Vicki Batman's Blog, page 84

Vicki Batman ~ LAUNCH PARTY!!! Bug Stuff...and Other Stories

Like a good chuckle? I'm serving up three new romantic comedy shorts in Bug Stuff...and Other Stories.


And there's bound to be fun!!! at the launch party at: http://on.fb.me/1ipdLkv

More spectacular fun!!! at Cupid Comes Calling blogtacular: http://plottingprincesses.blogspot.com


  Happy Valentine's Day!

Vicki Batman ~ #handbag Monday's guest: author Amy Durham. What's in her closet?

#handbag Monday
#handbag Monday welcomes author of Dusk, Amy Durham. Let's see what's in her closet:
My latest handbag obsession is this messenger bag.  It was an after-Christmas purchase made with a gift card. This is THE bag for anyone who carries an iPad, table, or laptop around regularly. There are two large interior sections, both padded for protection, as well as a Velcro strap to keep your device from falling out. There are three zipper pouches for all the small stuff that accumulates in my handbag… like keys, lip balm, hand lotion, etc. Small pockets on the sides hold the plethora of pens and pencils I always carry. It’s definitely a “writer’s bag”, but I think it’s also pretty stylish! Practical, functional, and cute… just perfect!
DUSK
Zoe Gray lost her father... in more ways than one. Angry and bitter, Zoe spends the summer before her senior year of high school doing everything she can to forget, legal or not. But a close call triggers a reality check, and Zoe decides to put her life back together, a task that proves a lot harder than she thought.
Adrian Shaw shows up on the first day of school, creating quite a stir with his striking good looks and gleaming black motorcycle. But Adrian is much more than a "biker boy", and as Zoe discovers, he may just hold the key she needs to put her life back on the right path.
But as they do battle with evil forces that want nothing more than to destroy Zoe's chance at a normal life, will their feelings for one another make them stronger, or be the reason Zoe's happiness slips away forever?
And will Zoe learn to forgive before it's too late?Find DUSK at:  Amazon  Is a messenger bag your style?   Thanks, Amy, for being on #handbag Monday!

Vicki Batman ~ #handbag Monday: featuring a new chicklit author: Kobby

***handbag monday*** A new author for you to check out: KobbyTettehGyampoh, simply Kobby, from Chicklit Pad. Here's how he started writing:

I’ve had lots of inspiration for writing. But the one that moved me into publishing my very first novel, I Don’t Know How She Will Do It, has to go to Allison Pearson.

This Ted Baker handbag...


 reminds me of Hair Scarfs, flimsy tanks (mostly floral), knee-length tight skirts. Yes, the kind of bag someone coquettish in the eighties would throw on.

Pair it with a motorbike (preferably a Vespa) and voom. voom, you are gone.




A fun blurb from I Don't Know How She Will Do It:  Lily has had it with Aunt Lizzie. She wants her inheritance. She wants to be free. Aunt Lizzie wants Lily to find a husband, though she thinks it’s impossible. To her Lily could kiss freedom goodbye since it might be about the only person who’d allow that.

Find Kobby at: http://chicklitpad.blogspot.com/


Kobby, VB here... I adore the bag. The bow sets it off and truly is a classy and classic style. Much success with your book!

Vicki Batman ~ word for January: Organized

Are you? After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, after everything is packed away and you’ve begun to gather your 2008 IRS information, are you organized?   
(a) Uh, no.
(b) Okay, maybe, sorta.
(c) I want to be?
I did do a little better at the organizing stuff this year. When I packed Christmas decorations away, everything fit into nice clear boxes with lids that I’d bought at Target. (Hmmm, maybe I should label them and theircontents. That’s an excellent idea.) 
As I’m typing this column, I look at my desk covered with papers. I could gather the ones about contests and possible editor/agent submissions into a folder. Done! That was too easy.
I can glance four feet to my left at the closet -- doors always open -- where I file papers and store supplies. It’s a mess, like a two-headed hairy black monster with pointy teeth, leaning over my shoulder, arms raised, which won’t go away. The urge to get in there and purge, to make the monster disappear, overwhelms me.
However, I have another urge -- a big pull, one which says “open a Microsoft word doc and type away.”
My month off is over and it’s time to get back to work.
Nothing will get read if I don’t write it. So today, I took tentative steps to rev my engine. I reviewed my folder for ideas and wrote an essay. I critiqued a friend’s chapters. And as a result, my fingers are tingling. Cool.
I’ll push the closet revamp and the labeling of the boxes aside and get to what I really want to do -- WRITE A BOOK!
How about you? Have you set writing goals? Do you have a good place to work? Are you pushing aside organizing stuff for that rainy day down the road?     ************************************************  

Launch party is on for Feb 4 from 12 am to 12 pm CST at: Vicki Batman, sassy writer gal I hope to see all of you there!  

