Summer in the Cities!

 

By: Marcia King-Gamble

www.lovemarcia.com

 This July, I thought I’d take my reader friends for a trip around the world to experience the events many cities offer.  It’s summer after all, and fter a year of lockdown, people are looking forward to getting out.

First up is Wimbledon. The Grand Slam of all grand slams. This much awaited tennis tournament took place at the All England Lawn and Tennis Croquet Club. After being canceled in 2020, Wimbledon kicked off on June 28^th and ended on July11th.  For those of us who couldn’t be there in person, we cheered in front of the television.

Second up is a national holiday every red-blooded American celebrates. It’s 4^th of July or Independence Day; the day America declared its independence from Great Britain. Fire up the barbecue, get out those pool floats and, fireworks and parades.

France has its Bastille Day (July 14^th), probably its biggest national holiday. It's a celebration of the event that triggered the French Revolution when an angry mob stormed the Bastille. Today, fireworks, festivals and food are the order of the day.

Heading for Japan? Put Marine Day on your calendar. Usually celebrated the third Monday in July, this year it was changed to July 22nd to coincide with the day before the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympicsctd the annual Celebration of Light. Billed as one of the city's signature summer events, the festival of lights literally lights up Vancouver’s English Bay for three nights at the end of July. Historically, three countries compete to wow the crowds with their musical fireworks launched off a floating barge in the bay.     

   

And even if the festivities in your part of the world were postponed until next year, you now have something to look forward to. In 2022 you can head for London;s Hyde Park and celebrate British Summer Time. The likes of Duran Duran and Pearl Jam will provide entertainment. Why not party with London’s finest?

Coming in October 2021.

 

About Marcia King-Gamble

Romance writer, Marcia King-Gamble originally hails from a sunny Caribbean Island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue. This former travel industry executive has spent most of life in the United States. A National Bestselling author, Marcia has penned over 34 books and 8 novellas. She has contributed to Michael Fiore’s DigitalRomanceInc and served as a moderator on the now defunct eHarmony advice boards.  Having witnessed the bad, the ugly, and the not so good in relationships, she still prefers to write about happily ever after. Caring for her animal family keeps her grounded and sane.

Visit Marcia at www.lovemarcia.com or “friend” her on Facebook: http://bit.ly/1MlnrIS

Be sure to join her newsletter mailing list.

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Showers of Riches by Liz Flaherty #RomanceGems

A week or so ago, when I said, Sure, I'll write a post for a vacant day, I threw that title up there at the top to save my place. "Showers of Riches." Because, you know, showers for April. Riches because...well, because no one had used it yet. And because, when I went to adding them up, April does indeed offer an abundance of them.

Both of my parents were born in April, as were my oldest son and two of my grandkids. That same son married my beloved daughter-in-law 31 years ago on the 30th. I am grateful beyond measure.

But this is a writing blog, isn't it, and my writing life hasn't been quite so enriched in past years. While I'm happy for those who've had great years and who are embracing the changes I can't quite keep up with--actually, there's no "quite" to it; I can't keep up, period--I've spend most of the past several years wondering about my place in publishing. In the inimitable words of Clash, "Should I stay or should I go?"

Of course, it was never a real tossup. I'm staying. Probably until they withdraw the mouse from my cold, dead hand. But I've talked about quitting so much my friend Nan rolls her eyes and my husband completely ignores me. (He does that on other occasions, too, but we're not talking about that today.)

So I did what writers always do. I asked my friends what it was like for them.

Kari Lemor said, "Every time I look at my dashboard and see days and weeks of no sales, I think 'what's the point?' But then the stories in my head nag at me to write them. I'm not really given a choice."

Well, yes, there is that...and Nancy Fraser agreed. "Like Kari, the stories that pop into my head keep me going. I'd hate think how crowded it would get in there if I didn't get them out."

Marcia King-Gamble said, "After writing as many as five books a year, and managing a demanding full time job, traditional publishing underwent a change.  Publishers began buying  a different kind of book. Sex really does sell. My income took a hit, but I couldn't not write. There's still a market out there for readers who want good stories with a slower sensual build."

