We don't have many non-fiction authors on A Blue Million Books, but I'm happy to be talking with non-fiction author Robert Renaud today. Robertexplains his new book, The Time Trading Guru, shows people how to embrace
the time trading principles of time, flexibility, and money, and the
DREAM process to take life breaks and to become personally fulfilled. His first book, The Red Tape Chronicles, is a compilation of his
cartoon strip, The Bureaucrats, the red tape comic strip about life in
the service.
About the book:
If you want to escape the workplace and live life
again then The Time Trading Guru is for you. Embrace the time trading
principles of time, flexibility, and money, and trade that “work” and
wasted time into “value” time by leveraging life breaks to live life to
the fullest.
Robert, how did you get the idea for this book?
It really is a by-product of the challenges I’ve had in my life. I learned to take control and steer my own course.
How long have you been writing?
Well over 20 years, but mostly in business writing.
Did you have a nine to five job before you decided to write a book?
I still have a nine to five, but I use it more wisely and take advantage of time trading to live life to the fullest.
What will readers learn from The Time Trading Guru?
People will learn to manage their perceptions and take the time to live life today and to become personally fulfilled in the process.
Explain time trading, please.
Absolutely, The Time Trading Guru is about using the levers of life: time, flexibility, and money and the DREAM process that provides steps to goal setting, to take life breaks. By following this blueprint you stop postponing your life to some time in the future and begin to live life today.
What makes you a time trading guru?
A guru simply means “teacher” and this is precisely what I do in my book and on my blog www.timetradingguru.com where I muse about living life now and not some time in the future.
How long did it take you to write The Time Trading Guru?
I’ve had the ideas for quite a few years, but when I actually put pen to paper it took me about 4 months to write the book.
Do you think it’s possible to be a dreamer and a realist?
Absolutely, if you don’t have dreams, you’ll never aspire to be more than you are, but at the same time you need to be realistic about the how to achieve things. Don’t compromise the things that mean the most along way. How would you describe your book in a tweet? (140 characters or less.)
Use the time trading formula to live life to the fullest.
Who is your target audience?
This book is directed primarily at workers. Millions of readers world-wide would be interested in The Time Trading Guru because everyone is looking for a way to gain a better quality and balance in their life without having to sacrifice what they already have. The simple time trading formula is attractive because it takes what most of us already know and makes one a master at pulling the levers of life: time, flexibility, and money to reach his dreams. What is your favorite genre to read?
I like non-fiction in general because I like to learn new things. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I like to draw - it allows me to be completely free.
Name one thing you couldn’t live without.
A cup of tea in the morning.
Do you have any regrets?
None, I wouldn’t be where I am today without all the good and bad experiences along the way.
About the author:
Robert Renaud is a life enthusiast, pragmatic career man, spirited dreamer. He has lived his dreams, from dancing with a princess, living as a millionaire in Ecuador, to being a cartoonist. He’s a dedicated family man who leverages time trading to live life to its fullest and becoming personally fulfilled in the process.
Tonya Kappes's cozy mystery, A Charming Wish,
was released by MagiCal Press on March 11. I'm delighted to have
Tonya's main character, June Heal, here today for an interview. But first...
About the character:
June Heal is a
homeopathic curest who discovers she has magical powers when she
relocates her flea market homeopathic cure shop, A Charming Cure, to the
magical town of Whispering Falls, Kentucky.
About the book:
"Tonya Kappes' A Magical Cure Series, charmed me until the end!" ~ Cozy Mystery Book Reviews
Bubble, Bubble. . .
It
seems shop owner and newly appointed Whispering Falls Village President
June Heal has it all: Beauty, wits, bewitching powers...Sheriff Oscar
Park. Life is good. Because life in Whispering Falls is magical.
Cures and Trouble. . .
But
when a member of the community is found dead on the steps of A Charming
Cure, June's homeopathic cure shop, and her fingerprints show up at the
scenes of local robberies, she is kicked off the village council and
her powers fall under scrutiny. Until it's uncovered who is wreaking
havoc on the town...June's magic is suspended.
Magic Stirs. . .
With
the help of a rather obnoxious genie and Mr. Prince Charming, June's
Fairy-God cat, June is determined to figure out who is framing her. Time
is of the essence when it becomes clear that the true villain is trying
to get rid of her...permanently!
And Trouble Doubles. . .
Oscar Park will do anything to protect June even if that means giving up all of his magical powers. . .or worse, his life.
Interview with June:
June, how did you first meet Tonya?
There was a vacancy in her head, so I just sort of moved on in. She told me that she didn’t like witches. . .
Want to dish about her?
I
concoct my best homeopathic cures in the middle of the night, my
cauldron seems to work best during those hours, and Tonya is always
awake with this little notebook in her hand. She never sleeps! I bet if
she would give up one of her three pots of coffee she drinks a day, she
might get a little shut eye. I left a message with the Sand Man to drop
Tonya visit. Did you ever think that your life would end up being in a book?
Never! I’m just a small town Kentucky girl.
Yay! Kentucky! I wonder if Whispering Falls is close to Louisville. Tell us about your favorite scene in the book, June.
Tonya continues to write about my life, so in the third novel, A Charming Wish, she started with my story when I found out that I had a genie bottle in my shop. . .with a genie living in it!
Did you have a hard time convincing your author to write any particular scenes for you?
Yes!
Tonya always wants to write my story her way or the way she thinks I
should live my life, but I keep telling her NO! It’s my life, and I can
live it how I want to. Sometimes she does have some good ideas with new
potions.
What do you like to do when you are not being actively read somewhere?
I
love spending time with my fairy-god cat, Mr. Prince Charming and my
boyfriend, Oscar Park. Hanging out with my friends that live in
Whispering Falls is a lot of fun too.
Tell the truth. What do you think of your fellow characters?
I
absolutely adore them! Each of them have a special magical talent that
is disguised by their store front. I love how they interact with their
clients. Shandra owns A Cleansing Spirit Spa. Her clients think they are
getting a manicure, but Shandra is really reading their palm. All of
Whispering Falls is like that!
What's the worst thing that's happened in your life?
What
did you learn from it? I lost both of my parents at a young age. It has
been a hard long road learning all the ropes of life without their
guidance. I’ve learned to trust my intuition. It hasn’t failed me yet! Tell us about your best friends.
Mr. Prince Charming is my fairy-god cat who showed up on my
door step with a turtle charm hanging on his collar on my tenth
birthday. I’ve always wanted a charm bracelet! I knew we were going to
be fast friends. He has never left my side and I’m twenty-five.
Madame
Torres is my snarky crystal ball. Even though she is a pain in the rear
sometimes and we argue, she always has my best interest at heart.
