Hello , Dawn and readers. It’s great to be on your blog today. I’m wondering if this type of experience has happened to any of you.
HOW TO LOSE A NEW FRIEND--FAST.
I purchase all my appliances from a local appliance store dealer that I have known since I was fourteen. That’s a long time. Let’s call him Jim, for anonymity’s sake.
One day, after I had a few short stories published, I walked around Jim’s store looking for a new microwave. He came over to me and asked me how the writing was going, etc. A middle-aged woman standing next to us overheard the conversation.
After I purchased my microwave, she came over and took my arm. “My name is Kelly, can I speak to you outside for a few minutes?”
What? She didn’t look dangerous, so I went along with her. Besides, my curiosity flipped into high gear.
Well, we introduced ourselves further, chatted about where we lived. Very nice lady. Then she dropped the bomb. “I heard you’re a published author. I have a book I wrote, would you be so kind as to read it and give me some pointers?”
She was so sweet with her big pleading eyes, I thought, why not. At least I’ll have a friend in my area and in the same field as I am. How great!
I agreed, and she ran to her car and brought me her un-subbed manuscript, her info written on the top of the first page. I told her I needed time and would call her in a few weeks then meet her back at Jim’s Appliance Store. The woman was elated.
Oh my, I started reading her story at home. Need I say how terrible it was? Obviously, she had never written a word in her life. Mostly narration, no scenes and she jumped from one place to another-- from train to plane, to city-to-city. Didn’t introduce or describe characters and I couldn’t follow the dialogue. I had no idea what the story was about. It was a garbled mess. I think the drift of the story was about some kind of vacation with all her family members. To this day, I’m not sure.
I didn’t know what else to do but to be honest with her and as tactful as possible.
We met at Jim’s, her eyes agleam with excitement. Honest, I was tactful.
It didn’t work.
Her face kept getting redder and redder, her lips tight with anger. Ten minutes later, she snatched the papers from my hand. Eyes shooting death at me, she said, “What do you know? You must not be much of a writer. My whole family absolutely loved this story.” She stuck up her nose and stomped to her car.
Alas, within weeks, I made a friend, then gone, poof. I do learn the hard way, but I did learn a lesson. Since then, I have learned to say NO to anyone who isn’t published.
Let me introduce you to one of my books.
Sheriff Cole Walker is fearless, except when it comes to critters. When a runaway ringtail monkey decides to adopt Cole and won’t leave, he has more woes than he can handle.
Cole has a powerful yen for the newly arrived Mattie Wells, the pretty woman who can jingle his spurs with just a smile. Mattie takes a shine to men who have pets, and she adores the monkey. So do all the town’s folk – until their smaller valuables start coming up missing. But Cole has no choice but to put up with the thieving furball if he’s going to win Mattie’s heart.
But Mattie is holding a dark secret and refuses to get married. Cole tries every which way to make her see that she’s the only woman he wants, but with cattle rustlers and a miniature thief on the loose, it’s all Cole can do to find time to take her to a picnic.
Cole and his deputies, Wade and Sully, are given a month to find the thieves before Mayor Farley calls for outside gunslingers. Cole knows that’ll spell disaster for the town and likely unemployment for him. Can he overcome Mattie’s fears, bring the rustlers in, and teach his new unwanted furball sidekick a lesson about property rights before the town implodes?
With the help of his deputies and his unwanted sidekick Beggar, Cole must find a way to win Mattie’s heart, bring the rustlers to justice, and bring peace once again to Cold Creek, Kansas.
Yep. Cole has a heap of trouble on his hands.
Teaser Excerpt:
“So,” Cole groused. “You’re gonna have dinner with Preston?”
Mattie nodded and her eyebrows pulled together. “Why do you have such a glum face?”
“I’m just looking out for you. You know he owns the Sundance Saloon, and uh….” How did he explain the kind of man Preston was? Silk-tongued and an overblown jackass.
Mattie put her hands on her hips. “I’m not a naïve schoolgirl, Mr. Sheriff. I’m older than most married women, so get that notion out of your head right now. I’ve met men like Thaddeus Preston before. I know about saloon women, bar fighting and such things. I did live in New York City. I don’t need anyone looking out for me.” Her eyes narrowed. “Do you think I’m a complete fool?”
Cole jerked back at the fire in her eyes. He felt like he’d just swallowed his whole boot. “No. Course not. I’m sorry I butted in.” Guess he had no right advising her, but he still didn’t have to like the idea.
“Well, I do thank you kindly for your concern, but I’ll have dinner with whomever I please.”
Cole tipped his hat. “Yes, ma’am.” Even spittin’ mad, she was so dang cute.
***
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Lorrie-Unites-Struiff/e/B0046DA65Q/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1357327879&sr=1-2-ent
About the Author:
Lorrie lives in West Mifflin, PA, thirty minutes from downtown Pittsburgh. She lives at home with her favorite toy—a computer.
Once a gold medalist teacher/manager for a big-name ballroom dance studio she has retired and now enjoys the quiet life of writing and watching TV. But she loves to have lunches with local writers to keep abreast of the challenging world of publishing.
Lorrie writes in many genres so you never know what she will come out with next. She never wants to bore her readers and enjoys the thrill of entertaining them by writing a good story.
She would love to hear from her fans at struiff@msn.com. Please put “reader” in the subject line. Thank you for choosing my book.
5 comments:
Well, a friend who can't accept well-meant criticism isn't really a friend. She was just looking for another acolyte and when you couldn't be that, she moved on. No loss to you. And really? Her family loved it? Isn't that almost mandatory that they tell you that? (Well, not mine, but they're different lol)
Don't let it bother you and keep on being yourself, Lorrie! You don't need friends like that. You always have me! I welcome your honesty :)
Go ahead, Lorrie. I can take it!
Gosh, Lorrie, you're having a busy day today. Enjoy! I like your excerpt too!
Great post, Lorrie. My goodness, no one needs a friend like that. Enjoyed your excerpt. :)
Kim
That woman was NUTS! CrAzY!!! Insane!!! You always give an honest crit in the most productive and possitive way.
I haven't developed that Rhino skin I've heard writers talk about but I am getting there. But there's a HUGE difference between an honest critique and a harsh one.
Way back when I first submitted a chapter to my critique group, I got a little heated with a harsh crit, ok, a lot heated. Later he admitted that his intension were meant to be hurtful because that's how his first sub was critiqued. (Lorrie-you know who I'm talking about. And I know, I know...I seriously need to let that go. lol)
And yes, friends and family will tell you what you wrote is fabulous, mine did and when I look back on at what I thought was a masterpiece...ha! ha!...They were lying!! So of course her family would love her story.
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