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Thursday, August 7, 2014

7 Lucys Excerpt

Here's a short excerpt from my new short story
"7 Lucys"


FREE on Amazon!



     Mondays were the worst.  I hated Mondays.  The job had always been boring, so mind-numbingly boring.  That is, until she showed up.  

     I was drawn to her for some reason.  Rolled over the maid’s foot tryin’ to get to the window.  I couldn’t take my eyes off her.  I wondered where she’d come from and what misfortune had brought her to motel hell.  She definitely didn’t fit in with all the low-lifes who frequented this place or the lost families who wandered in.  She was bright and clean and beautiful.   

     There she was unpacking her shiny car.  Corey must’ve checked her in when he was covering the front desk while I was fixing a toilet in one of the rooms.  I searched the sign-in book for her name….  

     Lucy.  She just signed it Lucy.  She wrote it in a funny way:  all in fancy cursive caps.

     That happens a lot around here.  People reluctant to give their real names, I mean.  Signing only their first name or using a fake name.  Corey’s policy is to look the other way.  “Beggars can’t be choosey!” as he would say.  In my mind, it isn’t always clear who the beggars are, us or them?  We get desperate for customers sometimes.  There are times when the motel is deserted, and we’re not sure if we can even keep the lights on.

     I wondered if Lucy was her real name.  Her yellow skirt fluttered around her shapely brown legs as she walked in and out of Room 27.  She was like a fresh summer breeze.  I didn’t usually go for brown chicks.  I say brown ‘cause from a distance, I couldn’t really tell what race she was.  She could have been Hispanic or African-American, wasn’t for sure then, and I’m still not for sure.  I’m not racist or anything.  I just can’t tell you if she was black or Hispanic or both.  It didn’t matter to me.  Pretty is pretty… and she was pretty.  I guess the truth of the matter is that I’ve always been too chicken shit to ask a girl out if she wasn’t white.  They seemed out of my league somehow.  That sounds stupid now that I’m putting it out there.  But, I suppose we all have stupid voices in our heads that talk us out of going for what we want, and this wheelchair doesn’t make it any easier for me....

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

7 Lucys

FREE on Amazon
CLICK HERE to download now!



Boone is a 35-year-old disabled Iraq vet.  He’s had some tough breaks, and he’s just going through the motions until the sweet release of death.  In this short story, he recalls the day that changed his whole outlook on life.  It was the day Lucy walked in to the motel he runs with his ex-military buddy.  He can’t figure out if she’s crazy with multiple personalities or if she’s a spy.  But, Boone’s encounter with Lucy sparks something inside him, and he will never be the same.  This is the calm before the storm.  Get a glimpse of Lucy before she wreaks havoc in the novel “Ripples”.

FREE Kindle Edition!


Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Late Night #2

I'm still working on my book cover for "7 Lucys".  Another late night.  But, I'm getting sleepy so I think I'll call it a night.  It's only 1:30 a.m.  That's early for me.

After six days of browsing numerous digital image websites, at least I have finally chosen an image.  A few days into my search, I narrowed down my search to finding a graffiti image of a woman with a brick wall background in order to illustrate an important scene in the story.  So it's been a mad search for the right face and good graffiti art.

Here she is!  Here is my Lucy.

What do you think?  I'm lovin' it so far!  I've been using the Paint & Photoshop programs to tweak it a bit.  Still a work in progress.

Now I just have to figure out how to add the title and create a book cover for Kindle.

So tomorrow I'll be watching video tutorials on YouTube, hopefully not too many.  Then, that should be it!

Can't wait to publish this short story!  Finally found a proofreader on Elance.  So the proofreading is finally done after a few delays.  Now I can move forward this week (as of June 23, 2014).

But, there won't be a break after that because I have to get started right away on the followup novel "Ripples".


Which one do you like the best?  I'm leaning towards the yellow, but still working on the title font. It's coming out fuzzy on the brown covers for some reason.  Thanks for your feedback!

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Late Night #1

This certainly is not the first late night for me.  I am a true night owl, and I often work 'til the sun comes up.  This is just the first night I am recording my thoughts about what I am working on. 