How do you feel about your life right now? What, if anything, would you like to change?
There
are a lot of changes that only Tonya and I know about. I’m not sure if
those changes are good or bad. I guess we will have to wait and see.
What aspect of your author’s writing style do you like best?
I
love how she adds humor to my life of chaos. I don’t think my life is
funny, but she writes it in a way that makes readers laugh out loud.
If your story were a movie, who would play you?
I adore Mandy Moore. I think she would make a great me!
Describe the town where you live.
MAGICAL!
Whispering Falls is settled in the foothills of Kentucky, surrounded by
beautiful mountainous limestone and Kentucky bluegrass. The town is
filled with quaint shops. Each shop has a gorgeous ornamental gate that
leads you into magical store with special powers. When a tourist comes
to our small town, they can’t wait to come back.
Describe an average day in your life.
I
have to have my coffee first thing in the morning. Then Mr. Prince
Charming and I go to my shop, A Charming Cure, and start working on new
homeopathic cures. When a client comes in, I rely on my intuition to
what is the root of their ailment, and then I make them the perfect
cure. After work, I tend to spend some alone time with my boyfriend.
Lately, I’ve been in a little pickle. Someone was found dead on the
steps of my shop. Needless to say. . .someone is framing me for murder!
Any free time I have, I’m trying to figure out who wants me gone. Will you encourage your author to write a sequel?
She is on the third novel. I think she has six in mind. Super! Please come back when the next one is out!
About the author:
Tonya Kappes is an Amazon Movers
and Shakers, and self-published International bestselling author. She
writes humorous cozy mystery and women’s fiction that involves quirky
characters in quirky situations.
Splitsville.com,
the first novel in the Olivia Davis Mystery series, is a double
finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards in the Mystery and
Humorous Categories. Carpe Bead ‘em is a the winner in Amazon’s eFestival of Words in the Women’s Fiction Category.
She
travels to various writers groups giving workshops on marketing and
promoting no matter where you are in your career, and in
self-publishing.
Become a member of Tonya’s STREET
TEAM! It’s a gathering place of readers who love Tonya Kappes novels,
and Tonya gives away monthly prizes! To sign up for Tonya’s STREET TEAM,
newsletter, view book trailer, and upcoming news, check out Tonya’s
website, http://tonyakappes.blogspot.com/.
I'm happy to have Kim Boykin here today to talk about her just released novel, The Wisdom of Hair. The chick lit book, published by Berkley Books, has been touted by NYT bestselling novelist and author of Ocean Beach, Wendy Wax, as, "A lovely, engaging novel...witty and eloquent." In addition to an interview with Kim, we're treated with a guest post and a book excerpt.
About the book:
"The problem with cutting your own hair is that once you start, you just
keep cutting, trying to fix it, and the truth is, some things can never
be fixed. The day of my daddy's funeral, I cut my bangs until they were
the length of those little paintbrushes that come with dime-store
watercolor sets. I was nine years old. People asked me why I did it, but
I was too young then to know I was changing my hair because I wanted to
change my life."
In 1983, on her nineteenth birthday, Zora
Adams finally says goodbye to her alcoholic mother and their tiny town
in the mountains of South Carolina. Living with a woman who dresses like
Judy Garland and brings home a different man each night is not a pretty
existence, and Zora is ready for life to be beautiful.
With
the help of a beloved teacher, she moves to a coastal town and enrolls
in the Davenport School of Beauty. Under the tutelage of Mrs. Cathcart,
she learns the art of fixing hair, and becomes fast friends with the
lively Sara Jane Farquhar, a natural hair stylist. She also falls hard
for handsome young widower Winston Sawyer, who is drowning his grief in
bourbon. She couldn't save Mama, but maybe she can save him.
As
Zora practices finger waves, updos, and spit curls, she also comes to
learn that few things are permanent in this life--except real love,
lasting friendship, and, ultimately... forgiveness.
Interview with Kim Boykin
Welcome, Kim! I love the title of your book. How did you come up with it?
I was at a pitch conference in New York and the editor who eventually bought my book that was titled Separate Ways at the time said, “Yeah, but what’s the book really about?” I told her it’s about the wisdom of hair, that women change their hair to change their lives and she said, “THAT’S your title.” And she was right.
Do you have another job outside of writing?
Nope. I spend most days writing in my pajamas. I admire those folks who hold down a job or have little kids and write. They are probably way more organized than I am, which isn’t hard.
Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants, or let your characters tell you what to write?
I never use an outline and have little to know idea of where the story’s going when I start out. I just listen to the voices as they carry me along. I’m not ashamed to say I do hear voices and would be devastated if I didn’t. When my characters get stuck or something’s not making sense, I stop and figure things out, but for the most part, I just put my people in a box and see what they do.
Did you have any say in your cover art? The only real say I had was with the first proof I saw. The background was steel gray, the hair dryer was red, and there was hardly any of the woman’s face showing. I complained that it didn’t look at all like the story inside, and they made it gorgeous, purples and green, more of the model’s pretty face. I LOVE IT!
I do too! Which character did you most enjoy writing?
Without a doubt-Sara Jane Farquhar. She’s a big gorgeous woman with a mouth on her and the best friend a girl could wish for. Heck, even I wish I had a Sara Jane Farquhar in my stable of friends.
I’m constantly on the lookout for new names. How do you name your characters?
Interesting question. Initially, her name was Shirley, a good sturdy Appalachian mountain name, but I thought I needed a sexier name and Zora came to me. I have a book of names I look up the meanings of names to see if they’re on target with their characters and lo and behold, Zora means “the light of the dawn.” It’s a fitting name since The Wisdom of Hair is a coming of age story.
What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)? For all the indie bookstore fans, I’m ashamed to say that I’ve tried, but I have a really hard time reading “real books” these days. I’m a Kindle girl so far because I read faster and way more with an eReader. I’m writing a romance now, so that’s what I’ve been reading. Too many titles to mention. Everything from Sylvia Day’s Crossfire series to Brenda Novak’s Whiskey Creek Series, to Why We Never Danced the Charleston by Harlan Greene, and everything in between.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Right down the road on a little island called the Isle of Palms near Charleston, South Carolina. Conde Naste travel magazine proclaimed Charleston the number one tourist destination in the world, and of course the US. We have a vacation home there and it gets harder and harder to leave each visit. Phenomenal weather, food, and people. Y’all come!
What are you working on now? A love story set in the Charleston Lowcountry during 1952. It’s loads of fun to write.
Kim's Guest Post
FINDING YOUR DREAMS AT BETTY'S BEAUTY SALON
by Kim Boykin
I
was born in the ’50′s in a time when women were encouraged to stay home
and dream for their husbands and their children, for anybody but
themselves. Somewhere in all that, my mom decided she wanted to go to
beauty school.
