Genevive Chamblee's Blog, page 15

How to Organize in the New Year

Hey all! It’s a new year, and time for resolutions to begin as the holiday celebration comes to a close. But I’m not ending my celebration. On the contrary, I’m just beginning. On February 2, 2023, Future Goals, the fifth book in my standalone sports romance series, Locker Room Love, releases. To celebrate, I’ll be posting daily with inside peeks, giveaways, and informative articles on topics that somehow relate to subjects, plots, or characters in the book as well as my regular content.

Since January is typically when most people discuss goals and resolutions, I thought that would be an appropriate topic for today. However, several years ago, I stopped making New Year’s resolutions because like so many people, I would begin strong and fizzle out after a couple of months. I would take on too much too fast and become overwhelmed. So, I came up with a Plan B—monthly goals and planning.

I know; I know. It’s odd that I would say that seeing how I’m a devout pantser and procrastination is my bestie. But these are the reason why I brought deco planning into my life. Just because a person does not plan in a traditional manner does not mean his/her life is chaos.

Before I get into it, I need to make a disclaimer. This post is not sponsored, and no links listed are affiliated. If I name a product by brand, it’s because I truly enjoy the product, and I believe in sharing what I love.

First, I use a disc-bound system. Coils are cute, but I prefer discs because they allow me to rearrange, add, and remove pages as I see fit. Plus, I can easily, temporarily place needed pages in other planners if I need to change. For example, I work from two planners—a catchall/ everyday planner and my writing work planner. Sometimes, I need a change of scenery and I need to have information in my planners handy. Instead of lugging around both planners, I pop the pages from one into the other.

But in an age of digital technology, why-old school kill-a-tree plan? There are a couple of reasons why pen and paper are handy.

Power outages. During storms, I may need to conserve battery power to electronics for emergencies or only necessary communication.Lack of outlets. In conferences, sessions can draw out, and batteries die. However, there may not be a power source available to recharge.Cords and foot traffic conflict. I attended a conference where there were plenty of outlet lets. The only problem was that the outlets were on the wall opposite the seats. Since this was a lecture hall, the room was built on an incline. This meant stretching the power cord across the stairs where people were walking. I don’t know who designed that room, but that wasn’t the brightest idea. When the lights dimmed, that was a lawsuit waiting to happen.Outside. When the weather is nice, I enjoy working outdoors. One of my favorite outdoor spots is in the park. While the amphitheater there does have outlets, sometimes people are using them or the stages can’t be accessed. And unless I want to sit on the floor, I have to bring a folding chair and hold my laptop in my lap the entire time—which I suppose is why it’s called a laptop.Crashes. I’ve had multiple devices crash and the backup not be backed up. It truly sucks to have that happen. However, what sucks worse is to have no idea what was lost.Disturbing light. Sometimes the light from an electronic device in a dim room can be distracting. Jotting down notes with a penlight may not be as noticeable when watching a movie as a full-blown illuminated screen.Prohibited. Yes, some places are really antiques and do not allow electronics.Fun factor. Decorating planner pages can be entertaining and/or therapeutic and a creative outlet. For example, one could decorate with motivational quotes or inspiring images. I find looking at pretty pages makes having to read undesired tasks more tolerable than when they are sitting on a drab screen or boring, plain paper.Multitasking. I don’t know about you, but sometimes having multiple screens opened simultaneously or bobbing between them gets confusing. I’ve found myself getting mixed up and typing in the wrong documents. With a paper planner, I can have it open for reference while I work on an electronic document.Storage space. Can I say how annoying it is to be ready to save something only to receive an error message that in order to save I must delete something? I can honestly say I have found this usually to be a costly problem. Even when I delete half of the stored drive, the insufficient space errors crop up repeatedly until I give in and purchase a new device. And speaking of…Incompatibility. I’ve lost data/files to new devices because older software can’t be read or becomes corrupted when attempting to convert.Lost passwords. This happened to a friend who, to this day, has been unsuccessful in retrieving saved documents due to not being able to remember his password and all of his security answers. (Don’t ask me why he would write answers to his security questions that he can’t remember.)Locked out. This is similar to the previous one, but this is related to servers that do strange things. A coworker had her website hacked, and the server closed his account after being reported for service term violations. Despite the violations being caused by the hacker and the server acknowledging this, my coworker was never given access to her website again. She lost everything.Space. This really isn’t the case with my tablet, but sometimes toting my laptop is inconvenient, and a smaller planner is less of a hassle.Hot and cold—but mostly hot. I enjoy being mobile, and all is well when I’m traveling from point A to point B. It’s when I have to make a stop that things get dicey. The temps can really get up there, and it’s not ideal to leave a laptop in a hot trunk for hours.Surface. There are some surfaces that I don’t want to set my laptop on but do not mind plopping down my planner.Honorable Mention. I’m only adding this because one of my besties insisted. Now, I’m going to be completely honest and admit that I’ve never heard of this happening to anyone other than my bestie who is a catalyst for “stranger things.” In any case, he claims his computer got close to something magnetic, and what it was erased the memory. Hey, don’t shoot the reporter on this one.

As mentioned, I use a disc planner from Happy Planner. I prefer the vertical layout, but have an interest in the horizontal. I customize it by using stickers (many from indie shops), changing discs, hand lettering, using Zig Clean Color Dot markers, blackout pages, washi tape (mostly from Simply Gilded or The Washi Tape Shop), distressed ink, colored pens, specialty paper, extension packs, and more. All I can say is that it works for me.

How will you organize for 2023? Has this post changed your opinion about old-school planning? What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (Book #4) retakes the ice. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search for me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors or BookBub or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing

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Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting mushy watching pet adoption commercials, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well. Genevive believes in variety, equality, and representation of all and is willing to tackle difficult subjects that may be shunned in many romance novels.

How to Mentally Prepare for the New Year

Yes, a new year is right around the corner, but there are a few days left in this one before moving on. It’s exciting to begin fresh, but it’s also equally as important to take a moment to reflect on both the big and small achievements made in the current year.

As I was pondering what would be my final blog topic for the year, I was listening to a content creator speak on an unfortunate incident with a television personality. She spoke on his tragic circumstances and extended it to the general public and that some people feel that they have nothing and no one. I’ve written previous posts on the topics of seasonal depression and holiday depression. (NOTE: Holiday depression is not an official clinical term. It’s just what I call it and think should have its own as it frequently has nothing to do with sun exposure and serotonin and everything to do with negative feelings produced by an approaching holiday. It’s not just Thanksgiving and Christmas that can bring the blues. It’s also seen around other holidays such as New Years and Valentine’s Day.)

While New Years is invigorating to many people, it can elicit a feeling of loss and regret in others. People struggling to cope with the holidays may not see a new year as a fresh beginning but, rather, a continuation of dread. Some may become depressed by the new year because it may bring an end to something good. For example, someone who has contractual employment may know their contract will not be renewed and be stressed to find a new job.

Another example was expressed to me years ago by a former coworker. She has been unfortunate in relationships. Throughout the year (and the previous year), she had watched and celebrated many of her friends get either engaged, married, or have children. During that time, she hadn’t had a single relationship and not from a lack of seeking one. Then, one day, she heard the proverb that the person one kisses at midnight on New Year’s Eve is the person who one will spend the year with. Well, this sent her spiraling. Sure, she’d heard this proverb before, but that year it struck differently for her. As she looked back on her life, she noted that she’d never kissed anyone at midnight and spent every New Year’s Eve alone. That year, she made it a priority to go out with the hopes that she would meet someone. She didn’t. and she was without a romantic relationship that year as well. Now, she views New Years as a reminder of being alone which she considers a type of failure. In fact, she now goes to bed early on New Year’s Eve, foregoing any type of celebration, because it makes her that sad.

As the content creator continued to talk, she encouraged listeners to reach out to family, friends, and loved ones during the holidays. She pointed out that just because a person smiles does not mean that person is happy. Many people who are depressed will put on a brave front around others. They aren’t seeking pity or attention and may not want others to be concerned for them. Much attention is given to depression and anxiety that occurs around Thanksgiving and Christmas, but there seems to be an assumption that this depression doesn’t extend past December 25th. There appears to be a conjecture that Christmas is the hump that once “conquered” is the final quest. But it isn’t. New Years can be equally as distressing for some. However, there are things that a person can do to help mentally prepare himself/herself for a new year.

Make a list of all accomplishments over the past year. It does not matter if those accomplishments seem insignificant. They count. Maybe a person did not get the work promotion that he/she wanted. However, that person may have been able save a hundred dollars a month from each paycheck. Maybe the person was unable to afford a trip to Paris or Rome but they were able to have a pleasant staycation. Maybe a student didn’t get straight As for the semester but made the honor roll anyway. Every accomplishment counts.Focus on the positives and not the negatives. It’s easy to get bogged down in all of the bad things in life. Think of the good that will follow into the new year. Perhaps a person’s house burned but the new year brings the prospect of a new home to fill with new memories. Maybe a long-term romantic relationship ended. This may allow the person more time to spend with family or reconnect with friends.Remember that setbacks are not permanent. Just because a person had a difficult year does not mean the new year will be as difficult.Choices make a difference. If a person knows for certain that the new year will hold a specific hardship for him/her, he/she can make a plan of how to cope with it before it happens. For example, if a person knows that he/she will likely have their home foreclosed, then he/she may begin downsizing and saving money to prepare for the move. Not all terrible events can be prevented, but many can be managed.Take notice of what one may have missed in the current year. For example, a person may have walked by a park every day at lunch and not given attention to its beauty. That ignored view may be something the person should list on his/her gratitude list. All the missed small things when considered may alter a person’s perspective and illustrate that the person had more blessings in his/her current year than he/she thought.Finally, close out the current year on a positive. The attitude going into a new year will help determine how the new year will be. However, it may be difficult to have a positive attitude about a new year when one is thinking negatively about the current year. Let the past say the past but appreciate it for the good times and the lessons learned even if they were hard ones.

