Bad, Wendy,bad!

I'm a bad, bad person -- yes, more than six months since I've updated this page. It should be obvious by now, that I'm not much of an updater, and for that I apologize.

So, without further ado, here's the latest bookcover!  Edits are taking place now, with a possible release date later this month (July).

 What's it about? Well, maybe Hunter Hayes and Charlie Worsham can help with that.

In my non-writing life, I spend part of my day on the air at a local country station (1077 The Wolf if you must know) and sometime songs just 'speak' to me as a writer.

Hunter Hayes' 'Wanted' is the perfect song for Dr. Abby Lewis -- her 'date' assuring her she'll '...always be wanted...' especially after so many years of scrutiny by men who thought someone less than a size four wasn't capable of being beautiful.

I first heard of Charlie Worsham during a long-weekend trip to Nashville. It was our first 'vacation' after spending three-plus years using our off-time driving to and from Wisconsin on nearly a weekly basis to care for my brother. Charlie was one of the many acts at the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman the night we attended. He played with two other people on stage, no drums, no electronics -- just pure stringed music and vocals. 'Could It Be' stuck with me since then, and I'm thrilled it's now in rotation at the station....but I digress... 'Could It Be' is Casey's song -- he's '...finally holding what I've been hoping for...'

So, as soon as I'm through all the edits and the Decadent Publishing gurus deem my story properly shined -- I'll let you know a release date. I'm sure many of you fine readers will be able to identify n some small way with Abby's internal outlook.

Thanks for reading -- and being so incredibly patient!

W

Yeah, it's been awhile...

...and for that I apologize. 

But, I've been busy, busy with the matter of life, illness and even death.

It's taken me more than a month to feel comfortable with sharing some personal information publicly, but maybe it's time.

Best Big Brother, ever!

For the past three years, I've been helping my only sibling, my brother, through some nasty stuff. You've seen bumper stickers and other signage reading: 'Cancer Sucks,' well, yes, it truly does. I think we're all know at least one person who has cancer, or who has been taken by it.

Unfortunately, my brother is just one of a half-dozen or more (I lose count) family members (in my family and my husband's) and friends who have died of that horrid disease in various forms. The CRAP that is cancer killed my brother in early December. 

I don't regret any of the moments I spent with him over the past years -- even if it meant driving six hours one way on a Friday only to have to turn around and drive six hours back home on Sunday to be to work at 4 Monday morning.

Was it difficult - it could be. Was it tiring - more than you can imagine. Was it simple compared to what my big brother was going through - like child's play. So, no complaining here.

He was with me all of my fifty years. And, although no one lives forever, that fifty certainly wasn't long enough in my book.

I know he's sitting in an ugly green and white woven lawn chair, in a sunny back yard with my parents and half of Sheboygan, Wisconsin's Swift Avenue on the 'other side' having a beer (well, at least one!) -  just for me. Other than being here, that's the most perfect image I can conjure! 

When not playing with the people in her head, Wendy has a full time job behind the scenes in television, a part time job in radio and an even 'parter' time job trying to keep her house clean. She lives with her cute chef husband and two fuzzy felines in the Great Lakes region of the Mid-West.Find her books at Decadent Publishing, Amazon and other reputable e-book retailers.

And, here it is..

Yep...it's a bit racier than the my other book covers, but there is something simply beautiful about the young lady. Most importantly, the silhouette in the background is the key to the story.

I love it...simple, poignant, sexy and mysterious.

The really cool thing -- parts of the story take place in my hometown, Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Was there awhile ago, and every time I visit, a new story pops into my head. Next one will include references to this photo: (good luck figuring this one out!)

Now the 'hard' part begins -- waiting for edits. Regardless, you should be able to read Wise Men Say sometime in December.

Happy waiting!
Wen

When not playing with the people in her head, Wendy has a full time job behind the scenes in television, a part time job in radio and an even 'parter' time job trying to keep her house clean. She lives with her cute chef husband and two fuzzy felines in the Great Lakes region of the Mid-West. Wise Men Say, Wendy's latest 1NightStand story from Decadent Publishing,will be ready in time for Christmas reading and giving.

