Is that a strip steak in your pants, or are you....

For those of you who missed it at A Daily Dose of Decadence earlier this month here's my blog titled 'Is that a strip steak in your pants or are you just happy to see me?'  Enjoy! Don't forget to check out the Decadent Publishing's blogspot and DP website for interesting blogs and great stories from all the DP authors!

And FREE STUFF -- you can win daily at 30 Days of Decadence - AND a gorgeous grand prize from the DP Authors and the great folks at Decadent Publishing! The giveaways are going on through the end of December.

AND- gosh I'm full of ANDS today --- check out my gal Deanna Wadsworth's new holiday short story SECRET SANTA - it's part of READ FOR A CURE during the month of December.

Check A Daily Dose of Decadence blogspot on Wednesday, Dec. 29th for another WILD WEDNESDAY BLOG w/ME---Wendy Burke!

Wendy Burke’s Wild Wednesday Blog

‘Is that a strip steak in your pants or are you just happy to see me?’

            It’s amazing the things people think they can get away with. (Read that –stupid criminals.)

             In my ‘real’ job (well, if you can call any kind of media a ‘real’ job) I am a TV newsroom assignment manager. Basically, I tell people where to go and what to do. When I’m not doing that, I’m doing research for stories, kissing up to cops on the phone and harassing my favorite US Marshal for fugitives whose mugs need to be plastered on the airwaves.

            But I digress. (Which happens a lot with me…Oh, look a nickel!)

            Please be aware, there is a special section of hell reserved for us media types – my sense of humor has become much less respectful, much more graphic and horrendously cynical in the past fifteen-plus years in the TV news biz. (It was warped by radio, however, WAY before that!)

            I’m sure many of you have heard ‘If it bleeds, it leads,’ a pseudo-mantra of television news. Well, not necessarily. In our newsroom, it may not be the lead story, but if someone is stealing something and is caught with it in his/her PANTS, well then it’s a story to consider just for its entertainment value.

            And, just where do you find people sticking stuff in their pants on a daily basis? ---The police logs.

            I read them every day. Sometimes the reports are boring (the usual copper wire thefts from vacant homes), sometimes they’re interesting (Code 18—that would be a dead body), sometimes you have to ask WHAT?! (like the guy who broke into a home and swiped a light bulb, toilet paper and a guinea pig.) 

            I guess you need to feel sorry for someone who thinks they need to steal from the Dollar Store. ‘PRO –(person reporting incident, usually the victim) states man stuffed shampoo, body wash and a package of disposable razors down his pants and fled.’ But, if you feel the need to be clean, steal away – but why stuff the stuff in your trousers?!

A whole new definition of the word ‘meat.’ ‘PRO reports man and woman trolling the meat section stuffing various cuts into their pants.’ This was a tandem job! Is that a ribeye in your pants or are you just happy…

            Hardware store: ‘PRO states suspect was clearly seen placing a ball peen hammer into the lower portions of his overalls. When approached, suspect threatened loss prevention officer with said hammer.’ Okaaay.

            This one is one of the oddest however. ‘PRO states man left store with a seven inch circular saw blade in his pants.’

            ---I got NOTHIN’ for that!---

            The last one reminds me of my college days at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. UWO…or U-W-Zero as some called it. Anyway, I digress! (Oh look – a penny!) Back in the day  when college kids could drink at 18, (in Wisconsin we grew up with Old Style in our sippy-cups) there was always a beer to be had at the end of a long, hard college school-day. Yep, after three hours of ‘History and Appreciation of Cinema’ (read that, one long nap!) I and a pile of friends certainly needed a beer, or two, or three.

            So, we head to one of the many bars surrounding UWO.

            Bars are a great place to get dorm decorating ideas and glassware. (Trust me, I’m getting back to the saw blade!) After one particularly intense beered study session, a pal of mine decides she needs a set of six pilsner glasses and a pitcher. Those were the great ‘80s (1980s not 1880s!) when Wisconsin gals all had stadium jackets – long, usually large wale corduroy, with pockets everywhere! And, the jacket/coat made for a great vehicle to covertly ease those items out the bar.