From Bonnie Edwards: "I'm not sure what my mind would be full of. Without writing I envision a huge black void, like the deepest reaches of space...infinite, cold and alone. What would I fill that with if not characters and stories?

The whole idea is terrifying."

M. J. Schiller said, "I've never thought of quitting, but scaling back on marketing, yes! I have a few more books I want to get out and aggressively market and the others I will take more time with and make it more of a hobby than a job."

From Jan Scarbrough: "Writing is part of my identity. When I was getting chemo last summer, I couldn’t volunteer, I couldn’t go horseback riding, but I could write."

Kara Watson says: "I keep publishing so I can make my characters real. If they stayed in a manuscript on a laptop, no one else would ever get to know them. And that's so sad to me."

From Amie Denman: "Writing makes me happy, and I need a place for all the stories in my head!"

For myself, once I asked this question, I thought over and over about how many 1000s of words I've written since the beginning of the pandemic. Did it make my voice different? Uh-huh. But it gave writers an endless and bottomless place to put our frustration. It reminded us every day that even masked and distanced, we could still laugh, love, and work. 

Quit? Oh, no. Not going to happen.

Thanks to everyone for their answers to my "help me with this!" question. Both the variety and the sameness in the answers reflect back to the blog title, don't they? Whether we are traditionally, indie, or hybrid published, our voices and the methods in which we use them are indeed showers of riches. 

Of course, that prose is a little purple: showers of riches, indeed. Hmph. Obviously, I need an editor. 

April Showers Bring May Flowers!

April has always represented optimism to me.  Optimism and hope. For those living in places where there are four seasons, it also means Spring is on the horizon.

With spring comes hope, especially for those experiencing a gloomy winter. When I lived up North, the first sightings of daffodils and crocuses made me do a happy dance.  It still does. Fifty something degree weather had me putting on shorts.

Even after the dismal year we’ve had, April still brings with it hope and promise. The promise of a new tomorrow can only be good. Because of this, I am going to dub this post ‘Showered with April blessings.’ Why not find the silver lining in every cumulus cloud? There is still much to be thankful for.

So, that said, April 2021 may just be the perfect time to count our blessings.

First, and after some initial confusion, most states finally have access to the long awaited COVID vaccine. That makes most of us feel safe, or at least safer.

April, is also considered a precursor to warm weather. While it isn’t quite time to crank up the air conditioning, it’s the perfect time to crank down the heat. This means we’re saving dollars and lowering our electric/ gas bill.

The good news is schools are opening back up and so are office buildings. Those laid off are being called back to work, and unemployment is on the decline.

For those in the travel industry, like me, who were greatly affected, we have hope that we’ll be called back to work.  While the big cruise liners aren’t sailing, some of the smaller boats are.  This gives us hope that states like Florida, dependent on the cruise industry for revenue, are on their way back.

What’s nice about this April is seeing folks out and about again. Restaurants are back in business and people are gathering to socialize, even if it means wearing a mask.

With Memorial Day around the corner, we can plan on having those customary barbecues. It will be a reunion of sorts since most of us haven’t seen close family members in over a year.

Street fairs and concerts are on again, and wouldn’t it be nice for our readers to get out. Take that book to your favorite park, or browse your bookstore, find a comfortable seat, and simply enjoy.

This April 2021 we are showered in blessings.  Optimism is in the air. We are all looking forward to getting back out there.

About Marcia King-Gamble

Romance writer, Marcia King-Gamble originally hails from a sunny Caribbean island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue. This former travel industry executive has spent most of life in the United States.

A National Bestselling author, Marcia has penned over 34 books and 8 novellas. She has contributed to Michael Fiore’s DigitalRomanceInc and served as a moderator on the now defunct eHarmony advice boards.  Having witnessed the bad, the ugly, and the not so good in relationships, she still prefers to write about happily ever after. Caring for her animal family keeps her grounded and sane.

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February And its Happenings!

