Tag: writing

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….”

What trouble will Paula and Cassie get into on their road trip? There’s only one way to find out.

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!

Scout’s Honor Publishing

One of the sweetest surprises associated with self publishing was discovering that I got to create a name for my own publishing company. When my editor, Rachel Carrera told me to start thinking of a name for my enterprise I jotted down several possible titles, including “Scout’s Honor,” for our recently deceased cat, Scout, but thought I’d go with “Praying for Eyebrowz” in keeping with my blog’s title.

Then I spoke with my daughter, Ashley. When I told her about getting to christen my publishing company the first words out of her mouth were, “Scout’s Honor.” And that sealed it.

Scout was my co-writer, but died before we published.

For Christmas, Ashley had a friend design a logo for me. I cried when I first saw it. Studly Doright cried when he held it.

My photo doesn’t do it justice.

Now for a shameless attempt to encourage you to buy my book if you haven’t already:

Peace, people!

A Toast

I’m drinking a toast to everyone who has supported me by purchasing my book. You all are THE BEST! If you haven’t yet bought Mayhem at the Happy Valley Motor Inn and Resort, I can make this toast retroactive. It’s a skill that very few people have.

Please note that my smile, while awkward, is genuine. My fake smile is much worse.

Peace, people.

Another Lovely Review

Just when I was feeling a little blue, the lovely Lesley Kluchin (LesleyKluchin.Wordpress.com) gave my book, Mayhem at the Happy Valley Motor Inn and Resort, a wonderful review on Amazon:

(Blushing!)

Thank you, Lesley, for making my day!

Peace, and happy reading, people!

First Review of Mayhem!

My first book has its first review on Amazon!

Thanks to Deb, at “I am, therefore I write,” for submitting a review of Mayhem at the Happy Valley Motor Inn and Resort!

Check this out:

I have to admit I cried a couple of happy tears over this. Thank you, Deb!

You can find Deb’s blog at dstecca.wordpress.com. She’s so worth a follow!

Peace, people!

Mayhem in Paperback!

As soon as I hit publish on my last blog post, I received an email from Amazon saying that Mayhem at the Happy Valley Motor Inn and Resort is available in paperback!

Since I featured the front cover in the last post, here’s the back cover. Rachel Carrera designed these and I couldn’t be happier with them. She did an absolutely wonderful job.

Peace, people!

Has Anyone Seen My Brain?

For a variety of reasons I’ve been unable to sleep for the past three.nights. Since I’m retired, and my book is finished, that shouldn’t be such a big deal. I mean, what do I really have to do each day? Nothing. That’s what.

Except that uploading the book to Kindle Direct Publishing needed a sharp mind, and due to a lack of sleep, my mind seems to be missing. My poor friend, editor, confidante, and Kindle expert extraordinaire, Rachel Carrera, was stuck with me all afternoon as I fumbled and stumbled and basically made a mess of things until she carefully guided me to a successful resolution.

If all goes well, my very first book, Mayhem at the Happy Valley Motor Inn and Resort, should be available on Kindle within the next 72 hours or less. Even without a brain I might finally be a published author!

Peace, people!

So Close…

We’re getting ready to publish my first book! Maybe not next week, but the next, Mayhem at the Happy Valley Motor Inn and Resort will be available on Amazon. Just in time for Christmas.

I’m pretty excited.

Peace, people!

Writing Anxiety

This list made me anxious. Does that make me a writer?

Peace, people!

The One About the Time I Forgot to Save my Edits

I had big plans for yesterday. Before I settled down to continue working on writing the sequel to Mayhem at the Happy Valley Motor Inn and Resort, I was going to tidy up the most recent edits for chapters 21-30 in that original manuscript.

It had taken me two painstaking days to get the chapters fleshed out and whittled down and, in some cases, exorcised, and I planned to spend some time looking at spacing between paragraphs and sentences. Making sure there were no orphans or widows lurking about—even though those really won’t be a concern until it’s time to publish.

It wouldn’t take me long, I thought, and soon I could be delving into the continued stories of my characters in and around Happy Valley.

But, if you read the title you’ll understand that instead of tidying up, I was redoing all the editing I’d already done because I didn’t save any of it! Grrr. Thankfully, it went faster this time. I remembered most of the changes I’d made using my editor’s guidelines. And now it’s triple saved, just in case.

Some days I think I’ve wasted too much time on this novel writing enterprise. What if my debut novel is awful and nobody wants to read it? That’s a looming possibility. But then I think, “Goofball, what else would you have done with your life these past few months?” and I shrug and keep working,

Almost irrelevant photo.

Peace, people!