J.J. Devine's Blog, page 49

It's been awhile...

Good morning, everyone!!!

It has been awhile since I've just blogged for the sake of blogging. Let's see what have I been up to????

Besides getting my story, Come Home With Me, ready to go for an October 21st release day, I've been doing the grandma thing this summer. I've enjoyed a few different campouts with the grandkids, both in our side yards and at the campground. It's been sort of insane around here finding a campground with all the flooding and my new job schedule. So this year we settled on a local campground not too far from our house for our away camping trips.

I've sorta failed at keeping up with myfitnesspal, but I have lost almost 20 pounds since I've begun my journey and learned a great deal about exercise and calories, so even though I haven't been using myfitnesspal I have been minding my intake and exercise faithfully.

I've had a few life's lessons this summer, such as learning to keep my mouth shut even when I have a strong opinion on the matter. This has been a huge test of inner will power. I've also determined what I can and can't do and cut out the unnecessary things in my life. I've known for quite awhile the things that hinder my writing career. I've been making some firm goals and working toward pushing forward. This is what I need to do for me. I've also gone back to some very basics that energize my soul, like sitting on my back porch in the morning to drink my coffee and get close to nature to start my day. This simple thing gives me so much energy and refreshes me.

I've also been getting the garden harvest in. This alone has been energy for the soul. I've made homemade spaghetti sauce already and still need to make more of it along with chili fixin's for the freezer. I tried a method a coworker told me about that is 100 times easier and allows you to use the entire tomato when making things like this. Instead of doing the boil and cold water method along with deseeding tomatoes, I wash them, slice them, boil them, then blend them in the blender. Boom, instant tomato sauce :) and the best part no waste. The peel and the seeds blend up so there is no sign of any of it in the sauce.

We've had a pretty good crop this year despite the over abundance of rain. My tomatoes are just starting to come off which I usually have them long before now, but it's all good.

I guess you could say all in all it's been a pretty good summer. Hubby and I celebrated 30 years of marriage last week!!! Can you believe time has flown by that much? I sure can't. Seems like only yesterday we were that young :)

Well the grandkids are now snacking on lunchables and watching a movie so that is my cue to get the potatoes and green beans on for a barbequed chicken dinner tonight.

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!

Meet the authors of Crossroads Romance Anthology!!!

Today here at Ramblings, we are welcoming Fiona Riplee one of the authors in the Crossroads Romance Authors anthology coming out October 21, 2015. I will be doing interviews with each of the authors over the course of the next month and a half. So, stop in and get to know the authors of Crossroads Romance Writers.



Author Bio: 

 

I have always been an avid reader of romance and science fiction. I decided to merge my two reading passions together to create my own version of paranormal/science fiction romance. I love creating new worlds where there are endless possibilities for finding love. I grew up in a small town in rural Pennsylvania and am currently living in Indiana with my hopelessly romantic husband (who would never admit it under torture), the cutest and craziest toddler I’ve ever seen, and two mischievous dogs.  While I haven’t sailed around the world I have been to Jamaica where I was married beside the ocean and in a previous career traveled to Germany and Switzerland.

J.J. Devine: What is your writing strategy? How do you go about putting your latest WIP together?

 

Fiona Riplee: I would describe my writing strategy as layered. Usually, what happens is I just start out with an idea and that idea can go one of two ways: either it gets placed in my idea box and left there for a while or I’ll think about it overnight and the next morning I add more details to it. (It’s amazing what a good night’s sleep can generate for ideas.) Then it will percolate. I’ve gotten better at this after getting so many ideas over the years. I used to just go and write, but now I tend to create a summary page (some might call it an outline, but I find that description laughable) of the highlights of the idea. I start to think of what the plot would be and who the characters are, but this is very high level. Then I go back and keep adding. 

My latest WIP I developed from a flash fiction challenge where I had an idea (ironically one of my own) and the fiction had to contain certain elements and be written within a certain word count. Those are fun to do and, depressingly, tell me that I work well under pressure. 

