3/22/15 WEWRIWA

Yes, it snowed big time and now it’s melting on the first day of spring. Way cool. This has not been my best week, folks. A bout of Vertigo set me back a few days leaving me weak. Geez! When does it end? One step at a time and I’ll be fit again. Nothing stops this woman, right?

I continue with my WIP–Bridging the Gap. Last week James planned to buy his Anna white silk panties on the way home from the hospital and had a fainting episode right there on Main Street in front of the lingerie shop. Anna and Roscoe, their driver,hauled him back in the limousine and she called their friend, Dr. Cohen. He arrived at the same time  they did and up they went to the penthouse where James made it over to a leather couch and melted into it.

excerpt in eight:

Out came the stethoscope, penlight and all the other accoutrement the good doctor brought in his magic bag.

“This black bag is an antique handed down from my gramps to my dad and now me,” he patted the worn leather with worship in his blue eyes.
“Verdict?”

” Blood pressure’s a bit high but not to worry, I may have the solution.” Brad Cohen opened the other bag that had started to wiggle; like a magician, he pulled out a puppy. “She’s a therapy dog, a Beagle like Snoopy in the Charlie Brown cartoons only she’s a year and a half old and certified like a college degree for dogs because a lot of hard work and training goes into certification.”
The three humans watched the pooch sniff all around and suddenly climb up on Jimmy’s lap to lay her paws and head against his chest right under his chin. The CEO ‘s rough palms reached up to stroke the smooth coat of multi colors, white, brown, and a touch of black.

Anna ‘s eyes glistened with tears ready to fall; she held them in control.
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And Then She Said. . .3/21/15

She always refers to my grandest but today the she is our kitten, a smart little black kitty daughter gave to hubs last Father’s Day. Her name is Lily and she rules the house and the other two much older cats.

Lily must have overheard many conversations about us getting a small dog-a Schnauzer or a Beagle. Easy to walk, playful and fun. For older folks with a few aging probs- just last Wednesday, I had an attack of Vertigo-hello, who needs this? so small dogs are where it’s at. Of course, daughter has two big dogs, one a sweet Pit Bull and one a Lab mix, a honey but BIG!.She’s cautious about me walking them. So am I.

Back to Lily who doesn’t miss anything. She raced into the living room where we had just finished one last chat about a dog. Lily climbed on my lap and folks, I swear she said, “I did the math, we can’t afford a dog.” Then she jumped off my lap to terrorize the old lady, Harley, age nineteen leaving Don and I laughing our heads off. Case closed about a dog.

Thanks for listening.

A Moment With Harrison Ford. . . .

I have a sweet spot in my heart for Harrison Ford. When I heard his small plane crashed yesterday, it brought back memories of days when the World Trade Center was still in tact, when the word terrorists didn’t make us shiver too much, when my career as an actor had just begun, and a few months before I lost my first love. who never got to see the movie, Working Girl. That’s the day I shared a hot dog with the famous actor during lunch break outside where the word was Never Talk to the Stars. Or what,I thought? and walked right over and said, ” I loved your work in Witness, especially the scene in the barn where you sang, “Don’t know much about history. . .”

The handsome young man smiled his crooked smile and together we sang the song on that glorious Spring day.

Life has changed for us since then. He’s married, I met another super guy and married him a couple of years after my first love passed. My children have come and gone; daughter has given me the love of my life , my grandest granddaughter now just seven who teaches me more than I ever taught her and talented youngest son Paul married Eva Stengade- they live in Denmark and we Skype- a lot. Instead of acting, I write-twenty stories to my credit now.

I wish Harrison Ford a speedy recovery and best wishes. Who knows if he remembers our moment in time and who cares.

I do.

And Then SHe Said. . .

I thought I was “doing pretty good for an old lady” and then she said “Granny, grab your wrist, make a figure eight and touch your hip. Good. Again. Now change sides.” Forty five minutes of P90 every day. I can’t do the ‘sprawl’ but I do my version of one. And as for fast feet. UH huh.  I give it a try. The best fun is the little boss barking out orders. When I thank her, she beams with pride. “It’s okay, Grans.”

