Sandra Nachlinger's Blog, page 69
February 8, 2012
Quotes to Note
I heard this bit of wisdom on National Public Radio several days ago. The late Jay Trachman, host of the weekly "One on One" radio show for more than three decades, was quoted as saying:"The formula for a happy marriage? It's the same as the one for living in California: when you find a fault, don't dwell on it."
National Public Radio (NPR)'s website: http://www.npr.org/
February 6, 2012
Teaser Tuesday - Feb 7
An older character from Laid Out and Candle Lit remembers the early years of her marriage ...
"You thought about it all day ... you couldn't wait for him to get home ... the minute he stepped in the door, you were tearing at each other's clothes ... he couldn't get to you quick enough ... Whew! Damn! I think I need a glass of sweet tea," she said, fanning her face with both hands.
(Page 28, Location 305 on my Kindle)
Laid Out and Candle Lit was a fun, light-hearted romance that I thoroughly enjoyed. Here what Ann Everett's website says about the book:
What do Sweet Thangs, Orgasm Pie, and murder in Brownsboro, TX have in common?
ANSWER: Tizzy Donovan
Small town girl, Tizzy is a widow, single mother, sister to the county sheriff and known as the local girl who talks to the dead. After almost five years without a man, she's pent up and hot-to-trot, and in small town Brownsboro, the roster of available men is just plain lousy.
When Tizzy discovers a dead body in the cemetery, she quickly becomes a suspect. With each lead placing her credibility on the line, she knows there will be no talking her way out of this one with saucy come-backs and a helping of Better Than Sex Cupcakes.
Texas Ranger Ridge Cooper arrives in town to cut his teeth on his first murder case, and becomes torn between duty and desire. His job gets a whole lot harder as he works to find a viable suspect other than the sexy woman with a sassy mouth.
Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:Grab your current readOpen to a random pageShare two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that pageBe careful not to include spoilers! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others.)Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.To find more Teasers, click here: Teasers
February 3, 2012
Sweet Saturday Samples - Feb 4
In this excerpt from I.O.U. Sex, June has decided to take the plunge and meet her former steady, Denny, face-to-face by going to his place of business to surprise him. But first she has to prepare….Showered, buffed, and lotioned, June spritzed perfume over her naked body. I'll wear my most expensive lace bra and panties, she thought, though no one but me will know. They'll give me confidence. She took extra time with her hair, sweeping it behind her ears the way Denny used to like it. Her ex-husband Stan said older women shouldn't wear their hair long, but she still thought shoulder length suited her best. She rejected Stan's opinion as just one more of his many chauvinistic ideas and wondered why she'd tolerated him as long as she had. The day she and Stan parted, she'd decided to let her hair grow long again, her first act of defiance in years. She leaned in for a closer look in the mirror, pleased that her blonde highlights covered most of her gray.June went to the closet, wondering what a woman should wear to have her car serviced by an old boyfriend. The thought made her laugh. That's not something you'd read about in Emily Post. After trying on and discarding four outfits, she settled on a short denim skirt and a cotton-candy pink T-shirt. Why not accentuate the positive? Her legs were chemically tanned and firm from years of aerobics, and Denny had always liked her in pink. She added silver hoops to her ears and straightened her shoulders for a last look in the mirror. She turned sideways, patting her not-so-flat stomach, frowning at her not-so-perky breasts.Stan's criticisms nagged: Is that cellulite on the back of your thighs?Now she answered him in words she'd never spoken aloud. "Shut up, and get out of my mind. I may not be perfect, but for a woman my age, I look pretty damned good."Then another worry surfaced. What exactly would she say to Denny?"Hi, it's me. June. I'm a part-time writer, the mother of a grown son, and the survivor of a nasty divorce. Oh, and by the way, I've made a pact with Kiki and Peggy, and I'm here to offer you the very thing I wouldn't do in high school. What's new with you?"She decided not to over-think their meeting but to play it by ear instead. After all, this was just an oil change. No big deal. Yeah. Right. She grabbed her purse, took a deep breath, and locked the door behind her.
Will June go forward and actually meet with Denny or will she chicken out at the last minute? And what will his reaction be? We'll continue with June's story in the weeks to come. Thanks for visiting our Sweet Saturday Sample!
[Note: The foregoing excerpt has been edited to maintain a PG-13 rating.]
Illustration source: "Woman looking at her reflection in mirror," (1918) by Frederic Dorr Steele. From the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division .
