Tori Knightwood

A little sweet, a little spice...

Category: Peeks (Page 1 of 3)

Welcome back to Tori!

June 17, 2023 / / 0 Comments
Tori Black Belt Test

It’s been a while. If you still follow my blog, thank you so much. I can’t really explain where I’ve been for the past almost two years – not easily.

The pandemic took a lot out of me. I lost my job, my husband lost his job, we lost our benefits, we lost some family members. Then I started a new job at a local college. And I love it! But for a while, that was enough. I didn’t feel the itch to write, and certainly not to do all the other stuff involved in publishing and building an audience that takes away from writing.

Last month, I tested for my black belt in Taekwondo. I spent ten weeks intensively training for the test and then two days proving my readiness to myself and my instructor. It was an amazing experience and I’m so proud of myself for sticking with it despite injuries and personal loss.

Since then, I’ve felt the itch to write. Yay! So, no news yet on the release of new books, but please watch this space. I have some blog posts planned to reacquaint you all with me, Tori Knightwood, and I’ll give you updates on my writing and publishing progress. It will be slow, probably even slower than before my break, but I hope you’ll stick around.

Again, thanks for still being here. <3

Crossroads

July 8, 2021 / / 0 Comments

Crossroads is one of my favorite Bon Jovi albums, and is among the music I listened to while in Rwanda all those years ago. But today I’m going to talk about my own personal crossroads. I finished one of the hardest (and most rewarding) teaching years of my life – teaching French to high school students during a pandemic and in a hybrid program – and now I have to decide what to do next. I’m not certified in my state (loooong story), so a district has to be desperate to hire me. I’ll find out at the last minute and not receive normal teacher pay (and, as we all know, teachers aren’t paid what they’re worth, so imagine being paid even less to do the same job).

To get certified in my state, I have to go back to school. Which isn’t the easiest thing when one has a family to take care of, a kid going to college, and one’s family has survived the past year on a substitute teacher’s pay. Also, it’s not so easy to find a French program in my area – the closest is an hour away and costs more than I made in the past two years combined.

So, I could keep trying to find a teacher prep program that works for me, or I could walk away from teaching and find another job. I’m actually fine with this latter choice. I’ve had plenty of non-teaching experiences in my life that were just as interesting and rewarding. For now, I’m doing a little of both.

BUT, the big question is: If I leave teaching, what should I do with the rest of my life?

What an exciting position to be in! I could do anything – well, almost anything. I still have the same limitations about school and family and finances, etc. I just want to do something that feels rewarding and helpful. Now, back to my research!

I’m not looking for advice here, but I’d love to hear about the crossroads in your own life. When were you faced with a big decision and how did you handle it? Has the pandemic opened new opportunities for you or closed some doors? How are you doing, my friends?

Turn and Face the Wind

April 20, 2021 / / 1 Comment

My friends, I’m struggling with the changes coming in my life, but I know I have to accept them.

My oldest will be heading off to college in three months. I know this is the natural order of things. I know he’ll thrive and learn to become a productive member of society. I know this is what he wants. And I know he deserves to go off and live his life. I’m just not ready to say goodbye.

Sure, I’m not the first parent to feel this way, and I won’t be the last. And I know I’ll get used to his absence. I just needed to get my feelings out.

It’s all compounded by the uncertainly of my employment. I was hired just for this school year (and what a school year it’s been!), to cover a leave of absence.  If the teacher doesn’t come back, AND they can’t find a certified teacher to fill the vacancy, THEN they can hire me again. I’ve been down this road before, so I know that I won’t know for sure until school starts.

In the meantime, I’ll just keep doing the best job I can. I’ll be there for my students and get us all through this off-the-charts year. And then, while I look for a new job, I’ll have time to write. So, that’s the positive.

I’m not quite ready yet to face the wind and accept the changes, but I will.

What are you facing right now? Whatever it is, I’m sending you lots and lots of virtual hugs.

Life Update: Lemons or Lemonade?

December 22, 2020 / / 2 Comments
lemons or lemonade image

I haven’t talked much about my private life in this blog, and that has been to protect my family’s privacy and to keep my adult writing life separate from my children’s literature writing life. But, like for most folks, this year has been…well, a YEAR.

My husband lost his job due to the pandemic last spring and I lost my part-time temp position. I was a substitute teacher when the schools closed. There wasn’t any need for subs when all teachers were working from home. If one needed time off, they just assigned their students asynchronous, offline work.

Here’s where some lemonade comes in. A French teacher I know decided to take a leave of absence for this school year, as of the end of November, and I was hired as their substitute. So, now I have a job again, which is awesome. And it’s teaching French to high schoolers – again, awesome (okay, maybe this wouldn’t be awesome to everyone, lol).

