Name my characters, why don’t ya?

Geez Louise! I never thought I’d write one book and here I am starting my third. I’m either destined to be a novelist or you’re all destined to hear the rantings of a crazy lady.

Anywho, I’m in the outlining stage, also known as the honeymoon phase for us writers, and I can use your help out there. I want you guys to name two of my characters!

Fun, yeah?

Here’s a brief background for you to ponder before choosing the names from the polls below.

Baseball TicketsI had this crazy discovery last summer when I bought a vintage handbag here in Milwaukee and I found some artifacts from 1954 – two baseball tickets, and a shopping list on the back of a voting receipt.

Sixty years ago, people! How cool is that?!

I wrote a post about it, because I was so freaking excited! This was back when I first started blogging and nobody knew who the hell I was, so you can check out The Clues in the Vintage Handbag if you want.

I daydreamed about who the owner of the handbag might have been, and pictured three different women. So, my brother-in-law pointed out that it looked like I had the skeleton of a decent story on my hands, and he was right. (Thanks, Shawn!)

And, here we are.

My working title is The Bra Game. The story will bounce back and forth between the woman who discovers the handbag and clues in somewhat modern day to the three women she imagines as the possible owners back in 1954. The three women were previously connected as baseball players in the All American Girls Baseball League at the tail end of World War II.

Since I adore strong female characters, these unconventional athletes are right up my alley. We know that when the men came home, the women were expected to ditch their wartime duties, and make lots of babies and pies.

But, what about the women who were different?

So, there’s your teaser.

This is a completely different project for me as it will be a departure from my previous thrillers, and more of an exploration of social issues. Rather than an international locale, this is all about Chicago in the fifties…an all-American romp, if you will.

And, instead of one main character, I have three! I’ve got one named because her name hit me like a ton of bricks, and so it must be.

But, I still have two more to name…and here’s where you come in.

1950s woman with ray bans

CHARACTER #1

In a Nutshell: Feisty Italian-American Tomboy
Classic Movie Star Twin: Audrey Hepburn
Baseball Position: Catcher, Bunter-Stealer
Occupation: Photographer

CHARACTER #2

In a Nutshell: Busty Polish-American Sex Kitten
Classic Movie Star Twin: Marilyn Monroe
Baseball Position: Left Fielder, Left-handed Batter
Occupation: Housewife/Socialite

It would be awesome if you guys would spread the word on this poll of mine…the more, the merrier! The name reveal will take place on February 28th.

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And if you don’t know anything about my previous work, now is the time to check them out. I’m currently offering a whole buck off the entire month of February.

All the details are right here.

So, I’m having this book sale…

weighing books

I know, I know. We all have about a grillion choices when it comes to books. There are so many stories out there, and I have written two teeny tiny ones.

I’m not conventional, I’m not mainstream, I’m not famous.

I’m just me. Little indie author…me.

But, here’s the thing – I’ve got coupons! And, who in the hell doesn’t like coupons?

The entire month of February you can get both of my books at a $1 off their usual prices. Think about all the things you can do with that buck you’re saving.

You can – oh wait, nevermind. Even gum costs more than that nowadays!

Oh, well! A buck’s a buck.

Head on over to Smashwords and use the nifty coupon codes below. Before you scratch your head about what the blazes Smashwords is, just know that it’s a swell place for us indie authors to sell our unknown books via any e-book format in existence.

Instructions are right here so you know what to do after you download the format you need. With my Kindle Fire, I just email the mobi file to my Kindle email address and voila…easy squeezy!

Here’s my offbeat WWII spy thriller…

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Click the book to see what it’s all about.

Click here to buy on Smashwords

(just copy and paste coupon code VY57T at check-out)

Here’s my feel-good, modern day thriller…

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Click the book to see what it’s all about.

Click here to buy on Smashwords

(just copy and paste coupon code NS94W at check-out)

If you feel so inclined to be even more gorgeous than you already are for giving my books a whirl, it would be beyond awesome if you would take a few moments to leave a review after you have finished. Seriously, it would warm my heart.

THANK YOU kindly for supporting the indie author movement.

Reblog: Book Review – Beneath the Satin Gloves

I know I said I was taking a blogging vacay, but I just couldn’t resist reblogging this stupendous review from Roy McCarthy over at “Back on the Rock” for my debut novel, Beneath the Satin Gloves.

A big thank you to Roy for his support…two gorgeous reviews for both of my little books. I am very thankful for the shout outs and relieved to know that my crazy words had the ability to entertain.

Be sure to stop by Roy’s blog and show him some love!

Happy (almost) New Year, my beautiful, beautiful friends!

Roy McCarthy's avatarBack On The Rock

There are any number of books, fact and fiction, that have World War 2 as either their subject or backdrop. Few enough are set in the epicentre of the aggressor nation. In her debut novel Britt Skrabanek transports us to war-time Berlin in a fast-moving and intriguing tale.

We don’t arrive there by conventional means either. A modern young American woman suffers from bad dreams, realistic flashbacks reminiscent of shell-shock that do little for her quality of life. One morning she awakes in the bed of a high-ranking Nazi. The year is 1943 and she is a spy behind enemy lines living the life of a night-club singer. Her spymaster Emil is strangely and intimately familiar and, through him, her mission becomes clearer. Alina has a week left to take advantage of her position to collect top secret information and pass it on to a courier.

And the spy Alina…

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ReBlog: Book review – Everything’s Not Bigger, Britt Skrabanek

A magnanimous thank you to Roy McCarthy over at “Back on the Rock” for taking the time to review my humble book, “Everything’s Not Bigger”. This is beyond exciting for me as an emerging author and I am truly grateful for this amazing support.

Please stop by Roy’s blog and check the whole piece out. It is portrayed beautifully and honestly, just the way I like the written word to be.

Thanks again, Roy.

Roy McCarthy's avatarBack On The Rock

Sigourney Dujka runs with a bad crowd in urban Arizona. As with too many young people she is attracted by the excitement and becomes a part of city underlife and dependant on drugs and those that rob for it. She is offered an escape route – the unpalatable one of turning in her buddies in exchange for her freedom and full witness protection. It is one she takes.

Author Britt Skrabanek’s first twist is to introduce her main and always likeable character in her new life before regressing to her earlier days. Now we find her several years on in the retail trade, battling it out on the sales floor of a high-class Dallas fashion emporium for the custom of the oil-financed clientele, money no object. Skrabanek’s portrayal of life in the store and her fellow employees is priceless. Like it or not the women are part of the show…

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For My Apple Lovers

Not that kind of apple, silly! The other kind.

In addition to Amazon and Smashwords, my latest book, Everything’s Not Bigger, is now available for your delicious Apple products as well. I realize $4.99 is a little pricier than a normal apple, but it sure is a yummy bargain for a book!

In the heartland of oil money, Jaye Davis spends her whirlwind existence trapped in the battle fields of high fashion. Surrounded by sparkling ambition and plastic perfection, she reluctantly masquerades as a sales drone at Lyman’s, a luxury store in Dallas. After escaping a turbulent past and leaving everything behind, Jaye struggles to find her place in the world. Armed with a quiet determination, she embarks on a solitary quest, searching for certainty in an uncertain future.

But Jaye Davis isn’t her real name–only a byproduct of the witness protection program. Once her fabricated identity is thrown into jeopardy, she flees to the haunting allure of Prague. Unearthing her roots in an important step toward self-discovery, she learns to surrender to the life she truly deserves.

Ooh, that sounds crisp and delightful, Britt! I’d love  a bite.