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.”
for more snippets from talented writers:

http://www.wewriwa.com

To Be Continued
in Audio, Paperback, and Kindle

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

7/27/14 WEWRIWA

The end of July, oh no. How did this happen, folks? Grab onto every summer day and enjoy Sundays with WEWRIWA for constructive critique. I’ve been sharing snippets from To Be Continued for about six weeks and today I may end this coming of age story about a grown woman who, at fifty eight, spreads her wings and learns to fly. Last week, in her enclosed Olympic size pool, she enjoys a delicious romp in chlorine scented air with who else? The pool guy, Maverick. It’s the morning after. Beth wakes to the aroma of hot coffee in a mug close to her head. She’s covered in a large towel and hears her new younger lover’s voice from a distance.

excerpt in eight:

” Do ‘ya mind if I take some pics,” camera already whirring away, Maverick’s deep voice echoed across the pool.

In one swift motion, Beth covered her face with the towel, pictures of Rumpled Beth-skin, no way lover boy, not in your life or mine.

She peeked over the edge of the towel to see Maverick photographing the enclosure, plants and decor at the far end. Wrapped up she made a dash for the door calling, “If you’re hungry, I’ll be in the kitchen.”

The fastest transformation in her history left the energetic,woman radiant, full of creative ideas that included the not-as-young-as he looked man who entered her more than once last night.

Maverick’s slow smart-ass grin took on special meaning when he admitted, “One big bucks guy wanted to see the enclosure so I took pics figuring they would be a terrific boost for my business.”

Beth gathered her thoughts and rapid fire spit them out,”Since I designed my baby from the beginning, Maverick, what’s in it for me?”

You can come of age at any age.   

for more snippets from talented authors

http://wewriwa.com

buy links for To Be Continued:

PRINT – http://www.amazon.com/To-Be-Continued-Charmaine-Gordon/dp/1935407430

Kindle – http://www.amazon.com/To-Be-Continued-ebook/dp/B0030IM65G

AllRomance Ebooks – https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-tobecontinued-395548-149.html

Smashwords for All Ereaders – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7283

Thanks for your support, my friends.

7/20/14 WEWRIWA

Oh no, July is flying by and I’m not ready. One day at a time so calm day and enjoy every moment, I tell myself.

Welcome to WEWRIWA where we believe constructive critique helps us to grow as writers.

Thanks to Teresa Cypher’s’ comment last week, today’s eight is about the flame lit by Maverick, the pool guy. His kind attention to my heroine helps  her believe she is special again after husband Frank threw her under the bus by leaving.  The pool enclosure is heated, decorated like a tropical paradise inside and Beth swims every day and night. Maverick shows the plans to a wealthy perspective buyer and excited, stops by one night to tell her. To her annoyance, he knocks on the enclosure door.

excerpt in eight:

Opening the door enough for him to enter, she locked it again and said, “What in the world are you doing here?”
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. “ I uh, was passing by, saw the lights on in the pool house and wanted to tell you about, uh, to make sure you were okay.”
Beth noticed once again the age lines around his eyes and figured he was about late thirties —early forties and she was definitely fifty eight and she wondered  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 a 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 she heard him say I want to make love to you right now, if that’s okay.
Once she said okay, her soon-to-be-lover peeled off tight jeans and stood up, literally, in the smallest underwear she’d ever seen.

for more snippets from talented authors:

http://wewriwa.com

buy links for To Be Continued:

PRINT – http://www.amazon.com/To-Be-Continued-Charmaine-Gordon/dp/1935407430

Kindle – http://www.amazon.com/To-Be-Continued-ebook/dp/B0030IM65G

AllRomance Ebooks – https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-tobecontinued-395548-149.html

Smashwords for All Ereaders – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7283

7/6/14 WEWRIWA

God Bless America. When I read the history of how our country came to be, I’m awed by the efforts put forth in creating our United States of America.

