BSP: It's Launch Day!!! for Temporarily Insane #MFRWorg #Rssos #TWRP #RB4U

It’s Happy Launch Day!

I'm blushing and bursting with pride to announce my second book in my romantic comedy mystery series, Temporarily Insane, is now available.

Craftmaster - Finding old stuff in the parent's home #SOS #RB4U #MFRWorg #amcrafting

While cleaning out my parents’ garage with family, a brother in law unearthed a picture wrapped in white paper, rectanglular in shape. Passed to me to determine if giveaway or have siblings look at, I folded back the paper and squealed. My sisters came running. We found the crushed rock and gravel picture my mom had made.

This picture hung above the china cabinet in the dining room for many, many years. Then Mom replaced it with a homey scene. I guess I didn’t notice it was gone for a long while and when I did, thought she’d donated it (along with the horse head lamps).

Here’s what we found: 

@KathyIvan - Suspense. Mystery. Romance. What a fun package! #PlottingPrincesses #MFRWorg #romanticsuspense

Suspense.  Mystery.  Romance. 

There's something about those words that stir the imagination.  Being able to craft a story filled with the right elements, a blending of all three, reminds me of baking.  All the ingredients have to be added in exactly the right amounts in order for your delicious confection to come out perfect (and in my case hopefully edible). 

I love layering in all the nuances to my stories, adding a dash of mystery to keep the reader turning the pages.  Did I write enough intrigue and danger within the world I've created that the reader absolutely, positively, unequivocally cannot stop reading when they reach the end of the chapter, and must turn the page to find out what happens next.  Don't you love that feeling? 

.@VickiBatman - "A life lived in fear is a life half-lived" #MFRWorg #MFRWauthors #KOD #TWRP

Time to Party!

My Journey began a few years back when I took the challenge to write something. I am a huge reader. However, deep in my being was a tiny bubble, a kernel and I didn't dare admit anything to anyone about my secret desire: I wanted to write a book. 

But I was scared. Because writing a book meant showing it to someone to read it--right? Because books are meant to be read. Which meant what if readers don't like it? 

The idea of not being liked stifled me; so I shelved and shuttered the idea until...I was challenged. 

One of my favorite movies is Strictly Ballroom, a Cinderella story set in the ballroom scenario. A not-so attractive girl who everyone takes advantage of desperately desires to blossom by becoming a ballroom dancer. A young man has the chance to be ballroom champion if he picks the right partner. These two come together and fulfill their dreams. 

Right before the big show, the young man admits his fear about dancing in a new way. The girl quotes an old family saying, "A life lived in fear is a life half-lived." Wow!

.@VickiBatman - The BIG Goof #LongLiveLongmire #MFRWorg #PlottingPrincesses

The BIG Goof - #LongLiveLongmire

A few weeks ago, word filtered through that the superb Western, Longmire, had been cancelled at the end of three seasons.

I was shocked! So were a lot of other folks.

I began watching this superb show because it wasn’t about Housewives, or chef cook-off, or a badly behaving bridezilla. Nope, Longmire was about a sheriff, his staff, family, and friends who lived in a small Wyoming town. The series is based on the books written by Craig Johnson.

The show averaged 5.6 million viewers. Isn’t that a lot of people? More viewers than “Mad Men” and “Justified” according to a Wall Street Journal article. Wall Street Journal

Yes, but it seems the viewer-ship is primarily older viewers—the average age of 60 versus 48. According to the Wall Street Journal article, “Longmire’s fate is reflective of two growing trends in the television industry-the obsession of advertisers with younger viewers and the desire of TV networks to own as much of their content as possible.” An executive at the network said, “...we genuinely loved the show, but the audiences in the key demographics just weren’t there.”

#PlottingPrincesses # @VickiBatman - A Laugh a Minute

Laugh a Minute

You may have noticed my tagline: Vicki Batman, sassy writer of sexy and funny fiction.

I never thought of myself as being funny until a friend said something. I was like me? Really? I'd always appreciated books with humor.  And when another friend pressed in my arms #4 Janet Evanovich, I sighed with contentment after I read it, thinking someone who wrote what I liked to read. Naturally, I gobbled all of them up.

When I began writing, I noticed funny words crept in my work. And so did creepy witty dialogue. And I played havoc with internal dialogue. And found smiley faces in the edits.

After several of my short fictions were published in the True magazines, I let my girlfriends read them and watched and listened for their reactions. I saw smiles, snorts, giggles, ha's, etc. I knew then I'd done my job and done it right.

Finding a good funny word doesn't usually come through on my first draft. I have to work it-work it-work it. And when I go back later on and read what is there and it makes me smile--even after multiple thousands a gazillion passes—then I know all was done correctly.

So here's a treat from my funny romantic suspense/mystery, Temporarily Employed (coming soon!).

Vicki Batman ~ Cover Reveal!!! Temporarily Employed

A long journey for my baby is paying off

and I'm delighted to share with you!

Here's a little blurb to whet your appetite:  

Hattie Cook's dream job is down the toilet and her new SUV violated. Desperate for cash to cover the basic necessities of rent and food, she takes a temporary job at Buy Rite insurance company where she uncovers an embezzling scam tied to the death of a former employee--the very one she replaced. The last thing she wants is to clash with By-the-Book Detective Wellborn, no matter how much he makes her heart pound.

Allan Charles Wellborn has secretly adored Hattie all his life.  He evolved from a pocket protector-wearing geek to a handsome police detective.  When the police determine there's more to the death of a former Buy Rite employee, he steps in to lead the investigation.  Overly dedicated, always perfect, he puts his job first, even if doing so ultimately hurts the one he loves.

Can the killer be found before Hattie's time is up?