Sunday, July 29, 2012

Tuesday Tales – Blue

Welcome to this weeks Tuesday Tales. This week will conclude the adventures of Billy and Alexandra. I'd like to thank everyone for for stopping by my tiny space on the web every week giving me your love and support. Watch out next Tuesday for a brand new story with Pia and Lorenzo.

For other wonderful tales by a group of talented authors check out TUESDAY TALES.


Alexandra waited until after they had their coffee and dessert before she asked Billy the questions, which kept going through her mind while she sat tied to the wooden chair in the café. What she couldn’t understand was why the doctor kept asking her where Billy hid the diamonds. He insisted that there had to be at least two dozen diamonds missing, which went back to Billy. She wanted the truth.

“Why don’t we kick off our shoes and sit in the living room.” Alexandra grabbed her coffee mug off the table and sat down crossed leg on the couch. “I’d like to talk to you about what happened at the café.”

Billy followed behind, sitting opposite her on the loveseat. Alexandra kept her eyes on him. She sensed he had answers to all the questions she was about to ask him. All she wanted to hear was the truth of what happened and why someone was impersonating a doctor.

Silence lingered over them for a few minutes before Alexandra spoke. “I need to know exactly what is going on, Billy. I also need to know what diamonds he was talking about. Billy,” she lashed out, “what the hell are you mixed up in? I need to know right now.”

Alexandra uncrossed her legs and sat back on the couch, laying both her hands on her lap. Her eyes watched Billy’s every move. She felt his uneasiness, almost sensed him being nervous, but in his eyes, she saw love and relief.

“I’m not going to tell you any lies, because there is no need to.” Billy stood. He walked around the cocktail table and sat next to her. “I’ve told you my whole life story except for this part, and that’s because I was sworn for secrecy by my grandfather.”

“I’m listening, not judging,” she said, lightening up the mood a bit.

“Thank you.” Billy sat sideways on the couch. He pushed the strands of hair behind her ears, before taking her hands in his. “I was just a teenager when my grandfather died. A few weeks prior, he had brought me up into his attic. He told me he needed me to move some things around for him.” Billy closed his eyes for a moment and chuckled. “I was up there for over twelve hours with him.”

“Wow. What did he have you doing?”

“At the time, I couldn’t understand. He sat in the middle of the attic in his chair with his cane next him. It had taken him over fifteen minutes to get up the twelve attic stairs.”

“He was sick?”

“Very bad arthritis in his back and knees, but he was bound and determined to get up there.”

Alexandra slid her hands out of his. Walking into the kitchen, she returned with two hot mugs of coffee. Before sitting down, she leaned over Billy, lifted his chin and softly kissed his lips. “Tell me more.”

“After going through at least fifty boxes, I came across a box that was hand decorated with papier-mâché. It was in that box that my grandfather took out another decorated box with a black satin tied bag. Inside the bag, he took out the engagement ring that I have given you. The ring had been my grandfather’s mother’s. It is a perfect two and a half carat blue diamond.”

Alexandra looked down at her hand. She went to slide it off but Billy stopped her.

“My father borrowed fifty thousand dollars from Doc and put the diamond up as collateral. He told Doc there were a dozen diamonds when there is only one. They shook hands on the deal. My dad could never find it because I had kept it all these years waiting for the right person to give it to. Now doc has come to me to pay up on my father’s debt. ”

“I don’t understand why that man was in my room.”

“His nickname is Doc. He had gotten it as a kid because he was always bragging about going to be a big time plastic surgeon. Instead, he turned into a hustler.” Billy dropped his eyes to his lap and frowned. “I am so sorry you became involved in this. I’m sure he thought you knew where the diamonds were.”

“But this?” she pointed to the engagement ring, “If it’s going to follow us the rest of our lives, then give it back. I don’t need it. I love you, not the ring.”

“That is yours. I held on to it for over two-five years. Even at my lowest, I never sold it. I had made a promise to my grandfather to give it to the girl of my dreams, the love of my life. And that’s you. I want to start planning our wedding tonight and get our dream café up and running for our reception.”


