We’ve all experienced loss, what is a loss that has really struck you? Compare losing someone you knew with someone you didn’t, and your thoughts on how it affected you.
Loss comes in many forms and many sizes. Everything from losing a loved one to breaking a treasured memento. I’ve seen a lot of shit in my life, and I grieve in different ways depending upon the circumstances.
While I don’t think I handle grief well, I also don’t like to show it. For little things, sure, I have my moment and then I move on. For the big things, not so much.
For one thing, I don’t like to show my sorrow to other people. I prefer to do my crying in private. Although when I present my strong, outer shell to the world, I’m mourning inside. Or, I shut down my own emotions altogether until I reach a point when I can no longer avoid them.
Sometimes, I worry that it makes me look cold to people who are more willing to show their feelings. But I’ve also decided that it doesn’t matter. I know how I feel, and that’s what’s important.
For example, when my father died, I kept working until the day of my flight back home, despite my boss’s “hints” that I could take the time off. But work helped me to avoid acknowledging my feelings until I was ready too. And that was several months later.
In fact, the true depth of my loss didn’t hit me until several months later when my favorite uncle died. Soon after, one night when I was alone, I started crying quietly. I thought it was strange that I was crying for my uncle when I hadn’t cried that much for my father, but then realized I was mourning the both of them. And most of the tears were for my dad. So I allowed myself to cry some more.
Now (several years later) I can look back at memories of both men and allow myself both happiness and sadness. It’s not as odd of a combination as you might think. I can smile when I talk about my dad while my heart hurts a little.
August 27, 2018
We’ve all experienced loss, what is a loss that has really struck you? Compare losing someone you knew with someone you didn’t, and your thoughts on how it affected you.
Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.
The Mystery Exchange isn’t over yet! This week I’m please to present Amber Daulton and her story, Arresting Mason. Let’s start with a few questions for Amber.
What first gave you the idea for ArrestingMason?
A few years ago, I found a submission call for a bad boy anthology, and the stories were supposed to be pretty short. By the time I finished the first draft of my manuscript, I had exceeded the word count and still wanted to add more scenes. So I forgot all about the submission call and kept revising the manuscript until it clocked in at 80 thousand words and sparked ideas for more books, which is now a 5-book series.
For how I came up with the plot, I must thank my subconscious since I dreamed about it. For days after, I kept thinking about the hero, the heroine, and her brother, and the characters wouldn’t leave me in peace until I wrote out a rough plotline. Though I changed quite a bit as I put the dream down on paper (or rather computer), the main premise remained the same.
Please tell us a little about your hero, Mason.
Mason made some foolish mistakes as a teenager, and then ended up in jail. Though he joined a prison gang, he gave it up after the State released him on parole. He’s doing his best stay out of trouble, but the people from his past aren’t ready to let him go.
What’s a positive quality does Mason have that he isn’t aware of?
His ability to love. Though Mason wants to be a good person, he doesn’t think he deserves to have a woman show him unconditional love and acceptance. But when he loves someone, he doesn’t let anything stop him from showing and proving it.
Will readers like or dislike him, and why?
Mason has made a ton of mistakes—everyone has to one degree or another—but he’s ready to change and move on with his life. I think a lot of readers could relate to that, and they’ll like him because he’s a good person beneath all the scars and tattoos.
Does he see morality as black-and-white, or with shades of gray?
Shades of gray. He’s made too many mistakes and done too many bad things to see the world as straight forward as black-and-white.
How do others perceive Mason based upon his looks?
Most women find him hot and only care about the exterior packaging, and most men find him shady or dangerous. These assumptions are correct. Mason is one sexy man, and he’s hiding a bunch of secrets that could cost him his life. Deep down, however, he’s a good man and determined to do everything in his power to protect those he loves from his past.
Do you write using an outline or do you just start writing?
I would be so lost with an outline. When I get an idea, I write down everything on paper, chapter by chapter, and sometimes scene by scene if my muse is really flowing. Usually, I end up with 30 or 40 sheets of paper, jammed with additions in the margins, and with some paragraphs highlighted for reference. Once that’s done, I finally start writing the story on my computer.
