Just a rant

 Just about the time I bury the whole AI crap in the basement of my mind, something else pops up that sets me off. So, yay, the EU decided all AI content has to be flagged...whatever. Anthropic decides they're going to watermark anything that uses Claude. Well good freakig hoorah for them. Just the word ANTHROPIC makes me lose my ever-loving mind. Why are those thieves still in business is the first question I have. Those azzhats STOLE thousands of pieces of work to train their freaking AI system...my entire backlist. While we aren't talking about hundreds of my stories, we are talking about MY ENTIRE BACKLIST. I have words for them that I can't type in a public forum, so moving on. 

If you google something for a fact-finding or research mission, the first answers are supplied by, yep, AI. If you use a spelling or grammar checker while writing, you're using, yep, AI. So far, I haven't found a search engine that doesn't give an AI response as the first option. Admittedly, I've only tried google and brave, but I have a couple more stashed...somewhere.  How are writers going to get around that? Don't search anything? Don't use a spelling or grammar checker? Yeah, right. I can only imagine how terrible any draft of my work would appear...shiver.

Then let's look at the writing itself. Yeah, ok. Most readers, from the sofa reader to the contest judge, to the publishing house editor, have little clue if it's AI or not. I've been told that the consensus is that em dashes are a sign of AI. Really now...and here I was taught an em dash is used for emphasis. I use it religiously, and I'm not going to stop. Same with the Oxford comma. Sorry, but I went to school in the 60s and 70s...that's the 1960s/1970s and it's always been and always will be red, white, and blue. Don't like it? Too bad. But a reader's likes, and/or dislikes doesn't make it AI. And then the clichés...not sure how to tell anyone this, but I've now written 23 stories and I can guarantee you that in each one of those stories, long or short, at one time or another, I have used the phrase "he/she looked at me like I'd grown a second head"  Clichéd? Well, yeah. Do I care? That'd be a NO. It's a cliche because it was often used, and easily understood. Same with the other ones -- he/she whispered against my ear/lips  -- whichever. Am I going to stop using what to me are common phrases? NO. And the final one -- OMG head hopping is AI. Um, no. It's not. Not in any way, shape or form. Ever read a category romance? Ever read any early Nora? So, that bs gem can be shoved in a dark place. 

What gets me is that the AI checkers were created by AI. How do I know if that "teacher" AI was taught using MY MATERIAL or not? I don't. So...phhhpppttt.

If the EU already implemented their AI flag crap, how long before the same is done in the US or North America in general? No idea. 

At this point in time, I'll turn off Grammarly and go back to using any one or more of my thousands of dollars in research tomes for date/fact checking. Other than that, I'm just going to keep keeping on and screw it. I'll keep writing my stories just like I always have...stepping out into the void without a parachute, while praying for a soft landing, thanks.

I swear, if it's not one thing, it's 100 other ones.

 

Oh my ~ makes me happy

 

Viking romance isn't exactly the right category, but very kewl anyways. So happy to see this, since I haven't been on the bestseller list since big brother Elrik's story came out. You go, Edan, keep up the good work.

Release Day ~ YAYYYYY ~ sort of

 Happy/sad release day for The Warrior's Rescued Bride -- it's the last story in my Warrior Wolves series and last book for Harlequin Historical. 

A forced-proximity, second-chance Medieval romance

The warrior’s mission:

rescue his first love!

The King can order Edan of Roul to rescue Lady Amice but, years after she jilted him on their wedding eve, Edan doesn’t have to like it. Though he embarks on the dangerous journey to bring the stubborn beauty to safety, Edan must resist the undying pull between them…

When her loved ones were threatened, Amice fled her betrothal to protect Edan. Now reunited, she still sees pain, anger—and desire—burning in his eyes. Telling him the truth will only stoke the fire that once consumed them… And with battle approaching, can they risk everything to make the vows they always intended?

                                                                                    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

While Edan is the 3rd brother, yep, he's the last book. His story was one of those that just appeared, fully formed, because of a song I heard on the radio while gardening. While I adore those stories, they also make me nervous because I didn't have to mull them over, so the brain plays the "what did I do wrong here, or here, or there?". Meaning I had to give it time to ripened. LOL.  The song -- Words By Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus. 

Available everywhere Harlequin Historicals are sold -- or check Purchase Links Here:  

BOOKS 2 READ

I hope you like Edan's story.  

New Playlist

 I can't write without a playlist. Yeah, odd, I know, but silence just makes my brain go blank. I need music, and it has to be music I know by heart, because I sing along...yes, while I'm writing. Took all night, but I managed to put one together, for now and thought I'd share.

It's on YouTube, and that link is:  Denise Lynn Writing Playlist Feb. 2026   . Hopefully, it works.

As you can see, by the listing below, I do have rather varied likes when it comes to music... 

Castle Walls – STYX – Currently writing contemporary, but my heart and soul are still in the 12^th century, so why not start the playlist out with a song about Castle Walls?

I Like The Remix – New Kids On The Block – First time I heard this, the “…guitar…I like the new you…” made me stop and think – “I know that voice” …Then the refrain “I like the remix, baby” had me shaking my head, “Nooo…that sounds like Danny Reagan” LOLOLOL, snorkel. So, of course, I had to go searching when I got home. Who knew Danny Reagan could sing? Not I.  Yeah, big duh. In my defense, it was just a couple of years ago, so I was in my 60s and listening to country for the most part…NKOTB weren’t exactly in my music library.

Ring of Fire – Homefree - I adore Tim and Avi

Change On The Rise – Avi Kaplan - yeah, more Avi

Sound of Silence – Disturbed – David is such a talented marshmallow (mind you, I love badass marshmallows to bits, married one), just blows my mind level of talent.