Vicki Batman ~ Bug Stuff...and other stories: Great Reviews are Rolling in!!

  5 stars Great short stories! If you are looking for some great short stories to read in the carpool line (like me), waiting on the doctor's, Ms. Batman has written the perfect stories for you.

My personal favorite is the first one, Bug Stuff. Yes, in Texas we have water bugs...not roaches! They are almost like small dogs and they are crafty. I laughed out loud when I read that sentence and then shook my head because its the truth. What really drew me to the story was the level of characterization that Ms. Batman accomplished in just a few pages. :) Within those few pages, I came to love both Jake and our heroine. We never find out her name but it doesn't matter. 4 1/2 stars

Just Desserts: While this is my least favorite, the antics that happen at the dinner are hilarious. We've all set by someone as rude as Mr. Green. Urg! Our heroine Anne is a dream. She puts up with it in the end but her inner dialogue is spot on. Mr. Grantham, our hero, is a dream. Just read the ending and you will agree. :) 4 stars

With this Ring: I'm such a sucker for married couple stories and Ms. Batman wrote one that was sweet but also timely. How many times have we ladies forgotten something to pack on a trip and our husband get pissy because we now have to buy it on the trip? Guilty! The ending was perfect and I wish my husband would do something like that for me. :) 4 1/2 stars

Overall, I loved these shorts and my wish is that you would take a chance on shorter stories. While they are considered "sweet", they are very well written and funny.

Highly recommended. Harlie, owner of Harlie's Books

4 stars Good old fashioned quickie for the mind 3 quick stories sure to tickle the senses. Short in length but long on humor and sass. From the sexy softie in Bug Stuff, to the charming gentleman in Just Desserts..and finishing with the surprising romantic in With This Ring. It'll keep your interest all the way until the end..then leave you wanting more. If short and sweet is what you like, you will enjoy it. I am usually not a fan of quickies, but this one left me smiling.


5 stars Short & Sweet Bug Stuff & other stories is a collection of 3 short stories that are easy to read & finish in one setting. You'll laugh at the antics of coworkers trying to figure out the best pest control. And you'll quickly realize why dessert is the best part of a meal. You'll also see that being a married couple definitely doesn't mean the romance is gone. This collection is a nice little escape from every day life.

Find Bug Stuff...and Other Stories on February 4 at:
Amazon Barnes and Noble
Smashwords


 
 

Vicki Batman ~ #handbag Monday: Checkered Past?

#handbag MondayWow! I went to Jazzercise before church yesterday and TWO ladies remarked on my lovely bag. Take a look:   This is a vintage Margaret Smith I picked up on eBay or ETSY (my sissie would love to have one, too). I probably paid less than $20.00. It springs open and shut and has handles a little longer than I'd like, but would be used to sling over a shoulder.I think my friends liked this one because it is fabric. So that got me to thinking when was the last time I saw a fabric bag? I went to a large department store before the holidays and saw Vera Bradley bags. They are usually flowery, sweet-looking things. Nothing quite as bold or as classic as this houndstooth check. I've seen fabric bags more on ETSY than elsewhere. When I worked market, fabric bags were quite the thing.   So what do you think? Do you like fabric bags?  ************************************************************* I couldn't let this get by without mentioning Bug Stuff...and other stories comes out February 4. I hope you can stop by my writer's page, Vicki Batman, sassy writer , for a great launch party.   
Soon will be available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and other e-retailers.

Vicki Batman: guest handbag lover & author, Michelle Miles

 
#handbag Monday
 Michelle Miles: My Favorite Handbag
When Vicki asked me to come to Handbag Monday, I was ecstatic! Which handbag would I talk about? I have so many and several are my favorites.

I confess – I’m kind of a Coach addict. I love going into the store and petting them. Sniffing them. Coveting them. Yearning for them--oh, sorry. I was having a moment there. The salesladies used to know me by name. That’s how much I shopped the Coach store. When my habit got somewhat out of control – ahem – and I decided my credit cards needed a rest, I had to give up the buying habit. I confess I haven’t bought a new one in quite some time (but I still go to the store and sniff them).



I think my all-time favorite bag I own, though, is THIS one.
This beautiful black and white Madison. What I love about it is the three compartments. One on each side. One zipper compartment in the middle. Handles long enough to fit over my winter coat. It’s great when you want to carry a lot of stuff. It can even fit my Nook, which is important because, you know, I like to read when I’m waiting in doctors/dentist offices.

I’ve been carrying this one for a few months now. I’ll switch it out to one of my other favorites by spring, though. And since I’m on a Coach hiatus, I have something else to focus my buying energy on: Brighton beads!



How about you? Are you obsessed with any particular accessory?  



The Goddess of War is out for Queen Maeve’s blood to satisfy a thousand-year-old vendetta. And the only one that can save her is a human masquerading as a Fae knight.