 

By: Marcia King-Gamble

www.lovemarcia.com

In this month of both love and black history I thought I might share some interesting findings that may be fact or fiction.

First let’s start with how Valentine’s Day came about. 

One story is that St. Valentine’s was a Roman priest in the year 3AD. Emperor Claudius the 2^nd had banned marriages as he felt such a union made for bad soldiers. Valentine didn’t agree and performed marriages in secret. He wore a ring with Cupid on it which helped identify him. In a precursor to greeting cards, he gave out paper hearts to remind Christians of their love for God.  When he was caught, he was thrown in jail.  There, he fell in love with the jailer’s daughter. Some say through a miracle he cured her of her blindness. On the day he was to be beheaded he sent her a note” From your Valentine”.

It is also said the first Valentine’s Day was celebrated in the year 496, and it is thought to originate from a Roman festival called Lupercalia, which happened mid-February, and was an ode to Spring. As part of the celebration, boys drew girls‘names from a box, and for the length of the festival they dated them; some of these dates led to marriage. The church later stepped in and turned the festival into a Christian celebration which encompassed St. Valentine’s as well.

But what truly solidifies Valentine’s as a day of love, is a poem by medieval poet Geoffrey Chaucer.  His Poem Parliament of Fowls written in the late 14^th century describes a group of birds that gather in the early spring on ‘seynt valentine’s day' to choose their mate for the year.  The poem is a humorous and at times philosophical exploration of the idea of love. The middle ages was a time of courtly love and romantic partnerships were celebrated by poetry, songs, and paintings.  By the end of the 15^th century, the word ‘Valentine’ was being used to describe lovers.

Since this is also Black History month, I thought I might share some unknown or rather uncelebrated Black inventors.

First up, Sarah Boone who improved on the original version of the ironing board which initially was a horizontal wooden block patented in 1858. In 1892 Boone’s updated invention featured the narrower more curved design we use today.

In 1966 Mary Van Brittan Brown invented the first home security system. Her husband worked at night and she was often alone. The camera device was attached to her peephole. A microphone was added and so were buttons to open the door and contact the police.

Then there was Garrett Morgan who invented the three-light traffic light – otherwise known as the yellow light. He’d witnessed an awful accident and felt a yield component was important.

Refrigerated trucks were the brainchild of Frederick McKinley Jones. This helped to preserve blood, food and supplies during the war.

Automatic elevator doors were invented by Alexander Miles in 1887 after his child almost fell down the shaft; a common happening in those days of manually having to shut the shaft and elevator doors.

Then there’s Jan E. Matzeliger who we have to thank for the automated machine that attached the upper part of a shoe to its sole. Previously shoes were handsewn, and only about 50 were generated per day. With this invention, 700 or more could be made on an average day, making shoes more affordable for average Joe.

 That my readers is your black history lesson today.

Coming soon is an updated version of my 2003 Women’s Fiction release This Way Home with a new cover.  Order and let me know what you think. It’s based off the Marla Hanson story; the model who was mugged in Central Park and her face slashed. Find it on Amazon and B&N. No link yet.

About Marcia King-Gamble

Romance writer, Marcia King-Gamble originally hails from a sunny Caribbean island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue. This former travel industry executive has spent most of life in the United States. A National Bestselling author, Marcia has penned over 34 books and 8 novellas. She has contributed to Michael Fiore’s DigitalRomanceInc and served as a moderator on the now defunct eHarmony advice boards.  Having witnessed the bad, the ugly, and the not so good in relationships, she still prefers to write about happily ever after. Caring for her animal family keeps her grounded and sane.

Visit Marcia at www.lovemarcia.com or “friend” her on Facebook: http://bit.ly/1MlnrIS

Be sure to join her newsletter mailing list.

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Other Hearts Whisper Back #RomanceGems

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. It's the day that, as Laura mentioned on yesterday's post, the naysayers come out of the woodwork to "poke fun at romance."

It's the Romance Gems' day to celebrate love. All kinds of it--we all have families and friends--but especially romantic love. The single rose, dancing in the kitchen, walking two-by-two in the moonlight kind.

