Chicki Brown's Blog, page 14
April 11, 2016
April 6, 2016
On Hiatus...
Before
I Want You Back
released I had decided to take a little time off to take care of things I'd been avoiding during the writing phase. It's been a week, and I have successfully crossed several big projects off of my To Be Done list.
The major one was to purge my office files and sort my reading material. It was a huge job that took several days, but that chore was finished yesterday. There's something about clearing out clutter that makes me happy...
One of the things I wanted to do once the office purge was done was to take a few days reading all of the craft and marketing articles I've saved over the past year or so. Hopefully I can get some of that in before Monday when I plan to start on Inner City Blues , the sixth and final book in my Stafford Brothers series.
This last book is going to be a bit different from the others, because Jesse is already married. Here's a hint: Jesse volunteers at a neighborhood free clinic in one of the roughest parts of Atlanta where his wife, Cydney's family still lives. When an event similar to what happened in Ferguson, Missouri takes place in this neighborhood, he finds himself in an ethical dilemma and at odds with some family members. It's going to be good! Here's the title song...
I still haven't gotten I Want You Back uploaded to Nook because of a formatting issue. I've contacted them twice, and still haven't received a response, which is typical for B&N. No wonder we keep seeing these signs...
Keep an eye out for my announcement about the upcoming contest...
The major one was to purge my office files and sort my reading material. It was a huge job that took several days, but that chore was finished yesterday. There's something about clearing out clutter that makes me happy...
One of the things I wanted to do once the office purge was done was to take a few days reading all of the craft and marketing articles I've saved over the past year or so. Hopefully I can get some of that in before Monday when I plan to start on Inner City Blues , the sixth and final book in my Stafford Brothers series.
This last book is going to be a bit different from the others, because Jesse is already married. Here's a hint: Jesse volunteers at a neighborhood free clinic in one of the roughest parts of Atlanta where his wife, Cydney's family still lives. When an event similar to what happened in Ferguson, Missouri takes place in this neighborhood, he finds himself in an ethical dilemma and at odds with some family members. It's going to be good! Here's the title song...
I still haven't gotten I Want You Back uploaded to Nook because of a formatting issue. I've contacted them twice, and still haven't received a response, which is typical for B&N. No wonder we keep seeing these signs...
Keep an eye out for my announcement about the upcoming contest...
March 30, 2016
It's Release Day!
Kindle US: http://amzn.to/1qi7bFcKindle UK - http://amzn.to/1UUfALq Coming soon to Nook and paperback
#romance #standalone #family
March 26, 2016
Spring cleaning - office style
I promised myself that when I sent Book 5 to my editor I would take a day to clean out my office. Well, yesterday was the day.
This is what it normally looks like.
I'm pretty neat and relatively organized, but that's only because I file everything away. Thirty years as a secretary/administrative assistant creates some habits that are hard to break. As a result, I tend to save and categorize everything -- just in case I might need it. LOL!
I've been writing now for sixteen years, and when I first started I absorbed myself in research of the publishing industry and information on the craft. I spent countless hours on writer web sites and on the pages of well-known literary agents like Nathan Bransford and Chip McGregor. Gradually, as the years passed and the rejections started coming in, I moved from agent web sites to the authors like Joe Konrath, who was breaking new ground as a Kindle author, and Stefanie Bond, who had a wonderful site on the business of writing. There were three-inch binders full of their blog posts.
Once I started a blog of my own, I also printed out a copy of each of my posts. I have four large binders of posts from 2007-2008, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2011-2012.
In my four-drawer upright file cabinet, there were folders full of inspirational articles from the old book section of Essence, Ebony and O magazines along with expandable folders full of submission letters and rejection letters from publishers and agents.
This is my "rejection collection", which I've decided to save as a reminder of the agony I went through before making the decision to self-publish. It might be hard to tell from this photo, but that's and expandable file with at least 500 sheets of paper - a lot of queries and a lot of rejections! I'm keeping this file as a reminder of all the hard work I did trying to convince Big Publishing that I was worthy. SMH...
On top of all that, I used to lead a writer's group at a local Barnes and Noble store for three years, and I kept every handout and article I shared with them.