In your stories, is there more action or romance?
I try to maintain a good mix of action and romance scenes, and let those scenes play off each another. It can be difficult to not overdue one type of sequence at times, and sometimes I have to cut a scene or move it elsewhere, but I’m all about the final product. What works for the story at large is more important than an awesome but unnecessary scene somewhere in the middle. It may hurt to cut that scene, but if it’s needed, I’ll do it.
Did you always want to be a writer?
Yes, since I was twelve years old. It’s pretty cliché to say this, but I was hooked the first time I snuck a Harlequin book from my mom’s bedroom. (I’ve heard a lot of romance authors say something similar.) After reading that book, I knew what I wanted to do with my life.
What’s next for you?
Book one in the Arresting Onyx series came out in April 2018. The other four books in the series are already done, but I want to go through and edit them again before I submit them to my editor at The Wild Rose Press. Each book will probably take a few months to go through. I’ve already started on book 2, Arresting Jeremiah, and I’m anxious to get the publishing ball rolling for that book.
Arresting Mason
Series: Arresting Onyx (book 1)
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Length: 80k
Heat Rating: 5 Flames
Blurb
Once you’re in a prison gang, you’re in it for life. That’s what Mason Harding thought until the boss accepted his resignation. After the State releases him on parole, a sexy divorcée behind the wheel of a car almost ends his life quicker than a shank. His chance encounter with Mia Eddison results in a night of passion, but her brother—his parole officer—catches them together and doesn’t approve.
Mia falls hard for the cocky ex-con, but not because of his chiseled body. She vows to break through his walls and discover his secrets, but never expects those secrets to threaten her life.
When members of an organized crime ring kidnap Mia to force Mason’s return to the gang, he goes up against an old friend to save the woman he loves. Will his sacrifice be enough or will everything fall apart in a blaze of gunfire?
Tagline
Their chance encounter resulted in a steamy affair, but will his former gang and a parole officer tear them apart?
Excerpt
“Which one is your car?” She glanced around the crowded parking lot. A few streetlights pushed back the darkness and shadows. The restaurant served customers until midnight on the weekends, but no one loitered in the lot, at least from what Mia could see.
“Don’t have one at the moment.” Mason hooked his thumbs in the belt loops of his jeans. “I took the bus. It stopped a few blocks from here.”
“Would you like a ride?” She pulled the car keys from her purse. “I feel a little ridiculous we met here tonight. I just wasn’t sure if you were some kind of freak.”
His eyebrow lifted, and he closed the distance between them as a tiger would zero in on its mate. A sexy, masculine smile curled his lips. “Have you made up your mind yet?”
“I’ll let you know in the morning.” Desire trickled down her spine. Mia nodded toward the passenger side of the car for him to hop in.
He confiscated her keys instead to unlock and open the driver’s side door for her like a gentleman. Then he leaned closer and nuzzled her temple with his nose.
Not sure if he planned to seduce her in the parking lot or if he merely wanted to tease her, Mia pressed her hand to his chest and tried to think straight. “You’re the first guy I’ve gone on a date with since my divorce. I haven’t slept with anyone since Evan.”
He tunneled his fingers through her wavy, chestnut-brown hair. “I haven’t dated anyone in a long time either. We’ll take it slow or fast, whatever you want, but I promise you one thing. After I’m done with you, you won’t even remember that bastard’s name.”
Oh, God. She almost melted right then and there. “Fast. I want you, Mason.”
Amber Daulton lives her life by that one belief even though she normally isn’t so Zen.
As a fan of contemporary, paranormal, and historical romance novels alike, she can’t get enough of feisty heroines and alpha heroes. Her mind is a wonderland of adventure, laughter, and awesome ways of kicking a guy when he’s down. She probably wouldn’t be too sane without her computer and notebooks. After all, what’s a girl to do when people are jabbering away in her head and it’s hard to shut them up? Write! Nothing else works.
Have you ever spoken to a celebrity you really like? One you hated? Tell us about the encounters.
