'Tis The Season To Feel Inadequate

 

'TIS THE SEASON TO FEEL INADEQUATE

Dorothy Rosby

 

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GENRE:  Humorous Essays

 

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BLURB:

 

 

Christmas comes but once a year; chaos never ends! Happy Halloween, merry Christmas and joyful Lumpy Rug Day. That’s real, by the way. Lumpy Rug Day is celebrated every May 3, though “celebrated” might be too strong a word. It’s the American way to create a celebration for everything, then turn it into a chore or worse, a nightmare. ’Tis the Season to Feel Inadequate is a collection of humorous essays about how we let our expectations steal the joy out of Christmas and other holidays and special events. It’s understanding for those who think Christmas form letters can be honest—or they can be interesting. And it’s empathy for anyone who’s ever gotten poison ivy during Nude Recreation Week or eaten all their Halloween candy and had to hand out instant oatmeal packets to their trick-or-treaters.

 

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EXCERPT:

 

Excerpt One:

 

from essay: Merry Christmas from the Envyofall Family

 

There are two things that make me feel like a boring person. Actually there are more than two, but the ones that come to mind this time of year are writing a Christmas letter and reading everyone else’s.

 

When I write a letter I come to the painful realization that the year has flown by and I’ve been terribly busy but I haven’t done a thing worth mentioning. Worse, when I read all the newsy holiday letters I receive I think the writers must have had more days since last Christmas than I had, and apparently more money, energy and ambition as well.

 

I don’t think I’m alone in my feelings of inadequacy either. Consider the following actual letter I made up. You’ll see in brackets what an unfortunate reader might be thinking as she reads this holiday greeting from the Envyofall family.

 

Merry Christmas from the Envyofalls!

 

We hope your year was as wonderful as ours was! [I’m pretty sure it wasn’t.] We started the year with a January vacation in Hawaii. [Now I know it wasn’t.] Since the children are both doing so well in school we decided taking them out for two weeks would be acceptable, and they enjoyed themselves thoroughly. [I’ll bet their teachers did too.]

 

In June Maxwell and I celebrated our twentieth anniversary with a month in Italy. [What a coincidence! My husband and I celebrated our anniversary in June too—at the Olive Garden.] You can see photos of both vacations on our family website. [You can see our vacation photos too—if my phone is working.]

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

 

Dorothy Rosby is an author humor columnist whose work regularly appears in publications throughout the West and Midwest. Her humor writing has been recognized by the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, the National Federation of Press Women and the South Dakota Newspaper Association. In 2022 she was named the global winner in the Erma Bombeck Writers Competition in the humor writing category. She’s the author of four books of humorous essays.  

 

Author Interview

December 18 stop at Hope. Dreams. Life... Love

1.Did you always want to be an author? Yes, I think I did. I still have a tattered notebook with my handwritten attempt at a novel in it. I don’t even remember how old I was, but inside the front cover there’s a note I wrote to my younger brother telling him to “keep your damn nose out of this. It’s mine.”  I guess I wasn’t quite ready to show my dream to the world.  

2.Tell us about the publication of your first book. My first book was, I Used to Think I Was Not That Bad and Then I Got to Know Me Better which I published in 2014. I call it the book for people who read self-improvement books and never get any better because it’s a collection of humorous essays on anxiety, bad habits, communication, fitness, prosperity, relationships and other topics one tries to improve upon by reading self-help books. When my publishing handed me the proof copy, she asked me how I felt. I think she expected me to have some sort of strong emotional reaction. And I  know a lot of readers have those when they hold a book they’ve written for the first time. But I didn’t. In pondering it later, I think it felt like just another step in a very long process.  

3.Besides yourself, who is your favorite author in the genre you write in? I read a lot of humor, but most of it is in online humor groups I belong to. There are so many I love that it would be hard to pick a favorite but a few I enjoy are Ivy Eisenberg, Janie Emaus and John Branning. 

4.What's the best part of being an author? The worst? I’m an author, a syndicated humor columnist and blogger and I would say the best part of writing in general is the feeling I get that I’m doing exactly what I was born to do, using my gifts as fully as I can. The worst part is that it’s very hard work that isn’t always rewarded in any way. That’s when the best part, knowing it’s what I’m meant to do saves the day. 

