Tag Archives: 10 Moments that Changed My Life

I love that I have back to back ’10 Moments’ posts. They are sooo interesting. Please help me welcome Kathryn Lively, who is also sharing her latest release…

Thank you for having me here today!

When I sat down to write this post, I thought it would be easy to recall ten memorable moments in my life. I came to find so many things have happened, I’m not sure what takes priority. Of course, some milestones are easier to pick than others, so I’ll give it a shot. And now, my Ten Moments, in no particular chronological order:

1. Obviously, the day I had my daughter ranks high. She recently turned twelve, and I can still remember every detail of the day she was born. It was also the first of many days I gave up sleep, but it was worth it to see her grow.
2. My wedding day was pretty memorable as well. We married in Florida in 80 degree weather and no AC in the church…because they didn’t want the candles to blow out. At least you can’t see us sweat in the photos.
3. The first time I sold a short story, I was 19. I received an envelope in the mail, thin. That usually means a rejection, so imagine my shock when I opened it and found a check.
4. The first time I was offered a book contract, I was in my late 20s. The publisher was kind enough to call, so I guess that was “the call.”
5. I love to travel, and my first visit to Europe with my father to research our roots will remain one of my favorite memories. I wish I could travel more, and I would definitely go back.
6. I also love music, and live concerts. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing many great acts, including Paul McCartney for his “Back in the US” tour. We drove three hours to the show, and at one point it seemed like my car wasn’t going to make it. Scary, but we managed to get there in time.
7. The first time I attended a convention for romance authors overwhelmed me, but I enjoyed myself. I got to meet many authors I knew previously online, and to meet authors I’ve read for years.
8. I visit New York often, usually once a year, but the first time I stayed in Manhattan was part of a school trip. We went to a Broadway show and met all the side characters from David Letterman’s show, and ate expensive cheesecake. Every time I go there’s something new to see.
9. I have many fond memories of family reunions and holidays, but the year my grandmother turned 100 was something special. Longevity runs in the family, too, so I may just attend another centennial soon.
10. Lastly, this entire year has been memorable – not always in a good way. There have been upsides, though. I had two stories published, and the Cubs won the pennant! I’m hoping next year will show improvement.

Fantastic, Kathyrn. I think you rose to the challenge nicely. Thank you for joining me. Ha, yes, the Cubs finally did it! Let’s see how they fare in the World Series. They are off to a decent start!  

About the Book

In this business, it gets hot under the spotlight…

Once a teen idol, Gabby Randall now spends her time behind the camera. With her show Danse Macabre scripted and a greenlit for a popular streaming site, she has everything she wants…except her star. Deadlines are looming and she’s desperate to cast the role of a modern-day, motorcycle-riding Grim Reaper. She never thought she’d end up hiring her former co-star, TV’s most beloved geek…and her ex-husband.

Until the day he dies, people will remember Dash Gregory as Freddie ‘Grody’ Grodin, the token geek friend of the cool kids at Wondermancer High. After years of casting agents overlooking him for plum roles, Dash wants to show Hollywood he’s more than a one-note player. He’s ready to break the vicious typecasting cycle, and he’s set his sights on the lead role in a sexy new series too hot for network TV.

When the director yells “Cut!” the star wants to keep up the action behind the scenes. Are Dash and Gabby willing to make ratings history again?

Buy Links

https://www.amazon.com/Finish-What-Started-ExStream-Love-ebook/dp/B01GRWHKLG

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-finishwhatyoustarted-2077389-177.html

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/finish-what-you-started-kathryn-lively/1123895167?ean=9781786510501

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/finish-what-you-started-5

Excerpt

April, 2006, Las Vegas

Gregory. She was Gabby Gregory now. Or perhaps she should hyphenate to Randall-Gregory, and use her given name, Gabrielle. Maybe that would make her appear mature, and more professional when she met with prospective agents to help her transition from TV ingénue to a place behind the camera.

In her left hand she held the current issue of People Magazine, the cover of which featured her with the other five principals of Wondermancer High, the television show that had served as her work and home for the past six years. In her right, a marriage certificate affirming her union with Dash Gregory bent in her tightening grip. It had happened only an hour ago, and if she brought the paper closer she could smell the printer ink. Her thumb brushed the black-marker signature of the minister, a middle-aged Johnny Cash impersonator with authentic sideburns and a paunch. Dash had insisted using a fake Elvis seemed too cliché, and that his late father—a Cash fan—would have gotten a kick out of it.

