I had my first day at the new job this week. I think I’ll let this picture speak for itself.
No, the fountain is not in my office.
Yes, it is free.
No, I haven’t figured out how to get my mouth under there without getting a Coke Zero in my eye, but hey, dreams do come true!
Rather than bore you with the details of the first week on the job, I thought we’d play a little game of firsts, then I’d introduce you to an author who is celebrating her first release this week!
**giveaway alert**
Thanks to all who chimed in last week. Congratulations, Michelle Kelly, I’ll be sending a signed copy of LOVE & ROCKETS out to you!
This week, play along and I’ll give one winner the choice of any book from my Maggie Wells digital backlist, or a signed print copy of the first book I ever wrote, CONTENTMENT.
Here are the questions and my answers. Copy and paste into the comments, then replace my answers with yours. Ready?
- First job with a paycheck: Mr. Quick Hamburgers – my uniform was brown double-knit polyester.
- First celebrity crush: I think Donny Osmond edged Barry Manilow out as the first, but it was close.
- Title of the first book you remember choosing for yourself: ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET. I’ll let you guess why I picked it.
- Your first set of car keys unlocked a: 1976 Ford LTD Country Squire station wagon.
- First album you bought with your own money: Queen – A Night at the Opera
- First thing you eat most mornings: Yogurt
- How old were you the first time you got drunk/tipsy: 18-ish. I was a freshman in college, so I may have still been 17.
- Where did you have your first kiss: In the back of the Musicland store at College Hills Mall.
- The name of your first pet or first furry friend: We had toy poodles when I was born. Sisters named May and Gay. Sweet girls.
- The first street you lived on was: Washington
****
Tomorrow, one of my fellow Kensington/Lyrical authors, Kari Lemor, will know the thrill of seeing her work out there in the world. Hard to top that for a first… Please take a moment to check out this bit from WILD CARD UNDERCOVER. Congratulations, Kari!
All that glitters in Miami is not gold . . .
Lured in by a bad ex-boyfriend and the moonlight of Miami, Meg O’Hara is trapped in a nightmare situation, waiting tables for a crime boss and fearing for her life. When undercover FBI agent Christopher Shaunessy offers her a way out, she seizes it. Getting the goods on Salazar Moreno might not be easy, but she’ll do anything to be freed from her servitude and Moreno’s sexual advances, even if it means moving in with the charismatic agent.
Chris Shaunessy pretends to be Meg’s lover in order to keep her safe, but he steels his heart against further involvement. Passion has no place in the sordid world of organized crime. And yet, the closer they get to cracking the case, the stronger his feelings for the spirited waitress shine. It’s a dangerous game he’s playing, and taking Meg in his arms for real could prove a fatal misstep . . .
Excerpt:
“Does that man never have a day off?” Margaret Kathleen O’Hara grumbled, grabbing her tote bag and sarong to move surreptitiously along the chairs by the pool. If the hotel manager saw her here again she’d be toast. He’d more than toss her out. Threats to call the police had been thrown at her for months now. Although in her case, that might be a better deal.
With her eyes trained on his location and the Miami sun beating down on her exposed skin, Meg backed along the water’s edge attempting to leave the area before he spotted her. She needed to shower the chlorine out of her tangled hair and change for work soon. He looked in her direction and she rushed behind the closest object. It was six-foot-plus of blond-haired gorgeousness. The man’s eyes were glued to something on the upper deck. Her boss was sitting there with one of his expensive bimbos. Did Blondie like that type? Maybe he wouldn’t notice her little game of .
She leaned around him, ducking back when she saw the Pool Nazi still present. Getting caught was not an option. She already owed more than she could ever repay.
“Are you okay?” Forest green eyes stared down at her, puzzled. Would he buy that she was simply looking for shade? He was big enough to provide it.
With strong hands, he reached for her shoulders and Meg reflexively batted them away. She got enough of people groping her at work. Scorching curses froze before erupting from her mouth as the hotel manager moved, staring in their direction. Her mind kicked into overdrive, scrambling for a way to hide in plain sight.
“Sorry,” she squeaked. Grabbing the man’s head, she planted her mouth solidly on his. Short, thick strands of hair tickled her fingers. Firm lips yielded no resistance to the increased pressure of her mouth. Better make this look good.
An electric current skittered over her skin causing her heart to race. Maybe too good? Slowly he pulled her closer with his muscular arms. Her eyes flew open and she broke the connection. His hair-covered chest was too close for comfort. And much too tempting. Distance, she needed distance.
