Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Hump Day Hook

-->
Happy Wednesday.  Today I am going to post from my WIP Mystical Wonders Book 3 - The Right Call.  

Sophia sat on a rock by the shoreline and pulled her legs into her chest. Earlier that morning, she jogged down the same path in her shorts and tank top with her hair tied into a small ponytail, this being her usual morning ritual before walk.  It was her walks that help her make the decision to let go and move forward.  The words, You’re Better off Being Alone, by the band It’s Not Over was right on target.  Why stay in a relationship that is going nowhere but leaving you in a state of depression? She wasn’t.  Time to move on.

Thanks for stopping by.


Monday, October 29, 2012

Tuesday Tales – Ghost


Welcome to this weeks Tuesday Tales. The word prompt this week is Ghost.  Hope everyone has a good and safe Halloween



Lorenzo pulled into the small lot on the side of the café.  Despite the chill in the air, it had turned out to be a perfect night.  This had always been Pia’s favorite place to go for desert.  Besides, they made the best latte on the whole entire Island.

“Would you like to sit in or outside?”  Lorenzo asked, his hand under her elbow ready to lead her in some direction.

“I’d rather eat inside if you want me to be completely honest with you.”

“Works for me.”  Lorenzo pulled open the door and followed Pia in.

“Hey Pia.  Where have you been?”  a young girl with black pigtails with purple highlights asked.

“You know me Lena, always floating around.”  Pia looked around and found a table against the wall.  “Would you mind if we sat over there?”  Pia pointed.

“Not a problem.  I’ll give you a few minutes to look through the menu.”

“Can you bring us two lattes in the meanwhile?”  Lorenzo asked.

“Sure.  How would you like yours?”

“Two sugars, light on the whip cream.”

They sat and before they got comfortable or even started talking, their lattes were placed in front of them.  “Let me know when you’re ready to order.”

Lorenzo reached across the table and held his palm open.  Pia placed her hands in his and he squeezed her hands.  His blond hair lay floppily on his forehead.  She wanted so much to reach over, run her fingers through his thick hair and open another one of the buttons on his shirt to see if the hairs sticking out of his shirt are extended all over his chest.

Lorenzo released her hands and took a sip of her latte. “Penny for your thought.”

Yeah right.  No way would she tell him what thoughts were running through her mind.  “Just deciding what I want to get.”

“Do you recommend anything?”

“Yeah, everything.  I have never had a desert that wasn’t good.  Personally I love the sfogliatelles , but the tiramisu is really good too.”

He signaled for the waitress and order one of each.  “Now that we have that taken care of, I want to learn more about you.  Like have you lived on Staten Island all your life?  Do you have an apartment or house?  What do you do with your spare time?  I want to know everything about you,” he smiled.

“You sure ask a lot of questions.”  Pia took a sip of her latte and met his gaze.

“I am a native Staten Islander.  Born and breed here, watching the change from the mom and pop stores to modern built strip malls.”

Lorenzo nodded his head in agreement.  “I know, same thing in Queens. It’s sad that all the places I went to as a kids are now gone, only to be replaced with rows of condos.”

“I miss the old days.  Those were the days when I could run into the “All Night News Stand”, grab myself a pack of cigarettes and a cup of coffee in the middle of the winter with the car running outside.”

“I know exactly what you mean.  If we did that now, we would come back to our cars being gone.”

“It’s kind of spooky, almost ghostly like how things have changed so much,” Pia said.  “How about you?  I really didn’t follow your career.  Have you always played in New York?”

“Hell no.  I’ve been all over the country, especially when I was playing triple A ball.”

Lena returned to the table, placed a small white square dish in front of each of them, and placed another large square navy blue plate in the center of the table. “If you need anything else, give me a holler.”

“I’d just appreciate a knife so I can cut the pastries in half.”

Lena turned to walk away and then stopped in her tracks.  Slowly she pivoted in her black and pink sneakers and walked back to the table. “Oh my God.”  Lena raised her hands and covered her cheeks.  “You’re Lorenzo Marcus,” her voice echoed through the café.  “You look better in person then you do on the field.  You’re gorgeous.  Oh dear God,” she babbled on, causing the attention from the people at the table next to him.

“I knew that was Lorenzo Marcus,” the gentleman at the table next to them said, pointing right at Lorenzo. “Well I’ll be damned.”

