Author: admin

I admit it. I’m a hoarder. But only when it comes to office supplies. (And computer parts and pieces, but that’s another story.) A few days ago, someone asked to borrow a pen. I knew I had several in my purse, so that was easy. Then someone else needed one. That was easy too. But when someone asked how many pens I was carrying, I had to figure it out. After about the fifth pen, the giggles started. By the tenth pen, it was no longer funny. Yep, ten pens. In one purse. All neatly stashed in one pocket so they could be retrieved without a problem. The only problem was deciding which to use.

And these weren’t fancy pens. These were all your basic freebie giveaways. The kind you pick up from a hotel or a bank. I keep my “good” pens stashed away in their fancy boxes tucked away in a drawer.

On my writing desk at home, I have one large mug and one small pen holder filled to capacity with writing implements. Pens, pencils, markers, a paint brush or two. (I don’t have any watercolor paints anymore, but the paintbrushes are still here.) No telling how many of those pens still write.  I also have nine pens laying on the top of my desk.

Now, let’s move along to scratch pads. I do better there, because I actually use them and throw away the scribbled on pieces of paper when I’m done with them.  I only have two on my desk currently, but I carry two in my purse as well. I’m not entirely innocent when it comes to notepads however. Somewhere, I still have a small “memo book” from my college days with a list of books I wanted to read.

But let’s talk classic stationary. You know, those finely crafted pieces of paper that our ancestors used for communication. Back in the day when people wrote these things called “letters.” Companies sold stationary in a variety of sizes , shapes, colors and designs, with matching envelopes. You remember envelopes. Maybe you’ve even received a card or two in an envelope through snail mail.

I admit to being old enough to have written a letter or two in my time. I used to own stationary with matching envelopes. And in my best hoarding fashion, I still have an unopened package of stationary with a dragon design that was a gift from a dear friend. (Thanks, Kathleen!)

Of course, where would I be without organizational supplies? Folders and binders and paper clips and pushpins and binder clips and manila envelopes and highlighters? Oh, and labels and stickers and rubber bands and pads of lined paper? They all hold a place of honor in my system (or lack thereof.) They come in all sorts of colors and sizes and it’s hard to resist the lure of a unique color or pattern in the store when it calls to me. But I’ve learned to pick them up and admire them and then put them back into their place for someone else to fall in love with.

           
It all breaks down to the fact that I’ve never met an office supply gadget I didn’t like. I’m looking forward to finding out what everyone else on this hop thinks about office supplies. You can find out too, by following the links below!

“April 25, 2016 – Review your favorite office supplies.
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#OpenBook #Pens #Writing

I don’t know that I ever truly thought about giving up writing, but there was a time frame when writing gave up on me.

As many of you know, my first love in writing was poetry. Although I never considered myself great, I did feel some of what I wrote was pretty darn good. Good enough that I’ve been published in literary magazines in both the U.S. and Canada, and won a few small awards.

For a long time, I couldn’t imagine ever not writing poetry. Snatches of poems came to me easily, and although they all didn’t get developed into a full-fledged poems, it was enough for me to develop the habit of always keeping a notepad and pen handy so I wouldn’t lose the bits and pieces. One of the first things I did when we bought a new truck was put a clipboard and tablet under the front seat so paper would always be handy. I have binders and boxes filled with my poems.

But somewhere along the way, and I can’t pinpoint the exact time, my muse left me. My scratchpads remained empty and the words disappeared. I believe it was partly tied to changes in my career, which demanded very logical thinking. The more time I spent focusing on my job and training to move to the job I wanted, the less time and energy I had for creative thinking. I might have written one poem every six months or so and I felt as if I’d never recapture the writing spark.

I’d lost an important part of who I was.

Three things happened in close proximity that changed that.

First, I was passed by when an opening came up for the job I wanted. Twice. I had a choice to make. Either stay with my current employer and pursue a different segment of the field or go elsewhere. I chose to stay, which ultimately turned out to be a good decision. It also opened up some spare time for me.

Second, I heard about NaNo. For those of you who aren’t familiar with it, it’s National Novel Writing Month. That’s right, it’s a challenge to write 50,000 words or more during the month of November, basically an entire novel. The concept intrigued me.