            After emptying the pilsner glasses with help from the table, off we went, back to Breese Hall. Too bad said glass-swiper decided to trip over a curb and fall in the middle of the street.

            The tinkling sound of breaking glass was heard only momentarily – then her screams covered the lovely sound.

            So, whether it’s meat, toiletries, saw blades. Guinea pigs or glassware – please, if you’re on an appropriation mission, do it with extreme caution if said appropriated items will end up close to your person!

            AND – I am neither endorsing NOR encouraging any type of criminal activity by anyone! I don’t want to see any of you on the daily police logs! If I do, your criminal butt is mine and you’ll be embarrassed via on air and on line media!

It's a week after Thanksgiving...

....but for those of you who missed it at A Daily Dose of Decadence last week here's my blog titled 'It's the Day Before and I'm Thankful For...Big Kids, Jerry Springer and Pie.'  Enjoy! Don't forget to check out the Decadent Publishing's blogspot and DP website for interesting blogs and great stories from all the DP authors!

And FREE STUFF -- you can win daily at 30 Days of Decadence - AND a gorgeous grand prize from the DP Authors and the great folks at Decadent Publishing!

AND- gosh I'm full of ANDS today --- check out my gal Deanna Wadsworth's new holiday short story SECRET SANTA - it's part of READ FOR A CURE during the month of December.

             Big kids, Jerry Springer and pie.

            (God, that sounds so much like ‘old dogs, children and watermelon wine!’…okay, not really.)

            So, now you’re saying, “What do big kids, Jerry Springer and pie have to do with one another?’

            Well, here goes.

            I always say I don’t have many friends; most people who fall into that category are much too close and too important to have that minor moniker. Those people, at one time ‘friends,’ have become the best kind of family to me – the kind I can completely be myself with. You know, the ones who don’t come in through the front door, but the garage. The ones who will happily sit in their jammies with you all day and drink beer in front of the fireplace and discuss everything and nothing.  Ones who know your house, so when they visit they’re not ‘high maintenance.’ Ones who are easy to travel with.

            From my own experience, the travel part doesn’t apply to most ‘blood relation’...ahem.

            So, back to kids, Springer and pie.

            Hard to believe it’s nearly ten years ago now – a trip to Disney World. Sure it’s great with little kids, the ‘oohs and ahhs’ of all those primary colors and toddlers screaming like Banshees as Mickey or Minnie get close. Yes, those are the things lasting memories are made of.

            Not in this house.

            Memories are made when three forty-somethings and one fifty-something attempt to have an adult beverage in every country in Epcot. I think we were thrown out of Canada after commentary regarding just ‘what does a guy wear under his kilt?’ (The answer is actually ‘socks.’---now that I think about it, what the hell was a Scotsman doing in Canada playing a bagpipe anyway!?...lost, probably, lost.)

            Yes, I’m thankful for the three Big Kids I experienced Disney with. Who can forget brushing the chickens in the Animal Kingdom’s petting zoo – in blatant disregard of the ‘Please Don’t Brush the Chickens’ sign posted at the entrance? (And, I can tell you, brushing a chicken in 90-degree heat is no small undertaking!)           

          While we were having fun, we were also encouraging to our fellow guests. Like the woman, not using her inside voice, grousing loudly about her drenched condition as she exited the Kali River Rapids – at the time she was standing next to the sign which read, ‘You WILL get wet on this ride!’  I think the phrase from one of my cohorts was, ‘Lady, this is the HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH! Shut up already!’ Yes, very encouraging!        

            It was a great Kodak moment in the Magic Kingdom, waiting in the dark, in a large group for the train to other parts of the park. Sometimes, you just don’t know what will hit you --- like the little guy in the stroller puking on the back of your leg. You can tell by the way I’m chuckling, that wasn’t my leg, of course.

            And, then there’s Jerry Springer.

            Nothing says ‘Good Morning’ like a good stage fight on the Springer Show while eating whatever selection of pie is left in the Disney Institute condo’s fridge. (Also known as the ‘Disneytute’ in some circles, the accommodations have since been razed – I think it may have something to do with our stay there – really, you’re not supposed to invite the little white Ibis birds in for chips and dip? Funny, I saw no sign reading ‘Do not invite the wildlife into the condo.’) I’m still at a loss as to who is her babies’daddies – did he sleep with his fiancee’s grandmother – and why was a size 22 bloomer panty found in her thong drawer. Oh – the mysteries!