For more Sweet Saturday Samples, click here: Sweet Stuff
February 2, 2012
MEET MY SON, ZACH
Hi! I'm linking up with Kelly's blog today to write a post about my son, Zach. He happens to be blessed with a mom (me!) who is a writer, and I'm using the blog my BFF and I use for our book to do this. Sorry, but it's the only blog I know how to use. Please know our novel is a light-hearted romance with a very unique title that will make you hoot in laughter. But that's neither here nor there, because I want to tell you about my son who may very well kill me when he reads this. Then again, he's used to my embarrassing way of doing things.
Zach is 31 years old and lives in the College Station, Texas area. He is a tall fellow (about 6'3"), as is evidenced by the photo of him with the Blue Man's Group dude above. He is a really nice guy with a heart of gold. He loves keeping up with new movies, his family and friends, and he's a sweetheart with babies and little kids. His undergrad and graduate degrees are in Computer Science, and he works in that field. If you'd like to know more or introduce someone you know, please send me an email at skakiwimom@gmail.com and I'll pass the information along to Z!
January 31, 2012
Sasee Magazine
Check out my essay "Boomer Exercise / Memory Program" featured in the February issue of Sasee Magazine -- both online and in print. Here's the link: BEMP
Teaser Tuesday - Jan 31
I'm stretching the two-sentence limit to four today, but this excerpt from The Same Sweet Girls by Cassandra King was just too good to abbreviate! Let me know if you agree.
"I think I've figured it out. Long as I can remember, I've been addicted to junk food, stuff like potato chips and soft drinks and candy bars. It's caused me problems all my life, cavities and stomachaches and acne, not to mention a big ass that I have to jog every day to keep under control. It's taken me a long time to see the connection, but here it is: The way I'm drawn to junk food is the same way I can't resist a man who's no good for me."
Don't you just love that?
Synopsis of The Same Sweet Girls from Cassandra King's website:
None of the Same Sweet Girls are really girls anymore and none of them have actually ever been sweet. But this spirited group of Southern women, who have been holding biannual reunions ever since they were together in college, are nothing short of compelling. There's Julia Stovall, the First Lady of Alabama, who despite her public veneer, is a down-to-earth gal who only wants to know who her husband is sneaking out with late at night. There's Lanier Sanders, whose husband won custody of their children after he found out about her fling with a colleague. Then there's Astor Deveaux, a former Broadway showgirl who simply can't keep her flirtations in check. And Corrine Cooper, whose incredible story comes to light as the novel unfolds.
Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:Grab your current readOpen to a random pageShare two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that pageBe careful not to include spoilers! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others.)Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.To find more Teasers, click here: Teasers
"I think I've figured it out. Long as I can remember, I've been addicted to junk food, stuff like potato chips and soft drinks and candy bars. It's caused me problems all my life, cavities and stomachaches and acne, not to mention a big ass that I have to jog every day to keep under control. It's taken me a long time to see the connection, but here it is: The way I'm drawn to junk food is the same way I can't resist a man who's no good for me."
Don't you just love that?
Synopsis of The Same Sweet Girls from Cassandra King's website:
None of the Same Sweet Girls are really girls anymore and none of them have actually ever been sweet. But this spirited group of Southern women, who have been holding biannual reunions ever since they were together in college, are nothing short of compelling. There's Julia Stovall, the First Lady of Alabama, who despite her public veneer, is a down-to-earth gal who only wants to know who her husband is sneaking out with late at night. There's Lanier Sanders, whose husband won custody of their children after he found out about her fling with a colleague. Then there's Astor Deveaux, a former Broadway showgirl who simply can't keep her flirtations in check. And Corrine Cooper, whose incredible story comes to light as the novel unfolds.
Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:Grab your current readOpen to a random pageShare two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that pageBe careful not to include spoilers! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others.)Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.To find more Teasers, click here: Teasers
January 30, 2012
January 28, 2012
Sweet Saturday Sample - Jan 28
A big thank you to everyone who visits our blog each week for Sweet Saturday Samples. We hope you're enjoying excerpts from I.O.U. Sex.
Last week we left our friend June thinking back to the days of drive-in movies with her first love, Denny. But the real question is whether or not she's going to try to find him after all these years. In this excerpt, you'll see that June has not only tracked Denny down, she's actually talking to him on the phone!