Come celebrate with us, if you will. Here are some of our favorite celebration books. We hope you try some--or all!--of them as part of your own Valentine's celebration, and we hope you enjoy them. 

Wishing you love from the Romance Gems. 

In Marcia King-Gamble's Ring in the Moment, Keisha Wilson gets the surprise of her life when her boyfriend, Brian O'Connor dumps her, and right before one of the biggest holidays of the year. Brian gives no explanation, and although Keisha is hurt she has no choice but to move on. What else can she do?

Brian has never stopped loving Keisha, but he's reluctant to drag her into a mess. A past indiscretion has come back to haunt him, and until he can get that situation handled, he's in no position to make a commitment. But when Brian realizes that Keisha isn't going to sit home and mope, and he may lose her, he decides it's time to take action.

Portia, the woman back in his life, has other plans, She's not going to walk away without a fight. Brian. responsible as they come, has to take a hard line if he wants to win back Keisha.

But given Brian's secret, will Keisha take him back? Can love survive deception?

In By Heart, also by Marcia King-Gamble, Cynthia Lawsen (Cyndy) first introduced in By Design is totally off men. Her last romantic encounter was not a pleasant one. The only good that came of it was her beautiful son, Eli. Eli is her entire world until Jacques Moreau comes along. Half Algerian, sexy as they come, and a talented sculptor, he's everything Cyndy has dreamed of and thought she could never have. But Jacques has his own secrets, and she suspects he's in love with someone else. And although Cyndy knows he's completely out of her league, she's determined to live in the moment.

Jacques' goal is to sweep this delightful woman off her feet. But the elephant in the room remains --- the matter of the other woman or is it women? Is Cyndy a fool to hang in there, or should she move on and find someone completely monogamous?

Peggy Jaeger offers up 3 Wishes. Do wishes have expiration dates? Valentine's Day is chocolatier Chloe San Valentino's favorite day of the year. Not only is it the busiest day in her candy shop, Caramelle de Chloe, but it's also her birthday. Chloe's got a birthday wish list for the perfect man she pulls out every year: he'd fall in love with her in a heartbeat, he'd be someone who cares about people, and he'd have one blue eye and one green eye, just like her. So far, Chloe's fantasy man hasn't materialized, despite the matchmaking efforts of her big, close-knit Italian family. But this year for her big 3-0 birthday, she just might get her wish!

A Valentine's Day offering from the Christmas Town bunch is only $1.99! Gem Liz Flaherty's contribution in Be My Heartwarming Valentine is A Place to Hang Her Heart, but there are eight stories by Harlequin Heartwarming authors to...er...warm your heart. 

Christmas Town to the rescue!

An abnormally cold and snowy winter wreaked havoc in Christmas Town. Pipes froze, snowy roofs caved in, and even the famed gazebo in the town square was blown over! But the hardest hit was the historic town library, where pipes burst – flooding the main floor and destroying all the books and computers. While insurance helps, it won’t cover everything. Christmas Town’s solution?

Calling all bachelors!

The Knotty Elves decide a Valentine’s Day Bachelor Auction kills two birds with one stone – raising money to save the library while working their matchmaking magic. From a personal chef to the town’s snow plow operator, there’s one thing all these handsome, homespun heroes have in common: they’re about to find love, Christmas Town style.

Be sure to check out You Bet Your Valentine by Anna J Stewart, the prequel novella that starts all the Valentine’s Day fun!

A Florida Winter Wonderland!

 

By: Marcia King-Gamble

www.lovemarcia.com

While most of us think of winter wonderlands as picturesque snowy scenes and couples ice skating, skiing, or seated around a blazing fireplace, I am here to tell you that Florida winter wonderlands are anything but cool.

Here, a wintery Florida day means temps in the seventies and should they nosedive into the sixties, out come the boots and mufflers. That is not a joke.

As a Northeast transplant, it was the most ridiculous sight I’d ever seen, but over the years I have gotten to view the cooler weather as an opportunity to break out the sweaters and boots, and wear something other than shorts.

