Playing Dress-Up

As a little girl, one of my favorite ways to spend a rainy day was playing dress-up with my friends. My mom had a box of clothes, shoes, and jewelry that she’d bring down from the attic, and with my friends Nancy and Michele we'd transform ourselves into glamorous, grown-up women. With hats, gloves, shiny dresses, even high-heeled shoes and jeweled necklaces, we’d spend an afternoon on the covered porch creating imaginary, sophisticated versions of our young selves. What fun we had!

Now that I’m a writer, I can play dress-up again – with my characters. In almost every scene, there’s an opportunity to dress my characters however I want. Fancy, plain, sexy, demure, fashionable, dowdy – each garment selection tells a little bit about the character. That’s so much fun!

Here are a few wardrobe examples from BLUEBONNETS FOR ELLY:

• When Elly turned to dust the table top, Marybeth Bagley sidled up, her flowered dress so severely tailored that she reminded Elly of an upholstered sofa.

• [Elly] started out the morning in sweatshirt and jeans, but as the day warmed and her physical activity increased, she’d pared down to T-shirt and cutoffs. Now she wished she’d dressed a little better.

• Here’s Elly’s wardrobe (same scene as above) from Derek’s point of view:

Derek stared in his rearview mirror and took another look at Elly as he left the driveway. That tight T-shirt fit her like a coat of paint, and when she bent to pick up the shovel and he’d caught a glimpse of pink panties cupping her butt, he was pretty sure his mouth fell open.

• Jeanette shrugged out of her leopard-print jacket, draped it over the sofa’s arm, and lounged against the cushions, as if she intended to stay a long while. A red bra strap slipped down her arm, and she tugged it back into place. 

Three different characters with three different ways of dressing – uptight Mrs. Bagley, casual Elly, and slutty Jeanette. I had great fun dressing them for their parts. Maybe those years playing dress-up with Michele and Nancy have served a useful purpose after all. All I know is that playing dress-up is still fun.

Bluebonnets for Elly is available in paperback and ebook formats from

Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sweet Cravings Publishing, and other online publishers.

Carra Copelin's Trials, Tribulations and New Book Release

Hi, all you Smart Girls. I'm starting off with an apology.

First, I forgot my day to post on the 18th. I spent the entire weekend with my grandson and his Auntie Mimi, my daughter. We ate out Friday night, then on Saturday, we visited the Sea Life Aquarium at Grapevine, Texas, two times, had lunch at Chili's, went to the movie, Night at The Museum, 3 and had sushi for dinner. Sunday involved taking him home. I think we wore him out. Lol He slept nearly eleven hours, then took a nap in the car to his house.

This morning I spent over an hour talking to our internet provider about why we have such a poor signal. The first excuse 3 months ago was that there were too many people using the internet and after the Christmas shopping the signal should improve. No. The second excuse was that the tower had moved. No, it's set in concrete and isn't going anywhere. This morning, the tech said the tower had shifted and we have no direct line of sight - or maybe our modem has simply thrown craps as it's four years old. Either way she was unable to help me today. When I asked to speak to a supervisor, she said they couldn't help me either. I'm so frustrated, if I had another option, I'd take it. Not possible where we live. I wonder with advance notice, next time maybe we could just move the house??

On a happier note, my newest novella, Matelyn and the Texas Ranger, A Brides of Texas Code Series, is now up and out. Yay! 

Blurb:
Overcome by the death of his wife, Ian Benning leaves his small son in the care of best friends, Katie and Dermot McTiernan. He rejoins his old outfit with the Texas Rangers to keep his mind off the loss of his only love, Emma. His assignment takes him to Galveston on the Texas Coast in pursuit of a group of bank robbers, and to the middle of a horrific hurricane.

Matelyn O'Donnell accompanies her employer, Veronique de Marceau, from New Orleans to Galveston, Texas to reunite Veronique with her cruel and conniving husband, Gerard. Introduced to Ian Benning while aboard ship, Matelyn dismisses him as a criminal in cahoots with Gerard. When their ship is capsized from the vicious winds and waves in the Gulf of Mexico, Ian Benning rescues her from certain death.

