Is there a twelve step program for people addicted to Hallmark and Lifetime Christmas movies? Asking for someone near and dear to me.
Could we turn this into a drinking game?
Peace, people.
Christmas Movie Dependency
Month: December 2020
The Other Leslie Noyes
The Noyes surname isn’t exactly a common one, at least not in the Texas panhandle where I was raised. And my given name, Leslie, has never once been featured in the top ten baby names for infant girls. Trust me, I checked. So, when I came across a Leslie Noyes on Facebook, my first thought was, “Is that me?”
But since I go by Leslie Hall Noyes on Facebook, I realized it must be some other awesome person with my name. And I was right! The other Leslie Noyes is incredibly awesome.
For many months we kind of danced around each other on Facebook, trading niceties and observations. I was so relieved to discover that the other Leslie Noyes and I shared progressive political views. After becoming better acquainted we also discovered we shared a birth year and a convergence of important dates. My anniversary and her birthday fall on the same day. So cool.
Like me, the other Leslie Noyes is also a writer. Her book, Willing, isn’t due to be released until March 22, 2021, but because we share a name and have become friends through Facebook, I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC—Advanced Reader Copy. I’m not going to lie; that made me feel extra special.
Another thing I’m not going to lie about is just how good Willing is. For four days I was held spellbound by this book, and when I reached the end, I felt bereft. How was I supposed to go on now that the book’s heroine, Lizbeth Silver, was no longer in my life?
Lizbeth has had her heart broken, not once, but twice. Understandably, she isn’t eager to go through the anguish of allowing heartache into her life again, so being an intelligent, sensible woman, Lizbeth crafts a list of rules for future relationships in which mind-blowing sex is key, while emotional entanglements are not. Just how well do her rules hold up in the real world? You’ll need to read Willing to find out.
Willing is sexy (I’m talking sizzling) and sophisticated. The dialogue is witty, and the other Leslie Noyes is so adept at describing people and places that I felt as if I knew every character personally and had visited each setting while on a wonderful vacation to Vermont and points beyond.
As I read I kept thinking of Willing as a coming of age story, but not one with teenaged protagonists. Who says only young people can experience the revelations of life and love?
I’ll post about Willing again when the book is published in March. But keep it on your radar. It’s fun, sexy, sophisticated, and did I mention sexy? There are several chapters I need to reread, for research purposes, you know. Be sure to check out Leslie’s author page at LeslieNoyesAuthor.com.
Peace, people!
Restless for Romance
For many years I worked on writing a novel. I started at least ten years ago when, out of nowhere, this crazy title, Mayhem at the Happy Valley Motor Inn and Resort, popped into my head as I sat drinking a glass of wine in front of our home in Illinois. My initial thought was, “cool.” My second thought was, “I think I need more wine.”
And so it went for several years. The title would nag at me, but I had no idea what was supposed to happen in the book. Was it a romance? A mystery? What kind of mayhem might ensue? Perpetrated by whom? I’d sit down at my computer to write, manage a couple of sentences, and then go back for more wine. Still, that title wouldn’t leave me alone.
Then the main character’s name came to me. Something awful had happened in Paula Jean Arnett’s life and she was left with doubts about her husband and their marriage. With this revelation I was able to begin my story, and before too long I’d written 20,000 words. Cool, right?
Wrong. My characters stalled out at a dinner party. They wouldn’t shut up and I was petrified by the thought of throwing away a large chunk of the words I’d written. So I put the story aside and let it flit around the corners of my mind.
It kept flitting around, occasionally getting me to pull out my computer in an attempt to move the story along. I finally deleted the whole dinner party scene after realizing I could store it in another file for future use. Thank goodness for computers and word processing software.
After Studly Doright and I moved to Havana, Florida, I had a burst of new interest in finishing Mayhem, but still couldn’t quite make the commitment to go all in. I began writing this blog and gained some confidence in my own skills. I found a generous audience in my readers and found similar stories to mine. There are many would-be authors out there.
Then in the spring of 2020, just before COVID-19 shut stuff down, I took an Ollie course on writing at Florida State. While we didn’t get to complete the course, the instructor gave me a figurative kick in the pants, and within a few months Mayhem was truly out of my head and onto the published page.
Between the time I completed Mayhem and the time it was ready to be published I became restless. I wondered if I could write another book—something short and sweet and fun. Lo and behold, I did.