All of my research for the twelve books I've written takes up an entire drawer of the cabinet, but I'm keeping all of that.
There are two files of reader e-mails and comments (I was afraid to call it fan mail back then) that I started when I published Have You Seen Her? , the first book. I will keep these forever, because it was confirmation that the editors and agents were WRONG! It blew me away to realize people actually liked what I'd written, and I was building a readership.
Needless to say, it was time to let most of this stuff go, so I bit the bullet and started tossing. Now I have room to save new memories...
This is what it normally looks like.
I'm pretty neat and relatively organized, but that's only because I file everything away. Thirty years as a secretary/administrative assistant creates some habits that are hard to break. As a result, I tend to save and categorize everything -- just in case I might need it. LOL!
I've been writing now for sixteen years, and when I first started I absorbed myself in research of the publishing industry and information on the craft. I spent countless hours on writer web sites and on the pages of well-known literary agents like Nathan Bransford and Chip McGregor. Gradually, as the years passed and the rejections started coming in, I moved from agent web sites to the authors like Joe Konrath, who was breaking new ground as a Kindle author, and Stefanie Bond, who had a wonderful site on the business of writing. There were three-inch binders full of their blog posts.
Once I started a blog of my own, I also printed out a copy of each of my posts. I have four large binders of posts from 2007-2008, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2011-2012.
In my four-drawer upright file cabinet, there were folders full of inspirational articles from the old book section of Essence, Ebony and O magazines along with expandable folders full of submission letters and rejection letters from publishers and agents.
This is my "rejection collection", which I've decided to save as a reminder of the agony I went through before making the decision to self-publish. It might be hard to tell from this photo, but that's and expandable file with at least 500 sheets of paper - a lot of queries and a lot of rejections! I'm keeping this file as a reminder of all the hard work I did trying to convince Big Publishing that I was worthy. SMH...
On top of all that, I used to lead a writer's group at a local Barnes and Noble store for three years, and I kept every handout and article I shared with them.
All of my research for the twelve books I've written takes up an entire drawer of the cabinet, but I'm keeping all of that.
There are two files of reader e-mails and comments (I was afraid to call it fan mail back then) that I started when I published Have You Seen Her? , the first book. I will keep these forever, because it was confirmation that the editors and agents were WRONG! It blew me away to realize people actually liked what I'd written, and I was building a readership.
Needless to say, it was time to let most of this stuff go, so I bit the bullet and started tossing. Now I have room to save new memories...
March 23, 2016
Refund revelry!
In past years, hubby and I have usually assigned our income tax refunds to paying bills. This year I decided to use my half to go gadget shopping! You know, the stuff you don't have the cash for during the year. LOL!
Here's what I got...
A laptop bike from Sharper Image. I'm trying to find something that works for me as far as getting some exercise goes. Since I'm on my laptop 8-10 hours a day, and I hate breaking up my work time to go anywhere, I figured this might help. It also has exercise bands made into the big so you can work your arms and chest.
This is an air fryer. I'd never heard of such a thing until my brother-in-law and sister-in-law paid us a visit last week. They have one and swear by it. It fries food crispy without any oil!
An MP3 converter to convert the hundreds of cassette tapes I have in my music collection into digital files. It didn't arrive yet, so I can't say how good it works. :)
A storage bench to go by the front door to hold all of our shoes. I hate wearing shoes in the house, so this provides a convenient place to to sit and take them off as soon as you come in.
I have never had a waffle iron, and we give too much of our money to the Waffle House! Now I can make my own on Saturday morning.
Right now, I'm a happy
Here's what I got...
A laptop bike from Sharper Image. I'm trying to find something that works for me as far as getting some exercise goes. Since I'm on my laptop 8-10 hours a day, and I hate breaking up my work time to go anywhere, I figured this might help. It also has exercise bands made into the big so you can work your arms and chest.
This is an air fryer. I'd never heard of such a thing until my brother-in-law and sister-in-law paid us a visit last week. They have one and swear by it. It fries food crispy without any oil!
An MP3 converter to convert the hundreds of cassette tapes I have in my music collection into digital files. It didn't arrive yet, so I can't say how good it works. :)
A storage bench to go by the front door to hold all of our shoes. I hate wearing shoes in the house, so this provides a convenient place to to sit and take them off as soon as you come in.