 

J.J. Devine: Do you fall in love with your hero as you create his story?

 

Fiona Riplee: Absolutely. I wouldn’t want to write about him if I didn’t. In fact, I fall in love with a lot of my characters, hero or not. When a work in progress is complete it’s sad to see them go. What happens is they tend to show up in other stories because I’ve been missing them.

J.J. Devine: You write romance, so give us the scoop, do you believe in love at first sight? What about kisses that make your heart stand still? And the real question, do you believe in soul mates?

 

Fiona Riplee: I do believe in love at first sight. I don’t think this only means what the other person looks like either, but the entire package that comes with them. It might not happen to everyone, but it’s possible and why I write romance. Sometimes love at first sight is there, but the people involved haven’t opened their eyes, yet. That’s always interesting to watch.

Kisses that make my heart stand still? Oh yes, hubby still give me those. :) And I know my hubby is my soul mate. We compliment each other in so many ways and are always looking out for each other. I think a soul mate is more than you are meant to be together, but are ready and willing to work though all of the messy and not so messy parts of life together as a team.

J.J. Devine: Tell us a little about yourself.

 

Fiona Riplee: I currently live in Indiana and I grew up in Pennsylvania. (You might see these locations in one or more of my stories.) I married a pretty cool guy twelve years ago by the water in Jamaica of all places, and we have a cute and crazy toddler. I love movies of all sorts, science fiction and romance are my favorites. Some might say that I’m obsessed with the show, The Walking Dead. Hey, what’s not to like about zombies? Other than being a bookworm, I love to knit and art journal.

J.J. Devine: Why do you write the genre you write?

 

Fiona Riplee: I love science fiction whether is it in the form of books or movies. I love romance novels of all types, my favorite is paranormal. I’ve been reading them forever. What I found was there weren’t a lot of science fiction romance books that I knew of. I wrote the type of story I wanted to read. What if aliens were real but not much difference in appearance than humans and what if there really was a secret conspiracy to hide them so society wouldn’t freak out? Also, I grew up with stories in my family (shhh) about some of my family members seeing a UFO. Was is true? I don’t know, but it sure has influenced my writing! 

J.J. Devine: What from your past plays into your writing today?

 

Fiona Riplee: I like to use locations where I’ve lived in my stories and places I’ve traveled to. It makes it easier to get a setting fully developed quickly because I don’t have do a large amount of research. The experience of traveling to a place alone can be used for a future story. If I traveled by train, airplane or drove across the country, all of these experiences I pull from when creating my stories.

The stories I write that are somewhere I haven’t been take longer to write and, of course, I obviously haven’t been to another planet so in my more Sci fi heavy stories I have to think what would this world really look like. I take my vast past experience with reading and watching science fiction and also research what planets that have been studied through astronomy or space exploration. The fly by of Pluto this summer really had me on the edge of my seat. I’m nerdy.

J.J. Devine: What is your latest novel? Where can we find it?

 

Fiona Riplee: I don’t have a novel out, yet. I’m currently working on a manuscript I have scheduled to be completed by early 2016. Circle of Lies is a Sci fi / paranormal romance about Sandra Robins (human) and Raz Donovan (Sixxer, a.k.a. alien).  Here is a blurb:

As a former M83 soldier, Raz vows to never get involved in the fight against humans again. Once Raz realizes the extent of the Sixxer destruction he is forced into a battle that will include fighting his heart.

Sandra is drawn to the mysterious Raz. She’ll be thrown into a world where it’s hard to tell the truth from the lies. There is no turning back as her heart convinces her to fall in love again.

Also, enjoy my short story, Love’s Light, in the Hope Chest Anthology by Crossroads Romance Writers.

J.J. Devine: Where can we find you on the web?

 

Fiona Riplee: I have a website I update frequently, mostly on my blog. I am also available via Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Goodreads and Tumblr.