Hmmm, strange---

...but I'm not complaining!

I don't know why I do it, but I do. My little stories will never be in the Top Ten on Amazon, or any New York Times Best Seller List. I'm not being pessimistic, I just have a reality about my writing.

Hopefully, some day, I'll be proved wrong.

Now, what's so strange? 

Although I shouldn't, I take a peek at a site called NovelRank on occasion, just to see what's happening with those three little stories I have published. Why I'm surprised there continue to be sales, I don't know. I guess my surprise is because I'm not a super-marketer...I'm not hitting FB, Twitter, MySpace (does it still exist?), Shelfari, Goodreads, etc, daily and for hours at a time.

The One He Chose, the second of three Decadent Publishing pubbed stories seems to be the favorite of those who are buying my works. It's not that it's not my favorite, but like people with children, I would imagine, you can't say just which one is the favorite! The characters in TOHC are special to me in their own way. Just as Bryn and Ian in Haste Ye Back, were born in a certain place, for a certain reason, they hold  certain  place in my heart - not above or below, Jake and Grace from TOHC.

Then there's the first born, Respite. Although, my first published work, it had a bit of a difficult birth . Almost like a test-tube baby, I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out. Now, it's like the very-much-older sibling who lives far away and isn't seen very often -- still related, but because of time, learning 'the business,' learning just how I write, I don't 'relate' to Respite like I do my other two 'babies.'

I'm touched and honored by the reviews for The One He Chose and Haste Ye Back--4 and 5 stars/cups/ravens/kisses/roses for each. I'm surprised as well -- really, people like me, they really, really like me, she wrote, conjuring the spirit of Sally Fields' Oscar acceptance speech in 1985.

So, I thank you -- I thank you from the bottom of my heart for spending a few bucks on some words I wrote, conceived in the corners of my (sometimes twisted!) mind and typed in a laptop while the Detroit Tigers played in the background. I appreciate it - not because of any royalty, but because my words matter to you.

Wendy

When not playing with the people in her head, Wendy has a full time job behind the scenes in television, a part time job in radio and an even 'parter' time job trying to keep her house clean. She lives with her cute chef husband and two fuzzy felines in the Great Lakes region of the Mid-West. Wise Men Say, Wendy's latest 1NightStand story from Decadent Publishing,will be ready in time for Christmas reading and giving.

Like a Bad Penny...

...I know, I keep showing up!

Well, thankfully, here and there, once or twice a month, I show up. I know that doesn't help the 'fans' (HA!) of this blog, if there are any of you out there - but you know how life sometimes gets in the way of things you really want to do, forcing you into things you must do.  Not complaining -- just the way life is.

But -- there is good news! Another contract with Decadent Publishing for its 1NightStand series.

North Pier lighthouse, Sheboygan, WI

I'm stoked -- finally I've been able to work my hometown into a story which will be published. Not that I don't have other tales which take place in truly beautiful Sheboygan, Wisconsin - I do - Wise Men Say is first I've finished. Well--so far!

Through this story I get to relive supremely wonderful winters at the Kiwanis Park sledding hill. Sure, I could have chosen the terraced area at Vollrath Park, but I'm 'southsider,' so Kiwanis was closer. Anyone from Brat Town will 'get' that!

Toledo Firefighter, my nephew, Todd!

Wise Men Say, honors those who I absolutely admire--brave men in women who are or have been in uniform. That includes my father (WWII Pacific Theater), my husband (Germany during Vietnam), my family's friends who were in the WACS, WAVES, Korea, Vietnam, and the wars of my adult life in the Gulf and Middle East.  It's also for those in law enforcement (in or out of uniform) and those who carry hoses in to burning buildings -- many of whom are dear friends and family.