More sweetness related to this job:

  • great, supportive, helpful colleagues
  • a relatively short commute
  • I’ve subbed in the building before, so I’m familiar with it
  • reasonable Covid precautions and high levels of compliance among the students
  • if we go all remote again, I’ll still have a job

Some tartness related to this job:

  • Teaching students in person and online at the same time is not as easy as it looks. The ones at home are harder to engage, rarely keep their cameras on, and rarely participate in class. It’s so much harder to get to know them and to build relationships.
  • The students in the classroom are scared and subdued and they also barely participate in class discussions. They’re wearing masks (a good thing) and also hoods or hats, meaning that I only see their eyes. It’s a lot harder to build relationships with them, too, in these circumstances.

I’m counting my blessings at having a job at all, but I often come home wanting to cry.

How are you holding up? Feel free to vent below.

Another Peek Into My Life

November 24, 2020 / / 2 Comments
A peek into my life

For this peek into my life, it’s time for another puppy update!

He’s doing great, but he still has some very mouthy, chewy times. During the last one, he chewed several large holes in his bed and swallowed a bit of stuffing. No worries, it all came out the other end without too much discomfort for any of us. So, we had to take the bed away until we could properly sew up the holes. I’d been repairing them with hot glue but he seemed attracted by the glue.

The poor thing really didn’t like not having his bed. He was hyper for the entire week it took until we could get it sewn, and wanted so much more attention from us than usual. We tried to take him on longer walks and play with him more outside, but none of it was good enough until he got his bed back.

When he did, he spent hours and hours on it, barely moving, so afraid it would be taken away again. He didn’t greet me or the boys at the door when we got home from school that first day, as he usually does. He only moved for his dinner. And then he ran straight back to his bed again.

So cute. And no new holes so far!

Please share a fun or heart-warming story about your furry love in the comments.

And Happy Thanksgiving to all my American readers and friends! *gobble gobble*

Sexy Snippet Saturday: Saving Her Human

October 17, 2020 / / 0 Comments
Paris Harem Saving Her Human cover

Book 2

Nico trailed his mouth down her chin to her neck and she stretched to give him free reign. One of his hands caressed the side of her breast through her clothing and she moaned. He used his body to push her onto the blanket, giving him better access. He kneeled between her legs, sliding his hands under her shirt, exposing her skin to the cool, shaded air.

His eyes were filled with flames and she couldn’t wait to be burned by their heat. She arched under his hands as they caressed her skin. With her own hands, she stroked up his arms, the only parts of him she could reach.

It had been so long. So long since they had tasted each other’s most private parts, since they had reveled in each other’s bodies.

Sexy snippet from Saving Her Human, Paris Harem Book 2, releasing on October 20th, 2020 (but available now to pre-order).

Paris Harem Pre-Order Pricing

September 18, 2020 / / 0 Comments

Paris Harem  Pre-Order Pricing

Paris Harem, a paranormal reverse harem trilogy, is set in Paris and it’s oh so much steamy, shifter fun!

Book 1 is currently free at all major retailers.

Books 2 and 3 are currently available to pre-order at all major retailers. The special pre-order price is $2.99 each, but after the release of each book, they will go up to their regular price of $3.99 each. So pre-order now and get the special discounted price.

Learn more about these books below!

Paris Harem Saving Their Wolf

Book 1

Saving Their Wolf, Paris Harem 1

Catherine Malraux has returned to her hometown of Paris after the mysterious death of her ex-boyfriend. She wants to forget the ordeal, as well as the growing shifter hatred she left behind. Her best-friend-turned-boyfriend is moving to Paris with her, and she can’t wait to see how their relationship develops.

But fate has other ideas. When she meets two new sexy men—Martin, an elephant shifter, and Reid, a wolf shifter—the intense attraction has her reeling. After Catherine has refused lust and affection for so long, three hot men want to love her.

Can Catherine accept that she deserves love before an enemy from the past takes her life?

Buy Saving Their Wolf now!

Paris Harem Saving Her Human cover

Book 2

Saving Her Human, Paris Harem 2

Just as Catherine is settling into life with the three men who’ve captured her heart, their idyllic world becomes filled with impatience and regret. Doubt creeps in when Nico is accused of a heinous crime. Worse, evidence shows he’s been cheating on her. Has she misjudged him, or is someone hell-bent on ruining their happiness? With her two shifter men by her side, Catherine must fight for Nico before hate overwhelms the love she has worked so hard to build.

Pre-order Saving Her Human now for $2.99!

