Featured Guest: Celia Yeary

Please welcome this week's featured guest: Celia Yeary!

Thanks for coming today and sharing the story behind your newest release, Celia. This sounds like a good one.

The Story Behind Showdown in Southfork

When I became acquainted with The Wild Rose Press on the Yahoo loop, I noticed a new series, which looked rather popular—Wayback, Texas—“Where a cowboy falls in love every eight seconds.” I bought the first two immediately—Hot Night at the Blue Bug Saloon by Rita Thetford, and Shadow of the Hawk by Judith Rochelle. I was hooked. Right away, I yearned to be a Wayback author. I studied the download in the Wayback loop, the one that describes the mythical town with its residents, businesses, and rodeo grounds. I read the guidelines carefully. Still, I hesitated, knowing little about the rodeo, and because—I had no idea for a plot.

One day in the newspaper, I read an article about Bobby Cave who owned a ghost town named Albert, Texas. The town is about one hundred miles from where I live in the Hill Country. He had put it up for sale on eBay for 2.5 million dollars. I never knew if he got any takers--but I had my story.

“Albert, Texas offers 13 wooded acres, an 85 year-old dance hall, an ice house stocked with beer, a creek, pecan and peach orchards, and a few more assorted buildings. Population: 4.”

Showdown in Southfork was born. I named my little town—population: 1—Southfork after the Southfork of the Brazos River, which might run near Wayback, Texas, theoretically approximately 15 miles away.

**********************

This is an excerpt:

A chill ran down her arms, as she parked in front of the first building. Clutching the pistol in her right hand, she stepped down from the Jeep, slammed the door, and walked slowly up the dusty street. As she approached, she saw a man wearing faded Levi’s and a sweat-stained straw cowboy hat. He sat in a straight-backed chair, leaned against the wall on the back two legs, whistling snatches of “Mamas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys,” and whittling on a piece of wood, paying her no mind whatsoever.

“Who are you?” she called.

With the movement of a sloth, he stopped both activities—the whistling and the whittling—and raised his head. After fifteen seconds, he drawled, “Good afternoon.”

“I asked your name, mister.” She held the gun straight out with both hands, as she had seen the detectives do on Law and Order, whether they were male or female.

“Uh,” he began, but stopped to brush the wood shavings off his jeans. He held up a finger and said, “Just a minute.”

With infinite slowness, he wiped the knife blade back and forth on his jeans’ leg, snapped it closed, lowered the chair, and stood. With one hand, he hitched his jeans up a notch on his incredibly lean torso, and with the other, dropped the knife in a front pocket.

“Hurry up!” she yelled. “It’s blazing hot out here!”

Again, he paused and gazed at her. “Yeah. I know. That’s why I’m in the shade.”

“What are you doing here? And I want an answer now.”

“Here? You mean on the porch?”

“No, you… No, I mean in this town.”

Now, he ambled down the four steps to the ground but remained in the shade. With his back against the edge of the porch, one foot propped behind him, and his thumbs hooked in the front pockets of his jeans, he asked with a bewildered look, “What’re you doing with a gun?”

“Pointing it at you, you… Why can’t you answer a simple question?”

“Which simple question do you want me to answer first?”

**************

Celia Yeary is a fifth-generation Texan, and her life revolves around family and friends—and writing. San Marcos has been her home for thirty-five years. She has written three romance novels for a small press, essays for Texas Co-op Power magazine, and several different topics for her weekly blog. She also writes women’s fiction and hopes a publisher comes along who likes these stories, too.

The author is a former science teacher, graduate of Texas Tech University and Texas State University, mother of two, grandmother of three, and wife of a wonderful, supportive Texan. Celia and her husband enjoy traveling, and both are involved in their church and the community.

Celia Yeary

www.celiayeary.com

http://www.celiayeary.blogspot.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thebookspa

http://twrpcactusrose.blogspot.com

ALL MY HOPES AND DREAMS-a Cactus Rose—

eBook available at: www.thewildrosepress.com

Print available now at: www.thewildrosepress.com

SHOWDOWN IN SOUTHFORK at: www.thewildrosepress.com

I'm Cured!

When I first got married (at 20 y/o—mind you), I knew I wanted to have children even though I had great and illustrious career plans. The desire to have a baby grew even stronger when one of my closest friends had a baby. I had contracted baby fever!

Three years after my husband and I said I do, baby #1 arrived. (The day after our third anniversary.) When he was about two years old and I realized he wasn’t a baby anymore, I became racked with baby fever again. But being the smart woman that I am, I waited. It just wasn’t the right time. I was working full time as a teacher and finishing up my credential classes. It was not a good time. Finally after a couple years of teaching and with all my schooling completed, I thought now was the time to have another baby. The fever had kicked in again. But wouldn’t you know it, my body just wasn’t ready.

Baby #1 had been an unexpected surprise, but for baby #2 we had to work for it. Actually, we consciously tried to get pregnant for six months and then stopped. We decided if it happened it happened. Well, almost exactly a year after we first started trying it happened!

