The new addition and the new edition! #newbook #newbaby #newparents #romanticcomedy

Maybe by the time you read this, our new granddaughter will be born. My daughter in law looks ready to pop and at her last check-up, the doctor said the baby will most likely come before her due date. 

There's something special when the children you raise have children of their own. I can see how happy and excited #1son is. He is so ready. And thanks to changing times, he will be able to be home with her for a bit. I want to see him give her a bath, read to her, give her a kiss, hold her hand, see her run to him. 

I want her to know and love Handsome and me. That she will think we are the cat's meow. LOL. That she will always know we have been there for her. That we can pass on a bit of knowledge and she will appreciate it. 

I also have a new book. Sommerville days are three stories, featuring sassy heroines. Here's a bit:

Isn't the cover fabulous?

Love blossoms in the small town of Sommerville in these heartwarming tales, filled with fun and forever possibilities.

Store Wars: The competition is heating up when Janie's old flame returns to town and is running his family's store. Could following dreams break her heart?

Raving Beauty: What if the love of your life was in front of you all along?

San Diego or Bust: When a young woman plans a romantic getaway with her boyfriend, disaster strikes—is her Mr. Right the right Mr. Right?

And from a favorite story, "Raving Beauty," (the end made my sister cry):

            "I can't believe I let your loony brother, who's tormented me all my life, talk me into this."

With my eye on the teenage competition standing off to one side, I tugged the swimsuit’s leg opening into place to better cover my hip. "Just because I did some modeling in college doesn't make me a pageant diva. Back then, I was incredibly skinny, and clothes fit easily."

            "Daniel is a rat. He took advantage of your third, or was it your fourth, margarita, Kelly?" Maggie Ackerman, my best friend and roommate, adjusted the scarlet satin sash draped across my body. Glittery stick-on letters spelled out Miss Yahoo! Ranch Steakhouse. "Don’t worry. You’re beautiful and will be fine. Now, hold still."

            I watched her pick my brown hair at the crown of my head with an old-fashioned teasing comb. When the eerie suspicion I resembled a scary dame with Big Texas hair from the television show, “Dallas,” I turned my head to avoid the mirror.

            "Close your eyes." She blasted my hair with several short bursts of super freeze-it hairspray. "Now, that ain't goin' nowhere."

FYI: "Raving Beauty" comes from an incident where I was a beauty contestant. Fortunately, what happened to our sassy heroine didn't happen to me.

Find yours at: Amazon

Blog: Have You Ever Wished You Could? #cutemeet #lightheartedromance #MFRWauthor

Have you every wished you could do something but were too embarrassed to do so? Or to shy? Or worried about what others would think?



I grew up a shy girl. I know that might contradict with what you know about me now. I love meeting new people and doing fun things. And as for embarrassing myself? Well, the likelihood of meeting those folks again is zilch.



I have always had in the background these wishes—

I wish I could draw/paint (and I don’t mean the walls of the house. I can do that). I’ve never had an

art lesson. The closest I ever came was a wine and paint class. I didn’t do badly because the instructor gave great directions. And now, I’m happy expressing myself through stitching embroidery and needlepoint. So maybe I'm okay with not learning how right now.



I wish I could dance. All I wanted in high school was to be a member of the dance team. But there was one drawback-I’d never had a dance lesson. I tried out my sophomore year and didn’t make it. In my junior year, I decided to be a manager based on the prior year.  I worked out with the other girls and could do what they did. So why didn’t I try? The teacher agreed to let me. I high-kicked my way perfectly. But jazz dance? That’s where no training showed. The teacher must have known how much I wanted to be a dance team member. She told me I’d have to work extra hard (which I did). And as a married woman, I found Jazzercise and have been happily dancing ever since.

I wish I could write. Ever since I read Dick Francis’ mysteries, I had the urge to write. But I had no guts. I knew deep inside I couldn’t take the rejection. After a friend pushed me to try, I felt more comfortable in my writing shoes. I worked and worked and joined Romance Writers of America and the local chapter. There I made friends and honed my craft. I had the rejections, but I’d learned how to handle that and plowed on. I’m glad I did. I’ve learned so much and grown immensely.



I know many of you have had “I wishes.” Is it too late? What would you do?


Creativity abounds in this fun, light-hearted, cute-meet collection:

Find yours at: 


 Amazon    Print     Nook   Other

Michelle Miles: Milestones

I’m supposed to be working on a weekly report and an agenda for a meeting. Instead I’m thinking about milestones and the next phases of life.

My son recently graduated from high school. Don’t we look awesome in this picture? I’m very proud of all he’s accomplished.

