Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

Tag: #AmWriting

• Time Traveling: Strolling Through Pages

  Posted at 10:50 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on April 28, 2023

  

  The title is somewhat misleading. You know I didn’t time travel in a physical sense. Would you believe I did mentally and emotionally? The weirdest thing happened the other day. I’m calling it unplanned procrastination. Not so weird, huh? On Wednesday, I sat down to write in the afternoon. Out of the blue, I had the urge to go through one of my email folders.

  I have more email folders than any normal person needs. The one I’m mentioning today holds personal-to-me “stuff.” This covers, for example, saved reminders I email myself on occasion, among so many other email subjects. My list of “folders” holds a treasure trove of information from: Amazon news, to holiday gifts and shipping, to Writing Research with subfolders from Writing tools to Writing Weather Research, and beyond.

  Also, through the years, I’ve saved some messages from readers who have contacted me through my website to tell me they love my books. Their words make me so happy! Even the ones who tell me to write faster. LOL.

  

  A Mom Thing

  To give you an idea of what else I found: Directions from my oldest son on how to make changes to the Excel sheets he makes for my business. Hey, I don’t know how to work Excel formulas. To avoid having to ask him over and over, I tuck his emails away under this “stuff” folder. Another example: In 2018, I searched for a poem I had written for him back when he graduated high school. A long time ago. I couldn’t find it. He had the original copy and emailed it to me. Now, it’s there with the other stuff and easy to find. There’s so much more, though.

  I like using this folder for anything important or special I want to find again.

  Anyway, I had over seven hundred—ten to a page—messages all the way back to 2009. Fourteen years of saved messages.

  See? Time Traveling.

  Some messages were nonsense, so I deleted them. Deletion became my primary goal for going through this folder. See how easy it is to convince ourselves to procrastinate? Am I the only one who does things like this?

  Friendship

  As I continued through the pages and years, I read special emails from my forever best friend. We’ve time traveled back to 2017 now. Including the email where one of her twin daughters told me she had passed away. This wasn’t an unexpected email. Another message came with funeral arrangements. These messages are far from happy.

  It’s a given… When we go back to memories of our previous years, we all have sad times intermingled with happy times. I save her daughter’s messages so I can remember the date of her death. Is it morbid if I want to remember?

  Then in the same folder, I found emails from back in the years 2013 and 2009. Email from my long-lost buddy who I’ve known longer than anyone who isn’t a relative. While strolling through the pages of years, I came across one of the first five-star reviews for Howdy, Ma’am from a beautiful Italian woman who loved the series and checked all the Italian language in the three books in the Bull Rider Series. Who could ask for more? Today, she’s a writer turned photographer.

  Precious Information

   Toward the end of 2016, my son’s fiancée, now my awesome daughter-in-law, sent me photos of her modeling her wedding dress and wanted my opinion on what shoes to wear. To connect this to their wedding, in 2017 in this folder, I came across my California son’s travel itinerary to come to his brother’s official wedding reception, which took place months after the wedding. (Only parents were invited to their small wedding.) Around this same timeframe, I found email messages from our vet who helped get our dog through some rough times.

  All Business

  Continuing, I came across correspondence with cover models who have given me permission to use their photos, and from models who sold images to me directly. One came from a cover model who asked her photographer if I could use her photo in promotional material for the book where she’s on the cover. The photographer sent me the photo with rights to use it, and to do whatever I wanted with it!

  Other emails are from the stock photo company Period Images. One message included our discussion for an exclusive photo shoot with one of their models, Jason Charchan (a Michigander too) for a book cover and promotion. Jason promoted my book with him on the cover when it came out. Now and then, when his post pops up in his Facebook Memories, he’ll post it again. Thanks, Jason! Here are two of the many poses from the shoot. With so many, I had a difficult time choosing the one for the cover. Photo manipulation in the second image is my own:

  

  

  In 2015, I saved an email from another author who gave me lifetime permission to use any of his quotes in my books. In 2014, I received permission from a song writer and singer to use a song title to one of his songs in one of my books. A younger me would never ask such a thing.

  Many more business-related emails remain in there for reference from formatters to cover artists, to editors I’ve hired and fired. They have their own folders too for more pertinent info related to them.