5.What are you working on now? I’m in the process of putting together my fifth book, a collection of humorous stories with the working title, That Which Doesn’t Kill You Makes a Good Story Later. These are all true stories about experiences I’ve had, but they’re greatly exaggerated because you get to do that when you write humor. I perform regularly with a local storytelling group so many of the stories have been performed for audiences. Website: https://dorothyrosby.com/

 

https://www.facebook.com/rosbydorothy

https://www.goodreads.com/dorothyrosby

https://www.instagram.com/dorothyrosby/

 

 

 

Amazon   https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578295520

 

Audible  https://www.audible.com/pd/Tis-the-Season-to-Feel-Inadequate-Audiobook/B0CBW57GYM

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Beneath Southern Stars

 

Title: Beneath Southern Stars

Series: Magnolia Grove Series

Author: Andrea Johnston

Genre: Small Town Contemporary Holiday Romance

Tropes: Single Dad; Musician/Celebrity; Love after Loss/Grief

Release Date: December 12, 2024

BENEATH SOUTHERN STARS is an all new smalltown, single dad romance from author Andrea Johnston set in the fictional town of Magnolia Grove. It can be read as a standalone but be sure to check out the rest of the stories from this collection.

LANEY

Small town life isn’t for everyone. At least that’s what I’m told. To me, it’s everything. Growing up in Magnolia Grove my neighbors are like family and every memory I have is tied to our community.

When a single dad rents the house next door he makes my simple small town life a little more exciting.

RYAN

After a year of grieving I vowed to give my daughter a holiday season to remember. Magnolia Grove is the epitome of holiday cheer and exactly the distraction that we need.

When my identity as a country music artist becomes town gossip, I greedily accept help from my new neighbor. What I didn’t expect was to find someone who speaks to my soul and reminds me of how much life there is left to live.

When we’re together beneath the southern stars, I believe anything is possible.

While I get us two glasses of water, Laney moves around the space, looking at the décor and finally settling on the sectional. She looks at the fireplace that’s more decorative than functional and smiles.

“Here you go.”

She takes the glass from me and lifts it to her lips, taking a small sip. I take the seat next to her and lean back into the cushions, my arm resting on the back. My hand is close enough I could touch her with a slight movement. She leans forward and sets her glass on the coffee table.

When she moves back to her spot, she buries her face in her hands. “I’m nervous.”

Thank goodness I’m not the only one. “Me too.”

Her eyes lift to peek through her fingers. “Really?”

I nod and stretch over to place my glass next to hers. I watch as she moves her hands to her lap, fingers twisting. Her unease is evident and I hate that she may feel uncomfortable.

Gently, I shift closer, closing the space between us and placing my hand over hers. I watch as her shoulders drop. Our eyes meet and my thumb traces circles along her soft skin.

“Yeah really. There’s something happening here that scares the shit out of me. I came to Magnolia Grove to get some space from all that we lost, I never expected to meet someone like you.”

Laney sinks into the cushion and sighs. “Ryan, we hardly know one another.”

She has a point but still, something is there. Not much can come of it. We live in two different states and my life is a cluster, to say the least.

“That doesn’t mean there isn’t chemistry. You’re a scientist, you understand chemistry.”

An eyeroll and then a smack on my arm cuts through any of the awkward tension that was lingering. We laugh and talk about the Jubilee and the anxiety she felt being on stage. Slowly we find ourselves closer, her legs are stretched over mine and my finger plays with the loops of her sweater.

In the heart of Alabama, lies a charming little town on the river, where everyone knows your name… and your business.

Follow the intertwined lives of its beloved residents as they navigate first love, second chances, and all the unexpected surprises that their small-town holds.

Welcome to Magnolia Grove, where every neighbor has a story worth unraveling, the roots run deep, and love blossoms around every corner.

Join the Magnolia Grove Reader Group to find out more!

A romantic at heart, Andrea has always been a storyteller. An avid reader since a young age, she never planned to pen her own romance novel but, on a whim, and with no plan, she discovered her passion. Known for her slow burn small town romances, Andrea prides herself on writing relatable characters that the reader cheers for and secondary characters who bring the sass and laughs to each story.

Settled in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and dog, she counts down the days when her adult children come home for a visit. Even if it means more laundry!

Follow Andrea:
Facebook | Website | Sassy Romantics | Nerd Herd | Instagram | Amazon

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Mindcraft

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Darryl Vidal will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

On the eve of the Global MindCraft Universe Challenge, Justin Turner, a teenage master of the titular virtual reality game, and his friends (known online as the Digital Mavericks) discover a sinister underbelly within the MindCraft Universe that may use artificial intelligence and virtual manipulation to end the world as we know it.

