A.R. Kennedy's Blog, page 17

Happy Birthday H

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Happy Birthday to my little schnauzer H!

She had a special dinner, balloons, a gift, and cake.

What you don’t have a birthday party for your dog?

And yes, that’s a birthday tutu.  (Yes, I bought it for her.  Yes, she wore it with little complaint.  Yes, it’s a desperate cry for help.)

I realized Lily (the main character of ‘Gone…But Not Missed’) doesn’t know when Laude’s (her puppy) birthday is.  (Something a new and exciting character points out in the still unnamed, but more than half written, Book 3).

So Happy Birthday to my little pup (I use the word ‘little’ loosely – her vet and his scale would not agree).  She had enough cake for both her and ‘Laude’.  (And no, she didn’t get to eat that whole cake as much as she would have liked.)

Check out the great new review on Goodreads.com.  Thanks Jim!

Future guest spots on other writers’ blogs

On January 21st, I’ll be on Terry O’Dell’s blog (Terry’s place).  There were 2 options for the blog – write an article or answer a list of  questions.  Some were about writing, some were funny, some were both (What type of underwear does your character wear? – yes I answered that one.  You do want more information about Nathan right? But maybe that’s too much?  You’ll know more about him before any prospective love interest! – that you may or may not have met yet).  10 questions in all.  Check it out next month!

Another question was “what’s the strangest thing you’ve done for research?”  I think it’d be more fun for my friends to answer that:)  

On January 31st, I’ll be on the Mysteristas blog.  They have a set of questions I have to answer.  (which I haven’t done yet:)  So, if you want to know the madness behind the writing, check it out.

GBNM to be at QBC

I’ve purchased a table at the Queens Baseball Convention to be held at McFadden’s Citi Field on Jan 18.

Signed copies of my debut mystery novel, ‘Gone…But Not Missed’, will be on sale.  I am unavailable to attend but my faithful mother will be pitching my book to all those die hard Mets fans.  If you want the book inscription personalized, just tell her, she’ll do it.  She has better penmanship than me anyway.

‘Gone…But Not Missed’ is a mystery set in Long Beach, NY.  It is told from two points of view – Lillian, the kidnapped young woman and Nathan, the off duty Queen police officer searching for her.

Lillian is a Mets fan from birth, having been going to Mets games as long as she can remember with her father.  She attended countless games at Shea Stadium as part of their Saturday ticket plan.

Set in 2009, Citi Field is introduced into the story and more than one scene occurs there.  (Can’t tell you more than that- spoilers!)

So get your tickets at queensbaseballconvention.com for the Jan 18th event.  The tickets will sell out; just like I hope my books do.

Let’s Go Mets!

Weird…Gone But Not Missed

 

This is the screen shot of my conversation with a godaddy.com representative.  (By the way, they do have great customer service.)  She lives in Arizona and knows about my book!  

I got absolute chills when I read it!  See I wasn’t kidding when I said GBNM was going global:)

I don’t know who told her.  Despite living in Arizona for 6 months, ten years ago, I don’t know anyone there now.  H, my adorable dog, was born there.  

In other great news, my neighbor stopped me to tell me the book was ‘fantastic’ & we know that’s my favorite word.

So, if you haven’t ordered it yet, GO NOW!  If you have it, go read it!  Then tell everyone you know about your favorite new author.  (And write your reviews on amazon.com too:)

‘Gone But Not Missed’ is a mystery set in Long Beach, NY.  Lillian is kidnapped and kept in a replica of her bedroom.  She’s held captive with her adorable mini schnauzer, Laude.  The story is told from her point of view and also from Nathan’s, the off duty police officer looking for her.    

Surprised I’m a writer

When I tell people I know I’ve written a novel (‘Gone…But Not Missed” a mystery set in Long Beach NY), most people are shocked.  I gave the first draft to a friend, never telling her I had an idea for a book, never mind wrote one.  I remember sitting at her kitchen table, terrified to give it to her.  After she loved it, I slowly spread it to other friends who were also surprised.

But I think what they are more surprised by is that it’s good.  It’s a little funny, a little sad, a little creepy.  (I hope that’s not how they describe me, although if they replace creepy with ‘quirky’ they’re about right.  And a ‘little’ for ‘a lot’ for funny:).   

Even my 2nd grade teacher was surprised.  I haven’t kept in contact since second grade but a few years ago, she was a patient of mine.  I was amazed at how she remembered my class and me so well.  She even brought in photos of my class! (That I would regret she showed – I was a blue fairy for our class show).  She was a wonderful teacher and remains a lovely lady.  ”The student became the teacher” she wrote in her thank you card to me.  (I still have it)

So…warning.  Don’t be surprised that you’ll like it.  And don’t be surprised that you stay up all night reading it.

Enjoy!

 

Reviews:)

I’m amazed by the reviews I’ve gotten.  They’re thoughtful, great, and accurate!

I love hearing how ‘Gone…But Not Missed’ kept someone up to 1am reading or caused them to miss their subway stop.  There’s nothing better than a book that sucks you in like that!  I also love how others have pointed out everything there is to love in the book – mystery, an adorable dog, humor, romance – & how it has no gratuitous sex or violence.  It’s book so many ages can read- mothers and daughters have shared it.  Also, men and women love it too, including husbands and wives.  

The reviews have said it much better than I can.  It took me a week to write the blurb on the back of the book.   

I can’t write a good review.  When I purchase something on Amazon, and they ask me to write a review, I stare at the page.  Then I write something short and I’m told it’s too short.  Ironic, isn’t it?  I can write a 300 page novel but can’t write a 3 sentence review of a product I like.