I live a quiet life. Like many writers, I’m an introvert. I don’t hand out where you’d meet a lot of celebrities. But I’ve got a few stories.
Way back when, when I was living in Florida, I participated in a community event that focused on family activities. It was a first time event, and was attended by a number of political figures, including the governor of Florida, Lawton Chiles. I got to hang out with him for a few minutes, and helped him make a beaded bracelet using the Florida Gators colors. (it was an activity aimed at kids and he also got some girls to help him out.) He spent a old War between the US and Russia was first lot more time then his schedule called for, and he ignored them while he joked with the kids and adults at the booth. I was most impressed by the fact that he seemed to be totally enjoying himself.
Even farther back, when the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union was first beginning to thaw (long before the Berlin Wall fell) I got to attend a performance of the a Russian folk dance group. It was part of a college course (Russian was my language course) and our professor arranged for us to meet with the performers afterward. Many of them were looking to increase their English skills while we were trying out our Russian. The interpreter did a lot of work that night, but we all enjoyed ourselves.
Then there was the time I attended a reading by American poet Gary Snyder. I didn’t get to do much more than shake his hand, but at least I got to meet him. I’ve also met Craig Johnson, author of the Longmire series. Got to shake his hand too, and get a book autographed by him. I was also privileged to get a ticket to a lecture by Nelson Mandela, although I didn’t get to meet him.
I’ve also met Greg West, a Jason Aldean tribute artist. He actually worked for my husband before he developed his act. He’s a real down-to-earth guy, who is trying to make a living doing what he loves. (like so many authors I know!) He’s good enough that sometimes he gets mistaken for the real thing. In fact, I don’t mind giving him a plug. Go check out his webpage, and if you like Jasen Aldean, check out Greg if you have a chance! https://www.ultimatealdean.us/
The biggest celebrity I almost hung out with? John Travolta during Daytona Bike Week. (I’m not sure what year.) Me and my husband were at the old Pub 44, hanging out and having a beer, when John showed up, along with his contingent of bodyguards. (he lived in the area at the time.) Unlike some other people, we didn’t try to force our way over to him to get an autograph.
In a way, I felt bad for him. He didn’t appear to be having any fun. How could you, when every time you turned around you had someone trying to force their way close to you? When every move had to be cleared by your “people?” I can’t imagine living like that.
Oh, here’s a bonus one. Sister Joan Chittister, a social activist, spiritual leader and author, was one of my teachers in high school. She was our choral director and also taught other classes
And there you have it. My brushes with celebrities. Who’s on your list?
August 20, 2018
Have you ever spoken to a celebrity you really like? one you hated? tell us about the encounters.
Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.
What is your biggest fear? What random and innocuous thing makes your skin crawl?
“I don’t like spiders and snakes…”
But that isn’t true. While I’m not a big fan of spiders, If they stay outside, I leave them be. There are some snakes that I avoid when possible, but there are others that I find absolutely beautiful. Have you ever seen a black racer sparkling in the sunlight? They almost look deep blue in color.
And while I’m no entomologist, I like some bugs. Not your everyday standard cockroach, housefly or mosquito, but give me a dragonfly any day. (I’ve been known to rescue dragonflies that got inside buildings and take them back outside.) I love the variety pf colors and the way the sun makes them sparkle. I’m fascinated by the way they move through the air with what seems like no effort.
Maybe you’ve noticed I’m a very visual person from the above descriptions. Which leans nicely into my biggest fear.
Well, maybe not my biggest but the one I’m willing to admit to. I worry about going blind.
Sure, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. But all my hobbies, my profession and my writing are based on being able to see. There are plenty of audio books out there, so at least I’d be able to feed my love of reading. But to not be able to observe this wonderful world in all its glories and beauty and pitfalls – I’d have a hard time adapting.
To never see another sunrise or sunset. To never stand and the top of a mountain and marvel at the world stretched out below. To never watch an old couple hold hands as they slowly make their way down the sidewalk.
To never write another book or story or poem. Sure, there’s speech to text technology, but I’d have to learn to use it. And sometimes the visual presentation of words helps to trigger the writing process for me.