            So to recap –for a week, four big kids, a refrigerator full of breakfast pie (and beer!), and Jerry Springer to kick off the morning prior to hitting the parks.

            Was one of the best weeks of my life. And, I’m thankful for every second of it.

            Three days after that tremendous time in Florida – Sept 11, 2001.

            I’m thankful I live in the United States. I’m thankful there are people willing to protect me – a total stranger – whether on the other side of the world, or down the street. I’m thankful for more things than I could possibly count.

            But maybe tomorrow, while I’m at work, I’ll start counting all those things. If I’m lucky, by this time next year, I’ll still not have tallied them all!

            Happy Thanksgiving – especially to my husband (aka Ktn), and my dear ‘family,’ Bob & Jules. (Get the Cow cold – we’re comin’ home for Christmas!)

           

      For those of you who missed it at A Daily Dose of Decadence  a few weeks back, here's a blog titled 'Why I'll Never Have a Blue Car'  Enjoy! Don't forget to check out the Decadent Publishing's blogspot and DP website for interesting blogs and great stories from all the DP authors!

And FREE STUFF -- you can win daily at 30 Days of Decadence - AND a gorgeous grand prize from the DP Authors and the great folks at Decadent Publishing!

AND- gosh I'm full of ANDS today --- check out my gal Deanna Wadsworth's new holiday short story SECRET SANTA - it's part of READ FOR A CURE during the month of December.

Now -without further adieu:

 ‘Any color but blue, please.’

                Favorite song – don’t really have one.

                Favorite food – uh, nothin’ there either.

                Favorite movie – I can narrow that down some, anything with Russell Crowe or Denzel Washington in it, or both. (Which leaves me with ‘Virtuosity’ and ‘American Gangster’.) Okay, separately works well, too.

                Favorite beer – Spotted Cow. 

---That's Brad---

                Favorite baseball player – well, duh, anyone who knows me knows it’s Brad Ausmus.

                Favorite car color – ANY COLOR BUT BLUE! (Yes, I know I’m yelling and there’s a reason for that.)

                Oh, let’s go back to 2003 – the lease on my cute little white Sebring was up and it was time for a new one. My dear huz sure knows how to pick cars, so he surprises me in July with another Sebring, in a gorgeous metallic ice blue color. I had complete strangers coming up to me asking me the name of the car’s color. I just called it ‘metallic ice blue,’ because to be honest it most likely had some pretentious, ‘look-at-me-I’m-the-guy-who-invented- the color’ name.

                I loved that car- it was comfortable, got great gas mileage and had an up-and-at’em cajone of an engine.

                That love began to dissipate two months later in September.

                I’ll warn you ahead of time, this is kind of a sad beginning to the story, but I’m sure that person is ROFL near the pearly gates, while completely rolling her eyes at her lone daughter.

                My mother had been ill and was quickly losing her battle with liver disease. I got a call early on a Monday morning that I might want to ‘get home right away.’ Well, ‘getting home right away’ for me is a six hour drive – I live in Ohio, she was in Wisconsin.

                So, I hop in the car, try not to worry, accept the fact that I will soon be sans parents and brace myself for the minutia that comes with dealing with a funeral. I was in a pretty good mood actually – I was prepared for this.

                She passed while I was zipping by Great America (now Six Flags) in Gurnee, Illinois, just outside Chicago.

                As I get to Wisconsin, is where the story gets interesting. As a preface, I have the world’s smallest bladder – and of course, I was guzzling 32 ounce pops and coffee all the way there.

                I’m ten blocks from my childhood home and I’m dancing in my seat – no way is that little receptacle going to hold out another mile or so. I pull in to the nearest McDonald’s and trot to the facilities.

                I’m two steps back into the parking lot when a young man calls my way ‘Ma’am (ooo, I can’t tell you how I despise that!) is this your blue car?’

                “Ah, yeah.”

                “Well, I kind of hit it,’ he said, leaning against a huge loaded box truck.

