Remember that contest I entered over at Watershed Voice?

It’s up now! If you have a minute, check it out.

Let me know what you think. 

 https://watershedvoice.com/2024/12/20/tereasa-bellew-a-new-beginning/

You can also listen to my interview on their podcast.

https://watershedvoice.com/podcast/keep-your-voice-down/

New Books- Old Books, and characters to good to let go.

 New books. Old books. Characters too good to let go.

 

 Have you ever opened the pages of a book and discovered people you love? Individuals cut from the same cloth so to speak. You can even imagine yourself hopping in the car to drive over for a visit?

 

Certain books touch our lives so profoundly they find a forever home on our bookshelves. Books we know will be read again whenever our need to be with the characters gets so strong you simply must pull up a chair and dive back into their world. Perhaps to experience the danger or warmth we enjoyed during our time together. 

 

Today I'd like to introduce you to a few folks I’ve come to love.  Some are funny, handsome, and some just downright nasty.

  

Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard

***** 

Jaine Bright and her girlfriends create a list of qualities each woman imagines a great catch should have and come up with Mr. Perfect. Some specifications on the list are caring, warmhearted, faithful, and reliable. The list takes on a life of its own sizzling throughout the community. It even winds up in the local newspaper. 

In the meantime, Jaine's noisy neighbor cruises her quiet neighborhood in a muffler-missing Pontiac rumbling like thunder all hours of the night disturbing her peaceful slumber and keeping her awake. To top it off, he hates cats. Hates the tiny paw prints trailing the hood of his car.  

 It's fun to watch as Jaine goes head-on with the guy, who just so happens to be an undercover cop. That’s right. And it's a good thing too because this list she’s devised has pissed off a certain somebody who doesn’t think there should be such a list as Mr. Perfect. When one in the group is murdered, the list is no longer a laughing matter. 

Another is Iron House by John Hart

 *****

  I stumbled across this book while waiting for a tire rotation at a local store. Whenever there is time to kill, there's time to read, so I hit out for the book section. I picked up a thick book with a dark cover and was pulled into the story about two orphan brothers housed at Iron Mountain Home for Boys. Julian, the younger and weaker of the two survives only because of Michael's fierce protection and strong fists. When a boy is brutally murdered at the institution only one can take the blame. Michael fled the orphanage taking the blame with him and leaving Julian behind. 

This pulled at my heart so much that I returned for the book and devoured it in record time. As someone who's grown up with an older brother, I know there is nothing we wouldn't do for each other. So, despite the passage of time, sibling bonding is forever. And so it is with Michael and Julian. There's also a Mob boss who nurtured Michael through the ranks and a jealous son who goes to great lengths to destroy the life he's tried to achieve. 

This book is big, giving the author time to dig deep into the past lives of both boys, now grown men. And some of their baggage isn't nice. 

I have many, many more keepers. It's what led me to write in the first place. To be able to create my own universe, my own friends. That moment when I step into another place and time with characters who dare to say the outrageous or do the unthinkable. In other words, not afraid to step out of their comfort zone. 

My keeper shelf wouldn't be complete if I didn't include this particular book. 

Pippi Longstocking, by Astrid Lindgren

What can I say about this story? Only that it introduced to me the most outrageous character my young eyes had ever read. I was probably eight years old when I first read Pippi Longstocking. She lives in a house she calls Villa Villekulla. Her new pals, Tommy and Annika, live next door and have the most wonderful adventure's together. Pippy also has several animals like her monkey, Mr. Nillsson, and a horse she capable of lifting with just one arm! Several more books reveal Pippi's father is the king on an Island. Years later, after television progressed, we traveled with her to visit him on the island in living color! 

When Pippi first met Anika and Tommy she proclaimed herself a thingfinder. 

And years of collecting fascinating treasures I discovered that I, too, am a thingfinder, just like Pippi. 

Books find their way into our lives many times, forever. 

What do you have on your keeper shelf? 

Beautiful fall day

 

Hi Everyone! 

So much to catch up on. First, it's been a beautiful summer and even lovelier fall.

This is the rural road I live on.

Literally.

I love walking it whenever I can to the corner dairy farm.

When time and energy are on my side, I continue to the top of the hill, 

roughly about 1 1/2 miles. The road has a steep incline, very shaded and untraveled.

It reminds me of the thick forest Dorothy Gale from Kansas, 

along with the Scarecrow and Tinman dared trespass through

when they met the cowardly lion.