And, the main character looks like --nope, not my perpetual favorite Russell Crowe--but (still another fave!) Jim Caviezel. After I submitted the story, this photo popped up on Face Book -- damn, someone was picking through the photos in my head! Yep, he looks just like the main character--even in the right uniform!

 I hope you enjoy reading Wise Men Say come this holiday season as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Hopefully, I'll catch up with you before October!

Wendy

Busting the Block

It's happened in the past, but never to this extent---thankfully, it's corrected itself.

What is 'it'? BLOCK, as in 'writer's block.' Does it really exist? Did I really have a four-month case of it? 

I don't know what you'd call it...but the words just were not there, as if they had abandoned me, left me out in the cold, staring at me from inside where it was warm and creative. Then they had the audacity to blow a giant raspberry in my direction as well.

Stupid block.

It happens, or so I'm told. I think I can attribute it to the 'stress' I was under -- personally, professionally, physically -- losing a job and taking care of a relative long distance can do that.

But, as Kelly Clarkson would sing, 'What doesn't kill ya..yadda, yadda' or in the words of my very succinct parish priest, 'Don't pray for a lighter load, pray for a stronger back.' 

Yeah, well, don't we all get tired of 'lifting weights' after awhile?

Whatever 'it' was, thankfully has lifted and THANK GOODNESS I'm able to pen a few words on a nightly basis. And, I've submitted my latest 1NightStand series story to Decadent Publishing. Fingers crossed that you'll be able to read Wise Men Say come the holidays.

Jim & Brad, thanks for entertaining & inspiring me!

And, I'm back to immersing myself in fiction again. I devour books while sweating on my elliptical. I hadn't had 'focus' to read or sweat - I think it was a side effect of the 'block.' If you haven't picked up a James Rollins SIGMA series novel, I highly suggest this roller-coaster of espionage. BLOODLINE is his latest, and in my opinion, the deepest and most entertaining. Now, I'm just cooling my heels until Scot Harvath again appears in Brad Thor's BLACKLIST which comes out later this month.

Damn, it's good to feel 'normal' again. 


Hope everyone is well!
Wendy

Shame on Me!

Shame on ME!

Where does the time go? It's been since APRIL since I've posted on this blog...yes---SHAME ON ME!

So, what have I been up to? Well--not necessarily the 'usual.'

It's been a whirlwind, stressful couple of months. In a nutshell, the company I worked for was sold and I lost my job. Three weeks later I had, well technically, THREE jobs-- I'm now a TV producer, a published writer, and I have a part time gig at a radio station! Am I lucky, fortunate, or just crazy?

Probably, the last---hell, I now get up at 2:50AM to be to work by 4. I'm lucky, however, as many of my TV brethren have to be to work at 130AM or even 11PM the night before to get the morning news on the air. So, I shouldn't complain right? I'm not...it's just that 2:50AM is FRIGGIN' early...I mean REALLY FRIGGIN' early.

But, the really good news is, I write for four hours straight! Unfortunately, it's not the usual stuff I pen, it's not nearly as interesting (or erotic!)...but it is writing and it does make the morning go by super-quick! In the process, I've learned a new task--even though I was fairly certain my brain was unable to stretch that far! I've been able to book some of my favorite people on 'the show' via satellite, like Mike Holmes, John O'Hurley, and darn it, I just missed out on getting an interview window with author James Rollins!

Jim Caviezel

Since it's a CBS/FOX combo I work for, I can only hope the opportunities to snag Jim Caveizel and Gordon Ramsey present themselves! (I mean really--Jim just happens to be the model for a character in a story I'm working on right now!)

So, that's my 'professional' life in a nutshell. On the writing front, I apologize if you missed five straight days of FREE downloads of The One He Chose. It's still getting good reviews, and don't forget you can always pick up a copy at Amazon, or other e-book sellers.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed I can finish two more 1NightStand stories for Decadent Publishing before the summer is over. 

Sleep = good!

I'll try to do that in the afternoon while I'm trying NOT to fall asleep!

Later!
Wendy