Month: July 2016

Snarky Sunday

July is automobile inspection month for TV Stevie and me. We schedule the appointments around my must-take vacation (when Day Job shuts down for a week), which is the most convenient way to handle it. Because when my car is in the shop, I don’t have a car. When his car is in the shop, I don’t have a car–he needs wheels for his Day Job.  If I’m off work, I don’t have to think about packing a lunch (I usually come home to eat) or leaving on time (I usually have to wait for him to pick me up or try to catch a ride with a co-worker).

This year, I forgot to tell our mechanic to uninstall the app in TV’s car that prevents it from stopping at the supermarket when he runs out of something.

Stealing Home

My second contemporary baseball romance, Stealing Home, came out yesterday.

It’s actually the first baseball book I wrote about the Syracuse Saltboilers, but I didn’t submit it to my publisher until after Summer Fling  came out. Mostly I was worried my publisher wouldn’t like all the movies referenced in the manuscript. The heroine grew up on movies, which helped shape her life.

In fact, there are at least seventeen real movies referenced or named in the novel. Oh, and one made-up title.

My publisher never blinked.

Here’s the cover by artist GD Leigh.

Stealing Home

Isn’t it gorgeous?

She went to Cooperstown for the opera . . . and stayed for the baseball player.

Chelsea Lyndon isn’t about to let a minor thing like being abandoned by her date in a strange town get her down. Maybe she grew up on romantic comedy movies, but she’s a self-reliant realist. No man is ever going to control her . . . not even a too-sexy-for-her-peace-of-mind retired baseball player. But Tripp Shaneybrook is determined to rescue Chelsea, whether she wants his help or not.

Reluctantly accepting Tripp’s assistance when she discovers her bank account is empty and her credit cards maxed out, Chelsea lets herself enjoy being pampered and seduced. The weekend plays out like one of her favorite movies: pure fantasy. And the sex is incredible. But she needs to go home and resume her dreary life.

Tripp has other ideas about that, too.

And when that life begins to fall apart, Tripp is there to help pick up the pieces. Chelsea begins to trust the man whose actions backup his words.

Until his past collides with her reality in a series of incidents that threaten to rip them apart forever.

Buy links for different formats and retailers are gradually becoming available, but my publisher, Loose Id, has all formats available on their website.

 

The Purse Project with Author Samanthya Wyatt

Thank you so much for having me as your guest today.

MJ has an extraordinary idea of posting on “PURSES”. I’ve heard of carrying everything in a purse but the kitchen sink, and some ladies carry that as well.

I like all sorts of pocketbooks, and of course, one is never big enough. Now that I’m retired I don’t need to carry a ton of stuff. I used to think I needed too much at my workplace. That pocketbook was more like a suitcase.

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Item on left, of which I have several.

As you can see I like to buy purses from all over. The one in the middle I got in New York last year at the RWA Conference. The one on the right I picked up in California.

Really all I need is a wallet, my sunglasses, keys, phone, and a ton of receipts that I can’t seem to throw away. That is the matching Vera Bradley set, over the shoulder purse and wallet, I carry now. Leaves my hands free and I don’t have to worry about laying it down or losing my wallet.

I have lots of credit cards, that I don’t use, so why do I carry them? Just in case. I carry lots of pictures of my grandbabies. I very rarely have money. Who uses cash?

Let me tell you, I had to downsize when we went to Florida on vacation. We took our teenager and her boyfriend to Universal Studios for their graduation present. Walking all day and riding the Universal rides, I certainly did not want to carry more than absolutely necessary. Most of their rides did not allow carry-on bags.

Here is what I had to survive on while trotting around Universal Studios.

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Yep. This is it. About 5 inches by 4 inches and an inch or so wide. At least it has a shoulder strap.

How did I manage? Well, I just did. Driver’s license, ticket to get in the park, a baggie for my phone for water rides, and my phone. That’s all that would fit!

But it worked. Amazing what we can do without when pushed.

I returned home to Virginia just in time to put the final touches on my newest release. I’m very proud of my latest book, “Through the Eyes of Bea”.

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As an author of sizzling romance, Bea’s story was far different from anything I’ve done. I became enmeshed in life events regaled to me upon several occasions and decided I needed to write this heart-wrenching saga.