People have been congratulating me, which I thought was odd. I mentioned it to my husband. He looked at me like I’d grown a third head. “Am I going to have to explain this to you, really?”

So, he did.

All those times I got him up and ready for school, even when he didn’t want to go.
All those school lunches I made.
All those school functions I volunteered to chaperone.
All those school parties.
All those band concerts/competitions/football games.
All those times I was a shuttle/taxi/chauffeur.
All those birthday parties.
All those school plays.
All those band fees I happily paid for because I knew he was doing something he loved.
All those times I sat with him at the kitchen table and helped with homework. And then when I couldn’t help him, made sure he was turning in school work.
All those times I pushed him to do something I knew he should do because he would regret it if he didn’t.
All those times I bought him school clothes and supplies.
All those times I took him to the doctor/dentist/orthodontist/eye doctor. ALL.THOSE.TIMES.
Most of these things I did by myself because I was a single mom.

And, of course, that’s not all. We are now entering the next phase of his life. He was awarded a scholarship to the community college. He’s enrolled and registered and begins his next adventure in the fall.

As we were leaving graduation, his 4th grade and 5th grade teachers made their way to us outside the convention center and hugged him and congratulated him. I can’t even begin to express how wonderful that was that not only did they remember HIM, but they remembered ME, too. And made a point to find him in the crowd.

What he doesn’t know is that this time in his life is special. It’s fleeting. I’m sure he’ll have some regrets—we all do. He can’t see into the future like I can and that’s okay. That’s part of growing up.

There are many more milestones to come. As we age, we hit different ones. College graduation. Marriage. Deaths. Raising kids. New jobs. Job changes. Hitting those “big” birthdays. I guess I’m feeling nostalgic and a little sad that this phase is over. But you know what? The best is yet to come.

blog w @VickiBatman - There’s No Escape! EMFRWauthor #readromance #escaperoom

Recently, #2son had a big birthday and when I asked what he would like to do, he said an escape room. I had read about different ones. My DIL and #1son had done some. So I was game to try.

Eight of us arrived and picked Alien Blood Bank Robbery. The hostess demonstrated how different locks worked. Gave us gear to wear—lab coats and head bopper headbands (the kind with hearts, stars, etc. which bob on a spring). We were told we could ask for three clues and had one hour to complete the task.

Here’s the background:

For decades, the aliens have been modifying human DNA. Eddie the Alien cleans the lab every night and has developed a secret love for humans. He wants to help and has left clues for us to use to break in and steal the blood samples.

Inside the first room, we found a school locker, table, various locked boxed. Magnetic board. We wandered around to get accustomed to the room, and secretly thinking something would magically pop out and we would be on our way. Yea, that didn’t happen. We asked for a clue. 

The clue enabled us to work one lock, which enabled us to work another lock, etc. Finally, a door opened to an adjacent room set up with more locks, boards, etc.  We solved those and eventually, were able to unlock a safe and procure the DNA. 

We finished with minutes to spare. LOL

Would I do an escape room again? Yes! Using our brains is a good thing. And our group worked well together. I’d like to try the Wild West Bank Robbery. All that bandana and hat stuff sounds like fun. 

Have you done an escape room?

Want to submerse yourself in a great read and escape? Why not try Just Desserts…and other stories:

Vicki's newly released collection of 11 sweet short-fiction reads is where ordinary life

takes cute and unexpected turns.

Find your copy at:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Just-Desserts-Other-Short-Stories-ebook/dp/B07CT8XC5F/

Print: https://www.amazon.com/Just-Desserts-Other-Stories-writer/dp/1718719302/ref=sr_1_28?keywords=just+desserts&qid=1554829514&s=books&sr=1-28/

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/just-desserts-and-other-short-stories-vicki-batman/1128592107?ean=2940155242031/

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/823338/

Plotting Princesses - Vicki Batman: I Failed at Painting #paintbynumbers #MFRWauthor #shortstories

I like to think I’m something of a creative person. After all, I write books and short stories. I stitch needlepoint and embroider. I can do lots of things. But I can’t paint.

Every morning, I work out, come home and have a bit of breakfast while perusing the paper. Last week in the metro section at the top of the page, I saw an obit for Dan Robbins followed by the heading “Artist created first paint-by-numbers pictures.”

I had to read the whole obituary to learn more about Mr. Robbins and paint-by-numbers. He developed his idea based on an inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci. He remembered “Leonardo used numbered background patterns for his students and apprentices.” He decided to try that too.

His boss hated it but saw potential. Mr. Robbins created landscapes, horses, puppies, and kitties.

Sales reached at peak at 20 million in 1955.