And I can’t imagine having to ‘visualize’ what a person looks like from the sound of the voice. Or the way they feel. Or what color their hair is. In fact, I don’t know how I’d handle never seeing reds, greens yellows and more again. At least I’d have the memory of colors in my darkness.
And that’s my biggest fear. What’s yours? While you think about it, I’m going to go check the other authors.
August 13, 2018
What is your biggest fear? What random and innocuous thing makes your skin crawl?
Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.
Who is your favorite antagonist/bad guy/villain in your books and why? What makes him/her tick? Spoiler Alert! If you haven’t read my books, this is your chance to turn back before I tell you who dunit. If you’ve followed this blog for very long, you know I’m a pantser. That means I don’t fully plot out my books before I write them. I may have a general idea of the story line, but details often change as I write. That includes my villains. Someone once said that if they didn’t know who the bad guy was by the end of the first chapter, I was doing it wrong. I strongly disagree.
Take my first book, Wolves’ Pawn. I knew from the moment I first met him that Elder Choate was the bad guy of the story. I didn’t understand his motivation at first, but that developed as the story did. He was a man driven by the belief that the old pack structure was the best and he failed to realize that modern ways would influence changes even to his tightly controlled world. His idea of what was right didn’t match up with the beliefs of Dot, my protagonist.
I tried to build him with more than depth than a single motivation. He’d been spurned by the woman who he’d chosen to be his wife. I never did figure out what caused the rivalry between the Choate pack and the Fairwood pack, one that had gone on for years. I suspect it was more than just a territory issue. One of these days I’ll figure it out.
SPOILER ALERT!
What I didn’t expect was for Elder Henry Fairwood, the hero’s father, to end up as an antagonist. I’d written him as a good guy for most of the book. When he revealed his true colors near the end of the book, I was crushed. But when I thought about it, it made sense.It was true to his time and upbringing. The fact that he surprised me meant it would surprise the readers as well, and I see that as a good thing.
But he ranks second in my list of favorites. I’d say my favorite is Annabelle LeRoix from the Baron’s Cufflinks, the third book in the Oak Grove Mysteries. I wrote her as an uneasy ally in Harmony’s quest to solve her current mystery. She was one of the good guys who, on the surface, sometimes acted like a bad guy. In fact, she was hired to help track down the bad guy.
Then I got to the end of the book and she revealed her true colors. And none of them were good. The whole acting as a bad guy wasn’t acting at all. Luckily, Harmony was up to handling the news. So was I, and this time it didn’t make me sad. I didn’t even have to go back and change anything in the story to make it work.
Annabellewas fun to write because she was so deeply flawed and she was good at hiding it. She was motivated by the classics-greed, power and love. A deeply flawed definition of love, in my opinion, but it fit her personality. I’d love to hear about your favorite villain in the comments. In the meantime, let’s check out what the other authors are willing to reveal about their bad guys.
August 6, 2018
Who is your favorite antagonist/bad guy/villain in your books and why? What makes him/her tick?
Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.
I know it’s August, but the #MysteryExchange isn’t over. This week I’m pleased to present Cathy Perkins and her Holly Price books.
A
Different Point of View
By
Cathy Perkins
When
I was young, if you’d asked me for the last place I’d expect—or
want—to live, my answer would’ve been, “In a small town.”
Small towns seemed to be cultural wastelands, populated by gossiping
neighbors who were all related to each other. And out west? That
option never entered my Southern soul.
Fast
forward a few years and dangle the right job opportunity at the right
time and—you got it in one—we moved to a small town in eastern
Washington state. We quickly discovered most of those myths about
small towns were simply…myths.
As
we settled into our new hometown, I debated whether my novels should
make a similar cross-country leap. My South Carolina based mysteries
featured a law enforcement protagonist. To get appropriate
operational procedures, along with cop attitudes and humor, I drew
from a circle of friends at various levels of local, state and
federal law enforcement. Curious about procedures in our new town, I
participated in the Citizen’s Police Academy and discovered most of
the same policies and philosophies I’d encountered back east. (I
also learned more than I ever wanted to know about making meth. Nasty nasty
stuff.)
