Now What?

by Wendy Burke

My latest Decadent Publishing story was released earlier this month. For Me is another 1NightStand.

Sure, it stands alone in its own right, but the fun (and sad) part of this story is that it’s one of six 1Night Stands I’ve penned with fellow DP author DeannaWadsworth. That’s the ‘fun’ part.

The sad part...we thought we’d write just six, three of hers and three of mine. Well, For Me is the last of that six. The ‘end of an era’ so to speak.

It all began with a little bear story DW had crafted – Bear it All. Then I had a wacky dream which woke me from a sound sleep with the first lines of what was to become The One He Chose. Then there was the discussion, "COOL—we need to write some stories with overlapping characters." (If I remember correctly, it took place at a corner table at a sports bar over a few beers. We got funny looks from those around us because of our exuberance, or was it when Deanna shouted, "You should totally kill the priest!")

So, John in Bear it All became the brother of Grace in The One He Chose. Then DW swiped the concierge from my story and put him in Accidentally Beautiful. Martin was an college friend of Ian's from Haste Ye Back (originally a novella if not more, but Wadsworth, in her encouraging way said, "It’ll never see the light of day, make it a 1Night Stand." Uh, thanks, I guess!).  Ian’s date, Bryn is neighbor to Jason from The Best Ever, and Abby in For Me is Jason’s sister.

So, what’s next?

That conversation began, “Wen, can I have Paul from Wise Men Say?’  So, it looks like there could be another sextet of stories in the works!

When not playing with the people in her head and cursing every situation which creates someone new up there, Wendy has a full time job behind the scenes in television, a part time job in radio, and even a 'parter' time job trying to keep her house clean. She shares her humble and perpetually dusty home with three furry children and her too-cute and ever-sarcastic chef husband in the lovely  suburbs of Corporal Klinger's home town. Zip her a note: wendyburke1994@bex.net.

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.

A Thoughtful, Thankful and Thirsty Thursday

I was thinking about how I was going to work my latest contracted book with Decadent Publishing into Thoughtful, Thankful and Thirsty Thursday, (this list may be out of order!)

but then again, the 3-Ts kind of lent themselves to the topic without any real struggle.

Scotland=inspiring scenery!

HASTE YE BACK is my third work with Decadent. This 1NightStand story is number four of six with overlapping characters that fellow-DPer, Deanna Wadsworth and I are penning. So, if you've been keeping score on that front, although the stories stand alone in their own right, Deanna's BEAR IT ALL started the half-dozen, followed by my THE ONE HE CHOSE. You'll be able to read her ACCIDENTALLY BEAUTIFUL soon, to be followed by HASTE YE BACK. You're going to have to wait a bit to find out what the last two titles are (because we don't even know them yet!)

So, without further delay---the 3Ts and HASTE YE BACK.

Loch Lomond, I do miss you!

I was THOUGHTFUL about this story the moment I sat down on a fallen log along Loch Lomond in late July 2007. It was a lovely afternoon and I was with my 'Scottish family,' visiting them after 30 years of mail correspondence with Shelagh--wife to George and mum to Jamie and Grant. A full-length version of HASTE YE BACK formed in my head--it's since been shaved down to a 1NightStand length story, but the tale presented itself insistently and immediately. 

My Scottish family-Shelagh, Jamie, Grant and George.

 I'm THANKFUL, of course, for all those years of friendship. Shelagh was a bit concerned, wondering if we'd 'get on well' during our vacation. We'd never met in person, but had corresponded for 30+ years. But, we fit right in! Some of the best times were our hosts 'correcting' us when it came to verbiage: we stowed stuff in the boot, got in a queue at bus stop, ordered aubergine instead of eggplant, and NEVER poured ANYTHING into Scotch!  That whole 'left side of the road' being 'right,' really threw me off, however!

Now I'm THIRSTY for a return trip--complete with another fine Scottish meal of haggis, neeps and tatties, accompanied by some Famous Grouse. Or some tasty fish and chips with an ice cold Irn-Bru!

