V.L. Locey: Tuesday Tales - Picture Prompt

This respite from the tension of Jon's life is most welcome. But why do I feel it's temporary? I love that Charlotte has fooled everyone. The secret is a wonderful one. Love this story.

TUESDAY TALES, PICTURE PROMPT

Welcome! Thanks for stopping by. This is the picture and the story is, tentatively, "Too Late for Goodbye." This is a work-in-progress and has not been edited. 

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Bill Tremont yanked open the car door. “Get in, Betty.”

     “Are you sure you want to do this?”

     “What the hell’s wrong with you, woman? Our daughter’s been missing going on a year now. And you think she’s just finished with us? Bullshit. I don’t buy it for a minute and I’m sick of sitting around listening to you make excuses. I’m driving to South Hampton now. You can either come with or stay home. The choice is yours.”

Betty Tremont got in the front seat. Her husband threw the car in gear and headed down Route 16 toward the highway. They had a good fifteen miles to go, Bill’s foot pushed down on the accelerator.

“Take it easy, Bill.”                                          

“Shoulda done this six months ago. Eight months ago!”

“What if she’s there and just doesn’t want to speak to us?”

“Then I’ll take her over my knee, give her a lecture and come home. At least I’ll know she’s alive.”

“Oh, Bill, you don’t really think she’s…”

He put his hand on her arm. “I don’t. But we’ve gotta know. Don’t get upset. If the news is bad, there’ll be plenty of time to lose it then.”

Betty patted his hand. “Always the voice of reason.”

They drove on in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Bill didn’t often lie to his wife, but he did today. She’d been able to read his mind very soon into their thirty year marriage. And this time was no exception. Grim thoughts about his daughter were what drove him behind the wheel. Betty voiced exactly what he had been thinking. Jackie’s dead. Why else would she lose contact with us?

Bill Tremont had a reputation as a truthful and curious man. He had to know, always. And the fate of his daughter was no exception. 

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MEET DEVON DRAKE, CORNERBACK & STORMY GREGORY

DEVON DRAKE, CORNERBACK

Welcome. Let me introduce Devon Drake and Stormy Gregory, hero and heroine of book 4 of the First & Ten series, but it can be read as a stand-alone. Here's a bit about the book:

Devon Drake, star cornerback, has it all: hot super model girlfriend and pro football career, or does he? A childhood friend wanders back into his life, upsetting his ideal existence. Is it finally time to tell her the truth about what happened fifteen years ago?

Stormy Gregory is on the run from a violent man. Her best friend offers her a safe place at the shelter for abused women and children. Grateful to be out of harm’s way, Stormy helps with a charitable event, not expecting to run into Devon Drake, her friend’s brother. Will she run again rather than face rejection?

Cracks in his perfect world threaten the cornerback’s starting lineup status. An unwelcome surprise short-circuits Stormy’s attempt to build a new life. Can they pull together or will the secret that separates the former friends keep them on a downward spiral?

Thanks for stopping by. Buy it in ebook or paperback here:

AMAZON

BARNES & NOBLE

ITUNES/APPLE

KOBO

GOOGLEPLAY

SMASHWORDS

AMAZON U.K.

PAPERBACK

CHECK OUT ALL THE FIRST & TEN BOOKS ON MY WEBSITE HERE

FREE PICTURES!

Hey all you authors and bloggers out there. I'm making some of the pictures I took free today. (No, sorry, not the red balloon that says "free photos".) So grab whatever you want from the photos below. No royalty necessary. Attribution would be appreciated, but not mandatory. Feedback is welcome, too. Enjoy!

BAD BOY BLOG HOP!

Welcome to the "Gotta Love a Bad Boy" Blog Hop! We have authors who are sharing their bad boys with us. Please visit all the authors. You never know when you'll win a prize! Thank you for coming:

V. L. LOCEY

KENZIE MICHAELS

KATHLEEN BALL

SUSANNE MATTHEWS

JEAN JOACHIM

M S SPENCER

TRICIA ANDERSEN

DO'S & DON'TS FOR ASPIRING AUTHORS

No, I'm not suggesting you have your pug write your book. Although my pug, Homer, does make a contribution by being my muse. 
I have 30 books of varying lengths published. I do get contacted by aspiring authors from time to time. 
Here's  my list of do's and don'ts for aspiring authors:

1. Never send a manuscript of any length to a published author unless he or she has requested it. Always ask first. It's presumptuous and downright rude to assume that the writer is doing nothing except sitting around, waiting for you to dump your 200 pages on him or her. 

2. Are you sure you want their critique? If the writer agrees to read your work, are you willing to take the hard truth about your writing? Or are you expecting the pro to tell you your ms. is the most brilliant piece of writing since Gone With the Wind and you should submit it to a top publisher immediately, without changing a comma? I can guarantee that's not going to happen. If you can't take the criticism, then don't ask. 

3. If the writer is too busy when you ask him or her to read your work, do not take offense. It isn't personal. Professional writers are not sitting around sipping coffee. They are writing, editing, researching, marketing, rereading. They are an extremely busy group. I never read ms. sent to me by aspiring authors. I simply don't have time.

4. Before you ask a writer to read your work, what have you done for them? Have you read his or her book or books? Have you left nice reviews? Have you liked and shared their posts on Facebook? No? Then I wouldn't even bother sending a request. Life is a two-way street. If you are only traveling one way -- asking for an enormous favor for yourself  while giving nothing in return--you're more than likely going to get turned down.

5. Study the craft by reading books on writing - Stephen King's book is the perfect place to start.

6. Buy Strunk & White's The Elements of Style. Memorize it. There should be no grammar or spelling errors in your book. You're responsible for fixing that.

7. Subscribe to Writer's Digest. It's one of the best magazines about writing there is. The articles in there are so rich, I often have to read them through again and again to absorb every morsel. 

8. Submit your work to an agent or publisher. Accept their critique with an open mind. If you get rejected, and you will, don't be discouraged.

9. Above all else, keep writing --if you truly want to be a writer. Gee, I said that already. It bears repeating. Writing isn't easy, but I love it and wouldn't do anything else for a living.

Comments welcome. Thanks for stopping by.

WHAT IS YOUR PET PEEVE? WHAT TICKS YOU OFF?

Grr! Okay, let it out - short rants welcome. What is one of your pet peeves? Here are three of mine:

1) Can't stand jealous people. Jealousy is one of the most destructive emotions. It breaks down friendships and families with hatred and resentment. And it's a total waste. Jealousy never builds anything up, it only tears down -- destroying the person who lets it into their hearts.  

2) Gotta say people who are late, chronically late, annoy the heck out of me. They show little respect for others, by assuming their time isn't nearly as important.  

3) People who show no respect for others' choices. If people would show basic respect for each other, we'd all live safer, happier lives. Tolerate, don't hate. 

What is your pet peeve? Leave yours in a comment. I'll post the top ten in a few days. 

Thank you for coming!

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