On the drive to Karate a couple of days ago, she asked me about my latest book. “What’s it about? “You’re in it, my girl.”

“Of course, I am.”

The joy of a granddaughter.

The first book with my grandest as a major character.

When the CEO of a major Construction Company claims a part of Celia
Brown’s property, he has no idea what he’s up against. The elderly
widow and her six year old granddaughter prepare for battle. River’s
Edge, the town that believes in kindness to strangers, jumps into the
fray. Add romance, kids, and pride to the mix; there are lessons to
be learned in Breaking New Ground.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/breaking-new-ground/id959096957
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-breakingnewground-1732108-149.html
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SEXCY40
SMASHWORDS for All EReader Devices
including PC and Mac
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/510695
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/breaking-new-ground-charmaine-gordon/1121090416

All That Glitters is Not Always Gold-The Oscars and me

I don’t know if anyone pays attention to the commercials during the Oscars but I do. Why? Because some years back, I was cast in a JCPenney commercial to be aired during the Oscars. Oh yes. It was titled First date. I was the ticket manager in a movie theater where a couple meets for the first time. She’s dressed in her nifty JCPenney outfit and he ‘s delighted to meet her. He comes to my window to buy two tickets. Got it so far, folks? No biggie, right.  So he asks me something and I interact-the key word here-by handing him the tickets, taking his money and smiling.

My paycheck arrives. It’s a regular check for the work with nothing added. Then a few months later, I see it on the Oscars. Wait a darn minute. I should get extra bucks for ‘interaction’ with the lead. So I called the union. Don’t you know, the next time I saw the commercial, they had CUT the close-up of the lead guy with me to save a few bucks.

Last night as I watched the Oscars, it all came back to me. I’m an author now of nineteen books, # twenty on the way and those days are long past. Suddenly JCPenney and all their commercials are right in front of me and I recall the frustration of me-the small fish in a big pond-fighting for my rights.

Oh well, I’ve never shopped there before and never will.

Show business; There’s nothing like it.

2/8/15 WEWRIWA

A week of celebration with my grandest becoming seven years old and what a marvelous pal she’s become watching after me. How time has changed with me growing older as she is obsessed with caring for me. “Watch out for the black ice, hold my hand, follow my lead.” And the laughs as we drive to religion and karate. What a joy.

Here we are on my favorite day, Sunday where weekend writers write eight sentences and learn from constructive critique.

Today I’ll post one more snippet from To Be Continued. After a book singing at Barnes &Noble this afternoon wher customers wanted to learn more about the ‘optioned’ for a television movie, I can’t stor thinking about the pool guy Maverick who adds some spice into the awful blow to Beth Malone’s life.

She learns that Maverick means separated from the herd and realizes her husband Frank did just that when he married her. Beth and Maverick have built a covered Olympic size pool so she can swim all year. One night he knocks on the locked door as she finishes her workout.

Excerpt in eight:
He shuffled around in his boots looking ashamed for disturbing her and then picked a towel off the rack and patted water from Beth’s arms, “Sorry. Didn’t mean to frighten you,  He dried Beth’s arms, and looked into her eyes.
They were close; so close she dripped on his cowboy boots.
Beth noticed once again the age lines around his eyes, creases next to the nice mouth and thought , no way was he a young kid; more like late thirties—early forties and she was definitely fifty eight.
What was the question she’d heard she’d heard in the ladies locker room at the club; how many times does forty go into fifty
eight?
He kissed her, stopped with the pats, pulled her wet self closer, and kissed the hell out of her. The climate controlled air upped an notch, bare toes left the puddled surface and steam came from Beth’s lycra swim suit that suddenly felt a size too small.
“Whoa,” Beth said but he didn’t whoa; instead he nibbled his way down Beth’s neck to her shoulder, slipped off the left strap and licked her skin as he continued with merciless kisses, a tongue Beth dreamed of when she was
young and every night since. “That day. . .I intruded on your private time and watched a beautiful lady dive and swim, graceful with so much power, I’ve wanted you ever since.”
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To Be Continued
in Audio, Paperback, and Kindle

Grandest is seven tomorrow. How did that happen.?

