by Sarah | Mar 1, 2014 | Books, Holiday, WeWriWa, Writing
Welcome back to the Weekend Writing Warriors!
While I’m sad to leave behind Changing Tracks for my Sunday 8’s…I’m happy to be bringing you bits of another story. This is from my contemporary Holiday’s in Lake Point series. This book is, clearly, my Valentine’s Day story.
Michaela, 31, runs a fair-themed restaurant called The Midway. In over her head, she’s put out an ad for an assistant manager. Who shows up to apply for the position is not who she expected:
Another knock disrupted her train of thought. A familiar, “Excuse me, Miss O’Keefe?” came from the doorway. Of course, if her business thoughts had to be disrupted there could be no better way than with Owen Montague, better known simply as Tag. Ten years her junior, he’d grown up into quite a looker.
She could remember joking with her friend, Eve, five years ago about Tag being jail bait for women like them. Now he was lethally legal at the age of twenty-one, and even better looking with azure eyes, mussed blond hair, and a crooked smile that she bet had melted the panties off of many girls in his class. Just when she realized she’d been staring at him and jolted out of her reverie, he rewarded her with that signature grin, and she swore her heart skipped a beat.
*~*
| Amazon | SCP | BN | ARe |
Michaela O’Keefe is in over her head with her restaurant, The Midway. Her ad for an assistant manager brings Owen “Tag” Montague to her doorstep. With an impeccable resume and dozens of letters of recommendation, she has little choice but to give him a chance. Ten years her junior, Tag sets her long-dead libido humming, but she gave up on love and her instincts on men years ago.
Tag has had a crush on his new boss since his youth, but he’s determined to prove he can do the job. Still, he can’t resist the urge to make her blush down to her toes as often as possible. He knows her rough past in life and love makes it hard to trust, and he’s wary of crossing the line he so desperately wants to.
Just when they manage to figure out how to work and play together, Michaela’s ex does all he can to destroy their budding love. When push comes to shove Michaela’s inability to give Tag the benefit of the doubt might destroy everything.
Learning to trust herself again is the hardest lesson Michaela will ever have to learn – and by the time she does, it may be too late for love.
*~*
Head back on over to the Weekend Writing Warriors to read many more wonderful offerings!
by Sarah | Feb 27, 2014 | Character Interview, Guest Authors, Guest Post, Writing
Thank you Sarah for having me here!
There are few things more enjoyable than sitting down with friends. I got to do just that recently with the stars of my erotic sports romance, Pink Pucks & Power Plays, the first book in the To Love a Wildcat series. Given that Alain has a rather severe dislike of the press and/or interviews, I wasn`t sure he would agree, but my gal Viv finagled the handsome young D-man into meeting me.
We arranged for the interview to take place at The Black Boar Bar & Grill, a popular eatery and sports bar a few blocks from The Houseman Arena where the Philadelphia Wildcats play. Alain is one of several `Cats who own a share of the trendy meeting place. I picked the table by the small stage in the large dining area. Rumor has it Philly sports stars perform here on occasion, but I`ve yet to see it. Maybe someday I`ll catch a performance by a Wildcat or two.
The hot spot was rather quiet, as it was after the lunch crush. There were televisions filling every available inch of wall space that wasn`t covered with sports memorabilia. As a friendly young waiter dressed as a referee delivered my decaf, I saw the couple arriving.
“Alain!” the few lingering patrons shouted as if we were at Cheers. Lessard smiled at his fans, slapping backs as well as shaking hands as he followed Viviana to the table. I smiled at the woman. She was, as she always is, vibrant. Her clothes were sexy, colorful and playful, accenting her legs and her breasts, for she knows how much her lover admires them. Viv and I bussed cheeks. We`re the same height and possess the same curvy form so seem to feel an affinity for each other. Alain enveloped me in a brotherly hug. My eyes grew wide. I peeked at Viviana. She smiled. Alain released me to pull the chair out for his lady love.
“Thank you for doing this, Alain,” I said as he hurried to push my chair in for me.
“It is my pleasure,” the Quebecer said as he dropped his well made frame into his seat. I could easily see what Viv saw in Alain. Six foot two, one hundred and ninety pounds, black curly hair, hazel eyes, athletic build, and a mouth that begs to be kissed. I`d be drawn like a moth to a flame as well! “This is not like a regular interview.”
