Jamie Farrell's Blog, page 10

My Mom vs. The Cable Car

My mom and sisters and I recently went to San Francisco for our first ever girls’ weekend. And it started in true family tradition.

We broke a cable car.

Okay, it was broken before we got to it, but we did watch it get repaired before we were allowed to board. They had to replace the cable grabber doohickey.

So we got on the cable car (my first time ever!!), and it started going, and all was well.

Then my mom decided she needed a picture of herself standing up on the cable car, being a standee if you will, and so my sister obliged, snapping the pic while we were at a stop light.

And then the car moved.

And Mom moved too, lunging to sit down, because, well, coordination doesn’t exactly run in our genes.

Which is why suddenly Mom was in the moving cable car, but her shoe wasn’t.

Because her sandal fell off. Right off her foot into the street. And my poor mom–she stood there, staring at it disappearing behind the cable car, shrieking, “My shoe!! My shoe!! My shoe fell off!”

She couldn’t jump off the cable car and run after it. For one, we all sort of lack the coordination gene, and while movie stars look fabulous doing it, us normal Midwestern girls would probably end up with asphalt burns and sprained ankles. For two, well… she only had one shoe on!

But remember how the cable car was broken when we first got to the cable car stop? And how the crew had to fix it?

Well, the crew was following us. Which could have caused some worry–maybe they thought the cable car would break again?–but the very nice men stopped and picked up my mom’s shoe.

She was waving madly at them, so they smiled and nodded to her, climbed back in their truck, and then chased us down for three blocks.

Y’all.

My mom has a prince charming, and he works for the San Francisco cable car maintenance crew. (Don’t tell my dad, okay?)

Mom got her shoe back, my sisters and I get to tease her about losing it for the next few years, and all ended well. Super big high five to the cable car maintenance guys! Y’all rock!!

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Southern Fried Blues at Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble |  Kobo |  iBooks  |  Google Play  | Smashwords

Mr. Good Enough at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks |Google Play | Kobo

The Husband Games at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play

A Year of Happy Mondays, The Random Edition

Happy Monday, y’all! It’s been a crazy last week for me – traveling, sick kids, general clumsiness, etc. – and I’m so glad to be getting back into my normal routine! But I haven’t had time to prep a general theme this week, so instead, you’re getting ten random things that make me smile. Hope they make you smile too!!

10. Buttercup recently stole my broom, set it diagonally across the living room floor, positioned a paper bag just right off to the side, stripped her clothes off, and then ran in circles chanting one-year-old voodoo witchcraft chants. The next day it rained.

9. When Munchkin was three, he told his favorite teddy bear that he was going to “f***” him up. (He learned that from one of his classmates at daycare – true story.) SuperHubby and I shared a glance, and then I dove behind a row of cabinets so that SuperHubby would get to have the “There are some words that three-year-olds should not use” talk with Munchkin.

8. I ate the back side of this turtle.

7. Bacon and egg socks. Seriously, y’all. This world rocks.

6. I just discovered that my baby sister is afraid of elevators because she thinks they’re all haunted. (Okay, she doesn’t really think they’re all haunted. But that makes a much better story than why she’s really afraid of elevators.)

5. If you work at a winery and see four women in matching shirts come in and ask for a tour, the proper response is “My co-worker would be glad to help you!” Because… well… you know what? How about I tell you why in another blog post later this week?

4. I still don’t know what these balloons were supposed to represent. It’s either mating octopi or superhero kapows. Because that makes total sense, y’all.

3. I took a selfie with Susan Mallery’s Fool’s Gold cable car in San Francisco.

2. My boys are supposed to be napping in two separate rooms as I’m writing this, and instead they’re singing “Ten Little Monkeys Jumping On The Bed” in unison. Except Squeaker thinks it’s supposed to be “No More Monkeys Jumping On The Ceiling.” And turns out, Squeaker snuck into Munchkin’s room and was riding him like a horsey.

1. Squeaker built this all by himself.

Hope y’all have a fabulous Monday!

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Buy Jamie’s books:

Southern Fried Blues at Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble |  Kobo |  iBooks  |  Google Play  | Smashwords

Mr. Good Enough at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks |Google Play | Kobo

The Husband Games at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play

Your Friday Smile

Because I love Lady Antebellum, today’s Friday Fun is two of their spoofs, one on Lee Brice’s “Love Like Crazy”, and the other on Blake Shelton’s “All About Tonight”.

Enjoy, y’all!