As I type this, my romance, The Cowboy and the Executive, is in the hands of Rachel Carrera, the lovely woman who guided me through editing and publishing Mayhem and designed the cover. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with for Cowboy.
Yeehaw and peace, people!
I Spy…Mayhem!
One of my favorite Tallahassee bookstores, aptly named “My Favorite Books,” stocks both new and used books with a special section featuring local authors. Imagine my delight to find my first novel, Mayhem at the Happy Valley Motor Inn and Resort displayed on the store’s shelves! It was quite a rush.
Here’s hoping these copies go to good homes where they’ll be nice and warm on these cold winter nights.
Peace, people!
And Now a Word from Our Sponsor
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Possible side effects include, but are not limited to: A sudden urge to go fishing, the need to dispense with all your buried secrets, an intense interest in juggling, and a tendency to fidget.
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Ignore the possible side effects and treat yourself to a little vacation at the Happy Valley Motor Inn and Resort. All the cool kids are going to be there.
Peace, people!
Merry Christmas to You (and You and You)
Having a cup of coffee on this chilly Christmas morning before I switch to mimosas. Coffee to wake up; mimosas to relax me enough to cook. It’s not a precise science, but I’m willing to take that risk.
Merry Christmas to you and to those you love. I hope this day finds you safe and warm and healthy. I love you all.
Peace, and love, people.
Long Awaited Sequel to Cat in the Hat
We’re calling it “Cat in the Lap.” It’s a simple tale of a contented cat staking out her territory on a cold, rainy winter day. That’s it. No chaos. Just peace.
Peace, people!
The Christmas Spirit
The stockings aren’t hung
Because a new cat lives here
The tree goes untrimmed
Because a new cat lives here
Baby Jesus isn’t in the manger
Because a new cat lives here
Do you think Santa will find us?
No. Because a new cat lives here.
Heartwarming Tale
Okay, so this tale doesn’t have anything to do with a German shepherd rescuing a baby from a submerged vehicle or a grandmother getting a surprise call from her long estranged only grandson, but to this newly published author hearing “I dreamed I was having a conversation with your characters” is pretty special.
I’ve been having conversations with my characters, Paula and Cassie, in my dreams for months now, so it’s nice to know they’re populating the dreams of others.
Here’s a little snippet:
Paula turned off the radio mid-song. “Tell me the story of why Cal called me Goldilocks”
Cassie’s eyes twinkled. “You know darned good and well why.”
“I know. I just need to hear it today.”
Cassie shifted in her seat. “The fishing guys came up with it. Cal, Delbert, Mel, and someone else, I can’t remember who, went fishing right after you two got married. Cal couldn’t stop talking about you. Everything you did was just right. Finally, Delbert or Mel, one of the two, said, ‘Sounds like you found yourself a Goldilocks. Everything is always just right.’ Cal thought that was hilarious and started calling you that. The name stuck.”
Paula shook her head. “I still can’t imagine what it was he thought I was doing right.”
Cassie rolled her eyes. “C’mon now Goldilocks, even you can’t be that innocent.”
A rosy blush covered Paula’s cheeks. “Oh my gosh! Surely Cal didn’t talk to the guys about—you know—sex!”
“Probably not, but then again, men will be men….”
If you’ve purchased my book, thank you!!! If you haven’t, what’s holding you back? Mayhem at the Happy Valley Motor Inn and Resort has gotten some terrific reviews on Amazon. A couple of them are even from people I don’t know….
Peace, people!
Mammogram? Yes, Ma’am
Today’s the day for my annual mammogram. Every now and then I’ll read some woman’s account of how painful a mammogram can be. I’ve heard that some women even refuse to have one because they’ve been told how excruciating the procedure is.
Well, I’m here to tell you that a mammogram caught my cancer at a very early stage. Following a lumpectomy I only had to have six weeks of radiation. I shudder to think what might have been the outcome had I not been a big believer in annual mammograms.
Do mammograms hurt? Not really. They’re a bit uncomfortable, but nothing compared to the pain following the double mastectomy one might have to endure if a cancerous growth goes undetected for too long. Just do it, friends. If nothing else, pretend you’re doing a photo shoot for Playboy. Yes, I have a warped imagination—and two healthy breasts.
Peace, people.
Praying for Eyebrowz 