Read an Excerpt

A neon blue sky with puffy white cumuli-nimbus clouds provided the background for a grassy landscape speckled with pastel flowers. Eucalyptus trees lined the sides of some sort of football or soccer field. In the distance, hundreds of armored medieval warriors came thundering down the hills, shields and swords in hand.

They were storming toward a massive medieval castle of limestone and granite stretching across the near end of the playing field; a vast mote surrounding it. The massive walls stretched twenty to thirty feet high, which normally provided sanctuary from siege. But in this instance, a large hole had been blown through the castle walls with granite boulders, near the gates and bridge that secured entry into the castle.

A closer group of workers and warriors, commanded by the screaming artillery master and aided with oxen, moved giant catapults away from the castle walls to expose the holes for the armored warriors coming down the hill. Next, they started loading giant balls of pitch, a thick black tarry substance, to be set on fire and launched over the castle walls.

Justin Turner, in full VR regalia, used his hand controllers to assemble 3D blocks to repair the wall before the hordes of warriors arrived. The glow of the forty-two-inch curved gaming monitor cast an illuminating light on his determined expression. In the virtual realm of MindCraft, Justin went by the handle ByteMaster, due to countless strategic victories and an uncanny ability to outsmart opponents.

About the Author:

Darryl Vidal is an accomplished entrepreneur, author and education technology consultant with over 30 years of experience working with the largest school districts in Southern California. He is a futurist and fan of Artificial Intelligence, and an avid reader of the sciences, philosophy, and techno-thrillers.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Information Management and a Master’s Degree (MA Ed) in Education (Instructional Technology) from California State University, San Bernardino. He has also published eight critically acclaimed books on Educational Technology, Ed Tech Strategic Planning and Digital Transformation, and has developed the formal strategic planning and project management methodology known as MapIT.

Darryl has been a student and teacher of the art of Kenpo Karate for over 50 years. He has been teaching Karate in Murrieta for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department for the past 30+ years. He also founded and heads the Murrieta Stick Fighting Club (Filipino Martial Arts). This has led to him earning the highest honor given in martial arts when he was promoted to Grandmaster - Ju Dan, 10th Degree Black Belt in 2012.

He is widely known for his appearance in 1984’s The Karate Kid, playing himself in the tournament semi-finals, as well as acting as a stunt-double for Pat Morita (Mr. Miyagi). He is also credited with inventing the iconic Crane Kick.

MindCraft: The Educational Singularity is Darryl’s second novel in over twenty years and his first science fiction endeavor.

Main Book Page: https://whimsillusion.com/bookshelf/buy-mindcraft-the-educational-singularity
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/MindCraft-Educational-Singularity-Darryl-Vidal-ebook/dp/B0DHHLHLTC
Hard Cover: https://whimsillusion.com/mindcraft-the-educational-singularity-hard-cover/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vidal.k.karate
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockbreakerboy

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One Night Stands and Lesson Plans

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. M. Jayne LaDow will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

In the close-knit town of Marchfield, where gossip spreads faster than a teenager’s texts, English teacher Audrey Fremont and Algebra instructor Oz Taylor find themselves at the center of a scandal—and a romance neither saw coming.

A few too many drinks at Happy Hour and a glimpse of his infuriatingly sexy shoulders lead to a one-night stand that should have ended there—but didn’t. Relentlessly organized and a bit of a perfectionist, Audrey is horrified to discover that Oz is one of her new coworkers. Yet, stolen glances in the hallway, moments in the copy room, and snarky banter make keeping it “no strings attached” nearly impossible to maintain.

With meddling friends and nosy colleagues already placing bets on their romance, Audrey and Oz can’t ignore the chemistry simmering between them. But just when Audrey thinks she’s got everything under control, a surprise confession from Oz leaves her questioning everything she thought she knew about love.

In a town where everyone’s watching, Audrey and Oz must decide: will they keep playing it safe, or risk their hearts on a love that could change everything?

Read an Excerpt

Val giggled. “Audrey and Oz were trading tongues."

“Stop it!” Audrey jumped off my lap. I missed her soft, warm body immediately.

“Damn,” Keith whistled. “You do know, Audrey, he uses that tongue to teach math."