Her eyes darted around, seeing no signs of the manager. A sigh escaped. Time to make her exit as well.
“Sorry,” she mumbled again, looking up. Big mistake. The stranger’s curious eyes captivated her. They were soft and tender and filled with something she could…trust? If she still had any of that left in her. His hands were gentle as they held her. A tiny smile played about the full lips she’d brazenly kissed. She couldn’t believe she’d done it. Her mother would be appalled. But it had worked.
The chlorine scent from the pool faded into the background as sweat and suntan lotion wafted off the man’s damp skin. Her stomach did cartwheels followed by a few back flips. Dangerous.
“Let me go,” she hissed as reality returned. She gave a swift shove at his well-defined pectorals, rushing to get past, to escape from this distraction and the possibility of being caught. Her head whipped around at the sound of a splash and water droplets from behind. Gorgeous was just breaking the surface of the pool. Had she pushed him that hard?
“Oops.” No time for apologies. He looked like the forgiving type. She had to blow this joint before the Pool Nazi came back. Grabbing her fallen sarong, she ran across the deck to hustle inside the luxury hotel.
“Damn.”
The manager stood sentry near the front door. A crowd appeared at her back making that way impossible. The stairwell to the left would have to do. She’d go up a few floors then down to the side entrance. She wrapped her sarong around her as she carried out her plan to avoid being seen…and caught.
Meg should stop coming here to use the pool: this proved it. Sneaking in was adding to her already hellish life but swimming always helped work out the stress and the pool here was more accessible than any other on the strip. Pretending she had money to stay in a place like this, rubbing elbows with all the beautiful people, yeah, that got her through too. She’d learned the best times to come and not be seen. Well, for the most part. It was well worth the risk to get away from her dump of a room and its enchanting neighborhood. She’d leave this all behind her soon. She kept telling herself that. Had to believe it for her own sanity.
Footsteps behind her pushed those thoughts away. Her bare feet padded silently along the lushly carpeted hallway. Heart racing, she ducked into the ice machine alcove, her sigh echoing in the silence. She glanced down. Her bag? She must have dropped it as she rushed off. How had she not realized? It couldn’t have been the threat of being arrested. Or the crooked smile of the handsome stranger she’d kissed. The one with the kind eyes and gentle hands. No, she couldn’t allow herself to be led astray by a pretty face. Not again.
She continued down the hall, her trip cut short when someone grabbed her by the arm and spun her around.
* * * *
Follow Kari Lemor on her website: http://www.karilemor.com/
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/Karilemorauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/karilemor
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/karilemor/
Good reads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9756283.Kari_Lemor
Woot Hoooo! Im a winner. Thank you!!
1. First job with a paycheck. The Barn Restaurant I think. Bussing tables.
2. First celebrity crush: 100% Barry Manilow. I also had a thing for Jimmy Osmond.
3. Title of the first book you remember choosing for yourself: Forever by Judy Blume. All the girls in Grade 7 used our babysitting money to buy our own book.
4. Your first set of car keys unlocked a: 1977 GMC Hornet. It was blue, I was 16 and I bought it myself. I did all the body work on it with my step dad.
5. First album you bought with your own money: Barry Manilow
6. First thing you eat most mornings: Cereal. Changes to whatever was on sale.
7. How old were you the first time you got drunk/tipsy: I think I was 14. All my friends were older. Truthfully I never really liked drinking and to this day, it is a rare occurrence.
8. Where did you have your first kiss: On a hill walking home from school. I didn’t like it LOL
9. The name of your first pet or first furry friend: I had a cat I barely remember and then years later in high school, we had a German Shep X named Yoda.
10. The first street you lived on was: Dundas St
Fun game!
Also why do I picture you actually tipping you head upside-down trying to get the diet coke directly into your mouth?
All the best at the new job! They’re lucky to have you!
Now, my exciting answers…
1. First job with a paycheck: Platt’s Pharmacy, where I was overworked and terribly under-appreciated, which nicely prepared me for the rest of life…
2. First celebrity crush: Bobby Sherman (That was my PC crush. In secret I lusted after the older brother, Jason Bolt.)
3.Title of the first book you remember choosing for yourself: I have no idea, books were like candy to me…but I’m going to say Little House in the Big Woods because that makes me happy to think so.
4.Your first set of car keys unlocked a: 1964-1/2 powder blue Mustang named Belle. Still miss that car!