I have some photos of this year's fall color tour I'll try and upload. 

They're on the phone and I'm here, on the PC. I've got to figure out how 

to get them in one spot. : ) 

To let you all know I'm still writing,

I thought I'd share a heartfelt poem I wrote the other day.

                                         The little girl

          I saw a girl outside today, while she was jumping rope.

          With skinned-up knees and tangled hair, no buttons on her coat. 

          She sang in rhyme and skipped a beat to slapping on the ground.

          And counted as she played the game, abandoned that,

          then found a swing.

          She pumped herself into the clouds, still singing silly songs.

          I knew each word before she spoke, the lyrics loud and strong.

          I took the path she walked to school, now overgrown and small.

          The curves and hills, the rambling creek, no distance here at all.

          I strolled along her daily route and found beneath some trees,

          The tiny house where she had grown, a sacred place

          the girl called home.

           A sagging porch with crumbling steps, through dirty window glass,

           I held my breath and peered inside, a restful peace at last.

           I heard the sound of laughter and felt a swell of love.

           With eyes yet closed, I held her tight.

           The little girl...was me. 

                 

 

Finding inspiration on Pinterest

 

Secondary and minor characters are just as important when writing your novel. Some are merely a doorway into other rooms, glimpses into darker spots we otherwise wouldn't dare face on our own. But with a partner...

And where you find those ideas can be too numerous to mention. For me, things like abandoned houses, quiet woods, and dusty backroads are just some places that stir my imagination.

Pinterest is a great place to find photos. With each book I start, I search for glimpses into the world I'm creating. After all, the beginning is a new idea and seeds are being dropped into hopefully fertile ground. 

Look at the board I created when writing 'Letters From Inside.'

https://www.pinterest.com/tereasabellew/letters-from-inside-the-novel/

This was the first cover I had designed when I won a free cover raffle. I ended up not using it, but it gives you the idea of my character, Carl Jenkins, from my novel, Letters From Inside.

A lonely man, nearly broken from spending years inside. Carl is barely hanging on. And then the unimaginable happens. He receives a perfumed letter from the outside. A spark that strikes an ember in his darkness. The letters become the most important light. 

When he's granted parole, there's only one place in mind. 

He has been given hope. A dream. And nothing will stand in his way. 

There are many other pictures and quotes I've found on Pinterest that I've pinned for inspiration. 

           

 Something like this was probably scratched on his cell wall. 

 FEAR IS A PRISON

There are also boards of my other stories, with places that excite me and trigger my imagination. Feel free to follow me on Pinterest and see the many cool stuff I've added to the board, Letters From Inside-the novel. 

I hope to see you there. : ) 

And don't forget to check out the novel. 

 https://www.amazon.com/Letters-Inside-Teresa-Blue-ebook/dp/B07RYX8TWT/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1685362051&sr=1-3

Looks who's made parole!!

Carl Jenkins is finally getting paroled!  

  

Carl Jenkins served eight years of a twelve-year stretch before the impossible happened: He is granted his freedom. Parole! The impossible is unfolding right before his eyes!

Freedom.

But what does that mean? To Carl, it means he'll finally have the chance of a lifetime, to pursue the woman of his dreams. The woman who saved his miserable life when he would have ended it was it not for a perfumed letter and its timely arrival.

In less than an hour, he'll be on a bus heading to Berrien. With a measly fifty dollars and a pocket full of dreams. 

                                      

Let's see what he's got to say.

INTERVIEWER: Hey, Carl. Thanks so much for taking a few minutes to, uh, well, spill your guts. I'd like to say I'm happy you're finally going to be allowed on the streets again, but that would be a lie. I mean, like, now we'll have to lock our windows and hide our daughters, right? So, my first question is: when did you start window-peeking at innocent girls without their knowledge? What's the big turn-on in doing something so twisted?

CARL:

Let's see. I probably should break your wrists for that, but then you wouldn't be able to write the answers to my interview. And for some fucked-up reason I want people to know why I am the way I am, ya know? It's my mother. Laughter. It's always the mother, right? Well, my mother was a cunt. She drank with any man in blue jeans, or without 'em for that matter. Most days after school she'd be sitting at the table shit-faced, saggy tits hanging out, lips swollen where she'd been smoozing up to some John. The soured stench of the place was enough to burn my eyes. Turned my stomach, ya know?

