BLOGGING WITH BEVERLEY: Vicki Batman's Temporarily Out of Luck

Funny sweet, and quirky, Vicki Batman’s stories are full of her hallmark humor, romance, and will delight all readers. She has sold many award-winning and bestselling romantic comedy works to magazines and most recently, three humorous romantic mysteries. An avid Jazzerciser. Handbag lover. Mahjong player. Yoga practitioner. Movie fan. Book devourer. Cat fancier. Best Mom ever. And adores Handsome Hubby.

2021 Character Interview

Beverley: What’s your name?

Harriette: (Hattie) Lee Cooks. Harriette is my grandmother’s name and rather old-fashioned; so, I like Hattie. Hattie says sassy and fun.

Beverley: Where did you grow up?

Harriette: In Sommerville. It’s located between two metroplexes. Lots of small-town amenities with access to the nearby big cities.

Beverley: During what time period does your story take place?

Harriette: Present time

Beverley: What’s your story/back story? Why would someone come up with a story about you?

Harriette: I had the best job evah right out of college working for Tucker’s Department Store. I started managing different departments in their stores, then moved to opening new stores, and finally landed my dream job up the corporate ladder as an assistant buyer in men’s sportswear. After a couple of years paying those dues, I thought I was being promoted to handbag buyer (Did I say how much I adore handbags???!!!) when I was laid off due to corporate cut-backs in an economic downturn. Out of a job, lots of bills to pay, especially the one for my cool ride, a brand-spanking-new white Jeep Wrangler. Buying jobs weren’t coming my way. I had to find work doing anything or risk moving back with the parents—er, NO! as in no-no-no, not ever in a bazillion years no. At a girlfriend’s suggestion, I took various temporary jobs.

As for why write a story about me— It seems at every temporary job, something goes wrong—embezzling, murder, more murders, big mistakes— I dunno why. Some of them are funny. Some are unbelievably horrific. Maybe writing about my escapades will help others avoid doing what I did.

Beverley: What’s your goal in this story?

Harriette: Find a job I love in my career of choice and get my life back on track. I finally land a great one—a retail job, my area of expertise--working with Miss Anastasia Fernholly at Wedding Wonderland. I can’t say enough how happy I am!

Beverley: What conflicts are you facing?

Harriette: Oh boy. Learning the wedding business. Scrambling to find the murder of my sister’s detestable ex before the police charge her with the crime and ruin her wedding (my mother’s worst nightmare). And then there’s good ol’ Detective Allan Wellborn who makes my temperature rise—fanning face--in many different ways.

Beverley: Do you have a plan for resolving them?

Harriette: Take baby steps. They add up. Work hard. Get my sister exonerated so she can marry. And very likely, kiss Allan.

Beverley: Is there anything else you’d like us to know about you?

Harriette: Life has its ups and downs. How we handle that is how we develop character.

Blurb for Temporarily out of Luck:

Great job. What man? And murder.

Newly employed at Wedding Wonderland, Hattie Cooks is learning the industry from a woman she greatly admires. When her former brother-in-law is found dead in his luxury SUV, all fingers point to Hattie’s sister who is planning her own I dos.

Detective Allan Wellborn is caught between a rock and a hard place—Hattie’s family and investigating the murder of a well-connected Sommerville resident, the same loser who was once married to Hattie’s sister. Determining who’s the bad guy—or gal—isn’t going to be easy and sure to piss off someone.

Can Hattie beat the clock to find out who murdered Tracey’s ex before she is charged with the crime and her wedding is ruined?

Excerpt from Temporarily out of Luck:

Sometimes, I felt like a small white mouse housed in a cage with lots of small white mice, whose playground activities involved eating, sleeping, and continually revolving on the exercise wheel. Just like one rodent friend—who I named Mr. Happy-Go-Lucky, having a field day back-flipping from the top of the spinning wheel—something happened. Unexpectedly, I found myself airborne.

Not hurt, a sense of disappointment overcame me, plus a bit of confusion, and a whole lot of colorful adjectives too numerous to list. I, mostly known as Hattie Cooks, shook off the pine shavings and joined the rat race. Sometimes, life sucked.

But wallowing? Not a good solution.

Being positive? A better one.

In most cases, a pitstop was a good idea, and I found comfort in my chocolate stockpile. And in most cases, I found empty shelves, for I had little dough to supply my habit due to the loss of my adored job as an assistant buyer at Sommerville’s top-class department store, Tucker’s, and the subsequent low-paying temporary ones I reluctantly took in the interim. Due to the expenses of rent, food, utilities, budgeting became my new compadré. However, for my recent birthday, Mom suggested friends and family provide me with treats. They were generous—gifting lots and lots of my favorite M&Ms in vast colors and flavors.

Mom’s idea totally rocked as the best birthday gift ever.

From outside my door, I heard Allan Wellborn smack the doorframe.

“You know how to find me.”

I roused from my ruminations and banged my forehead against the wall.

Buy Links for Temporarily out of Luck: https://www.amazon.com/Temporarily-Luck-Hattie-Cooks-Mystery-ebook/dp/B08T7YSSRJ/ Barnes & Noble: