Posted by: Author | February 22, 2014

Dizziness and a New Cover

In 2012 for NaNoWriMo, I wrote a story that I had a title to for many years but hadn’t found the right story to use it with since it was such an awesome title (if I do say so myself). Anyway, after 2012 Nano, I let the story sit for a long time before I went back to clean it up. I got a request from an agent at RWA in Atlanta for it but it was ultimately turned down by her. I was kind of glad since she seemed to not “get” me even at the pitch session and I don’t think I’d want to work with her anyway.

Fast forward to Feb 3, 2014- I submitted it to my publisher, Sweet Cravings Publishing. On Feb 18, 2014, I got the acceptance stating that the e-book would be out in April (gasp) and print in October. I sent the contract back and rushed to do the cover questionnaire that night as it was already so close to April. I turned that in the evening of the 18th.

The next day, the 19th, at around 3:30, I got the edits! I love my editor there and she said there wasn’t much to fix. She also said, “OMG, best pet I’ve seen in a book yet.” LOL –

As I worked on the edits the evening of the 19th, here came an email with my draft cover! I was dizzy by then at the speed of the process. I mean, how crazy fast was this? The cover was perfect and pretty accurately reflected what I wanted on it as well as the story- down to the mockingbird on the title. AND it has the amazing Jimmy Thomas on it. So handsome. Check it out!

TequilaMockingbird_LRG

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Posted by: Author | February 21, 2014

Friday Fact- February 21, 2014- Happy Birthday

The only fact today is the fact that it’s Alan Rickman’s birthday! Happy day to one of the best actors of our age. He’s versatile in his work and is not only a superb actor, he’s also a fine writer and director. I hope he has a marvelous day. I’ll be watching one of his more obscure flicks to celebrate him. What will you do? Make a cake? Sing? Dance?

Alan-Rickman-alan-rickman-13116838-1000-1457

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Posted by: Author | February 19, 2014

Wordless Wednesday

tree 1tree

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Posted by: Author | February 17, 2014

Tuesday Tales- February 18, 2014- Meat

This week’s word for Tuesday Tales is meat. This one was interesting and easy to incorporate as I was writing a restaurant scene to set the local mood. I would have loved to use meathead in some way but it wasn’t in the cards even though I could have had her call the detective that name, right?

I’ve named this story Til Murder Do Us Part.

Don’t forget to check out the other stories here.
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Margot stalked out of the police station without stopping to talk to the arrogant detective’s supervisor. She wanted to with all her soul but after the last moments of the meeting with Richard Higgins, she realized that she could very well be in legal trouble herself with the methods she’d used to track Paul Murdock to Pensacola. It was hard for her not to report the man’s insubordination and rudeness but she needed to protect herself.

At a loss what to do next, she got in her car and drove away from the police station on Hayne Street and made her way to Cervantes Street and to The Coffee Cup. She’d grab a lunch special at the counter there and see if she could reach the investigator she’d hired to get his thoughts on her next move. She’d only been in town a few days but when a local recommended the diner to her, she ate there and loved it. Today she knew she would find the comfort foods of meat and potatoes it offered to be the perfect thing to ease her wounded pride. Wheeling in to the parking lot behind the place, she was surprised to find several local police cars there.

She got out of the car thinking it was probably a favorite lunch place for the cops since it was so close to the station. Shrugging, she went in and found a place at the counter to sit. There was a table near the door with four police officers seated there. She nodded at them as she sat. Yep, had to be a cop hangout.

Pulling out her phone, Margot inhaled the smell of the delicious food cooking. It was fried chicken day for sure since that was the aroma permeating the air. She ordered the special and while she waited, she sent a text message to her investigator to meet her after lunch at Plaza Ferdinand.

When she arrived at the grassy park on Palafox Street, Margot immediately noticed the investigator, Mike “Mitch” Mitchell seated on one of the benches facing an obelisk in the middle of the park. He was hard to miss since he wore a fedora as if he were a PI from the 1930s or something. It was an odd affectation but he was so good at his job Margot didn’t let it bother her.

Walking toward him, she watched as he fed a few pigeons that gathered around his feet. Why would he be feeding those rodents with wings? They carried all kinds of disease and she planned to set him straight on why he needed to stop encouraging them to be around people.

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Posted by: Author | February 14, 2014

Friday Fact- February 14, 2014- Shakespeare Sonnet and Jane Austen Hero

I’ve debated the question of who was the better Jane Austen hero between Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice and Colonel Brandon in Sense and Sensibility many times and a lot of people think I only side with the colonel because he was played by my darling Alan Rickman in the movie but that’s not it at all. Having read the books before seeing the movies, I can tell you that the colonel would hold first place in my heart no matter who played the role. Here’s why: He loved Marianne Dashwood in a sincere, true way. He was never cruel to her nor did he ever insult either her intelligence, her beauty or her family. Even when she was set on being with another man- a man he knew wasn’t good enough for her- the colonel’s devotion didn’t waver and he wished her well in her choice.

In the movie, Marianne is focused on Shakespeare’s sonnet 116 and she and Willoughby read it to each other and later, she recites it on the hill in the rain while overlooking his estate. I think it’s also the sonnet she makes Edward read at the beginning of the film (I haven’t watched in a while so I’m not 100% sure on that but I think so).alan-rickman-colonel-brandon-red

Anyway, if you read the sonnet below, you see it was the colonel who all along met Marianne’s requirement for love, not Willoughby- The colonel’s love was an “ever fixed mark”; it looked on tempests and was never shaken; and bore it out to the edge of doom.

