Vicki Batman's Blog, page 85
January 3, 2014
Vicki Batman ~ two holiday romantic comedies to consider: Twinkle Lights & The Great Fruitcake Bake-off
Christmas Day has died down, and now, it is time to have some fun. Perhaps, you might consider these two little holiday romantic comedies:
Excerpt:
"I don't believe it." Hands on hips, I stood in front of the large, white tent. No happy shoppers bustled in and out. No All I Want For Christmas is You blasting from a boom box. No holiday cheer at all.
Instead, I found under the same ol' Axel's Christmas Trees neon sign, which wasn't flashing, a notice, which looked to be hastily printed and stuck on the tent flap with gray duct tape: Closed. Heart attack. And as an afterthought: Pray.
I shook my head, saying to the nippy wind whipping my hair, "Poor Axel. This is horrible. Where will the funds for the Sommerville Hospital come from?"
My stomach kinked into a hard knot as I hugged my tote to my waist. I'd been buying my Christmas tree here since...forever. Definitely since I was a blossoming idea in my parents' mind. Mom and Dad brought my brother and me to Axel's the first Saturday in December every year for the family tree. Who could forget the ensuing arguments over the perfect one—Mom usually won—and the joy of trimming it.
All grown up, I continued the tradition. Axel had the most beautiful trees. The stand benefited the hospital; this year, the children's cancer wing where his grandson had undergone treatment for leukemia. He always-always-always stashed aside a seven-foot Fraser fir for me. Nothing spelled Christmas better than a fresh, North Carolina Fraser fir.
Now what do I do? Where do I go? Should I call Axel's son and see if he needs anything?
Find "Twinkle Lights" at:
MuseItUp Publishing - http://bit.ly/1e8Nioy
Amazon - http://bookshow.me/B00AJ07Y8M
B&N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/twink...
Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/276648
Excerpt:
"I am not entering this year." I pinned an unbreakable stare on Bethany, my long-time friend. We were piddling over coffee in her cubical like we always did before getting to the nuts and bolts of company business. "Period."
"Why not, Samantha? You should be proud to be the five-time winner of the Great Fruitcake Bake-off. You're a legend." "Is being a legend in the fruitcake world a good thing? It's exhausting finding the perfect recipe, then bake and exhibit it. Besides, shouldn't somebody else win?" Bethany's fists went to her hips. "Sam, we're talking fruitcake. It's not groundbreaking like, like the Declaration of Independence or...the Pyramids." "I'm shocked to hear you say that. Fruitcake is the cake of all time. It dates to--" She bobbed her head. "To the sixteenth century." I raised my finger. "It gets a bad--" "Rap." She sighed a soul searching blow of breath. "You always say that. You also always say you love participating; yet, you're not defending your title this year." "I've used up all of Grammie's recipes." "You could start over with the first confection you entered five years ago, couldn't you?" "It seems like cheating...in a weird way. And I don't cheat." "You are a shining example of excellent values." Bethany drummed her fingers from the littlest to the index and considered. "I've got it! Why not check online and find a recipe?" "They don't call you brainchild for nothing." I rubbed a finger along the divot below my lower lip. A tiny speck of excitement blossomed within me. "I'll need a brand new fruitcake. I wouldn't want to be like Crazy Wanda who enters the same freakin' lump of dough every freakin' year." "It never hurts to expand your repertoire, even if it's by collecting fruitcake recipes."
Find "The Great Fruitcake Bake-off" at:
MuseItUp Publishing: http://bit.ly/HXeo7h
Amazon – http:// amzn.to/IIvfuW
B&N – http:// bit.ly/1cXWLOA
Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
And here's wishing you a
Very Happy New Year!
Excerpt:
"I don't believe it." Hands on hips, I stood in front of the large, white tent. No happy shoppers bustled in and out. No All I Want For Christmas is You blasting from a boom box. No holiday cheer at all.
Instead, I found under the same ol' Axel's Christmas Trees neon sign, which wasn't flashing, a notice, which looked to be hastily printed and stuck on the tent flap with gray duct tape: Closed. Heart attack. And as an afterthought: Pray.
I shook my head, saying to the nippy wind whipping my hair, "Poor Axel. This is horrible. Where will the funds for the Sommerville Hospital come from?"
My stomach kinked into a hard knot as I hugged my tote to my waist. I'd been buying my Christmas tree here since...forever. Definitely since I was a blossoming idea in my parents' mind. Mom and Dad brought my brother and me to Axel's the first Saturday in December every year for the family tree. Who could forget the ensuing arguments over the perfect one—Mom usually won—and the joy of trimming it.