  Counting Down

  How many can say they saved a Promotional Direct Message on Twitter from former President Barack Obama? Please. No political comments. Please!

  Clicking Back to the Heart

  Once in this folder, I knew I’d keep going and deleting until I got to the end of the “folder,” but I forgot what I had saved so many years ago. Then, I came to the final two pages: 2010 and 2009. I found a couple messages and a lot of photos sent to me from my husband. I hadn’t seen the photos in years. In fact, I forgot them. They were sent less than a year and a half before he passed away. I must have transferred them to this account from an old email provider and stuck them in there. In the old account, I had saved many, many of our emails because after all…we met through email.

  

  All in all, I deleted over three hundred saved messages that were either outdated for me, or something I wouldn’t want others to see, like in the case of… Ah, nope. Leave it to your imagination. 😉

  During my journey through new and old email messages, I discovered one can travel through time.

  Go ahead. Start your own journey. Thanks for reading!

  ---

  Maybe you’d like to read this post for more bittersweet memories.

  Featured Image: Photo by Sharad Kachhi on Pexels.com

  Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Heartbreak's Reward, Meet Our Heroines | 16 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Bittersweet memories., Double Dutch Ranch Series Love at First Sight, Heartbreak's Reward, mary j mccoy dressel, Of the Cowboy's Own Accord, Pexels images, Romance, Time Traveling: Strolling Through Pages, western romance

• Earth Day 2023

  Posted at 12:45 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on April 22, 2023

  

  Earth Day

  First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by EARTHDAY.ORG including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries.

  The official theme for 2023 is Invest In Our Planet.

  Wikipedia

  Simple Things You WE Can Do to Help Protect the Earth

  

  In order to post the infographic, I took a picture of it and uploaded it, so it turned out blurry. Its original format is in PDF. Click the following link to see and download the original at National Ocean Service: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. DISCLAIMER: Information presented on the National Ocean Service website is considered public information and may be distributed or copied, unless specifically noted otherwise. ~National Ocean Service.noaa.gov.

  I’ve been watching a lot of PBS shows on Climate Change and another channel I get called WorldChannel.org. I shake my head as I see how damaged Earth has become. Do you think the world can pull together to save our planet? I like to think the small steps I take puts a little dent in this worldwide problem.

  Here in my corner of the Midwest I’m finally seeing trees in bloom and plants above the ground. Yet, the weather is up and down with warmer afternoons and below freezing nights. I’m still grateful to wake up breathing each day. Thanks for reading. Enjoy your weekend.

  #EarthDayEveryDay

  Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife | 7 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #EarthDayEveryDay, #WritersLife, Climate Change, Earth Day 2023, Mary J McCoy-Dressel

• Writing Prompts at Your Fingertips

  Posted at 9:58 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on December 22, 2022

  

  Bloganuary

  Well, in January 2023, Bloganuary begins again. I’m not sure if I’ll participate this year because I have enough writing to keep me busy. Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy it, and doing it again would force my procrastinating mind to not procrastinate (maybe) at least for thirty-one days. I enjoyed reading the other participants posts too.

  If you followed my blog posts all of last year, then you know in January I participated in Bloganuary. My post at this link explains it. Or in the search bar, type in Bloganuary and you’ll see my month of posts in 2022. Oh, wait. Oops, I didn’t post throughout the entire month of January because I started late.

  Check it out and let me know if you will participate.

  ---

  Weekly Prompt

  You may not know, but WordPress has a weekly prompt. I wanted to participate in the weekly prompt in 2022 but never remembered to look. It’s posted on Facebook. This week’s prompt is Travel. Use Word Prompt with a hashtag to tag your post and on social media. You will need to scroll through the posts to find the prompts or click to view photos. They aren’t hard to find because a photo accompanies the prompt post. They will post other information there too, so it isn’t only prompts. Notice you can share other media besides writing. Here’s what they say:

  WordPrompts are designed to help inspire your creativity. We’d love to see what new recipes, photos, blog posts, or stories this week’s word inspires…

  WordPress on Facebook

  FYI Update about the above Weekly Prompt. It looks like the Facebook page has replaced the daily prompt with Bloganuary. Maybe they’ll bring the weekly prompt back in February.