And that will conclude this post and my blogging for this year. It’s been a pleasure writing the Creole Bayou blog, and I look forward to continuing next year. I have plenty of new content planned. Thank you to everyone who has supported this blog and my writing. You are very much appreciated, and I wouldn’t be doing any of this if it weren’t for you.

Now, it’s your turn to sound off. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) takes the ice again. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting lost anywhere beyond her front yard (the back is pushing it as she’s very geographically challenged), falling in love with shelter animals (and she adopts them), asking off-the-beaten-path questions that make one go “hmm”, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well.

How to Spend Christmas Alone: Seven Positives to Spending Christmas Alone

I was inspired to write this post for many reasons, but mainly, because of one person—a content creator. I began following this creator several years ago. I’m not going to list his/her name because he/she does not like being singled out for doing good deeds or blessing others. I’m sure this person is not alone in doing this type of thing, but he/she is the person that I’ve had personal interactions with.

On each major holiday, this creator has a live broadcast to spend part of his/her day with his/her followers and anyone else who tune in. The reason he/she does it is to provide an opportunity for those spending the holiday alone to have someone to chat with and feel less lonely, even if it is for a short while. Although I’m usually not alone on major holidays, I like to tune in to lend my voice and help spread cheer if I can. But this year, I got to thinking. Perhaps it was because I was having a not-so-great day and the weather was gloomy. And anytime I start feeling sorry for myself (especially over something minor and petty), I get irritated. I began wondering what could I do that would be productive. That’s when my mind floated to Christmas and all the positives associated with it.

Over the past several weeks, I’ve written many holiday posts. However, the one topic that I did not cover, and one that I don’t think many people do, is that spending Christmas (or any major holiday) has positives and may not be all that bad despite what all the holiday movies may suggest. A person may elect to spend the holidays alone, and this choice doesn’t make him/her a Grinch or a Scrooge. And even if the decision to be alone on Christmas isn’t by choice, it still does not have to be viewed as a negative. I think the positives deserve to be highlighted.

No fighting over the remote. Watch whatever you want.You don’t have to change out of your PJs or sleepwear. You can lounge around all day in your comfy clothes without having to make yourself presentable.Sleeping in. Ah! It can feel good to catch up on much-needed sleep or rest if you’re a person who has been scurrying around like a worker ant. Last year, I saw on social media that an associate posted to her status for no one to contact her for the day. She stated that her children were grown; therefore, no one in the house would be waking up early. While honest, I felt her statement was a bit rude and unnecessary. If she didn’t want to be bothered, all she had to do was shut her ringer off. Her closest friends would already know not to stop by unannounced, and strangers or persons not that close to her likely wouldn’t see her social media post anyway. But that’s just my opinion that is neither here nor there. The point is, she was choosing solitude for the day.No awkward situations and conversations. I haven’t encountered this for many, many years, but growing up, it was a frequent occurrence. I came from a large family (at least, on one side), and Christmas Day—more specifically, Christmas morning—was gift exchange day. My father had taken it upon himself to be Santa. No, he didn’t dress up, but he was the person who rounded up all the gifts and delivered them to all of the relatives. And it was an ordeal being sure all the presents got to the right recipient. There was an order in how the gifts were loaded into the car, with the first stop being the last presents packed. Now, it never helped that my mother, the designated gift wrapper, waited until Christmas morning to wrap the relatives’ gifts. This always threw a kink in the departure time and in packing. Inevitably, she would go into a hissy about being rushed. Then, because everyone was related, some relatives may be at other relatives’ homes which, of course, meant we’d have to dig through the pile of gifts in the car to give those relatives their gifts. And here’s where the awkwardness really began. The relatives would feel bad for accepting a gift and not having one to give in return. Or because there were so many presents, gifts were misplaced. Frequently, this led to long scavenger hunt-type searches. In desperation, gifts would be regifted on the spot—literally, taking a present recently unwrapped, walking into the next room, rewrapping it, and giving it to someone. Or because there were so many relatives, a person accidentally was overlooked and didn’t get a gift. I didn’t mind not getting gifts. It never hurt my feelings. But oh, the gossip and big deal made.

One year, my mother asked what I had received from one of my relatives. When I told her nothing, she initially thought I was horsing around. Once she recognized that I wasn’t, it was as if Chornobyl had melted. Oh, my goodness! She was on the phone telling this relative and that one how I hadn’t gotten a gift. Eventually, it got back to the relative who hadn’t gotten me a gift, and he approached me about it. It was really awkward. I was made to feel as if I were begging for a gift. As a side note, he never gifted me a present that year, and there have been plenty of years after that he’s neglected to gift me anything. I mean, I get it. Things are expensive. It’s fine. Once I reached adulthood, I put my foot down and made it clear to my mother not to ask me anything about who I receive presents from or give to.

Another big issue was mislabeled gifts. As a child, I was taught to always say thank you and show gratitude for any gift received regardless of how tacky or how much I disliked it. Due to the family being large, it almost always happened that someone was given the wrong gift. However, sometimes, the receiver does not always know that he/she has been given the wrong gift. So, I would have to pretend to like something not meant for me. Then, the giver would hesitate to take it back because I liked it so much. Then, it would have to be re-wrapped, and usually, there wasn’t any wrapping paper left. So, we kids would have to dig through the torn paper in the trash to find a piece big enough to recycle. It was a whole mess.

Yet, the worse was when my father decided that one of my brothers should be Santa and I had to maintain my “elf” role. At least, with my father, I had a buffer. He could have extended conversations with the older relatives. My brother, although much older than me, would push me forward to do all the talking. He would only grin at their questions and barely say two words. I was so happy when all of that stopped being a thing. Unfortunately, I was not delighted as to why it stopped. When the older relatives began passing away, other relatives who lived away stopped visiting on Christmas. When my brother got married, he handed the Santa wrings back to my father, and when my father passed, no one took up the slack. I’m ashamed to say, I purposefully didn’t undertake the task. Something that should have been fun was not. This brings me to the next point.

Not subjugated to reindeer games, thus, no arguing. As the saying goes, it takes two to have an argument. We used to play Dirty Santa at work until after the game ended and people complained about the gift they received. The irony here is that there was a $15.00 maximum spending cap. No one should expect a Mercedes for that amount. Yet, they did, or they gripe that the gift wasn’t the max amount. Here’s a funny (and not in a good way). One worker, who was very thrifty, took advantage of the Bath & Body Works 75% off sale. Their gift was a full-size lotion and bath gel. Regularly priced, either of these items came close to the $15.00 cap, but because of the sale, the combined cost was less than half of the max. So, while the value of the gift exceeded the spending cap, some workers felt it wasn’t enough due to the sales price. Workers began leaving on the price tags to prove the retail value of the gifts, and later were called out for being tasteless. Eventually, people just began buying gift cards. Well, what’s a Dirty Santa game if everyone is exchanging $15.00 gift cards? As expected, with each year, fewer workers participated until it all finally was discontinued. Again, what should have been a fun activity was ruined. A person who is alone can avoid such nonsense.The ability to focus on what’s important. I’ve spent a lot of time discussing the commercialism of Christmas. For religious people, Christmas is a time to focus on spirituality. Being alone may give a person time to meditate, pray, or read scripture uninterrupted by the outside world.Oneself is the best gift giver. Take time to pamper yourself. A close friend has a job requiring that he be on his feet a lot. He works long hours and generally doesn’t have a chance to soak his feet. However, this Christmas, that is the gift he’s giving himself. He bought himself a foot spa and plans to watch classic comedies while having an at-home foot massage. He stated he wouldn’t be comfortable doing this with other people watching him. Another friend stated that she plans to spend the day reading because she never has a break when she can read uninterrupted.

And that brings this post to a close. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) retakes the ice. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting mushy watching pet adoption commercials, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well. Genevive believes in variety, equality, and representation of all and is willing to tackle difficult subjects that may be shunned in many romance novels.

The Naughty List 2022: A Holiday Book Tag

Wow, it’s December, and Christmas is almost here. I keep hearing people say that it is hard to believe that they can’t believe it’s almost Christmas I believe that it is. This year, getting in the holiday spirit has been more difficult than in previous years. One would think with “The Rona” fading and the world returning to a semi-normal state, that I would have more holiday cheer. Yet the motivation hasn’t been there. So, I decided to take steps to force myself to look forward to Christmas.

Several years ago, I discovered a writing tag challenge called the #TheNaughtyList: A Holiday Writing Tag. It was created by author and YouTuber, Jenna Moreci. If you haven’t seen any of Jenna’s videos, give her a view. She has some awesome writing tips. I’ve created this challenge twice before, once for Out of the Penalty Box and again for Defending the Net. I do not know why I didn’t for Ice Gladiators, but I intend to rectify that today by including it as well as Penalty Kill and possibly a sneak peek at Future Goals. I enjoy completing this tag/challenge because I enjoy writing and sharing. It also gives me an opportunity to think about the characters I create, the world in which they exist, and future stories.

The Rules:

The rules of The Naughty List are the following.

Stories that have greater than fifteen characters cannot have the same character used more than once in the answers. Stories with less than fifteen characters cannot have the same characters used more than twice in the answers.Begin the tag/challenge with a brief description of the story. The story description cannot exceed five sentences.Use the hashtag #TheNaughtyList

Those are the official rules. Here are a few others.