I mean really, what could be more divine than to have a man love you like that?

SONNET 116

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no; it is an ever-fixed mark,
That looks on tempests, and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken.
Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle’s compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

Another fun thing to share today is something that would probably not be believed if written in a novel. One of my friends from high school has a birthday today- Valentine’s Day. Her maiden name was Flowers and her family owns a florist. You can’t make that up, can you?

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Posted by: Author | February 12, 2014

Wordless Wednesday

full moon

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Posted by: Author | February 10, 2014

Tuesday Tales- February 11, 2014- Heart

This week’s word prompt for Tuesday Tales is Heart. I’ve started a new story since I submitted the 1950s story last week to a publisher. This one is a contemporary and I am actually setting it in my hometown. Be sure to check out the other tales here. Badge for TT - very small

Miss Jenkins returned to her chair. “Ten years ago, my sister was found dead at her home lying at the bottom of the stairs. She lived in Reno with her husband and was supposedly happy in her marriage.”

“What was the official cause of death?” Richard was making notes in case the woman decided to report that he wasn’t paying her proper attention.

“The coroner said it was an accident.”

“And you don’t believe it?” Richard glanced up at her. She had an intense look on her face and seemed on the verge of tears. Great. He couldn’t stand it when they cried. That wasn’t completely true. After all, he did enjoy it when his questioning got so intense that he made a suspect confess or get teary but this was different. The lady seemed too fragile all of a sudden.

“I wasn’t entirely sold on the theory when it happened but since I wasn’t there, I didn’t get a chance to question it.”

“Why would you have been in a position to do that?”

“I’m a trained medical examiner. I actually don’t work in that field any longer but I did for a year or two after I got out of medical school.”

“So, how does this Reno ruling of accidental death get you to Pensacola and who was the next to die?”

“I’m getting to that. Would you please allow me to tell this in my own way?”

“Sure, lady, I have all day. Take your time. I mean, after all, there’s no other place I’d rather be than right here listening to you drag out this story for dramatic effect.” Richard knew by the look on her face that he’d probably gone too far with the sarcasm but couldn’t she get to the heart of the matter sooner rather than later? He tilted his chair onto its two back legs and tossed his pen to the table.

“You must be one of the rudest men I’ve ever met.” She stood. “I’m going to get someone else who will take me seriously.”

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Posted by: Author | February 7, 2014

Friday Facts- February 7, 2014- Happy Birthday Pinocchio

In 1883, Carlo Collodi wrote a children’s book called The Adventures of Pinocchio. Eventually, Walt Disney purchased the rights to make the story into a movie. This was his second animated feature film. His first was Snow White.

The film came out on February 7, 1940 and was the first animated feature film to win an academy award. It won two; one for Best Music- original score and one for Best Music- original song for When You Wish Upon a Star.

How convenient would it be if, in real life, when someone lies that their nose would grow? It’d sure make life easier for lawyers, wouldn’t it?

Wish on a star with me this Friday!

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Posted by: Author | February 5, 2014

Wordless Wednesday

0604

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Posted by: Author | February 3, 2014

Tuesday Tales – February 4, 2014- FIELD

This week’s word for Tuesday Tales is FIELD. I’m still in the 1950s era story and it now has a name: Flight Risk. My friend Shay Lacy sent me a list of titles and this one fit exactly.

Check out the other entries here.

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Around the time that Vivian decided that she and Mary Lou should return home since they were imposing on Annette and not really learning anything, Rocket came dashing in the door shouting his wife’s name. He skidded to a stop when he saw Vivian.

“What is it, Dwayne?” Annette asked.

“Rick’s been found. They’re transporting him to the hospital now.”

“Hospital?” Vivian stood, her hand over her mouth. Her heart soared. He must be alive or they wouldn’t be taking him to the hospital, would they?

“He’s a hard-headed old farm-boy but they think he’s going to be all right. He passed out from the altitude when he ejected but he was able to pull the cord on his chute before he blacked out. Rick knocked his noggin on the ground pretty hard and was disoriented when he woke. Some lady found him in her field and her husband carried him to their house and called the base after they heard about the crash on the radio. They’d been working the acreage and hadn’t known about the accident.”

Vivian collapsed on to the naugahyde sofa and burst into tears of relief. “Thank God, Thank God.”

“You really like him, huh?” Rocket sat beside Vivian and awkwardly patted her knee.

“I’m glad he’s going to make it. Thanks for telling us he’s going to be fine.” Vivian brushed off Dwayne’s hand. “We’ve imposed enough and need to go now.”

“Don’t you want to go to the hospital and see your man?” Dwayne asked.

“He’s not my man and it’s not my place to go.” Vivian turned to her sister. “We need to head home.” She looked at Annette. “Thanks for the tea and the company.”

“You’re kidding, right?” Mary Lou asked.

“No. Why would I be joking?”

“I’ve driven you all over the countryside today and now that we can actually see the man and make sure for ourselves that he’s alive, you want to go home? I don’t get you.”

“Like I said, it’s not my place to go to the hospital.”

“I don’t care what you said. I’m taking you.” Mary Lou grabbed Vivian’s upper arm. “Now, someone tell me where the base hospital is.”

“Come on. I’ll take you. He’ll have to be checked out by the flight surgeon.” Annette’s husband held his out his hand.

“I really don’t think I can do this.” Now that she knew Rick was safe, Vivian was ready to walk away. Yes, she cared for the man but she knew now better than ever that she couldn’t be with a man who risked his life every day in the air. Today had been one of the worst days of her life and she couldn’t bear to go through it again.

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