My Obsession with Handbags, Books, and Jeeps with Author @VickiBatman #Romance #RB4U

Yep, I do love all three. And regularly, handbags, books, and Jeeps appear in my works. But how did it begin? Let me take you back....

As a youngster, I loved to read and often, I’ll say reading is my best friend. Once a librarian admonished me by saying I couldn’t read the stack of books I’d selected and wanted me to put some back. My mom saw my face and instantly knew something was wrong. I explained. She marched us back to the check-out counter and told the librarian to “let her check all of them out. She’ll read these in a week and probably the ones her sisters check out too.” (I have three sisters.)

I always have several books going and a lot of them in the mystery genre. I fell into romance when Mom introduced me to Emilie Loring and Kathleen Woodiwiss. Thank you, Mom!

As for handbags... I have a funny story here. I have small feet for a gal my size-five foot, eight, size seven narrow. Finding shoes is difficult. But finding handbags? That’s a joy!! I actually have a handbag from high school, lots of vintage beauties, some delightful new ones. I’m thinking -- *finger to cheek* -- about a hundred-ish. And yes, I do give some away. If I find I’m not using a bag anymore, I make a donation. Some of my favs include: Kate Spade, Hobo, Mary Frances, Enid Collins.

And what about a Jeep? When I graduated from college, I needed to find a ride. My parents had lent me a Type 3 Volkswagen station wagon and I loved it! However, I have three sisters and they were driving too. Dad asked what kind of vehicle I was interested in and I said a Jeep. He told me I couldn’t have one. Killjoy! Which kinda pissed me off. I wanted to drive the car I liked. He wanted me to have a grandma-mobile to keep me safe. LOL. I found a nice Ford sedan.

When I had my boys, Handsome and I found we needed a family-style vehicle. As mini-vans were in their infancy and too rich for our blood back then, we found a used Jeep Cherokee. I was in heaven. Maybe it was the utilitarian style. Maybe it was how it was always fashionable. Maybe it was the extra room or how easily it drove. I just loved it and since, our family has bought five more. I have a 1999 Wrangler (long story there) and now drive a Patriot.

So all this stuff—why is it important to my writing? I give my heroines my love for handbags, they drive Jeeps, and love to read. I guess that’s my way of saying each of them carry a part of me.

My romantic comedy mystery, Temporarily Insane!

Bad job. Wrong love. And Murder. 

Hattie Cooks is still searching for her dream job and one might be available...in the Big Apple, far from friends, family, and Allan Wellborn, the man who still makes her heart race. In the meantime, she finds temporary employment at an accounting firm where two auditor friends turn up dead.

Detective Allan Wellborn dropped Hattie for Blonde Bimbo who, coincidentally, is employed at NLB where fishy things are taking place. When Allan interviews Hattie, he must determine why all signs point to her as a suspect.

Can Hattie discover why Allan dumped her and who is murdering auditors before death strikes again?

Author bio: Award-winning and Amazon bestselling author, Vicki Batman, has sold many romantic comedy works to the True magazines, several publishers, and most recently, a romantic comedy mystery to The Wild Rose Press. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and several writing groups. An avid Jazzerciser. Handbag lover. Mahjong player. Yoga practitioner. Movie fan. Book devourer. Cat fancier. Best Mom ever. And adores Handsome Hubby. Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking "What if??"

Find Author Vicki Batman at:

Website: http://vickibatman.blogspot.com/p/more-about-me.html

Facebook: http://bit.ly/293iZIz

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VickiBatman/

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/vickibatman/

Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/author/vickibatman

LinkedIn: Email: vlmbatman@hotmail.com

Buy links for Temporarily Insane:

Amazon ebook: https://www.amazon.com/Temporarily-Insane-Hattie-Cooks-Mystery-ebook/dp/B01JBSHE0K/

The Wild Rose Press ebook: http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/search?controller=search&orderby=position&orderway=desc&search_query=temporarily&submit_search=/

TWRP paperback: http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/paperback-books/4576-temporarily-insane-paperback.html?search_query=temporarily&results=4

So are you handbag obsessed like me? A big reader? Or drive the car of your dreams?