Third, I ran across some fan fiction in an old forum that drew my interest. I tracked down an entire story from old posts that spanned several years. It sparked the desire to try writing a book myself. So November rolled around and I did. Try, that is. I wrote 49,000 words and ran out of story and time. But I didn’t give up. I rewrote that book and expanded it so it was over 50,000 words. And by the time I was done with it, another story waited for me. (Which was good, because the first one wasn’t very good.) And I haven’t stopped writing since.

You can find links to my books HERE  (Oh come on, you didn’t think I wouldn’t sneak in a promo?)

So my muse really wasn’t gone. It was just transforming. I’ve now published four books and am working on the fifth. And a sixth is rolling around in my head. Now I have more story than I have time.

To find out what our other authors have to say, follow the thinks below.

“April 18, 2016 – Write about the time you almost gave up writing for good
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#OpenBook #Writing

This week we’re talking about things we’ve learned since writing our first book. I’ve learned a lot, but two things immediately come to mind that I’d like to share.

The one that surprised me the most was the wide range of reactions from the on-line critique group I use. What one person loved, someone else thought needed changed or deleted. The  description I worked so hard to create? Someone would think it needed shortened and another wanted it expanded. The unique turn of phrase that came to me at midnight? There’d be at least one person who didn’t understand it. At all.

Which meant I had to learn to trust myself. Did I think the description needed fixed? Then I’d fix it. If I thought it was perfect as it stood, I wouldn’t touch it. It was my story and my writing: voice, The old line that says “you can’t please everyone?” Writing is like that. No matter how hard you try, someone is going to find a flaw. It takes a certain skill to learn to ignore them.

Of course, the flip side of that is that I had to know when to listen. What seems obvious to me as the writer, is not always obvious to the reader. I’ve learned that I have to be open to suggestions if I want to improve my writing.

The next lesson I learned was that no matter how many eyes have reviewed a piece, no matter how many programs you’ve run it through, no matter how many times you’ve looked it over, you’re going to miss something. Maybe a quotation mark at the end of a sentence, or a comma added where you don’t need one. Or you forget a “the” in a sentence. Then there’s always the dreaded “its” versus “it’s.” Easy mistakes to make and hard to catch, no matter how good your editor is.

One way I use to help find those missing words or words I’ve repeated to closely together is to listen to my book. I load the document on one of my devices that will read it to me. It’s not like listening to an audio boo, the voice reading it is monotone and expressionless. Which is perfect for catching mistakes that I’ve missed previously. So while my newer books are still not perfect, but there are fewer errors

I’m eager to see what some of the other authors have learned. You can to, by clicking on the links at the bottom of the page. And if there are any lessons that you’ve learned and would like to share, please leave a comment!

Just for fun- the first person who finds an error in this post (sentence fragments don’t count) and leaves it in the comments will receive a hot-off-the-presses Oak Grove postcard.

April 11, 2016 – Lessons Learned. If you have written a novel, you have done what millions aspire to but few ever accomplish. What have you learned along the way—about writing, about publishing, about marketing—about yourself. Tell us so we don’t have to learn the hard way.
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#OpenBook #Writing #Editing

     This week we’re talking about our first memory of books or reading. Spoiler alert: I can’t remember ever NOT being around books. Being the fourth child in a family of nine, and having a mother who loved to read, books were always present in the house.
     Even before I started school, I played “school” with my older sister. I would have been three or four at the time.  And I remember both my sister and my two older brothers  reading to my mother as part of their homework. Those sessions normally took place in the kitchen as my mother washed the supper dishes. Obviously, I stuck around and listened but I can’t tell you if I learned anything.

   
   I can tell you exactly when I started reading myself. First grade. I didn’t go to kindergarten, but started first grade when I was five. And we learned to read using the standard Dick and Jane books. See Dick run. Run, Dick, run. No kidding. And I can’t forget the dog, Spot, either,
     So soon those sessions in the kitchen included me practicing. And ever since, I’ve always had books around. During grade school, I helped the librarian with checking out and returning books. I was reading a book a day at that point, and not easy books either. If memory serves me correctly, I was reading at a tenth grade reading level when I was in sixth grade.
     I thought I’d get a degree in library science in college, and even majored in library science one semester, but life ended up sending me down another road. I did spend several years working at the library in the small town where I lived after getting married. In my spare time, I did what came naturally—read. I wasn’t always the first person to read new books when they came in, but I had an inside shot at it!