Keep in mind that Jenna is YouTuber and originally completed this challenge in a video. Thus, both video and blogging are acceptable methods to complete this challenge.Please link your answers to the challenge back to the creator (a.k.a., Jenna Moreci) for creation credit and the person who you are seeing this tag.Now, let me re-iterate. This tag was created several years ago. The questions may have been updated since that time in a different version of this tag.

I will be bending the rules slightly since I will be using three books (Ice Gladiators, Penalty Kill and Future Goals) instead of one. This will allow me to use characters only once since most of the stories have fewer than fifteen characters. I will note each book that the characters are in. However, this is a series (but each book can be read as a stand-alone), and some characters are crossovers.

Description of stories:

Ice Gladiators is the story of Taz and Liam (book #3 in the Locker Room Love sports romance series). Taz is a minor league hockey player looking to make it to the NHL. His life is complicated by a coach who has it out for him and an attraction to Liam, one of his best friends and roommate’s boyfriend.Penalty Kill (book #4 in the Locker Room Love series) is the story of Timothée and Ryker. Timothée is a public relations nightmare with a murder suspicion looming over his head. Ryker is the sports agent sent to clean up the mess of his reluctant client. Future Goals (book #4 in the Locker Room Love series) is the story of Corrigan and Sacha. Corrigan is beginning his first year of D1 hockey. Having moved from New York to Louisiana, he’s experiencing trouble with the transition. Sacha has been demoted from being a lead defense attorney to a paper pusher and is in charge of handling Corrigan’s scholarship. But Sacha has issues of his own.

The Questions:

1 Which character is SO into the holidays, they nearly cause a street-wide power outage from all their Christmas lights? Taz (Ice Gladiators). He’s really a big kid, and if he had the means, he would totally submerge himself in holiday tinsel.

2 Which character attends the office New Year’s party with ONE date…and goes home with someone else? I had to use a process of elimination to determine this answer, and the last one standing was Victor (Ice Gladiators). However, I have to say in Victor’s defense that this would depend on who he arrived with initially. I can think of some instances in that he wouldn’t be willing to swap dates so quickly.

3 Which character is more than happy to steal Hanukkah gelt from poor, unsuspecting children? [Note: Hanukkah gelt = chocolate coins] Jackson (Ice Gladiators). He may or may not have sticky fingers. There are some characters that will tell you if he comes over to hide your valuables first.

4 Fill in the blanks: I saw ____[character]____ doing a whole lot more than __[verb]____-ing Santa Claus. They were full on [action] ________. Fill in the blanks: I saw Liam (Ice Gladiators) doing a whole lot more than carding Santa Claus. They were full on frisking each other. This kind of calls to attention who exactly in the Santa suit. Liam’s dream is to own and operate a speakeasy. His place is an exclusive establishment, and it is only logical that the appropriate identification and password would be required for entry.

5 One of your characters decides to pregame before church and passes out in the middle of the Christmas service. Which character is it? This answer remains the same as in previous years. It has to be Aidan (Ice Gladiators and Penalty Kill) because he does not hold his liquor well. (This character also has appeared in Out of the Penalty Box and Defending the Net.)

6 Which character hasn’t been seen since winter began because they refuse to deal with the snow? Several characters would fit here because the Locker Room Love series is set in the Deep South (South Louisiana and Mississippi). These areas rarely get snow, and when they do, a half inch can be enough to shut down entire cities. The South simply isn’t equipped to deal with the snow. Thus, if it did snow, most of these characters would hunker down until it everything melted. But since I have to pick one character, I’m going to go with Kaden. Kaden would be the type to build a fire and chill.

7 Which character completely forgot about the holidays and ends up regifting to everyone? Out of the characters I have to choose from, I’m going to select Timothée (Penalty Kill). The only reason I picked him is because he is a character who has a lot on his mind and so many personal issues that he wouldn’t prioritize the holidays. Plus, he has enough clothes, art, and whatnot to easily pack something up and re-gift it.

8 Which character has such crappy luck, they only discover their potato allergy after pigging out on latkes (latkes are a type of potato pancake or fritter in Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine that is generally prepared to celebrate Hanukkah)? I know the rules say to only use the characters once, but I have to cheat. But, let me defend myself. Although I’m using three books, the combined total of characters that have a true presence in the stories is less than fifteen because some of the same characters are in multiple books. For that reason, I’m going to choose Timothée (Penalty Kill) again. I really didn’t want to have to select Timothée for this answer, but he really does have horrible luck. Around every corner, there is something. He just can’t seem to catch a break.

9 The Krampus has arrived to punish your very bad characters. Which character is kind of into it? Ryker (Penalty Kill). You know what they say: It’s always the quiet ones. Ryker may frequently fly under the radar because he ends up having to be people’s (especially Timothée’s) moral compass, but there is a bad boy underneath.

10 One of your characters should be on the naughty list but has convinced Santa to clear their name. Which character is it, and what was their means of persuasion? Initially, I thought this was the easiest question to answer on the list and was going to say Kian (Future Goals). But after reflecting on my reason for why, I realized there was another character who likely better fit. I’m going with Sacha because he’s a defense attorney and is used to convincing juries of his clients’ innocences. It’s his job, and he brags about being good at it.

Many thanks to Jenna Moreci for creating this for everyone to enjoy. Be sure to visit her on YouTube and check out her novels on Amazon and in bookstores.

So, that wraps up this post. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) takes the ice again. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting mushy watching pet adoption commercials, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well. Genevive believes in variety, equality, and representation of all and is willing to tackle difficult subjects that may be shunned in many romance novels.

How the Holidays Promote Positive Mental Health

It’s one more week closer to Christmas and Kwanzaa and a few days shy of the beginning of Hanukkah. Thus, I think it is fair to say that we are in the thick of the holiday season. Getting through the holiday season can be a mixed bag. For some, it truly is the most magnificent time of the year and filled with nothing but joy and cheer. Then, for some, the holidays can be overwhelming a dreadful. Now, in the past, I’ve written several posts about holidays and mental health with the most recent being How to Mentally Prepare for the Holidays. While sitting pondering what topic to write for this week and reviewing previous posts, I realized that many of the holiday posts I’ve written that relate to mental health have focused on mental health struggles through the holidays. Maybe this has occurred because there are so many “feel-good” holiday movies, that I felt it necessary to write posts that could help those not having such an easy time of it. But this tilts the scale the other way on Creole Bayou, and some would argue that suggests there is more negative about the holidays than good. Well, I don’t want to speak that into the world, and thought more balance was needed on how to view the holidays. There are clinical studies that suggest that celebrating the holidays may actually have mental health benefits.

Holidays (and not just Christmas) are frequently filled with traditions. While many people associate holiday traditions only with Christmas or Hanukkah, this simply isn’t the case. One friend always goes skiing on Labor Day weekend. Another friend always hosts a Fourth of July swim party. Another friend, without fail, dresses up like Riff Raff and treks down to the park to watch The Rocky Horror Picture Show each Halloween. And I heard of other people who always take an icy plunge on the first day of winter. Some traditions are started intentionally while others may begin quite by accident. By definition, a tradition is a customary, established, or inherited pattern of action, behavior, or thought from one generation to another. Having traditions can create a sense of well-being. How? It’s because traditions may reduce the stress of decision-making. With traditions, one knows what to do and how to do it without having to give it much thought. That’s because traditions are familiar. People are more comfortable in familiar settings and environments. Thus, being surrounded by recognizable and accustomed situations and/or locations may elicit feelings of contentment, security, and solace.The holidays may be a time to reflect, recall, and remember joyous events from the past. Now, unless someone has a life like the Count of Monte Cristo and was annually subjected to flogging, most people can recall at least one fond memory that occurred during the holidays. Call me an odd child, but I was never one to want to sit on a mall Santa’s lap. I also didn’t enjoy all the cleaning that I was required to do before putting up the Christmas tree. As a matter of fact, those are some of my worst memories. However, all of those are trumped by the time spent with family, many of who are no longer here on earth. I have treasured memories of riding through town and viewing Christmas lights and funny eggnog toasts. Reflecting on positive past events is good for one’s mental health.Gratitude is a word frequently heard around the holidays. That is because so many people consider the holidays as a time of reflection and to be thankful, perhaps, in part because the year is ending, and seeing an overall perspective is easier in December than in April or May. People are encouraged to be charitable and help those who are less fortunate. And when helping others, it forces one to consider the many blessings and fortunes he/she has. This gratitude can help create healthy mental health.The next concept of why celebrating the holidays can be good for mental health is a little more complex to explain. It begins with the term collective effervescence. This term was coined in 1912 by Émile Durkheim, a French socialist. It means a feeling of intense excitement and happiness when a person has the ability to look beyond himself and embrace an eminent perspective that includes consideration for others when people are connected or united in concentrating on a singular effort or topic. A more straightforward way to view this is to think of it as feeding off of others’ energy. Have you ever walked into a place and felt the happiness of others, and their happiness fueled your own happiness? I recall one morning when my child was just learning to pull up in her crib. I thought she was asleep, but when I looked across the room, she had pulled up and was staring at me. the only portion visible of her (there were bumpers attached to the crib sides) was from the bridge of her nose to the top of her head. I could tell from her eyes that she was smiling. I remember instantly filling with joy at seeing her smile. I was happy because she was happy, and the two of us shared this happiness. Collective effervescence is that type of feeling but on a much broader and more intense level. It is a bonding of sorts with many people who all have the same focus. In some ways, it allows a person to feel connected to others he/she may or may not know. This feeling of a shared connection may cause one to be more comfortable because the setting feels more familiar. And as one may recall, the first point discussed how familiarity may play a role in positive mental health.Finally, the holidays are a good time to shake from the “norm” and have fun. The bright colors, cheery songs, and colorful decorations can boost one’s mood, and, of course, a positive mood promotes good mental health.

