Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Just Saying Hello….

by KevaD

COMING SOON!

Well….
This is my first blog post with Decadent Publishing. The problem? What to write, obviously.

I’m KevaD, also known as David Kentner, one of Decadent’s newer authors signed to the Western Escape line. My contribution titled Kantu’s Heart is currently scheduled for release in June. So, it’s kind of early to talk about a caveman warrior who time travels to contemporary Freewill, WY, in search of his one true love, his heart Sanda, and exact revenge on the man who murdered her in Kantu’s time.

My wife hasn’t told me to move out yet, despite the many hours a day I sit huddled over the keyboard, or how when she left me a note she needed a bottle of chanel, I drove to the Mississippi River and filled three for her in the mistaken belief she’d misspelled the word. Our dog loves me when he has a burr stuck in his fur. The tuxedo cat tolerates me, mostly because I’m the one who feeds her.

Bethenny Frankel is someone I could be friends with. This is the worst season of American Idol. Cold pizza is an acceptable breakfast food. So is chocolate cake in a bowl with milk. I admit to wondering on occasion who first decided to convince women in 1915 to shave their armpits (the assault on leg hair came later) - I can’t persuade my wife to do anything.

My Grandma Tripp couldn’t get a job, so she built a river resort of six cabins with her own two hands and no help (yes, she really did), operated it until she had reservations filled for three years ahead, then sold it and entered into the business of buying and selling small neighborhood apartment buildings so she always had someone else paying for her home. She also went through five husbands - she didn’t cotton much to people telling her what to do. Grandma Tripp taught me to fish, which berries are edible and which ones will make someone you don’t like so sick they’d prefer death, how to identify venomous snakes and spiders, knew how to hold a grudge longer than anyone I’ve ever met, kept the basement filled with can goods for the next Great Depression she swore would come, and could make tea out of just about anything. She also handmade the most delicious butter noodles I’ve ever tasted, and refused to pass down the recipe. On a whim, she started one of the first mail order collectable stamp businesses in the country, sold franchises, and when the IRS caught wind of her growing enterprise, she told them all to go to hell and never sold another stamp. When she died, we had a dozen 3ft x 3ft boxes of postage stamps to dispose of. Try filling even one box that size with stamps.

I was the one who had to sit next to her bed and explain that if she didn’t have a certain operation, she would die. She’d grown old, weak, and very tired. She told me to go fishing and not worry about it. She passed away a few days later, leaving her body to a university so they could study the arthritis that had crippled her.

Grandma Tripp was a trip. I miss her and think of our brief time together whenever I head out on the river.

Thanks for reading, and I hope we get a chance to chat again.

19 comments:

David Kentner -- KevaD said...

Nothing like a good incoherent rambling to introduce myself.
Thanks for having me?

I think I better go do some serious writing now....

Margie Church said...

Your ramblings are better than most any day of the week. And serious writing? Pshaw! No fun.

Best wishes with Kantu's Heart my friend.

David Kentner -- KevaD said...

Hi, Margie!
Thanks for taking the time to stop by.

Amber Green said...

If the pine trees in your area are shooting out candles, do this: chop and crush a handful of candles, drop them in boiling water, cover quickly, and take off the heat. In half an hour, the liquid should be a nice pinkish orange. Strain and drink to your grandmother's memory.

If you leave at a third of each candle cut, you won't hurt the tree at all.

Judith Leger said...

Oh, David! I would have loved to know Grandma Tripp. They don't make 'em like that any more.

Keep rambling, hun, it's great! Touches the soul.

David Kentner -- KevaD said...

Amber, you know I'll have to try that. =)
Thanks so much for coming by.

Hi Judy.
Thanks so much. She was...unique.
Remind to tell you about the two houses she bought that sat next to each other some time. "Why" she bought them is the story.
Or about the Wells Fargo safe she kept hidden in basements, even though it was empty.

R. Renee Vickers said...

I see so much love in this post how could it be nonsense! Your grandma sounds like she was an awesome lady! :)

Great post, David! And I can't wait to read the full story. Best of wishes for your sales.
Renee

R. Renee Vickers said...

...sorry, I meant ramblings...not nonsense...

David Kentner -- KevaD said...

Hello, Renee!

I so appreciate you coming by. I know how busy you are right now. Thank you!

Cornelle said...

This was, as always, a refreshing read from an exceptional writer. You never cease to impress me with your gift KevaD.

I will continue to read and hope to learn a lil something along the way. Congratulations to you and Decadent for having the vision to sign you.

Cornelle

David Kentner -- KevaD said...

Hi, Cornelle,

You are so bad for my ego.
Thanks for stopping by, my friend.

Unknown said...

I agree about AI, stopped watching.

Can't wait to read more about Kantu.

David Kentner -- KevaD said...

Hi Ellie!

I gauge the talent by 'would I pay money to see them,' and the answer's been NO so far.

Thanks for commenting. =)

Bobbi Romans said...

2nd attempt as Blogger and I have been known to lock horns.

Seriously, I need your grandma Tripp here to handle them. (LOL)

She sounds like one HELL OF A LADY. I'm sure your stories are plentiful of wonderful things she accomplished. She was of the era to DO and not make excuses.

How wonderful you remember the legacy of such rich memories she left behind.

And now WE have some as well.

Ever thought about writing about her? Something tells me the above were the stories suitable for a blog. Wonder what stories not even you know about?

Your story looks fantastic and the cover is gorgeous! Congratulations to both you and Decadent.

Dana

David Kentner -- KevaD said...

Hello, Dana!

Thanks for coming by.
You'd be surprised at how often I dip into her personality for my stories.

Actually, yes, I do have something in mind. I know you're familiar with my "Hearts on a...."(words left out intentionally) WIP. That story, once it's finished, and IF it finds a publisher, will have a prequel based on Grandma Tripp's life.

Cherise Sinclair said...

What lovely ramblings--and now I see there that bullheaded trait of yours comes from.

I'm looking forward to reading Kantu's Heart; it should be a perfect summer read!
.

David Kentner -- KevaD said...

Oh, my goodness. Cherise!

Yes, stubborn runs in the family. =)
Thanks so much for stopping by. I really appreciate it.

Barbara Elsborg said...

Welcome to Decadent, David! Ah, another family that stubborn runs in! Grandma Tripp sounded fantastic. Reminds me of our son who sold his lunch at school for weeks for a HUGE profit until he was caught. I wondered why he wanted so much to eat.

David Kentner -- KevaD said...

Sounds like an enterprising young man filled with initiative and the mental prowess to turn a premise into reality.

Basically, every parent's pride and nightmare. =)
All joking aside, he will make you proud, and I'm sure he already does.

Thank you for the welcome!