Welcome to Sunday at WEWRIWA. Today I continue with the reawakening of Beth Malone. Rising from the ashes of a disastrous marriage, she moves on. Beth reaches out to daughter Susie in today’s eight. Susie is a teacher who lives with her boy friend, Javier. She’s always been daddy’s best girl and just knows that her father is going through a mid-life crisis and will return to Beth before long. Susie is stopping by to have a sandwich and cookies before Parent’s night at her school.

 

excerpt in eight:

Susie kicked off her shoes and headed for the comfortable kitchen sniffing the air.
“Thanks for taking the time to bake my faves, Mom, I really appreciate the effort.” Chomping on a cookie, she said,“Javier thinks you’re very brave and mothers should be revered and taken care of, especially in time of need and that I better clean up my act.” Susie bit into another cookie, swallowed and started in on the toasted ham and Swiss cheese Beth prepared for her.
Beth thought for a moment and said,”That’s lovely of Javier for understanding this has been the worst time of my life and I’m virtually alone in dealing with my loss.”
But Susie, I’ve always loved you and felt left out when you and your father had secret jokes and special times together.”
“Mom,” Susie stood up ready to leave, “Unfortunately, I have to get back to school but you’re right and Javier is right and please don’t take all the blame for what’s happened in the past ’cause I’m old enough to admit I’ve been acting like a brat.”

Hopeful after her daughter left, Beth prepared for tonight’s dinner with her only friend so far, the pool guy, Maverick.

for more snippets from talented authors:

http://www.wewriwa.com

 

buy links for To Be Continued:

PRINT – http://www.amazon.com/To-Be-Continued-Charmaine-Gordon/dp/1935407430

Kindle – http://www.amazon.com/To-Be-Continued-ebook/dp/B0030IM65G

AllRomance Ebooks – https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-tobecontinued-395548-149.html

Smashwords for All Ereaders – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7283

 

6/22/14 WEWRIWA

Hi gang, slick on some sunscreen and enjoy this glorious summer weather. But first take time out for our intrepid weekend warrior writers where snippets of eight sentences await your perusal and constructive critique.

This week I move along with To Be Continued. Beth Malone takes hold and makes plans for a future without a husband. Once a star swimmer, she forced her husband to let her have an Olympic size heated pool paid for by herself-the one battle she’d won in forty years. The weather forecast indicated a string of good weather for March. Time to call the pool guy. Beth never met him. Frank took care of business. Time to step up to the plate and make the call.

excerpt in eight:
Beth sat by the glass slider doors in a daze watching the pool guy thinking what’s his unusual name; Martino, Mercutio, uh, no, Maverick, yes, his muscles rippled as he worked strong and capable.
A knock at the slider door interrupted her reverie; his energy filled the room making Beth feel insignificant by comparison.

“All finished; added a big dose of Shock to clear the water, be back tomorrow to vacuum, add chemicals, get the heater going so by the end of the week you can swim.”

His deep voice rattled off information she’d never thought about before and then she heard, “Miz Malone, Doctor pays the first bill today, if you don’t mind.”
She stared into the kindest blue eyes she’d ever seen; “Monthly bill?”
“Opening the pool is a separate fee paid at the time I do the work and this pool is so special . . .”
She glanced up to see Maverick, tee shirt stretched across his tan muscular upper body, arms folded
across his chest, waiting.

The Doctor’s gone,” she said, “gone like he flew the coop, gone like bye-bye, hasta la vista, ciao, fare thee well, auf weidersehn, have a nice day” and with a helpless gesture of her hands Beth giggled and couldn’t stop as she wrote a surprisingly large check for the upkeep of the one thing she’d fought for years ago and Frank finally had to give in.

for more snippets from talented writers:

http://www.wewriwa.com

 

Now Available in Audio

PRINT – http://www.amazon.com/To-Be-Continued-Charmaine-Gordon/dp/1935407430

Kindle – http://www.amazon.com/To-Be-Continued-ebook/dp/B0030IM65G

AllRomance Ebooks – https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-tobecontinued-395548-149.html

Smashwords for All Ereaders – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7283

Free Book Club Discussion Packet – http://store.payloadz.com/go?id=912108

6/15/14 WEWRIWA

Hi Gang. It’s almost summer solstice. How did that happen so soon? One minute Spring arrives, you turn around and it’s Summer and the living is easy. Welcome to our happy constructive critique group where we write eight sentences and open ourselves to listen and learn.