 

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Buy Jamie’s books:

Southern Fried Blues at Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble |  Kobo |  iBooks  |  Google Play  | Smashwords

Mr. Good Enough at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks |Google Play | Kobo

The Husband Games at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play

Squeaker and the No Good, Very Bad, Horrible, Terrible Day

Of all three of my kids, Squeaker’s the one who resists change the most. So the moving and all of our traveling this summer was a little rough on him. He’s adjusting, but well… I’ll let him tell you about preschool.

“I cried… and I cried… and I cried… and then I stopped… but then I cried. And then I taked a nap.”

Add in a toothpaste facial, getting his head stuck in the arm hole of his shirt, and some tough times with remembering the responsibilities of wearing big boy underwear, and the poor kid’s had a rough go of it. But things are looking up! Because he’s Squeaker. And he will stubborn his way through anything.

Hope y’all have a great Thursday!

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Buy Jamie’s books:

Southern Fried Blues at Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble |  Kobo |  iBooks  |  Google Play  | Smashwords

Mr. Good Enough at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks |Google Play | Kobo

The Husband Games at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play

Squeaker vs. The Horse

Y’all, I’ve been saving my favorite summer Squeaker story for you, and today, because I’m off seeing the world, I pulled it out just for you! Enjoy!

I’m related to this chicken through marriage. Kind of.

While we were in Kansas, we stayed with SuperHubby’s sister on her small farm. She has chickens, goats, and horses. (Side note: great first-hand research for The Husband Games, since CJ Blue, our intrepid hero, also grew up with goats and chickens, though CJ’s goats were milk goats instead of meat goats.)

So because she has chickens, goats, and horses, the boys got to watch a chicken lay an egg, help clean out the goat pens, and ride horses.

This is where things got embarrassing for SuperHubby and me. Because when Squeaker saw the horses, he said, “Cows!”

“No, Squeaker,” we said. “Those are horses.”

Two days into our time in Kansas, Squeaker got up on the horse. (With help, of course.) “Squeaker! Great job! You’re riding a horse!” we said.

He gave a three-year-old’s version of an eye roll. “No, guys. I riding a cow.” (Note: see also, “Squeaker, Circus ponies.”)

The next day, we tried again. “Squeaker, what are you riding?”

“A horse,” he said.

“Very good!” We were so proud. “What does a horse say?”

“Moo.”

Le sigh…

A week later, we were with Grandma and Grandpa. And since Grandpa grew up on a farm, I knew he’d love the story of the boys on a horse.

Especially Squeaker’s version.

“Squeaker,” I said, “tell Grandpa what you rode in Kansas.”

“A horse,” he said, without hesitation.

I blinked at him. “But what did you say it was?”

“A cow.”

“And what did it say?” I prompted.

“Neigh.”

Grandpa beamed. “That’s my smart boy.”

“Squeaker,” I said, “when we were in Kansas, what did you tell us the horse said?”

“Moo,” he replied without hesitation, but with a big, sneaky grin.

The little sneak. He has punchlines down pat, apparently. I think we’re in big, big trouble with that boy. (As if we didn’t already know, right?)

Have a great Wednesday, y’all!

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Buy Jamie’s books:

Southern Fried Blues at Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble |  Kobo |  iBooks  |  Google Play  | Smashwords

Mr. Good Enough at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks |Google Play | Kobo

The Husband Games at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play

Teaser Tuesday

Because it’s been a while since we talked about Mr. Good Enough… 

 

Have a great Tuesday, y’all, and if you haven’t checked out Mr. Good Enough yet, do it today!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks |Google Play | Kobo

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Buy Jamie’s books:

Southern Fried Blues at Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble |  Kobo |  iBooks  |  Google Play  | Smashwords

Mr. Good Enough at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks |Google Play | Kobo

The Husband Games at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play

A Year of Happy Mondays – The Giant Things Edition

Confession: I have an obsession with oversized things. Like the giant ball of string. (I’ve never seen it, but I want to.) And this summer, I got a chance to see a TON of giant things. (Honestly, it made me feel better about putting a hundred-foot-high wedding cake monument in Bliss, the setting of The Husband Games.) So today, because it’s Monday and I can, I’m celebrating Ten Giant Things That Make Me Smile.

10. The giant pencil

9. The giant ice cream cone

 

8. The giant rooster

Anyone else thinking of Beyonce?

7. Giant Illinois-grown zucchini

My sister grew this.

6. The giant hot dog (I know, you have to squint, but you can really see the giant cup on top!)

5. The giant shoe (disclaimer: I have not seen this one in person, but I want to! Picture from the River Park Square Facebook Page.)