                ‘Kind of hit’ is relative. If my metallic ice blue, two month old Chrysler Sebring had been a full size Hummer, yes, ‘kind of hit’ would have worked, but because I didn’t…the front driver’s side quarter panel was gone, the cowl was in pieces and my hood was badly crimped.  The car was a mess and would not be Interstate worthy.

                As I sat down in the car and started pulling out insurance info, I laughed, yes, laughed. This incident was a tiny pebble in my shoe compared to the magnitude of reason I was in Wisconsin to begin with.

                He apologizes and we begin exchanging information.  

                “Oh, and you’re from out of town,” he says.

                “Yes, I’m here to bury my mother.”

                I thought he was going to pass out. He mumbled, he stumbled, he couldn’t figure out why I thought this was so funny. He apologizes over and over. I assure him it’s all right and we finish our business.

                Then, I call my husband, who is still in Ohio.

                “What did you do?!” was the first thing out of his mouth.

                “I was peeing!”

                “What do you mean you were ‘peeing’?”

                “My pants were around my ankles and I was in the McDonald’s bathroom peeing!” Why do husbands always seem to think automotive trouble is due to their wife’s operator error!?

                “Well, get a police report, for the insurance.”

                “Okay.”

                So, that’s taken care of. I eventually get the Sebring cable-tied and strapping-taped back together well enough to make her Interstate worthy again.

                I bury my mom and head home.

                That was just the first incident with the metallic ice blue Sebring.

                A summer later, my metallic ice blue friggin cursed Sebring is parked in the parking garage at work.

                I get a call at my desk from building security, “Do you have a blue Sebring?”

                Dear Lord, now what?! “Yes, I do.”

                “Could you come to the office, some one hit it.”

                I’m seriously thinking I’m beginning to hate this---BLUE--- car.

                So, I wander downstairs, first to my car, which has an enormous dent in its back passenger side bumper.

                It’s explained to me by the man who owns the brand new, convertible, racy Fiat roadster that, “My car must have jumped out of gear, rolled down the garage ramp and…”

                “…Was stopped by the back end of my car.” I interrupt.

                “Well, someone could have been run over,” he snipes.

                “Yeah, but thankfully my car prevented that,” I smile back.

                “Uh, this usually doesn’t happen. This is my summer car.”

                WTF?!  “Oh, good for you, this is my only car!”

                He pulls out a check book, “How ‘bout I right you a check right now, we’ll be done with this.”

                “How about you cough up your insurance information and we’ll be done with this.”

                “Oh, that’s not really necessary.”

                “Oh yes… yes it is.”

                Did I mention he worked for one of the largest legal firms in the city?!

                I’m really beginning to hate this ---BLUE --- car.

                It was fairly quiet for about two years. (Yes, to top it off it was a SIXTY month lease –never again)

                Until Christmas of 2007.

                My brother was in town from Wisconsin and had a flight back home. We have breakfast and head out to the airport where he has a hopper to Detroit connecting to Milwaukee. It had been foggy and rainy. The ticket agent mentioned the connector up to Detroit was running ninety minutes late, which would put him in DTW after the flight to Milwaukee left. Two other people were at the counter in the same predicament.

                “C’mon, it’ll be faster if I just drive you to Detroit Metro.” (…in the metallic ice blue cursed Sebring.)

                “Are you going to Metro?” I’m asked.

                “Sure, wanna ride?”

                So, off we go – my brother, two strangers and more luggage than has ever been in the car.

                Three miles later, WHUBBA WHUBBA WHUBBA…

                C’mon, you want to guess!  FLAT TIRE!

                So, there I am, on the side of the road, in the rain. I had to unpack the trunk to get to the donut wheel. You know what, I’m pretty darn good at changing tires! So, after the change and praying that I got the lug nuts on tight enough, off we went.

                The remainder of the ride to Detroit Metro was uneventful, thankfully! And, we arrived with enough time for my brother and the two stranger-passengers to make their connections.

                I’m parked at the curb, unloading luggage again when the vehicle parked in front of me, a pickup with the giant cab on the back decides to back up without looking.

                BANG!

                $1,700 hole in my front grille.

                You know what, I laughed!

                A bid adieu to my brother and passengers, exchange information with the offending driver and hit the road back to Ohio.

