You Should Pick Up The Phone ~ It's SATAN, LINE ONE!

Hello, All! It's been many a moon since I've blogged, but that's because I've been working on writing some great books for you. Well, that and Life. Life happens. Which is good, because it also makes me a better writer--but I digress. 

Anyway...I wanted to share with you the story behind my new release, SATAN, LINE ONE. Like much from this series, the book ties in with my real life. Back when I was a lunch lady, there was a coworker of ours who could be, well...a bit uptight. We grew to love her, but she could make things challenging at times. I believe it was my best friend--the inspiration for my character Sam--who gave her the title "Satan."   (Possibly a little unkind, but the reason it was funny was because she was so not Satan, but we liked to exaggerate things for our amusement. For instance, we liked to say the Athletic Club was evil because they left messes behind that we had to clean up. They then became the subject to blame for anything from global warming and terrorism, to the reason for the stain in the sink, and everything in between.) Then, I think I was the first one to say, when our rigid, domineering coworker would call, "Satan, line one." Someone added that this would be a good book title and I was off to the races! When I began the first book in the series, TO HELL IN A COACH BAG, it only seemed natural that SATAN, LINE ONE would find its way into the DEVILISH DIVAS SERIES. 

Now--I had a title, where was the story? Out of the title, a character was inspired, one Josephine Compton. I wanted another character who could have a nickname like a men's name, like Sam (Samantha), Dani (Danielle), Max (Maxine), and Alex (Alexis). Enter Jo! Jo (Josephine) took on the rigidity of our coworker, but why was she like that? Jo's backstory fell into place easily. She was from a large, chaotic family. The kind who put the fun in dysfunctional. In order to reinstate order in her life, Jo developed a disciplined, rule-following personality. To stick out in a family where it was easy to be overlooked, she became a high-achiever and a principal at a young age. 

Being a new principal, or a new boss in any setting, has its challenges. A lot of people (myself included) don't like change. We become comfortable with the status quo and change throws us off-balance. That being true, anyone walking into a new role in this sort of environment is already disliked, even before they slap a name plate on their office door. Long before they've made their first decision, they are seen as the enemy. 

Who, then, to pair with our little anal-retentive principal? Hello, Killian Murphey! Killian is the anti-Jo. He is laid-back to the point that it is a detriment to his growth. How did he get that way? His parents died and left him an orphan, shuttled off from his home in Ireland to an uncle's in the United States. Like his father, Killian was easy-going and comfortable in his role as a bartender. Until he finds someone who inspires him to reach further and become more than what he is settling for. 

When Jo walks into his bar, Killian is smitten right from the start. The more he learns about this naive, lonely woman, the more he falls in love with her. He watches on as Dani and Sam try to coach Jo--or Josie, as they sometimes call her--in the fine art of picking up men. Making Sam and Dani see him as a contender for Jo's heart then becomes the hurdle that Killian needs to leap. In his mind a lowly bartender is no match for a woman of Josephine's statue. Thank goodness Jo doesn't see things the same way. But in her eyes, she's no match for his charm, good-looks, and worldliness. Like most good partnerships, the two fill in each other's gaps, and help one another to grow.

Well, now you've seen how it all started, you need to see how things end up. Pick up SATAN, LINE ONE at the following retailers and give it a read. Jo and Killian are dying to tell you their story! 

And then be on the lookout for Book Five, PITCHFORK IN THE ROAD. When Zoe and Zack are reunited as adults, how can they overcome the pain caused by their breakup? And, with Nick in the picture now, how can Zoe make a choice between her two best friends? 

PITCHFORK is in the development stage with the publisher, and Book Six, A SIN WORTH THE PENANCE, will be a continuation of Killian's story. The devilish divas certainly have a lot to share with you! So hop on over to Amazon--or whatever retailer you prefer--and get started!

Amazon: mybook.to/SatanLineOne

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/satan-line-one-mj-schiller/1129033880?ean=9781947833968

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/satan-line-one-the-devilish-divas-series-book-4

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/mt/book/satan-line-one-the-devilish-divas-series-book-4/id1434162174?mt=11

As always, thanks for reading!

~ They're Back!!! And This Time They're Asking Themselves, "Will I Be DAMNED IF I DO?" ~ #ROMCOM

Those lovable lunch ladies are back! And they’ve brought…their kids?

Alex and Max revitalized their marriages in Book One.

But when Dani returned to win Tucker back, she was devastated to discover he’d already left the hotel. Can Dani find her hot roadie? And if she does, will she be able to leave heartache in the past to be with him?
Sam pushed Kyle away. But when her Canadian hockey referee reappears, will he get an icy reception? How do you change an I don’t into an I do?

And now that their kids are in the picture, more hearts are on the line. Whatever their decisions are, you know you are in for a wild ride with the lunch ladies! Buckle your seatbelt…

Amazon: myBook.to/DamnedIfIDo

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/damned-if-i-do…/1126809764…

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/…/damned-if-i-do-the-devilish-divas-se…

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/…/damned-if-i-do-the…/id1260224550…

Paperback out soon!

~ Join Four Lunch Ladies As They Go TO HELL IN A COACH BAG! ~ #romcom

You've been waiting, and here it is ~ 

They may be on the road to Hell, but they'll sure enjoy the trip!