So, what does a Florida winter wonderland mean to me? Well, it means a less expensive electric bill that’s for sure. It means tucking away sleeveless shirts and bringing out the ankle boots and earmuffs. Yes, earmuffs and even knee-high boots. It’s the time of year when small beach towns come alive and college students come from all over to seek out sun and fun. Spring Break, though good for the economy, makes the locals break out in hives.

Pre-Covid, winter meant packed restaurants and crowded beaches. Although, frankly, restaurants here are hardly empty and the beaches aren’t exactly bare.

What I miss most are the outdoor festivals, the traveling Broadway and craft shows happening during this cooler time of year, the excitement of planning big trips and small local ones. Since most of the world is back on lockdown, and the countries require a 14-day quarantine, there goes my vacation. 

Kicking it off on New Year’s Day, in my part of the state, is usually a huge art show. This is held in one of the swankier neighborhoods and people come from all over.  Also, the first Sunday of the month, on the waterfront, there is an outdoor jazz festival with musicians performing live on at least three stages.

What I really don’t miss is the traffic created by the “snowbirds,” the name given to those people who take flight south in winter, making traffic unbearable. Although, truthfully, traffic in general has increased since many have now migrated south permanently.

https://www.amazon.com/Golly-H-Caldwell-ebook/dp/B08R5GN5B8/ref

So, what am I doing to create my own wonderland this January? I am doing a lot of reading and writing, and I am reconnecting with old friends.  I am venturing out in the world again and patronizing small businesses that I’d hate to see go under.  I am investing in myself and totally focusing on my writing. I am upping my exercise routine, and although last year was not the best for many, I can honestly say  I used that  time to reflect. To sum up, I ended the year happy, content, and good with me.

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Now I am determined to make this year my personal wonderland

and. I can confidently say bring on winter, summer, spring and fall!

2021 I got you!

 

About Marcia King-Gamble

Romance writer, Marcia King-Gamble originally hails from a sunny Caribbean island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue. This travel industry executive and current world traveler has spent most of life in the United States. A National Bestselling author, Marcia has penned over 34 books and 8 novellas. Her free time is spent at the gym, traveling to exotic locales, and caring for her animal family.

Visit Marcia at www.lovemarcia.com or “friend” her on Facebook: http://bit.ly/1MlnrIS

Be sure to join her mailing list.

Instagram * Amazon * Website * Facebook * Twitter

 

There's Thanks in Giving!

 

By Marcia King-Gamble

www.lovemarcia.com

I don’t know about you, but frankly I am sick to death of posts about COVID.  They’ve been done ad nauseam and all they do is leave me feeling depressed. We know about the surge in COVID. We know about the lives lost. We know about the importance of wearing a mask in public. No amount of reminding, or lecturing, makes people who are socially irresponsible, become so overnight. They are who they are.

In 2020, more than ever, people have shown us their true selves. I’ve lost supposed friends over this pandemic, and I’ve lost friends over their choice of political party. I respect everyone’s right to vote for a particular candidate, but don’t stuff your beliefs down my throat, and don’t show your disrespect or true feelings in public posts. Your commentary on social media conflicts with what you say to my face. The accompanying ugly cartoons are downright offensive and tell me who you really are. Enough said! This is supposed to be a positive post.

In this month of “Giving” I had to think long and hard about what I’d post. For far too long the true meaning of Thanksgiving has been overlooked.  That fourth Thursday in November has become another of those commercial holidays, where the prime focus is on food and not at all on being Thankful or Grateful for what you have.  The commercials focus on food and family seated around beautifully decorated tables.  But what about gratitude and an appreciation for just being able to provide your family with that food?

There truly is so much to be thankful for.  Food, we have an abundance of, and there are options for those less fortunate, like food pantries and kitchens. Most of us have families who support us, and friends we can rely on. Worst case scenario, we have that option of using the Internet to connect.  Yet over time, Thanksgiving has become more about tablescaping and presenting that huge turkey with all the excessive trimmings. The leftovers more often than not end up in the trash, and then back to our daily lives.