                I call my husband, “Do you want the good news or the bad news?”

                “Don’t tell me,” he says, “…you were peeing.”

                And, that’s why any car I ever have again will be any color but blue!

               

               

               

WIN STUFF!

Check out 30 Days of Decadence for great stories and your chance to win a beautiful gift from Decadent Publishing!

Follow the directions, leave a comment and WIN!

It's that easy!

Wendy

Big Kids, Jerry Springer and Pie

...find out why I'm thankful for these three things, WEDNESDAY, 11/24/10 at A Daily Dose of Decadence.

And, RESPITE is still in the editing phase, but I'm hopin' it'll be available before Christmas!

Common Sense?

           For those of you who missed it at A Daily Dose of Decadence  a few weeks back, here's a blog titled 'Is Common Sense on the Curriculum?'  Enjoy! Don't forget to check out the Decadent Publishing's blogspot and DP website for interesting blogs and great stories from all the DP authors!

           When I’m not writing for pleasure and publication (YAY! Thanks Decadent!) I spend my days behind an assignment desk in a television station newsroom.  ‘Riding the Desk,’ as it’s called.

            I am an assignment manager. (Which, if you go by the adage ‘crap rolls down hill,’ I am in the lowest spot of the newsroom.)

            Some of my daily duties include: butt-kicker, mother, psychologist, grammar/history expert, human spell-check, hand-holder, pronoun corrector, receptionist, assistant to the news director, traffic cop, scanner jockey…just to name a few. I’m the ‘hub’ of the wheel, so to speak – info comes in, and it’s my job to get it out to the right places.

            I work with college graduates – I am a college graduate, but the curriculum of Common Sense must have been an elective in the past twenty years or so. Don’t get me wrong, I adore most of the ‘kids’ I work with, but ‘book-learnin’ certainly doesn’t teach them how to get along in the real world. Maybe their parents had the same ‘missing’ common sense gene, I don’t know.

            For example, a young lady I worked with left in a station vehicle. Not moments later, my phone rings and I hear, (no offense, but please use your most irritating mouse voice for this), “Uh, yeah, um the gas light is on in the Jeep, what should I do?”

            Now, c’mon, you don’t think I’m gonna be THAT easy on her, do you? I politely mentioned, ‘Well, if you drive around long enough, it will eventually go out.”

            “Okay,” she sing-songs and hangs up.

            (For those of you who have spent too much scrubbing your manuscript---the gas light will go out when she’s out of gas!)

            Was that wrong of me? I don’t know – but c’mon! Everyone has a car! And most vehicles in the past twenty years (I don’t know anyone who drives less than an ’85 anymore!) have gas level indication lights. Anyway, I need to take my moments of levity when they present themselves.

            For some reason, the thought of stopping at a gas station and filling the tank never occurred to her! (Hmm, I haven’t seen her in quite some time, I wonder if the little light actually went out and…)

            Maybe if you’re sixteen and new to the driving scene, you might not know what the gas light signifies, but if you’re twenty-nine… Enough said. (Same folks, however, are sure to know every conceivable emoticon and email abbreviation. To which I must say, OMG -lol?!)

            While I’m on ‘the vent,’ this is the same journalism grad (and she’s not the only one) who could not figure out the difference between ‘there,’ ‘their’ and ‘they’re.’  Go figure. I guess Spellcheck (although a fine tool) didn’t know either.

            Please don’t think I’m hammerin’ on j-grads, as I’m not --- I’m hammerin’ on Common Sense…or lack thereof. (By the way, my degree is a Bachelor of Science in Radio/TV/Film…which means I have a BS in BS.)

            I do have to mention, this same young, cub reporter, just a day later, accidentally hit the ‘panic button’ on the key fob and was at a loss at how to turn off the incessant honking. Yeah, I got a phone call for instructions on that too!

            Sometimes I wonder what happens between brain and mouth. Whatever it is, lately it isn’t good. Common sense seems to evaporate in that oh, two to three inch, less-than-millisecond span.

            My father was often heard saying, ‘Make sure brain is engaged before putting mouth in gear.’

