Thursday, December 31, 2015


January 1, 2016

Happy New Year! Did you get everything you wanted from Santa? Have you made your New Year’s Resolution yet? Mine are to eat healthier, be happy, love unconditionally, to finish writing the book(s), and make a best seller list. May 2016 bring you love, happiness, and success in all you do.


In this Issue:
Quote of the Month: 
Featured Authors:  
Celebrating Elvis
Recipe of the Month: 
News/Updates: 
Upcoming Book Signings/Appearances
Coming Next Month


Featured Author:  Carol Hooper

The inspiration for my first novel came from the small town that my husband and I own our “retirement” house in. While it’s not actually as near the beach as the place in the novel is, it’s close enough. The characters and setting came from my love of all things southern - the slower pace of life, the closeness of community, and love of food!

 After a disastrous relationship break-up, Gus Stewart moves back to her childhood home in North Carolina. Reuniting with her parents, Thomas and Charlotte, and her best friend RaeAnne, they soon face heartbreak and tragedy. With the help of family, a new boyfriend, and quirky small town characters, Gus and RaeAnne learn the importance of grace and growth. Through laughter and tears, humor and sarcasm, the residents of the small beach town come together to experience forgiveness, love, and most of all, healing.


Main Street was still fairly quiet when Gus pulled up to Delta’s. The day was getting more humid as it went along. Since Gus had just gotten out of the shower, she had her hair pulled back in a ponytail. She prayed Delta or Staci could work wonders on it.
“Augusta Stewart, get over here and give me a hug! I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever!” Delta squealed and ran over to Gus, enveloping her in a big squeeze.  Then again everything about Delta was big and dramatic. From her hair - bottle blonde thank you; to her outfits - size small top on a large body; to her shoes - sequin high heels. The whole town wondered how she could stand on them for as long as she did during the day.
Delta tended to wear outfits with colors that no sane person would think of putting together. She and Lula had a lot in common. Today it was a neon pink top with chartreuse looking plaid pants and those famous sequin shoes.
“Delta, I don’t know where you come up with your looks!” Gus exclaimed.
“I know, girl. My closet should be starring on one of those reality fashion shows, don’t you think?” Delta grinned like the Cheshire cat.
Gus laughed. It really had been a long time since she had her hair cut at Delta’s. When she lived in Vermont, she frequented a small salon located close to her work. Quiet the opposite in interior design of Delta’s Clip ‘n Color. Interspersed between the obligatory posters of shoulder length and pixie cuts were pictures of country music stars. Tammy, Elvis, Merle, Dolly, and Patsy smiled down at you from every angle. If you were a heavy metal fan, you got your haircut in another town. 


Celebrating Elvis:  If it’s one thing I’d never thought I’d read it was an Elvis Presley mystery. Yep, you read correctly.  Kill Me Tender, by Daniel Klein is both entertaining and left me wishing Elvis had actually done some non-musical movies. And if you can’t get enough, there are three other murder mysteries featuring Elvis.  I found mine at Dollar General, but check for them at Amazon.

When he left to serve in the Army, Elvis loved the music. Now that his tour is over and he is back as a civilian, Elvis struggles to regain the heart and soul that made him the King.

Elvis soon becomes aware that someone is killing the presidents of his Tennessee fan clubs. He also begins to receive records parodying his top hits. Not one to sit around munching on fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches, Elvis begins an investigation into the murders, using the guise of an Elvis impersonator.


Here are other ways to celebrate the King of Rock-N-Roll’s Birthday.

Parties:
·       Join the fun in Memphis as Graceland celebrates Elvis’ Birthday on January 7-10, 2016. Ticket Info Here

·       Parkes Elvis Festival, January 6 - 10, 2016, Parkes, New South Wales, Australia. More Info Here

Movies (too many to list, but you can find a complete listing here):
·       Loving You, 1957
·       Viva Las Vegas, 1964
·       Tickle Me, 1965
·       Speedway, 1968
Music (find a bigger listing here):
·       In the Getto (From Elvis in Memphis, 1969)
·       Return to Sender (Girls! Girls! Girls!, 1962)
·       Devil in Disguise (Rock ‘n On Vol. 2, 1975)
·       Exodus (the lost 1971 Album)


Recipe of the Month:
 White Beans and Kielbasa

½ pound kielbasa, skin removed, quartered and sliced
2 (19 oz) cans white kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 onion whole
1 clove garlic
1 tbps sugar
1 cup water

1.    Combine all the ingredients in the slow cooker.
2.    Cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours.
3.     Discard the onion and garlic, and serve.
Serves 4



News/Updates: 

Readers of all romance genres, do you love free books from great authors? Or are you an author with a 2015 publication? The National Reader’s Choice Awards (NRCA), OKRWA’s prestige yearly contest, is now open. Go to this link for more information on contest rules and signing up to judge: http://okrwa.com/contests/nrca/ 

Upcoming Book Signings / Appearances:
©    3rd Saturday of Month:  OKRWA Monthly Meeting, OKC Museum of Art
©    April 13-17, 2016:  Romantic Times Reader Convention, Las Vegas, NV at the Rio Hotel and Casino

Coming Next Month:  Valentine’s Day

With much gratitude, until next time…keep reading.

Maxine
Spark your imagination and entice your mind
Be adventurous in your own mind
Take a journey into a new world and be inspired
Enjoy the pleasures of reading ~~
It does the mind and body good.
  

New Year Card With Direction Board Stock Photo image courtesy of digitalart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

2 comments:

  1. Fantastic issue, Maxine! Carol, I love that you got your setting for your novel from the small town where you have a retirement home. I love southern novels and yours sounds like a great read.

    Hmmm...I'm not sure about making Elvis a character in a novel. I love mentioning him in my books, but there's something a little eerie about reading him as a fiction character, but as 'him' too. Intriguing, though, I'll have to check it out.

    I'm all about celebrating all things Elvis, and I LOVE all the mentions of him in this newsletter...great job!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Alicia! I had fun writing it. I hope you enjoy the story when you get a chance to read it.

    ReplyDelete