Posted by: Author | June 23, 2014

Tuesday Tales- June 24, 2014- Ride

This week’s word prompt is ride. I am still working on the new story with no name. I have to think of one soon as I can’t stand not having at least a semblance of a title. I am calling it the rock and roll story and that is silly.  Be sure to check out the other writers and their use of the word ride here. Badge for TT - very small

“What kind of work does she do?” Paul glanced at his watch as another group of people entered the bar area. Almost show time. He needed to focus. Forget the woman.

“You’re sure curious about her, but like I said, bro, she seems to have sworn off men. I don’t know what the former husband did to her but it must have been some kind of wicked mumbo-jumbo since she’s pretty hands off when it comes to men.”

“I just think she’s hot.”

“Right. I got ya but word of warning. Don’t get your hopes up.” Amos stared out at the audience. “Not many have come out in this weather but I’m staying open so if you want to play, feel free.”

Paul snorted a laugh. “I see your guy over there taking in the cover charge so I think I better play. I’d hate for you to have to return those fees.”

“Hey, you’re the one who volunteered to put on a show. I merely put the word out that the man who usually gets at least a hundred dollars a ticket would be playing in his old buddy’s place this weekend.”

“Then let’s do it. Time to take these folks on a ride. Give me two minutes and I’ll be ready for the first song.”

“What are you leading with?” Amos asked as he stepped downstage.

“Wait and see.” Paul grinned, picked up his Gibson Les Paul maple topped electric guitar and adjusted the strap over his shoulder. He strummed the strings before plugging into the amp. He’d recently installed some new humbucking pickups to the instrument and was ready to test them on an audience. This set of pickups was supposed to suppress more of the hum from all amps and other equipment on the stage. He was skeptical about that claim but he was willing to try.

“You always were the secretive type.” Amos left the stage.

Paul watched his friend move around in the crowd and greet some of the audience.

In a few moments, Amos glanced over at Paul and slightly tilted his head as if to ask a question.

In response, Paul nodded then struck the first chord of the first song of the night. Something about a place called Katmandu. He snickered to himself and wondered if that was subtle enough for Amos.

Posted by: Author | June 20, 2014

Guest Post- Jami Gray

Sharing my friend, Sherry’s post. I broke my elbow and it’s hard to type so no Friday Fact today. Sorry.

Author's avatarRamblings of a Writer

I have a special guest today. She is Jami Gray and is another author at Black Opal Books. She’s got a great post for us today- including some cool research she did for her books. Enjoy!

Jami Gray

RESEARCH HAS SHOWN WRITERS NEED RESEARCH…

 “Research is formalized curiosity.”  Zora Neele Hurston, author of Their Eyes Were Watching

One of the most enjoyable aspects of being a writer is research. Sounds strange? Only if you’re thinking research has to be dry and boring, equating it with college or high school papers. For me, I’m all about the unusual and scary, it’s why I write Urban Fantasy or Paranormal Romantic Suspense.  I’m constantly asking, “what if?

When I first sat down to write my Urban Fantasy series, The Kyn Kronicles, my research focused on mythology, namely European mythology. Fascinating cast of characters over yonder. You think our modern day soap operas get…

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Posted by: Author | June 18, 2014

Wordless Wednesday

june 16

Posted by: Author | June 16, 2014

Tuesday Tales- June 17, 2014- Father

This week’s word is Father– I guess because it’s just past Father’s Day- I am not using the word in that way at all but I am using it since I am totally a rule-follower.  This is my new story I started last week.  It is still nameless.  Be sure to check out the other stories here. 

Badge for TT - very small

 

The woman shoved one of the men with her and said, “Cut it out, Summa. You’re insane.”

The sound of her voice was mesmerizing. She could not be real. Her laugh was infectious and almost Paul’s undoing. He needed to get a grip. The concert was due to start soon and he couldn’t be up here onstage like some sick puppy all moony-eyed over some chick. It was a bit disconcerting to realize he was now in the position of some of the groupies who followed him around begging for an autograph or a picture. He could be a groupie for this woman for sure.

Amos stepped on to the stage. “You all tuned up?”

Paul did a double take. “All tuned up?” Could Amos tell he was hot for that girl? Surely not. It can’t be that obvious, can it?

Snapping his fingers in front of Paul’s face, Amos said, “What’s wrong with you? You came over to make sure your instruments were ready and now you’ve gone off into la-la land.”

“Holy father of rock and roll, who’s that blonde chick?”

Amos glanced at the crowd by the door who were still jostling each other and getting dry from the storm. “Oh, her? That’s Kat McKay.”

“She’s pretty hot, isn’t she?”

“Yeah, she’s not only cute, she’s brilliant but don’t get your hopes up.”

“Figures a gal like that is taken. Perfect little package there,” Paul strummed a few notes on the acoustic guitar on his lap.