Guest Blog: @VickiBatman decorating with Holiday Flowers #RB4U #Holiday

Decorating with Holiday Flowers: Narcissus and Poinsettias

A few years back, my friends and I went on our annual girlfriend weekend to tour historical homes decorated for the holiday season. We always exchange a little something and one friend gave us a narcissus (paperwhite) bulb in a glass vase with stones at the bottom.

I was willing to follow the directions and help this flower bloom, but knowing I had a terrible track record with flowers, wasn’t optimistic. Imagine my surprise when a shoot and then another popped out of the blub. A stem developed and then, flowers.

Poinsettias are known for the red and green star-shaped foliage. Now, it comes in many colors other than the traditional red. The plant originated in Mexico and Central America. On line you can find directions on how to get them to bloom again the next year which I successfully did. However, when I went to try again, I forgot to water and yep, it died. Again, poor track record with plants.

My husband’s family has deep Texas roots. From Legends of the Poinsettia by Betty Barton there is this entry:  Our U. S. Ambassador to Mexico from 1825 to 1830, Dr. Joel Robert Poinsett was captivated by the beauty of “the Flower of the Holy Night.” He sent cuttings to his friend Wilson Barton in South Carolina. 

He was my husband’s great-grandfather and is now buried in a cemetery outside of Burnet, Texas. He named the wild Mexican plants “poinsettias” after Dr. Poinsett. 

Cool, huh?

What else is cool? Why the holiday anthology, Season of Surprises which features my romantic comedy short story, “Holiday Handbag Extravaganza.” 

Here’s a bit about it:

Christmas Countdown is on! Hunk-a-licious customer, Jack Treadaway, pesters boutique owner, Callie Woods, to locate a vintage handbag for his mother. Too bad the wedge between them is his sister,

the meanest girl in town.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Award-winning author, Vicki Batman, has sold many romantic comedy works to the True magazines, several publishers, and most recently, two romantic comedy mysteries to The Wild Rose Press. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and several writing groups. An avid Jazzerciser. Handbag lover. Mahjong player. Yoga practitioner. Movie fan. Book devourer. Chocoholic. Best Mom ever. And adores Handsome Hubby. Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking "What if??"

Find Vicki at: http://vickibatman.com/

Find Season of Surprises at: https://www.facebook.com/ASeasonOfMagic

Find Season of Surprises at:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Season-Surprises-Holiday-Box-Set-ebook/dp/B014LZJRVM/
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/season-of-surprises-holiday-box-set-merry-holly/1122604571?ean=2940152242966
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/search?Query=season+of+surprises
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1034934609

What is your favorite holiday decoration?

Guest Blog: Vicki Batman: Castles in the Air

I love cruises. I’ve been to Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean. You don’t have to unpack a bunch of times, go to different hotels, the food is prepared and good with excellent service, meet nice people, see great spots, dance the night away.

So knowing my momentous birthday is coming up, Handsome asked me what special thing would I want (he likes to buy jewelry). I said very enthusiastically, “A cruise!”

He didn’t have a problem with the idea because he likes them a lot as well. “Where to?”

“Have you been watching the Travel Channel again?”

“No.” I gave him the slanted evil-eye look. I began to wonder if he had a trick or two up his sleeve, and sometimes, they were what he liked for me. I decided to be up front and firm. “I’ve always wanted to go there. It’s what I really, really want for my birthday.”

Handsome accepted my idea and began planning. Here’s the tour map where we get to visit lots of wonderful sites like cathedrals, lush forests, windmills, and water:

Yipee! I do get to see some castles!

Am I fascinated by castles? No, I think it is more of wanting to see another country’s history. To look at buildings that have stood for hundreds of years, whether it be a castle, a church, or a Roman wall. To see, touch, and feel what others have done with their hands many years ago. I’m pretty sure all will be beautiful and a trip to remember.

And I like having to unpack only once.

Is there a country rich in history you want to visit?

BIO:

Award-winning author, Vicki Batman, has sold many romantic comedy works to the True magazines, several publishers, and most recently, a romantic comedy mystery to The Wild Rose Press. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and several writing groups. An avid Jazzerciser. Handbag lover. Mahjong player. Yoga practitioner. Movie fan. Book devourer. Cat fancier. Best Mom ever. And adores Handsome Hubby.

Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking "What if??

So far, Vicki Batman’s heroine, Hattie, from her romantic comedy mystery, Temporarily Employed is satisfied driving around her hometown in a Jeep Wrangler. Find out more at: http://vickibatman.blogspot.com/ Find Temporarily Employed at: LINK

BLURB:
New Job. New Love. And Murder.
Hattie Cook's dream job is down the toilet and her new SUV violated. Desperate for cash to cover the basic necessities of rent and food, she takes a temporary job where she uncovers an embezzling scam tied to the death of a former employee--the very one she replaced.

When the police determine there's more to the death of a former Buy Rite employee, Detective Allan Charles Wellborn steps in to lead the investigation. Overly dedicated, always perfect, he puts his job first, even if doing so ultimately hurts the one he loves.

Find Temporarily Employed at: LINK

Find Vicki Batman at: http://vickibatman.blogspot.com/

Interview of Author Vicki Batman #RB4U #authorinterview

Today I'm excited to share with you an interesting interview with funny and fabulous author, Vicki Batman! Yes, you did read that right...She's Batman! *wink*  But even better, her stories are witty and filled with endearing characters you're sure to love!


Vicki, can you share a little bit about yourself?

~Like some of her characters, award-winning author, Vicki Batman has worked a wide variety of jobs including lifeguard, ride attendant at an amusement park; a hardware store, department store, book store, antique store clerk; administrative assistant in an international real estate firm; and a general “do anything gal” at a financial services firm--the list is endless, giving her plenty of crazy material for her writing.

Writing for several years, she has completed three manuscripts, written essays, and sold many short stories. She is a member of RWA and several writing groups and chapters. In 2004, she joined DARA and has served in many capacities, including 2009 President. DARA awarded her the Robin Teer Memorial Service Award in 2010. Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking "What if??"

And now onto the interview....

How did you celebrate publishing your first book? I emailed everyone!!! I texted. I danced with my kitty because she was the only one at home. LOL

What is the most important thing you do for your career now, as compared to when you first started writing? Marketing. And more marketing. So much this fall that I haven’t written much on my next book or story. Very frustrating.

How much of yourself is hidden in the characters in the book? Probably too much! I might have characters drive a Jeep, a heroine carry a handbag. Trade funny banter. Eat my favorite foods. (If you love handbags, Vicki has the best post each week on different and interesting bags! Be sure to check it out!)

Of all your characters, who’s your favorite, and why? Hattie Cooks from Temporarily Employed, my romantic comedy mystery. I walked in her shoes: lost the job I loved and was betrayed by a man.

Covers. Ever get one you wish you could change? Oh my yes! San Diego or Bust is just too blue.

Give one advice tip to an aspiring author. Write and write more. Keep persevering.

Have you ever used an incident from your real life into one of your books? All the time. As they say, truth can be stranger than fiction. In a Valentine story, I put in the Dear John letter I received on Valentine’s Day. I’ve used things my men have said or done, too.

Any part of a book that drives you crazy as you write: beginning, middle, or end? The middle. I have to make sure that the incidents ratchet things up.

Out of your entire backlist, which book has the best opening line? What's the line?  From “Drive My Car”, a True Love short story: Officer Webber Whitlock, whom I secretly referred to as Witless Whitlock, slid in beside me.

How many stories are swirling around in your head? Do you keep a mental list, a computer file, or a spiral notebook filled with the ideas? I usually put something in a word doc and revisit occasionally.

Now onto the Fun Stuff....

What is your favorite holiday and why? April Fool’s Day. Handsome proposed on that day. lol

What are two things people might be surprised to know about you? I was Miss Oak Lawn Moped. At age 9, I missed a month of school due to a bad spell with pneumonia.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? A teacher.

Favorite food. Cake!

Favorite happy memory. While pausing for a hike with Handsome, he turned to me and unexpectedly said, “Thank you for bringing me here.”

Favorite drink. Champagne.

Hot summer days or chilly winter nights? Hot summer days.