How did it get here?  How did we become a society that takes Thanksgiving for granted? Let’s look at how it all began, and in so doing, dispel some the myths. Contrary to popular belief, and what was taught in school, Thanksgiving was not an annual celebration that began in 1621, nor was it the start of an annual tradition. In fact, there had been similar bountiful gatherings in other colonies earlier that year. 

On Thursday, November 26, 1789, George Washington declared that day a holiday, but only for that year. His decision did not in any way connect it to the Pilgrim feast, although it was promoted as a day of “public thanksgiving and prayer.”

Many, many, years later, 19^th century author, poet, and magazine editor, Sarah Josepha Hale, who was highly patriotic, read about the 1621 feast of the Pilgrims. She then began publishing in Godey’s Lady’s Book, recipes for turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie, and she began lobbying to get President Abraham Lincoln to declare the day a national holiday. Sarah used her magazine to gain public support, until finally in 1863, the 4^th Thursday in November, was declared an official holiday.

In 1939, President Franklin D Roosevelt moved it back to the third Thursday in November. This decision was supposedly made to help the economy and extend the Christmas shopping season. But there was so much opposition, two years later, he changed it back to the fourth Thursday of the month.

Even back then it was less about being thankful and more about commerce and money.

Given the year we’ve had, won’t it be nice to go back to what this holiday was designed to be, a day of public thanks and prayers? Shouldn’t we be thankful for waking up to see another day, and having the ability to put food on the table? Shouldn’t we be grateful that we’re not staring across the table at drunk Uncle Jack chewing with his mouth open, or having to listen politely to the neighbor making bigoted comments they don’t even know is bigoted?  More importantly, shouldn’t we be thankful for good health, not being at war and a vaccine on the horizon?

To thank my readers, I am inviting you to post pictures of your tablescaping (even if dinner is just for one or two) on my Facebook author page. https://www.facebook.com/Marcia-King-Gamble-12364168212

The winner receives a $15 Amazon gift card, and I will match that amount with a gift to St. Jude.

To be eligible to win you can sign up for my newsletter here http://www.lovemarcia.com/guestbook.htm or show proof of purchase of any of my books on Amazon or B&N.  You can upload the receipt when you upload your pics. Make sure your credit card info is not visible if you do.

Gotta be in it to win it. Bless you all!

About Marcia King-Gamble

Romance writer, Marcia King-Gamble originally hails from a sunny Caribbean island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue. This travel industry executive and current world traveler has spent most of life in the United States. A National Bestselling author, Marcia has penned over 34 books and 8 novellas. Her free time is spent at the gym, traveling to exotic locales when she can, and caring for her animal family who keep her sane.

Visit Marcia at www.lovemarcia.com or “friend” her on Facebook: http://bit.ly/1MlnrIS

Be sure to email her to join her mailing list.

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Falling into Fall Down South!

 

By:  Marcia King-Gamble

www.lovemarcia.com

Most people  think there's only one  season down south,  Summer! Summer! and more Summer! But that's so not true.

We have a wet season, dry season, and eternal summer. All three tend to go on forever. But if  you live here long enough, you realize that the seasons may be defined by what the locals wear.

Right now, it's mid-October, considered almost the dry season,but reality says differently. It's been pouring nonstop  for days, and it is still hot! hot! hot! My air conditioning is on full blast, and because of the heat factor (high eighties), I am still wearing shorts (a no-no for locals after September). For you folk up north, think of it in the same manner as wearing white after labor day.

Let me tell you a secret. As the cooler, drier season approaches, we can usually spot tourists because they are the only ones in shorts.   The same goes for picking out tourists/snowbirds  in  nice restaurants and bars. Rarely will you see a local out in shorts at night, unless they are heading for a Tiki bar, and even then. Enough said. Google snowbird.