    I suppose it makes sense that eventually I started writing my own books. Although I didn’t expect that the first book I’d release would be a paranormal; romance—and the romance wouldn’t be the primary story line! My first attempts at writing were standard romances. Then I figured out I was better at writing action than romance.
   So thank you, Mom, for always having books in the house and encouraging us to read.  And thank you Dick, Jane, and Spot. And thanks to all the teachers along the way that recognized my love of reading and helped me develop it further. (Including teaching me how to open the school library without a key on the days the librarian was running late.)  My life has been fuller and richer because of all of you.

To find out what other authors remember about books, click the links below. And feel free to tell me your story in the comments.

#Books  #Reading

“April 4, 2016 – Your first memory of books or reading.
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Presenting- Wolf’s Blade and Clare Dargin. I had the pleasure of reading this book several weeks ago, and if you like erotic shifter romances, I think you’ll like it too!

Blurb:

Samantha Dixon rescues a wounded wolf shifter in the woods near her home … and unwittingly gets drawn into a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a murderer. Callum Blake is on the trail of an evil man who would be king of all wolf kind, no matter the cost … it’s up to Callum to stop him. How can Callum fulfill his duty to protect his pack and save the woman who is destined to be his mate?

Excerpt:

Callum Blake growled and grabbed his forearm. He opened his clenched fist as the nails on his hand morphed into long dark claws. He gritted his teeth and closed his eyes as he fought the urge to shift. He pounded the tree and glanced up at the night sky and prayed in agony to the wolf goddess. He pleaded for help. He’d take anything she had to offer if it would provide even the smallest amount of relief.
Nothing. The pain continued. He shook his head and grimaced in an attempt to remove the fog that was starting to shroud his mind. He silently cried out to her again.

Why are you silent? You’re the reason I took this mission and now you’re allowing me to suffer?
His frustration mingled with his physical pain, adding to his misery. The beast fought its way to the surface. He opened his mouth and howled. A mixture of a roar and a yell, it relieved some of the tension within him, but it did not drive away the urge to shift. Leaning against the tree, he dug his claws into the bark, burrowing deep grooves as he exerted his strength against the muscle contraction. His pulse pounded in his ears as sweat poured down on his face. Unlike his wolf self who resided peacefully inside of him, his lycan did not have the same kind of placating nature. It yielded only to the strongest of commands exerted to it from his mind. It was supposed to live in harmony just as his inner wolf, but it refused.

For wolf shifters, their human and wolf self were like two individuals abiding in one nature. One innately human, sharing some of the same abilities and desires as regular people only with keener senses and more powerful instincts. The other, their wolf side was wild and untamed. It acted on a gut responses, using its innate sixth sense to interact with the world around it. The wolf freely gave into its passions, choosing strength and cunning over calculated reasoning.

The lycan, however, was a being whose nature lived far beyond that of the wolf. Not present in all wolf shifters, it was like a curse of their wolf self causing them to revert to a primitive version of their wolf self. Acting on impulse and rage, the lycan did not use reason or soft emotions like joy, love, and happiness, it understood violence.

—-

Buy Links-

Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019VS3IZK?redirect=true&ref_=s9_simh_gw_g351_i1_r

Liquid Silver Books- http://www.lsbooks.com/wolfs-blade-p1090.php

–

Author Bio

Clare Dargin is a multi-published romance author. She has written for several publishers in different genres, including erotic romance, military romance, contemporary, paranormal, and sci-fi. She lives in the mid-west, and when not surfing the web, she is hard at work writing her next romance novel. You can find her on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, and Amazon.

Web Links-

Clare’s Blog 2 The Haven- http://claresblog2thehaven.blogspot.com

The Embraced: Scribal Love- http://theembraced.blogspot.com

Facebook- www.facebook.com/clare.dargin

Twitter- www.twitter.com/clare_dargin

Google + https://plus.google.com/u/0/113201930657713285351/posts/p/pub

Author Page:

http://www.bookstrand.com/clare-dargin

Thanks and Happy Reading!

-Clare Dargin

Easter has always been more that a religious holiday to me. No matter what the calendar says, Easter marks the beginning of spring in my book. My mother had a group of daffodils in the yard that bloomed around Easter each year, and that was the first sign winter was on its way out.

Tulips were next. Hers were mostly red. They were about as old as the daffodils, which were as old as me.

