j. leigh bailey’s Top 5 Writing Snacks! – Guest Blog and Giveaway

Long and Short Reviews welcomes J. Leigh Bailey who is visiting with us today to celebrate the release of her newest book The Night Owl and the Insomniac.  The author will be giving away a digital copy of Stalking Buffalo Bill  or Chasing Thunderbird to a random commenter who shares with her their favorite staying-productive snack. Giveaway will close on July 15.

j. leigh bailey’s Top 5 Writing Snacks!

I’d like to start with a big “Thank you!” to Long and Short Reviews for having me here today to celebrate the release of The Night Owl and the Insomniac, the third  book in my Shifter U paranormal series.

I’ve always been a bit of a snacker. Whether on road trips or write-ins, having something on hand to munch is a way to keep myself motivated and, frankly, awake. To celebrate the release of The Night Owl and the Insomniac, I’m going to share with you some of my favorite I’m-on-a-deadline foods.

1. DIET PEPSI–I write at Panera Bread A LOT. I know it’s not really a “snack,” but I probably eat way more cream of chicken and wild rice soup than is healthy for me. But, even if I chose to have a bagel or salad, I will ALWAYS have that cup of Diet Pepsi to fill. I don’t drink coffee, but still need that caffeine jolt, so I tend to write in places that have fountain sodas with free refills. If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you would see any number of #AmWriting photos of my computer and a Panera Bread cup of soda.
2. TWIZZLERS—Twizzlers are a productivity-boosting snack that goes all the way back to my college study session days. Whether it was cramming at the library or pulling an all-nighter in the study lounge, the strawberry-flavored licorice was always a go-to for me.
3. DORITOS—These aren’t the easiest snack to munch on while writing, the cheesy (or ranchy, I’m not picky!) flavor coating constantly smudges the keys on the keyboard, and there’s only so much a napkin can do. But sometimes I just need that salty, yummy, crunchy goodness.
4. PRETZELS—Lest you think I only eat complete junk food, I do occasionally try to keep it a little healthier. Okay, who’m I kidding? Pretzels aren’t as bad a chips or candy, by maybe it’s not superhealthy. Whatever. Salty and crunch is important when I’m getting things done. I’m a bit picky about my pretzels, though. I prefer Snyders of Hannover to any other brand.
5. GOLDFISH CRACKERS—Call it my inner-toddler, but I love the cheddar-flavored, fishy-shaped, snack-that-smiles-back crackers. I even have a very specific way I eat them… I bite along the outer seam so they crack in half. I also have a tendency to place the smiling, salty side on my tongue first. In case it isn’t obvious, I tend to have a preference for the salty…

So, just for fun (and for a chance to win), what are your favorite snacks to stay productive?

A Shifter U Tale

Long nights lead to intrigue… and infatuation.

Chronically ill with a mysterious condition, Yusuf “Joey” Franke escapes his smothering family and doctors by moving halfway across the country to enroll in Cody College. Not long after arriving on campus, some of his symptoms disappear, only to be replaced by debilitating insomnia. Joey spends his nights wandering the halls of his dormitory and hanging out with gregarious and affable Owen, who works the night shift.

When he suddenly shifts from a sick college kid to a massive Asiatic lion, Joey discovers another side to Cody College—it’s a haven for shifters like himself… and like Owen, a part-time great horned owl. And being a shifter is hereditary, which means his parents have some explaining to do.

When Joey and Owen investigate, they discover more than they bargained for—a family deception, a dangerous enemy with international connections, and a love that might be too new to survive the backlash.

 Enjoy an excerpt:

“Yusuf?” His  breath  ghosted  along  my  cheek.
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“Yeah, Owen?”

Can you  look  at  me?”  With  one  hand  palming  my  cheek,  he  used  the  other  to  tip  my  chin  back.

Reluctantly I  blinked  my  eyes  open.

The quick,  easy  smile  I’d  found  so  fascinating  the  first  night  I  met  him  was  missing.  It  had  been  replaced  with  something  gentler,  something  more  serious.

“I’d like  to  kiss  you.  Will  you  let  me?”

Oh man.  My  heart  throbbed,  deep  and  almost  sickeningly.

Owen. Owen  wanted  to  kiss  me.  Kiss  me.  He  hadn’t  asked  the  night  before,  which  meant  this  was  different  somehow.  More  important,  maybe.  At  least  it  felt  that  way.

I sucked  in  a  breath.  Licked  my  lips.  Stared  into  those  wide  glowing  amber  eyes.

I wanted  to  say  yes  and  please and okay and right now. But try as I might, the words wouldn’t come. So I did the only thing I could do. I nodded.

About the Author:  j. leigh bailey is an office drone by day and the author of Young Adult and New Adult LGBT Romance by night. She can usually be found with her nose in a book or pressed up against her computer monitor. A book-a-day reading habit sometimes gets in the way of… well, everything…but some habits aren’t worth breaking. She’s been reading romance novels since she was ten years old. The last twenty years or so have not changed her voracious appetite for stories of romance, relationships and achieving that vitally important Happy Ever After. She’s a firm believer that everyone, no matter their gender, age, sexual orientation or paranormal affiliation deserves a happy ending. For upcoming releases and appearances information, sign up for her newsletter at https://t.co/FfL9gFVJLQ.

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Buy the book at Dreamspinner Press , Amazon , Barnes & Noble , iBooks , Kobo , or Google Play.