Greetings Everybody!
I realize this is a bit early, but for once I'd like to get ahead of the game rather than following behind like that guy with the broom on the old Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoon. I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to 2020 being done. I hate to wish away time--particularly when I have so much to do--but this year has been a real stinker.
I am therefore making a proposal to any and all who are willing:
At 11:58 on 12/31/2020 go into your kitchen -- pour yourself a glass of whatever (and I do mean WHATEVER, doesn't have to be alcoholic by any stretch) and walk to the front door of your home, open it, and at precisely midnight say "Goodbye and Good Riddance 2020, Come on in 2021" and lift your glass to a new year.
WHO IS WITH ME? Are you willing to take a selfie doing it and send it to me on 1/2/2021 to catadamsfans@gmail.com or by mail to:
C.T. Adams
Qe Enfaolen Enterprises
P.O. Box 19139
Topeka, KS 66619-0139

I will choose one winner from among anybody who does and send them a $20.00 gift card. BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR SNAIL MAIL IN YOUR ENTRY SO I CAN SEND THE PRIZE!
Many thanks to those of you who have been sending me words of encouragement. It helps! The next Celia Graves/Bloodsinger book is moving along nicely. I had hoped to be finished already, but life intervened. Still, I'm excited, happy and it IS progressing. 
 
AND SO ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS. Below is the next installment for SHAMELESS. The other is a secret that I HOPE to have ready for you for Christmas. We'll see. I'm doing my best, I promise.
 
AND NOW, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO ---
 
SHAMELESS
 
 
I'm not proud of the fact, but I did. I turned tail and ran back the way I'd come, then took off of the track to wade into the shallow water at the lakes edge to hide in the tall weeds and flickering shadows next to the walkway. I didn't go under the arch, that would be the first place I would look, and probably the first he would as well. I knelt in the muddy water, holding Shameless next to me with my fake arm to keep it out of the water. I clung to him and shook, the hood of my sweatshirt pulled down to cover most of my face and keep my eyes from shining white in the shadows. I held my right index finger against my lip in the gesture I'd used to teach Shameless to be silent and still. God love him, he obeyed. It wasn't usually his best thing, but this time, he obeyed perfectly. And while I felt his muscles tighten as footsteps approached, and his hackles raise, he didn't make a sound. Even though his lips pulled back to expose his teeth, he didn't growl, didn't move a muscle.