So, that’s all I have. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) takes the ice again. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting lost anywhere beyond her front yard (the back is pushing it as she’s very geographically challenged), falling in love with shelter animals (and she adopts them), asking off-the-beaten-path questions that make one go “hmm”, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well.

How to Write a Novel That Flops

I’ll say upfront that this is likely an opinion piece. Many will disagree with the opinions expressed herein and question my qualifications for speaking them. I will say only two things about that. First, everyone is entitled to have an opinion, and people are more than free and welcomed to disagree with mine. Second, I’m not alone in the opinions put forth. I have spoken with other writers—some extremely successful—as well as listened to many writing forums and what is expressed in multiple online writing groups. Thus, my opinions aren’t completely without research. However, I would never dare speak or present myself as representing an entire group. Therefore, I write this expressing what I’ve observed, read and heard. As always, I encourage each person to conduct their own research and investigation to form their own conclusions.

After this weekend, I truly believe much writing advice put out there is part of the reason some authors fail. So, this is how this story begins. Buckle up. This may take a while.

Anyone who has read my blog knows I always like to start with how the idea for the blog topic was derived. Usually, I can point to friends, co-workers, or something mentioned in a writing group as my inspiration. Not this time. This happened quite by accident after a series of events.

Common Writing Advice: Read your genre. If you want to be a writer, you need to read, read, read. While I don’t completely disagree with this piece of advice, this is not why I read. I read because I enjoy books. I enjoy good storytelling. I enjoy being able to lose myself in some other place. Reading is fun. I’ve always loved it. Even before I began writing, I enjoyed reading. I started writing because I couldn’t find stories that I wanted to read. I’m not saying they weren’t out there. I’m saying that I could not find them. It is possible that I simply wasn’t looking in the right places. All I know is that they weren’t in my possession.

My becoming disgruntled with the books I was reading began in my early to mid-teens. At the time, I was subscribed to several book clubs. Each month, I would be sent a selection of four books. The books were anywhere from 50,000 to 70,000 words—so, not long. In general, I would finish them all within the first week, but sometimes, I would spread reading them over the course of the month. This is why I subscribed to more than one book subscription—to avoid having weeks with nothing new to read. Well, I began to notice that my books were piling up. It wasn’t that I didn’t have time to read, rather, I was uninterested. See, all the books began sounding alike. Literally, I could complete the next sentence in some of them almost verbatim before reading it. The characters were all same right down to the names. The male lead had one of three professions and was supposed to be an “alpha.” Every other male character feared him, and every female character—except for the lead—instantly dropped their panties for him. In actuality, the male characters were just assholes. They were not broody but rude, sexist, and patronizing. Their “masculinity” made them poster children for anger management classes.

The female characters weren’t much better. They were supposed to be these strong, fierce women. Yet, they constantly did stupid things. It’s like telling someone to be careful because there’s a lake at the end of the pier. Instead of being cautious, they run to the end of the pier and jump in without knowing how to swim. Then, someone has to go rescue their dumb butt. In their flailing around, they almost drown the person who is attempting to save them. I’m not impressed by this, nor do I think it’s bold. Plus, the women were always very petite and looked stunning with very little makeup—maybe a touch of mascara or lip tent. Now, I’m not saying all women need to go the full-coverage route, but a lot of women put in more effort than lipstick on special occasions. Even no-makeup makeup looks involved more cosmetics than that.

And sure, part of romance may be selling a fantasy, but in my opinion—and this is just my opinion—the fantasy should be one that most women can relate to. Here is a drop-dead-gorgeous man that everyone in town is drooling to have, and he goes for the one plain jane who isn’t making any kind of effort? And no, I’m not saying the woman hasn’t to be model stunning. She may have a stellar sense of humor that completely knocks him off his feet. Or maybe she is supremely talented in the arts. Or maybe she’s super smart, and her mind fascinates him. It doesn’t have to be her physical attributes that attract him. However, to be average to dull across all boards isn’t something that is believable to me.

Equally, I hate when the other female characters are presented as dumpier than the lead, and the one female who is presented as beautiful is, of course, the evil villain. Why can’t a woman be smart, beautiful, and kind?

It took me a while to see the pattern, and partly, that was because some writers cleverly disguised it. But the more I read, the more obvious it became, and my interest faded. This sparked me to begin writing. I wrote what I wanted to read. And here is the problem. What I wanted to read didn’t follow the formula or trend. My critiques were harsh. Now, part of the criticism was valid—the grammatical errors and/or lack of character development. But a lot more of it was aimed at style—my style. And this gets at the meat of this topic: writing rules.

I’ve said it so many times previously. There aren’t many rules in writing. Mostly, there are guidelines. The rules that do exist should be followed in almost every instance. There may be a few exceptions here and there. However, writing guidelines are just that: guides. They are suggestions and do not necessarily need to be followed. Now, this is not to say all guidelines should be ignored. On the contrary, writers should pay attention to the guidelines and apply them in ways that are appropriate for their writing style. For example, adverbs. Several years ago, someone spoke into the universe that adverts were nasty four-letter words that needed to be damned from all writing. It’s been said that adverbs are a sign of sloppy and/or lazy writing. And I’ve been in writing groups where writers have bragged that they have stripped every adverb from their manuscript. People proclaimed this as a writing rule. Listen, if this is your belief, fine. You do you. There is nothing wrong with following this guideline. However, by not following this guideline does not mean writing is lazy or sloppy.

If I were a chef and I removed all seasoning from cooking, a lot of my foods would taste the same. Recipes are formulas to replicate dishes that have been cooked previously. If every writer followed every guideline, all manuscripts would begin to read the same. Get ready to scream because I’m about to go there.

Writing guidelines can produce generic stories. As with removing seasoning from cooking can make a dish tasteless, so can following all guidelines at face value. Plus, these guidelines aren’t always true.

Common writing advice: Avoid repetition. This one got to me in all kinds of ways. Recently, I read an article from a book reviewer listing her top picks. She made them sound interesting and gave them such raving reviews that I dashed off to purchase them on my Kindle. These books were New York Times and USA Today bestsellers. Now, I’m not into bashing other authors, so I won’t be listing any names. And I’m also not saying these are “bad” books or that the writing was poor. I’m saying that these books did not appeal to me but obviously worked for millions. I just want to point out how the writing guideline of avoiding repetition isn’t relevant.

I’m only going to talk about one book to make my point. It was a romance told from a dual POV. The leads were both decently developed. They both had the same main dilemma which was twofold about being with each other. In the first part of the dilemma, I bought it hook, line, and sinker. It was a valid concern. The second half…eh…not so much. The first part involved their careers. Being together could negatively affect their careers. The second part was that because people thought they hated each other, then they couldn’t be together. Well, they were both single. The people who had these opinions were not family or close friends. People grow and change, especially from adolescence to adulthood. So, for me, I started with half a plot.

Literally, in every chapter, this plot of why the main characters did not think they should be together and were fearful that the other would end their sneaking around was stated. Their insults to each other were not only repeated in every chapter but were the same for each character. If you stripped off the character tags, readers wouldn’t be able to distinguish one character from the other. It was as if the author either didn’t trust the readers to understand or felt the readers would forget this part of the plot. But this is a bestseller! Now, in other novels where this repetition has been omitted, I’ve read criticisms from readers that they “didn’t buy” the relationship as being a HEA. They would label it as possibly being an HFN. So, how can having such repetition lead to a bestseller and lack of it end up in a harsh review? Both shouldn’t be possible. That’s because, in my opinion, avoiding repetition is a guideline that is directly related to the targeted audience.

New writers are often searching for their audience. These guidelines are supposed to help writers gain those audiences because supposedly, the guidelines are what readers want. But the certain guidelines are only written for a specific reader base. Let’s take the 2022 Netflix adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. This movie received a lot of harsh criticism from Jane Austen fans. They slammed it for misrepresenting the main character and the use of modernization in both the script and breaking the fourth wall. But then, I listened to a review where the reviewer made the point that she didn’t believe the movie was targeted at diehard Jane Austen fans. It was her opinion that the movie and script were aimed at audiences who shied away from reading Austen because they could not relate to the language or the characters. In this instance, historical accuracy and a shift from the source material is a purposeful choice to attract viewers who likely would be unattracted to the original work. In this case, the guideline of the original language and character development of the book is not being followed. But if the movie resonated with new viewers, then the guideline was not applicable.

I’ll leave with this. In college, I had a friend who did not like cheese. When we order pizza, she would ask for one without cheese. I always wanted black olives and mushrooms on mine, and I had other friends who hated those. As a group, we ordered multiple pizzas to please all the individual preferences. Other than the crust, our pizzas didn’t share much in common, but they were all good pizzas. In my opinion, writing guidelines do not, cannot, and will not work for all stories. Rigidly following them as rules may lead to a potentially good book being a generic flop. Writers should pay attention to writing guidelines as suggestions and consider if those suggestions work for the story that they are attempting to write. If they aren’t, then they shouldn’t be used. Following a good cake recipe will produce good results. It’s just that your good cake will taste exactly the same as all the other cakes that follow the same recipe. It will not stand out, and it likely will not win a baking competition. The way one wins is by being unique. This requires doing something that is different. It could be omitting some ingredients or adding others. It could mean making substitutions. Someone who is diabetic may not want to use sugar. A person with hypotension may select using half the salt. It boils down to using good judgment for what works.