I have never had a waffle iron, and we give too much of our money to the Waffle House! Now I can make my own on Saturday morning.
Right now, I'm a happy
March 20, 2016
Sample Sunday
This is the last sneak peek into I Want You Back. The book went to my editor on Tuesday!
* * * * * * * * * *
In the morning, Cherilyn got up, showered and dressed. She was supposed to be away on her honeymoon, and the job wasn’t expecting her for a week, so she could throw on anything to run to FedEx Office, but no one would catch her out in sweats and a t-shirt. She put on a casual linen Capri outfit, sandals and clasped the necklace Nick had given her around her neck. Being her size, she was a stickler for always looking a neat and fashionable as possible. Giving her appearance a final check in the mirror, she rested a hand over the brilliant diamond pendant, which looked stunning against the white fabric, smiled at her reflection and headed out to handle the task at hand.
Before she even got to her destination, her phone pinged with an angry text from Derrick. I know Nick came to see you. Send the ring back. D.
Her emotions churned as she stared at the words on the screen. He had every right to be angry. She’d handled this whole mess totally wrong. If she had only responded to Nick’s messages all those months, she could’ve worked it out before she and Derrick started making wedding plans. They had only been together for three months before he’d proposed, and he’d been so insistent about getting married right away. Nick’s rejection had bruised her heart so badly she’d accepted Derrick’s proposal based more on how much Nick had hurt her than how much she loved Derrick. If she’d ever really loved him at all. She respected and admired him, but that wasn’t enough on which to base a marriage. Was it?
There was no need to try to explain anything to him. She typed, Sending 2 yr office 2day by FedEx. I’m so sorry. C.
No response.
A little while later, her phone rang. “Good morning. Are you okay?” Nick asked in a hoarse voice, sounding as though he hadn’t slept much last night.
“Good morning. I’m okay. Derrick just texted me that he wants his ring back, so I’m on my way to overnight it to him. I need to talk to him about the wedding expenses, since we were counting on cash gifts to help out with that.” She sighed. “What do you think I should do?”
“I’m supposed to get off at six tonight. Let’s wait until then to talk about it. I can meet you somewhere to grab a bite to eat.”
“I don’t want to run into anyone we know, Nick. Not yet. I’m not ready to face people and their questions.”
“We can go someplace out of the way. I know lots of those.” He gave a cynical chuckle. “A burger and fries is about all I can afford anyway.”
“Stop exaggerating.”
“I’m not. Meet me at the Vortex in Little Five Points at six-thirty. I don’t think you’ll see anybody you know there, and they have great burgers. If it looks like I’m going to be late, I’ll call you by six.”
“All right.”
“Cher? I went to sleep last night thinking what a lucky man I am. I won’t blow it this time.”
“You’d better not. God don’t like ugly. Goodbye, Nick.”
The sound of his laughter on the other end made her smile. “Goodbye.”
The stop at FedEx Office didn’t take much time. She had to sign a special contract declaring a high-value jewelry item. Before she left the house, she’d looked up the current value of a three-carat platinum ring. Since she wasn’t sure how much Derrick had paid for the ring, she declared the value to be fifteen thousand. Cher hesitated before handing it to the attendant behind the counter then took a deep breath and left the building with a sense of relief that the whole situation was over. Maybe now she could get on with her life.
With no idea what she was going to do with her day, she called Mika. “Hey, girl. What are you doing?”
“I’m working. What do you think?”
“Right,” Cher shook her head. “I’m sorry. Can you talk for a minute?”
“Sure. How are you?”
“I don’t know.” She brought her best friend up to speed on Nick’s visit and Derrick’s text. “I just sent the ring back to him.”
“Ooh, that must’ve hurt. It was a spectacular ring. So, what are you up to today?”
“Considering I was supposed to be on Grand Cayman right now, anything I do will be a letdown.”
Mika snickered. “You really wanted to go to Paris anyway, but you let Derrick talk you into the islands.”
“He loves tropical locations.” Cher wondered why she was defending a decision that hadn’t thrilled her to begin with. She had been to the islands so many times with Mika and her girls, so it held no mystique for her.