“See, not all interviews are bad,” the sassy brunette said as she ran her eyes over the menu. Alain rolled those pretty hazel eyes playfully. His hand rested on the back of Viviana`s chair possessively. “Let`s get a fish dinner then split it.” Viviana looked at me with eyes the color of white grapes. Her eyes always amaze me. I nodded at the suggestion. After the order was placed and Viv and Alain`s drinks were brought out, we started chatting.
“So, how does it feel to be the stars of your own book?” I asked the couple.
“I`m tickled to be the first of the Wildcats women`s story that you told,” Viviana said then sipped at her raspberry flavored water.
“It is very nice,” Alain answered tactfully.
“He`s not always so tight-fisted with his words,” Viviana pointed out as our appetizers arrived.
“Oh, I`m well aware of how he can talk once he`s comfortable,” I replied with a wink for the hockey star. His mouth curled into a shy smile. “Although you do seem to have the lion`s share of the dialog in the book, Viv.”
“Yes, see, chaton, I don`t talk much because you are doing all the talking for us both,” Alain joked. “I cannot fit the words in edge like.”
“Oh pooh on both of you.” Viviana dipped a mozzarella stick into some red sauce then offered the first bite to Alain, her left hand cupped under the dripping stick. “It`s hot,” she warned. Probably so he didn`t burn those lips of his she is so keen on kissing.
“Speaking of sex,” I said as I dipped my own stick. Both my characters eyes widened with surprise. “Were you two pleased with the amount of it in your book?”
“Is there such a thing as too much sex?” Viviana asked with a impish gleam in her eye.
“It was very nice,” Alain responded. I suspected that was his stock reply whenever he felt the matter was too personal to discuss. It was better than being told it was none of my business.
“The sex was wonderful,” Viv interjected as she fed Alain the rest of the cheese stick. “I do love a juicy read, and this story certainly is that!”
“But there was more than the sex, no?” Alain said after dabbing sauce off his mouth with his napkin.”The sex, it was great, but the lesson my Viviana learned, that was big importance too, was it not?”
I looked pointedly at the woman trying to decide which mozzarella stick to chose for herself. “Was it, Viviana?” I asked directly. Her eyes flicked to me then returned to the basket holding our appetizers. The patrons hooted at an old replay of a Stanley Cup game on one of the TV sets.
“Can we talk about the sex instead?” Viv inquired.
“No, we are talking about all the book, not just the steamy sex scenes,” Alain hurried to say. I leaned back into my seat, nibbling the scalding hot stick carefully, my napkin held under my chin. “So, did you learn a lesson, Viviana?”
“Yes, I learned a lesson! Does that make you both happy?! For goodness sake, one would think I was Dr. Doom or something!” she huffed as she made a grab for a stick in the bright red plastic basket. Alain grabbed her hand, raised it to his lips and then laid it on the table beside Viviana`s plate. Then he chose a stick to feed her. I shifted around in my chair, suddenly quite uncomfortable. It felt as if I were watching the lovers in their bedroom. I smiled at a man eating his lunch behind us.
“What did you learn?” I asked when the sensual stick feeding was over with. “And for the record, we all adore you Viviana,” I added, for it was the truth. Sure, Viv could be rather brusque at times, but her heart was most generally in the right place.
“I learned that we should talk about one of the other ladies in the series. Let`s chat about the rest of the books! I`m sure your readers would like to know a bit about those instead of hearing more about the poor choices silly old me has made.”
I let her have that victory. She was far too clever to wrangle into such a private confession. She had been a reporter after all. Viviana Land had lots of pride, and chutzpah. I didn`t wish to push either her or Alain too far.
“Alright, let me see. The next book will be A Most Unlikely Countess.”
“Look at that dreamy look,” Alain teased. I felt the heat creeping into my face. “Ah poor V. L., she does so love goalies.”
“Okay, yes, I do have a thing for goalies. Everyone knows that.” I hurried to grab my coffee to hide behind. Viviana patted my arm while laughing at my discomfort.