To this day, even at 81 Mom is still gorgeous and has
always enjoyed the latest styles and fashions. Working at the Bomb Plant
(we’ll save this topic for a later blog) and with three daughters, my
dad thought he should save every penny rather than opening his wallet
which would certainly have resulted in financial ruin. Mom was a
resourceful woman. She figured out how to whip up the latest styles, but
in a time where women had their hair washed and set once a week, and by
set I mean girded in lacquer so that it was like a pretty plastic
helmet, she was stumped. She wanted to learn how to fix her hair, and
with my older sisters nearing college age, she wanted to be able to send
us to college, something my dad wasn’t totally on board with at the
time.
Out of all this, Betty’s Beauty Salon came to be in a shabby
little row of buildings on Main Street, New Ellenton, South Carolina. Mom worked
hard and worked her way into a nicer building, and while the digs
changed significantly, one thing NEVER changed. Women came to her shop
to find themselves, to nurture themselves, something that wasn’t at all
en vogue like it is today, and to find their dreams.
Maybe they were
drawn there because it was a safe place to be yourself, to speak your
mind, to share your joys and your sorrows. Aside from a phenomenal
haircut, great color, or a scalp massage that often had her clients
purring, I believe they were drawn to Mom’s dream itself. Whether it was
her or the dryers and shampoo bowls or the building with the little
wooden sign over the door, Betty’s Beauty Salon represented a dream that
one brave woman dare to dream; and it actually came TRUE! And isn’t
that what we all want? At least once?
I’ve got my dream, it’s 292
pages long and debuted 3/5/13. My wish for you is that you find yours,
and if you haven’t found it yet, answer the call to find it, even in the
most unassuming places.
Excerpt from The Wisdom of Hair
According to the brochure, beauty school was supposed to be
The Beginning of an Exciting Career That Will Last a Lifetime. But the
first thing that caught my eye when I walked through the front door of
the Davenport School of Beauty was a sign on slick white poster board
posted by the cash register. A bubble over a pair of legs said, NO MORE
THAN THREE ABOVE THE KNEE. Looking down at my uniform, I didn’t need a
ruler to tell me that I was out of line.
I pulled at the sides of
my uniform, trying to lengthen the hem like a lot of the other students. I could just picture us all after school let out, sitting around our
respective homes with scissors, big red tomato pin cushions, and spools
of white thread scattered about, undoing our hemlines.
Nobody looked
anything like the proud confident blonde on the cover of the brochure,
except for one girl. She was the only one not worrying with her dress.
Hers was an inch or two below the knee and had a sassy little slit up
the back. From the neck up, she looked like a movie star, and the way
she carried herself made you forget that she could probably afford to
lose fifty or sixty pounds.
As attendance was called, we were
supposed to introduce ourselves. Some of the girls stammered or giggled.
My own voice came out just above a whisper, but the big girl spoke in a
deep, sexy drawl with a proud confidence that every single girl in the
room coveted. We looked at Sara Jane Farquhar in awe, and there wasn’t a
single soul in that room, even our instructor, who didn’t want to be
her.
“Now, ladies, I am Mrs. Cathcart, your instructor here at the
Davenport School of Beauty. I’d like to welcome you, the winter class
of 1983.” She paused, waiting for us to applaud ourselves. When we
didn’t, she did, and we all joined in. “As students, you’ll learn the
art of fixing hair over the next six months. Along with the latest
fashion trends, you will master vital skills like pin curls and finger
waves. And though perms and color will be your bread and butter, if you
can learn to do an upsweep, you can make a fortune these days.”
“Class,
if you can give a woman a good hairdo, she will crawl to you on her
deathbed for you to fix her hair. A woman whose hair has been properly
colored is a customer for life. Let me assure all of you, there is
great honor in making a woman in your charge look and feel beautiful.
This is indeed one of life’s highest callings.”
We stood there
applauding for all we were worth, completely mesmerized by Mrs.
Cathcart’s address to the Class of 1983. I looked around the room.
There were twenty-three of us. One girl was crying. Later on, when
she dropped out, Mrs. Cathcart would say she was called elsewhere.
After
the applause ended, Mrs. Cathcart led us past the area with all of the
dryers and shampoo bowls to a large room in the back that was both
storage room and our classroom. Each workstation had a faceless
mannequin head with glossy black hair. All of them were identical,
except one or two looked newer than the others.
Most everyone
leafed through the blue clothbound textbook at each station, except for
the crying girl. She ran her hand over the top of Cosmetology Today and
started to cry again. She bawled at the drop of a hat, everyday. I
think it must have had something to do with her being pregnant, although
I don’t think she knew she was at the time.
Sara Jane Farquhar
leafed through her book, and then shoved it onto the little shelf under
the top of her workstation. She looked at Mrs. Cathcart like she already
knew it cover to cover and was ready to go to work. Mrs. Cathcart gave
Sara Jane a dirty look and told everyone to open her texts to page one.
All of Mrs. Cathcart’s lessons were drawn out on the back of old
maps, the kind teachers pull down like window shades. They were old and
yellow and torn in a couple of places, but when she pointed her
yardstick to Cosmetology, an Introduction and started teaching, it was
clear that she was a very good teacher.
I was the only one who took
notes; I may have been the only girl there who knew how to take notes.
Mrs. Cathcart liked that. She smiled and nodded at me every time I
recognized something important and wrote it down. She went on for at
least two hours before she told us we could have a break. There was a
rush for the Coke machine, which by the time I got there only took exact
change.
“You need dimes?”
I looked up and saw Sara Jane
Farquhar smiling at me with a Coca-Cola in her hand.
“Thanks.” I
handed her my quarter, but she gave it right back.
“Keep it. I always have change.”
“Thanks. I’m Zora.”
“I’m
Sara Jane Farquhar,” she said, the way Marilyn Monroe might have
introduced herself. Sara Jane wasn’t putting on; that was just the way
she talked. “So what do you think about all this?”
“I’m excited and a little nervous, how about you?”
A
group of girls were huddled together listening to a bony girl with a
bad perm mimic Mrs. Cathcart’s speech to us. All of them kept cutting
their eyes around to make sure she didn’t come around the corner and
catch them.
“They shouldn’t be making fun of her,” I said.
Sara Jane nodded. “The joke’s on them. Everything Mrs. Carthcart said was right.”
“She’s sweet, but don’t you think she’s a little overly dramatic?”