What is the top thing on your bucket list? Machu Pichu

If you could have a super power, what would it be? Give us all good health.

And now onto Vicki's latest release...

Temporarily Employed, romantic comedy mystery

New Job. New Love. And Murder. Hattie Cook's dream job is down the toilet and her new SUV violated. Desperate for cash to cover the basic necessities of rent and food, she takes a temporary job at Buy Rite Insurance Company where she uncovers an embezzling scam tied to the death of a former employee--the very one she replaced.

Detective Allan Charles Wellborn has secretly adored Hattie all his life. When the police determine there's more to the death of a former Buy Rite employee, he steps in to lead the investigation. Overly dedicated, always perfect, he puts his job first, even if doing so ultimately hurts the one he loves.

Can the killer be found before Hattie's time is up?

Excerpt:

“Yuck.”

Pretty much covered the whole freakin’ day. 

A blinding red-white, red-white strobe, reflected in my brand new Wrangler’s rearview mirror, seized my attention. The police. I tossed my hands skyward, ready to surrender. I shouldn’t have been too surprised. Like I'd commented this a.m. to my roommate, Jenny, “Today, anything’s possible.”

My Bad Day checklist included:

- Crappy job interview, one which might have provided desperately needed         income.

- Wore gut-busting panty hose on a hot day which had now worked past my         waist         and strangled my diaphragm.

- A barely blowing air conditioner indicated something had malfunctioned in        my new, fun car.

I stole another glance in the mirror, and with great reluctance, flipped the right turn indicator. My vehicle coasted to a stop on the shoulder of Boston Avenue in my hometown of Sommerville, a nice suburb located between two large cities. Four lanes of cars and trucks zipped by as I sat there where every single one of my family, friends, friends’ friends, and their friends—including Rat Fink Suzanne—would see a police vehicle positioned right behind mine. Gleefully, drivers would chant the “Ha-ha, got you, not me” ditty.

How embarrassing.

After killing the engine, I flopped back in the seat. Shooting the morons the finger was an idea. Nah. I'm too exhausted to care.

A litany of:  "No, not hiring." "Just filled the position." "You're over qualified." "You're under qualified…" tornadoed through my head. Coupled with the intense job search through various outlets like the internet and completing numerous online employment applications, no wonder my body had been depleted of all life force.

Not even a breeze blew to take the edge off the unbearable summertime heat. Tangled wild trees and dry scrubby bushes banked the roadside. The grass had taken on a scorched look. Rolling down the driver’s window, I surveyed my surroundings. Nothing great. Nothing new. 

I stole a glance in the side mirror at the policeman who strode purposefully along the shoulder. The gravel crunched under his boots. He looked huge, probably because his uniform, which appeared to be bulked with a bullet-proof vest, made him resemble a buffed-up superhero in size. Exceedingly intimidating.

Sigh. When things went wrong, they were really wrong. 

Buy links for Temporarily Employed

Amazon ebook: http://www.amazon.com/Temporarily-Employed-Vicki-Batman-ebook/dp/B00N4J5FDQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410893535&sr=1-1&keywords=temporarily+employed

Amazon paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Temporarily-Employed-Vicki-Batman/dp/1628304979/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412359358&sr=1-2&keywords=temporarily+employed

The Wild Rose Press ebook: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=5829

The Wild Rose Press paperback: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191&products_id=5896

Finally...tell us where to find you: website(s), publisher’s page(s), blog(s), Facebook page(s), etc. List them all!

Website: http://vickibatman.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1ipdLkv

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VickiBatman/

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/vickibatman/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4814608.Vicki_Batman/   

Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/author/vickibatman

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=116288777&trk=hb_tab_pro_top/

Plotting Princesses: http://plottingprincesses.blogspot.com/

Email: vlmbatman@hotmail.com

Anything else you’d like to add?

I love to write romantic comedy and if you like to read it, please give my work a try! And I’d love to hear from you, too.

Thank you Vicki for stopping by and best of luck with Temporarily Employed! 