Gabby had conceded easily. She’d have stood before a showgirl in all her ostrich plumage and glitter if it meant a legitimate marriage. The Cash impersonator hadn’t recognized either of them, which was good. He didn’t fit their show’s demographic, and apparently he didn’t have a teenager who forced him to sit in front of the set every Thursday evening at eight.

She set the license on the nightstand to prevent further creases, then focused on the magazine. Good Luck, Graduates! read the headline, in reference to the series finale due to air next month. Sadness barely touched her as she recalled the emotion and angst which had pervaded the set when they’d filmed their final scenes. Relief was more like it. She’d played the part of Tula Truebend for six seasons, and as far as the country knew, her real life mirrored that of the prim, straight-A student aspiring to the upper echelons of the magical world. Hardly. Her grades, passable enough to let her continue acting, wouldn’t get her into Harvard. She hadn’t planned on college, anyway.

With the series behind her now, she couldn’t wait to pursue a career as a screenwriter and producer—to create rather than regurgitate. First order of business—develop a project for Dash.

Of the six main actors on the paranormal-set show—created to capitalize on the success of the Harry Potter franchise—her new husband stood to suffer the most typecasting. While she’d played the brain, a pretty one to boot, he’d been the token geek. Glasses, perpetually bent wand, goofy laugh, and no fashion sense. The showrunners had neglected all requests to mature Freddie Grodin toward the end of the run, leaving ‘Grody’ to remain a beloved yet awkward and inept nerd in the eyes of Wondermancer High fans.

She promised herself Dash would have a long acting career, and not in variations of the same role. What the hell was taking so long with him, anyway? He’d gone for water…had he tried the Hoover Dam first?

The handle of their room’s door jerked and rattled, startling her. On instinct, she clutched the full-length robe she wore tighter around her chest. When they’d stood exposed on Fremont Street, walking from the chapel to the hotel, she’d fretted over possible discovery from fans and paparazzi. Instead people had brushed past them, oblivious. Only in a city like this could that happen, she realized.

“Finally,” Dash muttered and entered the room. “I hate these damn keycards. They only work half the time.” A plastic bag, heavy with bottles and snacks, hung from his forearm, and he wore his favorite Dodgers cap pulled low over his face. Gabby smiled upon seeing it, especially since Dash really didn’t need to wear it to conceal his identity. Without the taped-up glasses and slicked-back hair the world saw on Grody each week, Dash as himself resembled nothing of the character he played. She envied his ability to roam free.

No, Dash was gorgeous with his clear blue eyes and a hint of stubble shadowing his firm jaw. He removed the cap and ruffled his short hair, adding to his adorably scruffy look.

“I’m glad you’re back,” she told him, and approached him for a hug. “I don’t like being here by myself.”

“Hey.” He took the magazine from her and set it next to the license, then enveloped her in his arms. He felt safe, warm. “It’s okay. Didn’t I tell you we’d be all right? It’s official, we’re married, and there’s nothing anybody can do about it.”

“I keep thinking somebody saw us downstairs.” Visions bloomed in her mind of photographers stalking each floor of the hotel, disguising themselves as room service. Fans pulling out their cell phones or running for the nearest pay phone to tell their friends, or worse, announce it to the world via their MySpace pages and that new site, Twitter. Guess what…we saw Tula and Grody in Vegas! Why would they be here, checking into the same hotel room? Ooooh!

Friends tell other friends. Somebody knows a guy at the Enquirer. He calls his contact in Vegas. Somebody calls her parents…in three seconds the SWAT team will kick down their door…

About the Author

Kathryn Lively is an award-winning writer and editor, avid Whovian, and Rush (the band) fan. She loves chocolate and British crisps and is still searching for a good US dealer of Japanese Kit Kat bars.

Kathryn is a regular contributor to the Sexy To Go authors group and enjoys the outdoors, when she’s able to get out.

You can take a look at Kathryn’s Blog (http://www.kathrynlively.com) and follow her on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Kathryn-Lively-Author-674430962660461/?fref=ts) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/MsKathrynLively).