…
At the beginning of Marked, our hero Adam has been working with his partner, homicide detective Isabella Cherabino, for years. He knows the way she takes her coffee. He knows the way her forehead crinkles when she’s mad. He knows her workaholic ways, and he admires her greatly. In fact, he’s half in love with her, and has been for a very long time. The trouble is, that according to the Twelve Steps Program and his sponsor, he can’t have a relationship until he can keep a plant alive. Adam has killed probably three dozen plants at this point, and he has another three up in his windowsill now. Two are turning yellow, one brown.
Cherabino is still angry with him over the Link he accidentally formed between them. The only thing she’d ever asked of him was for him to keep his hands and mind to himself. The Link was the opposite of that, and while she was learning to tolerate it, every time she gets a thought from Adam, it’s one more reminder that he hadn’t respected that line.
So Adam goes home to his empty apartment with the Tech tuned into the walls, and waters his plants. Again. Maybe one of them will survive this time. Maybe.
And then, in Marked, Swartz says something that will change the game forever. “You should ask her out,” he says.
What about you, dear reader? What project, idea, or situation have you been in love with but haven’t been willing to act on? Why haven’t you acted? What would happen if you did?
That is a hard question, but I’d bet that many readers here will say they’re in love with the idea of being a writer but haven’t acted on that. I’m betting that will be the most common response.
What project, idea, or situation have you been in love with but haven’t been willing to act on
I’ve missed so many opportunities, by being fearful. I’ve worked at being a writer, but I fear to submit more than I do (since I keep getting my teeth kicked). I’ve been in love with the idea of traveling Europe, or Asia, but money and fear have held me at bay.
I think Kat has the right of it — the one project I wish I could make myself work on more is my writing. I love have written, but I hate writing Well, “hate” is too strong a word — but it does seem like writing is the easiest thing to put off.
God, Kat, you don’t know my life…
I was going to say, being a writer. To be fair, though, I’ve also been in love with the idea of living in Scotland and getting a history doctorate, teaching English in West Asia, and baking all my bread at home. None of which I have pursued. Reasons? To quote Maria Bamford–“fulfilling my potential would really cut into my sitting around time. I got a lotta stuff I gotta not get done.”
I would love to be a world famous chef, but life gets in the way. I have people to support, so taking the time for training to be a chef seems selfish.
I loved CLEAN and SHARP and look forward to picking up MARKED next week.
Let’s see…
For me fencing instructor. You see, I love the art of fencing. I delight in teaching it. But I also like to eat and in Mississippi, it wasn’t any way to make a living. I wish I’d gone to the USFCA academy and become certified. Still do.
First of all…. Adam is a stud. Just gotta put it out there.
Second…the career moves that I made because I was afraid of not being able to pay child support on time….too many to count.
Thanks for having me on the blog!
I love these responses… Can I steal the one about being a professional chef? I drool over the Food Network and then eat a frozen dinner. Sigh. Maybe one day I’ll get back to it :)
I’ve wanted to take a trip to Great Britain for many years and have kept waiting for someone to go with me but it has never happened. I’ve come to the realization that if I want to go, I will have to just go take a tour by myself. I think it would be more fun to share it, but it will never happen unless I make it happen, even though I’ve been too timid to travel alone (with a tour group). I think what would happen is I would have the time of my life if I just got over my fear and allowed myself to open up to people I don’t know and situations where I might be uncomfortable.
Barbara, I think you’re right — you would love it and you’d make friends with the people in the group, many who’d be just like you. I have friends and family who tour with groups and they always make friends there because they share a love of traveling, so they automatically have something in common. Go! Go! Go!
I totally agree, Barbara! It’s awesome you’re figuring out how to hit your dreams on your own. Fear is tough, but getting past it is so great. Go for it!
Yes – go. With or without people you already know. You’ll meet new people and have a great time!
For a long time, I wanted to travel to Australia, but I didn’t, because I was offered the chance to come to Germany instead and I took it.
Gosh. So many things. I was offered a job in France when I was young and foolish and refused it. Sigh.
But I’d love to sew all my clothes. What is stopping me? No sewing machine or knowledge or talent or skill. But, I may be getting a used machine soon so I can at least give it a try!
A long, long time ago in a galaxy far far away, I was torn between staying in Ireland and working at a hostel or returning home. I did the latter, and I can’t say I regret it at all as I literally cannot imagine being any happier with a life than the one I have, but oh, how I was torn and oh how I loved that place and the idea of staying.
As for the writing, yep, would always like to write more (and better of course). Check with me again in a year to see if “the book”, which actually has all the pieces finally done, has actually become “the book” yet . . .
Can’t think of anything
ANYONE can be a writer. PTTTH.
I want a greenhouse. And solar panels. And to win a copy of one of the books above…
Consider this an addition to my reply above, and not a second, separate reply. :-)
I’ve also been interested in seeing the ruins of Pompeii, but I don’t necessarily want to go to Italy to do it. So now I’m waiting for Pompeii to pack itself up and come visit my home city instead.
Oh. Wow what a cosmopolitan group, with many who have seen much of the world and those that aspire to see more someday. Life often works out so that dreams of adventure must take a back seat; I do admire those who had found a way to hold on to those dreams and/or seem realized. I hope to see the grandeur of adventure someday myself.
Don’t forget this — it’s been just about a month now. :-)
Too late for me. I’ve already bought and read book one and bought the second book. Haven’t read the second yet though.
Thanks, Melanie! I will alert Marion.
Lloyd Lucas, if you live in the USA, you win a book of your choice, Clean or Sharp.
Please contact me (Marion) with your choice and a US address. Happy reading!
Melanie, thanks for the reminder! This one got off the radar.