“Maybe,
but women come to a stylist because they want to feel beautiful. Even
if it’s just for that one hour they sit in your chair, even if their
hair looks like hell the next morning. For an hour, they had the
undivided attention of someone focused on making them beautiful. They
don’t get that in real life unless they give it to themselves, and a lot
of women just seem to give up on that.” Sara Jane took a swig of her
Coke. “But I don’t have to tell you that. You’ve been to a stylist; you
know what I’m talking about.”
I nodded, and hoped she couldn’t see my
embarrassment. I’d never been to a beauty salon; never had anybody cut
my hair but Mama and Nana. I didn’t have a clue as to what she was
talking about, but I believed every word Sara Jane Farquhar said.
“So, where do you live?”
“Just off Main in a little apartment on Beckett Street.”
“You’re lucky to have your own place. I live with my parents.”
Mama
had embarrassed me so many times when prospective friends came over,
the thought of inviting someone like Sara Jane Farquhar to my apartment
made me nauseous. But after two days in Davenport, I was lonely, and
gawking over Winston Sawyer hadn’t helped any. “Do you want to come over today--after class?”
“Sure.” Sara Jane smiled, and pushed one of her perfectly bleached blonde tresses off of her face. “That would be fun.”
I
explained the arrangement I had with the owner and she said that was
fine by her. She would keep me company while I cooked. She also showed
me how to pour salted peanuts into my Coke bottle during one of our
breaks. She said it was a good, quick snack because you could eat and
drink at the same time. The salty and sweet tasted good to me, but I
almost choked the first time I tried it.
It’s funny how neither of
us ever really said anything about being best friends that day, the way
you might on the first day of grade school, but after two fifteen-minute
breaks and a lunch together, we just were.
About the author:
Kim Boykin learned about women and their hair in her
mother’s beauty shop in a tiny South Carolina town. She loves to write
stories about strong Southern women and is an accomplished public
speaker. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband, three
dogs, and 126 rose bushes.
I'm happy to have my blogger buddy, Michael O'Gara, back today to talk about his novel, Ambassador Death. Michael was here in September to talk about The Happenstance Marshall, and he's hosted me on his blog to promote Murder & Mayhem. Well, not to promote murder and mayhem, but to promote my book, Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple Junction. (Yes, that's what they call a shameless plug.) I'm happy to have him here to today to talk about his latest book.
Interview with Michael
Welcome back, Michael! When was Ambassador Death published?
It was published by Heartland Indie Publishing LLC on February 20, 2013.
Would you tell me about the book, including its genre and what it’s about?
The book is a thriller. It’s about a former spy, Cassandra Crossing. Cassandra is beginning to feel like the bishop on the President’s chess board. She is moved around to keep the country’s enemies in check. Cassandra is no longer an unknown intelligence operative. Now she's a celebrity and hero after a very public assignment protecting the southern border.
This time Cassandra is being assigned to foreign soil and to a very dangerous job. She will be a very public target for those who would sabotage her vital mission to help keep a continent at peace. It is a job she is uniquely qualified for by heritage, experience and training. To complete her mission, the first order of business will be survival. She will also unexpectedly have to deal with something new; a serious romantic interest. It is an assignment that will require the balance of a tight rope walker, the wisdom of Solomon, the courage of a hero, and unusual diplomacy. It is a unique challenge for an unusual woman.
This is the second book in the Cassandra CrossingAssignments series and the follow-up to Crossing Cassandra.
How long have you been writing and how did you start?
I started writing in early 2011, so it’s been about two years. I started writing just because it came so naturally to me, and I enjoy it so much. I joke that I daydream in Technicolor and the stories in the books I write are just feature-length daydream stories. I guess at heart I’m just a creative story teller. There is no trick to starting a writing career. I just started writing and twelve books later I’m still at it.
Wow. Twelve books in two years. That's amazing. What do you like best about writing?
I like the process of creating a good story full of interesting people, an intriguing plot or mystery, different places, and in the case of a series, character growth over time.
What’s your least favorite thing?
My least favorite thing is the patience required during the editing period. The book has to sit for a while and go through a number of edits before it is ready to publish.
How did you come up with the title of the book?
Oh that’s a surprise one needs to read the book to discover.
What a hook! How did you create the plot for this book?
Like all of my books, it happened organically. What I mean by that is I start writing with a general idea and no outline. It’s creativity run amuck within an organized mind. In other words, I can’t explain the process, I just know it works. I do keep a spreadsheet of characters and such as the plots and character relationships can get quite complex.
Did you have any say in your cover art?
Good or bad, I have to take responsibility for the covers. I have designed the covers of all my books, though I have some help with the photography for the backgrounds of some of the books. My wife and a dear friend have donated photos for use on my covers. I use Photoshop and another photo program to create the designs.
I think they're great. When you start a new book, do you know what the entire cast will be?
No way. Too many interesting things can happen in the process that require the addition of characters. Do you have any secrets on how to name your characters?
Usually I just pull a name out of “thin air” that seems to fit the nature of the character. Sometimes if I’m stuck for a name I’ll pull one at random out of a phone book.
Are any of your characters inspired by real people?
No. I don’t know people like those I write about. They are strictly creatures of my imagination.
Are you like any of your characters?
I’m not like the heroes and heroines of my books. That’s the fun of writing. I can create these characters from scratch.
What are you working on now?
I’m presently working on three books at the same time. One is a romance, one is an action thriller, and the other is a fantasy. The romance novel is the only one close to being finished. I can't wait to read it! Come back when it's out, and tell us about it.
About the author:
I’m a full time author. I “love” to write, and for
me it is like breathing; necessary for my well-being. It is a
pleasant and constructive addiction being a story teller. I consider
myself foremost just that; a story-teller.
My goal is to write
books that entertain with stories that readers are “so into” that they
don’t want to put the book or e-reader down. I write mostly mystery,
thriller and historical fiction novels, but who knows what I’ll write
about next. I don’t. I guess that’s just how it works for me. My
imagination will just grab an idea and away I go.
My wife Ronda and I
live in Missouri. We are both graduates of Fontbonne University in
St. Louis where I earned Master of Fine Arts, Master of Arts, and Master
of Business Administration degrees. Now if someone thinks I'm an
"idjit" at least I can say I'm an "edumacated idjit."
You can take
excerpts of my books for a “test drive” on Amazon by using the “look
inside” feature or downloading an excerpt on Smashwords. I have nine
novels published to date with three more scheduled for release in the
near future.
My novels are available either in print or for all the
major eBook reader formats at most of the major online vendors.
Price of Justice is a story about loss, revenge and second chances. This
thriller follows a widowed police detective, Jason Scarsdale who, while
trying to raise a young daughter while solving two murders, unwittingly
befriends a grieving mother secretly bent on murderous revenge, drawing
him into a web of malice that teaches him the value of breaking the
rules. Then, when he thought things couldn't get any worse, they did.