Paris Harem Saving Her Mates cover

Book 3

Saving Her Mates, Paris Harem 3

As Christmas approaches, a job offer from home threatens to rob them of Reid. And they’re being targeted by a shifter hate group. This group is more organized and more determined than any the lovers have faced before. Has Catherine’s luck finally run out or will she find a way to save her mates for good?

Pre-order Saving Her Mates now for $2.99!

excerpt

Enjoy this excerpt from Paris Harem 1, Saving Their Wolf:

Nico stalked toward her, which didn’t take long in the tiny space. After a couple of steps, their bodies were so close she could feel the heat from his body. “We’ve got the place to ourselves for the next several hours. I wonder what we’ll do with ourselves.”

A broad smile split her face. “I can think of a few things.” 

She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him full on the mouth. His lips were warm, enticing, and his usual Provence smells of garlic, herbs, and lavender enveloped her. Taking a deep whiff, she sucked in his lower lip, running her hands through his lush brown hair.

“I’ve missed you so much.” His hands roamed her body, igniting fire everywhere they touched.

Oh, it had been so long, she just needed him this instant. She devoured his mouth, and wanted every part of him. She dragged his shirt over his head, letting her hands feel his bare skin. He was so hot. Almost feverish. 

So was she.

reviews

See what readers are saying about Paris Harem 1, Saving Their Wolf:

  • This is an excellent reverse harem novel and I love the relationships building between the characters. The setting is also amazing–Paris! Reading this book feels like taking a trip to France…but with werewolves and other shifters! I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!
  • I loved this! It grabbed me from the first page, kept me til the last and enthralled me in between. Well worth your time to read it.

Puppy Update: He’s 2!

September 10, 2020 / / 3 Comments
Foxy at 2

Do you need a puppy update? Who doesn’t need to look at cute dogs right now?

Foxy, AKA Mr. P, AKA Pads, AKA CutiePatootie turned two years old! So, I guess he isn’t really a puppy anymore, but he’ll always be a puppy to me. Or at least for a little while longer.

Of course, he’s become an integral member of our family and we can’t imagine our lives without him. Even when he barks at every neighbor and wants to go outside just to stare at leaves or lie in the grass. He’s very sweet and loves snuggles and chasing a ball or frisbee. His favorite activity, however, is probably chewing things.

We just got him a harness because he has a skinny head and figured out how to get out of his collar when he didn’t want to go inside. He has figured out how to get out of the harness, too. Sigh. Obviously, he needs more training, but his humans are always too busy or too inconsistent. His harness has a cute little pocket for poop bags or treats, so I’ve stuck a couple of treats in there so I’ll always have one when I want to reward him for doing good.

Anyway, that’s my update. How about your pets? How are they handling having so much attention from their humans during these past several months?

The Summer of No Travel but Thanks for the Memories

August 30, 2020 / / 1 Comment

Well, the pandemic kept us home this summer, but at least we can look back at good memories from past summer trips. Keep an eye out for my #TBT (Throwback Thursday) posts on my Instagram in the coming months, as well as pix that show how I spent my summer (SPOILER alert, lots of time outdoors with the puppy and enjoying the garden), and take a peek below for some of my favorites.

Tori’s Quirks – Quarantine TV Edition Part II

August 21, 2020 / / 0 Comments
Tori's TV Quirks

Who knew I’d be home and out of work for so long? So here’s another installment of my “quarantine” TV quirks. Feel free to share your own in the comments!

A note on language: My husband and I like to watch shows in their original language. We just find the original actors’ voices much more natural. Also, I’m a total language nerd and I love to hear different languages and try to find sounds I recognize. But all of the shows I watch in a language other than English can also be watched in English, so you do you.

Bordertown – a Finnish cop show set in a town that borders Russia (in Finnish)
Cardinal – a Canadian cop show with Billy Campbell
Crazy Delicious – not our favorite cooking show, but we love Carla Hall
Documentary Now – a series of mockumentaries that spoof real documentaries, with Fred Armisen and Bill Hader
Fauda – an Israeli spy show (in Hebrew and Arabic)
Hinterland – a Welsh cop show with stunning landscapes
Lilyhammer – in which an American with mafia ties hides away in Norway with comedic results (in English and Norwegian)
Ramy – a dramedy about an Egyptian-American trying to find himself and his place in his religion and in his country (in English and Arabic)
Teen Wolf – TV series loosely based on the Michael J. Fox movie. Lots of hot shifter action.
The Alienist – a psychological detective series set in 1890s New York City
The Bachelor – Greatest Seasons Ever – I’ve gotta have 1 guilty pleasure dating show!
The Big Family Cooking Showdown – a spin-off of the Great British Bake-Off in which British families compete with their family-favorite recipes

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