Between a Rock and a Blank Page

by Wendy Burke

I’ve been stuck, stuck between knowing what the story is and fighting to get it on a page.

The One He Chose and Haste Ye Back practically wrote themselves—two stories which came easily to me.  

The frame of my next story in the 1NightStand series is complete, the rooms are well established and the plumbing is roughed in. But, I’m having a heck of a time tacking up the drywall and picking out paint colors. That’s where my BWFF (best writing friend forever) comes in. In my case, it’s Decadent Publishing’s own, Deanna Wadsworth.

Recently she pulled up to my ramshackle story and tossed her toolbox on its wobbly porch. She extracted from that beat up toolbox, a quote: ‘Your intuition knows what to write, so get out of the way.’ Brilliant words from Ray Bradbury.

Once I read that, something shook loose in my head and now I know where I’m going. Before, I was trying to force my character into something that she a) didn’t want to do and b) wasn’t really her character.

Some of my writing friends would say ‘You wouldn’t have that problem if you had an outline.’

An outline? OUTRAGEOUS!

I’m a pantster through and through. An outline to me is like walking the fence line of a perfectly square pasture. Writing by the seat of my pants, though, is like having walking stick in hand, my hiking boots firmly laced, wandering the path of gorgeous woods. A fork in the road—I’ll let the characters decide which way to go!

Maybe that philosophy has gotten me behind on occasion—maybe it sometimes leaves me frustrated to the point of tossing my hands in the air and yelling at the ceiling, ‘Why the HELL am I even doing this! I suck!’

Then Deanna tosses a rope around my neck and drags me in from the proverbial ledge. She’s very insistent that way!

But, I don’t think I could write any other way!

So, now my contribution of the sixth of the six (well, okay, possibly seven!) 1NS stories with overlapping characters that Deanna and I are penning together is less ADD (oh look, a squirrel!) And regardless of the absence of an outline, has a bit more focus—to the point of changing the character’s premise for her 1NS and the title of the story. (Sorry, neither of which I’m going to divulge here!) And in my mind’s eye, I can even see the cover—well, sort of—and it looks for starters a bit like this. Hey, c’mon—it’s a start!

And for that forgotten premise, not to worry, it will be used another time. The title, well, I’ll save it—toss it in my writing ‘garage’ so to speak, and haul it down from the rafters when I need it. Hopefully, that’ll be very soon!

If you’re wondering what Deanna and I have been doing together in the writing realm, well look below. Six, 1NS stories which—although each stands alone in its own right—have characters which appear in more than one installment!  Read the separately, or for full effect, in the order as shown below.

Wendy Burke is a displaced Cheesehead, proud to have been born and bred in Wisconsin. She was a migrant worker for years in radio, until she landed in Ohio and refused to leave. When not playing with the people in her head, she’s a television newsroom assignment manager. She shares her perpetually dusty house with her adorable chef husband and two spoiled feline children. You can holler at her at-- wendyburke1994@bex.net.

Bacon Lube...?

by Wendy Burke

Aston Martin Vanquish-$228,000

It's amazing what companies think will sell! But then again, during this time of the year, novelty gifts are almost more endearing than a nice multi-carat diamond necklace in a velvet box or a dusty silver Aston Martin Vanquish in your driveway.

  

My 'real job' is that of a TV newsroom assignment manager and recently a news release popped into my 'inbox.' Don't know if this company is absolutely serious or if the owners think this is the perfect time to unveil this product, but undoubtedly it will sell.  So, don't be surprised if you see some BACON LUBE in your naughty stocking this Christmas. 

Now, I'm not endorsing this product, I've not tried it, and I don't believe I will, but darn it, it sure does lend itself to finding a way into a 1NightStand story!

Baconlube comes from the porky and quirky company of J & D Foods in Seattle, Washington. I've had their BaconPop (popcorn)--it was marginal. Among the company's items-bacon-flavored lip balm, bacon salt, baconnaise, bacon gravy, bacon croutons and the odd man out, ketchup salt.

The news release touts--'You’ve always been a lover of bacon.  Now you can be a bacon lover with baconlube, the world’s first bacon-flavored massage oil and personal lubricant.  No more horrifying bedroom experiments with bacon grease just hot oily bacon-y good times.'