Will she accept that he is undercover and help him bring de Marceau to justice? Will she be able to ignore her overwhelming attraction to this lonely, distraught man? Can Ian tuck away his deep feelings for his lost wife to keep from losing this beautiful, feisty dark-haired beauty?  

 Exerpt:

  Later that evening, Ian joined John on the porch after supper. He liked John and had great respect for the man. It seemed they were of a kindred spirit, almost as if they'd been friends all their lives.

"We did good getting the roof repaired this afternoon."

"Sure appreciate your help, Ian. Having the house back in order will go a long way toward helping Nancy feel safe again."

He took the cigarette John offered, lit it, and looked out over the yard at the neighboring houses. Some were occupied with candle light glowing from the windows. Others were abandoned and dark. "Soon as I can, I need to ask the ladies what their plans are. If Veronique is truly a widow, she'll need to decide what she wants to do. She may have to go back to New Orleans to settle de Marceau's estate."

Drawing deeply on his cigarette, John nodded, slowly exhaling the white-gray smoke. "That's a distinct possibility. She'll probably have to reconcile his assets in the state where he filed the will."

Ian glanced toward the house as the screen door opened. Matelyn and Nancy came onto the porch carrying a tray. He stood, grabbed another chair, and scooted a crate to the middle to act as a table.

John took the tray while the women seated themselves. "What've you gone and done?"

Giving her husband a knowing smile, Nancy said, "I know how you love my apple crumb cake and I so want normalcy back in our lives." Reaching for the knife, she cut several slices. "We were able to salvage enough from the pantry to make your favorite dessert."

"I thought I smelled the oven earlier, but figured my mind was playing tricks on me." Ian accepted his share. Gazing at Matelyn, he tasted a bite. He hadn't eaten anything this mouth-watering since Emma's pies or Katie's biscuits. "Thank you, ladies, for your efforts."

"This was all Nancy," Matelyn said, picking at her slice with her fork. "While I can sew a fine seam, I'm afraid I can't boil a potato."

Placing her plate on the tray, Nancy cut another slice each for John and Ian. "We discussed this while at the hotel this morning. Matelyn will sew new dresses for the women who've lost their belongings if Mr. Hollis will donate several bolts of fabric and patterns."

"That's quite an undertaking. Are you sure you're up to it?"

"Yes," Matelyn said. "We've been so blessed, it's the very least I can do to help."

"It was all Matelyn's idea." Nancy beamed. "She approached Mr. Hollis and he agreed."

"Well, I think you're biting off more than you can chew, but if you're determined—"

"I am."

Ian studied the dark haired beauty closely. She sat ramrod straight, her blue eyes determined, almost belligerent. Ian covered a laugh with a cough. Instinctively, he knew if he laughed that'd be a mistake. He'd encountered fierce Irish pride before. While she looked nothing like her cousin, their personalities were practically identical. The only difference being, where Katie was quick to ignite, Matelyn's embers glowed beneath the surface waiting to be stoked.

A sudden urge to stir those coals caught him off guard. He cleared his throat but his voice sounded ragged when he spoke. "Let me know if I can help you."

"I will."

As if Nancy sensed the tension between them, she stood, stacked the empty plates and picked up the tray. "We should follow Veronique's lead and rest up for tomorrow."

Standing with them, Ian held the door until they'd gone inside.

John prepared to follow behind them. "You ready? We'll be starting early."

"You go ahead.  I'm going to sit for a bit longer."

"Sleep easy."

After John went in, Ian sat back in the chair, stretched out his legs and propped his boots on the porch rail. While the thought of a bed called to his aching back, he couldn't bring himself to face the new found urges that lurked behind closed eyes. Emma had been gone barely six months. He had no business having wants and desires. Thinking of another woman, no matter the reason, wasn't conducive to his job either.

He had to get his head back into the pursuit of de Marceau, Captain Jones and the crew. He just couldn't shake the feeling they weren't dead. What happened to them and where they were was anybody's guess at this point. He and John had an impossible task ahead of them. He wondered, not for the first time, if Veronique could shed some light into her husband's behavior. So far he'd been unable to get a good read on her. What had been the relationship between her and her husband? Perhaps he'd stop by the hotel tomorrow and make more of an effort to know her better.