Lena handed him a notebook and a pen.  “Would you mind giving me a personalized autograph?”  she asked, handing him the pen.

Lorenzo took the pen.  By the time he finished personalizing her notebook, a few people were standing behind her with paper and pens in hand.  Lorenzo looked up at her with what she would say a worried look on his face.

Pia leaned across the table.  “It’s okay.  I love this. We’ll have plenty of time to talk when we leave.  Believe me when I tell you, I’m going nowhere.  I have plenty of questions for you too.”

Lorenzo blew her a kiss and mouthed a few words.  The problem was she didn’t know if he said thank you or love you?



Thursday, October 25, 2012

Halloween Blog Hop


Welcome to the Halloween Blog Hop.  As part of the celebration of Halloween stop by the HOWLOWEEN BLOG HOP where there's an awesome group of authors giving away hundreds of prizes. The hop is from Friday, October 26th through Monday October 29th.  I will announce the winners on Tuesday Morning.

I will be giving away an electronic copy of my novel, The Boardwalk, a key chain and a plague. (Pictured below.)  All you have do is tell me your favorite Halloween treat along with your email address.

My favorite Halloween treat is a glass of Baileys on the Rocks along with those miniature mound bars.  Come on, don't be shy.  Tell me yours.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT MY WEBSITE

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Hump Day Hook

 

This is a Hump Day Hook from my novel, The Boardwalk, which was released July 2012 by Secret Cravings Publishing.

                                      * * * * *

Brooklyn tried not to stare, but couldn’t help it he was gorgeous. His muscles bulged out of his white T-shirt, displaying a tribal print cuff on his left forearm. “I’m glad I ran into you today,” she said staring at him from behind her dark sunglasses.
 
“You come down here often?” he asked in a husky voice.
“I’m down here everyday.”
“Maybe I’ll catch you again.”


I hope you enjoyed my mini excerpt/paragraph.  The Boardwalk is available through Secret Cravings Publishing, Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, All Romance Books and Book Strand.

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO HUMP DAY HOOK BLOG

CLICK HERE TO VISIT MY WEBSITE 

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Tuesday Tales – Picture prompt




 Welcome to this weeks Tuesday Tales.  This week I'll be writing to the picture prompt below.  I hope you are enjoying Pia and Lorenzo's Story.




On the way back to Staten Island, instead of using the highway, Lorenzo drove through the streets.  This took Pia by surprise.  Why was Lorenzo purposely taking the long way home where they had to stop at every corner because the lights weren’t in sync?

Lorenzo reached over and pinched her cheek.  “I know what you’re thinking.”

“And what’s that?” she played along with him.

“I want to show you this house.  It’s in the middle of Bensonhurst.”

“What so special about it?”

“As a kid I called it the mystery house.”

“Why’s that?”

“The house was so big, unlike the ones around it.  The Fishers were the owners.  They are eccentric and still to this day leave their house decorated for Halloween all year long.”

Lorenzo pulled up in front of the house.  She would have never believed him if she didn’t see it with her own eyes.  The house was a replica of the doll house her father had made for her when she was eight, and she had stored in her attic.   

“See the hexagon tower,” Lorenzo pointed across her, “as a little boy, I would imagine myself sitting up there with all my baseball pictures and trophies surrounding me. This was the house I eventually wanted to settle into and start a family.”

Pia gazed at him and rested her hand over his on the steering wheel.  “You’re halfway there.  You have your dream career.”

“Yes I do.”  Lorenzo leaned over, swept her hair off her face with the back of his hand, turning her face until their eyes met.  “And I think I have found my dream girl.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.  You.”






Monday, October 15, 2012

Tuesday Tales – Cool


Welcome to this weeks Tuesday tales.  This week's word prompt is cool.

                                            
For a late summer night, the air was cool.  This was the time of year Pia hated most, when the temperature plummeted at night.  But somehow tonight the cool air didn’t seem to bother her. 

They walked along the bridge holding hands, walking straight down the center of the path.  Whenever Lorenzo would try to lead her over to the side, she would gently tug on his hand pulling him back.  She didn’t want to tell him how much she feared the ocean.  How as a kid the undertow pulled her under water by the ocean’s edge. How that fear never left her and still haunts her every time she’s near water.  But tonight, she felt different.  With Lorenzo at her side, she felt safe, secure. 