Alan Brenham's interview with Price of Justice's Dani Mueller
In my novel, Price of Justice, I created an anti-hero named Dani Mueller. Today, she has graciously agreed to an interview about her role in Price of Justice.
Brenham: Good afternoon, Dani. Forgive me, do you mind if I address you as Dani or would you prefer Ms. Mueller?
Dani: Dani ist in Ordnung.
Brenham: Umm, our readers are English-speakers and may not understand German. So, if you wouldn’t mind.
Dani: I’m sorry. Dani is fine.
Brenham: You were born in Germany, right?
Dani: Yes, I lived in Garmisch-Partenkirchen until I married an American Air Force officer.
Brenham: Exactly where is Garmisch-Partenkirchen?
Dani: South of Munich right by the Germany-Austria border.
Brenham: Let’s talk about you. How would you describe yourself in two words?
Dani: Resourceful and spirited. Except after Parnell . . .
Brenham: Okay, in Price of Justice, you had quite a rough time . . .
Dani: Yes, no thanks to you.
Brenham: Well, I had to create conflict and suspense so readers would find the book interesting.
Dani: I understand that but you didn’t have to make it that rough. You did some pretty awful things to me. Taking my daughter, the Burtons stalking me, and . . .
Brenham: Wait, Dani. Let’s not tell the readers the story or else they won’t see the need to buy the book. I did do some really nice things to you too.
Dani: Yeah, well, you did introduce me to Jason and his little daughter, Shannon. I just love her. Thank you for that. But you . . .
Brenham: Now, now. Don’t tell the story. Did you know a few readers posted reviews saying they really liked you in Price of Justice?
Dani: They actually said that? Aw, that was so sweet of them.
Brenham: So what did you think of Austin, Texas?
Dani: Next to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Austin is a beautiful city except for the summer heat. Brenham: Now, in Price of Justice, you moved to Austin from Sacramento, California? Dani: Yes, to get away from the Burtons.
Brenham: See, another nice thing I did for you.
Dani: Oh really? Those nice things seemed to have had a way of turning into some really terrible things.
Brenham: Would you like to be a heroine in the sequel?
Dani: That depends. What are you going to do to me?
Brenham: Actually, at this point, I’m not sure. But if you don’t want the job, I could team Jason and his daughter up with someone else.
Dani: Don’t you dare. But I know you’ll do whatever you want, and I’ll just have to endure it.
Brenham: Well, I’ll try to be nicer to you in the next novel.
Dani: I’d appreciate it.
Brenham: What’s one thing you’d like to have happen to you in the next novel?
Dani: Oh, that’s easy. Become Jason’s wife.
Brenham: Okay, our time is up. I want to thank you for stopping by. Is there anything you’d like to say to the readers?
Dani: Yes, except for the rough times, I really loved being a heroine in Price of Justice.
Alan Brenham's interview with Price of Justice's Jason Scarsdale
In my novel, Price of Justice, I created a protagonist named Jason Scarsdale and gave him a job as a detective with the Austin Police Department. Today he has agreed to an interview about his role in Price of Justice.
Brenham: Good afternoon, Detective. From your accent, I’m assuming you were born and raised in Texas. Did I guess that correctly?
Scarsdale: Yes, I was born in Midland, Texas, and grew up in Ft. Worth.
Brenham: Do you enjoy working for the Austin Police Department?
Scarsdale: It has its moments.
Brenham: Meaning what, exactly? That you want to work somewhere else?
Scarsdale: Not necessarily. You won’t beat the pay plus the APD people, the rank and file officers and sergeants . . . and some of the civilians, they are first-rate.
Brenham: And the higher ranking members are not?
Scarsdale: There are a few upper echelon supervisors who are class acts. I don’t want to go beyond that if you don’t mind.
Brenham: Sure. So if you did go somewhere else to work, where would it be?
Scarsdale: Texas Rangers would be great but, now, one has to be a trooper for a number of years before applying for Ranger. So the FBI would be my choice. They have investigative responsibility for a long list of crimes, plus some are posted overseas.
Brenham: How would you describe yourself in two or three words?
Scarsdale: Intelligent and a good father. Oh, sorry, that's five words.
Brenham: Ah yes, father. What was it like having a five-year old daughter to raise on your own?
Scarsdale: After I got to know her better . . . I wasted those first five years of her life being anything but a good father . . . she’s a handful. So much fun to be around. She has more questions about things than any two detectives combined . . . and she's a very considerate young lady.
Brenham: Speaking of ladies, did you enjoy working with Dani Mueller?
Scarsdale: Dani was a very special lady. She definitely had her own agenda and yes, I most definitely enjoyed working with and getting to know her. I just wish things had ended differently in Price of Justice. But, you’re the one calling the shots.
Brenham: Would it make you feel better if I told you a sequel to Price of Justice is in the works?
Scarsdale: Yes, it would. I’d like to make one request . . . for Shannon's sake. She needs a mother-figure. Her overwhelming preference is Dani. Do you think you could see your way to doing that?
Brenham: I won’t promise but in the same breath, I won’t say no either. Getting back to the interview, did you know a few readers posted reviews saying they really liked you in Price of Justice?
Scarsdale: Really? Then the dye is cast . . . you have to publish a sequel soon.
Brenham: I’m working on it but I have another novel to finish first.
Scarsdale: Making someone else's life difficult? Who’s the unlucky person?
Brenham: Detective Matt Brady. He’s with a smaller department . . . Temple, Texas. I believe you’re familiar with that department.
Scarsdale: Yes, I am, and I know you don’t want me to go into any details so . . . what’s the title?
Brenham: The title is Cornered.
Scarsdale: What’s the story line for Brady?
Brenham: Missing persons. Now, back to Price of Justice, do you want to work sex crimes again?
Scarsdale: Hell no. I like working homicides.
Brenham: Would you like to be teamed up with Dani again?
Scarsdale: Does a cat have a tail? But the bottom line is you’ll do whatever you want and Dani, Shannon and I won’t have a choice.
Brenham: What’s one thing you’d like to have happen to you in the next novel?
Scarsdale: Catch the bad guys quickly and spend the rest of the time with Shannon at Disney World . . . with Dani too, if that’s in the cards or should I say manuscript.
Brenham: Okay, our time is up. I want to thank you for stopping by. Is there anything you’d like to say to the readers?
Scarsdale: Yes, I paid a high price in your novel, and I’m glad it’s finished. Hope to see y'all again when the sequel comes out.
About the author:
Alan Brenham is the pseudonym of Alan Behr, an author and attorney living in the Austin, Texas area.
His education includes a bachelor's degree from Texas A&I University
and a Juris Doctor degree from Baylor University School of Law.
