Welcome to the Country 2-23-10

Welcome to the Country
So you’ve decided to move to the country where the advice of old timers is almost always the best advice you can get.
We have all heard the good old advice of ‘don’t squat with your spurs on’ and ‘if it rattles don’t investigate’ but here’s an old timer’s advice that really needs to be heeded in the foothills…if it itches don’t scratch it.
Now that may seem to be extremely simple advice to most of you and should go without saying but wait… I’ve added a bit of mommy advice to that one…
‘If you really must scratch remember to wash your hands before you use the restroom.’
I’m sure you have figured out where this particular story is headed, but for those of you that just love a good chuckle please continue with this quick read.
Hiking Table Top Mountain is pretty much every kid’s dream when they first move to Copper or the surrounding area. As parents we are usually able to dissuade our youngsters from this somewhat treacherous trek until they become teens or pre teens with manly hormones a pumpin’ through their little systems.
My oldest son home for leave, being the adventurous sort, snagged his citified high heeled girlfriend my other two sons, his sister in law and my daughter and headed off for a romantic Valentine’s Day trek to the top of table top. At this point in my life you can safely assume that I have lost an awful lot of my powers of persuasion over my two older boys towering over me at a whopping 6’2” and 6’3” so I gave in and let them go on this adventure convincing myself that at least they were not attempting this hike at the peak of rattlesnake season, which as we all know seems to be most any day that the sun shines, but I digress.
Off they went equipped with water bottles, first aid kits, and smiles. 3 hours later home they came, muddy, wet and exhausted. The next morning was when we discovered that poison oak is a plant that gives all year long because all hiking participants were sporting a plethora of bumpy red splotches on various parts of their bodies. My older sons had poison oak on their arms and neck, my daughter in law on her face and my youngest son just on one arm…until he scratched...and went potty. Not good. Not good at all.
The moral of the story is…if it itches…don’t scratch and go potty.
Until next time…welcome to the country.
www.charitymaness.com

Waste is just that...waste

I realize that the 3 or so books I have started that are on the back burner will never grow up to contain the amount of words required to interest an agent, so they will simply have to stay young, or small.
So with my desire not to be wasteful with my words, thoughts or creations I have decided to go with the proverbial literary flow and allow these ideas to come to life through a collection of short stories.
The plan is to have these stories on paper and published in 2012. Seems like a long way away, but there are an awful lot of thoughts running about in this head of mine that need organizing.
With that said, happy reading:)

P.S. No worries, the murder mystery is still in full swing.

New Fan Page on Facebook

If following a blog is just too much trouble, or you want more of a scoop, check out my new fan page on Facebook.
Oh, and now that Hopefully and Faithfully have been combined and are off to be edited..I will be concentrating on murder. I know this what all of you are waiting for with baited breath.
Until next time...happy reading:)

The time has come

For those of you that already own the first printing of Hopefully and the sequel, Faithfully, you may just want to keep them in a special place. Of course everytime I attempt to save something in a 'special' place I manage to forget where I put it, but who knows, maybe you have a better memory than I, or better yet, a designated 'special' place. Hmmm, now why didn't I think of that?
On February 13, 2010 Hopefully and Faithfully will no longer be available for purchase.
For the last few months, along with formulating sinister thoughts for my new book, I have been combining the two light hearted romances. Adding chapters and tweeking the characters. The second edition Hopefully is approximately 80K words and most definately a feel good read.
Who knows, maybe someday I will be famous and those books you have been using to weight down the papers on your desk may be worth something.
Keep your fingers crossed and keep the good thoughts coming!
Happy reading:)

Welcome to the Country humor column for 1-24-10

My January 24, 2010 humor column is available at
www.charitymaness.com/wttc.html

Life in the country is most certainly an adventure. Throw in a couple of kids, add some mud, a snake here or there, and humor becomes your best survival skill.

Happy reading:)

Rainy day madness

I just couldn't help myself.. the dark clouds, the eerie scream of the wind whipping through the trees and my mind wanders to ...murder. Doesn't yours?
Have you ever asked you husband to help you with your job? Maybe a little research? A hand with heavy lifting?
I'm no different. But I tell you, my husband is becoming quite exasperated with the multiple attempts at moving 150 pounds of dead, no pun intended, weight to the other side of the room, to show drag patterns. As if thats not bad enough I have him researching decomposition for me, human decomposition. Yes, I am at it again. But I really didn't want to overload my brain with too much information, just enough to be dangerous, so I gave him the task. Hey at least its not blood spatter evidence...now wait just a minute, hmmm, I think I can work that in!
I ask you, am I so different than any other spouse? Just a little supportive help, thats all:)
And besides, I never heard him complain when I was attempting to get a love scene just right for one of my romances. He had to try again, and again, and again...well you get the picture. Oh the suffering he went through in the name of literary research:)
As always,
Happy reading!

Humor is everywhere

Okay, so I couldn't "buckle down" to serious writing when I was bubbling with country type New Year's resolution humor. So here it is, my little New Year's contribution to the funny side of country life.


http://www.charitymaness.com/wttc.html

If you're from the country you'll get it..if you're from the city, it may leave you scratching your head.

I hope you enjoy.
As always....happy reading.

Charity

The Holidays are over...time to buckle down

Like most of us I use the holidays as an excuse to over indulge. But seeing as how I was recovering from a hysterectomy my over indulgence turned to ebay and my weakness for yarn. Word of warning don't shop on ebay while taking pain medication, one easily forgets how much junk one ordered!
On a high note, the holidays also got my mind reeling with more ideas for character background on Hopefully. The second edition will have chapters on Helen and Gertie's earlier lives, pre Hope and even pre 'Two Old Ladies with a lot of Yarn' yarn shop. There is also additional info about Philip and a little more heat between Hope and her accidental love.
This is turning out to be a fun re-creation.
Wishing you all a wonderful New Year full of love and laughter.
Charity Maness

Happy Reading!

Combining my books

Hopefully this will not deter any of you avid (cough, cough) fans, but I am combining Hopefully and Faithfully into one book. I have added more chapters, particularily dealing with the lives of Helen, Gertie, and Philip. Did I peak your interest a bit? Seems I may have the slightest possibility of enticing an agent to look at my work if it exceeds 80,000 words. Whew! Gotta run, time to put my nose to the grindstone.
As always, happy reading!

I'm baaaccckkk!

Its so hard to say things with the Governators accent when writing, but I'm sure you get the picture.
I am finally back from my oh so short vacation to Cabo and itchin' to write. Though I know some of you are looking forward to more enlightening information regarding my research on the decomposition rate of the human body, unfortunately for y'all, I actually came back from my vacation with romance on the brain. So I will be temporarily putting aside my murder and mayhem work for a bit to concentrate on love, or at least writing about it:) Awww.
I will keep you posted.

Research is hard work

Ok, well not this research. I am off to Cabo for a week to research the proper blending of tequila, lime juice and triple sec. I promise to put a few hours into sinister thoughts, evil plots, and twisted schemes for my murder mystery. Adios...til next week.
Happy reading!

P.S. Don't forget to thank a vet on veteran's day. The freedom we so enjoy was made possible through their service.

United States Marine Corps...Hoorah!

My oldest son was promoted to Sgt today in the United States Marine Corps! I am so very proud of him. He is on his way home to visit. I can't wait to hug him and hear his wonderful laugh!
Thank you to all military personnel retired and active. Thank you for the life my family and I are so lucky to be living, a life of freedom.