A deep voice came through the telephone after the second ring. "Reid's Automotive."June held back a gasp.Oh, my God. That's Denny.She took a deep breath before speaking, her nerves gyrating like the ceiling fan above her. "Uh, yes. I'd like to make an appointment to get my oil changed.""You don't need an appointment, ma'am. Just bring your car by. We'll have time to take care of that this afternoon."With every word Denny spoke, June's heart pounded harder."Oh, no. That's too soon." She clutched the phone so hard her knuckles turned white. "I mean ... I can't today.""Well, just bring it on by whenever it's convenient. We're open Monday through Saturday, nine to five." The familiar voice hesitated. "Excuse me, but have you brought your car in before?"Oh, this is a bad idea. What was I thinking?No, wait. It's just a phone call. I can handle this.She smiled, curiosity overcoming her doubts.Could he have recognized my voice? I wonder what he looks like now?What had happened to the confident young woman she'd been at eighteen? The answer came at once—life, that's what, plus years of putdowns from her ex-husband Stan. "No, I ...thank you." June replaced the receiver with shaking hands. She definitely wasn't ready for a face-to-face meeting with him just yet.After days of pep talks in front of her mirror, June finally found the courage to face Denny. Just as she'd done for years, she made a list of positive and negative outcomesNegative: Doesn't recognize me. Won't let me explain. Completely indifferent.This last thought made her pause.Or maybe he'll even hate me.Positive: Happy to see me. Wants to be friends. Forgives me.
So what will it be? Will June decide that the positives outweigh the negatives for meeting Denny again, face-to-face? And what will happen if she does?
For more Sweet Saturday Samples, click here:
Sweet Stuff
Last week we left our friend June thinking back to the days of drive-in movies with her first love, Denny. But the real question is whether or not she's going to try to find him after all these years. In this excerpt, you'll see that June has not only tracked Denny down, she's actually talking to him on the phone!A deep voice came through the telephone after the second ring. "Reid's Automotive."June held back a gasp.Oh, my God. That's Denny.She took a deep breath before speaking, her nerves gyrating like the ceiling fan above her. "Uh, yes. I'd like to make an appointment to get my oil changed.""You don't need an appointment, ma'am. Just bring your car by. We'll have time to take care of that this afternoon."With every word Denny spoke, June's heart pounded harder."Oh, no. That's too soon." She clutched the phone so hard her knuckles turned white. "I mean ... I can't today.""Well, just bring it on by whenever it's convenient. We're open Monday through Saturday, nine to five." The familiar voice hesitated. "Excuse me, but have you brought your car in before?"Oh, this is a bad idea. What was I thinking?No, wait. It's just a phone call. I can handle this.She smiled, curiosity overcoming her doubts.Could he have recognized my voice? I wonder what he looks like now?What had happened to the confident young woman she'd been at eighteen? The answer came at once—life, that's what, plus years of putdowns from her ex-husband Stan. "No, I ...thank you." June replaced the receiver with shaking hands. She definitely wasn't ready for a face-to-face meeting with him just yet.After days of pep talks in front of her mirror, June finally found the courage to face Denny. Just as she'd done for years, she made a list of positive and negative outcomesNegative: Doesn't recognize me. Won't let me explain. Completely indifferent.This last thought made her pause.Or maybe he'll even hate me.Positive: Happy to see me. Wants to be friends. Forgives me.
So what will it be? Will June decide that the positives outweigh the negatives for meeting Denny again, face-to-face? And what will happen if she does?
For more Sweet Saturday Samples, click here:
Sweet Stuff
January 23, 2012
Teaser Tuesday - Jan 24
Today's Teaser is from One For The Road by Lynne Marshall. In this story, recently widowed (and financially strapped) D'Anne decides to earn some cash by offering her deluxe RV for hire -- and she's included in the deal as cook and driver. Her goal is to get back home to Los Angeles from Nashville. A country western singer responds to her advertisement. In this snippet, D'Anne gets her first glimpse of Tyler White. (At 3% on my Kindle.)He wore a brown Stetson propped on top of his head, tight faded jeans, and scuffed boots. One word popped into her head. Big.
Synopsis from Amazon:
Tyler White was a "one-hit-wonder" ten years ago. At a crossroads, he decides to attempt a comeback. He's hoping the three-week tour he's put together with reignite his career. All he needs now is some cheap transportation, and the widow with the RV might just fit the bill.
D'Anne and Tyler discover a lot about themselves - and each other - as they journey from Nashville to Las Vegas, via Texas, with the band and Tyler's dog. Can close quarters really help a has-been singer on the comeback trail and a widow from California find love?
Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:Grab your current readOpen to a random pageShare two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that pageBe careful not to include spoilers! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others.)Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.To find more Teasers, click here: Teasers
January 21, 2012
Sweet Saturday Samples - Jan 21
Today's Sweet Saturday Sample continues June's story from I.O.U. Sex. When June reads her old high school diary with friends Kiki and Peggy, her thoughts travel back to the 1960s. In this scene she relives memories of Denny, her former high school steady, and remembers their dates at the local drive-in theater. (This excerpt has been edited so that it's PG-13.)