So yeah... I'm burning the midnight oil, working on the cover for my new short story "7 Lucys".  I plan to design my own book covers from now on, getting my money's worth from Photoshop & Adobe Illustrator.

What do you think?

I think it's crap.  It has somehow become quite dark & eerie and that's not what I'm goin' for.  Though it might be reflecting my current state of mind. Oh well, back to the drawing board and off to bed! 

Good night!

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Revelations

I think the way to get through this life's trials, haters, and crippling pain is to accumulate as many joyous experiences as possible and surround yourself with positive people who love you. They're like pieces of steel to be used to build a bunker to shelter you in the storm. Just say yes to everything! It's all about the experiences. So make many happy times for yourself and your people.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Maya Angelou's Last Tweet

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Shoe Fetish


Guess which character is rocking these Jimmy Choo's?


JimmyChoo.com

Hint: She's a diva!



Read an excerpt from 
"The Love Makers"....


     ....Just as Talula started to sneak away, Vivionne noticed her revealing outfit and on her feet: the brand new Jimmy Choo shoes that Vivionne bought on her shopping splurge with Penny.  “Where do you think you’re going dressed like that and in my Jimmy Choo’s?”

     “Aw darn.  So close,” Talula said.

     “Girl, you better go take my shoes off and return them to their pretty little box in my closet before I knock you out!”  Talula attempted to run out of the room, but Vivionne caught her by the arm.  “Wait.  Where did you say you were going?”

     “Darn again!  So close.”

     “Drop the flip attitude, missy!”

     Talula whined, “Oh, Aunt Viv!  I’m just goin’ out with a few friends.  There’s a concert at Chicago Theatre, then we’re goin’ to a party afterwards.”

     “What concert?”

     “Miley Cyrus.”

     “You’re kidding, right?” Vivionne asked while Talula looked at her with a straight face.

     After an awkward pause, Talula cracked up laughing and said, “You know I’m kidding, Auntie!  Miley Cyrus?  C’mon!  What do I look like, a scank groupie?  No, we’re going to see Icona Pop.” 

     “OK.  Stay out of the Smart Bar!  Where’s the after party?”

     “The party’s on campus at DePaul.”

     “Oh hell no!  The only way I’d let you go there is to register for classes.  Why don’t you try that?”

     “Aunt Viv…”  Talula said as she rolled her eyes in defiance to her aunt’s constant nagging about going to college, something she had no desire to do.

     “Nope!  You bring your little skinny ass straight back here after the concert,” Vivionne demanded.

     “But my friends are riding with me and they wanna go to the frat party.”

     “Well, of course they do.  College students go to frat parties.  But you’re not a college student, so you can come back home and hang out.  I’ll even let you play in the pool.  Have a pool party, right here.”

     “Really?”  Talula perked up and started jumping up and down like an excited puppy.

     “Stop jumping in my Jimmy Choo’s!”  Vivionne smacked Talula on her fanny and playfully wrestled her to the floor and removed the expensive strappy sandals from her feet.  Then, she sat on Talula and began to tickle her feet and belly.

     Talula screamed with laughter, “Ah!  No, aunt Vivi stop!  You’re gonna mess me up!  It took me hours to get ready!”

     “Ah, poor baby Lula!”  Vivionne released her and picked up the Jimmy Choo sandals.  “Go on, get out of here, but I’ll hold on to these.  Gonna put a lock on my closet too.”

     Talula ran upstairs, giggling.  “Bye, Auntie!  Be back in a few hours!  Get the pool ready!”

     Sprawled out on the floor, Vivionne said to herself as she anxiously ran her fingers through her hair, “She’s the reason I’m finding gray hairs.”

You Know It's a Good Book When...

Saturday, May 17, 2014

In Search of an Umbrella

Some people walk into a room like a dark cloud.

They stand over you 

And rain down on you.


Best move out of their shadow

Before lightning strikes.

I could use an umbrella.