            Love you, Daddy, but the problem with that statement at this time is – mouths are usually on automatic now, manual transmissions of the vehicular and verbal variety have gone the way of the Betamax, rotary dial phone and the stove-top percolator.

            Whoo…I feel so much better.

            Can’t wait till the next Wild Wednesday, I already have a blog in mind – stories from my radio past, painting pictures with the verbal word. You know if you pound on the back of a traffic reporter on the radio, it sounds just like he’s in a helicopter?

            Yes, people believe that!

            Um, what was it I said about common sense?

           

Blue cars suck...

...find out why in my twisted way, tomorrow - Wednesday - at A Daily Dose of Decadence blogspot!

I know - whatever!

Wendy

---for those of you wondering, more edits on RESPITE - story gets better everytime, thanks to Audrei and crew!

FREE STUFF...ie books!

Hopefully mine, RESPITE, will be on that FREE list soon!

But, check it out all you bibliophiles who love stuff gratis!

Free books!

Hopefully, more edits back this weekend!

Whatever!

Wen

As I wait...

...for Respite to be returned to me for more polishing, I've unpacked an old friend and hope to finish it up by the end of November.

Originally, it was called BEER CAVE, because the idea came to me as I was getting coffee at a local Speedway gas station on the way to work. In the corner, a room full of beer, with BEER CAVE above it. I often wondered what would happen if an unsuspecting person was forced to drag a dead body into such a confine during an armed robbery.

PLEASE don' think I want to perpetuate such a scenario - Lord knows in my regular job daily such things (not to this extreme of course!) come across my desk daily. But, some author once said 'You write what you know.' Not that I know about armed robberies and dead bodies --- but I guess you could say I picked up a ghoulish sense of humor through  the nature of my job. (Hmm...perfect for Halloween, wouldn't you say?)

Should BC (that would be Beer Cave) hit the eshelf in the future, you may see it under a different name. Possibly Amoris Defende. Now what the HELL does that mean, you're wondering...

Well, you'll just have to wait and find out!

Whatever!

Wendy



Whoo!

Hello Followers---(those who are regulars and those on FB Networked blogs!)

Sometimes it's not possible to separate 'real' and 'writer' life. I couldn't help but think what sort of prose I could come up with looking at the interesting clouds in NW Ohio on my way home tonight. After a quick blast of possible severe weather, things calmed down. Thankfully, no major damage this time around.

Bad comb-over -- is what I thought of one cloud, as I zipped down I-475 westbound toward home. But, at the same time, the most beautiful 'comb over' I have ever seen - Mom Nature blew the tops off some thunderheads for that painting!

All is quiet now and autumn can continue.

Okay, enough of my musings...you're wondering when RESPITE is to be released, well, I'm hoping to find that out in the next few days. GOOD things come to those who wait (even me!) so I'm hoping the crack bunch of editors at Decadent are saying 'Wendy can do better here!'...all to bring you an even more compelling story!

I know...whatever Wendy!


Wen

Anticipation

Sometimes we all just need to 'wait.' And, that's what I'm doing now. There will be a bit of a delay in the release of my first novella, RESPITE through Decadent Publishing.

In the mean time, you can click here to read an excerpt of the story.

I'll keep you posted...soon as I know the new release date, I'll let you know!

Thanks!
Wendy



Getting Closer!

Check out an excerpt of RESPITE at Decadent Publishing!

Your Assistance is Requested

Okay, so while I'm waiting for line edits to be returned, I'm hunting down review sites and playing with this blog page. I'm not technically savvy, so for the most part I'm learning by the seat of my pants - which is the way I've learned most things in my life.

If you would, take a peek at the poll on the right side of the page - I'm leaving it up to you to decide which story I work on next. Of course, dependent on your choices, I may have A LOT of work to do!

Vote early, vote often!

I know...whatever...

Wendy

Line Edits

Isn't that the most wonderful phrase?! To me it is!

Don't forget, Daily Dose of Decadence WEDNESDAY for my blog. Warning you up front - it's a true story.

Yeah, whatever, Wendy!

(But, really, it is!)

...and cuz I can't thank her enough for her encouragement, Deanna Wadsworth 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' 10/23 at Decadent Publishing!