Season of Magic

Season of Magic

Christmas is truly a season of magic for most of us. It’s also the title of a boxed set I’m in with four talented authors. I’m honored to be part of this collection of fun, flirty stories of couples finding love during the holidays.

Christmas changes as we grow older. As children, it’s the magic of Santa Claus, the anticipation of Christmas, then Christmas morning, waking our sleep-deprived parents at dawn, running down the stairs to behold the wonder of toys and gifts under the tree.

Then as teens and young adults it’s all about holiday parties and boyfriends. Once we have our own families, we become the sleep-deprived parents, up late Christmas Eve putting together toys and wrapping gifts.

Many of us become grandparents, and that puts the holiday on a whole new level. In my case, my husband and I aren’t grandparents yet. As empty nesters with our son living 2500 miles away, our Christmas day has changed drastically. At first, I felt a little sad with just the two of us home alone to celebrate Christmas. Now, I love my new Christmas. Weeks before the holiday, I scour my recipe books for tasty appetizers to make. My husband and I spend the day in front of the TV eating appetizers, drinking wine and binge watching Hallmark Christmas movies. Then I make a special dinner. Last year it was filet mignon. Before you feel sorry for me, we visit our son at least once a year (twice this year), and spent Christmas with him a few years ago. But we don’t like to travel during the holidays.

As I grow older, things will change again. But through it all, I’m sure Christmas will always be magical. What are your special Christmas memories? And how have your holidays changed?

The Season of Magic anthology is an Amazon bestseller. Five fun holiday romances guaranteed to warm your heart. And there is a recipe at the end of each story. All this for only 99 cents!

Hopes and wishes. And holiday kisses...the Season of Magic.
            Wrap yourself in the holiday spirit with five romantic stories filled with fun and forever after.


Noel Noel Noel by Merry Holly
Dumped and lonely, is it possible to find love at the local mall? Noelle thinks not, but a chance encounter with Chase Clayborne while Christmas shopping has her rethinking her rigid set of rules, as sparks flare between them.

A Cinderella Christmas by Cara Marsi
Jessica Gallo no longer believed in fairy tales or happy endings. And she certainly didn’t believe she’d find her Prince Charming at Saks Fifth Avenue. Her Fairy Godmother thought differently.

Matchmaker Matchmaker by Bobbi Lerman
With Chanukah around the corner, is there enough magic left for a matchmaker to bring Molly's cynical heart back to life.

Holiday Disaster by Vicki Batman
The week before Christmas and all is in disarray when a librarian experiences horrible plumbing issues and a Mr. Maintenance Man who isn’t nearly as jolly as Santa Clause. This Christmas is a disaster.

Yuletide Bride by Gerri Brousseau
The Dowager Duchess’s decree that her grandson must marry before Twelfth Night or relinquish his title and fortune sends him into a tail spin. Without any prospects and with only two weeks until Christmas will Stuart Nelson find himself destitute or will he find The Yuletide Bride.

Here are the buy links:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OZ136A6/?tag=carmaraut-20

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/season-of-magic-marian-lanouette/1120721249?ean=2940150442801

A merry and romance-filled holiday to everyone!

Guest Blog: Vicki Batman: You Can't Name Your Hero X!

I didn’t fall into writing in the traditional way of being interested as a youngster and studied creative writing or journalism in school. A friend challenged me to try because she knew how much I wanted to. I wanted to write like Dick Francis, awesome mystery writer, but I had a slight problem as his books were centered on the horse racing business in England.

Yea, I know little about horse racing, mostly how to lose money when betting, and have never been to England.

However, I worked and worked, revised and edited, and lo and behold, my baby is about to be birthed.

I struggled with naming my hero. I’d thought of one name and then discarded because it was similar to someone I knew. I couldn’t name him Batman as that guy was already out there. He-he-he. So he became Hero X. One day, I heard over my shoulder an ad for a new television show, calling a character “Allan.” Liking it, I did a search and replace. Bye-bye Hero X. Not long later, I heard an ad for a garage door company-- “Wellborn.” I tested Allan Wellborn and liked the sound and there was the bonus of looking good on a business card. The name speaks of dependability, and Allan is well-born.

