Mollie Cox Bryan's Blog, page 27

The Men of Cumberland Creek

Okay, so I've introduced you to all of my main characters and some of the secondary characters. But not any of the male characters.  So, I thought I'd introduce them to you.  Yes, SCRAPBOOK OF SECRETS is a mystery novel, but it's a traditional mystery, which (among other things) means the characters and their relationships are important to the story.

Mike Chamovitz (Annie's husband) is a pharmaceutical sales rep and is away from home for a few days at a time. Have you been following my Pinterest account? (Here's link to that.) If you are, then you know that I imagine him as a Johnny Depp look alike. At first glance, Mike and Annie have a wonderful relationship. He is a much more patient and settled person than Annie is, though.

Here is a bit from the book about them:

"Annie's memories of their time together before the children helped her to cling to the hope they would get there again someday. They met at a book fair—and their conversations were often about literature, politics, philosophy. Mike's mind was a beacon that lit a fire in her. She always found something he said sparked the desire in her to learn more. Do more. Be more."

Bill Ledford (Vera's husband) is a lawyer and I imagine him as David Duchovny, but balding. Bill is smack in the middle of mid-life and thinks he has it all figured out. Turns out, he doesn't. (In facts, she still thinks a lot about her old boyfriend Tony.) Here's a little about Bill and Vera:

"For all intents and purposes, Vera thought, Bill was the perfect husband—always kind and polite, cleaned up after himself, and he was an attentive lover, for which she had always been grateful. But lately, she just didn't want to be bothered. Sex was more trouble than it was worth—so more often than not, she told him no, she was tired, or not feeling well. And he would never question her. But sometimes the thought of making love with him absolutely just filled her with dread."

Detective Adam Bryant is the only detective in the small town of Cumberland Creek, yet he is Harvard-educated, and smart as a whip. The trouble with Adam is he is socially inept and comes across as sexist on several occasions. He is in  good shape and a very attractive man, even if he has a bit of a swagger. (In truth, maybe that swagger is part of his appeal.)  Check out Pinterest to see who I'd cast as Adam. Heh.

Here's the scene in which many of the scrapbookers first meet Adam:

"Greetings exchanged, the detective walked into the room filled with pretty scrapbooking doodads, paper, and food. He was a large man, tall, about six feet, five inches in height and broad at the shoulders, narrow at the hips. He was manly-looking enough to look out of place is this group of women, who were all sitting there gaping—a decent looking, clean-shaven man in a blue suit with eyes to match. Shoes polished to a shine. Spiffy. Maybe an ex- military man? Hadn't Vera seen him at the funeral?

"I'm Detective Bryant," he said flashing his badge. "I just have a few questions for you. Now what's going on here?" He gestured at the table.

Vera cleared her throat. "Dinner," she said, with a smile. "Would you like some?"

All three of those men play important roles in all three of my books—even though they are secondary characters. The focus is on the women. But it the first book SCRAPBOOK SECRETS, there is another man that's key in the story—Robert Dasher, Maggie Rae's grieving husband. Here's a bit of Annie's observing him:

"Robert was a devastatingly handsome young man. He looked like he stepped right off the pages of GQ. His clothes hung on him just like a model's, clung in the right places, showed off his thin, but muscular physique, Those blue eyes, though, held very little emotion. Annie could not read anything in them—even in the wedding pictures. He was smiling, but his eyes looked the same as when he wasn't smiling. Odd."

 

 

 

Five things I thought about during my morning run:

1. Scent of rain on pavement.

2. Running in the rain–who knew it would be such a joy?

3. Trying to decide on a new design for my site and blog. It's maddening. They make it look simple and you get into them and see how complex it is.

4. Once again, I am faced with LETTING GO. You know the people in your life find you important when they actually take time for you. Even if it's a little bit. When they don't, you need to make a decision.

5. Looking forward to a local brewery tour this weekend.

 

My Newsletter, Paper. Story. Recipe.

