Happy Fourth of July USA.
Everyone Stay Safe and Responsible.
I call 2020: “The year that wasn’t.”
Image from Pixabay: JRMarketingDesign
Mary J. McCoy-Dressel ~ Contemporary Romance
Sensual western romance. Heartwarming stories. Strong family ties.
Everyone Stay Safe and Responsible.
I call 2020: “The year that wasn’t.”
Image from Pixabay: JRMarketingDesign
I missed Book Hooks Wednesday again. The post almost made it, yadda yadda yadda…
This isn’t the snippet I had written for Book Hooks. Instead, this one stemmed from an upcoming post I trashed about Book Titles, which included Hey, Cowboy. The scene you’re about to read is why the title for Hey, Cowboy, Book two is what it is. However this scene is from Howdy, Ma’am, Book One. The snippet explains.
In the beginning, I didn’t want either of these titles to be for the books, but in the end, they were the perfect choice. I have no regrets. 💙
Caulder and Velia got to know each other before the season began. She fought the attraction forming between them, but she only fooled herself.
Set up: Velia did her best to deny what had happened between them the night before, on their first night on the road, no less. She promised herself and him, it would never happen again. We turn the page to the day after: Modified a bit from the original.
As soon as Caulder came out to practice wearing Wranglers and a shirt with the sleeves cut out, and pumped muscles filling her viewfinder, she almost choked on her own lust. “Focus, dammit!” He strutted around the arena like he owned each grain of sand. He went to every bull and talked to them. When he came nose to nose with one big, ugly critter, she had it in her sights.
She videotaped him around the horses, patting them on the back, and sliding his hand down their flanks. Like he slid his hand down my flank. “Focus.” She got him on video when he wandered to the other side of the arena. Yes, she got one fine part of him strolling away from her—his tight and toned, nice-looking, feel good ass. She stomped. “Why, dammit, why?” Her camera dangled from the neck strap as she watched him.
She followed and caught him inside the doorway. “Hey, cowboy?”
He turned toward her with a slow glance over her body, and she was aware of the longing in his eyes. She hurried to him and slid her arms around his neck. Her hungry lips found his, and she became captured in his arms. His lips answered her wanton need. She ran her fingers over his biceps, then dug her nails into his back with anticipation when he walked her backwards toward the horse stall. He closed the half door and released her to the clean, fresh straw. They went to their knees, immediately embracing, staring into each other’s eyes as if a silent message rose between them…
End of excerpt.
And that, my friends, is where Hey, Cowboy got its title.
Thanks for reading. Find more on the Bull Rider Series book page.
Here’s a cute story about the title for Howdy, Ma’am.
A while back, a long while back, when this book was new, I sent a gift basket to a reader conference with this book included. Cover models were leading a BINGO game. The card squares had book titles on them. I don’t know which cover model, but I heard from the winner of the basket, that the model had a lot of fun calling my book title for this gift basket. When he drew out HOWDY, MA’AM for a spot on the BINGO cards, he’d repeat the title over and over with his deep voice and drawl. He, and the book, got a lot of attention. It made me glad to have kept the title!
Enjoy the rest of your week!
Update:
Some of you know I’ve been taking a break to let my eyes rest. I’m happy to say they are showing a bit of improvement. Giving them time away from hours of looking at the computer has helped, but my time at the screen is still limited. I’ve been able to spend a small amount of time each day working on one book while gearing up to format my upcoming book. In a nutshell, I have dry-eyes and macular degeneration, so I won’t take a chance with my eyesight.
As much as I wanted Judy’s book, the fifth book in the Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight to be released in May, it isn’t going to happen. Book five takes place three years after book four ends.
By the way, Cowboy Boss and his Destiny, book one in the Double Dutch Ranch Series is $0.99 cents. This is the new and revised edition–shortened A LOT yet combined with what used to be book 1.5. Not a bad deal for a book that begins a series where you’ll get to know the whole family including Judy, the ranch matriarch, who binds them all together. Welcome to the Double Dutch Ranch where no one is a stranger at their table.
I’m grateful for any change for the better to my eyes and for time I can spend working on my books. However, I won’t push it.
Thankfully, my Kindle reads to me, so I’m able to enjoy books written by other authors without having to stare at the screen. It’s a pleasant distraction, indeed.
Thanks for your patience.
On top of dealing with my eyesight and the pressure and stress on myself for NOT publishing a book, I was forced to enter a grocery store because of items I NEEDED and couldn’t get with my pick up order. That isn’t all. I HAD TO OPEN UP MY SAFE SPACE to maintenance when I developed a leak in my bathtub. I figured it would be a one-time thing, but after four visits, he still couldn’t fix the problem. This also means he had to go into my bedroom closet to access the pipes.
As my mom would say, “Things don’t run on an even keel all the time.” Something like that. Well, Mom, you were right!
We’re all in this together.
Enjoy your weekend, my friends.