  Daily Prompt

  Recently, I noticed Daily word prompts in the back-end of my blog where we find announcements and news. For example, today’s daily prompt is: “What was the last thing you did for play or fun?” When did daily prompts begin, anyway?

  ---

  On another topic, WordPress sent out a post about writing and posting newsletters. If you’ve read about it, have you considered checking it out? I asked a couple questions in the comment section and received a reply. I might look into it after the new year. It sounds like it’s a regular blog post with newsletter themes. Subscribers from other platforms can be imported.

  DISCLAIMER: I’m mentioning it a lot here, but I’m not affiliated with WordPress or Automattic in any way other than having this dot com website/blog. I wrote this post because if I’m interested in word prompts, maybe you are too. A simple search for writing or word prompts can be found in many other places as well.

  Thanks for reading. Stay warm, healthy, and happy! Peace and Love.

  Happy Holiday Wishes!

  We have a blizzard headed this way. Oh my!

  

  As each day comes to us refreshed and anew, so does my gratitude renew itself daily. The breaking of the sun over the horizon is my grateful heart dawning upon a blessèd world.

  ~Terri Guillemets via The Quote Garden

  Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Bloganuary | 11 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Bloganuary, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, Romance, Word Prompts

• Let’s Get Real

  Posted at 5:28 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on December 15, 2022

  

  It’s hard, sometimes, when nothing’s stopping you, to know what’s stopping you. ~Robert Brault, rbrault.blogspot.com

  Are you stressed in your rush to meet a goal before the year ends? I haven’t decided if I am or not. Sure, I’m stressed, but it’s not the same stress I experienced the last two years of rushing to get books out before the year ended. It’s not stress of meeting any goals before this year ends. It isn’t illness, though I’ve had my share of doctor appointments in 2022.

  This Year it’s Personal Stress

  My oldest son learned of a major eye condition. I came close to hopping on a jet bound for California. He’s going through treatment which includes shots in his eye. After the specified number of shots, they’ll determine if he needs more treatment.

  A very ill close friend I’ve know for years is having a difficult time with her health and is losing everything she has including her cat because she can no longer care for herself. Giving up her cat at this stage isn’t good for her mental health. Of all times, she needs her cat. She’s devastated.

  Another friend and I communicated with one of her family members, as we bounced ideas off of each other to find the best place for our friend to live. Her family member found a place two days ago. She’s moving in today. Through her illness, I’ve learned a lesson about doing a better job of caring for myself so this doesn’t happen to me.

  Whoever this new me is, has had a lazy year. It isn’t like I haven’t been writing, but four partially written books later, not one of them is ready to publish. It’s no different with reading books with none finished. The year started out in a new apartment, so for the next ten months, I “waited” to see where I’d be at the end of the year and dreaded making a decision on moving or staying. It’s good to know this is no longer a stressor.

  

  Back to the First Paragraph Above

  Maybe I am in a rush to see a new year arrive, but can it change me back to me? Since COVID came to my state, I’ve lived as if I’m waiting for something. Know what I mean?

  Next, it’s procrastination that has me stressed and the fact I can’t find a way to move on from it. Have you heard of Decision Fatigue? I think I’m experiencing this. Combining this with procrastination seems like a losing battle. Again, this has been common in people since COVID too.

  One of my best friends is a psychologist. The other day on the way to the hospital to visit our ill friend, I asked her about Decision Fatigue. She wasn’t familiar with the term. As I described the definition, she said she wasn’t surprised that it exists and was familiar with the symptoms. Have you heard of it?

  Here’s some info:

  “Decision fatigue is “the idea that after making many decisions, your ability to make more and more decisions over the course of a day becomes worse,” said Dr. MacLean, a psychiatrist. “The more decisions you have to make, the more fatigue you develop and the more difficult it can become.”

  Lisa MacLean, MD via Sara Berg, MS
  Senior News Writer at AMA.