So, that’s all that I have. What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Missed the three in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) retakes the ice. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search for me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors or BookBub or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and signup today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting mushy watching pet adoption commercials, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well. Genevive believes in variety, equality, and representation of all and is willing to tackle difficult subjects that may be shunned in many romance novels.

How to Celebrate Christmas in South Louisiana

***Please note that there was a formatting issue that could not be corrected with one of the lists discussed in this post. My apologies in advance, and I hope it isn’t too distracting.***

Here comes Santa Claus. Here comes Santa Claus right down Santa Claus Lane. Vixen and Blitzen and all his reindeer pulling on the reins. Well… Sorta. Maybe that’s how it goes in most of the U.S., but not in South Louisiana. So, let’s try that again.

Here comes Papa Noël. Here comes Papa Noël right down Santa Claus Rue. Gaston and Tiboy and all his gators pulling on the reins.

Confused? Okay, let’s wind it back a step. A few years ago, I wrote a post about Papa Noël. It goes into detail about the origin of Papa Noël, the gators, the fires, and the boiled shrimp. If you’re interested in a deep dive and some fun facts and trivia, go check it out. I’ll link it here: Papa Noël: Who Dat? But basically, Papa Noël is the bomb in South Louisiana. Santa isn’t.

Instead of rehashing the previous post I’ve written, I thought I’d share a bit of the Louisiana holidays here for others to have their own Creole/Cajun Christmas.

One of the first things that come to mind when I think of making the holiday season festive (besides decorations) is the music. The following is a list of Christmas songs that may not be familiar in mainstream music.

“Zydeco Christmas” by C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band“Le Galop de la Neige” by Kdn Cajun Band“A Saint’s Christmas” by Kermit RuffinsChristo Redento by George Conedy“Gonna Have a Creole Christmas” by Terrance Simien & Friends“Les Piniers” by Downtown Cajun Band“I Don’t Want You Just for Christmas” by Putumayo Presents“Petteri Punakuono” by Crawfish Kings

What are the holidays without food? And what is Christmas without dessert? One easy dish that surely won’t break the bank and will feed a mess load of folks is a good ol’ plate of bread pudding. Not only is it inexpressive, but it also does not take long to make, keeps for several days refrigerated, and will freeze beautifully. I wouldn’t say this is a dessert reserved for holidays, but it’s one of those comfort foods that will make the season festive. However, possibly the best thing about this dessert is that it is versatile. Many of the ingredients can be omitted or substituted and it will still turn out delicious. And as an additional bonus, it is something that can be made in advance. The longer the bread soaks, the more flavorful it becomes. Thus, there’s never a rush to complete it.

It’s been a minute since I’ve written a recipe, and this is an old family one. Making the sauce is an option. At first glance, it may seem like a lot of steps, but they really are simple.

Bread Pudding Ingredients

1 loaf Thick Bread (stale/dry but not moldy)5 Eggs (large)1 tbs Vanilla½ cup Butter½ cup Corn Syrup2 ½ cups Milk (whole)3 cups Heavy whipping cream1 cup Sugar1 ½ cups Brown sugar½ tsp Salt1 cup Pecans (shelled and chopped)

Sauce Ingredients:

¼ tsp Salt2 tbs Vanilla1 tbs Flour (all-purpose)3 tbs Butter1 cup Heavy whipping cream

Pudding Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.Use butter or cooking spray to grease a medium-sized baking dish.Dice or tear bread into cubes and place in the baking dish. Set aside.In a medium bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, and pecans.In a separate medium bowl mix milk, whipping cream, salt, vanilla, eggs, and sugar.Pour the milk mixture over the cubed bread.Fold in the pecan mixture.Allow the bread pudding mixture to stand for at least thirty minutes prior to placing it in the oven. This allows the bread to absorb the milk mixture.Bake for 45 minutes or until the top is golden.Allow to cool for at least 15 minutes.

Praline Sauce Instructions:

Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.After the butter is completely melted, add the flour. Whisk vigorously until foamy.Add the brown sugar and whipping cream, and continue to whisk until the mixture begins to thicken.Whisk in salt and vanilla.Reduce temperature to low.Cook for approximately 3 to 4 minutes on low heat.Remove from heat and pour over pudding.Enjoy.

When the kids are snug in their beds and dreaming of candy canes and electric trains (don’t ask, it was the first thing that came to mind), it’s time for some adult libations. Go ahead. You deserve it. Here is a list of some spirits (and not the ones that visited Ebenezer) that were invented in Louisiana and continue to be a favorite today.

DISCLAIMER: If you drink, always drink responsibly. Do not operate vehicles or heavy equipment while under the influence. These recipes are provided for adults of legal drinking age and in no way encourage or condone underage consumption of alcohol. If you or anyone you know has a substance abuse concern, contact the National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Hotline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for help.

Cocktail à la Louisiane. I have a confession. I had not heard of this drink until a friend who worked as a bartender during his college years told me about it. According to him, it consists of Herbsaint, Bénédictine, Peychaud’s Aromatic Cocktail Bitters, Vermouth, and Rye. It has the number one listing here because it seemed appropriate to start with a cocktail named after the state.Hurricane. If you’ve ever been to Louisiana and not drunk (or at least heard of) hurricanes, I honestly don’t know where you visited. Surely, it couldn’t have been here because hurricanes are everywhere. They are tasty, served in huge glasses, and will lay you on your back if you aren’t careful. They are appropriately named because they will blow you away. What are they? Passion fruit syrup, lemon juice (although some bars use lime juice), and rum.Café Brûlot. My first encounter with this was in the French Quarter, and for whatever reason, I thought it was plain coffee. Ha-ha. But for coffee lovers, this is a drink for you. It consists of Café du Monde Coffee and Chicory (but any brand of chicory coffee can substitute), Cointreau (although some prepare it with Grand Marnier), Cognac, brown sugar, lemon peel, orange peel, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and a flame. Yes, you read that correctly. A flame. This is one you set on fire. Well, it’s not exactly a secret since the name says it all. Café Brûlot literally translates to flaming coffee.This next one is on the controversial side as some historians claim this was not created in Louisiana. However, the state (specifically New Orleans) claims it now. What am I talking about? Why Brandy Milk Punch of course. This cocktail has a simple ingredient list of milk, brandy, simple syrup, vanilla, nutmeg, and powdered sugar.And let’s close this list out with a bang. The final cocktail has the be the Hand Grenade. Listen, if you see something neon-green in a yard glass, put all your money on it being a Hand Grenade. As far as what’s in it, I couldn’t tell you. Most places that serve it keep the recipe well-guarded. However, some best guesses (and they seem pretty reliable taste-wise) include gin, rum, vodka, melon liqueur, grain alcohol, syrup, and pineapple juice.

Places to visit in Louisiana during the holidays.

.1. Festival of Lights. How could I begin this list with anything other than this annual event? The following is a list of places and dates of some of the most popular holiday light displays.

.a.  Natchitoches Christmas Season (November 19, 2022–January 6, 2023)

.b.  Celebration in the Oaks in City Park, New Orleans (November 24, 2022–January 1, 2023)

.c.  Alexandria Zoo Holiday Light Safari (November 25–December 28, 2022)

.d.  Noel Acadien Au Village in Lafayette (December 2–23, 2022)

.2. Christmas parades. If Louisiana knows how to do anything, it’s how to throw a parade.

.3. LSU Holiday Spectacular. Yes, the Fighting Tigers/ Bayou Bengals know how to make anything spectacular. Sure, I’m a little biased (love purple, live goal), but this is an event you don’t want to miss. I believe the date for this is November 30, 2022, but I cannot confirm it. If interested in attending, please check with the university.

.4. The Nutcracker: Tales from the Bayou. You’ve never seen the classic Christmas story/ballet performed this way. This event will be performed on December 17 and December 18, 2022, at 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM on both days at the Baton Rouge River Center Theatre for Performing Arts. Tickets can be purchased at the Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre, the River Center Box Office, and Ticketmaster.com. Tickets are priced between $30.00 to $90.00. Please note that the theatre has a clear bag policy.

.5. Magnolia Mound Creole Christmas. Join the fun from noon to 5:00 PM on November 27, 2022, on Nicholson Drive in Baton Rouge. This is a family event with something to pique the interest of all who attend.

Over the years, I’ve written several holiday posts. For some more holiday cheer, ideas, and information check out the articles listed below.

How to Begin the Holiday SeasonPapa Noël: Who Dat?Unhappy Holidays: How to CopeHow Not to Be a GrinchThe How-to of Gift GivingHow to Wrap-Up After ChristmasHow to Cope with Post-Holiday Blues

The only thing left to say is Joyeux Noël! Will you be attending any of these events? Do any of them sound interesting to you? Or have you attended in the past? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Corrigan Ellery wants to be a hockey star, and the way he hopes to get there is through D1 hockey. His plan is solid until it starts falling apart the minute he steps onto campus. Old traditions and stereotypes lock him out before he’s even in. With no options for failure, he must make his plan work, which is why he has no time to complicate his life by getting involved with a sexy attorney who is ten years his senior. But boy, wouldn’t he enjoy some bedroom game misconduct with the counselor?