Today I write a bit more about my heroine, Beth Malone’s first night since husband Frank left her. The book is titled To Be Continued and Beth learns before long, that’s exactly what she must do. Life goes on. Eventually she’ll become the winner she once was.

I appreciate your comments and learn more every week.

excerpt in eight:

She called her daughter; “I have something terrible to tell you.”
“Oh hi, Mom, if it’s about Dad, he told me he was going to leave and I think it’s a mid-life crisis so don’t take it too seriously. I
mean, I’ve heard about things like this and the husband always crawls home.”
Stunned, for a moment Beth couldn’t speak; “He told you before he sneaked out in the night?”
“Well, yeah, you know Dad and I have always been close but don’t worry, he’ll come back.”
 “And you didn’t warn me, Susie; first your father betrays me and now you.”
“Mother, calm down, I’m sorry your feelings are hurt, and yes, Dad leaving like this was a rotten thing to do.
Liz’s voice rose. “Hurt? You have no idea. . .” her daughter had hung up.
I thought I had a life,Beth glanced around the room with swollen eyes, and now I have nothing.

for more snippets from talented authors:

http://wewriwa.com                                                                                            

Now Available in Audio

PRINT – http://www.amazon.com/To-Be-Continued-Charmaine-Gordon/dp/1935407430

Kindle – http://www.amazon.com/To-Be-Continued-ebook/dp/B0030IM65G

AllRomance Ebooks – https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-tobecontinued-395548-149.html

Smashwords for All Ereaders – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7283

Free Book Club Discussion Packet – http://store.payloadz.com/go?id=912108

6/8/14 WEWRIWA

Welcome to Weekend Writer Warriors, the best constructive critique group a writer could ever join. Always on Sunday, always reliable, and there’s always something to learn.

This week I’m moving on with To Be Continued, my first book published by Vanilla Heart Publishing. As a newbie, I had a lot to learn about writing, my skill as an actor proved to be helpful. Last week I painted the opening scene with a happy Elizabeth Malone waking up after a night of damn good sex with her husband Frank of forty years. Then she finds the letter he’s left her. Gone who knows where, taken his clothes, shipped out in the dead of night. The note said, “It’s not you, it’s me.” And a bit more about divorce papers and the house is hers, blah, blah. With her mother long passed on, she struggles to survive, her racing thoughts attempt to think clearly.

excerpt in eight:

Mom, you were the one who told me to marry Frank; thoughts tumbled over; Beth held her throbbing head, tried to think coherently to no avail with the past and present mixed in a kaleidoscope. Frank loves me ‘cause I’m a winner/ No-nonsense Coach says “Go to college on the scholarship—train for the Olympics, Mom/Frank/Coach pulling me until I almost fell apart. I have no one to turn to except for daughter Susie who idolizes her father; how did everything that seemed so right go so wrong?
Beth shivered and cried out, “I gave up swimming, a chance for Olympic gold, my college scholarship for you, Frank, doesn’t that count for something?” She pulled at the towel wrapped around her, “When did I stop being a winner and become a loser?”  Hurling the towel toward the bed where it landed with a soggy splat, she looked at her nakedness. She lifted small breasts and let go, no bounce; gazed at all her parts in pretty fair shape from swimming and diving for more years than she wanted to remember. She cried out, “Not young enough for you, Frank?” her voice ricocheted around the room and boomeranged back–not young enough–not anything enough–not enough.

for more snippets from talented authors

http://wewriwa.com

 