Lorenzo stopped walking and with his free hand pointed to the Manhattan skyline. “I love the view of Manhattan at night.  No city is like this in the country.”

Pia looked up at Lorenzo and squeezed his hand.  “Tell me more.  I want to hear about the other cities you’ve been to.”

“I’ve visited a lot of city, via the team bus.  Usually it’s the airport to the hotel and then back.  I never spent time in any particular city.”

“That’s a shame.  I would love to visit some of the city throughout the country.”  Pia moved out of the way when two bicycles came toward them.  “I’ve never been outside the New York City area, except for the Jersey shore.”

“Looks like I’m going to have to change that.”  Lorenzo stopped walking.  He turned to face her.  “We’ll just have to wait until the season’s over.  But if you can get away, you can join me whenever you like on a road trip.”

“That’s sounds awesome.  If I can get away, I will definitely be all over your invitation.”

Lorenzo placed his two hands on her shoulder.  “This is my favorite a special place on the bridge.  Right here we are standing between Brooklyn and Manhattan.  Your right foot and my left foot are on the Manhattan side.”

Pia thought for a few seconds before comprehending what Lorenzo said.  Looking behind him, on the railing was a street sign sized plaque, which read: Manhattan/Brooklyn.  Before she spoke, he leaned down, meeting her lips and dropped his hands down to her waist.

His kisses were sweet, but she wanted more.    She wanted to know more about him, talk about his hopes, his dreams and learn more about him. 

On the way back across the bridge to Brooklyn, Lorenzo had his arms around her shoulder holding her close to him.  They walked back to Peter Lugars, and once again the valet ran to Lorenzo’s side.  

“Would you like me to get your car, Mr. Marcus?”

“Yes, Steven.”  Lorenzo touch the young boy’s shoulder.  “Again, Steven please call me Lorenzo.  When you call me Mr. Marcus, I think you’re calling my father.”

“Okay, Lorenzo.”  A huge smile swept over Steven’s face.  “I’d like that.” 

“Now,” he turned to face Pia, “what would you like to do?”

How about you take me home with you, and let your sweet lips explore my whole body.  Oh yes, that’s exactly what she wanted to say to him, but she respected herself too much to give in to her urges.  “I’d like to go somewhere quiet, have a latte and just talk.  I don’t know anything about you except that you are a fabulous pitcher, with hundreds of girls screaming your name and boys asking you if they have a chance to be a pitcher in the major leagues.”

Steven drove the car up, and Lorenzo opened the door, waiting for her to get in, before closing the door.  He slid into the car and pulled away from the curb.

“I’d like that.  Where shall we go?”  he asked, reaching over and resting his hand on hers.

“There’s this quaint bakery, café called Royal Crown not far from my house.  They make a mean latte.”

“You got it.”  He chuckled.  “Should I be afraid of the questions you’re going to ask me?”

“Nope.  I want to hear about the real Lorenzo Marcus,” she said emphasizing the word real.  “The man outside of the baseball field and cameras.  The man you really are and how you got that way.”

Lorenzo grinned and squeezed her hand.  “I’m all yours.  You can ask away.  But keep one thing in mind.”

“And what’s that?”  she asked flirting. 

“Be prepared to answer any questions I have for you.”

“It’s a deal.” 



Sunday, October 07, 2012

Tuesday Tales – Knife

-->
Welcome to this weeks Tuesday Tales, where a group of awesome authors shares with the excerpts of their stories to the word prompt Knife.  I'd like to thank everyone who stops by to read my tale.

                                           

The waiter placed their dishes in front of them.  Pia’s eyes bulged wide open when she looked down at her dish with a huge steak hanging over the sides along with a mountain of French fries and broccoli.  When she caught Lorenzo’s gaze, he burst out laughing.

“It’s not funny.”  Pointing to her dish, “There’s enough of food here for both of us in my plate.”

“Not to worry.  I am so sure that once you start eating, you will rip through it.”

“This is sure a lot of food.”

“Always is.  Besides, we have all night to eat it.”  Lorenzo waved his finger at her.  “You have some talking to do young lady.  You have an advantage on me.”

“Really?  And what’s that?”

“You already know who I am.  You can look me up on the internet and have my baseball and personal history right out there for you to see.”  He picked a French fry off his plate and took a bite.  “But I’m willing to talk.”