Alexandra eyes watered. “I love you so much.”

“Love you more.

THE END

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Tuesday Tales - Dawn

Welcome to this weeks Tuesday Tales. Next week I will be wrapping up Billy and Alexandra's story. I have a new idea brewing.

I'd like to thank everyone who comes visit every week and for everyone who participated in the Secret Cravings Publishing Summer Scavenger Hunt. I hope you all had a fun time. The winner of my giveaway is: Julianne. She will be receiving a copy of my new release The Boardwalk.

To read more tales from a group of extremely talented author visit: TUESDAY TALES

Billy and Gallo pulled up in front of the café. Alexandra’s car sat directly in front, meaning she was inside. The café was dark except for a tiny light in the back, close to where the food pantry would be. He had no doubt that something was terribly wrong. Before Billy could open the door, Gallo locked the car doors.

“I want you to stay here,” Gallo ordered. “Backup is on its way.”

“No way. Alexandra is in there and I’m going to get her.” Billy flicked the lock and got out of the black sedan. “Once I know she is out of harms way, I will step back and let you do your job.”

Gallo chuckled. “Are you telling me how to do my job?”

“Yes I am.” Billy fumbled with his keys for nothing. The door was left slightly ajar. He looked over his shoulder at Gallo and stepped out of his way. “I guess you’re going in first.”

“Scared?”

“No. You’re the one who has the gun.”

Gallo looked at Billy strangely. At that moment Billy couldn’t care less that he was unarmed. He was going in to get Alexandra.

Billy pushed the door opened and turned the light switch on. Nothing. Alexandra was in trouble. He knew it. Instead of waiting for Gallo, he walked in, feeling his way around.

“Alexandra, where are you? I know you’re in here.”

“I’m here Billy. He has a gun.”

“Are you….”

“Lieutenant Gallo from the New York City Police Department. Let Alexandra go. Drop your weapon and kick it over to me.”

“Yeah right.” His voice was deep with a hint of sarcasm.

“Tell me what you want.”

“As soon as you return the diamonds, I will let her go.”

“Diamonds? What diamonds?” The voice. It sounded so familiar. But from where? He couldn’t place it.

“I want to see Alexandra,” Gallo ordered.

“And I want my diamonds.”

While Gallo took over, Billy walked around the room, towards the kitchen. That’s where he had Alexandra. He just wished to God that he new what he was talking about. He didn’t have a clue to what diamonds he was talking about.

“This is not about what you want. Right now you are holding an innocent woman hostage,” Gallo said.

“What you don’t understand? I want my diamonds back. I’m not asking for much. I will not harm Alexandra. I will disappear into the wind once you return them.”

Billy made his way to the back of the café where the fuse box was. Quietly, he ran his fingers along the box until he found the one switch that was in the off position. He switched the switch and the restaurant lit up.

Alexandra sat on a chair in the corner with her arms tied behind her back to the chair. A tall slim man stood besides her holding a gun in his hand. He looked familiar. Where did he know him from?

“Are you all right Alexandra?” Billy asked approaching her.

“Back off pal.”

Billy turned around to face Gallo. “I know where I know him from. You were Alexandra’s doctor.”

“Very good,” he clapped. “Now where are the diamonds?”

“I swear I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I suggest you start figuring it out. You have to the break of dawn to come up with my diamonds.”

“Are you kidding me?” Gallo asked pointing his gun at the doctor. “Drop you weapon now.”

Everyone stood at a stalemate. Billy really didn’t have any idea what he was talking about. But before he could say anything, two uniformed officers barged in from the back door and took him down from behind.

Billy ran over to Alexandra, untied her and took her in his arms. This had turned into a nightmare. Thank God, she didn’t get hurt. Looking down at her hand, the diamond engagement ring he had given her still remained. He couldn’t understand why the good doctor kept saying diamonds when in reality it was the two and a quarter diamond sitting in the setting on her finger. And that was a gift given to him a long time ago when he smuggled illegal drugs into the county as a favor to his godfather, who had died shortly after. That being a secret he would take to his grave.

After giving their statements at the precinct, they walked outside the station house to dawn. This had been a long night.