“But Nick promised to take you where you want to go.”
“Who knows if we’ll ever get there.”
“You don’t believe him?”
“I believe he wants to, but Nick is so paranoid about money. I’m not sure he’ll ever believe he has enough to take a trip to Paris.”
“Right now maybe he doesn’t, but once he finishes his residency, he’ll be able to travel anywhere he wants.”
“Are you saying we should wait until then to get married? That’s yearsfrom now.”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying. This is probably the first time in his life that he feels underprivileged. I’m sure his parents gave him money while he was in college. Now he’s employed, has to pay rent, car insurance, utilities and student loans.”
“I suppose, but he needs a reality check.”
“This is a reality check for him, Cher. Try to be understanding. It’s not his fault he was born with money.”
“He asked me to meet him for dinner tonight, and he thinks he can’t afford anything but burgers and fries. I have no problem eating burgers, but he’s being ridiculous.”
“Looks like you have your work cut out for you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“It appears that you’ll have to teach him how to live on a budget. If he’s never had to count his pennies, then you need to show him.”
“Hmm…” she pondered Mika’s words for a moment. “I can do that. God knows I was budgeting for years before I got this job. I guess I’ll be doing it again to help Derrick pay off the credit cards for wedding expenses. Thanks, girl. I’m going to get some coffee before I text him about the bills.”
“Good luck.”
COMING SOON TO KINDLE, NOOK AND PAPERBACK!
* * * * * * * * * *
In the morning, Cherilyn got up, showered and dressed. She was supposed to be away on her honeymoon, and the job wasn’t expecting her for a week, so she could throw on anything to run to FedEx Office, but no one would catch her out in sweats and a t-shirt. She put on a casual linen Capri outfit, sandals and clasped the necklace Nick had given her around her neck. Being her size, she was a stickler for always looking a neat and fashionable as possible. Giving her appearance a final check in the mirror, she rested a hand over the brilliant diamond pendant, which looked stunning against the white fabric, smiled at her reflection and headed out to handle the task at hand.
Before she even got to her destination, her phone pinged with an angry text from Derrick. I know Nick came to see you. Send the ring back. D.
Her emotions churned as she stared at the words on the screen. He had every right to be angry. She’d handled this whole mess totally wrong. If she had only responded to Nick’s messages all those months, she could’ve worked it out before she and Derrick started making wedding plans. They had only been together for three months before he’d proposed, and he’d been so insistent about getting married right away. Nick’s rejection had bruised her heart so badly she’d accepted Derrick’s proposal based more on how much Nick had hurt her than how much she loved Derrick. If she’d ever really loved him at all. She respected and admired him, but that wasn’t enough on which to base a marriage. Was it?
There was no need to try to explain anything to him. She typed, Sending 2 yr office 2day by FedEx. I’m so sorry. C.
No response.
A little while later, her phone rang. “Good morning. Are you okay?” Nick asked in a hoarse voice, sounding as though he hadn’t slept much last night.
“Good morning. I’m okay. Derrick just texted me that he wants his ring back, so I’m on my way to overnight it to him. I need to talk to him about the wedding expenses, since we were counting on cash gifts to help out with that.” She sighed. “What do you think I should do?”
“I’m supposed to get off at six tonight. Let’s wait until then to talk about it. I can meet you somewhere to grab a bite to eat.”
“I don’t want to run into anyone we know, Nick. Not yet. I’m not ready to face people and their questions.”
“We can go someplace out of the way. I know lots of those.” He gave a cynical chuckle. “A burger and fries is about all I can afford anyway.”
“Stop exaggerating.”
“I’m not. Meet me at the Vortex in Little Five Points at six-thirty. I don’t think you’ll see anybody you know there, and they have great burgers. If it looks like I’m going to be late, I’ll call you by six.”
“All right.”
“Cher? I went to sleep last night thinking what a lucky man I am. I won’t blow it this time.”
“You’d better not. God don’t like ugly. Goodbye, Nick.”
The sound of his laughter on the other end made her smile. “Goodbye.”