Wild Wednesdays

So, what goes on while an author is waiting for edits, galleys and publication - she BLOGS on her publisher's
BLOG, A Daily Dose of Decadence.

So, click on the link WEDNESDAY, Oct 20th to see what's going on in my head when the people in my head are hushed-up for a bit and I can actually think!

RESPITE's out on Monday, 10/25...in the meantime, check my pal Deanna Wadsworth's take on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow out 10/23 at Decadent Publishing. The book cover is pretty darn cool!

The Waiting...

...is the hardest part. Well, at least according to Tom Petty.

I'll get a return of edits just one more time - hopefully later today - from my editor, which I will scrub up, then after she looks at it again, it's off to the upper 'powers that be.'

This is all so strange - it's just a little story I 'made up,' and now it's actually getting published! That's pretty darn amazing. Once it's 'for sale,' I can cross that item off my Bucket List. (Did I mention you don't need to be a Kindle or Nook user to get the book - it also downloads as a pdf, and did I mention affordable! Only $2.99!)

Again, don't forget, RESPITE releases at Decadent Publishing Oct. 25th!

Wen

Teeter-tottering

Is that even a word?

Well, the actual last words have been entered into the laptop, which means for the moment, RESPITE is done. Well, at least for the time being. I'm waiting for input from my editor, which will mean tweaking, but that's okay...makes it a better story.

So, I'm UP on the teeter-totter: it's done, it's ready, it needs to be tweaked, polished, spit-shined. It's good...(coming down)...well, it's okay...is it my best, not sure at this moment.

So, I'm DOWN...it sucks and every reviewer in the world will tell me so. Tough skin - yeah, I got it, but those comments always find a crack in one's armor, don't they?

I have written all my life, but the turning point was standing in line at Kroger, perusing the novels - 'I can write this crap,' I said to myself. Now, I'm hoping no one says that about me!

There are plenty of more stories in this Gateway computer, and 100 fold more than that in my head---ONE of them has to be good, right?

I know...whatever, Wendy. (and you're saying SHUT UP! as well!)

(really, I'm okay...sometimes we all doubt ourselves!)

W

October 25th

Well, it's official! RESPITE will hit the e-shelf at Decadent Publishing MONDAY, OCT 25th.

Whoo - my bell's still ringing!

So Much News

Firstly, thanks to everyone who viewed, read and/or left comments on my first 'official' interview on Romance Books R Us blogspot! CONGRATULATIONS to Brenda R (wish I knew where you were from, Brenda) the winner of a copy of RESPITE from me and Decadent Publishing when its released...

...and speaking of releases, word is later this month RESPITE will be on the e-shelves of Decadent Publishing!

So, with that said, I best sign off, get out the big 'ole cotton towels and start spit-shining this story!

I know - whatever, Wendy!
W

Only Hours Left - Act Soon

Still a few hours left to log on to Romance Books R Us, peruse my first 'official' interview as a working author and 'follow' to be entered to win a copy of RESPITE, my first and soon to be released novella from Decadent Publishing.

Thanks for checking in!

It's been 'a day'!
Wen

'Virgin' no more?

It's tomorrow -- the first interview of my 'writing' career. Log on to Romance Books R Us and check out my first 'official' interview.

'Follow' Romance Books R Us and you'll be entered to win a copy of RESPITE from Decadent Publishing and me when it's released.

WHOO...scarey...

And, if it's any of anyone's business, the new Russell Crowe movie The Next Three Days is out NEXT MONTH!  (Yeah I'm all a-giggle already.)

I know - Whatever, Wendy!

The 'End,' 'Finis,' 'Done'...

Why is the 'end' the hardest part of the darn book to write?  I'm in the process of rewriting the last two chapters of RESPITE to A) make them BETTER (duh!), B) make the ending not basically 'fall off the end of the earth, ie, not let the reader down, and C) get a good 'ole pat on the head from my editor.

So - why is this so difficult? Don't know. But I suppose I could get the ending going in the right direction with a sex scene...yeah, that's the ticket!

Whatever...
W

Gotta work him in...

...somehow I have GOT to work Gordon Ramsay into a book. He's a 'Weegie'...ie Glaswegian...from Glasgow, Scotland -- that accent has got to work  somewhere! 