Logical and meticulous Sacha Weymouth, who is adept at predicting and controlling outcomes, is a successful attorney slated to one day be a partner at a prestigious firm, or, at least he was until he got demoted. Now, he’s a step above a gopher at the university law center. His focus is on righting his career but first must get contracts signed by a hot-shot hockey player. Instead of a signature, he has his life flipped in a direction he never saw coming to which he objects. But will his heart overrule his head?

Their lives should have never collided. However, now after the collision, they each stand in the way of the other’s future goals. Or do they?

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Continue the romance with Penalty Kill (book #4). Let the puckery begin. Available at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://books2read.com/penaltykill

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors or BookBub or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and signup today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

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How to Be Charitable All Year

In a few days, the United States will be celebrating Thanksgiving. As the name implies, it is a day of giving thanks and being grateful for blessings. Many people spend the day with family and loved ones, overeating, watching college football, and preparing for monster Black Friday shopping events. With the media focused on commercialism, it is easy to forget what the day should be about. For others, they may struggle to find reasons to be thankful or may feel the beginning of dread seeping in. They may have concerns about how they will fund the holidays, or feel lonely because they are without family during this time. Some will suffer from a lack of basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter.

And here is what is odd about this time of year. A lot of emphasis will be placed on charitable giving—mostly in the form of monetary means to organizations or food donations. But the focus is placed on one or two days out of the year. Now, some would argue that it’s better than nothing, and I suppose that is true. But is charity only seasonal? Is that the only time people should care and give? And what about the people who are unable to financially give?

Years ago, I adopted a couple of practices. When my child was very small, each time we entered or exited a store with a red kettle, my daughter wanted to give. For the number of stores we would visit, sometimes, giving just $5.00 at each would total a couple hundred dollars. Multiple this by several long shopping days, and this would cost me to go broke. Even donating a dollar doing this became expensive. My daughter didn’t understand the value of money, and her heart was in the right place. I never wanted to tell her no, and I felt bad to walk past the kettles without giving. So, I came up with the idea. I determined the overall amount that I could afford and would be comfortable with donating. Then, I went to the bank and withdrew that amount in pennies, nickels, and dimes and put it in a special pouch. Yes, it made my purse heavy, but it solved my problem. Each time we passed a kettle, I would give my child change from that pouch—not a lot but just something to contribute. When I was satisfied that all of my holiday shopping was completed and I wouldn’t be returning to the stores, I would give her whatever was remaining in the pouch to put into the kettle.

The negative was that some of the volunteers frowned when they saw it was pennies and nickels—thinking that it was only fifty cents or so. However, if something is better than nothing, the rule would apply here as well. Yet, the larger picture was that the contributions were being spread across many places. It added up. Besides, donations shouldn’t, in my opinion, be judged. They are personal and not an obligation. Sometimes, my child would pick up on the frowning and ask if she’d done something wrong. Now, let me say, this wasn’t every volunteer and did not happen in every location. And I do not believe this was any reflection on the parent organization. As with anything, anytime numerous people are involved, there’s bound to be a bad apple or two or a few mishaps. It happens. I do not believe this is an excuse not to donate; although I will admit, at the time, it left a sour taste in my mouth.

Years later, for safety reasons, I stopped carrying cash during the holiday season. It is my understanding now that in some locations the red kettles have the option of using a debit or credit card, and I’ve heard mixed reviews about this practice. But it was my not having cash that caused me to reconsider how to give. See, I’m one of those people who will say I’ll make an online donation and will have good intentions to do so. However, to be honest, unless I’m sitting at a computer at the time I say it, I’m prone to forget. Even writing it down doesn’t increase my odds because I can be a procrastinator. It’s easy for me to think, “Oh, I’ll do it later,” only to have it slip my mind again.

As I began to contemplate this issue, it began to spiral. How should I give? When should I give? To whom should I give? There are so many worthy causes, but money doesn’t grow on trees, especially not in this economy where financial trees seem to be chopped down faster than planted. That’s when a friend reminded me that not all donations must be cash. Together we developed a plan to optimize our charitable contribution year around. Here’s how.

Cleaning. Spring and fall cleaning or switching out closets are something that many people do. It’s a perfect time to donate clothes that no longer fit or you know will not be worn again.More cleaning. Spring and fall cleaning often are massive projects to undertake and that may require several days and that is only performed once or twice a year. However, donation cleanings can happen on a much smaller scale more frequently. For example, my makeup case had become cluttered. Over time, I found that I had collected many sample cosmetics that I was not going to use for one reason or another. However, I didn’t want to trash them because they were new. I decided to pack up all the samples and unused products and donated them to a women’s shelter. A colleague decided to clean out her “junk drawers.” In it, she found stationery and crafting materials she would not use. She donated those items to an afterschool program.Car bags. I heard about this years ago, and it’s an easy and inexpensive way to be charitable. It involves filling a plastic gallon food bag with necessities and keeping it in your car for convenience when you see someone in need. There are a couple of elements to this that make this work. First, if they’re kept in the car (can be glove compartment, floorboard, trunk, etc.), they’re likely to be handy when needed. Second, using gallon food storage bags is a good idea because they can be sealed to keep items from falling out, keep items dry and clean, has ample room for storage, easily can see what they contain, and can be reused. Items placed in the bags can be whatever the maker wants, however, common items are hygiene items (e.g., toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, comb, razor, soap, feminine hygiene products, shaving cream, socks, etc.). The bags can be customized for males and females and can be purchased from the dollar store. A friend indicated for $20.00, she is able to make four bags, but she frequently doesn’t give away that many in a month. Therefore, she has a good supply at hand.Socks. Years ago, I learned the benefits of donating socks. Not only do they help keep the feet warm and dry, but changing socks regularly is good for foot health—something that I never considered since it’s a practice that I’ve taken for granted. But when an unhoused person has extra socks, they frequently used them for other things such as mittens, grasping hot items, or even towels. Purchasing the largest size increase the number of people who can use it. (It’s better to have too large than too small.) Socks are an item that can be purchased from the dollar store; thus, they don’t have to break the bank.Community food refrigerators. I don’t know how widespread this concept is, but community refrigerators are precisely what they sound like. These are public refrigerators located around towns that people can stock with food items for people in need. The best part about these is since they are located in multiple areas, more people have access to them. There usually aren’t long lines of people waiting to get items, giving people more choices. The cons are that it doesn’t limit or regulate how much a person can take. So, one person may take everything. If the refrigerator isn’t in a location where it’s needed, food may spoil. There’s an upkeep/ maintenance cost to the community. For this reason, some communities also have or use community cupboards instead. These cupboards stock dry goods and non-perishable food items. Community refrigerators and cupboards can make donating easier as donations can be made at any time on any day, have multiple locations for drop off, and don’t restrict what can be donated.Time. Many years ago, my church offered free babysitting on Black Friday to allow parents time to shop. They also offered this service on Valentine’s Day to afford parents a date night. Members of the church (mostly the youth groups with some adult parishioners supervising) volunteered to make this happen. Initially, these events were only extended to parishioners. It was later expanded to the community. Additionally, free babysitting was offered the day before Thanksgiving, New Year’s Eve, and any day that a known job fair was known to be scheduled. With job fairs came an extra service. Parishioners brought their laptops to the church’s recreational area and helped anyone who asked to either create, update, or improve their resumes. During the summer, free lawn mowing and clean-up services were offered to elderly people on fixed incomes. And there were many other activities created to help the community. Very few of them involved money. What they required was people volunteering their time and expertise.Blood banks. Donating blood can save a life. Enough said. Supporting tent cities. The argument against tent cities is that they are unsafe. Possibly a better explanation would be that they are unsightly and a reminder to city officials that there are constituents who are suffering. A huge misconception of persons who are unhoused is that they are all lazy, substance addicts, or choose it. Yes, this does comprise a portion of the population. But the population also includes persons who are mentally ill, veterans, children, and persons who have fallen on hard times. These people need a place to go. A colleague relayed his experience with the unhoused person’s problem.

Due to traveling for his job, he’s a regular at many hotels. As he was checking in and chatting with the receptionist, a man entered and asked to use the phone. “Initially, I didn’t pay attention to the man other than a brief glance. The receptionist was showing me photos of her granddaughter’s birthday party, and I was occupied with that. However, when her demeanor immediately changed, this drew my attention to the man. Other than his slightly disheveled hair and untidy scruff, I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. I often look rumpled and slovenly and with heavy bags under my eyes. I know I enter hotels not looking my best. after traveling for hours, too. However, the clerks always treat me respectably. On this occasion, this very soft-spoken kind woman who I’d only seen smile was suddenly transformed in front of me. An edge entered her voice. Deep frown lines etched her face, and she wasn’t at all friendly. Gruffly, she asked him what phone number he wanted to call. Instead of handing him the phone, she dialed the number he told her and then handed it to him. Whoever he called didn’t answer, and he dialed another number. I saw the receptionist’s eyes narrow. Since it was the hotel business phone, outgoing calls required obtaining an outside line. So, when he dialed the next number, another hotel line rang. The receptionist firmly told him to return the phone. There were a few other words exchanged which I don’t remember, but the man left. The receptionist looked back at me, and her smile returned. She apologized, but I didn’t understand why. She explained that she usually wasn’t ‘that way,’ but that the man had lied about why he wanted to use the phone. I can’t quote verbatim what transpired between the two of them because, as I said, initially, I wasn’t paying attention. I heard him asked to use the phone and tuned out as it wasn’t my business. The clerk continued that she had to be rough because he and other unhoused persons would frequently sleep in the hotel breezeway (sometimes smoking marijuana) and that this unnerved some hotel customers. She also informed me that he would leave a mess of cigarette butts and food wrappers that hotel staff would have to clean. I do recall that the man was wearing a t-shirt and cargo shorts—nothing unusual for that time of year. But the first cold front had swung through, and the temperatures were beginning to drop at night to what much of the nation would call pleasant but what southerners would consider chilly and cold. The reason I recall this is because the receptionist said, ‘He wants someone to come pick his butt up because it’s getting cold out.’ I felt a dilemma. The idea of someone sleeping in the cold disturbed me. My spirit told me to go after the man and pay for him a room for the night. However, the face and reaction of the receptionist made me think that there was a much deeper story. I didn’t know this man. If I rented him a room, it may have caused problems for the receptionist. What if he destroyed it, brought in friends, used drugs, etc.? I was familiar enough with the town to know that the one shelter in the community was miles away and, by that time of night, likely full. The issue became apparent. If he had no welcoming place, his choices were limited to staying in unwelcomed ones.”