My heroine’s name was pretty easy. She was named Hattie, short for Harriette. It’s old-fashioned, but I see and hear sass in it and sass is a good thing. The dialogue between the hero and heroine is pretty sassy too. Out of the clear blue, I typed Cooks as her last name which works because Hattie always seems to be cooking up trouble. LOL

BLURB:
Interested in more about my cute twosome? Here’s a blurb from my romantic comedy mystery, Temporarily Employed
New Job. New Love. And Murder.

Hattie Cook's dream job is down the toilet and her new SUV violated. Desperate for cash to cover the basic necessities of rent and food, she takes a temporary job at Buy Rite Insurance Company where she uncovers an embezzling scam tied to the death of a former employee--the very one she replaced.

Detective Allan Charles Wellborn has secretly adored Hattie all his life. When the police determine there's more to the death of a former Buy Rite employee, he steps in to lead the investigation. Overly dedicated, always perfect, he puts his job first, even if doing so ultimately hurts the one he loves.

Can the killer be found before Hattie's time is up?


What are your favorite male and female names?

BIO:
Like some of her characters, award-winning author, Vicki Batman has worked a wide variety of jobs including lifeguard, ride attendant at an amusement park; a hardware store, department store, book store, antique store clerk; administrative assistant in an international real estate firm; and a general “do anything gal” at a financial services firm--the list is endless, giving her plenty of crazy material for her writing.

Writing for several years, she has completed three manuscripts, written essays, and sold many short stories. She is a member of RWA and several writing groups and chapters. In 2004, she joined DARA and has served in many capacities, including 2009 President. DARA awarded her the Robin Teer Memorial Service Award in 2010. Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking "What if??"

Links for Vicki Batman
http://vickibatman.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1ipdLkv
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VickiBatman
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/vickibatman
Goodreads
https://www.amazon.com/author/vickibatman
LinkedIn
Smashwords
Plotting Princesses
Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/o1515093723
Email: vlmbatman@hotmail.com

Buy links for Temporarily Employed
Amazon ebook
Amazon paperback
The Wild Rose Press ebook
The Wild Rose Press paperback

Guest Blog: Vicki Batman: Hi! I’m... Uh... What is your hero’s name?

Soon my romantic mystery, Temporarily Employed, will be released and will it be rockin’. I was thinking back to the days when I first was “prompted” to write and then remembered how I struggled to find my hero’s name. Eventually, I named him Allan Charles Wellborn. It suggested stability and formality to me, and I especially liked the two “L” s in the first and last name.

So how did I get his name? OMG, I nearly pulled my hair out. Nothing spoke to me. Struggling to go forward, I named my guy XXX.

I began writing at the computer in the family room. Also in the same room was the television which served mostly as background noise for me. At that time, the chatter didn’t bother me. Besides, something had to break the day of part time jobs, housework, laundry, cooking, gardening... You get the drift.

So there I was struggling over what to name my hero. I continued to bang away on the story all the while the television blared in the background. Then I heard “Allan.” I checked the TV to find a commercial for a sitcom featuring a character named “Allan.” I liked the sound of that and quickly subbed in the name for the XXX placeholder.

Fine and dandy, but I knew at some point, I’d have to give my guy a last name. Again, I was in the family room working away, the television going on in the background. The word “Wellborn” caught my ear. I stared at a commercial for a door company named “Wellborn.” I put my combo together and said it over and over. I liked.

The name “Allan” means in Celtic: harmony, stone, or noble. Also fair, handsome. Originally a saint's name, it was reintroduced to Britain during the Norman Conquest, remained popular throughout the Middle Ages, and was revived in the 19th century.

The name “Wellborn” means in German: stream. A habitational name from any of several places so named in Saxony-Anhalt and Schleswig-Holstein.

Was it the best choice?

So my hero is handsome (:-)) and although his last name means stream, I think just saying “well” and “born” gives a different meaning of born well, like to a manor born. And that fits my guy. He’s pretty much always perfect all his life-or is he?

That by far was the hardest name I worked on. Others have come much easier as my fingers fly across the keyboard.

What is your favorite guy name?