I've just sent my fourth newsletter to my subscribers. I always include a recipe, journaling prompts, and links to fabulous scrapbooking freebies. This time, I found some great things on keeping gratitude scrapbooks or journals and many, many, Thanksgiving links. Sign up and join the fun! http://eepurl.com/fNbM-/

Five things I thought about during my morning run:

1. Outside runs are the best. So much too look at. Some much to feel. The air. The pavement,

2. My new shoes make such a difference. Got a good deal on them.They are Reebok Runtones and my joints are ever thankful.

3. Going to the park again this morning with my family. Man, we've all been going in such different directions. These Sunday park mornings are great.

4. So it's been like 3 days of migraines. I ran out of my meds yesterday and it was awful because they would not renew my prescription. Thank goodness a friend helped me out who happens to be on the same migraine medicine.

5. Feeling so much better today. Getting ready for a busy week.

Five things I thought about during my morning run:

1. Crimson leaves against a moonstone-gray sky.

2. Running outside is the best thing ever.

3. Half day of school today and day off tomorrow. That slipped by me. Until yesterday. heh.

4. Scrapbook of Secrets. What can I say? I think about it all the time now. And it's kind of weird because I wrote so many years ago and am writing the third book in the series, so in some ways I am way over it. But in other ways it has yet to begin.

5. Any bloggers out there looking for a guest blogger, I'm available in January and February. Give me a holler.

And the winner is….

JoAnn Ross has won the ARC of Scrapbook of Secrets. Thanks to everybody for entering. Please stay tuned because there will be more contests for the ARC and for other prizes. Some here, some on Facebook and Twitter. So please stay in touch–subscribe to my newsletter or follow me on Twitter and Facebook. I'll spread the word everywhere! JoAnn, I'll be contacting you–congratulations!

Five things I thought about during my morning run:

1. The dapper old guy in front of me. Every hair in place. Jogging suit ironed. Aftershave smelling up the track. Oye.

2. Working on my e-book. More to come on that.

3. I'm liking Zumba better than running these day. What up with that?

4. I wish she'd put some clothes on. Every time I see her she's wearing bootie shorts and a sports bra. Okay. She has a kick-ass body. But do I need to see that? Does anybody?

5. Today is the last day for you to enter my giveaway. If you are interested in getting an advanced copy ARC) of SCRAPBOOK OF SECRETS, click here and enter.

Scrapbooking Sunday

Customize your own digital scrapbook

Scrapbook of Secrets ARC Giveaway!

This is the first in a few SCRAPBOOK OF SECRETS ARC giveaways I'll be offering. In case you don't know, ARCs are bound copies of the book, but they are not final, meaning you may catch a few typos in the text.

As you know, I've been blogging about my characters for a few weeks. All you have to do is look back through my blog posts and tell me which of my characters you'd like to have a cup of tea and a slice of pie with—and voila! You are entered.

Here's a list of the characters, along with the links to the original posts.

Vera, Beatrice, and Annie, my main three characters, are written about here.

My secondary characters, who are all members of the scrapbooking crop are:

Shiela

DeeAnn

Paige

You can comment here or on my Facebook author page, here. (Of course, you'll have to hit the LIKE button to comment,) If you comment both places, you'll get two entries. I'll print the comments out and one of my daughters will pick your name out of a hat. Isn't that scientific? The contest closes this Tuesday and I will notify the winner on Wednesday.

Good luck and stay tuned for more contests!

Five things I thought about during my morning run:

1. Cold. But I'm working up a sweat.

2. Bright. Sunny. Heart pounding.

3. The weather is so weird these days.  Will there be snow on the ground for Halloween?

4. Finished Smilla's Sense of Snow. It was beautifully written, but had a wholly unsatisfactory ending.

5. One foot after the other. Now on the pavement. Everyday. For me. Focus, baby, focus.