All grown up, I continued the tradition. Axel had the most beautiful trees. The stand benefited the hospital; this year, the children's cancer wing where his grandson had undergone treatment for leukemia. He always-always-always stashed aside a seven-foot Fraser fir for me. Nothing spelled Christmas better than a fresh, North Carolina Fraser fir.
Now what do I do? Where do I go? Should I call Axel's son and see if he needs anything?
Find "Twinkle Lights" at:
MuseItUp Publishing - http://bit.ly/1e8Nioy
Amazon - http://bookshow.me/B00AJ07Y8M
B&N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/twink...
Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/276648
Excerpt:
"I am not entering this year." I pinned an unbreakable stare on Bethany, my long-time friend. We were piddling over coffee in her cubical like we always did before getting to the nuts and bolts of company business. "Period."
"Why not, Samantha? You should be proud to be the five-time winner of the Great Fruitcake Bake-off. You're a legend." "Is being a legend in the fruitcake world a good thing? It's exhausting finding the perfect recipe, then bake and exhibit it. Besides, shouldn't somebody else win?" Bethany's fists went to her hips. "Sam, we're talking fruitcake. It's not groundbreaking like, like the Declaration of Independence or...the Pyramids." "I'm shocked to hear you say that. Fruitcake is the cake of all time. It dates to--" She bobbed her head. "To the sixteenth century." I raised my finger. "It gets a bad--" "Rap." She sighed a soul searching blow of breath. "You always say that. You also always say you love participating; yet, you're not defending your title this year." "I've used up all of Grammie's recipes." "You could start over with the first confection you entered five years ago, couldn't you?" "It seems like cheating...in a weird way. And I don't cheat." "You are a shining example of excellent values." Bethany drummed her fingers from the littlest to the index and considered. "I've got it! Why not check online and find a recipe?" "They don't call you brainchild for nothing." I rubbed a finger along the divot below my lower lip. A tiny speck of excitement blossomed within me. "I'll need a brand new fruitcake. I wouldn't want to be like Crazy Wanda who enters the same freakin' lump of dough every freakin' year." "It never hurts to expand your repertoire, even if it's by collecting fruitcake recipes."
Find "The Great Fruitcake Bake-off" at:
MuseItUp Publishing: http://bit.ly/HXeo7h
Amazon – http:// amzn.to/IIvfuW
B&N – http:// bit.ly/1cXWLOA
Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
And here's wishing you a
Very Happy New Year!
January 2, 2014
Vicki Batman ~ P&E voting: Could you consider The Great Fruitcake Bake-off?
The Great Fruitcake Bake-off has been entered in the romance short story category of the Preditors and Editors poll.
Here's the link: http://critters.org/predpoll/shortstoryr.shtml
January 1, 2014
Vicki Batman ~ 2013 RLF Gem Top Blogger Award goes to me!
Sometimes, unexpected things come along and wow wee, here's one for me. I was named Top Blogger for 2013 for Romance Lives Forever and I can't say enough how thrilled and honored I am. To see the entire article go to: http://romancelivesforever.blogspot.com/2014/01/rlf-gems-top-bloggers-for-2013-rlfblog.html?showComment=1388597937497#c8142363881908292465 Thank you to Kayelle Allen and all friends of Romance Lives Forever!Vicki Batman ~ Resolutions? Bah, humbug
happy new year!!Everyone always asks what's your resolutions for the New Year? I can't really think of any. I have hopes and wishes instead:I wish good health for my loved ones, friends, and me.I wish for world peace.I hope I sell more books.I could probably add more to the list. In reality, is it that important? So if resolutions are important to you, I hope you meet them.
May all your days be sparkly and bright!
December 28, 2013
Vicki Batman ~ Treats for your reading pleasure
Christmas Day has died down, and now, it is time to have some fun. Perhaps, you might consider these two little holiday romantic comedies:
Excerpt:
"I don't believe it." Hands on hips, I stood in front of the large, white tent. No happy shoppers bustled in and out. No All I Want For Christmas is You blasting from a boom box. No holiday cheer at all. Instead, I found under the same ol' Axel's Christmas Trees neon sign, which wasn't flashing, a notice, which looked to be hastily printed and stuck on the tent flap with gray duct tape: Closed. Heart attack. And as an afterthought: Pray. I shook my head, saying to the nippy wind whipping my hair, "Poor Axel. This is horrible. Where will the funds for the Sommerville Hospital come from?" My stomach kinked into a hard knot as I hugged my tote to my waist. I'd been buying my Christmas tree here since...forever. Definitely since I was a blossoming idea in my parents' mind. Mom and Dad brought my brother and me to Axel's the first Saturday in December every year for the family tree. Who could forget the ensuing arguments over the perfect one—Mom usually won—and the joy of trimming it. All grown up, I continued the tradition. Axel had the most beautiful trees. The stand benefited the hospital; this year, the children's cancer wing where his grandson had undergone treatment for leukemia. He always-always-always stashed aside a seven-foot Fraser fir for me. Nothing spelled Christmas better than a fresh, North Carolina Fraser fir. Now what do I do? Where do I go? Should I call Axel's son and see if he needs anything?