It’s hard to believe that the seven pound baby I helped raise is now seven,. She’s my best pal taking care of me always especially on these wintry days of ice and snow. She takes my hand and steers me around black ice until we reach my car, then hands over my book bag. Then she waits until I buckle my safety belt and off we go. Today is Karate class. On the way she announced that in March, a book she’s writing about ‘point of view’-did I know what that means? will be published and she has to rewrite it. It’s a take on Cinderella and the evil sisters. We discussed a possible cover. I suggested that I take the book Cinderella out from the New City Library and we’ll talk about possibilities.

What a joy to have her friendship , the tiny girl I once rocked to sleep and taught nursery rhymes. So like her mom, my daughter whom I treasure and now I have the two of them. Tomorrow, Poppa and I will celebrate her birthday with daughter. A small family affair that will continue adding more friends for a few days.My latest book, Breaking New Ground is about a grandmother and her granddaughter, CassidyRae. A bit of non-fiction mixed with a lot of humor and fiction.

When the CEO of a major Construction Company claims a part of Celia
Brown’s property, he has no idea what he’s up against. The elderly
widow and her six year old granddaughter prepare for battle. River’s
Edge, the town that believes in kindness to strangers, jumps into the
fray. Add romance, kids, and pride to the mix; there are lessons to
be learned in Breaking New Ground.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/breaking-new-ground/id959096957
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-breakingnewground-1732108-149.html
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SEXCY40
SMASHWORDS for All EReader Devices
including PC and Mac
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/510695
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/breaking-new-ground-charmaine-gordon/1121090416

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for anyone with heart! February 1, 2015

By Judith Audevard

Verified Purchase

What a wonderful story of love and humanity. The love of the granddaughter and grandma; the new love of a younger couple and the ever special love of mature seniors. Yes! It still happens! Beautifully written with poignancy and descriptions that put you right in the scenes. A must read for anyone with heart!

2/1/15 WEWRIWA

A new month begins. How I love February, month of my birth. More about that in a couple of weeks. Welcome to our wonderful community of writers where each week we post eight sentences and in return receive constructive critique to improve our writing.

This week I have a story to tell about me, an actor for many years who suddenly lost my voice. It’s called spasmodic dysphonia–not pretty when your voice is no longer there when you need it. A friend suggested I write a book. I laughed. Who me? I didn’t know how to use a computer back then and with no writing experience, how would I begin? Creative juices kicked in and I stumbled through a story. Someone mentioned query letters. I didn’t have a clue but I found out and sent them to the agents etc I thought might be interested. Actors are accustomed to rejection. No biggie, I thought as the first few came in. And here’s where it gets interesting. A publisher of children’s books up in Warwick, NY wanted to open an adult section and she contacted me. Before long I was published. A year later the small company closed.

Then I got a call from Chelle Cordero, who invited me to B&N at the Palisade Mall on a Friday night, local authors only. We met. She had eight books. I displayed my one and only. She bought my book and I reciprocated. I called to ask about her publisher, Vanilla Heart Publishing and got a wow review about Kimberlee Williams. Chelle suggested I call her. She also said she loved my first and only book and mentioned me to Kimberlee. So I called.

Big discussion ensued about me getting the rights to the first book. Alas, it didn’t work and then she asked what else did I have tucked away. I told her about To Be Continued. “Send me the manuscript. Let’s see what it’s all about.”

And that’s how my writing career began. Now I’ve signed an option for a television movie with a producer. Good things happen when you least expect. Put in the time and don’t give up.

blurb:

After a night of passion with her husband of forty years, not a common event any more, Elizabeth Malone wakes to find a note. “Dear Lizzie, it’s not you, it’s me.” Saddened to find daughter Susie’s attitude is so casual,”Dad’s just having a mid-life crisis, he’ll be back.” Beth is determined to re-establish herself as the winner she once was. When Frank Malone returns, he’s in for a big surprise!