In summary, there are plenty of ways that a person can be charitable during the entire year even if he/she does not have money to donate. Charity isn’t something that is limited or restricted to one or two designated days. People in need often have those needs for a lot longer. Helping a little can actually be helping a lot.

And that wraps up all I have to say. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (Book #4) takes the ice again. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search for me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors or BookBub or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and signup today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

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How to Prepare for a Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA a.k.a. car wreck)

Today’s post is truly not one that was planned nor is it on time. Honestly, I wasn’t going to write it, but this is NaNoWriMo. For the first time in forever, I was on target and doing well. Then the weekend came along with a holiday, and I sort of slacked a little. Okay, not a little. A lot. But I told myself that I would get back on track for the new week. It was a gorgeous morning, although, what some may call “chilly” but what I “cold.” The sun was brilliant, a huge orb larger than normal it seemed. I know it wasn’t really, but I was driving into it rising. It was blinding and remember thinking that I hadn’t seen a sunrise light in a long time. And that was right before everything went to the toilet.

I stop for a bit of light breakfast for my morning commute. I flubbed my order for some reason. I don’t know where my head was when I ordered, and my thought was “how odd.” I hoped that it would be like any other day and the cook would get it wrong. Wouldn’t you know, this day was the day the cook decided to get it just as I ordered? But not all of my order was ready when I pulled to the pickup window, and I had to pull up to the next window (the wait window). After five minutes, I began to wonder what in the world was taking so long to prepare a frappe. Well, I’ll tell you what. Ten minutes later, a server informs me that the ice machine has frozen, and they were attempting to unjam it. My options were to order something else or get a refund. Looking at the time and knowing I likely would be late at this point, I opted for a refund. After a few more minutes, I was back on my way. Well, sort of. I pull to the end of the parking lot, make my turn, and stop at the stop sign. A few feet away, maybe twenty feet, I stop at a stop light. The brilliant sun is now to my left, and I would have to turn back into it to continue my journey. I get a green turn arrow and begin and then stop. Wham! In an instant, life changed.

I felt the impact. Heard it. And maybe my peripheral vision even saw it. I both knew what happened and didn’t simultaneously. My instincts jumped. Cut off the engine. Crawl over. Get out. My mind did not register that the airbags had been deployed. All I knew was that I couldn’t see out those windows. The sun was no longer bright. I knew a vehicle was crushing my door. Although dozens of thoughts were all coming at me—and it’s amazing how the mind can process so much input and output at once—I knew what I needed to do—exit. I didn’t feel pain or blood. Go. I knew to move quickly in case the car ignited. A reached for the door. Locked. I pushed the power locks and heard it click. I pushed at the door. Locked. A man appeared. He was distressed and apologizing. “Are you hurt? An ambulance is on the way.” I pushed at the door again. Still locked. I inform him that I can’t get out. He yanked on the door, but it didn’t budge. And that is when the panic hit. I’m trapped. A full-body tremble rushed through me. My hands were shaking. I grabbed my phone which had fallen to the floor. My thoughts flew to my child. The words in my head were, “I have to call my baby. I have to tell her I love her.” Now, my child isn’t exactly a baby, but as all parents know, it doesn’t matter how old your child is. He/she will always be your baby. The rational part of my brain that I was okay and would get out hadn’t kicked in. My main concern at that moment was if I didn’t survive, I wanted my last words to be reassuring to my child. Though my hands were shaking uncontrollably, my voice was calm and steady. Leave a message. I love you.

The police arrived on the scene, and it was a repeat of earlier—them asking if I was injured and me explaining that I was trapped inside. They yanked and tugged on all of the doors. I don’t know how long it was before it was pried open. Now, anyone who knows me knows I have a wicked sense of humor. I found nothing funny at the moment, but in hindsight, my thoughts were oddly comical. I recall watching the police putting all their muscle into getting the doors open and thinking that a carjacker would have opened it in a few seconds. Sometimes, crime does pay.

“Are you hurt, baby?” One of the officers who was very easy on the eyes asked. Gosh, I adore southern gentlemen.

“No, sir,” I replied. “It just scared me, and I need a minute.”

“I’m so sorry,” the driver said.

I’m not sure if I answered him. I think I did. I wanted to. But when I crawled out into that cold air, I was slightly dizzy. My thoughts, although slowing, still whirled. It’s alright. I’m okay. I know it was an accident. However, I’m uncertain if those words made it from my brain to my mouth. I certainly hope so. But my mind had already moved to my next panic. I’m not at home. There were no buses, taxis, car rentals, or Ubers. I was stranded hundreds of miles from home in this small town. I wasn’t completely unfamiliar with the area, and I knew there was nothing. The closest car rentals stated that I was too far away for a drop-off, and the towing company couldn’t drive me home. And this is what prompted me to write this post. I know how to prepare for hurricanes and tornado safety. But a car accident away from home has never been on my radar. I began to wonder if there was some way to prepare because my insurance company basically said there was nothing that they could do about me being stranded other than give me the rental car company and see if I could arrange something with them. To me, this was unacceptable, and if there is ever a “next time.” I want to have a solid game plan in place. So, I set out to research some things a person can do to help be prepared for a motor vehicle accident.

Remain calm. Of course, this isn’t something that can be packed and stored away in the truck or the backseat. However, there are exercises and breathing techniques that a person can learn to help remain calm during a crisis.Emergency roadside kit. Although the emergency roadside kit in my car couldn’t help me in my situation, I couldn’t get to it anyway. It was in the trunk. And in hindsight, I may could have pulled down the backseat and tried to go out the trunk by using the emergency pull, but I had luggage in my trunk. There was no guarantee that I could have gotten to it.Portable phone charger and accessories. I was lucky to be taken to a police station where I had access to outlets. However, once I had exited my car, a chain of events happened. I had to phone the insurance company, various car rental places, my employer, and family (who were all out of pocket which is why I had to call more than one), plus use the internet to search for phone numbers and locations. My phone battery quickly drained. It did not occur to me until after my car had been towed that I had failed to collect my charger cord and plug from the car. Fortunately, I carry an extra cord and a portable charger in my backpack which I did have. Thus, had I not had an outlet available, I still would have been able to charge my phone.Specific contact list. The beauty of cell phones is that they are mini-computers that can store lots of information. I didn’t think to have my insurance company phone number programmed into my contact list and to type the policy number into the note section. Also, many rental companies have toll-free numbers. Instead of spending time searching for numbers, it’s beneficial to have them handy. Yes, most insurance companies will handle this but maybe only to a certain extent. As my insurance agent said to me (and he was polite about it), it would be up to me to secure transportation from the accident scene to the nearest rental which was over eighty miles from where I was. My efforts were in vain, but I had to try at least.Overnight travel bag with essentials. In one of the worst-case scenarios, I would have had to remain in the town where the accident occurred overnight. There were a few nice hotels in the area. Having a fresh change of clothing and toiletries would have been useful. Yes, some hotels provide items such as shampoos, soaps, and lotions. But not all provide toothbrushes, toothpaste, and/or deodorant, razors, etc. And yes again, these items can be purchased from dollar stores in the area. The issue may be getting to said dollar stores or items being in stock. Several months ago, I was in a dollar store and there wasn’t a deodorant on the shelves. The worker claimed delivery shortage, but it’s more likely the items hadn’t been put on the shelves from the stock room due to an employee shortage. In any case, the item wasn’t available.Blanket. This is a good item to have in the car even if you aren’t involved in an MVA. If your car breaks down or a road is obstructed, you can save gas by shutting off the engine and bundling up. Also, if for some reason you need to get on the ground (perhaps to look under the car or change a tire, a blanket can be the barrier between you and the ground.Flashlight and flares. If you have an emergency kit, you’re probably all set with this. If not, these items are readily available to be purchased separately. These are a must for night travel.Car windshield breaker and seatbelt cutter. Yes, these are actual extrication tools, and surprisingly, they aren’t super expensive.Emotional readiness. MVAs can be very stressful. I have found it to be one of the worse experiences in my life. After the initial shock, then came all the tedious and dreadful adulting. While I was emotionally rattled, the insurance company was looking at the bottom line. First, they dragged their feet and didn’t send an adjuster until three days later. And on the third day, in the middle of the afternoon, I was informed that I had to return the rental by Monday. In layman’s terms, I had less than 72 hours (because most dealerships are closed on Sunday and aren’t open 24-7) to find and purchase a new vehicle. This significantly inhibited my ability to comparison shop and/or financing options. It was an additional shock of being put in a position of playing beat the clock. With the initial adrenaline rush fading, my body began to feel minor aches and pains. However, emotionally, the impact of reality hit hard. The brief seconds of the car collision were over but the emotional rollercoaster of the aftermath was just beginning. Be ready for life to toss you plenty of curves.