“It`s fine, ” Viv assured me. “A woman would have to be dead and buried not to be swept off her feet by Veikko Aho. He is perhaps one of the most classically handsome men I have ever laid eyes on.”
“Ahem!” We both looked at Alain with his arms now folded over a tee that read ‘Old Time Hockey’ and featured the Hanson Brothers from the movie, Slapshot.
“Aside from you of course, darling.” Viviana patted his muscular bicep.
I hurried to carry on lest more male ego was trampled. “After A Most Unlikely Countess will be O Captain! My Captain!, Reality Check, and Language of Love. I`m also toying with a few ideas for other Wildcat books, but we`ll see how things hatch with the planned five before I count chickens.”
“I for one hope they do well. If women knew just how sexy hockey players are, they`d flock to grab those books.” Viviana leaned back to give the server room to place her half a fish dinner. My mouth watered when my plate of flaky flounder, thick steak fries, and a side of coleslaw was set in front of me. Alain was eating rare steak with a fat baked potato that was topped with sour cream and chives. I guess the players get tired of chicken.
“I can`t argue that point,” I said then waggled an eyebrow. Alain smiled self-consciously.
“He does humble well,” Viviana whispered as she passed the ketchup bottle to me. The meal progressed pleasantly. We chatted about small things. Alain seemed to relax completely by the time dessert was brought out. We each had a small dish of ice cream. Mine was vanilla, Alain`s fudge ripple, and Viviana`s black raspberry.
“So, can I ask a question?” Alain said as we enjoyed our frozen treats. I nodded. “How do the Wildcats do in our quest for Lord Stanley`s cup?”
“Oh no you don`t!” I shook my spoon at the charmer, “You`re not wheedling that information out of me. No way and no how!”
“I could send a certain goalie over to persuade that information out of you,” he teased, his hazel eyes sparkling with mischief. I stared at him over the table. Viviana slapped his arm.
“Would you stop tormenting the poor woman so! If you wish to know if the `Cats win it all, or if any of our friends find love, buy the books.”
“But Viviana, how do I find time to read when I am working to keep you happy?” Alain asked with utmost sincerity.
“Oh, he`s good,” I muttered under my breath.
“Yes he is,” Viviana purred, leaning over to steal a kiss from her Wildcat. It didn`t take the couple long to finish their ice cream, snap up the check, and wave goodbye. I sat back with a contented smile. One Wildcat happy ever after, four more to go!
*~*~*
| [amazon_link id=”B00I33V7G2″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Amazon[/amazon_link] | SCP | BN | ARe |
Blurb:
Viviana Land just can`t seem to say no to her younger sister. Somehow, the curvaceous society page reporter gets lassoed into serving as her niece`s Busy Bee scout leader. One overheated engine later, Viviana and her girls find themselves in the Green Hills Ice Rink. Enter Alain Lessard, the charmingly handsome defenseman for the Philadelphia Wildcats, who is donating his summer to coaching the youth league.
When our intrepid reporter is given the opportunity to write the break-out story of her career, Viviana leaps at the chance. Thinking it would be easy to flirt and tease some juicy tidbits out of Alain, Viviana soon finds herself falling for the sensual, younger, kind-hearted man. Will she put aside her virtual pen for a chance to stay at her new paramour`s side? Or will Viviana finally get away from those mundane bakery opening articles by using the man she may possibly be in love with?
*~*
V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, belly laughs, anything romantic, Greek mythology, New York Rangers hockey, comic books and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a steer named after a famous N.H.L. goalie, and a flock of assorted domestic fowl.
V.L. is a self-published and conventionally published author. She is a proud Torquere Press and Secret Cravings Publishing author. When not writing romantic tales, she can be found enjoying her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in hand, writing, or cheering on her beloved New York Rangers. She can also be found online on Facebook, Twitter, and GoodReads.
I love to meet new friends and fans! You can find me at-
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pages/VL-Locey/124405447678452
Twitter- https://twitter.com/vllocey
Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5807700.V_L_Locey
My blog- http://thoughtsfromayodelinggoatherder.blogspot.com/
by Sarah | Feb 26, 2014 | Character Interview, Guest Authors, Thursday Tell All, Writing
What is your story?
