Please welcome Brenda Whiteside to our forum.
CTBB: First tell us a little bit about you-the-author such as a title that came out in 2011, your publisher’s site and/or your own, and where you can be reached on the social networks that seem to be ‘where it’s at” these days.
Brenda: The book of my heart released in December. Honey On White Bread was inspired by my mom’s memories of growing up in the 1930’s and 1940’s. Melange Books is the publisher. www.melange-books.com I fell in love with the era and between my research and her stories, Honey On White Bread was born. My web site is www.brendawhiteside.com. I am a Facebook lover and you can find me there most days. I love to connect with readers and my web site gives all the addresses to find me. My Facebook page is www.facebook.com/BrendaWhitesideAuthor.
CTBB: Do you favor resolutions, goals or just say phooey on it all??
Brenda: Definitely goals.
CCBB: What’s your rationale for this choice?
Brenda: Resolutions are made to be broken. Goals can be refined and reworked – they seem much more flexible.
CCBB: Will you share with us something that your choice helped you accomplish, one that went down in flames, or the top one on your list this year?
Brenda: I was determined to see Honey On White Bread published last year. My original plan was to secure an agent and/or a large house but that takes time. My main goal was publication in 2011. This is the way goals can be flexed, bent or changed. I met the owner of a small house, Melange Books, and had a good feeling. When she liked my book, I had an even better feeling! Melange has been wonderful to work with and helped me make my 2011 publication goal a reality.
CCBB: What’s the weather like where you are today? If you could wrinkle your nose or wave a magic wand would you still be there or somewhere else in this amazing world?
Brenda: Sunny and mid-seventies. That weather is hard to beat but yes, I would be somewhere else. My husband and I have bought a house in a small prairie town in Arizona. We’re waiting for closing, and I would really like to be settled there. I’m staying with relatives who are great, but I’m just anxious to get set up in the new house.
CCBB: Are you a chronic packrat, a travel-light-in-life devotee or in between?
Brenda: Along with this move to the country, I’ve adopted a ‘get back to basics’ attitude. We’ve been slowly shedding all those things accumulated over the years. I don’t need as many ‘things’ anymore. I’m definitely reaching for the travel-light-in-life style.
CCBB: Thanks for taking part in our fun chat today and may the force be with you, your pen, keyboard and/or personal New Year’s plan!
Brenda: Thank you. You have a great New Year also. In Honey On White Bread, my heroine, Claire, is star-struck and hopes to become a star on the silver screen. In celebration of the New Year and my new release, I’d like to give away a night at the movies, 1940’s style, with a 1945 dvd movie and popcorn.
HONEY ON WHITE BREAD BLURB
When seventeen-year-old Claire Flanagan is wrenched from her father and deposited at the Good Shepherd’s Home for Wayward Girls, all dreams for Hollywood stardom are lost. But when twenty-year-old Benjamin Russell helps secure her release, she starts to believe in a happy future with him…until she discovers his ex-girlfriend is pregnant.
In this post WWII coming of age novel, Claire discovers the silver screen can’t compare with the fight she takes on for the leading role in her own life.
EXCERPT ONE
“I’ve never snuck into a theater before. Sneaking into a dark theater with Arnold …” Paulie laughed. “Are you sure this isn’t supposed to be a date?” Paulie appeared at once timid and suspicious.
“I’m sure. He’s getting me … us in to see a movie for free. Dick Hames! He’s so dreamy.”
“Arnold’s dreamy.”
“You know, Paulie, Arnold is a dear friend …”
“Oh, pooh, Claire.” Paulie batted at my skirt.
“Okay, okay, a special friend. We haven’t made any promises to each other or anything. He’s cute, he’s fun … but …”
“But what?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” A hint of guilt over the difference between how I felt about Arnold compared to how he felt about me passed like the breeze drifting over the porch boards. His were childish whims of infatuation, pushy, uninvited. “It’s kind of hard to explain…” I toyed with the folds of my skirt. If most of the girls at North High were stuck on Arnold, a great catch I didn’t appreciate, then I wished my best friend could change places with me. If only …
“Hey, ladies.” The blur of a male figure in jeans had ascended the porch steps, not pausing to pass pleasantries.