P.S. I didn’t even mention the fact WordPress is changing its editor on June 1st, so now it’s one more thing I don’t have the time or patience to learn. Even though some of you said the new Block Editor was simple, I don’t agree. I looked at it for five minutes and said screw it. Now, it seems I have no choice. On a positive note, the old editor will still be available, but I rarely use it, instead choosing to go into the dashboard and use the old, old editor. What do I do? Use my limited time on the computer to publish a book or learn something I don’t want to learn? The answer is simple.
Signing off for now…
It’s Wednesday again? That means it’s time for Book Hooks!
Here’s another short snippet from my upcoming book due out this spring. In five books and the spin off series books, I don’t know how many times I’ve heard Judy say, “Now what happened?” I love Judy’s character so much!
The original writing in this snippet has another person coming inside with Judy’s boys, but if I left that part in, it’d be a spoiler. So would a couple of other statements. So, this is modified from the original version.
#MFRWHooks Link to participating authors will be at the end.
After breakfast dishes were put away and counters wiped down, Judy sat at her desk in the kitchen to write a group email to her family suggesting the trip for the holidays. She looked up when Tristan came in. “Are you here for seconds?” The rest of them lumbered in. “You’re all here. Now what happened?”
Tristan spoke first. “No more to eat, Mom. We need to tell you some news.”
She stood and raised her hands to the air. “Why do you insist on doing this to me? You men will give me a heart attack. What is it?”
“Calm down, Ma,” Jase said. “Leon called.”
She sat again, sighing. Of course, it could only mean one of two things. Dane accepted Leon’s proposition, or they received news about the recent ordeal. “Will I be calling you the sheriff’s new partner?”
“Huh? I don’t know. That’s not why we’re here.” Dane gave his brothers a sidelong glance.
Judy had about all she could take, but she asked calmly, “Please, say what it is, will ya?”
Jase blurted it out…
That’s all folks. It won’t be much longer. I haven’t released a blurb or much of anything about this book yet. Info about this series can be found HERE.
To visit Book Hooks participating authors for May 13th, click this LINK.
Book Hooks is a weekly meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog. It’s a chance each week to hook readers on your current WIP or any previously published book.
As always:
It takes patience, but we have to be smart. Stay Home. Stay Safe.
I want all of you around when this pandemic is over. I want to be around too.
Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge. Goodness, we’re at Week 18.
Sometimes it feels like the time is flying by, doesn’t it? Other times it drags. Drags because we don’t know what we’re waiting for, to be honest.
One thing for sure though—people around the entire world are waiting for better days—normal days to return. Will it ever be the “normal” we once knew? I think it will be a long time from now before we’ll see normalcy. Any-who, since we aren’t going anywhere, let’s get to the topic for Week 18.
Can I say both? I could answer this with those four words, but you know me…
I’d like my primary home to be in the country. I’m not where I live now, but it feels like it when I look out and see the woodlands around me or when I stroll through my small-town. Today, I glanced outside in time to see a pair of ducks waddling past my window. My first thought was for them to take cover before a hawk spotted them.
Turkeys a couple of years ago.
Later, a FedEx truck slowing down on the road into this complex got my attention. Since I had been walking through the apartment getting in my daily steps, I glanced out the window to see the biggest live turkey I’ve ever seen—tail feathers and all—strutting down the road ahead of FedEx. I smiled.
Last year a coyote died beneath my bedroom window! Sad. They stroll through the parking lot at night. My cousin, who lives behind me in the same building, sees deer each evening at dusk, and the ducks because the river is down the hill. Sounds like country, huh?
In the past, I had property in the Allegheny Mountains in Pennsylvania in the Allegheny National Forest where bear came through in the wee morning hour to examine our fire pit. I’ve mentioned before how I came upon a black bear while strolling down the road
Allegheny Mountains.
alone, with the bear between me and home!
Deer were aplenty. We had nearly twenty acres and some of that acreage had apple trees right down the hill and to the right of this garage at the family section of the property. We had a place down the road. I spotted a wild cat through my camera lens one evening while waiting for a sunset. Yes, I’ve had experience with country living, and I LIKE IT!
However, I’d like an apartment or a time-share in the city for a change of pace. Cities are beautiful at Christmastime with all the decorations. I’d hate to miss that part of city living, but I’d want to be back in my country home for Christmas Eve.
I wonder how many days it would take to become accustomed to city noise and traffic.
If you had a choice, which would you prefer? Or are you a rebel like me and choose both?
Since this is a blog hop, here’s the LINK to participating authors who are answering the same question.
Take care everyone. Stay safe. Stay home.
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay – Free-photos
This big guy rambled out of the woods this morning. I heard a gobble, gobble and ran to the window. I bet my jaw dropped! I took a quick shot. Forgive the bad picture through the window with the sun glare. I think he’s looking for a cute little turkey to have his babies.
