"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

Sunday Snippets #5 ~ Interview with Pro-Rodeo Cowboy, Lynx Maddox~ #5 05/17/15

I thought I'd share the transcripts from a podcast interview I gave when my first Rodeo Romance, "Lynx" was published by BWL.

Connie: Today’s rodeos feature the most skilled cowboys and cowgirls.  They show off their roping, riding, and many other talents to the world.  Being a rodeo cowboy, especially a bull rider, is a dangerous occupation where the only the strongest and smartest will take home the victory. I’d like to welcome, Lynx Maddox, one of rodeo’s top bull riders, to today. 

Lynx:  “I’d like to thank all of the romance readers and Rodeo fans for  logging on for my interview.” 

Connie:  “For the readers who aren’t familiar  with PRO rodeo cowboys who support community projects  for worthy causes.  Lynx, you were at the Fairgrounds this weekend to support and build awareness for projects to prevent domestic violence, isn’t this correct?”

 Lynx:  “Yes.  Dan and  were at the Snake River Stampede last week where a local band helped collect donations to support a newly built women’s shelter.” 

Connie:  “I know you are reluctant to brag. . .but virtually all former and current  world champions have competed at the Stampede at one time or another. However, few are as generous with donating their purse winning as readily as you are.” 

Lynx:  “Now, I wouldn’t say that.  Everyone does what he or she can to help contribute to these worthy causes. . .be it in dollars or in time. . .Weren't we gonna discuss the sport of bull riding?” 

Connie: “Yes, Wildcat, we are.  According to the ABBI guidelines for judging bull riding, based on five categories:  buck, kick, spin, intensity, and degree of difficulty.  All of which sound extremely uncomfortable for the rider.  Would you mind explaining what this all means?”

 Lynx: Dry chuckle.  “‘Buck’ refers to the height achieved with the front feet and shoulders as a bull begins each jump of a trip. Technically correct bulls will complete this action by kicking their hind legs, however not all will kick, and that is a separate category from buck. Bulls that “get in the air” and get their front feet a foot or two off the ground as they peak and break over get the most credit in the buck category. Another consideration is the number of jumps they complete during the course of the trip. Still another factor can be how much ground they cover.” 

Connie: “I know the ‘Kick’ refers to the extension and snap of the hind legs at the peak of each jump. But I don’t know the determining factors for scoring.” 

Lynx: “Again, the score is determined by how high and how hard the bull kicks, how much vertical body angle he achieves as he kicks, and whether or not he kicks each and every jump. Additionally, bulls that kick at the peak of each jump instead of waiting until their front feet reach the ground deserve more credit in this important category.” 

Connie: “So at any time, a bull rider can find himself falling under one of the massive animals?” 

Lynx: “Well, I reckon so, but that is not the aim of the rider. . .” 

Connie:  “Sorry, but. . .” 

Lynx: “Heard about what happened–” 

Connie:  “In Cheyenne, Wyoming?  Yeah.” 

Lynx:  “The ‘Spin’.”  Takes a sip of coffee.  “Also referred to as the speed category, spin is the most difficult to assess if a bull is only ridden for a jump or two. In this situation, a judge must assume that the amount a bull was spinning (or the number of rounds) would have continued at the same rate for eight seconds. For this reason, it is important, in order to achieve high marks in the spin department, to “turn back” or begin to spin as early as possible so that more time is spent spinning than covering ground.” 

Connie: “The ‘Spin’ is assessed the same way?”

 Lynx:  “Basically yes.” 

Connie:  “The final category is ‘Degree of Difficulty’.  Difficulty equals painful, I take it?”

 Lynx:  “Naw.  By the end of the ride most bull rider’s bodies are numb.” 

Connie: Smothering a laugh.  “Please continue.” 