Then came  the lilacs, and after that it was time to plant the garden. Before I knew it it was summer.

Now that I live near the Rocky Mountains, spring is different. For example, last Tuesday it was 60° F. Wednesday we had a blizzard. So, we don’t plant flowers until the end of May. And because of the effect of altitude, spring arrives in different places at different times.Spring can occur anytime between April and June depending upon how high you are.

In honor of spring, I offer you a collection of Rocky Mountain wildflower pictures.

To check out what other authors have to say, check out the links below. And please feel free to leave a comment!

#Easter #Spring #OPenBook #RockyMountains #Wildflowers

Rules:
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3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
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“

So we’ve come to the end of the #Egg-cerpt Exchange. It seems fitting that my last guest is Tina Gayle, who organized this adventure. Thanks, Tina!

Fallen Leaves Blurb –

As autumn comes to the Winston estate in Ohio, Amber Harrison learns further lessons in her new position as keeper for the spirits and ghosts who haunt the estate–and further lessons in love, too. She and her love, Carter Miller, grapple with the fears and passions of new love, while caught up in the storm of ancient family drama.

This is the second book in the unfolding saga of the psychics and talents associated with the Winston estate, a sheltered place where past, present, and future are woven into a single dramatic tapestry of love and desire. The tale spans multiple generations, multiple eras, and offers something special for all ages of reader. A sexy, erotic winner, with an assortment of couples to appeal to most tastes.

Excerpt:

“How long before you install the new cabinets?”

He turned on the ladder. His dark brown eyes captured her, engulfing her in an encompassing warmth. She melted under his heated gaze, which ran from the top of her head to the white socks on her feet. He lifted a brow at her attire, but he didn’t comment on her pink sweat suit.

“With the old cabinets out of the way, I need to knock down this wall and tear up the flooring. The electrical work is next on the agenda.” He climbed off the ladder, yanked off his gloves, and slid a hand through his thick, wavy hair.

“It might be awhile before we install the new cabinets. Right now, we’re simply working to remove the old stuff so we can start fresh.” He smiled, which didn’t hide the dark circles under his eyes or the fatigue in the slump of his shoulders.

“There’s no hurry. If you’re busy with something else, this can wait until your Dad and Mattie come home next week.”

“No, Dad doesn’t want her dealing with this mess.” Carter unbuckled his tool belt and placed it on a workbench. “I promised him I’d have it done.”

“Is Grant helping?” Amber stepped around several pieces of sheetrock and stray bits of wood, to the bottom of the stairs.

He walked to the backdoor. “Friday, his classes are over at noon.”

With his hand resting on the doorknob, he appeared anxious to leave. “I’m headed to lunch, and then I need to drop by the office for a while. Are you sure you’re okay here by yourself?”

Amber toyed with the idea of saying no. She missed the taste of his lips and the strength of his arms, but she nodded instead. “Yes, I’m fine.”

After opening the door, he paused. “I guess I’ll see you later.”

She waved and turned to head to her room, satisfied she’d at least gotten him to talk. Her leaden feet trudged up the steps. Unexcited, she contemplated her latest assignment from the family council. How could she achieve such an impossible task of convincing her great grandmother’s ghost to cross over?

Purchase links:

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JOTY270

Character Questions – pick 5

1. Nickname – Don’t have one
2. Job – new keeper of the Winston Manor
3. Level of schooling, or self-taught – some college
4. Birthdate – April 17
5. Birthplace – Irving, CA
6. Currently residing in… Hebron, Ohio
7. Favorite type of pet – cat
8. Favorite place to visit – Disney World
9. Significant other – Carter Miller
10. Most important goal – to save my grandmother’s spirit
11. Worst fear or nightmare – being kicked out of the family
12. Favorite food – chocolate chip cookies
13. Wealthy, poor, or somewhere in between? somewhere in between
14. Secret desire or fantasy – to find someone to love
15. What would you do if you won the lottery? Won’t happen, I never buy a ticket. I’m not lucky.

About Tina Gayle

Tina Gayle loves writing and is currently working on finishing her Family Tree series, a contemporary paranormal suspense series.
When not writing, she enjoys spending time with my family and traveling around the country. She hasn’t hit every state, but she hopes to someday. You might also catch her on the golf course with her husband of 30 years.