The stop at FedEx Office didn’t take much time. She had to sign a special contract declaring a high-value jewelry item. Before she left the house, she’d looked up the current value of a three-carat platinum ring. Since she wasn’t sure how much Derrick had paid for the ring, she declared the value to be fifteen thousand. Cher hesitated before handing it to the attendant behind the counter then took a deep breath and left the building with a sense of relief that the whole situation was over. Maybe now she could get on with her life.
With no idea what she was going to do with her day, she called Mika. “Hey, girl. What are you doing?”
“I’m working. What do you think?”
“Right,” Cher shook her head. “I’m sorry. Can you talk for a minute?”
“Sure. How are you?”
“I don’t know.” She brought her best friend up to speed on Nick’s visit and Derrick’s text. “I just sent the ring back to him.”
“Ooh, that must’ve hurt. It was a spectacular ring. So, what are you up to today?”
“Considering I was supposed to be on Grand Cayman right now, anything I do will be a letdown.”
Mika snickered. “You really wanted to go to Paris anyway, but you let Derrick talk you into the islands.”
“He loves tropical locations.” Cher wondered why she was defending a decision that hadn’t thrilled her to begin with. She had been to the islands so many times with Mika and her girls, so it held no mystique for her.
“But Nick promised to take you where you want to go.”
“Who knows if we’ll ever get there.”
“You don’t believe him?”
“I believe he wants to, but Nick is so paranoid about money. I’m not sure he’ll ever believe he has enough to take a trip to Paris.”
“Right now maybe he doesn’t, but once he finishes his residency, he’ll be able to travel anywhere he wants.”
“Are you saying we should wait until then to get married? That’s yearsfrom now.”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying. This is probably the first time in his life that he feels underprivileged. I’m sure his parents gave him money while he was in college. Now he’s employed, has to pay rent, car insurance, utilities and student loans.”
“I suppose, but he needs a reality check.”
“This is a reality check for him, Cher. Try to be understanding. It’s not his fault he was born with money.”
“He asked me to meet him for dinner tonight, and he thinks he can’t afford anything but burgers and fries. I have no problem eating burgers, but he’s being ridiculous.”
“Looks like you have your work cut out for you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“It appears that you’ll have to teach him how to live on a budget. If he’s never had to count his pennies, then you need to show him.”
“Hmm…” she pondered Mika’s words for a moment. “I can do that. God knows I was budgeting for years before I got this job. I guess I’ll be doing it again to help Derrick pay off the credit cards for wedding expenses. Thanks, girl. I’m going to get some coffee before I text him about the bills.”
“Good luck.”
COMING SOON TO KINDLE, NOOK AND PAPERBACK!
March 6, 2016
Sample Sunday
I have nine days to get
I Want You Back
to my editor. Since my goal is to get the book to market before the end of the month, it was time to start working on promos. With this series I discovered that readers really paid attention to the promos that shared a short excerpt from the story along with a photo. It's relatively easy to do, doesn't take much time, and I actually have fun creating them.
These are the promos I created using Powerpoint last week.Unfortunately, you can't click to enlarge here, but they open larger on social media and are easier to read.
These are the promos I created using Powerpoint last week.Unfortunately, you can't click to enlarge here, but they open larger on social media and are easier to read.
February 21, 2016
Sample Sunday
`Today I'm sharing another unedited excerpt from Chapter Two of
I Want You Back
. Enjoy!
After Nick left, Cherilyn sat alone in the apartment going over the events of this totally bizarre day. This morning, when she got up, her plans were to become the wife of a good-looking, extremely successful neurosurgeon. Now she was back in a relationship with a surgical resident who was concerned about paying his bills. Just what kind of relationship it would be, she wasn’t sure. She and Nick weren’t engaged, and as beautiful as it was, that diamond necklace wasn’t an engagement ring. Still, it meant more to her than the two-carat diamond Derrick had put on her finger, which she’d just decided to send back to him. Cher stared at her left hand and let out a sad sigh. Was she crazy?