Website: http://fionariplee.com

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fionariplee

 

Google +: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+FionaRiplee/posts

 

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/fionariplee/

 

Tumblr: http://fionariplee.tumblr.com

 

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/43183443-fiona-riplee

 

Twitter: @FionaRiplee

 

 

Love’s Light Excerpt

By Fiona Riplee

Genre: Alien Paranormal

Battle the light. Embrace its heat.

 

Senza Cavanaugh bit into the protein bar. Her phone buzzed. She typically didn’t skip lunch, but her project deadline loomed. Was her boss checking on her progress again? With an irritated sigh, she reached across her desk. A glimmer of azure light seeped from the tips of her fingers, hovered above the electronic device and an internal vibration ran up her arm. She snatched her hand back. The phone, which had been suspended an inch from the work surface, followed her movements and fell at her feet with a dull bounce. Every muscle in her body tensed.

Senza’s telekinesis hadn’t made an appearance in four years, and had always flared in the presence of Trevor Gate. The psychic power she had her entire life flickered along the back of her hand. There was no doubt in her mind he was the caller.

The fragrant chocolate block, disguised as food, went into her mouth. On her hands and knees, she rescued her smart phone from under the desk and turned it over. Trevor’s number illuminated the screen. She sank onto the floor crossing her legs Buddha style. The bar’s fake chocolate aroma slithered into her nostrils and her stomach churned. Her heart pounded and her lunch became dust on her tongue.

The phone pulsated again. Her breath shallowed. She spit the mouthful of food into the trashcan beside her. The airy glow from her fingers engulfed her entire palm, and curled around the phone in minute offshoots of white light. Four years apart hadn’t stopped the energy from erupting between them. The buzzing cell paused, and she relaxed. Waiting for the voice mail chime, Senza jumped as the phone rang again. Dread crept into her spine.

Senza lifted the small electronic to her ear. “Hello?”

“It’s good to hear your voice.”

Trevor’s deep baritone sent a delicious shiver down her spine. Frantic butterflies wiggled in her gut. Talking to him had always created a nervous energy inside her body.

What could she say? I’ve missed you.

The silence ticked by. A remembered vision of him appeared, brown hair, blue eyes. His sexy, but boyish grin always made her laugh. The psychic light surrounding her hand bloomed in her peripheral vision.

I thought the flare had disappeared for good. Does it only glare like a sun in my mind?

Senza ducked further under her desk, better safe than sorry. The musty air under her assigned workspace irritated her eyes and activated a tingling in her nasal cavity. She breathed through her mouth, pinched the end of her nose, and cut off the impending sneeze. No one would understand if they saw her. The fear of someone forcing her to explain, what she couldn’t explain herself, overwhelmed her. Aunt Violet constantly warned her to keep her psychic power to herself. Normal people couldn’t fathom a power that incited their panic. They would hurt her.

The last time the light exploded, Trevor’s brother, Wade, had died. Right now it’s a small bright light, not an explosion. I won’t lose control of it.

Trevor broke the silence. “Um… It’s been a long time.”

Senza hadn’t been conscious of the dead air between them. Thoughts bounced in her head. Thanks, Mr. Obvious. Four years without a word is an effing long time. Where have you been?

The anger was still fresh. The hurt was still raw inside her. “Why are you calling?”

“I have bad news.” His voice cracked.

Senza’s racing heart jumped to her throat. “Are you okay?”

“My grandfather… Your Aunt Violet…” Trevor’s fragmented speech was difficult to follow. “Are gone.”

Sweat broke out along her skin. Her fingers went to her mouth and low waves of extrasensory vibration pulsed against her lips. When had she last called her aunt? Days? Weeks? Why would Trevor talk about Aunt Violet and Edward, his grandfather, as though they had been together? “They’re both missing?”

Trevor’s breathing hitched, and he stumbled over the words. “I’m so sorry…” Trevor caught his breath. “…at the beginning of Waverley’s Trail.”

“At the end of Waverley’s Trail was where you last kissed me.”