Alan worked as a law enforcement officer at the municipal, county and federal
levels. His work-related travels include several European and Middle
Eastern countries. He even lived in Berlin, Germany for two years while
working for the Department of Defense.
From 1987 to 2009, he
practiced law as a prosecutor and later as a defense attorney. After
retiring from a legal career with the State of Texas, he began writing
crime fiction novels.
Alan married Dr. Lillian Infantino, a retired
US Army officer and, together they've traveled to Alaska, Central and
South America, and almost every island in the Caribbean.
One of the questions that people ask when I mention that I’ve written a novel is “How do you come up with your characters?” Readers of Finding Out especially ask how I created the character, Ruth.
Ruth is the person that people seem to love. It makes sense. Ruth is Sheila's savior with common sense advice and, let's face it, she always has food! So I wanted to share how this wonderful character found her way into the story.
While I was writing Finding Out, I was stuck on a certain storyline. Sheila needed to figure out her love life, and I wanted her to go on a date. But when I wrote the scene, it wouldn’t work. It was as if Sheila was rebelling because she didn’t want to be on the date. It was very frustrating. So I went to a two-day writer’s workshop at my local library and asked the fellow writers what to do. That's when someone suggested using someone else's romance to teach Sheila about love. I instantly had a breakthrough.
In my life, I had three strong female role models (in addition to my mother) who gave me advice about life. My Nana, Virginia; my Grammy, Rose; and my good friend, Ruth with whom I worked for years. Each of these women lived through the depression and WWII so whenever I had a problem, they always seemed to have the most perfect advice, especially about relationships.
By the time I was writing Finding Out, each of these amazing women had passed away, and I missed each of them terribly. I can truly say that I think of them every day. I was lucky to have spent hours talking with each of them over many meals, on the phone, and in letters. As a result, they live in my heart.
So, I decided to combine the best of each woman to create the 'fairy godmother' for Sheila.
From Virginia (who has a character named after her), I chose her sense of style and dressmaking. In our family, the dresses were always handmade and received many compliments. Virginia was also an amazing cook. Every Sunday we went to her house, or another family member's, for homemade Italian cooking. The character, Senita Scalese, is also a good cook and is named after my great-grandmother.
From Ruth, I chose to create the storyline about WWII. Ruth was held in Germany during the war. For her, the stories that she told were like many others so she didn't dwell on it. I did a lot of research for the WWII segment of the story, including contacting some survivors of the war who were hidden as children. I also included Ruth's relationship advice about dating and marriage.
From Rose, I took some of her greatest quotes of all time, such as "Your education has been neglected." I heard that phrase when I didn't know a piece of history or the different patterns on Spode china. The red couch in the story (and the image on the book cover) also represents my Grammy because she had a red velvet couch in her home. The last time I was with her, I looked at that couch as I walked out the door and thought of all the memories that couch held. I didn't know that would be the last I would see my grandmother alive.
All three women also had careers that were fulfilling and gave them great pride. Each was married for many decades and put their families first, which gave me the basis to be the person I am today.
They were truly from the 'greatest generation,' and I am so thankful for their wisdom. I’m also grateful that I reached out to other writers for advice and took their suggestions. Writing a novel is like taking a trip to a foreign land. You need to have a plan but sometimes, if you go off the beaten path, you can uncover something wonderful and unexpected.
About the book:
Getting dumped on the sidewalk by her live-in boyfriend of seven years and realizing that he nearly emptied their savings account is the first of Sheila Davenport's problems. At thirty-six, Sheila had thought her life was on track. But life no longer makes sense. Now she's saddled with a mortgage that's about to skyrocket, a psychotic boss, and a new employee who is unqualified and hell-bent on messing with the company's rules.
Her friends advise her to date immediately, preferably someone rich and successful, or risk being old and alone. But Sheila needs to figure out what went wrong and how she got to this place. Since Prince Charming has ruined Sheila's life, who can save her now?
Help comes unexpectedly from her elderly neighbor, Ruth Grey, who has had her own share of ups and downs. As their friendship grows, Ruth reveals her deeply moving story of survival in WWII Germany. Ruth's mesmerizing past is a powerful tale of love and revenge that provides the perspective Sheila desperately needs to put the pieces of her own life back together.
Will Sheila succeed at work or walk away? Can she save her home? And why do her friends think they have it any better?
A story of love found and lost, true friendship, and how the human spirit endures.
Interview with Sheryn MacMunn
How long have you been writing, and how did you start?
In the second grade, a teacher told me I "just wasn't a good writer." Which stuck with me for years. I had always dreamed of writing a book but didn't think I was good enough. When I met my husband, he encouraged me to follow my dream and handed me a notebook and pen. I had no idea how to 'start' a novel, though I had the novel plot in my head. There were many false starts as I stared at a blank page in terror. I even tried recording the story on a cassette (this was right before smartphones came onto the market). It was terrifying!
Thank goodness for your husband! That's wonderful that he believed in you and encouraged you. What do you like best about writing?
The best part about writing is that it takes me on a journey. The characters take over and bring me into their worlds and start to tell me their stories. Sometimes I will finish a scene and am startled to find that I am sitting in my kitchen and not in Germany or New York!
What’s your least favorite thing?
My least favorite thing is editing. It takes a village to get a book to be properly edited. Then I found my extraordinary editor, Merry Hayes who tied up all the loose ends and grammatical mistakes. It was then that I realized how critical an editor is to the writing process.
How did you come up with the title of your book?
Finding Out came to me because Sheila is finding out about the secrets in her life, how to rebuild her life, and she’s finding out about Ruth’s story. I had played with a few other titles along the way but nothing else captured the essence of the story, which is the importance of finding out who we really are.
Do you have another job outside of writing?
Yes, I work in ad sales.
Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants, or let your characters tell you what to write?
That’s a great question. I had written an outline for the novel, then I got stuck because the character of Sheila wouldn’t do what I wanted her to do. I thought I was doing something wrong, so I took a writing course and the instructor told me that I was lucky because when a character takes the lead, the story is really telling itself. But I was still stuck on the storyline because it no longer made sense since Sheila decided to go in a different direction. As an example, I had tried to write a scene where Sheila goes on a date but she just wouldn't speak. What I mean by that is whenever her date (a very cute Brit, I might add) asked a question, I couldn't think of a response to write. It was as if I watched the character sit like a lump on a log, nervous and uncomfortable. I really felt bad for her. Like she was a friend on a bad date.