  Distraction

  For the last half of this year, I’ve turned my TV on earlier and earlier in the day. To my credit, this doesn’t happen every day. This is odd for me, since I’ve never been a Daytime TV watcher since watching soap operas with my mom. It doesn’t help though I’m grateful – but my cable provider gives us the Premium Peacock streaming app as part of the package. Now, it has the Hallmark Channel on the app and free to me. Admittedly, it’s a nice distraction.

  It took two years to make the decision on when and where to get my hair cut since my regular person retired. It’s been six months now since the haircut, and I’m procrastinating and questioning where to go this time. It’s a simple haircut! Ekk.

  Here’s another article with a quiz:

  “Decision fatigue is a new term based on studies finding that the more decisions we make, the worse our judgement gets as we become increasingly worn out from, yes, the very process of decision making.”  

  Ellie Hughes via Women’s Health

  The article in Women’s Heath was written in 2013, so I guess Decision Fatigue isn’t as new as I thought. I know I’m not the only one going through this. It’s too personal of a question for me to ask, but I wonder if any of you are experiencing anything similar. Maybe it is time to set goals for next year so this doesn’t happen in 2023. Then again, I’ll need to do more than look at a goal list.

  Thanks for reading. Many of you are taking a blogging break for the holidays. Wishing all who celebrate a Happy Holiday season.

  Don’t forget to take care of you, my friends.

  

  Posted in #AmReading, #AmWriting, #WritersLife, new year | 18 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Decision fatigue, Let's Get Real, mary j mccoy dressel

• Short Snippet Saturday: Scars and Fake Records

  Posted at 3:44 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on October 29, 2022

  

  Here we are on Saturday. The sun is shining brightly through my windows today. It’s nice out, too. The morning hours brought thick fog.

  This Saturday Snippet is from Finding Kimber, the second book in a spin off series to the Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight. Kimber is a newcomer to Arizona. You can read more about Kimber and how she got to where she is at this LINK from Meet Our Heroines.

  The actual snippet is short. All this other writing around it makes it look long. ❤

  ---

  This book is available wide at this Universal Link.

  Brief setup: Earlier in the day, Tressa experienced the worst moments of her life. She’s giving up her identity to keep her family safe and is about to enter her new life in Arizona with a new name. Jerry is her godfather. Before retirement, he had a career in a branch of law enforcement. Everything he’s doing for her now is off the books. Melinda has been hired to accompany Jerry in getting Kimber settled.

  Saturday Snippet:

  Later in the hotel in Boise, Idaho, Melinda came to stand beside her. “Think of your parents and Charlotte. They’re safe because of your decision. A murderer is off the streets.”

  At fifty-three, Melinda didn’t look her age. Her auburn hair shone, and her green eyes were friendly most of the time, though they had darkened and hardened as of late. Tressa took a deep breath. “If I must do this, I’ll make the best of it. I have a good incentive to make it work—my family’s life.”

  Melinda patted her back. “And don’t forget it’s for your life.”

  Tressa buried her face in her hands. “I can’t stand them being hurt.” She pounded her chest. “It aches so much right here.”

  Jerry sat beside her, waiting until she got control of herself. “All of us will keep you safe, Kimber.”

  It was the first time she’d been called Kimber. She clutched her chest again. “I don’t know if I can do this. My heart is broken.”

  He handed her a degree from San Francisco University. There was a high school diploma, awards from high school, report cards, and her new credit history. “Like the passport, we’ll create your driver’s license and other photos when the scar from the removal heals. Are you sure you want the mole above your lip removed?”

  “Yes, it always stood out. Yes.”

  “All your records prove you are Kimber Kay Sinclair. You’ve nothing to fear. You need to do what we suggest. In my job, we warned, ah, our witnesses, to obey our rules. You’ll survive as long as you do what you’ve been told.”

  Tressa went through the motions while trying to distance herself from all the horror of the past and then today. Over a period of the last thirteen months, she had set money aside for later. Untraceable money meant for Kimber Sinclair. “But how? How, Jerry, did you do all of this?”

  “Kimber…” He smiled upon using her new name. “You know I can’t answer your question. And it’s best you don’t know, either, my dear.”