Sunlight glared from the window blind. She squinted as the memory of Make Out Cave flashed in her mind’s eye. Hidden off the side of Waverley's trail and before the decent into Razor's Edge, Make Out Cave had been the one place neither of them feared her light would hurt anyone. She remembered the dry desert heat and scent of cooling sage. The cocoon of Trevor’s aftershave surrounded her in citrus and fresh ocean breezes in contrast with the cool earthy notes of the cave. His head tilted. The brown curl fell across his forehead right before their lips met. The light filled the hollow with a soft haze. Senza blinked out of her rumination. Her light filled the undercarriage of her desk. A deep breath extinguished the energy in front of her, and the flames of her re-awakened desire.

Trevor cleared his throat several times. “A hiker found him.”

He wasn’t making any sense. She leaned back against the underside of the desk. “How is Edward missing if a hiker found him?”

“He didn’t make it.” Trevor choked back a sob. “My grandfather… Edward is dead.”

Senza clutched her aching chest. Her lungs burned. “My… Aunt Violet?”

“They found her at the bottom of Razor’s Edge, at first light.”

The room spun. Spots floated around her eyes, dimmed and turned black. The office lights flickered, and the vibration in her body became an audible hum. Trevor droned in her ear. Senza closed her eyes and put her forehead against the desk wall. It’s too much. I can’t hold the power back. Her filing cabinet drawer rumbled open. The chair jumped away from her. A mini earthquake shook her cubicle.

“Senza, baby. Stay with me. I need you.”

Those words brought her back. A cascade of color burst behind her eyelids. Had Trevor ever admitted he needed her? The sunlight in the room faded as a cloud passed overhead and darkened the entire office floor. The darkness had become her friend after he left and her safety net. Yet, Senza braved the light and would give anything in this moment to have his arms hold her tight. “Where are you?”

Trevor said, “I’m in Switzerland.”

What in the hell kind of exotic lifestyle is he living while I sat here and worried about him?

Senza crawled out from under her desk and pushed the drawers shut. “What are you doing there?” She stood. Chills ran along her spine.

“Getting answers. You’ll be in Arizona before me. When can you leave?” The gritty edge to his speech let her know he held back sobs for the father and grandfather Edward had been to Trevor and his older brother, Wade.

“What kind of answers? Were their deaths questionable?” Her voice was high and needy, but better than hearing her sobs.

“I’ll tell you when I get there. Can you leave right now?”

The office floor spread out like a ghost town, silent and eerie. The lack of burnt popcorn or leftover chili was unusual. Row after row of empty cubicles made an unobservable exit possible. She stepped two feet to the right and peered into the corner office. The boss wouldn’t be happy if she left. Although, Aunt Violet had raised her with the attitude of sometimes it was better to ask for forgiveness than permission. “I’ll get the next flight out of JFK.”

“If all goes well, I'll leave Zurich first thing in the morning.”

Anticipation gnawed at Senza’s heart. She would see him and touch him again, but panic clawed at her soul for the reasons he was coming home. Trevor was the only family she had left now. Did an ex-boyfriend count as family? He’d abandoned her four years ago… Would he do it again?

Thoughts for Thursday...Romance Writers Weekly

Welcome back to Thoughts for Thursday presented to you by the authors of Romance Writers Weekly!!!

This week Tessa Gray is talking about Characters Worth Remembering over at the Romance Writers Weekly blog page. So hop on over there and check out this fabulous blog...

https://romancewritersweekly.wordpress.com/news/

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Romance Writers Weekly presents...

Welcome back to Romance Writers Weekly!!! This week Jeanne McDonald  https://authorjeannemcdonald.wordpress.com/ would like us to give you one of our favorite quotes from our books. We also need to explain the reason why it’s our favorite and its significance to the story and characters.  So here goes mine…



 “I finally feel as if there is hope.” Raven sighed with relief.

“Of course there is. Have you not ever heard the old saying, ‘into the darkness light must come?’” Rose patted her back as she spoke the soothing words.

