Guest in the Nest-Vicki Batman

I’m pleased to welcome my friend and fellow WORD BY WORD Blog member to my blog today. You are going to enjoy meeting her and learning about her latest fun read. Take it away, Vicki.

WHO you are you? Hi, Marsha! Thank you for hosting me on your blog. I am Vicki Batman. I write romantic comedy mysteries and romantic comedy short stories. I am a lifelong Texan. I married Handsome. We have two cute adora-poos. Besides writing, I do needlepoint and embroidery, Jazzercise, yoga, long walks, voraciously read, and play Mahjong.

WHAT do you do? I began earning money at thirteen by babysitting. I have volunteered extensively. I’ve worked as a lifeguard, in ride and game operations at an amusement park, hardware store, antique store, department store, bookstore, at the Apparel Mart, and mostly—what I call–home manager.

WHEN did this begin? My journey started long ago. Handsome and I went to a bookstore where I confessed how I wished to write like Dick Francis. Many, many, many years later, a friend posed a question; I went home and wrote eight chapters. She encouraged me to press on. I did, found some like-minded people, and thus began my journey.

WHERE do you live, and if you could live someplace else, where would it be? I live in a nice area of a large city. Nearby is a lake, walking and biking paths, great food, and easy access to other towns.

WHY did you write this latest book? Adventures with Hattie continues! After I began my first book, Temporarily Employed, I outlined and scribbled pages for two more. The second is Temporarily Insane, and now, Temporarily out of Luck.

Blurb: Great job. What man? And murder. Newly employed at Wedding Wonderland, Hattie Cooks is learning the industry from a woman she greatly admires. When her former brother-in-law is found dead in his luxury SUV, all fingers point to Hattie’s sister, who is planning her own I Dos.

Detective Allan Wellborn is caught between a rock and a hard place—Hattie’s family and investigating the murder of a well-connected Sommerville resident, the same loser who was once married to Hattie’s sister. Determining who’s the bad guy—or gal—isn’t going to be easy and sure to piss off someone.

Can Hattie beat the clock to find out who murdered Tracey’s ex before she is charged with the crime and her wedding is ruined?

Excerpt:

Find Temporarily out of Luck at: https://www.amazon.com/Temporarily-Luck-Hattie-Cooks-Mystery-ebook/dp/B08T7YSSRJ/

Sometimes, I felt like a small white mouse housed in a cage with lots of small white mice, whose playground activities involved eating, sleeping, and continually revolving on the exercise wheel. Just like one rodent friend—who I named Mr. Happy-Go-Lucky, having a field day back-flipping from the top of the spinning wheel—something happened. Unexpectedly, I found myself airborne.

Not hurt, a sense of disappointment overcame me, plus a bit of confusion, and a whole lot of colorful adjectives too numerous to list. I, mostly known as Hattie Cooks, shook off the pine shavings and joined the rat race. Sometimes, life sucked.

But wallowing? Not a good solution.

Being positive? A better one.

In most cases, a pitstop was a good idea, and I found comfort in my chocolate stockpile. And in most cases, I found empty shelves, for I had little dough to supply my habit due to the loss of my adored job as an assistant buyer at Sommerville’s top-class department store, Tucker’s, and the subsequent low-paying temporary ones I reluctantly took in the interim. Due to the expenses of rent, food, utilities, budgeting became my new compadré. However, for my recent birthday, Mom suggested friends and family provide me with treats. They were generous—gifting lots and lots of my favorite M&Ms in vast colors and flavors.

Mom’s idea totally rocked as the best birthday gift ever.

From outside my door, I heard Allan Wellborn smack the doorframe.

“You know how to find me.”

I roused from my ruminations and banged my forehead against the wall.  

Thanks so much for stopping by, Vicki. I encourage all of you all to check out her books and leave a review. Authors really appreciate those reviews. 😊

I must share info about a fun event I’m participating in this Saturday, March 27 at 1 pm Central Daylight Savings Time. On Facebook, eight authors who all write “Seasoned Romance” books will get together to talk about writing, our books, and what it’s like writing about Heroes and Heroines who are 40-years old and up. Here’s the link:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1873828842767389&id=1209410995875847

Stop by on Saturday and meet some new authors and say hi to me. 🙂

As always, I love to hear from y’all.

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