Henry Chase is desperate to find his daughter lost in the Highlands. When he steps through a stone circle, he’s transported to the Otherworld. With his human form hidden by glamour, he masquerades as a Fae knight. He’s instantly besotted by Queen Maeve and determined to break down the walls she’s erected around her heart.

In the aftermath of war, Queen Maeve’s kingdom has been destroyed. She must close the portals to the human realm and restore her lost magic. But before she can set things straight, her archenemy, the Goddess of War, attacks, seeking revenge.

When the goddess captures the queen, Henry offers his life for Maeve’s in the hope his bravery will earn the queen’s love. Discovering Henry is human and knowing she must send him back to his world, Maeve tries to fight her feelings for him. Now she must choose—life at court or life with Henry—before she loses him forever.

Find A KNIGHT TO REMEMBER at:  Amazon

Thanks, Michelle, for being with me today!

Vicki Batman ~ Who is an Everyday Hero?

Who is an Everyday Hero?
Last December, my girlfriends and I went on our annual Christmas getaway. We ate a great food and checked out historical homes decorated for the holidays.
After we returned to our rooms and put on our comfy jammies, we exchanged gifts and then, chatted about stuff. All kinds of stuff. This time, the topic turned to handsome hunky heroes.
Yeah, we went through all the normal attributes heroes are perceived to be, like firefighters and policemen, military, etc. Out of nowhere, I added, "My heroes are handymen--plumbers, carpenters, and fixer-uppers like the guys on HGTV."   
Needless to say, hysterics took over us.
But it's the truth. Nowadays, we'd rather have someone who could clean the pipes, patch a hole in the wall, fix a light fixture, and keep our computer running. Those are real men.
The giggles continued on when we began discussing the HGTV hosts that rock our world. And we did wonder if they were as helpful at home as they appear to be on television. LOL
I tend to write about everyday heroes in my sweet meet stories. Chances are we encounter them in real life over a Navy Seal or Army Ranger. The lawyer who volunteers to run a Christmas tree stand. The accountant who helps someone figure out how to fund a business. The restaurateur who provides jobs and helps the local animal shelter. The store owner who wants to help his sick dad have a wonderful, last Christmas. The architect taking over his mom's business when she retires. The schoolteacher who coaches a team. The pilot donating a kidney.   These people don't--usually--risk life and limb; they are the unsung guys and gals who keep us going every day. Just normal average Joes and Josiephines. Those small things they do are truly heroic.
BTW, did I mention the electrician is a fireman? LOLOL

What kind of hero do you like to read about? Who are your heroes?   Coming February 1, Bug Stuff...and other stories. Not all heroes are guys, you know.Amazon  Website

Vicki Batman ~ #handbag Monday: Did you get a cool Christmas bag? I did!

#handbag Monday
Last fall, my son married. For the rehearsal dinner, my now daughter in law (whom I happily refer to as daughter!) asked if she could borrow a bag to carry. The one I thought of couldn't be found. Yikes! I went frantic. She came over and asked if she could look and of course, I said yes. She picked my green Kim White clutch. And it was perfect with her rose colored dress as the bag has a hint of pink in the trim.

Fast forward to shopping for her for Christmas...

I knew I had to get a special bag. Remembering her delight with the green Kim White, I went to the designer's site and began perusing. Image me dancing when I found this...

   Isn't it delightful? I love the colors--a very desirable shade of orange, hints of pink and dark red-orange on an ivory background. This one can be used year round.  I know you might be thinking: Vicki, that doesn't hold very much. It does! Small wallet, small cosmetic bag, check book, small zip bag for business cards and tiny pens, mechanical pencil, Sniff tissue pak, various lip balms, red cinnamon discs, and my Q10. It tucks under the arm, and the perfect size to stick in a backpack. Made from a strong upholstery fabric. Daughter loves hers, and yes, I have one too. LOL  Find Kim White bags at: Kim White Here's Kim White's HBW interview: Interview   Who got a great handbag for Christmas or Hannukah?      p.s. About to get back to work on the Paris bag! Good news coming.

Vicki Batman ~ News Flash! Are you intrigued?

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"The Great Fruitcake Bake-off" is in second place at the Preditors and Editors poll. Vote here: http://critters.org/predpoll/shortstoryr.shtml

Scroll down to "The Great Fruitcake Bake-off."
Click the circle next to the title.
Scroll down to your name and fill in the blanks.
Scroll to the security. Answer the question (usually involves the author's name).
Hit submit.

Thank you!

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More news! Bug Stuff...and other stories becomes available February 1. The Launch Party is Tuesday, February 4. I'll be giving away a needlepoint project and a gift card. And possibly more!

The party will be on my FB site:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vicki-Batman-sassy-writer-of-sexy-and-funny-fiction/133506590074451?ref=hl