House Hunting

Science Guy and I thought we’d found the perfect house. We loved it. Love what the people had done to the house and even though the distance was longer for both of us work wise, we decided to put an offer on it.

Yeah, someone came in and made another offer at pretty much the same time and theirs was more than the asking price and cash. Guess who won.

Funny thing is I’m okay with it. A couple of days before we found out we weren’t getting the place I started having really bad feelings about it. Like scary bad, something horrible may happen to you in the house, feelings.

I figured I’d walk the house again and see if it was trying to tell me something and if they accepted our offer, we could always back out. Now I’m thinking who ever offered more was a guardian angel watching over me.

Today we looked at five, yep five houses. Most of them were yucky inside. The prior owners hadn’t taken very good care of their homes by any means. The neighborhoods were great, the outsides looked great, then we stepped inside, and it was like a different dimension.

However, we did find one that we both loved. It has everything we want and a bit more. The only room that needs updating is the kitchen. It’s in great shape, but I would (will if we get it) want to update it. The countertops and cabinets mostly.

The neighborhood is awesome. Beautiful and peaceful and yeah…I love it. Feels like a place we can easily call home.

So we’re putting in an offer and then the wait and see game begins. If you’ve read past post, you know I’m not so good with the wait thing.

In my head, I’m already planning what will be in the living room and what will be in the family room with the fireplace. I know I live in Florida, but I love a fireplace. Planning romantic candle lit moments around the Jacuzzi too. :)

Fingers crossed, but the realist in me says, if it doesn’t work out then it is the one for us and we’ll begin again. Or buy the one we’re currently renting with the lease option. I like it but it’s not quite as big as we’d like.

The one thing I’ve learned from this is I don’t like house hunting. The show on HGTV makes it look so much more fun then it is. Too many of the homes we’ve looked at in the past few months are not what they say or need tons of work or break your heart when you see kids stuff (lot’s of kids stuff) lying in the rooms.

What about you? Do you like house hunting? Would you rather stay where you are or would you like to move?


WW’s and PD’s,


Vicki

We Have A Winner...

The winner for Kathy Carmichael's HOT FLASH is...the drums are rolling, the sky is opening, and lights are shinning bright...

Okay, so maybe a bit dramatic, but really this is such a great book.

Bray!!! You've won a copy, signed by Kathy. Yay!!

Send me your snail mail addy to vickilanewrites@yahoo.com. Please put in the subject line Blog winner.

Major congrats and enjoy the book.


Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,

Vicki

Ramblings from an over-written mind – yes that’s me, Laurie K

So this will be a long post. First, here's Amazon's blurb for HOT Flash.

On Jill Morgan Storm's fortieth birthday, she declares she is through with love. A conviction well justified, considering her first husband didn't leave her for another woman; he became one! More recently, her love affair came to a screeching halt when her lover dumped her for a young undergraduate. To make matters worse, the teeny-bopper stole Jill's "well-seasoned" frying pan, and when you're a sous chef, that's no small offense; it's a major felony.

When financial obligations threaten her son's dream of attending art school, Jill and her friends devise a foolproof plan to audition candidates for a new husband. The search for Mr. Right is on.

There is one problem, however. His name is Davin Wesley, an annoying third-grade schoolteacher, who relentlessly plagues her days, haunts her nights, and propels her libido into overdrive. She knows he is absolutely, undeniably wrong for her. So why, then, does Mr. Wrong take her breath away, curl her toes, and give her a hot flash every time she sees him? More importantly, what will she do if Mr. Wrong is actually Mr. Right?

Tomorrow the winner will be announced for this must have book. Yay!!


Now for the rest of the post. Starting today, my cp LKap will be blogging on Thursday's. Next week I'll have an interview with her, so you can get to know her better. Or ask her questions.

Take it away, Laurie.

Ever had one of those days where you sit at your computer all day, typing away, the story is flowing, the sun is shining, the birds are singing. And you think…it’s about time. Then it stops.

Yep, that was me.

Then all of a sudden, random thoughts just pop in, having absolutely nothing to do with the story you’re working on or a story you think you could work on. Nope they’re just random pieces of information you’ll do nothing with, clogging up your brain.

Okay, now you know why I’m here. I had to let it out someplace and V was nice enough to let me use her fabuloso blog. That and when she asked me to blog I had no idea what to write about. Thanks V. ;-) (She’ll probably never ask me again after this…heehee)

Plus, I had to get it out of my head so my characters would come back and wouldn’t have to muddle through all these ramblings. Someone working this story should have an idea after all.

Some might sound like a story, some are just thoughts. Oh, and let me know if this happens to you too. I’m really not comfortable in my OCD rambling state alone. LOL (not true really, anyone who knows me would say I’d be fine as a hermit). But I really do want to hear from you. ;-)

So here we go.

