Stuck On You….

A few weeks back I mentioned that I was waiting to hear back on a full ms I had submitted to my editor at Samhain.  This is a story that I wasn’t sure would find a home.  To my relief (and surprise) it wasn’t rejected outright.  In fact I was offered the opportunity to tweak it (strengthen the opening chapter and heighten the conflict).  YEAH!  This story had won a pitch contest at Harlequin, but ultimately the editor was uncomfortable with the nature of the conflict (health issues are a little tricky).

For some weird reason (holiday madness, too little Baileys) I’ve struggled gettting my thoughts on paper.  In my head I know what I need to do — the execution,however, is killing me (bad pun, I know).  I’m hoping that when this weekend is over, I’ll be able to really sit down and find my brain again.  I’ve set a deadline that I have to complete my changes before I head to NYC in two weeks.  If I leave town without resolving it, I’ll drive myself crazy instead of enjoying a holiday weekend in the city.

Surrounded By Turkeys Today?

If these two can get along…surely you can survive a few hours surrounded by those relatives that make you question whether there is room in the turkey for you to stuff your head!

 

It’s That Time of Year Again…

 

Happy Birthday, Tazzy-Do

We love you, it’s true

Wishing we were there, too

Celebrating with you!

 

 

Happy Birthday, Tazzy-Poo

Enjoy that crazy zoo

Hope Nonnie’s not blue

Drink some wine for us, too!

(oops, not you)

If My Friends Could See Me Now….

Morning Adventure:  Once a week a lovely service, with the enchanting name Pooper Scooper, comes to my home and cleans the fenced in yard where my dogs roam freely.  Today I suffered a small snafu…unaware that the young woman had arrived to clean I opened the sliding glass doors and let the dogs out.  OOOOPS – the gate was wide open.  As I dashed through the snow in my bare feet, my four-year old stood by and shouted encouragement.  After five minutes I had successfully collected Sox and Guinness.  Bailey, the wily little street urchin, escaped.

 

Prancing through the snow he dodged every attempt I made at catching him. (My puppies do not wear collars any longer because the border collie chews them all off).  As the young woman looked on in amusement/horror I tried to sweet talk my beagle into returning home.  Finally I grabbed a bag of pizza goldfish and started sprinkling them all over the neighborhood.  By the time I finally cornered the muddy mutt with pizza breath, my toes were numb.

 

Instead of having to chastise my wayward little friend, his older brother intervened.  As I carried Bailey back into the kitchen my border collie ran over and bit him on the paw.  Ouch!!! The price of freedom is often too high!!!

Hustling “Charlie Hustle” on the Vegas Strip….

Prior to the release of my debut novel, The Catcher and the Lie, I decided to have some fun by creating promotional postcards.  On a whim I had 100 cards made up with pictures of my two contracted books on the front.

 

When my husband took a recent business trip to Vegas he packed a stack of my postcards.  Yes…he actually handed them out on the strip.  Even better — he spotted Pete Rose (a real life baseball legend).  I’m sorry but there is nothing more fun than seeing a former baseball star holding a picture of my debut novel, which centers on a professional baseball player.  Oooh, don’t get me started on the irony of my book’s title and ….well, you know where I’m going with that, I’m sure!

 

Hugs to Charlie Hustle for being so wonderful to my zealous husband!  Regardless of what happens with the Hall of Fame — Pete Rose was an absolute champion on the field.  (I’d give him the nod if I had a vote).

 

Please visit:  http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/the-catcher-and-the-lie to pick up a copy of my book if you haven’t had a chance yet. 

 

Follow me where I go, what I do, and who I know…

Today I am guest blogging at one of my favorite sites.  Yippee!  Please stop by and say hello.

 www.loveisanexplodingcigar.com 

Check back here later this week for a fabulous photo from Las Vegas.  I’m thinking of having it made into a poster – YES, it is that cool.

P.S.  Can you guess the artist responsible for today’s post title?  It’s John Denver’s Follow Me (if you knew the answer I’m thinking that’s probably not so cool).

 

 

 

An Ode to My Brother on the Occasion of His Birthday

Birthday Blessings from your favorite SYCOPHANT

 

I’m fortunate, and I’m glad
I got you for my brother;
Even if I had the chance,
I wouldn’t pick another.

 

I’m happy you’re in my life;
You’re a winner, come what may.
May your birthday wishes come true

 On this very special day. 

 

 

 

 

 

Viva Las Vegas….(Part 1)

I  Sports!  Baseball.  Hockey.  Football.  Golf.  Wrestling.  You name it — I grew up watching it on televsion.  And honestly I even liked it then.  Huddled in a darkened den watching the Boston Bruins.  Sitting in the bleachers at Fenway Park with my dad on a Saturday afternoon (last minute tickets and my brothers weren’t home – so dad had little choice but to bring his youngest daughter).  Sundays in front of the fireplace watching the Patriots get stomped week after week. 

What the heck does this have to do with Las Vegas?  Well my husband just came back from a five day business trip with a special surprise.  No jewelry.  No jackpot winnings.  Something much more fun….A picture of FOOTBALL LEGEND — Kenny “The Snake” Stabler.  Now this is really cool because he was a fantabulous quarterback and he’s holding a promotional postcard of my first two novels. 

Mr. Stabler and his lovely wife were kind enough to oblige my enthusiastic husband.  I loved The Snake as a player and now I kind of have a crush on him for just being a cool guy!!!! 

Oh, the magic of Las Vegas!!!!!

“I want to thank you for giving me the best day of my life …”

Okay.  I used a little poetic license with my song lyric choice for the day (Dido, circa 1998 for all of you music buffs).  But yesterday was a very, very special day for me.  The release of my first novel, The Catcher and the Lie, signified the culmination of a life long dream.  So I do want to thank you for your support and encouragement!

Dan * nonnie * Dad * Uncle Gus  *tera  *‘ my boys’ *  Moe *  Kat & Katie & Tara * wink & kelly * LTS  *samhain publishing  *john & mary  * Friends

old and new

*Guinness  * Sox  * Bailey

A Day of Remembrance….

On this special day honoring the brave men and women who have sacrificied for the freedom of others, I share with you a favorite song.

No Man’s Land by Eric Bogle

How do you do young Willie McBride,
Do you mind if I sit here down by your graveside,
And rest for a while ‘neath the warm Summer sun,
I’ve been walking all day and I’m nearly done
I see by your gravestone you were only 19
when you joined the great fall-in in 1916
I hope you died well and I hope you died clean
Or young Willie McBride was it slow and obscene.
Did they beat the drum slowly did they play the fife lowly
Did they sound the death march as they lowered you down
Did the band play the Last Post and Chorus
Did the pipes play the Flowers of the Forest

Did you leave a wife or a sweetheart behind
In some faithful heart is your memory enshrined
Although you died back in 1916
In that faithful heart are you forever 19
Or are you a stranger without even a name
Enclosed then forever behind a glass frame
In an old photograph torn, battered and stained
And faded to yellow in a brown leather frame.

Did they beat the drum slowly did they play the fife lowly
Did they sound the death march as they lowered you down
Did the band play the Last Post and Chorus
Did the pipes play the Flowers of the Forest

The sun now it shines on the green fields of France
There’s a warm summer breeze makes the red poppies dance
And look how the sun shines from under the clouds
There’s no gas, no barbwire, there’s no guns firing now
But here in this graveyard it’s still no man’s land
the countless white crosses stand mute in the sand
To man’s blind indifference to his fellow man
To a whole generation that were butchered and damned.

Heartfelt thanks and prayers to all past, present and future members of the United States Military.  May you stay safe, strong, and healthy.  GOD BLESS!