Now Available in Audio

PRINT – http://www.amazon.com/To-Be-Continued-Charmaine-Gordon/dp/1935407430

Kindle – http://www.amazon.com/To-Be-Continued-ebook/dp/B0030IM65G

AllRomance Ebooks – https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-tobecontinued-395548-149.html

Smashwords for All Ereaders – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7283

Free Book Club Discussion Packet – http://store.payloadz.com/go?id=912108

6/1/14 WEWRIWA

Yippee! It’s Sunday. I just finished She Never Said Yes and must reread before sending it to the the fearless leader. Thanks, lovely friends, who helped me through the agony and ecstasy of the WIP.

Today, I will take you on a journey, my very first book, To Be Continued, Vanilla Heart Publishing. Never dreaming a few years later a production company would call offering an option for a television movie. I’ve heard from them recently. It’s still in the works and that’s fine with me. One of the reasons I’m reliving this book, parts of it, is to spread hope and good wishes to all my writing pals. Never give up. Love what you write and keep going.

Elizabeth Malone wakes up the morning after an amazing night of passion with her husband of forty years to find a note: Dear Lizzie, it’s not you, it’s me. Abandoned by her husband, disappointed in daughter Susie’s casual attitude Dad’s having a mid-life crisis, Beth decides to re-establish herself as the winner she once was. When Frank Malone returns, he’s in for a big surprise!

excerpt in eight:

Sun sneaked through blinds, her eyes shut tight not quite ready to open, Elizabeth Malone wanted to revel in memories of the great sex she and Frank, her husband of forty years, had last night; at his insistence, for God’s sake. She practically had to seduce him before they did it anymore; was on the verge of suggesting those little blue pills the girls talked about, when out of nowhere he became amorous.
Fingers crept along the sheets searching for her mate as they groped to where Frank could be found most early mornings except on golf days or scheduled surgery.
Turning her head, she called his name and at the same time she saw an envelope lying on top of the pillow.  A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth and she sat up, a heap of green satin lay on the floor next to the bed, evidence of last night’s pleasure.
Stumbling off the bed, letter clutched in her hand, she groped for reading glasses, found them, dropped them, on hands and knees patting the carpet, found them again she read:
Dear Lizzie, It’s not you, It’s me: I have decided I must make a change in my life so I sold my half of the practice to George, left the house to you and signed my portion of divorce papers so whenever you’re ready, call Bruce.”
  She leaped up—made it to the toilet and after retching she cried, “Oh God, What an I going to do?”

For more snippets from talented writers:                                    

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buy links:

PRINT – http://www.amazon.com/To-Be-Continued-Charmaine-Gordon/dp/1935407430

Kindle – http://www.amazon.com/To-Be-Continued-ebook/dp/B0030IM65G

AllRomance Ebooks – https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-tobecontinued-395548-149.html

Smashwords for All Ereaders – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7283

Free Book Club Discussion Packet – http://store.payloadz.com/go?id=912108

 

Review by LASR:

Rising from the ashes of a burned-out marriage, Elizabeth feels like forty years of her life went up in smoke. Her successful husband, Dr. Frank Malone sneaked away in the night leaving only a note.

With a daughter that “pooh-poohs” the whole thing as just a temporary mid-life crisis and “friends” that avoid her, Elizabeth must rely on herself. Even her longtime lawyer turns out to be a stinker.

The Elizabeth that once was, before subverting her aspirations and becoming Dr. Frank Malone’s wife and Susie’s mother, begins to find herself–and what a self it is. The emotional journey she makes magnifies that life is to be continued, even if old dreams and an old marriage die.

Everyone should be fortunate enough to have a new friend like Lisa, a pool man like Maverick (WOW), a new lawyer like Elise Bergen, and a Sister Mary Margaret type to help rekindle the fire to be a “winner” after feeling like a total “loser”. Besides these supportive new people in her life, Elizabeth’s life is influenced by a tempting but troubled psychiatrist that wrote a book entitled “Get A Grip”, a remarkable son-in-law, and some super guests at “The Night for Possibilities” not the least of which is Sam Taylor.