Listening to my HHB (more on that in a minute), and his BFF (yes men have BFF’s they just don’t openly admit it) were talking on the phone and I realized when they became friends they were total opposites. Cool if you think about it, because each of them was the alter ego to the other. Just as our characters and their friends should have, right? Well yeah….okay…maybe. Thank goodness I write fiction, because I get to control the bad habits my hero man picks up. Not so easy in real life I’ll tell ya. After about ten years of friendship, HHB is now the louder of the two (seeing them in a room together you might just run away from the very, very large Italian/Polish man and very large but shorter Polish man talking as if it’s a contest to see who can get on the Richter scale). If you’re from either of these kinds of families or know these kinds of families we're on the same page here…right? Oh well I love him so what’s a girl to do. ‘-)

So are you wondering about HHB? Well he is the best I must admit. Someone was looking out for me that Fourth of July day. Yep, fireworks the whole shebang and not just in the sky…lol. I have to say it was lust at first sight (even though I openly admit to saying he was the man I was going to marry less than 24 hours later) only because I don’t believe you can love someone that quickly (but we can write it) – but twenty-four years later and I have both—lucky me. His nickname came about because he does all the cooking so I can write once I get home from the day job. One day he says to me (kiddingly) “I’m like your house bitch.” Well I couldn’t disagree, so I added the Hot—because it’s true too. So came HHB = Hot House Bitch (all in love).

Huh…I don’t have a thing left to say and Xavier is talking to me again, and when he talks you need to listen—he’s not real fond of being ignored any command he gives.

Can’t wait to hear what you think.

Hugs,
Laurie

And any comments to Laurie or to Kathy will still be added to the contest this week for HOT FLASH.

Kathy Carmichael's In the House

Welcome Kathy to Writing With Vicki. I'm delighted to have you here and to find out the answers to some major burning questions.

Everyone, I hope you enjoy the interview and if there's something I missed or you have your own burning question, then leave it in the comments section. :)

Kathy: Thank you so much for inviting me, Vicki. I always have fun chatting with readers and other writers!

Vicki: You're welcome. I'm glad you're here, too, because I have some questions for you.

Kathy: Fire away!

Vicki: We've all heard you're an award winning author, but I've done a little research and found out some interesting tidbits about you.

Kathy: Uch oh.

Vicki: There's nothing like going to the source to find out the facts. Is it true that you're part Leprechaun?

Kathy: As I informed that pesky reporter who said she was with The National Enquirer, that's just a nasty rumor. (Kathy mumbles: Wish everyone would stay away from my pot of gold.)

Vicki: I see. This is apparently a rather a sore subject with you. Perhaps you'll be more willing to answer questions about one of your hobbies.

Kathy: (who just broke out in a sweat) Which hobby are you referring to?

Vicki: I see that you're an avid ghost hunter.

Kathy: Oh, that subject. Yes. Definitely. All of my hobbies have generally been book or writing related and I wanted to find something that interested me outside the literary world. Since I became an avid fan of the TV show GHOST HUNTERS, it was natural that my attention would veer in that direction. I'm a member of several ghost hunting organizations and have done some investigations on my own. I find it lots of fun.

Vicki: Regarding your writing, I see that you've won several writing awards and that you also do a lot of writing seminars. You even make your seminar notes available on your website.

Kathy: I'm happy to share what I've learned with other writers. When I began writing, it was pre-Internet and I had difficulty, outside of books on writing, finding out information about the craft and business of writing. It was very lonely. Of course, with the advent of the Internet, all of that has changed. There's so much information out there now!

But when I started writing, all of the books I read suggested finding a critique group. I went around to all of the bookstores and libraries in my area and asked if anyone knew of any critique groups. The answer was always the same: No. You can imagine my excitement when I found a course on writing in my community college's catalog of courses -- and it specifically mentioned critiquing as part of the class. Historical Romance author, Libby Sydes, conducted the class and I learned a tremendous amount from her. She invited me to join her critique group outside the class and the rest, as they say, is history.

So I make my writing seminars available to others in the hope they won't find this such a long and lonely journey.

Vicki: Can you tell us a little about your newest release, HOT FLASH?

Kathy: I'm really excited this book is now in print. I had so much fun writing it and I hope that comes through in the story.

When I started the book, my husband was between jobs and my oldest son was going through the process of applying for college. The concept of how we'd pay for it gave me hives. I was also experiencing the symptoms of early-onset menopause and, let me tell you, at that time my life wasn't pretty. If it weren't for my friends allowing me to vent, I'm certain there would be a full-wing at the local mental hospital with my name on it. Writing this book also helped!

Lots of the scenes in the book are based on things that actually happened to me. I'm happy to say, though, that although my two sons don't tell me everything, they do speak to me sometimes and never, ever, in French slang.

HOT FLASH is the story of a woman who is worried about how she will send her son to college. Her father had promised to pay for it, but now he's in prison for a white-collar crime. Her ex-husband spent his savings on a surgical procedure, so he's no help. And the college professor she was dating, who would have been able to handle her son's tuition through his employment, just dumped her for a woman half her age. She's at wit's end. Even worse, she has little in savings and lives hand to mouth on her income as a sous chef for a Las Vegas Casino Hotel -- and there's no chance for advancement. She realizes she needs a husband and pronto, to help with living expenses and to send her son to college. But she doesn't want to marry just any man. She wants to be happily married and in love. So she sends out surveys to happily married women to find out what the recipe is for marital happiness. And the book details her struggle with reentering the dating scene in her search for love.