  

  END

  ---

  Here is what the book is about and where to find it:

  She’s wary of her future. He’s burdened by his past

  Cattleman Zachary (Zach) Bryson arrives in Arizona with hopes of leaving the ghosts from his past behind. Hired by a stranger to run a ranch, he meets the owner—a secretive woman with no ranching experience. He’s seen her before, but she wasn’t a redhead with green eyes. In their first encounter, she swept him off his feet without their exchanging a word. Why did she change her appearance? What secrets lay behind those heart-stopping eyes? Seeing this job as a challenge, he sticks around to tackle this hottie head-on.

  After her life is threatened, Kimber Sinclair is forced to flee her lush Oregon county for a small town in Arizona with sand, saguaros, and dusty cowboys. She settles in to live a lie—to discover the person behind her new identity while she mourns the death of Tressa Garnett—her given name at birth. However, keeping a distance from her ruggedly handsome, broad-shouldered, wise-cracking ranch foreman, isn’t easy. She struggles daily to hide her secret from Zach who demands answers. By telling him the truth, his life could also be in danger.

  If trouble finds her, will she choose fight or flight? Can Zach set aside his own issues, or will his nightmares prevent him from doing what he was unknowingly hired to do?

  Universal Link

  

  I’d rate this book “R” by movie standards. If you only choose to read one book in a series, you’ll still have a complete story in itself.

  Thanks for reading.

  I hope you get a chance to get outside and enjoy your weekend, especially if it’s as gorgeous as mine.<Waving>

  Posted in #AmWriting, Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, Short Snippet Saturday | 3 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, cowboy, Double Dutch Ranch Series Love at First Sight, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, Romance, Short Snippet Saturday: Scars and Fake Records, western romance

• Tuesday Inspiration for the Muse: If Grass Can Grow…

  Posted at 11:34 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on September 20, 2022

  

  

  “…Love can find you at every time in your life.” The last line in the quote inspires my muse. Age is only a number when it comes to love. Yes, I can agree with this because, once, love found me at a time later in life when I never expected it.

  #laterinlife #Romance

  Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, quote, Tuesday Inspiration for the Muse | 11 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #WritersLife, love, Love Quote, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, quote, Tuesday Inspiration for the Muse

• The Future Holds…

  Posted at 12:02 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on August 20, 2022

  

  The Future Holds… Holds What? Good question. I’d like to know, and I will soon. This title could refer to a lot of things. Health? Finances? Life. Today my post refers to the high cost of apartment rental fees.

  Skyrocketing rental fees are knocking at my door. It’s happening to many. Are you experiencing it?

  If someone doesn’t do something about these high rental costs or the costs of buying a new home, we’ll see more homeless people. This is not a political rant, so let’s not make it one.

  My apartment here was remodeled a short time ago. Now the owner’s plan is to remodel every apartment, including the one I’m in, in this complex and the one I transferred from (same owners) replacing them with a more luxurious design and a layout redesign, which equals higher rental fees. My cousin is a victim of not having his lease renewed at the other complex because of the remodel plan. Tenants over there have to move when their lease is up. It’s an increase I would not qualify for if I still lived there. Neither can some of the other tenants.

  My cousin moved the last week of July, but he was able to take one of the newly remodeled apartments at a much, much higher rental fee. It used to be fifty dollars was a huge increase from one year to the next. Our incomes don’t go up two to three hundred dollars a month!

  

  If apartment owners read this, I’ll likely get brow-beaten, but I have to blow off steam. Now, we’re talking about a two to three hundred dollar or more increase. It seems, in my opinion, apartment owners in general have found a way to increase rent, get rid of lower income tenants, and attract those who can afford to pay their high dollar.

  Granted, many apartments do need an update. Making an apartment pretty to the eye, doesn’t mean it changes what’s behind the walls in older complexes like plumbing and electrical.

  What makes me so mad, and I can only speak for where I am, is this is happening to an entire complex, and not everyone can pay the increase. They don’t have a choice except pay or get out. Get out they say! It isn’t easy to find an affordable apartment these days, let alone pay the rental fees and moving expenses. My cousin was devastated when he received his letter of non-renewal. His first questions was: “What did I do to not have my release renewed?” 😥 He didn’t do anything.