Also, you can read the first chapter of any of her books by visiting her website or download an exclusive story “My Future Step Brother” and join her special friend’s list. All on her website www.tinagayle.net

Find Tina everywhere

Home – www.tinagayle.net
Blog – www.tinagayle.blogspot.com
Twitter – https://twitter.com/#!/AuthorTinaGayle
Goodread – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1641826.Tina_Gayle
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/tina.gayle
Google + – https://plus.google.com
Linkin – http://www.linkedin.com/pub/tina-gayle/11/689/759

Only a few more of these #Egg-cerpt exchanges to go. It’s been fun! I’m pleased to welcome Alina K. Field and her book Liliana’s Letter.

THE MATCHMAKER MEETS
THE MATCHBREAKER

Liliana’s Letter
The Matchmaker

Lord Grigsby wants nothing more than to retreat to his study, but a promise to his long-dead sister has forced him back into society to broker the marriage of his nephew to the heiress whose money can save the young man’s estate. If only the young lady’s starchy hired companion would move out of the way.

The Matchbreaker

Hired to launch an heiress’s society debut, seemingly straitlaced spinster Liliana Ashford’s future as a professional chaperone depends on the girl’s successful marriage. But Liliana had her own close encounter with a scoundrel years ago, and she won’t let her charge be forced into marriage to the same kind of rogue, no matter how hard the man’s widowed uncle tries to woo Liliana around to the match.

Secrets and a Scandalous Murder

A shadow from Liliana’s past appears bearing an unfortunate letter she wrote long ago, and then the earl is murdered, evoking the scandal of the season. While she scrambles to make a respectable match for her charge before her own past can be exposed, Grigsby sets about finding his nephew’s killer—and Liliana’s secrets.

EXCERPT

“You clearly don’t approve of the match. Do you intend to openly oppose it?”
Her head whipped around, and she glared. “It’s not for me to approve or disapprove. Katie—Miss Mercer—will decide.”
Passion flashed in her eyes, sending an answering spark through him. She was magnificent, though so very mistaken. “Really? Then her father is more liberal than I expected.”
She looked him over more closely. “What do you know of this matter?”
I might ask you the same question. Her tone had been stiff, like the crystallized dome covering bubbling lava. He fixed her with his sternest glare, not entirely surprised at her cheek.
His glower didn’t impress her. She lifted her shoulders higher. Stood a little taller, proud, lovely, and filled with indignation.
Quite righteous indignation. He gave into an unmanly sigh, truly weary of his responsibility for Thomas. “I know a good deal, Miss Ashford. I have been negotiating for these nuptials. The arrangement is my doing as much as Mr. Mercer’s. Much more than it is my nephew’s. He is probably the least culpable, except for his abominable behavior.”
She clenched her hands tightly. “I see.”
“Thomas’s mother was my older sister. I made a promise to her that I would look after him.” Her gaze softened, and she bit her lip in a way that made him want to taste the part that she was nipping.
And where had that thought come from?
“And your nephew needs money and an heir.”
He nodded. As a woman of the ton, of course she would understand how marriage worked. Marriage wasn’t about love, or the bride’s approval, or a plump lower lip that begged to be kissed.
“He needs money most of all. He has a younger brother in the army who would make a far more dutiful earl.”
He covered his mouth with his hand. The words had rolled out, shocking him. He rarely spoke this frankly with any woman.
Very well, he never spoke this frankly with any woman.
She released a soft breath. “And there is the matter of the ore.”
His mouth gaped and he quickly closed it. Mr. Mercer had shared that information? Well. “That part of the county is rich with newly discovered veins of iron.”
That information brought her up straighter. She looked away, gazing intently at a thick, dark spot of foliage, making him want to pry into that sharp mind.
“I see,” she said. “I believe we should go back in now.”
Not yet. He tucked her hand over his arm but did not move.

Buy Links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1VBXAld
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/liliana-s-letter
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lilianas-letter/id1046400564?mt=11
Nook: http://bit.ly/1k81CX3

Alina K. Field Bio and links:

Award winning author Alina K. Field earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and German
literature, but she found her true passion in reading and writing romance. Though her roots are in the Midwest, after six very, very, very cold years in Chicago, she moved to Southern California and hasn’t looked back. She shares a midcentury home with her husband and a blue-eyed cat who conned his way in for dinner one day and decided the food was too good to leave.