“No.”

“Well, now you have. It means when we feel our darkest hour is upon us, just look up. The light will lead us to the truth.”

 

The reason this is one of my favorite quotes is because everyone, including myself, have felt what they believe is their darkest hour in life. Things go along great for a while, then out of the blue we’re sucker punched right in the gut and dropped to our knees. This is what has happened in my story, Into the Darkness. Raven has not once in twenty-five years had cause to believe anything other than tales of witches and vampires were nothing but make believe.

Into the Darkness is a story where my heroine, Raven, comes into herself, with some very harsh and deep lessons on inner growth and finding herself.

To me there is nothing more important in this life than finding one’s own inner peace and inner acceptance. Too many look outside themselves for this knowledge and are always bouncing from relationship to relationship trying to find themselves.

The answers do not reside outside our being but within us. This is what Raven learns throughout the story and also what I’ve had to learn over the course of my lifetime as well, J


Now let’s hop on over to Betty Bolte and hear what her favorite quote is and why…

www.bettybolte.com

Thoughts for Thursday... Romance Writers Weekly

Welcome back to Romance Writers Weekly's Thoughts for Thursday!!! This week Betty Bolte is blogging over at the Romance Writers Weekly blog. Her topic today is The Fate of the English Water Spaniel. So hop on over to our blog page and check out her very interesting post:

https://romancewritersweekly.wordpress.com/author/bettybolte/

If you would like to learn more about our very own Betty Bolte here are a few links to catch up with her:

Website: www.bettybolte.com

Blog: www.bettybolte.com/blog.htm

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorBettyBolte

Twitter: @BettyBolte

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/bettybolte

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/bettybolte9

Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/bettybolte

Tumblr:  http://bettybolte.tumblr.com/

Romance Writers Weekly presents...

Welcome back to Romance Writers Weekly!!! This week we’re doing flash fiction. Fiona Riplee http://fionariplee.com/blog wants our hero and heroine to play a good old fashion board game with the winner receiving a special prize.



So here goes mine:

“You want to do what?” Jessie shook her head in disbelief. “There is a band of murders out there somewhere. Lord only knows who they will be terrorizing next, and you want to play a board game?”

Skyler laid the draughts’ board on the table, setting the painted wooden pieces across each end of the checkered board. “Can’t you see we need this break? We have been so consumed in finding Graham Connors and his gang that we’ve barely had time for ourselves.”

Jessie pulled out a chair, sitting down across from Skyler. “What’s the stakes?” She’d known him all her life and there was always stakes when he challenged her.

Skyler settled in the chair across from her. “Take your first move.”

Jessie shoved her first piece in a diagonal move across the board. Skyler followed suit. For five minutes they avoided one another’s moves, until Skyler made his first jump capturing one of her pieces.

“Who waits for you back in Boston?” Skyler tossed the piece in the air catching it with his opposite hand.

Skyler’s rules to this simple game of draughts came back to her with his spoken question. Ever since they were children she and Skyler had always used this simple board game as a means of truth or dare. Whoever captured the other’s piece had the right to ask one question in which the one captured was required to answer truthfully.

“No one.”

“Then why is it so important for you to finish this and catch the first train back?”

Jessie moved her next piece, jumping one of Skyler’s pieces. “Only one question per jump, remember. Now, why are you and Chris arguing?”

Skyler’s eyes never left the board as he figured his next move. “He wanted me to dismiss the idea of you ever returning to the territory. He wanted me to go to school in Georgia.”

Skyler moved his next piece, jumping another of her pieces. “Now, why the hurry to go back to Boston?”

A tremor shook Jessie. “What is here for me? This makeshift cabin you and your brothers erected for me?”

“You can’t answer a question with a question. It’s the rules.”

Jessie stormed out of the chair. “Your rules. Skyler, what we had is history-“

“Our history.”

“Yes, our history.”

Skyler stood, “If I win this game, you stay. If I lose, I will let this go and never mention it again.”

