Kids and Family

I’m not really known as a writer who engineers their stories with lesbian couples who have kids. Most of my main characters remain childless with a few exceptions. There’s a good reason for this. People often write what they know, and I’ve never had children of the two-legged variety. All my kids come with fur and walk on all four paws! However, that does not stop me from enjoying stories about children, especially precocious kids. I’m very enamored with those stories. Thus, whenever I’ve included children in any of my stories, they tend to be intelligent, precocious children, who hopefully add some levity to the story.

I’ve typically drawn from my experience with my nephews or friends with small children. Because kids will and do say the damnedest things they tend to crack me up. I’ve even been known to do internet research on those funny things kids have said. Many of those things have found their way into the rare stories where I include children. And when I say rare, I mean almost non-existent. There is a mention of children in two short stories, where Pepper from the Asset Management series makes her debut in a Halloween story. I liked her character and decided to include her in my last book, Love Bonds, in the San Diego series. Then of course I had to write a spin-off of when the kids grew up and take over the family business because I’m more comfortable writing characters that are at least 18+. That doesn’t mean that some of my favorite scenes in Love Bonds include Pepper. Here is one of the scenes ( a combo of something I heard my friends’ little girl say and some internet research):

Gina rolled her eyes. “Precocious doesn’t begin to describe our daughter.”

Mila cracked up. “Well, it doesn’t matter why I got a hug. I’m just glad I did.”

“What’s precosus?” Pepper asked.

“It means you’re way ahead of your time and a little too smart for your own good,” Val answered.

Pepper stamped her foot. “There is no such thing as a little girl being too smart. Mama G taught me that. Girls can do anything boys can, only better. Just because we gots a bagina and they have a penis doesn’t mean we aren’t as good.” Pepper raised her tiny fist in the air and shouted, “Girl Power.”

“Oh, sister,” Val mumbled around her attempt not to react or laugh out loud. “Did you teach her that, too, Mama G?”

Gina shrugged.

Mila wasn’t as reserved and couldn’t help the laughter that erupted from her. Even Bernie couldn’t hide her smile.

“Mama G is right. I was teasing you,” Val added. “Everyone ready? We’ve got the tickets covered, so put away your wallets.”

Pepper retook her mothers’ hands but glanced back at Mila. “My mommies fight the bad guys.”

Mila grinned. “Yeah, I know.”

Pepper tilted her head to look at Val and asked, “Why do the bad guys always try to take over, Mama V?”

“Cause they want to be in charge all the time and make all the rules.”

“They should just become moms, then,” Pepper stated with conviction.

At that point, Val didn’t even try to contain her laugh.

Love Bonds is out now for presale and hopefully, the audiobook will be out not too long after it goes live on August 1st. Like the other two books in the series, Undercover Love and Politics of Love, there’s a lot of action, twists and turns, and banter between the characters. If you want to check out the series, you know the drill, click the links below!