Her debut novella, Rosalyn’s Ring, was the 2014 Book Buyer’s Best winner in the novella category.

Visit her at:
http://alinakfield.com/
https://www.facebook.com/alinakfield
https://twitter.com/AlinaKField
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7173518.Alina_K_Field

Pick your choice of 5 Q & A’s:
Interview with Liliana Ashford, heroine of Liliana’s Letter

1. Nickname
My brother and his friends always called me “Lil” as a nickname.
2. Job
Sadly, I was forced by circumstances to take employment as a companion to a wealthy young woman coming out into society. My job was to help her make a very good marriage.
3. Level of schooling, or self-taught
Like most of the girls of my class, I did not attend school. From time to time I had a governess or tutor, and I found solace, and much education, in books.
4. Birthdate
Must a lady as old as I am and still unmarried share her date of birth? No, I think not.
5. Birthplace
I was born at our family home in Cambridgeshire.
6. Currently residing in…
London, of course.
7. Favorite type of pet
My father kept hounds until he had to sell them, but they were never my pets. I do believe that if ever I have the opportunity, I should like to keep a little dog.
8. Favorite place to visit
I dearly love the British Museum and would like to spend more time there.
9. Significant other
Now that our story has been told, you know my significant other is dear Grigsby.
10. Most important goal
Before my marriage, my most important goal was to prevent my young lady from marrying Grigsby’s dreadful nephew. Now, I shall do my best to help my husband discover his nephew’s murderer.
11. Worst fear or nightmare
For the longest time, my worst fear has been to live as a genteel pauper with no family or friends.
12. Favorite food
I love a freshly made scone with good Devon cream, don’t you?
13. Wealthy, poor, or somewhere in between?
I was poor as a church mouse until I married Grigsby.
14. Secret desire or fantasy
I should love to see the pyramids and ride on a camel.
15. What would you do if you won the lottery?
Yes, we do have lotteries, but ladies do not generally participate. Still, if I could dream and find myself with a pot of money, I would establish a charity to help the young girls from the London rookeries into a better life.

Alina K. Field on #EggcerptExchange with Liliana’s Letter

#EggcerptExchange – Regency Romance with @AlinaKField, Liliana’s Letter

Today I’m welcoming Maryann Miller and her book “Boxes for Beds” to the #Egg-cerpt Exchange

#EggcerptExchange Boxes For Beds by Maryann Miller
BOOK BLURB

The 1960s were a time of peace and love in California, but not so in Hot Springs, Arkansas where the mob still ruled. In Boxes For Beds, babies are being kidnapped, and the local sheriff has to put this case to bed before the bosses come down from Chicago for a big meeting. Sheriff Bates is ruled by the mob, so he does the most expedient thing, arresting Leslie Richards, the new woman in town, even though there’s only thin circumstantial evidence against her. Better for it to be a stranger taking those babies and not one of their own. Leslie has left New York with her daughter, Mandy, hoping to escape from her past and the ruins of a relationship, only to discover that there is little peace for her in Pine Hollow, Arkansas. The only good thing that happens is Ronald showing up one day, hoping to get Leslie’s love back.

EXCERPT
January 1936
“Hush little baby, don’t you cry … ” The plaintive melody whispered in the otherwise resounding

