Easter baskets, Chocolate Bunnies and Peeps #Sunday Snippets

Sunday Snippets

Yes it is that time again.  Every Easter, along with pastel rompers and spring we find Peeps with their jaunty colors and baby animal shapes, on every retailer's shelf.

Call it nostalgia.

Call it whatever you like. 

I am no fan of the surgery marshmallow treat.  I will go so far as to say, these are nasty, tasteless, sponge-like marshmallow creatures. Perhaps it's the sugary coating around the marshmallow--the combination of crunch and solidly sponge, like biting into a chick shaped slime.

Marshmallow flavor? Not any marshmallow of which I'm acquainted.  It's gooey and sticky.  Like biting into one of those soft pencil erasers.

The colors resemble neon spray paint.  Everyone raves about these candies and acts as if there coul be a shortage.

Please, this is not a Cadbury Cream Egg ( also, not a personal favorite); or Girl Scout Cookies.  This is punishment candy.  Have you ever tried to squish a Peeps?  It snaps right back into chick form.

I was reading an article today about Peeps in England--apparently the candies are really had to find. Stop looking is what I was tempted to post, but I refrained.

What the unsuspecting Brits have yet to learn is Peeps do not dissolve in water and when micro-waved, the grow in size.  This is weird-science.  Enjoy your tea time with cucumber sandwiches and cakes.  And, walk--no, run past the Peeps!

Happy Easter Everyone.

Connie

Ginger Simpson http://mizging.blogspot.com/

Tricia McGil. Http://Triciamg.blogspot.com

Juliet Waldron http://yesterrdayrevisitedhere.blogspot.com/

"All Great Writers Begin with a Good Leather Binder and a Respectable Title." by Connie Vines #Sunday Snippets

"All great writers begin with a good leather binder and a respectable title," Johnny Deppp (speaking as J.M. Berrie) said to Peter in the film "Finding Neverland".

When I teach workshops, or am a guest speaker at local literary events, I am often asked, "Have you ever met a real-life character?

Living in SoCal, and due to the nature of my work, I do come in contact with actors, writers, public speakers, and others involved in the entertainment industry.  However, the person who was 'bigger than life' was not someone involved in the entertainment industry.  This person is someone who provided inspiration for the Lynx Maddox, the hero in the first book in my Rodeo Romance Series.

I often 'freelance' when I am working on a novel for better insight into a character, to learn a particular skill or obtain inside knowledge (slang, general impressions, etc.) that only someone living that life-style would know.  Sometimes all it takes is a conversation with the owner of a small town Nebraska cafe.  I might be invited into her kitchen where a family recipe is divulged, or local gossip is shared.  Another time, I'll serve on committee and strike up conversation with a person whose humanitarian work takes her to Romania.

In this particular case, I was attending school and working as a part-time 'appointment only' fragrance consultant in a exclusive perfumery.

Enter: one cowboy. 

From outward appearances he was of average height, a bit on the lean side (but well toned), dark-haired, green-eyed, early-to-mid thirties; just an average man.  However, there was an unmistakable 'aura' of energy when he entered the room.  His drawl resonated, his expressions were intense (but not threatening): a lifted eyebrow, a smile pulling a the corner of his mouth.  After a couple of minutes, I discovered he wasn't average at all--I'm not talking about wealth, personal fashion sense, or anything tangible--he just claimed all your attention without really doing anything.  I found this completely amazing.  (And no, it wasn't love at first sight! He was shopping for his wife's birthday gift and purchased a designer fragrance and art glass).

I wondered what it would be like to have a hero who's personality was 'a force of nature'.  And, so, Lynx Maddox was born!
.
Connie

Secondary Characters Can Surprise You'. #Round Robin

I,This Month's Topic: Secondary characters have many functions in stories. Have you ever had a secondary character surprise you in some way? How? How about in other author's books that you've read? Do you have a favorite secondary character in either your own work or in books you have read?

Thank you Robin for including me in today's blog hop.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle gave Sherlock Holmes a full panoply of supporting characters. There was Dr. Watson, the quintessential “sidekick,” to act as a sounding board; Scottish landlady Mrs. Hudson, to cook and clean and fuss over Holmes; Scotland Yard Inspector LeStrade, to provide a foil for Holmes’ intuitive brilliance, as well as access to official investigations; the Baker Street Irregulars, to ferret out information; and Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock’s politically powerful older brother, to provide financial and strategic support. Like Doyle’s, your cast of supporting characters should reflect what your protagonist needs.

Where as I do not feel the secondary characters in Sherlock's world surprised me-- they were skillfully drawn to print out the flaws and strengths of Holmes.

As for my own secondary characters, they have a life of there own.  I've had an enemy become a fringe in one of my YA novels, and a pet anendearing side-kick in another.

As for a favorite secondary character, I fine the novels I am writing at any particular time, is my favorite. Like a parent, I think everyone one of my characters are special & and equally loved.

Happy reading,

Connie

Please stop by and see what this have to say about secondary characters.
Anne Stenhouse  http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com/
Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea
Beverley Bateman http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/
Judith Copek http://lynx-sis.blogspot.com/
Connie Vines http://connievines.blogspot.com/
Victoria Chatham http://victoriachatham.blogspot.ca/

Helena Fairfax  http://helenafairfax.com/
Marci Baun  http://www.marcibaun.com/
Rachael Kosinski http://rachaelkosinski.weebly.com/
Hollie Glover http://www.hollieglover.co.uk
Dr. Bob Rich http://wp.me/p3Xihq-CZ
Rhobin Courtright http://www.rhobinleecourtright.com/

Fiona McGier http://www.fionamcgier.com/  

Brede, Rodeo Romance, Book 2—Sunday Snippet #sundaysnip

This Sunday’s Snippet is from my Contemporary Romantic Suspense novel, “Brede”.

“My head hurts,” she whispered. A sharp, throbbing pain embedded itself in the center of her left temple.  She touched her raw fingertips to the tender area, and tried to grasp a fleeting memory. . .of what, she wasn’t certain. 

At that moment, a man leaned over her.  His eyes reminded her of the ocean; soft blue water reflecting through frosted crystal—sad, lonely eyes.

                The warmth from the blankets seeped into her chilled body, but the sound of the pounding rain sent terror crawling through her.  She bolted upright, her heart thumping so card she couldn’t catch her breath.

                “Lie back down,” the man instructed. “You’ve had some sort of accident.”

                Pain lanced through her body and her head.  Beneath the wave of pain, she heard the concern in his deep voice, and pressed an unsteady hand to her forehead.  “Accident?”  Her fear receded, but didn’t go away completely.  An accident explained the sharp, pain embedded in her left temple and radiating down the side of her jaw, but it didn’t explain what she was doing here.  Here?  Where was she? And who was this man standing over her?

To purchase this novel click on my blog links visit:

my website home page:  http://novelsbyconnievines.com

http://www.amazon.com/Brede-Rodeo-Romance-Book-2-ebook/dp/B00DRPHILY

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/brede/id673408077?mt=11

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Connie%20Vines%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall

Remember "Brede" is on sale this month.

Happy Reading,

Connie 

Please stop by and read the snippets this month's Blog Hop members posted!

http://mizging.blogspot.com (Ginger Simpson)

http://triciamg.blogspot.com (Tricia McGill)

http://yesterrdayrevisitedhere.blogspot.com (Juliet Waldron)