A Son's Visit

Hello, gentle readers!

I’m so happy! My son is here visiting for the weekend. It’s always a pleasure to see him. He’s living in Dallas so visits aren’t that often (it’s not like he lives down the road or over in the next town). We do talk a lot by phone, but it’s not the same as seeing his face or that sheepish grin he sports.

He’s a good son. Hard-working. Kind (though, I will admit, he has an intolerance for stupidity, which he probably got from me). And, like his father, he makes me laugh…which started in the car on the way home from the airport.

That’s not to say it was always this way. His teenage years were rough, but we persevered. I tried to keep the lines of communication open, though sometimes it was hard (you remember those teenage years, don’t you? Ask a question and get a grunt in response? Yeah, there was a lot of grunting going on back then).

But as with everything, things changed. He grew up (almost without me seeing it) and became an adult and the lines of communication opened up once more, though the conversations were different. He wasn’t the little boy anymore who liked to be read to and cuddled (yeah, I’m a hugger). He wasn’t the teenager who looked at me like I had “Stupid” tattooed across my forehead (fortunately for me, that tattoo faded the day he admitted I was right about so many things!)

Sometimes, I miss that little boy sitting on my lap while I read to him (his favorite story was “Are You My Mother?” He loved the noises I made), but I love the man he’s become and every once in a while, when he looks at me, I get to see that little boy grin.

By the time you read this, he’ll be gone, back to his own home, but until we visit again, I will treasure this time I was able to spend with him.

 

Until next time, remember to spread kindness wherever you go.

Marie

A New Story Begins!

Hello, gentle readers!

As you may know from reading my blog, I have just finished writing Wife For Hire and while it’s still going through critique and beta read, I have started a new story (it’s called Wife Wanted). To my way of thinking, there’s nothing more exciting (even more exciting that typing “The End”). This is where the fun begins, at least for me.

Now, I know there are authors out there who just sit down and begin writing…the plot, the characters, all of it, just coming to them as their fingers glide over the keyboard. Some need a little more, like the black moment before they can begin.

That isn’t me. There’s much to be done before I can begin working on the story.

It starts, of course, with an idea…the first blush of “What if…”. From there, it’s the character description and names (I try really hard to match the character name with how they are and what they look like. And yes, I use actors and actresses for that. In Angel in the Moonlight, my heroine looked like Catherine Zeta-Jones from The Mask of Zorro and my hero reminded me of Sam Elliott and Tom Selleck—well, maybe it was just their mustaches!).

Then it’s on to the plot points. I don’t write an outline as I have a tendency to veer off course and let the story take me where it wants to go.  

And finally, the really fun stuff. Researching the time period, creating the town or ranch or farm where the action takes place, and the homes people lived in. Then—and I love this part—I get to look at the fashions of that time. Some of the gowns the women wore were just beautiful and I can imagine my heroine and her friends dressing like that.  

After I do all that, I clean my computer room. I know it sounds odd, but that’s what I do. Once this room is clean, I can begin (it’s a routine and you all know how much I love routines…that isn’t to say I don’t clean this room during the writing process…I do. I have to. I share this room with my DH, who likes to leave little stickies all over).

So, with my computer room clean, my research all done and pictures saved, I have begun working on Gabe and Andi’s story. So far, it’s a hoot! 

Until next time, remember to spread kindness wherever you go.

Marie

When Rome Falls

Well, summer is finally here is my little corner of Wisconsin. It took forever, but now even the mosquitos are enjoying the heat. I gave up in surrender. They can have the outside while I hide inside.

In other news, When Rome Falls has been released. Yay! And, there are a ton of things happening over at Pierce Patrol. You can answer the question of the month or you can get in on one of the giveaways. Head over to Pierce Patrol and join the fun.

Excerpt from When Rome Falls:


Rome had done a lot of stupid things in his life, but carrying Bethany had to be one of the dumbest. Fortunately, he was almost to the house where he could deposit his cargo on the couch and go take an ice-cold shower.


As soon as Bethany had wrapped her arms and legs around him, her body clinging to his, he had realized his mistake. But what was he supposed to do? Watching her hobble home in pain wasn’t an option.


So now her light breath tickled his neck, her clean citrus scent circled around him, her breasts pressed against his back, and her legs . . . oh, her legs were wrapped around him, spurring intensely inappropriate thoughts. Ones that he had no business thinking.


Instead of allowing the mind-consuming sensations to continue, he thought about all the reasons he couldn’t take her to one of their rooms and make his thoughts a reality.


One, he was not an animal. Although, he rather felt like one at the moment.

Two, her feet hurt. Although, he could make the rest of her feel better.

Three, it was against company rules. To hell with the rules.

Four, she was engaged.


He held on to that thought until they made it to the house and he deposited her onto the couch.

I need Rome!

Haven't checked out Rio yet? What are you waiting for?

I want Rio!

Have a great July. I'll be back in August with more news.

Nicolette Pierce

In Search Of....

Hello, gentle readers!

Do you remember the show “In Search Of…”? Leonard Nimoy hosted this exploration into unsolved mysteries and things that defied explanation….like the disappearance of the Mayans or the Bermuda Triangle.

Well, I have recently felt like I’ve been part of that show, except I wasn’t searching for the Lost City of Atlantis or the secrets of life. What was I searching for, you ask? Crushed tomatoes. Now, you might think this would be an easy search and it should be, but…

Let me back up a little.

Memorial Day weekend is coming up rather quickly here and, as you may know from reading my posts, I traditionally make a big batch of spaghetti sauce (complete with Italian hot sausage and meatballs). I’m very particular about my sauce and the ingredients that go in it…hence the search for crushed tomatoes. And not just any brand of crushed tomatoes but Angela Mia, in the big #10 size can (which is about 102 ounces….pretty big). The brand is important because of the taste. The size of the can is important too. I use four #10 cans (like I said, it’s a big batch and it's so much more cost effective to use this size can).

The last batch I made, I had difficulty finding Angela Mia crushed tomatoes in the big can. Costco and Sam’s used to carry it, but no longer. I tried Smart & Final, but they only carried stewed tomatoes in the big can. I tried Walmart, but no luck and I was running out of time. I ended up using another brand in the smaller can (28 ounces, which turned out to be about 14 cans). 

And you know what? The sauce didn’t come out the way it should have. The taste was a little off (not everyone noticed, but I sure did). The consistency was off too…and I was not happy, as you can imagine.

So, I started my search a little earlier this time around and did all the usual places where I used to be able to get it before (Costco, Sam’s, etc). I tried online (I thought I could order it from Walmart and have it delivered to one of my local stores or Amazon and have it delivered to the house…and I probably could have, but I ran into roadblocks….such as the price (I saw prices for six cans anywhere from 50 bucks to over 100 bucks…for crushed tomatoes!?!?) or the lovely message “Not available in your area”. Really? I’ve never seen a message like that so it was back to the drawing board…or rather, the internet.

And I found them. At a restaurant supply house that is open to the public….except the place was a little out of the way of my usual driving comfort zone. Still, I pulled up my big girl panties and took that drive (I will admit, I got a little lost…one would think that after living in Phoenix for over 35 years, one would know where one was going…apparently not…at least not for me…road construction did not help with my direction impairment, either!)

I am happy now…I can make my sauce over the Memorial Day weekend. Tradition has not been broken. Whew!

Until next time, remember to spread kindness wherever you go.

Marie