I remember going to the five and dime stores and seeing the kits. I tried once. Lousy. I didn’t have a good steady hand for painting.

Nowadays, I’ve seen finished paintings at flea markets and antique malls. Some are pretty good. I searched the internet and found many places where one can purchase a kit. I even found a museum: https://www.paintbynumbermuseum.com/catalog-page/8565

Not long ago, I went to an event where an instructor taught a class in how to paint a specific painting. She really broke down the elements and I enjoyed what I’d done immensely. The most interesting thing happened after we broke for lunch. At the back of the room, I turned and looked at the tables topped with paintings. All were different. Just like the artists.

Were you bitten by the “paint-by-numbers” bug?

Here's my creative bit--Just Desserts...and other stories:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Just-Desserts-Other-Short-Stories-ebook/dp/B07CT8XC5F/


Print: https://www.amazon.com/Just-Desserts-Other-Stories-writer/dp/1718719302/ref=sr_1_28?keywords=just+desserts&qid=1554829514&s=books&sr=1-28/

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/just-desserts-and-other-short-stories-vicki-batman/1128592107?ean=2940155242031/


Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/823338/

Handbags, Books...Whatever - Tick-Tock Clock #findingatreasure #familyheirloom #shortstories

Over the past couple of years, my sisters and I have been sorting my parents’ things. Each of us claimed jewelry, pictures, other odds and ends. From one of Dad’s boxes, I picked up an Elgin watch. I had to laugh because the band was the classic expand-o-matic kind that I remembered being advertised constantly on TV. 

Just for grins, I gave it a wind, and sure enough, it ticked. I wound some more and set the correct time. Sliding it on my arm, every now and again, I would look to see if the time was holding up and it had! I wore the watch over the next few weeks just to confirm how it ran. All was good. So I took it to the jeweler for a check.

The jeweler said the watch came from the fifties, that the band was probably the original – surprise! I asked to have it cleaned and  his initials engraved on the back. 

Not long ago, my mother-in-law passed, and as my sisters-in-laws and niece went threw her precious belongings, I picked up a small gold watch. Just for grins, I gave it a wind and set the time. This watch, too, stayed on time. The band didn’t snap properly. I thought “what the heck” and took it to the jeweler’s for his thoughts.

We didn’t guesstimate the era the watch came from. She was born in the mid-thirties; so I’m thinking she received the watch in the forties. He did listen and watch and was impressed that something so old kept good time. He said the watch repair man could fix the catch and would clean it as well. I opted to have the back engraved with all of her initials. 

I like wearing multiple things together on my left wrist-bracelets, watches. I have no problem in putting on two watches and something else. The more the merrier. I’m excited about having something that once belonged to family and now belongs to me.

Is it dessert time? I’m a chocolate a day kind of gal and rarely pass up cake. In that vein, how about delving into these dessert stories:

Love blossoms in the small town of Sommerville in these heartwarming, “cute meet” tales,

filled with fun and forever possibilities.

 ebook     print     B&N     other e vendors

Vicki Batman - It’s really Simplicity, isn’t it? @Simplicitypatterns #craftingwithmom #readromance #MFRWauthor

My sisters and I grew up with Mom making our clothes and hers as well. It made money sense to do so and back then, my parents were all about stretching every penny. There were huge fabric stores like Cloth World and Hancock’s. Sometimes, we would go with Mom to those stores and go through the pattern books, like Simplicity, McCalls, and Butterick, but never Vogue because those were more complicated and she had little time for that. 

Patterns allowed people to create their own clothing. The books we thumbed through were our version of stylish fashion magazines and offered a glimpse of glamor. We could imagine ourselves garbed in gorgeous outfits. Mom often made us matching dresses for Easter, like these: 

Aren't we cute? 

We would help my mom lay the printed tissue on the fabric and learned how to pin it into place. If we could cut straight (not me, Mom said), we cut along the lines. Mom pinned the pieces together and then sewed them. One time, I did try to make a dress with her help. She was a tough teacher, and mostly, I learned how to rip and sew again. And again. Since ripping was not fun, my creativity did not go into sewing.

After I graduated from college, I worked for a local department store. I desperately needed new work clothes. Who did I turn to? Mom! She made me several Chanel-styled suits in various fabrics, sometimes, dresses, and special evening wear. I loved them!

In 2018 while shopping in my favorite Joann’s, I ran across several Simplicity collectibles. Memories crowded my head and of course, I purchased a few items, like these: 

Are you into sewing clothes?

And here’s more creative fun—Just Desserts…and other stories, eleven romantic comedy short stories sure to make you feel good.

 Amazon ebook   Amazon PB     B&N      Smashwords