That evening, June lay in bed listening to the wind whistle outside her bedroom window. She yawned and tugged the quilt up to her chin, her body exhausted from the previous night and her mind as unsettled as the wintry weather. She turned on her side, then her stomach, but thoughts of her pact with Kiki and Peggy kept tumbling through her brain. At two in the morning, she gave up and threw back the covers, then crept to the living room, feeling her way along the shadowed hallway. She lit a lavender-scented candle, placed it on the coffee table, and slid into the lotus position on the floor. She closed her eyes. Breathe in through the nose, out through the mouth. Let the breath flow freely. In. Out. High school. Dating. Dennis James Reid. Hair the color of dark chocolate. Dark eyes. Big gentle hands. Breathe in. Breathe out. Denny on the football field. Denny in his letter jacket. Denny in the back seat at the drive-in. *** "Mmmm, Junie. You drive me wild." Denny reached across the vinyl-covered seat and pulled June closer. She snuggled against him and stretched up to whisper in his ear. "Wild, huh?" She inhaled his unique scent—Brut aftershave mixed with the faint aroma of Lava soap and motor oil from his dad's garage. Denny's laugh sounded nervous. When he shivered, June giggled and stroked his wavy hair, then tickled his earlobe with her tongue, making him gasp. "Whoa, baby. You better slow down or you'll get more than you bargained for." He turned and grasped her shoulders, staring into her blue eyes. "Or have you changed your mind?" June scooted away, her warm feelings cooled by Denny's question. She pushed her long blonde hair off her face and anchored it behind her ears. "You know how I feel about going all the way. Why can't we just have some fun?" Denny groaned. "Junie, baby, you really don't understand, do you?" Of course, good girls didn't go all the way. She'd had long discussions with Kiki and Peggy on the subject of how far to go without getting a bad reputation. Peggy said once you did something, boys seemed to expect it every time. And Kiki sure had a lot of information for someone who claimed virginity. June smiled and unbuttoned Denny's shirt.
What do you think? When June's mind comes back to the present, will she contact Denny? And if she does, will she find the courage to tell him the secret she has kept for so many years?
You'll find more Sweet Saturday Samples here: Sweet Samples
Photo source: http://www.seeing-stars.com/locations/grease.shtml
That evening, June lay in bed listening to the wind whistle outside her bedroom window. She yawned and tugged the quilt up to her chin, her body exhausted from the previous night and her mind as unsettled as the wintry weather. She turned on her side, then her stomach, but thoughts of her pact with Kiki and Peggy kept tumbling through her brain. At two in the morning, she gave up and threw back the covers, then crept to the living room, feeling her way along the shadowed hallway. She lit a lavender-scented candle, placed it on the coffee table, and slid into the lotus position on the floor. She closed her eyes. Breathe in through the nose, out through the mouth. Let the breath flow freely. In. Out. High school. Dating. Dennis James Reid. Hair the color of dark chocolate. Dark eyes. Big gentle hands. Breathe in. Breathe out. Denny on the football field. Denny in his letter jacket. Denny in the back seat at the drive-in. *** "Mmmm, Junie. You drive me wild." Denny reached across the vinyl-covered seat and pulled June closer. She snuggled against him and stretched up to whisper in his ear. "Wild, huh?" She inhaled his unique scent—Brut aftershave mixed with the faint aroma of Lava soap and motor oil from his dad's garage. Denny's laugh sounded nervous. When he shivered, June giggled and stroked his wavy hair, then tickled his earlobe with her tongue, making him gasp. "Whoa, baby. You better slow down or you'll get more than you bargained for." He turned and grasped her shoulders, staring into her blue eyes. "Or have you changed your mind?" June scooted away, her warm feelings cooled by Denny's question. She pushed her long blonde hair off her face and anchored it behind her ears. "You know how I feel about going all the way. Why can't we just have some fun?" Denny groaned. "Junie, baby, you really don't understand, do you?" Of course, good girls didn't go all the way. She'd had long discussions with Kiki and Peggy on the subject of how far to go without getting a bad reputation. Peggy said once you did something, boys seemed to expect it every time. And Kiki sure had a lot of information for someone who claimed virginity. June smiled and unbuttoned Denny's shirt.
What do you think? When June's mind comes back to the present, will she contact Denny? And if she does, will she find the courage to tell him the secret she has kept for so many years?
You'll find more Sweet Saturday Samples here: Sweet SamplesPhoto source: http://www.seeing-stars.com/locations/grease.shtml