  This is not only happening here. A friend lives in a different complex in a different city, and she received a letter saying they are remodeling when their lease is up. I guess they too have a choice to take a newly remodeled apartment, but at a higher rent. She’s also on a fixed income. Her rent is also climbing to the “market value.” Then she received another letter saying they’d remodel the kitchen while she lived there. I “heard” through the grave vine, the same could happen where I am now.

  

  Thankfully, I’m lucky at this moment. At least for now, but the clock is ticking. Had I still lived in the other complex, my lease would “not” have been renewed. With my transfer over here, my lease now expires a year from when I moved in here. However, my reprieve is short, because my lease renewal is not far away.

  Remember the awful smell that drove me out of the other place? Well, I strongly feel that God’s hand was in this whole move thing as far as I’m concerned. If not, I would have been in Timbuctoo or who knows where after July 31st.

  The last I heard about where I am now, they ARE renewing our leases and not, ahem, “kicking us out” so they can remodel. “Kicking us out” are my words, not theirs. At least that was the plan when I asked my manager if they were doing the same thing to us here. Months have passed since I asked, though.

  I’m only blowing off steam about this place because no one knows where I live. I don’t want to call out my complex. They aren’t the only apartment owners doing this. New managers here walked into a mess when they came, anyway, so now they have to deal with this. They’re doing a wonderful job with the mess that was left for them.

  However, while in the office, I asked and they gave me an estimate on my upcoming rent, saying it’s a market value increase. Yikes, the increase is frightening. OUCH. Ouch!

  I don’t know what’s going to happen, not only to me, from this point on. In the meantime, I’m still cleaning out what didn’t get cleaned out with my last move, because like it or not, another move is in my future.

  If I don’t plan on staying here, then I have until the 1st of September to find a new place because I need to give a two-month notice. If I can’t find a more affordable apartment, I’ll live here another year. When I moved here, I hadn’t planned on it only being for one year, so I do want to stay. God led me here. I have faith the same thing will happen when it’s time to do it again. The local news had a spotlight on rising rental rates this past week. They mentioned getting a roommate might be the answer. What do you think?

  Please, if you leave a comment, keep it non-political, because I will delete it. I don’t like saying it but… MY blog. MY rules.

  Thanks for reading. Have a wonderful weekend.

  Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife | 9 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Apartment Rental increases, Mary J McCoy-Dressel

• Blue Snow #2: Making It Out Alive

  Posted at 4:17 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on July 18, 2022

  

  #WritersLife:
  In my previous post with this same topic, I mentioned changes I made in my current work in progress, which included dealing with my hero’s name, changing my heroine’s name, and the spelling of her name numerous times. Plus, I changed the spelling of the child’s name three times. All that took place within the first 11,000 plus words. Ah-ha, but hold on a minute.

  To Plan or Not to Plan

  To date, the word count is 24,094 words. All the changes I made in the beginning, made me realize how much easier it is to plan a story. It isn’t like I haven’t jotted down notes, because I have many. The thing is, you have to look at the plan.

  Changes didn’t stop in the first 11,000 words.

  

  Night Thoughts Instead of Night Sweats

  Plot Changes

  Back to the AH-HA, BUT HOLD ON A MINUTE: One sleepless night an idea came to me to change my boy child to a girl. Writing another little boy in a story—this story with this plot—would veer a little too close to one of my other books. Can’t have that now, can we. So, now I’ll say the child’s name got changed four times.

  You’ve probably heard before: Writers, don’t stop thinking about a story, or stories, when we walk away from our computers. Nope. I may not have plotted 100% of this story out in writing, but I continually plan and plot in my mind. As I continued thinking of this story, I didn’t stop at name changes.

  Real Doozie of a Plot Change: Making it Out Alive

  One of my characters never made it into the first 11,000 words because he/she died before the book opened. It hurt my heart hard that this character wouldn’t appear in the book because even though not there, she/he occupied space in my mind and minds of my characters. Before I knew it, I grew to care about him/her. To relieve my ache, I gave this person life. That’s not to say there won’t be a death because if not, there goes part of my plot. Oh, Dear!

  Oh, Dear.

  OH, DEAR!!