Perfect – Ed Sheeran – “theme” song for Rory in The Warrior’s Bride Alliance. Rory and Gillian might not have known each other forever, but they were ‘perfect’ for each other.

Words by Heart – Billy Ray Cyrus – “theme” song for Edan in The Warrior’s Rescued Bride (March Harl. Hist. release – Feb 24, 2026). She did send him a ‘Dear John’ letter/missive, the night before their wedding, and then ran away. He was crushed, and five years later, when he was tasked with rescuing her, he still remembered every word of that missive.  When I heard this song on the local radio station, while gardening, the entire story formed itself almost instantly. I love it when that happens, hope the readers do, too.

Footloose final dance – please, Kevin…nuff said.

I Can’t Dance - Genesis – love Phil Collins in any incarnation.

Good As I Was To You – Lorrie Morgan…there’s a story brewing in the background here

We’ve Got Tonight – Seger

Angel of the Morning – Juice Newton – her voice has always impressed me

 You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth – Meat Loaf – what’s a playlist without Meat Loaf? To me, not a playlist.

Two out of Three Ain’t Bad – Meat Loaf – just one of those nights

When You Say Nothing At All – Alison Krauss – just because

How Can I Help You Say Goodbye – Patty Loveless – had to have a tear-jerker in there somewhere

Something in Red – Lorrie Morgan – I like those whole stages of life thing. I think all of us have one of those moments at some point in time.

Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers – love his voice, and this one whisks me back decades to when I was young, stupid, and uncertain.

I Can’t Make You Love Me – Bonnie Raitt – another one of those…there’s something here I can use…songs

The Rose – Conway Twitty – just a personal fave

Seasons In the Sun – Terry Jacks – I swear, if I were going to have a funeral (I’m not), this would be the song playing.

Unwritten – Natasha Bedingfield – my theme song. ”…the pen’s in my hand, ending unplanned…” oh, yeah, that moment arrives, Every. Single. Time.

Who I Am – Jessica Andrews – yeah, that’s who I am. Too bad it took almost 7 decades to figure it out.

In The Air Tonight – Phil Collins…it’s Phil, I mean, come on…Phil

Have You Ever Seen the Rain – CCR  -  Every once in a while, I need to be reminded of the late 60s/early 70s and first crushes, this’ll do it. CCR or Rare Earth playing brings back old memories of a tall, lanky blonde trombone player who sat directly across from me in band. Long gone now, but he and his trombone will always live in my mind as a young heartbreaker, already a master of that heavy-lidded stare, well-timed deep husky whispers, and endearing smirky smiles by the time we were in JR High. LOL. RIP sweetie

The Night Chicago Died – Paper Lace – always did like this song, the beat, the intro slides…

Renegade – Styx – March 3, 1979, outskirts of Chicago.  Alice Cooper was on stage at the arena behind the motel, steam rolling out of the partially cracked open bathroom door, along with the only light, Old Spice scented the air. This was on the radio. I was so freaking nervous that I swear every second of every sight, sound, and scent was burned into my brain for all time. By the time this tune hit its stride, I was ready to jump out of my skin. God, to be young and insanely in love/lust again.

Almost Goodbye – Mark Chestnut -  and yet, another one of those …there’s something here I can use…songs

Can I Trust You With My Heart – Travis Tritt – one of those ‘something I can use’ songs, that I’m actually using right now in a Christmas story. We’ll see how that works out.

Half Enough – Lorrie Morgan – an artist I like a lot

I Told You So – Randy Travis – We saw Randy eons ago opening for KT Oslin.  Oh, he was so nervous, I don’t think he moved half a centimeter during his entire set, frozen stiff but so cute and damn, that voice.

You’ll Be in My Heart – Phil Collins – uh huh, Phil

Dust In the Wind – Kansas  - Yeah, I know this has been redone, but it’s another oldie that I liked then and still do.

I’d Do Anything For Love – Meat Loaf – I’m pretty sure it’s just a case of needing a Meat Loaf fix tonight, because I could have filled this playlist with many more

I Want To Know What Love Is – Foreigner – don’t we all?

More Than A Feeling – Boston – another one that stands the test of time

Smoky Mountain Rain – Ronnie Milsap – Milsap has a really nice voice, and if I ever left the hubster, hopefully he’d think of this immediately because that’s where I’d be, although God only knows on what trail. Well, I’m positive he wouldn’t have to look on either the Chimney Trail or Clingman’s Dome. LOLOLOL. Yeah, those days are in the rearview mirror.  Now, Arch Rock or Alum Cave are still a possibility. Maybe. Depending on the mood of the day, but I always did enjoy watching the goofy chipmunks.  Laurel Falls, or Sugarlands, would be more my speed at the moment. However, it’s more likely I would be up at Newfound Gap, or at a patio table at Friday’s (Since the Hard Rock relocated down the road and PF isn’t much to my taste) or on a stool at Bennett’s in the bar.  

I Wouldn’t Have Missed It For The World – Ronnie Milsap – oh, so true

Watch Me – Lorrie Morgan

Misty Mountains – Peter Hollens and Tim Foust – Peter and Tim, nice duo, and since I started the list out with castles, thought I should end it with something medieval-ish…

 Now, perhaps the writing will go a little easier. Here's hoping!

  

Just playing around

 Decided to give AuthorScale a try out...interesting....no sound, that's ok, I was just testing the AI input and editing features for right now....well obviously it's geared for tiktok...duh, wonder if I can resize it...

Hmm, well interesting if nothing else. I'll just keep playing. LOL.