Thinking of Veronique brought on thoughts of Matelyn. Exactly where he didn't want to go. Dropping his feet from the rail, he stood and stretched the kinks from his back. He needed to sleep. Needed to turn his mind off, let his sub-conscious help him concentrate on the case, not Matelyn O'Donnell. As he turned to head upstairs, he knew he was only kidding himself.

* * *

Tired of staring at the ceiling, Matelyn gave up trying to sleep. Events of the past few days fought for space along with worries of their tenuous situation, their safety and the task of how best to aid the people of Galveston. Thoughts of Katie occupied a corner, too. Had word spread that far about the hurricane? If it had, there was no way to let her cousin know they were all right. She'd promised to send a telegram as to her approximate time of arrival in Dallas. With communications down, that wouldn't happen any time soon.

She decided, since everyone had turned in ages ago, she'd slip downstairs to have another bite of Nancy's crumb cake. Maybe doing something other than thinking would quiet her head. The house felt like an oven. With the high temperature and not even a hint of a breeze, she didn't bother with her wrapper. She'd be back upstairs long before anyone stirred.

Matelyn couldn't remember when she'd tasted anything so good. The cake practically melted on her tongue. Covering the pan with a towel, she returned it to the back of the counter.

"It's good, isn't it?"

She spun around at the sound of Ian's voice. Her left hand flew to her throat and she bumped against the counter's edge, while her right fisted the lace neckline of her gown. "Oh, good Gussie," she scolded, her heart racing. "Ye startled the stuffin' right out of me!"

Reaching out for her, he grinned. "I'm sorry. With these clodhoppers I call feet, I assumed you heard me walk up behind you."

He might've been remorseful, but he still wore that lopsided grin. Skirting his grasp, she backed toward the doorway. Embarrassed he'd seen her in her in her night dress – again, and mortified she'd been caught sneaking cake. Truth be known, she'd been so involved in eating that bite of heaven, she doubted she'd have heard a thunder clap. "Well, I didn't."

"Matelyn, I apologize."

"Good night, Mr. Benning."

Buy links are below. 

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Matelyn-Texas-Ranger-Brides-Code-ebook/dp/B00R0OA99Q/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1418979944&sr=1-3&keywords=carra+copelin

Apple iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/matelyn-and-the-texas-ranger/id951364101?mt=11

I hope you can check out this new story. I wish everyone a very Happy 2015!

Hugs,

Carra

Inspired by Betty White? Absolutely! by Joan Reeves

When I saw that tomorrow is the birthday of Betty White, one of my favorite actresses, I changed my scheduled blog post so I could talk about Betty and some of the memorable roles she's created.

I confess that I didn't really "know" who she was even though, as a kid, I saw her on the game show Password, hosted by her late husband Allen Ludden.

Lusty Sue Ann: What a Gal

What I remember her for the most was Sue Ann Nivens, the lusty broad on the Mary Tyler Moore Show which I saw in reruns.

If you read the Wiki article, you'll see why she's in the Guinness book of records for being the female entertainer with longest career.

At 88, she was the oldest person to host SNL. Now 93, she just won a People's Choice Award and scored an escort onto the stage by the oh-so-cute Chris Evans.

Always On My Mind

Last month, I thought about Betty a lot. I was writing a short story based on the Vernon Ladies Bridge Club from my romantic comedy Jane (I'm Still Single) Jones.

I've had so many readers email me, telling me how delightful they found the blue-haired ladies of the Vernon Ladies Bridge Club--where no one actually plays bridge. These ladies run society in the fictional town of Vernon, and they specialize in matchmaking and mayhem.

As I was writing the book, I was mentally casting the parts of the four main characters. I decided Betty White would be perfect for the role of the leader of the pack: Miss Mamie, an elderly maven who never leaves home without her sweep of false eyelashes and her signature bright red lipstick.

Unfortunately, I got so caught up in having a "real life" during the holidays, I didn't have the story ready to publish by the time all the ebook publishers shut down for the holidays so I shelved it until next year.


Other Story

Instead of publishing "Betty's story," I published LuvU4Ever, a romance short story that is the first of a new short story series, A Moment in Time.