Baby #2 came and my husband even got a job paying enough so that I could quit working and stay home with the baby and homeschool the oldest for a couple years. So, now baby #2 is no longer a baby, he’s five. Have I contracted baby fever again?

Two of my closest friends got pregnant this past year. One had hers in January; it was her third. And the other one had hers in March; it was her first. So, of course I get emails about all the joys, excitement, and travails of being a first time mom from the latter friend. And I am so happy for her, but I realized that I was glad it was her and not me. I am cured of baby fever!!

Before #2 arrived, I had a six-year-old and that meant that he could do a lot for himself and entertain himself. It also meant that I was not chained to the house. We could go out and do a lot of things. When the baby came, all that changed. As my baby has met those marks of achievement (crawling, walking, talking, potty training, etc) the feeling of having to start all over with a new baby just doesn’t seem all that attractive anymore. I am ready to move forward with my life. I enjoyed all the moments of my little ones babyhood, but now I’m ready for life with my children, not babies.

When I was pregnant with baby #2, we decided boy or girl it would be the last. Well, baby #1 was a boy and baby #2 was also a boy. But we are standing firm; this one is the last. There have been times that I have been sad by the fact that I will never have a daughter and experience that mother-daughter bond. But a friend of mine who is about twenty years older than me (and a mother of boys) told me when I was pregnant with the first, “Boys love their mommies.” And it is true. I have a special relationship with my boys especially the oldest, and I love that. I look forward to a future with them.

Having taught Jr. High for several years, I know in part what I am in for. But I must admit that Jr. High boys can be great fun. I enjoyed my time with them and got along with them better than many of the girls. With that experience, I see certain teenage tendencies in my own boys that can be worrisome, but because I see it I hope that I can nip it in the bud early. The problem that I often see in the parents of Jr. Highers is that parents never took the time to develop a deep relationship with their children at a young age, and then when their kids hit 13 they don’t understand why their children want nothing to do with them or they won’t listen to anything they have to say. So, as a teacher my advice is to build that relationship now and make yourself an important part of your kids lives so that when they are older you will still be there.

On the up side for me, I waited until my oldest was six before #2 came along. So, when I send my oldest off to college at 18, my youngest will just be starting 7^th grade. And that is good because from the looks of him, he is going to be trouble and I will need to focus all my energy to keep up with him. Take Care all you mothers out there!

White Rose Contest

Our Cup Runneth Over contest details:

Each week, over the next seven weeks, you will have the chance to win free e-books courtesy of the White Rose Publishing authors.

How? By joining our scavenger hunt. Each Saturday two to three new author’s web-sites will be added to the White Roses blog. Your job is to locate the WHITE ROSE PUBLISHING cup hiding somewhere on their site. Jot down the author’s name and what color cup is on their web page and e-mail the correct answers to carolann.erhardt@gmail.com (Please place in the subject line WRiB Contest) Each Saturday, starting September 19th, a winner’s name will be drawn and your prize will be awarded.

But that’s not all, each time that you send in an entry—regardless if you win that week or not–your name goes into a larger kitty for the grand prize drawing October 31st! (That prize consists of: seven e-books, a box of White Rose Organic tea, your very own beautiful White Rose mug, and a little basket of Arbonne skin care products.)

Get going today. The first two web-pages were already posted so you can start your hunt. There will also be a listing of the books which will be awarded.

Hope you can join us!

Remembrance 9/11

Today is the Memorial of 9/11 and the Terrorist attack on the US. This morning on Fox News they are discussing the event and my oldest son was able to see the actual planes crash into the Twin Towers. (He was only 3 y/o when this tragedy took place.) It, of course, made me think back on when I saw this for the first time and how I found out about what had taken place. In 2001, I was teaching 7^th grade. I hadn’t turned on the TV or the news radio that morning. So I had no idea when I arrived at school. One of my male students ran up to me very excitedly and told me that terrorists had flown a plane into a building, but I thought he was playing with me. They would do stuff like that to me. Then of course I learned it was true. School was dismissed early and I got to go home and see televised footage.

Our country was very affected by that day. From that moment on we thought differently about the world. Some of those memories have dulled with time. American’s patriotism was at a high after 9/11. Something we hadn’t seen practically since 1941 when we were attacked by the Japanese. Slowly we’ve begun to forget, but we can never forget.

Superman Returns: Film Review

My five-year-old son is a superhero fanatic. He watches the cartoons and movies. He plays with the action figures and even picture reads the child version books. And who is his favorite superhero? Why Superman, of course. Is there a better one out there? Okay, I suppose that is a matter of opinion. You see I too love the supes and the Man of Steel is my ultimate fav.

So over the weekend, my son and I decided to re-watch the latest Superman film, Superman Returns. Watching it again reminded me of a review I wrote back when the movie released. I thought today I'd post it to the blog.

[Written July 2006]

Let me stipulate first that I am a die hard Superman fan and that I have greatly anticipated this movie. In stating that, let me continue by saying that I liked the film…well, no I loved it. That is not to say that I thought it was flawless and loved every part of it, but taken as a whole I thought it was very good.