  As a series writer, bringing my person back to life had a little to do with thinking ahead. One day she/he might appear as the hero/heroine in another book. Working her/him into the story meant I had to create a life for said person. This one is still developing as we go, but I had lots of info on this character already, anyway. I can’t promise a big role, but this person is a necessary secondary character. I’m glad for this change. Patting myself on the back.

  Research: Along for the Ride

  However, I have typed out all of my research thus far. I had a lot of fun researching classic, vintage, antique, vehicles. One video I watched took me for a ride through town. When the driver jumped on the gas and those Headers opened up, my heart beat faster. (Memories.) I felt like I was along for the ride too. Research alone takes a lot of time but can be fun. One of the most important parts of this video, showed me an answer to a question that had me searching and searching to no avail. Yeeha.

  

  Romantic Fiction

  Writing fiction is so much fun. Writing romance is tons of fun, though, not always easy. I can’t wait until this book is finished. At this point, I need to concentrate on guiding my hero and heroine to an ending. Thank goodness I write romance because, plotting or no plotting out a story, I, and readers, know there will be a happily-ever-after. And that, my friends, makes my heart happy too.

  Thanks for reading and going along on this journey through Blue Snow with me.

  Posted in #AmWriting | 10 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Blue Snow in the Moonlight, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, Plotting and Planning a book, seat of the pants writing, western romance

• 4th of July 2022

  Posted at 12:05 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on July 4, 2022

  

  Somehow the Fourth had its quiet moments, too, even for little feet and childish voices, and small hands stole into each other as we sat looking at our fire-works with a sense that independence was a fine thing to declare.

  ~Lucy C. Lillie, “Memories of the Fourth,” Harper’s Young People, 1885 June 30th

  

  You’re not what you used to be, but, America, you’re still mine.

  HAPPY 246th BIRTHDAY, AMERICA.

  Hello, friends. Enjoy your Day – Have fun – Be safe!

  

  Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, holiday | 7 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, 4th of July 2022, Fourth of July, Mary J McCoy-Dressel

• Snippet: South of True North ~ Some Things Never Change

  Posted at 12:15 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on May 28, 2022

  

  Hi! I’m sharing an excerpt from my second new December release, South of True North, featuring Cade and Faith. You’ll finally meet Faith in her POV.

  ---

  Book Description

  Townsfolk cheered when they fell in love. Then they destroyed them with rumors and lies.

  Rancher Cade Outlaw and his ex-fiancée share custody of their daughter. After a heartbreaking breakup seven years ago, they’re growing close again. Seven years ago, Faith’s ex-boyfriend’s vengeful attack on her destroyed Cade and Faith’s happily ever after. When he asks for a do-over, he vows to protect the relationship from the pain that separated them—to keep her and their child safe from their past. But how can he take a step back if he gets the chance to settle the score? Is his love for Faith and Nadia strong enough to hold on to the second chance they deserve?

  Heartbroken, pregnant, fired from her job, and Cade’s focus on avenging the assault took a toll on Faith Ribeiro. To heal, she’d left him. Years later, a Fundraising Executive and single mom, she lives with emotional and physical scars. Cade is the only man she’ll love, and she can’t deny the powerful chemistry between them. However, rekindling a relationship may invite wickedness back into their lives. What will she do this time if Cade still wants to pay back her abuser? How much will her heart break if Nadia gets swept up in their chaos after striving to keep her from it?

  They’re stronger together, though they need to overcome the challenges standing in their way of a peaceful life—hate, heartache, vengeance, and family betrayal. But how will they hang on to the profound love they once shared if they don’t come out of this unscathed?

  

  Available at Amazon.

  ---

  Setup: Faith hasn’t stepped a foot on Cade’s ranch for over seven years. Today, she put on her brave face and took their daughter, Nadia, to the Two-Five to get a school project she had started with her dad.

  A nauseous stomach overtook her as she drove up the ranch road. An unfamiliar horse to her grazed near the porch.

  “Grandma’s horse. Hurry, let me out.”

  Faith passed the porch, pulled off to the side, and stopped. “Please rush, Nadia. Grab it and come back. We have to get home.”

  “Why? Wanna see my pony?”

  “Not today. Hurry.” Cade’s horse grazed close to one of the barns. She sent a text: Are you near your house? I’m parked by the porch. A few moments later, he headed this way from the barn office. She rolled down her window.