Find "Twinkle Lights" at:
MuseItUp Publishing - http://bit.ly/1e8Nioy
Amazon - http://bookshow.me/B00AJ07Y8M
B&N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/twink...
Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/276648
Excerpt:
"I am not entering this year." I pinned an unbreakable stare on Bethany, my long-time friend. We were piddling over coffee in her cubical like we always did before getting to the nuts and bolts of company business. "Period."
"Why not, Samantha? You should be proud to be the five-time winner of the Great Fruitcake Bake-off. You're a legend." "Is being a legend in the fruitcake world a good thing? It's exhausting finding the perfect recipe, then bake and exhibit it. Besides, shouldn't somebody else win?" Bethany's fists went to her hips. "Sam, we're talking fruitcake. It's not groundbreaking like, like the Declaration of Independence or...the Pyramids." "I'm shocked to hear you say that. Fruitcake is the cake of all time. It dates to--" She bobbed her head. "To the sixteenth century." I raised my finger. "It gets a bad--" "Rap." She sighed a soul searching blow of breath. "You always say that. You also always say you love participating; yet, you're not defending your title this year." "I've used up all of Grammie's recipes." "You could start over with the first confection you entered five years ago, couldn't you?" "It seems like cheating...in a weird way. And I don't cheat." "You are a shining example of excellent values." Bethany drummed her fingers from the littlest to the index and considered. "I've got it! Why not check online and find a recipe?" "They don't call you brainchild for nothing." I rubbed a finger along the divot below my lower lip. A tiny speck of excitement blossomed within me. "I'll need a brand new fruitcake. I wouldn't want to be like Crazy Wanda who enters the same freakin' lump of dough every freakin' year." "It never hurts to expand your repertoire, even if it's by collecting fruitcake recipes."
Find "The Great Fruitcake Bake-off" at:
MuseItUp Publishing: http://bit.ly/HXeo7h
Amazon – http:// amzn.to/IIvfuW
B&N – http:// bit.ly/1cXWLOA
Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
And here's wishing you a
Very Happy New Year!
Excerpt:
"I don't believe it." Hands on hips, I stood in front of the large, white tent. No happy shoppers bustled in and out. No All I Want For Christmas is You blasting from a boom box. No holiday cheer at all. Instead, I found under the same ol' Axel's Christmas Trees neon sign, which wasn't flashing, a notice, which looked to be hastily printed and stuck on the tent flap with gray duct tape: Closed. Heart attack. And as an afterthought: Pray. I shook my head, saying to the nippy wind whipping my hair, "Poor Axel. This is horrible. Where will the funds for the Sommerville Hospital come from?" My stomach kinked into a hard knot as I hugged my tote to my waist. I'd been buying my Christmas tree here since...forever. Definitely since I was a blossoming idea in my parents' mind. Mom and Dad brought my brother and me to Axel's the first Saturday in December every year for the family tree. Who could forget the ensuing arguments over the perfect one—Mom usually won—and the joy of trimming it. All grown up, I continued the tradition. Axel had the most beautiful trees. The stand benefited the hospital; this year, the children's cancer wing where his grandson had undergone treatment for leukemia. He always-always-always stashed aside a seven-foot Fraser fir for me. Nothing spelled Christmas better than a fresh, North Carolina Fraser fir. Now what do I do? Where do I go? Should I call Axel's son and see if he needs anything?
Find "Twinkle Lights" at:
MuseItUp Publishing - http://bit.ly/1e8Nioy
Amazon - http://bookshow.me/B00AJ07Y8M
B&N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/twink...
Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/276648
Excerpt:
"I am not entering this year." I pinned an unbreakable stare on Bethany, my long-time friend. We were piddling over coffee in her cubical like we always did before getting to the nuts and bolts of company business. "Period."
