Memorable Moments
Posted by Sparkle Abbey
Hello, we’re
“Sparkle Abbey.” There are actually two of us, Mary Lee (Sparkle) and Anita
(Abbey). We created our pen name by combining our rescue pets’ names, Sparkle
(ML’s cat) and Abbey (Anita’s dog). If you’ve seen us at a mystery convention
or a book signing, we make it easy–we wear shirts with our names.
“Sparkle Abbey.” There are actually two of us, Mary Lee (Sparkle) and Anita
(Abbey). We created our pen name by combining our rescue pets’ names, Sparkle
(ML’s cat) and Abbey (Anita’s dog). If you’ve seen us at a mystery convention
or a book signing, we make it easy–we wear shirts with our names.
If you do see
us, we hope you’ll stop and say hello. One of the very best things about
conventions or signings is getting to meet in person those of you we’ve already
met out here in cyberspace. We also love to hear about your pets! You see our
current series, set in Laguna Beach, features two former Texas beauty queen
cousins, Caro & Melinda. Caro is a pet therapist and Mel owns the Bow Wow
boutique and though you’d think that would be enough to keep them busy, they
also frequently find themselves in the middle of murder investigations.
us, we hope you’ll stop and say hello. One of the very best things about
conventions or signings is getting to meet in person those of you we’ve already
met out here in cyberspace. We also love to hear about your pets! You see our
current series, set in Laguna Beach, features two former Texas beauty queen
cousins, Caro & Melinda. Caro is a pet therapist and Mel owns the Bow Wow
boutique and though you’d think that would be enough to keep them busy, they
also frequently find themselves in the middle of murder investigations.
So that’s us!
We’re excited to be here every first Thursday.
We’re excited to be here every first Thursday.
Our fellow
bloggers have been talking about fall. For us, November is a month of
thankfulness….
bloggers have been talking about fall. For us, November is a month of
thankfulness….
We’re so
very thankful and blessed to have amazing families, our health, steady jobs and
our love of writing. November is also one of our busiest months. Between the family
birthdays (ten between the two of us), Thanksgiving, Christmas prep, and the day
job, we’re so busying doing that we sometimes
forget to pause and treasure the truly important things. Some events in your life are so
important that the magical moment is imprinted in your memory forever. Marrying
the love of your life, the birth of your children, the birth of your
grandchildren.
very thankful and blessed to have amazing families, our health, steady jobs and
our love of writing. November is also one of our busiest months. Between the family
birthdays (ten between the two of us), Thanksgiving, Christmas prep, and the day
job, we’re so busying doing that we sometimes
forget to pause and treasure the truly important things. Some events in your life are so
important that the magical moment is imprinted in your memory forever. Marrying
the love of your life, the birth of your children, the birth of your
grandchildren.
Then there
are other times. You know the ones. The times when you’re so busy you know you
can’t possibly add one more item to your “To Do” list. That’s when it takes a
little more effort to realize that you’re making memories.
are other times. You know the ones. The times when you’re so busy you know you
can’t possibly add one more item to your “To Do” list. That’s when it takes a
little more effort to realize that you’re making memories.
We’ve found
those types of memorable moments often involve laughter. Sometimes the laughter
comes right away, other times it comes later. Like the time we were
road tripping to a mystery convention in Cleveland by the way of Iowa and
somehow managed to wind up in Michigan. Oops. Probably too much talking. Still, it turned out to be a wonderful scenic route filled with beautiful woods and
winding rivers and we’re still shaking our heads about how it happened.
those types of memorable moments often involve laughter. Sometimes the laughter
comes right away, other times it comes later. Like the time we were
road tripping to a mystery convention in Cleveland by the way of Iowa and
somehow managed to wind up in Michigan. Oops. Probably too much talking. Still, it turned out to be a wonderful scenic route filled with beautiful woods and
winding rivers and we’re still shaking our heads about how it happened.
Once you start
talking about one memorable moment you’re flooded others. Some more emotional
than others, like when we sold our mystery series. Our families wearing their
Team Sparkle and Team Abbey shirts to our first book launch. The first time
someone told us they came to a book signing just to see us. Others are more
light-hearted. Like when we had our picture taken with an Elvis impersonator,
or the time we just wanted to take a picture of our feet in the sand at Laguna
Beach and almost got swept away by a huge wave. And still others add to the mix
of memories like dinner and plotting with our critique group, swapping stories
with Lee Goldberg in Chicago, as well as the opportunity to meet wonderful people like fellow
Stiletto Gang members Dru Ann Love and Linda Rodriguez and so
many others who we now count as friends.
talking about one memorable moment you’re flooded others. Some more emotional
than others, like when we sold our mystery series. Our families wearing their
Team Sparkle and Team Abbey shirts to our first book launch. The first time
someone told us they came to a book signing just to see us. Others are more
light-hearted. Like when we had our picture taken with an Elvis impersonator,
or the time we just wanted to take a picture of our feet in the sand at Laguna
Beach and almost got swept away by a huge wave. And still others add to the mix
of memories like dinner and plotting with our critique group, swapping stories
with Lee Goldberg in Chicago, as well as the opportunity to meet wonderful people like fellow
Stiletto Gang members Dru Ann Love and Linda Rodriguez and so
many others who we now count as friends.
So before
November can run us over like road kill, we’ve decided to pause and enjoy our
first blog with The Stiletto Gang. We are thrilled to join this talented group and we look forward to making new friends here.
November can run us over like road kill, we’ve decided to pause and enjoy our
first blog with The Stiletto Gang. We are thrilled to join this talented group and we look forward to making new friends here.
Now that you
know some of our memorable moments, we’d love to hear one of yours. It’s a
great way for us to get to know you. And it’s always fun to laugh, or cry, with
others.
know some of our memorable moments, we’d love to hear one of yours. It’s a
great way for us to get to know you. And it’s always fun to laugh, or cry, with
others.
Thanks for the reminder! Writers have been so busy doing Nano… they forget it really is a month to be thankful. You both rock! And so do your wonderful books!
Ah..thanks, Donnell. And we hear you have a new book coming out soon. Look like another incredible read!
I have wonderful memories of lunch with my writer friends, Marylee and Anita, who helped me get past the shock of being a published author. I am indebted to you for all your advice and humor and look forward to many more fun times together.
Barbara Barrett
Thanks, Barb. Our pleasure to share this crazy journey with you! Hope we can do lunch again when you're back in town. 🙂
One of my best memories with you guys was running into you at the Cleveland hotel. You guys make me smile.
So glad to meet you both, welcome to the Stiletto Gang!