“Can’t wait to get home,” Billy said holding her hand, leading her to the car.

“Neither can I.”

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Secret Cravings Publishing Summer Scavenger Hunt

Welcome to Secret Cravings Publishing Summer Scavenger Hunt, running from July 21st through July 22nd. In order to be enter into the grand prize drawing, you need to find my picture posted on the Secret Cravings Publishing Blog, and match it to my name and email it along with the list of the other pictures you found and which blog you found them on to: secretcravingspublishing@yahoo.com. Please don't reveal the location of the picture in the comment section of my blog. We don't want to take away the fun from the other visitors.




Summer! I love it. To me, the hotter the better. With the heatwave in New York City along with record breaking temperatures, I have been spending time at the beach, enjoying the weather while working on my book. Call me crazy, but I drag out my beach bag, towels, chair and umbrella and pick my spot on the beach.

With the summer in full bloom in my neighborhood of Staten Island, New York, I will be giving away an electronic copy of my new novel The Boardwalk which is a nice summer read. I can see that boardwalk from where I sit on the beach. {Hint}

One of my favorite summer beach treats in my cooler are an iced coffee with vanilla caramel creamer and sliced flatbread with hummus. A cool and refreshing snack on a hot summer day.




To be eligible for the giveaway, you need to answer the following question.
Please make sure you leave you email address so I can contact you if you are a winner.

What is your favorite summer beach drink and lunch/snack?

To find more pictures and more authors participating Click Here SECRET CRAVINGS PUBLISING


The Boardwalk:

After an accident at work, Brooklyn DeMelli walks every day down at the boardwalk as a way to keep active and have a semi normal social life. She meets up with the regular morning walkers, while enjoying the beauty of the beach and the scent of the ocean. To keep busy she started her own company, making beaded jewelry for parties and flea markets.

Mario Morales is the hippy that plays acoustic guitar every morning at different ends of the boardwalk. The music captivates Brooklyn. Following the muse, she meets Mario who turns out to be a narcotics detective working undercover on a huge investigation. When Mario finds out Brooklyn is inadvertently involved in a drug trafficking ring, it leads to a series of events, which puts Brooklyn’s life in jeopardy, while forming a romantic bond between them.




My debut novel Roses is also available from Secret Cravings Publishing.

The Boardwalk and Roses can be purchased at: Secret Cravings Publishing, Barnes and Nobles and Amazon.

Thank you for stopping by and Good Luck!

My Badge


Monday, July 16, 2012

Tuesday Tales - Picture Prompt - Treasure Chest

Welcome to this weeks Tuesday Tales. Billy and Alexandra will return next week to continue their adventure. This week's picture prompt sparked a new story idea. I hope you enjoy it. And please don't forget to check out the other awesome tales at: TUESDAY TALES




Pia pulled the old wooden chest out from the storage area under the cellar steps. She dragged the old treasure chest into the middle of the room, knelt down and pushed the heavy top up.

Inside were individual cardboard boxes and Ziploc bags packed with all the memories of her teen years through adult life. The last thing she had placed something in the chest was close to five years ago.

Reaching in, she pulled out the boxes and bags. Pia couldn’t help but laugh. As a teen, she was so organized it drove everyone crazy. Even the contents of the chest were dated by year. Digging down, she pulled a pair of black and white saddle shoes, and below it her red and white cheerleader outfit. Pia sighed. Even though it was years ago, it seemed like only yesterday she slid into the size two outfit, which would never fit her again.

Pia removed a few more boxes. Hidden beneath them was a bubble gum wrapper necklace and a red love bead necklace. She smiled. She remembered the day she made it with her best friend Vera. Vera had made herself a duplicate one in light brown beads.

At the very bottom of the chest she found a thin one inch binder. Sitting crossed legged, she placed it on her lap and opened it. There were pictures of Vera and her in baseball, football and hockey jerseys. Every time they went to a game, they always took a picture. Pia wondered what had happened to all her jerseys. At one point they were in her old dresser. She’d look for them later.

The last page in the book was a baseball card of Lorenzo. Her heart skipped a beat…still.