Lynx: “There are a number of factors that can occur in a bull’s trip that elevate the degree of difficulty, and it is important to note that the bull that does everything else right automatically has a high degree of difficulty for that simple reason. Therefore, just because a bull is honest and doesn’t use tricks to get a rider off, he shouldn’t be penalized in this category for doing things right. Having said that, there are those elements of a trip that some bulls employ that make them harder to ride than bulls that don’t. These things don’t necessarily make a bull better, and again it should be mentioned that the most desirable methods of increasing degree of difficulty are by doing the core elements (buck, kick, and spin) well. Furthermore, the bull that is using time and energy performing some of the trickier elements generally associated with degree of difficulty is usually losing ground in some other area. The most generally defined elements of this category are: drift or fade, accomplished by a bull covering ground as he spins; moving forward in the spin; belly roll; drop; direction change; and lack of timing.” 

Connie:  “Lynx, thank you so much for taking time from your packed schedule to explain the element of rodeo to us .  You make bull riding sound like everyone’s nine-to-five job.  But we all know that isn’t true.  Rodeo is a very dangerous sport.”

 Lynx: “I can’t deny that fact.” 

Connie: “Where are you off to tomorrow?”

 Lynx:  “Tonight.  After I wrap things up at the Fairgrounds, I’m driving up to Running Springs, Montana.”  Rising to his feet, he tips his hand and exits the booth. 

Connie: speaking over the canned music, ‘The Yellow Rose of Texas,”Thank you, Wildcat.  Let’s all thank Lynx Maddox for stopping by today.”

Everyone, stop my next Sunday for more Snippets (and more from Lynx Maddox).

http://www.amazon.com/Connie-Vines/e/B004C7W6PE

Remember to visit all of the wonderful authors participating in today's Blog Hop, too!

Ginger Simpson

Tricia McGill

Vijaya Schartz

Jamie Hill

Sunday Snips from Connie Vines #Sundaysnips

Thank you Ginger Simpson for inviting me to participate in Sunday Snippets.

I am sharing a few snippets from one of my works in progress:
Gumbo Ya Ya: for women who like romance Cajun!

This anthology is filled with five stories and five times the fun!  Ooooh, La La!

MARRYING OFF MURPHY

Settling into his office chair, Professor Murphy Flynn glanced at the faxed copy of OP News. “I Want To Get Married,” the headline read. When he realized the grainy photograph was of him, he upended his coffee mug, sending the liquid perilously close to a six-inch stack of ungraded papers. 

He snagged the papers with one hand, using the other to dab at the puddle with his tie. His gaze locked on to the name of the submissions editor: Sylvie Dupree. The memories hit him hard and fast, leaving Murphy to feel like he’d taken a direct blow to his solar plexus.

Determined and intelligent, Sylvie Dupree had been his stepsister’s college roommate for three years.  A dark-haired Creole beauty with a soft-as-sin smile, she had captured his interest with her quick wit and charm. Only later, after too many pizza-and-study nights spent in her company, had she also captured his heart. Much to Murphy’s perpetual torment, she’d kept him in the friendship zone. 

LOVE POTION #9

“Don’t shake your finger at me, Simone Basso. I know what I’m doing.” Persia Richmond said, filling a half-ounce bottle with perfume. The warm scent of spice, magnolia, mimosa and a hint of something unnamed and mysterious wafted across the narrow processing room.

The fragrance was New Orleans; culture at its most upscale moments and Mardi Gras at its naughtiest! A smile of supreme joy curved her mouth and success warmed her soul.

Persia had dreamt of creating a signature fragrance since the time her grandpapa had begun her tutorage in perfuming.

 “I’ve done warned you and warned you about messing with love potions!”

THE PIRATE OF GOMBI ISLAND

Celeste Brossard stared up at the turbulent sky above the gulf.  The water churned and slapped choppy waves against the levee’s edge, but she still heard the click-click of stiletto heels on the cobblestone street.  As was their usual Sunday custom since high school, Francine Grant always brought breakfast after Mass while Celeste secured a table and ordered coffee at the café. 

After taking a hurried sip of her mocha latte, Celeste scooted over so that her best friend could slide into a vacant bistro chair.

 “Girlfriend, you look like you need substance.”  She tilted the white paper bag between her French manicured fingertips and offered Celeste a warm beignet.

 Celeste snagged the donut-like, powder-sugared covered confection, and took a healthy bite.  “We’ve got to get another habit,” she managed to say around the tasty mouthful.