When it comes to these superhero movies and big summer blockbusters, movie goers and reviewers are looking for different things. Maybe you want an epic film, lots of action and special effects, or maybe you are looking for a personal journey for our oldest and most beloved hero. I think that if you are mainly looking for the latter then you won’t be disappointed in this film.

As the movie started and the all too familiar blue lettering flowed across the screen with Williams’ Superman theme music pumping through the speakers, my heart beat picked up with all the anticipation that I had been feeling. It was euphoric!

What I really enjoyed was that this wasn’t your typical action summer flick. It had depth and heart. The film was very artistic. Gorgeous cinematography. Some of the shots of the Man of Steel were absolutely beautiful. I loved the architecture of the buildings especially the Daily Planet – inside and out it had that Art Déco decor. Lovely. Having only seen the movie once, I couldn’t take it all in; but I look forward to seeing it again and enjoying all the sets and scenery.

And there was action. It is a Bryan Singer film, after all, who did the 1^st two X-men features. Look for the plane crashing sequence, and you will see our favorite supe defying physics in stopping a plummeting plane from smashing into the ground. Very well done, full of action, and terrific special effects. And the flying - I loved it. He moves through the air in a way that you’ve never seen him, flawless.

What about the characters? I love character study and I need memorable characters! I thought Sam Huntington as Jimmy Olsen was so-so. He didn’t stick out to me as anything special. And Frank Langella as Perry White was actually disappointing. I know he's a great actor, and so I expected more from him. His performance really was forgettable. Jackie Cooper was a great Perry, and Lane Smith from the Lois and Clark TV show is my favorite Perry of all time. James Marsden who you will recognize as Cyclops from X-men plays Richard White and Lois’ fiancé. His performance was right on. He is a nice guy, and you actually feel for him because Lois still loves Superman (well duh). So much for the supporting characters.

And what about the central players?

Kevin Spacey plays Lex Luthor, and it was foretold that he was playing the character much darker and sinister than Gene Hackman’s rendition. And yes he does play it in a more ominous light, but I had just anticipated more. Getting used to the dark character that Lex is becoming in the TV show Smallville, I just expected even more of that in the movie version. I have to applaud Michael Rosenbaum in playing a Lex Luthor who in time will become equal to the title of the greatest criminal mastermind in the world. Again the writers give Lex a weak plot in this movie. This character is worthy of so much more.

(Rosenbaum as Luthor)

Lois Lane. I love the Lois Lane character. I mean she is as important to the Superman mythos as that of Clark Kent. Her characteristics and foibles are famous. And I must admit that Teri Hatcher’s Lois is my favorite because she played the role with all the familiar Lois eccentricies, but she added to that a sensitivity that I think is key to knowing Lois. And in Superman Returns, Kate Bosworth (whose other big films include: “Win a Date with Tad Hamilton” and “Blue Crush") played this iconic character. I was very unsettled about the choice of Kate as Lois. And after watching the film, I find that she didn’t totally kill Lois. Her performance was fine. But it just wasn’t quite Lois. I hope in future Superman films that she can step up her Lois performance. It needs work, but it was ok.

So that leaves the Man of Steel himself. I love the Clark Kent character more than the Superman figure. And this movie was meant to focus on the man more than the super. Of course, in the films, they make Clark Kent in Metropolis as his disguise; and Superman is who he really is. I’ve never liked this because how can Lois really know him when he is a bumbling fool as Clark and all she can see when he is Superman is the hero? But putting that aside, I thought Brandon Routh was great. I was the most pleased with his performance more than anyone else in the film. He has been criticized as not being as good as Christopher Reeve and not doing the things that Chris did, and then he has also been criticized as just copying the past Man of Steel. But I don’t agree. Actors that don’t play characters larger than life are criticized. These same people don’t take the time to observe the subtle way that these actors portray their characters. If you take the time, you just might see greatness.

This film let the viewer see a side of Superman that we haven’t seen before. We see him as a man, and a man who is alone. There were beautiful views of Superman up above the world listening and watching and knowing that the world needs him, but that he is all alone. And the sadness he feels in having lost Lois was very touching. The most poignant moment in the movie comes at the end. I won’t go into detail for those of you who have not watched the movie yet. But first of all Brandon’s acting was terrific and touching in that scene. It was a paramount turn of events for the Superman character as well. I know it brought a tear to my eye.

Sure there were things unanswered at the end of the film…what happened to…what about…? But I know that Singer is planning two more films, and I am supposing that there is a three film story line which I hope includes Lois Lane finding out the truth about Clark…eventually. Because as all good Superman fans know – Lois and Clark do get together in the end. I look forward to seeing to fruition this new Superman franchise of movies. It is definitely a must see at the theater. I give it an A-.

[UPDATE]

Since I wrote this review, things have change in the world of Superman films. TPTB intend to make another film or series of films but it won't be with Singer as director. It will be as if this film never took place. I'm curious what direction they'll take it. HOWEVER, I hear they intend to keep Routh on as Clark Kent. Good choice. I look forward to it.