Thankfully, she knew the answer to that question. No, she wasn’t crazy. She was in love with Nick Stafford with his infernal obsessing about money, constant studying and trying to live up to his brothers. In spite of those things, when he wasn’t under pressure he had a comical, fun-loving nature much like his brother, Greg. He was smart, kind and he possessed a tireless sex drive that put Derrick’s to shame, but he was ten years younger than her now former fiancé. Needless to say, she wouldn’t be enjoying his sexual creativity until he was her husband. From this point on, she’d be in a self-imposed sexual drought. Well, now neither one of them would be partaking of her luscious body, as Nick called it. If she and Nick were going to be together, he would have to work hard for it. From this point on, she planned to channel her sexual energy into her career. Perhaps she should rethink this whole mess. Cherilyn found herself a victim of the if it feels good, do it culture. Lord, it had certainly felt good, but she was turning over a new leaf, no matter how hard it turned out to be.
It had almost killed her to hurt Derrick today, but when she was brutally honest with herself, she didn’t believe he loved her unconditionally. He was good to her, but there has always been this undercurrent of disapproval in their relationship. Unlike many physicians, he didn’t just talk the talk; he walked the walk. Diet and exercise were a constant part of their conversation. Even though she tried to make him understand that she worked out on a regular basis, her weight never fluctuated up or down more than ten pounds. He seemed to believe it was somehow her fault. He didn’t believe that some people were just destined to be heavier, and they could be healthy and larger at the same time.
Nick always made her feel beautiful. In fact, he constantly expressed his appreciation for her body, especially her 40DD breasts. She couldn’t count the number of nights he’d fallen asleep with his head nestled between them and a smile on his face. She had often felt self-conscious naked in front of Derrick. He always seemed to enjoy himself, and his reactions had been passionate, but he never complimented her body.
Speaking of reactions, her mother’s response this afternoon hadn’t surprised her. She didn’t want to be humiliated in front of her friends and family. She came from the camp that believed being financially comfortable was more important than romance. It had been obvious that she liked Derrick more than Nick by the way she bragged about him. It wasn’t that she disliked Nick, because before today she had been happy that her daughter was involved with a doctor. Only Derrick had a much more impressive professional resume, and after she and Nick broke up, and she’d started seeing Derrick, her mother went overboard talking up Derrick’s achievements to anyone who would listen.
Her father’s loving understanding response was typical of how he’d treated her since she was a little girl. She was his baby girl, his only girl, for that matter. Her three brothers, who undoubtedly were already talking about finding Nick and giving him the beatdown of his life, had given her parents the idea that they could only create boys. Cherilyn’s birth hadn’t been planned, but her arrival was welcomed with joy. According to her brothers, she’d been spoiled ever since the day her parents brought her home from the hospital. Even though they wouldn’t admit it, a lot of her special treatment fame from them. As the only girl, they would have protected her with their very lives, if necessary.
Mika deserved an award as Maid of Honor of the Year. She was the best friend a girl could have, and Cherilyn would ever be grateful for her quick thinking, which got her away from the wedding without having to face the critical stares of the guests. She and Mika had been friends since high school, and growing up in a house with three men, she became the sister Cherilyn longed for. Never one to hold back her opinion, Mika always told her the truth seasoned with love, and Cherilyn appreciated that, because she didn’t get it straight from anyone else. Her mother was overly critical, but in her father’s and brothers’ eyes she could do no wrong.
If she were honest with herself, she had to admit how much she missed the Stafford family. While she and Nick were dating, Mrs. Stafford treated her no differently than she did her daughters-in-law. They were the largest family she personally knew, and she always learned something whenever she was around the women. Nick’s brother’s wives were older than her, and each one was interesting and unique in their appearance, personality and talents. Gianne was employed as a school media specialist. Adanna worked as a nurse. Rhani was formerly a psychologist and now headed up her own non-profit agency as a counselor and life coach to young women. Mona had recently started a new career as a fashion designer. Cyd had her hands full at home raising three little ones.
During the two years she and Nick were together, she had accompanied him to every holiday gathering, wedding, and baby dedication. She especially missed Charles and Adanna. He and Nick were so close, and they had spent a lot of time at his apartment in Atlantic Station. Their baby must have been born by now. Adanna had been three months along when she and Nick broke up. Cherilyn tried to imagine what the baby might look like. With Adanna’s rich dark skin, ebony eyes and stunning bone structure and Charles’ green eyes and wavy hair, the beauty of anything they created together was bound to be off the charts beautiful. When Nick called, she had to remember to ask how they were doing.