Monday, April 28, 2014

The Love Makers - Excerpt 2

Who doesn't need more love in their life? 
Take a peek inside  
"The Love Makers - Extended  Edition"!
You'll find more lovin', more Vivionne & Boris, 
and more behind the scenes of their extreme love tactics! 
Order your copy directly from this blog and save a few bucks! 
[Find the PayPal button in the right column above the book trailer video. 
Only $13

Here's the new paperback! Buy now! --->


     ...Then, shocked by the sight of Luther, who stepped in from the hallway, Vivionne blurted, “Oh my God!”  She entered the kitchen and flipped a switch on the wall, turning on bright ceiling lamps. 
     She could not believe that Luther was in her house, standing in her kitchen.  The nerve of him to dare to invade my life after all this time!  For seven years, she had struggled to bury the traumatic memories and endured the nightmares of what that low life piece of scum had done to her.  As she approached them, her head became swarmed with memories which made her feel like that weak 22-year-old girl who let that perverted degenerate intimidate and manipulate her to keep silent.  She never told a soul.  She could not have predicted that mistake would come back to haunt her.  But there he was, standing there looking smug and undressing her with his eyes.  She felt her stomach turn. 
     Boris and Luther ogled Vivionne as she marched toward them wearing a blood red silky dress which revealed the absence of underwear.  Her strappy four-inch metallic heels made music as they clicked across the tiled floor under her feet.  Their mouths dropped in awe of her raw sexy everything:  her shapely legs, her curvy hips that swayed in hypnotizing rhythm, her nipples that pointed her perfect perky breasts at attention, her full succulent lips, and her black wavy hair whipping across her shoulders and long neck.   
     She looked through Boris and glared at Luther.  If looks could kill, Vivionne’s laser stare would bring new meaning to the phrase:  drop dead gorgeous.
     Boris was too focused on her bouncing un-haltered bosom to notice her glare boring a hole into Luther’s skull.   
     Andrei hung back and leaned on the dining room door frame, watching the unfolding drama in amusement.  Being the free-spirited drifter that he was with no commitments or obligations, he had no horse in this race.  He was just along for the ride.  He had never seen Vivionne so worked up, so he was eager to see how it would all play out.
     Luther was unaffected by Vivionne’s hostile reception.  “Nope, it’s not God, just your old pal Luther.  Remember me, Vivionne?  Yeah… Boris picked me up from G.P. and he was speeding like a bat outta hell to get me here!  I think it could be repressed anger.  What do you think, Dr. Phyllis?”
     Boris elbowed Luther and shook his head to warn him to back off.
     Vivionne ignored Luther’s creepy banter and moved in between Boris and Luther.  She raised her hand in front of Luther's face in a dismissive manner.  
     But Luther kept on talking, “Get it?  Dr. Phil… Dr. Phil-lis or less,” he snickered.
     She turned her back on Luther.  “What the hell is he doing here?” she asked Boris.  “Please tell me this isn’t the surprise you were talking about!”
     “Nice to see you too, Vivionne,” Luther said with a smirk.
     Vivionne lowered her hand and grabbed Boris by the arm.  “We need to have a talk, Boris Sutton.”
     “Ooh!  Boris Sutton... you're in trouble now,” Luther taunted.
     Vivionne turned back and snapped her fingers to signal Andrei to keep an eye on Luther as she exited the kitchen with Boris in tow.  She yelled, “And clean up, would you Andrei?”
     Luther was left in the kitchen with Andrei.  As Andrei obediently began to clean up, Luther sized him up.  “So who are you supposed to be?” Luther asked.
     In his thick Eastern European accent, Andrei answered, “I am Andrei.  I am whatever Vivionne wants me to be.”
     Luther folded his arms and scoffed.  His only concern was for himself.  He was confident that Vivionne had kept her mouth shut about what happened between them, but not so sure what she would do now.  Would she tell our little secret?  Well, no one would believe her.  It’s her word against mine!  Luther’s plan was to take what he could get from this situation until he could figure something else out.  This was a sweet set up for him:  a free place to stay and a paycheck.  All he had to do was make the occasional appearance at this stupid job because he was sure his old buddy Boris would hook him up with a fat paycheck.
     Andrei sensed that Luther would be trouble and that he was underestimating Vivionne.  He wondered if he should warn Luther that Vivionne was no pushover.  No…  That’s the good stuff that’s coming!  And Andrei was happy to have a ring-side seat for that show.  He did not need to know what this creep had done to make Vivionne despise him.   
     Not another word was said between them....


Kindle eBook
Read the original eBook here!