4. The giant… pizza cutter?

I honestly don’t understand what this is, but I’ll bet someone can explain it to me. :-)

3. Another giant ice cream cone

Best ice cream treats in the world made here! Don’t let the eyeballs on the ice cream cone spook you.

2. A giant bubble gum machine

Maybe not the biggest in the world, but it was taller than me!

1. The giant wedding cake monument in Bliss. It looks sort of like this, except it’s 100 feet high and has a splash pad beneath the middle set of cakes.

So there you have it. The Ten Best Giant Things in the World. Or at least, my ten favorite giant things in the world. Happy Monday, y’all!

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Buy Jamie’s books:

Southern Fried Blues at Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble |  Kobo |  iBooks  |  Google Play  | Smashwords

Mr. Good Enough at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks |Google Play | Kobo

The Husband Games at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play

 

Buttercup vs. Football Season

Buttercup would like to wish you all a happy football season.

Go Golden Gophers!! Have a great weekend, y’all!

 

Sign up for Jamie’s newsletter: Click here. 

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Buy Jamie’s books:

Southern Fried Blues at Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble |  Kobo |  iBooks  |  Google Play  | Smashwords

Mr. Good Enough at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks |Google Play | Kobo

The Husband Games at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play

Welcome to Divas, Ink!

I’m not here today, y’all. Because I’m hanging out here:

 

It’s launch week for Divas, Ink, and we’re having a ton of fun getting to know our fans, doing giveaways, and sharing man candy! Hop over to our Facebook group and rock your Diva flag with other fans of the Fun, Flirty, Sexy, Sweet, and Sizzling Romances of Shauna Allen, Rachel Harris, Selena Laurence, Sharla Lovelace, and me!

Members will enjoy:

* Divas, Ink Exclusive Giveaways & Prizes

* Weekly Teasers & Insider Book info

* Top-Secret Intel About Our Latest Releases

* Lots Of Laughs, Swoons, and FUN!

We love talking awesome books and hot book boyfriends. Delicious recipes (and even yummier men) are fair game.

If romance floats your literary boat, and books make your world go round, come join us today!

I’d also love to have you at the Feisty Belles, which is still full of fun, exclusive excerpts and games, and prizes too!

Have a great Thursday, y’all!

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Sign up for Jamie’s newsletter: Click here. 

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Buy Jamie’s books:

Southern Fried Blues at Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble |  Kobo |  iBooks  |  Google Play  | Smashwords

Mr. Good Enough at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks |Google Play | Kobo

The Husband Games at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play

 

Wednesday Ten

Because it’s Wednesday, and because I like Top Ten lists, and because I like The Husband Games, today I’m sharing with you ten little things you might not know about the book and the Most Married-est Town on Earth!

10. Natalie was originally named Tabitha

9. Initially, Bliss had a wedding dress statue at one end of town in addition to the wedding cake statue that sits at the edge of The Aisle (aka, Main Street), but I decided that was overkill.

8. CJ’s mother and her five sisters are all named after purple flowers. (Violet, Heather, Lavender, Lilac, Wisteria (Wisty for short) and Orchid.) His father’s name is Herb.

7. I don’t know who won the first Husband Games. (But I do know how they came to be. And you can read all about it here!)

6. In the first draft, Natalie’s family owned a flower shop.

5. SuperHubby sometimes worries about the prevalence of divorced women (and divorce lawyers) in my books.

4. It took approximately two years and fourteen drafts for me to write The Husband Games

3. The country club was originally called The Bells (and the married couple who manage the country club wore matching T-shirts that said, “I Like Big Bells” for the Husband Games), but when I asked my fans on Facebook for help naming the rival bridal boutiques, they picked La Belle Bridal, and instead of having confusion, I asked Facebook for help naming the country club. It’s now The Rose and Dove.

2. Initially, CJ had ten sisters and two brothers (both priests), but one of his priest brothers didn’t serve much purpose, so Father Reggie (short for Oregano) became Tarra (short for Tarragon), CJ’s third-oldest sister.

1. I wanted to have something similar to a chamber of commerce in Bliss, but I wanted it to be exclusive for the bridal retailers. I couldn’t think of a good name, so I said to SuperHubby, “Can you think of a really great name with a good acronym for a Bridal Retailers’ Association?” And then I realized I’d just solved my problem.

And there you have it! Ten little bonuses about The Husband Games! Have you read it yet? Who or what are you curious about? Have a great Wednesday!!

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Buy Jamie’s books:

Southern Fried Blues at Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble |  Kobo |  iBooks  |  Google Play  | Smashwords

Mr. Good Enough at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks |Google Play | Kobo

The Husband Games at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play