Cherilyn gazed down once more at her left hand then pulled off the ring and went into her bedroom to find a jewelry box. Tomorrow morning she would package it up and overnight it to Derrick. She turned on the lamp on her bedside table, held the ring between her fingers and watched the light sparkle from each point before she opened the small box that had held her earrings for the wedding. She wrapped the ring in a few tissues and closed it up inside the box.
Most people would say she was settling by choosing Nick over Derrick, who was recognized as a recognized neurosurgeon and owned a beautiful home. He had been good to her, and had treated her with respect, but he’d never elicited the strong feelings in her that Nick did. It could’ve been the age difference. He was thirty-seven, and she was twenty-six. Sometimes she felt that Derrick was more like a father than a friend and lover, but she had brushed those thoughts off when they came and told herself that he was just mature. Now that she and Derrick were over, she saw things differently.
COMING IN MARCH TO KINDLE, NOOK, AND PAPERBACK...
After Nick left, Cherilyn sat alone in the apartment going over the events of this totally bizarre day. This morning, when she got up, her plans were to become the wife of a good-looking, extremely successful neurosurgeon. Now she was back in a relationship with a surgical resident who was concerned about paying his bills. Just what kind of relationship it would be, she wasn’t sure. She and Nick weren’t engaged, and as beautiful as it was, that diamond necklace wasn’t an engagement ring. Still, it meant more to her than the two-carat diamond Derrick had put on her finger, which she’d just decided to send back to him. Cher stared at her left hand and let out a sad sigh. Was she crazy?
Thankfully, she knew the answer to that question. No, she wasn’t crazy. She was in love with Nick Stafford with his infernal obsessing about money, constant studying and trying to live up to his brothers. In spite of those things, when he wasn’t under pressure he had a comical, fun-loving nature much like his brother, Greg. He was smart, kind and he possessed a tireless sex drive that put Derrick’s to shame, but he was ten years younger than her now former fiancé. Needless to say, she wouldn’t be enjoying his sexual creativity until he was her husband. From this point on, she’d be in a self-imposed sexual drought. Well, now neither one of them would be partaking of her luscious body, as Nick called it. If she and Nick were going to be together, he would have to work hard for it. From this point on, she planned to channel her sexual energy into her career. Perhaps she should rethink this whole mess. Cherilyn found herself a victim of the if it feels good, do it culture. Lord, it had certainly felt good, but she was turning over a new leaf, no matter how hard it turned out to be.
It had almost killed her to hurt Derrick today, but when she was brutally honest with herself, she didn’t believe he loved her unconditionally. He was good to her, but there has always been this undercurrent of disapproval in their relationship. Unlike many physicians, he didn’t just talk the talk; he walked the walk. Diet and exercise were a constant part of their conversation. Even though she tried to make him understand that she worked out on a regular basis, her weight never fluctuated up or down more than ten pounds. He seemed to believe it was somehow her fault. He didn’t believe that some people were just destined to be heavier, and they could be healthy and larger at the same time.
Nick always made her feel beautiful. In fact, he constantly expressed his appreciation for her body, especially her 40DD breasts. She couldn’t count the number of nights he’d fallen asleep with his head nestled between them and a smile on his face. She had often felt self-conscious naked in front of Derrick. He always seemed to enjoy himself, and his reactions had been passionate, but he never complimented her body.
Speaking of reactions, her mother’s response this afternoon hadn’t surprised her. She didn’t want to be humiliated in front of her friends and family. She came from the camp that believed being financially comfortable was more important than romance. It had been obvious that she liked Derrick more than Nick by the way she bragged about him. It wasn’t that she disliked Nick, because before today she had been happy that her daughter was involved with a doctor. Only Derrick had a much more impressive professional resume, and after she and Nick broke up, and she’d started seeing Derrick, her mother went overboard talking up Derrick’s achievements to anyone who would listen.