So, I hold my Scottish family responsible for this story--in a good way, of course.  I'm honored for all those years of friendship, finally being able to meet them, hug them, and enjoy their company. I'm sincerely hoping to HASTE YE BACK soon!

Wendy currently has two works on the Decadent Publishing shelves, is working on 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 silly life with her way-too-cute chef husband and two furry feline kids in the Great Lakes area of the Midwest.

Just the Facts with Wendy Burke

 A few facts about me on Just The Facts Friday:


1--I am the younger child of two. My brother, Denny, is thirteen years older than I. Here we are circa 1966-ish.


2--Despite being 'displaced' from my home state of Wisconsin for some twenty-six years now, I still have a thing for Holstein cows. I just think they're adorable.

3--My first, chosen and love of my professional life (aside from writing!) is/was radio. My first radio job was "sitting the board" during Milwaukee Brewer baseball games on WHBL-AM. I spent those long nights scraping nicotine residue off the RCA ribbon microphone's windscreen. (Not my nicotine residue...)
 
4--I grew up a Milwaukee Brewers fan and spent many a sunny afternoon in the old Milwaukee County Stadium. Once I became "displaced," the nearest American league team was the Detroit Tigers. Needless to say, my hope for split cheering in this year's  World Series was nixed this past weekend--Tigers and Brewers lost. I do love "old school" team logos/mascots.

5--I have "real" penpals, although now the thirty-year-plus correspondence is via email. One is in Queens, New York, the other in Edinburgh, Scotland. 




Wendy Burke blogs regularly for A Daily Dose of Decadence. She has two books on Decadent's shelves and hopes the house has room for 247 more! 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. 

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.

10Q Tuesday with Grace Witzler and John Godfrey

Here's what happens when two Decadent Publishing authors sit down and have a few beers---strangeness!  Well, that's what some would call it! Deanna Wadsworth and I, however, call it inspiration!

There was much squealing in the back corner of Fricker's in Sylvania, Ohio when a 'series' was born. Granted, our 1NightStand stories stand alone, but our characters overlap in each other's stories!

That was SQUEEEE #1!

SQUEEEE #2 was doing a 10Q Tuesday, not with each other, but our characters talking to one another.

So --may I---WE-- present to you Bear It All's John Godfrey sitting at a pal's Detroit bar, The Fourth Base, answering ten questions from and about his sister Grace Witzler, the main character in my The One He Chose.   Enjoy!

 

Grace: What's your fondest memory of me as a child?

John: I don't know if I can pick one specific thing, Gracie, but our annual camping trip to Black Lake, Michigan always had some great memories. We stayed at Onoway State Park and Dad used to reserve that site at the end of the row with the artisan well. Remember that old rope swing on the Black River you slipped off because you got all nervous about jumping?

Grace: (((raises brows sarcastically)))Good times. Remember how the lake had leeches and we weren't allowed to pee in the camper because out Mom and Dad were so dang worried we would fill up the tank and we had to use that nasty out house?

John: (((laughing)))Oh, man did they stink when it got hot out!

The best was when we hiked up to the chalet...the one overlooking the lake... and you stepped in a puddle and tried to dry your tennis shoes on the edge of the campfire when we got back and they caught on fire!

Grace: (((gives him a teasing smirk)))I like how your fondest memories are of bad things happening to me!

John: C'mon Gracie, I don't wanna get all sappy. This is supposed to be a fun interview so I'm not gonna discuss how much it means to me that you asked me to give you away at your wedding next month. And that you asked Travis to be in the wedding party, too. That would just make us both weepy again.

Grace: Oh, alright, you big softie. You have a point. I don't need my mascara to run. Now question number two. Did you ever 'cover' for me when I got into trouble? What kind of 'trouble' was it?

John: Um, yeah. I covered for you all the time and you still owe me, I'm guessing. Your bedroom window faced that flat part of the roof over the kitchen. If Mom and Dad had known what a wild child you really were they would have given me that room.

Grace: (((grinning))) Why? so you could sneak out?

Sweet Tommy Dieter

John: (((sniffs))) Like they wouldn't have heard my big feet tromping across the roof. You slipped out like the wind. I knew you were going to see Tommy Dieter. What did you ever see in that tool? I always thought he was gay .

Grace: I used to wonder the same thing but he was a good kisser so I got over it real quick.

John: TMI! TMI!

Grace(((laughs))) Tell the readers how I reacted when you told me you were gay?

John: You just looked at me and said, 'Duh.' You're such a know-it-all.

Grace: You used to play Barbies with me, what else was a gal supposed to think?

John: I only played Barbies with you because you're my little sister! I was being nice because you didn't have anyone to play with!

Grace: (((scoffs))) I had plenty of other little 'girls' to play with. And they never confiscated Ken's friend Todd just so GI JOE could drive him all around the house in Barbie's pink Corvette.

John: (((crosses his huge arms over his chest and gives her a superior look))) You're just jealous Dream Date Todd liked Joe better than Barbie.

Grace: Thank goodness for Malibu Ken. I always preferred blonds anyway. Answer this: Mom loved who better? :)

John: Um me....sorry, you know she did! Except for that time I was sixteen and I took her car joyriding and wrecked it. Then you were the favorite for awhile. But I take her to the beauty-shop every Saturday morning to get her hair done and Travis goes over and mows her lawn, so I think I've permanently secured favorite status once more.

Grace: You two are such suck-ups. (((holds up her hand to stop him from saying anything else))) And don't even go there just because I said the word suck. This is a PG-13 blog!

John: (((raises hands innocently))) I wasn't!

Grace: Yeah right, I know you too well. What was the worst fight we had, over what?

John: When I was a sophomore in college and you threatened to tell Mom and Dad I was gay because I hadn't done it yet. I was so mad at you. I thought you were trying to ruin my life.

Grace: (((places a hand on his arm))) I just didn't want you to feel like you had to be ashamed of yourself. I was proud of you and I knew Mom and Dad would be, too. And they were, weren't they. Hell, Mom still goes to her PFLAG meetings! And Dad was never once ashamed of you like you were so worried about.

John: (((makes a silly face to cover his awkwardness))) Okay, okay. You told me when I agreed to do this interview you wouldn't get too serious on me.

Grace: Fair enough. Now, if you could use only ONE WORD to describe me, what would it be?

John: My first thought is bossy and overbearing but that's two words.

Grace: (((smacks his arm))) Hey!

John: Okay, if I have to pick a word to describe you it would be honest. Even when I didn't want to hear it...you always told me the truth.

Grace: Awww, that's sweet. Now its your turn to be honest. Did you ever have the hots for any of my boyfriends?

John: Um, no. You have the worst taste in guys.

Grace: Do not! Have you met my fiance?

John: (((shrugs teasingly))) A blind squirrel finds a nut once and awhile.

Grace: Whatever. What is one thing that only YOU know about me?

John: That you had a poster of Jon Bon Jovi on the back of your bedroom door and you kissed it goodnight every night until you were fourteen.

Grace: (((jaw drops))) I can't believe you remember that. I'm so embarrassed!

John: Well, you asked!

Grace: If I could live anywhere, where would it be?

John: That's easy. Somewhere you could see the mountains. But you'd have to make the rest of us move with you because you couldn't live without your family close by.

Maybe Matt Groening did have us in mind!

Grace: Who is my best friend?

John: Um...me, ding-dong!

Grace: (((rolls her eyes))) Jeez, how lame is that?

'


ABOUT WENDY: 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. She shares her clean, yet perpetually dusty, house with her wonderful chef husband and two spoiled-rotten cats.

ABOUT DEANNA: Bestselling erotica author Deanna Wadsworth leads a pretty vanilla life in Ohio with her hubby of 14 years and three demanding little dogs. She has a fascination with the exotic and taboo but it is her infatuation with love in all its stages and incarnations which made her chose to write romance with spice and love without boundaries.

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.