Bobby high-fived Keith and then bent over laughing. When Bobby stood back up, her face was red. She gasped for breath between chuckles. Mel patted her back.

I stood up, brushing past my not-so-well-meaning friends to stand by Red.

“Audrey likes big axes," Val rapped while the others laughed. Audrey’s lips twitched and then straightened as she seemed to choke down the urge to join in.

“Sir Mix-A-Lot should sue your ass for butchering his song,” I joked.

And of course, Bobby jumped in. “And when Oz walks in with his big hard ax–”

“Are you buffoons drunk?” I interrupted her, crossing my arms over my chest.

Audrey turned away and let out a soft sound beside me. I heard her take a deep, shaky breath. If these idiots made her cry, they would regret it. I hated it when women cried.

I followed her, reaching over to pat her shoulder. What should I say? When she looked up at me, I braced myself for a look of wet humiliation. But Audrey’s green eyes sparkled as she burst out in laughter.

“Big, hard ax,” she gasped between giggles.

My own lips quivered, and I let out a chuckle. “My ax is pretty impressive.”

About the Author:

M. Jayne LaDow is a playwright and author who leapt into writing romance after spending thirty-three years wrangling middle school English students. Her rom-coms are hilariously inspired by her years in education, where she was regularly pied in the face, sang classroom karaoke, and dressed up like characters from novels. She resides with her very patient husband, two brilliant yet snarky children, three cuddly rescue cats, a toe-biting tortoise, and a bearded dragon who judges her life choices from his terrarium.

Website: https://mjladow.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0D58S6PHL/allbooks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/M-Jayne-LaDow/61559414725278/
Substack: https://substack.com/@mjladow
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjladow/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/m-jayne-ladow
The StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/67d8f1c8-9dbf-4447-a232-b34013a37bfc
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/49955411.M_Jayne_LaDo

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A Cowboy for Christmas

A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS

Bobbi Smith

 

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GENRE:  Historical Fiction

 

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BLURB:

 

Dan Roland has always gone it alone. And no prissy miss from back East is going to convince him to do otherwise. Even if she does have the most alluring brown eyes he’s ever seen. But when his boss suddenly orders that he help the brunette beauty find a buried treasure, the rugged ranch foreman doesn’t have any choice but to offer his protection.

 

It’s not just the weather leaving Penny Anderson feeling a bit chilly upon her return to Texas. First she gets the news that her ailing father has hidden the family fortune. Then she learns Dan Roland is the only one he trusts to help her find it. And yet one teasing, tempting kiss at a time, he starts to thaw her out until all she yearns for is A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS.

 

 

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EXCERPTS :

 

Excerpt One:

 

 

“How much farther is it?” Penny asked as she rode behind Dan on the steep, rocky trail. After several hours in the saddle, they had to be getting close.

 

“Probably another two or three miles,” he answered. “Are you doing all right?”

 

“Yes, though it’s hard to believe that it was just a few weeks ago I was at the Chase ball. It seems like an eternity - almost like another life.”

 

She wondered what her friends would think of her now if they saw her bundled up against the cold in workman’s clothes, riding astride out in the middle of nowhere. Her life back then seemed like a fairy tale.

 

Fairy tale –

 

She let her gaze linger on Dan, seeing the day’s growth of beard on his jawline and liking how it added an aura of danger about him. She hadn’t even realized she’d needed saving when he’d whisked her away from the ballroom. But without him, she wouldn’t have been reunited with her father. There was no denying Dan, that was for sure.

 

Penny urged her mount forward to ride beside him as the trail widened.

 

“Do you miss being in the city?” he asked.

 

“I miss my friends, but being back here with Papa means a lot to me.”

 

Dan wondered if one of the friends she was missing was the man she’d been dancing with when he’d shown up at the ball. He didn’t like the thought of her in another man’s arms.

 

“Let’s take another look at the map,” he said to take his mind off how much he wanted to hold her close. “The sooner we find your father’s money, the sooner we can get back.”

 

 

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

After working as a department manager for Famous-Barr, and briefly as a clerk at a bookstore, Bobbi Smith gave up on career security and began writing. She sold her first book to Zebra in 1982.

 

Since then, Bobbi has written over 40 books and 6 novellas. To date, there are more than five million of her novels in print. She has been awarded the prestigious Romantic Times Storyteller of the Year Award and two Career Achievement Awards. Her books have appeared on numerous bestseller lists.

