Meet & Greet Lady Antebellum

Like most writer I listen to music when I write.  One of my favorite groups is Lady Antebellum.  They write beautiful love songs, I write romance novels. Kind of a match made in heaven. 

When their concert was schedule in Des Moines I wanted tickets. I went to their website, joined the fan club and got pretty good seats.  Not great, but good to listen to the music.  Up popped a sign-up for a “Meet & Greet.”  What the hell, I would love to meet them, I never win any of these, but being always hopefully I put my name in the pot. On a particular unpleasant day I receive in my email-“You’ve Been Selected to Attend a Lady Antebellum Meet & Greet!”.  OMG!

Since I am first a writer, the fan of Lady A stuffed and autographed copy of the Writers of the Lake first book in her purse.  Off I went to get shuffled from one line to another, but I didn’t mind.  This was an experience of a lifetime.  My turn came for the photo opt, I handed them the book and babbled about how I write to their music, and yada, yada.  They were so gracious and kind I was blown away.

So here’s the picture of me (the short one in the middle) and the fabulous and ‘I will be a fan until I die” Charles, Hilary and Dave. Notice our book in her hand.

Tags: Lady A, Lady Antevellum, Meet & Greet Lady Antevellum, Music
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So I have already made it through the first two stories in the new book! WOW! I definitely think the 2 chili peppers was deserved and I loved that you took it up a notch! Sid and Carmy – LOVE LOVE LOVE! What a dynamic duo! They played extremely well off of each other and what personalities! They fit perfectly into the story! As for Mark and Paige, I want to be in that relationship! Lol so glamorous! It was a beautiful escape and I am so proud of you! I can’t wait to read the third story and the next book!

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CHAPTER ONE

“You stupid-cheating-mother-f@#king-son-of-a-bitch!”

The heavy stoneware plate hurled from Jessica’s hand headed towards her husband.

Sweat lingered over her eyebrows running in her sea green eyes. So infuriated she didn’t even pause to wipe it away.

Charles, a middle-aged, non-athletic nerd, jutted to his right at the last second as it hit the wall behind his head shattering into pieces.

Raising his hands out in front of him to block her onslaught, his wire-rimmed glasses twisted on his nose. “Damn it, Jessica. Buying the café was a mistake. I just can’t stay here and work all the time. I feel stifled.”

Her words came at him in a blaze of pure rage. “What the hell do you mean, mistake? We sold everything we owned to get the money to buy this café.”

“Well I just don’t think this business venture is going to work.” Charles still had his arms up in a defensive block.

Jessica grabbed two more plates, angrily releasing one. “What do you mean it’s not going to work?” Charles dodged the first plate.

Her tone of voice seethed with white fury. “What’s the real reason, Charles?”

The second one soared at high speed.  It nicked his forehead, just above his eye. Blood oozed from a cut.

“Okay!  I want someone else. Bambi and I want to have a life together.” He held his hand over the wound. “Enough! I’m leaving. It’s all yours, honey. Do whatever the hell you want. I’m done, finished, out-of here.”

With another plate in her hand, Jessica watched as Charles twisted around and did a hasty escape out of the door.  Blonde Bambi was waiting for him outside. Dragging his little sex kitten behind him, Charles exited indubitably out of her life.

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Opening the door to my house, I was aware that something was not right.  Things were scattered on the floor.  The cushions on the couch were crooked.  Dropping my bags and purse to the floor, my eyes traveled around the room. Looking into my bedroom I saw my jewelry cabinet drawers putted out and dumped.  Then I realized.  Someone had broken in.  The sick feeling of dread crashed over me.  I picked up my phone I called my husband.

“Get home now!  We have been robbed!”

Still stuck in one spot, I turned around.  The window screen was laying open, cut to allow the intruder to enter.  The laptop that was supposed to be on the stand, wasn’t.   The cute little purple netbook that rested on my matching purple laptop holder was gone.  My knees started to buckle.  My writing!  I had not back up my computers.  All my writing is gone!   Despair hit me like a brick.  OMG!