BIO:
Like some of her characters, award-winning author, Vicki Batman has worked a wide variety of jobs including lifeguard, ride attendant at an amusement park; a hardware store, department store, book store, antique store clerk; administrative assistant in an international real estate firm; and a general “do anything gal” at a financial services firm--the list is endless.

Writing for several years, she has completed three manuscripts, written essays, and sold many short stories to TRUE LOVE, TRUE ROMANCE, TRUE CONFESSIONS, NOBLE ROMANCE PUBLISHING, LONG AND SHORT REVIEWS, MUSEITUP PUBLISHING, and THE WILD ROSE PRESS. She is a member of RWA and several writing groups and chapters. In 2004, she joined DARA and has served in many capacities, including 2009 President. DARA awarded her the Robin Teer Memorial Service Award in 2010.

Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking "What if?"

BLURB: Temporarily Employed, a romantic mystery coming soon:
Hattie Cook's dream job is down the toilet and her new SUV violated. Desperate for cash to cover the basic necessities of rent and food, she takes a temporary job where she uncovers an embezzling scam tied to the death of a former employee--the very one she replaced.

Allan Wellborn has determined there's more to the death of a former Buy Rite employee. Overly dedicated, always perfect, he puts his job first, even if doing so ultimately hurts the one he loves.

Can the killer be found before time is up?

Guest Blog: Vicki Batman: You're Not So Tall: Is Writing Short Valuable?

When I started writing, I began with a book. I worked and worked it for many years, entered contests, got some critiques, etc. In my head, I was on the fast-track to becoming discovered.

God, I was delusional. LOL

It's true, most newbies think they are the cat's meow, the next big thing. I tried to hold my realities in check by working on several other manuscripts. I continued submitting and got lots of rejections.

In the contests, however, I discovered I wasn't doing badly at all. And I noticed a woman in my local RWA chapter and I seemed to be scoring approximately the same scores. I wondered if she would be interested in critiquing with me. So I put on my brave shirt and asked her. She said yes and would I want to look at her six very short stories.

Little did I know I would slip and slide down the rabbit hole into the pool of short fiction.

After critiquing my friend's stories, I began writing my own and submitting to magazines. Many acceptances later, I branched into other forms of short fiction.

Woman's World magazine has been around forever. Their stories take 800 words—PERIOD. The challenge is writing that short. It means really looking at action verbs, no adverbs, the perfect adjective, a descriptive noun. Getting the story pared to the bones and yet, still be an intriguing read.

I find short stories are a moment in time and are very satisfying, just as satisfying as a good book if written well.

Nowadays, authors are encouraged to write short fiction to publish between books so the reader stays interested. Short stories can be an extra freebie to entice new readers. It can expound on, say, a secondary character, a chance to hear their story. A giveaway in a contest. And just a plain ol' piece of short fiction because we all know we have a minute or two to read something during lunch or carpool—right?

People always ask when are you writing a book? He-he-he. I have and good news abounds.

Do you read short stories? If not, why not?

BIO:
Like some of her characters, award-winning author, Vicki Batman has worked a wide variety of jobs including lifeguard, ride attendant at an amusement park; a hardware store, department store, book store, antique store clerk; administrative assistant in an international real estate firm; and a general “do anything gal” at a financial services firm--the list is endless.

Writing for several years, she has completed three manuscripts, written essays, and sold many short stories to TRUE LOVE, TRUE ROMANCE, TRUE CONFESSIONS, NOBLE ROMANCE PUBLISHING, LONG AND SHORT REVIEWS, MUSEITUP PUBLISHING, and THE WILD ROSE PRESS. She is a member of RWA and several writing groups and chapters. In 2004, she joined DARA and has served in many capacities, including 2009 President. DARA awarded her the Robin Teer Memorial Service Award in 2010.

Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking "What if??"

BLURB: Bug Stuff...and other stories
Three short romantic comedies from sassy writer gal. Included are:

"Just Desserts": a political dinner gone disastrous brings together a reluctant attendee and her handsome seat-mate.

"Bug Stuff": A cute accountant unites with his co-worker to fight a pesky adversary.

"With This Ring": When a wife forgets her little black dress, all turns into something utterly romantic and unforgettable in the end.