You know, using animal fat as a personal lubricant never really struck me as something I would do...but...J & D's release goes on to say - '...we have one small admission to make - baconlube began as an elaborate April Fool's prank and was never intended to be a real product.  When the joke ended, the emails kept coming and coming and coming.  People harassed us via email, in public and in highly inappropriate ways (thanks for that).  The baconlube waiting list grew to thousands of people!  Expectations were built, we had to deliver.'

Thankfully, J & D, '...make no judgments about why people want this or what they want to do with it, but baconlube is here, it's real and available now just in time for the holidays.Supplies are very limited.  Keep It Sizzlin'.'

On the up and up, I did not get a sample of baconlube nor am I being paid or endorsing this product. At the same time, You're Welcome! that I have given you the idea for the best novelty Christmas gift ever!

Keep it slippery, friends! 

Wendy currently has two works on the Decadent Publishing shelves, is in the final stages of a a third (Haste Ye Back) and is in the process of writing 274 more which she hopes DP will like! Find her on Facebook, Twitter and lurking about the internet. When not playing with the people in her head, she has a full-time job in television news and a silly life with her way-too-cute chef husband and two furry feline kids in the Great Lakes region of the Midwest.

The PASS

by Wendy Burke

C'mon, you know what you know what the PASS is! Don't deny it. Although probably not discussed aloud between a married couple, YOU and your significant other have a list--a list of folks with whom your mate would 'give you a pass.'

The PASS came up on conversation at my workplace the other day, and the gals insisted there had to be at least a Top Five.

So, here's my Top Five PASS list--yes, approved by the man I've been married to for almost 20 years. (Believe that if you will...)

PASS #1: If you've read my posts, you know I have a thing for Russell Crowe. (A terrible, horrendous, incurable thing...) As a matter of fact, this very photo was the 'model' for the hero in my latest 1NightStand story, Haste Ye Back. And, yes, if Russell Ira showed up on my doorstep, the huz would willingly (don't know if that's a good thing) give me 'a pass' for him.

 PASS #2 : Another good-looker whose movies I rarely miss. And, twice I've gotten a 'two-fer' with Russell and Denzel Washington in Virtuosity and American Gangster.

Trace Adkins                    Sean Casey

PASS #3: Toss up between country-star Trace Adkins and former major league first baseman Sean Casey--both who made 'model' appearances in recent Decadent Publishing works.

Author Brad Thor

PASS #4: Author Brad Thor. But because I respect the man so much,  my 'pass' would probably be limited to picking his brain about thrill writing and character development and maybe a bit of harassment about not allowing his Scot Harvath character to settle down and finally 'get some.' (Of course, then my dear huz would butt in and want to talk terrorism and politics.) Still, in my opinion a worthwhile PASS!

Catcher Brad Ausmus

PASS #5: Is a staple on my list and has been for quite some time. Yes, another baseball player. Former San Diego Padre, Detroit Tiger and Houston Astro Brad Ausmus. I took this photo in April 2005, best piece of photography work I've done--ever.

Robert Irvine        Gordon Ramsay

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Chefs Robert Irvine and Gordon Ramsay--okay, so I have a thing for Brits who can cook! Although, this time around I would lose them to my chef husband for a dice-off! (At this point, insert bad pun, a quote from my mother- Wendy, you have all your taste in your mouth!)

So, my dear Decadent friends--agree, disagree, come up with your own, but this is my PASS list! Happy contemplating!

Dara England designs the most beautiful covers!

Wendy currently has two works on the Decadent Publishing shelves, is in the final stages of a a third (Haste Ye Back) and is in the process of writing 274 more stories which she hopes DP will be interested in! Find her on Facebook, Twitter and lurking about the internet. You could send her a nasty email-wendyburke1994@bex.net. When not playing with the people in her head, she has a full-time job in television news and a silly life with her way-too-cute chef husband and two furry feline kids in the Great Lakes region of the Midwest.