The holidays, though, are an entirely different matter. Down south,  we use any excuse to get in the mood and  party. I have seen more snowmen on lawns in a place that  never snows,  than  I have ever seen up north. Yes, we like snow and cold weather from a distance, and in December we've even brought snow making machines in so  young kids can play.

When October comes around, we 're thinking holidays. The pinks, reds and teals get exchanged for  oranges, yellows and browns. The lemons, pineapples and sunflowers are put away,( I still rock em until I can't find em),  Then again, I dance to a different beat, and always have. I am a sucker for the holidays and my cluttered garage is testimony to that.

Come any change of season, the frustrated decorator in me emerges. The key is to bargain shop for those decorations.  If they don't work, toss them out. Here's what I did with my table, and it's super easy to do. Use wine glasses if you don't have candle holders. These are easily picked up at stores like Marshalls, or Old Time Pottery. Fill the bowl up with leaves or fake veggies bought at the Dollar Store. The other option is turning over the candle holders, keeping the fruit, potpourri  or whatever you've  added in the bowls. The flat parts, or feet now become your candle holders. Add candles or tea lights and you are rockin' n rollin'.

Your table can adjust to the seasons by simply changing what you've placed in the bowls. You can circle the base with festive  wreaths, or have Mardi Gras beads hang from those bowls.  Here's  what I did for Easter and Christmas.

Now I have Halloween on the brain, and I'm thinking about what I'll be wearing to the party. Virtual this year, of course.  I am a fan of  the homemade costume.  Check your closets, add a couple of accessories from Walmart or the Dollar Store, and you are set. This is my Alice White Rabbit costume, consisting of one white jumpsuit, and a Dollar Store boa and bunny ears.

And since we're talking about partying, don't miss the Last Call for Last Chance Beach: Summer's End. You can still pick up these short  stories at the bargain price of 99 cents until October 31st. 

Here's the link. https://www.amazon.com/Last-Chance-Beach-Summers-End-ebook/dp/B08CV3GN3R

Have a Happy Halloween one and all!

About Marcia King-Gamble:

Originally from a sunny Caribbean island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue, this travel industry executive has spent most of life in the United States. A National Bestselling author, Marcia has penned over 34 books and 8 novellas. Her free time is spent at the gym, traveling to exotic locales, and caring for an animal family that keep her sane. Well almost.

Visit Marcia at www.lovemarcia.com or “friend” her on Facebook: http://bit.ly/1MlnrIS

Be sure to email her to join her mailing list. 

Instagram * Amazon * Website * Facebook * Twitter

In the Heat of the Moment!

By: Marcia King-Gamble

www.lovemarcia.com

OK, we’ve hit the dog days of summer, and yes, down south, days are sizzling and nights sultry. We are hot, hot, hot!  My question to you is what have you done in the heat of the moment? By heat, I don’t mean temperature. I mean on the fly. Something that was fun, something you took a chance on, something that felt like it might be good karma, and would make you feel good. What was the end result of this impulsive/feel good behavior?

 

 Back in the day when I worked for an international airline, my then hero and I would look at each other on a Thursday, and say, “So, what do we want to do this weekend?  Sometimes the answer would be, “I feel like having good pasta,” and off we would head for Rome. If it was winter, the answer would be “anywhere warm.” Then  off to Mexico or Rio de Janeiro we  would go.

We weren’t rich. Remember, I said, I worked for an airline, meaning, back then, free travel, and the opportunity to sit First or Business Class (should space allow) were perks.  Airlines had agreements with hotels. While lodging wasn’t free, a 40 or 50 percent discount at a 4 or 5 star hotel was not something to turn your nose up at. Often our weekend jaunts cost us less than a nice dinner at an upmarket restaurant.

When I lived in the “islands,” popular back then, were “Come as you are Parties.“ This literally meant come as you are. A caravan of cars would unexpectedly arrive at your home, honk their horns and the party was on. Which meant, you went to the party in whatever state of dress or undress you were in. And that was the reason for the convoy. No getting out of it, you had to get in.