 

When she's not working on her novels, she is frequently a guest speaker for writer's groups. Bobbi is mother of two sons and resides in St. Charles, Missouri with her husband and three dogs.

 

Romantic Times Storyteller of the Year

 

NY Times Bestseller

 

USA Today Bestseller

 

Inducted into the Sigma Tau Delta Literary Fraternity

 

Amazon Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Cowboy-Christmas-Bobbi-Smith-ebook/dp/B004EYT522/ref=sr_1_1

Free to read on Kindle Unlimited

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Curveballs

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Gail Taylor will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Here you are on the brink of a journey all about self-discovery and chasing dreams. With personal stories and tools that shaped the author's path, she focuses on embracing authenticity. You'll explore how living with purpose and passion is achievable. This personal-growth book combines cutting-edge technology and music interaction, reflecting the author's belief that music can transform and positively impact individuals and communities.

Read an Excerpt

Many people spend years—decades, even—in jobs that are safe, but not challenging. Stable, but far from rewarding. I refer to that choice as settling.

If you are in this situation, you might tell yourself you are staying in this role for your family or for their future. Sometimes you plan to leave these unfulfilling positions as soon as you have saved a certain amount of money, or have paid for your home or schooling.

I have seen firsthand when opportunities present themselves to folks in these situations whereby they pass on the new challenges and the chance to chase their dreams. You may convince yourself to stay where you are because the field you want to join is too competitive, your skills and talents are rusty and insufficient, or you are too old for a new career . . . a refrain many of us have heard, or uttered. I am so thankful I never believed any of these falsehoods.

When I decided to come out of retirement, three years into it, it was to start my own business: Gail Taylor Music. My goal was to become a keynote speaker, using my stories and music to help others become their best selves. When I mentioned this to my new entertainment lawyer, his first reaction was, “Write a book.” And so here we are.

If you have read the introduction to this book, you know something about my rather tumultuous early life and how I turned things around. For twenty-five years as a financial advisor, I helped clients with investments and with building retirement plans. I absolutely adored my job and imagined staying in this role until I retired, sometime in my seventies. Things might have worked out that way, but when I was fifty-eight, I started taking piano lessons.

The lessons were meant to be a hobby, a diversion from days spent neck-deep in numbers, analytical thinking, and playing it safe with clients’ nest eggs. Instead of just learning an instrument and having a bit of fun, I fell in love with music as it flooded back into my life. After spending two years with my new passion, I decided to retire sooner than planned and dedicate my time to studying this incredible art form. I was financially independent, so I made the decision, at sixty-one, to sell my business and turn over a new leaf.

It was not just an affair I was having with this new interest. I realized I wanted to spend as many hours in the day as possible learning all aspects of music. For someone with no musical background, I was in for an exciting journey and lots of new experiences. Due to advancements in technology, I was able to study online with the Berklee School of Music. It was so exciting. They did not require me to audition. The curriculum was worth every penny of the tuition I paid. I studied bass guitar, piano, keyboard, ear training, and songwriting. After a few years, I began to toy with the idea of reinventing myself as a musician.

When I shared my new passion with people, I was pleasantly surprised by their supportive reactions. “Oh, that is so inspiring,” they would say. I heard this often, from people I knew well and strangers sitting next to me on an airplane. It was as if I was suddenly in the same category as mountain climbers and long-distance swimmers. It felt so amazing to know I could inspire others to pursue their dreams.

About the Author: Gail Taylor, a Canadian songwriter, keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and author, is celebrated for inspiring others to take charge of their lives. With forty years of studying personal growth and peak performance, she proves that designing your own life is possible, regardless of your beginnings. Her expertise has made her a sought-after guest on numerous podcasts.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Curveballs-Unlocking-Potential-Personal-Inspirational/dp/1779622015/ref=sr_1_1

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A Very Retro Christmas

A VERY RETRO CHRISTMAS

Pamela Spradlin Mahajan

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GENRE:  Holiday Romance

 

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BLURB:

 

What if the future you always dreamed of, was actually in the past?

 

Social worker Cat has no intention of falling in love or getting married—much to her mother’s chagrin. While mourning her paternal grandmother’s passing, Cat opens an heirloom left by the matriarch—a coveted Christmas ornament—and finds herself transported to December 1936.