My husband came in, looked around and started asking questions.

“Did they take your jewelry?”

Yes, the precious pieces of good jewelry I had collected from 45 years of marriage, hoping to give to my grandchildren. Gone!

“The gun?”

I got down on my hand and knees to look under the bed, where it was kept in a locked box.  Gone!

Anything with loose change in it was gone.  I had created a shrine for my mother, with her pennies from heaven and a necklace that said “Mom” a friend had given me at Mom’s funeral.  Carefully resting in a Waterford bowl.  Gone!  Bowl and all!

The police were called, but little hope was given of ever finding our stuff again.  And even less chance of finding the laptops.

So when I was asked to write an article for the newsletter about protecting my work from theft, my first thought was ‘About what?  How to do it wrong?’  But that is what I am going to tell you.

First:  Back-up, back-up, back-up.  Through the help of my dear writer friends I have received many pages of my lost manuscripts.  But it’s the last chapters I had just finished that I had not shared with anyone that are gone.

Second:  Register your computer and then copy the serial and model numbers in an e-mail and mail them to yourself.

Third:  Install an alarm system in your home.  Many homes are being broken in to and this will help safe guard your house.  Secure your windows and doors.  Do not trust that just because you have lived in a neighbor for many years, you are safe.  My husband and I have lived in this house for 20 some odd years.

Fourth:  Someone suggested I get a dog.  Not quite ready for that.  But if that’s your thing, I have heard that a dog will discourage robbers.

Fifth:  Be angry.  Someone has invaded your space.  Put a hole in your comfort zone.  You have the right to feel violated.

Sixth:  After you have had your pissed-at-the-world time, be grateful that they did not hurt anyone.  That they just took stuff.  As mad as you are about that, Stuff can be replaced.  People cannot.

My new laptop arrived today. It’s like making a new friend.  I will piece my stories back together like a puzzle.  I can do this.  I am a writer.  Everything will be back-up three times to Sunday.

So is the saga of the Judester getting robbed.  I’m pretty sure I know who did it.  The POS that lives next door.  I would just shoot him, but he stole my gun!

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That’s right! The book, “Blue Jeans and Stilettos” arrived on Wednesday, May  11, 2011.  Yippee!  Here’s a pic of me showing off the cover.  We were all so excited to hold the actual first copy in our hands.  There’s no feeling like seeing your name on the cover of a book you wrote.

Holding a book in your hand and feeling the texture of the cover and smelling the aroma of those new book pages.  For writers, it’s the best.

Hope everyone can make it to the book’s actual book launch party on June 23, 2011!  Contact me for more details.  If you’re not able to attend, you can pre-order your autographed copy now!

Come join us for the fun!

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Coming in June 2011

An analogy of three,

Count ‘em three

Romance Stories by the:

HOT-Jordyn Meryl

“When Dreams Change”

HOTTER-C. Deanne Rowe

“It’s Better in the Dark”

HOTTEST-Maggie Rivers

“Take a Chance”

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A small quaint truly Italian cafe on the shores of the Mediterranean was the dream for Jessica. Failing to realize that her husband ambitions were another woman almost blew her plans apart. Stepping in as her bartender, Alejandro helps save her when he became not only her rescuer, but a man who brings out hidden feelings of desire. However, first Jessica must save her dream, even if it means a Plan B.  When her wayward husband returns, Jessica faces the decision of her future.

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Writers! Chance for full manuscript critique!!

Maria Zannini:

A Follower Contest!

http://mariazannini.blogspot.com/2011/01/follower-contest.html

From now until January 26, I am running a Follower Contest. Follow me on this blog or Facebook and be entered for a chance to win either a cool t-shirt or a manuscript critique (your choice of prize).

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‎”Never look down to test the ground before taking your next step; only he who keeps his eye fixed on the far horizon will find the right road.”
– Dag Hammarskjöld

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