He motioned for her to return to her chair. Her stomach turned. Would he give up? Did she want him to quit trying to win back her heart? It would be easier. This place held too many harsh memories for her to ever consider staying here.

They finished the game in silence. No more questions, just an unsettling silence making the air around them suffocating. Her fingers trembled as she picked up his last piece on the board, lifting her gaze to meet his eyes.

Pain, raw and true, stared back at her. She knew Skyler would be true to his word, in twenty years of knowing one another he always had been. The sound of his chair raking across the wooden floor grated against her sensitive nerves. “Skyler-“

He held up his hand, exiting the cabin. She knew he wasn’t a sore loser when it came to games, in fact, it had nothing to do with losing a game of draughts, it was losing the privilege of trying to convince her they still belonged together.



Okay, let’s hop on over to Kristi Rose’s page and read her flash fiction:

http://kristirose.net

Thoughts for Thursday... Romance Writers Weekly

Welcome back to Romance Writers Weekly's newest blog, Thoughts for Thursday. This week A.S. Fenichel is all about Real or Fantasy. Check out her blog over at the Romance Writers Weekly Blog:

https://romancewritersweekly.wordpress.com/news/

If you would like to learn more about A.S. Fenichel why not try a few of her favorite hang outs:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/A.S.Fenichel?fref=ts

Website and blog: http://asfenichel.net/blog

Romance Writers Weekly presents...

Welcome back to Romance Writers Weekly!!! This week, Carrie Elks http://carrieelks.com/blog/ has put forth one of Stephen King’s famous sayings, “It is necessary to ‘kill your darlings’ when editing your work. She wants to know, do we have anything in our works we had to remove from a book we’re still proud of? Or something that embarrasses you so much it will never again see the light of day? If we’re feeling really brave, we can share some of it with all of you.



Well, I’ve done a ton of editing, chopping, cutting, revised, completely changed the entire storyline, ect. Yes, I’ve even burned entire manuscripts. No, seriously, I burned them. I got a great big metal barrel, placed it in my backyard, then lit each piece of hard work, blood, sweat, and tears, on fire and threw it in the barrel and watched it burn.

Did I feel bad afterward? Oh hell, yes I did. That was my whole life now sitting there smoldering in the bottom of an old keg barrel.

I used to have this horrible issue with over describing scenes. So much so that I would forget the conversation going on at the start of the description. I was so proud of describing the scene, how detailed it was, how beautifully things flowed. Yeah, that was at the time I was writing it, not reading it, LOL. When I sat down to read this amazing scene I just wrote, well, let’s just say, huh?!?

I shook my head and had no idea what in the world I was going to do. Then I went to a writing chapter meeting and the speaker that day just happened to be speaking on description. It was a lifesaver for me and I went home and chopped that 11 pages down to just a few paragraphs. The scene flowed so much smoother, the description was still there, but I could now remember the conversation between Nichole and Chris and not have to back track to see who spoke last and what they were saying. To this day that is one of my pet peeves when reading a book. Don’t get wordy describing things when there is a conversation going on between characters. You can say the same thing in way fewer words, trust me J

I’ve had some things I refused to edit out. There is a scene in Into the Darkness that could be considered controversial, BUT, it was vital to the storyline and the inner growth of Raven, so I discussed it with my editor and we both agreed it needed to stay because of how vital it was to the storyline.

I guess for me, learning what is and is not necessary in a story helps me grow as a writer. I must say, there are still so many things I cut out when I have finished a first draft. Some of them were necessary only for me, to get that first draft written. Yes, I’m a pantster, I write every scene once, then take half of it away in my first round of editing.

So there you have it, I do kill my little darlings. I mutilate them, chop them up, and yes, even burn them from time to time. No, not just one manuscript or one scene in particular, I've done it to all of them, I'm sad to say. The good news is my newer stuff needs a LOT less chopping and I haven't burned any in awhile ;)



Now let’s hop on over and see what the amazing Jeana Mann has to say!!!

http://jeanaemann.net

Thoughts for Thursday debut!!!