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To Be Continued
in Audio, Paperback, and Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/Be-Continued-Charmaine-Gordon-ebook/dp/B0030IM65G

Don’t be “I used to do that” person

The other day daughter said she planned to paint the playroom. I said, “I can do that.” I recalled how I painted the house in Florida where she lived while going to Flagler College and later working as a fitness model.

“No, Mom. You used to do that.” Sadness swept over me. What was I thinking? At my age with back probs and more, I can’t even tap dance. Then I said, “I can sit on a step stool and paint the lower parts of the wall. Yes I can.” Right away my future brightened. I can do it. An ad for a commercial. This broad can figure out how to fit in no matter how old I am. So I’m asking you, my friends out there, don’t give up when life drops wicked items in your path. Survive and thrive is my motto. Let it be yours. Re-assemble yourself to fit an older maybe better image of yourself.

The stories I write are about women and men who overcome hurdles in life. I’m proud to say my first book with Vanilla Heart Publishing, To Be Continued, and this is before I knew much about the craft of writing, is optioned for a television movie. The story came to me in a dream. The next morning, I wrote. And continued to write until The End when I cried. I loved watching Beth Malone grow as a woman, a mother, take on tasks she’d never done before. She got over saying, this fictional character of mine, I used to do that and plunged in to become the woman she once was. Strong, efficient, and loved.

Blurb:

After a night of passion with her husband of forty years, Elizabeth Malone wakes to  find a note. “Dear Lizzie, it’s not you, it’s me.” Frustrated by daughter Susie’s attitude, “Dad’s having a mid life crisis; he’ll return, Beth decides to re-group and become the woman she used to be. When Frank Malone returns, he’s in for a big surprise!

To Be Continued
in Audio, Paperback, and Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/Be-Continued-Charmaine-Gordon-ebook/dp/B0030IM65G

1/4/15 WEWRIWA

Now it snows? And tomorrow we’re expecting 60 degrees then a plummet of temps for the rest of the week. New York, New York, it’s a wonderful town.

Welcome friends to WEWRIWA for snippets galore and the opp to use constructive critique the writing of fine writers.

This week- a bit more in my WIP- Breaking New Ground-title suggested by Evelyn Jules. A major Construction Company owned by the egotistical James Chandler claims to own part of the property the widow Brown has lived on for fifty years. This week -introducing Cindy Lou, Celia Brown’s granddaughter who lives with her temporarily while her mom-a Marine-is in Afghanistan. The six year old needs help with a first grade project.

excerpt in eight:
“I have to interview the oldest member of the family,” she pointed the flashlight to her Granny, and that’s you, Grans, wow, 80! you sure are way old;” she planted a wet kiss on Celia’s wrinkled cheek almost knocking her on the head with a heavy black flashlight and said, “Don’t ever die, Grans.”
“Okay I won’t if you promise not to bonk me and please tell me why are you holding that big clunker?”
Cindy giggled, “It’s for the interview, like a microphone so here we go, ready or not.”
A smile crept over Celia’s face; what fun spending quality time alone with her granddaughter while her mom’s deployed to Afghanistan like Marine after Marine, war after war, for generations the Brown family had served in one capacity or another.
A beam of light flashed into her faded blue eyes and Celia blinked as a deep voice came from Cindy’s sweet mouth, “Once upon a time you were six years old, just like me so where did you live and go to school?”
Caught up in the moment, Celia answered in a little girl’s voice. “Chicago, Illinois, and as if she’d never left the town and grown up, Celia saw the red brick school with a big sign. “Volta School. V.O.L.T.A. and my mommy bought me pretty dresses, laced up shoes, white ruffled socks and I always wore a big red bow in my hair but she didn’t like polishing my shoes ‘cause she had to wait for them to dry and use a clean cloth to make them shine.”
Cindy looked puzzled, “White shoe polish? Didn’t you have sneakers?
The clock turned forward to real time; Celia had a moment of dizziness as she came back to the present and said,
“Honey, we thought sneakers were bad men who sneaked around stealing things that didn’t belong to them”

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