Early morning stroll.
This post was inspired by a documentary I watched on PBS Wednesday night about Climate Change.
Since I bypassed Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge this week, I thought it fitting to share a couple of quotes for Earth Day since I missed the actual date:
“We each have a role to play in ensuring that we do not pass a world beyond repair on to our children. Everyone must do their part, and as long as we unite to protect the one planet we have, we can leave it in better shape for future generations. On Earth Day, let us all accept our individual responsibilities to care for the world we live in, and let us marshal our best efforts toward building a safer, more stable, and more sustainable world.” ~Barack Obama, 2016 April 21st, quoted from The White House Office of the Press Secretary
“Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realise we cannot eat money.” ~Cree Indian Proverb
Thanks for reading.
#StayHome. #StayWell.
The quotes were found on The Quote Garden.
World Image: Pixabay – 272447
Tree Image ©C. A. McCoy
Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge. The question for Week 16 is:
Shopping in Person:
I choose both, or I did before a pandemic took over the world. The reason I like going to clothing stores or shoe stores to shop is because I need to try on clothes, shoes, lingerie, the whatnot that goes on my body. I like to go shopping shortly after they open so it isn’t too busy, which allows me to lollygag and just look and touch, and to notice what mannequins are showing off.
If I’m looking for a new television, laptop, printer, electronic device, or even a TV table or desk, I like to see the item in person.
It’s no surprise I love bookstores, but I rarely purchase print books because they are too difficult for me to read with my eye issues. However, that doesn’t mean I can’t look, touch, and smell books, and browse whatever else bookstores have for sale.
My last recent purchases from inside an electronics store was a TV stand and Bluetooth headphones, earbud style. I had intended on purchasing headphones, but when I looked in person, most over-the-head headphones didn’t fit comfortably. If I had ordered online, I would not have known this.
Another new thing though… I never thought I’d order groceries online until I went into self-isolation and then lived with Stay Home Stay Safe orders. Going into the store helped me go above my daily step quota and actually see another human being in person and hear my voice. I am a Michigangander and ALL FOR the Michigan Stay Home Stay Safe order to continue.
Online Shopping:
Sometimes online shopping has better discounts.
I’ve grown to like online grocery shopping. All I have to do is order and pick it up. However, I look
forward to in-store shopping for food for as long as I’m able to drive and walk.
Once I’ve purchased clothing or shoes, I’ll order that brand online with confidence.
Once, I ordered a Kindle Fire and iPad online from the same electronics store mentioned above. All I had to do was see the specifications. I also purchased my fitness wrist tracker online without knowing one thing about buying one. It’s a great purchase though for spur-of-the-minute.
My computer is not staying connected to the internet these days, so a new computer might be in my future…by shopping online. Hmm.
These days, you can purchase anything online from flowering plants to hardware items to vehicles. It’s still fun to go to the store, but I like the choice.
Thanks for stopping by today. Have a wonderful weekend.
About Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge Blog Hop. “Each week, authors use our writing prompt to create a meaningful blog post. We’ll be posting every Friday… join us as often as possible.” Please click HERE to visit participating authors.
Welcome to Week 14 in Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge.
The number one hobby I miss a lot is photography. I’ve taken classes at a local college, but I’ve forgotten much of what I’ve learned. However, sometimes my oldest son will ask me a question and I remember the answer. Both of my boys love photography as well. Self-taught, they’re good at it too.
One of the fun parts of the class were the field trips and learning to take night shots. It’s so easy now to take out a cell phone to snap a shot. I use my point-and-shoot digital occasionally like last fall for the scarecrow, fairy, and skeleton displays at festivals. When I worked, I’d take student photos for the school of kids in various activities like the Halloween parade or Christmas parties. Now, all my fancy equipment sits in my camera bag waiting and calling me sometimes.
My dad loved taking pictures so when he had a camera in his hand, look out! He gave me an old Brownie box camera when I was very young. I think it belonged to my step-grandfather. I loved looking down into the view finder in that old thing.
Since photos are mostly in digital these days, it’s been years since I’ve made a collage. The last one I made was for a boyfriend with pictures of him, us, all of our kids—his and mine not ours—and photos of all the places we had traveled to over a five-year span. He was a photographer, too, and a darn good one with a natural talent.
To construct, I’d use a large frame and situate the photos on poster board, because of the thickness, and glue the images on with a glue stick. I’d cut the photos with random fancy edges and set them in different angles so they weren’t all straight. They turned out nice. I always received compliments on them.
I have a couple more, but these are at the top of the list.
Here is the Link to visit the participating authors.
I’m slow to getting around to visit other blogs because I’m writing one book while getting another ready to publish, and to be honest, I’m distracted with the state of the world and my state. It’s bad here right now in so many ways, and saying “bad” is putting it mildly.
To all of you and your families– Stay Safe and well.
Thank you for coming by today.
All images are from Pixabay.
