Monthly Archives: May 2026

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N. Slater – Rope Me Down

My latest read is Rope Me Down by N. Slater, a MMMMM Rancher novel.

Abandoned by the side of the highway by his boyfriend, Ash is rescued by his boyfriend’s father, Boone, and taken back to the ranch where most of the family lives. Ash can’t deny his attraction to Boone and his boyfriend’s three brothers, something he has been trying to suppress for months. Offered two weeks of being taken care of, in every sense, by the four men, Ash can’t say no. A wild sex filled two weeks wait for him, but at the end, will he stay?

“Tell me I’ve been imagining this for two years and I’ll say goodnight and we never talk about it again.”

N. Slater has some gorgeous writing in this one. I could definitely feel the emotions of the characters coming through. The sex scenes are numerous, but varied enough to keep things fresh. What I loved about this book is that no matter how kinky the sex got consent, and enthusiastic consent, was king. This book is about a character getting out of a string of shitty relationships and finding out what real love looks like. Ash is made not to feel smaller, but to feel welcomed and encouraged to take up space in the lives of the others.

Definitely check it out.

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Snipes

Another cryptid that I would love to see get some presence in books about the supernatural is the snipe. There are two types of cryptids that are referred to as snipes. One, most commonly found in throughout North America, and the other specific to Arkansas.

I will preface this by saying that there is a real type of bird called a snipe, but this is not what I’m talking about.

The snipe that is hunted in the forests of North America varies in description based on the tall tale of that area. In some places a snipe is a small mammal like a cat or a raccoon. In others it is a bird or a deer like creature. Some describe it like a mix between a jackalope and a squirrel. In all cases the snipe is an illusive creature that must be hunted in a group. The group goes out into the forest together, deep enough to be away from the light of houses or camp. One person is designated to hold the bag and make the ‘snipe call’ while the rest of the party spreads out to flush the animal out. And then the practical joke or hazing ritual part hits and the person with the bag is often abandoned. The practical joke is popular in rural areas and at summer camps. A group of initiated kids (or adults) take the newcomer(s) into the woods and leave them there. Alternately, someone might ‘catch’ the snipe and pretend as if the bag was moving, only for it to explode out of the bag and escape before it can be seen.

My own experience with snipes was a bit different. Growing up in rural PA, I learned about snipes first through my uncle. However, our snipe hunt wasn’t a simple walk in the woods, but a romp arounds the countryside on four wheelers hunting for snipes. Needless to say, we never caught one.

The Arkansas snipe, also known as a Sketeroo, is a giant mosquito-like insect creature that has been known to eat horses and cows whole.

While the snipe is often presented as a practical joke, it could easily be used in a book as a cryptid. The fact that the description varies means that a snipe can be whatever small forest creature you want it to be. It could even be an invisible animal, or one only visible by certain light of the moon. If you include a snipe hunt, you could have the characters catch one or fail to catch one. If caught, there is the potential for all sorts of shenanigans. The potential is endless.