David and Noelle fell in love when they were eighteen. They promised to love each other forever. Now, it's 10 years later, and Noelle is heartbroken because she thinks she's lost David.

About LuvU4Ever

LuvU4Ever, that's what David had engraved on the plain gold heart he gave Noelle when he proposed.

Can 9 little words destroy a Forever love?

I told you NEVER to call me at home.

Noelle faces the biggest decision of her life. Will she stay? Will she dish out some payback? Or will she just walk away?

I love this story and hope you'll like it too. Want to watch the video book trailer? It's getting a lot of views so it must be hitting some hot buttons. (I'd be so appreciative if you'd click LIKE and Subscribe to my YouTube Channel.)

LuvU4Ever, at These Ebook Sellers: All Romance eBooks * Amazon Kindle * Kobo * Nook * Smashwords.

In Conclusion...

Happy Birthday, Betty White. May you have many more. Cha-Cha-Cha (That's how we always end the birthday song in our family.

About Joan Reeves

Bestselling romance author Joan Reeves lives her happily ever after with her husband in the Lone Star State. Her books, available as ebooks and audiobooks, all have the underlying theme that is her motto: "It's never too late to live happily ever after." Find Joan online: Blog * Website | Subscribe to WordPlay, her free NL for readers, or Writing Hacks, her free NL for writers.

Books and Moves Again...

For a host of reasons, I rarely go to a movie theater to watch a movie these days. However, I am going to make a special effort to see this one because I have no idea when it will make its way to TV or a retailer. And I can't wait to see it.

I had already read this book twice before I learned that the movie would be made with Bradley Cooper starring as Chris Kyle. When I heard that, I thought "Boo, Hiss." I could not imagine Bradley Cooper as a warrior or a war hero.

I had the same reaction when I learned that Robert Duval and Tommy Lee Jones would star as Gus and Call in "Lonesome Dove."

Just goes to show you what *I* know. Now that I've seen "Lonesome Dove" about a dozen times, I can't imagine anyone else in those roles and I don't even remember who I thought should have played those parts in the first place. From the reviews and the trailers I've watched of "American Sniper," I suspect I'll feel the same about it.

This book touched me in an unusual way. Maybe it's because Chris Kyle came out of the same hardscrabble world I did, maybe it's because he started out in life as a cowboy, maybe it's because he was just so damn human. No phony airs, no silliness. Just a dedicated young man doing a job 99.9% of us could never do and wouldn't even try. I wish I could have known him personally and shaken his hand. I wish I could have told him how I love him and people like him.

Irony is something that has always astounded and often overwhelmed me. His being murdered on American soil is an irony that leaves me breathless. We'll never know how his life would have turned out had he lived. I have always believed tragedies occur for a reason, though it seems unfathomable at the time. One thing horrible events do is bring us off our high horses and show us there's something out there bigger than we are. In many ways, tragedy brings out the best in us.

People who have seen this movie say there is dead silence at the end of it, that no matter who makes up the audience, there's a reverence on display. And the audience doesn't  rise and rush out of the theater like in so many movies. I'm glad. Maybe this story touches everyone who sees it or reads it the way it touched me. Maybe Chris Kyle's true mission in his life and death is what is going on now. Thank God his wife is heroic in her own way and is carrying on in his stead.

RIP Chris Kyle, a true American Hero.

Rehab an Old Buffet

Some of you know my husband and I have been building a house. We are getting so close to finishing, I stare at walls trying to figure out what I want to put where. The decorating and pulling colors together has been good for my creative nature, but I swear I'm having DT's from not being able to sit down and write every day.

One of my favorite projects for the house is an old 1880's buffet/sideboard I discovered in a used furniture store. I fell in love with it the minute I saw it. But we're on a budget building the house and I had to run it and the price by my husband(who can't buy anything for the asking price or at least try to get it for a lesser price).  Hubby told me I could get it if I talked the person down in price.  I would say this part of my acquisition is a lot like when a writer comes up with a story idea or a fabulous new character. But then the realization hits that while they have a great idea or character they have nothing else and need to dig deep within to come up with a plausible story and believable but interesting character. I dug deep and managed to haggle the guy down $50. 