After talking to a few writers, I learned that this is a great thing because my character was telling me the story. So I learned to listen to 'Sheila' and tell HER story and let the other characters develop on their own, too. I decided to join a few writing groups and discussed the situation with some fellow writers. That’s when my friend, Victoria, came up with the idea for a secondary storyline. It was an Oprah ‘Aha’ moment. I knew immediately that Sheila needed help from someone like Ruth and then the story took off from there. I know this is an unfair question, but do you have a favorite of your characters?
Ruth is my favorite character because she is an amalgam of my two grandmothers and a good friend, also named Ruth who was much older than I. I created Ruth by using the best of all three of these ladies and some of the advice that Ruth gives to Sheila is advice that I received in my lifetime. Both of my grandmothers and Ruth have passed away so writing this character was a way to keep them alive and with me forever.
I keep a running list of possible names. How do you name your characters?
When the book was finished, I went back through the pages and made sure that the character names matched the personalities that had emerged. It was fun. I even used online name dictionaries. So here is a list of a few characters and how they got their names. I couldn't put all the definitions because it would give away the storyline, so if you have questions feel free to reach out.
Sheila Davenport - In Australia, Sheila is a nickname for all girls. By the time I was finished with Finding Out, I realized that Sheila's story is one for all women. We want to be loved, we want good friends in our lives, and we want to be able to take care of ourselves when things go bad. Sheila is the person who is good and true, but needs a little help. 'Davenport' actually means a safe haven, which is what Sheila is trying to find and trying to be for her friends and co-workers. She sticks up for co-workers when things go wrong and agrees to be maid of honor though her heart is breaking. She's the kind of person you can trust.
Ruth - I decided on the name 'Ruth' because it means friend, which perfectly defines the spirit of this character.
Baxter DeVry - Baxter got his name because it sounds like 'backstabber' and DeVry seems devilish.
Paul Lynch - the name Paul means 'small' and he's a little man in height and integrity.
Crystal - A friend's wife is named Crystal, and I just loved the name. For the character (who is nothing like my friend's wife), it was the perfect name because a Crystal is sparkling and beautiful but also cold with hard edges.
Alessandra - means defending men which is what Alessandra is all about. Plus it is just a sexy name. Made me think of her as a lioness - who would kill and eat you ;-)
Eliza - a variation of my good friend's name: 'Elisa.' She's someone you can rely on 100%.
König - means King which is how I saw Ruth's family. With all they go through, they keep soldiering on with grace and dignity.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
When I’m not writing, I enjoy spending time with my children. They are still young enough to appreciate having me around, and I just love watching them grow and develop every day. They are at an age now where traveling is really easy, so we’re looking to do more of that in the coming year. Other than that, I work full time, but if I am able to make writing my full time job, I plan to learn tennis.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Paris. I have always wanted to live in Europe and Paris is just so romantic. I would love to live there. What are you working on now?
So many people have contacted me begging to know more about Ruth that I decided to write a sequel. This will take place in the year after Finding Out ends, and we’ll learn more about Ruth’s life after WWII and uncover the secret to some of the mysteries in Finding Out.
I can't wait to hear more about it. And thanks for giving us a look into Finding Out and how it came about.
About the author:
Sheryn MacMunn self-published her debut novel,
Finding Out, in April 2012. It became an Amazon best-seller in two
months, hitting the Contemporary Women and Contemporary Fiction list. Finding Out then hit best-seller status in the Single Women, Friendship,
Romance, and Love & Romance categories as well. In addition to
being a self-published author, Sheryn works full-time in Mobile ad
sales. Sheryn attended University of Massachusetts, Lowell and received
her MBA from Simmons College School of Management. She now lives in
Connecticut with her family. Visit www.sherynmacmunn.com for more
information.
Brandi Salazar, author of the YA paranormal romance, Addicted to Magic, is here today. Brandi is a writer, a mother, a student and a blogger. How does she do it all?
About the book:
Addicted To Magic is the first book in a humor filled, witchy series.
Witt and Romance--Together they can overcome anything...
Jessica Warren comes from a long line of witches. At the age of eighteen her ability to wield magic will intensify and she will be welcomed into the fold with open arms. That is, until she she risks it all.
Magic isn't something to be taken lightly. With each spell cast the user suffers dangerous after effects that carry the potential of destroying their life. After her parent's divorce, Jessica begins abusing her powers, but she really doesn't think she's doing anything wrong--it's everyone else that has a problem.
When her best friend, Amber, informs her that she had a vision of Jessica's mother dying in a car accident, a victim of her own abuse of magic, Jessica is in a race against time to save her mother. Her life is only complicated further when a boy catches her attention and she has to not only save the day, but keep all of her secrets hidden.
Book 2-- Crossfire-- Coming Summer 2013!
Brandi, you're a prolific writer--what do you like best about it?
I love creating new worlds and lives. I especially enjoy getting to know new people. (Yes, I am fully aware that they are not real.)
They're not? Dang. What’s your least favorite thing?
My least favorite thing is how long it takes to finish writing a book. I wish I could just pull out all the ideas in my head and have them be finished, but it’s a process. I guess that’s why it’s called a labor of love.
I suppose so. How did you come up with the title of your book?
Well, it wasn’t too difficult, actually. Jessica is a witch, and she is very clearly addicted to using her magic. It seemed fitting.
Do you have another job outside of writing?
Yes. I am a wife and a mother, which, I have heard, is like having two full time jobs. Considering the amount of laundry I do in a day, I agree!
I agree too. And it's also the hardest job on the planet.
I am also a full time university student studying to become an editor.
And you write? Wow. Do you sleep? How did you create the plot for this book?
This is one of my earlier books, and my method had since changed, but with Addicted to Magic, I just opened a document with the intent to write...something, and the first chapter just came out. After that, it was fairly simple to shape a story around it.
Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants, or let your characters tell you what to write?
I do a little of everything. Sometimes (okay, most times) I think of a conversation or a situation while doing something completely mundane, and I write it down. At that moment, I am writing by the seat of my pants and it is the characters that are driving me. From there, I can usually pour out a chapter or two, or more depending on the day. An outline usually follows as soon as the words stop flowing easily, which gets me over the hump.
Did you have any say in your cover art?
As an indie writer, I have complete say over every aspect of my books. I search out the kind of photo I want, and I create the cover myself. It’s an incredible process that I have learned so much from. I really love that I am able to channel my creativity beyond the pages of the book. Have you ever bought any books just for the cover?
I have bought so many books based on the cover alone.
Did you enjoy them?
Sometimes they are a hit, sometimes a miss, but it’s always worth taking the risk. You never know what you will find!
Like a box of chocolates. Do you have imaginary friends? When do they talk to you? Do they tell you what to write or do you poke them with a Q-tip?