 

Handyman Eli spends his days doing odd jobs around town and his nights hammering away on his house—whatever it takes to keep his mind off the awful year he’s had. When a mysterious young woman drops into his life seemingly overnight and wants to rent his guest house, he is at first annoyed and then more than a little intrigued

 

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Excerpt One:

 

Cat stared into the young face of what was certainly her Grandma Lana. How was this possible? Minutes ago, Cat had been unpacking the contents of what remained of her grandmother’s Christmas decorations—the grandmother who passed away a few months ago.

 

And now here she was sitting in what was supposedly her hometown with a young version of Lana—a version who looked to be in her late teens.

 

Had Cat finally lost her mind? Was that the explanation for all this? Had her grandmother’s death been too much for her to bear? Or had she contracted some sort of virus that a sturdy dose of pills could fix?

 

“Won’t your mother and daddy be expecting you home soon?” Maribel asked Lana.

 

“They’ll understand, once I explain what’s happened.”

 

Lana laid a hand on Cat’s shoulder and a feeling of warmth permeated Cat’s entire body. Cat studied her grandmother. She had clear, warm-toned skin without a wrinkle in sight. Her eyes were a clear blue, her cheeks were round, and her yellow-blonde hair was styled into a soft wave.

 

Lana’s dress was delightfully retro—a floral print number with a collar, buttons at the chest, and a matching fabric belt at her waist.

 

“What were you doing here with Eli earlier, Mar?” Lana said.

 

Maribel, who had vivid red lipstick and some kind of undergarment that made her chest look like two grenades ready to strike, pursed her lips. “Just trying to ease the man back into the dating pool.”

 

 

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An Interview with Pamela Spradlin Mahajan

 

1.Did you always want to be an author?

 

More or less, yes. When I was asked what I wanted to be as a child, I used to tell everyone I wanted to be a veterinarian. And I thought that was true because I loved animals (especially dogs!). However I didn’t love math and science. 

 

I think I didn’t feel being a novelist was an option because I didn’t see anyone else around me doing that as a career. But I started writing stories as soon as I could hold a pencil. 

 

2.Tell us about the publication of your first book.

 

My first novel SKYE, REVISED was published earlier this year in March 2024 from The Wild Rose Press. It was a dream realized! There were many steps along the way to make it happen. As I mentioned, I started writing stories young. As I got older, I continued to write but did not finish a lot of the stories I wrote. So learning the craft and commitment to complete a story was one step along the path. 

 

Once I had completed my first manuscript, EXPERT PLAYERS, I learned the process of editing and then querying. I put aside that novel after many months of unsuccessfully querying agents. That was another part of my path.

 

I started writing SKYE, REVISED during that querying process. I decided pretty early on I wanted to go with a small press this time around. It took a year or two to write SKYE, REVISED. Once I felt it was ready, the acceptance from The Wild Rose Press came pretty fast. I was beyond excited.

 

3.Besides yourself, who is your favorite author in the genre you write in?

 

My work straddles a variety of genres so pulling from a wide pool with many great authors, two I love are Alice Hoffman and Lisa Jewell. 

 

I try to follow the advice doled out by many authors and read as much as I can as it is an essential ingredient to writing well. I am currently reading the moving YA novel IF THESE WINGS COULD FLY by Kyrie McCauley.

 

4.What's the best part of being an author? The worst?

 

The best part of being an author is being able to follow where my intuition and imagination lead me. Another great thing is being able to share my stories with other people.

 

One of the worst parts of being an author is the amount of trudging along the path one has to do with very little feedback. Sometimes it can feel as if you are submitting your work into the void. And the waiting!!

 

Seeking writing mentors, joining writing groups, and being part of the writing community can help. As can just reminding yourself to focus on writing and creating the story, not thinking how it will be received. 

 

5.What are you working on now?

 

I am currently working on a historical mystery that will likely be YA. It’s still in the drafting stages so that could change. I have researched a lot about self-publishing and plan to self-publish a series in the future as well. 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Pamela Spradlin Mahajan is the author of women’s fiction and romance. Her debut novel, “Skye, Revised,” was released in early 2024. Pamela has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and creative writing from Missouri State University and a Masters from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Her recent short stories have appeared in the online literary journal "They Call Us" and she has been honored in the WOW! Women on Writing Flash Fiction Contest. A native of Springfield, Mo., Pamela lives with her family in Kansas City, where in addition to writing women's fiction and romance, she also works as a copywriter, journalist, and reseller.

 

Website: https://pamelamahajan.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pamelajsm/

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