Volunteering
for the Sexual Assault Center as a hospital victim’s advocate
provided an intimate view of law enforcement. Other than one cocky,
testosterone-laden patrol officer and another older guy I wanted to
strangle (except that would be assault and I really had no interest
in going to jail), I found the officers professional, well educated
and well trained. Nobody’s perfect, but I appreciated what these
men and women did on a daily basis.
And
those inevitable slow days in a small town? Well, let’s just say
the day my in-law’s moving van got stuck at the entrance to the
retirement village (blocking traffic on the main road—another
relative term), all four patrol cars PLUS the sergeant showed up.
Once they finished laughing, they helped a retired mechanic (who was
in heaven being the expert, by the way) do something to a suspension
part and un-stuck it. For some strange reason, the chief of police
was not amused when I relayed this story at a party… So far, I’ve
refrained from using this tidbit in a book.
With
only five patrol officers on duty during a shift (and fewer than this
in the even smaller nearby towns) reciprocal agreements were a must.
Neighboring cities, counties, even Washington State Patrol was a
welcome addition when suspects took to the highways to escape. I made
use of this mutual support during Holly Price’s carjacking in So
About the Money (Book
1 in the series). In addition to the local officers, county deputies
and state patrol officers joined the chase to catch the villains in
that scene. On a broader scale, I’ve used the involvement of
outside agencies—the DEA, for example, in In
It For The Money—to
work with—and against—the local law enforcement agencies.
I’d
better back up a second. For this series, along with changing
locations from South Carolina’s cities to a small town in eastern
Washington, I switched from a multiple (hero, heroine, villain) point
of view approach and a law enforcement main character, to a single,
civilian character. Whew! Talk about stretching and growing as an
author. Everything that happened in the story had to come through
that one character’s experiences and reactions. (And no cheating
with, “Well, Laurie, as you know, this thing you should already
know about happened, but let me give you the complete backstory.”)
Action and body language became as important as dialogue for
revealing character—but that’s a different discussion.
Rather
than having my new protagonist act as a private investigator or a
journalist working the crime beat, I made my heroine an accountant.
Curious, bright and loyal to friends and family (hmm, she’s much
better at crime solving than my dog) she made a terrific character to
“follow the money.” Of course, when you poke at villains, they
have a tendency to poke back, harder. It was fun to write the scenes
where Holly bumped up against law enforcement and filter the scene
through her impressions—her point of view—rather than another
cop’s.
My
new law enforcement friends did insist I get the details right. Even
if they produced giant eye-rolls from my heroine.
So
About the Money romps
through eastern Washington with its rivers, wineries, Native American
casinos, and assorted farm animals. Add in some wicked fun chemistry
between the CPA amateur sleuth and a local detective and Holly Price
better solve the case before the next dead body found beside the
river is hers.
In
It For The Money
continues Holly’s adventures:
Holly Price traded
professional goals for personal plans when she agreed to leave her
high-flying position with the Seattle Mergers and Acquisition team
and take over the family accounting practice. Reunited with JC
Dimitrak, her former fiancé, she’s already questioning whether
she’s ready to flip her condo for marriage and a house in the
‘burbs.
When her cousin Tate
needs investors for his innovative car suspension, Holly works her
business matchmaking skills and connects him with a client. The
Rockcrawler showcasing the new part crashes at its debut event,
however, and the driver dies. Framed for the sabotage, Tate turns to
Holly when the local cops—including JC—are ready to haul him to
jail. Holly soon finds her cousin and client embroiled in multiple
criminal schemes. She’s drawn into the investigation, a position
that threatens her life, her family and her increasingly shaky
relationship with JC.