Now, it’s your turn to chime in. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) takes the ice again. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search for me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors or BookBub or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and signup today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

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How to Mentally Prepare for the Holidays

With the holidays quickly approaching and “Black Friday sales” promotions already starting, now is an appropriate time to get into that dreaded discussion that no one likes to have but is often needed. Let’s face it. For many people for many reasons, the holidays can be flooded with emotions—not all good. Depression and anxiety top the list.

In my profession, one of the most valuable lessons I have learned is that it is far better to be proactive than reactive. This is not groundbreaking news. Most people are aware of this; yet, very few put it into practice. Instead, they ho-hum along and are seemingly surprised when a disaster that could have been prevented strikes. Others may comment, “I knew it would turn out this way.” Yet, they fail to intervene to avert the undesirable outcome. One reason they may not take steps to intercede when it comes to what I will refer to as their “holiday mental health” is that they either believe there is nothing that can be done or they do not consider the holidays as something that requires mental preparation. However, there are things a person can do that will help to manage holiday stress and sadness.

1a. Identify triggers. Make a list of things (and this includes people) that usually elicit strong emotions. Note the word strong. Not all triggers are negative. For example, when I hear The Temptations’ Silent Night on the radio, I automatically feel Christmas has begun. I’m going to assume the reason for this is that each year without fail I would hear this song when my father who I lost many years ago played Christmas music as he assembled the Christmas tree or when we drove around town looking at Christmas lights. It wasn’t until a few years after my father’s death that I realized I had made an association between the two. It’s nostalgic and fills me with happy memories. But it also can bring lots of sadness as the feeling of never celebrating another Christmas with my father is brought to the surface. It’s a wound that never heals but has become tolerable. Knowing this song to be a trigger is beneficial because now if I hear it and my mood begins to dip, I do not have to question why. I then force myself to only focus on the happy memories and not dwell on what no longer will be.

1b. People triggers. Previously, I mentioned triggers could be people. A close friend has a relative who every holiday season brings drama. Sure, some people have rotten luck, but some people set themselves up to have issues that they spread like a virus to others. One incident that happened with my friend’s relative has continued to stick with me despite it having occurred several years ago.

It began when the relative decided that carrying a large purse while shopping was a safety risk. This was a valid concern. However, her solution was what was problematic. Instead of transferring everything she needed into a smaller crossbody purse, she decided to carry her large purse with her. When she arrived at the stores to shop, she placed her oversize purse in the trunk, removed her wallet and cell phone, and carried the items. In the store, she placed the items in the area of the shopping cart where a child would sit. (I bet you already see where this is headed.)

After checkout, she forgot to retrieve her wallet from the cart. By the time she realizes it, she’s halfway home. Instead of returning to the store, she continues home crying and distressed. Now, the situation is bad at this point, but the relative makes it even worse. First, she doesn’t want to return to the store or even call them to see if a good Sarmatian has returned her wallet. Second, all (not one or two) of her credit cards and identification information (including a spare key to her car and door) are in the wallet.

Logic dictates the first steps to be taken are to cancel credit cards and call a locksmith. But she doesn’t know her credit card company’s contact information. Then, she doesn’t want to call, as if she’s not an adult and can’t speak with a customer service representative. So, my friend calls for her, and of course, for security reasons, the credit card people can’t disclose information to her, and my friend is put in the position of having to act like a translator. What should have taken possibly a half hour ended up taking hours. It was my friend who called the store (multiple times) and who eventually went there (also multiple times) to search through the lost and found for the wallet.

Third, the relative is crying that she has no money to finish Christmas shopping. She’s waited until the last minute, and it’s the weekend. Banks are closed, and she can’t retrieve cash from the ATM. Therefore, my friend ends up having to give her money.

Fourth (and I’m skipping a lot), as relatives arrive to visit for Christmas, the relative has to retell her tale of woe to any and every visitor. As each gift she’s given is opened, she goes into her spill of “I would have gotten you something better, but my funds were limited.” Each receiver felt guilty for accepting.

Now, if you’re thinking this was a mistake that could happen to anyone, you’d be correct. It was the exacerbation of the initial incident that was the biggest headache. However, this relative complains of having “memory problems.” She mostly complains about this when it’s convenient for her. But let’s play devil’s advocate. Anyone who has mild memory issues engage in practices to assist his/her memory (e.g., making lists, setting phone alerts, etc.) The relative could have easily taken a smaller purse or put the cards she needed in her pocket. She chose not to do either. But aside from that, once the incident happened, she decided to assume the victim role and passed her responsibility on to someone else. It’s this last part that makes her a trigger for my friend.  This relative constantly and consistently does these types of things, especially during Christmas. She makes bad decisions, cries about it to anyone who will listen, and has someone else clean up the mess. It is tiresome. It is stressful. It sucks the joy out of a room. When this relative appears, I instantly see the mood change in my friend. It’s one of dread… of “what happens next?”

One way to deal with “people triggers” that are negative is to avoid them. However, as most people know, this frequently isn’t possible. Therefore, reducing your time spent with such people would be the next best option. If the time can’t be limited, a good trick is to anticipate what antic they will pull and change your behavior to prevent it. In my friend’s case, she would tell her relative to give her money and she would do the gift shopping. Of course, the relative didn’t like the gifts, would buy more, and not gift the ones my friend purchased. This created more drama when the relative would go into a sob story about not having money (alluding to the reason for not having funds due to my friend spending it on the gifts she didn’t give). This brings me to the next point.

2. Options. Have plenty of options and alternatives. In the previous example, if one couldn’t avoid the trigger, the next option was to limit contact. If that didn’t work, the next option would be to use the rule that the best indication of future behavior is past behavior. Anticipate what will happen and change the environment to make the behavior less favorable. If that fails or isn’t an option, perhaps not responding in the way desired. For example, if a child is having a temper tantrum for attention, selective ignoring works well. The child fails to get attention and wears himself/herself out from the tantrum. Once the tantrum as ceased, the parent may then impose a timeout, take away a privilege, etc. The methods that a person chooses to use is individualized. The key is to have many options.

3. Healthy eating. This may seem like a cop-out answer to so many things, but a balanced diet can go a long way in dealing with stress. If a person is running off sugar and caffeine, he/she may not have the mental or physical energy to deal with challenges. During the holidays, there are so many food goodies to be had, and no one is saying to forego them. However, having healthy snacks throughout the day can boost mental stamina and cognitive clarity.

4. Exercise. This works for many of the same reasons that eating healthy does. Exercising increases endorphins, and research indicates that endorphins can reduce stress and aid in coping.

5. Adequate sleep. Sleep has long been linked with mental health. Anyone who has been deprived of sleep can attest that it frequently makes thinking cloudy and functioning difficult. The most mundane daily tasks may seem like Olympic-size challenges. Lack of sleep may increase or worsen feelings of depression and anxiety. The holidays may bring about mounds of stress. Getting adequate sleep can help combat stress allowing a person to tap into effective coping skills.

6. Perspective. This is critical. Repeat the following. “Something will go wrong. It’s just a matter of what and when. Not everything can be controlled. Not everything will be perfect, and it doesn’t have to be. Everything will be okay.” So often, we have expectations that are over-the-top and excessive. We take on far too much and blame ourselves when we do not reach the high levels we’ve set. But instead of trying to cross an ocean by walking a tightrope, we can take a boat to cross a river. By simplifying tasks and taking small steps, we can reach the same heights and goals.

7. Organization. I heard someone say that having lists eliminates the need to think because all one needs to do is follow what’s written. While that kind of sounds like zombie-like behavior, it does have a ring of logic to it. A to-do list can organize what needs to be done and when, yielding a degree of confidence that nothing will be forgotten or overlooked for the Christmas dinner, gift shopping, or planning the family holiday get-together. Having confidence that all is taken care of certainly can reduce stress.

8. Environment. Surround yourself with happiness and avoid isolation. Every now and again, employees, where I work, are asked to complete a job satisfaction survey. One of the questions asked what employees liked best about his/her job. A coworker responded window. She explained that at her previous job she had worked in a windowless space with not the greatest lighting. According to her, most of her coworkers were either somber or rude. The walls were painted a dull gray. “When the holidays rolled around, the complaining began. The secretary never wanted to decorate, which entailed placing decorated wreaths on already hung hooks and taping received Christmas cards from other departments to the breakroom door. If someone suggested playing a holiday game like Dirty Santa or Secret Santa, there would be all sorts of grumbles. Because everyone else was such holidays Scrooges, it put me in a grinch mood.” This is a classic example of why it is important to surround oneself with positivity.

9. Limiting alcohol. This isn’t always a favorite since there are many holiday parties that serve adult libations. In fact, some parties (looking at the dreaded office party) liquor may seem like the only savior to get through the evening. But alcohol is a depressant. And if we’re honest, who hasn’t had alcohol as the culprit of making a bad decision. Tossing alcohol in the mix of the holidays may add to issues rather than alleviate them.

10. Reason. Always keep in mind the reason for the season and what it means for you. The Hallmark movies are just that… movies… fakes. In the real world, the holiday season may be filled with bumps and hurdles that cannot be solved in ninety minutes. You won’t wake up with flawless hair, and your ugly sweater will never be as cute as the ones on television. You are not required to celebrate in any way other than how you want. Do as much or little as you choose. It’s your choice. What about the holidays makes you happy? How do you want to celebrate? Who will you spend time with? What is your reason for celebration? Answering these questions can make the holidays smoother.

That does it. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box(book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) takes the ice again. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search for me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors or BookBub or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and signup today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

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