Francine grinned and reached for her cup of chicory coffee and poured in an unhealthy amount of cream. “We’re both in our early thirties, single…still.  What other habit were you contemplating?  Bar hopping?”

‘No!  Something healthier. I was thinking more along the line of adding fiber—“

“Fiber?  Girl, what is wrong with you?”

Celeste shrugged her shoulders.  “Work, work, and more work.”

Her friend rolled her eyes. “Tell me something I don’t already know.  What happened with that guy—“

“What guy?”

“You know, the know guy in the office down the hall?”

“Married.”

“Oh.  What about that Spanish guy—you know the sea captain with the funny name?”

Celeste gave an unladylike snort that sent sprinkles of powdered sugar down the front of her silk-print waist dress. “Bocanegra?”

“Yeah, that’s the one. You were all excited about him”

“Francine, I’m cataloging the University’s latest acquisitions.  Therefore, whomever I’m excited about is dead.  Dead, as in no longer living.”

“That’s a real problem.”  Francine popped the final bit of her beignet in her mouth and brushed her hands together to remove the powdered sugar.

#

I did say those Cajuns stories was fun. . .and as exciting as, well, New Orleans and the wild bayou.

Join us next month for more snippets. I will be featuring the final two stories from my anthology.  Including award winning T.A.R.A paranormal romance, 1-800- FORTUNE,  and action packed Cajun crime mystery, A Slice of Scandel.

Can't wait?  

Visit a few of my links and spend some time with my Rodeo Cowboys featured in my Rodeo Romance series,  Or perhaps a little fun and sassy fantasy novella will make your evening.

Remember to stop by and see what my author friends have in store for you.

Happy Reading,

Connie

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

http://www.jamiehill.biz (Jamie Hill)

http://medievalnovels.blogspot.com (Vijaya Schartz)

Sunday Snippets #sunday snippets~ Connie Vines

Welcome to Sunday Snippets!  I would like to thank author Ginger Simpson for including me this week.

The rules are simple--six paragraphs no more, no less.  

This snippet is from my published novel (Book 1 of my Native American Series).  Available as e-book or paper back. 

http://www.amazon.com/Whisper-Upon-Water-Connie-Vines/dp/0759901848   http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/whisper-upon-the-water-connie-vines/1100069455?ean=9780759901841

My snippet is from my historical sweet romance.  This is my favorite (though all of my novels are dear to me).  I believe every writer has a story which comes from the soul--this is mine.  Whisper upon the Water, awarded the Dream Realm Award, Independent e-book Award; Frankfurt e-book Finalist, E-Book YA Historical Bestseller, and was a National Book Award Nominee.

Please enjoy your visit visit to Tanayia and Anna Thunder's world.

"Anna thunder, you will pay dearly for you disobedience!" Sister Enid slapped the flat of her palm against the desk top. "When I tell a student to recited, everyone is to participate."

I stiffened against the wooden back of my chair and held my breath.  Sullen silence from the Comanche girl was a daily ritual. Never before had she challenged the teacher in front of so many students.  Hatred twisted Sister Enid's prune face in fury. "I demand an apology."

Anna Thunder remained silent.

With her back arched and her scrawny neck stretched its full length, Sister Enid marched to the back of the room.  Her heavy shoes sounding like horse's hooves on the brightly polished wooden floor. Grabbing Anna Thunder by the arm, the teacher yanked the girl from the chair. Dragging her toward the hallway, she said, "Two days in the attic for you. No food. Only water. Afterwards, I'll wager, you'll remember you manners."

During the days which followed, all students spoke in whispers about Anna Thunder. All wondered what had happened to her. None dared ask Sister Enid. Some said she was being starved and 

beaten.Others said Anna Thunder had died and was buried beneath the church floor.

On the morning of the third day, while the other girls were marching in the exercise yard, Sister Enid ordered me to remain inside. 

You can visit the next snippet: http://jamieb-baker.blogspot.com/2014/03/sunday-snippets-on-friday.html

Or find more snippets here: http://mizging.blogspot.com/

Happy Reading,

Connie Vines

www.novelsbyconnievines.com

follow me on Twitter, Pinterest,

http://vimeo.com/72567100  (Whisper upon the Water book trailer)

 http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uGTgCGQz_nI