Not terribly different or exciting really – I’m the product of a middle-class upbringing in Richmond, Virginia, have a college degree, and now I work for the Washington, D.C. Commerce and Market Center as assistant to the director. Sounds ordinary and even rather boring, right? Except it’s not.
Trade shows are a strange hybrid of circus, renaissance fair, and the local shopping mall, with a lot of ego and seriously high financial stakes thrown into the blender. With that much intensity in play, there are plenty of arguments to mediate, ruffled feathers to soothe, egos to placate, and problems to solve.
That’s my job: troubleshooting during the shows and exhibitions here at the Market Center and, believe me, it’s always something while they’re going on! Malfunctioning popcorn machines. Missing shipments of merchandise. Displays of angel wings gone horribly wrong. A game machine that blows out the electricity to five aisles of exhibitors. And that was just one show. I’ve also dealt with feuding cake bakers at a bridal show, trying to get gigantic farm machinery through doors that just barely accommodate them, electronic interference at a tech show, crowd control when a celebrity shows up, and security for high level political conferences. Nope, it’s never dull around here.
Do you think the author portrayed you accurately?
She lets me tell my stories in my own words, so, yes, pretty accurate.
Do you have any special strengths?
I’m a good listener and I seem to make people comfortable talking to me. My boss tells me I have a remarkable level of patience and tolerance with difficult people, to the point of possible masochism. I’m pretty good at figuring out solutions to problems, too.
Do you have any special weaknesses?
Of course. I can be a pushover for the right people. Some of the people around me think I work too hard at helping others and solving their problems, although I’m not sure I see why that’s an issue.
What makes you happy?
Really great pens! Companies are always giving away pens as come-ons, and they’re all over trade show exhibit halls. Of course most of them are cheap, boring sticks. But some of them go for really unique and different ones. I collect those.
And… I don’t get to do it very much anymore, but I used to work summers as a guide at resort in the mountains. I led kayak trips along rivers and into odd corners of lakes. It was great. When things get hard at work, I dream about those kayak trips and it helps relax me. Of course, that was only in summer and they didn’t pay squat. But still.. When I have the free time I like to travel outside the city and take long walks through the countryside.
Otherwise, fixing problems makes me happy. Dates with Scott and meetings with friends make me happy.
What are you afraid of?
Shhh…Don’t tell anyone because I’d get teased unmercifully if anyone knew. Spiders. Spiders. Scare. The. Crap. Out. Of. Me.
Who is your true love?
Not sure yet. It may be Scott Brandon, the new security guy we hired a few months back. We’ve been dating for a couple of months now and well… Wowza. But I don’t know. Scott’s got secrets. He was once a D.C. cop and he doesn’t like talking about why he isn’t anymore. And he’s a great guy, kind, caring, helpful, and all, but he can sometimes go really cold and scary. I think it’s the part of him that’s still a police officer coming out at times.
Name five items in your purse, briefcase, or pockets.
Okay, let me see what’s in my purse… Wallet, keys, phone, tissues, breath mints – gee. that’s all exciting. Metro card and receipt from my last stop at the grocery store. But wait, there’s more! I have a lipstick and compact, comb, little spray bottle of perfume, notepad and… holy smoke – there are four, five, six pens in here. A couple are really nice ones, too. A sleek chrome Cross pen, and one that has gel stuff in the top and lights up when you press on it to write with. There’s more down there, but I’m not digging any deeper right now.
How do you envision your future?
Maybe I’ll get married and have a couple of kids. I hope so. I hope I’ll be working here at the Center as the director’s assistant for the next few years. Then maybe I can move up into Show Management and maybe even beome the Center’s director some day.
What is your most prized mundane possession? Why do you value it so much?
I have a diamond necklace and earring set that my grandmother left to me in her will. I only wear them on special occasions, but when I do, I feel like she’s there with me. Granny was really important to me when I was growing up. She kept urging me to try things and whenever I met a challenge, she was all, “Go for it!”
What is something you had to learn that you hated?
Math! Calculus my senior year in high school almost killed me.
Is an ounce of prevention really worth a pound of cure? Which is more valuable? Why do you feel this way?
Prevention is better. I’ve seen the results when prevention didn’t work and believe me, it’s not pretty.