Charmaine Gordon brings the characters to life with humor, decisive action, shared tears and stories. In To Be Continued Ms. Gordon takes the reader from a situation of despair to one of joy and love with lots of living done with mature and some not-so-mature exuberance.

To Be Continued with a survive-and-thrive attitude is captivating.

“It’s Not You, it’s me.” Is this a joke or the beginning of a book?

My first book, To Be Continued, begins like this. Without knowing much about writing, fearlessly I plunged right in.  

Liz Malone wakes up after a hot night of romance with her husband, for God’s sake—she thought she’d have to slip a little blue pill in his drink—they hadn’t had sex in so long, and finds a note from him. “Dear Lizzie, it’s not you, it’s me…” He’s flown the coop; her daughter says it’s a mid-life crisis-he’ll return. Betty, a champion swimmer at an early age, gave up her dream of Olympic Gold to marry the handsome medical student Frank Malone. He said she was a winner and coveted Betty for his own trophy. Her mother’s delight. Her coach’s nightmare. Forty years later, she’s left with Susie, Daddy’s girl, a home and considerable income and the one thing she fought for in forty years of marriage—an Olympic size pool.
Enter Maverick, the pool guy. He’s ambitious, kind, and ruggedly handsome. They strike up a friendship and collaborate in building a pool enclosure so Betty, now called Beth, may swim all year. Heated, of course, as their relationship is about. . .
What if I’d written, “It’s you, not me.”? Four years later I wonder if the book, now optioned for a television movie–YIPPEE!–and a hot seller in audio, print and eformat had interested Vanilla Heart Publishing with that for a twist. No going backwards. To Be Continued is a winner. The title indicates a follow-up story. Hmm. Too busy right now but that’s an idea.

When a producer called and said he loved the dialogue and was interested in an option, I cried and called Kimberlee Williams, at VHP. She’s in charge now.

Meanwhile, my friends, consider To Be Continued when you want to pamper yourself or your Mom.

5 Star Review from Long and Short Reviews:

Rising from the ashes of a burned-out marriage, Elizabeth feels like forty years of her life went up in smoke. Her successful husband, Dr. Frank Malone sneaked away in the night leaving only a note.

With a daughter that “pooh-poohs” the whole thing as just a temporary mid-life crisis and “friends” that avoid her, Elizabeth must rely on herself. Even her longtime lawyer turns out to be a stinker.

The Elizabeth that once was, before subverting her aspirations and becoming Dr. Frank Malone’s wife and Susie’s mother, begins to find herself–and what a self it is. The emotional journey she makes magnifies that life is to be continued, even if old dreams and an old marriage die.

Everyone should be fortunate enough to have a new friend like Lisa, a pool man like Maverick (WOW), a new lawyer like Elise Bergen, and a Sister Mary Margaret type to help rekindle the fire to be a “winner” after feeling like a total “loser”. Besides these supportive new people in her life, Elizabeth’s life is influenced by a tempting but troubled psychiatrist that wrote a book entitled “Get A Grip”, a remarkable son-in-law, and some super guests at “The Night for Possibilities” not the least of which is Sam Taylor.

Charmaine Gordon brings the characters to life with humor, decisive action, shared tears and stories. In To Be Continued Ms. Gordon takes the reader from a situation of despair to one of joy and love with lots of living done with mature and some not-so-mature exuberance.

To Be Continued with a survive-and-thrive attitude is captivating.             

 

To Be Continued by Charmaine Gordon

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PRINT – http://www.amazon.com/To-Be-Continued-Charmaine-Gordon/dp/1935407430

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AllRomance Ebooks – https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-tobecontinued-395548-149.html

Smashwords for All Ereaders – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7283

Free Book Club Discussion Packet – http://store.payloadz.com/go?id=912108