Survival of the Smartest

Charles Darwin

 by Wendy Burke

You know, Charles Darwin was right--survival of the fittest, or 'smartest' in some cases.  My concern is, however, (and don't worry, I'm not going to get into any sort of philosophical conversation here) that even a modicum of intelligence has some way been 'bred out' of the human species. The 'bar is being' lowered, it seems, even as we speak. Take for instance my beloved husband's encounter at a gas station the other day. Aside from the sticker on the pump reading 'Please prepay in advance,' (I'm sure one of Decadent's crack editors would have caught that!) the man on the other side of the pump, with nozzle in hand, was talking on his cell phone. Okay, you say, a minor infraction. NO--that was WHILE HE WAS SMOKING A CIGARETTE! 

You know, if you want to be stupid (read that an A-HOLE) go ahead, but don't take me to a fiery death while doing so!   Wonder if this guy was related to a young woman I once worked with? My 'real job,' is in a TV newsroom. A reporter was out in a station vehicle one day and called the office asking, 'The gas light in the Jeep is on, what should I do?'

OF COURSE, I didn't say, 'Go fill it up.' (Heck, she might have been on her cell phone while doing so!) I gave her the only good and true advice I could think of at the moment, 'Just keep driving around, it will eventually go out.' Hmm, maybe that was the DARWIN coming out in me!

 

 Wendy currently has two works on the Decadent Publishing shelves, and is in the process of writing 274 more stories which she hopes DP will be interested in! Find her on Facebook, Twitter and lurking about the internet. You could send her a nasty email-wendyburke1994@bex.net. When not playing with the people in her head, she has silly life with her way-too-cute chef husband and two furry feline kids in the Great Lakes area of the Midwest.

Wendy Burke's Playlist Monday---The One He Chose

This is my first attempt at a Playlist Monday. Geez, with all my years in media - radio and TV - you would think this was easy. To be honest, it was, because when the list came to me, I wasn't really thinking about 'the list'! 

If you're not aware, the main character-Grace- in The One He Chose is the sister of a character in another 1 Night Stand story. Hopefully, you met, John, in Deanna Wadsworth'sBear It All.' Since John looks like Trace Adkins, I was pondering that character one day and did a search for Trace Adkins tunes and stumbled upon 'Still Love You.' It's the perfect song reflecting Grace's dead husband's continuing love for her. (And, who wouldn't want to cuddle up to Trace Adkins with that growl of his!)  '

So,that was the first song. The next two came to me as I was on my way to work one day and had 'The One He Chose' on my mind. I was flipping through my SiriusXM channels (it's a good thing radio 'buttons' are electronic now, I can't tell you how quickly as a teen I burned out the radio buttons on my mom's '68 Ford LTD!) and ended up on a country station. 

'I Am That Man' by Brooks & Dunn was playing. I'm embarrassed to say, all the time I spend in the car, listening to the radio, it was a song I hadn't heard! (and if I need a lanky red-headed hero some day, Ronnie Dunn IS IT!) Well, it hit me-the song is the obvious connection between my character Grace and ---- I'm not tellin', I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't read the story yet!

After that was 'History In the Making' by Darius Rucker. Does he have the coolest voice or what? But the song also fit the connection between Grace and her 'mystery man.' (And, my husband is a huge Rucker/Hootie fan! Another reason to include it, huh?)

My hand slammed my forehead (as I was making a left turn!) and I grabbed the nearest piece of paper and started scribbling. (I can barely read it!) And so, the playlist was born!

I would be remiss if I didn't include the trailer for the actual story! 

So, please enjoy the playlist for The One He Chose!

      Wendy is a displaced Cheesehead, proud to have been born and bred in Wisconsin. She was a migrant worker for years in the radio business, until she landed in Ohio and refused to leave. When she isn’t writing for pleasure and publication, she is a TV newsroom assignment manager – a great job for her as she gets to tell people where to go and what to do! She shares her clean, yet perpetually dusty, house with her chef husband and two spoiled rotten cats. (One of who takes great delight in harfing up a hairball on Wendy’s pillow at 3AM.)Decadent Publishing has been a godsend for her as she can finally stop talking to the people in her head and allow them to speak for themselves!

     Find her at her blog, her writers' group, on Facebook - Wendy Burke author, and on Twitter @WendyBurke1994. You can send her an email too - wendyburke1994@bex.net.