  “Hey, is anything wrong?”

  She smiled. “Nope.”

  He leaned in to kiss her. “This is a pleasant surprise. What are you doing here?”

  “Nadia needed her project. I didn’t think anyone would be here, then Nadia said that was your mom’s horse.”

  He looked back. “It is. Mom’s talking to Ronni about finances.”

  “Can you please hurry Nadia along?”

  “You’re fine here. Settle down. Nobody’s going to bother you.”

  She glanced in her rear mirror. Nadia came out the door with Ruth. Cade put his hand on Faith’s shoulder, and she placed her right hand over it. Nadia and her grandmother stood on the porch checking out the pictures on her board. “You haven’t told me what went down between you and your mom yet.”

  “Leave it alone. Some things never change.”

  As she expected. Their daughter called from the porch. “Daddy, Mom wants the hot picture of you and Mommy on the beach.”

  Cade chuckled. “I’m sorry,” he muttered to Faith, “but that kid kills me. I’ll bring the pictures tonight, but they are not to be put on her board.”

  

  “Don’t worry!” Faith winked. “Your picture is going in my secret stash.”

  “Yeah? I’d like to see your secrets.” He ran his gaze over her, his eyes lowering and lingering on her chest in a low tee.

  She glanced down. “My secrets belong to you. Go get your daughter, or let me leave.”

  “Don’t go anywhere. Come on, Nadia,” he called.

  Faith glimpsed the side mirror as his mom peered at Cade.

  “Don’t be in such a rush. Let her stay and spend time with Grandma today. We’ll go for a horseback ride. Does she have a day off?”

  “Not today, Mom. Come on, sweetheart.” Cade went toward the porch, up the steps, and took her hand and the board. “They’re in a hurry. Nadia needs to finish her school assignment.” He returned to the SUV where he opened the back door for her. “Buckle your belt.”

  She waved to her grandma. “By Granny. Love you.”

  Ruth said she loved her back. Faith hadn’t wanted to fold in on herself, but it tore at her heart that she wasn’t a part of this, though it thrilled her to see Nadia so accepted.

  Ronni, Cade’s sister and a friend to Faith, came out and stood beside her mom. “Hello, Faith! Nice to see you. Have fun with your board, Nadia.”

  Faith made eye contact with Cade. “Scoot over.” She stepped out and waved. “Hi, Ronni. Have a nice day. You, as well, Ruth.”

  She got back in, and he clutched the door frame with both hands. “I’m proud of your confidence. I’ll see you later.” He leaned in and kissed her on the mouth, and Faith wrapped her hand around the back of his warm, sweaty neck. “Thank you,” she whispered, leaving her cheek to rest against his. “I’ll see you soon. Buckled in, Nadia?”

  “Yep! I can’t wait to work on my board. Come on. Bye, Daddy. You kissed Mom.”

  Faith hooked her seat belt and met Cade’s gaze with happiness in hers. “It’s nice to see you smile. Don’t work too hard.”

  “Uh, then they’ll fire me.” He winked at Nadia, “Guess what? I’m kissing Mom again.” He leaned in the window and planted a long-lasting kiss on Faith’s lips that she thoroughly enjoyed. “See ya.”

  “Soon, cowboy.” Faith turned the SUV around, lifted her hand, and gave a subtle wave to Ronni and Ruth as she passed the porch. “It looks like you have a lot of pictures. I’m excited to look at them.”

  Nadia asked, “Why didn’t you come in?”

  End of Excerpt

  ---

  Faith’s reasons for not going inside can’t be explained to a six year old. Making it as far as the driveway is a big deal for her. Find a recent snippet for another new release, Blue Snow in the Moonlight HERE.

  Thank you for reading! Have a wonderful weekend! ~MJ

  

  About me board images: Created @ Picmonkey by yours truly with Shutterstock Images

  Posted in #AmWriting, New Release, South of True North, Two-Five Ranch Outlaws | 4 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, Imprisoned in a Cowboy's Heart, mary j mccoy dressel, Romance, Snippet: South of True North ~ Some Things Never Change, South of True North, Two-Five Ranch Outlaws

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