Her father’s loving understanding response was typical of how he’d treated her since she was a little girl. She was his baby girl, his only girl, for that matter. Her three brothers, who undoubtedly were already talking about finding Nick and giving him the beatdown of his life, had given her parents the idea that they could only create boys. Cherilyn’s birth hadn’t been planned, but her arrival was welcomed with joy. According to her brothers, she’d been spoiled ever since the day her parents brought her home from the hospital. Even though they wouldn’t admit it, a lot of her special treatment fame from them. As the only girl, they would have protected her with their very lives, if necessary.
Mika deserved an award as Maid of Honor of the Year. She was the best friend a girl could have, and Cherilyn would ever be grateful for her quick thinking, which got her away from the wedding without having to face the critical stares of the guests. She and Mika had been friends since high school, and growing up in a house with three men, she became the sister Cherilyn longed for. Never one to hold back her opinion, Mika always told her the truth seasoned with love, and Cherilyn appreciated that, because she didn’t get it straight from anyone else. Her mother was overly critical, but in her father’s and brothers’ eyes she could do no wrong.
If she were honest with herself, she had to admit how much she missed the Stafford family. While she and Nick were dating, Mrs. Stafford treated her no differently than she did her daughters-in-law. They were the largest family she personally knew, and she always learned something whenever she was around the women. Nick’s brother’s wives were older than her, and each one was interesting and unique in their appearance, personality and talents. Gianne was employed as a school media specialist. Adanna worked as a nurse. Rhani was formerly a psychologist and now headed up her own non-profit agency as a counselor and life coach to young women. Mona had recently started a new career as a fashion designer. Cyd had her hands full at home raising three little ones.
During the two years she and Nick were together, she had accompanied him to every holiday gathering, wedding, and baby dedication. She especially missed Charles and Adanna. He and Nick were so close, and they had spent a lot of time at his apartment in Atlantic Station. Their baby must have been born by now. Adanna had been three months along when she and Nick broke up. Cherilyn tried to imagine what the baby might look like. With Adanna’s rich dark skin, ebony eyes and stunning bone structure and Charles’ green eyes and wavy hair, the beauty of anything they created together was bound to be off the charts beautiful. When Nick called, she had to remember to ask how they were doing.
Cherilyn gazed down once more at her left hand then pulled off the ring and went into her bedroom to find a jewelry box. Tomorrow morning she would package it up and overnight it to Derrick. She turned on the lamp on her bedside table, held the ring between her fingers and watched the light sparkle from each point before she opened the small box that had held her earrings for the wedding. She wrapped the ring in a few tissues and closed it up inside the box.
Most people would say she was settling by choosing Nick over Derrick, who was recognized as a recognized neurosurgeon and owned a beautiful home. He had been good to her, and had treated her with respect, but he’d never elicited the strong feelings in her that Nick did. It could’ve been the age difference. He was thirty-seven, and she was twenty-six. Sometimes she felt that Derrick was more like a father than a friend and lover, but she had brushed those thoughts off when they came and told herself that he was just mature. Now that she and Derrick were over, she saw things differently.
COMING IN MARCH TO KINDLE, NOOK, AND PAPERBACK...
February 5, 2016
What do I miss?
This week I had a conversation with one of my author buddies in which she told me that she never takes a lunch break. She works in downtown Atlanta not too far from where I used to work. Her reasoning is if she works through her lunch hour, she can get off sooner.
Our chat got me thinking about what I miss (and don't miss) about working. These are things I miss about being downtown every day...
Sitting in Olympic Park and enjoying the fountain music show while I ate my lunch and read a book...
Friday lunch on Broad Street when the restaurants and cafes closed off the street and set tables up outside...
People watching in CNN Center...
Stores (even though there aren't a lot of stores in that area) One of my faves was the magazine/book store in the Equitable building
One of my favorite memories was standing outside on line to buy one of those "blessed brownies" from Sister Callie at the Heavenly Father's, Jesus' and Our Bake Shop formerly on Marietta Street. That woman's baked goods were so awesome, customers didn't even mind being preached to while they were being served!
I realized that everything I miss about working has nothing to do with work. I couldn't wait to get out of the office, because the interesting stuff wasn't inside. It was outside.
There were a LOT of things I despised about working, but these two top the list:
Living in cubicle prison...
And the commute into town from the south side of the metro...
Even though there are many things I miss about working downtown, I'd still rather be self-employed...