“So am I.”  Pia lifted the steak knife off the table and cut a piece of meat.  She lifted the fork and took a bite.  Looking up, Lorenzo sat back in his chair with his arms folded tightly against his chest with a smirk on his full lips.  “Mmm.  Delicious.  It’s like butter.”

“I told you.”  Lorenzo leaned forward, lifting is knife and fork and began eating.  “How long have you had your company?”

“I opened my company four years ago with the help of my parents.  When I graduated with my four year degree from college, instead of going on for my masters degree, I opted for getting my real estate license.”  Pia ate another piece of steak.  “My parents use to own a candy store on the first floor of their house.  After they closed, they never renovated.  They offered me the space, and I accepted it.”

“That was a home run.”

“You’re right, it was.  It took me a couple of weeks to clean it out and make space suitable for an office. I named my business Sweet Homes Realty and bought a bright pink and white canopy displaying the name.”

“That sounds cool.  Can we pass it on the way home?”  he asked continuing to eat his steak.

“Sure.  I live upstairs in the my childhood house.”

“You live with you parents?”

“When they are home.  Both my parents are travel agents.  They travel all over the world checking out new hotels and booking conferences for fortune 500 companies.”

“Now that’s an awesome job.  I’d love to travel around like that outside the United States.”

“I bet you’ve been to every city across the country.”  Pia pushed her dish to the side leaving only a small piece of the steak.  She could have finished it, but didn’t want to look like a gavone in front of Lorenzo.

“I’ve only been to the cities with ballparks and never been to Staten Island except for driving through it until I met you.”  Lorenzo put his knife and fork down and pushed his empty dish toward the center of the table.  “Can I get you anything else?”

“Oh no,” she held up her hand.  “I have definitely over eaten here tonight.  That steak was a weeks worth of calories for me.”

“Yeah, but it was good now, wasn’t it?”

“Yes delicious.  It melted in my mouth.”

Lorenzo signaled the waiter.  “Would you like a cup of coffee, espresso, cappuccino. Piece of cake or pastry?”

Pia shook her head.  “No.  I am so full that I can’t move.”

“Perfect.  I’d really like to take a walk.”  Looking down at her shoes, he frowned.  “I don’t think you’ll be up to walking in those heels.”

A huge smile emerged on Pia’s lips.  “Oh you would be surprised.”  She lifted her pocketbook off the floor, pulling out a plastic bag, which contained a pair of black shoes.  “See, I always come prepared.”

“Nice.” 

While Lorenzo took care of the check, Pia slipped her flats on, sliding her heels into the bag.  Lorenzo stood, reached out and she placed her hand in his.  Leading her out of the restaurant, he said his goodbyes.  The valet rushed to their side.

“We’re not ready to go yet, Sal.  Would you mind putting Pia’s bag with her shoes into my car?”  he asked taking the plastic bag from her hand.

“Sure Mr. Marcus.”

Lorenzo took her hand.  “Are you up for a walk across the Williamsburg Bridge?”

“Now that I’m in my comfortable shoes, yes.”

“I always wanted to walk across the bridge, but never had the chance until now.”  He stopped to face her.  “Thank you for becoming a part of my life.”

Pia got lost in Lorenzo’s blue eyes.  She felt his arms wrap around her waist before he leaned into her and softly kissed her lips.  The kiss sent chills through her, but lasted only a few seconds.  He looked down at her, smiled and repossessed her hand leading her onto the walking path of the bridge.



 MY BOOKS



Friday, October 05, 2012

Where in the World are the Secret Cravings Authors?


Welcome to Secret Cravings Publishing's Blog Hop.  Our theme is Where in the World are the Secret Cravings Authors. Our authors are located all around the world.   I am going to give you a few hints for you to guess where I live in the world.

1.  Paul Zindel, Joe Pignatano and Vito Picone were all born and lived here.
2.  There are five different ways to travel to different cities.
3.  We are the home of many multicultural museums.
4.  We are surrounded by water.

To enter become a follower of my blog and tell me where I am located. Don't forget to leave me your email address so I can contact you if you're a winner.  All correct entries will be  entered into a drawing to win a copy of my novel The Boardwalk.  (another hint)

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE SECRET CRAVINGS BLOG HOP 

CLICK HERE TO VISIT MY WEBSITE

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.