 

Spotlight Saturday with...Wendy Burke...and

...the waiting is the hardest part....

Well, Respite has been on the sale shelf for a bit more than a month. (If you haven't purchased a copy, shame on you-wink!) Review copies were sent out a few days prior to its release on May 20th. I didn't know what to expect. It's like being in college waiting for a grade on a paper you slogged over for too many long nights- regardless of the great job you think you may have done, the prof might think differently.

I'm not a pessimist, but a realist. There will be people who didn't care for the story, or decided to pick apart the most mundane infractions.

But, SURPRISE - no such thing. It's hard to believe...and some would say 'why'?...but my first review got a 4.5 out of 5 stars from Manic Readers review site. Click on the link and you can read the review.

Thanks Manic Readers for a hearty pat on the back the first time out of the box!

Of course, there are still may be a dozen more review sites which are still in the process of reading Respite and getting around to reviewing it. I'm hoping, like a fine wine, it mellows and gets better as it waits to be read.

It's strange though, as 'mother bear' protective as I was for Respite for the past year, now it seems like it's all grown up and left 'home,' so to speak. I don't know if other writers go through the same 'emotional' process - but I feel in some ways, I've emotionally abandoned that story and moved on to something else - a new connection to new characters.

So, I'm hoping reviewers will eventually like what I'm currently working on. More importantly, I'm hoping YOU will like The One He Chose!

And, THANKS Decadent Publishing for the support and the opportunity!

Wendy Burke blogs regularly for A Daily Dose of Decadence  She can be found on Facebook – Wendy Burke Author, at her blog site, Whatever Wendy!, at Twitter: @WendyBurke1994 and lurking around the Internet. When not playing with the people in her head, Wendy has a fine life with a chef husband (YES – no cooking!) and two furry feline kids and a full-time job that keeps her from writing fulltime in ‘beautiful’ Toledo, Ohio. 

The Scum Among Us...

(As a caveat - please place tongue firmly in cheek before reading this!)

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To Whom It May Concern:

     As a published author with Decadent Publishing, I would like to register a complaint. Particularly with your 'author relations' department. See below the scathing email I received from one of your submissions 'specialists.'

    You are scum. Pond scum, that green slimy kind. I read this and couldn't find one stinkin' Kleenex in the whole house and had to resort to toilet paper.

    I definitely want to contract this. I LOVED it. But I still think you're scum for making me cry.   

    Really, is this any way to communicate to your contracted 'employees'!
    I will accept nothing less than a proper flogging!

    Thank you. 

Wendy Burke

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All kidding aside, that IS a portion of an email I was sent regarding my latest story, The One He Chose (and I do consider it a wonderful compliment!) I never thought I would write short stories, but when the first line came to me- I want to get drunk, get f*****d, and not give a damn- I couldn't help but get sucked in to  the world (happily!) of Decadent Publishing's Madame Eve and her 1 Night Stand agency. The rest of the story, pretty much wrote itself.

Sean Casey

While I'm not going to give away the gist of the story, I can give you some visuals. DP's amazing Cover artist, Dara England nailed the heroine, Grace. She is perfect. The 'inspiration' for Jake, was Sean Casey. (Yes, I do have a thing for baseball players!) When you read the story, however, you are more than welcome to ascribe your own physical attributes to the characters - that, of course, is the most wonderful thing about reading - painting your own mental pictures.

As for the story, watch Trace Adkins' Still Love You. When The One He Chose is released, let me know if the song does the story justice and vica versa.

Get a copy of Wendy's first release, RESPITE, free! Sign up to win at The Romance Studio June 23rd during TRS's Book-A-Day giveaway.

'The One He Chose' is Wendy Burke's second story with Decadent Publishing.'Respite' released in May is on sale now.  Wendy blogs regularly for Daily Dose of Decadence and can be found at her local writers' group website, on Facebook, Wendy Burke Author, on Twitter: @WendyBurke1994 or you can send her a scathing email at wendyburke1994@bex.net. When not playing with the people in her head, she is either directing traffic behind the assignment desk at a television station, or irritating her chef husband and two furry feline children.