If by imaginary friend you mean something like Drop Dead Fred, no, I don’t have any. But, I guess you could consider my characters my imaginary friends. There are times that they drop in for a short visit, and sometimes they stay awhile. Once in a while they bring a few friends, and let me tell you, when they do, they can get pretty rowdy. Then there are those times when we have a falling out and they refuse to speak to me, so something bigger than a Q-tip is required to poke and prod them with, but eventually, they come around.
You're right. I meant your characters as imaginary friends. And while we're on the subject of characters,do you have a favorite one?
I’ll start by saying that I love all of my characters. They are all unique and charming in their own way, but if I had to choose, it would be Behr from A Warrior’s Betrayal. He’s the gentle giant of the group with a big heart and smart mouth. One day, I will give him his happy ending. Maybe.
When you start a new book, do you know what the entire cast will be?
No, never. I am virtually clueless at the start of a book. I know only the next line. Each character makes an appearance as it develops, so in a way, they decide what the story is going to be and where it is headed. I am just lucky enough to be along for the ride.
That's the best kind of ride. Are you like any of your characters?
All of my characters share bits and pieces of me.
How so?
Some of them are adventurous; others are shy, witty, demanding, and quick to anger, loving, supportive, funny, adoring, confident, and insecure. They run the full gamut, but they are all me in some way or another.
With which of your characters would you most like to be stuck on a deserted island?
Goodness. None of them? They have so many issues. I don’t know that we could cohabitate for any length of time without doing each other bodily harm. Assuming that we did get stranded together, I would choose Godrick from Faerie Tales to be my island partner. He’s gorgeous and attentive and pretty close to perfect. Also, his clothes are riddled with all kinds of pins and chains and such. I’m pretty sure we could pull a MacGyver and live like kings while we waited to be rescued.
Which author would you most like to invite to dinner, and what would you fix him. Or her?
J.R. Ward would definitely be my dream guest. Since I don’t have any doggen on hand, though, I would bake up a nice lasagna and a peach cobbler (I am assuming she likes peaches considering her many references to them.)
How do you handle criticism of your work?
I curl into a fetal position and cry for days. Thankfully, my readers have been blessedly kind, and I have only experienced this a couple times. In those instances, despite the initial sting, I have taken their words into serious consideration and made adjustments accordingly. I like to listen to my readers, and I like to give them what they want, within reason and where appropriate. I still write the way I want to write, but I have learned that sometimes readers see something that I might have overlooked. I look at them as a tool to help me improve as a writer.
Do you have a routine for writing? Do you work better at night, in the afternoon, or in the morning?
My routine has changed over time and I adapt it according to what is happening in my life. Currently, I get up before the sun rises to write. I find I am better able to concentrate when I don’t have to think about all the other things I have yet to do that day.
Is there anything in particular that you do to help the writing flow?
I do a few things to help keep the words flowing. I talk to my husband, and he helps formulate ideas. I have a playlist that I add to almost constantly, but sometimes I end up just singing along, so that doesn’t always help as much as I wish it would. What I found works best is cleaning. The moment I pick up a broom, conversations begin. It’s like being at the horse races when the gun goes off.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I read. It’s the perfect opportunity to not only escape into another reality, but to gather more ideas and learn more techniques.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Scotland. I think the mental picture that one word calls forth is explanation enough.
What are you working on now?
I am currently working to finish up That First Kiss, which is a book written under a pen name and should be out late spring. After that, I plan to get working on finishing up Crossfire, the second novel in the Addicted to Magic series.
Cool. Come back and tell us more when they're published. And thanks for being here. Brandi turned the tables and interviewed me on her blog. Go here if you'd like to read it.
Addicted to Magic excerpt
"What are you doing at this party? Last time I checked, you were still in high school. And what is this?” He snatched my cup from my hand, studied it, and took a sip. “You’re drinking alcohol, too?”
My eyes went wide with shock. “What? No! That’s not mine.”
“Not yours, huh?” he asked speculatively.
“Well, it’s mine, but I haven’t actually drank any,” I backpedaled. “This looks bad, I know, but I assure you, I have not been drinking tonight.” Lies, all lies, my brain shouted.
This was so bad. Not only had I not wanted to be here, but now I had been caught too. And if my parents ever found out they’d...they’d what? They’d do precisely nothing, except maybe throw me into another rehab.
“I have a hard time believing that,” Carmen said, placing both of our drinks on the mantle.
Knowing that I really had nothing to worry about besides soiling someone else’s own interpretation of me, which I could give a hoot about, I raised my chin in defiance.
“And I am having a hard time finding a reason for why I should be explaining myself to you. Have a good one, chico.”
Wait. Was that the right word? Oh well, couldn’t turn back now. Patting him on the arm, I turned and walked away.
“Jess,” Carmen said, keeping pace as I cut a swath through the crowd, and in the complete opposite direction as Amber. “Answer one question for me.”
I stopped and turned to face him. He stared down at me, then reached a hand out and touched my shoulder, lazily sliding his palm down my arm. I swallowed hard, feeling butterflies suddenly take flight in my stomach. What was happening here?
He watched his own movement and I felt his grip tighten. When his eyes lifted back to mine all I could see was a knowing, burning anger residing behind those brown orbs.
I tamped down the fear that tried to bubble up, and yanked my arm free, becoming a little angry myself. “What is it, Carmen. I don’t have all day,” I snapped.
He matched my glare. “If you’re here, then where is my sister?”
Crap.
My first thought was that he was too smart for his own good. My second, that me and Amber were practically joined at the hip. It could only be expected that he would come to that conclusion. I rested a little easier knowing this.
I shrugged. “Home? How am I supposed to know? I haven’t gotten around to attaching the GPS to her yet.” I strode through the house and out the back door, coming out at the pool again. Not exactly where I had intended, but I had to keep Carmen as far away from Amber as possible.
“Yeah, do I have stupid stamped on my forehead somewhere?”
I glanced at his forehead. “No, looks more like loser, but I forgot my glasses."
About the author:
Brandi resides in Ohio as a devoted wife and mother of three beautiful children. She has many passions in life, writing being one. Unlike a lot of writers, Brandi doesn't see this as a job, but as a passion, and it comes naturally to her. Throughout her life she has played with it, writing quirky poems and short stories bordering on the bizarre, which no doubt reflects her self-proclaimed "weird" personality, but only over the last three years has she really focused on finding her voice.
Writing is an outlet. It's what offers relief when she is overflowing with creative juices. It is what keeps her company on a quiet night. And, as all writer's can relate, it is what keeps her up far too late when she should be snuggled into her pillow.
As of now, Brandi has quite a few projects she is working on, all unique in their own way, but all with an element of fantasy. A perfectionist at heart, she constantly strives to make each work better than the last. Here's to hoping you enjoy her work because there is more to come.