5. First album you bought with your own money: I’m pretty sure it was a Bobby Sherman album!
6. First thing you eat most mornings: Cereal, fruit, oj
7. How old were you the first time you got drunk: 18
8. Where did you have your first kiss: Lobby of Crosley Hall. (Hee, thought about saying “On the mouth.”)
9. The name of your first pet or first furry friend: Grew up on a farm, so there was always a dog and plenty of cats, but the first puppy that came my way was named Rex. (Who probably thought his full name was Rex-You-Stupid-Dog, because he did the craziest things.)
10. The first street you lived on was: Ferguson Road
1. First job with a paycheck: A catering company (can’t remember the name). Hard work, the reason I always tip 20%.
2. First celebrity crush: Danny Kaye. I still have a crush on him.
3. Title of the first book you remember choosing for yourself:
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. I read them ALL.
4. Your first set of car keys unlocked a: A used 1974 VW Beetle. The payments were a large $76.14 a month and I could not use the headlights,windshield wipers and the heater at the same time or she would die.
5. First album you bought with your own money: The Kids from C.A.P.E.R. 70’s Saturday morning show kind of like The Monkees. I still have it somewhere.
6. First thing you eat most mornings: Coffee.
7. How old were you the first time you got drunk/tipsy: 17. At a cast party at my sister’s apartment. I remember saying “Mom would be so mad” and she told me, “Well, she’s not gonna find out, is she?”
8. Where did you have your first kiss: At a high school where our church basketball team was having a game.
9. The name of your first pet or first furry friend: We had chickens, ducks, dogs, and cats. The first pet that was actually mine as a gray cat named Bitsy.
10. The first street you lived on was: Beverly. I haven’t been able to drive down that street since I sold it after my Mom died.
FYI – Now go and change every password that has one of these answers.
A game! Of course I’ll play!
1. First job with a paycheck: I worked at the Janetville Jamboree selling tickets to the monster truck show and mud bog to all the crazy country folk.
2. First celebrity crush: Tad Martin from All My Children, followed closely by David Hasselhoff during his Baywatch days. lol
3. Title of the first book you remember choosing for yourself: Darcy in Cabin 13. There were cabins! And kissing! And a girl named Darcy! I don’t remember much else.
4. Your first set of car keys unlocked a: 2002 Ford Windstar van, my beloved Forrest Gump.
5. First album you bought with your own money: I’m pretty sure it was Weird Al’s Jurassic Park.
6. First thing you eat most mornings: Peanut butter!
7. How old were you the first time you got drunk/tipsy: I waited till I was 19, like a good girl. And I never really got all that drunk. I just licked all the icing off my birthday cake, that’s all.
8. Where did you have your first kiss: At a resort in Mexico with a super-cute Mexican boy named Usaine.
9. The name of your first pet or first furry friend: Mario, a wild cat who adopted us when we were very small.
10. The first street you lived on was: Zion Line 🙂
Maggie, you were my first love in the publishing business. My first book would never have seen the light of day if you hadn’t invited me to a little TMP thing. Big kisses, darling. *Mwah*
1.First job with a paycheck: I.G.A. had a coffee shop. I was a waitress there on weekends.
2.First celebrity crush: Robbie, from My Three Sons. Chiselled chin, dreamy eyes *sigh*
3.Title of the first book you remember choosing for yourself:
The Hardy Boys – While the Clock Ticked
4.Your first set of car keys unlocked a: 1972 Toyota Corolla, standard. Yeah, baby. Drove it like a boss – as long as I didn’t have to stop and get into first gear…
5.First album you bought with your own money: Canadian Mint – the title speaks for itself.
6.First thing you eat most mornings: My pride. Seriously, have you seen what I look like first thing in the morning?
7.How old were you the first time you got drunk/tipsy: 19 maybe 20. I refused to get drunk and lose control.
8.Where did you have your first kiss: On the sidewalk in front of the Catholic Church. I was 16, it was my birthday, Fast Eddy wouldn’t pass until I kissed him. I was late for the BIG hockey game, so I did. No romance at all.
9.The name of your first pet or first furry friend: Francis, my sweet tabby girl.
10.The first street you lived on was: Fourth (small town that only went five streets North to South and six streets East to West.
That’s me in a nutshell.
I’m with Michelle. I think you WILL tilt your head to get the Coke Zero as a direct feed. Either that or an I.V. – stat!