May is I :::heart::: the short story month at my blog. During these next thirty-one days, I’ll be featuring authors of the short story, besides the usual blog posts. Today, I have author V.J. Allison in the interview chair. We’re discussing her short story Sweet Child of Mine, book two in the Feathered Tartan series, a contemporary romance. Be sure to check out the excerpt.
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1. What drew you to writing the short story?
V.J.: A few of us were chatting and talk came around to the holiday stories. I said I didn’t have the time to write one and someone said I had plenty of time… So with a lot of encouragement from a few others, including my best pal at eXtasy Books, I decided to try writing a short for the Stocking Stuffers.
2. What do you like most about writing short stories?
V.J.: They can be condensed versions of full length books.
3. What do you like least about writing short stories?
V.J.: Keeping things condensed. I tend to ramble and it can tough for me to keep things simple.
4. Why did you write this short story you are featuring?
V.J.: I felt like Marti and Ewan’s story wasn’t completely wrapped up. I thought they needed more to their happy ever after. I also had a few people asking for a follow up or sequel so that’s what prompted me to write Sweet Child of Mine.
5. Why do you think readers should invest their time in reading the short story?
V.J.: I think if you want something that’s short, sweet, and makes you feel good about life, Sweet Child of Mine is the way to go. There’s some serious moments in it, but a bit of humor and a lot of sweetness. It’s a great story.
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Title: Sweet Child of Mine
Series: Feathered Tartan, 1.5
Author: V.J. Allison
Word Count: 40 pages, 11,462
Publisher: eXtasy Books
Estimated Publish Date: December 25, 2020
Heat Level: 1
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance, Holiday, Short Story
In the city on the harbour, miracles happen.
Blurb: It’s Christmas Eve.
Ewan and Marti Campbell are hoping to have a quiet holiday season, their first as a married couple, and the last one before their new baby arrives.
A crisis at the real estate agency tosses a huge wrench into their plans, as does the sudden onset of Marti’s labour. As Ewan fights to get home before his child appears, more crises are flung at him. If he is to make it on time to help his wife bring their baby into the world, he’ll need a miracle…
A big one.
Ewan closed his eyes again and sighed. It wasn’t good if his normally serene and loving wife was not happy either. It spelled disaster with a capital D. “I’ll be home as soon as I can, I promise.” At least his parents were there with her. Between them, Joshua, Sybil and Dana, Marti should be distracted until he got home. Talking to her made him miss her more and wish he could kiss her senseless.
His wife let out a long breath that sounded like a soft moan. “Hopefully, it’s sooner than later. Something happened,” she said, her voice tightening more with each word.
That did not sound like his wife. Ewan wondered what was happening at home. “Good or bad?” he asked and let out a low growl.
“Both.” She cleared her throat. “Are you sitting down?”
Puzzled, Ewan glanced around the room. “Yeah, I am. I’m in my office.”
“Are you alone?”
His left eyebrow rose a notch. “What’s with the inquisition, sweetheart?”
“You know how my back has been bothering me for a few days?”
Ewan blinked. “Yeah. Is it worse?”
“Um, sort of.”
Bewilderment started turning to unease. “Sort of? Do you need to go to the ER?”
She let out a long, hissing breath. “No, but, oh. Hang on.” He heard rattling, and a low noise that sounded a lot like the phone dropping.
Panic started to rise in Ewan’s throat. She was hurt, and he wasn’t there to help her. “Marti? What’s going on?” he demanded. “Marti? Talk to me, dammit!”
His mother’s voice echoed in his ear. “Ewan? Sweetheart, Marti can’t talk right now.”
“What do you mean she can’t talk? What the fuck is going on, Mom?”
“Um, her water broke a couple of hours ago—”
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V.J. Allison was born and raised in southern Nova Scotia, Canada, and her work reflects her strong Maritime roots.
She is a stay at home mother to a son on the autism spectrum, married to the love of her life, and “mama” to a cat named Marnie, who was adopted on August 25, 2018.
She has been writing various stories of novel length and short stories since her school days, and sees writing as a vital component to her life.
On January 4, 2021, she released her first independently published story, COVID’s Arrow, which had been previously released in the Together We Stand charity collection of stories about essential workers.
When she isn’t writing, she loves to read romance and science fiction novels (notably Star Wars); listen to music (heavy metal, rock, alternative); and do graphics design. She runs her own graphics design company, Veridian Rose Designs, specializing in book promotional posters and Facebook cover photos.
She is also an advocate for Occipital Neuralgia, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Autism, Diabetes, and animal welfare.
Find V.J.: Website | Blog | Twitter | eXtasy Books | Facebook Profile | Facebook Page | Facebook Readers Group
Maggie Blackbird 
Thanks for hosting me Maggie. It looks awesome!
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