He opened the screen door and stepped into the house. Benjamin. My second encounter brought on an unexplained reaction; my heart pattered even though I’d barely caught a glimpse.
“Oh, hey, Ben,” Paulie said. “You look tired, big brother.”
Her words stopped him. “Little bit.” He paused behind the screen door.
“This is Claire.”
He tipped his head to me. “Nice to meet you, Claire.” He continued on into the house.
“Same here,” I muttered as the screen door shut.
“Now, where were we?” Paulie put a finger to her mouth.
I looped an arm through my friend’s. “We were going to see if your momma could use some help. Come on.” I pulled her from the seat. “Let’s help then freshen up before dinner.”
We let the screen door slam behind us and turned into the kitchen in time to see Benjamin lift his mother from the floor and spin around twice.
“You stop that, Benjamin Willis. Man or no, I can take a hand to your hide, if I need to.” Her hands flailed gently at his chest.
He laughed as he set her down, steadying her before letting go. Taut muscles on the back of his arms flexed with the effort; his deep laugh filled the kitchen. I couldn’t help being drawn into this entirely pleasant scene, comical and radiating warmth, inviting me to take part in their joy. His mother snatched a dishtowel from the counter and swiped at his legs.
“Hold off now. I give, I give.” He withdrew what appeared to be a check from his back pocket.
Mrs. Russell accepted the paper without comment and stuffed it into the frayed pocket of her red checked apron. He kissed her on the forehead, took the bottle of beer she offered him, and leaving the kitchen, nodded in my direction.
I sniffed the sweat of hard work and the yeasty smell of beer as he passed by. My head reeled for a moment with the warmth of the kitchen and the people within, combined with the essence of what I labeled 'man'.
EXCERPT TWO
“Hello, Benjamin.” I smiled, flipping the hair from my neck.
“Hey, Hollywood.” He nodded. I swore he said it seriously this time, not teasingly like a couple of days ago. My dinner churned in my stomach. His gaze was steady, creating a roadblock between my mind and mouth until Paulie tugged on my arm.
“Let’s get a cola.”
I ignored her directive, looking to Laura for a reason to stay in breathing distance of Benjamin. “Why, Laura, your dress looks quite stunning. I do think brown is your color.” I spoke to my friend, keeping my face slanted toward Benjamin, obsessively avoiding giving him a profile view.
“Uh, thanks. Your blue dress is…lovely.”
I tipped my chin in acknowledgement of Laura’s attempt to match my mature manner.
“It looks great with your hair.” She ended on a high note, pleased with her social banter.
Paulie elbowed me as she rolled her eyes. “`Scuse us, Ben.” She shook her head, giving Laura a nudge. “Let’s go get a cola, you guys.”
“You two go ahead.” I waved them off. “I’ll join you in a moment.”
“What do you mean you’ll join us in a moment?” Paulie set her hands to her hips.
I whirled around, facing her. “I have something to discuss with Benjamin. Go get colas and bring me back one.” I kept my voice low, dismissive.
Paulie clutched Laura’s elbow. “Oh, for Pete’s sake, let’s go. Claire wants to shoot the breeze with my brother.”
Clasping my hands behind me, I studied the toes of my oxfords for a moment before looking at Benjamin. When I did look into his face, he smiled as if he might say something.
“What?” I asked.
“I was thinking.” His glance skimmed me briefly from head to toe.
“You do look nice in blue.”
I caught my breath, his assessment a visual caress. Shaking tresses of curls from my face and blinking to regain my composure, I managed a reply. “Why, thank you, Benjamin.” I dipped my chin, peering into his dark lashed blue eyes.
He nodded his head and took a drink from his beer. His other hand was casually tucked into his jean pocket, and he stood with one leg crossed over his ankle. I let my gaze wander along his arm, watching the muscle flex below the roll of his shirtsleeve as he brought the bottle to his lips. Struggling to breathe in a normal fashion, the rate of my heart was anything but normal. Could he hear my heart, see the heat flaring across my chest and neck?
Visit Brenda at www.brendawhiteside.com.
Or on FaceBook: www.facebook.com/BrendaWhitesideAuthor
She blogs on the 9th and 24th of every month at http://rosesofprose.blogspot.com
She blogs occasionally on her personal blog http://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/
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