Thanks
for letting me visit today, PJ! I invite your readers to head over to
my blog and read your #mysteryexchange post about the story behind The Marquesa’s
Necklace, The Oak
Grove Mysteries, Book 1. https://cperkinswrites.com/2018/07/paranormal-transformation/
Author
Bio
An
award-winning author of financial mysteries, Cathy Perkins writes
twisting dark suspense and light amateur sleuth stories. When
not writing, she battles with the beavers over the pond height or
heads out on another travel adventure. She lives in Washington with
her husband, children, several dogs and the resident deer herd. Learn
more at her website, http://cperkinswrites.com.
July 30, 2018 Tell us about your favorite piece of furniture. Does it have a story behind it? It’s a simple rocking chair. Plain wood, no fancy carvings, with a few dents and bruises. Right now, I don’t even own any cushions to soften the seat. I’m not sure I’d call in my favorite piece of furniture, but it’s close.
But it has a story. You see, this is the chair my parents bought for me when I got pregnant for the first time. I won’t tell you how many years ago that was. That was pre-internet shopping, and I think it was ordered from Sear, Roebuck and Company through their catalog. Or possibly Montgomery Wards. I’ll wait while you young ones go google that. I lived over 1000 miles from them, and that was the best way to get it to me. There was a lot of rocking done in the chair after my daughter was born. The little dog we had at the time liked it, too.You can’t see it in the picture, but there’s a spot on the back rocker where he ate the wood away while he was teething. I’ve never tried to fix it.
When we moved even farther west, the chair made the trip with us. When my son was born, it was there to rock him, too. (Although he preferred our couch when he was tiny. I think he liked the feel of the rough fabric.)
Eventually, we made the move back from the west coast to the east coast. And yes, the chair moved with us. It didn’t get sat in as much as the kids grew up, but I had no desire to get rid of it. Eventually, we made the move from Florida back to Wyoming and to my dismay, the chair didn’t fit in the moving truck. So it stayed in Florida with my daughter, with the plan that she’d ship it to me when she could. But that didn’t happen for ten years.
There came a time when she left Florida and came to live with us. The chair came with her. Now she’s elsewhere with her husband and two children, but the chair stayed with me. I don’t use it very often, but it’s a good, solid chair that will likely outlast me.
Do you have a favorite piece of furniture? Feel free to share in the comments.
And the #MysteryExchange goes on! This week it’s Avery Daniels and her Resort to Murder series.
The
Romance of Resorts by Avery Daniels
I’m Avery Daniels, author of the Resort to Murder mystery series.
My amateur sleuth, Julienne, works in a luxury resort and the plan is
to have each book based in or around a resort. In my researching of
resorts, the romantic appeal is apparent whether you are single,
dating, or hitched.
Many, or most, of you have seen an episode of a reality show about
finding love. Whether it’s the Bachelor, Bachelorette, Bachelor in
Paradise, Average Joe, Joe Millionaire, or the Cougar the courtship
is done in luxury locations and homes. There is something about
being in a resort style setting that sparks romance. Many have even
suggested that the reality shows create this illusion because of the
locations that won’t hold up to normal life after the show.
I found many people talking about how romantic a resort is mention
how they feel totally away from the ordinary and focused on each
other. The top romantic resorts make that sense of a couple’s
getaway a priority in the staff. Otherwise the setting varies based
on the couple’s taste.
Are you into beaches with water activities, then you might like an
indoor/outdoor villa complete with private infinity pool, private
sand beach, champagne picnic for two, private excursions on the
resort’s yacht, and torch or candle lit sea-side dinner under the
stars.
Maybe you enjoy traveling Europe, then you might swoon over canopy
beds with a sunken hot-tub before a large fireplace, walking around a
medieval town with historic ruins, touring centuries old olive groves
and vineyards, strolling ancient forests criss-crossed by walking
paths where you come across deer and pheasant. There are even a few
historic manor houses or castles turned into luxury accommodations to
immerse yourself in history.
Maybe a mountain oasis is more your speed with horseback riding
around a lake, bicycling around mountain towns, skiing or
snowboarding, hay rides, canoeing, swimming, and hiking. If you’re
really adventurous you can white water raft, try some hot springs
(even some clothing optional ones), spa and massage treatments,
outdoor hottubs, and enjoy hot chocoloate and s’mores around
communal fire pits. Or maybe order room service to enjoy with a
sunken hot-tub before a large fireplace in your room. There are even
luxury tent-cabins (called Glamping for glamour camping) that still
have resort level amenities.