I know, whatever, Wendy!

Interview, excerpt and free stuff!

Hey, want a free copy of RESPITE once it's published?

Check out my interview on Romance Books R Us blogspot on October 7th. One lucky reader will win a copy courtesy of Wendy Burke (that would be me!) and the fine folks at Decadent Publishing! 

There is also an excerpt from RESPITE as part of the interview, so you can get a little taste of what Ryan and Maddy are up to!

Enjoy...
W

Letter from Madeline Raburn

I was going through some of my research materials for RESPITE, when I found a letter from one of the main characters, Madeline Raburn, who is travelling in Europe, to her mother back in New York City. Surprising what this young lady had to say.

Dear Mom,

     I am writing this on the train to Gibraltar. I have always wanted to see that huge chunk of rock and practice my Spanish, so I hope you don't mind me taking a few more weeks before returning to New York. Whatever I miss this semester at school, I will take double the credits and ace the classes next semester --- promise!

    Rome was absolutely beautiful! Everything you said it would be and more! I particularly liked the personal tour of St Peter's in the Vatican that grand-dad set up for me. Unfortunately, the solemness and religious impact of the visit was marred by Mario and Vito's incessant loud chatting during the tour. I was SO embarrassed when the kindly old Father asked them to step outside. Thankfully, the remainder of the tour...without them was lovely and educational. I understand needing to have chaperones, but at times the two of them are either completely clueless or overbearing. Mario especially - I don't like how he looks at me sometimes, you know, in a kind of leering way.

People in Rome were nice, a bit preoccupied however. I don't know if it's because they're still shocked from the War or if it's an inherent preoccupation. Some of them seemed very sad, while others seemed not to care that their country is still somewhat in ruins and transition. Those I spoke with, well, their faces just lit up when they realized I was American. They were shocked, however, that I would travel there, after all that has happened there, especially in the recent past.

The food was wonderful - like an afternoon at gramma's. Her sauce is SO much better, however!

I'm sorry to say things will not be working out between Giacomo and me. He speaks very little English and even with my acceptable Italian there was a great divide when it came to communication. Don't get me wrong, Mama, he is very nice, I'm sure grandpa checked him and his family out well - I don't mean to disappoint, but he's not my type for husband material. Please tell Papa I'm sorry. I hope this doesn't reflect poorly on his business and connections in Italy.

I know you know this, but how do I get it through to Daddy and Papa that I don't want to get married right now? I want to finish school, get more of a degree. I love languages and want to be able to speak them all well. That means speaking them in the country in which they are spoken - I can't expect to do that if I'm a homebody with children. No disrespect, Mama, but you know I have more of a worldly curiosity than you. And, although you have discovered the world since marrying Daddy and having children, I want to do that NOW, not when I'm forty or older. I love you, Mommy, please don't think I think of you have wasted time in your life. The world is so different now, and I want to see it ALL before something else, like another war, happens.

The countryside is so beautiful here in a rugged way. The accommodations on the train are very nice and per your instructions, I am not scrimping on the cost of berths etc. You and Daddy will not need to get me a college graduation present - THIS trip seems to be it. Don't know a final destination or timetable for returning home, but as soon as I know, I will wire you the details.

You know it's only NINE miles across the Straits of Gibraltar to Africa? Who knows where I'll end up next week!

Love you, Mama - kisses to you and Daddy.
Maddy

WHOO HOO!/First Round Edits

TWO followers! And, they happen to be two of my favorite people! Thanks Cyn & DW!

First round of edits back and thousands of the commentary bubbles have disappeared from the margins. So I'm a happy camper!

Short on time - but thanks for reading.

Getting closer to RESPITE hitting the e-shelf!

W

Getting started...

...okay, so it's a boring title for a first blog, but what do you want?! I have to be creative the remainder of the day, so at this point I can slack off a little. Yeah whatever, Wendy.

Will be letting you all know as soon as I do as to A) when RESPITE will hit the ebook stand at http://www.decadentpublishing.com/ and B) when you'll be able to read more about me in a published new author interview. (Warning you ahead of time, I don't like talking about myself so...)

For those of you who know me, go ahead, suggestions are always welcome!