We brought it home and I began stripping the dark, ugly brown paint off and discovered beautiful oak beneath.  This is like writing the first draft of a book. It’s okay and gets the story spilled out, but when you go back through and pull out the unnecessary words and details you find the real story.

After the buffet was stripped, we cut a hole for the sink to fit in and added a piece of hardy backer. On our trips to the building outlet stores I haunted the tile aisles until I found the perfect accent tiles. The main part of the top would be the tile used in the shower, but I wanted an accent on the edges that would work with the rounded front of the furniture.  Finding the right accents is a lot like the final run through of a manuscript. You add the touches that make the character’s dialog sparkle, the narrative read crisp, and the story come alive.

After the vanity was tiled, I had to wait to add the grout. This is the same phase in a manuscript where you let the story rest a week or two then go through and proof read it. Adding the grout to the tile was the finishing touch to the piece.

My husband still has to revamp two drawers, but we’re waiting for the plumbing to be done to see how much of the drawers will have to be cut out. This process equates to writers who send their books off to agents or editors. Those people will determine how much of the book stays as is and what will need to be cut or added.

I’m happy with my new vanity and look forward to finishing the house and moving in so I can get back to writing my new mystery series. My first book in the series released on the 10^th. You can now purchase Double Duplicity in ebook or print.

Double Duplicity Blurb

On the eve of the biggest art event at Huckleberry Mountain Resort, potter Shandra Higheagle finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. She’s ruled out as a suspect, but now it’s up to her to prove the friend she witnessed fleeing the scene was just as innocent. With help from her recently deceased Nez Perce grandmother, Shandra becomes more confused than ever but just as determined to discover the truth.

Detective Ryan Greer prides himself on solving crimes and refuses to ignore a single clue, including Shandra Higheagle’s visions. While Shandra is hesitant to trust her dreams, Ryan believes in them and believes in her.

Can the pair uncover enough clues for Ryan to make an arrest before one of them becomes the next victim?

Amazon  http://www.amazon.com/Double-Duplicity-Shandra-Higheagle-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00PFWPHPQ

Kobo  http://store.kobobooks.com/search?Query=Double+Duplicity

Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/double-duplicity-paty-jager/1120790322

Apple https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id942249867

patyjager.net

Writing into the Sunset Blog

TRYING SOMETHING NEW

by Kathy Shaw

Up until now my books have been the usual length. I write slowly and my writer friends are always urging me to pick up the speed. Honestly, friends like these can be a pain in nether regions, can’t they? But they also help me focus and remain creative, so what am I going to do?  

I've tried writing faster. If only I didn't weaken and turn on the TV with my first cup of coffee. First thing I know, it's time for lunch. Rats. My New Year's Resolution is to skip the TV and take my cup of coffee (otherwise known as a life-giving infusion) and go straight to the laptop.   

I'm doing one other thing to lessen the time between releases. I decided to write a novella. Hey, since it’s shorter, I figured this might be my forte. In fact, four of us decided to try our hand at publishing a box set of steamy novellas and a couple of others joined us. We came up with YOURS FOR THE NIGHT as a title for the set we released last month. 

Each of these novellas feature a hero and heroine who meet for a one-night stand only to learn they have the start of something better. It's romance, so there has to be more than just the one night. Can't have Happily Ever After without the Ever After, can you?

No matter how I try, I can’t keep my smart a@@ humor from slipping in to my writing. I no longer even try. Go with the flow, right?

That’s why my latest in the box set YOURS FOR THE NIGHT includes my special wacky sense of humor.  When a couple who feel they’ll never meet again decide to give in to the moment, she tells him to call her Tequila—her drink of choice. Since he’s drinking Jack Daniels, he says his name is Jack. Fair’s fair.

This box set includes six novellas. So now you have six authors for one price, and one of these authors is NY Times, USA Today bestselling author Geri Foster. Here’s the lineup: Geri Foster, Sylvia McDaniel, Kathy Shaw, Carly Dean, Simone Blake, and Suzanne Graham.

Here's the Amazon link:  http://amzn.com/B00QCX6THC 

I hope you’ll give our new effort a try.