Then there is the safari resort experience to really get away from
the ordinary. Wildlife viewing with excursions and day trips to
wildlife preserves and learning about the native cultures are the
draw for these resorts. Or maybe the theme park resort is more your
style so you can play and be a kid again with all the adult luxuries.
There are many types that can even have a combination of the
classifications in one resort. Here is a quick listing of the types
or classifications of resorts around the world to consider: Beach
Resorts, Golf Resorts, Island Resorts, Luxury Resorts, Lake,
Mountain, Ski, Spa, Pet-Friendly, Theme Park, Historical, Dude Ranch,
Singles, Couples, Adult-Only, Family, Eco-Tourism, Clothing-Optional,
Casino and All Inclusive Resorts. Often times one resort will fall
into a few categories.
Whatever your style, there is a resort to help you with your inner
romantic. Even as a single person, I love the romance of resorts.
Sometimes it is the beauty around the resorts that nurture a romantic
mindset.
What would be the elements of your romantic getaway?
Avery Daniels was born and raised in Colorado, graduated from college with a degree in business administration and has worked in fortune 500 companies and Department of Defense her entire life. Her most eventful job was apartment management for 352 units. She still resides in Colorado with two brother black cats as her spirited companions. She volunteers for a cat shelter, enjoys scrapbooking and card making, photography, and painting in watercolor and acrylic. She inherited a love for reading from her mother and grandmother and grew up talking about books at the dinner table.
Iced:
Julienne has her ideal job as an event planner at a prestigious resort. During a luncheon event she coordinated, a renowned celebrity pastor is killed next to the buffet. All eyes turn to her as the suspect. If she wants to stay out of jail or even keep her job, Julienne needs all the help she can get to solve the crime.
Julienne goes undercover and investigates a local swingers group as she follows the trail of clues before they go cold. Can she gather enough suspects and motives to convince the police to widen their investigation? Can she do it before the killer sets his murderous sights on her? Will her personal life ever be as simple as unveiling a murderer?
Julienne is snow bound in the middle of the Rocky Mountains with a killer striking at will.
Julienne LaMere gets to attend a Resort Management conference at a prestigious ski resort in the Colorado Mountains. What should be an enjoyable getaway attending workshops by day and shopping and enjoying the resort by night comes to a screeching halt when a loud-mouthed guest is murdered plus the roads and town shut down for an epic blizzard.
In addition to attending the conference, dodging a smitten teen boy, and seeking clues among the gossiping – and increasingly tense – guests, her best friend’s heart has warmed to an unlikely man and may get broken. As if her mind isn’t already fully occupied, Julienne and her new boyfriend Mason are skiing down troubled slopes in their relationship. Will Julienne put the scant clues together and unveil the culprit before a murderer gets away?
Let’s talk wardrobe. Do you gravitate to one color? What is your go to style? What shoes do you prefer?
Once upon a time, I opened to my closet door and realized it was a sea of blue. All blue. I hadn’t done it on purpose, and if you had asked me, I would have told you blue wasn’t my favorite color. I’m still not sure how it happened. I’ve never let it happen again.
Now I gravitate to black. On purpose. My entire wardrobe isn’t black, but I have a lot of it. On purpose. Especially for work. It’s a great basic color that goes well with almost every color, and I don’t have to think to hard when I get dressed. Put on a pair of black pants and what ever color shirt I feel like wearing and I’m done. If I want to add an extra punch of professionalism, I can top it off with a black blazer.
Colors I don’t have in my closet? Green and gray. I own one green blouse and one gray sweater. I just feel as if both colors don’t look good on me. And I love me some nice gray but I’m normally disappointed when I try it on. It doesn’t work with my skin color.
Weekends my go-to is blue jeans. (or black jeans.) Depending upon my plan of activities, it’s either t-short or a casual top to go with them. I have more t-shirts than I need, really, but many of them are souvenirs of a trip somewhere, and I hate to get rid of them. I’ll keep them until they are worn out.