How private of a person are you? Why?
Oh, I’m not really private at all. Can’t afford to be in my job since I spend most of my days talking to people, a lot of them strangers.
*~*~*~*
| [amazon_link id=”B00CGKYNT6″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Amazon[/amazon_link] | BN |
A Gift for Murder
Blurb: For fifty-one weeks of the year, Heather McNeil loves her job as assistant to the director of the Washington, D.C. Commerce & Market Show Center. But the Gifts and Home Decorations trade show, the biggest show of the year at the center, is a week-long nightmare. This year’s version is being worse than usual. Misplaced shipments, feuding exhibitors, and malfunctioning popcorn machines are all in a day’s work. Finding the body of a murdered executive dumped in a trash bin during the show isn’t. The discovery tips throws Heather’s life—personal and professional—into havoc.
The police suspect the victim’s wife killed him, but Heather doesn’t believe it. She’s gottenglimmers of an entirely different scenario and possible motive. Questioning exhibitors about the crime doesn’t make her popular with them or with her employers, but if she doesn’t identify the murderer before the show ends, the culprit will remain free to kill again.
Her only help comes from an exhibitor with ulterior motives and the Market Center’s attractive new security officer, Scott Brandon. Despite opposition from some of the exhibitors, her employers, and the police, Heather seeks to expose the killer before the show ends. To solve the mystery, she will havehas to risk what’s most important to her and be prepared to fight for answers, her job, and possibly her life.
*~*
Excerpt:
Chapter One
If I’d known how bad Wednesday would get, I would’ve—what? Stayed in bed? Not likely. The show must go on and all that. But I would’ve at least asked for another shot of espresso during my morning stop at Starbucks. Maybe two.
My work day went from peaceful beginning to chaos within half an hour. This wasn’t just another day at the office. The start of the annual Washington, D.C. Gifts and Decorations Show, our biggest show of the year at the Commerce & Market Show Center, was always the worst day of the year for the staff who organized it.
By nine-thirty, blizzards of paper covered my desk, my cell phone hadn’t quit buzzing, and the land-line phone rang continuously. The computer constantly chimed the arrival of new email messages. A strange man stopped at the office door and stood there watching me.
The triple-shot latte was already struggling to keep my sanity in place.
I recognized the number on the cell phone display and reached for it first.
“Heather?” Janelle, the Show Center’s director and my boss, sounded disturbed. Unflappable Janelle sounding disturbed was worse than most people shouting or having hysterics.
“Problem?” I asked, trying not to stare at the stranger, who lingered near the doorway. A quick glance said he was worth a look.
Until Janelle said, “Find Mark and tell him aisles three to five don’t have power. He’s not answering his pager. Then call Truffant Shipping and ask them to fax copies of the manifests for their deliveries to Brent-Cooper. A couple of their boxes are missing. Once you’ve done that, can you get down here? Lots of ruffled feathers over the power. Oh, and Grantwood & Bethel is missing one of their key people. They think he may be lost somewhere in the city. And Sue Savotsky of Trimstates doesn’t like her location—the carpet’s not clean, and the people across the way are playing loud music.”
“Her again?”
“ ’Fraid so. But she likes you, so if you wouldn’t mind—What’s that?” The last two words were directed at someone else. “Gotta go. Need you ASAP.” Janelle ended the call.
I reached for the latte getting cold on a corner of my desk.
Someone else yelled, “Heather!”
Jo startled me so badly I almost splashed coffee on my white silk blouse. That would make a really good impression on the clients down on the showroom floor. Or the hunk in the doorway.
I turned toward her office. “What?”
“I can’t find the latest press accreditations list.”
“I put a copy in your inbox this morning. Did you look there?”
“Yes. It’s not . . . oh, wait, here it is.”
How did our marketing director manage to get her shoes on the right feet in the morning? I rolled my eyes, momentarily forgetting I wasn’t alone.
A warm, masculine chuckle reminded me. “You must be the person who runs the place.” The voice was deep and rich, sexy as a Milky Way bar—the kind with dark chocolate.
I turned to face the stranger, who’d taken a couple of steps toward my desk. Tall, lean, around thirty, blond hair cut short, light eyes of indeterminate color.