My debut novel Roses is now available in paperback. It is also available electronically along with The Boardwalk. Drop by SECRET CRAVINGS PUBLISHING or go to Amazon.com or Barnes and Nobles

Monday, July 02, 2012

Tuesday Tales - Money

Welcome to Tuesday Tales. This week the word prompt is money. Please take a few minutes to check out the other awesome TUESDAY TALES.

Alexandra fumbled with her key. The street light in front of the café blew out and the bulb in the old fashioned pole in front of the café was also off. She had expected Billy to there already. But that was Billy, always full of surprises.

Reached for the light switch and flicked the switch on, except that the lights didn’t go on. Strange. Right before she got shot, they had sat down going through their finances. Between the two of them they were able to pay the bills and still have money left over to put away for a rainy day.

“Billy,” she called out, figuring she was standing somewhere in the middle of the room. “Come on. Turn on the lights. Stop keeping me in suspense. I want to see everything you have done with the place.”

Alexandra heard the sound of sneakers walking across the room. She’d bet when Billy turned the lights on the whole café would be set up. But wait. She walked around reaching around, not walking into any tables. Smash! It sounded like a glass fell and shattered.

“Billy are you there? Stop playing around.”

Alexandra waited a few minutes to complete silence. This wasn’t good. If Billy wanted to surprise her with something, he wouldn’t have kept her standing in the dark this long. I got to get out of here. Slowly Alexandra pivoted in her shoes, not wanting whoever was in the room to hear her moving.

She made her way back to the door, but as she opened it, an arm extended over her shoulder, keeping it closed. Alexandra started to scream, but as soon as she did, a hand covered her mouth. Dear God. Now what.

“Keep your mouth shut and you won’t get hurt.”

His voice was raspy and deep. One that Alexandra had never heard before. She tried her best to take a deep breath and count backwards from fifty, hoping she would calm down and the stranger would remove his hand from her mouth.

50..49…48…47. Before she got to twenty-eight, he dropped his hand from her mouth.

“The minute you yell, I will stuff a sock into your mouth. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Alexandra mumbled, afraid to talk too loud.

“Good. I’m not going to hurt you.”

“What do you want from me?” Alexandra asked, wishing he would let go of her arm.

“I want to know where Billy has hidden the diamond.”

“Diamond?” Alexandra heart dropped. She had no idea what he was talking about.

“Yes. The diamonds your boyfriend took from me.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. He never said anything about diamonds.”

The stranger tightened the grip on her shoulder. This time, her face crushed against his shoulder. The scent of his cologne was different, but one she had smelled before. But where?

“There’s no doubt he is going to return my diamonds,” he snickered. “And why do I know that, because I have you.”




My debut novel Roses was released in April 2012 by Secret Cravings Publishing.



After the untimely death of her husband in the line of duty, Nikki Petrino still grieving three years later, goes on retreat to Mexico to finish her novel, where she meets musician Drake Dente a 90’s rock icon working on lyrics for his comeback CD. After meeting at dinner, Drake and Nikki can’t keep their eyes off each other. Sparks fly and they instantly became an item. Upon returning to New York for Nikki’s high school reunion, she learns shocking events from her best friends. After a misunderstanding, Nikki is missing and Drake is desperate to track her down.


The Boardwalk was released on June 27, 2012

After an accident at work, Brooklyn DeMelli walks every day down at the boardwalk as a way to keep active and have a semi normal social life. She meets up with the regular morning walkers, while enjoying the beauty of the beach and the scent of the ocean. To keep busy she started her own company, making beaded jewelry for parties and flea markets.

Mario Morales is the hippy that plays acoustic guitar every morning at different ends of the boardwalk. The music captivates Brooklyn. Following the muse, she meets Mario who turns out to be a narcotics detective working undercover on a huge investigation. When Mario finds out Brooklyn is inadvertently involved in a drug trafficking ring, it leads to a series of events, which puts Brooklyn’s life in jeopardy, while forming a romantic bond between them.


Books available at:

Secret Cravings Publishing


Amazon

Barnes and Nobles