So, thanks again for the great reviews and keep spreading the word.  

 

Just a reminder…it’s a work of fiction:)

Just a reminder…’Gone…But Not Missed’ – my debut novel, set in Long Beach NY- is a work of fiction.

Some of you will read “Gone…But Not Missed” and enjoy it.  Some of you will wonder who I based the characters on.  This is for all friends and neighbors to read.   Any similarity to a real person is unintentional.

Long Beach, NY is represented.  I’ve referenced businesses I frequent, but have changed their names.  (To my neighbors, you know where “Rein’s Bakery” is based on. If you haven’t had a Russian Tea Biscuit at our local bakery -Country Boy Bakery, please go.  Now.  The blog will wait.)

Again, Annie is not Jackie.  (Case in point… when I once told her I wore two different shoes to work, she laughed and told me when I did it again to tell people it was a social experiment.  I loved that she knew it would some day happen again.)

Just to prove it, I took a bbcamerica.com quiz  ”Which Doctor are you?” (of the 11 Doctor Who the series has had), answering as Lily.  I took the quiz a few weeks as myself and it was shockingly right on.  I was initially surprised they said I was most like the First Doctor.  But the summary summed me up, although a bit harsh:) – “…anyone that thinks you are frail or weak.  There’s a spark in your eyes that could become a raging fire”.

And for Lily, who is most like the 11th Doctor (also the current doctor for the next 21 days), it was also correct.  ”Sometimes you make bad decisions” – that’s true.  Nathan would attest that she is a “hard person to forget.”   (In related news, Nathan would be the 5th Doctor).  In news that won’t shock anyone, I spend too much time thinking about Doctor Who.

Characters are a conglomerate of bits and pieces of people I’ve met and my imagination gone wild.  And as my friends will attest to, I do have a wild imagination.

My first Hanukkah

This was my first Hanukkah.   

There were lessons on how to spell ‘Hanukkah’; there was profanity while I misspelled it each time.

There were Menorahs.  There were latkes.  

There were songs.  And there was a gift for me!  

And then there were tears.  And the words no Jewish child ever wants to hear “Hanukkah has been cancelled.”

 

As a writer, it’s not surprising that I love to read.  I love when someone recommends a book to me that they think I will really enjoy. 

As a child, I read ferociously.  One of my earliest memories is going to the Queens County library with my mother.  (It’s either that or getting yelled at in kindergarten by the art teacher.  I think we’ll go with the happier one please.)

 

I spent two nights of Hanukkah with my friend Jackie and her lovely family.  I spent hours contemplating the perfect gift for each member of the family.  (And, I do mean each member of the family – Teddy, the cocker spaniel & Kitty, yes, the cat also got gifts).  

Jackie loved her owl themed gifts.  

Her husband loved his Superman T-shirt (Don’t worry.  That’s not inappropriate.  I don’t think he’s Superman.  He does.  It’s his ringtone when he calls his wife.)  

The baby loved her LeapFrog toy/stuffed animal, instantly giving it kisses.  

The 4 year old, who I’ve often drawn with- fortunately without flashbacks from kindergarten- loved his drawing tablet.  

And then the 6 year old… I knew giving a set of books to a 6 year old could turn ugly.  I figured he’d be initially disappointed but I envisioned reading it to him that night and all would be well.  I was wrong.  There were tears after he was scolded after asking if that was all I got for him, because his brother got a toy.  But the next morning all was right in the world and he apologized and agreed he’d like the books.  

Unfortunately, he had a similar reaction to his babysitter’s gift and Jackie uttered  the words no child wants to hear. “Hanukkah has been cancelled.”

I stayed in the other room as she unwrapped the remaining nights gifts he was going to get.  I couldn’t watch.  

I only hope to be invited again next year.  And this time, everyone is getting a toy.

Don’t forget.  When the Menorah candles stop being lit, the 99cent ebook will be gone.  Get ‘Gone…But Not Missing’ – a mystery novel set in Long Beach, NY – before the price goes up.

 

‘Gone…But Not Missed’ going global

Today I mailed the Goodreads.com winners their books.  ’Gone…But Not Missed’ has been sent to 9 different states.

I’ve lived in 8 different states, traveling through 47 states since graduating college.  I eventually moved back to Long Island, NY – oh, the irony.    My little schnauzer, H, is also well traveled, having visited over 30 states.

Here we are while on a road trip.  L is also in the picture- she lived with me in 8 states, and traveled to 42 states!  That’s one well-traveled pooch.  Today is the anniversary of her death – she is still, 5 years later, dearly missed.  She was a wonderful companion (Please let someone get the Doctor Who reference:)

But back to ‘Gone…But Not Missed’ – It’s even going international!  When it was released, I immediately told my friends in England.  Over the weekend, I signed some books that will be heading to Toronto, Canada.  Another friend told me she sent a book to her friend in Malawi (I had to look up where that is – Southeast Africa for those wondering – I really hope I’m not the only one.)

Attention GoodReads.com-ers!

Thank you to the 406 who entered my contest on Goodreads.com to win a copy of my debut mystery, ‘Gone…But Not Missed’.

Congratulations to Karen, Heather, Colleen, Susan, Lynn, Jim, Glenda, Cathy, Sara and Linda!  Your signed copies will be mailed to you tomorrow.  Special thanks to Jim who is now a fan on Facebook.  We’re looking forward to your reviews.

To the 396 who didn’t win, and the 179 who have added ‘Gone…But Not Missed’ to their list of books to read, GO GET IT NOW on amazon.com/author/arkennedy.  The ebook is 99cents for only two more days!

Here I am over the weekend at my book signing in Philadelphia.  Thanks Jackie for arranging it:)