I had so much joy writing Jill's story.

Vicki: It sounds like it. I can't wait to read it!

Kathy: If anyone would like to find out more about the book or my writing articles, they can visit my website. Sometime soon, there will be a marriage survey up on my site, featuring questions from Jill's marriage survey and I'd love for visitors to take it. Then perhaps we'll learn whether Jill's conclusion was correct or if there's some other secret to marital bliss! Once you take the survey, you'll be able to see the responses. I think it's going to be fun.

I'm so sorry to tell you this, Vicki, but I'll be back to your blog a lot this week. If people would like to ask questions, about my book or about writing, I'll be happy to answer to the best of my ability! And thanks again, for inviting me, Vicki!

Okay guys, you know the deal. Leave your comments and/or questions. Kathy will be stopping by again to answer them. Yay!! And for an extra surprise, click here and leave a comment on my group blog, come back and leave a comment here as well, and one person will win a copy today! The on Friday a winner will be chosen from this blog. How cool is that. Two chances to win. :)

WW's and PD's,
Vicki

HOT FLASH by Kathy Carmichael

Kathy Carmichael is an award winning author, whose latest book Hot Flash is receiving rave reviews.

From the first page, to the last you’ll laugh at Jill’s escapades as she discovers her own self worth, and just how far she’ll go to give her child everything, she believes he deserves.

Here’s the backcover blurb:

CALM, COOL, AND PREMENOPAUSAL

As a single mom and chef, Jill Morgan Storm’s frenzied life is about to become even more chaotic as she sets out on a scheme to find and wed a traveling salesman. In return, she’s hoping for one week of martial bliss, three week’s off, and a monthly paycheck.

Enter Davin Wesley, exactly the opposite of the type of man Jill is searching for. He’s an elementary-school teacher who refuses to skedaddle out of town like a good little potential husband.

But Jill isn’t sure if she can keep up the protest because is kiss is pure fire and he won’t be discouraged. With hot flash after hot flash, can she say no while her temperature rises and her libido screams yesssssss??

Click here for an excerpt.

Leave your comments this week to be entered and on Friday a winner will be announced.

Tomorrow Kathy is doing an interview here on the blog and will stop by during the week to answer questions and say hello to everyone.

This is a must have book and it's one which will not only be on the very top of your TBR pile, it's one you'll find yourself going back to read again.

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

Um...Hello, I Live In The Sunshine State...

Okay, so I guess I really shouldn't complain since my northern counter parts are having temps way below 0, but I live in Florida. It's not supposed to be this cold.

We don't have true winter clothes. Instead, we have a few light sweaters and a couple of jackets. I do have one really great winter coat to use if I travel to where it's cold.

If you've ever lived in Florida, then you know during our 'winter' you do not pack away the summer clothes or the strappy sandals. This week we're freezing (yes, in the 40's is freezing to us), but next week we may be wearing shorts, tank tops, and flip-flops.

And the quick drop in the temperature is not making me want to sit in my office and write. Oh no. I want to light the fire pit outside and make Smores. Heehee. Or curl up under a blanket and read. Which is not such a bad idea since my TBR pile has become a towering wall, threatening to tumble if the slightest breeze catches it.

For those of you who live in what I'm sure is feeling like the Arctic (or perhaps do live in the Arctic), I don't know how you do it. I know the whole blood is thicker thing, but with the temps you're having right now...it could freeze. Hmmm...there could be a thriller story there. Yes, always thinking about stories in any condition. :)

We interrupt this post for an important bulletin:

Next week I'm giving away a copy of Kathy Carmichael's Hot Flash. The book hasn't released yet and you'll have the chance to win it right here.

I'll have the pic and backcover blurb up next week and rumor has it Kathy may be stopping by as well. :)

Now back to the weather.

How about you? Do you live where it's freezing? How do you handle the getting ready and out the door thing if you do?

WW's and PD's,
Vicki

Color, Color Again...and Okay, Color Again XPosted

I was born blond . Not a stark white blond, but blond nonetheless. As I grew older, it tuned to what my family ever so sweetly called Dirty Dishwater blond.

Have you ever looked at dirty dishwater? I mean really, who wants to have hair the color of dirty water? Not me. Thus the little box with an applicator filled with awful smelling stuff along with a little brown bottle to add to it and shake, and shake, and…well, you know, shake it a bunch more. (I was always afraid I wouldn’t shake it enough. Just a tad OCD.)

Anyway, I’ll try to shorten what could be a very long story. I colored my hair a beautiful sun kissed blond. When it was time to color again, I did it. No problem. Yeah right. I didn’t really bother to read the directions and just colored my whole head. Now I had two different colors of blond and it wasn’t in a cool way.

I’m sure you can guess what happened next...

To read the rest and to be entered into the drawing click here. Leave your comments all week on the group blog.

Then come back and leave a comment here.

Voting at P&E is still up. It's under Writing With Vicki and you can click here to vote. Plus check out all the other polls as well.

WW's and PD's,
Vicki