"Why not, Samantha? You should be proud to be the five-time winner of the Great Fruitcake Bake-off. You're a legend." "Is being a legend in the fruitcake world a good thing? It's exhausting finding the perfect recipe, then bake and exhibit it. Besides, shouldn't somebody else win?" Bethany's fists went to her hips. "Sam, we're talking fruitcake. It's not groundbreaking like, like the Declaration of Independence or...the Pyramids." "I'm shocked to hear you say that. Fruitcake is the cake of all time. It dates to--" She bobbed her head. "To the sixteenth century." I raised my finger. "It gets a bad--" "Rap." She sighed a soul searching blow of breath. "You always say that. You also always say you love participating; yet, you're not defending your title this year." "I've used up all of Grammie's recipes." "You could start over with the first confection you entered five years ago, couldn't you?" "It seems like cheating...in a weird way. And I don't cheat." "You are a shining example of excellent values." Bethany drummed her fingers from the littlest to the index and considered. "I've got it! Why not check online and find a recipe?" "They don't call you brainchild for nothing." I rubbed a finger along the divot below my lower lip. A tiny speck of excitement blossomed within me. "I'll need a brand new fruitcake. I wouldn't want to be like Crazy Wanda who enters the same freakin' lump of dough every freakin' year." "It never hurts to expand your repertoire, even if it's by collecting fruitcake recipes."
Find "The Great Fruitcake Bake-off" at:
MuseItUp Publishing: http://bit.ly/HXeo7h
Amazon – http:// amzn.to/IIvfuW
B&N – http:// bit.ly/1cXWLOA
Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
And here's wishing you a
Very Happy New Year!
December 25, 2013
Vicki Batman ~ Two little movies and Merry Christmas!
Holiday Movies for You!
I played around and created two little movies. Take a look! Here's my version of Star in the Night:
And Cherished Memories:
My wish for you is may all your days be merry and bright!
I played around and created two little movies. Take a look! Here's my version of Star in the Night:
And Cherished Memories:
My wish for you is may all your days be merry and bright!
December 24, 2013
Vicki Batman ~ Today is the last day for Bookrhythm's 12 Days of Christmas!
A huge online extravaganza filled with authors and fun. Join us for some Holiday Trivia, each day we will be highlighting author's and giving away ebooks/books/swag and much more.........
Runs nightly from 12th Dec through to 24th Dec https://www.facebook.com/events/501036566670571/
Yep, there an ebook giveaway of "The Great Fruitcake Bake-off!"
December 23, 2013
Vicki Batman ~ Need more holiday fun?? Try the TRS Christmas Party! Last Day
Happy Holidays!
http://trsparties.com.
You are invited to our annual Christmas Party! We're giving away an Amazon gift ecard (electronic gift card only, value $100 minimum) to one lucky reader and we're giving away a lot of other prizes from the TRS prize vault and participating authors too!
Go to this page to have holiday fun!http://trsparties.com.
http://trsparties.com. You are invited to our annual Christmas Party! We're giving away an Amazon gift ecard (electronic gift card only, value $100 minimum) to one lucky reader and we're giving away a lot of other prizes from the TRS prize vault and participating authors too!
Go to this page to have holiday fun!http://trsparties.com.
Vicki Batman ~ #handbag Monday: a simply delightful creation
#handbag MondayA Sunday handbag is always special. Yesterday, I pulled out this beautiful creation:
I have to say the picture doesn't do this Mary Frances bag justice. This one is larger than most of hers which is nice. I don't have to pare down the lipstick and extra stuff. But I only carry it on special occasions. As you can see, there are velvety flowers with satiny green leaves. Pale bronze beads decorate the petals. Then there are beaded strands looping over it. The background is black. The handle and closure are intricate. It does come with a beaded shoulder bag handle, but I opt out of using it. This one should be proudly looped over one's arm and carried.
I found my Mary Frances bag in Las Vegas on a sister's birthday trip. I'd never ever spent that kind of moola before. But I have no regrets.
What kind of handbag do you splurge on?
#handbag Monday will return after the holiday festivities. I wish you and yours a
very Merry Christmas and a Happy Handbag year!
December 20, 2013
Vicki Batman ~ Holiday Trivia abounds at the 12 Days of Christmas
A huge online extravaganza filled with authors and fun. Join us for some Holiday Trivia, each day we will be highlighting author's and giving away ebooks/books/swag and much more.........
Runs nightly from 12th Dec through to 24th Dec https://www.facebook.com/events/501036566670571/
Yep, there an ebook giveaway of "The Great Fruitcake Bake-off!"