silence.
One small candle flickered atop the dust-­encrusted chest of drawers, the feeble light unable to dispel the gloom born of the murky darkness. The yellow flame wafted in a sudden draft, casting macabre patterns on a precarious stack of old boxes supported by an intricate network of cobwebs. The pale light briefly touched a figure hunched over an open trunk.
The figure loomed more like a shadow than a real person and reached out a hand to lightly trace the features of the tiny bundle nestled within the trunk’s musty interior.
“Would you listen to me? Singing to a doll-baby just like you was real.”
Wide, unblinking eyes stared back.
“Sometimes I wish … but no. It’s better this way. If you was real, then I’d have to tell you to hush for sure. The Man don’t let me play with no real babies. Says I might hurt ’em. But he don’t know. I can be real gentle. Ain’t my fault those others broke. You ain’t gonna do that are you?”
Silence.
March 6, 1961
Leslie Richards sat on the ground, idly picking at the strands of dry grass beside her. No sign of green yet, not even in Pine Hollow, Arkansas. Not that she really expected it. Early March is still winter whether in Arkansas or New York, but at least the breeze blew a little warmer here. She definitely wouldn’t be sitting on the ground if she were still in New York.
Easing herself against the thick trunk of the old oak, which stretched leafless branches high into a shimmering blue sky, Leslie thought of how her agent had reacted to the news of her impending move. Merrill had stolen the response Leslie had expected from her parents.
“What on earth do you want to leave New York for?” Merrill rolled a well-chewed pencil between her slim fingers, staring at Leslie in frank astonishment.
“You’re the one who keeps telling me a writer should be well-traveled. Let’s just say I’m broadening my horizons.”
“Some podunk town in the South is hardly what I had in mind.”
“That ‘podunk town’, as you so colorfully put it, is part of my heritage. My grandmother was raised there. I can reconnect with my roots.”
“Right. Like that’s been a burning issue in your life.” Merrill flashed one of her lopsided smiles. “I think you’re holding out on me, kid.”
“Oh, Merrill,” The tears Leslie had vowed not to burden her friend with welled in her eyes and spilled unbidden down her cheeks. “Everything’s such a mess. Since Ronald … I can’t think. I can’t work.”

Character Questions for Leslie Richards:
What would you do if you won the lottery? What a great question. We all fantasize about that, don’t we? First, I’d buy the biggest, prettiest house in Pine Hollow. Despite all that has happened to me since I came here, I do love this small town and plan to stay. For my friend, Pauline, I’d buy her a larger space for her bookstore/library, and I’d stock it with a ton of books. Of course, I’d also have to put a lot of it away for Mandy’s college fund. Then I’d keep the rest to live on, just in case the writing doesn’t keep paying the bills.

What is your favorite place to visit? I enjoy going to Hot Springs and visiting one of the bath houses, and I even like going to the track now and then. And if I won the lottery, maybe I could even place a bet. Or better yet, buy a racehorse and win lots of money from races. While I love my life here, now that things have settled from the arrest and everything, I do like to go back to New York. It’s always great fun to meet my agent somewhere in Manhattan and remember what it’s like to get all dressed up and enjoy the night life. I visit my parents, too, and assure them that Mandy and I are just fine down here in Arkansas. This is a quieter, simpler place, and Mandy is thriving.

Level of Education or self-taught? Since I had Mandy not long after high school, I never did go to college. And I’m not even sure where the ability to write came from. I always have loved to read, and I started reading children’s books to Mandy. I discovered I enjoyed those books as much as I enjoyed ones for adults, so I started writing those.

What was the most difficult part of your life? Well, you’d think being arrested for murder might have topped the list, but actually, it does not. Being an unwed mother in the early 60s was much different from what it has been for young girls in later years. There was a stigma attached and people judged me, so I kept to myself. Thank goodness my parents supported me when I decided to keep Mandy, otherwise I would not have been able to manage. I’m glad that things have changed and girls no longer need to hide like they’ve done something wrong. The worst part of that is the fact that it has always been okay for the guys to have sex. It’s almost a badge of honor or a rite of passage for them, but for women, for too long, it was a badge of dishonor.

What is your goal in life? Oh, there are so many. First and foremost, I want to do a good job raising Mandy so she can become a confident, educated, and happy adult. I hope that Ronald can be a part of that, but we are still working out some of our past issues. And, of course, I would love to become a best-selling author. I will admit that I am a bit jealous of J.K. Rowling, although I don’t begrudge her. Wow, what a fabulous talent with a magical imagination.

AUTHOR BIO

Maryann Miller is a best-selling author of books, screenplays and stage plays. Boxes for Beds is her first indie release. Her previous books include a police-procedural mystery, Open Season, which is the first in a new series that features two women homicide detectives. Think “Lethal Weapon” set in Dallas with female leads. Miller has won numerous awards for her screenplays and short fiction, including the Page Edwards Short Fiction Award, the New York Library Best Books for Teens Award, and first place in the screenwriting competition at the Houston Writer’s Conference.

BUY LINK – Boxes for Beds is available in paper, electronic, and audio. Links to all formats are on Maryann’s Book Page on her website:
http://maryannwrites.com/books/boxes-for-beds/
AUTHOR LINKS – Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/Maryann-Miller/e/B001JP7Y1S/
Facebook Author Page https://www.facebook.com/Maryann-Miller-176896965725974/
Author Website http://maryannwrites.com/