INTERVIEWER: Yeah, but was that an excuse to sneak around backyards, creep between hedges, and peek inside bedroom windows?

CARL: It didn't start like that. There was this girl I liked who lived just down the block from my place. Hair as shiny as gold, skin like silk. And a dimple. Cutest thing you'd ever see. When there's no reason to smile at home, you don't see dimples. She was beautiful. Bold as brass. Caught me hunched down outside her window that first time. She raised the damned thing and pulled me in! Right fucking inside! What can I say? I fell in love.

Course, she wouldn't be seen in public with me. So we had to sneak. I'd climb in after dark and we'd hang out. Mostly kissing and stuff. Till she got pissy. So I showed her. After that, it was like, I craved watching normal, everyday life. Chicks in pajamas, hair wet from a shower. Life, ya know? I'd be drawn in by soft lights, rooms with flowery prints on the walls, and innocence etched on their unsuspecting faces.

INTERVIEWER: You crossed the line, though. You did more than a peek into their rooms. You climbed into their lives forever. The detective, Tom Harrington. Tell me about him.

CARL: That dick. He's the reason it took so long to smell the air. It was his sister that got me busted. Dopey, pathetic thing. Not that she wasn't pretty. She was. And it was only one night. Still, he's been sitting front and center at every parole hearing doing his damnedest to keep me locked up. I guarantee he won't stop until he sees me back in the joint!

The cell door squeaks open and the security guard jangles a handful of keys. "Time's up. Jenkins, your ride's here. Less you want your old room back." Sweat glistens on top of the guy's bald head as he walks the door wide and nods. "Move it. I got others waiting to be processed out."

Carl glances over and shrugs. "Looks like our little chat's over. Don't worry. I gotta feeling you ain't heard the last from me." He picked up a plastic bag filled with his personal effects. "If you're anywhere near Berrien, check out the Glass Plate Diner. I hear they got delicious pies and a sweet little waitress. I'm heading there now."

https://www.amazon.com/Letters-Inside-Teresa-Blue-ebook/dp/B07RYX8TWT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=343JZ04FPNPA1&keywords=teresa+blue&qid=1560259506&s=digital-text&sprefix=Teresa+Blu%2Caps%2C139&sr=1-1

Check it out... A brand new cover!

I'm planning to release my romantic suspense soon but was anxious to show off this fabulous cover! I think it captures the essence of the story perfectly! Still fiddling around with the blurb - a few more tweaks to go.

Here's what I have so far...

INSIDE

A convicted rapist out on parole.

A detective determined to put him back in prison.

And an innocent woman caught in the crossfire.

When Tom Harrington is unable to prevent the release of serial rapist, Carl Jenkins, from the state penitentiary, the detective follows him to the small town of Berrien. His reasons are personal - Jenkins was convicted of assaulting Tom's sister. One slight parole infraction will earn him a free ticket back to prison where he belongs.

After eight years in the state penitentiary, Carl Jenkins is deemed rehabilitated. Years of hard time and no visitors earned him the nickname, Solo. Nothing can penetrate the cynical chamber called a heart. Until the smallest ray of warmth enters his cell in a flowery envelope and perfumed paper.

Whispers of dreams long forgotten.

And the hope to become normal.

AND OUT

There's another lure to the sleepy town, the beautiful woman who spent months corresponding with the convict. Linda Wheeler is a mystery to both men. Seeking refuge in a quiet childhood home after tumultuous divorce. She's quickly learning that single parenting is another battle. Her teenage daughter is becoming a rule breaker and eventually winds up on the wrong side of the law. She's determined to keep her daughter from becoming a name and number in the court's legal system. But what Linda doesn't know is that a name has already seeped behind prison walls: her name. And nothing can prepare them for the storm that's coming.

Well? What'd you think?

Whew! Just back from a looooong dry spell

I know, I know. It's been a while. A looong while since I've chatted with you all.
But, like Willie says, "You were always on my mind."

Facebook has gotten a bit boring for me lately so I may find myself here more often.
I have gotten a few new collectibles that I'll definitely be sharing soon. Gotta grab the camera first, and well, you know I can't do everything at once. LOL.



I will leave you with a few pictures.

First: The Loving Tree
captured my imagination years ago on a walk.
Notice how the two wrap lovingly around each other,
locked in a tight embrace forever.

 This one I call
When the cows come Home,
because...well, no other
came to mind.