“I’m Heather McNeil, the director’s assistant,” I answered. “I do my part. May I help you?”
The right side of his mouth curled into the beginnings of a smile. For a moment there was a delightfully predatory gleam in his eye, but then the light went out, as if he’d shut it off. Damn!
“Scott Brandon. I had an appointment to apply for the security officer’s position you’re advertising,” he said.
“You need to see Craig Vincelli, down the hall. He’s the security chief.”
“He wasn’t in his office. Someone directed me up here. There wasn’t anyone at the receptionist’s desk, either.”
Jo came out of her office, shuffling an armload of papers. “Gotta take these down to the press room. Back shortly.” She paused to admire the newcomer, then raced down the hall when she heard the elevator bell ping.
“God knows where Tina is,” I said, as much to myself as to the man standing there. “Craig’s probably out running down the missing boxes. Or the missing executive. Just a minute.” I picked up the phone and dialed Craig’s cell number.
He answered on the third ring, breathless and in a hurry. “Yeah?”
When I explained, he said, “Crap, I forgot. I’ll be there in ten minutes. “Give Brandon the paperwork.”
I said I would and hung up.
“You’ve mislaid boxes and an executive?” Scott Brandon asked. “The boxes I can understand, but aren’t executives kind of hard to lose?”
“Not in D.C. They manage to lose themselves all the time. In traffic, in museums, in the Metro, in the halls of power . . .”
He frowned. “You’re too young to be so cynical.”
“There’s an age limit? No one told me.”
“Real cynicism takes bitter experience.”
“And you’re so ancient?”
Something flashed in his eyes, something dark and dangerous. “I’ve walked the walk and—”
“Turned the talk into a lecture. Come with me.” I stopped at Tina’s desk to get the application forms and led him to the small conference room. “Sit in here and fill these out. Bring them back to me when you’re done.”
*~*
Author Bio:
Karen McCullough is a web designer by profession, and the author of a dozen published novels and novellas in the mystery, romantic suspense, and fantasy genres as well. She has won numerous awards, including an Eppie Award for fantasy, and has also been a four-time Eppie finalist, and a finalist in the Prism, Dream Realm, Rising Star, Lories, Scarlett Letter, and Vixen Awards contests. Her short fiction has appeared in several anthologies and numerous small press publications in the mystery, fantasy, science fiction, and romance genres. She has three children, four grandchildren and lives in Greensboro, NC, with her husband of many years. Her most recent release is the ebook version of A Gift for Murder, originally published in hardcover by Five Star/Cengage and mass market paperback by Harlequin Worldwide Mysteries.
Website: http://www.kmccullough.com
Blog: http://www.kmccullough/kblog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenMcCulloughAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kgmccullough
by Sarah | Feb 25, 2014 | All About Home, All About Me, All of Us, Photography
Three years ago I started on a trail like this, and didn’t get far. I wish I’d stuck with it, I might not be where I am today.
<<–Do you see that? Almost 30,000 photos taking up 67.2GB of space on my hard drive (external).
I’m fortunate to have a photo managing program that automatically sorts by month and year when I’m in management mode, but still. 30k worth of photos?
And do you know how many are ‘sorted’ in any way shape or form? Maybe 3%
What’s worse? Probably 10% of them are missing the META data…no date (or WRONG date), nothing.
When I want to find a photo, unless it’s been taken in the past few months, it’s a scavenger hunt with pictures and my undependable memory.
So today I bit the bullet and started to remove the clutter.
I now have images sorted by human/family pictures, and not so much. Then divided into years. In the process I did manage to remove 300 photos just by virtue of knowing they weren’t necessary.
Over the next month or two I hope to whittle down all of the blurry, duplicate, needless shots. Most especially of my family. Also, so I can find photos I can use for blog posts, or just for fun.
Then, I want to back them all up (Hello new [amazon_link id=”B003MVZ8NI” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]DVD+R[/amazon_link]’s) on discs and store them somewhere safe.
Lastly, I want to print some out to have on hand.
My family deserves better than this disorganized mess. and my brain will be much happier in the end.
(Soon, I’ll be starting the same de-clutter concept on my house…it’s worse than my photos…we are such packrats)