“Na. She’s not taken but every dude in the joint wants to date her. She’s not interested though.”

“No way she’s not heterosexual. Man, what a waste for mankind if she likes women.” Paul’s stomach fell to his feet. No way. He wouldn’t believe it.

Amos threw his head back and laughed until Paul thought he’d bust a gut.

Posted by: Author | June 15, 2014

Interview and Giveaway

I am a guest today at Happily Ever After Thoughts and am giving away an e-copy of Tequila Mockingbird to one lucky commenter. Pop over and say hello!  LINK

 

TequilaMockingbird_LRG

Posted by: Author | June 13, 2014

Beatles Sculpture in Arkansas

I bet you didn’t know there’s a sculpture of the Beatles in a small town in Arkansas called Walnut Ridge.  It seems the Beatles landed at the airport there in September, 1964 and then moved on to a dude ranch in Missouri for a weekend getaway.

There are a couple of things about this that make me smile. One of the biggest is the picture in my head of these guys on a dude ranch – it seems a bit incongruous to me- 4 British guys pretending to be cowboys. I bet they had a blast.

The other thing that makes me smile about it is that even though it’s not a secret that they were there, it is kind of cool that they were able to keep it on the down low and it’s still a bit obscure in their history. The fact that the Fab Four were in the United States at a dude ranch when every girl in America wanted to mob them and they were able to keep it quiet is awesome!

The sculpture itself was made of heavy steel by Danny West of Walnut Ridge and it is a model of the Abbey Road album cover pose.  Check out this article for more information. 

from City of Walnut Ridge Website- photographer unknown to this blogger

from City of Walnut Ridge Website- photographer unknown to this blogger

 

Posted by: Author | June 11, 2014

Wordless Wednesday

I am not going to be wordless today as I am guest blogging at Lace Daltyn’s blog.  Actually, I guess I am wordless as it’s not me talking since the hero of Tequila Mockingbird high jacked the post. Go over and give him a hard time for me, okay? LINKIMG_0509

Posted by: Author | June 9, 2014

Tuesday Tales- June 10, 2014- Picture Prompt

Badge for TT - very small

I have started a new story and it has no name at the moment. These are the first new words I have written (other than editing/polishing old stuff and back cover blurbs) in over a month. I have been under a lot of stress in the day job and have had zero inclination to write so I am very glad to have new words to share.  The picture this month is one I really enjoyed working with.  Check out the other stories here.10155148_10203103868576415_2691957351662530606_n

“That’s some wicked looking sky up there. I sure hope it doesn’t mean power outages. It’s a bit difficult to play an electric guitar with nothing to plug in to.” Paul Baker glanced out into the distance from the where he and his friend Amos stood watching storm clouds gather over the landscape.

“You can always skip those songs that need amps and electronics and play some older ones that use an acoustic guitar.” Amos sniffed the air. “Yep, that’s going to be what my grandma always called a gully-washer. I can smell the rain in those clouds and when I can scope it out from this distance, it’s really going to be a storm to remember.”

“The weather service didn’t mention rain at all today, much less some kind of supernatural phenomenon like you’re talking about.”

“You know you can’t count on the weathermen. They have no idea what they’re doing.”

“Don’t let your sister the meteorologist hear you say that. You could lose a limb.” Paul stretched his arm to reach out from under the overhang and rubbed his fingers together. “Feel the dampness in the air. I imagine the bottom is going to fall out in a few minutes.”

“You’re probably right. I guess we have to hope for the best and that it all blows over before we open tonight.”

“If it’s as bad as your old nose and grandma’s wisdom dictate, I think we should go ahead and take shelter in the basement. If you’re right, we could be down there for a while. Might be best to go ahead and make the announcement that I’ll be playing another day. No sense in endangering the public.”

“You’re that sure they’d come out to see you in the apocalypse?”

“They would come.” Paul grinned.

“Cocky much?”

 

 

Posted by: Author | June 6, 2014

D-Day on My Mind- Or Operation Overlord

from historybyzim site

from historybyzim site

This is the post I had on Over the Backyard Fence on Wednesday and I thought it would be good to share over here as well since it is D-Day today.

Author's avatarOver The Backyard Fence

Jillian here:  I’ve been thinking this week about the 70th anniversary of D-Day (June 6) which we all know was the beginning of the end of the Second World War in Europe. I have a dear friend who was there and he is getting more elderly as all those veterans are. It saddens me to think how they will all be gone before we know it.

I am glad that longevity seems to be on the rise. So many of these wonderful veterans would already be gone if the former numbers were still true. It used to be that living to be in your late 70s was considered a long life. Now we have so many who live into their 90s and even into the 100s that we are blessed to be able to listen to their personal experiences for longer and people who may have never been able to…

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Posted by: Author | June 4, 2014

Wordless Wednesday- June 4, 2014

baby

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