Thoughts for Thursday Welcome to the debut post for Thoughts for Thursday. Each Thursday an author from Romance Writers Weekly will be posting a blog to our Romance Writers Weekly website blog. Since this was brought to the table by our very own Steven Mitchell, his blog, Thoughts for Thursday - #LSTRAATR (Say What?) will get this party started!!! Thank you, Steven, for taking this ship on its maiden voyage :)

Remember, this is in the beginning process, so some of us will be reposting the entire post on our blogs, some will just be linking to the blogs, and next week we could change it up. Bear with us while we work out the kinks and start bringing you yet another quality blog each week :)

Here is the link to Steven's post on the RWW website blog:

https://romancewritersweekly.wordpress.com/2015/08/13/thought-for-thursday-lstraatr-say-what/

Here are also a few more links you can find S.C. Mitchell at:


Website: http://scmitchellauthor.com/  

Blog: http://scmitchell.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSCMitchell

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorSMitchell

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B007D0Z1MW

Romance Writers Weekly presents...

Welcome back to Romance Writers Weekly. Did you drop by from Meggan Connors http://megganconnors.wordpress.com page? If not, hop on back over to hear her answer to this week’s question. This week Jeanne McDonald http://www.jeannemcdonald.com/ wants to know what we do outside of writing, what are day job is. What inspired us to take on this job and would we ever consider giving it to one of our characters?




Funny she should ask this now. See, I’ve always been sort of a gypsy when it comes to employment.  I’ve worked in retail, watched children, worked as a CNA, worked for a nursery and landscaping business, cleaning company, the list goes on and on. It’s not a matter of what do I want to be when I finally grow up, because frankly, being an author is my dream job, so that will always be my number one job.

I recently did, however, change up my ‘day’ job. With all my kids grown now, the youngest still living at home, but sleeps all day and works all night. Hubby out on the road for countless days on end, well, let’s just say I’m fond of alone time BUT there is such a thing as too much alone time.

As most of you know I live in Small Town USA. In fact, if you think you are going anywhere when driving down our main street, you better turn left when you get to 10th street because it’s a dead end after that.

We have one store in town, a Circle K convenience store and recently I was complaining to hubby I needed something to do that got me out of the house. See I have publishing ambitions that I really wanted to foot the bill for myself, and being an author, you do spend a good deal of time alone with the characters in your head. We just happened to pull up in the parking lot of said store at that very moment and seen a HIRING sign on the door. Omen, I think so...


So I started working there a few days a week to get me out to play with the 3 dimensional people. I didn’t know if I would like it at first, but I fast came to enjoy this little hotspot in our tiny town.

Oh the things you hear in a small town store, where regular customers are seen a hundred times a day. I recently chased down a drive-off (someone pumped gas and drove off without paying) and one of the regulars came to my rescue and brought the man back to pay. Well, another regular saw the whole thing transpire and in good ol’ small town fashion that regular customer has stretched that story every time he’s been into the store since, so much so that I almost can’t remember the real story anymore LOL. Of course his stories are much more ‘book worthy’ than the actual truth, LOL.

Would I give a character this job? I do believe I would. In fact, the first week I worked there a story idea formed and even though I have yet to act on it, I’m going to say the possibility of it becoming a future story is pretty certain ;)

I’m a firm believer in it doesn’t matter what you do in this life as long as you make the most of what you do. A couple of tips from an old job gypsy:

Go into that job with the attitude that it is the most important job in the world.

Keep a smile on your face, even when you would rather, cuss, scream, and throw things.

Find the purpose in doing this job and do it to the best of your ability.

If you are in a position where you see numerous people on a daily basis, show interest in their life, this may be the only time each day they have someone to talk to.

And above everything, always always enjoy what you do.





 

Now let’s hop on over to Mikki Cober and see what she has to say!!!

http://mikkicober.blogspot.com/