And my choice of shoes? None. Bare feet are my style. As soon as I get home, the shoes come off. As a kid, each summer I used to walk on the rocks in the driveway to toughen up my feet. As a result, my feet aren’t pretty, but I don’t care. I can go outside without stopping to put shoes on for a quick trip to the mailbox or to water my flowers.
When I have to wear shoes, tennis shoes are my choice most of the time. Sandals will work as well. (but not the kind that have the piece that goes between your toes. I hate those. Give me a pair of Jesus walkers any day.) I do own a couple of pairs of dress shoes. Black for work of course, and low heeled. Watching me walk in a pair of stilettos is not something you want to remember.But since I live out west, I had to buy a pair of boots. Not your traditional cowboy boots, but a lace up pair. They were the closet thing I can find to a pair of boots I owned back in my hippie days.
Oh, before I go, I should mention I own a few dresses. I rarely wear them. But at least I have them available for the proper occasion.
Now, let’s go find out what the other authors are wearing!
July 23, 2018
Let’s talk wardrobe. Do you gravitate to one color? What is your go to style? What shoes do you prefer?
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1. Link your blog to this hop.
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5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.
It’s week three of the #MysteryExchange and this week I’m happy to introduce Linda Brendle and her book Tatia’s Tattoo.
About
the book:
As
a successful D.C. lawyer, Tatia’s mission in life was to destroy
the sex trafficking trade in small-town America. She knew where to
find it. She’d been there. With only apathetic foster parents to
protect her, she fell prey to the local pimp. Trapped in the sordid
underbelly of a small Texas town, she survived by sheer will. Her
friendship with her fellow victim Cindy was the only light of
humanity in the darkness until she saw a familiar face. Would Mrs. G,
a mama bear of an attorney, still think she had strength and
potential? Would Jesse, the young Christian tattoo artist and biker,
still look at her with a twinkle in his eyes? Or would they both see
only the mark of shame Eric had etched onto her forearm?
Excerpt
from the book:
Tatia
couldn’t breathe. She could feel his weight on her chest, his hot
breath on her face – and pain – she felt hot, searing pain
running up the center of her body. Then, he rolled off of her, and
she could breathe again, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to. If she
could hold her breath long enough, maybe she could go where Mama and
Daddy went, to their Father’s house. Suddenly, he grabbed her by
the shoulder and jerked her off the bed into a standing position.
“Go
clean yourself up. My friend will be here in fifteen minutes. Stop
your bawling and freshen your make-up. You look like hell.”
He
turned to the bed to straighten the rumpled sheets. When he caught
sight of the fresh bloodstains, he threw his hands in the air in
exasperation.
“Was
this really your first time?”
The
only reply from the bathroom was the sound of running water and soft
sniffling.
“I
could have charged twice as much,” he yelled.
Tatia
woke with start as her alarm clock freed her from the nightmare she
had re-lived for more than a decade. She turned off the alarm and
slipped to her knees beside the bed, asking God to take away the
horror of the dream and to replace it with His light. Basking in the
love she felt in response to her prayer, she rose and picked up her
partially packed suitcase from the floor. She placed it on the bed,
ready for last-minutes toiletries, and headed for the shower. She had
a plane to catch and girls to rescue.
About
the author:
Linda
first began to write during her years as a caregiver. After two
memoirs, A
Long and Winding Road and
Mom’s Long Good-Bye, she
ventured into the world of fiction. Tatia’s
Tattoo will
be followed soon by Fallen
Angel Salvage, the
continuing story of Tatia, her family, and Eric ten years later.
In
semi-retirement from the business world, Linda holds a part-time job
as secretary for her church and an on-line position as an accounting
specialist for BookPros. She also writes a column for the weekly
newspaper in the tiny East Texas town where she and her husband David
live with their feral cat Kitty.
For example, when my father died, I kept working until the day of my flight back home, despite my boss’s “hints” that I could take the time off. But work helped me to avoid acknowledging my feelings until I was ready too. And that was several months later.
