Author Profile: E.M. Goldsmith In the quiet morning, you may rush through your breakfast, and your coffee, and quickly head off to work. But for author E.M. Goldsmith, the quiet mornings before her 9-5 job are when she carves out the time to work on her craft. Warming up her mind at 5 a.m. withContinue reading “Be Who You Are, Not Who Others Think You Should Be”
Author Archives: Jori (J.J.) Hanna
The Regulars of Amanda Lexie Part 11: George
J. J. Hanna © 2024 Things were spiraling out of control, and I hadn’t orchestrated the spiral. It’s one thing to witness a storm from the safety of the eye. It’s completely fine, and preferred, truly, to watch the world unravel when you’re the one who caused the chaos. But when the chaos finds youContinue reading “The Regulars of Amanda Lexie Part 11: George”
The Regulars of Amanda Lexie Part 10: Adam
J. J. Hanna © 2024 I had been inside for three weeks. That wasn’t exactly a change from my normal routine—it’s not like I kept a strict gym schedule. But I was getting restless and I hadn’t heard anything more from Avalon. I needed to do something other than play endless rounds of Call ofContinue reading “The Regulars of Amanda Lexie Part 10: Adam”
The Regulars of Amanda Lexie Part 9: Lucielle
J. J. Hanna © 2023 It was a calculated move, but that didn’t make it any easier to do. I hadn’t lied to Amanda. The evidence all pointed to a connection point at the coffee shop. But I couldn’t find the connection by leaving everything as it was. We had to stop this crew fromContinue reading “The Regulars of Amanda Lexie Part 9: Lucielle”
The Regulars of Amanda Lexie Part 8: Amanda
J. J. Hanna © 2023 Earlier that day. As a barista, I’d had my fair share of crazy mornings. From grumpy customers asking me to remake their drink four times because it still wasn’t right, getting all the way to the store to open and then realizing I left my apron at home, having theContinue reading “The Regulars of Amanda Lexie Part 8: Amanda”
The Regulars of Amanda Lexie Part 7: George
J. J. Hanna © 2023 Amanda was always in on Thursdays. In all the years I’d been coming to this coffee shop, I’d never seen her miss a day. But this Thursday, despite my multiple visits back to the shop for more and more caffeine to keep me going, it was becoming clear she wasn’tContinue reading “The Regulars of Amanda Lexie Part 7: George”
Book Review: Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
🖋 🖋🖋🖋🖋 This book is expertly written and I enjoyed every part of it—the humor, the foreshadowing, the red herrings, the playing on and pulling on expectations to subvert them. This is a master class in gritty comedy, and a beautiful example of how to use a genre to pull off one of the mostContinue reading “Book Review: Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson”
The Regulars of Amanda Lexie Part 6: Olivia
J. J. Hanna © 2023 5:45 AM. As usual, I was right on time. But for the first time in a long time, Amanda wasn’t the one who greeted me. That didn’t bode well. For as good as this coffee shop was at giving me exactly what I wanted exactly how I wanted it, thatContinue reading “The Regulars of Amanda Lexie Part 6: Olivia”
Humanity At Home
J. J. Hanna © 2023 The older I’ve gotten, the more at home I feel in coffee shops and cafes. There’s something distinctly comforting about the constant hums of machinery, the smells of freshly ground and brewed coffee beans, and the atmosphere of groups of strangers sharing intimate moments. The environment itself is welcoming, theContinue reading “Humanity At Home”
Short Story: A Very Pembrook Christmas
J. J. Hanna © 2021 Betty pushed through the front door, and I pushed my laptop off of my lap and ran to help her. Her arms were full of bags banging against the glass. “What did you do? Buy the whole store?” She smiled at him, her bright pink hair peeking out from underContinue reading “Short Story: A Very Pembrook Christmas”
J. J. Hanna, Author 