Life is an interesting journey. We never know what’s in store for any of us. As a child, Bea had no idea her life would take such a drastic turn, yet with struggle and sacrifice, she overcame the challenges she faced. Abandoned by her mother, she had to take on the added responsibility of raising her siblings. Then her father brought a woman into their home making Bea and her siblings’ daily existence one of survival. The more I spoke with Bea, the more entangled I became in her story.

“Through the Eyes of Bea” contains memories of incidents during a time when certain happenings were hushed, not talked about, never mentioned. Not like today when anything goes and everything is accepted. Happy times and sad times, I was deeply touched, and wanted to share this emotional experience.

Bea’s story is for all book lovers and a good read for any time of the day.

How could a mother distribute her children across the county and then just walk away?

That was the question burning in Bea’s mind. All she could do was watch as her mother shattered her family and then just left. Bea may have been the oldest, but at thirteen, she was still a child. And now it was up to her to take care of her five siblings.

Through struggle and sacrifice, Bea embraced her unchosen responsibility. When her father brought in a cruel, selfish woman who didn’t like children, Bea’s undertaking became one of survival.

Bea’s story begins in 1925, during a time when things were hushed, private, hidden. Heart-wrenching memories of the incidents that happened in her home, and how she and her siblings prevailed. An accounting of grief, sorrow, strength, endurance and love in an era when America was struggling.

THROUGH THE EYES OF BEA 

THROUGH THE EYES OF BEA – https://www.amazon.com/THROUGH-EYES-BEA-SAMANTHYA-WYATT-ebook/dp/B01HVKQ2LC/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1468173697&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=samantha+wyatt+THROUGH+THE+EYES+OF+BEA

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How did I become an author? Having a full time job and taking care of a family, my outlet was reading a good romance. Once I found historical romance novels, I couldn’t put a book down. I fell in love with the characters and needed to know their happy ending. Then I decided to pursue a writing career of my own. I have six books published in historical and contemporary.

I get a lot of joy from creating new characters and bringing them together in a romantic tale, but in writing Bea’s story, I laughed, I cried, I became so involved with the characters—and Bea—I wanted to share these emotions with the world. I’m very proud of this book. I sincerely hope all my readers receive as much joy reading my books as I do writing them.

Please visit my website for more information on me and my books.

You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, and Soul Mate Publishing.

All of my books are on Kindle at Amazon and most are in paperback.

 

Mooning

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Today is National Moon Day.

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Forty-seven years ago, two the first Earthlings landed on their moon.

We Earthlings have always been fascinated by our moon.

Shakespeare wrote “Rise up, beautiful sun, and kill the envious moon. The moon is already sick and pale with grief because you, Juliet, her maid, are more beautiful than she.”

Buddha said: “Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.”

And there’s always this from George Carlin: “There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls.”

The moon plays a prominent role in the lives of my werewolves. Image credit: pancaketom / 123RF Stock Photo

Moon artwork abounds.

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And I love songs about the moon.

Here are my top five moon-related songs:

5) Harvest Moon (Neil Young)

4) Dancing In the Moonlight (King Harvest)

3) Moonshadow (Cat Stevens)

2) Bad Moon Rising (Creedence Clearwater Revival)

1) Moondance (Van Morrison)

Do you have a favorite song about the moon?

 

National Ice Cream Day

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It’s the third Sunday in July. . . and that means it’s National Ice Cream Day!

I blogged about my favorite flavors last year. Not much has changed since then.

I have a friend who hates fruit flavored or fruit in her ice cream. How can a person not like a banana split?

I will confess, tho’, I’m not fond of crunchy things in my ice cream. Except peanuts or almonds.  I recently tried two new-to-me Ben & Jerry flavors: Everything But the . . . (A Collision of Chocolate & Vanilla Ice Creams mixed with Peanut Butter Cups, Fudge-Covered Toffee Pieces, White Chocolatey Chunks & Fudge-Covered Almonds) and Stephen Colbert’s  Americone Dream (Vanilla Ice Cream with Fudge Covered Waffle Cone Pieces & a Caramel Swirl). The toffee pieces turned me off, as did the waffle cone pieces.

Is there something you don’t like in your ice cream?