BLOGGING WITH BEVERLEY: Halloween or Why I Became a Writer

Halloween is my #2 favorite holiday. I think I should first explain that qualifier. Halloween falls to #2 on the holiday scale because of New Year’s Day. There is just something so exciting about having a fresh start. How could you not make that number 1?

Which leads me to #2: Halloween.

I had a magical childhood. Seriously. I look back on it now, take a breath, and thank every deity that I was so blessed. It was the place, it was the time, it was my parents that all contributed to making it so special.

The place: Bear Lake, NY. A valley of green goodness, innocence, and all things happy, beautiful, and serene.

The time: the 1980s. Do you watch the show The Goldbergs? That was my childhood in neon colors, big hair, and anything goes because nothing could harm you.

The parents: I told my parents early on that I was going to be a writer. By first grade, I was planning what stories I would write one day. My parents’ reaction? They bought me a word processor before computers were a big thing.

But the best part was my dad. My dad would clean out auctions of military uniforms, old ball gowns, and other props I would use for something I called story time. I had costumes for everything. Accessories for everything. I would dress the part to act out the stories I would write. Like I said, it was magical.

Other kids did not think so. I was a bit of weirdo with my dressing up. To make it worse, I would try to pin down friends to listen to the stories I was working on.

And then came Halloween.

Halloween made my flair for costume normal. Even celebrated! I was everything from Indiana Jones to Holly Golightly. My costumes were authentic, detailed, and believable. While my friends might have been impressed, it was the adults that I blew away.

Their reactions were my first experiences understanding the awe of others, understanding what it was to bring others joy. I would go on to stage haunted houses every Halloween, and the entire town would look forward to the occasion. So many happy memories were created for families that still remind me of those times today. All of this happiness fed my drive to be a writer. My stories, my creations made so many people happy, brought so much joy.

I could only imagine what would be possible through the reaches of a book.

When She Knows: Franconia Notch Trilogy Book One by Jessie Clever

Blurb:

His latest problem is her newest assignment.

Shannon Wynter has it all figured it. Abandoned by her mother and left to care for her agoraphobic father, Shannon focuses on building her career as a journalist to the detriment of all else including her love life.

Ian Darke has his own problems. Battling past failures, Ian sets his eyes on launching a new factory for his father’s defense firm. But it’s the very father he failed that will do anything to sabotage Ian’s progress.

And when Shannon follows an anonymous tip that leads her to Ian’s factory door, the last thing she expects to discover is what she already knows.

Excerpt:

"But fraud for a defense contractor is serious. You don't want to defend your reputation as a provider to our armed forces?"

It took him a minute to realize that clicking noise was her following him over the pavement. He spun around, his arms coming up once more to gesture his acquiescence, only she was standing too close, and instead of gesturing with authority, he ran into her, his arms striking her shoulders and knocking her against him.

He froze, feeling the length of her body collide with his, the scent of her shampoo invade his senses, her breath fall across the exposed skin above his shirt collar. He felt her hesitation, the hitch in her breath, before she shoved against him, pushing herself away.

"I'm very sorry," he said, his hands moving uselessly in front of him as if to help her regain her balance.

She stood with her pad held against her chest like some sort of shield, and he felt his anger drain into annoyance.

"I'm sorry," he repeated, much more carefully, "I don't have a comment, and I need to get back to work. Please excuse me."

He turned slowly this time, resuming his walk to the loading dock door.

"What is it that you're using this factory for, Mr. Darke?"

He didn't answer. No matter how much he wanted to turn around and rail about his stupid brother's stupid decisions, he did not. He kept walking.

"Fraud, I mean, come on, that's-"

And then he did turn.

"If you want a comment, you can call our PR department."

"Great!" she said, and he almost smiled at her enthusiasm as she pulled up a clean page of her notebook. "What's the phone number?"

He shook his head at her and let his feet carry him back to where she stood on the pavement, notebook poised for the phone number.

"Shannon, was it?" he said when he was close.

He had felt her breath hitch when she had bumped into him, and now he dared to step a little closer than politeness would have dictated. He saw it again, the slight hitch in her chest, and he felt a smile spread over his face. He leaned in, dropping his voice to a soft, rich level.

"Have you heard of the Internet, Shannon?"

"Yes," she whispered softly, her eyes locked on his.

"Use it," he said and walked away, leaving her standing in the parking lot, her pen completely still.

Goodreads Link:

http://bit.ly/1SWpIy3

Purchase links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1IAMgPa
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1SWp4R9
iBooks: http://apple.co/1KM3YWs
Google Play: http://bit.ly/1M6StJw
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1DnqC4F
All Romance eBooks: http://bit.ly/1IHyZsj

About the Author:

In the second grade, Jessie began a story about a duck and a lost ring. Two harrowing pages of wide ruled notebook paper later, the ring was found. And Jessie has been writing ever since.

Armed with the firm belief that women in the Regency era could be truly awesome heroines, Jessie began telling their stories in her Spy Series, a thrilling ride in historical espionage that showcases human faults and triumphs and most importantly, love.

Jessie makes her home in the great state of New Hampshire where she lives with her husband and two very opinionated Basset Hounds. For more, visit her website at jessieclever.com.

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