A couple of years ago, instead of making New Year’s resolutions that never worked out, I vowed to do one small act of kindness each day. It could be as simple as allowing someone to get in front of me on the grocery line, or making a phone call to a lonely, elderly friend. It made me feel good. It made the recipient feel good. As a person who believes in karma, I believe in some way those good deeds come back to you tenfold.

This summer, in the heat of the moment, my girlfriends and I started having monthly dinner parties. Each month it’s at a different house and we do it safely. There are so many positives to these gatherings. First, it gives us an opportunity to bond and catch up.  Second, we get to step out of our PJ’s and sweats and wear something fun in our closets. There are times we even bring the fine jewelry out.

In the heat of the moment, I’ve taken up crafting.  I’ve mended broken jewelry and repaired furniture. I even hand painted this heart, Trust me, I’ve never been talented in this area but I'm learning. I’ve also reconnected with friends and made a few with a completely different perspective on life than I have.

This summer I’ve allowed myself to breathe. The end result is my creativity is on the rise, and   I’m writing up a storm. Stories like One Last Shot, one of the fourteen stories in the Last Chance Beach: Summer’s End box set were created in the Heat of the moment. It was the result of a what if.  What if an up and coming sitcom star in hiding has a sex tape that goes viral? And what if the guy next door just happens to be a disgraced celebrity photographer?

Here's an excerpt:

“So, do you live here year-round?” Kael asked, taking a piece of freshly baked bread from the basket and slathering butter on it. He was curious about the woman who sat across from him.

She had the most amazing bone structure but was doing her best to downplay her looks. She was doing everything to make herself unattractive, even adding that hideous nose ring.

Delia sipped on her coffee, and took her time answering. “Actually, I’m not from around here.”

“Renting?”

“No. You?”

Getting a full sentence out of her was like reeling in fish. “Airbnb. Did I tell you that

already?” He knew he hadn’t, but someone needed to jumpstart the conversation.

Delia shook her head. “I didn’t think we did BNB’s in this town.”

“Times change. Things change. People change.”

“Not here.”

“Sure, you’re not a local?” Kael asked, softening his words with a smile. Delia certainly

sounded knowledgeable.

Their kippers and scrambled eggs, a Rods staple, arrived and they dove in.

“How did you find this community?” Delia asked, the sun bouncing off those mirrored

sunglasses. “It doesn’t seem to be your style.” She fed Bob a generous portion of scrambled eggs when she thought he wasn’t looking.

His khaki shorts must shout tourist.

“I needed somewhere off the beaten path to take photos,” he said, while discreetly clicking pics of the arriving patrons. “And I can work from anywhere in the world.”

Delia looked like she might jump out of her skin. “So, what are you a photographer or something?”

I used to be one before I was fired.

Instead, Kael said, “I’m just an IT guy and an amateur photographer.” Now he was.

The blasting TV competed with their conversation. Two construction types exited discussing the news.

“Wat she do dat for? She was America’s sweetheart. World was her oyster,” the shorter of them said.

“Probably trying to keep some man.”

The taller one shook his head. “Yeah, would have to be a bad break up to send that sex tape out to the media.”

 

 Be sure to pick up Last Chance Beach: Summer’s End 

https://www.amazon.com/Last-Chance-Beach-Summers-End-ebook/dp/B08CV3GN3R

and read these 14 stories. To win the Last Shot beach/gym bag sign up for my newsletter here https://bit.ly/3eBlYnf  or email me privately at mkinggambl@aol.com with proof of purchase of Last Chance Beach: Summer’s End. Added bonus, download the free cocktail book.

 

  

For an additional opportunity to win a $20 Amazon gift card in the monthly drawing, please comment on this blog to win.

 

 

Tell me, what have you done in the Heat of the Moment? Be kind and be safe. 

Find Marcia King-Gamble Online

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Romance writer, Marcia King-Gamble originally hails from a sunny Caribbean island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue. This travel industry executive and current world traveler has spent most of life in the United States. A National Bestselling author, Marcia has penned over 34 books and 8 novellas. Her free time is spent at the gym, traveling to exotic locales, caring for her animal family, and trying to keep sane.