Four Midwest lunch ladies on a cross-country road trip...

Danielle (Dani)- is the widow who can’t shake a chance run-in with a spectacular looking roadie.

Samantha (Sam)- is the wild cannon divorcee who has broken more hearts than hockey players have broken noses.

Alexis (Alex)- is their coworker and along for the ride to escape from tension at home between her and her recently unemployed husband.

And what about Maxine (Max?)- Mid-life hormones have turned the Boss Lady into a raving sex addict. Though she is in love with her husband, her insatiable appetite is making her miserable.

Could their destination be Love?

Two women whose marriages are on the rocks. Will time apart from their spouses help them weather their matrimonial storms?

Two single women who equate love with pain. But when a twist of fate reunites Dani with her roadie, will she have the guts to open up to Tucker and perhaps start a new relationship? And when Sam discovers that Kyle, the Canadian referee she met at the same rock concert, is in town for a Colorado Avalanche game, she may find that her own broken heart has a chance at mending.

But even Shakespeare knew “the course of true love never did run smooth.”

What can save Alex’s marriage when her hubby’s driving her crazy? How can Max ever feel close to her man again when he never puts out? And just when Dani and Tucker are getting close, dreams of Darren’s death begin to haunt her. Can she move past them? And what about Sam? Although Kyle’s logged some serious ice time, her cold shoulder may put his heart in perma-freeze.


Is happiness around the next corner? Or are these four women simply headed TO HELL IN A COACH BAG?

GET IT NOW! 

Amazon:

http://mybook.to/ToHellInACoachBag

I suppose you could say I think about music too much. I think about how absurd the lyrics really are, if you take them at face value. I think about the emotion behind the words, and start bawling. I think and begin to wonder...has the artist really been done that bad? Or, the reverse, could anyone really be that perfect? Or perhaps, what must have happened to the musician to take them to the place where they wrote this song?


I am graced with a few people in my life who will go with me down this path. My son, Ryan, for instance. And my best friend, Kelly. We will look at songs, turn them upside down, and generally amuse ourselves with them, and sometimes others. Most of the time, though, I think people are annoyed with us, but I'm hoping you are some of the few that "get" us.

For example, the other day I was actually imagining myself in a song, so to speak. The song is "Closing Time" by Semisonic. Here's the video, if you aren't familiar with it.

Now, while this is an American band, from Minneapolis, MN, I like to imagine this song taking place in Ireland. Maybe it's because he says, "finish up your whiskey or beer," like there isn't any other choice of beverage at a bar. Maybe it's because I've been planning a trip there--but I digress. I just feel like this song captures the essence of closing time so well. I hear the bartender squeaking the bar towel around the last few glasses he's washing and stacking them on the shelves. The clink of bottles as he pulls them out, eyeballs the remainder, and restocks whatever is low. And then the dreaded "Last call for alcohol!" shout is greeted by a chorus of moans.


"What? No, man! I'm having fun. I don't want to go home."


To which he snaps, "You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here." LOVE THAT LINE! "So gather up your jackets, move it to the exits, I hope you have found a friend." Isn't that what so many bar patrons are looking for? A "friend" at closing time? And then the "Time for you to go out to..." scratches his head, "the places you will be from." Like he doesn't have a clue, and doesn't really care, where his patrons come from. All he knows is that it's time for them to return there and leave his bar!


And then there is the plaintive chorus of "I know who I want to take me home." You get the feeling that whoever the singer is talking about isn't exactly interested in going home with him. Otherwise he'd be singing, "I know who is going to take me home. I know who is going to take me home. I know who is going to take me home, take me ho-o-ome."


And then there's the smashed philosopher at the end of the bar saying, "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." The bartender slings his hand across this dude's shoulder and walks him to the door, shaking his head and saying, "Yeah. Sure. Deep. Whatever. Time to go, man."
I mean, really. Isn't this song perfect? It draws a scene so clearly with very few words. Awesome!


Well, I hope you have enjoyed this first edition of Music Analysis Mondays and will return for more. And remember, as I end this post, that every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end. Profound!

Now, confession time. How many of you have been there at closing time? Have been the last few to shuffle out the door, stand on the sidewalk, and decide if you are going out for breakfast, or just home to catch some zzzs. Share some of your closing time stories with us! 

How many of my author friends out there have done their own thinking about songs and let them inspire a book? Maybe this song will end up inspiring a scene in one of my upcoming rock books. You never know!

Thanks for joining us, and happy listening! 

AND IN THIS CORNER...

Yes, we're beginning a new feature today, Throw Down Thursday! This is the day of the week you get to pit two people together and decide who would come out on top in a no-holds-barred entanglement! It may be two characters from commercials, from TV, from movies, any segment of pop culture. It may be having to choose between two songs and deciding which one is superior, and why. After you pick your winner, tell us what went into your thought process! (That's the fun part!) My best friend and I do this all the time at work during quiet moments (perhaps to the consternation of our co-workers!). Now it's your turn.




So, for today we have Mr. Whipple vs. The Pillsbury Dough Boy! Let me remind you of who we're talking about here:




Mr. Whipple ==>

or, The Pillsbury Dough Boy ==>

Okay, so you've got the two locked in a room. They have to fight each other to get out and survive. Who is your victor?