Small Towns - Yes or No?

I happen to love small towns with their quaint charm. You drive down Main Street and there's usually only one street with ice cream parlors, small restaurants if the town is large enough to have more than one eatery, interesting shops, and nearly always at least one pub or bar. There's usually a lovely old home turned into an inviting bed and breakfast that beckons you to stay. And the people know everyone who live there so you always get stared at. Right? (Grins)

There's usually old home, some even abandoned that holds all kinds of secrets, and there's usually at least one eccentric person who has secrets of their own. Interesting people and interesting places.

That's the drawback. When everyone knows everyone else, they also know everything their neighbors are doing like whose son or daughter got in trouble at school; who's sick, and who's dating -- or sleeping -- with whom.

Okay, maybe everything about small towns isn't rosy, but I love books set in small towns. Neighbors are helpful. There's usually a shared bond you'd never experience in places like New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. There may not be theaters and museums but there's almost always a beautiful park for a picnic, lovely scenery perfect for long drives,
farms with all kinds of animals, stately old barns and huge fields -- just a slower way of life.

My story, A Perfect Catch,
takes place in such a place. Friendship Creek is a town I dreamed up where the people are friendly, there's a lovely old mansion turned into a bed and breakfast and a bar where everyone likes to hang out after a long day of fishing..

And just because it's a lovely small town doesn't mean some things are always what they seem. Not everyone is who they profess to be. Even at the quaint bed and breakfast, things happen that profess to have some secret happenings. As the annual fishing derby is just about to start, there are strangers in town. One handsome stranger is there to fish, but he's never been fishing. Coincidence? or perhaps something isn't quite kosher. You'll have to read and find out.

A Perfect Catch is a great read. Try it, you'll enjoy it.

So, I ask you -- small towns? Yes or No! I vote yes.

Happy Reading!

K. R. Bailey

http://KRBailey.com

Don't You Just Love It!

 

Had to share the following.  A friend send this to me, and it made me chuckle.  Hope it makes you smile, too.

 

Wish I could take credit for writing the story, but I didn't.  Thank you to whoever wrote it.

One morning, the husband returns the boat to their lakeside
Cottage after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap.
Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, puts her feet up, and begins to read her book. The peace and solitude are magnificent.

Along comes a Fish and Game Warden in his boat.

He pulls up alongside the woman and says, 'Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?'

'Reading a book,' she replies, (thinking, 'Isn't that obvious?')

'You're in a Restricted Fishing Area,' he informs her.

'I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading.'

'Yes, but I see you have all the equipment.  For all I know you could start at any moment.  I'll have to take you in and write you up.'

'If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault,' says the woman.

'But I haven't even touched you,' says the Game Warden.

'That's true, but you have all the equipment.. For all I know you could start at any moment.'

'Have a nice day ma'am,' and he left.

MORAL:
Never argue with a woman who reads.

It's likely she can also think.

 

Have a great day!

 

For more about K.R. Bailey visit her website at: http://KRBailey.com

The Next Big Thing Blog

A good friend and fantastic author, Cindy Christiansen, asked me to participate in this blog hop, and I'm thrilled to join her.

My newest story is still a work in progress, but here's a few fun facts about it.

What is the working title of your book?  A Perfect Catch

Where did the idea come from for the book?
Early this spring, I was driving with my hubby and when we drove past Pineview Dam (up Ogden Canyon), there were a bunch of ice fishermen, and I thought it might be fun to have a heroine who loves fishing.  At that time, the story was going to be a light romance, but my characters seem to have a life of their own and the story has become a bit of a mystery.

What genre does your book fall under? Contemporary Romance

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Reece Witherspoon would be great as my heroine, Erin.  She’s sassy, determined, and all woman. 

 I can picture Matthew McConaughey as Justin.  He’s loveable, but when he suddenly disappears, Erin learns he hasn’t been totally honest. 

 K.C is searching for Justin and the last thing he wants is to fall in love.  I think John Lucas would be perfect as K.C.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

When Erin goes fishing for the love of her life, she’s going to have to sift through the lies, look closely into her heart, and be willing to accept love before she finds her perfect catch.
 
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I’ll probably publish through an e-publisher like Bookstrand Publishing or The Wild Rose Press.  They design my covers, provide knowledgeable editors, and format my stories into both e-books as well as print books. I love working with them.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?  It’s still a work in progress.  It’s nearing completion, but it keeps growing, and the characters keep doing things I hadn’t planned for them.  So far it’s taken me about six weeks.  Hopefully, I’ll find the time to get those characters doing what I’d planned so I can get my manuscript finished in the next few weeks.  Cross your fingers for me!

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? There’s so many wonderful authors out there that it’s hard to compare myself to them.  I'd love to be included in the same class as authors like RaeAnn Thayne, Nora Roberts, and LaVeryl Spencer.
 

Who or What inspired you to write this book?  I’m married into a fishing family.  I like fishing, but they won't get me out on the ice.  My husband used to ice fish, my son and grandson still love going ice fishing.  It’s not the cold that bothers me, it’s the cracking of the ice that keeps me off.  (I'm a chicken about that!)  I also love books with a bit of intrique and mystery and a small mountain town in the middle of winter seemed to be a perfect place to create a story.  

What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?  If you love quaint, small towns nestled in the mountains and a lovely old bed and breakfast, you’ll want to read my story.  My heroine loves to fish, often catching enough for supper at the inn.  There’s two handsome men that she must choose between, one who has had her heart for over two years and one who shows up and shakes up her life when he convinces her she’s been lied to.  There's a fun-loving Pub where the town loves to meet, laugh, dance and tell fishing tales. There’s some intrique when strange things start happening at the inn, and there’s love.  I’d say, there’s a little bit of everything a romance needs to keep you turning the pages.
 

Want to learn more about another great author?  Check out the link below:

Cindy A. Christiansen - http://www.dragonflyromance.com

Yellowstone National Park

We just returned from a wonderful family vacation to my favorite places, Henry's Lake in Idaho and Yellowstone National Park. We spent time doing some fishing, eating yummy food (sometimes too much) and lots of sightseeing. We lucked out and got to see so many animals -- eleven bears including grizzley and cubs, elk, coyotes, buffalo, bald eagles -- too many animals to mention. Yellowstone National Park is a beautiful place to enjoy nature. This time of year it was so green and pretty.

On our way home, we stopped at a fun park - Yellowstone Bear World. It's located out of Rexburg, Idaho, and is a perfect way to see bears, wolves, elk and other wild animals up close while in the comfort of your own automobile. As I read about their vision, it brought back memories of the old days when you could easily see bears every day while in Yellowstone. That has changed some, and so the owners of Yellowstone Bear World have created a place where that is possible. You can drive through the park and see all types of wildlife. For the kids, there is a petting zoo where children can actually interact with deer, chickens, pigs, etc, as well as watch bear cubs being bottle fed. It's a great place, and if you haven't had the opportunity to visit, you might want to. Their web site is http://www.yellowstonebearworld.com/

I have to admit, though, that I spent alot of time watching people, looking for new and interesting characteristics for my hero and heroine in an upcoming story. Can't seem to turn my author mind off -- guess that's all right because it's what makes things interesting as I write -- right?

It's always fun to go on vacation, but it's nice to be home. At least it will be when our air conditioning gets fixed!